DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Friday, 5th October, 2012

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

___________

RULING BY MR SPEAKER

RULING BY THE HON. MR SPEAKER ON THE CONDUCT, IN THE HOUSE, OF THE HONOURABLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR MWANDI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY, DR M. KAINGU, ON TUESDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2012

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I have a ruling to render. The ruling relates to the hon. Member for Mwandi Parliamentary Constituency, Dr M. Kaingu. I, therefore, order you, Dr M. Kaingu, Member of Parliament for Parliamentary Constituency to go and stand behind the Bar of the House. I also instruct the Sergeant-At-arms to take the Speaker’s Mace and go and stand behind the hon. Member.

Dr M. Kaingu, MP, was escorted to the Bar by the Sergeant-At-Arms. 

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members will recall that on Tuesday, 25th September, 2012, when the House was considering the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address that was delivered on Friday, 21st September, 2012, the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwandi Parliamentary Constituency, Dr M. Kaingu, deliberately tore a copy of the President’s Speech during his debate on the Motion. The following is an excerpt from the verbatim report. It depicts what transpired before the hon. Member tore the speech. Dr M. Kaingu, Member of Parliament, in his debate, stated, among other things, as follows:

“Mr Speaker, I am perturbed by the manner and style in which the speech was delivered to this House. It was unprocedural and lacked or was devoid of the decorum and the known culture of this House.

“Mr Speaker, on that Friday morning, all of us expected the President to walk into this House majestically, with dignity and honour, to sit on a chair and to read a prepared speech, as has normally been practised by his predecessors. Mr Speaker, what President Sata did in this House is unprecedented. We have never seen a situation where the President engages hon. Members of Parliament in his speech. He is the Fifth Republican President of Zambia, and it was not his first time to come to this House for him to have failed to adhere to the decorum or, indeed, the procedure known of this House. The President’s Speech was full of jokes and lacked seriousness. He did not come here to discuss people’s first names. He made the whole presentation appear comical.

“Mr Speaker, I would like to say that the President’s Speech is a pace setter and it profiles the mood in which we are to debate in this House. It gives fundamental direction in which the business will be taken during the sitting of this House. Therefore, I am in a precarious situation. I find myself with two documents, and I do not know which one I should refer to as I debate.”

“Mr Speaker, I have with me two documents and, as far as I am concerned, I find the verbatim document as the most appropriate one on which we must base our debate.”

Hon. Members, as you may recall at this point, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House guided the hon. Member and the House as follows:

“Let us guide one another. The President addressed this august House. In addressing the august House, the President read from the speech that has been distributed. However, it is not mandatory for the President to read every word. Suffice to say that hon. Members have a verbatim report of what came out of the President’s mouth as he attempted to amplify what is in his speech that has been circulated. Therefore, the way forward is that hon. Members are at liberty to debate on what they heard as having come out of the mouth of the President as well as what is contained in the written speech. I hope that is clear.”

Following the guidance, Dr M. Kaingu, MP, proceeded to debate as follows:

“Mr Speaker, as per the procedure of the House, when the President has finished reading the speech, he hands it over to the Hon. Speaker, so that it can be brought on the Floor of this House.  I did not see that happen and I, therefore, on behalf of my colleagues …”

The Deputy Chairperson interjected and said:

“Order! That was done. Continue.”

Hon. Dr M. Kaingu, however, continued and said:

“Mr Speaker, since I find myself in a precarious situation, I am so disgusted, and I am going to tear the speech and lay it on the Table.”

As hon. Members are aware, at this point, Dr M. Kaingu, MP, tore the President’s Speech, following which, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House ordered him to leave the House and said that the matter would be referred to the appropriate Committee for further consideration. The matter was accordingly referred to the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services.

The House may also wish to know that, following the incidence in the House, Dr M. Kaingu, MP, on Sunday, 30th September, 2012, appeared on a live Muvi Television Programme entitled “The Assignment: Kaingu Tears Sata’s Speech”. During this programme, the hon. Member justified his act of tearing the President’s Speech on the grounds that the President did not follow parliamentary procedure when delivering the speech to the House.  

Hon. Members may wish to note that the conduct of Dr M. Kaingu, MP, raises the following issues of parliamentary privilege and contempt of the House:

(i)breach of parliamentary etiquette and rules of debate vis-á-vis a Member deliberately tearing a document on the Floor of the House in protest.
(ii)breach of privilege and contempt of the House vis-á-vis a Member discussing a matter that has been referred to a Committee for appropriate action.
The authorities on these breaches are as follows:
    
(i)Breach of Parliamentary Etiquette and Rules of Debate vis-a-vis a Member Deliberately Tearing a Document on the Floor of the House
Chapter 5 of the National Assembly Handbook, 2006 Edition, Rule 18 states that a Member should not tear off documents in the House in protest.

In addition, Rule 37 of the Handbook provides that:

“The Speaker may direct any Member, whose conduct is, in the Speaker’s opinion, grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the House, and any Member so ordered to withdraw should do so forthwith and should absent herself/himself during the remainder of the day’s sitting.”

(ii)     Breach of Privilege and Contempt of the House vis-á-vis a Member Reflecting on the Character of the Proceedings of the House by Discussing a Matter That Has Been Referred to an Appropriate Committee for Determination

M. N. Kaul and Shakdher, in their book entitled Practice and Procedure of Parliament, Sixth Edition, at page 293, state as follows:

“It is a breach of privilege and contempt of the House to make speeches, or to print or publish any libels, reflecting on the character or proceedings of the House or its Committees ...”

Hon. Members, in line with Parliamentary Practice and Procedure and, in accordance with the rules of natural justice, the hon. Member for Mwandi Parliamentary Constituency was asked to appear before the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services to accord him an opportunity to be heard.

During its proceedings, the Committee also viewed a recording of Dr M. Kaingu’s interview with Muvi Television. 

After examining the oral submission of Dr M. Kaingu, MP, and viewing the Muvi Television footage, the Committee established the following matters:

(i)that by tearing the President’s Speech on the Floor of the House, Dr M. Kaingu, MP, breached parliamentary etiquette and rules of debate provided under Rule 18 of the National Assembly Members’ Handbook, 2006; and

(ii)that by appearing on a live Muvi Television Programme to discuss a matter that had been referred to an appropriate Committee for determination, Dr M. Kaingu, MP, was in breach of parliamentary privilege and in contempt of the House.

Taking into consideration the seriousness of the two breaches committed by the hon. Member, the Committee resolved to suspend Dr M. Kaingu, MP, from the service of the National Assembly for a period of two weeks in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(1) of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. 12 of the Laws of Zambia, which state as follows:

“28(1) where any Member commits any contempt of the Assembly, whether specified in Section 19 or otherwise, the Assembly may, by resolution, either direct the Speaker to reprimand such Member or suspend him from the service of the Assembly for such period as it may determine:

Provided that such period shall not extend beyond the last day of the meeting next following that in which the resolution is passed, or of the session in which the resolution is passed, whichever shall first occur.”

Therefore, in accordance with Section 28(1) of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. 12 of the Laws of Zambia, which requires a resolution of the House on a matter of this nature, I now put the Question:

 Question that the House, accordingly, suspends Dr M. Kaingu, MP, for a period of two weeks as recommended by the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services, put and agreed to.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I now address you, Dr M. Kaingu, MP.

Let me inform you, Dr M. Kaingu, that your action of tearing the President’s Speech, as a way of protest, was unbefitting of the conduct of an hon. Member of Parliament. As an hon. Member of Parliament who is not new to the House, you are expected to be familiar with the rules governing the manner in which an hon. Member can express his or her displeasure or dissatisfaction with the ruling of the Chair, or any other matter. Hon Members are given sufficient opportunity to express themselves in the House. It is for this reason that hon. Members are accorded freedom of speech and debate, and immunity from legal proceedings for anything they say on the Floor of the House. It is, therefore, unwarranted for an hon. Member, who has been accorded an opportunity to debate and express his pleasure or displeasure at a matter, to abuse this privilege by deliberately tearing a copy of the speech delivered by the Head of State in a manner that you did. In this regard, your behaviour cannot be protected by parliamentary immunity because to do so would not only be a failure to understand the intent of parliamentary immunity, but also a perpetuation of the conduct that is likely to dilute or undermine the dignity of the House. 

Further, your conduct of discussing a matter, which had been referred to an appropriate Committee of the House for determination, outside the House, especially with the media, was uncalled for, and it belittled the dignity and integrity of the House and the Committee. 

This is a House of decorum and dignity, whose reputation has been built over many years. It is imprudent for any hon. Member, especially a senior hon. Member, like yourself, to reduce the integrity and status of the House by behaving in the manner that you did. I wish to state, emphatically, that this House will not tolerate such gross indiscipline and misconduct. 

Finally, I wish to inform you that, in accordance with Section 28 (1) of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. 12 of the Laws of Zambia, there will be no salary or allowance paid to you and you will not participate in any business or activities of the House and its Committees for the duration of the suspension. You shall also not participate in any activities, if any, that you usually take part in, in your capacity as hon. Member of Parliament. Before I proceed with my duty of ejecting you from the House on suspension, I order you, Dr M. Kaingu, to render an apology to the House.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT

APOLOGY BY THE MEMBER FOR MWANDI, HON. DR M. KAINGU

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I, Michael Kaingu, Phd, …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kaingu: … in my personal capacity as Member of Parliament …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Dr Kaingu: … for Mwandi Constituency, do unreservedly apologise to this august House and the nation for tearing a copy of the President’s Speech during my debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address on Tuesday, 25th September, 2012.

Mr Speaker, I further apologise for appearing on Muvi Television to justify my act of tearing the said speech, which matter was already before the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services.

Mr Speaker, I have reflected on my actions that were a serious breach of the rules and procedures of the House, and I deeply regret this. 

Sir, I have carefully listened to the guidance you have given me, and wish to assure you and this August House that, in future, I shall not, in this House, protest or act in any other manner unbefitting of an hon. Member of Parliament. To this end, I shall conduct myself in a manner expected of an hon. Member of Parliament, in compliance with the rules and procedures of this House.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: It is now my unpleasant duty to order you, Dr M. Kaingu, to leave the Chamber through the main entrance on a two-weeks suspension as resolved by the House. 

I thank you.

Interruptions

Dr Kaingu left the Assembly Chamber.    

Mr Speaker: Order!

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, in order to maintain the decorum and dignity of the House, and to uphold the long-established and un-debatable practice, the National Anthem shall be sung in English exclusively.

I thank you. 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_________

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I rise to give this House an idea of the business it will consider next week.

Sir, on Tuesday, 9th October, 2012, the Business of the House will commence with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Then the House will resume the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

On Wednesday, 10th October, 2012, the Business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. The House will, then, continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

Sir, on Thursday, 11th October, 2012, the Business of the House will commence with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will debate the Motion to suspend Standing Orders 19, 20 and 31 to enable the House to sit from 1415 hours until business is concluded on Friday, 12th October, 2012. This is intended to enable the hon. Minister of Finance to present the 2013 National Budget. The House will then wind up the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address moved by the hon. Member of Parliament for Luanshya on 25th September, 2012.

Mr Speaker, on Friday, 12th October, 2012, the hon. Minister of Finance, as already stated, will present the 2013 National Budget, starting at 1415 hours.

I thank you, Sir.

