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Debates- Wednesday, 10th October, 2012
DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, 10th October, 2012
The House met at 1430 hours
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
NATIONAL ANTHEM
PRAYER
__________
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND
111. Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:
(a) how many constituencies countrywide had received the 2012
Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as of August, 2012;
(b)what difficulties the Government was having in the disbursement of the CDF to the remaining constituencies;
(c)whether the constituencies at (b) would receive their CDF by 31st
December, 2012; and
(d)why the CDF for Mwembeshi Parliamentary Constituency had not yet
been disbursed.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tembo): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this August House that no constituency had received the 2012 CDF allocation of K1 billion as at 31st August, 2012.
Mr Speaker, the Government is not facing any difficulties in the disbursement of the CDF for 2012. By that date, a sum of K40.7 billion had been released to my ministry by the Treasury awaiting disbursement to constituencies upon retirement of the previous allocation from 2011.
Mr Speaker, all constituencies will receive their CDF for 2012 by 31st December, 2012.
Mr Speaker, no constituency had received its CDF as at 31st August, 2012 and this includes Mwembeshi Parliamentary Constituency.
I thank you Sir.
Mr Monde (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, previously, we were informed that there was a list of constituencies which had not met the Auditor-General’s requirements for the disbursement of the CDF. Once these requirements were met, the constituencies would receive the CDF. Why is it that the criterion has changed? Can the hon. Minister be specific on whether the Government has the CDF which he said would be disbursed by 31st December.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, let me thank the hon. Member of Parliament for that important follow-up question. I answered the question according to the way it was framed. The delay in disbursing the CDF has been as a result of the Ministry of Finance not disbursing the funds on time. Suffice it to say that K40.7 billion has already been released to the constituencies, particularly those that retired their 2011 CDF allocation.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, given the delay in the disbursement of the CDF, may I know the rationale of the recent guideline requiring projects that have been approved by a full council meeting to be submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for approval when you have no idea of what is happening on the ground. In my view, you are taking away the essence of the CDF in the light of decentralisation.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, although that is a new question, I am prompted to give a bonus answer.
Interruptions
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, let me thank the hon. Member of Parliament for asking that question. It is true that a circular was written from our ministry to all the local authorities. The issue is that we do not want to control the CDF. However, we want to advise our councils so that misappropriation of funds can come to an end. In Lukulu constituency, for example, the CDF was given to members of the committee as loans. Therefore, we want to curtail such behaviour.
I thank you, Sir.
Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, in his response, …
Dr Kalila: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Is the point of order on the hon. Member on the Floor?
Dr Kalila: No, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Sorry, you missed the boat.
May the hon. Member for Mafinga continue, please.
Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Deputy Minister said that there were no difficulties being faced in disbursing the CDF. He went on to say that the Ministry of Finance was not releasing the funds. Can he clarify as to whether there are serious difficulties with regard to the co-ordination between the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and the Ministry of Finance because, from his response, only K40 billion has been released.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, let me state that I did not indicate that we were facing any challenges. However, I meant that the challenges which are there are due to the fact that the Ministry of Finance did not release the money in time. Nevertheless, the money has now been released.
Sir, let me give a detailed report, again. Following the receipt of the first allocation of K40.7 billion, the ministry disbursed K40 billion to forty constituencies across the country in Lusaka, Northern, Western, North Western, Eastern, Copperbelt and Luapula provinces, broken down as follows:
Province No. of Beneficiary Constituencies
Lusaka 10
North Western 2
`
Western 3
Eastern 16
Copperbelt 8
Luapula 1
Total 40
Hon. Members: Aah!
Mr Tembo: Now, …
Interruptions
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, can I be protected?
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Everybody is protected.
Interruptions
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, this list is based on the first disbursement.
Sir, the Ministry of Finance has released the K150 billion to our ministry, but we are releasing these funds in stages. The first disbursement has just gone through. The second disbursement of K35 billion has been released. Currently, there are some transactions which are being done by the bank so that constituencies can start receiving the CDF by Friday, 12th October, 2012 as follows:
Province No. of Beneficiary Constituencies
Northern 16
Luapula 13
Western 2
Central 2
Copperbelt 4
Total 37
Interruptions
Mr Tembo: Sir, the remaining K73 billion, …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Mr Tembo: … has so far been released. I can rest assure the hon. Members of Parliament that by Friday next week, 19th October, 2012, the money will be put in their accounts.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I am greatly disturbed by the answer given by my colleague, the hon. Deputy …
Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to raise a very serious point of order arising from Article 51 of the Constitution of Zambia, which says:
“The Cabinet and Deputy Ministers shall be accountable, collectively, to the National Assembly.”
Mr Speaker, I would like to refer to the ministerial statement that was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock to the answers that have been given on a number of occasions on the Floor of this House pertaining to maize purchases by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). There was an assurance made on the Floor of this House that the Government had adequate resources to purchase all the maize from the small-scale farmers.
Sir, in today’s Daily Nation newspaper, …
Hon. Government Members: Aah!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I know that this is not a PF paper. That is issues are being raised.
Sir, in today’s Daily Nation, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, my brother, Hon. Luxon Kazabu, is quoted as having said that the Government has run out of money to pay small-scale farmers and that the FRA has been urged to borrow K2 trillion to pay the farmers. This is contrary to the assurance and statements that were made on the Floor of this.
Mr Speaker, the issue of maize purchases is a very sensitive one. We all know that maize is the staple food of this country. If we mismanage the purchases, the consequences of the failure are too gustily to contemplate.
Sir, is the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in order to mislead the House by saying that there is enough money to pay for the maize that was delivered to the FRA when the resources are not enough? We all know that the farming season is about to start and that farmers are in dire need of this money so that they can buy the requisite farming inputs.
Is the hon. Minister in order to mislead this House and the nation contrary to Article 51 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambian?
I seek your serious ruling, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
I do acknowledge that the subject matter of the point of order is a very important one in our corporate life, as a nation. To that extent, I direct His Honour the Vice-President, not later than Wednesday, 17th October, 2012, to make a ministerial statement on this subject to clarify the position. That is my ruling.
May the hon. Member for Lukulu East continue, please.
Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, I was just making a follow-up question to the hon. Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing. In so doing, I was placing it on record that I am actually disturbed and angry at the same time, at the statement which he gave in response to one of the questions.
Sir, can the hon. Deputy Minister state which of the two constituencies has shared the CDF among its members as loans and why the Government has not made any arrests.
Mr Speaker: I appreciate the anger of the hon. Member. However, let us treat these as matters of national interest. As much as the information may be disturbing, let us still maintain the temperament. I am not saying the hon. Member has behaved in an unbecoming manner. I only want us to be dispassionate about these issues.
The hon. Member may continue.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukulu and I appeal to him not to become angry. The anger which he has might spoil the soup.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Tembo: Allow me to appeal to the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukulu that this is quite important information and he may have to make a follow up to this. We have received the report that Lukulu …
Hon. Opposition Members: Which Lukulu?
Mr Speaker: Order!
That is the task of Mr Speaker. Let him complete the response.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I was saying that we have received a report from Lukulu District. We have obtained all the information on the ground and are still making investigations to see which constituency was actually involved in those activities.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, following the response in relation to the disbursement of the first installment of the CDF, I realise that two constituencies have been covered in the Western Province. Are these two constituencies the ones the Patriotic Front (PF) won in the province?
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, that was not the criterion which was used. I mentioned earlier that we had to consider the constituencies which retired the previous CDF. We did not particularly target constituencies that were won by the PF. I already indicated that most of the constituencies in the Eastern Province were won by the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), but the province has benefited more.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}
Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister how long it takes to receive the CDF after the returns have submitted.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, that depends on the availability of funds. If the funds are readily available, we disburse it immediately.
I thank you, Sir.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, it is necessary for the hon. Minister to be very careful. All the constituencies in the Northern and Luapula provinces have been given their CDF.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: He said sixteen constituencies in the Northern Province and thirteen in Luapula Province received their CDF, but only two in the other provinces have been given. We should not divide the nation by making provincial divisions. Let us go ahead and distribute this money …
Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Keembe, what is the question?
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Is the hon. Minister in order to come here and …
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order!
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, if all the other provinces have submitted their returns for last year, why is it that the Northern and Luapula provinces have been given their CDF, and yet only two constituencies have been given in other provinces.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Keembe for such a good follow-up question. However, what he has indicated is not true. If I look at …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Tembo: … the provinces he has cited, in Luapula Province, for example, only one constituency benefited when we received the K40 billion, and this is known. I indicated that thirteen constituencies benefited from the second disbursement. I have stated that we have the money for all the constituencies that did not receive their CDF and, by next week Friday, they will have received it. Therefore, there is no constituency that will be left out.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that no constituency in the Southern Province benefited, and yet all constituencies submitted their returns. May I know how he decided, if it is a proper rationale, to give sixteen out of twenty-two constituencies in one province while nineteen from another province received nothing. What is the criterion used if it is not division of the country?
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central for that follow-up question.
Mr Speaker, I have already indicated that constituencies that benefited from the first and second disbursement are those that submitted the returns for 2011 early. I am not sure which other answer I am expected to give.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, do not feel belabored. Just provide answers. That is all.
Laughter
Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, does this mean that no constituency or council in the Southern Province submitted its returns?
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Allow the hon. Minister to answer. You may deduce that, but let the hon. Minister answer.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, the constituencies in the Southern Province that have not yet received the CDF delayed in submitting the …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Tembo: It is either they delayed in submitting the returns for 2011 or they were affected by the challenges we have been facing. Some of the challenges are that some accounts have been dormant for quite some time and, when we disburse the funds, they are sent back to our ministries.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Tembo: In a nutshell, they delayed in submitting the returns for 2012.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Let us have some order.
Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister admitted that there are times when the Ministry of Finance delays in disbursing the funds as the case was this year. He has also submitted that all the constituencies are to pass their submissions through his office. There are about 150 constituencies. If there are only four projects in each constituency, it would entail that there are 600 projects. Does the Ministry of Local Government and Housing have the capacity to look at these 600 projects which were submitted? Are you creating a new department in your ministry? Are you promoting efficiency or inefficiency which is an impediment to development?
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I would like to assure the hon. Member that the projects which are being proposed are the ones which are stipulated in the guidelines for the CDF. That will not take long and it is for our records’ sake.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister inform this House and the nation which two constituencies in the Western Province were given the CDF.
Interruptions
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I have a list of constituencies which received the CDF in the Western Province.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Tembo: We are talking about the Western Province. Please, do not disturb me. Let me answer your question.
Mr Speaker, the constituencies that received the CDF are Sinjembela, Senanga, …
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Continue, if the answer is incomplete.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
You asked for this information.
Hon. Opposition Members: Only two!
Laughter
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, the first disbursement was made to Sinjembela, Senanga and Nalolo.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, at least, I am cool.
Laughter
Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that a Mr Kang’ombe from Lukulu is in Lusaka at his department that is dealing with the CDF to submit the returns, and that, for the first time, the CDF has worked so well in both Lukulu East and Lukulu West?
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I am not aware that Mr Kang’ombe from Lukulu is in Lusaka.
I thank you, Sir.
CHABA RURAL HEALTH CENTRE IN CHILUBI
112. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Health:
(a)why the dimensions of the Out-Patient Department (ODP) building under construction at Chaba Rural Health Centre in Chilubi District were reduced;
(b)why the contractor had delayed in completing the construction of the OPD building; and
(c)whether there had been any loss of building materials at the health centre and, if so, what type of materials were lost.
The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, the dimensions of the OPD building under construction at Chaba Rural Health Centre in Chilubi District were not reduced. The standard drawings for a prototype rural health centre were used.
Mr Speaker, the construction of the OPD at Chaba Rural Health Centre delayed because there were two contractors that were contracted to carry out the works. The construction of three ventilated pit latrines was partly funded by the Provincial Administration in Kasama and Chilubi District Health Office. A contractor to supply materials worth K100 million was funded by the Provincial Administration while the labour contract worth K17,375,000 was given to another contractor and funded by Chilubi District Health Office. The contractor to supply materials for the construction of the OPD delayed in supplying the materials.
Mr Speaker, the delay in the arrival of the materials resulted in a loss of eighteen pockets of cement which were equivalent to K999,000. As the delay was due to the supplier’s fault, all penalties, as per procurement procedures, will be levied to the supplier. The cement was meant for the construction of three ventilated pit latrines. Currently, the works are progressing well.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I am not a Member of Parliament who operates on a remote control basis. I am a resident Member of Parliament. The contractor who was supposed to complete the OPD building has delayed the works for the past three years. May I, therefore, know why the Provincial Medical Office decided to pay this contractor?
The Minister of Health (Dr Kasonde): Mr Speaker, I would like to start by acknowledging that the hon. Member is right by saying that he does not operate on a remote control basis.
