Friday, 29^th July, 2022

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

HON. MEMBERS’ PARTICIPATION IN THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Madam Speaker: The singing today was not there. I liked the bass. It gave some inspiration.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: As we start, hon. Members who would like to participate in Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time should indicate on the Electronic Chamber (e-Chamber), so that they do not miss out.  They should use the Bosch. Oh, sorry, they should use the iPad. The list is not yet open. As I see no matters of urgent public importance, we can quickly go straight to Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. Hon. Members, as you ask your questions, make sure you are precise and to the point so that other hon. Members of Parliament are also given an opportunity to ask questions. So, let us not bring in extraneous matters which cannot be verified. Let us remain factual.

I thank you.

_______

THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Good morning, Your Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, the Government prides itself in the rule of law. However, the rule of law must not only be pronounced, but also seen to be implemented.

Madam Speaker, among the few constitutional office bearers who are female and of whom we are proud is the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who has been at that institution from the time the late Dr Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., may his soul rest in peace, was Head of State. I am sure, at that time, Her Honour the Vice-President was in that Chair (indicated the Speaker’s Chair). Sometimes, we see her get tempted to get to the Chair. 

Madam Speaker, constitutional office holder in question is due to appear before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). However, we have seen twists and turns regarding the exit formalities, in terms of representation, since she is a public officer under the Oath of Secrecy. As all of us who have been constitutional office bearers know, the oath we are sworn to has implications until the time we are no more.

Madam Speaker, today, we are informed through a news item in the Daily Nation newspaper of Thursday, 28^th July, 2022, titled, “Siyunyi fired? ... as state withdraws security.” I will lay the paper on the Table.

Madam Speaker, the office-bearer in question was in the same institution when the man she had deputised, Mr Mukelabai, a gallant son of this nation, lost his life mysteriously after exiting office. What guarantee is the Government giving the nation regarding her safety as she is appearing before the JSC?

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu for his observations, though some of them are not correct. The number one observation –

Hon. PF Member: Ah!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I am responding, but he is saying, “Ah, we!”

Madam Speaker, the first observation was his acknowledgement that we said that we would govern by the rule of law, and that stands for this Government. This Government will do everything by the book.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member also stated that, sometimes, I am tempted to sit on your there (indicated the Speaker’s Chair). I know it was on a light moment, but must say that I am very comfortable here.  I am not tempted to sit in that Chair.

Madam Speaker, I do understand that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is appearing before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). However, I will not try to understand, standing here, the issues of secrecy of office because what I have seen is that the secrecy of office is making her unable to speak. That is in the tradition of her service. I will not pretend to understand what is right or wrong at this moment. As for the issue of Siyunyi being fired and the withdrawal of security, as the hon. Member read from the tabloid, I am not aware of it.

Mr Haimbe: No!

The Vice-President: She is not? Okay. The hon. Minister of Justice has just arrived and he has whispered to me that she has not been fired. So, I do not know how that information has come out. If she has been fired, surely it will show. It cannot take a long time. She is –

Mr Haimbe conversed with the Vice-President.

The Vice-President: Is that the argument?

I am sorry, Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister was talking to me.

Madam Speaker, let me just end by stating that as I sit here, I have not been briefed about Mrs Siyunyi being fired, and the hon. Minister of Justice has confirmed that she has not been fired. She is, truly, appearing before the JSC. It is also true, I think, that there about how to proceed.

Madam Speaker, on security being withdrawn, I am not aware of that either.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Amb. Kalimi (Malole): Madam Speaker, I really want to commend the Her Honour the Vice-President for visiting my constituency on 20^th April, 2022, particularly, to Kanyanta Memorial Girls Technical School. I thank her for attaching importance to the girl child. She is assured by the people of Malole Constituency and Kanyanta Girls Memorial School that the school will be fully operationalised. However, the contractor has not handed over certain structures after the Vice-President visited the school. The structures include the ablution block, the sick bay, the kitchen, the store room, the natural science laboratory, the practicals rooms, a 1x4 class room block, the recreation hall and the library for the campus. These structures have been completed, as Her Honour the Vice-President saw when she went there to inspect. However, the contractor is holding on to them because the Government owes him some money.

Madam Speaker, the Government has employed more than 30,000 teachers, and we commend it. However, the question is: Where are some those teachers going to live if those houses continue to be locked up? The students at the school cannot even have access to the dining hall, which I confirmed, as I have just come from the constituency. What assurance is Her Honour the Vice-President giving to the people of Malole on the handover of the infrastructure by the contractor?

Madam Speaker, where Her Honour the Vice-President and I come from, we say, “Upyana mukamfwilwa, apya –”

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Malole!

Do not debate. Please, ask a question. I guided –

Please, resume your seat, hon. Member.

Amb. Kalimi resumed his seat.

Madam Speaker: Stop the clock.

Hon. Members, I guided you to not debate. Just like you, other hon. Members also want to ask questions. So, let us be precise and to the point so that Her Honour the Vice-President can answer and more hon. Members can also ask. Let us not take advantage of this opportunity to debate. So, hon. Member, you have asked your question. I think, it was heard.

Your Honour the Vice-President, you may answer the question. 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Malole for raising this concern. It is true that I went to Malole and visited Kanyanta Memorial Girls Technical School and that the situation at the school is as the hon. Member has described it. There are buildings like teachers’ houses that have been completed, but the contractor has held on to them because of his not being paid, which is not really strange, as this country is very indebted. When the hon. Ministers come here, they talk about the indebtedness of this country in different sectors, and education is one of those sectors.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Education is aware of the situation and is working on it. As soon as the ministry and the contractor agree on the terms of payment that they are currently working on, the structures will be handed over. The hon. Member is talking about the teachers, and that is a real concern. So, we have to do something about it.

Particularly on the recruitment, Madam Speaker, we encourage people to apply where they reside because it will be easier for them to function without some of these difficulties.

Madam Speaker, the Government is aware of the problem and is working hard to find a way to dismantle the huge debt that was incurred by –

  Hon. Government Members: The PF!

The Vice-President: Thank you! Yes, by the previous regime.

Madam Speaker, this Government, through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, is struggling to find ways of dismantling that debt. We have a duty to dismantle the debt. It is unfortunate that it is taking a bit long because we are dealing with a lot of debt in this country, but it is happening.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Wamunyima (Nalolo): Madam Speaker, we also invite Her Honour the Vice-President to Nalolo, since she has been to Malole, so that, at least, the people there can also be assured. My question is: When is the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) starting buying from farmers, given that there is low liquidity in the private sector coupled with some restrictions on exports?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the invitation. I will go to Nalolo one of these days.

Madam Speaker, I may have missed the question but, I think, the gist of it is: When is the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) starting buying maize and, probably, other farm products? The answer is that the FRA has already started buying maize. So, we can tell our farmers that.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I ask this question with pain.

