Tuesday, 4th October, 2022

Tuesday, 4^th October, 2022

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

REVERSAL OF COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Madam Speaker: Hon Members, I inform the House that in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 166(5), I have reversed the following appointments:

Committee on Cabinet Affairs

Mr O. M. Amutike, MP’s appointment to the Committee on Delegated Legislation and, therefore, he goes back to the Committee on Cabinet Affairs.

Committee on Delegated Legislation

Mr S. Hlazo, MP’s appointment to the Committee on Cabinet Affairs and, therefore, he goes back to the Committee on Delegated Legislation.

MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

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

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

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, my matter of urgent public importance is directed to the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, in his absence, the Leader of Government Business.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, proceed. What is the matter of urgent public importance that you want to raise?

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, the matter relates to the crisis on the Copperbelt, specifically, Kasumbalesa Border in Chililabombwe District.

Madam Speaker, for more than a week now, we have had our Southern African Development Community (SADC) drivers from different SADC countries who have refused to cross into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fearing for their lives as a result of one life which was lost across the border in the DRC.

Madam Speaker, the attempts by some hon. Cabinet Ministers in trying to resolve the impasse have not yielded positive results. This is now posing a security challenge in the border town of Chililabombwe. As of yesterday, I think the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry and other hon. Ministers again tried to persuade the drivers to start moving but failed to yield positive results. The SADC drivers are now demanding the attention of both the Zambian President and the President of the DRC.

Madam Speaker, speaking from experience, this challenge requires urgent attention. I have had a chance to resolve a similar impasse in 2013, when I was merely a Deputy Minister. I know that the consequences of having that situation protracting could be a very big challenge for both countries.

I seek your guidance, Madam Speaker.

Ms Mabonga (Mfuwe): On a matter of urgent public importance, Madam Speaker.

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

Ms Mabonga: Madam Speaker, my matter of urgent public importance is directed to the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, you may proceed.

Ms Mabonga: Madam Speaker, as you can see, today I have come in black. This is because I am sad. I am heartbroken and I know that the country is also sad. The people in the country are not happy with the turn of events.

Madam Speaker, I am referring to the issue of the thirteen girls who were abducted and sexually abused for approximately six months. We only knew of a girl named Pamela Chisupa who was a money booth operator. Yesterday, we were shocked to discover that not only was she alone but was abducted together with twelve other young girls.

Madam Speaker, as you saw from the video, one of them is even heavily pregnant. From the evidence that we saw in the video, they were used condoms and all sorts of things. The girls were sexually abused.

Madam Speaker, as a country, we are worried and scared. We want answers from the Government as to why the Zambia Police Service remained quiet. What usually happens is that if there is anything of that nature, we would hear police warn the public to say girls must take care of themselves because there are men on the loose who are abducting girls.

Madam Speaker, the question is: Why was the Police Service quiet? They could not even warn the public. Another question is: Why they did not say anything? Is it that the parents never reported these cases or what could have happened?

Madam Speaker, the other fear is that these things are happening in Lusaka where there is mobile network and all facilities that could have helped the police to track these criminals.

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): On a matter of urgent public importance, Madam Speaker.

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

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, my matter of urgent public importance is on Her Honour the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, the people of Chama South, in Chief Tembwe, Chief Chikwa and Chief Chifunda’s chiefdoms are on the verge of starvation. There is no food in many areas because of human/animal conflict. Areas like Mampamba, Pondo, much of Ntembezhi, and Kachipila are critical areas such that if the Office of Her Honour the Vice-President does not distribute food now it will be difficult to do so because early next month or later this month, it will start raining and become practically impossible to reach the people in these places.

Madam Speaker, the situation is quite bad because people have no food. Therefore, is Her Honour the Vice-President, whom I know is our mother as well as grandmother, in order to remain quiet when she knows that her people in Chama South needed this food like yesterday? When is her office likely to start distributing relief food? If that is not done, we are going to lose lives as people are going without any meal. Their source of survival, the Luangwa River, is crocodile infested. We are losing lives already.

I seek your serious guidance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I will start with the first matter which has been raised by the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu. Indeed, we have seen reports of the problems that are happening at the border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Of course, this matter relates to two countries and they need to sit down as soon as possible to try to iron out these problems.

I understand from the reports that some lives have been lost and there is a great threat of further lives being lost. So, on that ground only, I will allow this matter and direct the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to come to this House this coming Thursday to deliver a ministerial statement on the matter.

With regard to the issue raised by the hon. Member for Mfuwe, of course, this is a matter that is happening currently. This matter has been going on and the investigations have been running for some time. We thank God that yesterday some progress was made and these girls were rescued. I believe this is a matter that needs serious consideration and attention by the police to get to the root of the matter and find out who is the perpetrator of this crime, what happened and all those issues.

I believe that if we start discussing the matter here, in this House, it will have an effect of pre-empting and jeopardising the investigations that are currently being conducted by the police. I believe we should allow the police to carry out the investigations. Once the investigations are done, maybe the hon. Minister can come back to this House much later to inform the House and through this House the people of Zambia what exactly happened. I am sure all of us are interested to know what actually happened and why it took so long to get to the root of this matter. Indeed, we thought it was one child, but ended up with thirteen girls living in one house. So, I think we need to give the police enough time to investigate the matter.

Like I said earlier on, we do not need to micromanage the Executive on how it discharges and performs its functions. When the Executive fails is when we can demand of it to come to this honourable House to inform the people of Zambia what is actually happening. If there is any warning that has to be made for the people to be aware of, then at that time, that warning can be made. So, let us wait and allow the hon. Minister, through the police, to carry out thorough investigations to get to the root of the matter.

On the issue of starvation, I wonder what measures the hon. Member for Chama South, himself, has taken to ensure that the people ...

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: ... in his area do not suffer from starvation. I wonder whether he has even visited the Office of Her Honour the Vice-President to make representation and ask for assistance and whether she has refused to provide that assistance. Coming to this House to raise a matter of urgent public importance just like that will not help and will not be able to feed those people who are hungry right now.

So, by way of guidance, I request the hon. Member for Chama South to go back to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and make a request. If that request is denied, only then can the hon. Member come and raise that issue and say that on a particular day, he went and saw Her Honour the Vice-President and she refused to give the people the food that they require. So, please, let us follow that process. When it fails, then we can ask Her Honour the Vice-President to account to the people of Zambia why she does not want to feed those people who are hungry. Moreover, hunger is everywhere.

So, that is my guidance on those three matters. We can make progress.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF INSULIN AT ALL PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN KALABO DISTRICT

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Madam Speaker, I render this question with a heavy heart and place the soul of my deceased brother in eternal rest.

50. Mr Miyutu asked the Minister of Health:

whether the Government is aware that there is a critical shortage of insulin at all public health facilities in Kalabo District; and
if so, what urgent measures are being taken to ensure availability of insulin in the District to prevent loss of life.

Madam Speaker: Since condolences. May the soul of your deceased brother rest in peace.

The Minister of Health (Mrs Masebo): Madam Speaker, the Government is not aware that there is a critical shortage of insulin in all public health facilities in Kalabo. Kalabo District in particular, in the Western Province, currently is overstocked with this lifesaving medicine.

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, Kalabo District has the following quantities:

a total of 117 vials of short acting insulin;
seventy-two vials of mixtard insulin, which is a mixture of both short and long acting insulin; and
fifty-three long acting insulin.

Madam Speaker, the House may note that the above quantities of insulin translate into an estimated six months of stock at the current consumption rate of insulin in Kalabo District.

Madam Speaker, in response to part (b) of the question, as stated above, Kalabo currently has sufficient quantities, which can last up to the period when the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) has done its bulk procurement to be delivered. Further, there is no need for panic as the New Dawn Government has taken measures to ensure consistent stability of supply for insulin, not only for Kalabo but the country at large.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, it is very disappointing …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miyutu: … that – I will forgive because they are human beings and because of their human weakness, I will forgive them. However, on the level of governance, I will not forgive them.

