Thursday, 22nd September, 2022

Thursday, 22^ndSeptember, 2022

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

MR CHITOTELA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR PAMBASHE, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND INTERNAL SECURITY, MR MWIIMBU, ON THE MURDER OF THE COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON IN MWENSE

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): On a matter of urgent public importance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I am rising on a matter pursuant to our Standing Order 134 on the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Madam Speaker: May the hon. Member proceed.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, this morning, Zambia, and I, personally, woke up to very shocking news. This is something that has never happened before in the history of Zambia. Elected leaders are being murdered and assassinated.

Madam Speaker, the Council Chairperson for Mwense, who is popularly referred to as the mayor for the town council of Mwense, has been reported to have been murdered this morning in Mwense District of Luapula Province. However, the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security is quiet and is not updating the nation and this House.

Interruptions

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, we are speculating because what has begun to happen now in Zambia is strange and has never happened before. Since the history of independence, in Luapula Province, we have never experienced anything like this. We are experiencing this for the first time. In the village, whenever people see a council chairperson, commonly referred to as the mayor, even babies are able to help him to get home because they know that that is their mayor. However, today, the people of Mwense are mourning. The Lunda people under Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe are traumatised by the death of one of theirs.

I seek your serious guidance, Madam Speaker.

MR CHILANGWA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KAWAMBWA, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, MR NKOMBO, ON THE PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES FOR THE CDF

Mr Chilangwa (Kawambwa): On a matter of urgent public importance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr Chilangwa: Madam Speaker, I rise on a matter of urgent public importance pursuant to our Standing Order 134.

Madam Speaker, in recent days, there has been a racing discourse in the public domain –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, the matter of urgent public importance is directed towards which hon. Minister?

Mr Chilangwa: It is the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

Madam Speaker, there has been a racing discourse regarding the procurement of 156 vehicles under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I have with me here a publication of the Daily Nation newspaper with a headline entitled: “Nkombo gets Ultimatum over CDF Vehicles.”

Madam Speaker, it is a long story, but if you go to page 3, there is a caption in there which says:

“However, Mr Nkombo has dismissed allegations that the ministry had procured motor vehicles for monitoring and evaluation of CDF projects without following procedure.

Mr Nkombo said contrary to allegations by Patriotic Front Member, Emmanuel Mwamba, the procurement of the 156 motor vehicles was initiated by Parliament and approved by Cabinet.”

Madam Speaker, I am not sure which arm or department of Parliament requested for this procurement to the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development so that Parliament can be drawn into this discourse. I remember very well that earlier in the year, when we had challenges with CDF issues, we constituted a committee to look into them.

Madam Speaker, according to the information that we have, that committee never discussed the procurement of vehicles in this particular fashion. Going further, towards the end of last month, which was August, we got a notice by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in which it was directing all CDF committees to ensure that they approved projects for the second, third and fourth quarters. We went ahead and approved projects for the second, third and fourth quarters, even though we had not seen the colour of the money.

Madam Speaker, one of the things that was never approved was the issue of procurement –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Kawambwa, is it in relation with the procurement of the 156 motor vehicles or you are just now talking about management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)?

Mr Chilangwa: Madam Speaker, it is the procurement of the 156 vehicles, which is the topical issue.

Madam Speaker: Alright.

Mr Chilangwa: I am just giving a reference to the fact that we approved projects under the CDF for Kawambwa Constituency and there was nowhere where the issue of procuring vehicles for Kawambwa Constituency came up nor was it part of the approved items.

Madam Speaker, bearing that in mind, is the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in order to issue a statement that Parliament initiated this programme, knowing very well that CDF procurement must start from each CDF committee before it gets to any other committee?

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence and I also lay a copy of this newspaper on the Table.

Mr Chilangwa laid the newspaper on the Table.

MR J. CHIBUYE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR ROAN, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND INTERNAL SECURITY, MR MWIIMBU, ON THE HANDLING OF FIREARMS BY POLICE OFFICERS

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): On a matter of urgent public importance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr J. Chibuye: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for allowing me to rise on a matter of urgent public importance which is directed at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Madam Speaker, this week, there was sad news in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, specifically in the Zambia Police Service, where an officer brutally murdered his spouse and then injured his sister-in-law. A few minutes later, he turned the firearm on himself and killed himself.

Madam Speaker, I want to find out if at all there is some component in the Zambia Police Service training which is missing that should be emphasising the need for police officers to be sober as they perform their duties, when they are away from their respective duties and even when they face various challenges in their homes.

Madam Speaker, this is worrying as we are also scared for the safety of citizens with these officers who are not handling their firearms in the manner that they are supposed to.

Madam Speaker, I need your indulgence.

MR A. C. MUMBA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KANTANSHI, ON THE ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, MR LUFUMA, ON THE CANCELLATION OF TENDERS AND CONTRACTS

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): On a matter of urgent public importance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr A. C. Mumba: Madam Speaker, I am raising this matter of urgent public importance is directed at the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

Madam Speaker, you will agree with me that there have been a number of disruptions in the supply chain of various goods in Zambia. If we look at the Ministry of Health, for example, two weeks ago, the Permanent Secretary (PS) issued a directive to his provincial heads where he advised them that there is a disruption in the supply of Antiretroviral (ARVs) and made a suggestion of an alternative drug to be used as the ministry continues to procure the ones that are currently being used.

Furthermore, there was, again, a press statement where a tender for medical supplies and equipment was cancelled. This was, I think, last week.

Again, under the Ministry of Agriculture, was the famous cancellation of fertilisers procurement, which has now led to the Government being sued by suppliers.

Madam Speaker, all these cancellations of tenders do have a bearing on service delivery in our country, especially under the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture because then our food security will fall under question.

Madam Speaker, I would like your guidance in trying to understand why, under the current Government, we are seeing so many unprecedented cancellations of tenders. There have been Governments before that have procured these particular items for our country to continue functioning normally as opposed to what is currently happening.

Why is there an appetite for the cancellation of these tenders or contracts when they are awarded?

I would like to get your serious indulgence on this matter because the people of Kantanshi believe that we are not having drugs and proper hospital equipment on time even after paying to the National Health Insurance Management Agency (NHIMA) because of these decisions that are being made at various ministries.

I thank you Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you for matters of urgent public importance that have been raised.

I will start with the one raised by the hon. Member for Pambashe. The alleged murder of the Council Chairperson for Mwense just happened last night. I believe we all have roles to play. Parliament has a role to play and the Executive, through the police, has a role to play.

So, in view of the matter surrounding the alleged murder of the Council Chairperson for Mwense, I believe we need to give the police ample time to investigate the matter because right now, it is just speculation. Once the police have investigated the matter, I am sure necessary measures or steps will be taken to either bring the culprits to book or report to the hon. Minister and then, maybe, after that, the hon. Minister can come to this House to brief the house on what actually happened. For now, to direct that the hon. Minister should come to this House to deliver a ministerial statement will, firstly, be interfering with the work of the police and might jeopardise investigations.

So, please, let us allow the police to do their work and then, at an appropriate time, we will be informed either through this House or a press statement or at the hon. Minister’s initiative, the hon. Minister can come to the House to issue a ministerial statement.

Hon. Members, with regard to the matter that was raised by the hon. Member for Kawambwa, it is my understanding, and I am aware, that the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development is supposed to come before this hon. House to deliver a statement touching on issues relating to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the administration thereof. I believe the issue of the procurement of motor vehicles will be addressed in that ministerial statement.

So, let us wait of the hon. Minister to come and deliver that ministerial statement then we can ask all the questions that we want to put to him for clarification.

Hon. Members, the matter that has been raised by the hon. Member for Roan, again, relates to some criminal activities that happened on the Copperbelt at the hands of a police officer who shot the wife or girlfriend and then injured the sister in-law and afterwards killed himself. Again, that is a matter that the police can look through and investigate and take necessary measures. If there is a need to take measures against the carrying of fire arms by the police then, maybe, the hon. Minister and the Executive could make a decision with regard to that matter.

If somebody dies or a death of any person happens, for example, and we direct the hon. Minister of Transport and Logistics to make a statement because of the accident that happened in Muchinga Province, now there is a request for a statement because somebody was murdered in Mwense, another statement because somebody killed himself and the wife on the Copperbelt, then we will be reducing our work to just inquiring on who has killed who and what the circumstances are.

I think there is separation of powers. Let us leave the Executive to do its work. Only when we find that there is something wanting or that the police has failed to execute or carry out their responsibilities, can we come before the hon. House to demand that the police do explain to us, through the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, what exactly happened. For now, we have no facts on our hands on which we can lay blame or ask the hon. Minister to account for. Right now, we do not have those details. I believe we should take time and wait. At the appropriate time, we will be able to ask the hon. Minister. We can even put in a question so that the hon. Minister can come and respond.

Hon. Members, on the issue raised by the hon. Member for Kantanshi relating to the cancellation of tenders, again, the hon. Minister of Agriculture was here the other day and delivered a statement on the cancellation of fertiliser tenders or something like that. Then now, we have to ask about the cancellation of tenders for the supply of medical supplies and equipment. I think, we will be reducing ourselves to just following up on every little matter that happens. I am not saying that these matters are not important. They are very important, but let us make sure that the Executive carries out its duties and functions. Only when the Executive is failing to execute it duties can this House ask it to account before it. Let us not pre-empt the actions of the Executive by bringing issues to the House before the Executive even tries to do something about it to correct the situation.

So, that is my ruling on the four matters of urgent public importance.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): On a matter of urgent public importance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, you have come a little too late. I already closed. So, your matter is not going to be considered.

Let us make progress.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

WEATHER AND CLIMATE SERVICES AND THE 2022/2023 RAINFALL FORECAST

The Minister of Green Economy and Environment (Eng. Nzovu): Madam Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for granting me the honour and privilege to deliver a ministerial statement on weather and climate services as well as share the 2022/2023 rain season forecast and the projected rainfall patterns for Zambia. My ministry is compelled and obliged to provide the nation with weather and climate information as these conditions affect productivity in all sectors of the economy.

Madam Speaker, climate change continues to devastate and severely impact the social economic stamina of our country thus compromising posterity in a very negative way. Given these impacts, the New Dawn Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, has taken keen interest in climate issues and is implementing programmes to expand and modernise meteorological infrastructure across the country as a way of strengthening information gathering and dissemination for prompt decision making. In addition, the enhancement in meteorological infrastructure has improved the implementation of early warning systems to aid disaster responses and preparedness as well as the strengthening of the country’s adaptability to climate change.

Madam Speaker, as you may be aware, climate information plays a very critical role in planning and decision making across all sectors of society, thus greatly contributing to sustainable national development. It is now an undisputed fact that Zambia is susceptible to extreme weather events, such as extreme temperatures, droughts and floods, which negatively affect the country’s economy.

Madam Speaker, although such events may be unavoidable, there is a general recognition that meteorology can provide the required weather and climate forecast and warnings that provide early warning information to minimise socioeconomic disruptions and loss of life. Therefore, generation and application of weather and climatic information as well as prediction services are key for sustainable development.

Madam Speaker, you may recall that the 2021/2022 rainy season was characterised by devastating floods, especially in the southern part of the country, which resulted in loss of lives and property. These apparent manifestations of the negative effects of climate change and variability, including incidences of floods and droughts, continue to increase in severity and frequency, hence the need to integrate climate information in planning and decision making processes.

Further, as a methodical Government, we are cognisant of the need to holistically invest in basic meteorological infrastructure across the country to support the provision of weather and climate services to the public. Investment in meteorological infrastructure will ultimately support the creation of a climate resilient national economy and communities with a high climate change adaptive capacity.

Madam Speaker, in order to strengthen the provision of meteorological services in the country, the Government remains committed to supporting the maintenance of weather observation infrastructure, purchase and installation of modern meteorological equipment as well as other necessary institutional requisites.

Madam Speaker, this august House may wish to note that the New Dawn Government has, for the first time in a very long time, provided resources to procure meteorological equipment spare parts for existing infrastructure and undertake repair, maintenance and calibration of all meteorological observation stations in 2022.

Madam Speaker, in order to enhance quality and accuracy of weather forecast, the Government, with financial support from the United Nations Development Programme Strengthening Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods in Agro-Ecological (UNDP SCRALA) project is currently partnering with the University of Zambia (UNZA) to develop a seasonal weather forecasting system using artificial intelligence.

Madam Speaker, in addition, the Government has installed 300 rainfall gauges with support from the UNDP supported SCRALA project in over 200 agricultural camps in the Eastern Province, Lusaka Province, the Southern Province, the Western Province and Muchinga Province.

Further, the SCRALA project has trained camp extension officers in the use and interpretation of climate information to enhance climate information uptake, interpretation and use by smallholder farmers. This will strengthen resilience to climate variability and climate change, thereby increasing productivity and food security at household level.