Madam Speaker, recently, we saw very disturbing reports on social media depicting the Director-General at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Chama South!

I will not allow that question.

Interruptions

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, we want investigations.

Interruptions 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

We are not going to allow that question. You cannot be insulting women through cyber-bullying.

Interruptions

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, we want –

No wonder –

Madam Speaker: Order!

You can ask any other question. That one will not be asked in this House.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, I am well guided.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Let me say something.

Let he who has not sinned or who has not fondled himself throw the first stone. We are not going to allow women to be bullied to that extent.

You can ask another question, hon. Member for Chama South.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, that was my concerned. No wonder, we wanted the perpetrators of that to be brought to book. My question is not in a perspective that you are seeing it in.

Madam Speaker, you can ignore these things, but what if they go on? People are being targeted, and that is concerning. However, I get your guidance.

Madam Speaker: The investigative wings are doing the work. Let us not go there, please. Respect women! Respect women!

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, with that assurance, I am grateful.

Madam Speaker: We are not going to allow men to insult us. You can ask another question.

Interruptions

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, thank you. I hope the perception is not that I am insulting women.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Ask your question.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, I am concerned because Chama has been taken to the Eastern Province by our new Government. However, the distance from Chama to Chipata is not less than 380 km. Further, the Chama/Lundazi Road is deplorable. Actually, in the next few months, it will be cut off like is usually the case, just like the Chama/Matumbo Road. What assurance is the Government giving to the people of Chama regarding works on the two roads? At least, one of them should be worked on so that our civil servants can find it very easy to reach the Provincial Headquarters, Chipata, or seek services in Chinsali.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for your guidance to this House.

Madam Speaker, I believe, the decision of taking Chama to the Eastern Province was made at the request of the people of Chama. That said, it is true that the road network in Chama is bad, and I hasten to say that the roads the hon. Member has talked about, the Chama/Matumbo and Chama/Lundazi roads, have been earmarked for public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The hon. Minister responsible for road works is working hard and, I am sure, the hon. Member knows the hon. Minister was in Chama. I have learnt, through this House, that he has visited that area. So, he is as concerned as the hon. Member is, and he is urgently looking for resources, through the PPP mode, to work on those roads. He is trying to find people we can work with on those roads, which are two of the roads on the Government’s priority list under the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mubika (Shangombo): Madam Speaker, there is a serious outbreak of scabies in Shangombo. What measures is the Government going to put in place to ensure that there is an urgent –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Time is running out.

Mr Mubika: What measures is the Government putting in place to ensure that the people of Shangombo are treated for that disease, which has just hit the district?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I hope that the hon. Member for Shangombo has already brought the report to the attention of the Ministry of Health. Suffice it for me to say that the Government will do everything possible to stop the disease because these are diseases that are supposed to have been eradicated. It is surprising to see the emergence of so many skin diseases. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Bathing!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Health, will help to establish what could have caused that outbreak and what can be done about it, and I thank the hon. Member for bringing it to the attention of the people’s House.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I understand it is just about bathing.

Laughter

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, the people of both Chama North and Chama South face severe food shortages arising from human-animal conflicts, the outbreak of army worms and climate change. Further, currently, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is selling a 50 kg bag of maize at K200, which is beyond the reach of many villagers, in community sales. My question is: When is the Government going to provide relief food to the people of Chama to avert starvation?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Chama North talks of hunger looming in Chama because of army worms and climate-related issues. The Government is aware of that because it has completed the In-Depth Vulnerability and Needs Assessment. So, it is aware of the places where it needs to provide relief. However, it is still waiting because, no matter how bad the situation is, there are some people who still have food. The Government will surely come in, and Chama, which has benefitted before, will continue to benefit.

Madam Speaker, I cannot give dates as I stand here but, as the Government continues to assess, relief food will be provided. Further, the Government is coming in with the risk reduction and resilience approach so that people can be helped through a semi-permanent solution rather than going through the same cycle year in and year out. A recurrent situation no longer becomes a disaster because we know what will happen, and where we know what we will happen, the Government is working hard to find semi-permanent solutions, which may include people shifting to higher land, in the case of floods. We can help them to settle in new places, and that is one of the dreams we have as the Office of the Vice-President.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Madam Speaker, many times, Her Honour the Vice-President has assured this nation on the Floor of the House that as the inflation rate continues to go down on a single digit, we expect to see the lives of our people improving. However, what is happening in most of our communities in this Republic is different. I attended a meeting with my colleagues, the hon. Members of Parliament, at which the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR) indicated that the inflation rate is going down, but our people are suffering in many communities. When do we expect the New Dawn Government to start improving our people’s lives as the rate of inflation continues to improve and the local currency continues to be stable?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, he is asking a non-economist. So, I will explain to him according to my understanding.

Madam Speaker, it is true, that is the situation.

Laughter

The Vice-President: However, I think, as hon. Members, we should continue to be hopeful. It is we who should give hope to our people rather than creating the perception that things are getting very bad.

Mr Mushanga interjected.

The Vice-President: Let me speak because I also live in Zambia. I also live here.

Madam Speaker, inflation – the hon. Member wants me to repeat my definition of inflation.

Mr Mushanga: The Nalumango definition.

The Vice-President: Yes, the Nalumango definition.

Laughter

The Vice-President: When inflation goes down, definitely, it does affect prices.

Do not look at me like that (addressing Mr Kafwaya).

Laughter

The Vice-President: It affects the cost of living.

Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleagues should remember that one important factor in our economy is fuel, as they have raised the issue of the cost of fuel going up now and again and, I think, I have said that is not due to what we are doing in our economy, but due to the international pricing of the commodity.

Madam Speaker, the effect of the current price of fuel would have been very devastating were other components of the economy not been doing well. Please, just follow my thinking, because it is right. Were other internal components of the economy bad, today, we would be crying because the real effects of inflation that bring concern would have set in. were prices going up at a very fast rate, that would become a concern. However, I do not think that thinking that because inflation has gone down, then, even prices should start going down, is real economics. A low inflation rate brings stability in the cost of commodities and, therefore, affects the cost of living. Right now, one cannot say that there is such a fast movement in the cost of living because there is stability. This Government has brought in stability. Looking at the way things were moving leading up to 2021, I think, Zambians would be crying today had this Government, under President Hakainde Hichilema, not come in and stabilised the situation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: So, the hon. Member for Bwacha should admit that no matter what one does, prices, generally – What do economists say? There is a term economists use to mean that the cost of a commodity does not really go down, but merely stabilises.

Madam Speaker, last time, when the hon. Member for Lunte raised this question, I gave him the example that when he was a young man, his trousers cost K1. Today, if he bought the same trousers for his son, it would cost K100. That is normal in economics; costs change. However, if the costs rise slowly, one cannot be worried because that is natural. So, what do we need to do? Right now, this Government is working very hard to grow the economy by inviting hon. Members and others to invest. What one needs to do now is not look at the prices that are going up, but rather make a positive change on the income side, and we do that by bringing in investment and providing a conducive environment for the growth of the economy. That is what this Government is doing every day.