Madam Speaker, when the hon. Minister is saying Kalabo District, to me, she is referring to Kalabo District Hospital and Yuka Mission Hospital. Those are the two hospitals we have in the district. Referring to the district as having substantial amounts of insulin, I want to find out what caused the health workers at Yuka Mission Hospital to indicate that there was no insulin available in that institution. The institution I am talking about is in Kalabo District where the hon. Minister is indicating that there are substantial amounts of insulin. Why then did those officers state, categorically, that there was no insulin …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miyutu: … leading to family members going to search for the drug?

Hon. PF Members: Quality!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, thank you for the follow up question by the hon. Member for Kalabo. The question was to the effect that there is no insulin in all health facilities in Kalabo.

Madam Speaker, I take my work seriously, if I may say this. When I got this question yesterday, I did try to contact the hon. Member for Kalabo Central although his phone went unanswered because I wanted to get details for I was concerned. Secondly, I did speak to ZAMMSA to find out what the status was. I also did speak to my Permanent Secretary and the Director for Clinical Care Services, including Parliamentary Liaison Officers, to get to the depth of this question. I also wanted a bit of evidence because it is true that sometimes, because we are not everywhere as hon. Ministers, information gets somehow twisted. So, I deliberately said I needed a bit of evidence. What I was told was that it was not true to say that there was no insulin in Kalabo District and all the facilities.

Madam Speaker, if you listen to the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalabo Central now, he is saying, there is some insulin somewhere but not somewhere else. If he had been specific to mention a particular clinic or rural health centre then I would have been specific only to that particular place to find out. So, the answer I am giving is factual and I will lay it on the Table of this House. It shows the stock from January, February, March, April, July, August, up to October. In your spare time, you can have time to look at the stock concerning the insulin question.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Masebo laid the paper on the Table.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, would I be wrong if I said that there is discrimination in the dispensation of these drugs to sick people? If I am wrong, why I am wrong?

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order!

Order, hon. Members.

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the follow up question. I think, in this regard, the question has been correctly answered.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: There is so much interest. We are talking about Kalabo District Hospital, so we will not leave it open ended for we need to debate the Budget Speech.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, let me start by sympathising with my hon. Colleague on the loss of a relative on account of the lack of insulin.

Madam Speaker, this matter should not be between the hon. Member for Kalabo Central and the hon. Minister of Health. This House has gotten so many assurances on the availability of medical supplies in medical facilities, which is not the situation on the ground in many areas. This matter has been brought to the attention of the House on several occasions, in this august House.

Madam Speaker, the question to the hon. Minister – In fact, not to defend my hon. Colleague, the way we operate is that when you have a situation like that –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Shiwang’andu. Ask your supplementary question. It is not time to debate.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, the question to the hon. Minister of Health is how she is going to instill confidence in all of us, including our hon. Colleague from Kalabo Central, over this issue of the lack of drugs, as is the situation is in Kalabo. There is no insulin but the hon. Minister, who is here in Lusaka, is saying that there is insulin and she is depending on ZAMMSA which is based here in Lusaka. Did the hon. Minister bother to get on the ground to establish whether indeed those quantities she has given to the House are the quantities that are being held in these facilities and why was the relative to our hon. Colleague not given this insulin if it was available?

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for his follow up question. Firstly, I think it is important to be clear on the question that has been asked and the answer as it relates to the question. I think it will not do to put words in my mouth and make us look like we are giving false information here. In my response, I did not mention that ZAMMSA gave me the answer. I said I immediately consulted ZAMMSA. This response if not from ZAMMSA and is not about ZAMMSA but about Kalabo District. I could not fly to Kalabo yesterday when I got this question but I did contact those who work on our behalf. The hon. Member for Shiwang’andu has been a Minister before. The way we, as Ministers, work is to depend on information from the relevant officers on the ground because the Minister cannot be everywhere. The hon. Minister is everywhere through the officers. Yes, at times, you can actually be misled. That is why I have laid a paper on the Table of the House for Madam Speaker to verify the information. This is an authentic document from the district specifying the quantities that have been there.

Madam Speaker, because this is an important question, I will move away from Kalabo just for the information of the hon. Members because now they are talking about ZAMMSA. This is a matter of national concern. Even his Excellency and everybody get concerned because it is about life and death.

Madam Speaker, first of all, let me state that the stability of drugs in our hospitals is historical. On the issue of resources, what have we done as a Government? Whilst the previous administration gave lip service to this problem, by giving little monies, this administration …

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs. Masebo: … in the Budget doubled the amount of resources for purchase of drugs.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Masebo: That is point number one. That is to show that we are equally concerned. That is why the amount was doubled. This year, going forward, hon. Members of Parliament heard the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning make another increase for drugs. So, first of all, resources are important.

Madam Speaker, let us then now come to structures. The purchasing institution for drugs currently is ZAMMSA. Let me say this: The establishment of ZAMMSA was not a creation of Madam Masebo or of the New Dawn Government, last year. It is an Act of this House, Parliament, where the hon. Member on the Floor was part of. This function was given to ZAMMSA, anything else was illegal. So, the ministry of Health does not procure drugs. We procure drugs through an institution called ZAMMSA. Let me also use this opportunity to tell the hon. Members that for ZAMMSA to procure drugs, it is not like what used to happen where a minister would call for a meeting and ask the committee if it could have an emergency purchase under the ministry –

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chilufya stood up.

On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Order! Hon. Member I have seen you. You can indicate without standing. That is why we have all these gadgets. There is a point of order hon. Minister.

Ms Masebo: Much obliged.

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalabo asked a very important question relating to a life saving drug called insulin.

Madam Speaker, lives are lost if insulin is not there. The hon. Minister is trivialising her response to this matter by even alleging that hon. Ministers were ordering the procurement of medicines. Is the hon. Minister in order to mislead the nation. Standing Order No. 65 summons all of us to be factual as we debate. Does she have evidence and is she in order to mislead this nation that ministers in the previous Government used to order drugs.

I seek your serious ruling.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, when you start making allegations against each other, I have no evidence that I can use to confirm whether one hon. Minister or one hon. Member of Parliament is the one who is telling the truth. If the hon. Member who raised the point of order has information to confirm what he is saying, then he will be able to help me. The hon. Minister is giving a statement according to the information that she has. Can we allow her to state that –

Hon. PF Member: Question!

Madam Speaker: Order hon. Members.

If this item is not of interest or you do not want to listen, we can make progress by going to another item. If you want to continue, you have to respect me like I respect you. There is no need of making running commentaries because that is in total breach of our standing orders and you know that very well. It does not help to debate while you are seated.

May the hon. Minister continue.

Ms Masebo: Madam Speaker, the point I was making was that, previously, the Ministry of Health used to procure drugs. I am speaking facts but if somebody wants me to lay evidence, I can do that tomorrow. They would call for emergency meeting to procure drugs using their procurement committee. This time, it is not like that. The ZAMMSA has its own procurement system procedure. Just for the information of the hon. Members here, the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) rules have changed over some time now. Sometimes people make laws and are not sure of what is happening. What is happening is that by law, if ZAMMSA has to procure drugs, first of all, they have to advertise and ask citizens to participate. After a period of time, citizens will participate and if the citizens fail in that procurement, then the next stage is for ZAMMSA to advertise for local suppliers to supply. Again, another period of time for pushing the advert is given. I think the maximum period is a month and the minimum period is two weeks in which they will have to ask for authority from ZPPA to float it for a shorter period.

Madam Speaker, after floating it, if at the end of that procurement, the local suppliers fail to deliver, that is when ZAMMSA has to advertise through what they call Open International Bidding. This time around, you find that it is taking long for ZAMMSA to be on top of things in terms of making sure that it purchases what it wants. It cannot not just wake up and buy anything it needs. It is not that easy anymore because of all these efforts of trying to make Zambians participate and the fact the many Zambians do not have that capacity because this is a trade that was predominantly done by foreigners. The situation at the moment is that when ZAMMSA tried to procure insulin at the centre – So, the supply of insulin at the centre is not as good as it should be. However, if you talk about the supply of insulin in Kalabo District, they have enough stock for now until the next two to three months, according to what the record is showing.

