Tuesday, 1st December, 2020

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Tuesday, 1st December, 2020

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

________

MOTION

WAYS AND MEANS

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now resolve into Committee of Ways and Means to consider the raising of supply. I am a bearer of seven messages from His Excellency the President recommending that these Motions, which I now lay on the Table, be proceeded with in this House.

Mr Kampyongo laid the paper on the Table.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, as a result of the Budget which was presented to this House on 25th September, 2020, it is necessary to introduce certain financial measures which I will outline in the Committee.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to make some remarks on the Motion. As the hon. Minister has indicated, the Motion on the Floor seeks to find money to fund the various expenditures that we have been talking about in the past few months. That is what the Motion is asking for and, basically, most of the measures are about raising taxes.

Madam Speaker, when the hon. Minister presented his Budget Speech, he raised a few taxes here and there, but I also remember that he said that he would give the Zambian citizens some relief on taxation. In particular, he talked about raising the level for incomes to be tax free, from K3,000 per month to K4,000 per month, which was meant to be a relief to the members of the Zambian public.

Madam Speaker, I want to state that taxation is understood perhaps in two different levels. There is one form of taxation that the accountants normally talk about. An example of that taxation is what was referred to by hon. Minister in the Budget Speech, where someone who earns K4,000 and less does not pay any tax, although previously it was K3,000. However, another important form of taxation that the Government hardly ever speaks about is the inflation tax, and that is the one that I want to talk about this afternoon.

Madam Speaker, inflation is a form of tax. Inflation is the constant increase in prices as is the case today. In the economic field, it is a well established fact that that is a form of taxation. It is taxation because value is taken away from the citizens. For example, if an item, say sugar, previously cost K12 and its price increases to K20/K25 yet people’s incomes remain the same, that is a tax on the consumer because it takes away his/her purchasing power. Considering what has been happening in this country this year, inflation keeps rising, from being a single digit to a double digit and, unfortunately, it is rising every month. It rises as the exchange rate fluctuates, and in certain cases, even when the exchange rate is not fluctuating. So, prices are increasing every month.

Madam Speaker, let me give an example of a family. If a family borrows too much and when the time for it to pay back comes, for it to pay back that money, it means the amount of money that it will spend will reduce. So, similarly, because we have borrowed too much at the national level, for the Government to be able to pay back, there is no other way out and the buying power for the public must go down, and this is what has been happening in the country. The buying power of someone who buys dollars, sugar or meat keeps going up because the Government must be enabled to spend more on debt service.

So, my plea is that the Government should take a look at this more serious tax, and not the change from K4,000 to K3,000 that the hon. Minister of Finance talked about, because that is nothing compared to the inflation tax that has been inflicted on the Zambian public, whereby the buying power of money has reduced. The hon. Minister should do something about this more important tax, rather than the superficial relief that he talked about.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Minister of Tourism and Arts (Mr Chitotela): Madam Speaker, I support the hon. Minister of Finance’s initiative; job well done.

Madam Speaker, since 2011, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has provided a lot of relief to the Zambian workers, and to a large extent, they have had disposable incomes to spend. However, every Government on this earth runs on taxes. In the western world, it is a criminal offence for anyone not to pay taxes. The PF Government realises that it needs money to provide social services such as medicines, pay teachers, and buy requisites for our children in schools, so that they can have a brighter future. As we know, education is an equaliser. So, for the Government to spend money, it needs to raise money, and that is why the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has come up with the initiative to do that.

Madam Speaker, what is the Government doing to create an enabling environment for the private sector to grow, so that it can raise money through taxes? The Government has provided relief through tax rebates in the private sector, and let me talk about the relief measures for tourism businesses. There has been a reduction of the corporate income tax from 35 per cent to 15 per cent. That is working as a catalyst to encourage new businesses in the tourism sector. Once people begin investing in the tourism sector, as many people as possible will be employed, and a Zambian worker who would get K3,300 will now get K4,000. However, yesterday, the Government, through the Public Service Management Division (PSMD), announced that a salary increment of 8 per cent has been awarded across sectors.