Laughter
Dr Kasonde: Sir, I will be very interested to know who the hon. Members that operate on remote control basis are so that we can understand this phenomenon a little bit more. Nevertheless, we admit that, in this case, the contract was rather complicated in the sense that one was to supply and the other was to construct. It is a very difficult arrangement because the supplier will be paid when he has supplied the materials regardless of what has happened in the construction. There is also the complication that the workers who were not paid are those who were not paid by the contractor. It is not the business of the administration to engage in a quarrel since they are waiting for the products. Nevertheless, I think that it is an unfortunate situation regardless of why it took three years up to now without payment. It is, therefore, our duty to ensure that this matter is followed up.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
BAHATI SEMINARY SCHOOL IN MANSA
113. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when the ban on the use of the Bahati Seminary School in Mansa as an examination centre would be lifted.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, the ban on the Bahati Seminary School as an examination centre was lifted in June, 2011. Subsequent to that, there will be Grade 12 candidates who will be writing their examinations this year.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
DRIVERS’ LICENCES
114. Mr Ntundu (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:
(a)how many drivers’ licences were issued countrywide in 2011;
(b)how much revenue was realised from the issuance of the licences at (a); and
(c)how many districts, countrywide, had offices for the issuance of drivers’ licences.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, in 2011, the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) issued 112,545 driver’s licences and collected K18.7 billion.
Sir, there are twenty-eight offices countrywide that issue driver’s licences.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, now that the PF is in power, I would to find out from the hon. Minister (pointing at the hon. Minister) whether the Government is still going to continue with the policy of drivers renewing …
Mr Speaker: Mind your finger, hon. Member.
Laughter
Mr Ntundu: … their licences. This is a policy which the party was condemning those people that are seated on the left side of the House (pointing at the hon. Opposition Members) for.
Mr Speaker: Even the people on the left should not be pointed at.
The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, regulations are highly dynamic. If the policy served its purpose in the previous Government and we think that we should maintain it, we will do so.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I know that Choma is among the twenty-eight districts that issue driver’s licences. However, the people in Choma, especially those who have not had an opportunity to acquire a formal education, still have difficulties in acquiring licences because the driving examinations are done in the English language. Are there any immediate plans to assist such people?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, we would welcome suggestions on how we can accommodate such people. We are willing to adjust to the current way of doing things.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, will the ministry consider increasing the number of districts that issue driver’s licences since we know that the number of vehicles in various districts has increased?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, indeed, there has been an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. In fact, this morning, I saw some statistics that make me concur with what you have stated. We will have to look into that matter.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, one of the factors that have led to the high carnage on our roads is that of people who acquire driver’s licences they are not qualified for through unscrupulous means. What measures is the Government putting in place to ensure that places like Matero are not issuing driver’s licences?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, that is a challenge that RTSA is facing. However, there is currently an international conference involving more than thirty countries that is taking place in order to address this challenge. I am not going to defend anything. This is a serious issue, especially in Zambia where licences are peddled. This contributes to the road carnage, as you have said, and we are trying as much as possible to find some means of stopping this trend. Computerising the operations of RTSA is one of the solutions and the agency has done a bit of that. However, there are still some loopholes that we are trying to seal. Let us all work together to find a long-lasting solution because we are losing many lives through road carnage.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, ideally, how long should it take for one to get a driver’s licence after undergoing all the procedures required.
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, the ideal period in which a licence should be issued is about three to five days. One of the requirements is doing the tests, which normally takes about one hour to certify one fit and competent to hold a licence. However, during the paper work, there is a lot of inefficiency. Some people have been issued with licences between three to five days. So, we are trying to ensure that we standardise the process so that everyone can get their licence in three to five days. That is our target.
I thank you, Sir.
Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the licences issued do not include a provision for the persons with disabilities. Some persons with disabilities have the ability to drive, but are not allowed to acquire driver’s licences. Could the hon. Minister indicate to us and the nation the mechanism he is putting in place to ensure that persons with some forms of disabilities are allowed to drive?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I will not go into the process of elaborating how we can accommodate those people. However, we would like to know exactly which disabilities are being referred to so that they can be catered for separately.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, the renewing of licences is very inconveniencing. Does the Government have any plans of doing away with this bad requirement?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I hope that the hon. Member of Parliament for Lundazi realises that a person’s mental fitness is never guaranteed for the next day. Therefore, many lunatics can come up and we need to test their sanity. This is why people have to renew their licences.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Habeenzu (Chikankanta): Mr Speaker, each time we ask a question, the response is, “Please, help us.” Has this Government got any plans to move this country forward in terms of the issuance of licences?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member’s question is vague. He is asking me whether we have any plans to take this country forward in relation to the issuance of licences. Can he be specific? Only then can I give him an answer.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mutati (Lunte): Mr Speaker, in order to avoid the vagueness, has the hon. Minister got any plans to issue performance charters which will be displayed at each licencing office?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, yes, we do and the hon. Member for Lunte will see this materialise in the next three or four months.
I attended the international conference today and this matter was on the agenda.
I thank you, Sir.
ACCOMMODATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS
115. Mr Ntundu asked the Minister of Home Affairs:
(a)how many police officers in Gwembe were accommodated in police and rented houses, as of June, 2012;
(b)when the Government would construct houses for all the officers at Gwembe Police Station; and
(c)when the station would be provided with adequate transport to enable officers to follow up criminal cases in far-flung areas such as Luumbo, Chisanga and Chipepo.
The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Dr Simbyakula): Mr Speaker, currently, Gwembe District has no staff houses for police officers. Of the nineteen officers in the district, seventeen are accommodated in rented houses while two are staying in a club-house due to non-availability of houses to rent.
Mr Speaker, this Government plans to construct staff houses for police officers under the Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) for our security wings under the Ministry of Home Affairs as soon as we source the funds.
Sir, Gwembe District Police has had no transport for a long time. Consideration will be made in the 2013 Budget to provide the station with adequate transport to enable the officers follow up criminal cases in far-flung areas, such as Luumbo, Chisanga and Chipepo.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I am disappointed with the answer by the hon. Minister.
Hon. Speaker, I am aware of murder cases pending investigation in Luumbo. How do you expect officers to follow up cases in such outlying areas? If you only intend to provide Gwembe with a vehicle next year, how will these cases be followed up?
Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, I stated that we are considering providing transport in the 2013 Budget.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, Gwembe was given district status twenty years ago. Since then, have there been no funds disbursed to the area?
Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, the PF Government came into power a little over twelve years ago. I can neither answer for our colleagues who were there for twenty years nor those who were there for twenty-seven years. We are planning to construct staff houses and have an IDP. Like I said earlier, we are considering providing transport in the 2013 Budget.
I thank you, Sir. {mospagebreak}
Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said a vehicle will only be available in 2013. What happens to cases which need to be followed up now?
Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, we will request the divisional command in Livingstone to follow this matter up.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, in March, the then Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Mwaliteta, promised that Land Cruisers would be distributed to districts. What happened to those cars which were supposed to benefit districts?
Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, the cars were distributed to areas of need. Unfortunately, they were not enough to be given to all the districts.
Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister indicated that the Government has only been in office a little over a year, which I appreciate. However, is he saying that the MMD went with the records for him to have nothing to refer to?
Laughter
Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, I really do not follow the hon. Member’s question. Maybe, he can rephrase it.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The hon. Member is asking whether there are no records which you can peruse and give answers concerning why these vehicles or facilities have not been provided over the last twenty years.
Interruptions
The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr E. C. Lungu): Mr Speaker, the question referred to the MMD having been in power for twenty years. In response, the hon. Deputy Minister pointed out that we cannot account for the last twenty years.
Interruptions
Mr E. C. Lungu: However, he went further and said we would engage the office of the Commissioner for the division to look into the matter. Therefore, if there are any files, the Commanding Officer will let us know what is obtaining on the ground and we shall proceed to attend to the needs of the police station.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I am getting very concerned.
On many occasions, on the Floor of this House, the Ministry of Home Affairs keeps reciting the answer that it will do this or that when resources are made available. In this particular case, the hon. Deputy Minister is saying that the police will build staff houses in Gwembe when resources are made available, and yet, in the same breath, he indicated that they have an IDP.
Mr Speaker, an IDP should have a timeframe. It cannot just hang in the balance. The Government has a specific term to be in power. When is it going to build houses in Gwembe in accordance with its IDP?
Mr E. C. Lungu: Mr Speaker, to start with, we recite one answer because hon. Members of Parliament recycle the same questions time and again.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr E. C. Lungu: Mr Speaker, every time we get a question regarding the police, it is about infrastructure. If it is not about infrastructure, it will be about motor vehicles. That is why we simply give the same answer.
Mr Speaker, currently, we have a team of officers who have been going round with experts to assess which areas we should start with. We are also mindful of the fact that there are new districts that have been created and those that our colleagues, now on the other side, created. We want to provide for them first. Therefore, it is not our fault that we repeat the same answer. It is because the hon. Members ask the same questions.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Could you withdraw the latter part?
Mr Ntundu: You answer the question!
Mr E. C. Lungu: Sorry, Mr Speaker, I withdraw it.
Mr Muntanga rose up.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr E. C. Lungu: It is because hon. Members repeat the same questions time and again that we repeat the same answer time and again.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, the question about the time line has not been answered.
Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!
Mr E. C. Lungu: Mr Speaker, there is a team of officers that is going round the country to assess which areas to start with. We believe that in 2013, the programme of construction of houses will take off. It is a long-term project, but we are starting by 2013.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
FOOD RESERVE AGENCY
116. Mr Chungu (Luanshya) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock what measures the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had taken to avoid the recurrence of maize wastage in the 2012 marketing season.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Kazabu): Mr Speaker, the FRA has taken the following measures in order to avoid the recurrence of maize wastage in the 2012/2013 marketing season:
(i)created storage space in main depots at major holding depots along the line of rail such as Mwembeshi, Mungwi, Chisamba and Chambeshi, through the sales of carry-over maize. This process will facilitate the receiving of new crops from outlying areas to central holding depots in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt;
(ii)ensured that maize is transported as quickly as possible from satellite depots immediately after being purchased. The rationale behind this is to transport every 600 x 50kg bag purchased from every satellite depot to the holding depot for safe storage; and
(iii)recruited additional local transporters in rural areas to mop up stocks from the satellite depots to the main depots.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr L. Zimba (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, I am delighted with the answer the hon. Minister has given. However, I would like to find out what measures the Government has put in place to pay transporters on time so that they are not frustrated like small-scale farmers?
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Mwewa): Mr Speaker, we are doing everything possible to ensure that transporters are paid on time. Actually, we have now learnt that when we delay to pay transporters, we will suffer the consequences. So, the next time, we will pay them in good time.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, I do not know whether I heard the hon. Deputy Minister correctly. When he talked about holding depots, he did not mention Monze holding depot. Is it that it has been omitted or it has been done away with it as a holding depot?
Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, Monze is one of the holding depots. However, let me also mention other holding depots that were not mentioned. There is Kapiri Mposhi, Mkushi, Kabwe, Lusaka, Choma, Kalomo and Bwana Mkubwa.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if the Government has any plans at all to curb ghost transporters of maize who go to a depot and get maize for the FRA, go to another depot and get vouchers signed and drive out with the maize and sell it out there, hence making the Government lose colossal sums of money. In the process, the Government is condemned. Has the PF Government put any measures in place to curb this vice?
Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, we are doing everything possible to curb that kind of behaviour among transporters. We have realised that that is what they do and we are having meetings with them. Anyone found wanting, will pay for that kind behaviour.
I thank you, Sir.
HEALTH POSTS IN SHANG’OMBO
117. Mr Njeulu (Sinjembela) asked the Minister of Health:
(a)when construction of eight health posts in Shang’ombo District would commence;
(b)which locations the posts would be built at;
(c)what the time frame for completion of the project was; and
(d)why the construction of Keyana Rural Health Centre had taken so long to complete.
Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, health posts in Shang’ombo District shall be constructed under the Project for Construction of 650 Health Posts in various locations in Zambia. The project is financed through a line of credit from the Indian Government. The project has commenced and the ministry, through the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), is in the process of sourcing contractors for the construction of the health posts.
Sir, according to information submitted by the District Health Office, the eight health posts in Shang’ombo District will be constructed in the following locations: Lupuka, Maweleya, State Ranch, Mbeta, Liwandamo, Kabula, Mulele and Mwanabao. The time frame for completion of the project is two years.
Mr Speaker, I wish to remind the House that last week, I provided an adequate answer in relation to part (d) of the question. However, for the sake of clarity, let me repeat what I said.
The construction of Keyana Rural Health Centre was delayed due to termination of the initial contract by Tomorrow Investments Emsworth and Datong Joint Venture, as well as lack of accessibility to the site due to seasonal flooding. The Ministry of Health has planned for the completion of Keyana Rural Health Centre within the 2012 Infrastructure Operational Plan. The procurement of works is being done through the provincial administration.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, now that the hon. Deputy Minister has confirmed that the eight health posts are amongst the 650 that will be built countrywide, is it possible that we can get the information for all the other districts in terms of numbers and locations?
Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, yes, I can make this information available and I will do so.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Muntanga: When?
Dr Kasonde: I will do so at the earliest convenient time.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
PROVINCIAL CO-OPERATIVE UNIONS
118. Mr B. Mutale (Kwacha) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock whether the Provincial Co-operative Unions were still operational and, if they were not, what the impact on small-scale farmers was.
Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, all the provincial co-operative unions are operational although at varying levels in terms of performance, which ranges from barely surviving to strong and actively participating in economic activities.
Sir, there are currently nine provincial co-operative unions, namely:
(i)Lusaka Provincial Co-operative Union;
(ii)Central Province Co-operative Union;
(iii)Northern Province Co-operative Marketing Union;
(iv)Copperbelt Province Co-operative Union;
(v)North Western Province Co-operative Marketing Union;
(vi)Eastern Province Co-operative Union;
(vii)Southern Province Co-operative Marketing Union;
(viii)Western Province Co-operative Union; and
(ix)Luapula Province Co-operative Union.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the newly-created Muchinga Province, there is a need to establish a provincial co-operative union although this should largely be demand driven.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr B. Mutale: Mr Speaker, if the provincial co-operative unions exist, their presence is not being felt and they are probably very silent on the ground. Can the Government intervene to assist peasant farmers?