Madam Speaker, as people get employed and earn an income, they will survive in such an environment. Unemployment was the order of the day but, in nine months, people have been employed. It is not only teachers and health workers who have been employed; jobs are being created every day. Recently, my President officiated at the opening of another big mine. That is more employment created.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Yes, thank you.

Madam Speaker, when there is more investment and people get employed, definitely, we will not continue talking about inflation because inflation will continue to go down and there will be stability in the Kwacha, which is very important. In this people’s House here, which represents everybody, let us not blow issues out of proportion. Instead, let us give people hope because when people’s minds get affected, they will start thinking that they are suffering when they are not.

Madam Speaker, yes there is a need for us to grow the economy together so that Zambians can benefit, and this Government, under President Hakainde Hichilema, is working day and night to ensure that our people’s incomes go up, including through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). We need to help our people by giving them small contracts through the CDF because that is how their livelihoods will change.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, I thank the Her Honour the Vice-President for coming through to provide iron sheets to the people of  Kaloko through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). However, there are more people who still need help. Otherwise, my question has been overtaken by events.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Sabao (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, thank you for being considerate to the women of this world.

Madam Speaker, I am the bearer of a message from the optimistic people of Chikankata, and the message is that they appreciate the successes scored by the New Dawn Government. Just today, the names of more than 11,000 health personnel who have been employed have been published. What is the message to those who have not been selected?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Chikankata for observing the hard work of her Government. Indeed, this Government is working. For example, today, we are already announcing the, I think, 11,276 health workers who have been recruited. This must be appreciated and, I think, is appreciated by the people of Zambia. That is why when in this House, we should not debate as if the people we speak for cannot see what is on the ground because tomorrow, the people can render us irrelevant for saying things that are contrary to what they see on the ground. The people will wonder who we are.

Madam Speaker, in terms of our thought for the people who still need jobs, particularly those who are trained in various fields, my first response is that we have not stopped recruiting; we will continue recruiting. So, people should not lose hope; they must have confidence in their Government. Some had waited for eight to ten years to be employed but, today, they are employed. So, those who are not employed must trust this Government.

Madam Speaker, for me – I do not want to use the other titles – I believe that we work very hard in this Government and that this nation will truly be transformed. I, Hon. Mutale, say that this nation will be transformed.  Let us just wait and see what will happen. We have the mandate.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Very soon, we may start looking for people to work for us.

The people will make a choice on the manner in which we are perceived to be supported by the world and the manner in which we are putting all the economic development strategies on the table. So, the people will be employed, and that is the assurance.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, let me begin by congratulating the recruited health workers and teachers, though they are coming into a world where salaries are never increased.

Interruptions

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President and the hon. Minister of Justice have affirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has not been fired. However, it is reported that her security has been withdrawn. My question is: What led to the withdrawal of her security? We do not want to lose another constitutional office holder like we lost the late Mr Mukelabai, who died because the state withdrew his security.

Madam Speaker: That question was answered, but I do not want to be a participant in the debate.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Mpika for acknowledging the recruitment of health workers and teachers. He congratulated those who have been employed without, firstly, congratulating those who employed them, as one would think he should have done. However, I thank him for noting that things are happening. On his statement that salaries are not increased, my question is: Why do we get into politics when it is not necessary? In accordance with the performance of this economy, this year, public servants got a salary increment higher than the one they had got earlier. We must make people understand that. So, I do not know what he means by saying that salaries have not been increased.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Yes, that is true! That is why I have said before that when the economy grows, we all benefit.

Madam Speaker, we found a situation in which the economy was not perfuming well, and people know the rate of inflation that we had, how the Kwacha was and how indebted we were. So, I do not think that the hon. Member should debate that way.

Madam Speaker, the problem is that I have to respond to questions asked from different angles. An hon. Member talks about public servants and then goes on to ask about the DPP, and it becomes tedious because I have responded to that question already.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Rev. Katuta (Chienge): Madam Speaker, the World Bank has given US$65 million to Zambia. The people of Chienge want to know whether that money is a grant or Zambians will have to pay it back with interest.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, can the hon. Member repeat the question? I missed the first part.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Chienge, please, repeat the question.

Rev. Katuta Madam Speaker, the World Bank has given US$65 million to Zambia. The people of Chienge want to know whether that money is a grant or Zambians will have to pay it back with interest. Is it borrowed money? Has the money been lent to the Zambian Government?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Chienge for this question. It is a genuine and important concern, and that is why we are transparent in the contraction of debt.

Madam Speaker, it is true that the money is borrowed.

Madam Speaker, I spent a lot of time explaining that we were going to ‘restructure’ or ‘recapitalise’. I explained that according to my understanding of economics and used those words.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: That is true! People should learn to understand my language and get what I am talking about. 

Madam Speaker, we said that we would borrow, because no country can say it will never borrow. The concern we had was about the borrowing at high interest rates that was going on ...

Hon. Member: Ni kaloba!

The Vice-President: ... when the Government could have contracted debts at very low interest rates. This money is borrowed at a very low interest rate. I remember stating here how much the interest would be. I also stated how long the repayment period would be. That is what makes this loan different from the Eurobond that some people got, which was more of kaloba.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, for almost a year, we have seen sanity in the country; there is no violence in the markets and bus stops, and things are not as they used to be in the previous regime. The people of Zambia and I want to know what formula the Government has used to make this country come to normalcy, whereby every citizen is free to traverse wherever he or she wants? I ask this question so that if another Government comes in in 2061, it can also use that formula.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member or Bweengwa for asking that question.

Madam Speaker, to start with, the hon. Member will note that there has been stability in terms of security in our country for almost a year or, maybe, I should say ten months. The hon. Member asked about the formula we have used and ended by saying that those who will come after us may learn from that formula.

Madam Speaker, the formula the Zambians have used was putting in office people who are responsible ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: ... and those who have led by example.

Madam Speaker, violence became endemic in our country. We must all ask ourselves what has happened. The police officers who were in office during the previous regime are the same ones who are in office today. This Government has not recruited new police officers; it is using the officers who were recruited –

Hon. Government Member: By Kampyongo!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the police officers who could shoot at an innocent procession of people are the same ones who, today, are protecting the people and controlling crowds without being violent.

Hon. Government Member: No live bullet! 

The Vice-President: No live bullets or teargas, unless it is absolutely necessary. So, we should then ask ourselves what, really, was the matter? I think, it is time for sincere reflection.

Madam Speaker, to start with, I think, there was abuse of power and the police by the leadership.

Mr Samakayi: Kampyongo!

