Wednesday, 17th November, 2021

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Wednesday, 17th November, 2021

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

______

 

MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

 

BY MR KAFWAYA ON THE MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY MR NKOMBO WHICH IMPLIED BIAS IN IMPLEMENTING DEVELOPMENT BY PF GOVERNMENT

 

Mr Kafwaya: On a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: A Matter of Urgent Public Importance is raised.

 

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the matter is based on Standing Order No. 135(1) which says:

 

“(1) A matter shall be considered urgent and of public importance if –

 

  1. it is case of recent occurrence;
  2. it involves the administrative or ministerial responsibility of the Government.”

 

Madam Speaker, I raise this matter on Her Honour the Vice-President. As I speak to you and to the nation, this country is divided because of the information that has been brought to this House via a ministerial statement by the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. That ministerial statement implied that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government delivered development to the nation in a biased manner to disadvantage some areas of this country in contravention of both Article 8 and Article 9 of our Republican Constitution. Article 8 states:

 

“The national values and principles are:

 

  1. human dignity, equity, social justice, equality and non-discrimination.”

 

Madam Speaker, Article 9 states:

 

“The national values and principles shall apply to the –

 

  1. development and implementation of state policy.”

 

Madam Speaker, what the hon. Minister stated on the Floor yesterday implied that the previous Government did not follow the Constitution when delivering development. The three provinces which the hon. Minister alleged to have been disadvantaged, as a matter of fact, received more infrastructure development than any other area of this country.

 

Madam Speaker, I will give you examples. The Mongu/Kalabo Road alone cost this nation K4.8 billion, whereas the total budget for the feeder roads that were –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, you are supposed to raise a matter of urgent public importance. You are not supposed to debate. So, what is the matter of urgent public importance that you wish to raise?

 

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the nation is divided.

 

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

 

Mr Kafwaya: This nation is divided because the people who are alleged to have received a bigger portion of the cake are now up in arms against –. The people of Kaputa do not have a single feeder road. The people of Senga Hill do not have a single feeder road, yet the people in Kaputa are hearing that they got the biggest chunk. I imagine that is exactly what is happening on the Copperbelt Province, Luapula Province, Muchinga Province, the Eastern Province, including Central Province of this country.

 

Madam Speaker, I gave an example of just one project and it does not include the Sioma/Mongu Road via Senanga and Nalolo, the Mazabuka/Turnpike Road, the Kalomo/Dundumwezi/Itezhi-Tezhi Road, the Kazungula Bridge, the Bottom Road and the Chingola/Solwezi Road.

 

Madam Speaker, it is very clear that the PF Government followed an integrated multi-sectoral approach in delivering development, meaning that the development which was happening in the Ministry of Energy, when all the districts of the North-Western Province were migrated from diesel energy to the grid –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Lunte, you are now debating. You are not raising a matter of urgent public importance as required by our Standing Orders. The idea of raising an issue is not to try to rebut what the hon. Minister said in the statement. Just raise a matter of urgent public importance and then I will be able to state whether or not it qualifies to be raised as such. So, you are not helping me by giving examples and in a way trying to rebut what the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development stated in his statement but maybe, let me not pre-empt. Just help me understand what the issue you are raising is, so that I can be able to guide appropriately. Please, do not debate.

 

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, thank you very much. As I was saying, I have been receiving very disturbing calls from the people of Kaputa, Lunte and Senga Hill asking where the development the hon. Minister said we benefited from is, when we can see the Kazungula Bridge, the Mongu/Kalabo Road and the Chingola/Solwezi Road.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is dividing the nation by suggesting that there was bias in the manner development was implemented. The integrated multi-sectoral approach has not been understood. It is, therefore, my thinking that Her Honour the Vice-President should guide her hon. Ministers to understand the concept of the integrated multi-sectoral approach so that one does not pick one aspect of development and inform the nation that this part of the country was discriminated against the other when in fact, the opposite is true.

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your further guidance.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Yesterday, the hon. Member for Lunte raised an issue on the interpretation of Standing Order No. 135(1)(c) through a matter of urgent public importance, and I reserved the ruling. Today, the hon. Member for Lunte has again raised another matter. Let me guide that matters of urgent public importance are raised under Standing Order No. 134. Standing Order No. 135 deals with the admissibility of a matter of urgent public importance, and for the purposes of guidance, I will read this Standing Order.

 

“(1) A matter shall be considered urgent and of public importance if –

 

  1. it is a case of recent occurrence;
  2. it does not relate to the general state of affairs;
  3. it involves the administrative or ministerial responsibility of the Government;
  4. it requires the immediate attention of the House and the Government and
  5. it deals with only one substantive issue.”

 

So, for a matter to be admitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 135, it must satisfy all the criteria stipulated under Standing Order No. 135 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e). If it stands on only one leg, then, it will not be admitted.

 

Now, the issue that the hon. Member for Lunte has mentioned relates to a reaction to the statement that was given by the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development yesterday. The hon. Member for Lunte stated that that statement has caused an uproar in the country because people are complaining and wondering where the development that was said to have been delivered is. Whereas I agree that that matter could be important, does it meet the criteria that are stated in Standing Order No. 135? In accordance with Standing Order No. 135(1)(a), is it a case of recent occurrence? When were the feeder roads made?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Do you want to deliver the ruling? Can I give my ruling first?

 

According to the hon. Minister, the feeder roads were constructed over a period of time. So, it is not a matter of recent occurrence. Of course, the statement was made yesterday.

 

Hon. PF Members: Yes!

 

Madam Speaker: So, is it the feeder roads or the statement that –

 

Hon. PF Members: The statement.

 

Madam Speaker: Okay, let us take it that it is the statement. Then it does not relate to general state of affairs. Did that statement relate to the general state of affairs? It relates to the whole country; it did not relate to only Kaputa or a selected area. It does not relate to a general state of affairs. It is just about roads. So, on that criterion alone, it does not relate to the general state of affairs, meaning it does not qualify because it has already missed one criterion. Part (c) says “it involves administrative or ministerial responsibility of the Government.” We can say that yes, it relates to the administrative responsibility of the Government. Part (d) says “it requires the immediate attention of the House and the Government.” Does that statement require the immediate attention –

 

Hon. PF Members: Yes!

 

Madam Speaker: If nothing is done, what catastrophe is going to result?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: No. Having read Standing Order No. 135, no catastrophe will happen if something is not done today. Part (e) says “it deals with only one substantive issue.” This one dealt with a number of issues such as roads. So, having read Standing Order No. 135, my view is that that point of order does not qualify to be raised under Standing Order No. 134. What the hon. Member for Lunte was doing –

 

Mr Lusambo: No, no!

 

Hon. PF. Member: On a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: I have not called on anyone, and I have not finished. I am just waiting for you people to finish discussing. When you are done, then, I will continue. So, my ruling is that point that was raised by the hon. Member for Lunte does not qualify to be raised as a matter of urgent public importance.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: I have previously guided that if hon. Members have issues, they can raise them using so many other mechanisms allowed by the Standing Orders such as Motions. Today is Wednesday, and Motions can be moved by hon. Members and they can be debated. However, from the time that we started sitting, I have not seen any Motion being moved.

 

The other thing is that, as I said yesterday, hon. Members should not wait until the House is sitting to raise matters of urgent public importance. For example, when the rain blows off roofs at some location or place, surely, does an hon. Member need to wait until we are sitting to come and raise the matter? By the time the hon. Minister or Her Honour the Vice-President comes to give a statement, it is about three or four days thereafter. Then what happens to that matter that occurred? Are we going to leave the members of the public affected to suffer while we wait for a ministerial statement?

 

I encourage hon. Members to engage the respective hon. Ministers and the Office of the Vice-President in cases of emergency, especially now that we are going into the rainy season. I do not think there is anything inhibiting hon. Members from approaching Her Honour the Vice-President and seeking assistance, and immediately those issues will be addressed. Now, if we wait to come to the House to raise matters under matters of urgent public importance, we put the lives of the people at risk. Let us be proactive. So, as I ruled, that matter does not qualify. It is disallowed.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

BY MR SIMUMBA ON ZRA CIRCULAR ON TRANSPORTATION OF VEHICLES IN THE COUNTRY

 

Mr Simumba: On A Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: A Matter of Urgent Public Importance is raised.

 

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving the people of Nakonde a chance to raise a matter of urgent public importance under Standing Order No. 134.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Nakonde’s source of livelihood depends on the clearing industry and motor vehicles in transit.

 

Madam Speaker, I am a very sad Member of Parliament because as I speak, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), an institution under the watch of the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, has issued a circular, and it says:

 

“Effective 1st January, 2022, all vehicles transiting through Zambia as a cargo by road shall not be moved on its wheels but shall be conveyed by a carrier specifically designed for conveyance of vehicles.”

 

Madam Speaker, a carrier is a truck designed to carry more than twenty vehicles. This means that 4,000 drivers under the Nakonde Drivers Association and in Muchinga will be jobless, and this is against the promise that the New Dawn Administration made to the people of Nakonde. This is an emergency; the people are planning to go into the streets to demonstrate because they are jobless.

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious guidance on this matter.

 

Madam Speaker: The point that has been raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Nakonde is within the knowledge of the hon. Member of Parliament for Nakonde himself. We have not seen that circular; it has not been laid on the Table.

 

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, it can be laid on the Table.

 

Madam Speaker: Even if the circular was there, that directive –

 

Mr Simumba laid the document on the Table.

 

Interruptions

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Whereas the issue of not allowing motor vehicles to be driven on their wheels but have to be carried on a carrier is of importance, especially in respect of the drivers who are earning a living from that trade, we cannot say that if the Government does not do something now, there is immediately going to be some catastrophe. So, that matter that the hon. Member for Nakonde has raised does not meet the criteria stipulated under Standing Order No. 135 (1) and (2). Therefore, it is not allowed.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, it is important that we familiarise ourselves with the rulings that have been rendered by the House in terms of the applicability of Standing Order No. 134 and 135 before we raise matters of urgent public importance so that we are compliant. Also, let us use other Standing Orders in order to address the concerns that we have which we need the Government to address.

 

BY MR MUNIR ZULU ON YOUTHS NOT CONSIDERED IN APPOINTMENTS OF DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

 

Mr Munir Zulu: On a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Madam.

 

Madam Speaker: A Matter of Urgent Public Importance is, raised.

 

Mr Munir Zulu: Madam Speaker, I rise on a matter that deals with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Art. Youths countrywide are crying that when the new District Commissioners (DCs) were appointed, they were not considered. Some DCs have been denied entry to their offices by the youths.

 

Madam Speaker, I stand here as a youth and to represent the interest of the youths. Should the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Art be seated comfortably in here knowing that the youths outside there are not being considered?

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as I have guided, we are abusing the application of Standing Order No. 134. The issue that has been raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Lumezi does not qualify to be raised under Standing Order No. 134. Please, consult the Office of the Clerk if you have an issue or want to raise a matter and you will be guided accordingly. So, that point that has been raised as a matter of urgent public importance is disallowed.

 

Maybe there is still another matter of urgent public importance.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Since we have exhausted that item, we can make progress.

 

_______

 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

 

ON THE COMMUTING BETWEEN LUSAKA AND KABWE FOR WORK BY THE COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF THE ZAMBIA CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

 

The Minister of Home affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu): Madam Speaker, I am a bearer of a message from the President to the effect that the nation is more united now, than it was under the Patriotic Front (PF).

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, Hear!

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to render a ministerial statement on a matter of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Bowman Lusambo, the Member of Parliament for Kabushi Constituency on the commuting between Lusaka and Kabwe for work by the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service.

 

Madam Speaker, let me inform the nation through this august House that in 2013, Cabinet made the decision to relocate the prison headquarters from Kabwe to Lusaka. The relocation of the headquarters to Lusaka came with a many challenges. One of the major challenge was inadequate housing accommodation for the officers. This meant that officers had to commute between Kabwe and Lusaka. The situation resulted not only in huge expenses but also presented risks to officers who were commuting. During this period, the service recorded a number of road traffic accidents involving Zambia Correction Service officers, and in some instance, these accidents were fatal. It was against this back ground that in 2019, the PF Government, revisited its own decision and issued a presidential decree that the Zambia Correctional Service headquarters was to relocate back to Kabwe.

 

Madam Speaker, with regard to the specific issues raised by Hon. Lusambo, allow me to give a brief background on the events that led to the two road traffic accidents. On 20th October, 2021, after attending to national duties, the Commissioner-General in the evening was taken to Makeni, where he was to spend a night. After he was left, officers were on their way to park the vehicle registration number PS 2114 B at the senior correctional officers’ mess in Kabwata when a Toyota Fortuner registration number CZM 1 suddenly cut in front along Linda Road in Makeni area, resulting in an accident. The driver of the Toyota Fortuner registration number CZM 1 was charged with careless driving and has since paid an admission of guilt fee.

 

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, 28th October, 2021, around 1700 hours in Liteta area, along the Great North Road, the Commissioner General was traveling on duty from Kabwe to Lusaka, when the accident involving three motor vehicles, a Foton pickup van registration number PS 2230, used by correctional officers, a Toyota Landcruiser V8 registration number PS 1, the official vehicle for the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service, and a Volvo truck occurred.

 

Madam, preliminary investigations by the Zambia Police Service Traffic Division revealed that the road traffic accident happened when the Volvo truck driver failed to keep to his lane, hence the Foton pickup van hitting the truck’s fuel tank, which fell off on the road. The official vehicle for the Commissioner-General, which was following the Foton pickup van, hit into the dismembered fuel tank of the Volvo truck. Two male correctional officers from the Foton pickup van died on the spot. May their souls rest in peace. Other officers sustained injuries and were rushed to Kabwe Central Hospital. Fortunately, the Commissioner General, Mr Fredrick Chilukutu, survived the accident without any injuries.

 

Madam Speaker, let me inform the nation, through this august House, that a board of inquiry has since been constituted to critically investigate the cause of the accident. Going forward, the recommendations from the inquiry report will inform measures to be implemented.

 

Madam Speaker, contrary to insinuations by some hon. Members of the Opposition, the Commissioner General has been accommodated in Kabwe from the time he was appointed. It is, therefore, not right to purport that the Commissioner General has been commuting between Lusaka and Kabwe. The House, however, may wish to note that the Commissioner General, as a service chief, is required to attend meetings in Lusaka whenever need arises. Further, as a member of the Central Joint Operations Committee (CJOC), it is imperative that the Commissioner General attends to CJOC issues as well as to other urgent matters in Lusaka. The call of duty, therefore, entails that the Commissioner General has to attend to matters in person.

 

Madam Speaker, I also want to state that the Commissioner General is a resident of Kabwe and by virtue of his office, he is required to attend to important duties in Lusaka whenever he is required.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

 

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for that information. Is the hon. Minister able to share with us the terms of reference of the board of inquiry that has been constituted, and how long will it take for the report to be out?

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, as I indicated, a board of inquiry is established whenever an issue of the nature I alluded to occurs. The members of that board of inquiry determine their own terms of reference in order for them to come up with a report that is acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). I am not in a position to reveal the actual terms of reference at the moment.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Lusambo (Kabushi): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security for that response he has given to this House and the nation at large. It is common knowledge and in public domain that there are people who are commuting from their residences going for work on government duties. It is not only the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service who has been commuting between Kabwe and Lusaka.