Madam Speaker, the other point to bring to the attention of Members of Parliament is that I was informed by ZAMMSA when I inquired whether they had insulin and the response was that it had ordered and was soon expecting 140,000 vials of insulin for distribution countrywide. However, I also learnt that it actually had cancelled a procurement. The answer was that they did not really cancel that procurement but that a bulk open tender procurement valued at approximately K8 million to secure 140,000 vials of insulin estimated to last for months was placed. However, earlier, it had placed an emergency order of insulin to address current low stocks in some of the public health facilities countrywide. Unfortunately, the price that had been given to ZAMMSA by one supplier who had insulin was almost three times the price and they –

Madam Speaker: Order, Hon. Minister.

I think we are now going away from the question that is on the table. From what I can see is that the hon. Member for Kalabo Central is asking whether or not the Government is aware that there is no insulin in public health institutions in Kalabo. The answer of –

Interruption

Hon. Member for Pambashe, do you want me to give you the Floor so that you answer or you say what I am saying?

Mr Nkombo: Or do you want to become the Speaker? Go and sit there.

Ms Masebo stood up.

Madam Speaker: Can the hon. Minister resume her seat.

The hon. Member for Kalabo Central has asked a specific question and the hon. Minister said that according to the information that she has, there was enough insulin that was distributed to the health facilities in Kalabo. However, the hon. Member for Kalabo Central is still saying that there is no insulin in Kalabo health facilities, in particular. So, maybe the best way that we can sort out this problem, considering that the hon. Minister has given a list of the stock that she has, might be if the hon. Minister got to the ground to find out from Kalabo if there is insulin or not. That way, we can satisfy the hon. Member for Kalabo as to whether the information he is giving is not supported or what the hon. Minister is saying is not supported. We could order medicine and I know the Minister of Finance and National Planning has provided enough resources for medicine to be procured but on the ground it appears the medicine is not there from what I can hear from the hon. Members. So, maybe it might be of great help if the hon. Minister got to the people on the ground in Kalabo to establish whether this insulin is there and come back to this House on Friday with a statement on this matter.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Masebo: Madam Speaker, much –

Madam Speaker: We can make progress.

Mr Chitotela: Madam, I apologise. I had indicated for a point of order, but you captured my voice. You have done well to direct the hon. Minister in that manner.

Madam Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member shall not evaluate the presiding officer.

Laughter

PROCUREMENT OF MOTOR BIKES AT A HIGH PRICE OF OVER K130,000.00

51. Mr Chitotela (Pambashe) asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Services:

why the Government awarded a contract for the procurement of motor bikes at a high price of over K130,000.00, each;
which companies participated in the tender;
which company won the tender;
when the contract was signed; and
whether the contract has been cancelled.

The Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Ms D. Mwamba): Madam Speaker, the Government awarded the contract for the procurement of motorbikes at a price of K130,000 each because it was fair and was within the market price. This can be demonstrated as follows:

Bidder Brand Kwacha Duty Vat Unit Prices

Kafelix Yamaha K131,800.00 Inclusive Inclusive K131,800.00

Investments AG 200

Best Yamaha K138,989.38 Inclusive Inclusive K138,989.38

of Bikes AG 200

Saro Agro Suzuki K122,687.81

Industrial DR200 SEI

Limited

Honda Honda K134,979.80

Zambia XR190 CT

Madam Speaker, the prices were converted into Zambian Kwacha using the rate of 1US$ to K22.2383 as at 16^th April, 2021, which was the closing day for the tender. Honda Zambia Limited, Saro Agro Industrial Limited and Best of Bikes are the major suppliers of motorbikes in Zambia and so the price offered by Kafelix Investments Limited in comparison to those represented market prices, was the best price.

In addition, using the unit price from Saro Agro Industrial Limited as the benchmark for price reasonableness, it can be demonstrated that the price of K131, 800.00 from Kafelix was 7.4 per cent higher than the minimum price. This is within the acceptable range of the plus or minus 10 per cent deviation from the market price as advised by the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA).

Madam Speaker, the following companies participated in the tender:

Kafelix Investments Limited;
Best of Bikes;
Honda Zambia Limited;
Saro Agro Industrial Limited;
Sarago General Dealers;
Palmate Limited; and
Bereiness Trading Limited.

Madam Speaker, the tender was awarded to Kafelix Investments Limited and the contract was signed on 7^th December, 2021, with an initial delivery period of five weeks from which the delivery period was extended to 31^st August, 2022. An addendum to this effect was cleared by the Office of the Attorney General (AG) on 26^th May, 2022. However, let me add that the request for bids for the procurement of these motorbikes was advertised in the Daily Mail Newspaper on 19^th March, 2021. This was followed by an evaluation process, which was conducted from 19^th March to 23^rd July, 2021, and the award of the tender was approved on 4^thAugust, 2021.

Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleagues can now ask me questions.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, ask your supplementary questions, the hon. Minister is ready to answer them.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I want to the hon. Minister to confirm that by 7^th December, 2021, she was the hon. Minister responsible for Community Development and Social Services.

Madam Speaker: What is the idea here? Is it to apportion blame or what?

Mr Chitotela interjected

Madam Speaker: Whether she the hon. Minister at that time or not does not make a difference.

Mr Chitotela interjected

Madam Speaker: It is like asking whether a male dog is male or female.

Laughter

Mr Chilangwa (Kawambwa): Madam Speaker, from the answer that the hon. Minister has given, the bids were received in August. Kafelix, whoever it is, should have delivered the motorbikes in five weeks. Meaning that delivery should have happened approximately before the end of February, but we hear that delivery of was extended. Is it reasonable to extend the delivery of motorbikes?

Madam, motorbikes are not complicated machinery –

Madam Speaker: Ask a supplementary question, hon. Member.

Mr Chilangwa: Is it reasonable to extend the delivery of mere motorbikes?

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, yes it is reasonable to extend the supply of bicycles, motorbikes or vehicles.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, we read in the media that the contract was signed on 7^th December, 2021, the delivery period was five weeks and after which it was extended up to May. After May, there was another extension and there were indications of the contract being cancelled. If this contract is cancelled, does she not think it is going to attract litigation and the Government may end up losing money?

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, no it will not. The contract was cancelled when it expired. In fact, we did not renew it. As I said earlier, the renewed contract was to end on 31^st August, 2022. Upon its expiry, we did not renew it. So, the contract has been cancelled.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Madam Speaker, my question has been overtaken by the last answer from the hon. Minister. I would have loved to know the make of the said motorbikes because there are motorbikes which can cost that amount and there are motorbikes which cost US$1,200 like Gatoma and SanLG. However, since there is no supply, my question is watered.

Mr Sampa (Matero): Madam Speaker, allow me to thank you for visiting the Matero Constituency Office yesterday. We are grateful. Allow me to also take this opportunity to congratulate eighteen-year-old Robby Chitambo who singlehandedly rescued Pamela and twelve other girls yesterday.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order, order!

Hon. Member for Matero, let us desist from commenting on that matter. It is still under active police investigation. We can comment later after the investigations are done. If you have an award, you can even award the young man.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I wanted to award him but since you have prevented me, I will move on. Much obliged.

Madam, my question to the hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Services is on this company called Kafelix Investments Limited, which was awarded the contract. The contract expired, so it could not have been terminated. First of all, the name - Kafelix. That is the problem with some of these companies. I did my own research because when this company was awarded the contract, it was in the media –

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

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order based on Standing Order No. 65. Is my hon. Colleague in order to not specifically mention that the Patriotic Front (PF) were the ones who were managing this contract

Hon. Government Members: Correct!

Mr Mwiimbu: … and awarded it and that we found the contract running? Is she in order to not mention this so that they stop making the accusations they are making?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Unfortunately, that point of order has been overtaken by events. Let us make progress.

Mr Sampa: Mpyana ngo apyana namabala. Everything was inherited, so they are responsible.

Madam, I researched on Kafelix Investments Limited. They used a road and address in Matero, so at that point I was forced to research. When I researched, neither the road nor the address they named in Matero exist. Can the hon. Minister confirm whether Kafelix Investments Limited’s address in Matero is real or it is a virtual office.