Further, the Government, through the World Bank supported project, Transforming Landscape for Resilience and Development (TRALARD), has completed the procurement of 120 automatic weather stations which will be installed in all the 116 districts and around major water bodies. To continue with the support and strengthening of weather and climate services, the treasury granted authority for the employment of thirteen meteorologists and fourteen assistant meteorologists who will be deployed at various stations across the country.

Madam Speaker, I am sure this august House is eager to know the outlook of the rainfall pattern for the 2022/2023 rainy season forecast and the projected rainfall patterns for Zambia. However, before I give that, allow me to highlight quickly the process that was used to generate the 2022/2023 rainy season forecast.

Madam Speaker, firstly, the status of the key drivers that influence the rainfall patterns over Zambia was identified and includes the sea surface temperatures, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and Congo air boundary. Secondly, global model rainfall projections from renowned modelling centres were analysed and used. These include, but not limited to the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, the National Centres for Environmental Prediction in the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) Met Office and the Environmental Centre for Climate Change in Canada. Further, regional models under the Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) were also used in the process to generate the rainfall focus for Zambia.

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that currently, the global sea surface temperatures, especially over the Central Equatorial Pacific Ocean, indicates a cooling phase which is referred to as La Nina, which condition generally gives more rains over Zambia. In addition, the Western Indian Ocean, along the Eastern African coast, is cooling relatively the Eastern Indian Ocean around Australia, in a phenomenon called the Negative Indian Ocean Dipole. This phenomenon generally creates dry conditions over the North-Eastern parts of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, in addition to the global and regional rainfall projections that were referenced, our own climate experts at the Zambia Meteorological Department ran local models to project the localised rainfall patterns over Zambia. You may wish to note that the global and regional models give similar patterns of rainfall projections with our generated seasonal forecast locally.

Madam Speaker, I now present the forecast: Generally, national and regional weather and climate experts have predicted that the bulk of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is likely to receive normal to above normal rainfall for the period November 2022 to March 2023. We are interested in knowing about the regional patterns in that, as we are landlocked, the patterns are influenced by atmospheric conditions in neighbouring countries as well as the conditions on the high seas. A perfect example is the tropical storm Ana that formed the Indian Ocean around January 2022 and had devastating effects, as earlier alluded to.

Madam Speaker, with respect to Zambia, most parts are expected to receive normal to above normal rainfall except for parts of the Eastern Province, the Central Province, Lusaka Province, Muchinga Province, the North-Western Province and the Southern Province that have a likelihood of receiving normal to below normal rainfall during the 2022/2023 rainy season.

The onset of rains for areas around ikeleng'i, Mwinilunga, Nchelenge, Chiengi, Mporokoso, Kawambwa and surrounding areas is likely by mid-October. Conversely, there is anticipated delay in the onset of rains up to the end of December, over Muchinga Province, the Eastern Province, the Southern Province, Lusaka Province and the Central Province with a high likelihood of dry spells over more than ten days after the onset of the rainy season.

Madam Speaker, the Zambia Meteorological Department predicts that Lusaka Province, the Central Province and Copperbelt Province, including the northern parts of Luapula Province and the eastern parts of the Western Province are likely to receive normal to above normal rainfall.

Madam Speaker, the department has further predicted that the Southern Province, the Northern Province and Muchinga Province, including the southern parts of Luapula Province; the northern parts of the North-Western Province; Serenje and Chitambo in the Central Province; and Kalabo, Sikongo, Mwandi and Sesheke in the Western Province are likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall for the period October to December, 2022.

Madam Speaker, during the period November to December 2022 and January 2023 the Northern Province, Luapula Province, the Western Province, much of the North-Western Province and the southern half of the Eastern Province, including Mazabuka District, Monze District, Namwala District, Kafue District, Itezhi-Tezhi District and Mumbwa District are likely to receive good rainfall of normal to above normal rainfall.

Madam Speaker, additionally, the forecast predictions are that normal to below normal rainfall is expected over much of the Southern Province, Lusaka Province, the Central Province, Copperbelt Province and Muchinga Province, including Ikeleng’i District, Lundazi District, Lumezi District and Chasefu District. Furthermore, areas around Chasefu District, Serenje District, Ndola District, Mwinilunga District and Livingstone District are likely to receive below normal rainfall.

Madam Speaker, for December 2022 as well as January 2023 and February 2023, the bulk of Zambia has a high likelihood of receiving normal to above normal rainfall except for areas around Isoka District, Mambwe District, Kasenengwa District, Katete District, Chadiza District, Vubwi District, Sinazongwe District, Choma District, Lusaka District, Solwezi District, Nalolo District and Sioma District that are likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall.

Madam Speaker, for the period January to March 2023, most parts of Zambia are likely to receive normal to above normal rainfall except for Muchinga Province and the Northern Province, including Lusaka District, Petauke District and Sinda District that are likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall.

Madam Speaker, this forecast, Madam Speaker, is for planning purposes and based on three monthly averages and does not necessarily reflect the monthly rainfall distribution. Users of this forecast are advised to contact the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment for interpretation and updates. The various users of weather forecasts are further advised to make use of the daily Seven-Day and the Ten-Day weather forecasts for management purposes.

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that this forecast has been translated in seven languages and will be shared with all community radio stations for dissemination. The forecast has already been shared with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the Office of the Vice-President and contingency planning has already commenced. Further, audio and video productions have been prepared and will be shared in all local languages on radio and television, including social media platforms.

Madam Speaker, they say, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Therefore, as I conclude my statement, I wish to state that Zambia may experience dry spells and extreme rainfall causing flash floods and floods in the 2022/2023 rainy season. Henceforth, I call upon various stakeholders, including those in the agriculture and energy sectors, local authorities and communities to take keen interest in weather and climate information updates and use them to increase their productivity and minimise potential disasters.

Madam Speaker, as I end, I wish this august House and the rest of the Zambian community a very productive 2022/2023 farming season.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Just stop the clock a bit.

Hon. Members, I wish to, on behalf of the National Assembly and, indeed, on my own behalf, extend sincere condolences on the passing on of the Council Chairperson of Mwense Town Council. We also extend our sincere condolences to the families that lost their loved ones on the Copperbelt. May the souls of our departed brothers and sisters rest in peace.

I thank you.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by the hon. Minister.

Mr C. M. Mpundu (Chembe): Madam Speaker, weather forecast by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment plays a critical role, especially in rural areas whose economic activities lie in agriculture. What measures has the ministry put in place for our rural farmers in areas where there is no mobile phone network and no radio stations for them to receive this vital information?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, indeed, what measures have we put in place? Had the hon. Member listened to me very carefully, I said we would use all available platforms. In fact, I state to the hon. Member of Parliament for Chembe and the whole House that the dissemination of this information is very important. I appeal to them to please join the ministry in ensuring that we disseminate this information.

Further, all agricultural extension offices through the able hon. Minister of Agriculture have been contacted. We will use that platform as well. The Ministry of Agriculture is on board in ensuring that this information is disseminated appropriately. Should there be any other platforms on which to communicate this information, I urge the hon. Member of Parliament for Chembe to bring it on board so that we work together.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the timely statement he has brought to the House.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has given us a bracket warning regarding flash floods that are likely to occur. My question is: How has the ministry localised the early warning systems in flood prone areas so that people are prepared to react to these calamities as opposed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation (DMMU) only dealing with calamites after they have occurred?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank my brother, the hon. Member of Parliament for Shiwang’andu for that very important question. Indeed, the current Disaster Management and Mitigation (DMMU) is not the old DMMU which waited for floods or droughts to occur. The DMMU has now shifted towards assessing the risk before it happens. So, even before this forecast, we have been working very closely with the DMMU to sensitise our people. The sensitisation of our people, particularly those living in low-lying areas where flooding occurs yearly and is anticipated to increase because of climate change, is very important. These are people we engage timeously and every day.

Indeed, again, I call upon my fellow hon. Members to work together with us so that the tendency by our people to live in very low-lying areas that are now prone to flooding is stopped. They should move away from those areas.

Madam Speaker, how have we localised the early warning system? Again, we are working through the DMMU and the Ministry of Agriculture because it is one of the biggest up-takers of this climate information. Remember, when there is a flood, productivity in the agricultural sector goes down. So, we are using all platforms of the Government. We are also using the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation and the Ministry of Energy. We are using the whole Government because climate change issues now affect everybody.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, from the information the hon. Minister has given us, there seems to be more sad or bad news in relation to rains being normal to below normal.

Madam Speaker, we seem to be more reactive in nature to these warnings and so on and so forth. Does the hon. Minister have any proactive measures that he could enlighten the nation on to prevent the sad news that he is giving to the Zambian nation? I look at factors that contribute to climate change, like deforestation. If you move from Zambezi to Lusaka, you will find a lot of charcoal along the way. Forests are being devastated. What proactive measures does the ministry have to give us hope as opposed to the hopelessness we are getting now?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank my brother, the hon. Member of Parliament for Solwezi East for that very good question, again. Indeed, the negative effects of climate change are with us. There is a climate crisis. The catchword now is mitigation. How do we mitigate? That is where the issues of deforestation prevention come in, but more so, how do we adapt and how do we build resilience to climate change? This is where we look at issues of adapting.

Madam, the point is that the science now is pointing to the fact that we are in a climate crisis. How do we adapt? We are not being reactive. We are actually preparing for the crisis, hence our predictions. Remember, our predictions are from November up to March, the whole rainy season. The Meteorological Department does not only report rainfall data. It reports temperature data, wind data and all the other parameters of meteorology. So, even before the forecast of the rain season, we are looking at the meteorological parameters to see how we will prepare ourselves.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, the –

The hon. Member’s microphone malfunctioned.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, I am seated next to Hon. Mtayachalo and I do not know what he is doing.

Madam, the statement by the hon. Minister paints a gloomy picture. Clearly, we are in for some problems, especially with the six sectors that form the core of the green economy which are agriculture, fisheries, forests, manufacturing, renewable energy and tourism.

Madam Speaker, considering that climate change is here to stay and that we are going to have these reports every other year, what practical measures is the Government taking? The hon. Minister says we are preparing. What is in this preparation? I think that is what we want to know.

Madam, Hon. Mtolo will be speaking about agriculture. There are issues around irrigation, renewable energy and tourism, etcetera. What can he tell the nation, in practical terms, that the Government is doing in living alongside climate change?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the Government is very clear in its efforts to tackle this crisis. One is the creation of the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment. The meaning of this ministry is that a developmental agenda for the country will be based on low carbon, pollution control, environmental sustainability and social inclusivity. That is already planning. Hon. Members themselves, in this House, approved a Budget whose Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) had the third pillar which was environmental sustainability. We are putting real effort. We are putting a Budget which will ensure that mitigation, adaptation and resilience to climate are addressed.

Madam, further, we are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy very closely because Zambia is mainly hydropower based and water is the key ingredient there. We are working very closely with the Ministry of Tourism because animals depend on our environment. We are also working very closely with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Madam Speaker, with agriculture, we are promoting what is called climate-smart agriculture. Even as we expect droughts, we still need to feed our people. Currently, the food, water and energy nexus is what we need to resolve because of energy, water, agriculture issues and food security. We are working very closely with these ministries to ensure that we prepare ourselves for the negative effects of climate change.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving the people of Lundazi a chance to ask a question to the hon. Minister of –

Hon. PF Members: Presido!

Laughter

Ms Nyirenda: I am sorry, Madam Speaker. Can I, please, continue?

Madam Speaker: I even missed the first part. Please, continue.

Ms Nyirenda: Madam Speaker, the information the hon. Minister has brought brings a bit of anxiety, especially for our people in Lundazi, Chasefu and Lumezi. On one hand, he is saying Chasefu is going to have some drought while on the other, that Lundazi is going to have sufficient rainfall, and yet what separates us is just a metre.

However, my concern is whether this information he has given to the House has been shared with the hon. Minister of Agriculture so that the type of seed that is going to be delivered for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) will be able to withstand the pressures of the weather patterns.

Hon. PF Members: Presido!

Madam Speaker: Oh, I now know what they were talking about. That is our presidential candidate for the Patriotic Front (PF). Congratulations madam. Keep it up. We want more women in decision-making positions.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I will start by thanking the hon. Member for Lundazi, who is a very good friend of mine and who, I believe, has the requisite capabilities to lead a certain party. We need the appropriate Opposition for us to work better. So, welcome, Madam President.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Eng. Nzovu: Madam, indeed, we have shared this information with the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture, as you know, is one of the biggest users of this information. Extension officers in the Ministry of Agriculture have been trained by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment on the interpretation of this climate data so that smallholder farmers can utilise it to increase their productivity.