__________

HIS HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, a number of promises have been made on the Floor of the House on the Landless Corner/Mumbwa Road. Since the legal impediments have, now, been removed, can His Honour the Vice-President indicate when construction of this road will commence.

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I will give a glimpse of what is in the 2013 Budget. Phase II of the construction  of the road will commence in August, 2013. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Mr Speaker, will Parliament be allowed to decide the projects that will be implemented from the recently secured US$750 million Euro Bond?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, as far as I am aware, that will be explained in the 2013 Budget. Therefore, it will be deliberated upon by Parliament as has been the practice in the past.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, what do the electricity outages that occurred at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport reflect on the state of affairs under the Patriotic Front (PF) Government?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, a ministerial statement will be issued on the matter on Tuesday, 9th October, 2012.

I thank you, Sir.

Professor Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Defence was heard on radio, extending an invitation to Ng’angas (witchdoctors) to assist in apprehending the Mailoni brothers. Can His Honour the Vice-President inform the nation whether the Government has failed to apprehend these criminals using conventional means. 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Mailoni brothers have been on the scene for many years before this Government was elected into power.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

The Vice-President: Therefore, if it is a failure, then, we share it jointly.

Laughter

The Vice-President: However, I must, at the same time, say that I am not entirely acquainted with the hon. Minister of Defence’s sense of humour. So, I would not rule out anything.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, is it possible for His Honour the Vice-President to make the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs bring the chiefdom maps by next week, as promised on the Floor of this House?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I will take it up, although she has heard and I trust that by the next Vice-President’s Question Time, which is in two weeks’ time, it will be settled.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, now that the Government has decided to get involved in the growing of cotton by providing inputs, what guarantee is there that it will not neglect the cotton farmers in the marketing of the product this time around?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, as I have said before on the Floor of this House, during the Vice-President’s Question Time, it is not this Government’s nor, indeed, the previous Government’s policy to provide marketing channels and guaranteed prices for agricultural commodities other than maize, which has a special status as a food-security crop.

Sir, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government did not once intervene in the pricing of cotton in twenty years. Neither have we, as a PF Government, done so, though we have received assurances from the cotton processing companies that, as the world market gets back into a more bullish condition, which it is doing currently, the growers will be retroactively given their share of the benefits.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chishiba (Kafulafuta): Mr Speaker, why has His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Sata, not held a second press conference to clarify the many issues in the nation? What is the problem? Is there some fear?

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is a matter of style. The President makes mini-press conferences every time he swears anybody in at State House. He has done that in the last year, at least, two dozen times that I can estimate, and I was present.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, the people in our constituency call the PF ‘Paya Farmer’.

Laughter

Mr Hamusonde: When will farmers be paid their money and given empty grain bags?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the target date for completion of the maize-buying exercise, including, as the President said when he was here, paying for it, is the end of October, 2012.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, Zambia is party to the United Nations Convention on Bio-diversity. What difficulties is the Government facing in ratifying the Nagoya Protocol that seeks to conserve our genetic resources? 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, a programme to take care of those issues is in the pipeline. The Cabinet Memorundum has been prepared and circulated. It will come to this House in due course.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Chituwo (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, how much progress has Zambia made towards attaining the millennium development goals (MDGs)?

The Vice-President: Where is the report?

Laughter

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I think the hon. Member is being unfair to me. If he had flagged that question he could have had a very comprehensive answer, even one that would have been laid on the Table. However, as you pointed out, we are not encyclopedias, and not even the Vice-President is an encyclopedia. I am just a small thin encyclopedia. 

Sir, we discussed, on the Floor of this House, the question of Millennium Development Goal No. 5 which is on maternal mortality. One of the problems we have is that the information that I was forced to give the House on that subject is from 2007 because the latest Zambia Demographic Health Survey for this year is not yet available. I will certainly make a point of having the information on hand the next time the hon. Member asks this question.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President why the Government is refusing to grant permits to opposition parties to hold rallies. 

The second one is what progress has been made on the … 

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Only one question.

Mr Ndalamei: … Barotseland Agreement.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, you are restricted to one question.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I do not want to get a reputation for chickening out but, as far as I am aware, the matter of permits for opposition parties is actually before the courts. All I can do is express my sincere hope that things will normalise in the future.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, it is assumed that when His Excellency the President appoints an hon. Minister, he vets that Minister to ascertain his/her nationality, place of birth and status in society. Also, that it is only after the vetting is done, that an individual is appointed to the position of Minister.

Mr Speaker, I would like to find out the prudence behind the investigation of an hon. Member of Parliament who served prudently in this Government and in the previous Government on his nationality immediately after he decided to resign from the Government. What is the prudence of that decision?

Hon. UPND Member: Yes!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not privy to the day-to-day progress of that particular investigation or, indeed, any investigation. However, presumably, it is because there was a serious question raised on the nationality of that person, and that it is now being looked into and, no doubt, it will be handled professionally.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, we come here to speak on behalf of the people.

Sir, the PF has been in power for a year and Lukulu still has no tarmac road. May His Honor the Vice-President tell me what answer he has on the Lukulu Road.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Kaoma/Lukulu Road, which I presume is the one in question, is part of Link Zambia 8,000 Roads Network Project and it is in Phase III of the road network construction.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, I would like to remind His Honor the Vice-President that he said, on the Floor of this House, that the PF Government was going to produce a list of Cabinet members for offices. It has been a year and the PF Government has not done so. When will the Government ensure that Cabinet lists are hoisted in public offices?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I do not understand the question. Is it possible for the hon. Member to clarify? What is a Cabinet list?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: I presume the hon. Member is referring to a profile of the Cabinet and their photographs and portfolios.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am advised that the Government Printers have it.

Laughter

The Vice-President: If the hon. Member has problems in either raising the money to pay for it or finding it, he should contact me and I will give him a hand.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, the Government has taken over the Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL). I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President what security measures have been put in place to ensure that the workers are protected and that the company does not become run down, as was the case in the previous regime. 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is being run like a private business, and we expect it, under our management, to continue to operate and to be viable.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Ngoma (Sinda): Mr Speaker, when does the Government envisage that the Constitution reforms that are currently underway in the country will come to an end via enactment in this House?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Committee Stage or the stage at which the threads are drawn together, and the production of the final draft of the Constitution, is expected by 31st December, 2012. From then on, I will keep the House apprised, but we do not expect it to take too long after that. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. Zimba (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, the Government is opening a lot of resettlement schemes throughout the country. Why does it rush to open resettlement schemes without providing social facilities such as schools and clinics among others?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that question because it is one that exercises me also. 

Sir, the Department of Resettlement, which is under my office, is in charge of about sixty resettlement schemes that have been established by various means. For example, when refugees leave refugee camps, the camps automatically become resettlement schemes. An example of this is Ukwimi and, recently, Maheba, Mayukwayukwa, Nangweshi and others. These have infrastructure that is initially quite good, but runs down because of the shortage of long-term money to keep it maintained.

Sir, we are not rushing. At the moment, we are trying to restructure the resettlement scheme so that everybody has title deeds. This will allow for banks to start funding some of the personalised infrastructure and agricultural funding required. For example, my office is working closely with the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) to try to get proper credit arrangements going so that some of these schemes become properly liquid. The schemes, apart from a few, like Kanakantapa, are not fully occupied. Therefore, the people who are looking for land find it on these schemes. It is an unsatisfactory situation, but we are striving to speed it up.

I thank you, Sir. {mospagebreak}

Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Speaker, what measures is the Government putting in place to control and eradicate cattle diseases in Zambia, especially in the Southern Province, so that we can transport and sell our animals to the Copperbelt Province?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, we can only continue to vaccinate, dip and regulate the movement of cattle from Angola and Botswana, where the foot and mouth disease comes from, to Zambia. We can only do so if we allocate more money to this item in the Budget which will be announced next week. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr M. B. Mwale (Malambo): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by events.

Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, today, there are a lot of chiefdom boundary disputes in the country. The specific one I have in mind is between Chieftainess Nkomeshya and Senior Chief Shakumbila. May His Honour the Vice-President confirm to this House and the nation that chiefs can now use the 1958 maps to resolve their disputes. 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I believe we are being redundant. This can only be covered if we request the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to bring the maps and, in addition, make a statement to this House on  the use of these maps.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, going by the pronouncements made by the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing that street vending will continue in Lusaka and by the phrase the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport used two days ago that, “Mwinshishya nshilanya”, …

Laughter

Mr Nkombo: … what corresponding measures is the PF Government putting in place, in terms of establishing mobile and static public toilets in Lusaka, a constituency he represents, for vendors and people who have no fixed aboard to stop using shake-shake packs to relieve themselves?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Lusaka City Council, together with the private sector, which also has an interest of sanitation and health aspects of street vending, are working on that.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Malama (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, now that we have a by-election, I would like His Honour the Vice-President to state whether it is the Government’s intention to deliver relief maize and grade roads in Mufumbwe as was the case in the just-ended by-elections in Chama, Livingstone and Muchinga constituencies.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the policy of this Government has always been to continue with existing client intervention. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, for example, the majority of the relief maize that was distributed in Chama was in Chama South Constituency, which was not the subject of a by-election because that was planned for. There is a buffer between the Disaster Management Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and the communities, which is the approved non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which assess the needs of the population and which also distribute the food to individuals on an equitable basis as is possible under the circumstances. So, the policy is to continue with whatever is planned, and not to stop and not to undertake interventions that were not planned. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, finally, I have caught your eyes.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Hon. Member for Chadiza, there are many of you who would like to ask questions and it will not be possible, anyway, for everybody to ask a question on any given His Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. It is not possible because there are only thirty minutes. Therefore, that lamentation is uncalled for.

Interruptions

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I apologise.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the PF Government said that it was going to run this country based on the Ten Commandments. Father Banyamandora of Lundazi was deported to Rwanda. What offence did he commit? Additionally, is the Government ready to bring him back?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, his conduct was just inimitable to peace and good order in Zambia. The Ministry of Home Affairs remains with an open door so far as his appeal against his deportation is made as the law stipulates.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, public resources belong to the people of Zambia and, therefore, they have the right to question its abuse. Does His Honour the Vice-President realise that, one day, his Government will be held accountable for the wastage of the money that it has been spending on Judge Lovemore Chikopa?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, all I can say is that we are accountable to this House, amongst other institutions. Therefore, make us accountable.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, a few days ago, a senior counsel and hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central raised a concern with regard to sim cards and the infringement on human rights. Today, you have embarked on a journey, through digital migration, to compel broadcasting houses to go through the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), as a way of censorship. Is this your style of governance? What is your comment?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, that is simply not true.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, since the Constitution-making process does not seem to have a definitive process or schedule, I would like to find out, if at all, we are going to have a referendum at the end of it?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I believe that will be part of the final report which, as I said, is due before the end of this year.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kunda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by events.