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, as the Minister mandated to provide social protection programmes to vulnerable people, who are in most cases poor, I try to be mild in my responses. However, on Kafelix Investments Limited, as I said, the advertisements for the supply of these motorbikes were done sometime in 2020. The contract was awarded in April 2021. We had May, June, July, August and September before I became Minister in this ministry …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwamba: … and Kafelix Investments Limited had been supplying to this ministry. However, as I said earlier, I try to be gentle. I try to be a woman - gentle and lovely.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms D. Mwamba: The hon. Member of Parliament for Matero said it all. Upyana apyana namabala and that is what we have done. What is happening in that ministry is just as coloured as this leopard here (pointing at the leopard in front of the Table of the House). However, this contract, in a nutshell, was awarded six months before I became Minister in that ministry.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: That is being a mother indeed.

Laughter

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, indeed, we do not need to lecture each other to understand that government is an ongoing concern. We could have done the accountability even on the other side.

Madam, the hon. Minister admitted that the other three suppliers, Best of Bikes, Honda Zambia and Saro Agro Industrial Limited were considered to be established suppliers. In settling for a supplier, you consider things such as after-service and guarantees. How then did the ministry settle for Kafelix Investments Limited which was offering a price 7.5 per cent higher than Saro Agro Industrial Limited whose price was used as a benchmark? Why was this decision made in such a way?

Madam Speaker: I have a bit of a challenge here in that the contract was terminated and there was no supply. So, why do we keep on debating something that is –

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Do we really need to waste more time on this matter?

Hon. Government Members: No!

Madam Speaker: I think we need to make progress.

The owner of the question had squandered his one question but I am going to give him a chance to ask just one question. Please, no repetition of what happened to Feira.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, it is very important to note that the contract was awarded on 4^th August, 2021, and as the hon. Minister said, the signing of the contract happened on 7^th December, 2021, and they gave the supplier five weeks in which to supply. As the ministry was entering into this agreement binding the Government of the United Party for National Development (UPND) on 7^th December to the procurement process that was left by the Patriotic Front (PF) without signing, did it realise that the contract was way above the benchmarking price which it stated in the response by the Minister? She stated that the benchmarking price was by Saro Agro Limited which was one of the bidders who had bid 7.5 per cent less than Kafelix Investments Limited, but the ministry went ahead and awarded the contract to Kafelix Investments Limited which was 7.5 per cent higher than the benchmarking price. What necessitated the hon. Minister to sign a contract on 7^th December, 2021 with Kafelix which was 7.5 per cent higher than the benchmarking price by the supplier called Saro Agro Industrial Limited?

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, I thank God that before I become a politician I was a business woman.

Madam Speaker, this contract was already awarded in April with its contract sum. All what remained was for this supplier to supply the motorbikes. He asked for an extension and we did not want to be unfair, so we extended.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member of Parliament for Pambashe, the supply did not happen. The contract was terminated. So let u make progress.

ISSUANCE OF ANY MINERAL EXPLORATION LICENCES IN KASENENGWA DISTRICT

52. Mr Twasa (Kasenengwa) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

whether the Government had issued any mineral exploration licences in Kasenengwa District;
if so, how many licences were issued;
when the licences were issued; and
what the findings from the explorations were, as of March, 2022.

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe): Madam Speaker, the Government issued four exploration licences to Kasenengwa District in the Eastern Province. They were issued between 2020 and 2021. So far, there have not been any findings because those that have been issued exploration licences have not been cleared by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Twasa: Madam Speaker, it is interesting to know that there are no findings because the mines or the exploration companies were not cleared by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

Madam Speaker, I want to bring it to your attention that there is one company in Kasenengwa which has left open pit mines because it says that it was given bulk exploration licences. Is the Government aware that there was a company in Kasenengwa which was doing what they call bulk exploration? Is there a thing called bulk exploration licence?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member will do well to bring that to the attention of the ministry and it is going to investigate.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I have been left astonished by the answer from the hon. Minister. The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), by law, is part of the board that advices on the issuing of exploration and mining licenses. How did it then turn around and refuse to give approval, unless the law has changed, because it is part of the team that sits to approve the application of mining licenses?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, in my answer, I never said that the ZEMA had rejected it or had not allowed it. It is still running with its processes.

Madam Speaker, suffice to say that as the Government, we are actually concerned with the length it takes for the ZEMA to approve licences because that is counterproductive and it is slowing down progress in terms of exploration. So the Government is also looking into these matters to make sure that ZEMA works faster than it is doing. However, when these exploration companies are cleared they will be able to start their programmes.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Twasa: Madam Speaker, I do not know how to react to the hon. Ministers response because according to the advice that you always give us, we should be going to these ministries and I have specifically gone to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development three times. On the third visit, he walked away from me and I was left seated, embarrassed. I ended up seeing the former Permanent Secretary and I addressed this issue with him but there has been no response.

Madam Speaker, I have been to Cadastre Department several times but it is like the people there were tired and they could not give me a concrete response and that is why I have brought this issue to the Floor of this House. I tried to follow your advice but failed. So, I do not know how best I should go to the hon. Ministers office because last time he walked away from me.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, the issue of debating each other sometimes – Anyway I have advised that when there is a challenge like that, we should approach the hon. Ministers to find a solution. However, Hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, you walked away from the hon. Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa who was following my advice.

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is not being sincere because I receive hon. Ministers, hon. Members of Parliament and everybody that comes to my office. Maybe he came unannounced and sat in the foyer.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa please go and see the hon. Minister again to try and resolve this issue and report back to my office.

Mr Menyani Zulu: Madam Speaker, looking at what is happening in Kasenengwa, I think it is happening everywhere along that stretch. Does the ministry have inspectors to supervise the explorations because what is happening is a sad story?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Nyimba was my boss at one time, in another life.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has capacity issues in terms of checking on what is happening everywhere in the country. However, as the New Dawn Government, we are implementing the Mining Commission that will help us have the capacity to be everywhere.

Madam Speaker, it is a governance issue and that is why when we took over governance we said that it was a scandal that the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development was not present everywhere where mining activities were taking place. Through the new mining policy, which will be approved very soon through Cabinet, we have suggested that we have a Mining Commission. The budget has actually allocated money to that effect so that we can now raise compliance levels in terms of those who are mining without the knowledge of the Government. So we have taken note and are very concerned. However, we have done something about it and very soon when the commission is in place, these matters will be issues of the past.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chisenga (Lukashya): Madam Speaker, do the holders of these licences pay area charges while holding the licences?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, the licences were issued but since the ZEMA has not approved the start of the works, there are no activities taking place. We cannot hold the companies to anything because they will challenge us and say that the ZEMA has not yet approved their licences. So, when the ZEMA approves the licences or works, these things will be followed.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister indicated that between 2020 and 2021, these licences were issued and from that time no work has taken place because the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has not yet approved the licences or works. Does the hon. Minister have plans to review either the Act that governs these operations or some procedures within his ministry so that once a licence is issued, the ZEMA is part of the approval process and these individuals or companies would be in a position to commence works?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, on a light note, the hon. Member should pay attention because that was the first thing I said: that the Government is looking at making the ZEMA work faster than it is doing because it is delaying the processes. We can do that by looking at issues of policy, the Mines and Minerals Act and the Environmental Management Act, itself. So, I may not go into details, but the Government works with laws. I think that process is ongoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

PLANS TO CREATE A DISTRICT IN LUMWANA AREA IN MWINILUNGA DISTRICT

53. Mr Samakayi (Mwinilunga) asked the Vice-President:

whether the Government has any plans to create a district in Lumwana area in Mwinilunga District; and
if so, when the plans will be implemented.

Madam Speaker, I want to withdraw the question, but before I withdraw it, I need to say something about it because the people of the North-Western Province have interest in it. If I withdraw it without giving reasons, I will be doing myself a disservice.

Madam Speaker, this question arose because of the debate in 2020 about the Budget for 2021 –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Mwinilunga!

My problem is that I do not know now what procedure we are following. If the question is going to be withdrawn, then just withdraw it. Maybe use other channels to explain your withdrawal.

So that question has been withdrawn.

Mr Samakayi: Most obliged, Madam Speaker.

_______

MOTIONS

BUDGET 2023

(Debate resumed)

Mr Jamba (Mwembezhi): Madam Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for giving me this rare opportunity to support the Motion of Supply on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year 1^st January to 31^st December, 2023, ably moved by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, on Friday, 30^th September, 2022.