 

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Kabushi, the statement relates to the matter of urgent public importance that was raised by yourself, hon. Member. The hon. Minister has specifically reacted as directed by the Presiding Officer to issue a statement on that issue. The issue of other officers or members of the Executive who are commuting was not raised. So, we are going outside the statement that has been rendered by the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security. What is required now is for hon. Members to ask points of clarification relating to the statement that has been issued. So, your questions should relate to the ministerial statement only. Do not bring in new issues. You may proceed if you still want to ask a point of clarification.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, I was just concerned as a citizen of this country who has an interest in the Office of the Presidency of Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker: That matter does not arise.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security has not indicated the house number of the residence the Commissioner General is occupying in Kabwe and the road –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, am I protected here?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members, can we maintain some silence in the House as we allow hon. Members to ask questions. When hon. Members ask questions, to them, that question is important. So, let us give them an opportunity and then they will be answered appropriately, according to the question that they have asked. So, let us not interrupt each other.

 

Hon. Member for Kabushi, have you finished?

 

Mr Lusambo: No, Madam Speaker, and thank you very much for protecting me from these greenhorns. The home affairs –

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Kabushi!

 

Laughter

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Kabushi!

 

When there are bees on a tree and you keep on pushing a stick in the tree, they will bite you. So, careful. When you incite people, they will react and that is not good for the House. Just ask your question. If you want to go and stir up the hornet’s nest, you can do that outside. Proceed.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister indicated to this august House that the official residence for the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service is in Makeni.

 

Mr Mulusa: He did not say Makeni.

 

Mr Lusambo: Yes, his official residence is there.

 

Hon. Government Members: No.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, I am talking through you, but some hon. Members are commenting. If they are arguing, let the hon. Minister go through the statement. The hon. Minister said that the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service’s official residence is in Makeni. When the first accident happened, some officers escorted him to Makeni and left him there and they went to park the vehicle in Kabwata. That is what the hon. Minister said. So, the people of Kabushi and the nation at large want to know when the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service shifted from Makeni to Kabwe. What is his house number and what is the name of the road he stays in?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, for the benefit of the hon. Member for Kabushi Constituency, I will read part of the statement that I issued on the Floor of this House.

 

Madam Speaker, with regard to the specific issues raised by Hon. Lusambo, allow me to give a brief background of the events that led to the two traffic accidents on 20th October, 2021. After attending to national duties, the Commissioner General in the evening was taken to Makeni where he was to spend a night. After he was left, when the officers were on their way to park the vehicle registration No. PS 2114 B at the senior correctional officers’ mess in Kabwata, a Toyota Fortuner registration No. CZM suddenly cut in front along Linda Road in Makeni area resulting in an accident.

 

Madam Speaker, I never indicated that the official residence of the Commissioner General is in Makeni, in Lusaka. I never mentioned that. Further, the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service is a security officer whose residence cannot be disclosed publicly so that members of the public who intend to harm him can have access to his house. With your permission, Madam Speaker, I cannot reveal the house number for the Commissioner General of the Zambia Correctional Service.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, in the first place, allow me on behalf of the people of Roan Constituency to pass my sincere condolences to the families of the two officers who died during the course of duty.

 

Madam Speaker, some officers from our security services such as the Zambia Police Service and the Zambia Correctional Service tend to somehow drive in a reckless manner simply because they use vehicles with number plates PS or ZP even when it is not necessary for them to do that. Will the ministry engage our officers so they can also respect other road users? It could be a case of overzealousness where someone is not even supposed to put the alarm on but he does that. The hon. Minister will help the travelling masses on the roads by engaging our officers so they can also follow the road regulations to avoid such incidents.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, as a ministry, we have taken note of the concern raised by the hon. Member and that is not the only issue that has been raised pertaining to reckless driving on our roads. We will engage everyone who is in authority, who has been using facilities like escorts on our public roads so that there is law and order. We also appeal to the members of the public who are motorists to strictly adhere to the traffic rules and regulations.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chabinga (Mafinga): Madam Speaker, I bring you greetings from the people of Mafinga. However, in his submission, the hon. Minister indicated that at some point, the Commissioner General, as a Service Chief, was not a member of the Central Joint Operations Committee (CJOC) but he is now a member. The offices of the Zambia Correctional Service were relocated to Lusaka as a result of the houses that were built by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government at that time. Since the Commissioner General is now a member of the CJOC and he resides in Kabwe, are there plans for him to relocate to Lusaka since he will need to frequently attend the CJOC meetings to avoid any further occurrences?

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you for the greetings from Mafinga.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, I did not say that when the Commissioner General shifted to Kabwe, he was not a member of that committee. I indicated that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government in 2013 decided to relocate the correctional services headquarters from Kabwe to Lusaka. As a result of the regular accidents that were happening on that road, it again decided to reverse its decision and to relocate the correctional service headquarters to Kabwe. That is what happened. The New Dawn Government has not yet made any decision to again relocate the headquarters of the Zambia Correctional Services back to Lusaka.

 

However, I will hasten to mention that the good people of Kabwe complained when the headquarters of the Zambia Correctional Service was relocated from Kabwe to Lusaka for the obvious social and economic considerations that took place. So, with the guidance of Her Honour the Vice-President and the leadership of the Government, we will have to review as to whether it will be necessary to bring back the offices of the Zambia Correctional Service to Lusaka. In the meantime, we are guiding the officers based in Kabwe to be cautious and conscious of the motoring on the road between Kabwe and Lusaka. As hon. Members may be aware, the road between Kabwe and Lusaka is generally congested and the road users have to be very careful as they use that road.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security for that elaborate statement. The hon. Minister was not clear in terms of relocating the headquarters of the Zambia Correctional Service from Kabwe to Lusaka and Lusaka to Kabwe, a decision that my hon. Colleagues on the left were involved in. Could that back and forth decision of relocating the headquarters be part of the pre-meditated attempt to arrest President Hakainde Hichilema and incarcerate him for unnecessary –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kambita: Could that be the reason our colleagues were involved in that?

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

I think that question is not in line with the ministerial statement that was issued. We have heard, but there will be no reaction from the hon. Minister. We can make progress.

 

_______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

CHIENGE VITAL INSTITUTIONS NOT EXEMPT FROM LOAD SHEDDING

 

88.    Rev. Katuta (Chienge) asked the Minister of Energy:

 

(a)        why ZESCO Limited does not exempt from load shedding the following vital institutions in Chienge District:

 

(i)         health centres;

 

(ii)        police posts; and

 

(iii)       police stations; and

 

(b)        what measures are being taken to ensure that the institutions above are exempt from load shedding.

 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Kapala): Madam Speaker, clinics, police stations and police posts in Chienge District are located at the end of the power line from Mbereshi, a distance of about 150 km. This means there is no alternative source of power once the line from Mbereshi is off. Since those institutions are far from the source sub-station in Mbereshi, exempting them from load shedding in the event of a power deficit would simply exempt everyone connected between Mbereshi and Chienge, that is Nchelenge, Kashikishi, Mununga, Kaputa and Lupiya. This would defeat the very purpose of load shedding which is to save the power system from total collapse.

 

Mr Shakafuswa: On a point of order, Madam.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Mandevu, you are out of order. You cannot raise a point of order when the hon. Minister is on the Floor.

 

Mr Shakafuswa: I am very much aware Madam Speaker, but the hon. Minister is not wearing a mask.

 

Mr Lusambo: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Shakafuswa: Is he in order, Madam Speaker?

 

Madam Speaker: Okay. The hon. Minister will wear the mask and those people who are in the habit of saying, hear, hear, you are distributing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

 

Laughter

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Kapala: My apologies, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, currently, ZESCO Limited is not carrying out any load shedding in Chienge as there is enough generation capacity to meet the demand. The last time Chienge was load shed was in March, 2020, when there was countrywide load shedding.

 

Madam Speaker, in view of the circuit configuration, it is difficult to exempt those institutions from load shedding. However, in order to ensure continuity of supply in the event of a load management programme or power outages, the following measures have been instituted:

 

  1. ZESCO Limited has engaged these institutions and has provided scopes for generator sizes for these institutions to procure and be installed by ZESCO Limited on their behalf as standby source of supply in an event of load shedding or any power failure due to faults in the lines;
  2. ZESCO Limited has also advised the institutions to consider installing solar power systems at the premises. ZESCO Limited will work with the institutions and will provide scopes once these institutions are ready to procure solar power systems; and
  3. with the coming online of Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station, not only Chienge, but the entire country will be exempted from load shedding due to the capacity. It is also important to note that the Government is focusing on harnessing all hydro generation potential sites in the northern circuit of the country such as the Luapula River Basin and others to increase power productive use to support our developmental agenda in these areas as we focus on our decentralisation agenda as part of the United Party for National Development (UPND)’s vision.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Rev. Katuta: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for, at least, responding to the people of Chienge.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to speak to the Executive. I think it is high time that it changed the entire Civil Service. Most of the answers that are coming from hon. Ministers are not true, but I know it is not their fault.

 

Madam Speaker, even during the time of campaigns, we were having load shedding. Recently, I was supposed to be on a programme, but there was load shedding and I could not be on air. Please, do something because it is not looking nice to the people of Chienge. Each time I ask a question, it is like I am trying to argue with the Executive when it is not the case. The truth of the matter is that we have been having load shedding in Chienge. There are sensitive institutions, and imagine having a police station or clinic which is completely in the dark.

 

Madam Speaker, my question is: When are we going to receive the power generator sets (gensets) the hon. Minister mentioned in his answer to help the people of Chienge?

 

Madam Speaker, the other question – I do not know if I am allowed to ask another question?

 

Madam Speaker: That will be your second and last question.

 

Rev. Katuta: Madam Speaker, then let me reserve it. The hon. Minister should first respond to the first one because I am really concerned that the Executive has not been responding to me according to what is on the ground in Chienge. When are we receiving the gensets?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I think the hon. Member for Chienge is mixing up technical faults on the line and load shedding. According to the information that I have available here, load shedding in Chienge was last done in March, 2020, as I stated earlier on.

 

Madam Speaker, as for the supply of generator sets (gensets), I did not say that ZESCO Limited will supply the gensets. Let me read the first sentence which deals with that. ZESCO Limited has engaged these institutions and has provided scopes for generator sizes for them to procure and be installed by it on their behalf as standby sources of supply in an event of load shedding or any power failure due to faults in the line.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: The question was when? When will those gensets be supplied? That is the question.

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, ZESCO Limited is not obliged to supply the gensets. It will only install them based on the specifications that it will provide.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Lusambo (Kabushi): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the statement.

 

Madam Speaker, we sympathise with the people of Chienge, just like we do with those in other constituencies, especially in Ndola; Bwana Mkubwa, Ndola Central, Chipulukusu, Sinya, Kabushi and Chifubu, who are experiencing load shedding in clinics and police stations.

 

Madam Speaker, when is load shedding going to end, knowing very well that the previous Government invested colossal sums of money in power generation in our country?

 

Madam Speaker, I am aware that while we are ‘starving’ or being load shed here in Zambia, other countries in the region, like South Africa, are enjoying our power. When is load shedding going to end in the places which I have just mentioned?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, as I stated earlier on, there is no loadshedding being conducted right now. There are only technical faults on the faulty lines. Load shedding, as the hon. Member for Kabushi puts it, will only come to an end when ZESCO Limited is well resourced and all repairs are done on these power lines.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as we ask supplementary questions, let us not stretch and bring in matters that are not forming part and parcel of a question.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for providing those answers.

 

Madam Speaker, on issues of power generation sets (gensets) and the connecting of health posts to solar energy, the issue of Chienge is a particular case. According to the way the hon. Minister explained, the institutions that the hon. Member for Chienge mentioned in her question are at the far end, meaning that if they are not load shed, the purpose will not be achieved, which is to save power. Since this is a peculiar case, is the ministry through ZESCO Limited able to provide a genset for the health centre? I am also very concerned because I have been there and I know what is obtaining.

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, ZESCO Limited is facing serious financial challenges. I do not see it supplying one genset to one particular clinic or police post considering that there are thousands of institutions in the same situation.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: We are running out of time. There is also a Motion that has to be considered. So, we will move to the next question.

 

HECTARES OF LAND HELD BY JIFUMPA MINE IN KASEMPA

 

89. Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

 

  1. how many hectares of land were held by Jifumpa Mine in Kasempa District, as of July, 2020;
  2. whether the land was on title;
  3. if so, when the title was issued;
  4. whether the displaced households had been resettled and compensated, as of July, 2020;
  5. whether the Jifumpa Mine has any corporate social responsibility programmes for the benefit of the local people; and
  6. if so, what the programmes are.

 

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe): Madam Speaker, Jifumpa Mine in Kasempa District holds 743.3245 ha of land.

 

Madam Speaker, the land in question is on title.

 

Madam Speaker, the title was issued in 2016 and then in 2018 after an extension.

 

Madam Speaker, all the displaced and effected families were compensated; in total, eighteen households and twenty-one agricultural fields.

 

Madam Speaker, the Jifumpa Mine owner, Ruida Mining Company, was previously instructed to develop a social management plan through which to implement a comprehensive and community responsive corporate social responsibility package. To date, this has not been delivered. The company has been instructed to deliver the plan to the office of the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development within a month.

 

Madam Speaker, the mine has undertaken the following programmes:

 

  1. bought a car for the local Chief Kasonso;
  2. built a church;
  3. built a market;
  4. painted Jifumpa Primary School at a cost of K20,000.00;
  5. contributed towards the construction of school toilets;
  6. donated 200 school bags to pupils at Jifumpa Primary School; and
  7. sunk three boreholes for the local people.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Pambashe, un-mute yourself and proceed.

 

If he is not ready right now, we will get back to him.

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the answers that he has given to the people of Kasempa.

 

Madam Speaker, setting up community managed trust funds yields meaningful, relevant and sustainable corporate social responsibility for investors countrywide, especially those in the extractive industry. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the New Dawn Government is taking keen interest in making sure that it tells these people to come up with an agreement or a certain order which investors would adhere to protect our people? It is like our people are duped and are not getting any meaningful thing. At the end of the day, they just remain with pits where people are going to die from.

 

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question.

 

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government is emphasising on the aspect of social licence for all investors in our country because we believe that wherever an investor is doing mining activities, he must understand that people expect to benefit from whatever activities that he is doing. As such, we are making serious emphasis. That is why you will hear us suspending certain mining licenses or even certain mining activities. This is because we believe that most of those people did not care about the social licences where they are operating from. So, equally, an investor who has a mining licence must understand that he also needs to have a social license. The people in the area his operating from must accept him. In accepting him, it means they have to see what the benefit of his presence is in a particular area, and this is where the issue of corporate social responsibility comes in.