Mr V. Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, this Government has been so keen on the closure of the Zambian Watchdog, an online publication. May I find out why and whether that does not interfere with press freedom in this country.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not aware that the watchdog is even closed down. The problem in this country or many countries with the electronic media is that the laws of libel are impossible to enforce. They tend to be difficult to enforce anyway. In the written media, there is some possibility of, at least, retribution and correction. For example, is there a right of reply or a right of suing them if they are based off-shore? We are feeling our way towards a fair and just compromise in terms of international gateways, international freedom of speech and the rule of law.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, I believe the beneficiaries of the soon-to-be revamped Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) will mostly be the mining companies. May I find out from His Honour the Vice-President whether part of the 750 Euro bond will be utilised to revamp the RSZ. If so, what will the mining companies contribute towards the repayment of this bond?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is a too early for me to give a definite answer. The whole matter is under study in the Ministry of Finance, and other investigative agencies. However, it is distinctly possible, since the Euro bond is devoted to infrastructure, and infrastructure related to railways will be included. Regarding how much will go towards that, the hon. Member will have to wait until the hon. Minister of Finance presents the Budget.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kalima (Kasenengwa): Mr Speaker, in today’s The Post Newspaper, the hon. Minister of Defence has been quoted as having said he is ready to resign, his family can partake in business ventures and the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) tender he had was just a small business. What is your comment on this?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not here to comment on issues that are personal or relate to the party. I am here as the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: I only answer questions pertaining to governance. I was hoping the Opposition had regained some of its vigour after the terrible beating that we handed it last year, but it seems they are just the same bunch of losers as ever.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

WOODLANDS-CHALALA ROAD PLOTS

91. Mr Ntundu (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a)    whether the Government had any plans to relocate people who acquired plots or pieces of land under the ZESCO power lines along the Woodlands-Chalala Road in Lusaka;

(b)how many people acquired the land at (a) as of 30th April, 2012; and 

(c)how much land was affected at (a).

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tembo): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this House that there are no plots offered to people along the mentioned road. Therefore, no relocation is required. The structures are temporary in nature and illegally erected.

Mr Speaker, no person acquired land on the mentioned piece of land. To that effect, we have since instructed our officers to physically go on the ground to check what is obtaining in terms of numbers. However, it will be difficult to come up with a figure since these are illegal settlers who come and go. 

The affected piece of land, along the mentioned road, is approximately a one-hectare area.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I witnessed a man, who was washing a truck under these ZESCO power lines on the piece of land that is mentioned, dying. May I find out whether the answer that was given by the hon. Minister was well researched and if this Government is ready to protect the Zambian people’s lives in that area?

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mrs Kabanshi): Mr Speaker, the people in that area are there illegally. However, we will make sure that we move them away because is it not safe for them to be there.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, may I found out from the hon. Minister if the people who had built houses around that area were compensated.

Mrs Kanbanshi: Mr Speaker, I have already answered that question. I said those people are living there illegally, and it is not necessary to compensate them. We have always said that it is not safe for people to settle in areas where ZESCO power lines are located.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) policy has allowed traders such as street vendors to continue trading along the roads. How different are these people from street vendors? I thought the Government was going to find an alternative of trading for them. I would like the hon. Minister to be categorical on this issue.

Mrs Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, we are not discussing street vendors. The people in question are those who have illegally settled under the ZESCO power lines. These people are not safe because the electrical power lines can suddenly collapse on them and they can lose their lives.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I doubt if she will answer my question.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: He is just expressing a doubt and not that she would not answer his question.

RTSA OFFICES IN GWEMBE AND ROAD LICENCES IN RURAL AREAS

92. Mr Ntundu asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a)    when the Government would open offices for the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) in Gwembe;

(b)    why there are no manually issued road licences in the rural areas as was the case in the past; and 

(c)    whether the Government has any plans to grant grace periods for obtaining road licences to motorists in areas without the RTSA presence.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to open offices for the RTSA in Gwembe. The Government has directed the RTSA to facilitate access to its services by members of the public by outsourcing its services through agents, such as Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) and ZAMPOST, and also through mobile licensing, which is carried out by the RTSA four times in a year. 

Mr Speaker, manual road tax licences are issued wherever the RTSA or its agents are located. 

Sir, in order to facilitate motorists to obtain manual road tax licences in areas without the RTSA presence, the Government does and will continue to grant a grace period, depending on the need on the ground. Furthermore, previously, the RTSA services were restricted to a few outlets across the country. This inconvenienced members of the public, as they had to travel long distances to access the three centres. However, in line with the new Government policy of decentralisation, the RTSA has since repositioned itself to devolve its services to make them more accessible to its clients across the entire nation. 

Previously, the motor vehicle registration function was only available in three registration centres, namely Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone. However, from 1st September, 2012, registration of motor vehicles is available in the following provincial towns, districts and border entry points:

    Provincial Towns

    Lusaka
    Ndola
    Choma
    Kabwe
    Solwezi
    Kasama
    Mongu
    Chipata
    Mansa

    Districts
    
    Livingstone
    Monze
    Mazabuka
    Kitwe
    Chingola
    Luanshya
    Mufulira

    Borders

    Nakonde
    Chirundu
    Kariba
    Mwami
Chanida

Mr Speaker, to date, registration from other stations has been as follows:

    Station    Number of registrations

    Kitwe    1,114
    Luanshya    116
    Solwezi    39
    Chingola    20
    Mufulira    17
    Nakonde    1

Mr Speaker, I have reiterated this position because, yesterday, the hon. Member for Senanga, Hon. Mufalali, contradicted this statement. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The response is just as emphatic as the questionner. 

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I am disappointed at the response by the hon. Minister. 

Mr Mutale: Question!

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, how does the hon. Minister expect the RTSA to devolve its services when it does not have offices in Gwembe District? There are many people in Gwembe who own cars, but they are forced to license their cars in Monze. How does he think the RTSA will devolve its services? 

Laughter 

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, the availability of traffic in an area will determine the presence of the RTSA. From the statistics available, the presence of the RTSA in Gwembe would not be justified. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Laughter 

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, if the parameter considered is the number of vehicles, I wonder why the RTSA is not in Kalomo that has many vehicles. 

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I have heard Hon. Muntanga, but what increases the number of vehicles in Kalomo is the traffic going through, and not the availability of resident vehicles. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for including Mazabuka in the list of registration districts. However, I would like to know the registration code for Mazabuka District. 

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I will bring the code to Hon. Nkombo. It is more beyond …

Hon. Government Member: It is LLA. 

Mr Yaluma: It is actually LLA. 

Interruptions

Mr Yaluma: Can I bring the code to you in the next sitting.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Nkombo indicated assent. 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, previously, we had a synergy between the Roads Department and the local government through the district council or civic centres on issuance of road licences. Will that synergy be brought back so that the local authorities can also be involved in the issuance of road licences? 

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, currently, the practice is, as highlighted earlier, that the ZAMPOST and ZSIC act as agents of the RTSA in issuance of licences. However, should we see further need to go back to the local authorities, we shall do so. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Ms Kalima (Kasenengwa): Mr Speaker, considering that motorists move from Gwembe to Monze to register their vehicles and, in the process, incur huge costs, would the Government consider mobile licensing so that the RTSA agents can go to Gwembe and other areas for registration. 

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, it was highlighted that we have mobile facilities. When there is a need, these facilities will be extended to Gwembe. They are randomly selected to target some outlying areas in the provinces. Therefore, mobile facilities are available and in use. We will look into this and see if they can be extended to Gwembe. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, vehicles can be impounded the day after the road tax expires. What is the maximum number of days allowed to have the road tax renewed after it has expired?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, unless it is being violated, the grace period is two to four weeks, and it should be adhered to. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mutale (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the ministry has any plans to register the ox-carts that use the roads in the country.

Laughter 

Hon. Members: Question!

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, for now, the Government requires motor vehicles and motor bikes to be registered and issued with licences. As for the ox-carts, I do not think so. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Laughter 

NANGWESHI HIGH SCHOOL IN SHANG’OMBO DISTRICT

93. Mr Njeulu (Sinjembela) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education what had caused the delay in completing the construction of Nangweshi High School in Shang’ombo District. 

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Professor Willombe): Mr Speaker, the award of contracts for Phase II of  the construction of external works was delayed for almost seven months due to the necessary tender procedures. The school is expected to be operational for Grade 8 and 10 only in 2013.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

WORKERS’ USE OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT

94. Mr Hamusonde asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication what benefits had accrued to the Government as a result of banning Government workers from using Government transport to and from work.

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, firstly, the Government has not banned its employees from using Government transport but, instead, introduced fuel allowance for officers in GSS 01 to GSS 03 scales and transport allowance for officers in GSS 04 to GSS 15, respectively.

Sir, Government employees stationed at ministerial and provincial headquarters were provided with transport at the expense of the majority of Government employees. To ensure equity in the utilisation of Government resources, it was decided that an allowance be paid to all employees.

Mr Speaker, the benefits are as follows: 

(a)there is now equity as the platform for transport management has been made uniform across the Public Service; and

(b)the Government’s expenditure on fuel has reduced tremendously due to the introduction of fuel and transport allowances as the Government is no longer transporting its employees while those officers entitled to Government vehicles are buying their own fuel and do not draw from the ministry or institutions’ fuel account.

Sir, to this effect, the Government will conduct a survey to quantify the actual savings arising from the introduction of the new transport management measures. So far, informal reports from ministries or institutions and provinces indicate that expenditure on transport has significantly reduced.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Thank you, Mr Speaker, …

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, it is with sadness that I have observed the hon. Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication talking with his hands in his pocket. Is he in order to put his hands in his pocket as he addresses elders like us?

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: Is he in order, Sir?

Mr Speaker: Well, that is something to do with personal behaviour now.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I would encourage hon. Members to desist from putting their hands in their pockets when addressing the House. Generally, I think it is accepted in our culture, that, when you are addressing an important gallery or an august House, such as this one, hands are not put in pockets. I know that it is a matter of habit, and that there are a few hon. Members who have a great deal of difficulty not putting their hands in their pockets whilst they are debating. I do not know whether they feel secure by placing those hands in their pockets or not. I have been observing and have been quite liberal on this matter.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: However, now that I have been compelled to take a position on the matter, I think that it would add to the decorum and dignity of the House not to place those hands in the pocket. That is my ruling.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: May the hon. Member of Parliament for Nangoma continue, please.

Mr Hamusonde: Before I was interrupted by that point of order, I was in the process of asking the hon. Minister whether he is aware that the allowances given to Government employees are not enough.

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, I am not aware.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, there are a few officials at district level who are in the GSS 01 to GSS 03 salary scale category. What is the spiral effect of the non-use of Government vehicles on service delivery?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, the decision to ensure that vehicles are not taken home or abused was made as a cost-saving measure. It was not made with the view to impacting negatively on service delivery. Otherwise, when people require the service of a vehicle to execute official duty, we do not stop them. Therefore, it was just a cost-saving measure and also to stop the abuse of the motor vehicles in employees’custody.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, we are told that a survey will be undertaken to quantify the savings. When will this be done?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I think that it will be undertaken over a full financial year. At the end of the year, we, through the Ministry of Finance, will be able to quantify the savings made.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

RISING NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED

95. Mr Hamusonde asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a)what had caused the rise in the number of people being killed by unknown assailants; and

(b)what measures the Government had taken to curb the crime.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Dr Simbyakula): Mr Speaker, because of the sensitisation and awareness campaigns being conducted by various stakeholders, many crimes that were not reported, especially crimes arising from gender-based violence, are now reported. 

Sir, the exposition of information to the public has given rise to the perception that there has been an increase in murder cases. The hon. Minister of Home Affairs will, in due course, release the statistics pertaining to homicides.

Sir, the homicides are attributed to the following factors, among others:
 
(i)drug and alcohol abuse; 
(ii)ritual beliefs; 
(iii)crimes of passion; 
(iv)witchcraft; and
(v)vengeance and hatred.