Madam Speaker, from the outset, allow me to congratulate the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, for the progressive and exceptional Budget in which has proposed a number of measures that will not only foster economic growth but also and most importantly, better the lives of our people. The theme of our Budget is ‘Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods’.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has proposed to spend K167.3 billion or 31.4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023. The 2023 Budget is anchored on firm economic ground following the restoration of debt sustainability, stability of the exchange rate, lowered inflation and increased investor confidence.

Madam Speaker, allow me at this juncture to highlight some of the interventions which have elated me.

Agriculture

Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. Minister that agriculture remains the main source of livelihood for the majority of our people. It is true that the agricultural sector has been, for a long time now the largest employer in the informal sector and provides the highest potential for formal employment across all sectors. In this regard, I am impressed that the Government has proposed several measures aimed at enhancing the sector.

Madam Speaker, the provision of the development of farm blocks could not have come at a better time than now. As you are aware, the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the war in Ukraine have resulted in food shortages in some parts of the world. Therefore, the proposal by the New Dawn Government to aggressively revive the development of farm blocks will not only increase food production in the country but will also be a source of foreign exchange through the export of various food crops and livestock to the outside world, such as China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the European Union (EU), and neighbouring countries in the region. Furthermore, the farm blocks will contribute to the creation of the much needed jobs, especially for the youths who voted the United Party for National Development (UPND) in great numbers.

Madam, I am also thrilled to note that the hon. Minister has given clarity on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). When addressing the House, the hon. Minister clarified that the programme will continue amidst the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported programmes. This is a welcome move as abolishing FISP could have negatively impacted the vulnerable farmers.

Education

Madam Speaker, education has always been the number one priority for His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, muchende wa chuundu. He has, on numerous occasions, –

Hon. Members: Meaning?

Mr Jamba: The Tonga bull.

He has, on numerous occasions, spoken about his belief of education being the best equaliser. It is in this regard that since assuming office, the Government has, under his able leadership, actualised the promise of free education up to Grade 12, recruited over 30,000 teachers and provided bursaries to vulnerable learners. I am, therefore, happy to note that the hon. Minister, in his 2023 Budget, has proposed to reintroduce meal allowances in all public universities. This is a very commendable move and goes to show that President Hakainde Hichilema and his Government has given a high premium to education.

Madam Speaker, I also applaud the Government for proposing to recruit 4,500 teachers in 2023 to be deployed in rural areas in the quest to improve the quality of education, contrary to the critics of the IMF supported programme.

Health

Madam Speaker, as you are aware, from the time the UPND came into power, there have been some serious concerns over the procurement of drugs and other medical supplies in most hospitals and clinics across the country. I am therefore, delighted to note that the hon. Minister has proposed to spend K 4.6 billion of the health sector budget on procurement of drugs. The allocation represents an increase of K1.2 billion or 35.7 per cent from the 2022 Budget. Further, I am happy that Government will employ 3000 healthcare professionals to improve the quality of healthcare in 2023.

Constituency Development Fund

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government increased the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) by over 150 per cent from K1.6 million to K25.7 million in 2022. In just one year, the Government has again proposed to increase CDF to a whopping K28.3 million to all constituencies in 2023.

Hon Government Members: Hear, hear.

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, this is a very commendable intervention that will ensure development at constituency level continues to be driven by the local people.

Madam Speaker, I welcome Government’s intention to amend the Constituency Development Fund Act No. 11 of 2018, and the guidelines relating to the management of the CDF, so as to streamline the highly centralised approval processes, cumbersome procurement procedures, among others. Therefore, I want to commend the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for his decision to not recall any unutilised funds under CDF for 2022. This will enable all constituencies to continue with selection and procurement of budgeted projects.

Equalisation Fund

Madam Speaker, I also want to talk about the money called the Equalisation Fund, which is sent to every municipality across the country. Many people in this country just know the CDF. They do not know the Equalisation Fund and, therefore, we want to commend the hon. Minister for providing money for Equalisation Fund, so that with it, the projects in the councils are taken care of.

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion and I encourage all honourable Members to do the same.

Hon Government Members: Hear, hear.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, I thank you for the privilege you have given me to support the Motion of Supply moved by the hon. Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane Member of Parliament, on Friday 30^th September 2022. I also thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwembezhi Constituency, Mr Jamba Machila, MP, for ably supporting the motion.

Madam Speaker, as I also support the motion, I will zero in on four areas, which include tourism, agriculture, debt management, mining and the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.

Tourism

Madam Speaker, on tourism, I want to commend the Government for taking measures such as the removal of visas for some countries like Canada, USA, those in the European Union, China, United Kingdom and Japan. This removal of visas will attract more tourists to visit Zambia, and in turn, this will create more employment in the tourism sector.

Madam Speaker, we are all aware that tourism was negatively affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic which hit the world. Whilst I welcome this move, I would have loved to hear the hon. Minister extend its exemption to African countries that require visas when visiting Zambia. I urge the hon. Minister and the Government to consider doing so.

Agriculture

Madam Speaker, under agriculture, I commend the Government for adding more incentives to the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and changing its name to the Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme (CASP). I am particularly encouraged that the CASP will include extension service support, irrigation development, access to finance, support to value addition, storage and logistics.

Madam Speaker, this is what our farmers need. However, let me state that of primary concern to me on CASP, is the management of the beneficiary’s list. I encourage and urge the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government to ensure that the right people only benefit from the CASP unlike the way the FISP was handled.

Mining

Madam Speaker, under mining, allow me to commend Government for the proposal to open new mines in Mumbwa, Mkushi, Ndola and the much talked about Nickel Mine, which is estimated to be the biggest Nickel Mine in Africa. We heard the hon. Minister mention that K1.3 billion has been injected into the mine. These new mines will surely increase revenue base for the Government.

Madam Speaker, further, the measures the Government is proposing to put in place to increase mining production from 800 thousand metric tonnes to over three million metric tonnes is commendable. The increase in production will require manpower which translates into more jobs for the youths and more money in our pockets. Additionally, the Government’s intention to introduce a mining regulatory institution that will enhance the reporting of production cost and mineral content is welcome and is the way to go. As such it will compel mining companies to remit correct and authentic taxes to the Government.

Debt Management

Madam Speaker, under debit management, permit me to laud Government for securing an external credit facility arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The deal will help revamp the economy which was nearly collapsing. Allow me in this regard, to underscore the need for this administration to put up stringent measures that will allow safeguarding the fund against any pilferage. This will go a long way in helping us achieve the intended objectives as well as gain credibility with our creditors and the IMF.

Madam Speaker, on the P.A.Y.E tax, let me also state that I am happy that the P.A.Y.E threshold will be adjusted upwards from K4500 to K4800. This move will positively impact on employees. Nevertheless, it would have been prudent that Government considers increasing the same from K4,500 to K5,000. I, therefore, urge the hon. Minister and the Government to consider the P.A.Y.E tax in the next Budget. With these few remarks, I say thank you very much as I fully support the motion.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to equally add a voice to the debate on the motion of supply following the Budget that was presented to this august House by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Madam, let me start by stating that this coming Sunday, I will be turning forty and, therefore, you may wish to note that I have spent a considerable number of years learning governance over the last forty years that I have been around. Within those years, in my learning processes, I have learnt that there is no such thing as a perfect budget but it is true to say that we look for a progressive budget. As we debate this Budget, it is important to ask ourselves as to whether it has attempted to progressively address issues that confront our people.

Madam Speaker, let me start by confining myself to addressing issues of progressiveness. I will start with the downside of what I thought should have been addressed in the Budget and I will talk about the mining sector. I come from a constituency that is predominantly dependant on mining, particularly, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mines.

Madam, with the conclusion of the discussion between the Government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the culmination into that package that will come into the economy, we, the people on the Copperbelt, had anticipated highly that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning was going to set aside a considerable amount that should have gone into the recapitalisation of Mopani Copper Mines. My colleague, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kamfinsa, has elaborated before this august House, the need to recapitalise Mopani Copper Mines. I thought I must also add a voice that we are very expectant.

Madam Speaker, we speak so passionately about the issue to recapitalise Mopani Copper Mines because our lives are anchored around the existence of Mopani Copper Mines and KCM. It is my prayer that the Government finds an answer to this issue before the destitution among our people increases.