Madam Speaker, I want to dispel the notion that this is a gloomy picture. It is not. Remember, there are averages. We have given seven and ten-day weather forecasts and we will be giving updates. In certain areas, indeed, there will be normal to below normal rainfall. This is where I agree with her on the question of what type of seed is to be provided. That is where Hon. Mtolo comes in and advises farmers, through his extension officers; that is where the Ministry of Energy will advise ZESCO Ltd on power production forecasts; and the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation will see how to make programs to conserve that water.

Therefore, the whole Government machinery is running in this direction. So, it is not a gloomy picture, but information to make sure that even with our limited resources, productivity is increased. We must do it in a smart way.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, first of all, I thank my hon. Colleague, the Minister of Green Economy and Environment for that detailed ministerial statement. Does the ministry have enough budgetary allocation to undertake this particular exercise because the hon. Minister mentioned that the whole country is going to be covered? So, does the ministry have enough funds to ensure that the people in Chama North and the whole country at large have access to that vital information on weather forecasts?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the Government is working as one. We have also engaged the Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Mutati, to ensure that he uses technology to disseminate this information to all the users in the country. So, the budgetary allocation to this very important sector will also leverage from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture. Together, we believe, we have the necessary funding, expertise and willpower to ensure that every farmer and every up-taker of this climatic information receives it and at the right time.

Madam Speaker, further, I am all so glad. I am sure you have seen why I am all the time coming back to my elder brother, the hon. Minister of Agriculture. It is because he just announced fertiliser distribution. So, farmers will be receiving fertiliser on one side and climate information on the other. Surely, productivity can only increase.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: I have added an extra ten minutes. Please, let us use it properly.

Mr E. Tembo (Feira): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for the opportunity given to the people of Feira to ask a question, especially with the just resounding victory in the Council Chairperson elections.

Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleague and brother, the Minister of Green Economy and Environment, did mention that the New Dawn Government will purchase new and modern meteorological infrastructure and many other facilities to ensure that there is accuracy in the determination of the rainfall pattern.

Madam Speaker, when is this going to happen? I know the hon. Minister speaks very eloquently, but I also want specifically for him to let me know when because I am very keen to know.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Feira, where tourism is being enhanced by Hon. Sikumba and the people of Feira will benefit.

Madam Speaker, the purchase of new and modern infrastructure is already on going. When the New Dawn Government came in, I mentioned that 300 automatic rainfall gauges where purchased. So, we are already buying. Under Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD), the World Bank sponsored project, we are buying more equipment also. Actually, recently, we also purchased two brand new Land Cruisers for the department.

Further, we have also employed more experienced and technical people in that department. If you listened carefully to my submission of the forecast, I also said the global predictions, the regional predictions called the South African Communications Forum (SACF) and the country predictions were the same. This means that the Meteorological Department is enhanced which is using science and technology to predict natural phenomenon.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mrs Halwiindi (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, in the hon. Ministers statement he mentioned that about 300 rain gauges where distributed throughout certain provinces. However, the Central Province was not mentioned. Knowing that the Central Province is a hub of agriculture, I would have loved that it if it had been given priority to receive some of these pieces of equipment so that we are able to determine our rain pattern. Of course, the hon. Minister has mentioned, but we really need to see on the ground.

What plans does the ministry have to make sure that the meteorological station in Kabwe receives these pieces of equipment? What has the ministry put aside for Kabwe specifically, because it is really an important town? It is the hub of agriculture in the Central Province.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank my dear sister, the hon. Member for Kabwe Central. The Central Province is, indeed, a unique agricultural province with high agriculture potential. It is also home to many commercial farmers. The Mkushi Farming Block, Kabwe and Chisamba.

Madam Speaker, the commercial farmers themselves, we are very fortunate, believe in ensuring that they have this meteorological data and equipment. So, we also leverage on their meteorological equipment. So, there is no data gap as far as meteorological information in the Central Province, in Kabwe, is concerned.

Madam Speaker, further, we also repaired, for the hon. Member’s information, most the existing meteorological station in Kabwe. So, the gap is minimal. Where we concentrated on with those 300 Automatic Weather Stations was in areas which are flood-prone. We want to enhance the prediction of this flooding much more accurately and quicker. That is where the priority was. However, under the project, we will cover the whole country, and Kabwe will not remain behind.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. E. Banda (Petauke Central): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving the good people of Petauke to ask a follow-up question to the hon. Minister.

Madam Speaker, 90 per cent of the good people of Petauke are farmers. On their behalf, I thank the hon. Minister for that guidance. Many of them usually plant their maize starting from October, but following the hon. Minister’s statement, they will be able to wait.

Madam Speaker, has the ministry allocated some money for sensitisation so that each and every resident of Petauke Central gets that message?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Petauke Central for that very important question. I am, indeed, aware that 90 per cent of our residents are farmers and farming is really a business.

Madam Speaker, as for money for sensitisation, I will give the same answer that we are leveraging on other ministries. The Ministry of Agriculture, specifically, which is the biggest user of this particular information currently has taken it upon itself as well. So, we are working very closely with Hon. Mtolo to ensure that all extension officers, and they are nicely spread out in the country, help disseminate information. So, we are working very closely with the hon. Minister.

Madam Speaker, further, you may recall that a few months back, we launched the Communication and Advocacy Strategy of the ministry. In there, we have been encouraging our people to pay particular attention to weather information. The crisis is here and, in the event of this crisis, we still have to survive. We still have to increase productivity because the population is also increasing.

We need to ensure that there is water security. We also need to ensure that we have enough energy. So, the sensitisation is not only for now. It is ongoing. Therefore, allow me to appeal to all hon. Members of Parliament here. I am sure you have heard the silence; it is not only due to the eloquence from me, as the hon. Member for Feira said, but that these are non-partisan issues. We need to come together as the whole House and educate our people that climate information now is key to our very survival.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, indeed, I want to commend the New Dawn Government for having shown keen interest in investing in climate change matters. However, my interest is on the issue of investment. The hon. Minister stated that the Government is buying meteorological equipment that is going to be used in different districts. How much money has been spent on the procurement of that equipment?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, this Government is ensuring that it taps in that climate finance and that it pitches several bankable projects as it goes to the Conference of the Parties (COP27). I think we are doing that and ensuring that we tap into that resource. It is for this reason that His Excellency the President is at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) right now. He is ensuring that that climate finance flows, with good governance and all the issues around addressed.

Madam Speaker, as to the exact amount of money we have spent, I do not have the figure and I invite my fellow hon. Member of Parliament to visit us so that I can give him correct information.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: There is a concern that since the hon. Minister has said or has called upon all hon. Members to work with him on the spreading of information, will he be able to translate it into some local languages and also help hon. Members to spread the message in their constituencies? Hon. Minister, I am sure you have taken note.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, indeed, it is a very big appeal to me. This is where we must spend time. Remember this time we are spending on non-issues. This is a matter where we must invest our time, all of us. We are one.

Madam Speaker, indeed, this information has been translated into seven languages and I am expecting that Hon. Kampyongo will tell the people of Shiwang’andu and the rest of the country.

Laughter

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I can only agree with you that all hon. Members of Parliament must come on board and speak one language and speak very strongly. I am emphasising here that we are in a climate crisis where certain areas, obviously, will experience drought. This demands that we rise to the challenge. If there is a crisis, it means we need to increase our level of engagement. Let us tell our people to embrace climate-smart agriculture.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I believe hon. Members can still engage the hon. Minister outside this ministerial statement.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ALONG NSAMA/NSUMBU ROAD IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE

The Minister of Transport and Logistics (Mr Tayali): Madam Speaker, kindly permit me to express my profound gratitude to you for allowing me this privilege and opportunity albeit with a heavy heart, to deliver this ministerial statement on the tragic road traffic accident that took away the precious lives of twenty-one of our beloved fellow citizens in the Northern Province.

Madam Speaker, I am the bearer of this most tragic and unfortunate national loss, all the more exacerbated by the fact that the all-female victims were mothers, wives, caregivers and, in most instances, breadwinners. Allow me, however, to draw solace from the fact that our dearly departed were devout believers in God Almighty, as evidenced by their membership to the Women’s Christian Fellowship (WCF) of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ), returning from a church gathering whence they met their fate, may their souls rest in eternal peace.

Madam Speaker, hon. Members may recall that on Tuesday, 20^th September, 2022, the hon. Madam Speaker directed the hon. Minister of Transport and Logistics to issue a ministerial statement on this fatal road traffic accident and on the measures that were being taken to ensure that such accidents are avoided, especially when they involve the loss of lives of this magnitude. The directive followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency on the need for the Government to assure the Zambian people of their safety when they were traversing the length and breadth of our great country.

Madam Speaker, for the record, the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government and my ministry will remain consistent and indefatigable in promoting the safety of our travelling public. The insinuation by the hon. Member who raised this matter of urgent public importance that I was cavalier in responding to this national tragedy is far from the truth. That is not what we do. However, this was owing to the fact that in spite of the Zambia Police Service rushing to the scene not only to ascertain the cause of the accident, but also to aid the victims, I had also dispatched the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) for a more comprehensive status report.

Madam Speaker, on 19^th September, 2022, at around 0100 hours, a road traffic crash occurred along Nsama/Nsumbu Road in Nsama District of the Northern Province involving a Mitsubishi Canter which was ferrying congregants of the UCZ, the WCF. The congregants were returning from a special church gathering consistory conference which was held at Munwa Village in Nsama District of the Northern Province.

Preliminary investigations, Madam Speaker, indicate that the driver lost control as he was descending the Chaushi Hill, a few kilometres before Nsumbu. Sadly, twenty-one passengers lost their lives; twenty on the spot, while one died in hospital and another twenty-nine sustained various injuries. The injured were admitted to Mpulungu and Mbala hospitals, whilst others with life-threatening injuries, thanks to the speedy intervention by the Ministry of Health and the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), were evacuated to the Lusaka University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The cause of the accident is attributed, but not limited to three factors:

the canter was overloaded as it carried a total of fifty people, each one of whom had luggage;
carrying people in a goods vehicle, which, as you may be aware, is against the road transport regulations; and
failure by the driver to take full control of the motor vehicle by way of failure to manage the curve, the weight visa-vis the speed at which the motor vehicle was moving.

Madam Speaker, sadly, on Wednesday, 21^st September, 2022, yet another fatal road traffic accident occurred. This time around, it was along the Great East Road, at the airport traffic circle, in Lusaka. The accident happened when the driver of a Forden truck and trailer lost control as he entered the traffic circle from the west and in the process hitting into a Toyota hilux that was stationary and waiting to join the traffic circle. Unfortunately, the driver of the Toyota hilux died on the spot.

Madam Speaker, in March 2022, I stood before this august House and stated that human error was, by far, the biggest cause of these crashes. The aforementioned crashes are just, but two of many incidents. I cannot overemphasise how the behaviour of our drivers needs to change. It is my fervent hope that the recently enacted Road Traffic (Amendment) Act No. 8 of 2022 and the subsidiary regulations the Government is in the processing of introducing will modify the behaviour of our drivers.

Madam Speaker, the Government will continue implementing measures aimed at mitigating the rising incident of road crashes and fatalities in order to ensure safety on our roads. It is evident, however, that there is a need to scale up these interventions on our rural roads and in communities on the outskirts of major towns.

Madam Speaker, in order to mitigate rural road accidents, the Government will implement the following to improve rural road safety:

enhance community road safety sensitisation;
enhance motor vehicle testing in rural areas through mobile motor vehicle examinations;
strengthen the system of driver training and testing in rural areas;
intensify road safety awareness campaigns in rural areas to sensitise the rural population on road safety; and
establish regional road safety committees to include traditional leaders and churches, among others, to facilitate structured engagement with rural communities.

Madam Speaker, with these interventions, we are optimistic that rural road crashes will be minimised.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, allow me to reiterate that the Government alone cannot fight this scourge. It is also up to us, as individuals, you and I, to support the Government in its efforts to improve this country’s road safety profile.

Madam Speaker, I wish to urge all road users to adhere to road traffic rules at all times and exercise patience on our roads to save lives. It is through safe road usage, safe vehicles, safe roads and driving at safe speeds that we can save lives.

I am sure I speak on behalf of you, Madam Speaker, and all hon. Members in this august House, when I say that our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families and also wish those still recovering from their injures a quick recovery and God’s healing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: I was going to mark the home work today, and I was just almost giving 99 per cent, but I think the marks are going down.

Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by the hon. Minister.

Mr Tayengwa: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the good people of Kabwata another chance to ask a question.

Madam Speaker, the issue of overloading vehicles, especially buses, is actually something that is a problem. If you get on a bus from Solwezi going to Manyinga or Zambezi, you will see how people are loaded. I understand that the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) services are actually being decentralised to all the ten provincial offices.