Madam Speaker, for the Government to provide quality services to its people, it needs to raise money. People have talked about borrowing for infrastructure development. The people who studied the history of economics know that during the industrialisation period in Europe, countries suspended many things. They had to invest in infrastructure development because it is a precursor to economic growth. Without the Government investing in energy, road, rail, and marine infrastructure, you cannot talk about economic growth. I have cited this example before: You can have US$2 million, but if you are in Shang’ombo, that money is useless, because you cannot spend it. It cannot work for you. So, we need to invest where it matters the most for us to begin receiving dividends that will be passed on to the people of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, I know it has not been easy, but we have to take bold decisions for the good of the country. The population keeps increasing and it increases by multiplication, while social services increase by addition. So, we need to balance the equation. We need to raise money for us to provide social services. We need to do things that matter the most to the people of Zambia. What is key is to raise money and spend it on the intended purpose that will benefit the poor people in society, and the underprivileged people in Shang’ombo and Chitotela Village, who are looking for a school, a teacher, and medicines in a rural health centre.

Madam Speaker, I support the hon. Minister’s initiative of bringing these important Bills to help the Government find ways and means of raising money. I support the Bills.

I thank you, Madam.

Question put and agreed to.

______

COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

The Zambia Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move that it is expedient to amend the Zambia Revenue Authority Act so as to:

  1. revise the composition of the Governing Board;
  1. revise the quorum of the Governing Board;
  1. provide for meetings of the Governing Board; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Mr Chairperson, the purpose of this Motion is to enable me introduce legislation to amend the Zambia Revenue Authority Act so as to introduce changes that were announced in the Budget Speech on 25th September, 2020.

Mr Chairperson, I beg to move.

Question put and agreed to.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move that it is expedient to amend the Income Tax so as to:

  1. increase the Pay-As-You-Earn tax free threshold for individuals to forty-eight thousand Kwacha per annum.
  1. increase the amount allowed as deduction for employing a person with disability to two thousand Kwacha per annum from one thousand Kwacha per annum;
  1. increase the tax credit for persons with disabilities to six thousand per annum from three thousand per annum;
  1. reduce the income tax rate to fifteen percent on income earned by persons providing accommodation and food services;
  1. reintroduce a local content allowance for utilisation of selected local raw materials to encourage local content, value addition and agro-processing;
  1. increase the number of years for claiming development allowance to five years from three years on expenditure incurred on the growing of rose flower, tea, coffee, banana plant, citrus fruit trees or other similar plants or trees;
  1. increase the tax rate on betting to twenty-five percent of the gross takings from ten percent of gross takings;
  1. provide for the imposition of withholding tax on payments made by a resident company in the Republic to a non-resident company in respect of royalty financing;
  1. provide for the mandatory maintenance of books of accounts in Zambian Kwacha; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the forgoing.

Sir, the purpose of this Motion is to enable me to introduce legislation to amend the Income Tax Act so as to introduce changes that were announced in the Budget Speech on 25th September, 2020.

Mr Chairperson, I just want to thank the whole august House for the support.

I thank you, Sir.

Question put and agreed to.

THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE ACT

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move that it is expedient to amend the Customs and Excise Act so as to:

  1. reduce the customs duty on selected agriculture equipment and inputs;
  1. increase the customs duty on selected agriculture products;
  1. provide for a deduction mechanism for exercise duty paid on airtime for service providers;
  1. provide for a time frame for pre-clearance for imported goods through a customs aerodrome;
  1. remove the customs duty on copper ores and concentrates;
  1. introduce selected goods surtax on imported ethyl alcohol;
  1. introduce exercise duty on reconstituted milk; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the forgoing.

Sir, the purpose of this Motion is to enable me to introduce legislation to amend the Customs and Excise Act so as to introduce changes that were announced in the Budget Speech on 25th September, 2020.

Mr Chairperson, once again, I want to sincerely thank the hon. Members of this august House for this support.

I thank you, Sir.

Question put and agreed to.

PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX ACT

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move that it is expedient to amend the Property Transfer Tax Act so as to:

  1. apply property transfer tax, in case of an indirect transfer of shares, to a transfer of shares that represents at least ten per cent of the value of shares in a company incorporated in the Republic;
  1. redefine the criteria for the determination of realised value on indirect transfer of shares;
  1. remove trusts from the list of exemption of property transfer tax; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the forgoing.

Sir, the purpose of this Motion is to enable me to introduce legislation to amend the Property Transfer Tax Act so as to introduce changes that were announced in the Budget Speech on 25th September, 2020.

Mr Chairperson, I am profoundly humbled by the support rendered by this august House.

I thank you, Sir.

Question put and agreed to.

THE VALUE ADDED TAX ACT

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move that it is expedient to amend the Value Added Tax so as to;

  1. provide for the use of an electronic payment machine as the payment method and introduce a penalty for failure to comply.
  1. provide for a trigger point for the computation of the two year period for an assessment based on an incorrect or inadequate return;
  1. revise the penalty for submission of false returns and statements;
  1. provide for an upward adjustment of the penalty for evasion of taxation; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Mr Chairperson, the purpose of this Motion is simply to enable me to introduce legislation to amend the Value Added Tax Act so as to introduce changes that were announced in the Budget Speech on 25th September, 2020.

I thank you, Sir

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for this opportunity to make some remarks on the proposal to amend the Value Added Tax Act. I have no problems with those proposals presented by the hon. Minister. However, I want to request that he considers something that is very important. As a result of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that is reigning in the country, one of the sectors that has been hit very badly is that of hotels and catering services. Those who have been to Livingstone of late, will attest to the fact that most of the hotels are close to being empty. Similarly, here in Lusaka, it is the same story.

Mr Chairperson, we have to think about what we are going to do to revive the industry. I want to bring to the attention of the hon. Minister the fact that in a sense, the country is losing opportunities here in Africa and in Zambia as well. It is losing opportunities in the sense that we are failing to recognise the fact that COVID-19 has not hit us as badly as many other countries on earth.

Mr Chairperson, just a few moments ago, I was looking at the World Health Organisation (WHO) tabulation, and Zambia is among the few countries on earth which is considered to be safe. Not that there is no COVID-19 here, there is, but at very low levels. Along with Zambia, there are other countries that are also safe. On that list were countries like Singapore, New-Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia and a few other countries.

Mr Chairperson, if we are considered to be safe, and we also know that there are other countries which are safe, and these are countries where there are very rich people, you can image the amount of dollars that the Saudi Arabians and the Australians are sitting on. They are tired of sitting in their deserts. They would love to go out, but as a country, we are not presenting ourselves in a manner that says to them: “come to Zambia and enjoy without the fear of COVID-19.” These are opportunities that are available for the country to start or restart the tourism industry.

Mr Chairperson, the connection of this with what the hon. Minister was reading out is that we have to go beyond what was presented in the Budget by the hon. Minister of Finance in terms of the stimulus package. In the Budget, the hon. Minister talked about reducing Income Tax for hotels and other companies as a way of stimulating demand. How does this reduction in Income Tax help the industry in the first place? I do not see it happening.

Mr Chairperson, I, therefore, would argue that the first step that the Government should take is to remove the Value Added Tax (VAT) totally on the hotels and hospitality industry. It should be taken out completely. When this is done, the cost of doing business is going to come down and these hotels will be in a position to be competitive and attract the kind of visitors like those that I had indicated earlier on such as Singapore, New-Zealand, Australia and Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the Government should reduce to zero the VAT on the hotels in Livingstone and all others places.

Mr Chairperson, what I am proposing is not something that is outside of this world. There is a precedent to this. In the 1995/1996 when tourism was badly hit around the Livingstone area, VAT was at zero and we saw that bring up the industry that is how hotels like Sun International Hotel and many others were established in Livingstone because all of a sudden, they were competitive. So, the key point that I want to make is that VAT on hotels should be put at zero per cent.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Chairperson, I want to thank you for this opportunity. I would like to thank the hon. Minister for this wonderful presentation. It is a sign that His Excellency the President and this working Patriotic Front (PF) Government are actually working very hard to ensure that it gives tax relief to the citizens and also to ensure that Zambians remain compliant.