 

Madam Speaker, as such, we are emphasising this even as we relook at all the issues of licences that were given out and how our investors are operating. We do not want to be left with just holes and people come, go away and Zambia remains with nothing. We want to make sure that our people are benefiting. That is why we are engaging and reengaging all the mining companies in the country to relook at their social presence and social licence with the people wherever they are operating from. This is a critical matter and we have taken it very seriously.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I am so grateful that the hon. Minister has given a very elaborate answer on this matter. The hon. Minister has pointed out to some happenings towards corporate social responsibility by mine owners, and I stand to be corrected, the owners of Jifumpa Mine. My question is: Is the ministry satisfied with the corporate social responsibility that the owners of this mine are undertaking in this community?

 

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the question. Sometimes, this is why we say that we should pay a lot of attention when a statement is being given. I said that we are not satisfied with the corporate social responsibility they are giving. It is in the statement, and we are have given them an ultimatum to submit what they are suppose to do. So, when he reads the statement – actually his question has been tackled in the statement.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Rev. Katuta: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the answers that he is giving. Does the ministry accept the buying of a vehicle for a chief as corporate social responsibility, yet it does not benefit the subjects in a particular area? Could the hon. Minister kindly discount such a purchase as a form of corporate social responsibility by any mining company and that it should not even be mentioned on the Floor of the House.

 

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I beg to differ. I thank the hon. Member for that question. I know that the hon. Member comes from a rural constituency. She would appreciate, if she has lived in rural constituencies or villages where chiefs are. Giving a chief an incentive of transportation is a very big issue for chiefs. If we are running a business in a particular chiefdom, one of the things that we need to do as a business is to actually make sure that the chief and the people are comfortable. So, the social licence begins with the chief and the people in the chiefdom, and of course, other social amenities within the chiefdom. For me, it is just in order that we mention that this was done for the chief.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kamondo: Madam Speaker, coming from mining areas, we want to speak for our people. We have actually heard what this company has promised the people of Kasempa and it is quite ambitious. Could the hon. Minster kindly give the people of Kasempa some comfort that if the mining company does not do what it has promised in the period it has been given, then something should happen because it has taken us for granted?

 

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for his question. He realises that on the issue of Jifumpa Mine, I have had many discussions, even with the Member for Kasempa, Hon. Tambatamba. We have spoken quite a lot and we are not taking this issue lightly. We, as the New Dawn Government, are very serious. We have not come here for show. Whenever we visit these mines, we tell them that we have not come here for show or to hear them sing songs about the corporate social responsibility. We are very serious and will do whatever it takes to make sure that they comply. If they do not comply, relevant action will be taken against them because they have to make sure that they are also responsible to the community where they are mining.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Katotobwe (Luapula): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister especially for the position taken on corporate social investment.

 

Madam Speaker, I note the Government’s position on social corporate investment and I fully support its review. Before I ask my question, allow me to do a quick calculation of the 200 school bags bought by this investor –

 

Mr Mutale: On a point of order, Madam.

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Mutale: Madam Speaker, I know that points of order must be raised contemporaneously, and I could not raise it earlier because the hon. Minister was still speaking.

 

Madam Speaker, when you give us chance to ask questions on points of clarification, it means that we need to ask where we did not get the hon. Minister very clearly. My asking the hon. Minister to confirm whether the ministry was happy with the corporate social responsibility the owners of the mine are implementing in that community was for me to get more clarity or a clear answer.

 

Madam Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister came out very blunt and said that is why we say you should be listening, meaning that when I sat here listening to him attentively, I was not listening. You gave us an opportunity to rise and ask questions on points of clarification, meaning that where we did not get him clearly, he should clarify.

 

Madam Speaker, according to Standing Order No. 65(2)(c), is he in order to say that the people of Chitambo and I were not listening to him when he was giving an answer?

 

I need your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Member: Pay attention.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members, the issue here is that repetitions just eat into our time. So, it is best that when a statement is being made, we pay particular attention. A point of order cannot be raised just to react to the hon. Minister’s answer. That point of order is not properly raised, so, it is not allowed.

 

Hon. Member for Luapula, you may proceed.

 

Mr Katotobwe: Madam Speaker, simply put, could the hon. Minister be in a position to know the turnover for this mining firm to help me do a quick calculation of the cost of the 200 bags vis-à-vis the turnover? If the answer is negligible, are the civil servants doing a credible job by bringing 200 bags as a corporate social investment to school children on this Floor?

 

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, like I said, if you have lived in a remote area, a school bag is a very important thing. However, if you live in town, a school bag does not mean anything. It is like a shoe in a remote area. Maybe, people have not seen shoes for a long time. Certain things mean different things to other people, but in a remote area, even a school bag is an important aspect.

 

Mr Katotobwe indicated dissent.

 

Mr Kabuswe: So, whether the hon. Member shakes his head to agree or disagree, that is just a fact.

 

Madam Speaker, even a pencil in a rural setting is an important thing. So, when we mention these little things that are being done, we may consider them little because maybe we have a lot, but to those who do not have, even small items mean a lot to them.

 

Madam Speaker, we are not saying the company has done enough. In the statement, I said the corporate social responsibility of this mine is not yet up to speed. We are still trying to make sure that the mine ups its game and does more. It can even bring more books, pencils, bags and more shoes. To us, that is responsibility; it means our children can wear shoes, uniforms and go to school. What we are saying is that the mine just needs to up its game because it has not reached a point where we are satisfied that its corporate social responsibility is as it should be.

 

Madam Speaker, I, therefore, think that it is important to mention the little things so that we also bring the House up to speed that we are still pushing and within a month, the mine should up its game and do more in terms of corporate social responsibility.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr E. Tembo (Feira): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development for his response as well as the positive energy that he has shown in his work.

 

Madam Speaker, the issue before this House is that there has been an exercise of corporate social responsibility. However, I am more interested in the resettlement and compensation of the displaced families. One of the principles of displacing people for purposes of investment is that they must be resettled and compensated in such a manner that their lives would be far much better than they were, to the extent that they would not even miss going back where they were. How has been the resettlement in view of what I have said? Has there been enough compensation such that the people are happy and they cannot go back? I know that before people are resettled or displaced, everything that needs to be compensated must be in place.

 

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, for purposes of hon. Members getting clearly what we are saying, I will read point (e) of the response to the question. I said that the Jifumpa Mine owners were previously instructed to develop a social management plan through which to implement a comprehensive and community responsive corporate social responsibility package. This includes issues of resettlement and compensation, and I said, to date, this has not been delivered and the company has been instructed to do this. Much as it has done part of it, it has not done the comprehensive thing that we have been looking for. So, as such, we are waiting for the company to respond to the ultimatum we gave then all these matters will be settled.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Malanji (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, we appreciate the effort the Government is making to engage the corporate world to make sure there is corporate social responsibility. If I heard the hon. Minister right, he said this mine has been given an ultimatum to make sure that it meets the standard that the Government wants for corporate social responsibility. What law did the Government quote in giving the ultimatum?

 

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, the ultimatum we gave the mine is to conduct corporate social responsibility as a Government policy.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Which law?

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Looking at the time, we need to make progress. We go to the next item on the order of proceedings, which is Notice of Motion.

 

_______

 

MOTIONS

 

GIVE 100 PERCENT SCHOLARSHIP

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that, in order to increase access to higher education, this House urges the Government to give all first year students at public universities 100 per cent scholarships, with effect from the 2022 academic year.

 

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika Central): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, let me begin by expressing my profound appreciation to you for giving me this opportunity to move this Private Member’s Motion whose aim is to urge the Government to give all first year students at public universities 100 per cent scholarship with effect from the 2022 academic year.

Madam Speaker, this is a non-controversial Motion which hinges on the social and economic development of our country. Part of the intention of this Motion is to give the New Dawn Government an opportunity to categorically state its position on the provision of free education from nursery to university, which it promised the Zambian people during the campaigns for the 2021 General Elections. I, therefore, expect all hon. Members to support this progressive Motion.

Madam Speaker, from the outset, let me state that the need to enhance access to higher education cannot be overemphasised. It goes without saying that education in general, and higher education in particular, has a positive effect on human life and plays a fundamental role in shaping our societies and the general welfare of our people. Many development practitioners have noted that if well managed, higher education has the potential to develop a high level human resource which possesses the necessary knowledge and skills for economic and social transformation.

Madam Speaker, further, such problems are becoming more complex. As such, it is becoming more urgent to expand and enhance the provision of higher education so as to create technically competent human resources to solve various societal problems, especially those affecting the youth. It has been said many times before that young people are the future leaders. However, let me hasten to mention that the future of many Zambian youths lies with us here in this august House. The decision we will make today, based on this progressive Motion, will have a significant bearing on their future and the ultimate outlook of our country.

Madam Speaker, you may recall that in the run-up to the 12th August 2021 election, one of the United Party for National Development (UPND) campaign promises was that it would provide free education from nursery to university. Now that the people of Zambia have given the UPND a mandate to preside over the affairs of this country, it needs to walk to the talk and fulfil this important promise.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency, President Ed – Hakainde Hichilema –

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Which one?

Mr Mung’andu: I am so used to my President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, during his first Address to the First Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, President Hakainde Hichilema also emphasised the importance of tertiary or higher education.

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government made a pronouncement that it would scrape off the fees from Grade 1 to Grade 12 and, indeed, it scrapped them off. However, I want to mention that Grade 1 to Grade 7 fees were already scrapped off by the previous Government and it reduced the fees from Grade 8 to Grade 12. Those in rural areas were paying K150 and those in urban areas were paying K200, which was manageable. However, the biggest challenge that has remained is high education fees, which most parents cannot afford.

Madam Speaker, the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Act No. 31 of 2016 provided the mandate to the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board to give loans to our students, which it has done very well. It is against this background that the previous Government decided to enhance the award of these scholarships even to those universities that were outside the usual culture of the Copperbelt University (CBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA).

Madam Speaker, I have figures here that support why I am urging this New Dawn Government to fulfil this promise. UNZA alone, for the 2022 academic year, has accepted above 16,000 students and of these, above 13,000 have applied for university scholarships through our Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board.

Madam Speaker, this New Dawn Government has only budgeted for 2,000 students, which means more than 10,000 students will be unable to access higher education. Considering that this Government came into being because of the youths of this country, the same youths whom if not given the 100 per cent scholarship will be unable to progress in their careers and livelihoods. It is, therefore, imperative that this New Dawn Government should consider rewarding these youths, who have been quoted internationally to have ushered it into Government by giving them 100 per cent scholarship.

Madam Speaker, I will go further to demonstrate the problem that lies ahead of us if we do not support this Motion. The Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board has been helping 19,631 students from Kapasa Makasa University, Mukuba University, Mulungushi University, Kwame Nkruma University and Chalimbana University. This was made possible because the previous Government scrapped off the meal allowance. It is the recoveries that the Government has made through students who are now working that have enabled it to sponsor more than 7,000 students from two universities.

Madam Speaker, after I made up a follow-up with the technocrats, I learned that it was the intention of the previous Government to re-instate the meal allowance at a later stage.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer!

Mr Mung’andu: I further urge the Government to fulfil His Excellency the President’s promise. President Hakainde Hichilema promised the students that if he was sworn in at 1200 hours, by 1600 hours he would be selling the Gulf Stream Jet to ensure that their meal allowance is restored.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mung’andu: It is on record. So, I urge this New Dawn Government and all the hon. Members of this august House to support this Motion as a way of the UPND Government fulfilling its campaign promises.

Madam Speaker, the most important campaign promise which our hon. Colleagues should never u-turn upon is giving university students free education. We know that our hon. Colleagues are good at u-turning on campaign promises. They promised the people of Zambia that they would rule by the rule of law.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Madam Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

 

Mr Kapyanga: Now, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, thank you so much for according the people of Mpika an opportunity to add their voice on this very important Motion moved by the hon. Member of Parliament for Chama South, who I should also hasten to thank for having moved such an important Motion that carries the plight of poor students at heart.

 

Madam Speaker, education is said to be one of the greatest investments. It also plays an important role in the development of a person and the country at large. However, there are times when most students from rural areas such as Mpika, Shangombo, Namushakende and other areas do not have the money. Their parents do not have the money to take them to tertiary education. As such, this Motion has come at a better time when there is political will by the New Dawn Government to have free education from nursery school to the university. It is also affirmed by Article 26 of the Universal Declaration –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, please, put on your mask.

 

Proceed, hon. Member.

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I am sorry. It is also affirmed by Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states:

 

“Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

 

Madam Speaker, human capacity development is enhanced through levels of education including education at tertiary level. However, like I have stated, most people fail to take their children to universities due to the lack of money. Some people benefited from polices of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government whose children learnt from Sub (A) up to whatever level for free. They did not pay anything. At least this Motion is just asking the Government to pay 100 per cent bursaries for first year students effective the 2022 Academic Calendar.

 

Madam Speaker, given the growing complexity of contemporary context, higher education is increasingly becoming important in enhancing people’s abilities to make informed decisions, produce, adopt and adapt technology, sustain livelihoods, cope with shocks and be more effective stewards of natural resources.

 

Madam Speaker, today, the People’s Republic of China, is the second world’s largest economy, and sometimes, it even surpasses the United States of America (USA) because it invested so much in education. Our country can only develop if we invest in education. I am a very happy Member of Parliament because, like I said, the New Dawn Government has political will to provide free education from nursery to university. This Motion should not be politicised because it is just supplementing the efforts of that political will, which is already there.

 

Madam Speaker, I will be very disappointed if any hon. Member from your left or right will actually make manoeuvres to shoot down this Motion because the political will is already there. What is just needed is the fulfilment of that political will. The President has on several occasions stated that he will implement free education. Anyone who will be against this Motion is against that presidential policy.

 

Madam Speaker, the United Nations(UN), Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4, requires member states to ensure that there is equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university, by 2030, for sustainable development to be achieved. There is a need for skilled and trained people to work in various sectors of the country.

 

Madam Speaker, for us to achieve this, our people should be given full bursaries at first year so that they are able to be in universities. People from Nabwalya – In Mpika, about 2000 pupils completed Grade 12 and got at least eighteen points, but cannot go to the university because their parents do not have money to take them to the university. This Motion will actually help them get into universities through the Government’s provision of bursaries. Like I have said, anyone who will be against this Motion is against the plight of those poor students who are supposed to be in school and contribute to the well being of our country but lack money.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government is there to provide solutions to the plight of our people. The Government is not there to argue with the hon. Members on the left. It is there to provide solutions to challenges facing our people.

 

Madam Speaker, in addition, Zambia is party to the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063. One of the pillars of the Agenda 2063 is the need to invest in the people of Africa as its most precious resource. This includes expanding quality education and strengthening science, technology and research. This can only be achieved and beneficial to the people in rural areas if the Government introduced 100 per cent bursaries at first year for all public universities. I know the New Dawn Government is a listening Government and even its hon. Members of Parliament carry the plight of our people at heart, and I know this will be implemented.

 

Madam Speaker, the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) recognises that education is the key driver to higher productivity, which is a pre-requisite for national development. It also stressed that to increase access to quality education for deserving and under privileged rural based students, there is a need for the Government to decentralise the bursaries.

 

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, this Motion should be supported by all hon. Members –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Jamba (Mwembezhi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate the Motion moved by my very good friend, Hon. Mung’andu, the Member for Chama South.

 

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, when you have been given an opportunity to put a signature to what you think, you fail to put a signature. Then when you bring your friend, you start bringing Motions. I pity Hon. Mung’andu because this year, our hon. Colleagues were in power. They did not need Motions like the way he is bringing to sign for 100 per cent bursary at the university.