From these causes, it can be seen that, in most cases, the assailant is usually known to the victim. The police treat each murder case as unique and institute investigations accordingly.

Sir, the Government has put in place the following measures to respond to the rise in crime:

(a)intensifying, through the Zambia Police Force, both motorised and foot patrols in various communities. The patrols have been put in place in order to counter the rise in criminal activities in the country;

(b)enhancing co-operation between the police and the community by strengthening the Neighbourhood Watch teams to help in the prevention, reduction and control of crime in our communities; 

(c)creating awareness in school children on security matters through the Schools Liaison Unit of the Zambia Police Force;

(d)strengthening partnerships between the police and other security wings in efforts aimed at fighting against crime in the country; and

(e)the police, in conjunction with other security wings, working hard to rid the country of prohibited immigrants.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, in most cases, the people who are killed are discovered with parts of their bodies missing, and there are some people who sell traditional medicines which they claim can make someone get rich instantly or improve facial skin. Why are these witchdoctors or traditional healers not stopped from cheating people in such a manner?

Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. These are what I referred to as ritual beliefs, where some people believe that if you use a particular limb or organ from a human being, you can swim in riches.

Sir, this is why we need to sensitise our people, especially we the political and traditional leaders, that this does not work at all. The only way we can stop these occurrences is by sensitising the people against such beliefs. Some believe that if you sleep with young girls of a certain age, you cannot get infected with HIV/AIDS, beliefs that are simply nonsensical. We all need to sensitise our people and let them know that these things do not work.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, I am delighted that this question has been brought to this House for debate. Recently, the ‘Tongas under Oath’ issued a written statement alleging that they had killed three people but, to date, the police have not brought these culprits to book. Have the police pursued this case?

Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, this matter is being actively investigated by the police.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, is the Government aware of any three people who were killed by the ‘Tongas under Oath’ and what their names are.

Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, this matter is still under investigation.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

HIV/AIDS TESTING OF PREGNANT WOMEN

96. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Health:

(a)how many pregnant women were tested for HIV/AIDS infection from January, 2010 to February, 2012, country-wide;

(b)of those tested, how many, in terms of percentages, were infected with the virus; and

(c)of those at (b), how many had delivered babies who were HIV/AIDS negative.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Chikusu): Mr Speaker, the number of pregnant women who were tested for HIV/AIDS infection from January, 2010, to February, 2012, countrywide is as follows:

    Year    Number of Women

2010    602,160

2011    645,395

2012 (by February)    111,564

Sir, the percentages of those who were tested and found to be infected with the virus are as follows:

Year     No. of Women    Percentage

2010    76,895    12.77

2011    82,081    12.71

2012    14,128    12.66

Mr Speaker, the number of women at (b) who delivered babies who were HIV/AIDS negative are as follows:

Year    Percentage

2010.83.4

2011    88.2

2012    Data compilation still on going

Mr Speaker, the data for 2012 on the status of babies delivered who were HIV negative will be available after 31st December, 2012, following compilation and validation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, where did we have the highest number of children who tested negative?

Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I would like to apologise to the hon. Member who was on the Floor for this disruption. 

Sir, when the President officially opened Parliament for this Session, he made it crystal clear that hon. Ministers must answer questions that are put to them.

Sir, the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central has raised a question I consider pertinent. Therefore, this House and the nation at large deserve to know the answer. Is the hon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in order to refuse to answer the question put by the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central on whether it is a fact that three people had been killed by the ‘Tongas under Oath?’ Instead, he chose to hide under the veil that the matter is under investigations, yet we know that other murder cases, such as the Ruth Mbandu case, are in court, and we know the suspects who have been linked to the murder. Is the hon. Minister in order not to tell this House whether, as a matter of fact, three people have been killed by the ‘Tongas under Oath’? I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Speaker: The first aspect of your point of order relates to whether or not the hon. Minister has refused to answer the question. Clearly, the hon. Minister has not refused to do so. He answered the question and the answer was that the matter is under investigation. Moreover, you have rightly stated that it is essential for the facts to be established. Facts can only be established through a process of investigation. Therefore, it does not matter what information you, yourself, may have about this case. The ministry and relevant organs are also at liberty to investigate this matter and that is the position of the Government. 

Therefore, I do not think the hon. Minister could be faulted on account of having failed or purportedly refused to answer that question. Refusing to answer a question is a very serious stance to take. If we are not satisfied with an answer, it does not necessarily mean that an hon. Minister has refused to respond. I think that is too strong a word to use. In fact, it is simply inappropriate.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: If you are not satisfied with a response, you are at liberty to follow up with a supplementary question, and I am now speaking generally. This is why this procedure is established. Therefore, I think to use the phrase “has refused” is injuring the Queen’s language.

The hon. Member may continue.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Sir, during the period under review, where did we get the highest number of babies who were born HIV negative between the urban and rural areas?

Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, that is a question that is relevant and good, but we have not yet dissected our findings into those categories. Therefore, that information will be made available to the hon. Member later on.

Dr Kazonga (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, part (c) of the question has given us interesting data on discordance; that is the number of HIV positive mothers giving birth to babies that are negative. In 2010, according to the answer given, such cases were at 83 per cent, which is high. In 2011, it was at 88 per cent. Therefore, what is the Patriotic Front (PF) doing to ensure that the percentage of babies that are being born to HIV positive mothers can continue to be high and to increase?

Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has highlighted something which the PF Government is doing very well. We have increased the availability of testing services at antenatal facilities. This way, a number of mothers can be captured and be put on treatment so that these figures can rise even higher. I thought the hon. Member of Parliament, on a lighter note, would say, “fyofyo”.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter 

PARALLEL TEACHER TRAINING AT MANSA AND KASAMA COLLEGES

97. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when a parallel teacher training programme would be introduced at the Mansa and Kasama Colleges of Education.

Professor Willombe: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Professor Willombe: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was about to say that the ministry has no intention of introducing a parallel teacher-training programme at all the colleges of education. However, it encourages distance education as an alternative mode of education delivery. This is because colleges do not have adequate facilities such as lecture theatres and staff to handle parallel programmes.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, when will more teacher training colleges be opened in the country so as to increase the number of teachers?

Professor Willombe: Mr Speaker, as and when funds will be made available.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the Government is discouraging parallel programmes but, instead, encouraging distance learning. Therefore, has the ministry put adequate quality assurance in place for distance learning?

Professor Willombe: Mr Speaker, that is already in the process.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Could you elaborate, hon. Minister.

Professor Willombe: Mr Speaker, the process of quality assurance is already in place. It is done for the other programmes and so, there is one for distance learning as well.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

TEVET GRADUATE EMPOWERMENT SCHEME

98. Dr Kazonga asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)what the eligibility criteria for accessing financial assistance under the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) Graduate Empowerment Scheme were;

(b)what measures the Government had taken to sensitise the public on the existence of the scheme and its eligibility criteria; and

(c)how many TEVET graduates accessed the TEVET Graduate Empowerment Fund in 2011, by gender.

Mr Willombe: Mr Speaker, the scheme is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship through self-employment in graduates from the trades training institutes under the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education. The scheme is not financially based. It does not provide financial assistance and, therefore, has no criterion for financial assistance. However, the scheme provides equipment in the form of toolkits to selected excelling graduates from the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education trades training institutes. Evidence of an entrepreneurial mindset, interest in self-employment and good academic performance are some of the criteria used to identify graduates to be given toolkits. The scheme, however, is currently undergoing review in order to make it more relevant to the graduate and entrepreneurs in the informal sector.

The Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, sensitises its graduates at its trades training institutions through letters and meetings. As mentioned above, the scheme, at the moment, is meant only for selected graduates from the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education institutions.

In 2011, a total of eight males and one female accessed the toolkits under the scheme.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has informed the House that eight males and one female accessed toolkits under the scheme. This is really bad. What measures is the Government taking to make sure that the female entrepreneurs get a share of this scheme as is required?

Mr Willombe: Mr Speaker, the Government will sensitise the female students to participate in the scheme, and also encourage them to read as much as possible and excel. This will help them qualify for it.

I thank you, Sir.

VETERINARY OFFICERS AND LIVESTOCK WATER RESOURCES

99. Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock:

(a)how many veterinary officers were currently employed by the Government in Dundumwezi Parliamentary Constituency;

(b)whether the Government had any plans to re-open the Langunya Veterinary Camp in the Dundumwezi Parliamentary Constituency which was abandoned many years ago; and

(c)when the Government would provide adequate water resources for livestock in the following areas of the constituency:

(i)Tongolo in Kasukwe Ward; 

(ii)Dongo in Naluja Ward;

(iii)Nkandazovu in Omba Ward; and

(iv)Mutwe Amuntu in Bbilili Ward.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Mwewa): Mr Speaker, there are no veterinary officers currently employed in Dundumwezi Parliamentary Constituency. The district veterinary officer stationed in Kalomo is responsible for Dundumwezi. There are, however, three veterinary camps at Nkandazovu, Langunya and Munyeke. Nkandazovu is manned by a veterinary assistant. Langunya is manned by two tsetse control guards. The veterinary assistant who was manning the camp has since retired and a request for his replacement has been submitted. Munyeke has not been manned due to a lack of accommodation. A house has, however, been renovated under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and a member of staff will be posted as soon as authority to employ is granted. It should be noted that this situation has been overtaken by events. Authority to employ has already been granted and the process of recruitment has commenced. Therefore, the ministry will post an officer to Dundumwezi Parliamentary Constituency in 2013.

Langunya Veterinary Camp was originally a tsetse control station and has not been abandoned except that tsetse control activities have lessened after the Kalomo Block aerial spray to eradicate tsetse flies that was carried out between 1984 and 1986. Plans are, however, in place to turn the camp into a livestock service centre.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has plans to provide adequate water resources for livestock under specific irrigation programmes that are demand driven for construction of small multi-purpose dams. In this regard, farmers in Tongolo in Kasukwe Ward, Dongo in Naluja Ward, Nkandazovu in Omba Ward and Mutwe Amuntu in Bbilili Ward could, therefore, benefit from these programmes upon request. Furthermore, the Government has constructed Simwaanda Dam at Naluja and Nanguvu Dam in Mutwe Amuntu. 

Laughter

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, this dam is servicing the four wards in the meantime.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, a staff house was constructed at Kasukwe Ward using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) two years ago but, to date, the house has not been occupied. What prudence did the Government find in sending a motorbike without an officer to man the area?

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Chenda): Mr Speaker, those were advance preparations. When we recruit the officer, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Chenda: … obviously, he will find it extremely useful that his transport arrangements had been made in advance. However, I must emphasise that we have since been given authority from the Government to recruit staff, and this applies to all stations in the country. We will be recruiting extension staff both for crop husbandry as well as veterinary assistants. This will go a long way in dealing with the issues of provision of extension services.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that there are veterinary assistants at the district office in Kalomo who refuse to be posted to other areas? One of the veterinary officers who has been posted to Diimbwe cannot go because he has no motorbike, but a motorbike has been sent to a place where there is no officer? What sort of administration is this? Can the hon. Minister clarify this?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of these local complications but, obviously, from what has been explained here, it is an issue that needs our attention and we will attend to it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, the people at Nkandazovu in Omba Ward were relocated from the Zambezi Valley to pave way for the construction of the Kariba Dam. Are there no immediate plans to, at least, help them by constructing a dam as a way of compensating them?

