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{
    "id": 922030,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/922030/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 42,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Halake",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13184,
        "legal_name": "Abshiro Soka Halake",
        "slug": "abshiro-soka-halake"
    },
    "content": "We need to look at this deeply, as a House, including the issues that have been mentioned by other Senators on legislation to protect consumers when it comes to these utilities. These utility companies need to be regulated. Mr. Speaker, Sir, We also have to look at the issue of affordability of these utilities. For instance, you will find that even for those on postpaid, you will find that you have been charged something that looks like a factory bill for one month. Consequently, in the next three months, they say that you do not have anything to pay. We, therefore, do not know whether these companies have got systems that are based on actual electricity consumption or not. You will notice that most of the pre-paid customers tend to be in the informal settlements and, therefore, this needs to be looked at very closely. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am informed that water is even worse. I do not know whether we should look at all this together, but in terms the affordability, quality and the fact that nobody seems to be regulating them is becoming a big problem. We hope that certain private utility companies will come up and be licensed. Perhaps this House should make sure that we legislate around ensuring that the private sector also gets involved in utility service provision so that the monopoly is broken. With those few remarks, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to support and look forward to seeing how this will be implemented."
}