Mr Kazabu: Mr Speaker, co-operatives are member driven. Therefore, as a ministry, we only ensure that they do not do that which is illegal through the Department of Co-operatives. In terms of how they serve their members, that is totally their business.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr L. Zimba: Mr Speaker, lately, it has been learnt that most of the co-operative unions formed are fertiliser-based. What is the Government doing to ensure that we have the right co-operatives in the country?
Mr Kazabu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member should be aware that for any organisation to embark on some business activity, it must be registered. As long as this group of people or the people who have come together to form an organisation meet the requirements for registration, they will be registered under the Societies Act or Patents and Companies Registrations Agency (PACRA) for purposes of carrying out their business activities. Therefore, as a ministry, we do not have an avenue through which we should interfere with that process.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the Government has any plans to source funding from international organisations or within its means so that co-operatives can be funded and their members trained to rejuvenate the works of the co-operative societies and provincial unions.
Mr Kazabu: Mr Speaker, as a ministry, we have given money to the Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF) to help co-operatives that need financial assistance. Going forward, that is a good suggestion that is worth reflecting on. If we find it viable, we will take it up.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that most of the provincial co-operative unions are limping, meaning they are not running effectively. I would like to know what the Government’s plan is in ensuring that provincial co-operative unions become what they were during the leadership of Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
Mr Kazabu: Mr Speaker, I have told this House that the provincial co-operative unions are member-driven. Where one is found to be limping, the responsibility falls squarely on the members to put the co-operative right. As a ministry, we give some grants through our Co-operative Department. However, as the House may know, we live in an era of limited resources. So, that which we give in the form of assistance, clearly, may not be enough.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Mr Speaker, I would like to know how much was given to the ZCF and whether it was a grant or a loan.
Mr Kazabu: Mr Speaker, we gave the ZCF a grant of K7.5 billion.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has told this House that the Government does not have an avenue through which it can interfere with the running of the co-operative unions. The previous Government told this House that it would remove all the ghost co-operatives by involving district agriculture co-ordinating officers (DACOs) and that farmers would need to get approval from them. I would like to know what has changed now for the Government to say there is little or nothing it can do to change the prevailing situation regarding ghost co-operative unions.
Mr Kazabu: Mr Speaker, in our earlier answer, we explained that the provincial co-operative unions are operating at different levels. There are some that are doing well while others are limping. At no time have we stated that those that are seen to be ghost co-operative unions should not be done away with. So, going forward, through our Department of Co-operatives, we will carry out an audit to see which of these co-operatives do not deserve to exist anymore because they have failed to execute what they were established for.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
POLICE POST AT MANGANGO MISSION
119. Mr Taundi (Mangango) asked the Minister of Home Affairs when the Government would construct its own police post at Mangango Mission.
Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Zambia Police, to date, has had no structure of its own at Mangango Mission and officers started operating from the mission premises at the request of the mission. However, in view of the increase in population in the catchment area, the Government has plans to construct a police post at Mangango Mission when funds are sourced.
I thank you, Sir.
Laughter
COMMUTER TRAIN
120. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication when the commuter train, which used to operate between Chilenge and Matero Townships in Lusaka, would be resuscitate
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), invited expressions of interest from the private sector to develop and operate the Njanji Commuter Services in Lusaka. A number of companies had responded, but the concession could not be awarded to any of them as they did not meet the required criteria.
Mr Speaker, the ministry has requested for funds in next year’s Budget to facilitate the re-engagement of the private sector through public-private partnerships (PPPs), to resuscitate the Njanji Commuter Train.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, is the railway line from Chilenje to Kamwala and Matero to the city centre not vandalised?
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, we are aware that parts of the railway line have been vandalised and there are a lot of encroachments in the area. The proposed route from Libala/Chilenje/Bauleni/Ibex Hill up to Chelston now has developed residential properties, making it difficult to construct the line without incurring huge compensation costs to the people who may be affected.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, as the hon. Minister has mentioned, the area around the railway line has been encroached in by people who are constructing houses. What plans does the ministry have for those who have built houses very close to the railway line?
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, when the time comes to put up the railway line for the resuscitation of the Njanji Commuter Train, those affected are going to be compensated.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, why do we want the Njanji Commuter Train to be run by the private sector when, just a few months ago, the Zambia Railways came back to life? Why do we not put this railway line under the care of the Zambia Railways since the Government wants to ‘Zambianise’ everything?
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, that is a proposal that we are looking at and it can either be adopted or rejected.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Chisala: Sir, in other countries, railway transport works very effectively and serves the people to their expectation. That being the case, coupled with the fact that we are in the process of resuscitating this railway line, are we not planning to extend a similar arrangement to the Copperbelt?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I think Hon. Chisala’s proposal will be looked into by the ministry.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, what is the rationale for compensating people who illegally put up houses near the Njanji Railway Line?
Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, we are saying that we will evaluate the situation when we are about to rebuild the railway line.
Mr Mwamba walked in.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Boma!
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Mr Yaluma: If the people who have encroached in the land in question happen not to have title deeds, that might spell a different situation altogether. Therefore, we will evaluate the situation and know which way to go.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Ntundu: Sir has the hon. Minister already worked out the modalities of how the PPP for the Njanji Commuter Train is going to work or has he just given us bonus information based on his own thinking?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I presume I understood Hon. Ntundu’s question. Therefore, I will answer it according to the way I have understood it. I am glad he has, at least, realised and appreciated that that was a bonus answer. However, the ZDA went out to look for people who were interested in running the Njanji Commuter Services as a PPP, but all those who made submissions did not meet the requirements. I think this was done last year or the year before. All the proposals were turned down, but we are still looking forward to seeing whether we can get private investors to operate it.
To give another bonus answer, I would like to state that the PF Government does not only intend to resuscitate the Njanji Commuter Train, but also introduce a main tube or what can be called a tram that will run from the main airport all the way into the Lusaka City Centre, through the suburbs to Kafue and Chisamba. That is in the pipeline and we have already talked to the investors about this.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, there is an Act of Parliament that stipulates how far people should build from a railway line. These distances have been ignored either along the Njanji Railway Line or the main railway line from Livingstone to Ndola. How is the ministry going to stop people from building close to railway lines, which is against an Act of Parliament?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I agree that there have been violations to that effect and when we rehabilitate the railway lines, including those under Zambia Railways, we will ensure that we relocate the people who have encroached in the area along the railway line because we will need enough space to contain the operations of railway transport.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, my question is premised on the fact that the commuter railway system was intorduced when we had a shortage of bus transport and the situation has changed since then. Do we still need this commuter railway service? Do we not need to review the rehabilitation of this service because we have not reached a stage of having an extensive commuter railway system? What we need are more roads to decongest traffic on our roads. That is all.
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I think the hon. Member of Parliament will agree with me that the traffic volumes in Lusaka have increased, hence the current congestion on the roads in the city. The volume of traffic in Lusaka is so high that one has to spend one to three hours on the road from Chilanga to the town centre. What are trying to bring in railway transport so as to decongest road traffic and give people peace of mind when they travel around the city. In other words, we want people to have alternative routes and to enable them to save on fuel costs because it will be cheaper to use a tram or the Njanji Commuter Train into town.
I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister indicated that a provision would be made in the 2013 Budget for the commuter train and that there will be a PPP. What is the nature and type of the envisaged PPP?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I would not like to commit myself at the moment because I do not have the figure and dates at my fingertips. However, I will come to the House at a later date to provide that information.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, it has been identified that, indeed, it is wrong and illegal to build structures close to the railway line. Must we wait for the Njanji Commuter Train to be constructed before we can address the issue or should we engage the various ministries so that this vice can actually be corrected?
Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I have noted the question that has been asked by the hon. Member.
I thank you, Sir.
__________{mospagebreak}
MOTIONS
MOTION OF THANKS
(Debate resumed)
The Deputy Minister for Eastern Province (Mr C. Banda): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to contribute to debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Speech.
Mr Speaker, the House will recall that when President Sata addressed this House for the first time during the First Session of the Eleventh Assembly, he said that the PF Government’s focus was and will be on four core development programmes, namely education development, health services, agriculture development, and local Government and housing development. These four sectors will be supported by other sectors such as infrastructure development, social protection, commerce, trade and industry, mines, energy and tourism.
Mr Speaker, I wish to discuss the last speech which was delivered here, in this House, on 21st September, 2012 in relation to the first address made during the First Session of the Eleventh Assembly. From on the outset, I would like to say that this country is lucky, today, that we have a President like Mr Michael Chilufya Sata.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: We are lucky in the sense that the President of the Republic of Zambia is a man of action. This is what defeats some of our colleagues who think that they are very intelligent because they think lining up fourteen books before them and coming up with difficult words to Parliament means that they are more educated than we are. That is a fallacy.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: The people of Zambia will appreciate it if we fulfill the promises that were made. Once this is done, we shall have succeeded.
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
The hon. Member may continue.
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker, on page 21 of the speech, the President spoke about increasing school enrolment, improving access to education, quality and relevance of academic education through curriculum review at all levels.
Mr Speaker, the total enrolment of pupils in basic schools has increased in the Eastern Province from 336,436 in 2011 to 357,682 in 2012. Secondly, the total enrolment in community schools has increased from 63,688 in 2011 to 76,080 in 2012.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: In secondary schools, Sir, the total enrolment has increased from 31,244 in 2011 to 32,795 in 2012. What more can anyone ask for?
On staff recruitment in the education sector, Mr Speaker, I am proud to inform the House that the Eastern Province is an example of success because the number of teachers in the province has increased from 7,893 in 2011 to 8,417 in 2012. Currently, the total establishment of teachers in the province is at 9,996 and there is a shortfall of only 1,579. So, the Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, recruited a total of 3,139 teachers countrywide under Phase I out of which the Eastern Province received a total of 422 teachers. We are very grateful for that.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: These have since been deployed to their respective schools. The ministry is in the process of recruiting and deploying an additional 5,000 teachers countrywide under Phase II before the end of 2012. We are sure that the Eastern Province is going to get its share of that number.
Sir, early education is something that has been ignored for quite a long time, but I am happy to inform the House that we are closely following this sector. The provision of early education services has not yet started in the province. However, the Provincial Education Officer has already identified a total of 150 schools in the province that will provide facilities for early education. Each school will have two classes with four teachers and this programme is planned to commence in the academic calendar for 2013.
Mr Speaker, the major school infrastructure development projects that are being implemented, which I have personally inspected, supervised and continued to supervise are:
(a)Kacholola Boarding Secondary School, Phase II, and Chiwale Boarding School in Nyimba District at the cost of K24.3 billion and K28.4 billion, respectively. These have been done;
(b)Kasenengwa Boarding School, Phase II, and Chiparamba Technical Girls’ Boarding School in Chipata District at the cost of K29.8 billion per school; …
Interruptions
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker,
(c)Nyampande and Mumbi Boarding schools in Petauke District, at the cost of K29.9 billion and K26.4 billion, respectively; …
Interruptions
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker, I have been there personally, and I am ready to give the information and even show pictures of those schools.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Hon. Member: Take note!
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker, the others are:
(d)Feze Mumba Day Secondary School in Nyimba District and Mutumbata Day School in Petauke District at the cost of K22.9 billion and K19.6 billion, respectively;
(e)Chikoba Day School and Chikoba Basic School in Petauke District at the cost of K13.4 billion and K2.7 billion, respectively;
(f)Chikando Day School and Mboza Basic School, Phase II, in Chipata District at the cost of 13.4 billion and K9.1 billion, respectively; and
(vii) Umi and Kapekesa Basic schools in Lundazi District at the cost of K3.6 billion and K2.6 billion, respectively.
Mr Speaker, that is about education. We are very happy and proud because we are seeing progress. We were queried time and again about the progress we were making. I am giving action to the man of action. So far, he is happy. If you have been reading the newspapers of late, you know that after we have completed the projects that our colleagues left, our target is to put up new schools in new districts like Sinda.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: You saw the advertisements.
Mr C. Banda: We should have Sinda and Vubwi Day Secondary schools. We should not fail if we are able to accomplish a number of projects like we have done.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Hon. Government Member: Yes!
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker, on page 25 of the speech, the President mentioned health services and how much he wanted the PF Government to develop the health sector. This sector is very important to everybody regardless of status. Just as we have done in the education sector, we have also increased staffing levels in the Ministry of Health. Consequently, the situation has improved in the province. The establishment is 4,564, of which 2,892 have been filled. This is 63 per cent, compared with 57 per cent a year ago.
Sir, although 71 per cent of the positions have been filled in the Eastern Province, the establishment is not optimal as some key positions were omitted and this is being addressed. The province has received eleven medical doctors in the last one year, including four specialists, bringing the number of doctors in the province to fifty-nine. I remember that when we were debating the successes of the PF after one year, somebody asked whether eleven doctors was something to write home about and I responded in the affirmative because doctors are not trained en masse like teachers. They are trained in few numbers. If we are able to send eleven doctors to the Eastern Province in one year, what more when we complete our first five-year term?