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, as a matter of fact, the hon. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in charge of livestock, Hon. Kazabu, toured this area, and upon his return,  he submitted a very passionate appeal to the Government to construct a dam in this area. We are, therefore, seriously considering this matter and, in future, something should be done to serve the people.

I thank you, Sir.

Professor Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, two days ago, you made reference to the importance of proverbs in our local languages and their preservation. Mutwe Amuntu means the head of a human being and the people of Mutwe Amuntu …

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa: … are complaining about the lack of water resources and questioning the head of the human being. Is the hon. Minister not really concerned about the people of Mutwe Amuntu …

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa: … and the need to answer their question regarding what is in the head of the human being? 

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is seriously concerned about these citizens and, in this regard, will do everything possible to alleviate their problems. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Speaker, I come from a rural constituency and know how big these veterinary camps are. May I find out from the hon. Minister if the ministry has plans to re-demarcate or sub-divide these camps for easy management?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, in fact, in one of the questions we answered a week or two ago, this matter came up, and we explained that we intend to demarcate some of the camps as they are too large for one person to manage. With the authority that we got to recruit additional staff, this will be done.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, the lack of water resources is a problem for livestock throughout the country. May I find out from the hon. Minister whether or not the Government has plans to construct more dams in the rural areas where we need water for cattle in order to increase their numbers.

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, in our response, we stated that the Government had plans to do that. However, we need to work with the communities as construction of most of the small-scale dams is community driven. Therefore, we would urge the hon. Members of Parliament to liaise with our officers on the ground so that these concerns can be brought to our attention. We are committed to developing livestock in this country, and cannot do that without providing adequate facilities for the animals to drink water.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, this is for my information. What is the cost of construction of an average dam?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, I am not sure I have an answer for that question, but I know, for certain, that it varies. For instance, we are just about to construct a dam in the Eastern Province, and the cost is in the range of K800 million. However, we have also received some cost estimates to construct some dams that are in the range of K200 million plus.

I thank you, Sir.

KEYANA CLINIC AND SHANG’OMBO DISTRICT HOSPITAL

100. Mr Njeulu asked the Minister of Health what had caused the delay in completing the construction of the following projects in Shang’ombo District:

(a)    Keyana Clinic; and

(b)    Shang’ombo District Hospital.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, the construction of Keyana Clinic has been budgeted for in the 2012 Infrastructure Operational Plan.

Mr Speaker, the contract for the construction of Shang’ombo District Hospital and Keyana Health Centre was initially awarded to Tomorrow Investments – Emsworth and Datong, under a joint venture funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) as part of the support to the health sector. The contract commenced in 2004 and in 2007, the construction works stalled due to various factors. Some of these factors were heavy floods in the area, causing poor accessibility and desertion by the contractor. The Government then decided to terminate the contract in 2008 as the contractor had been absent for over a year.

In 2011, the contract was awarded to Tomorrow Investments to complete construction of the hospital. Construction of the hospital has since been completed and the Government is just awaiting handover of the project by the contractor.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Njeulu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that the Keyana Project was actually awaiting tender procedures. To date, the hon. Minister is saying that Keyana Clinic will be constructed in 2012. May he indicate when this clinic will be constructed, considering that Keyana is a place that gets flooded once it starts to rain, and becomes very difficult for vehicles to reach it.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the ministry understands the urgency of the matter and, as I said earlier in my answer, the project is budgeted for in the 2012 Budget. This means that the process is still ongoing and, in due course, the clinic will be constructed.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, may I find out how long it takes to hand over a project once it has been completed?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, once the contractor finishes the construction of a hospital, the procedure requires that the Ministry of Health be informed for it to receive the hospital. In this case, the contractor has indicated that he has completed the hospital and it is now up to the ministry to receive the hospital. This is why we are saying that the project has been completed and we are now just waiting to receive it from the contractor.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, Shang’ombo Hospital has been under construction since 2004, well over eight years ago. I think that it is only fair that the hon. Minister indicates when the hospital will be handed over because the contractor has indicated that he wants the ministry to receive this hospital. When does the ministry intend to receive this hospital that the people of Shang’ombo have been waiting for, for a long time?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukulu East. The Government understands that the people in that area need to benefit from the health services. However, we cannot rush to receive the hospital when we have not installed the necessary equipment and other facilities for use. We are committed to installing the necessary equipment. The contractor, as I said earlier, indicated that the project has been completed. I cannot give the hon. Member a specific date, but I can assure him that the hospital will start operating very soon.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West) Mr Speaker, if my memory serves me right, Tomorrow Investments was one of the companies that was blacklisted by the Government. May I know why it has been contracted to undertake this job when it has been blacklisted.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of the consequences of that. However, what is important to us is that the hospital has been completed. The question about why this company was awarded the contract was not helpful to us. Tommorow Investments was awarded the contract, and the job has been done. I think that is what is important to us.

I thank you, Sir.

__________

MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Chishiba (Kafulafuta): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this opportunity to contribute to the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Speech.

Mr Speaker, I stand to speak on behalf of the wonderful people of Kafulafuta and the entire rural area of the Copperbelt Province.

Mr Speaker, as you guided, I will go straight to the substantive issues. On page 28 of the President’s Speech, it talks about agriculture development. Agriculture is the livelihood and economic base for the people of Kafulafuta and rural areas of the Copperbelt.

Mr Speaker, let me quote from His Excellency the President’s Speech that reads:

 “My Government’s objective on agriculture is to achieve a dynamic, competitive, diversified and sustainable agriculture sector which assures national food security and increased income at all levels.” 

Mr Speaker, my concern for the people in Kafulafuta and rural areas of the Copperbelt is on the implementation of this policy. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government has been in office for one year. I am trying to look at what value it has added to agriculture. The previous Government had recorded three consecutive bumper harvests prior to the PF forming Government.

Mr Speaker, before the House adjourned sine die, the people of Kafulafuta’s views on the maize crop marketing were expressed by hon. Members on the Floor of this House. The maize crop marketing issue, first of all, sent shivers down the spines of the people. There was a reduction in the number of depots in Masaiti District from eighteen to four. There was also an instruction that all farmers have a bank account at any bank. These issues gave many worries and anxieties to the people.

Mr Speaker, before implementing these issues, the Government withdrew the programme of reducing the number of depots and the requirement opening bank accounts by farmers. The people were relieved. However, another issue crept in, and this was the shortage of Food Reserve Agency (FRA) empty grain bags and scales. The FRA looked like a new company which had come to market the crop for the first time. These shortages resulted in people sleeping at satellite depots for not less than two weeks. Imagine that, and they were only dealing with one crop, which is maize. This scenario degenerated into corruption. The empty grain bags were sold in small tuntembas. The farmers had to pay to access the empty grain bags. I ran in circles with the Masaiti District Commissioner to ameliorate the situation, but to no avail. Where did the scales the FRA used in the previous years go? With this arrangement, corruption was unavoidable, and this situation was reported to higher authorities.

Mr Speaker, the last issue that ensued was the transmission of the Human Immuno Virus and the Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) because people used to sleep at those depots for more than two weeks not to talk about sanitation. You know what it means when a group of people assemble at one place, and it is not planned. Married people had abandoned their homes. This was very inhuman, to say the least.

Mr Speaker, all these battles were happening, as I said earlier, over one crop. What will happen when we diversify and start marketing groundnuts, cotton and sorghum when we have failed to market one crop in a reasonable manner? As national leaders, we have said, from time to time, that agriculture should take the centre stage, just as the President said in his speech. However, this is not possible. It is a pipedream. It will never happen. It will never even come second to copper. This is just rhetoric. We are giving it lip-service. We should look at the investment that went into copper mining for it to become the number one source of revenue in our economy.

Mr Speaker, regarding maize, we have failed to add value to the lives of the people of Kafulafuta and the Copperbelt Rural. As I speak, this battle has not ended because all the people who took their maize to depots have not been paid.

Sir, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock assured this House that K1.3 trillion would be released. However, until now, the people have not been paid, yet there was an article in the print media in which the hon. Minister asked the FRA to borrow money in order to pay people. With all this confusion, it is obvious that we have failed to market the maize crop which we are familiar with.

Sir, we are entering the second planting season under the PF Government. First of all, when schools opened, farmers did not have money to pay school fees for their children. It is now a planting season and, to get fertiliser support inputs, they need to pay a fee, but they have no money.

Mr Speaker, I urge the PF Government to look at this issue seriously. It should add value to it. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) fought ferocious battles to attain a bumper harvest. We ate yellow maize and starved once but, thereafter, we registered three bumper harvests.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Chishiba: Sir, we will not allow the things that we fought for to go to waste. For example, the MMD fought to reach the Highly-Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Completion Point and fought for structural adjustment programmes. These were not easy to achieve, and Zambians will not allow us to go backwards.

Mr Speaker, I was happy when the President talked about setting up a regulatory body to monitor the quality and standard of education. First of all, I would like to register my sincere appreciation for the opportunity I was accorded to sit on the University of Zambia  Council where I have seen the array of problems that the education sector is facing.

Sir, from Grade 1 to Grade 7, there is no education system. The quality of education has become worse. I do not understand why the people who were revising the curriculum did away with the Oxford Syllabus from which they, themselves, had benefitted. After getting rid of it, they started sending their children abroad to get the same education they had condemned as colonial.

Hon. Government Members: It was the MMD!

Mr Chishiba: Where are these children being sent? They are being sent to the United Kingdom (UK) where colonialists came from.

Mr Kambwili: You are right!

Mr Chishiba: When His Excellency the President said that the Government was going to abolish all basic schools, I think, this emphasis was lacking in the verbatim speech. We want to make sure that primary schools remain the way they are and secondary schools remain secondary schools. The basic education from Grade 1 to Grade 9 has done a lot of damage.

Hon. Government Members: MMD!

Mr Chishiba: Mr Speaker, how can a teacher who went up to Grade 9 be able to handle Grade 8 classes? I urge this Government to bring back primary and secondary school education, as pronounced during the Official Opening of the First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the University of Zambia (UNZA) has many problems. I really find it difficult to understand that the President and his Government want to construct more universities in the country. The target is to build a university in all the provinces. Mathematically, it is inversely proportional. As you increase the number of schools and universities, the quality of education also goes down.

Sir, I urge the Government to use the money that it wants to use to build universities to maintain the three existing public universities, namely UNZA, the Copperbelt University (CBU) and Mulugushi University. There are so many problems that we need to sort ou, in terms of infrastructure development, research and development and staff training. If we build more schools, where will the manpower come from? That is dilution. To get a lecturer to teach at a university, requires a lot of investment. It is not about mere dreaming.

Mr Speaker, the problems that we have with the leadership of this country is the difficulty in going back to the drawing board when it sees that something is not working. It continues pushing for political expedience. For example, we know very well that there is a law which forbids vendors from trading on the streets, but here we are, giving them new professional titles of street traders. That is political expedience. More decisions are going to be made like that until we wait for the next Government to reverse them, which is not good.

Sir, we need to take care of the challenges in these universities. Our universities are now classrooms when they are supposed to carry out research and design. We are not discovering anything. We are just learning. We have to put a lot of emphasis on research and development.

