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{
    "id": 892623,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/892623/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ndaragwa, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jeremiah Kioni",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 49,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Ngayu Kioni",
        "slug": "jeremiah-kioni"
    },
    "content": "If he is earning a salary and the matters that are being discussed have something to do with the benefits that may accrue to KNUT, it could easily qualify to be pecuniary interest. Two, if he is seated in a committee and the subject that is before the Committee is KNUT, he has to be a witness. I do not think there are two things. He will have to just be a witness; he cannot be a committee member when his organisation is under scrutiny. He is really a witness. If he sat as a committee member, he could easily become a nuisance because the institution that is paying him the other way is under scrutiny. That is another aspect that we have to deal with. Three, the Chairman will find himself in a difficult position. If he was to deal with Sossion, the way a chairperson should, he should first throw him out. That would embarrass the Secretary-General of the KNUT before his employers. Two, it is the issue of trying to balance to ensure that the dignity of this House is not lost. We must, as Members of Parliament, do the best to ensure we do not lower the dignity of this institution that we sit in and the offices that we hold. My final take on this is that it will be important for Sossion, I mean “Hon. Sossion”--- I am struggling somehow, and I do not know why I am struggling with this. If he sat when we were vetting the CS, I hope he did not sit as a Member of the Committee on Appointment, even if he was to take part in that debate. If I were the Secretary-General of KNUT, I will be very happy to have a CS who would agree to my philosophy, thinking or ideology. The position that Sossion is holding is beyond personal interest. I think we are confusing it with other positions. He is holding a position that is very crucial to this nation and it is benefitting him financially. He can easily use his position in the Committee to confer other interests that should not be there. Finally, Standing Order No.90 leaves us hanging because it only requires you to declare interest. Maybe this is an opportunity for us to look at it and say what else one can or cannot do once one has declared interest. It is important we make sure we enhance the integrity of this House in all that we do in our Committee. That is as per Article 73 of the Constitution. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}