Mr Chairperson, I will be very brief on this debate. I just want to state that I wish to partially agree with the previous debater, Hon. Dr Musokotwane, when he said the Government should reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) to zero. We all know that the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) has ravaged our economy. However, it is just shocking that a few weeks ago, the same hon. Members of Parliament on your left who were saying the poor performance of the country was not due to COVID-19 but poor governances by the PF Government. Therefore, there is a contradiction. The United Party for National Development (UPND) must be consistent when it comes to debates. On one hand, it is saying let us remove VAT because of COVID-19 but on the other hand it is saying there is no COVID-19 in Zambia.

Mr Chairperson, it is important that we remain focused and be honest in our debates. I would also like to thank the hon. Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mwiimbu for agreeing with my position.

I thank you, Sir

The Minister of Tourism and Arts (Mr Chitotela): Mr Chairperson, I would like to support the proposal by the hon. Minister that we need to move. The tourism sector has been heavily hit, and during the stakeholders meeting, we did submit ten items that we wanted the Government to consider. Out of the ten, seven were granted; only three were not.

Mr Chairperson, in terms of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on tourism packages, the hon. Minister of Finance did agree to a suspension and a period of after two to three years to pay. The dissemination of information to the public is what is needed so that the public knows that out of the ten items that operators in the tourism sector requested for, seven were granted.

Mr Chairperson, firstly, we agreed on the suspension of taxes and the expiration of the period in which payment has as to be made in terms of the charges in the tourism sector. That is why we are inviting new investments in the tourism sector. Right now, as we speak, rural parts of Zambia do not attract tax for anyone who would want to set up any tourism business. Even under the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Act, Zambia gives tax exemptions to those that would want to set up businesses in rural areas.

Mr Chairperson, in our quest to promote the northern circuit, and the western circuit, where we have the Sioma Ngwezi National Park, people who would wish to invest in hotel construction, have tax exemption on materials used for the construction of tourism centres. This is based on the ZDA Act, which gives preferential treatment to investment in rural areas.

Mr Chairperson, I would also want to state that we are proud as the Zambian Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. When we launched the COVID-19 Zambia Tourism Sector Safety Protocols, we did apply to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Zambia was evaluated and regarded one of the safest countries to visit on planet earth. We also did apply to the World Health Organisation (WHO) who also granted us the same status.

Mr Chairperson, during the review, Zambia was the only country in Africa that was granted the status of one of the safest countries to visit in the World. Therefore, we need to hold together and promote the tourism to Zambia, so that as tourists come, the industry will start reviving. There are major things that the Government has given to the tourism sector that we need to utilise and take advantage of as citizens.

Mr Chairperson, as I support this Bill, I would like to appeal to us, as hon. Members of Parliament to take advantage of this opportunity has been given for the importation of tourism motor vehicles for site seeing, the luxury coaches. This opportunity was last given in 1992 when the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) came into power for the public sector transport. Let us take advantage of this as citizens of this country.

Mr Chairperson, next year, beginning in January up to December, you can bring in a luxury coach, at duty free, as long as you register that you would like to use it for tourism purposes, such the moving people from Lusaka to Livingstone. So, we would like many Zambians to take advantage and invest in the transport sector, specifically to deal with tourism activities. If we just sit and watch, our friends from abroad will come and register companies in Zambia and they will buy vehicles whilst we continue watching. Otherwise, the Government’s desire is to see many Zambians taking up businesses in the tourism sector. You can be in the transport value chain, and be treated as somebody who is promoting domestic tourism.

Mr Chairperson, with these few words, I support the Bill. We cannot get all we requested for, but we would like to thank the Government. Of the ten items we requested for, the seven that were granted was a very good relief.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Chairperson, thank you for according me this opportunity to debate the Motion that has been moved by the acting hon. Minister of Finance.