Mr Speaker, when the President appointed the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, Dr Phiri, a man whom you cannot tell whether he is standing or sitting, he meant business that he was going …

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: How is that so?

Laughter

Mr Chishiba: Mr Speaker, the President wanted the hon. Minister to learn more about the university. He has no constituency. Therefore, the education sphere should be his constituency. All his friends are looking up to him to put up a good performance.

Sir, the grading of universities is also required, especially UNZA that has produced high quality personnel manning the Public Service. Most of the hon. Members in this House have gone through that university. How come, today, when it comes to conditions of service, it is in the third position?

Hon. Government Members: In terms of what?

Mr Chishiba: In terms of conditions of service and all that is required in universities. The CBU takes the first position. What is with the CBU and Mulungushi University that they should be in first and second positions, respectively? The university, which fulfilled the Zambian policy introduced by the United National Independence Party (UNIP), has been neglected. Let us do the grading correctly. UNZA is a national university. It has also participated in in helping to organise liberation movements for the countries in the region that were struggling to free themselves from colonialism. It has further contributed a lot of human resource and helped the beneficiaries to stand on their feet today.

Hon. MMD Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishiba: Mr Speaker, Zambia shares the longest border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The security of people around that area is at risk. Other hon. Members who have constituencies bordering the DRC are aware that there is no peace. The recent burning of one Zambian in the DRC was the most cruel. What are these Southern African Development Community (SADC) Permanent Commissions on Security doing? They are doing nothing. Look at the reprisals. Zambians now want to take the law into their own hands. They wanted to beat up and burn some Congolese who are now ‘street traders’ in Zambia.

Laughter

Mr Chisiba: What benefit have we derived from the DRC that we fear losing? They have benefited more from us than we have from them. Many bad things have happened and that is why I end up arguing with the historians who claim that most of us came from the DRC. I refuse that.

Laughter

Mr Chisiba: Sir, you are hustled, embarrassed and demeaned when you want to visit your origins.

Laughter

Mr Chisiba: Mr Speaker, I think that the Government should take a serious step in the right direction because this problem has stayed with us for too long. Some have lost their families, and yet we have allowed the situation to continue.

Sir, due to the constraints of time, I beg to rest my submission with the points I have made. 

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

The Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting (Mr Kapeya): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for according me this opportunity to debate the President’s Speech.

Sir, firstly, I would like to concur with the President’s call for unity amongst the hon. Members of Parliament. Development starts with us. We, as Members of Parliament, act like conveyor belts in taking development to the people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapeya: No one should chicken out. We should work as a team.

Mr Speaker, after twenty years of social and economic stagnation under the former Ruling Party, the MMD, … 

Hon. MMD Member: Question!

Mr Kapeya: … Zambia is now poised for greater and brighter times ahead under the leadership of the PF.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, let us forget about the past. Even though we may have lost the elections, let us heal from the bitterness of the past, live the present and dream the future. 

Sir, the PF Government inherited a media that was highly politicised, unprofessional and unethical. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapeya: It was heavily abused.

The media was a preserve of the privileged few who are mainly along the line of rail. We have changed the scenario and will continue to do so. The state of affairs should be changed so that the media plays its full and rightful role and is accessible to all Zambians. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Why are you reading?

Ms Kalima: Do not read.

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, as you are aware, information is power. If one section of the community is not well-informed, then the governance of a country will not be inclusive.

Sir, the PF Government is resolved to ensure that everyone has equal access to information, regardless of their status and station in life. This is why it has embarked on the establishment of provincial television stations in the ten provinces of the Republic of Zambia. 

Mr Kapeya: This is, purely, in order to give people a platform to air their views and participate effectively in the governance and development of this country. 

Sir, on Monday, this week, I travelled to Solwezi to launch the establishment of provincial television stations in the country. 

Hon. Ng’onga: Hear, hear! Working Government!

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, I know that my colleagues and, especially, my cousins from the Eastern Province confuse the meanings of the terms ‘launching’ and ‘commissioning’. These are two different issues. Launching is initiating or starting the project while commissioning is done when the project has been successfully implemented and you officially declare a facility ready for use. So, my cousins from the Eastern Province should not expect to start watching now. They should wait until we have completed the construction of the stations. That is when I will come back to them and tell them that I am commissioning the stations.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Member: The Easterners

Laughter

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, in line with the PF Manifesto, and alongside the provincial television stations, this Government is also resuscitating the local language newspapers. Before I proceed, the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpongwe wanted to know the languages that will be used on the provincial television stations. These stations are meant for the local languages found in those provinces.

Sir, the Ministry is working on modalities to ensure that 80 per cent of programming on the provincial stations are in local languages and only 20 per cent is in English. So, I hope that Hon. Namulambe’s concern has been addressed.

Mr Speaker, as His Excellency the President indicated in his address to Parliament, we are accelerating the issuance of community and private radio and television licences. This is still a green sector into which we are calling for more investments. Those who are ready to establish community radio stations in various districts are very welcome. They should come forward. We shall assist them to establish community radio stations in various parts of the country. We understand that community radio stations play a major role in complementing the major broadcaster, which is the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) in disseminating information to our people.

Mr Speaker, we are in the process of improving the delivery of quality radio reception. It is our Government’s policy to facilitate the frequency modulation (FM) transmission for Radio 1 and Radio 2 to all the districts of Zambia. Twenty-five districts will be given Radio 1 and two FM transmitters. 

Mr Speaker, just this week, our offices were flooded with commendations from the people of Nakonde. For a long time, people of Nakonde were subjected to listening to Radio Tanzania, Radio Burundi and radios from other parts of Africa. This week, the people of Nakonde were given clear reception on Radio 1 and Radio 2 FM.  Indeed, they have appreciated this stance by the Government. 

Mr Speaker, on opening of the Zambia News Information Services (ZANIS) offices, in the newly-established districts, the Management Development Division (MDD), will come up with a structure in the districts. Once the structure is established, Treasury authority will be requested before the recruitment of staff.

Mr Speaker, let me, now, comment on staff at ZANIS. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has already advertised the vacant positions under ZANIS throughout the country. We are in the process of conducting the recruitment exercise. Forty-eight years after Independence, some districts, such as Chavuma and Chama, still do not have ZANIS offices. We, therefore, want to reverse the situation. We will ensure that every district, including the newly-established ones are equipped with ZANIS offices. 

Mr Speaker, as regards printing presses at Chipata and Kasama, a committee has been appointed in the ministry to act on this issue that has been outstanding for years. A contractor has completed the construction of a Printing Press building in Chipata, and has already been paid the some of K818,807,472. Arrangements are being made for the technicians to travel from China to Chipata to install the printing press. The printing press I am talking about is the equipment that will start printing the vernacular newspapers. 

Mr Speaker, on the Kasama Printing Press, a tender committee in the Northern Province has already evaluated the tenders for the construction of the printing press. A contractor has since been selected, but the tender has not yet been awarded because the contract has been submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General for approval. We are doing everything possible to ensure that the two sides of the country, both urban and rural, are given equal information on a daily basis. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, as an independent Zambia, we have done quite well in the area of information delivery, especially in the urban areas. It was sad that the rural Zambia was denied effective information. Therefore, I would like to say that this Government is very eager to create equity.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of this House. 

Sir, allow me to begin by congratulating the hon. Minister of Justice for what I consider a well-deserved nomination and appointment. As the United Party for National Development (UPND), we wondered why some people were trying to ask him to step down from his party position because we did not see anything wrong with that. The man has worked hard. He has ushered the PF into power and he, therefore, deserves what he has.

Mr Speaker, this morning, the President has gone ahead to appoint the Livingstone Parliamentary Constituency Election losing candidate as Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Justice. I am wondering what type of governance we are building where we put losing candidates in such sensitive positions. 

Interruptions

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, on page 2 of his Official Opening Speech, the President referred to that day as a big day because it was the first time he had inspected a guard of honour mounted by the First Battalion of the Zambian Regiment as President. On page 10, he outlined what the occasion of officially opening Parliament meant to him, to this House and to the nation. He said:

“This occasion gives us an opportunity to reflect on our past achievement and what we intend to do. It also enables us to seriously reflect on what we intend to do in addressing the many challenges that lie ahead in improving the welfare of the majority of our people as a first call of duty.”

Mr Speaker, I was very excited when I heard the President mention that because it resonated and corresponded with the people’s expectations. The people expected to hear the President raise very serious and pertinent issues. I am also aware that the public was eager to listen to the President, especially after having failed to address a press conference from the time that he occupied this office. The whole nation thought that was an opportunity to hear the vision of the President. We know that the vision-carrier is the President, notwithstanding that we expect hon. Ministers to come and give us programmes or actions related to their ministries.  

Mr Speaker, I want to report that, that day, the opportunity, the occasion and the time resource was wasted and the people of this country were very disappointed with what they heard regarding reflections on the achievements that have been made under this PF Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, as the UPND, we are also very concerned and want to see if the PF has lived up to the expectations of the people of this country and also, if it has fulfilled its promises. In analysing the President’s statement on governance, I just heard about the PF governance. In the one year of the PF Administration, the governance record of this country has been tarnished almost irretrievably. The PF needs to redeem itself in as far as the governance of this country is concerned.

Mr Speaker, under the PF Administration, governance has become difficult to define. The rule of law is no longer respected. The rule of law, which is premised on the supremacy of the law, which is anchored on equality before the law, lack of arbitrariness in the application of the law and the respect and recognition of human rights and fundamental freedoms, has been violated with the worst grade of political insularity and impunity. 

Mr Speaker, when it comes to equality before the law, we have seen that when political parties other than the PF want to hold functions, they are not allowed. For instance, on the material day that the UPND had a court order to hold a rally in Kanyama, the PF thugs partronised the streets of Lusaka wielding and brandishing pangas (machetes) and threatened to disperse any possible assembly of the UPND in Kanyama. There was no law that anybody looked up to, to apprehend those people because there is no respect for the rule of law. All of a sudden, it appears that the PF cadres in this country have become more important than the law itself. 

Mr Speaker, we have also seen that when the UPND youths wanted to demonstrate over the issue of the PF interference with the Judiciary, the police were quick to block them at their secretariat, and yet the following day, when the misguided and disgruntled students, at the behest of the PF, were mobilised to demonstrate in support of what I cannot understand, without any prior notice to the police, there was no action taken. We have people calling themselves a Government in charge of Government Affairs, and yet they are in charge of the affairs of the PF to the detriment, discrimination and segregation of the rest of us.

Mr Speaker, with regard to arbitrariness in the application of the law under the PF Government, I would like to say that we, the UPND, who had a pact with them, had warned the Zambian people not to trust them. We have been vindicated as to why the pact failed because we now have a very despotic, tyrannical and oppressive regime. We had said the PF Government would be a dictatorship and this has come to pass. The Zambian people …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, order! 

That is most inappropriate 

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, we now have an unprecedented situation in this country, which appears to be welcomed under this lawless PF Government, where court orders are disobeyed patently. These are interpreted in the streets by police officers and cadres, and defended by people who came to swear in this august House that they will defend the Constitution of Zambia. They are abrogating the law with blatant impunity.

Mr Speaker, this cannot go unabated. As we know, the practice is that when one is dissatisfied with a particular ruling of the court, one has to appeal against it. However, under the PF Government, the Government itself is the court and judges in the cases in which it is party to. This is what I mean when I say the PF Government is a dictatorship and the people of Zambia can see that. It is by sheer coincidence that when people were dissatisfied with the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government’s rule of twenty years, they voted for the PF Government, and this is a sad state of affairs.