Interruptions

The Vice-President:  There is nothing I can do apart from saying what I know. If there was no abuse of police officers, how have they changed overnight? Have we brought in new officers?

Hon. Government Members: No!

The Vice-President: So, where was the command coming from? That is a very dangerous thing to do.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member also talked of people moving freely. We need to remember that when the President came to this House, he declared that there would be no more cadreism. Some people thought he meant that there would be no cadres. No! Cadres will always be there. The Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres are still there, but there is no cadreism. People should not use their positions to harass other people. Those who will be found, even if they are from here, – I saw my hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development one day challenging a situation like that when it had been alleged that my members were doing wrong things. So, we will not allow that and we will continue to ensure that there is security for every Zambian.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: I will not stand here and allow my cadres to start harassing somebody from the other side.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: That should not happen; not under this Government!

Madam Speaker, we have to ensure that the cadres on our side understand that we will not allow that behaviour because every Zambian must feel that they are Zambian, and enjoy his or her democratic and human rights. It is the leadership that decides on such things. So, that is the formula; it is the leadership. When Mr Hichilema makes pronouncements, all of us must follow. So, we should be proud of the fact that there is no more cadreism.

Madam Speaker, I will say it on the Floor of this House that if UPND members want to involve themselves in criminality in the name of the party, that will not be allowed. No effort will be spared to curtail such behaviour regardless of whether the cadres are on the other end or not, and I hope they have put away their pangas and other weapons. Some of us suffered, but we will not carry that burden forever; we forgive 100 per cent. Let us move on. We have to learn that we can peacefully face one another politically, like we are competing here. The hon. former Minister of Home Affairs can ask a question and I will respond with no pain in my heart because we understand that, sometimes, things are done out of –

Hon. Government Member: Ignorance!

The Vice-President: Yes, but I did not say that.

Laughter

The Vice-President: My appeal, Madam Speaker, is that we have gone through that phase and that even those who may have believed that was the only way have seen that there is a different way. Therefore, we should work together and be united.

The Vice-President cleared her throat.

The Vice-President: Sorry.

Mr Chilangwa: Thank you.

The Vice-President: Aah! Why are you saying thank you, Chilangwa?

Laughter

The Vice-President: I thought it was about coughing.

Let us work together, colleagues, because we have only one Zambia, and this Government of Mr Hakainde Hichilema –

Interruptions

The Vice-President: I have mine.

Madam Speaker, this Government of Mr Hakainde Hichilema will ensure that we are all one family with different ideas of how to govern, and we will respect those ideas.

Madam Speaker, the people in the police force must work professionally.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!  

The Vice-President: I am speaking from my heart in saying that they should work professionally. The Lord says vengeance is His, not ours.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Since it took us time to settle down, I am adding five minutes to this session.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Member: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) seminar has worked.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, Zambia held the African Union (AU) Summit and many political commentators in Zambia and outside have described the summit as a failed one. Further, no Government official has come to the Floor of this House to explain what happened to the Heads of State who sent representatives instead of coming in person. Would Her Honour the Vice-President explain that to the people of Zambia and say how successful the summit was so that we clear the air?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would have evaded this question, but it is important that we discuss issues whenever something comes up.

Madam Speaker, I do not think that it is right to describe the summit as a failure because there was an agenda. What we should ask is whether the delegates went through the agenda. I think, that is important to know. Further, I remember that in this very House, the Government, through the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, said that the host was not the convener.

Hon. Government Member: Correct!

The Vice-President: The convener of the meeting was the AU Secretariat. I think, that is what he said. He might not have used my words, but that is what he said. Therefore, it was not Zambia which was supposed to receive this one and that one. At least, I got that fact right in this House. Therefore, those who did not come must have directed their reasons for failure to come to the AU Secretariat, not to Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: So, it is difficult for us to say why some people did not come. 

Madam Speaker, I cannot say that the AU Summit was a failure. However, if the hon. Member wants a full statement on the success of the summit, I think, we can provide it sometime later. We can show exactly how the summit went on. Suffice it for me to say that for us, it was a success, and the people who attended it say it was a success.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Since the hon. Member for Lunte has been very attentively looking at Her Honour the Vice-President, I will give him an opportunity to ask a question.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Madam Speaker, I could not be more appreciative.

Madam Speaker, continuous voter registration is underway. What is the Government’s assessment of its equity across the entire population of this nation?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this question asked by the hon. Member for Lunte.

Madam Speaker, it is difficult for me to talk about equity right now. What I know is that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) started the process and targeted the provincial headquarters. The process will continue because it is ‘continuous voter registration’. Looking at the figures, which I hope were authentic, they seemed too small.  According to Nalumango’s analysis, last year, people came out en masse to register as voters. Therefore, if you have looked at the chart, which indicates age groups and the elections, it seems that many people were captured because they wanted to have a say, and that say brought us here.

Madam Speaker, I cannot say that there is no equity because the ECZ is going to each province. For now, it is my prayer that this process will continue, with each province given the same amount of time. We will not allow the things we cried about to continue happening. So, if the ECZ allocates five days to Lunte, the same days should be allocated to Keembe so that we have equity. I cannot tell what the hon. Member is requesting for right now, but what I saw was that the numbers are different, and that is because many people were already registered. Nevertheless, we will continue so that we do not have a crisis in 2026. We will make sure that we are fully prepared so that we beat our colleagues again properly.

I thank you, Madam Speaker. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simushi (Sikongo): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity. I thought I was going to be left out.

Madam Speaker, one of the great things that have happened to this country is the election of the New Dawn Administration into Government and the ascension to the Presidency of Mr Hakainde Hichilema. This President has a clear vision for this country, and this is not debatable.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simushi: Madam Speaker, given the catalogue of achievements of this Government that we have seen within ten months, how possible is it that a political party that was very violent divisive, corrupt, and incompetent can be returned into power by the people of Zambia in 2026?

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Sikongo for that observation. I think, we have already said that doing politics is normal, and I like my hon. Member because he is also doing politics. 

Madam Speaker, political pronouncement like ‘Tulebwelelapo’ even when you are not are part of freedom of speech and expression.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: We are confident that with all the things we are doing, tababwelelepo.

 Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Member: On a point of order.

Madam Speaker: There are no points of order during the Vice-President’s Question Time.

_______

  BILL

FIRST READING

THE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING (Amendment) BILL, 2022

The Minister of Defence (Mr Lufuma) (on behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled The Anti-Human Trafficking (Amendment) Bill, N. A. B. No. 16 of 2022.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members, otherwise, we will not follow the proceedings.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

_______

MOTION

REPORT OF THE PLANNING AND BUDGETING COMMITTEE

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adopt the Report of the Planning and Budgeting Committee on the Review of the Second Quarter Performance of the 2022 Budget for the First Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 26^th July, 2022.