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: Sir, fifty-five doctors would have gone to the Eastern Province. In our second term, we shall get another fifty-five.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: That increases the figure to 110. In our third term, we will get another fifty-five, making it 165. In the fourth term, we will get fifty-five more doctors, ...
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: ... meaning that the hospitals will be very well staffed.
Sir, the province has also received thirty Community Health Worker Assistants after their one-year training in Ndola and they have been posted to rural health posts in selected districts. What we want is to cushion the problems of classified daily employees (CDEs) that we have.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that the province has also received thirty Community Health Worker Assistants after their one-year training in Ndola. They have since been posted to rural health posts in selected districts. The idea is to replace the untrained personnel in most rural health centres in most of the provinces that we have complained about.
Sir, I would like to report that the availability of essential drugs and supplies in the province has improved to 86 per cent from last year’s 82 per cent. This is attributed to better management of drugs and supplies in addition to the increased budget for drugs.
Mr Speaker, I am proud to tell you that we have completed the Chadiza District Hospital, Phase III; Lundazi District Hospital, Phase I; and Chama District Hospital, phases I and II. We have also completed the feasibility studies for Nyimba District Hospital, Phase I. A contractor has been found and the Government has procured and delivered medical equipment to district hospitals and health centres in the province. Further, the construction of eighteen health posts has progressed very well in the province.
Mr Speaker, on page 28 of the speech, the President touched on one important thing which is agriculture diversification. Let us not take agriculture as a routine activity. It should be treated as a business. It is because agriculture is not treated as a business that we find most of our farmers in the rural areas being short-changed. They do not look forward to the future. When you tell them there is more money in cotton growing, everybody goes into cotton and forgets about everything else because they are not doing it as a business per se. They do not have the knowledge for business. We are now saying that we must inculcate business values into our people. Only then will they be able to diversify so that if one crop fails, the other succeeds.
The FRA has done very well with the building of storage facilities and people are very happy about this. We are transporting the maize on time this time around. Trucks are busy transporting the maize from the smaller depots to the main holding depots in the districts. This is a directive from the President through the speech he gave.
Mr Speaker, two livestock breeding centres are currently being renovated in the province. These centres are in Katete and Lundazi districts.
Mr Speaker, finally, let me talk briefly about road infrastructure development. We have done what many people not do in one year. We opened the rural roads connecting chiefdoms. I am proud to tell you that we have opened Chieftainess Mwape’s areas to Nyampande, Nyampande to Sandwe, Sandwe to Malama and we will open Mfuwe to Chitungulu, Mwanya and Lundazi.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker, we are already working on this.
Sir, the vision that President Sata gave during his first and second addresses to this House was very clear. We hope to continue in the same light. After four years, nobody will say anything against the PF and everybody will want to join the party.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr C. Banda: Mr Speaker, I thank you.
The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Professor Luo): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this opportunity to comment on the President’s Speech delivered on the opening of Parliament this year.
Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I want to start by appreciating the content of the speech and the manner in which it was delivered.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, if we consult the experts, …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, we have issued several rulings indicating that it is desirable that we focus on the substance of the speech, rather than the manner in which it was delivered, for diverse reasons. I do not think that I want to delve into those reasons at this stage. That is my position. In short, I urge you to confine your debate to the substance of the speech.
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your counsel. I want to comment on various aspects of the speech firstly, from a general perspective and then, I will comment on some substantive issues.
Mr Speaker, many times, our colleagues on the left made reference to the fact that the President of this Republic castigated the Executive for their failure to give appropriate responses to questions. He told us to apply ourselves to answering the questions. Our colleagues on the left saw this as a weakness. Let me liken this to a home situation. A father or mother who does not give guidance to his children will not bring up children who will succeed in life. Therefore, the President was simply reminding the House that we have taken responsibility and accountability for the people of Zambia. We must be reminded that we need to apply ourselves to this task. The President did this in the presence of everybody. That is what any good parent does. A good parent rarely praises his children. Parents always point out mistakes more than successes. They only celebrate success when they have been achieved.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, I am very confident that His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata is going to celebrate our success at the end of five years.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President also continued to make reference to some hon. Members of Parliament on your left and invited them to participate in the governance of this country. Let me single out hon. Dr Chituwo.
Sir, hon. Dr Chituwo was trained in this country at a great cost and spent fifteen years to become an orthopaedic surgeon. Therefore, we expect him to continue to contribute to the medical field in this country. The President basically said that those of us who have certain skills should continue contributing to this country regardless of our political affiliation. Hon. Dr Chituwo knows that ever since I joined politics in 1996, I have continued teaching at medical school and have contributed to the medical field in this country. We, in the PF, invite him to contribute to the country. We are not like the MMD which used to label technocrats who could make a difference in this country and prevent them from getting into the corridors of power.
Mr Speaker His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on that day, exhibited a hallmark of leadership by inviting the Opposition to participate in the governance of this country.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, the President must be celebrated because that is what a good leader does. I can refer you to books on leadership to learn about the hallmark of leadership.
Mr Speaker, our colleagues on the left continuously say that the PF is bound to fail because it has not done certain things. I want to remind them that the PF inherited problems from the previous administration. The fact that documents like the Vision 2030 were crafted does not mean their contents were implemented. There is a difference between coming up with a document and implementing its contents.
Hon. Government Members: Yes!
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, I would like our colleagues to search their hearts to find how much implementation they did. How much lawlessness was there in this country? Some of the issues that are being raised, like those of people building houses anywhere, even near the railway lines, were there during their tenure of office. The PF is cleaning up for them. We have spent the last one year doing that. In 2013 and beyond, we want to focus on implementing what our colleagues failed to implement. That is what President Sata reminded us to do.
Mr Speaker, if any one of them was honest with themselves, they should have been celebrating with us because we have been genuine in the manner we have been governing this county.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, let me come to the ministry that I have been tasked to superintend.
Sir, when the colonialists were still in this county, they acknowledged the role that chiefs can play in development. Development is not a one-off thing. You cannot walk in and say that you are going to fix this or that, or develop a five-year national plan or Vision 2030. Development is a long-term phenomenon that requires a lot of work. We got rid of the very critical partners in development.
Mr Speaker, the chiefs were the ones who opened up roads during the colonial time. The chiefs kept a record of the statistics. That is why, in the Southern Province, they are still called Simabuku because they recorded every death, birth and visitor that came to the chiefdom.
Sir, the chiefs were responsible for agriculture and a lot of developmental projects. At the time, they were called the Native Authority. This is what we have brought back as Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs. This is the ministry that is going to champion rural development and ensure that this country turns round once and for all.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Quality!
Professor Luo: So, Mr Speaker, let us not belittle the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs. In this country, there are a lot of problems at the moment. We never had gender-based Violence (GBV) at the level that it is. We never had defilement at the level that it is. We never had (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. We had no such vices.
Sir, let me give a good example of what has happened in the last one year. It took a chief to champion one cause. Chief Macha of the Southern Province took on an assignment to ensure that he got rid of open defecation.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Professor Luo: In Chief Macha’s area, there is no open defecation. Even the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has gone ahead and recognised him for his works. What is the implication of this for those who are saying ‘Aah!’? This means that the people of Macha are going to be healthier. They will not be exposed to diseases that are transmitted fecal orally. So, they will be much healthier.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: Despite going to Inter-Continental Hotel to launch the programme on male circumcision, the figures were not going up. It took Chief Mumena to champion male circumcision for this programme to succeed. Therefore, this ministry is going to deliver this country from the ills that it has been afflicted with.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: The chiefs are going to champion different causes which will make it possible for us to turn round our country. Even with the development that we are talking about; the opening up of roads, ensuring that agriculture succeeds in this country and looking at different aspects of our economy, the chiefs will ensure that all this is done.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, I want to counsel my colleagues on your left to wait and watch how we are going to deliver this country. We are committed …
Mr Mbulakulima: On a point of order, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Aah!
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I have searched around this House body and soul, and I am surprised that there is no one else apart from Hon. Luo who was a full Cabinet Minister during the period that she is referring to. She is the only hon. Member who was a full Cabinet Minister at the peak of the MMD.
Is she, therefore, in order to debate in that manner without first of all, apologising for the destruction that she might have caused to this nation?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Quite frankly, I am not following this point of order, especially the alleged destruction. I really do not know what this is all about, but I will not exercise my mind on that. I will simply observe that the point of order that has been raised is far from being procedural. In fact, it has a destructive effect on the contrary.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: As I have repeatedly said before, if inappropriate, the point of order is simply disruptive. It takes away precious time from the House and distabilises the person who is debating. So, let us ensure that we have good premises for raising points of order, especially when hon. Ministers are responding. We know the practice. Let us observe it.
May the hon. Minister continue, please.
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, for this issue not to be raised again in this House, shall I remind the hon. Member of Parliament that I was one of the few ministers who …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Minister, I have already dealt with that issue and I have ruled the hon. Member out of order. So, just continue from where you left.
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your counsel.
Sir, when I was interrupted, I was saying that the majority of the hon. Members of Parliament who are here represent the rural constituencies. Instead of us focusing on petty issues, can we start focusing on how we can develop our rural constituencies. This will be done by collaborating with us and ensuring that we deliver development to our people, as His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata said. Our people do not eat words. They want bread and butter on their tables. They sent us to this hon. House not to oppose for the sake of opposing, but to see how we can debate issues on their behalf and collaborate with those who are in Government so that development can go to their areas.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Luo: Why do we not learn from our colleagues in Europe who, when they differ on issues, they will still shake hands on success? Where people have succeeded, let us learn to celebrate the success. In the one year that the PF Government has been in office, there has been a whole list of successes that we can celebrate.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, the successes are many. Unfortunately, there are only 158 hon. Members in this House. The voters are many and they will vote the PF back into power.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker gave the Floor to the hon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.
Hon. Opposition Member interrupted.
Mr Speaker: I have qualified.
Laughter
The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Chilangwa): Mr Speaker, I am grateful for giving me this opportunity to debate the many good things that His Excellency the President talked about when he officially opened this august House.
Sir, I do not understand why some colleagues say that the President did not give us a policy direction. One wonders what a policy direction is supposed to be. According to what I know, a policy direction is a landmark that the leader gives to his followers. That is exactly what the President did.
Mr Speaker, when we listen to some of our colleagues speak, you would think that they won the election on behalf of the PF. When you hear them speak, it is like they are the ones who wrote the PF Manifesto.
Sir, the PF’s Manifesto was widely circulated at no cost prior to the elections. That is the document that the Zambian people read. His Excellency the President made his first speech based on the PF Manifesto. This speech we are debating was built on his first speech.
Mr Speaker, the Zambian people know exactly what they want. The Zambian people know exactly why they voted for the PF. The time has come for all of us to learn from the past so that we can become better Zambians and representatives of the people.
Sir, the people of Zambia refused the elitist type of leadership that some people used to practice. The people of Zambia refused assumptions that the PF is just a party for old men. You can look at the configuration of this House and see which side is more elitist that the other.
Hon. Government members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}
Mr Chilangwa: You can see which side has more doctors and professors and which side is more elitist. That is why the people of Zambia believe in us.
Interruptions
Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, on Page 10 of His Excellency the President’s Speech, he said:
“I am particularly impressed with the on-going construction of constituency offices; completion of the construction of the media and visitors centre and installation of solar equipment in some constituency offices.”
Further, he says:
“All these will ensure that we bring Parliament closer to the people. Let me assure this august House and the people of Zambia that my Government is committed to supporting these parliamentary reforms.”
What other greater policy statement can there be? His Excellency the President is affirming that parliamentary reforms are at the top of the agenda because we are taking Parliament closer to the people. Is that not a policy statement?
Mr Speaker, on Page 4 of the speech, the President says:
“Let me however register my disappointment with the violence that characterised some of the by-elections. I wish to emphasis the need to exercise self-restraint and tolerance before, during and after elections.”
Sir, that is what is called a policy statement. His Excellency the President has said no to violence; no to the ‘Mapatizya Formula’.
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, where I come from, there is a saying that goes, iibuluma tailya, which means that the lion that roars does not eat. Therefore, even as we head into Mufumbwe, those with the ‘Mapatizya Formula’ on their minds should watch out because His Excellency the President has given a clear direction of no violence
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, on Page 40 of the speech, the President says:
“Hence, the need for integration of the youth in national development by providing skills training and various youth empowerment programmes.”
Mr Speaker, the Government has made some key pronouncements which include, among others, the National Service and Youth Empowerment Programmes which will all buy into the bigger picture of providing employment for our youth and women.
Mr Speaker, further, the President said that the Government would develop an internship programme in collaboration with employer organisations. This is what our youths are asking for and what the President was emphasising.
Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President goes on to state, on Page 43, that the Government shall enhance enterprise development by establishing business registries in district councils to simplify company registration and to provide entrepreneurial skills. This is all in line with our manifesto.
Sir, we all agree that for any registration of business, people in the rural areas have to come to Lusaka. That is unacceptable. The President stated that this will be decentralised to the districts. People are dancing, waving placards in the constituencies and chatting, “Long live Sata, long live PF!” …
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Hon. Opposition Member: Where?
Mr Chilangwa: … because of our good policy direction. I was in Monze and the youths were saying that they did not expect the President to give such a beautiful speech.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Laughter
Mr Chilangwa: This is all on Page 40, paragraph 4, bullet 2 of our manifesto.
