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{
    "id": 94762,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/94762/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one thing that I am extremely happy about this Report is that it explains how some of these criminal gangs are formed. It says many of our young people do not have gainful employment. They are not fully engaged and they end up drifting into criminal activities. We must appreciate that fact from the very beginning. The truth of the matter is that we have not for a very long time seriously looked into the welfare of the young people in this country. Yes, we have provided them with little education opportunities. We have built schools, colleges and universities. But the question that we should ask ourselves is: After these young people leave institutions of learning, what do they end up doing? We only assume that they will be employed. We also have a problem of those students who fail to join secondary schools after their primary level. Yes, we have started youth polytechnics. Of course, that is a very recent innovation. Quite a number of them do not proceed with their secondary education and they get involved in criminal activities. This is, indeed, what is happening. I believe very strongly that even the political class, including Members of Parliament and councillors, have not assist these young people. As the Chairman of the Committee stated when he was moving this Motion, we, Members of Parliament, use these young people during campaigns. We use them to campaign for us. After they have helped us to come to Parliament, we forget them. This is a fact and we know it. So, what can we do to deal with the criminal part of it? That is why I am extremely happy that when we recently brought here the Organized Crimes Bill it was unanimously passed. It is fairly comprehensive in the manner it will deal with these criminal gangs right from identifying them and their activities. It also spells out the kind of punishment to be administered to those people who will be involved in these criminal gangs. That law was not there. There was a distinct legal vacuum. The other thing is that we must understand that we have a huge problem with our youth. We must open up opportunities for them. The new Constitution spells out clearly that the youth have right to employment opportunities. They also have right to education. I see a lot of hope in the new constitutional dispensation. I believe the new Constitution will address all these problems. I want to support fully this Report, which is very well prepared. It has exposed all the problems that we need to deal with. I am quite happy that once we adopt it, we will do the best we can with the support and the goodwill from all the Ministries to deal with this problem once and for all. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}