 

Mr Lumayi: Exactly.

 

Mr Jamba: What has changed within one month that he should be coming with such frivolous Brought In Dead (BID) Motions in this House? I surely pity Hon. Mung’andu because he is a very seasoned Member of Parliament. I did not expect him to bring such a Motion just to make a name on television.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government knew that education is important, but the problem it had was corruption. It did not take money into education.

 

Mr Lusambo: Question!

 

Mr Jamba: Hon. Mweetwa brought a Motion on meal allowances, but they shot it down.

 

Mr Lumayi: Repeat!

 

Mr Jamba: I pity the seconder of the Motion because he was not there. My friend, do not support such Motions by old people who have been here and neglected these issues.

 

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government is methodical; it is not chipante pante like the former Government.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, it cannot just wake up in the morning and say it is removing meal allowances, and the following day say it is building a hospital in Nchelenge and the following day –

 

Mr Kapyanga: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Lumayi: Hammer! Hammer!

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government, in being methodical, said that it will offer free education. It has started with a new phase –

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Mwembezhi!

 

There is a point of order by the hon. Member for Mpika Central.

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I apologise to the hon. Member of Parliament for interrupting him through this point of order. However, he has not explained to this House what chipante pante means. May the hon. Member of Parliament –

 

Hon. Government Members: Are you the Speaker?

 

Mr Kapyanga: I personally do not understand what chipante pante means and I want to understand what that means because the rules of the House are very straightforward.

 

Madam Speaker: May the hon. Member for Mwembezhi continue, but tell us what chipante pante is.

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, chipante pante in simple language is ‘headless chicken moving like a headless chicken’.

 

Laughter

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, I was saying that the New Dawn Government is methodical and it started with the first phase. In the first phase, there will be no payments from Grade 1 up to Grade 12. Since the PF corruptly got money, enriched themselves, bought some aeroplanes and left no money in the coffers, after this Budget, we will implement the second phase. During the second phase, we are going to deal with universities. So, we are very methodical. Imwe chipante pante, you were always commissioning tuma hospitals, which you were not even building. You were commissioning schools, which you were not even building.

 

Madam Speaker, these people were dealers; they were not a government.

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

Laughter

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, there is a Motion on the Floor which is being debated. If we do not listen to the debaters, we will not be able to rebut whatever those hon. Members are debating. Furthermore, when hon. Members are debating, they should also speak through the Chair and not address the respective hon. Members because that is going to cause havoc in the House. Let us maintain some order.

 

Hon. Member for Mwembezhi, as you continue, please, bear that in mind.

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, free education cannot just happen like an accident, which is being learnt today. Even in 2011 when the PF Government came into power, it knew that it was supposed to offer free education at the university. However, because it concentrated on double dealing and not being a government to serve the people, it forgot about education and concentrated on making themselves rich.

 

Madam Speaker, today, our colleague has moved a Motion that the Government provides 100 per cent bursaries. We agree that we are going to offer 100 per cent bursaries at universities but that will be done in a phased manner. We cannot just wake up in the morning and say today, we are going to be offering free education. No. We are being methodical.

 

Mr Mumba: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Jamba: The first phase has been done and we are going into the second phase. You heard Her Honour the Vice-President say in this House that we will consider the vulnerable people and we are going to tackle that issue. We are very methodical. Look at the way our President is working. Even appointments are very methodical. It is not like we are in a war.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Jamba: You do not create a government like you are in a war torn country. Tomorrow you wake and you appoint even someone who is not qualified –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Mwembezhi, I have already guided. Please, debate through the Speaker and discuss the Motion. Let us not bring in other considerations. Concentrate on the Motion. You may proceed.

 

Mr Mumba: On a point of order, Madam.

 

Hon. PF Members: Na kolwa.

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, if you look at the way we are working as the New Dawn Government, we want to create more money in our coffers. When we create more money in our coffers, we are going to implement whatever we told the people.

 

Madam Speaker, some people here are saying that this Motion is non-controversial, but if you heard the way they were speaking, they brought up issues like in the morning and in the afternoons. If they are not controversial, why did they not just say, “We are sorry for not giving free education, may you please forgive us.” They are supposed to request very humbly. You are supposed to apologise first, rather than first coming up with such Motions.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Jamba: They are supposed to apologise because many people are on the streets. They are not educated because of reckless spending and stealing money from the coffers of the Government and now our colleagues are now coming up with a Motion that the Government provides 100 per cent bursaries next year. Let me tell the people, as a Backbencher in the new dawn, to be patient. We are going to do these things and we are very methodical.

 

Madam Speaker, this Motion is a ‘BID’, brought by someone who wants to appear on television to make a name and, therefore, it cannot go through at the end of the day.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

Hon. Member for Kantanshi, you have been persistently saying you have a point of order, but you have been discussing with the mover of the Motion there loudly. What is the point of order that you were trying to raise?

 

Mr Mumba: Forgive me, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Proceed. What is the point of order, hon. Member for Kantanshi?

 

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, I was going to quote Standing Order 65(b). My hon. Colleague, the Member for Mwembezhi, said that the previous Government was a headless chicken, yet the same Government took him to Turkey and he enjoyed the fruits of the former Government.

 

Hon. Government Members: Where?

 

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, you know how I conduct myself here. I am not malicious in nature.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, both on the left and right, let us have some order please!

 

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, I was just trying to remind him that nobody from the Patriotic Front (PF) has been caught with corruption. We are still waiting for the methodical investigations. So, he cannot stand there and accuse the PF party of being corrupt. Is he in order –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Kantanshi, please, resume your seat. There will be no pointing of fingers at each other.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

As we debate, hon. Members, if we have a point that we want to rebut, let us take notes. There is no reason for interjecting and making noise. The people that you represent are listening out there and seeing what type of conduct you are engaging yourselves in. If we do not respect ourselves, at least let us respect the people who brought us to this honourable House.

 

Mr Lusambo: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Let me –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, I need your protection.

 

Madam Speaker: Proceed hon. Member. You are fully protected.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, the Motion on the Floor of this august House is non- controversial. It is a Motion which the people out there, who voted for us and the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, have been waiting for.

 

Madam Speaker, an educated nation is a prosperous nation. Free education is not a preserve for the under privileged only, but it is supposed to be a government policy even though I, Bowman Chilosha Lusambo, Member of Parliament for Kabushi Constituency has the capacity to take my children to any school. As a citizen of this country, my children should be able to get free education.

 

Hon. Government Members: Which children?

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development is my son.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government of His Excellency, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, is on record that it will provide free education in this country. So, this Motion is non-controversial and I do expect anyone to bring cheap politics when debating this important Motion. There was no need for someone to bring corruption when debating this Motion, knowing very well what this Government is doing. Even before the inauguration took place – this Government is dirty. We know about the monies and the letters that were flying from one place to another.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Lusambo: So, bringing corruption in this Motion will not augur well for this Government. Let us –

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Kabushi!

 

The word ‘dirty’ is unparliamentary. Please, withdraw it.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘dirty’, but we know their dealings. I was in the Government for five years and I know how its system operates. This Government has only been in power for two to three months.

 

Madam Speaker, we know the business community in this country. We know the people they visit in the night. If we come out, it will not look good.

 

Hon. Government Members: Come out.

 

Mr Lusambo: If you want, we can come out. Ask those Ministers –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, as Kabushi Constituency, we support this Motion. It is a non-controversial Motion, which should not attract other issues.

 

Madam Speaker, this Motion will enable the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security’s niece in Monze go to the University of Zambia (UNZA) next year without thinking of the meal allowance or tuition fees. So, I do not expect any hon. Member of Parliament to debate against this Motion. We are not doing politics here. We are dealing with an issue that will uplift the living standards of our people in Bweengwa, Mpongwe, Kabushi, Chisamba, Mandevu, Solwezi Central and many others. This Motion is not for Hon. Mung’andu. If we agree, this Motion will benefit the entire nation.

 

Madam Speaker, I am debating in this honourable and knowledgeable manner ...

 

Laughter

 

Mr Lusambo: ... because this Motion is non-controversial and I support it.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: After that knowledgeable debate, I call upon the hon. Member of Parliament for Nkana.

 

Laughter

 

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Motion at hand.

 

Madam Speaker, let me start by stating that I am very envious of the opportunity that the United Party for National Development (UPND) has to stay in the Government forever. I learnt something over the weekend when I organised a business conference for the women and young people in my constituency. One woman, the zed farmer, taught me a value that can make one succeed, namely, that you take advantage of your competitor if you want to succeed. Therefore, at this point, my envy towards the UPND is that it must take advantage of the flaws of the previous Government.

 

Madam Speaker, the previous Government had an opportunity to enable young people to have free education from Grade 1 to the university. I am glad to note that the New Dawn Government has already made strides to actualise free education. However, like I have intimated before in this House, education, even if it is free from Grade 1 to Grade 12, is meaningless. We need to create opportunities for our young people to have meaningful education all the way to the university. No development can be attained without investment in education.

 

Madam Speaker, hardly a day passes without receiving a call from some parents in my constituency asking or begging me to intervene in a challenge they may have regarding their children in tertiary institutions. This morning, one young lady explained to me the challenge she has. Remember that somebody who is in the university today pays roughly K3,000 per subject. The burden on the parents, society and the students is enormous.

 

Madam Speaker, we can go on attacking each other about what opportunity one missed and did not have, but as custodians of the resources we have in this country, we have the responsibility to care for the young people who aspire to be here one day. 90 per cent of the hon. Members, who are here, have in one way, including Madam Speaker herself, benefited from an opportunity that was given to us in higher education in the universities. I want to bring it to the attention of the hon. Members in this House that the transformation of the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board from the Bursary Scheme, gives the New Dawn Government an opportunity to actualise free education very easily.

 

Today, it is very possible, Madam Speaker, –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was explaining the transformation of the Bursary Scheme, which is now under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board.

 

Madam Speaker, previously, the Government used to spend money on educating our young people in the universities. As everyone in this House is aware, the Government now has an opportunity to recover from everyone who gets to be educated by it. What does this mean and imply on the cost structure regarding the education of our young people in the universities? This now gives the Government an opportunity to spend once-off. By this, I mean it is very possible for the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to secure resources that can be given to the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board once and for all. If hon. Members of Parliament went to check the statistics at the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, they would be amazed at how much recoveries it has made from students, including from some of the hon. Members of Parliament seated here.

 

Madam Speaker, let me remind the hon. Members the expectations of the young people regarding the issue at hand. I have received numerous calls from the young people who are eagerly waiting to see who stands with them in a moment like this. So, if there is a temptation for one to debate because one wants to punish somebody who never entertained him, be wary that the young people out there are waiting to see who stands with them in this House.

 

Madam Speaker, for me, what we should be debating is the capacity and sustainability of such a proposal. I think that in all honesty, even if the Government does not implement this proposal in the 2022 Budget, we should discuss whether this can be staggered. However, the idea of every child having an opportunity to be educated at a public university is very ideal and it should be supported by everyone.

 

Madam Speaker, let me, therefore, take this opportunity to make a very earnest appeal to my colleagues on the left. When they bring very beneficial Motions such as this one to Parliament, they should not be antagonistic. My appeal to my colleagues on the right is that when they debate a sensitive Motion like this, they should not debate in the chikubabe way. Chikubabe means do not shame them or do as they did to you. This is an opportunity perhaps for all of us to recollect our thoughts and minds towards what is best for our country.

 

Madam Speaker, on the scale of merits and demerits of the Motion at hand, I am of the view that if only we can dwell on the sustainability of this Motion, it is worth considering. I do not mind if that will be done in 2022 or beyond, but like I stated in my preamble, this will give the New Dawn Government an opportunity to actualise free education. Therefore, I believe this Motion is worth considering.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Amb. Kalimi (Malole): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving the people of Malole this opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important Motion.

 

Madam Speaker, before I go any further, I urge my brothers to stop de-campaigning the President who means very well. President Hakainde Hichilema means very well on education. He has tried and, therefore, they should not de-campaign him. Only one person sits on the toilet. Pachimbusu pekalafye umuntu umo and he is now the President.

 

Laughter

 

Amb. Kalimi: Madam Speaker, our colleagues should stop de-campaigning and undermining the President. When the President was campaigning, he said that he will provide free education from Grade 1 up to university. No wonder he won the election. He is the most admired President and he promised the people. So, people should not use this forum to de-campaign the President because he means well. It does not matter who moved the Motion.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Malole, I would like to bring to your attention Standing Order 65 (2)(c) which states that:

 

“A member who is debating shall not use the name the President’s name to influence debate.”

 

So, as you debate, please, do not use the President’s name to influence debate. That is what the Standing Orders say. You may proceed.

 

Amb. Kalimi: Madam Speaker, I thank you for your guidance.

 

Madam Speaker, I am an educationalist. I taught for fifteen years and the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board is my brain child. Education always fosters equality in schools. If we provide free education to the first year students in public universities, this will foster equality in schools. The fact that all children will have access to the same quality of education will be an advantage. There will not be any segregation.

 

Madam Speaker, about 3,500 students from secondary schools are failing to access education at the university. It is very costly for them to go to the university. Today, I have received many calls from the people of Malole Constituency. Some pupils from Mungwi Technical Secondary School and St. Francis Secondary School got very good points, but they cannot proceed to the university despite the fact that they have been admitted at the University of Zambia (UNZA), the Copperbelt University (CBU) and Mulungushi University. My pocket is suffocated because of helping people; I am very noble. I was educated through free education and I want everybody in Malole to be educated. One day, I want a poor person to be a Member of Parliament from Malole.

 

Madam Speaker, providing 100 per cent scholarships will promote fairness. A son of a farmer from Mutwewa Nsofu, Kabula or Machemba will have an equal footing and will compete favourably. This will lay a normal playing field and not that one comes from the hon. Member of Parliament’s family or Chief Chitimukulu’s family.

 

Madam Speaker, if this Motion is implemented and supported, it will reduce the students’ debt. Students are suffocated in terms of debts and loans. It will help the students to stabilise or settle down in the first year as their parents in Mutale Mutimba or Makasa sell their maize to raise fees for the second year, and I know the New Dawn Government wants to make sure that everybody is educated.

 

Madam Speaker, only a person who is very learned is going to contribute to the economic growth of this country. Everyone would have an equal chance to participate in this country. New levels of innovation will be very possible if we provide access to education to first year students in public universities.

 

Madam Speaker, if free education is provided at colleges and universities, a student will have a family and an income that will be safeguarded. Students will focus more on education and will, at least, not struggle with where to get money from.

 

Madam Speaker, every well meaning parent and legislator here is supposed to support this Motion.

 

Madam Speaker, as you are aware, students will focus on …

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Amb. Kalimi: … education and try out major things. It will be very possible to create positive change in the country. However, students will still be held responsible, in case people think that because they are taking money, they will not be responsible.