Madam Speaker, does the hon. Minister have plans to extend the RTSA services to all districts to see how best to curb these accidents that are happening at the district level?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I wish to concur that there is an obvious need for the RTSA to be spread out to all districts. As you may be aware, matters of fiscal space in terms of the coverage of the entire country are something of a bit of a challenge. However, the Government is in the process of coming up with a rural transport strategy where the unsafe practice of our citizens in rural areas using open trucks as a mode of transportation can be looked into because, obviously, that does raise the risk of fatal accidents. We hope that we could eventually develop a system of modifying some of these modes of transport to make them fit for purpose.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr E. M. Musonda (Lupososhi): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the statement. He mentioned three causes of the fatal accident that led to twenty-one women losing their lives. The first was that the Canter truck was overloaded with over fifty people. The second was the failure by the driver to take full control of the vehicle as he descended on a steep curving road, and the last was the use of an unauthorised vehicle to carry passengers.

Madam Speaker, Lupososhi is a rural constituency just like Kaputa and Nsama, where this fatal accident happened. The use of Canter trucks to ferry the youth and women to their various gatherings and church meetings is a common trend. Is the hon. Minister considering the banning of the use of Canter vehicles to transport the youth and women going to their various church and sports activities?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, had the hon. Member been paying attention, it was actually my lamentation in the last submission that we do take cognisance, as a Government, of the state of the modes of transportation for our citizens in rural areas and how that is a serious danger to their lives in case of a mishap.

Madam Speaker, this may be as a result of the state of our nation economically. We do need to improve the lot of our citizens to be able to climb up the economic ladder. At the moment, most rural parts of Zambia are having citizens use such trucks as modes of transport. We do look forward to a time, under this able New Dawn Administration, when we will improve the economy so that we could be able to move in and improve the transport modes for our people in rural areas.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, allow the people of Roan Constituency to join the hon. Minister in passing their condolences to the bereaved families of our mothers.

The hon. Minister mentioned three items as the causes of the accident. The first was the overloading; the second, of course, was the using of a vehicle that is meant for goods; and the third one was the driver failing to take full control of the vehicle.

Madam Speaker, looking at the picture of the vehicle on social media, one would think that it was waiting to be taken for scrap metal. Was the vehicle road worthy and the driver licensed?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, the status report by the RTSA, did, in fact, verify that the vehicle was fully licensed and definitely road worthy prior to this accident and that the driver was licensed. Unfortunately, going by the nature of the hilly terrain in that area, the vehicle did roll and hence its appearing as though it was destined for a scrap yard.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has just given us good reports. In the past, we used to have a roads department which used to take care of roads vis a vis patching and filling up potholes and so on and so forth. In the hon. Minister’s explanation, he has not talked about the state of the roads.

Does the hon. Minister have any intention either to bring back the roads department or re-introduce it so that it is able to look at some of these roads in our rural set-ups? We saw the Zambia National Service (ZNS) come on board, but the equipment was obsolete. Maybe, the equipment that we see in roads departments in our districts can be auctioned as scrap to raise money to revamp the road sector so that some of those issues of the state of the roads can be looked at. Does the hon. Minister have such plans?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, during this solemn occasion when we are mourning our beloved citizens yet to be put to rest, this is not a matter for speculation. As the hon. Member is fully aware, roads do not fall under the ambit of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. Should he so wish, he may redirect this question to the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Rev. Katuta (Chiengi): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the answers that he has given. He mentioned that it is illegal to carry people on trucks. As one of my hon. Colleagues stated, in rural areas, this is the only mode of transport that we have. Even in town, in urban areas, when people go to funerals, they use trucks. When they go to chilanga mulilo and matebeto, they use trucks.

Madam Speaker, is there an immediate plan that the Government can offer in order to help our people in rural areas, such as Chiengi, to have transport means to attend events they want seeing as it is illegal to use trucks? What immediate plan will the Government put in place to save the lives of our people?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Chiengi for that question, suffice it for me to say that as the hon. Member is fully aware that the sector that is being referred to was liberalised way back in the Third Republic under the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) government. It is largely, if not wholly, run by the private sector. This is a matter, as I earlier alluded to, where, once the economy for the lot of our citizens has improved, we should be able to see investments into improved modes of transport that can also reach the rural parts of our country. As for now, the Government is not a player in this sector and that Driving Policy to drive out this mode of transport may actually disenfranchise our citizens.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister stated the reasons the accident happened. I might wish to add one more, which is, ‘the road furniture’. On so many gravel roads, road furniture has been vandalised. Your committee did bring a report here where we recommended that the Road Development Agency (RDA) should change the type of road furniture that it uses from metal to concrete. I would like the hon. Minister to give us an answer whether, in the Budget that is coming for approval, he will provide for this component? I feel it is very important for our roads.

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, at the expense of repeating myself, the portfolio ministry in charge of roads and furniture so related is really not my ministry, but the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. I am fully confident that the hon. Minister in charge, if that question were to be redirected, would more than ably answer that question.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Mwamba (Kasama Central): Madam Speaker, if my memory serves me right, a few years ago, passenger service vehicles were not permitted to travel in the night. I am aware that accidents are inevitable, but if you look at what is going on each and every day, you find that you have Munada traders doing exactly the same thing. Munada traders are mobile traders that also move on trucks. Is it possible to re-enact the law to say that passenger service vehicles should not move in the night seeing as this accident happened at 0100 am. The driver could have also been fatigued.

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Kasama Central. I must confess that this really does pose a serious challenge in terms of the way forward because, whereas on the one hand we do appreciate the ban on night travels, on the other, we are also under extreme pressure by movers of this economy, the humble citizens out there who get to move from one place to another to exchange not only goods, but also services, for us to lift such a ban. As I stated, what is most important is driver behaviour.

Madam Speaker, we have actually been in the process of reviewing and trying to ascertain at which point it will be prudent for us to lift the night ban. As you may appreciate, it is a more complicated issue than meets the eye. Adherence to road traffic and safety rules is very crucial, but we cannot also, as a country, continue to say that we shall continue banning night travel because that will have an adverse impact on the economy for all of us.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, indeed, losing lives in one spot like we did is regrettable. We commend the hon. Minister on the measures he is trying to put in place to ensure that the tests for the road worthiness of motor vehicles is localised even in our rural areas. However, one of the key issues is the one that he has just spoken to; the failure to adhere to the rules. The accidents that occurred on the Great East Road, for example, were simply because of the recklessness of the drivers.

Madam Speaker, in the olden days, having a Highway Code was one of the requisites for one to get a driver’s licence. It would appear that now, we have more people ‘moving’ vehicles instead of driving because driving demands that someone develops the necessary skills depending on what sort of vehicle someone is authorised to drive.

Madam Speaker, does the hon. Minister intend to make the distribution of highway codes mandatory and translate them into local languages? This would ensure that when a driver is renewing his/her licence, officers are able to just assess a few basic rules before the licence is re-issued.

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I am very thankful to the hon. Member for that very important observation. I would like to agree that we should make the Highway Code readily available out there. It would also help us to translate the Highway Code into the major languages of this country, although, I am not aware of any driving tests being undertaken in vernacular. I think that we may need to relook at the curriculum by the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) in terms of how the agency is carrying out its driver assessment tests. However, I do believe that in the theory part of those examinations, there are questions that are drawn from the Highway Code. Nonetheless, there is no harm in revisiting and relooking at how efficacious that particular process is.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, firstly, may I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and my church, the United Church of Zambia (UCZ), for that terrible loss.

Madam Speaker, road traffic accidents have been on the increase in this country. Recently, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics decided to reduce the age for obtaining a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Licence from twenty-five to twenty years. Does the hon. Minister not think that the reduction in the age to obtain a PSV Licence would actually increase road accidents? I am aware that there are countries like Japan where there is a certain age limit for anyone to obtain a PSV Licence.

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member raises the issue of the reduction in the age limit for those obtaining Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Licences. However, I think he is also being rather economical with the truth because that particular reform goes with other regulations that have been introduced, such as the probationary component of the new drivers and how they can be allowed to go on the road and exceed certain distances in terms of driving.

Madam Speaker, I think what is even more important at this juncture is to keep our dear departed in our hearts and not politick over this matter. I think that until we have put these people to rest, we need to really hold our heels.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Madam Speaker, we all understand that we have challenges in our rural areas if you look at the type of vehicles we are using. Are there any plans to recommend or advise the nation that we should start modifying our trucks such as Canters or light trucks which carry people and turn them into ‘truck-buses’? I know that the hon. Minister understands what I mean. This is whereby you put seats on the back side of a truck and there is a horse or whatever it is.

Rev. Katuta: A canopy.

Mr Menyani Zulu: It is not a canopy. The hon. Minister understands what I mean. Are there such plans? We need to have such vehicles in rural areas. The terrain where we are cannot accommodate or allow buses to move properly. Are there any plans to see to it that we change the way we do business concerning rural areas?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, that was, indeed, a brilliant question. I would like to thank the hon. Member for bringing that up. I think that this is truly a challenge, particularly for our hon. Colleagues, the hon. Members of Parliament for rural constituencies.

Madam Speaker, as we look at the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and how it should be applied, I think that is something we can consider as we emphasise on skills development under the CDF. Those who are going to take up, for instance, welding as skills, must be encouraged in this area so that those transporters in the rural areas who have vehicles not fit for purpose can begin this process of modifying these particular modes of transports. This would help in ensuring that our citizens, at least, have some form of basic comfort and this may be able to prevent a worst case scenario should there be an unforeseen incident such as an accident.

Madam Speaker, in this regard, as the Government plans to come up with the Rural Roads Strategy, I think that must be one of the things we must insist on. We should not reinvent the wheel. I think what the hon. Member referred to is already taking place in countries like Tanzania. Our neighbours are extremely skilful. My hon. Colleague has just opened my eyes as to how we may actually be able to short-circuit that particular process to get to a time when our people can be able to move safely from one point to another.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

UNBLOCKING DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN KANYAMA

34. Mr Chinkuli (Kanyama) asked the Vice-President:

whether the Government is aware that the officers from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), who were tasked to unblock the drainage system in Kanyama Township in Lusaka have demobilised; and
if so, what urgent measures are being taken to ensure that the drainage system is unblocked before the onset of the rainy season to avert an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Lufuma): Madam Speaker, yes, the Government is aware of this situation.

I wish to inform this august House that the Government, in collaboration with the Land Development Branch of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and other stakeholders such as the Lusaka City Council (LCC) co-ordinated the Kanyama Drainage Project, which commenced on 18^th December, 2020. This was as a result of the floods that had already adversely affected some sections of Kanyama Township during the 2019/2020 rainy season. The scope of works involved excavation and blasting of rocks on the drainage network of the township.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that the ZNS personnel contracted to undertake the emergency works demobilised in April 2022 due to the lack of resources to complete the remaining works.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) is making frantic efforts to mobilise the required resources through the treasury in order to complete the remaining works.

I further wish to inform the House that the project is currently at 60 per cent completion point and that the ZNS personnel will re-mobilise and get back to the operational site in Kanyama Township once resources for the remaining works are made available.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, can we consult quietly.

Mr Chinkuli: Madam Speaker, I think the response is heard, but I think what is obtaining on the ground is something else.

Madam Speaker, looking at what the programme has been –

The public address system malfunctioned.

Business was suspended from 1612 hours until 1635 hours.

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Chinkuli: Madam Speaker, I wish to say sorry on what happened.

Laughter

Mr Chinkuli: This just shows how powerful the people of Kanyama are.

Interruptions

Mr Chinkuli: That was on a light note.

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his response. However, he will agree with me that Kanyama has had a perpetual problem of floods. To this effect, I ask the Government what interventions it is putting in place to help alleviate the situation that the people of Kanyama go through during the rainy season bearing in mind that any time soon, the rains will be coming.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member Kanyama, Gen. Chinkuli, retired – Oh, sorry.

Laughter

Mr Lufuma: I thought it was Gen. Chinkuli, retired, but he is just Chinkuli. I thank him for that question.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanyama is absolutely right. This problem has been with us from time immemorial. This is why the Government, in 2020, procured the services of the ZNS to try and alleviate the problem.

Madam Speaker, it is just unfortunate that the resources or funds were not enough and, therefore, they had to demobilise. However, as I said in my presentation, we are frantically looking for money or encouraging the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to give us the remainder of the money, which is about K28 million, to complete what we started.

Madam Speaker, the ZNS is ready. Just at the click of a finger, we shall be there as soon as resources are there. So, we are hoping we shall receive those monies before the onset of the rains so that we can progress and ensure that something is done about the matter. Suffice it for me to say, Madam Speaker, that in the 2021/2022 rainy season, because of the little works that were done, we did not have a problem of floods. So, if we do a little more, I think we will be curing the perpetual problem that exists in terms of floods in Kanyama.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House for the response. It is sad that even in 2022, we are still talking about Kanyama drainages and floods. We have seen successive Governments parade the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) mobilisation, but to date, this issue of Kanyama is still coming before this House.

