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{
    "id": 899887,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/899887/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 223,
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    "content": "I disagree with the Leader of the Majority Party. The term of office is now fixed at a single term of six years. The law says that you shall be appointed to this commission to serve. That is the amendment to Section 19. The chairperson and members of the commission shall be appointed for a single term of six years and are not eligible for reappointment. If people are appointed to positions and expect reappointment, it compromises the integrity and independence of those members. We need to move to a system where public officers are appointed for a single term so that once you are in office, you exercise your responsibility without fear or favour knowing very well that you have only one single term after which you go home or do something else productive for the country. This amendment proposing one single term of six years is long overdue. It is necessary and we should support it. I have issues that the Committee needs to look at on how a Member of Parliament is disqualified from being a member of the commission. It says that a person shall not be eligible for appointment as the chairperson or a member if such person is an MP or a Member of the County Assembly (MCA). I have no problem with that. MPs or MCAs should not be members of this commission. But why do you not just say all State officers? We should move away from this culture of criminalising MPs or MCAs. When you specify by saying an MP or MCA, you are then saying that governors can be members of this commission. What of governors? What of their deputies? What of other State officers? How come you are singling out MPs? I remember in the 10th Parliament, we developed a very bad habit. This habit came from the civil society which criminalised the membership of this House. In fact, looking at most of the laws that we passed in this House, we made it clear that if you have served in this House as an MP for five years, there are certain jobs that you cannot get in this country. I asked myself what is wrong if after I have served my people in this House and been out for three months, I cannot get some of these jobs? What makes me a criminal? How come governors can leave and be appointed to these positions? We should not succumb to some push from the civil society which does not make sense. Whereas I agree that MPs and MCAs cannot be members of this commission, let us not put it as if this is a special class of people or people who should be criminalised. If you are a State officer, you cannot be on this commission."
}