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{
    "id": 921633,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/921633/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 89,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Statement by Sen. Malalah. It is imperative that, in this country which is governed by the rule of law, we follow that law and not become selective in how we apply the rule of law. If we make a law that reduces the taxes which are being paid by these betting companies, we cannot then turn around and come and say that now we are going to shut down all of them. We need order, and this order can only be brought by this Parliament. This issue where Cabinet Secretaries have so much power will take this country back to dictatorship. We have got to balance. This is a country where many of our youth are unemployed. In this country, the youth make up about 80 per cent of the population. If there is any good in what these companies are doing, we have to balance it. I am aware that these betting companies are contributing a lot to social entrepreneurship. They are helping. We need to develop regulations that can encourage these betting companies to offer counseling and support services to the gamblers. When I lived in the USA, I noted that there are states that survive only because of gambling. So, I am not going to stand here and say it is an evil in the society yet other people are benefitting from it. We have to balance and make sure that if we pass a law in this Parliament, we abide by it. It is ridiculous for us to pass laws and then tomorrow, an entity or Cabinet Secretary comes and says I have cancelled the licenses of these companies. How are we going to encourage technology which is now moving faster than the speed with which we are able to come up with laws? In a nutshell, I support this Statement. I would request that before coming up with certain ridiculous moves, the Cabinet Secretary should sit down with all stakeholders and agree on how they cope with that."
}