What robust plan does the new Government have to ensure that this issue of floods in Kanyama is mitigated once and for all?

Madam Speaker, doing the same thing and expecting different results is madness. So, it is important that we have a robust plan so that this thing can be cured once and for all. We should not be talking about Kanyama again when we have seen all these parades.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. I do not know what to say. The plans are already there. Robust proper plans are already in place on how to cure the flooding problem in Kanyama. The only problem right now is that we are not able to carry out those works. If we were able to carry out those works, the problem of floods in Kanyama would have been cured. So, we want to get the necessary funding from the ministry and, as soon as we get that funding, we should be able to cure that problem that has existed in all Governments, including this one. We should be able to sort it out.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, the people of Kamfinsa sympathise with the people of Kanyama especially that the challenge is an old one.

Madam Speaker, the K28 million that is required to complete the works, is it included in the 2022 National Budget or there is provision in the 2023 National Budget? With that information, the hon. Member for Kanyama can leave this august House knowing very well what to tell the members of the public.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Kamfinsa for the question. We are talking about the 2022 Budget. These monies are catered for in the 2022 Budget and all we are waiting for are the disbursements and then we are going to be on the ground.

We do not need to wait for the 2023 Budget to get the K28 million. However, should it come to 2023, I guess the money would be there, but it was budgeted for under the 2022 Budget. The hustle is that the liquidity has not been there for the ministry to be able to disburse the funds. So, we are expecting the money this year in this year’s Budget in order for us to execute the works as required.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

CONSTRUCTION OF NDEKE VILLAGE CLINIC

35. Mr Kang’ombe asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

when the construction of the following infrastructure at Ndeke Village Clinic in Kamfinsa Parliamentary Constituency will be completed:

children’s wing;
maternity wing;
mortuary;
theatre;
surgery room; and
x-ray room; and
what the cost of the outstanding works is.

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business (Mr Lufuma) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development)): Madam Speaker, the construction of the following infrastructure at Ndeke Clinic in Kamfinsa Parliamentary Constituency is scheduled for completion in 2022:

children’s wing;
maternity wing;
mortuary;
theatre;
surgery room; and
x-ray room.

The cost of the outstanding works is K2,959,547.37.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, even as I asked this question today, I was concerned because it was raised last year. It has taken one year for it to be responded to. I will quickly proceed with a follow-up question.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development has responded that the works will be completed at the end of 2022. As a constituency, we have taken the liberty to contribute close to K800,000 from the 2022 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to supplement the cost of the works that need to be completed. However, I note that the remaining works have not been indicated very clearly by the response that has been provided. Are resources available for the other infrastructure at the facility to be completed by 2022?

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Madam Speaker, more information for the hon. Member for Kamfinsa is that the contract was awarded to Raymond Construction Limited at a contract sum of K7,228,493.64. So far, a total sum of K4,268,946.27 has been paid to the contractor. The certified total amount to date is K4,268,946.27. In other words, the figure I have just quoted above.

Madam Speaker, to answer what he made reference to when he talked about the end of 2022, works on the construction of Ndeke Village Clinic commenced on 1^st July, 2014. The contract has been extended seven times since the commencement of the project. The extension of the project completion date was due to delayed payments, obviously. The current revised completion date was supposed to be 31^st December, 2022. However, this will not be attained due to several factors, among them, the increased cost of materials.

Madam Speaker, the contractor has since applied for price variations and this request is currently being considered. Therefore, the completion date is now put at the end of the first quarter of 2023.

Madam Speaker, specifically about the components of the project, the Children’s Wing is currently at roof level; the Maternity Wing is roofed and the contractor is working on the finishes; works on the Mortuary have progressed to roof level; works on the Theatre are at rim beam level; the Surgery Room works are at wall plate level; and the works on the X-Ray Block are at wall plate level. Our assessment is that overall percentage of works completed is at 70 percent.

The hon. Member is quite right. The Copperbelt Provincial Health Office has confirmed the approval of K802,000.00 from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards the completion of the outstanding construction works for the X-Ray Room, the Theatre Block, the Mortuary and external works.

So, in terms of the revised completion date, which is the end of the first quarter, resources are available to complete those works within that time frame.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sampa (Matero): Madam Speaker, I thank you and join you in passing condolences on the loss of a councillor in Luapula Province.

On the Official Opening of the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly two weeks ago, when the President came to this House, Councillor Kapapula was one of the ten councillors that you invited from across the country. He was seated up there in the gallery. I met him in the car park after the sitting and took him for lunch at the motel, and that is the last I will get to see him, may his soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister confirm that when funds are available, the contract will be awarded to Zambian companies in Kamfinsa as opposed to the Government giving itself the contract through the Zambia National Service (ZNS) or a contractor from China or Zimbabwe or yet still, Zambian companies owned by the United Party for National Development (UPND) youths in Kamfinsa? I seek the hon. Minister’s response on who he will likely award the contract?

Eng Milupi: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Matero, but at the same time sympathise with the people of Matero.

Laughter

Eng Milupi: My answer was very clear. This contract was awarded on 1^stJuly, 2014, by the Government that preceded ours. The contract is still running. We have not terminated it. All we are saying is that we are going to progress until it is concluded. The issue of “Do not give it to Zimbabweans or any other”, quite clearly, I do not see how it arises. We are just completing with what was given. Whoever was contracted, this Raymond Construction, by the previous administration is the one we are moving with to have the works completed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I have inspected the facility and the Maternity Wing is complete. We are now moving on to the Mortuary and the other facilities at the clinic. The scope of works that the hon. Minister referred to which will be done in 2023, does it include internal items such as accessories for the health facility so that we can have the facility commissioned by the end of 2023?

Madam Speaker, I think there is a lot of excitement from residents when they see that we have made progress on the physical infrastructure. Is there money for us to open this facility in 2023?

Eng Milupi: Madam Speaker, it is not end of 2023, but end of the first quarter of 2023. As we have stated, the reason for this three-month delay is what we have to be done to finalise issues to do with price variations.

Madam Speaker, in terms of what will be done, he is right. All that the Maternity Wing requires are the finishes. The main structure itself is complete. In terms of the equipment and stuff like that, all I can say is that the full scope of the project is what will be completed. So, if the items the hon. Member has mentioned were part of that, yes, we commit ourselves to having this thing completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023, which is 31^stMarch, 2023. Shortly afterwards, it can then be commissioned. I hope that the hon. Member of Parliament will be there to help us commission it.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, I was listening to the hon. Minister as he was giving the responses. He confirmed that the contract is not in abeyance, but that it has been activated and extended and the variations are being done. He has also acknowledged the sum of K800,000 being the money coming from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Madam Speaker, how are the funds from the CDF going to be applied on an already running contract? That would be contravening the CDF Act.

Eng Milupi: Madam Speaker, I do not know where the hon. Member learnt his law, but I can assure him that the Government does not do things that are illegal.

Madam Speaker, the Copperbelt Provincial Health Office has confirmed the release of K802,000 and anything that they have done is within the procedures of the CDF. So, we do not see anything illegal. The CDF is supposed to develop things like those. The fact that there is already a running contract does not preclude the use of the CDF.

Mr C. M. Mpundu (Chembe): Madam Speaker, this is not a new matter as pertains to certain infrastructure, especially health facilities. Just as the Kamfinsa case, most mini hospitals that are being constructed do not have facilities such as mortuaries and x-rays. Has the Government done an audit of this entire infrastructure for planning purposes?

Madam Speaker: I think we are expanding the question too widely. This question was in particular reference to Ndeke Village Clinic and there were specific items that were mentioned. The issue of doing an audit does not arise. We do not want to take the hon. Minister by surprise.

So, we make progress.

ELECTRIFICATION OF SCHOOLS IN NALOLO

36. Mr Wamunyima (Nalolo) (on behalf of Mr Mandandi (Sioma)) asked the Minister of Energy:

when the following Schools in Sioma District will be electrified:

Mashika Primary;
Matebele Primary;
Sitoti Primary;
Kalongola Secondary;
Silowana Likondwama Primary;
Naliyo Primary;
Nalwashi Primary;
Mbopuma Primary;
Mbume Primary;
Mulele Primary;
Mutomena Secondary; and

(b) what the cause of the delay in electrifying the school was.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Kapala): Madam Speaker, according to the Rural Electrification Master Plan (REMP), the following schools are earmarked for electrification in the year 2024:

Mashika Primary;
Matebele Primary;
Sitoti Primary;
Kalongola Secondary;
Silowana Likondwama Primary;
Naliyo Primary;
Nalwashi Primary;
Mbopuma Primary;
Mbume Primary;
Mulele Primary; and
Mutomena Secondary.

Madam Speaker, in view of the response provided above, there is no delay in electrifying the above mentioned schools.

Madam Speaker, allow me to submit additional information just for clarity. A desktop review indicates that the total cost of electrifying the above mentioned schools would be approximately K90 million. However, the actual cost will be determined once the scoping is concluded. The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) will undertake scoping for the electrification of the aforementioned schools by the second quarter of 2023.

Madam Speaker, this exercise will establish the scope of works, bills of quantity and costs of electrification. However, the subsequent electrification, which is planned for 2024, will be undertaken subject to the availability of funds.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Wamunyima: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his answer as regards the Master Plan. As he indicated rightly that with the availability of funds, this might happen in 2024. The people of Sioma would like to know the specific answer to whether these schools will really be electrified given the situation that they are supposed to have e-learning facilities. There are a lot of things that are not happening in these schools because of not having connectivity. Could he kindly advise on what his specific answer is?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, as I have stated before, the availability of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) provides opportunities for stop-gap measures. For now, some of these schools can be electrified. However, this needs scoping so that actual costs to the schools that could be electrified using the CDF can be worked out. REA will be able to advise accordingly.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Madam Speaker, Bahati is close to Mwense and I will be failing in my duties if I do not convey condolences to the family of the late Council Chairperson for Mwense, Mr Kapapula.

Madam, 2024 is not so near from now and pupils at these schools are suffering, especially now that they are not having e-learning classes. Is he considering compelling ZESCO Limited or the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to electrify the schools either this year or early next year and then pay in 2024?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government is methodical. We cannot compel ZESCO Limited to change track from what we are doing right now. We have a huge task of finishing off outstanding connections.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nyambose (Chasefu): Madam Speaker, let me join the great ones in conveying my sincere condolences on behalf of the people of Chasefu on the passing on of our Mayor for Mwense and our parents, who belonged to the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) and died in a road traffic accident.

CONSTRUCTION OF POLICE HOUSES IN CHASEFU DISTRICT

37. Mr Nyambose asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security:

(a) whether the Government has any plans to construct houses for police officers in Chasefu District;

(b) if so, when the plans will be implemented;

(c) if there are no such plans, why;

(d) whether the Government has any plans to construct police posts in the following areas:

(i) Nkanga;

(ii) Khulamayembe;

(iii) Mthwalo;

(iv) Egichickeni; and

(v) Kamzoole;

(e) if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

(f) if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct forty housing units in Chasefu District.

The plans to construct staff houses will be implemented when ongoing infrastructure projects, which are 80 per cent and above, are completed and when funds are made available.

The response to the question in part (c) of the question is as indicated for part (a).

Madam, the Government has plans to construct police posts in Nkanga, Khulamayembe, Mthwalo, Egichickeni …

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: … and Kamzoole.

Madam Speaker, the plans to construct posts in Nkanga, Kulamayembe, Mutwalo, Egichickeni

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: … and Kamzoole will be implemented when ongoing infrastructure projects are completed and when funds are made available.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nyambose: Madam Speaker, allow me to clarify the pronunciation of Egichickeni. It is not “Egichicken” it is “Egcekeni”

Laughter

Mr Nyambose: This is a Ngoni name meaning movement of the people from Emusa to Egcekeni. Ku gucuka, the movement of the chief when he was shifting the palace to where they are from Emusa. It is actually “Egcekeni”

Rev. Katuta: Question!

Mr Nyambose: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security and the Government for the positive response given on the construction of forty housing units. I want to state and put it on record that we appreciate the gesture.

Madam Speaker, the people of Chasefu are very happy because they have an open porous border which stretches over 100 km with neighbouring Malawi. Currently, crime levels have increased in Chasefu, Lundazi and Lumezi.

Madam, I heard the hon. Minister talk about housing units which are at 80 per cent completion point. I want to confirm that there is no structure currently being constructed for the police, but land has been given. Do we see these housing units and police posts being done in this year’s Budget?