Madam Speaker: There is a request for volume. If you can just lighten up your voice as you speak.

Mr Mubika: Speak like a man!

Madam Speaker: Speak like a man, like the hon. Member for Shangombo is saying, or speak like me.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, the volume on these gadgets was lowered.

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I second the Motion.

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, as highlighted in the 2022 Budget, the Government is determined to bring economic transformation through job creation and improved access to social services, especially for the poor people. This determination has been demonstrated by the commitment in meeting revenue targets in the first half of the year and is further, characterised by expenditure discipline.

Madam, in the period under review, most macro-economic fundamentals were on the right trajectory, partly as a result of an improvement in the economic environment. Notably, the annual inflation rate continued to trend downwards from 14.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, to a single digit of 9.7 per cent in June, 2022, the lowest recorded in thirty-five months. Further, the Kwacha appreciated against the United States Dollar closing the quarter at an average of K16.96 per United States Dollar, while international reserves stood at three point seven months of import cover.

Madam Speaker, sadly, the positive economic performance recorded thus far remains vulnerable to external shocks such as unstable copper prices and the effects of the Ukraine and Russia conflict which have threatened the supply chains of essential commodities. Therefore, it is necessary for the Government to remain responsible if economic growth is to be secured.

Madam, allow me at this juncture to highlight some of the observations made by your Committee when it undertook the Budget review exercise for the second quarter of 2022.

From the outset, your Committee commends the Government for exceeding the revenue target for the second quarter of 2022, and for being on the right trajectory towards meeting the 2022 annual revenue targets.

However, your Committee expresses serious concern about the underperformance of all tax revenue sources, except income tax and insurance premiums. The House will recall that your Committee made a similar observation when it reviewed the performance of the Budget in the first quarter, where it was revealed that three tax revenue sources under-collected. Your Committee is concerned that the poor performance of the tax sources could threaten expenditure towards public service delivery especially given that tax revenue is the biggest source of domestic revenue. In light of this, your Committee strongly urges the Government to implement robust tax revenue measures to maximise tax in order to finance the investment of its key priority areas.

Madam Speaker, another observation made by your Committee is the drop in the copper prices on the London Metal Exchange from highs of US$10,200 per tonne in June, 2021, to US$9,365.05 per tonne in May, 2022. Your Committee fears that the falling copper prices and reported low grade of copper will erode the stock of international reserves if Zambia does not prioritise non-traditional exports.

Madam, to reduce economic exposure to further shocks, decline in international reserves, and potential weakening of the Kwacha, your Committee strongly urges the Government to robustly drive the diversification agenda in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) in the identified sectors namely; agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and mining sectors. Further, while your Committee extols the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) for the notable increase in the tax refunds by 58.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2022, it is concerned about the reported loss of revenue in the period under review amounting to K10.7 million as a result of fraudulent Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds facilitated by the authority.

Madam Speaker, cognisant of the vulnerability of VAT to fraud and evasion, your Committee strongly urges the authority to exercise caution and thoroughly scrutinise possible refunds before payments can be initiated in order to safeguard public resources.

Madam, in conclusion, I wish to place on record my sincere appreciation to the stakeholders who provided information to your Committee. Gratitude is also extended to the Office of the Clerk for the support rendered to your Committee.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

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

Mr Mung’andu: Now, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I rise to second the Motion ably moved by the Chairperson of your Committee.

Madam, in seconding the Motion, I wish to state that the second quarter of the 2022 Financial Year, generally performed well with most key fundamentals being within target. Notable is the continuous decline of the inflation rate. I have to explain a bit on this one. There is an argument that inflation is not declining but we hear economists explain the difference between inflation and the inflation rate. They say that the rate at which prices of goods and services were increasing is coming down. This is what it means.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, the continuous decline of the inflation rate and the fairly stable exchange rate against the United States Dollar was the main highlight in the first quarter. As a country, I think we have seen a steady decline in our exchange rate, quarter by quarter. In the first quarter, the Dollar was at K17 and as we speak, it is somewhere around K16.4 and it is still going down.

Madam Speaker, allow me to highlight some of the key issues observed by your Committee

The Government should devise a Framework for Paying off Arrears

Madam Speaker, the important role that the private sector plays in inspiring disparaging economic development cannot be overemphasised. However, it is regrettable that there are colossal sums of money owed to individuals and businesses that have supplied goods and services to the Government. Your Committee’s concern about the increased delay in settling arrears has the potential to reduce private sector liquidity, profits, employment, and ultimately, economic growth.

Madam Speaker, clearly, as we are urging the Government to speed up the dismantling of these arrears, it is also important that it takes keen interest to check whether some of the arrears are genuine or not. This process has to be done as quickly as possible so that those who had genuinely supplied goods and services to the Government are not disadvantaged. Your Committee acknowledges that the domestic debt audit is being undertaken. Therefore, your Committee urges the Government to expedite the audit and most importantly, devise and publish a medium term arrears payment strategy that should be embedded in the medium term debt management strategy.

Settle Arrears for Servicing Officers in Ministries

Madam Speaker, further, your Committee expresses concerns at the accumulated arrears such as settling in allowances and leave pay for the staff in the civil services. If not addressed, your Committee fears that the matter may have detrimental effects on the welfare of the staff in the public service and may affect productivity. While commending the Government for the release of the recurrent departmental charges, your Committee urges the Government to prioritise the welfare of the staff by securing funding to settle outstanding emoluments.

Increase Resource Allocation Towards the Human Rights Commission

Madam Speaker, finally, your Committee observes that the four provincial offices of the Human Right Commission, in Chinsali, Luapula, Solwezi, and Kabwe, which were established in 2021, with the support from the co-operating partners may not be operational after September, 2022, when the project comes to an end. Given the unique mandate of the commission in promoting and monitoring the rights of all citizens, your Committee strongly urges the Government to secure resources for a continued operation of the four provincial offices for them to continue with the provision of services related to the promotion of human rights.

Madam Speaker, with these few remarks, I beg to second.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for according me an opportunity to support your Committee’s report which has been ably moved by Hon. Fred Chaatila, Member of Parliament for Moomba and the seconded by my colleague,  Hon. Mung’andu, Member of Parliament for Chama South.

Madam Speaker, your Committee has made observations and I just want to quickly reflect on them. It has been indicated in the first observation that revenue targeted was exceeded by 8.6 per cent. Your Committee has also observed that even though this target was exceeded, it fell below the 2021 level. This sounds a bit confusing for me because the 2021 Budget was smaller than the 2022 Budget. So, if we say that collections exceeded the higher budget and not the lower Budget for 2021,  then I do not know what we are trying to say about the 2021 first half collections. Are we saying that the Government over performed in 2021?