Madam Speaker, let me further state that the hon. Minister has indicated several times over the need for the Government to grow the production of copper to three million metric tonnes. However, we have heard reports that the production, as of last year, has gone down. This means that we need to address existing mines as we look to open new mines. Therefore, it is our hope that we will pay attention to the issue of Mopani Copper Mines.

Madam Speaker, let me go to the education sector. I want to be on record that this Government has shown a lot of commitment in addressing the issue of education. Firstly, is the introduction of the free education policy, which now calls on all of us to address the associated needs to make the free education policy a reality. I think that within our means, we have been given the resources to address issues of school infrastructure. The Government has already attended to issues of recruitment of teachers and I think that they are in the correct direction.

Madam Speaker, secondly, there could not have been better news for the students other than the reintroduction of meal allowance. I think that must be commended because it is a pronouncement this Government made prior to the elections. We were on this Floor when I personally supported the Motion to extend the bursary or loan support to private institutions.

Madam Speaker, what we were saying is merely to open up the education sector to the private sector. As the Government, when we move from being solely dependent on the Government or depending on the Government to finance the education sector, we will have the liberty to direct resources into other ends. Now that we are not politicking any more, again, I want to make mention that the Government needs to consider the proposal that we free the education sector into private entities like banks to finance the higher education.

Madam Speaker, I commend the Government for its commitment to continue building on school infrastructure. I am a beneficiary of 120 schools in an area called Kamakonde, which has been in existence for over forty years, and young people have had to traverse far and wide to access secondary education. So, let me commend the Government over the commitment to continue pumping money in improving the infrastructure. That, I say, is progressive.

Madam Speaker, let me further state that there is a wide ranging debate over the need to reform the pension systems. I have heard that Cabinet has already appended its signature to the need to improve or attend to the reforms in the pension sector. I, however, place it on record that we need to address this issue very carefully.

Madam Speaker, firstly, I want to take note of the increased allocation of resources towards addressing the backlog of challenge in as far as giving our pensioners money. Many people have died without getting their pension. Therefore, a move to allocate more resources in addressing not only the issues of the public pension arrears, but also the Local Government Superannuation Fund is commendable and an effort well done.

Madam Speaker, the caution, however, in regards to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) reforms is that as we look at how to enable NAPSA to waive penalties and provide amnesty over arrears. We must be careful to not allow complacency because employers will become complacent if we give them or NAPSA the leeway to waive those long standing penalties. So on that move, I want to appeal the Government that we must trade cautiously. However, let me state that as we look at these reforms in the pension systems, let us allow our people to claim their contributions at intervals because it will unlock resources into the economy thereby providing employment for our unemployed individuals.

Madam Speaker, not long ago, I was looking at a pay slip of an individual who had just retired. He was getting a K150,000 and guess what the contribution towards taxes was; it was K98,000. The pension package we get is perhaps the only resource we may have after having served in various endeavours for a very long time. My appeal, as we look at reforming the pension system in this country, is that we address the taxation of the last package an individual gets. In my view, it will not be so bad to make the last money that somebody gets free of taxes because it will enable them to have a decent life as they leave employment.

Madam Speaker, I thought that I must be on record to commend the Government over the steps that it has taken towards ending some of the perennial issues that we have confronted as the communities. However, I also urge hon. Members that it is time to also to address critical issues like the ones we have been lamenting about on the Copperbelt to do with Mopani Copper Mines as well as KCM. I know that the Government is capable, if only we focus and know that there is growing destitution on the Copperbelt.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for the opportunity given to the people of Luena to debate the Budget Speech that was ably presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane.

Madam Speaker, the people of Luena are grateful to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, for this focused Budget. The people of Luena are happy to hear that Limulunga Day Secondary School that has been under construction since 2011 is going to be completed next year. The people of Luena are also happy to hear that the new district administrative centre for Limulunga which was being constructed at Kaate is finally going to be completed.

Madam Speaker, the people of Luena are happy to hear that the Government has made a policy decision that every institution of learning in this country, primary schools included, will be connected to the national grid, in terms of electricity. Indeed, this is a game changer.

Madam Speaker, this is a Budget the people of Luena are going to debate on without throwing any punches. Indeed, there is no perfect budget, but this one can easily be described as a near perfect budget.

Madam Speaker, given where we are coming from, it was not expected that one year down the line, we will be turning the corner like we are doing in this Budget. In normal circumstances, this is a Budget that would have come somewhere around 2024/2025. However, when the economy is in the hands of economic geniuses such as his Excellency and his team of managers, it is within twelve months that we can talk about a budget that is growth oriented.

Madam Speaker, there is K11.2 billion to be invested in the agricultural sector. My hon. Colleagues have already stated the potential in this sector to double, if not triple, our employment numbers in the country. With higher employment numbers, we can have more people paying taxes and therefore, have lower taxes which will increase the circulation of money and therefore achieve higher economic growth.

Madam Speaker, this is indeed very exciting. More exciting is the fact that alongside the K11.2 billion going into the agricultural sector, there is also in excess of K5 billion that will go into road construction. This takes me back to my constituency. I can foresee that sooner or later, the road which currently ends in Limulunga and does not get to the new administration centre in Kaate will also be constructed alongside electricity being taken to Kaate. The people of Luena are, therefore, very excited about this.

Madam Speaker, I can see that the longstanding road from Katunda to Lukulu, Watopa and Mumbezhi will also be constructed. I can also see that the road from Sikongo to the border will also be constructed.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, I heard the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning also specifically single out some of the infrastructure that will be developed even in areas where this Government did not win a seat. Many people were expecting or thought that this Government will be vengeful. Anybody who thought like that has since been put to shame because this Government is distributing resources to all the corners of the country, equally, without any discrimination. This is indeed how to run a country. Where we have come from was a classical example of how to not run a country.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, when I think of Simaa Primary School, Ituku Primary School, Sitoya Primary School and Nangili Primary School and many other primary schools in my constituency, I can see that these projects that are going to open up the rural areas, which will also be followed by rapid economic transformation.

Mr Mubika: And Mushituwambumu!

Mr Anakoka: And Mushituwambumu.

Laughter

Mr Anakoka: Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has been increased at a time when nobody thought it was going to be increased this year. This is so much appreciated by the people in constituencies like Luena Constituency. Simple arithmetic will show that if in every constituency ten classrooms are going to be built, we will have 1,560 classrooms. At an average of about fifty to sixty pupils using one classroom, you will have just under 100,000 pupils, who are currently learning under trees and will be learning under decent infrastructure. If you think about areas where you can even have double streams, this can easily be 150,000 pupils. What will be the situation four to five years done the line? Indeed, this country is on a trajectory that can only be described as getting us to being a developed state. Indeed, the major steps to development have been commenced.

Madam Speaker, the restoration of meal allowances to our students has been welcomed by the students. I read in the media that in fact they took to the streets to celebrate this important development. Let me link this to the pass or progression rates in our universities. Alongside giving this money to these students in the universities, we need to follow through and monitor the progression rates. It is high time to not have situations where a university enrols 6,000 students and have 700 students graduating because that is indeed an unproductive way of utilising our resources. So, the universities that are being funded so heavily by this Government must also deliver and the delivery that the nation expects from them is that there should be improved throughput.

Madam Speaker, there is a lot one could say about this Budget, but given that time is a constraint, I could only say this is indeed, chintu cabwino maningi.

I thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Luena, the hon. Members want to know what chintu cabwino maningi means.

Mr Anakoka: It means ‘very, very good thing indeed’.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Mr Sampa (Matero): Madam Speaker, I should wind up my debate by 1624 hours.

Madam Speaker, let me try for 1 per cent of my speech to practice how it feels to praise and worship. Let me praise the Government for the increment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K25.7 million to K28 million. I say well done. It is very good, ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa: ... but it should have been increased to even K100 million because the absorption rate, so far, is mostly theoretical. It is not reaching the people. It is still taking two years to reach the people.

Mr Nkombo interjected.