 

Madam Speaker, let me repeat that the Higher Education Loans Scholarship Board is my brain child and I even remember every paragraph. When I was the First Secretary in Charge of Economics and Trade, I am the one who produced that concept paper. The New Dawn Government has an opportunity to provide free education through that. People are roaming the streets. I urge my friends and brothers to do this because even students in Mazabuka, Solwezi Central, Mwembezhi and other places are suffering. At least, this will spare other people from killing or slaughtering animals and selling them in order to take children to school. Let us try to stabilise this country. Let us pump money into education.

 

Madam Speaker, a nation which lacks education is a dead nation. Education needs investment. We need everyone to have access to education so that we are not discriminatory. Any hon. Member of Parliament who means well and is not selfish is going to support this Motion.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I beg to move and I support the Motion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to debate the Motion on the Floor of the House urging the Government to give 100 per cent bursaries to university students from first year.

 

Madam Speaker, from the outset, I would like to state that I do not support the Motion and it is not because I do not support education and free education. I support free education, but the manner in which this Motion has been coined and brought to this House looks suspicious and is just for political expediency.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, when we are coming up with issues to do with governance, it is not like town planning, where you just come and say, this is Lusaka and the bearing here, houses will be this side and the like, no. We are trying to manage an economy; an economy which has actually been run down by these men on your left hand side. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning came here to explain how they wantonly went on a rampage to give contracts like they were sharing beer.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, there are effects to that kind of behaviour or that kind of running of a Government. If the country was being run in such a fashion, what would you expect? We have been lamenting on the Floor of this House. We have talked about arrears. Just domestic arrears are a serious matter and most of those who are owed are these same people here (pointing at the PF Members) because they were giving each other contracts.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

 

Mr Kambita: So, Madam Speaker, it is as if we are coming from a war zone. The country is completely torn apart. In fact, they must appreciate that we are so organised that we have even come up with a very good Budget in a very organised way where we have actually freed people from paying school fees from Grade 1 up to Grade 12, save for those in boarding schools. Even then, we have provided for bursaries in that fashion, which even these hon. Members of Parliament (pointing at the PF Members) will benefit through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

 

Madam Speaker, there is an organised way of doing things. Of course, our vision is to ensure that there is free education up to university level. However, the manner in which this will be executed is in a phased approach ...

 

Hon. UPND members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kambita: … because we are an organised leadership.

 

Mrs Chonya: Quality

 

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, like I stated in my maiden speech, we now have a decent Government. The Government which was run by these men and women on your left hand side, Madam Speaker, can be weighed from just the books themselves. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning was here and has been here several times. How many statements has he actually issued here which expose how things were being done? He came here to issue a statement not too long ago, in fact, yesterday, if I remember correctly, where he talked about debt. How that we are grappling with this debt which these same people (pointing at the PF Bench) brought us into. How else do they expect us to implement such an ambitious 100 per cent student bursary right away from 2022?

 

Mr Jamba: Mwaona manje!

 

Mr Kambita: We are sorting out things in a phased way.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kambita: This is not town planning. This is actually economic planning where we are implementing things in a phased way.

 

Madam Speaker, education is the best equaliser in life, as the President would put it. We all know that every student will have an opportunity. However, there is nothing that is lost because we have picked up even the way things used to be done. Students will still get their bursaries in the same fashion. There is an allocation in the Budget for bursaries. There is a system of actually identifying those that cannot afford to pay for their education. Therefore, we have not really lost it out there.

 

Madam Speaker, some of them are children of these people (pointing at PF Members). That is why you are hearing all these loud proponents of issuance of 100 per cent bursary to everyone because the same people who have benefited so much from these contracts which they were giving each other want to continue benefiting. However, we have said no. We cannot take that approach because we want to serve the under-privileged. To serve the under-privileged, you need to be methodical, as one of my colleagues debated here.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kambita: This is a methodical approach in which we are addressing this issue. Therefore, we cannot have people take a field day of exchanging ideas of how they can expose the UPND because it made all these promises. Yes, we did promise, but we are an organised lot, and so, we are phasing implementation. Therefore, we still stand by our promise. However, we will not support a frivolous Motion brought on this Floor today, especially that it has been brought by people with very questionable standing …

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kambita: … in as far as management of national resources is concerned.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu): Madam Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to debate the Motion moved by the Member of Parliament for Chama South, Hon. Mung’andu.

 

Madam Speaker, for ease of reference, I would like to read the Motion. According to the proposal from the hon. Member for Chama South, he is saying that we should give 100 per cent scholarship; that in order to increase access to higher education, this House urges the Government to give all first year students at public universities 100 per cent scholarship with effect from the 2022 academic year.

 

Madam Speaker, it is trite to state that this Motion is frivolous, vexatious, thin and hazy.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, we note that most of the debaters on your left in the preceding days were all saying that the Budget of the United Party for National Development (UPND) for 2022 is too ambitious, not tenable and should not be supported. That is the gist of their debate, yet the Motion is urging the Government, which has come up with a Budget they are saying is untenable, to increase the proposed Budget by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning in such a manner to accommodate the 100 per cent allocation for free education. Are they being sincere in their submissions?

 

Hon. Government Members: No.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: The answer is no. Their intention is to show that theirs is a caring Opposition political party. That is what they are trying to show.

 

Madam Speaker, assuming that this is acceptable, they should realise, through the Leader of the Opposition, that we are in a budgetary session. If they are making a proposal to increase the allocation for free education for all the first year students in public universities, they must come on board and make a proposal to increase the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Education. They should not just propose and make a virement, but also propose the source of income as they debate.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, as was alluded to earlier, they have indicated on the Floor of this House and are on record in the Hansard that free education is not tenable. That is what they have said. Are they now somersaulting like an F35 jet fighter and telling us that free education is now tenable?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hammer!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Can they tell us and apologise to the nation that they were playing politics on the Floor of this House, and that they misled the House.

 

We are happy to note that they are all excited about the policies of the UPND pertaining to the promises we have made on free education. However, we are not going to support this Motion saying that it should be introduced next year. We are not going to do that because we know that we have a plan to effect free education. That is why, this year, we have started introducing free education through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which they do not want and have told the nation that this Government is irresponsible for introducing the CDF of K25.7 million. That is what they said. Are they now saying that we are the most responsible Government since independence?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: They are now changing. If they say that they are changing and apologise for all the statements they made, we may reconsider.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwiimbu: However, we will only reconsider next year, not now.

 

Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) hon. Members, in their debates on the Floor of this House have been telling the nation that there is a Budget deficit of K40 billion something.

 

Hon. PF Members: K37 billion.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Can I hear them again?

 

Hon. PF Members: K37 billion.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Now, if there is a deficit, where are they going to get the money for free education, according to them?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Are they trying to increase the deficit, in their opinion? Is that what they are saying?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, there is no tangible reason, well thought out and prudent reasoning in the proposal. They have shot themselves, I do not know where, over this matter.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwiimbu: So, as far as we are concerned, as the Government, we are not going to support a Motion which they have been patently defeating themselves by their own admission. They have indicated that this Budget is untenable and that we have no money, in their own way. They have said that free education is not tenable, themselves. They decided that there should never be free education in this country by removing tuition fees and other services that were being provided.

 

Madam Speaker, when did they become philanthropic as the PF members? They have never cared for the youths of this country until the people of Zambia realised that it is only the UPND which shall provide for them. That is why we have come up with a very ambitious Budget which we know is for the benefit of the people, and we have decided to progressively introduce free education.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, my colleagues and I do not support the Motion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on behalf of the people Shiwang’andu on this debate on a very important Motion, which is non controversial.

 

Madam Speaker, I will start by correcting the impression created by the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security regarding what he referred to as ‘deficit’. What we, on this side, did in playing our role of oversight as we debated the message conveyed by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, through the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, was to point out the gaps after computing the figures that are on page 40 of the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning’s speech. We realised that the figures were not adding up and we brought it to their attention. We never said it was a deficit. We were just asking why the figures they had shared with the public of Zambia, which will not have an opportunity to look at the Yellow Book, do not add up, like my colleague from Eastern Province was saying, Wonkesa, meaning addition.

 

Madam Speaker, even for the education sector we are debating today, the figures that are in the Budget Speech and the Yellow Book are at variance, and these are very serious issues. That is what we tried to bring to the attention of our colleagues and all they need to do is to go back and relook at these matters and deal with them. That is what a Government does.

 

Madam Speaker, coming back to the Motion, I want to advise my colleagues on the right that we were there, and the responses they are giving are very interesting, today. When the then hon. Minister of Higher Education came to this august House and introduced the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board, which was to deal with loans, my dear colleague and friend here who is now hon. Minister responsible for the Southern Province moved a Motion similar to the one moved by Hon. Mung’andu …

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Kampyongo: … and, indeed, we, on the right side, welcomed that Motion except ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: ... it came at a time when the then hon. Minister of Higher Education was introducing that new structure. What goes around comes around. Our youths are listening to them. What the hon. Member is urging them to do is to come up with a policy framework to implement the promises that they gave; that is all he is doing. There is no harm in the hon. Minister of Education saying yes, we welcome this Motion, but we are going to implement it through a policy at such and such a period. What is wrong with that?

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Ah!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, let me remind the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security that these are his party’s promises. I do not know if the members are somersaulting because they are now changing positions. We have videos of His Excellency, himself, addressing students and saying: “young men, young students, when I am sworn in, I will start by selling the jet to implement the scholarships.” So, do not undermine the Presidency.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: It is not the hon. Ministers who made the promise. Hon. Ministers are appointed to implement the President’s promises. That is their role. They do not expect the President to come here and bring policies that because I promised my students, this is the policy framework. That is their job as hon. Ministers. That is why they were appointed. So, if hon. Ministers are somersaulting today and saying the President did not make that promise, students have those videos. Believe me you, youths are very interesting to deal with. Youths are like a double-edged sword.

 

Mr Chikote: So you know?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Today, you can mislead them–

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, we can teach our hon. Colleagues some lessons because we have learnt bitter lessons ourselves.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: That is what leadership should be. We opted to be sincere with the youths by telling them the truth on what we could not do, but our hon. Colleagues made promises that they now need to implemented.

 

Madam Speaker, when an hon. Member moves a Motion like this, if I were Minister of Education, I would consider it as a non-controversial. I would just say I welcome it, but we need to create a policy framework to implement that very important Motion.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: That would give hope to the youths. This is free advice we are giving to our hon. Colleagues. We are supposed to be politicking, but we can even give them an offer to get a percentage from the K25.7 million, which has been given to us to identify people from the wards to be placed on bursary. We can work out a percentage towards education and work through the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) so that it is not I, as a politician, to go round and identify children to give bursaries, no! We want our hon. Colleagues to work through the systems.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Education has structures at district level, we can get the money and take it there, and this policy can easily be implemented.

 

Madam Speaker, this Motion is non-controversial, and if the hon. Minister wants to be a darling to his youths, he can start from this point. He should not be swayed. Here, there is politics. We can politick in this august House, and it is very easy. Even us we can politick and look like champions by saying we will shoot it down, like the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security –

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: I am happy, he now understands. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security shapes someone in a different way ...

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: ... because it just deals with order.

 

Mr Mundubile: He is now being shaped.

 

Mr Kampyongo: He is now being shaped into an internal security man.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: There is no familiarity there. The ministry just deals with order and that is what the hon. Minister is developing into. However, the hon. Minister of Education should be left to be diplomatic because he is dealing with a delicate constituency of the youths.

 

Madam Speaker, this very important Motion is for the hon. Minister of Education to get closer to the youths or create a distance from them. He has an opportunity to do that. We are not saying it should be implemented tomorrow. All he should do is to accept it because it is a very important Motion.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Next year!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Next year, the Government will be working on another Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, I totally support the Motion and I urge the Government to reconsider its position because this is for the future of those who will take over from us in this august House and indeed propel this country to another level. There is no enabler, other than education, which can be a ladder for our children and youths to ride on and become what we are today or even beyond.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Malole said he is receiving phone calls from secondary school students. He has not looked at the Yellow Book. I will break down how the Constituency Development Fund (CFD) is supposed to be used. The breakdown is there in the Yellow Book.

 

Madam Speaker, about K5 million is supposed to go to secondary school bursary and skills development. So, for such students, the hon. Member should go back to the constituency and do a budget, which he should hand in by mid-December so that the students are also included in the bursary.

 

Madam Speaker, the other K5 million is for youth and women empowerment. K15 million has been allocated to capital projects. So, it has been divided. Hon. Members should read the Yellow Book and know what the Budget stands for.

 

Madam Speaker, when we talk of free education, there is someone who should pay for it. What we, in the United Party for National Development (UPND) have done, is to shift the burden of paying from the people who cannot afford to the Government. That is why wards in each constituency will get K5 million to relieve those who cannot afford to pay for secondary school education.

 

Madam Speaker, I went round my constituency and learnt that primary schools like Chifusa were given K700 million, money which they have never received in the history of the school. Schools like Green Acres also received something. Each school in my constituency received something. They went to budget in Livingstone and they have been told how much money they have. They are so excited that for the first time, schools will receive money. What we are doing is to relieve the payment from the parent and shift it to the Government.

 

Madam Speaker, when you had a Government that did not care and did not spend money on the citizens, then it leaves much to be desirable. This is what used to happen. Three months before the elections, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government removed excise duty on fuel, which was a campaign gimmick so that if it won, it would put it back, and because of that, we are now spending almost US$26 million every month to subsidise the fuel. This money can go towards free education.

 

Madam Speaker, we heard it from them that there was a sale of electricity. In South Africa, we were offered a cheaper rate, but they disregarded that and went to Mozambique where we paid more. That money could have been used to pay for education. We have done very well here to come up with a Budget whose 50 per cent is going towards salaries. Under normal circumstances, we are not supposed to have that. We have a huge wage bill because the same people who are now talking created forty-four districts increasing the wage bill to such levels. In mathematics, you are not supposed to do that.

 

Madam Speaker, on top of that, 50 per cent of the Budget is going towards wages and about 45 per cent is going towards clearing the debt, which the same people created, and they are saying do everything at a go with the remaining 5 per cent only.

 

Madam Speaker, when I married, I did not instantly buy a car, and I did not have a fridge. We were going step by step until we got to where were we are. We have given all the schools what is needed and taken care of all the students in the country. In my constituency, there are about seventy schools. We have taken responsibility for all primary schools and all the schools have been given money ranging between K200,000, and K700,000. All primary schools have been covered and they will even be able to buy chalks, books and other materials, something which the previous Government failed to do. Sometimes, let us learn to say thank you, you are doing better than us.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, within the same 5 per cent, we are going to employ 30,000 teachers and 11,200 health workers, which the previous Government failed to do in ten years. Ladies and gentlemen, let us call a spade a spade.

 

Madam Speaker, the previous Government removed the meal allowance because it did not want to spend any money on the Zambian citizens. I have always said that the purpose of the Government is to turn natural resources around. When you make profit, let that profit benefit the citizens. We have not refused free education. We have done remarkably well because we have covered all primary and secondary schools for those who cannot afford to pay school fees.We are not providing – when they say we should give 100 per cent bursaries, should we give even to those that can afford? Why? What are we doing? I do not need anybody to pay for my children because I can pay. So, why should they give me a bursary when I do not need it? We are going to give bursaries to the people who need them. They should watch our pace.