Madam Speaker, your Committee also says that all taxes under performed except the  Income Tax and insurance premiums. If all other taxes underperform except those two, we will immediately realise that the people or the entities that are bearing the burden are actually individual and domestic companies. I say so because the taxes of companies that are owned by multinationals (mining companies) were almost zerolised.

Madam Speaker, your Committee also indicates that in the first quarter, the target was missed by 13.4 per cent. In the second quarter, it was missed by 4 per cent. The problem I have is that where as there were all these misses, the overall conclusion of the first observation says that they were exceeded by 8.6 per cent. I find it a bit difficult to accept that that performance can only be achieved by Income Tax and Insurance Premiums.

Madam Speaker, let me end by also reflecting on the issue where your  Committee said that in the second quarter actually, it was hampered by lack of information. Your Committee lacked information to be able to make proper analysis. That may cast credibility even on the percentages that we are talking about because your Committee was not provided with the necessary information.

Madam Speaker, I think it is important for the Executive to take the work of your Committee serious by ensuring that the information is adequately provided. This way, your Committee does not have to complain to this House in the manner it has, via the report saying that actually, it was not provided with information. It is very important that your work of keeping the Executive accountable is respected so that when you put us in these Committees to review data, that data should be provided by the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government.

Madam Speaker, I support the report of your Committee.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Speaker, I want to thank your Committee that did the review of the performance of the economy for the first half of the year.

Madam Speaker, at this stage, I want to state that whatever little things may be here and there, the trajectory of how the economy is performing is very clear. There is very clear evidence that there is an improvement in the performance of the economy since this Administration took over. 

Madam Speaker, just to give a few examples, starting on the microeconomic situation, I think there is no doubt whatsoever, that inflation is going down from nearly 23 to 24 per cent. From where this Administration found it, it is now going to less than 10 per cent. Yes, sometimes, there is confusion when people say that the prices are still high. Yes, the prices do go up but the point here is that the speed at which prices are going up is now significantly much slower than what it was at the time the Government took office.

Madam Speaker, the issue of high prices will be dealt with in time because now – I will come back to this point later on. This is something that will happen as the income of the country and that of individuals picks up.   

Madam Speaker, there are two ways in which we can feel better. The option of prices going down is unrealistic because it means farmers will be told: “Drop your prices. Those of you who are producing chickens, drop your prices. Those of you who are producing soap, drop your prices.” That is not likely to happen in the general sense. What we have to strive for very hard is to push the economy to go up because if it does, our incomes will be growing faster than the rate at which prices are going up, and therefore, our standard of living is going to pick up. The exchange rate without any doubt has been stabilised.

Madam Speaker, let me come to the Budget execution. This is how the Budget has been managed so far in the year. I want to say that for the first time in many years, we see the Budget credibility coming back. What do I mean by Budget credibility? What I mean is that if we said that in the Budget, we are going to spend so much money on salaries, the outcome must be something close to that. If we say we are going to spend so much money on roads, credibility requires that the amount of money we disburse for the roads must be close to what we had in the Budget.

Madam, as we stand right now, the credibility has been increased very much. I think my hon. Colleagues will recall the time when we used to budget for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in this House. We would see the amount for the CDF in the Yellow Book. The CDF was in the Budget but for about two or three years, it was never disbursed. That is an example of lack of credibility of the Budget. This is where you budget for something but fail to actually release the money towards that activity.

Now, here as I stand, the Budget credibility has been restored. I think a number of hon. Colleagues in debating the Supplementary Budget yesterday were able to testify that in many instances, the money that was budgeted for specific things as far as they are concerned, has been released. The CDF money for this year, for example, as I stand right now, half of it has been released. We are halfway in the year and the amount of money released is also half. So, we are totally on track. I can assure hon. Colleagues that, because most of us depend on the CDF a lot for the many challenges that we have, by the third quarter of this year, the CDF will also be released so that we are at 75 per cent of the calendar year. By the end of the year, the CDF will be released in totality.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: The issue of whether it is spent or not, of course, that is for all of us now to work out the modalities to iron out things, where there are difficulties here and there.  From the point of view of the Treasury, all the CDF will be released as a token to ensure that there is budgetary credibility.

Madam, I thank your Committee for mentioning the threats to the economy, which are arising from the war in Ukraine and the price of copper. So, those are all issues that are important. I also take note of your Committee’s concerns about the clearing of arrears. Indeed, many citizens in this country are waiting to be paid the money that they are owed for goods and services that were delivered to the Government. This is why in the Supplementary Budget that we concluded yesterday, more money was put towards the clearance of arrears. I is my hope that going forward for the rest of this year, we will see that happening.

Madam Speaker, quickly, as I close, on the issue of infrastructure and the money for infrastructure, I want to state that because of the limited financial resources, we are pushing very hard on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP). I do not think it will be long before we announce the award of a contract for the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriageway under the PPP, which means the Government, will not spend a cent on dualising the road from here to Ndola. Similarly, we are very close on concluding the Chingola/Kasumbalesa Road which is also under the PPP with the last portion of it being a dual carriageway to take care of the rising requirements there. We are also close to handing it over the Sakania Road project to the PPP so that there are more connections with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Madam Speaker, in the field of energy, unfortunately, my friend, the hon. Minister of Energy is not here, but I think we are all very happy because load shedding has become more or less a thing of the past. I know some hon. Colleagues would say “It is not you; it is us.” I just want to remind my hon. Colleagues that the contributor to the absence of load shedding is the Kafue Gorge Lower Project, which had been abandoned because the ones who were providing the money were not servicing their debt. So, it came to a standstill. However, as I stand right now, this Government has used ingenuity to find money to put in so that the fourth generator comes into line. It is just awaiting the fifth generator to be installed so that we start producing power. This is why load shedding has disappeared and this is why very soon, we shall be exporting power to some of the neighbouring countries.

Madam Speaker, in short, I think the public must have the confidence because when we look at many areas, things are just improving and improving. That is what gives us confidence. When we promise that things will be even better, please, trust us.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the comments that have come from the –

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

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mutale: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is about the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The House will be rising today, and money to do with the CDF is hot cake. I fear because the people in our constituencies have heard the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning say that he has paid us half of the money. However, I am aware that half of K25.7 million is about K12.85 million. Speaking for myself as an hon. Member for Chitambo Constituency and district, we have only received about K6 million.

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to state that we have received monies halfway when in fact, he is very much aware of the monies that he has released? I need your serious guidance on this matter.

Madam Speaker: Thank you. Hon. Member for Chitambo, the fact that the hon. Minister has said it on the Floor of this House means it is an assurance. I will advise that you engage the hon. Minister if you have not received your portion. Thank you.

Hon. Member for Moomba, please proceed.

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Members for the overwhelming support of this report. The fact that only the hon. Member of Lunte contributed means that the report is clear.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Lunte talked about lack of information and I want to indicate that in fact, information was provided. It is only that it did not come on time as we are aware that our reports are generated by the Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS). We sat to consider this report immediately after the four days break and the uploading of the information was not on time. So, I thought I should clarify on that point.