Mr Sampa: It is everywhere for it to be absorbed.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Let us allow the hon. Member to debate. If you have any points, please, take note and then you will be able to rebut.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, my time needs to be added on.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, address the Chair. Do not talk to the hon. Members directly.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development likes to distract me. Back to my praise and worship, I say well done to the Government on the bursaries given to University of Zambia (UNZA) students. That is the way it should be. That is what we advocated for. However, the Government has only given them loans. It is not even free. It is a loan and has only been given to a few. What about the students at the private universities? All of us are being harassed in our constituencies. Are the students at other universities not Zambians? Nevertheless, I praise the Government on those two issues.

Madam Speaker, I now come to the pronouncements. The theme of the Budget was “Stimulating Growth for Improved Livelihoods”. My theme for this Budget is “Same Old”. It is the same story as before. There is not enough punching. It is the same things we have heard before. In the last fifteen years, the Budget has never punched. I listened to the Budget Address. It is the same as the ones presented before it. It has just moved the threshold for Pay-as-You Earn (PAYE). Same old story, no punch. The only constant about the Budget Speeches is the length taken to read them, which is the same three hours. Can it not be improved surely? It is copy and paste at the ministry. Only the figures are changed.

Madam Speaker, as I progress, I must mention that instead of growing, this Budget –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, instead of the 2023 Budget growing from the 2022 Budget, which was K173 billion, this Budget has shrunk to K167 billion. When the hon. Minister presents the Supplementary Budget, he should give us hope. A budget should always look to increase. Why is it shrinking?

Interruptions

Mr Sampa: When drafting a budget, there is a need to think outside the box. I am looking forward to a day when the Budget will be read and it will have a punch and be a product of thinking outside the box, whereby everyone will say, “Wow, this is the hope”. However, as it is, it is the same old things we hear.

Interruptions

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, there are zero revenue sources in this Budget. All of it is dependent on borrowing. What this New Dawn Government has done is to cleverly come with flowery words. Instead of using the word ‘borrowing’ in the Budget, the New Dawn Government is camouflaging it and calling it financing something chakuti chakuti ...

Laughter

Mr Sampa: ... so that the people of Matero do not understand. It is still borrowing. All of it will be financed by borrowing. The hon. Minister did not show us where the funds will come from.

Madam Speaker, I was looking forward to seeing a fund for the youths. The biggest problem we have in this country is that the youths are unemployed. When we remove the political tag, we will note that all the youths are living in poverty. It has been ongoing and they are many. In the last Budget, we had said that the Government had to do something for the youths, but the advocacy was attributed to the fact that the said youths belonged to the Patriotic Front (PF). They are now the youths of the Ruling Party. We have seen that after attacking us, they are now tired of attacking us. They are now attacking our hon. Colleagues on your right. We have seen them giving ultimatums to hon. Ministers. We saw it and we warned our hon. Colleagues, but they did not listen. This is all because of poverty. The Government should have a fund for the youths. In this Budget, there was no fund for the youths, but there was a fund for tourism. Maybe, Hon. Sikumba can see to it that part of that fund goes to the youths.

Madam Speaker, the Budget Address was lukewarm. The Budget has no financing component.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, let me go to the major aspect of my debate, which is on mining. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, on page 20, under clause 90 said the following:

As Government works towards the attainment of the production capacity of 3 million metric tonnes, we are working to urgently resolve the challenges at Konkola and Mopani Copper Mines. It has taken some time to resolve the challenges –”

Madam Speaker, it has not taken some time to resolve the challenges, it has taken forever. It is one year down the line. In the 2024 Budget, the hon. Minister will still be saying it has taken some time.

Madam Speaker, here is the scenario. In Kitwe and Mufulira, we have Mopani Copper Mines Plc and in Chingola, we have the Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM). There is no life going on in the towns because the operations at the mines are stagnant. If the mines are not operating on the Copperbelt, we feel it in Lusaka because no one is earning there through the mines. The suppliers are not coming to entertain themselves in Lusaka and they are not spending. What are our youths, including those from the UPND, doing as a result of this?

Hon. PF Members: They abduct girls!

Mr Sampa: They resort to crime. They abduct girls.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order!

Mr Sampa: Empower the youths.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Matero!

Please, resume your seat.

Mr Sampa resumed his seat.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I guided that that matter is still under investigations. Does the hon. Member for Matero have any evidence to show who abducted those children? You know, as we are here, we should debate responsibly. We should not incite people against any one. We will just be doing damage to ourselves. Let us control ourselves.

May the hon. Member for Matero proceed, but withdraw that statement.

Mr Sampa: Much obliged, Madam Speaker. I withdraw the statement that the UPND youths resort to crime and abduct girls. There is no proof that those abductors are UPND youths. They are youths of Zambia. They said it in the video that it is poverty that prompted them to commit that crime. They want money. Therefore, I am advocating that something is done to empower the youths.

Madam Speaker, we can look at the KCM and Mopani Copper Mines through the sponsorship of football clubs. Nkana Football Club is not doing well because there is nothing happening at Mopani. Nchanga Rangers Football Club, Mighty Mufulira Wanderers and Konkola Blades Football are all not doing well and have been relegated to a lower league.

Madam Speaker, the solution to the challenge at Mopani Copper Mines is even easier because Mopani Copper Mines is in the hands of the Government, under the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-HI). The Government should find money and inject it into Mopani Copper Mines. The source of money or dollars does not show. It can be sourced from anywhere, but we know that there are no dollars in Zambia. No one has money to inject into Mopani Copper Mines. Therefore, the Government should go outside the country and look for money. The only word it should avoid is ‘privatisation’. It is disliked out there. The Government can use any other word, but privatisation. It can list the mine or find equity partners, provided it gets the operations of the mine moving.

Madam Speaker, for the KCM, the owners are there. The Government said that it would give the mine back to the owners. So, it should negotiate with them. The Government asked the owners of the KCM to withdraw the case from the courts of law and they did that, but then the Government is now talking to other equity partners. Whatever it does, let it find the money. The Government should list the KCM on the stock exchange in London or Toronto. What is important is to get the operations at the KCM and Mopani Copper Mines moving. The issue of money in circulation will be resolved. Mopani Copper Mines and the KCM are the heart, the nondo. The nondo is that part of the chicken given to the most treasured person in a home, who was a man in those days. In this case, the Zambian citizens need to be given cash flow from Mopani Copper Mines and the KCM. The Government should find equity partners. It should just not use the word ‘privatisation’ and we will support it.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Amutike (Mongu Central): Madam Speaker thank you very much for giving the people of Mongu Central a chance to say a few words. Mongu Central is the heartland of the Western Province. The people of Mongu Central are very excited about the Budget that was presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. It is a Budget that gives a lot of hope. It is a Budget that shows that, once again, their vote that ushered in the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government with President Hakainde Hichilema at the helm of this economy was meaningful.

Madam Speaker, we also want to thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning on the way the Budget was delivered. I think you will agree with me that the Budget was carefully crafted and was meticulously delivered by the able hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Madam Speaker, this Budget has demonstrated that our President has a blue print or vision to turn around this economy. I think we are coming from a past where we elected Presidents without a vision. Now, we have a President who knows what he wants and where he wants to take the country. We have seen it in the Budget that the Government has laid down policies and programmes that are aimed at turning around the economy. We see that by reading through the Budget Speech.

Madam Speaker, the people of Mongu Central are very confident that this is the beginning of new things to happen. Last year, the people of Zambia elected the new Government led by the UPND. It was a political tsunami that ushered in Mr Hakainde Hichilema as President of this country. Now, beginning with this Budget, we are witnessing an economic tsunami that is going to turn around the economy of Zambia. We are confident and the people of Mongu are very confident that we are on the right path.

Madam Speaker, the Budget has been correctly themed: ‘Stimulating Economic Growth for improved livelihoods’. There is no doubt that we need to stimulate this economy if we are going to see major changes. We need a catalyst. That is what the President has done. So, we are very excited about the pronouncements that have been made in the tourism sector of suspending certain taxes on capital equipment and the removal of visa fees from certain countries. We see that as a way of stimulating the economy. We are confident that the tourism sector, even in the Western Province, is going to witness growth.

By the way, Madam Speaker, the constituency which the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning represents, Liuwa Constituency, has the second largest migration of wildebeests in the world, which one can witness. One does not have to go to the Serengeti to watch the beauty of wildebeests migrating but can simply go to Kalabo in the Liuwa National Park and witness the migration. As the New Dawn Government, we are working round the clock to ensure that we make these areas easily accessible.