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, Chasefu is a new district and there is commitment on the part of the Government to provide infrastructure in new districts. One of the priority areas we are considering is the provision of security services. We are going to construct a police station and the auxiliary houses as indicated. We are going to wait for the Budget to be presented to this House. If there is, we are going to construct the houses next year. However, there is another project which is being considered, which I cannot disclose now. At an appropriate time, I will announce it to the House.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I note from the questions by Hon. Nyambose that there are five police posts and there are houses that are desired by the people of Chasefu.

Madam Speaker, has the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security developed a standard design for police posts which could be availed to the hon. Member of Parliament and his Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC) to consider building such a facility using the CDF, knowing very well that the ministry needs to construct houses and so many other things in that particular district?

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, I would like to confirm that we have a standard design for a police post at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security. I will make available the same to all hon. Members of Parliament who would want to construct police posts using the CDF.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: As you build police posts, please, do not forget constituency offices.

Laughter

Mr Chala (Chipili): Madam Speaker, from the hon. Minister’s answer, it is very clear that the Government is going to build that infrastructure. However, I heard him very clearly twice answering, “When the money is available”.

Madam Speaker, when will the hon. Minister come to this august House and announce that now, the money is available.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: So that the hon. Member can dance.

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, I have no doubt in my mind that all hon. Members of Parliament are aware that every year, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning comes to this House to present the National Budget. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning will be coming to this House at 1400 hours on Friday, 30^th September, 2022, to present his Budget. It is only after the Budget is approved by this House that we can make an announcement whether the money is available or not. For now, the rules and regulations do not allow me to disclose what is in the Budget.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security for the hope we have gotten for Chasefu. Chasefu and Lundazi are Siamese twins. What happens in Chasefu exactly happens in Lundazi.

Madam Speaker, there is an increase in the number of people being mugged for their motorbikes, and our young boys are being killed. Is there any immediate measure that the Government is going to put in place to curb this, as we are waiting for the building of infrastructure?

Ms Kasune: On a point of order, Madam.

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Kasune: Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity. I am sorry for disturbing Hon. Brenda Nyirenda as the issue she raised is critical and also relates to Keembe Constituency.

Madam Speaker, I stand on Standing Order 203, in relation to the privileges of hon. Members. It has come to our attention that the Patriotic Front (PF) Party has gone ahead to put hon. Ministers’ numbers on its website, and I can lay the evidence on the Table. This has led to many of them receiving anonymous calls and a lot of disturbance on their phones. I do not know why this has been allowed?

Madam Speaker, I need your serious ruling.

Madam Speaker: Since that matter did not arise from what is happening on the Floor of the House just now, the Deputy Chief Whip can write a letter of complaint to my office and it will be attended to.

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, I tend to think that the situation that is obtaining in Lundazi and Chasefu is what is currently obtaining in almost all constituencies wherein, most of the police stations or posts have no means of mobility to ensure that they provide the requisite security.

Madam Speaker, I did mention that the Government is in the process of procuring police vehicles for all constituencies to ensure that there is security. I have no doubt in my mind that all of us realise that if there is no security in any given area, no development can take place. As it is, there are a lot of criminal activities taking place in most constituencies. I was being briefed by the hon. Member for Chienge this afternoon that there is an upsurge in terms of killings in her constituency and we are not able to provide security for our people.

Madam Speaker, I hope that when we start the procurement process for vehicles, in the interest of our people, no one is going to raise other issues again. I hope that we are all in agreement that we need these vehicles for the sake of our people and the communities we serve.

We will be looking at ways and means of providing security in the areas of Chasefu and Lundazi. As she has indicated, Chasefu/Lundazi is near the border with Malawi. There are lot of criminal activities taking place there. I have taken note.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

_______

MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Chinkuli (Kanyama): Madam Speaker, before Business was adjourned, I was talking about the dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those who are charged with power, typically involving bribery. I looked at the effects of bribery. Corruption has left people in a lot of suffering. Had it not been for corrupt acts which have been exhibited countrywide, the people of Kanyama would not have been talking about the drainage system. People siphoned funds that should have gone to a number of economic development in various constituencies.

This scourge is something that needs to be handled with the strictness that it deserves. I thank the New Dawn Government because it is not focussing on rhetoric fight against corruption, but it has gone further to define the roadmap on how it wants to curb this vice.

Madam Speaker, you will agree with me that a few months ago, there was a Motion that was passed in this House on lifestyle audit. That is a progressive way in which to fight corruption. The Government has plans to put up policies and come up with rules, regulations and guidelines to the point that those who are found wanting and crossing over those boundaries should be thoroughly investigated. If found wanting, they should be punished severely as a deterrent to other people who may want to practice the same.

Madam Speaker, this vice, like I said –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, these points of order are disrupting the proceedings. We are losing a lot of time. So, if there is any point of order for this session, I want to make progress because we have many hon. Members who want to speak. I will not allow any points of order. If any hon. Member wants to react, just note the point, and when it is your time to debate, you will be able to rebut, agree or add on to it.

Hon. Member, you may continue and, please, make sure that the information you are relying on is verifiable.

Mr Chinkuli: Thank you so much for the guidance and protection, Madam Speaker. I was saying this vice has caused misery in people’s lives. The vice of corruption is a cancer that has not spared any of the institutions that we have in this country, and it is being propagated by us, as leaders.

Madam Speaker, in our traditional setting, in the event that there is a child who is a thief, we say that he has emulated the vice from someone within the family. So, if we, as hon. Members of Parliament, do not conduct ourselves in a manner that is acceptable to society, what message are we going to be sending to those people we are leading? In fact, we are supposed to be an example. We are supposed to be the first people to worry about the affairs of the country. If we do not do that, then those who are following us will be worse, to the point that wherever you will go, it will be ka sumfing first, like it has been put, and that is when you are going to receive a service. That is going to be stopped under the New Dawn Government led by His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Madam Speaker, this time around, as it is embedded in the speech, there will be no sacred cows. Under the rule of law, no one will be above the law. If found wanting, that person, whatever his/her status, will not be spared. This is what we have been looking for and this is what we preached from the time we were doing our campaigns. We promised people that we were going to curb this vice. I thank God that His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has repeatedly and consistently preached against it.

With these few remarks, Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to add my voice to the debate on the speech that was rendered by His Excellency the President on the opening of this Parliament.

Madam Speaker, I sat next to the President and I heard, I saw and I listened. Let me talk about some of the matters His Excellency the President referred to. He mentioned a district called Kawambwa in terms of the recruitment of teachers. That was good. I felt that the President may mean well, but the people around him may not tell him the truth.

Madam Speaker, on the recruitment of teachers in Kawambwa, we were given 289 vacancies, but only forty-four of those are from Kawambwa. I am not a tribalist and I am happy that we could have 245 people come from different regions of Zambia. That is good for Kawambwa. It is good for the interaction of the people. However, there are a number of people in Kawambwa who have been left out for those other Zambians from other places. Maybe His Excellency the President needs to know that some of his lieutenants may not do things as well as he is expects them to be done.

Madam Speaker, I have the case of enumerators. Some of them came from as far as Chingola. Fortunately enough, I met some that I knew in Pambashe and I asked them, “What are you doing here?” They said they had been recruited and brought by the provincial hon. Minister. I said that is fine. However, when five or six people from Kawambwa are organised and put on television and then the Government says, “These people are from Kawambwa”, that is deception. In Bemba we say uku bepa akabwa umusheto ninshi ule ibepa fye we mwine meaning that if you want to attract the attention of a dog and then you start chewing nothing in your mouth so that the dog can come to you, you are lying to yourself. Let us be real. Let us assist the President. Let us make sure that that which the President pronounces is what is happening on the ground.

Madam Speaker, I want also to refer to the desire by His Excellency to grow the economy. As a student of economics, let me talk about macroeconomic indicators. It is like building a house in the air that is not supported by pillars. It is easier to withdraw money from circulation and hold it in the Central Bank and control inflation and stabilise the currency. It is easier for us to stop paying suppliers and keep the local currency in the Central Bank. We should be able to control the currency, but what are we going to help by doing this?

Madam Speaker, the growth of the economy must be supported by micro activities because we know that when we do this, we should be able to support social activities. People at domestic level will be able to pay for their school fees and spend money and we also must be able to grow the economy. That way, we are going to have sound macro indicators. We can have good macro indicators, but if they are not supported by micro indicators, all of us are going to feel that effect. Firstly, we are going to kill the manufacturing industry in Zambia because it will be easier for people to go and import things to come and sell in Zambia because the imported things will be cheaper than the locally produced goods. At the end of the day, we will not be able to grow the Zambian economy. We will be a very good country, but dependent on imported goods and services. That is what we need to guard against as we endeavour to grow our economy. That is good for all of us.

The President may mean well, Madam Speaker, but the lieutenants around him must be able to do things right. I heard some debaters say that the President did not mention mining activities. The Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) Plc today is a parastatal. The Zambian Constitution in Article 210(3) states clearly that no parastatal shall be sold without the approval of this august House by a two-thirds majority. So, I want to agree with the President that he understands the Constitution. He cannot come and talk about the privatisation of the Mopani Copper Mines Plc because ‘there’s no’ until this law is amended or changed.

When the Government took over and placed the Mopani Copper Mines Plc under the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH), it became a State agent. It became a parastatal. It cannot be sold. The only thing that the Government can do is to look for money and invest in the Mopani Copper Mines Plc.

Madam Speaker, I have heard people speak about ZESCO Limited, but even ba Hon. Kapala knows that it cannot be sold. It is a parastatal company. The law does not allow. I want to salute the President on what he said about Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited. I stood here when Indeni was closed and said that it cannot be closed because the law does not allow. The President confirmed and said that the Government will just change its operations and it will still continue to run as a Government agency. It will only change the functions of Indeni. That is adherence to the rule of law. That is respect for the Constitution.

Madam Speaker, there are a number of things the President spoke about. If the people around him, the lieutenants, are able to do what is he preaching, then we must be able to do the right thing. Every Zambian supports the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

Madam Speaker, you are a lawyer, and a very renowned one. I do not want to draw you in the conversation. The unfortunate thing about investigations of today is that they first begin by identifying a suspect and then start building a case around that person. That is wrong in investigation. In investigations, you first look for a case and let it lead you to the suspect. If you do that, in investigations we say that it is like putting on a dark lens then entering a dark room and looking for a black cat. You cannot see it.

Mr Chilangwa: Ati shani?

Mr Chitotela: You are putting on a dark lens, then you enter a dark room looking for a black cat. You cannot see it.

Mr Mutale: Hammer!

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, they should not begin by identifying people that they suspect and then start building cases around them. They are embarrassing the President. When matters go to the Judiciary, there is nothing that can be done, but to follow the law. They should begin by investigating cases and the cases will lead them to the suspects. Then they will have the prospect of success. Otherwise, if they just have people that they have created in their minds and targeted them, they will not succeed. So, we need to do the right thing right.

Madam Speaker, lastly, as I conclude, I think you saw the embarrassment that could have occurred and I thank the President. I sat here, and in the custom of this Parliament, after the President finishes reading the Speech, he personally hands it over the Speaker and the Speaker then hands it over to the Clerk.

Madam Speaker, we saw a stranger rushing to pick the Speech from the President.

Mr Chilangwa: Who does that?

Mr Chitotela: It took the President to press that person down in order for him to hand over the speech to the Speaker. The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, should know that those are matters we need to guard against.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, as Parliament –

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Mrs Chonya (Kafue): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for this opportunity to contribute to debate on the President’s Speech, of course, under the theme, “Working Together towards Socio-Economic Transformation and Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihood.” I liked the President’s emphasis on the issue of livelihood and the emphasis that he actually put on trying to improve the welfare of our people. I want to quote from page 3 of his speech where he said:

“We are in office to improve the welfare and wellbeing of the Zambian people, with a clear intent and resolve to achieve what we said we would for this country and its people.”

Madam Speaker, he went on to say:

“Our focus has been and remains that of transforming our country into an industrialised nation ... to systematically unlock various economic opportunities to deliver inclusive development, jobs and improved livelihoods for our people.”

Madam Speaker, this gave me a lot of hope that this New Dawn Government, indeed, has the welfare of its people at heart. So, when I hear hon. Colleagues on the other side talk about some of what they said where gaps in his speech which did not inspire, I really was left to wonder.

Madam Speaker, I wish we can be sincere when we are dealing with these issues of national importance and criticise when we ought to, so that we can do better. However, if we just criticise for the sake of criticising, we will make people who are supposed to listen to develop some blind eyes to issues because they will take it that we have people who just criticise for the sake of criticising.

Madam Speaker, another example is where, I remember clearly, some hon. Members debating that the President said nothing about the recruitment of teachers and health workers, particularly those that were not taken on board in the last recruitment and yet, in his Speech, on page 25, I also quoted him as having said:

“The Government will continue to undertake recruitment in the social sector to continue improving service delivery to our people.”