Mr Speaker, as for the issue of human rights under the PF Government, it goes without saying that the human rights record of this country is currently at crossroads. People are not free to talk. In this Government, when one criticises it, he/she is quickly apprehended.

Mr Speaker, with regard to governance, we have also seen a serious maneouvre and attempt to deplete the Opposition. We have seen that some Opposition leaders are being poached in order to ensure that the Opposition lacks stamina in this House. It is a shame that forty-eight years after Independence, we can still have a Government that embarks on a vicious crusade to deplete the Opposition. However, that is happening because of having certain weak minds within the Opposition.

Mr Speaker, let me now briefly talk about media freedom in this country. During the PF campaigns, the Zambian people were promised that the airwaves would be liberalised within ninety days. One year has passed, and all the privately-owned radio stations have not been allowed to broadcast across the breadth and width of this country, as was promised.

Mr Speaker, information is power, and the PF Government has an obligation to allow the circulation of information as a way of empowering the Zambian people in making right choices and decisions. Let me state that, as Deputy Spokesperson of the UPND, I have seen a notable change in some sections of the public media regarding their conduct and work ethics. Under the PF Government, it is possible for a person from the Opposition to issue statements that directly oppose it during the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) prime time news. It is something that we need to take note of as an achievement, unlike what used to happen when the MMD was in power.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, the PF Government has made a step in the right direction, and I think that the UPND, when in power, will accomplish the dreams of the Zambian people of having a free media.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, however, under the PF Administration, we have seen some grave intrusions in the media freedom. For instance, when Muvi Television was scrolling a headline to be read on its main news, concerning the PF corruption vices during the Livingstone By-election, it was quickly stopped by two PF Ministers like we were in a State of Emergency. What type of Government is this?

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, in the arena of the fight against corruption, I expected the President to give focus and direction regarding his governance desire in the direction of law reform and strengthening institutional capacities of oversight organisations that are fighting corruption. However, this was lacking in the President’s Speech. Other than identifying the return of the Abuse of Office Clause in the statute books, I also expected the President to begin addressing the root causes of corruption which include poor conditions of service obtaining in the Civil Service. However, there was a deafening silence in that particular regard.

Mr Speaker, we have noted that one year under the PF Administration, there is less or no money in people’s pockets, contrary to what it had promised. Some allowances, such as the Graduate Retention Allowance, have been scrapped. I think that the Civil Service is extremely disappointed, and cannot wait for 2016 to boot that PF Government out of power. 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, there was an issue raised yesterday by my colleague from Kasenengwa of the oil saga. Someone raised a point of order that she was not being factual in her allegations.  

I would like to bring to the attention of the House the fact that on 16th June, 2012, as members of the African Parliamentarians’ Network against Corruption (APNAC), we wrote to the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development to explain to us, without having to go to the media, all the various allegations that were surrounding oil transactions. 

Mr Speaker, to date, the hon. Minister has not responded. I, personally, spoke to the hon. Minister and he told me that he would go to the office to find out. He has, however, not got back to me. 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Therefore, when someone says that this Government is not committed to the fight against corruption, it is true. We are not going to buy cheap talk about this Government being allergic to corruption. We are going to judge your allergy based on the actions taken and performance and delivery, and not on what you come to tell us in this House. 

Mr Nkombo: Kuichaila!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I would now like to briefly talk about Choma. 

When the President addressed this House last year, he spoke about the transformation of Choma into a provincial capital. To date, there is nothing happening on the ground while the corresponding provincial capital, in Muchinga, is undergoing development. 

Interruptions

Mr Mweetwa: We are wondering what this is all about. 

Mr Nkombo: Donchi kubeba!

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir. 

Mr Mweetwa: I am now beginning to think that, maybe, this is about …

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I rise on a serious point of order. 

The hon. Member has been debating so well. However, we cannot accept his misdirecting the House and the entire nation. I come from Muchinga Province and the hon. Minister for Muchinga Province is seated right behind me. Is the hon. Member in order to insinuate that there is more development in Muchinga Province than in Choma when he has not even been there to see what is happening? The status of these two areas is just the same. I need your serious ruling 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Obviously, what we have here is a contest of facts and assertions about what is or is not on the ground. The Speaker, seated where he is, is not able to determine the factual contests between the hon. Member on the Floor and the hon. Minister who has raised the point of order. All I can say to the hon. Member debating is that he should seriously take the protest that has been made into account as he debates. I will simply classify it as a protest. 

The hon. Member may continue. 

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance. 

In agreeing with Hon. Kampyongo, I would like to categorically state that the more reason why the people of this country cannot wait for 2016 is that this Government has failed. It came here to give a timeline of twenty-four months to transform Choma into a provincial capital by shifting all the operations. However, twelve months later, nothing has happened. Now there is a confession on the Floor of this House that even in Muchinga, nothing is happening. 

Laughter 

Mr Mweetwa: What type of Government is this that feeds on deception and cheating people that, within ninety days, it will do things? 

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Choma Central, please, withdraw the word “cheating”. That vocabulary is not acceptable in this House. 

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the word “cheating” and replace it with “deceiving”.

Hon. Opposition Member: Ama deceivers!

Laughter 

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, it is for this reason that it must begin to seriously consider its course of action from now onwards. 

Mr Nkombo: Donchi kubeba!

Mr Mweetwa: For the past twelve months, there has been total failure. 

Mr Speaker, with regard to development in the Southern Province, as a whole, we have not seen anything under the PF Administration other than the unilateral, antagonistic demarcation and re-alignment of districts and provincial boundaries. This is the only development that we have seen. There is nothing that the PF can show for it. This morning, I was even wondering what was happening to the Southern Province. Is it that, maybe, the biggest problem in the province is that President Sata appointed a cadre as hon. Minister who actually ended up declaring it a no-go-area for Hakainde Hichilema (HH), instead of embracing everybody and working with them? That conduct is not only discernible outside, but also within. However, he did it.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Lubinda): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to add my voice to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. 

Allow me, Sir, to begin by congratulating His Excellency, Mr Michael Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, on having delivered his address in which he gave his Government’s broad policy priorities for the year 2013. 

From the outset, allow me to, also, join His Excellency in congratulating the seven new colleagues who emerged victorious in the by-elections held during the First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. 

Mr Speaker, with the Mufumbwe By-election in sight, I wish to align myself with the President’s call for all of us to exercise self-restraint and tolerance before, during and after the elections. It is my prayer that Mufumbwe shall have and be allowed to have peaceful elections, and there will be no repeat of people hacking each other. 

Mr Speaker, elections must never be seen as an end unto themselves, but as a means to acquiring positions through which one may render service to one’s country. This being the case, there should be no cause, whatsoever, for violence around elections. I wish to call upon all of us, here assembled, to be the true and honest torch bearers of peaceful elections. Let us go out there and be the role models of harmony. After all, as Parliamentarians, it is the people’s expectation that we be beacons of impeccable democratic virtues. Let each and every one of us, therefore, join His Excellency the President in working towards the maintenance of peace and tranquility in our country. 

Mr Speaker, there are a few who have been found on the wrong side of democratic reasoning. These are the people who have been heard advocating for or instigating violence. Irrespective of the political parties to which they belong, it is our duty, all of us gathered here, to show them the benefits of the power of peaceful co-existence. Personally, I pledge to continue to advocate for peace and harmony in our country and elsewhere for I know that there is no other option. 

Mr Speaker, the focus of my contribution to the House shall be, obviously, the foreign policy direction that the ministry has pursued in the last one year that the Patriotic Front has been in Government and the plans for the coming year.  

In keeping with the practice of this House, I will provide the details of these plans during the debate of estimates for the ministry.

Mr Speaker, it is a well-known fact that, in this era of globalisation, no country is an island. A country’s social, economic and political advancement is influenced by not only internal factors, but also, to a large extent, by the way it interacts with the outside world. There can be no meaningful growth in an economy, just as there cannot be any capital or technology flow into a country, with a negative international reputation. As such, we, in the ministry, are aware of the enormous task that we carry on behalf of our dear country. It is as much an honour as it is a huge challenge. We are conscious of the fact that we are the front-runners in mirroring the image of this great country and its equally great people.

Sir, let me state that the ministry’s responsibility is that of being the front-runner, and not necessarily the only runner in Zambia’s diplomacy. It is the responsibility of each one of us, and this is a responsibility that is performed at home as well as abroad. 

For all us to be able to work in the same direction, we need to have a campus that guides us. We need a well-thought through foreign policy.

Mr Speaker, as stated in the President’s statement, our Foreign Policy was adopted one and half decades ago, in 1996. In the meantime, the local, regional and international geo-political landscape has witnessed various changes. It is for this reason that we have embarked on the process of reviewing it. 

Sir, in keeping with the clear instructions of the President that we, in the Government, learn from the programmes of the former Government, be they good or bad, our ministry has started the process of policy review by studying the draft policy that was initiated by our predecessors.

Mr Speaker, I urge all of us gathered in this House who have ideas that they wish to input into the future foreign policy of Zambia to do so through this House and, directly, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Lubinda: It is not debatable that peace, security and stability are key prerequisites to socio-economic development. In this respect, Sir, as we review Zambia’s Foreign Policy so that it is accommodative of the changes in our country, the region and the globe, we shall endeavour to factor in the promotion of international peace and security as one of its guiding principle.

Sir, at this juncture, let me inform this House and the nation at large that Zambia’s good reputation on the international scene is unprecedented. Many people from all walks of life, who know about Zambia, know it, first and foremost, as a peaceful country with smiling and loving people.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: We are considered a pioneer of democracy in Africa, having changed Governments several times through peaceful means.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Quality, Zayelo.

Mr Lubinda: We are also recognised for the sacrifices that we made in the maintenance of peace within the region and places farther away. This is what sets us apart from others. This is our vantage point. It is our legacy, a legacy that is worth not only being proud of, but also one that all of us must be ready to defend, one for which we should not compromise as a people.

Sir, it is our determination to ensure that Zambia continues to be an active and respected participant in regional and world affairs with the objective of deriving direct benefits for our country. In this regard, in the last year, Zambia was fully engaged in the activities of the various regional bodies of which it is a member. These included the African Union (AU), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Common Market for East and Southern African (COMESA). Our involvement is in conformity with our own foreign policy objective of promoting regional economic integration and promotion of good neighbourliness.

Mr Speaker, beyond the region, Zambia participated in Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meetings and summits, the Commonwealth meetings and summits and, recently, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, where our President, Michael Chilufya Sata, delivered a very powerful maiden speech.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Those who have ears to hear heard that, indeed, President Michael Sata took the UN General Assembly by storm.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: In addition, over the last year, our ministry facilitated interactions with some of our major partners which, at the bilateral levels, resulted in visits of several foreign dignitaries and envoys to Zambia. His Excellency the President also made maiden visits to some countries, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK).

Mr Speaker, prophets of doom should be ashamed to realise that, when they are spelling doom for Zambia, many international players see only glory in the country, ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: ... giving rise to their frequent visits to the country.