Sir, on Page 46 of the speech, the President talked about mining. Page 47 of the speech and Page 39 of the PF Manifesto state:
“The Government is committed to ensuring that Zambians are empowered to own small-scale mines. It is for this reason that my administration is taking appropriate measures to review the legal and regulatory framework in order to make this a reality. Through these measures, the Government will ensure that the people of Zambia also benefit from the boom in the mining industry.”
Sir, this has been the cry of our people. Our people have been saying, for the last twenty years, that they want to participate in the mines and the Head of State makes a pronouncement that our people must participate in mining. People in Kalomo, where there are semi-precious stones, are celebrating. They are happy because what they are demanding is in line with our aspirations.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chilangwa: That is called policy direction.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chilangwa: In terms of infrastructure, the Government has made two landmark achievements in the last couple of weeks. The first one was the repossession of the Zambia Railways because the infrastructure was run down and it was losing a lot of money. Secondly, the Link Zambia 8000 Project was launched. This is going to provide employment for the poor Zambians, the youth, women and all the vulnerable. Our countryside is going to open up.
Mr Speaker, the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is being revitalised. The list is endless. This Government is listening to the people. People have been complaining that the roads are bad, and the PF worked on the roads. They ask the Government to sort out Zambia Railways and the Government is doing that. The Government has said it will sort out Tanzania-Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA), is that not a policy statement? If these are not policy statements then, maybe, I do not know what policy statements are supposed to be.
With these very few words, I thank you, Sir.
The Deputy Minister for Copperbelt Province (Mr Mwenya): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to debate on this important Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, this is my second term in office. In the years that I have spent in this House, this is the first time that I enjoyed the President’s Speech. I regard this speech to be very special. It is special in the sense that the President gave us something that only a wise person can see or grasp. The President showed his love for this country. He spoke against violence that, indeed, as a country, we do not need to take the politics of this country to that level. I am aware that the political violence that we are experiencing in this country was initiated by the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Hon. UPND Members: Question!
Mr Mwenya: I remember very well that I was a member of UPND.
Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, you have ruled, on several occasions, that we must be very factual when we debate on the Floor of this House. Is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to allege that the violence in this country was initiated by the UPND, and yet when he was the Provincial Chairman of the UPND for the Copperbelt Province, he used to say that the violence in this country was orchestrated by the former Secretary of the MMD, Hon. Michael Sata?
Hon. UPND Members: In Chawama!
Mr Mwiimbu: In Chawama!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
We have a Motion and, to remind ourselves, it is the exposition of public policy. These words are carefully chosen or selected. A while ago, I was reflecting on the word, ‘exposition’. According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, it means comprehensive description and explanation of an idea. That is the definition of the word ‘exposition’. The President presented several ideas about where his Government would like to take this country. At this juncture, it is a function of our colleagues on the right to expound those ideas.
Hon. Members: Expound!
Laughter
Mr Speaker: That is what they should be doing in keeping their various portfolios. I am sure you all heard the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs’ debate. I think we can take a cue from the manner in which he presented and explained the Foreign Policy of the country. Excellent piece of debate it was. I was reluctant to refer to it, but for clarity’s sake, I will. It will not do us any good to begin, as it were, pointing fingers at each other, either on the left or the right. This degenerates the debate. How are we to know who, indeed, are the architects of this very despicable behavior? It is a principle that the President deprecated …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
… and, therefore, I expect that the colleagues on the right will confine themselves largely to the exposition of policy as required by the Motion. I think we can do the politicking outside the House. The people of Zambia are listening to this very important Motion. In short, the hon. Deputy Minister for Copperbelt is definitely out of order.
The hon. Member may continue.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, I thank you for that guidance. May I simply say that, indeed, we need to take heed of what the President advised us against. He said we should refrain from all forms of violence in all our political activities. What I got from that speech, which I regard to be critical and makes me feel that this speech will be remembered in history in a big way, is that the Republican President, His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, extended an olive branch to our colleagues on your left. He said that we need to work together in order to develop this country. I think that is what the President tried to bring out very strongly, hence the reason the President, at the end of that speech, took time to greet each one of the hon. Opposition Members. He was simply trying to bring them on board. I think that is what we need to do as Parliamentarians.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, I found time to go through the President’s Speech and, indeed, each page that I read contained policy statements that were very inspiring. I want to refer to page 42 of the speech which reads:
“My Government shall strive to remove all kinds of administrative barriers for business and improve the financing environment to promote sound development of the private sector. In this regard, we shall accelerate the implementation of private sector development forms to improve the investment climate.”
Mr Speaker, I think this is what we need and it has been lacking for a long time. On page 43 of the speech, the part which interested me most was where the President said:
“To address the many challenges facing our enterprising men and women in accessing credit and finance for the development of their businesses, my Government, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, will introduce legislation that will enable our entrepreneurs to borrow from financial institutions using movable assets such as equipment, agricultural products and inventory as collateral.”
Mr Speaker, this has been the biggest challenge that we have had as a nation. Indeed, we have so many youths, men and women who are unemployed in this country, but it is not easy to create employment. As much as we are trying, as a Government, it is a well-known fact that it is not possible that one can attract many investors to come within a short period, for example, one year, to come and open up companies and employ close to about 10,000 of the people that are unemployed. I think the President is trying to encourage the private sector, especially the banks, to come up with better ways of allowing our people to access capital from the banks.
Mr Speaker, at the moment, you will agree with me that it is not easy at all. People can have ideas to start very small businesses but, without capital, it is practically impossible to start a business. Here we are saying that we are trying to come up with a better way of allowing our people to access capital. If somebody can get about K2 million or K3 million from the bank using minimal collateral, that person can buy, for example, a welding machine and start fabricating very small items. Therefore, there will be creation of employment. We have many people such as plumbers, carpenters and electricians who can engage in very small businesses, but they have been lacking capital.
Mr Speaker, the former Government had attempted to come up with a programme called the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) which I supported fully, as an hon. Member of Parliament. Despite this House allocating so much money to this programme, it is sad to note that all that money was shared amongst themselves. That money failed to trickle down to the vulnerable in society. It is unfortunate to discover that most of them got loans from this institution. Some of these loans amounted to K2 to K4 billion. At the moment, some of the beneficiaries are having difficulty paying back the loans. The essence of creating the CEEC was to try and empower the vulnerable in society, which includes the marketers, so that they can access money.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mwenya: We expected that these people on the streets would be able to access a minimum of K10 to K50 million. Apart from the cadres, how many other people benefited? That is very unfortunate.
Mr Speaker, we have been sent here by the Zambian people, and each vote that is given to us by the poor people, is in anticipation of a programme that will take them out of poverty. We should not become selfish, and get loans at the expense of the people who elected us to these positions, because this is very unfortunate.
Mr Mbulakulima: Who are those people?
Mr Mwenya: Hon. Mbulakulima, please, do not challenge me because I can give you the names of the people that I know got loans.
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
We should avoid these inter-personal dialogues on the Floor of the House. Can those of us listening to the debates avoid these running comments. Let us give each other an opportunity to debate freely. In my opinion, one of the most important privileges of this House is to debate in silence. You cannot debate, if there is cacophony. That is not possible. Let us respect this very important privilege of debating in silence.
The hon. Member may continue.
Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, on page 47 of this wonderful speech, the President speaks about mining. Please, allow me to quote the speech which reads:
“The Government will continue with the mines development programme to attract investment in both large and small-scale mines in 2013. The focus will be on improving the availability of geological information in order to stimulate exploration activities and subsequent opening of new mines.”
He went on to say:
“The Government is committed to ensuring that Zambians are empowered to own small-scale mines.”
I think this is critical.
Mr Speaker, there was an attempt by the former Government to support the small-scale mines. To that effect, there was a pronouncement that was made by the former hon. Minister of Mines and Mineral Development, Hon. M. B. Mwale, of supporting such mines. Currently, there is a disaster on the Copperbelt Province because of the business that our colleagues failed to properly handle. They mobilised youths that formed dubious co-operatives. One of these co-operatives was called ‘Mebula Consortium.’ The formation of this consortium created an impression that they had brought together youths who were involved in stealing copper from the mines so that they could be empowered. Unfortunately, these people were not there. This consortium later sold the dumps to a Chinese firm for US$4 million, for which only US$3 million was paid. After this firm had invested about US$50 million in that area, it was discovered that they could not be allowed to mine, simply because some people in the former Government had manipulated the process. They had allowed other individuals to get licences over the dumps, which was very unfortunate. How could people in the then Government fail to do things straight? How could there be confusion in each transaction that they were mandated to do? This is the reason they are being dragged to court. We need to appreciate the President because he has a very forgiving heart. Some of you still have the audacity to stand on the Floor of this House and attack him.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Minister for the Copperbelt Province, I have already ruled on that type of debate. In light of the ruling, please, depart from that line of debate.
Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, looking at time, may I turn to page 49. As a province, we are very excited because we will soon see the construction of the dual carriageway from Kitwe to Chingola and, hopefully, it will exceed to the border in Chililabombwe.
Mr Speaker, the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Network Project, has not left out any province. It is clearly indicated, in the President’s Speech, that each province will benefit three major road projects, which has not been done before. The PF Government is focused, and the President wants to continue where the First Republican President left off. He also wants to open up the entire Zambia because, once we have tarred roads across our country, this will attract all of us to go back to the land. By so doing, we will be able to decongest the urban areas, and create employment in the rural areas.
With those few words, I thank you, Mr Speaker.
The Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Mr Kalaba): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to His Excellency the President’s Speech.
Mr Speaker, you may be aware that His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, in his speech to this House, emphasised the PF’s drive to improve the socio-economic welfare of our people. He also reminded the House of the many developmental challenges facing our country.
Mr Speaker, in this regard, the Office of the Vice-President, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit has, since September 2011, embraced the PF’s pro-active approach to disaster risk management in order to reduce the socio-economic impact of disasters.
Mr Speaker, since the PF came to power, this unit has been re-oriented in such a way that the Government Disaster Management Policy concentrates on enhancing and building strong disaster risk management mechanisms at the community, district and national levels, as well as building infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters.
Mr Speaker, as you are aware, this goal can only be achieved through enhanced planning, response, reconstruction, rehabilitation and disaster mitigation as demonstrated by the programmes being undertaken by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in my office. My office has made further efforts to achieve this through the integration of disaster risk management in sustainable development planning and programming at all levels.
Mr Speaker, the President reiterated the caring nature of the PF Government. My office’s mandate is in line with the PF Manifesto and the President’s aspiration to attain a social safety net and socio-economic development for all citizens. Therefore, in line with our vision for the country, and considering the President’s passion for national development, a number of activities have been carried out and lined up to ensure that this vision is attained.
Sir, some of the major achievements scored by my office, through the DMMU, during the period September, 2011 to September, 2012, include successfully carrying out a countrywide fast track construction and rehabilitation of crossing points. Some of the critical crossing points include the construction of Mayukwayukwa Bailey Bridge in Kaoma, Mwiluzi Bridge in Mporokoso and Muzhila Bridge in Mwinilunga.
Mr Speaker, we have resettled the 709 households that were displaced in the Sichifulo Game Management Area in Kazungula District.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: My office is currently constructing a road to this area, which is a potential source of jobs and wealth creation through agricultural activities.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, we have also rehabilitated various infrastructure such as schools and hospitals that had been affected by disasters. Some of the works were the replacement of the roof at Kamuchanga Hospital in Mufulira and the construction of Kasepa Basic School in Nsama District.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: Sir, due to climate change and variations, the intensity and frequency of natural hazards has increased, thereby making the poor more vulnerable. The PF Government, as indicated in the President’s Speech, is not sitting idly on this issue.
Mr Speaker, going forward, the PF Government, being pro-active rather than reactive, has put in place preparedness and preventive measures. The main areas of focus for the department during 2013 include:
(a)a multi-sectoral contingence plan for the forthcoming rainy season, which will ensure that communities that are likely to experience shocks are taken care of;
(b)pre-positioning of food stocks and non-food items to ensure that those who are likely to be cut off during the 2012/2013 rainy season still have access to relief materials;
(c)construction of provincial storage facilities; and
(d)operationalisation of the Disaster Risk Management Framework (DRMF).
Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech emphasised the importance of wealth and job creation, especially for the rural populace. This is being achieved through one of the portfolio functions of my office, the Land Resettlement Scheme, whose aim is to facilitate the allocation of land to vulnerable communities.
In order to make these schemes socially and economically viable, my office is taking up the President’s challenge for us to create wealth and take development to rural areas by putting up appropriate infrastructure in these schemes. The provision of amenities like health facilities, schools, electricity, roads and bridges is a priority for this Government as it fulfils the promises we made to our people.
Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President came to this House, …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Kalaba: … with open arms. He was relying heavily on the Bemba saying that goes, imbula ndume, njifyalile iyandi, which means, “I am without a brother; therefore, I will bear my own”. In his Speech, the President was very inclusive. He tried so much to remind us that in the history of our country, we had veteran politicians like Harry Mwanga Nkumbula from the Southern Province; a hero in his own right. All of us in this House have a lot to learn from the way he managed his politics. We also have people like Mr Mulondwe Muzungu, an elderly man full of wisdom. We have a lot to learn from him.
Laughter
Mr Kalaba: We also have Mr Munkombwe, a very wise man.
interruptions
Hon. Government Member: You cannot take that away.
Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I shudder to think that someone can come to this House and say that they cannot work with the PF Government because it is turning Zambia into a police State. Do they know what a police State is?