Madam Speaker, coming to issues of meeting targets, I want to say that even if targets were met, apart from the lines we indicated of not performing well, the other lines with regards to the pay as you earn (PAYE), the corporation tax, withholding tax, presumptive tax and also, the rental income tax made it possible for the targets for 2022 to be met.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for the responses he has given. As your Committee, we remain supportive to the hon. Minister for the work he is doing. We can only emphasise that the hon. Minister continues on this good trajectory.

Madam Speaker, with those few words, and I am hoping I was loud enough, I wish to beg to move.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

BILLS

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[MADAM CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

THE PUBLIC DEBT MANAGEMENT BILL, 2022

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 2 – (Interpretation)

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 2, on page 8 in line 14 by the deletion of the word “appointed”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 11 – (Power to Raise Loans)

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 11, on page 12, after line 39 by the insertion of the following new sub clause immediately after sub clause (5):

 

(6)        Subsections (2) and (3) shall apply to an exercise of power by the President or the Secretary to the Treasury in accordance with subsection (5).

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 11, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 12, 13, 14 and 15 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 16 – (Applications and Deposits of Loan Proceeds)

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 16, on page 14, in line 9 by the deletion of the word “by” and the substitution therefor of the word “through”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 16, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Business was suspended from 1040 hours until 1100 hours.

 [THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

Clauses 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 22 – (Borrowing by Public Body)

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 22, on page 16, after line 24, by the insertion of the following new sub-clause immediately after sub-clause (4):

1. The Bank of Zambia is exempt from the provisions of this Part where the Bank of Zambia intends to raise a loan in the execution of the Bank’s functions relating to monetary and supervisory policies.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 22, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedules ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

THE ROAD TRAFFIC (Amendment) BILL, 2022

Clauses 1, 2 and 3, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 4  –  (Repeal and replacement of section 5)

The Minister of Transport and Logistics (Mr Tayali): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 4, on page 8, in line 10, by the deletion of the word “not.”

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 4, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 24 – (Repeal and replacement of sections 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 and 110)

Mr Tayali: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move amendments in Clause 24:

1. on page 17, in lines 14 to 20 by the deletion of the word “metre”, wherever the word appears, and the substitution therefor of the word “meter”; and
2. on page 21;
3. in lines 17 to 21 by the deletion of the marginal note and the substitution therefor of the following:

“Application for public service vehicle road service licence, goods vehicle road service licence and objections to application”; and

1. in line 23 by the deletion of paragraph (c) and the substitution therefor of the following:

1. variation of public service vehicle road service licence or goods vehicle road service licence.

Amendment agreed to, Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 24, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 25 – (Insertion of Sections 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D and 110E)

Mr Tayali: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 25, on page 27, in lines 1 to 9 by the deletion of section 110F.

Amendment agreed to, Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 25, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 36 – (Insertion of Sections 181A and 181B)

Mr Tayali: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 36:

1. on page 30, in line 31 by the deletion of the word “sections” and the substitution therefor of the word “section”;
2. on pages 30 to 31 by the deletion of section 181A; and
3. on page 31, in lines 7 to 9 by the renumbering of section 181B as section 181A.

Amendment agreed to, Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 36, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 42 – (Amendment of section 233)

Mr Tayali: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in clause 42, on page 34, in line 38, by the deletion of the word “car-hailing” and the substitution therefor of the word “ride-hailing”.

Amendment agreed to, Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 42, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 43 and 44 ordered to stand part of the Bill

APPENDIX – (Section 43)

Mr Tayali: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in the Appendix:

1. on page 39, in lines 14 to 37 by the renumbering of paragraph 10 and 8 as paragraph 8 and 9, respectively;

1. on page 40

1. in line 2 by the deletion of the words “Act No. 1 of 2018”;

1. in line 4 by the insertion of the following marginal note:

“Act No. 1 of 2018”; and

1. in lines 8 to 16 by the renumbering of paragraphs 9, 10 and 11 as paragraphs 10, 11 and 12, respectively.

Amendment agreed to, Appendix amended accordingly.

Appendix, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

THE PUBLIC ROADS (Amendment) BILL, 2022

Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

THE TOBACCO BILL, 2022

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS  

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in the Arrangement of Sections, on page 3 by the deletion of item 11 and the substitution therefor of the following:

11.     Certificate of registration

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Arrangement of sections, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 2 – (Interpretation)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 2:

1. on page 8

1. in line 2 by the deletion of the words “section 10” and the substitution therefor of the words “section 11”;

1. in lines 5 to 8 by the deletion of the definition of “co-operative”;

1. in lines 26 to 28 by the deletion of the definition of “grower” and the substitution therefor of the following:

“grower” means a person who is registered to grow tobacco for purposes of sale on a licensed sales floor; and

1. on page 9, in lines 5 to 6 by the deletion of the definition of “licensed buyer”; and

(b) on page 10

1. in lines 1 to 3 by the deletion of the definition of “sponsor”;

1. after line 3 by the insertion of the following new definition:“surplus tobacco” means saleable tobacco in excess of registered production quota; and

1. after line 8by the insertion of the following new definition:“unsold tobacco” means tobacco that remains on the licensed sales floor after the last day of the selling season.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 9 – (Prohibition of growing tobacco without certificate)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 9, on page 13, in line 26 by the insertion of the words “for purposes of sale on a licensed sales floor” immediately after the word “tobacco”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 9, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 10 – (Registration of growers)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause10:

(a)     on page 13, in line 33by the insertion of the words “for purposes of sale on a licensed sales floor” immediately after the word “tobacco”; and

(b)     on page 14, in lines 5 to 17 by the deletion of subclauses (4) and (5). 

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 10, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 11 – (Application by co-operative)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 11, on page 14, in lines 18 to 20 by the deletion of Clause 11 and the substitution therefor of the following:

 Certificate of                   11. (1) The Tobacco Board of Zambia shall, where the Tobacco Board of Zambia grants

registration            an application under section 10, issue the applicant with a certificate of registation in                                  a prescribed form.

                                            (2)  The Minister may, in conclusion with the Tobacco Board of Zambia, by 

                                Statutory Instrument, prescribe-

                                           (a)  classes of tobacco for purposes of an application under this part;

                                           (b)  the registration period in respect of classes of tobacco specified within which

                                               growers or intended growers of any specified classes of tobacco shall register

                                               of any specied classes of tobacco shall register under this Act, and

                                          (c) the duration of registration.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 11, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 12, 13 and 14 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 15 – (Duration of certificate of registration)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 15, on page 16, in line 16 by the deletion of the words “one year” and the substitution therefor of the words “three years”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 15, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 16 and 17 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 18 – (Prohibition to grade, buy or use premises to sell tobacco without licence)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 18, on page 17, in line 6 by the deletion of the word “the”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 18, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 19 – (Application to operate as grader, buyer or use premises to sell tobacco)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson I beg to move an amendment in Clause 19, on page 17, in line 13 by the deletion of the word “the”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 19, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 20, 21, 22 and 23 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 24 – (Prohibition of buying or selling at unlicensed sales floor)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson I beg to move an amendment in Clause 24, on page 19;

1. in line 30, by the insertion of the word “or” immediately after the semicolon;

1. in line 33, by the deletion of the semicolon and the word “or” and the substitution therefor of a full stop; and

1. in lines 34 and 35, by the deletion of paragraph (d).