Madam Speaker, I urge our hon. Colleagues that want to debate to take the lessons that we had from the Research Awareness Week about debating with facts and evidence so that, indeed, we can be relevant.

Madam speaker, as I alluded to, us the people of Kafue were highly inspired by what the President said. The language of industrialisation is what we the people of Kafue want to hear because we have in mind some of the good industries that we had in town, the defunct Kafue Textiles of Zambia; the Nkwazi Brewery Limited; the Central Board Builders; and a lot more which are no longer functional. Kafue was a hub of industries. So, when the New Dawn Government is talking about industrialisation, and I know it means it, it gives us hope that, indeed, something will be done.

Madam Speaker, the Government has already taken a step towards reviving our Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ). As I speak now, preparations are advanced for tomorrow’s flagging off of the Farmer Input Support Programmes (FISP) where 50,000 metric tonnes was awarded to our NCZ to produce in the farming season.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Chonya: I thought I should mention that because people were saying, ‘But we have not heard about Kafue’ because there is talk about cancelled tenders. However, the NCZ deal is already sealed at this point in time.

Madam Speaker, the President also talked about this project on rural connectivity where a number of roads are planned to be undertaken in all the nine provinces of the country, except Lusaka Province.

Madam Speaker, I am glad that the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Gary Nkombo is here. I have been to his office several times to ask for roads for Kafue. Apparently, what I learnt from there is that this World Bank project had targeted all other places except Lusaka Province. However, Lusaka Province has Kafue which has a bad situation of roads and, for this one, I really appeal because our people are distressed by the bad state of the roads in Kabweza, Chiawa and Shantumbu. This has been the cry of the people of Kafue. So, I hope that this programme will be re-designed to quickly come to Lusaka.

Madam Speaker, of course, Chongwe, Rufunsa and Chilanga have rural areas that need to be considered in terms of these road works. Otherwise, if not for limited time, I was interested by the issue of the plans to put up 120 schools, I know this was said even in the previous Budget, while we have these 115 schools still pending.

Madam Speaker, for me, I still encourage my Government, which is very methodical in doing things, that we will do well actually to concentrate on finishing these 115 schools. We will be doing it for the people of Zambia and I am sure they will give us a pat on the back unlike sometimes the pettiness where people say, “But this was started by Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) or by whomever and they are only commissioning. What have they done?” If it went ahead to complete these schools, we will be moving very fast at addressing the infrastructure challenge in the education sector.

Madam Speaker, I was very sad to see that at one of the 115 schools in Mkushi District, mining activities have started happening very close, and the shafts are coming close to the school.

So, one then wonders what the future of that school is, and yet the infrastructure already standing there is very good. I do not know what decisions will be made between choosing education and mining, but for me the choice is very clear; education really is the equaliser that would give us more engineers and miners to discover minerals elsewhere, instead of disturbing a place where education establishments already exist.

In this regard, we will do well to consider even our Chikupi Secondary School in Kafue, which stands at over 80 per cent complete with twenty incomplete beautiful staff houses. There is not even a single teacher who lives at that school’s campus. Teachers have to commute everyday to the school, distracting how they should do their work.

Madam Speaker, I would have gone on and on, but I am glad that His Excellency the President also recognised our water problem in Kafue and gave the appropriate guidance for water to be provided to the people of Kafue when he came recently to commission the Kafue Water Bulk Project.

With those few remarks, Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity.

Dr Chilufya (Mansa Central): Madam Speaker, on 9^th September, 2022, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, executed a monumental constitutional obligation, opening the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly. He addressed the State on the theme “Working Together towards Socio-Economic Transformation: Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods”.

Madam Speaker, the President’s Address was a sacred opportunity to reflect on the past and to project into the future. The President laid bare his vision. He spoke to the collective aspirations of our nation. Therefore, as we respond to the President’s Address, as I will, we need to ensure that we do not look at this Motion as a partisan, but a national matter and agenda that transcends any narrow political considerations.

Madam Speaker, I will go straight to page 24, where the President spoke about improved livelihoods through enhanced human social development. He spoke about education and then went on to health. The President made it very clear that he had an aspiration for health services to be delivered closer to every citizen in this country. He spoke about improved human capital and about recruiting 11,000 health workers. He declared his intention to procure drugs that would run for a year in the whole country.

Madam Speaker, the President spoke to other fundamentals of the health system. Speaking on infrastructure, he declared his intention to complete existing projects to ensure that access is enhanced. In particular, he mentioned the construction of sixteen mini hospitals out of the 115 mini hospitals targeted and eighty-three health posts out of the 650 health posts.

Madam Speaker, my appeal is this: The President’s intention is very clear. Let us not water down his intentions.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chilufya: We bemoan the recurrent shortages of medicines in our health facilities. We have in excess of 1.2 million people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). We have a resounding record of success in epidemic control or management in this country of HIV, cholera and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Madam Speaker, it is, therefore, very important that in all we do, we fix the supply chain to ensure that all those citizens who are vulnerable do not run out of Lamivudine and Zidovudine. As we manage the transition to Dolutegravir (DTG) based regiments, we should ensure that it is not because those two drugs have run out. Let it be orderly. So, let us not water down the President’s aspiration for quality health services by ensuring that we fix the supply chain.

Madam Speaker, in health, we all must win. We cannot plot political success on the back of national failure. Therefore, we must all aspire for a robust health system with a robust supply chain. We must ensure that health facilities have medicines at all times.

Madam Speaker, the President spoke about health security by speaking of COVID-19 vaccination rate to 70 per cent. This is commendable. We will only improve our livelihoods, as a nation, if we shield ourselves from the shocks of epidemics.

Hon. Sing’ombe: Hear, hear!

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, if we have epidemics, we will shut down and stop earning money from various economic activities.

Madam Speaker, the President, on page 43, spoke about good governance. Good governance is a common denominator in health, in agriculture and every other sector. As I speak about good governance, in responding to what the President said, again, I reiterate that let us not betray the President as we govern in our various institutions. If we talk about the rule of law and respect of human rights, we do not expect Hon. Jack Mwiimbu to arrest Dr Sampa because he is protesting. That is deflating the President’s Speech.

Madam Speaker, we expect people to demonstrate freely and air their views without being arrested. This is a key tenet of good governance. As we talk about good governance as a common denominator in agriculture, we expect the people in Matanda to have fertiliser on time. So, my good friend, the hon. Minister there, whatever we do, let us ensure that we govern the ministry and provide leadership properly so that we have access to inputs on time. Timeous delivery of inputs is key to food security, as the President said.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to talk about what unites us as a nation. Sometimes, we fall prey to politicking. There are matters that are national and matters that are of the State, and they transcend narrow political considerations. It is important that we agree to win. Therefore, let us agree to govern all the sectors such as health, agriculture and, indeed, mining or education, in a manner that ensures that people win at the end of the day.

Madam Speaker, I conclude by emphasising that Zambia shall only develop and have improved livelihoods if we unite and ensure that we cross our political divide.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member for Mbabala.

Mr Munsanje: Madam Speaker, I already debated yesterday.

Madam Speaker: Well, the name is appearing on my list. Sorry.

Mr Sampa (Matero): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am grateful and will use my time wisely so that by 1816 hours, I should be done.

Madam Speaker, I will summarise the speech of the President in Parliament. I will just pick out four items. These are jobs versus empowerment, agriculture, mining viz-a-viz Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mines and, now that the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development is here, I have decided to include the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and decentralisation.

Madam Speaker, first of all, let me commend the President. When he was in the House, he engaged the Opposition. That is the way it should be. We are not competitors, we are complementary. I see that he took a leaf from his predecessor, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Sampa: It should continue that way.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, on page 9, the President, in bold writing, says, “Economic Transformation and Job Creation.” The President, in his speech on that page aspires to create jobs. What is going on, I think, is loop-sided. The New Dawn Government is working very hard to create jobs and giving itself those jobs. The Government is giving itself jobs. In the meantime, it is saying it has no money. Where will the money to pay these people it is employing going to come from? In any case, the Government is a revolving wheel. Vacancies are created and replaced. So, the Government is digging to bury another hole.

So, soon, good nurses and teachers are employed, but where is the money going to come from when we have given concessions to the mines? I think the solution is to let jobs be created by the private sector. The Government should give an enabling environment to encourage the private sector to employ. There are 20 million Zambians and, maybe, 10 million youths who are unemployed. Will the Government employ all those youths? That is why, each time you advertise to employ people everyone is excited. Example is the advert for enumerators for the Census who came to my constituency. The Heroes Stadium got filled up and then only 0.2 per cent of the people that came were picked and the rest got upset with the Government.

Madam Speaker, the lesson is that the Government cannot employ. It is not the Government’s job to employ, but to create an enabling environment by giving tax concessions to employ on its behalf.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa: The solution is in empowering the youth. Give them contracts so that they can spend the money in their districts and constituencies, and there will be money in circulation. If the Government wants, it can give the contracts to the United Party for National Development (UPND) youths and we, on your left side, do not mind because the money they will make will be spent on whom? The youth do not care who they spend it on. They will buy talk time from anyone, and that could be a Patriotic Front (PF) person. They will find a girlfriend from the PF and they will spend. Everybody in our constituency becomes happy when the Government contracts somebody and pays them.

Madam Speaker, let me progress. On agriculture, the President, on page 11, said:

“We have also met the requirements for exporting avocado to the United Arab Emirates, macademia nuts and peas to South Africa, as well as meeting requirements for the export of stevia and soya bean meal to China, black carrots to Germany and timber to China”

Madam Speaker, these crops are well and good. However, they are for commercial farmers. They are for muzungus. They are alien to our people out there. If you take black carrot and give a farmer in Zigubu in Monze District and black carrot is produced, the villagers will run away saying they are witchcraft tools.

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe: But that is good.

Mr Sampa: It is good, but let us focus on what we do well as Zambians. We have a comparative advantage in Africa; we have land and water. The crops that grow well here are maize, soya beans and cassava. In Chipata, in the Eastern Province, it is ground nuts; I do not know why.Madam Speaker, these things do not grow in Mozambique.

Mr Sampa looked at the timer

Mr Sampa: Time really flies.

So, let us grow more of those and export.

Madam Speaker, the last one is on mining. That was on page 31. The President talked about mining; the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and the Mopani Copper Mines. The President uses very good words, flowery words: methodical, systematic and unlocking. He used that word ‘unlocking’ very well in the campaigns. What has happened to this New Dawn Government unlocking the KCM or MCM? Have the keys for unlocking gone missing...

Laughter

Mr Sampa: ...or is it the lock itself that has gone missing? It is one year down the line and nothing is happening at the KCM. On top of that, you go and break Houses in Chingola. The Government must be aware that Copperbelt is volatile. It has lost the Copperbelt. Chingola has moved back to the Opposition.

Madam Speaker: Order hon. Member! Stick to the President’s Address. Let us not bring in issues that are not relevant.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, as regards the Chingola issues, on page 13, the President said:

“The Government remains committed to addressing the challenges affecting the operations at Konkola and Mopani Copper Mines, and measures are being taken to safeguard jobs for our people and significantly turn around production around the two assets.”

So, Madam Speaker, my debate is based on that. The President mentioned it, but nothing is happening regarding the same. The Government needs to make a decision on the KCM. The UPND, during campaigns, said it would give it back to the owners. It said the Patriotic Front (PF) got it illegally. However, it comes into power and just sits ndwii.

Laughter

Mr Sampa: The Government is just looking at the KCM and nothing is happening. The people in Chingola have no money and have no jobs. There is no money in circulation. As a result, Chingola has come back to this side. Kitwe, because of Mopani Copper Mines, has also come back to our side. Kalulushi was already this side. Kabushi and Kwacha are already this side. Whatever was in Mufulira, half of it has also come back to this side. So, because of indecision on MCM and KCM, the Government is quickly losing support on the Copperbelt. It is like butter on a tarmac in Matero in October. It melts quickly.

So, the Government has to make a decision on the KCM. It has to do what it has to do. It should give it back to the owners as promised in the campaigns. It should give it back to Vedanta. If the Government has turned around 360 degrees, as it has done on many things, it needs to do whatever it has to do and give it to whomever Mr Greg Mills or Mr Valentine Chitalu will bring to buy it. At least, do something. Doing nothing about the matter is not helping the Government. We never used to listen. However, may the Government, please, listen because in 2026, we will be on the other side and we will keep on reminding them of these things.

Mr Nkombo interjected as he walked into the Assembly Chamber.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, now that the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development is here, the CDF.

Interruptions

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Your time is up.

I did not want to interrupt his debate, but before the hon. Member for Matero sits down, what does the word ndwii mean?

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General (SG) is telling me that it means umungulu, but ndwii means just sitting without doing anything. You find a beautiful woman, or beautiful Zambia with all the resources, but you are just (folds his arms). Make a decision.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order! Let us make progress.

Mr Sampa: Is my time up, Madam?