 

Madam Speaker, our colleagues are telling us to provide 100 per cent scholarships when we have already come up with the 2022 Budget. They are the same people who have been saying it is overambitious but today, they come and say – You see, when the same person who destroyed your house comes up with another plan, you must be very careful because he does not mean well.

Laughter

Mr Kamboni: Be very careful when the wheel of your car is okay and a street boy comes and says you should check your wheel because there is a puncture. The same people who could not provide anything to the education system and destroyed it to levels where roofs were being blown away – they never cared at all – are today coming to say we must provide 100 per cent bursaries now. No. We have introduced mathematics in the running of the economy. That is what we have done. We are looking at the money we have and spending it wisely for the benefit of citizens.

Madam Speaker, all schools have already done their budgeting. All of us hon. Members of Parliament are supposed to Budget to indicate how we are going to use the CDF. However, some have not even bothered to look at the Yellow Book and we are repeating the same things here. There used to be a bursary even for colleges, but we are doing these things in phases.

Madam Speaker, like I said, it was very bad for the Government to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) and increase the deficit of the Budget. Then, when they have completely destroyed everything, they come and are saying we should do this and that. No. There is nothing on earth like free education. It is free when somebody else is paying for you. In this case, what we are saying is that the Government will pay for all the people because it loves the Zambians.

Madam Speaker, watch our pace. Sooner rather than later, in progressive Budgets, we will surely cover all those that cannot afford. We will not fail to do that. For now, however, we are utilising money wisely. They defaulted on loans several times and Zambia was all over in world news. We would feel embarrassed to say we are Zambians. We were the first country in the world to default and now we are managing to clear the debt that they incurred, but then they come with another trap so that the whole country can see.

Madam Speaker, imagine inheriting a car that has no wheels and you do not have money. You decide to borrow money to buy tyres so that the car can move, but then, your lenders start saying that you have come to borrow again. Ladies and gentlemen, we have serious business to do in running the country.

Mr Muchima: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, we will move step by step according to plan. We do not want to say things that we cannot fulfil. We are a realistic Government. If the coffin has come and somebody is sick, tell them the truth. Tell them the truth, as bad as it is. We will tell Zambians the truth and what we say we shall do.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila (Mufulira): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to contribute to debate on this Motion. Let me also thank the mover of the Motion, Hon. Mung’andu, and the seconder for bringing up such a progressive and non-controversial Motion.

Madam Speaker, I expected that, thus far, such a Motion could have been moved by an hon. Member on your right because it hinges on one of the core promises that the United Party for National Development (UPND) made, especially to the youths.

Madam Speaker, as I contribute to this Motion, I am thinking about the young boys and girls in my constituency; in Kamuchanga, Kansuswa, Mutundu and Bwananina, holding on to acceptance letters for admission in various public universities. They are stuck now because except for the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Robert Kapasa Makasa University, the others have already published the list of those who have been awarded scholarships and the statistics indicate that only about 39 per cent have been awarded. In fact, 10,000 students are eligible and have been assessed by the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board. However, only 3,800 scholarships have been awarded, which is about 39 per cent. So, almost 60 per cent of those who are eligible have not been awarded and so they are stuck.

Madam Speaker, we must also know that students who seek to take up positions in public universities come from vulnerable families. Those who can afford have already taken their children to private universities, but those who cannot afford have been relying on getting the Government sponsorship. The youths in my constituency and many other constituencies are stuck. They are going to be left out and they do not know what happens come January when their friends, the 40 per cent, who have been awarded scholarships take up those positions. Most of the youths, I am sure, voted for the UPND because they bought into the promise that funds would be sourced to secure their bursaries and allowances in the university.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Madam Speaker, today, a Motion comes, and those who made that promise are saying they will not support it. The students are regretting because what happens come January? They bought into the promise. They believed the promise that was made to them. Should this Motion fail, they have already made up their minds. They know who was telling the truth and who was not telling the truth.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Mwila: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Education came here not long ago to issue a ministerial statement. Among the resolutions that were made, some concerned vulnerable students who had failed to meet their fees obligations at the university and were facing seclusion from sitting for the exams. The hon. Minister confirmed that those students have committed to settling the fees before the results are released. What we are saying is that that problem at the university which is instigated by failure to settle fees comes as a result of what we are discussing now. The Government has an opportunity to eliminate that challenge by accepting and supporting this Motion so that come January 2022, all those students who have been admitted into university are offered 100 per cent scholarship.

Madam Speaker, the President made a speech here and on education, he said we need to address the core barriers to access to education. One of the core barriers is the lack of funds and failure by parents to sponsor their children to university. We are here with a Motion to remove that barrier which the President identified, but the Government is saying it will not remove it.

Madam Speaker, the youths are listening because at the end of this sitting today, they are going to know their fate; there will be no money, they will not take up those positions and it will be back to business as usual.

Hon. Government Member: Question!

Mr Mwila: This is a big problem. This is a challenge and I sympathise with them. However, the Government has an opportunity, as I said, to side, for once, with the hon. Members who are helping the UPND Government to implement or fulfil the promises that were made to the Zambian people. We want to support this Government to stand for the next five years and that is why we are bringing such Motions. We do not want people to rise up and protest mid-way through this term that the promises that were made are not forthcoming. Here is an opportunity.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Members on your right have been debating about the corruption of the previous Government, a tag which I know you ruled people should stop shouting unless they bring someone to book.

Hon. Opposition Members: Quality!

Mr Mwila: I do not want to say it, but this is yet going to be another moment that will make me say that on your right, is a clique of liars because when they promised the Zambia people –

Hon. Opposition Members: Quality!

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member of Parliament, withdraw the words ‘clique of liars’. I already ordered that the use of the word ‘clique’ in that context is unparliamentarily.

 

Mr Mwila: Madam Speaker, much obliged, but we will soon come to know that we have the people –

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, withdraw that word.

 

Mr Mwila: Madam Speaker, I withdraw that statement with your guidance. I withdraw the statement which I made referring to the hon. Members on your right as a clique of liars and I replace it with a team of people who have difficulties fulfilling the promises that they made.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwila: Madam Speaker, with those comments, I, on behalf of the people of Mufulira, support this Motion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Time is not with us. So many hon. Members have indicated they would want to debate but because of the time and the core business we have not even started, I will just call on the hon. Minister of Education.

 

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to render this critical ministerial position paper, in the House on a Private Members Motion moved by Hon. D. Mung’andu, the Member of Parliament for Chama South Constituency, to give 100 per cent scholarships to all first year students in public universities with effect from 2022, in order to increase access to higher education.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to state that I do not support the Motion moved by the hon. Member of Parliament for Chama Constituency because the Government does not have the fiscal space to implement the proposed Motion within the available resource envelope.

 

Madam Speaker, before I provide details of my position or the position of the Government on the Motion moved, allow me to first express my deep appreciation of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, for his desire to transform the education sector and for believing that education is the greatest equaliser for all Zambians and for the efforts made by the New Dawn Administration to make this a reality.

 

Madam Speaker, in the same spirit, I also wish to congratulate Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, on the incisive 2022 Budget address delivered to the National Assembly on Friday 29th October, 2021, a speech that ably demonstrated Government’s transformation agenda for the education sector in the next five years. Indeed, in pursuit of our agenda in the education sector, we have made significant budget allocation to the education and skills development sector.

 

Madam Speaker, our transformation agenda in the education sector is aimed at removing the core barriers to access to education for all Zambians. High tuition frees at universities are a major barrier to many students who cannot afford to pay university fees. It is, therefore, the desire of the New Dawn Administration to reform the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Scheme so that students who cannot afford to pay university fees can study regardless of their financial status with any recovers differed until they are financially capable. It is our desire to ensure that in the interim we expand the number of students receiving loans and scholarships by progressively increasing the budget allocation to the scheme. This will, of course, depend on the growth of the economy and Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to reiterate what His Excellency the President stated during his inaugural speech that it is such support during the United National Independence Party (UNIP) era that enabled many of us to be where we are today. We shall always be committed to this ideal. As such, the 2022 Budget provides concrete steps towards attainment of this goal. The Government already provides free education services for learners at primary school level. From January 2022, user or school fees will be abolished in all public secondary schools while bursaries will be provided to learners from vulnerable households to pay boarding fees through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

 

Further, in 2022, the Government has allocated K640 million towards the loans for students in public universities, plus students studying abroad. This is broken down as follows:

 

  1. 6,504 first students will receive loans at an estimated cost of K219,926,256 and;
  2. 21,305 second to seventh year students will receive loans at an estimated cost of K720,407,270.

 

Madam Speaker, in order to implement the proposed Motion by the hon. Member, the Government will be required to provide loans to a projected number of 15,241 first year students in all public universities. The average loan amount that will be awarded per student in all public universities is K33,814, which translates to K515 million for the total project first year students. This figure may increase further as enrolments will go up as prospective students receive news that there will be a loan scheme applicable to all first year students in public universities.

 

Madam Speaker, from the above, calculation the budget required to implement a 100 per cent loan scheme to all first year students in public universities and to administer loans to returning students in second to seventh year is equal to K1,235,766,444. Given that only K640 million has been provided for the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Scheme in the 2022 Budget, this will leave a deficit of K595 million.

 

Madam Speaker, given the huge budget deficit to provide loans to all first year students in public universities, it is clear that the Government does not have the fiscal space to implement the proposed Private Members Motion moved by hon. Mung’andu.

 

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, allow me to assure the august House that as the economy grows during the subsequent years and more resources become available for spending in social sectors, the Government will have the fiscal space to grant loans to students who cannot afford to pay university fees. I wish to reiterate that it is the intention of the New Dawn Administration not to leave any student behind and give opportunities to every student who wants to study to be able to study regardless of their financial status.

 

Madam Speaker, let me just say a few words in response to what the hon. Colleagues were talking about. The intention of the Government, even when constrained like this, is to give loans because this is practical we have done it. When Mulungushi University was giving loans, it had given 828 students, and there was a big outcry. However, just to show that we really wanted everybody to be enrolled, even if the resource envelope was small, we had to request the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board of Zambia to calculate how much money it has remained with, which it had reserved for the University of Zambia (UNZA), and we had to increase the number of students by 333. Those are intentions. It was 828, but within three to four days when I was in that office, we looked for money in order for us to accumulate more money to offset UNZA. So, you can see that this is progress. Hardly three days, I had to look for money for 333 students.

 

Madam Speaker, so, these are things that we talk about when we say progressively. By the time we reach 2026, you will see how many students will be in class. We have a deficit of 50,000 teachers but have 55,000 teachers on the street. We will take 30,000 from the street and put them in class for quality education. That is progressive. We will remain with 20,000 on the street and we shall wipe them out by next year and by the third year, no one who graduates from a college or university will not have a job. They will all be in school. So, those are the things that we are talking about progressively. So, next year –

 

Madam Speaker, what we are proposing here was, wanting to milk a cow which does not even have milk. So, you must be conscious when people talk about progress. That is progress.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank all the speakers, those who debated this important Motion. I thank the Member for Mwembezhi, Hon. Jamba, for his debate, although I want to put it on record that Hon. Jamba is not someone that even the people on your right should trust and take seriously. This is because I have known my hon. Colleague for some time. He is my personal friend, as he said. As he had rightly put it, we flew together to Turkey with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and I knew many things about the United Party for National Development (UPND) through him. So, do not take him seriously. Therefore –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Jamba: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Order! Order, hon. Members!

 

Hon. Members, you know the rules of the House. We are not supposed to debate each other. Debate the Motion on the table. Hon. Member for Chama South, you are winding up debate. Do not debate fellow hon. Members.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Well guided, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, this is a sad day not only for the youths of Zambia, those who are supposed to be in university come 2022, but for us as well because the youths of Zambia –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, the youths of Zambia have seen that this group seated on our right here, are making u-turns on whatever they promised them. They are actually somersaulting. I think we can compare the way they are somersaulting on their promises to the movement of an F-35 Eagle or a Russian Mikoyan MiG-29.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank the seconder for ably seconding the Motion. It is our hope, we on the left, that whatever our hon. Colleagues promised – I am sure they know. We were shown what was going to happen, not only in the education sector, but in the energy sector as well. We were shown the calculations by the Head of State on how he was going to reduce the price of fuel. He was giving methodical, meticulous and very important calculations to K5. So, I hope that as our colleagues –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mung’andu: These are facts. As our colleagues implement these programmes, we look forward to the fulfillment of all the campaign promises. Once they make u-turns, the way they have defeated a good promise they made to the youths of this country, the youths are out there waiting for them.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I am a sad man …

 

Hon. Government Members: Wind up!

 

Mr Mung’andu: … having heard the hon. Minister of Education say he does not support the Motion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Question that, in order to increase access to higher education, this House urges the Government to give all first year students at public universities 100 per cent scholarship, with effect from the 2022 academic year put and negatived.

 

BUDGET 2022

 

(Debate resumed)

 

Mr Andeleki (Katombola): Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking you for allowing the people of Katombola to contribute to the Motion on the Floor of this august House.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to begin by stating that the people of Katombola are fully in support of the Budget that was presented before this august House by Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane. In fact, the people of Katombola are calling this Budget ‘the salvation budget’.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Andeleki: Madam Speaker, I say so because I took time to go to the constituency to consult the church and voters, unlike the hon. Members who just come here to speak on behalf of the people who they never even met. Last weekend, I had an opportunity to be with the Catholic Church in Kazungula. I had an opportunity to be with the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church and with the voters, ward by ward.

 

Madam Speaker, Katombola, which is located in Kazungula District of the Southern Province, is the second largest constituency in the Republic of Zambia. It is a rural constituency and the poverty levels are unbelievable. There is no development to talk about and the people of Katombola are so elated by this Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, the previous Governments had neglected the people of Katombola. Actually, Katombola Constituency, which is in Kazungula District, looks like a war zone area owing to the levels of poverty. Poverty levels are the order of the day. There is illiteracy because there is only one boarding secondary school shared among five chiefdoms. There is only one hospital. So, the people of Katombola are so happy and the reason is clearly stated in this speech that I deliver to this august House.

 

Madam Speaker, in the transport sector, the people of Katombola, as already indicated, have no roads to talk about. They are always, year by year, cut off whenever the rainy season breaks out, as it will be breaking out very soon. There is no telephone network. We are so happy that the New Dawn Government, through this Budget, will work on the Kazungula/Sesheke Road. This is indicated on page 21 of the Budget Speech. This road has been an eyesore, which is a big shame.

 

Madam Speaker, I do not know whether the Government was seeing this international road. It is a very important road and we are very thankful that the New Dawn Government was able to consider the Kazungula/Sesheke Road. You cannot even call it a road because it looks like a stream or a river. We are thankful that the New Dawn Government has availed 4,300 km of rural roads.

 

Madam Speaker, in the area of education and skills development, we are so happy that 55,000 young people in Katombola will be trained in the area of skills development in the next six years and the recruitment of teachers in 2022 is something that has made the people of Katombola to be overjoyed by this Budget. This is the reason they have called it ‘the salvation budget’.

 

Madam Speaker, in Katombola Constituency, our children have been sitting on the floor at school because there are no desks. One cannot even call the schools that are there schools because most of them are makeshift schools. We are happy that this Government has indicated, on page 24 of the Budget Speech delivered by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, that it will construct 120 secondary schools, and this is the reason this Budget is being called a salvation budget. There is only one boarding secondary school in Katombola and the people of Katombola look forward to having facilities so that they can be educated like our colleagues that were in the Government who were able to send their children to schools abroad.