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 24, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 36 – (Appointment and functions of sales supervisors)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson I beg to move an amendment in Clause 36, on page 24, in lines 22 to 28, by the deletion of paragraph (c) and the substitution therefor of the following:

(c)        if the sales supervisor has justifiable reasons to believe that the provisions of this Act relating to the sale of saleable tobacco are not complied with, suspend or prohibit the sale of the tobacco for forty-eight hours and give directions to the holder of the sales floor licence that the sales supervisor considers appropriate.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 36, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill

Clauses 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 42 – (Powers of Inspectors)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson I beg to move an amendment in Clause 42, on page 26, in line 38 by the deletion of the words “licensed buyer” and the substitution therefor of the word “buyer”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 42, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill

Clause 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 52 and 53 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 54 – (Establishment of Pool)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson I beg to move an amendment in Clause 54, on page 32, in line 27 by the deletion of the word “licensed”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 54, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill

Clauses 55 and 56 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 57 – (Regulations)

Mr Mtolo: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 57, on page 34, in line 26, by the deletion of the word “licensed.”

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 57, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 58 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedules ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

THE ZAMBIA INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION BILL, 2022

Clauses, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

THE CHILDREN’S CODE BILL, 2022

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 2 – (Interpretation)

The Minister of Justice (Mr Haimbe): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 2:

1. on page 16, in line 26 by the deletion of the words “investigated or”;

1. on page 23, in lines 8 and 9 by the deletion of the definition of “law enforcement agency” and the substitution therefor of the following:

“law enforcement agency” means the Zambia Police Service and any other agency exercising law enforcement under any written law;; and

1. on page 26, after line 29 by the insertion of the following definition:

“single man” includes a widower, a divorced man and a man on separation from the man’s wife;.

 Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 9 – (Right to parental care)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 9, on page 30, in line 2 by the insertion of the words “to serious neglect or abuse; or” immediately after the word “child”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 9, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 46 – (Rights of child during apprehension)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 46, on page 45, in line 18, by the deletion of the word “period” and the substitution therefor of the word “term”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 46, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 47 – (Apprehension of child)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 47, on page 45, in lines 25 to 28, by the deletion of subclause (3) and the substitution therefor of the following:

1. Despite subsection (2), a law enforcement officer shall –

1. wear a uniform and carry a firearm where –

1. the child or a person at a child’s dwelling home poses a danger to the law enforcement officer, the child or any other person at the child’s dwelling home; or
2. the law enforcement officer is aware that there is an imminent threat at the child’s dwelling home and the wearing of a uniform and the possession of a firearm is necessary for the protection and safety of persons within the vicinity of the child’s dwelling home; and

1. on request by a child, parent, guardian or person having parental responsibility for the child, provide an identification and which shall be prima facie evidence that the person is a law enforcement officer.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 47, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 48, 49, 50 and 51 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 52 – (Notification of reason for arrest or substance of warrant)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 52, on page 47:

1. in line 1, by the deletion of the words “or the person”; and

1. in line 4, by the deletion of the words “or person”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 52, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 66 – (Constitution of Juvenile Court)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 66, on page 54, in lines 12 to 14 by the deletion of the marginal note and the substitution therefor of the following:

Jurisdiction of juvenile court

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 66, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74,75, 76 and 77 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 78 – (Evidence of Child)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 78, on page 63, in line 21, by the deletion of the word “collaborated” and the substitution therefor of the word “corroborated”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 78 as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 and 98 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 99 – (Child reformatory centre and child transit centre)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause on page 75, in lines 1 to 10 by the deletion of Clause 99 and the substitution therefor of the following:

1. The Minister responsible for correctional centres may, by statutory instrument, establish –

1. child reformatory centres where children may be placed in custody; and

1. child transit centres where children may be temporarily kept.

1. A child reformatory centre established under subsection (1) shall be under the supervision of the Chief Inspector who shall be assisted by reformatory boards established by the minister responsible for correctional centres for each province, as prescribed.

1. The management and maintenance of a child reformatory centre and child transit centre shall be as prescribed.

1. A child below the age of sixteen years shall not be sent to a child reformatory centre.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 99, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 100 – (Child approved centre order and child reformatory centre order)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 100, on page 75, in lines 34 to 39 by the deletion of the word “twenty-eight”, wherever the word appears, and the substitution therefor of the word “twenty-one”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 100, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 –

Interruptions

Madam Chairperson: The noise is a bit louder. Can we lower our voices.

Clauses 111, 112, 113, 114.115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148,149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165 and 166 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 167 – (Child in need of care and protection)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 167, on page 109, in line2by the deletion of paragraph (m) and the substitution therefor of the following:

(m)    is born to a child. 

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 167, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, and 193 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 194 – (Death)

Mr Haimbe: Madam Chairperson I beg to move an amendment in Clause 194, on page 125, in line 9 by the deletion of the word “The”, immediately before the word “child”, and the substitution therefor of the word “A”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 194, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 212 213 –

The Chairperson: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that lunch will be served in the restaurant here at Parliament Buildings after the House Adjourns Sine die.  Lunch will be served courtesy of the Right Hon. Madam Speaker.

Thank you.

Clauses 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222,223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, and 298 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Long Title agreed to.

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HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

The following Bills were reported to the House as having passed through Committee with amendments:   

The Public Debt Management Bill, 2022

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2022 

The Tobacco Bill, 2022   

Report stages on Friday, 29^th July, 2022.  

The following Bill was reported to the House as having passed through Committee without amendments:  

The Public Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2022

The Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication Bill, 2022

Third Readings today.   

   REPORT STAGE

The Public Debt Management Bill, 2022

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2022

The Tobacco Bill, 2022

The Children’s Code Bill, 2022

Report adopted.

Third readings today.

THIRD READING

The following Bills were read the third time and passed:

The Public Debt Management Bill, 2022

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2022

The Public Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2022

The Tobacco Bill, 2022

The Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication Bill, 2022

The Children’s Code Bill, 2022

_______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE

The Acting Leader of Government Business in the House and Minister of Defence (Mr Lufuma): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn sine die.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned accordingly at 1325 hours on Friday, 29^th July, 2022.

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