Madam Speaker: Your time expired a long time ago.

Laughter

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, this is an honourable House and things that are not correct should be corrected. The hon. Member of Parliament for Pambashe said worst inflation is better than good inflation, but that is wrong. When inflation is high, it means you have more money chasing fewer goods. You can carry money on a wheelbarrow just to go and buy a loaf of bread. So, bad inflation can never be good. So, what the Government has done, by reducing inflation, is a very positive indication and a job well done.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Matero said, it is wrong for the Government to employ –

Rev. Katuta: You are not an hon. Minister.

Mr Kamboni: Yes, I am rebutting. It is allowed.

Interruptions

Mr Kamboni: The hon. Member of Parliament for Matero said it is wrong for the Government to employ teachers.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, order, hon. Members!

The hon. Member is just rebutting what hon. Members from the other side said and he is entitled.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: So, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central is debating and in his debate, he is reacting to the points that were made by hon. Members from the other side. That is what debate is all about.

May the hon. Member continue.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Instead of points of order, this is the way it should be.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Matero said it was wrong for the Government to employ teachers.

Mr Sampa: I did not say that.

Mr Kamboni: My question is: Who is supposed to employ teachers for the Government? We are very happy. This is a responsibility of the Government. In 2020, I received only one teacher for the whole of Kalomo District. This time around, this Government has given me above 100 teachers, and I am very happy. If the parents of the teachers who were employed heard him say it was wrong for the Government to employ teachers, I do not think they would have any kind words for him.

Hon. Government Member: Yes, that is why he lost.

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, the theme for this speech is excellent. It is down to what the country needs. It reads as you may hear: “Socio-Economic Transformation: Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods”.

Madam, we now have a Government that is taking resources to the people. The purpose of a government is to make profits from natural resources and run them, and these profits must benefit the citizens. A government is about economic management, nothing else. A government is not whereby you sit to plan evil or deceive people. That is not a government. A government runs the resources of the country so that citizens can benefit by having high standard of living through education, health and many other areas. This is exactly what this speech has done.

Madam Speaker, for the first time, I will grade this speech. This speech is excellent. It is not only me who has said that. I will now go on to look at what this Government has done.

Madam, first of all, inflation was at about 22 per cent and this Government has managed to bring it to a single digit, which the previous Government lamentably failed to do.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: That is only in one year. The exchange rate was at K23 to a Dollar. How do you plan? The currency would change four times in a day. You could not do business and we were losing employment because the currency was not stable. You would plan to do something and the currency would change, but this Government has managed to bring it to K15.50 to a Dollar. Ladies and gentlemen, we must learn to call a spade a spade.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: This is good for the country. More people in my constituency are buying trucks and vehicles because they can now afford to. I had a chat with a bank manager. The currency is stable and money is convertible. This is what a government is supposed to do. I hope that as my friends on the left plan, this is what they are going to do, unlike bringing up issues of homosexuality in order to blackmail the Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, when the Patriotic Front (PF) formed Government, the reserves in the bank were about US$3 billion.

Rev. Katuta interjected.

Mr Kamboni: The reserves in the bank are there to make the currency stable, so you do not touch it. It is like the minimum balance in a bank, but what did we see? The Patriotic Front (PF) depleted it to US$1.4 billion. The new Government comes in under President Hakainde Hichilema and gets the money within three weeks to cover and make it US$3 billion. The PF cannot still recognise that as good when it failed to do it in six years. As we talk, the money in the reserves is more than US$3 billion. Surely, such a Government is supposed to be praised; there is no doubt about it.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: Madam, I am not talking from without. The Kwacha has been graded as the second-best performing currency in the world because of good management. These are the results of good management.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: Even the President was ranked fourth best President in the whole of Africa in an African magazine. The one in first position was from Mauritius. Those who read know what I am talking about, but this is still not good enough for our friends.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, I liked this speech. Climate is changing and global warming is becoming real. We have had floods and rains are no longer reliable. A good government must ensure that it protects its people through security, food security and many other areas.

Madam Speaker, the President talked about agriculture and irrigation. Zambia has over 40 per cent of the underground water found in Southern Africa. If we went with irrigation, poverty would surely be a story of yesterday.

Madam Speaker, the President emphasised that what he is putting in the forefront are agriculture, mining and tourism. These are the key drivers to achieving economic transformation. The President has talked about irrigation which means that we will not have food problems and will also create employment.

Madam, this speech was not theoretical. The President did what he talked about. When I was in the last term, I only got the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of K1.6 million twice. In the first year, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government failed to find the money and in the other years, there was no money to give out for the CDF and yet it was mandatory for it to find money every year. However, two weeks after the UPND Government came into power, K1.6 million was released.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: After two weeks in power, it released money. We all received it; not just some people received it. People are only talking about the K25.7 million, but there was a K1.6 million which was supposed to have been given by the PF Government. The current President found that money, but it is still not good in their eyes. I do not know what we are looking for.

Madam Speaker, still more, when we talk of the CDF and creating employment, yes, I agree with the hon. Member of Parliament for Matero. In my constituency, I have given out funds to eighty co-operatives. Each co-operative has a minimum of ten people. Therefore, we have created, in Kalomo, more than 1,000 jobs within a short period of ten months from the CDF.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: Those who were making desks are now making them. We have created jobs. Now, in our constituencies, we are seeing the Government working. We are seeing the Budget coming to our constituencies. Previously, there would be a Budget and I would not see anything for my constituency. Such a Government deserves to be praised. Let us work together and improve this country.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, I also join the hon. Members of Parliament who have recognised that the Speech was well encompassing. However, I thought that it was also an opportunity for those who are in these privileged positions to up their game so that we can really actualise the purpose of these addresses to the nation.

Madam Speaker, as we all know, the speech provides a platform for our National Budget. So, I just thought that I could highlight certain areas which I feel the Executive should try and work on.

Madam Speaker, I will start with mining, because I come from a mining constituency. I know my hon. Colleague yesterday did take time to talk about Mufulira as a District, but the Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) sits in the centre of my constituency. Apart from the job losses that we are currently facing due to the fact MCM is seriously lacking finances to run the mine and pay contractors so that they could pay their workers.

Madam Speaker, I also learnt the levels of the poor conditions of service that these miners have. I think the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development should conduct an inventory and an evaluation of how these people, who are working in these very difficult conditions, can be getting salaries as low as K1,200, and many a time, contracts are for a month. So, on a monthly basis, they sign contracts.

Whether one has worked for A. C. Mining and Minerals Private Company Limited or Reliant Mining and Construction Limited, most of which are international companies, you will find that miners, like the ones who have had their contracts terminated, the 400, they are as good as people who have never worked in their lives because, apart from not being paid their salaries when they are on the street since that is a monthly contract, they do not have any leave days or anything to start with.

Madam Speaker, how do you accept such a thing happening to a sector which is the backbone of our economy? All these jobs that we are talking about of teachers and nurses are all paid because of mostly the mining activities where we get most of our resources to support the treasury.

So, I thought that it is very important that we do not just look at the recapitalisation of the MCM, but we also look at the sorts of conditions of service these contractors, who are basically complementing MCM in terms of mining activities, get.

Madam Speaker, I also wanted to mention the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in the Ministry of Agriculture. As we know, it is supporting close to 1 million farmers. That money is taxpayer’s money. What I do not understand up to now, even when I refer to the hon. Minister’s statement the other day, is where he was encouraging that small scale farmers should start to export maize. In my opinion, that maize is still Government maize. It is taxpayer’s maize. This is because, if people put in K400 and the rest is coming from the taxpayer, how can it be that three bags of maize at K180 is giving you back the K400 you contributed, and thereafter, the Government just comes and buys 260,000,000 metric tonnes and says the rest can be bought by anybody?

I think there is a need for that change to take place if we are really going to get value for money and invest in the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). That is one other thing I thought the New Dawn Government could do differently. What it is currently doing is basically what it condemned before forming the Government and that does not represent progress. We cannot spend the kind of money we are spending only to come and buy a bag of mealie meal at K200. We say this is how much our Budget is for the year, this is how much we can spend on buying the maize back from the farmer and all that money that came from the Treasury, the taxes that people have paid, just goes back on the street. I think it is very important that the Government relooks at this FISP programme.

Madam Speaker, additionally, the President talked about the Social Cash Transfer Scheme and the various social safety nets that are being provided for our people who are vulnerable. Again, that needs to be reviewed. I can challenge all the hon. Members of Parliament by asking them how many beneficiaries they have and whether they even know where they stay in their constituencies? None of the hon. Members will have that information. So, in the process, there has been a lot of financial pilferage in this particular subsector. How come you have been giving people money, but their lives are still the same? How come? How come, every year and every month, you give them money, but they are still on the streets? There must be something wrong.

Madam Speaker, the only way you can measure whether the economy is growing or people are living better is by making sure that they are able to live better lives and are able to access health services and go to school. We thank God now we have free education. That is part of the lives of people getting better and that is how you start to measure change in people’s lives.

Madam Speaker, if I know that I have good health because I can access health services easily, I will make sure that I look after myself. If I know that tomorrow, my child is going to go to school, I know that that child will have bigger dreams and aspirations. That is what adds to an economy or people living better. So, it is not that we cannot improve things until we have investors coming in. We have to start from somewhere. There must be an overall check on all these sectors.

Madam Speaker, look at the empowerment funds. There is empowerment under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, empowerment the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, and gender. How come you have so much money scattered, yet people’s lives, the youths and the women we are talking about, are still the same? How can you say that you have empowered people?

So, the New Dawn Government needs to go back to the drawing board. We want the right people to benefit. We want to see their lives becoming better because all of us who are sacrificing and making sure we are paying our taxes are doing it for the benefit of our people.

Madam Speaker, for me, those are some of the few things that I would like to urge the new Government to address. It needs to relook at all these programmes and put money where it is supposed to be, properly. We need to know who these beneficiaries are and how we can support and complement them, as hon. Members of Parliament.

Madam Speaker, I look at days like Independence and Christmas as the days when you give back to the community. Now, how do I give back to the community if I am giving people who do not need that sort of help? However, because people want free things, they just get. So, I urge the Government, in the same way it is auditing the payroll and all these contractors, to go back to look at where we are spending money. Audit that and let us have accurate information for the benefit of our communities.

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

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the Floor.

To start with, Madam Speaker, allow me to quote from last year’s speech by the President to this House so that I can connect to what is going on in the country. On page 34 of his speech, the President said:

“Under the new system, every deserving student will be offered an opportunity to education, even when they may be from low financial status.”

Madam Speaker, this is what the President said last year. When we look at what is currently going on, the President and the New Dawn Government immediately introduced free education from pre-school to Grade 12.

Madam Speaker, this is what the President said, and it is happening. I want to thank the President because he did not just bring the Free Education Policy, but what has happened this year is that the New Dawn Government, under President Hakainde Hichilema, has also recruited more than 30,000 teachers, and I think this is what we call ‘walking the talk.’

Madam Speaker, we had a situation previously where, in 2011, this country was given 650 health posts. As I stand here, not a single health post was constructed in Dundumwezi Constituency. We had a situation in which we were supposed to receive the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as a constitutional matter, but our hon. Colleagues, like Hon. Kamboni indicted, only gave us twice. On one of those times, we were actually given 50 per cent. I remember, at one time, we were given K700,000, when our hon. Colleagues gave themselves the full amount of K1.4 million then.

Hon. UPND Members: Shame!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, now, we have a situation in which the President of the New Dawn Government says it is going to give us the CDF across the board, and everyone is given at the same time.

So, I asked, Madam Speaker, “Where were they taking the money?” If the New Dawn Government managed to look for money within two months after ascending to power, what had happened to the Patriotic Front (PF) Government that it could not manage to fulfil a constitutional matter?

Hon. Member: No clue.

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, when they are suspected of siphoning money from the Government, they start crying out the loudest.

Hon. Member: Shame!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, I want to tell you that the people of Dundumwezi are excited with what the President said on that particular day. There is hope.

Madam Speaker, there are certain situations that actually give hope. For example, where he said that, “We are going to ensure that we improve the education sector”, it does not just improve there and then. There are stages, but we can see that something is happening.

Madam Speaker, I am happy with the hon. Minister of Health. After she noticed that from 650 health posts, we have certain constituencies that never received the health posts. I was happy when I looked at what she posted in our Pigeon Holes. Dundumwezi appeared as having not been given the four clinics promised. To me, it means that the New Dawn Government knows that there are some constituencies that never received the clinics. This is what gives me hope and I know the Ministry of Health, through Hon. Masebo, will give the people of Dundumwezi those clinics that they have been looking for, for many years.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, when we talk about violence, I have attended or I have gone to –

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Madam Speaker: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

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The House adjourned at 1840 hours until 0900 on Friday, 23^rd September, 2022.

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