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{
    "id": 979851,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/979851/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 97,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, this Communication relates to conflict of mandate between two departmental committees on the subject of irrigation. I wish to report to the House that my office is in receipt of a letter from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources dated February 18th, 2020. In the letter, the Hon. Member for Maara Constituency seeks guidance of the Speaker on the appropriate Committee mandated to consider items relating to “Irrigation” in the Budget Policy Statement for the financial year 2020/2021 in light of the reorganisation of the National Government as outlined by the H. E. the President in Executive Order No. 6 of 2019 and related matters. Hon. Members, in his letter the Chairperson notes that, as per the provisions of the National Assembly Standing Orders, the Second Schedule lists “irrigation” as a subject falling within the mandate of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. Conversely, as per Executive Order No. 6 of 2019 the State Department of Irrigation was merged with the State Department of Water and Sanitation in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. Currently, the Standing Orders mandate the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to handle all matters relating to the subject of “water resource management”. This, on close inspection, reveals a conflict between the mandates of the two Committees on the subject of “irrigation”. The issues raised by the Hon. Chairperson are very material and merits my considered guidance. Honourable Members, the immediate question that arise in the prevailing circumstances relates to which Committee, between the Departmental Committee on Environment & Natural Resources and the Departmental Committee on Agriculture & Livestock, ought to exercise the delegated functions of Departmental Committee as contemplated in the Standing Orders in respect of the Irrigation aspects. This includes the exercise of the functions falling under the following provisions of the Standing Orders- (a) Standing Order 45 ( vetting of appointments by Committees ) (b) Standing Order 114 (pre-publication security of proposed legislation)"
}