Mr Musukwa: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: At multi-lateral level, Sir, Zambia was proud to host, among the high-profile dignitaries, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, who made a historic address to this august House. Mr Moon could not have visited Zambia if he had listened to the prophets of doom. He was not misguided, but saw that, in Zambia, today, we have good leadership.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Secretary-General, Moon, would not go to a country where he thinks people’s human rights are being violated. He goes to countries where he knows that there is good stewardship.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, Zambia will continue to participate in the activities of the AU and all other regional and international bodies while keeping our eyes on our national interests. We shall, at the UN level, support the decisions of the AU relating to the reforms of the organisation, as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus.

Mr Speaker, our ministry will endeavour to present to this House periodic reports on all our international meetings and summits. It is our hope that these reports will be used by the hon. Members. This, we hope, shall assist hon. Members to be well-informed about Zambia’s relations with the outside world so as to avoid totally unfounded and unnecessary speculation, such as the remarks that we have heard in the recent past, remarks that are based purely on misinformation. It is the duty of the ministry to inform this august House of any developments under our jurisdiction. We shall come to this House to present those reports so that all of us are well-informed and make informed decisions about ourselves and the broader world out there.

Sir, we are also determined to ensure that Zambians are well-positioned to take up Executive positions in regional and multi-lateral organisations. To this end, we call upon all hon. Members of Parliament to inform the ministry of all positions that may fall vacant in international organisations with which we collaborate so that we may consider presenting and supporting our candidates. After all, that is our duty.

Mr Speaker, one area that has attracted much debate, over the last few years, has been the issue of Zambians working in the Diaspora. The PF Government recognises that the people in the Diaspora are an important resource that is available for utilisation. There are many countries that have benefitted greatly from the Diaspora. These include Ethiopia, Ghana and Eritrea. These are classic examples of African countries that have attracted phenomenal investment from their people domiciled outside their borders. In this regard, the ministry has initiated a process that will lead to the formulation of a Diaspora policy to guide Zambia on how best to benefit from her citizens living outside her borders.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, it is my hope and prayer that hon. Members of this House will provide their invaluable contributions thereto. As part of our Foreign Policy, and in an effort to create a favourable economic environment and push the international development co-operation agenda forward, Zambia will remain a good partner to all countries.

Sir, in all these interactions with the international community, Zambia’s interests, particularly those that will maximise the economic benefits to this country, shall be paramount.

The lingering international economic and financial crises continue to pose great challenges to the developing countries, including our own. The prospects for the world economy in 2013 will continue to be grave and complicated, on the whole, with a downward pressure and growing uncertainties and destabilising factors. 

Sir, against this backdrop, Zambia has adopted solidarity and co-operation with other developing countries as another priority in our Foreign Policy. To this end, Zambia will strengthen unity and promote South to South co-operation so as to safeguard her national interests. In particular, Zambia will consolidate her co-operation with all her neighbouring countries and beyond through the revitalisation of the joint permanent commissions of co-operation.

Mr Speaker, I, therefore, beseech all of us to be careful as leaders and as hon. Members of Parliament on the statements that we utter about our neighbouring countries and those afar because those statements have the potential of poisoning our good neighbourliness and relations.

Sir, furthermore, Zambia will continue to work hard in order to enhance solidarity and co-ordination in tackling global challenges, such as climate change, terrorism, human trafficking, gender inequality, HIV/AIDS, human rights and good governance through participation in the activities of the AU, the Group of Seventy-Seven plus China, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth, to mention but a few.

Mr Speaker, as we all know by now, in 2013, Zambia and Zimbabwe will co-host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly. This is an honour as it is evidence of the confidence that the international community has in Zambia, and I hope that my dear friend, Hon. Mweetwa, is listening. The international community would not have confidence in Zambia if it thought that, in Zambia, we are bloodletting 

Sir, I would like to beseech all of us, again, not to dare present ourselves in a picture that we are not. It is our duty together to be Zambia’s number one diplomats and ambassadors. Therefore, let us not paint ourselves that which we are not.

Mr Speaker, we, in the ministry, shall use all the opportunities at our disposal to ensure that all member states participate in the General Assembly next year. We will provide all protocol and diplomatic services to the delegations. It is my hope that the ministry responsible for this will also invite all hon. Members of the Zambian Parliament to participate in this great General Assembly.

Sir, the House may also wish to know that there are other regional and international conferences that Zambia has been requested to host during the course of the next twelve months. This is all as a result of the international community’s recognition of Zambia’s sound leadership. These events will not only raise Zambia’s political profile, but also, undoubtedly, promote Zambia as an important provider of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, MICE, in short. This is obviously good for our country. It is good for the employment creation for our people. 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude my contribution, I would like to assure this august House that, under the stewardship of President Michael Chilufya Sata, we, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the PF Government, stand ready to work with all hon. Members of Parliament, irrespective of the political divide, because we believe that only when we work together shall we meet the aspirations of the Zambian people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, we will have our ears wide open and our minds completely receptive to receiving good ideas and suggestions. We will not hit back at insults because we do not want to tread that path. Our wish is to work with everybody in promoting peace, harmony and tranquillity for our country today and, indeed, for our children and their children because that is the reason each one of us is gathered in this august House.

Mr Speaker, I beseech all of us in this House to take heed of the call by President Michael Sata that we, on the right, should work with our colleagues in the Opposition. That, too, was a call on our brothers and sisters on the left to work with us on the right. After all, each one of us in this House is gathered here, purely at the behest of the people. The millions of Zambians out there and those to come after them have put on us a duty to call them together and to hold them together as one strong, united country on the move.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to debate on the President’s Speech delivered to this august House on 21st September, 2012.

Sir, this speech has been described differently by many debaters, particularly hon. Members of Parliament. Some have described it as hollow, while others have said it as useless and empty. That is the nature of Parliamentarians.

Mr Speaker, according to parliamentary democracy, each and every hon. Member of Parliament has a right to say what he/she feels is correct. Therefore, I do not blame the hon. Members of Parliament who expressed their different opinions on the President’s Speech because that is their right.

Sir, in my view, I would like to state that the President’s Speech is a cardinal document which gave direction to the Zambian people. The President categorically talked about mining, foreign affairs, land reforms, tourism, governance and the country’s administration. He further talked about social protection, agriculture, parliamentary reforms, social and economic affairs as well as education development, local government and housing, employment and youth unemployment.

Sir, I, therefore, have difficulties understanding what the hon. Members of Parliament meant when they said the President’s Speech was hollow. I would like to say that, from the look of things, my colleagues have not read the speech thoroughly to understand and appreciate its contents.

Hon. Members of Parliament need to realise that when the President addressed this House, he was not obliged to read the prepared speech word for word. Therefore, it is incumbent …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Chilubi, take your seat. 

I am sure you have followed the proceedings from the moment we began debating the President’s Speech and how I have belaboured on the need to focus on the substantive issues. Given the stage we have reached in the debate, it is too advanced for me to get back to the basic rules. Please, focus on the substantive issues.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Quality!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, on that material day, His Excellency the President indicated to the nation that hon. Members of Parliament and hon. Ministers are supposed to work together. The President further ordered our hon. Ministers to always answer questions asked in  the House. During the course of his presentation, His Excellency the President further urged all hon. Members of Parliament to ensure that they visit their parliamentary constituencies. Arising from the issues that were raised by His Excellency the President, I would like to state that the President gave a unifying speech. It was a rare gesture. It has never happened in any democratic country before that a president extends an olive branch to the opposition.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Those who have been following the politics of this world would agree with me that many presidents do not extend such a hand to members of the opposition. Therefore, it is very surprising to hear some hon. Members of Parliament rejecting the olive branch that the President extended to them and saying that they cannot work with him. Surely, if they cannot work with the President and his hon. Minister, who are they going to work with? How do they expect development to go to their constituencies if they cannot co-operate with the Government?

Mr Speaker, I would like to inculcate some knowledge into my colleagues who were opposing this.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! 

Interruptions 

Mr Chisala: I would like to emphasise the point that I was in the Opposition as a Back Bencher for five years. However, I managed to have eighteen basic schools built in the period 2008 to 2009 in my constituency because I was working with the people who were in the Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, if these colleagues of ours on your left are saying that they are not ready to work with this Government, I want to state that we are not going to force them. However, I would like to put on record the fact that, for hon. Members of Parliament who want development in their parliamentary constituencies, it is imperative that they work with those in the Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, furthermore, I would like to put it on record that we are not going to get worried about those hon. Members of Parliament, like my brother, Hon. Mwansa Mbulakulima, who the other day said that the people of Chembe are not happy about the creation of Chembe as a district. However, I am making a humble request to the hon. Cabinet Ministers and, indeed, hon. Deputy Ministers manning the provinces that if they have such hon. Opposition Members of Parliament who are saying they cannot work with the Government, and do not need our hand, the best they can do …

Laughter

Mr Chisala: … is go to their constituencies and tell the people that their hon. Members of Parliament have indicated that they are not ready to work with the Government and, therefore, if they do not see …

Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to raise this point of order. I am trying very hard to figure out the direction the hon. Member on the Floor is taking, since he has said he wants to impart knowledge in us. I cannot make head or tail of what he is saying.

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

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, is that hon. Member on the Floor in order to go fishing and to insinuate that hon. Members of the Opposition in this august House have refused to work with the Government of the day, …

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Mr Mweetwa: … and yet on all the good policies and laws that the PF has brought here, we have voted in favour? That is how a parliamentary democracy, such as ours, should instill the culture of working together. Is he in order to continue misleading the nation that the Opposition is refusing to work with the Government of the day?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I think the point of order is well meant and, as the hon. Member for Chilubi continues to debate, he should, please, bear in mind that there might be a need for him to qualify the position taken by some hon. Members of Parliament. Certain positions may not be representative of the entire House, but those who may have declared a particular position. I take it that they did so on their own behalf and not on behalf of the others. Therefore, I think this is a point about generalisations. We must be mindful of generalisations. That is the spirit in which I take the intervention or point of order by the hon. Member for Choma Central. Please, take note of that.

Mr Chisala: I am much obliged, Mr Speaker. 

I would like to put on record the fact that it is not each and every hon. Member of Parliament from the Opposition who has been saying that he/she is not ready or cannot work with the Government of the day. Therefore,  I wish to qualify the statement that I made earlier by saying that, the day before yesterday, the hon. Member of Parliament from Gwembe indicated, on the Floor of this august House, that there are no public offices in his district and people have been working under trees. He has had such difficulties for the past twenty years because our colleagues who were in power lamentably failed to construct even a single building in the district for the purpose of making the affairs of the Government to be carried out effectively. How does he, therefore, expect us to extend a hand to him if he cannot co-operate with us?

Interruptions

Mr Chisala: I would like to advise our colleagues that if they want us to extend a hand to them in terms of assistance of any kind, it is imperative that they work with us.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I am in a quandary, to some extent, because I am failing to work out the way some hon. Members of Parliament have been debating.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Order!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I would like to illuminate the problems some of my colleagues here have by pleading with them that the time to work together is now. If they want the Government to assist them in terms of infrastructure, political, economic and cultural development, it is time for them to now work with us.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: If they keep us at a distance, it will be extremely difficult for them to develop their areas.

Mr Sing’ombe: On a point of order, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Dundu! Dundu!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, early this year, in February, when we came to Parliament, I asked His Honour the Vice-President when … 

Mr Speaker: Order!

(Debate adjourned)
__________ 

The House adjourned at 1255 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 9th October, 2012.