 

Madam Speaker, free education is another reason the people of Katombola are calling this Budget a salvation budget because most people are very poor. There are no industries to talk about in Kazungula District. Therefore, my people are so happy that they will not be obliged to pay school fees. Free education is being seen through the abolishment of examination fees and tuition fees for learners in public schools. The learners in boarding and secondary schools will be given a Bursary Scheme unlike in the past when it was only given to the rich and this has been taken to the door steps of the poor, the people in communities. The selection process will be done in a decentralised manner at ward and constituency levels.

 

Madam Speaker, on the education of a girl child, as you are aware, child marriages are the order of the day in Katombola Constituency of Kazungula District. We are thankful that the Government or the Cabinet has increased support for girls education from 28,964 girls in the 2021 Budget to 43,520 girls in the 2022 Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, we are also thankful that the New Dawn Government is considering recruiting 11,200 health workers in the health sector. There has been a serious backlog and most trained health workers were just in the airtel booths because the previous Government did not consider giving them jobs. The demonstration of the medical doctors, learned men, at the Ministry of Health was so unprecedented. The New Dawn Government’s intention to recruit health workers is highly commendable and the people of Katombola look forward to having a share of the health workers who will be recruited.

 

Madam Speaker, we are also thankful that the medical supplies or essential medicines will be increased, which has been a problem in this country. As you may be aware, the Ministry of Health supplied defective drugs and we look forward to quality and essential medicines being availed to the people of Katombola in Kazungula District through the 2022 Budget. Most clinics that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government constructed are not only dilapidated, but do not have any medicine. They are just ramshackles and there is no medicine in those clinics and we are so happy that this Government has taken the initiative to supply essential medicines.

 

Madam Speaker, on social protection and scaling up of beneficiaries, we are thankful that this Government has considered –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the 2022 National Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, this Budget has been described by many who have spoken before me as a populist budget. Others have called it an experimental, ambitious and a shot in the dark. Hon. Members on the right have described it as the best budget ever. Is this the best budget ever? Anyway, that is a question for another day.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to comment on the few contentious issues in this Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, in paragraph 89 of the Budget Address, the hon. Minister proposes to implement cost reflective tariffs in the electricity sub-sector in order to attract investment. This simply means that the New Dawn Government wants to increase the cost of electricity. It also means that the cost of doing business in Zambia continues to go up. This will negatively affect our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), our domestic clients and the farmers involved in irrigation. We should bear in mind that even the current tariffs are so high for most people. Our farmers involved in irrigation will be forced to downscale their production because of the proposed tariffs.

 

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government should also seriously think about the social and economic consequences of increasing electricity tariffs. The hon. Minister in charge of finance should approach this in a phased manner. He should first consider implementing the cost reflective tariffs in the mines, considering the fact that the copper mines consume about 50 to 60 per cent of the electricity produced in this country and that copper prices are quite high and the price of copper is about US$9850 per tonne. The mining industry will not find it difficult to adjust to the proposed tariffs.

 

Madam Speaker, we have seen that in the communication sector, the Corporate Income Tax rate has been reduced to 30 per cent from 35 per cent, but in the telecommunication sector, it still remains at 30 per cent. I, therefore, urge the hon. Minister to reconsider this. Telecommunication has to be as cheap as possible in order for our people to benefit from Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In the advent of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), some people and hon. Members have to work from home, and students have to study from home. For us to achieve this, internet bundles must be as cheap as possible so that most people can access ICT.

 

Madam Speaker, there is a proposed increase of electricity tariffs and fuel. Telecommunication, electricity and transport are the key drivers of any economy in this world. If the New Dawn Government increases electricity tariffs and fuel, our economy will go to its knees and our people will know who to blame.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also comment on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). We need proper guidelines on how to use the CDF. In the Yellow Book, so many things have been added for the use of the CDF such as K5 million for bursaries and youth empowerment. We need guidelines on what bridges to tackle and we need tarred roads in our areas. In view of the new dawn price, if we used US$1.4 million out of K25.7 million, we would only construct a stretch of 1 km.

 

Madam Speaker, after analysing this Budget – the time is moving so fast – the question I ask is: Is this Budget really pointing to economic growth in 2022? The answer is ‘theliz no’. Will the Zambian people get what rightfully belongs to them from the copper mining industry under this Budget? ‘Theliz no’. The other question is: Is the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) the only way to trigger increased agricultural production? I do not think it is the only way.

 

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government needs to be so serious to protect the interest of the local businesses. It should not just care about the big multinational companies. It should care about our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the people conducting businesses in the compounds.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the question I ask is: Is this the best budget ever? ‘Theliz no’.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for allowing me to contribute to the debate on the Budget Speech presented on the Floor of the House by the hon. Minister Finance and National Planning.

 

Madam Speaker, I believe this Budget is the best from the time Zambia was born.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

 

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, budgets were approved but we were not given the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Year after year, budgets were approved on the Floor of this House. I came to this Parliament in 2016, but we only received two full CDFs. This is very embarrassing, but that is the way the Patriotic Front (PF) used to work.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Bweengwa are happy about the increased CDF under the New Dawn Regime. Each constituency will now receive K25.7 million as the CDF and that money will be given every year. It will not be given like the PF Government used to give it in piecemeal. At times, it never gave us. Still on the CDF, some of the constituencies were at times discriminated and we never used to receive it at one time. That is what we used to see under the PF Regime.

 

Madam Speaker, coming to the issue of free education, I think we will fulfill all our campaign promises. We promised the people of Zambia that we will provide free education. Next year, there will be free education from primary to secondary level. So, just wait and see. However, it was very disappointing when two or three years ago, a certain hon. Minister stood on the Floor of this House and abolished the meal allowance under the leadership of the then President, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, but at an appropriate time, we will give the universities money.

 

Madam Speaker, let me talk about the recruitment of teachers. Imagine, we have just put aside K1.7 billion for the recruitment of 30,000 teachers. However, we used to approve a lot of money during the previous regime. Every time the Budget was presented on the Floor of this House, I could see some hon. Ministers salivating for that money, that it has come into their pockets. Money never used to go to our constituencies. Most roads in Bweengwa Constituency including the road from Monze to Namwala are a sorry sight. Even when it came to National Registration Cards (NRCs), we were heavily discriminated.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Michelo: We were not given NRCs in Monze District and Bweengwa Constituency in particular. It was very disappointing. We were heavily discriminated by the Ministry of Home Affairs and it was very bad that time.

 

Madam Speaker, when I debated at one point on the Floor of this House, I remember saying that the Ministry of Home Affairs under the PF Regime must be renamed to the Ministry of Discrimination and Segregation …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Michelo: … so that maybe by renaming it, people could start reasoning properly. It was very difficult for us.

 

Madam Speaker, we are very excited about the health workers who will be recruited next year. The United Party for National Development (UPND) hon. Members of Parliament and the Zambian people are happy about the scrapping off of the Borehole Tax which will be effected in January, next year. The Government will also pay off the pensioners and retirees, which the PF Government failed to do.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to tell the members of the PF that the period of corruption, discrimination and tribalism is long gone. I believe tribalism must be considered a crime against humanity and because of discrimination, we lost a number of people.

 

Madam Speaker, we never had medicine in hospitals. At some point, we received leaky condoms in this country and that was confirmed.

 

Mr Kapyanga interjected.

 

Mr Michelo: Can you shut up young man.

 

Madam Speaker, we also received …

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Michelo: … drugs which were not up the recommended standards. That is what the Zambian people received during the previous regime which never cared for them.

 

Madam Speaker, when our colleagues were allocating money for roads, we were only given 98 km. It is so embarrassing. One cannot discriminate other tribes like this, but that is what the PF did. The cases of discriminating people from other regions must be brought back. Even if some people are saying that they will commit suicide when the police officers arrest them, we will have no problem. Let them commit suicide.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Michelo: If an hon. Minister mismanages or steals money, we will arrest that person and not the tribe. So, stop crying that we are harassing other tribes because it is not like that.

 

Mr Kapyanga: On a point of order, Madam.

 

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, if I stole as a Member of Parliament, it is not the people of Bweengwa or the Tonga people who would be arrested, but it would be me. If Hon. Jack Mwiimbu stole, he would be arrested and not the people of Monze Central.

 

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Madam.

 

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, that is what the UPND Government will do. So, when we start arresting criminals, we are not arrest the tribe because they stole for their families and not for the tribe.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Two points of orders were being raised.

 

Is it the hon. Member for Nkana who wanted to raise a point of order?

 

Mr Kapyanga: Mpika Central.

 

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member for Mpika Central may raise the point of order.

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, thank you so much for giving the people of Mpika Central …

 

Hon. Member: Mask up!

 

Mr Kapyanga: … an opportunity to raise a point of order against a very emotional hon. Member of Parliament. I am raising a point of order as per Standing Order No.65(1)(a) which states:

 

         “65(1) A member who is debating shall-

 

                     (a)        confine his or her debate to the subject under discussion.”

 

Hon. PF Member: Yes!

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members, please!

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I am a very sad Member of Parliament.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Why?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kapyanga: This House –

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, just raise your point of order.

 

Mr Kapyanga: I am raising it, Madam Speaker.

 

When I came to this House, I was told that this House was built from stones and sand from all the nine provinces of Zambia.

 

Hon. UPND Members: What is your point of order?

 

Mr Kapyanga: Is the hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa in order – Instead of him debating the Budget, …

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Cockroaches!

 

Mr Kapyanga: … he is bringing in tribalism and issues of how he is imagining someone committing suicide.

 

Mr Chikote: He was talking about cockroaches.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kapyanga: This is against our own Standing Orders.

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

This is a House of order, and dignity and decorum should be observed. The way you are making noise; just imagine people are listening to you as you are making all this noise.

 

I had guided earlier on that we are not going to use this House to discuss tribe. We should not promote tribalism. You can talk about tribe when you are outside this House or Members Motel or when you are in the field campaigning. You can talk about tribalism then. To the extent that the hon. Member referred to issues of tribalism, he was out of order.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, did you also raise a point of order?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, yes, I have a point of order.

 

Madam Speaker, I sat here listening to the debate of my former hon. Colleague, and I tried to raise a point of order contemporaneously.

 

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order as per Standing Order No. 65(1) (b) which states:

 

            “65(1) A member who is debating shall –

 

(b)        ensure that the information he or she provides to the House is factual and verifiable.”

 

Madam Speaker, in his debate, he insinuated that the people of his constituency were segregated against and that they were not given National Registration Cards (NRCs).

 

Mr Michelo: Yes!

 

Mr Kampyongo: He is here because the people who voted for him are citizens who were holders of NRCs.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: He went on to insinuate in his own dream – and these are the people who are really worsening this country by believing in social media propaganda and falsehoods.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kampyongo: I talked about the issue of suicide yesterday and he is bringing it back. These are the people, probably, behind the same innuendos.

 

Interruptions

 

Hon. Member: Was your name mentioned?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I made it very clear that I stand here as the representative of the people of Shiwang’andu, who trust me.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: What is your point of order?

 

Mr Kampyongo: I know, in his wishful thinking, he wishes he could be like me who was Minister privileged by the people of Zambia.

 

Hon. UPND Member: Question!

 

Mr Kampyongo: He has to be patient and he will be recognised as such ...

 

Mr Chikote: Your point of order?

 

Mr Kampyongo: … because it does not come that easily. Flags do not come that easily, my dear friend.

 

Madam Speaker, is he in order to try and seek a ministerial appointment by using innuendos and falsehoods in this august House? I seek your serious ruling because we are a House of rules.

 

Mr Michelo walked to the Frontbench.

 

Mr Kampyongo: He is even coming to the Frontbench. Go back to the Backbench, my friend. There is no express coming to the Frontbench.

 

Mr Michelo sat at the Frontbench.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

 

Mr Michelo: Iwe kafupi iwe!

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I am not going to make any ruling because you have been debating on your own and shouting at each other, rendering my role as the Presiding Officer actually –

 

Mr Michelo: Tipase ma reg!

 

Madam Speaker: Let us not debate while we are seated, hon. Members.

 

You are demeaning the decorum of the House by the conduct that you are engaging yourselves in. It is not proper and it is not acceptable. You debate issues; you do not debate persons or personalities. The issue of suicide was brought in by the hon. Member himself yesterday, but since it was debated and he said that he was not going to commit suicide, …

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Member: Suicide!

 

Madam Speaker: … I think we should take it as such. There is no need to bring it up again. Social media talks about many things. So, if we believe in social media, we are going to derail ourselves. So, please, let us observe the rules of the House. Let us be factual and let us not debate each other. Once we debate each other, we will start seeing bottles flying all over here and that will really be a sorry sight not only in our eyes, but in the eyes of the people of Zambia. So, let us maintain the dignity of the House.

 

Mr Kangombe (Sesheke): Madam Speaker, thank you so much and I thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for the Budget that he presented to the nation through this House.

 

Madam Speaker, firstly, I thank President Hakainde Hichilema, who I believe is the author of the 2022 National Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, I will quickly delve into the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which, in my own view, has been increased by this Government having realised that in the past, certain parts of this country, which is factual, never really benefited from the National Treasury as they were supposed to.

 

Madam Speaker, today, I stand here as a happy Member of Parliament representing the good and humble people of Sesheke, Imusho, Lwampungu, Maondo and Kalobolelwa. The areas that I can compare to Mpika, whose hon. Members then, who were present in this House, could actually even say that they had received unprecedented development in Mpika and Shiwang’andu, but if one had an opportunity to traverse this country like I have done, one would understand that actually, much needs to be done in this country not just in Sesheke, but even in Shiwang’andu itself.

 

Mr Muchima: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kangombe: Why? It is because those who were in the Government at that time…

 

Mr Chikote: They were total failures.

 

Mr Kangombe: … were total failures. They could rise on the Floor of this House and make innuendos which did not relate with the reality on the ground. However, with the increase of the CDF to K25.7 million, I strongly believe that the people of Sesheke, Mbala and Shiwang’andu – even when certain individuals are saying this CDF is very small. Sometimes, let us be truthful. Sometimes, it is better to commend where it is due. The CDF has been increased to K25.7 million from K1.6 million and it relates to 1,500 per cent. Which Government has ever done that in the past?

 

Madam Speaker, today, I can cite an example – the other time this House, Parliament, gave me an opportunity to go to South Africa for the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC–PF) and I went with the hon. Member for Chifunabuli, who unfortunately is not part of us this time around. He is married to a certain woman, but since the son bears a certain name, he was left out on bursary. Today, we have an opportunity because – the people in Imusho and Kalobolelwa will be able to identify a person, pupil or student who qualifies for a bursary and not someone here in Lusaka. This is commendable.

 

Madam Speaker, in Sesheke, there is only one hospital, the Yeta Hospital, and only one secondary school, Sesheke Secondary School, all built by Dr Kaunda of the United National Independence Party (UNIP).