In a police State, there are extra-judicial powers.
Hon. Opposition Member: Like here!
Mr Kalaba: A police State is like a totalitarian State …
Hon. Opposition Member: Like here!
Mr Kalaba: … where only one voice is heard.
Let us avoid misleading the public out there by using terminologies we have very limited knowledge about …
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: … because it brings incoherent misconceptions.
Mr Speaker, it is important to understand that Zambia is a unitary State. Before we join any political party, we are all Zambians. Therefore, we must understand the spirit with which our forefathers like Mr Kapwepwe and Dr Kaunda operated. This is the environment that the people of Zambia are expecting us to operate in. The bitterness which has poisoned our politics for far too long should come to an end.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: It is important to understand that in any election, there is always the vanquisher and vanquished, like it was in September, 2011. Obviously, some people moved from this side to the other side while others have remained where they belong.
Laughter
Mr Kalaba: This is because the people of this country chose to let it be this way. Our masters are out there and they are listening to us. When they listen to us and realise that we harbour a lot of bitterness within ourselves, they will ask us to find out how Mr Harry Mwanga Nkumbula did it. How did he co-ordinate with his colleagues? Was that the spirit he came with to this House?
Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech was very unifying and encouraging. It also proposed the way forward, and there was nothing trivial about it. I have gone through it three times to convince myself that His Excellency the President was not on target. If he had not been on target, I would have been the first to stand in this House and say so.
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
Mr Kalaba: Believe you me. When the time comes, I will tell you. For now, I can assure you …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Address the Speaker.
Mr Kalaba: Thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech was on target. All the elements in it were very unifying and aimed at making Zambia a more consolidated country.
Sir, people outside this country admire us. I have travelled with Hon. Muntanga before to a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference. People out there are saying we are united, as Zambians. What is wrong with us coming to this House and being united? Let us not divide our people on lines that are not progressive. Let us come to this House and encourage each other to keep up the good work. That is the spirit. It is done in the United States of America (USA).
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: Watch the programmes Cable News Network (CNN), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Sky News, and you will know what I am talking about.
When you follow the campaign messages of Messers Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, you realise that their debates are balanced. Members of the Senate do not talk about a police State that does not exist or fabricate things. This is the spirit with which we should handle national affairs. The earlier we learn this, the higher the chances of my colleagues, who have never moved from that side, coming to this side …
Laughter
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: … because politics …
Mr Monde: On a point of order, Sir!
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Monde: Mr Speaker is the hon. Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President in order to insinuate that the UPND, a party that is coming to power in 2016, will not move from this side. I need your serious ruling.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order!
Unfortunately, I do not have the powers of prognosis.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: All I know is that, in a democracy, any grouping is entitled to vie for the other side. We will defer this issue to the electorate.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kalaba: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for that wise counsel.
Sir, before I was interrupted by the point of order, I was saying that, yesterday, one of the hon. Members of Parliament condemned the appointment of cadres in the Civil Service on the Floor of this House. I think that it is better to be global in perspective as we debate some of these things and understand that even the most advanced democracies, which we aspire to be like one day, like the USA, did the same in 2008.
Sir, when President Obama came into power, the entire machinery at the White House and within the rank and file of the Executive was cleaned up, except for the Defence Secretary who was given some time to hand over because of the Iraq issue. Therefore, how do you expect the PF, coming in with its own manifesto, to rely on people who are tired and haggard to implement its programmes?
Interruptions
Mr Kalaba: It does not work that way, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Member: No!
Mr Kalaba: In serious governance, like that of the PF, we will rely on the talents that we identified when were outside the Government.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}
Mr Kalaba: If a District Commissioner (DC) somewhere in Monze understood and appreciated our policies we will appoint them. Do you want us to go and pick the vice-chairperson of Hon. Jack Mwiimbu’s party to be our DC …
Hon. Government Members: Awe!
Mr Kalaba: … so that they frustrate our programmes?
Laughter
Mr Kalaba: We cannot do that, Sir.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Deputy Minister in order to suggest that I would allow him the privilege of appointing a qualified person from my party when the policy of his Government is to recruit cadres, who are actually mal-administering the Government of the Republic of Zambia, contrary to their assurances to the people of Zambia?
Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Well, my ruling is simply advising hon. Members not to drag personalities into the debate. It is as simple as that. If the hon. Deputy Minister is on the verge of winding up, he should, please, indicate.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: You may continue, please.
Mr Hamududu: Let him sit down!
Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for your telepathy. I was about to wind up when I was interrupted by that point of order from …
Laughter
Mr Kalaba: … Hon. Mwiimbu.
Finally, Sir, I want to urge hon. Members that, as we go for elections, it is important that political parties learn to marshal their own strengths. This is because the issue of coming up with loose alliances that do not work for this country will not assist anybody.
Mr Musukwa: You are right!
Mr Kalaba: Therefore, it is important that parties that vie for this side of the House learn from the PF, which has stood on its own and formed a Government. Now we are going to Mufumbwe to show the people that we exist. However, if you are going to ride on a party that is finished to buoy, then you are finished as well.
Laughter
Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Anyway, on a light note, I am just left to wonder if there is any party which is finished.
Laughter
Hon. PF Members: Boma!
Mr Speaker: Order!
I will call on the hon. Minister of Justice to make both his maiden speech and contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks.
Hon. PF Members: Boma!
The Minister of Justice (Mr Kabimba, SC.): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on His Excellency the President’s Speech and, at the same time, make my maiden speech to this august House.
Sir, I stand here this afternoon with great joy and pride, as I join this august House, which is a symbol of our growing democracy in the country. I would like to thank His Excellency the President for nominating me hon. Member of this House and appointing me hon. Minister of Justice for our country.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba: Mr Speaker, I would like to express my gratitude to the hon. Members of this House who have welcomed and congratulated me on my nomination as well as my appointment as hon. Minister of Justice.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba: It is my sincere hope that they will guide me around this imposing building because I get lost every afternoon when I come.
Laughter
Mr Kabimba: I want to thank, in particular, Hon. Professor Lungwangwa and my brother-in-law, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, who have been very helpful.
Professor Lungwangwa: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba: Mr Speaker, I do not harbour any illusions about the challenges ahead of me, as an hon. Member of this House. I shall, therefore, depend on each hon. Member of this House in the discharge of my functions and duties, not only to this House, but also this country at large.
Sir, the Ministry of Justice is presently superintending over the Constitution-making process. This is a non-partisan programme for which I seek the support and co-operation of all the hon. Members present here. The product of this process will not be a constitution for any political party, but one for all Zambians now living and those yet to be born. We must, therefore, together as a people, work to give ourselves a Constitution that will not only stand the test of time, but also be founded on the social and cultural values of our society. In order to attain this standard, we must ensure that the Constitution-making process is devoid of any outside or foreign interference. Accordingly, the Government has taken the position that all public debates on the process shall be organised through or supervised only by the Technical Committee on Drafting the Constitution.
Hon. Opposition Members: Why?
Mr Kabimba: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President has, from the date of his inauguration, on 23rd September, 2011, taken an uncompromising stance against corruption. This unequivocal stance on the fight against corruption is neither selective nor relative as it has been suggested in some quarters.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba: It cuts across all Government institutions and political parties, including the PF. To this effect, the Ministry of Justice shall play its role, and will depend on all hon. Members of this House to raise the red flag wherever and whenever they detect acts of corruption.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Boma!
Mr Kabimba: Mr Speaker, I urge this House not to speak in whispers about corruption but, instead, say it loud and clear even if it is the hon. Minister of Justice who is involved.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba: The PF, in its manifesto, is committed to strengthening our law enforcement agencies in the fight against corruption. Some of the measures we intend to take will entail amending some pieces of legislation which will come before this House. Therefore, I implore all hon. Members of this House to render support so such legislative amendments. We should all realise that it is not possible for the Government to win the corruption fight alone. The fight requires the concerted effort of all Zambians and their elected representatives in this House.
Mr Speaker, our people have, over the years, cried aloud for our Judiciary to undergo some reforms. However, these cries have not been heeded by the previous Governments. However, the PF, as a listening Government of the people and for the people, has committed itself to undertaking reforms in our justice system and the whole Judiciary.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba: This is a programme of high priority for our Government. We believe that the reforms in the Judiciary must be people-driven, and hence contribute to the promotion of the rights of our citizens. The reforms shall also result in the promotion of transparency, efficiency and a judiciary that shall command the support and confidence of our people. I urge all the hon. Members of this House to play an active role in this programme of judicial reforms.
Mr Speaker, as hon. Minister of Justice and Secretary-General of the PF, I shall practice an open door policy to my office to all hon. Members of this House in the service of my country. I shall not attempt to recruit any member of the Opposition to join the PF unless where this becomes absolutely necessary.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba: Mr Speaker, I wish to extend an olive branch of unity to all of you my colleagues in this House so that together, we can work to fulfil our people’s hopes and aspirations.
Sir, the next presidential and general elections shall take place in 2016. Between now and then, the Zambian people expect selfless leadership and service from all hon. Members of this House. They are not interested in power contestations which characterise our relations within and outside this House.
Sir, I would like to implore all hon. Members …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Kabimba: … to forge a spirit of unity and oneness to deliver development to the ordinary citizens in this country.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Speaking in the House is by volition.
Laughter
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tembo): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for according me this opportunity to debate His Excellency the President’s Address to this august House during the opening of Parliament on Friday, 21st September, 2012.
Sir, I will be very brief in my debate because most of the contentious issues have already been raised by my colleagues.
Mr Speaker, my debate is drawn from Page 35 under Local Government and Housing. Before I go further, I would like to congratulate the Minister of Justice, Hon. Kabimba on his appointment.
Sir, the President’s Address to this august House has set the policy direction on various national issues which shall undoubtedly contribute towards the development of this country.
Mr Speaker, some of the policy directions that His Excellency the President gave touched on, particularly under local government decentralisation, the following:
Updating the Valuation Rolls
Property tax is one of the buoyant sources of revenue for councils. The Government’s commitment to update the valuation rolls for all councils in the country will, in fact, benefit councils by raising revenue in the form of rates.
Sir, the President also talked about the CDF. The Government has made history by increasing the allocation of the CDF from K720 million to K1 billion per constituency, which translates to K150 billion in 2012. This is in line with the promise made by the Government to the people of Zambia.
Mr Speaker, more communities shall be able to access CDF and finance micro-community projects which will contribute to poverty reduction.
Sir, it is disappointing to learn that some hon. Members of Parliament do not get in touch with their councils to know whether they have received the CDF or not. This shows that we do not know why we are here because if we were really representing the people in our constituencies, then we would be getting in touch with our councils as well as the ministries.
Mr Speaker, when responding to question 111, it came to my attention that a few hon. Members of Parliament had not received their CDF when, in fact, these funds are actually in their accounts. I am quite disappointed about that.
Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member in order to suggest that the hon. Members on your right do not know that the CDF is in the respective constituencies’ accounts when, in fact, the hon. Minister has indicated the number of constituencies that have received the CDF and that the rest of the constituencies will receive the funds next week? Is he in order to start misleading the House?
Mr Speaker: This question was the first one we dealt with this afternoon and we spent half an hour on it. I think we started shortly after 1430 hours and we ended at 1503 hours, if my memory serves me right. So, we spent a great deal of time probing the issue. Questions and supplementary questions were asked and answers were supplied and I imagine that the hon. Minister was satisfied that he had dealt with the issue. So, it is surprising that now it has been addressed in this context in this Motion. I must also state in passing that offices of hon. Ministers are public offices. Hon. Members of this House have the liberty to visit them, consult and check with each other. I do not think we should make a lot of issue about a matter which we have devoted already so much time to. Of course, you are still at liberty to address the policy dimension of the CDF and let us leave the nitty-gritty to our day-to-day existence.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for your guidance. I will not dwell much on the same subject. So, let me move on.
Sir, the PF Government is committed to the implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy. I want to assure this august House that sector devolution is commencing in 2013 as a pilot and in a phased approach in line with the PF Manifesto and promise made to the people of Zambia.
Mr Speaker, the President has so far created fifteen districts across the country in the following provinces:
New District Parent District Province
Lunga Samfya Luapula
Vubwi Chipata Eastern
Mulobezi Sesheke Western
Chikankata Mazabuka Southern
Chirundu Siavonga Southern
Nsama Kaputa Northern
Chilanga Kafue Lusaka
Sinda Katete/Petauke Eastern
Pemba Choma Southern
Chembe Mansa Luapula
Zimba Kalomo Southern
Rufunsa Chongwe Lusaka
Shibuyunji Mumbwa Central
Chipili Mwense Luapula
Mwansabombwe Kawambwa Luapula
Accordingly, the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing has created eight councils in eight districts as follows:
New district Council Province
Lunga Lunga Luapula
Vubwi Vubwi Eastern
Mulobezi Mulobezi Western
Chikankata Chikankata Southern
Chirundu Chirundu Lusaka
Nsama Nsama Northern
Chilanga Chilanga Lusaka
Sinda Sinda Eastern
The Government has appointed key officers, through the Local Government Service Commission, and posted them to the newly-created councils. The Government has also disbursed K400 million to each of the newly-created councils to meet recurrent operational expenses from September to December, 2012. We have so far procured two new utility motor vehicles for Mafinga and Ikeleng’i District councils which have been handed over to the two councils.