Madam Speaker, this coming week, we will have the Western Province Tourism, Trade and lnvestment Expo in Mongu, the heartland of the Western Province. We invite all hon. Members of Parliament to visit Mongu as we are also launching flights by Proflight Zambia from Lusaka to Mongu. One can now fly. They do not have to spend six hours on the road because they can now fly. We want flights to be overbooked so that they can go and see the potential that the Expo will reveal to all of them who want to go there as visitors. Go and see the exhibitors that will be parading their various companies and products that the Western Province can offer. So, we invite you all to go to our Expo.

Madam Speaker, in the Western Province, we have the Sioma Ngwezi National Park. People are not even aware that the third largest national park in Zambia is in Sioma, in the Western Province, in Hon. Mandandi’s constituency.

Mr Mubika: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: There is also a falls in Sioma. It is a beautiful scenery. Unlike my colleague Hon. Sampa who says he does not see where the revenue will come from, we see that the Budget is very specific. In the Budget the hon. Minister made pronouncements that he wants to grow domestic revenue to about 20.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That is revenue generated domestically, hon. Member. So, we thank the New Dawn Government for these pronouncements and we see that this will help the Zambian economy grow.

Madam Speaker, in the mining sector, the people of Mongu Central have asked me to congratulate the hon. Minister for maintaining the policies and current tax consistencies. That is what happens when you think outside the box.

Madam Speaker, for some of us who had the privilege to work outside the country in more urban economies, it was such a strange thing that the moment you got a job, as you move into the bank, thirty minutes later, you could come back with a house and a car without putting in a cent. The Government and banks would force you to buy on hire purchase because they knew it brought more value than cash purchase. That is what the President and his Minister of Finance and National Planning are trying to do. Mining is a long term investment. You have to attract the investors to come and invest and as they do that, many jobs and taxes are being created directly and indirectly. That is the smart way of doing things. We cannot afford to have the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) surpassing us in terms of economic activities.

Madam Speaker, the last thing I want to touch on is on farming in the agricultural sector. I thank the Minister of Finance and National Planning for assuring the people of Zambia that the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) is here to stay. We also want to thank him for recognising that it needs to be modernised and reconfigured so that it can include extension and financial support in the sector. We need to re-establish Zambia as an agricultural ecological region. We want to make sure that we increase the production that happens in this country in terms of farming. As I speak now, there is wheat production in Kalabo Constituency because people have begun farming wheat. We want make sure that we increase production in terms of wheat. We want to grow it and to not get it from Ukraine, the country where there is war. We want to get wheat from Kalabo to grow this economy. That is what we want to do.

Madam Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing the people of Bwana Mkubwa to contribute to debate on this Motion of Supply which was moved by the Minister of Finance and National planning, Dr Stumbeko Musokotwane.

Madam Speaker, as I speak, the people of Bwana Mkubwa have hope in this Budget. I will quickly look at the health sector, the education sector and look at the resource envelope to see if it is tallying and speaking to what has been outlined in the Budget.

Madam Speaker, a healthy nation is a progressive nation. We do thank the hon. Minister that they have provided about 10.4 per cent of the Budget to the Ministry of Health, broken down into the acquisition of drugs, other medical equipment as well as health infrastructure. The movement or the leap from the K2.7 billion to K4.5 billion for drugs by the Ministry of Finance and National planning is a welcome move because it entails that even the people of Mushili, in Bwana Mkubwa, will have access to the medicines which will be procured by the ministry. However, I want to urge the Government to ensure that it streamlines policies of procurement to ensure that even as we provide for the medicines with K4.5 billion, medicines are procured in good time unlike having the burning rate of these funds so slow thus the medicines not being procured in good time.

Madam Speaker, let me also make mention about the K1.1 billion for health infrastructure. This is a very good move. It entails that most of our mini hospitals and clinics should be constructed and completed in good time for our citizens to access the much needed medical help.

Madam Speaker, medical equipment is paramount to these facilities. You can have facilities but if you do not have medical equipment, then they are just empty places. It is very important that the provision of X-Rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, and such equipment has been made in this progressive Budget.

Madam Speaker, let me move to the education sector which is about 13.9 per cent of the total Budget. Education is the best equaliser and we do thank the New Dawn Government for the provision of free education, which is very important because even kids from Kantolomba can access education and come and represent their people in Parliament.

Madam Speaker, regarding the school infrastructure, the Government has provided K1.5 billion. We hope that even the people of Bwana Mkubwa who have never had a government secondary school since 1964, now have hope that they can have a secondary school. So, we do appreciate and thank the New Dawn Government for the provision of school infrastructure development in our communities.

Madam Speaker, on the issue of school bursaries, we can have infrastructure but if people cannot access the much needed education, then it all in vain. However, school bursaries also come in to complement the infrastructure by ensuring that our school going children can access education even through the Constitutional Development Fund (CDF).

Madam Speaker, regarding the issues of water and sanitation, which has a provision of K2.2 billion in this Budget, I thank the New Dawn Government, especially us, coming from the Copperbelt because the Kafulafuta Dam contractor has now been paid to remobilise and finish that mammoth project. We have water challenges in that area, and Bwana Mkubwa Constituency is not spared. So, going forward, if this is completed, then the water challenges in some districts, namely Ndola, Luanshya, Kafulafuta and Masaiti, will have access to clean water. To that effect, it is commendable job and we need to give credit where it is due.

Madam Speaker, let me just highlight a few things regarding the provision of K11.2 billion in the agricultural sector. I am sure most of my friends have debated on that but I will zero in on the issues of irrigation and farming blocks which is very important because we need to be food secure as a country.

Madam Speaker, most of the time we have our brothers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other countries surviving on Zambia. As we speak, we did offload about 450,000 metric tonnes of maize into the region. This entails that this sector can be our foreign exchange earner and the Government can take some money to other sectors.

Madam Speaker, time is not on my side but let me thank the New Dawn Government for the provision of extension services to farmers. It is very important that our farmers are helped in that vein because they are subsistence farmers. There are new farming conservation practices which they need to learn and ensure that they sufficiently produce for this country.

Madam Speaker, let me quickly look into the resources envelop. I just want to contrast and look at figures because they do not lie. If we look at our budget of K167 billion, domestic revenue which will fund this budget is about K111 billion. However, when you look at the introduction, especially, of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel, such as diesel, is very good, and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) intends to raise about K6 billion through that intervention for three months.

Madam Speaker, if I look at wholesale price which has been provided by the Government through the Tanzania Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA), which is about K18.116 per cubic litre of fuel, it has gone down from the K18.399. This entails that we may have to lure most of these big suppliers to bring fuel into the country because for us to earn the VAT, we need more imports not what is inland. So, that is the contrast that I wanted to bring out. It is important that we harmonise the two and ensure that we do not have revenue deficit in that vein.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, let me thank the New Dawn Government because the economical fundamentals do not lie. We look at the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate, which they need to bring down to at least 4 percent. All these fundamentals are what have brought us here today. We are able to perform well as a country and have a stable exchange rate. It is not rocket science but through the implementation of good principles or prudential management of funds. There is also maintenance of the international reserve to three months’ cover –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

_______

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Mwambazi: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was just about to conclude my debate.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude my debate on this progressive Budget, let me thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and the New Dawn Government for this progressive Budget.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order!

It appears there is no indication for further debate for today. I am surprised because on Friday, some hon. Members were not very keen to adjourn. They wanted to debate there and then. In particular, the hon. Member for Chinsali, but I cannot see him.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: On a light note, I do not know whether I need assistance from my sisters from a neighbouring country.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: However, I really wanted him to debate today. Be that as it is, I am sure he will debate later.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: That was on a light note.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Let me just make a correction. When the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu raised a matter of urgent public importance, I erroneously directed it to the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, when it was supposed to be directed to the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and in his absence, the Leader of Government Business. So, that correction should be made. The matter of urgent public importance is directed at the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. If he is not available, then it is directed at the Her Honour the Vice-President.

Order!

ADJOURNMENT

The Vice-President (Ms Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1707 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 5^thOctober 2022.

____________

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