 

Madam Speaker, on the road that connects this country to Europe, through the Walvis Bay via Trans Namibia, an economic road, I stood on the Floor of this House where, in certain responses, one would actually say that even just putting fuel in the vehicle related to works on the ground. Putting fuel in the vehicle and just driving to the site and coming back, they would say they have done 5 per cent.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning assured the people of this country and Sesheke that they are going to work on the Sesheke/Livingstone Road. Any hon. Member in this House should be happy because that road is not just for the people of Sesheke. It is a national and economic road for that matter.

 

Madam Speaker, come 2022, 30,000 teachers will be employed and this has never happened in the history of this country. There are children at home who completed their education and have diplomas and degrees, but cannot find employment. Why? It is because someone here in Lusaka was deciding on their own behalf. However, today, the people of Sesheke and the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) will be able to identify people who qualify for employment.

 

Madam Speaker, decentralisation has come at the rightful time were even our youths will be able to benefit and compete for the contracts being awarded in the constituency unlike where one individual had 98 per cent of the contracts in this country and even failed to deliver because he was overwhelmed and does not even have the capacity. We are now going to give contracts to the local people. Any meaningful hon. Member of Parliament should be happy that his own people from his own constituency will be able to do these works, thereby returning the money of the same constituency and developing it in diverse, unlike unscrupulous individuals who would actually even sign for contracts that they are not even executing on the ground.

 

Madam Speaker, I am happy because some of us are farmers and have been groomed into well behaved and strong human beings. The hon. Minister of Fisheries and Livestock is going to do cattle restocking. We are happy. From there, we will be able to generate income for our people. We are happy that even then, we have the opportunity to utilise the advantage of the 90 million plus population in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to export farm produce and make money.

 

Madam Speaker, our colleagues had the opportunity at the time to even do more. It is during their tenure were Mukula was discovered, but, what happened? It is during their tenure were Kasenseli Gold Mine was discovered, but what happened? They pocketed the money. Now, we have a listening Government which is going to ensure that the wealth of this country is well harnessed and everyone stands to benefit.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I support the Budget.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Vubwi, start with your maiden speech.

 

Mr A. I. A. Banda (Vubwi): Madam Speaker, thank you so much.

 

Madam Speaker, firstly, allow me to congratulate you and the two Deputy Speakers on your successful election to carry out this great mandate to preside over the Thirteenth National Assembly.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me also to thank you for recognising the good people of Vubwi Constituency by giving me this opportunity to render my maiden speech in this august House.

 

Madam Speaker, before I proceed further, I thank the Almighty God and the great citizens of Vubwi for opening up all the closed doors for me to serve as their Member of Parliament. My election to this House could not have been possible had it not been for the wisdom, encouragement, financial and physical support that was rendered to me by many individuals. Due to limited time, I will just mention a few. These are my dear wife; Mrs Susan K. Mvula Banda; my mother, Corontina Phiri; Brother Gabriel Banda; Uncle Finda Mbewe; Uncle Sam Phiri; and my childhood friend, Mr Rodaviko Mwale.

 

Madam Speaker, I will be failing in my duties if I do not thank the great Patriotic Front (PF) Party under the admirable leadership of His Excellency the Sixth Republican President, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the massive support and the role he played in my political career.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr A. I. A. Banda I offer my gratitude to the extended family of the PF; at the central committee, provincial, district, constituency and ward levels, and all the way down to the sections for the confidence and trust they have in me. I promise, therefore, to deliver my services in accordance with the wishes and expectations of the electorates of Vubwi Constituency.

 

Madam Speaker, let me take advantage of this platform to appreciate His Royal Highness, Chief Pembamoyo, sub-chiefs, headmen, churches, civil society organisations, youth groups, fellow Catholic choir members of Vubwi Parish and everyone who supported me strongly in terms of encouragement, wisdom and financial help. I recognise their support and promise to remain available to them all, henceforth.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also thank my predecessor, Hon. Margaret C. Miti, as well as the previous PF Government for the service and effort to develop Vubwi Constituency. Allow me to put it on record that the people of Vubwi have all the reasons to support and appreciate the previous Government because of the many achievements, including the following:

 

  1. declaration of Vubwi as a district;
  2. construction of the district administration block;
  3. construction of health posts which increased the number from four to eight;
  4. construction of the district hospital;
  5. supporting farmers through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP);
  6. empowering some youth and women groups with funds and skills;
  7. increasing of secondary schools from one to eight; and
  8. construction of the epicentre, which is the only one throughout the country. This was done by the Heifer International, which is currently supporting targeted villages to address issues that affect them.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Vubwi also specifically thank the former President, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the peaceful transition of power which has, indeed, proved his wisdom, democratic mind and love for the Zambian people. This made Zambia an admirable country to the rest of the world.

 

Madam Speaker, let me congratulate the United Party for National Development (UPND) for its victory in the previous general election held on 12thAugust, 2021. I know it was not an easy battle, bearing in mind that the PF Government carried out more developmental projects across the country than any Government before.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to highlight some of the challenges being faced by the people of Vubwi Constituency. These include the bad state of the Chipata/Vubwi Road. Works on this road were started by the previous Government but they were stopped. I am, therefore, appealing that the works should commerce because we could be cut off from the rest of the country if this road is not attended to.

 

Madam Speaker, secondly, there is a need to procure more hospital equipment for us to provide medical services to the residents of Vubwi.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to draw to your attention that only a few places have electricity in Vubwi, hence the need to expedite the rural electrification project in Vubwi.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also draw to your attention that Vubwi, being a new district, many roads are not open. I appeal to the New Dawn Government to construct some roads so that people can have access to schools and clinics across the district.

 

Madam Speaker, I am privileged to indicate that the former Government started doing these works, but there was change of Government. I, therefore, appeal to the New Dawn Government to look into that before the onset of the rains. I also appeal to the Government to complete the only boarding school to give a better education platform, especially for a girl child.

 

Madam Speaker, there is also a shortage of accommodation for most civil servants. Therefore, there is a need to complete the construction of Government houses to resolve the accommodation crisis. Due to the lack of decent accommodation, a number of civil servants stay in Chipata and have to travel every day for work in Vubwi, which, indeed, is disadvantaging many proceedings in the district.

 

Shortage of water supply

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to draw to your attention that in Vubwi, we do not have access to the dam. The PF Government worked tirelessly to drill some boreholes here and there, but it could not do everything at the same time. I, therefore, appeal to the New Dawn Government to, at least, drill dams in Vubwi so that livestock and human beings have access to clean water.

 

Madam Speaker, we also appeal for the construction of communication towers in order to improve access to mobile network services. For example, it is very difficult for the health personnel to call for help or call an ambulance when there is an emergency as they have to move for about 1 km to 2 km to access mobile phone network.

 

Madam Speaker, I strongly appeal to the New Dawn Government under President Hakainde Hichilema to address the problems I have highlighted above, especially the Chipata/Vubwi Road before we are completely cut off from the rest of the country.

 

Madam Speaker, finally, allow me to congratulate my fellow hon. Members of Parliament for their victory. I end my maiden speech by calling for peace and unity in the country, as I promise to support all progressive ideas in the House and oppose non-progressive ones.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you and the people of Zambia for listening to the voice of Vubwi. May God bless Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to now say something on the Budget, which was presented to this august House.

 

Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate that during the time of the presentation of the Budget, I was attending to a court matter. However, I went through the Budget Speech and realised that the good people of Vubwi have not been taken care of, especially on the road, which I indicated in my maiden speech. There is nowhere in the 2022 Budget, which was presented, where it is indicated that this road will be worked on, and this is a very serious matter in Vubwi. The PF Government, indeed, started working on this road, but the works were stopped. The people of Vubwi really wish to have that road worked on. If it is not worked on, it will be a mess for the people of Vubwi, especially that we do not have a reliable hospital. We depend on the hospital in Chipata District, but the road itself is very bad and we are encountering many challenges accessing hospital services.

 

Madam Speaker, further, the youths of Vubwi and Zambia at large are wondering if people who do not undergo training in teaching and health will be considered because what has been put across just considers teachers and health personnel. However, there are other youth groups which took several courses, but the Budget is very silent on them. Before this exercise is implemented, I appeal to the hon. Minister to look into this matter and address it before it reaches its peak. I suggest that the hon. Minister increases the, ...

 

Mr Sampa: Hammer, hammer!

 

Mr A. I. A. Banda: ... the budget to accommodate the youths and the roads, which are not attended to.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, I thank you.

 

Mr Jamba (Mwembezhi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the people of Mwembezhi a chance to contribute to debate on this very powerful Budget.

 

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, this Budget, was presented by a very able man; the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, who has proven with a good record that he is a man of substance.

 

Madam Speaker, to us in Mwembezhi, this Budget means a lot. I will start with the retirees in Mwembezhi, who applauded this Budget because they are going to be considered. Retirees used to come to Lusaka and sleep at the office of the then hon. Minister of Justice. If you are a Zambian, you saw those people. Some of them were coming from Mwembezhi. They are now very delighted that they are now going to get their money. I thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

 

Madam Speaker, let me talk about contractors. Many Zambians are contractors and some of them were contracted in Mwembezhi, but the Government was not paying them. Whenever it was time for payments, the Government would pay those who were associated with a certain political party where they were getting a 20 per cent share through underhand methods.

 

Mr Singombe: Mpukunya matobo.

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, we look forward to 2022 as contractors are going to get their money. When they get their money, we are sure that it will trickle down to the people of Mwembezhi because the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning is one man who walks the talk.

 

From the time I came to this House in 2016, I have seen the changing of goalkeepers, but the coach is not changed. I warned the coach that he would be changed. The first hon. Minister responsible for finance was very good. He brought about prudence so that we reduce on borrowing, but the man was removed. We brought another one and he was removed, but this one, according to this Budget, makes us see light at the end of the tunnel. As Zambians, we are saying that this Budget is the first of its kind and everyone should support it.

Madam Speaker, on the issue of employment, we want to go down to our constituencies since the money is going there. We want to form companies there because the money will be there, make some businesses and get the people in our constituencies employed. This is going to reduce unemployment. This Budget talks to the needs of the people and it is a peoples’ Budget.

Madam Speaker, I heard some people saying it is a mirage. There was a time when a certain man came to this earth and changed many people’s lives. He healed a certain person whom he touched. He put some mud in his eyes and asked him what he saw. The man said he saw men walking like trees. That man had to touch that person twice so that he could see that what he thought were trees were human beings. This is a very good Budget, but some people are seeing a mirage. They should have a second touch in their blindness to see that this Budget is the only one of its kind in Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, since we are used to mediocrity, when real things come, we cannot see them. Umwana ashenda atasha nyina ukunaya.

Hon. Opposition Member: Meaning?

Mr Jamba: Meaning that you have never seen these things but now that they have seen them, they are so surprised that they cannot see anything.

Laughter

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, what we are saying here is that this is a good Budget. We can talk of many opportunities. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has promised that development is going to our constituencies. There is a road in Mwembezhi that goes up to the Blue Lagoon National Park. It is a road where Nampundwe Mine and the iron mine for Universal Mining are. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning said that all these economic roads are going to be taken care of. Even if this road is a very important road, during the tenure of our friends, they could not look at it because we are from another sector.

Madam Speaker, for your own information, I used to sit there (pointing to the left side of the House) as an Independent Member of Parliament. My child asked me what I did for me not to be taken care of. I told him that he would understand when he grew up. Thank God he will never know the black spot that the PF put on us.

Madam Speaker, this Budget must be supported by all well-meaning Zambians because it will take money back to the people through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). When it takes the money back to the people, they are going to generate income and the money is going to be circulating within the constituencies. We do not want to see contractors from Lusaka going to Mwembezhi. We want contractors from within Mwembezhi.

Madam Speaker, lastly, let me talk about the recruitment of teachers and health workers. 30,000 divided by 156 is about 192 teachers. This is a very good move, but we want the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and the hon. Minister of Education to ensure that the teachers and health workers are allocated equally to all constituencies. Just like we have an equal amount of constituency money, we need the employment of teachers in every constituency. That means I am expecting 192 teachers in Mwembezhi.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, the 11,000 health workers should also be divided by 156. There is no need for people to jump from their constituencies to go to other constituencies and getting the positions of others. This is a very good Budget and this Government is user friendly. All of us are here and we will see to it that it is implemented to the letter.

Madam Speaker, I support this Budget.

I thank you. Tu PF, namumfwa?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of the people of Mufumbwe.

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. The people of Mufumbwe are saying that what has happened this year has never been seen in the history of Zambia. They are also extending this gratitude to His Excellency the President and Her Honour the Vice-President because now they are walking the talk. What they promised the people is what is coming to fruition. We are very happy.

Madam Speaker, if you were to allow me to sing a song from Mufumbwe, I was going to dance here.

Hon. Government Members: Sing!

Mr Kamondo: The people of Mufumbwe told me to tell the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning that chikunkumwanza chapwile kumuchima chafumako.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: The means that the problems that we had are now in the past. We are not going to experience what we experienced during the Patriotic Front (PF) regime.

Madam Speaker, when the Budget was being presented here, we saw some people here – the hon. Members of the left were jumping. Now, when they went to a certain meeting somewhere, they came and changed the following day. I do not know what happened.

Mr Sing’ombe: They were indoctrinated wrongly!

Mr Kamondo: Madam Speaker, when we were on the left side of the House, we used to ask so many questions about when the Government was going to do this and that and our hon. Colleagues would tell us to wait until funds were made available. There was an hon. Member of Parliament who used to sit there (pointing at the Opposition seats) who cried in this House because he was denied development by the PF bad Government. Those are facts. However, the New Dawn Government presented this Budget but people are saying it is over ambitious.

Madam Speaker, I was also surprised, rather, perplexed when I heard someone mentioning so many clinics which were constructed in his constituency, but have not been constructed in the whole province where we come from. So, it looks like their constituencies are swamped, overwhelmed, rather saturated that they cannot take any development, and that is why they are speaking against this Budget. However, for us, we are saying this is what we wanted. The people of Mufumbwe are saying this is what they have been looking for.

Madam Speaker, for instance, they are divided on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Others were saying the CDF is not enough, but we are surprised on this side because if it is not enough, what was enough? Were they getting some extra CDF that we did not know about as Members of Parliament here? What are they talking about?

Mr Jamba: Ba taba no taba.

Mr Kamondo: Today, as we are seated, they are not even in the House. I am sure they are listening.

Mr Sampa: Can you not see us?

Mr Kamondo: We can see a few who are excited and those who are going to support this Budget, and we thank them for that. The other hon. Member who was just debating was talking about things being done in his constituency. How are they going to be done? He should be the happiest person who is going to ensure that he uses this CDF prudently to ensure that those programmes he was talking about are actualised.

Madam Speaker, when it comes to mining, this is the only Government that intends to increase production from 800,000 to 3 million. What does that mean? It means that Kalengwa Mine in Mufumbwe will be opened and it will create employment.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: Madam Speaker, this Government means well for the people of Zambia. The people out there are celebrating and saying bushe mwe lesa, ninshi mwakokweshe abantu ukwisa bwangu aba, meaning why did God delay the progress that they wanted earlier than this. This is what the people of Zambia are saying and they are happy with this progress –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

(Debated adjourned)

The House adjourned at 1910 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday 18th November, 2021.

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