Mr Speaker, the Government is mobilising funds to procure utility motor vehicles for allocation to each of the new councils. The Government will also mobilise capital funds to construct civic centres, institutional houses for key officers, markets, bus stations and guest houses for all new councils commencing in 2013 and beyond. The creation of new districts is in line with the PF Manifesto of involving our people in decision making and ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of social services in various areas.
Water and Sanitation
The PF Government is committed to the provision of clean and safe water and sanitation facilities to the people of Zambia in line with its manifesto. In order to achieve this, the Government will ensure that more people are provided with water and sanitation facilities in urban and peri-urban areas. We will drill more boreholes and promote acceptable sanitation and hygiene programmes in rural areas in all the provinces of Zambia.
Street Vending
Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to the provision of suitable trading facilities for our people countrywide in line with the PF Manifesto. Meanwhile, the Government has prepared regulations to control street vending following consultations with stakeholders. These regulations will be published and become law very soon. I promised that I would be very brief.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, thank for allowing me to contribute to debate on the Motion on the Floor of the House. I will start by referring to the speech which was delivered by His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. On page 25, the President clearly stated that the PF Government continues to reorganise and manage the health sector to ensure significant improvement in health service delivery. He further said:
“I am sure you are aware that the …”
Hon. Opposition Members: The what?
Mr Mulenga: Hold on. I will tell you. So, just wait. Let me quote exactly what the President said on page 25 of his speech so that we do not doubt.
“In order to address the issue of infrastructure, my Government allocated funds for the rehabilitation of health facilities and construction of new hospitals. We are currently constructing a cancer diseases hospital at the University Teaching Hospital with a total capacity of 220 beds. The Government will soon commence the construction of 650 health posts across the country.”
Mr Speaker, you may be aware that for a long time, our people have been complaining about poor health service delivery in our country. This is mainly due to poor infrastructure in the Ministry of Health. The way people have settled poses a great challenge because they are scattered all over the country. There are situations whereby one has a wife, two children and two grandchildren and they have created their own village very far away from the local administration. This actually poses a great challenge for the Ministry of Health to take health services to people in such places.
Nonetheless, the President is cognisant of that fact. That is why he is saying we need to embark on a programme to reduce the distance that our people cover for them to access health services. The PF Government, therefore, has embarked on this programme of putting up infrastructure, ranging from the health posts, which offer primary health care, up to central hospitals.
Mr Speaker, you will appreciate the fact that the construction of 650 new heath posts in all districts is going to ease the burden for our people in accessing health services. In addition, the Government is going to construct district hospitals in all the districts, including the fifteen new ones, as well as general hospitals in all the provinces.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mulenga: What this means is that before we even benefit from the core business of better health services, there will be a multiplication effect of employment creation. As we construct these health facilities, our people in various districts and constituencies will have more jobs and will, therefore, be able to attend to their social and economic needs.
Mr Speaker, let me discuss the issue of pharmaceuticals. The House is aware that, for a long time, people have been complaining about the shortage of drugs in the hospitals. When the PF Government came into power, it was realised that this is an important issue that needed to be attended to. K93 billion had been allocated to the Ministry of Health in the 2011 Budget for procurement of drugs, but it was increased to K279 billion in the 2012 Budget. This amount was partly to be used for the procurement of drugs. The House will, therefore, appreciate that drugs are now available in hospitals.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Mulenga: If they are not available in your respective constituencies, please, do not hesitate to get in touch with the ministry because it is just a matter of phoning the Medical Stores Limited. The Ministry has enough drugs. The Government is very committed to ensuring that there is provision of good service delivery to the people.
Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech on the last paragraph of page 7 reads as follows:
“Let me also thank the Zambian people for exercising their patience and for continuing to support my Government as it remains steadfast in addressing their many and varied needs.”
Mr Speaker, this shows that the President appreciates the patience that the people have portrayed from the time the PF Government came into power on 22nd September, 2011 to date. The President is aware that a lot has to be done and, as such, the Government will try as much as possible to put things in order so that there is good service delivery to the people.
Mr Speaker, when you come into power as a new government, a lot of things happen. The first thing that happens when you change the regime is that …
Mr Speaker: Order!
I think I made a ruling earlier on the use of that term. I recall a point of order was raised by the hon. Member for Nalikwanda, Professor Lungwangwa. I quoted from a dictionary and showed clearly that, in a democratic dispensation like ours, it is inappropriate to apply the term ‘regime’. So, please, withdraw it.
The hon. Member may continue.
Mr Mulenga: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I appreciate your counsel. I withdraw the word ‘regime’ and replace it with ‘government’. When there is a change of government, the economy goes down.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Mulenga: Yes. I will explain that.
Mr Speaker, in 1991 when there was a change of Government from the United National and Independence Party (UNIP) to the MMD, a number of things immediately changed negatively. The exchange rate increased, the gross domestic product (GDP) decreased. I am not blaming or condemning the Government at that time. When there is a change of government, in the process of putting things in order, a lot of things are disturbed and the economy goes down.
In economics, …
Interruptions
Mr Mulenga: Let me explain.
Interruptions
Mr Mulenga: In economics, …
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
The hon. Deputy Minister may continue.
Mr Mulenga: Sir, let me give an example. In the health profession, a thermometer is used to check the body temperature. One of the hon. Members from the Opposition said that the PF Government has brought down the economy. In economics, the GDP is used to detect the status of the economy.
Interruptions
Mr Mulenga: The status quo …
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Mr Mulenga: … is that since the PF Government has been in power, the economy has been controlled. The macroeconomic indicators, today, are stable. We have not disturbed them, …
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mulenga: … and that is an achievement. They have been anchored. The exchange rate is between 5 and 1.
Laughter
Mr Mulenga: The exchange rate is K5,100 per US$1, and that is where we found it. That is a plus.
Secondly, it is not easy for the Civil Service to quickly fit into the new system. That is the challenge we have today but, in due course, these challenges will come to an end. As I said earlier, this Government is actually committed to providing tools to members of staff in the Ministry of Health so that they are motivated. You cannot motivate civil servants if you do not give them tools to enable them do their work. We need to provide all that they need to use to work, and this is what we are doing as a Government. We want to ensure that they move at the pace that the Government wants to move.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the creation of new districts is a plus to this Government. In doing so, more money and development is taken to the districts.
Hon. Government Member: Tabaishiba.
Mr Mulenga: When you look at my face, you will see that I have no pimple.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Mulenga: Yes. I am very smart. When there is something protruding from my face, you will say that there is a growth. In economics, we use the same principle. The Government is taking development where there is nothing and that is the growth being talked about because it has not been there. Therefore, the creation of more districts …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was about to wind up my debate.
In conclusion, Sir, I would like to appeal to my colleagues on your left to develop a culture of reading.
Laughter
Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, there are assertions from the left that the PF Government came into power without a plan.
Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!
Mr Mulenga: This is why I am saying that they should develop a culture of reading. I have with me the Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Health for 2011 to 2015.
Mr Mulenga displayed a document.
Sir, in this strategic plan, there are very good and important programmes that our Government plans to implement between 2011 and 2015. You will appreciate that we assumed power well prepared and the question of having no plan does not arise. This document, which I will not even lay on the Table, was provided to us in our pigeonholes and, instead of reading it, we just threw it away. Then those in the Opposition come to this House and start saying that the PF has no plan.
Mr Speaker, it is for this reason that I urge my colleagues to take time to read all documents that are placed in their pigeonholes as they are meant to help them.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (Mr Sakeni): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to debate on this important Motion.
Sir, firstly, as far as I am concerned, the President’s Speech was inspiring and uniting. I would also like to thank my colleagues who contributed to debate on the Motion on both sides of the House, whether positively or negatively. I thank them for exercising their constitutional right to contribute in the manner they did.
Mr Speaker, I will concentrate my debate on my ministerial portfolio. Information is at the centre of any development in any country. It was, therefore, gratifying to hear His Excellency the President provide direction to the country, in general, and the information sector, in particular.
Sir, this House has witnessed a number of developments in the information sector. There have been, among others, the following:
(i)providing free and fair media coverage by the public media houses; and
(ii)opening up of radio and television licensing and the consideration of rural communities in terms of information dissemination.
Mr Speaker, the Government attaches great importance to media law reforms and media growth. It is against this background that the Government has consistently engaged in wide consultation with various stakeholders on media law reforms to ensure wider participation and inclusion of the changing environment.
Sir, freedom of information has always been a passion for this Government and, as such, tremendous progress has been made on the Freedom of Information Bill (FoI). I am glad to inform this august House that the Freedom of Information Bill has just been cleared by the Attorney-General’s chambers. Therefore, as soon as consultations with all stakeholders and all procedural requirements are exhausted, we will bring this Draft Bill to the House. I hope that all the hon. Members of Parliament, including those on your left, will support it, considering its national importance.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, the growth of broadcasting is entirely dependent on an enabling legal and economic environment. To emphasise this, this House passed the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act of 2002 to ensure sustainable growth in the broadcasting sector and provide guidance in the electronic media industry in the country. This is in line with technological advancement. Unfortunately, from 2002, the previous Government failed to implement this law.
However, I am glad to report that the PF Government has developed the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) structure, which is currently being finalised by the Management Development Division at Cabinet Office. As per requirement of the Act, – I was actually part of those who passed it – the ministry will ensure that the members of the board are appointed as soon as all procedural requirements are exhausted. In this initial stage, the IBA will be financed by the Government but, with the passage of time, we hope the IBA will sustain itself through various fees that it will be charging on licences like the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) does.
Mr Speaker, the PF Government remains committed to the promotion of freedom of expression and that of the press, as can be seen with the way our public media is reporting on national matters and giving fair coverage to all stakeholders today, including the hon. Members on your left together with their leaders.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, in this regard, may I take this opportunity to echo what His Excellency the President said when he emphasised the need for responsibility and professionalism on the part of those calling for freedom of the press and that of expression.
Sir, freedom without responsibility is chaos. Therefore, this Government will not facilitate the freedom that leads to chaos and anarchy. As a Government, we will continue to issue as many television and community radio licences as possible on condition that the recipients of these licences operate within the provisions of the licences.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}
Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, on rural television and radio, in a bid to reach rural communities, which are largely disadvantaged, the ministry is in the process of implementing the project on the provision of television and radio stations in all provincial centres. A lot of work is being done by the ministry and we expect to complete this programme in the next three years or so.
Mr Speaker, digital migration is an important undertaking for the Government so that the country does not lag behind in affording the digital era. Currently, the Task Force on Digital Migration is working tirelessly to ensure that the country is on course. We are confident that Zambia will beat the 2015 deadline on this matter.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will soon deliver a ministerial statement to this House on this matter.
Appointment of Boards for the Public Media
Mr Speaker, while we appreciate concerns about delays on the appointment of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Board, I thought that hon. Members should also give credit where it is due. The PF Government has appointed board members at the Zambia Daily Mail and The Times of Zambia. These two major institutions were operating without boards when we came to power. Those on the other side, MMD hon. Members, in particular, know this. As for the ZNBC Board, my ministry is finalising the appointment process and, as soon as the Cabinet approves the nominees, we will bring the names to this House for ratification, in line with the ZNBC Act. We will act within the confines of the law. The Government is as concerned as the hon. Members on the need to quickly appoint the board at the ZNBC in order to enhance good corporate governance. I assure this House that this matter is receiving very active attention.
Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, let me extend my gratitude, once more, to the President of the Republic of Zambia for his inspiring speech. I also wish to thank my colleagues on the left for their attention. They kept quiet and listened.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Deputy for Southern Province (Mr Kufuna): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the speech which was delivered by our President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata.
Mr Speaker, among the many important issues which were raised in the speech was the need to close the development gap between the rural and urban areas. This may also mean closing the gap between the majority poor and rich few.
Mr Speaker, on page 16 and paragraph 2 of the speech, the President said:
“The Government recognises the need to intensify efforts in closing the gap between rural and urban areas, and create opportunities to achieve sustainable development through economic growth and diversification, social development and environmental protection’
Mr Speaker, as Southern Province Minister, developing rural areas is close to my heart.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kufuna: The phrase ‘intensify efforts’ reflects the seriousness with which we, as the PF Government, regard the issue of decentralisation. This is so because our first call of duty is to improve the welfare of the majority of our people, especially those in rural areas.
Sir, my Government is in the process of creating opportunities in order to achieve sustainable development in rural areas. Opportunities will be created by taking roads …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Let us have some order, please.
Mr Kufuna: … like the Link Zambia 8,000 km even to the rural areas. Various schools that are being constructed and those that will be constructed in the Southern Province will lead to better lives in rural areas.
Sir, the health centres that are being constructed and those which will be constructed later will better the lives of people in rural areas.
Mr Speaker, my Government will ensure that all Government departments in rural areas perform. When these services are delivered, the private sector will be interested in investing in the rural areas, thus improving the lives of the people there. In the long run, the rural areas will be upgraded to urban areas.
Sir, the Southern Province will benefit from the newly-created districts.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, closing the development gap between rural and urban areas does not mean bringing, for instance, Pemba to Kafue so that it is near Lusaka.
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
Laughter
Mr Kufuna: What this means is that we should to make Pemba look like Lusaka.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, Lusaka once looked like Pemba.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kufuna: This kind of development will create employment and make it readily available in other districts. This will decongest Lusaka and the Copperbelt cities.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, Choma will soon graduate from the status of town to that of a city because of the huge infrastructure investment that the PF Government is putting up.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
Mr Kufuna: Sir, for the first time, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Conference will be co-hosted between Zambia and Zimbabwe. As a result of this event, many tourists will start coming to Zambia. After the conference, the number of tourists in Zambia will be more than it is currently. As a result, our country stands to gain economically.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Taima): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me an opportunity to add my voice to the debate that is on the Floor of the House.
Sir, my contribution will be from the perspective of commerce, in general. Then I will make reference to His Excellency the President’s Speech and, in the process, respond to some of the concerns, observations or suggestions that have been made by various hon. Members who spoke before me. I will also try to be focused so that I am brief in my contribution.
Mr Speaker, in respect to fostering inclusive social and economic development, His Excellency the President said that we would have to enhance expansion and diversification of the economy. He further said that we need to continue promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) while doing everything possible to foster local investments as well. He also talked about a continuation of the programme of mines development.
Mr Speaker, under the sub-heading of ‘Employment, Wealth Creation and Empowerment’, His Excellency the President called for the implementation of the national strategy on industrialisation and job creation through four targeted growth sectors, which are tourism, construction, manufacturing and agriculture. He also mentioned the creation of strategies to proactively address youth unemployment. Further, he talked about the integration of youths in national development by providing them with skills. Youth empowerment programmes were also mentioned.
Mr Speaker, another matter addressed by His Excellency the President, in relation to the private sector, was ...
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Taima: ... the need for the Government to accelerate the implementation of the private sector development reforms …
Mr Mwamba entered the Assembly Chamber.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Ema President, aya!
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Taima: … so as to improve Zambia’s investment climate. Other areas touched included the provision of small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) with infrastructure, equipment and training so that we can enable them to operate more efficiently.
Mr Speaker, these are only a few areas that I identified in the President’s Speech. I will centre my brief debate on these issues.
Sir, it goes without saying that these areas I have picked out are important policy concerns. It cannot be true that the President’s Speech can be described as not having had any content worth talking about.
Hon. Opposition Member: Question!
Mr Taima: There is a lot because these are but a few areas that I have picked.
Mr Speaker, it is a known fact, in the history of our country, in terms of economic development, that going back about 20 years or so ago, which is the farthest that many would want to refer to, we started with liberalisation, which was followed by privatisation. These, obviously, led to the closure of companies and job losses because of the competition that the previously-protected companies were exposed to.
Sir, a few other programmes followed which saw the country being opened up to FDI and there was a very serious call for FDIs, with the focus on generally growing our economy and hoping that, as a consequence, we would have many jobs being created for the people of Zambia.
Mr Speaker, it is true that we have seen a big increase in FDI over the years, and some jobs have been created. However, it is also true that we still have a very serious challenge, in terms of the levels of unemployment, as a country. My opinion is that the reason …
Interruptions
Mr Taima: I appreciate the correction.
Mr Speaker, the reason we are still grappling with these high levels of unemployment, as a nation, is that we have not deliberately focused on carefully-selected sectors with detailed analysis on how we hope to grow them so that we can subsequently create jobs. This is where I want to appreciate the position taken by the PF Government, which has decided to deliberately focus on programmes aimed at creating jobs which will be in the short, medium and long-term. In this area, for example, the Ruling Party, in its party manifesto and in agreement with the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP), has identified four growth sectors to focus on, paying a lot of attention to how these sectors should grow and, ultimately, creating the much-needed employment for the people of Zambia. These sectors are agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and construction. Our nation’s historical economic mainstay, which is mining, will still remain a key player in growing our economy.
Mr Speaker, in agriculture and also in line with the policy guidance that was given by His Excellency the President, which is that we need to expand and diversify the economy in order to create more jobs, let me speak from the perspective of my ministry.
Sir, as we are going to market opportunities for investment in the agriculture sector, as Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, our focus will not only be on crops, but also the entire value chain. We are talking about crops, horticulture, livestock and fisheries and forestry and related products. Still under agriculture, we will focus on the area of support …
Mr Hamudulu interjected.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Member for Siavonga, sit down. You have been very persistent in disrupting the proceedings. It is not being honourable.
Hon. Deputy Minister, you may continue.
Mr Taima: Mr Speaker, I was saying that, as Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, in our marketing of investment opportunities in the area of agriculture, we will focus not only on crops, but also other areas in the whole value chain in the sector. This is where we will look at support services such as technology. We will also have to call for investments in Agricultural Demonstration Centres. Just recently, a few hon. Deputy Ministers and I had an opportunity to go to China where we visited one of the Agricultural Demonstration Centres and had an opportunity to call for the people managing those centres to consider coming to invest in Zambia.
Mr Speaker, under support services, we will be talking about storage facilities, vaccination services, supply of food stocks, agricultural inputs and packaging. We will go further and look at value addition. This is where we will have to encourage agro-processing and have products like canned beans, canned beef, mealie-meal, stock feed and cooking oil.
Mr Speaker, as I was preparing my notes, I came across information in the 2010 World Report, which was an analysis and commentary on the current population of cattle in Zambia. The report says that, currently, Zambia only has a cattle population of about 3 million. The report also mentions that Zambia has the potential to quadruple its growth in that area if it could invest reasonably in disease control and commercialise that industry. That can be another area which can create jobs. Obviously, we will have to talk about slaughter services such as abattoirs and distribution services, which are currently being undertaken by companies like Zambeef. We will also talk about exporting by-products, such leather.
Sir, in tourism, we will be calling for investment, which we are already doing. We will have the opportunity to host the UNWT) Conference in 2013, as might be already commonly known by hon. Members and all the people listening to my debate.
Sir, we want to continue calling for more investment in this sector. When we are calling for investment, it has often been said that we are biased towards foreigners. On the contrary, we actually call for investment from both nationals, including hon. Members and foreigners. Therefore, hon. Members should consider investing here. I must mention that we have many incentives for those who invest in the tourism sector.
Mr Speaker, I realise that there are many other hon. Members who want to debate but, if I had more time, I would run through some of the incentives that we have for those that choose to invest in the tourism sector. Let me mention that, for example, if one is constructing and they bring in materials from outside the country, these will come in duty free. The first five years that are for profits and dividends will go without tax. These are the incentives that go along with investing in the tourism sector. So, we are calling for investment in this sector. Let me add that research has shown that more employment opportunities are created in the tourism sector than in any other sector. This has been proved the world over. This is because there is limited mechanisation in this sector. It matters less how much technology is brought on board in this sector because, by nature, it still remains labour intensive. For example, if one is investing in the mining sector, there is so much heavy equipment that is brought and good as that equipment may be in increasing efficiency and maximising on production capacities, it disadvantages people who are seeking jobs. On the contrary, when one invests in the tourism sector, he/she has to rely on human capital. So, this is a very important sector and there is a need for us to market it.
Mr Speaker, in the manufacturing sector, we will have to focus on value addition with high local content. We want the raw material inputs, labour and logistical support services to be coming from within our country so that we can truly say that we are adding value to our products, and the benefits that we accrue for the nation will be meaningful.
Mr Speaker, under manufacturing, we will encourage agro processing so that, for instance, we can turn groundnuts into cooking oil, cotton into fabric, maize into cornflakes and so on and so forth. With regard to industrial minerals, we can turn limestone into cement, phosphates into fertiliser, manganese for battery production in Mansa and deposits of silica which are ideal for glass production. Let me mention that we have one of our own nationals, who is embarking on a project that is similar to the Kapiri Glass Factory, because of the heavy presence of silica in that area.
Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, also called on us to accelerate the private sector development reforms. This is an on-going programme which started a number of years of ago but, in line with the directive, we will do just that. Let me enlighten the hon. Members that this programme generally aims at improving the investment climate by targeting areas that reduce the cost of doing business. This refers to the ease of registering a company and property, closing a company and employing. We have a reform programme which is vigorous and going very well.
Mr Speaker, let me digress a little and give a general update on one of the areas of concern that was raised by the hon. Member who spoke before me, which is that this Government has neglected and caused the farming block project in Central Province to stall. To be specific, this is the Nasanga Farming Block. The general update on that issue is that the project is still receiving active attention and in its approach, we will have what we call a core venture operator. This operator will be given a huge chunk of land in the central part of the block, with the other surrounding parts of the block being given out to the Zambians.
I want to confirm that all the land around the core area of this farming block has already been given to Zambians. However, they cannot begin to operate because the whole project will have to be driven by a core venture operator. In the international media, there was an advertisement for a core venture operator. Processes were done, and we have reached a stage where we have to attend to a little technicality. There is a committee in place that was tasked to drive this project of farming blocks. This will soon be sitting in order to chart the way forward. All I can say is that the farming block committee, which was tasked to drive the farming block projects, will have to sit very soon and review this, then chart the way forward.
Mr Speaker, I have a long list of issues to talk about, but I realise that my time is running out and other people want to debate.
Mr Speaker, concerning investment promotion missions, we undertake these missions for a purpose. They are not in vain. Sometimes, concerns are raised that the hon. Minister and some other people are always travelling on investment promotion missions. These trips are actually worthwhile.
Statistically, over the past nine to twelve months, we have travelled to different parts of the world to promote investment opportunities in Zambia. We have received very overwhelming response. On minimum, we have had twelve trade missions from different parts of the world intimating to consolidate their projects in different sectors of our economy such as real estate, manufacturing, agro processing and cement production plants.
Mr Speaker, I can go on and on, but let me simply conclude by saying that the Government is very determined and focused on achieving very meaningful development for the people of Zambia. The earlier that hon. Members realise that we have no choice, but to work with the Government of the day in order to achieve development for our constituencies, the better.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Dr Katema): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to contribute to debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Speech of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata.
Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech was very inspiring and has set the tone and pace for the development of this country. The President reiterated his pledge to make Zambia a better place for all in line with the Patriotic Front Vision.
Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, in his speech, pointed out the Government’s intention of establishing a multi-sectoral monitoring and evaluation system which will enhance resource allocation and track policy performance, including support of results-based-management.
Mr Speaker, under the previous Government, evaluation of implementation of policy was rarely done. As a result, it proved difficult to ascertain the desirability of certain courses of action and their outcomes. This meant that it was almost impossible to show attribution and casualty of interventions.
Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech went further to state that in the area of physical prudence, the Government will ensure that resources are used wisely by making sure that focus is on programmes aimed at poverty reduction and employment creation. The President’ Speech was also critical on ensuring that his Government fosters inclusive socio-economic development by expanding and diversifying the economy.
Mr Speaker, allow me to illustrate how this will be realised through the indication provided in the President’s Speech as follows:
“The 2013 Budget will ensure that economic growth is inclusive and pro-poor by focusing on the areas of education, health, agriculture, local government and housing and improved governance, with emphasis on rural development.”
Mr Speaker, the speech was also mindful of the fact that not everyone can be employed formally, hence it has also put emphasis on skills training and creating of self-employment opportunities, especially for the youth and the women of our country.
Mr Speaker, the Government continues to re-organise the provision of health services by taking services closer to the communities through the construction of new health infrastructure, procurement of essential drugs and recruitment of health workers in line with the National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP).
Mr Musukwa: Hear, hear!
Dr Katema: Sir, under agriculture, the Government desires to diversify the sector. In order to attain this, the President, in his Speech, pointed out that the Government would continue to strengthen household food security and production, through value addition in the form of agro-processing. Further, the Government will increase the participation of the private sector in the provision of agricultural inputs by moving away from centralised procurement, which will reduce red-tape and delays in the distribution of inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Mr Speaker, kindly allow me to draw your attention to the President’s vision on social protection. The President stressed the need to urgently integrate the various social protection programmes that were being implemented by the previous Government. Some programmes had been running without being evaluated to know whether they are having any impact.
Sir, under my tenure of office, the first thing we are doing, as a means to commence the integration, is to assess the relevance of some of these programmes so as to direct resources to programmes with the highest impact on the lives of people. Further, in order to promote the integration of programmes, there is a need to have a multi-sectoral approach towards social protection programmes under the sectors of health, education, agriculture, local government, labour, gender and disaster management.
Sir, coming to the rights of persons with disabilities, His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, informed this House that the Government has commenced the domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. To this effect, a number of statutory instruments (SIs) will be issued to operationalise the provisions of the 2012 Persons with Disabilities Act which this honourable House passed.
Kindly allow me, Mr Speaker, to clarify some of the concerns that were raised about my ministry by one of the hon. Members of Parliament on your left. The hon. Member said that public primary health care has been moved to the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health and wondered how we expect the Ministry of Health to function when all that it is left with is clinical care.
Sir, most of the communicable diseases such as diarrhoea, which are killing our women and children in the community, need the community’s interventions. It would be unfair if an outbreak of typhoid occurred in Mufulira due to the community’s use of sewer water in their gardens because of poverty, to go and castigate a health worker or a nurse or clinical officer at a health centre. The interventions lie in the community. We have tried before to have interventions at health centres.
Mr Speaker, the intervention against malnutrition, which is an underlying cause of death amongst our children, is misplaced because children are fed in the community, not at the health centre. Therefore, making interventions to reduce malnutrition at the health centre is misplaced. The intervention should be in the community where the children are fed. This is the reason the PF Government thought it wise to give the responsibility of looking after the health of the communities back to the community.
Sir, with these few words, I thank you.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
(Debate adjourned)
ADJOURNMENT
The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.
Question put and agreed to.
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The House adjourned at 1915 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 11th October, 2012.