Mr Chairperson, I would like to categorically state that Hon. Ngulube, Deputy Chief Whip was being mischievous by stating that the United Party for National Development (UPND) has been saying that there is no Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Zambia. If anything, it is the Patriotic Front (PF), which has been behaving as if there is no COVID-19 in Zambia, taking into account the way they have been gathering and making people believe that there is no COVID-19. So, it is not correct to make statements –

Mr Ngulube: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Ngulube, resume your seat. Hon. Mwiimbu continue.

Mr Mwiimbu: I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chairperson, the conduct of the leadership of the PF has led the people of Zambia to drop their guard and believe that there is no COVID-19.

Mr Chairperson, I would like to support the submissions made by my colleague, the UPND Whip, Hon. Dr Musokotwane, where he made a very prudent proposal to the acting hon. Minister of Finance. He tried to state that Zambia is a very expensive tourist destination. Whatever measures you are putting in place, if you do not address the issues that make the destination expensive, you will not be in a position to attract investors in this country.

Mr Chairperson, I heard the hon. Minister of Tourism requesting Zambians to invest in the hospitality industry and tourism ventures. That call, will not yield the required positive results. You may go to a bank, borrow money, and buy a tourist bus, which will always be empty and it will not be used, if the Government does not put tangible measures to attract tourists to come from outside the country.

Mr Chairperson, currently, Zambians are not able to be domestic tourists because of the expensive activities and accommodation that is obtaining. Zambians cannot afford. We should be attracting tourists from outside the country.

Mr Chairperson, towns like Livingstone are almost dead because there are no tourists coming. We should take advantage of the healthy environment we are in by lowering the cost of attracting tourists in this country. That is what my colleague proposed. If you give a tax holiday, for maybe five years that, tourists who come into Zambia will not be able to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) it will attract tourists. By attracting tourists, you will be creating employment. However, currently, in Livingstone, most of the lodges and hotels are closed, and people have been laid off. If we do not do anything drastic, we will not be able to attract tourists and create employment.

Mr Chairperson, the northern circuit we are talking about will not be able to attract tourists if the cost of holidays is very expensive. If you compare Zambia to South Africa, a five star hotel in South Africa may cost about US$150 per day, but in Zambia a two star hotel, costs USD$200. A tourist who is supposed to venture for holidays will opt to go to South Africa because it is cheaper. Why do we not emulate what other countries, that are in a situation we are facing ourselves, have done?

Mr Chairperson, we have no other industry, which we can sale more than tourism. The mining sector is dead because we are not getting the requisite income from the mining sector. 

The tourism sector in Zambia is quite unique because it is virgin. That is the type of tourism the tourists want to visit. I have no doubt in my mind that the hon. Minister of Finance is listening.

Sir, The issue of waiving the Income Tax he is talking about, on the part of the hotels, will not suffice. What income are they going to be making? There will be no income. Even if they do not waive it, there will be not income. They will only be able to generate income if they attract tourists.  For instance, here in Lusaka, the Taj Pamodzi Hotel has just opened and the occupancy rate is about 10 per cent. The Intercontinental Hotel is still closed. All the major hotels are almost operating at 10 per cent as occupancy rate. In this regard, we must put measures to attract tourism. I would like to appeal to the hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts to listen and consider the submissions that have been made by the hon. Minister of Finance. They are prudent and they are in the interest of the sector and the country at large.

Mr Chairperson, I thank you.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Chairperson, I have listened to very interesting debates and I therefore, want to thank the hon. Members of this august House who have debated. However, the objectives of the Bill are very clear. Just for the purpose of doubt, I will repeat that the purpose of this Bill is to amend the Value Added Tax so as to provide for the use of an electronic payment machine as a payment method and introduce a penalty for failure to comply. This is one of the objectives. Obviously, we acknowledge the debates that the hon. Members of Parliament such as Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, Hon. Dr Musokotwane, the hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts, Hon. Chitotela, and Hon. Tutwa Ngulube, have put on the Floor of this House.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Chairperson, for purpose of just setting the record straight, indeed, the hon. Minister of Finance was receptive to the proposals that came from the hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts in terms of what relief measures they needed to have in order to reboost the tourism industry. So, they were supported and a number of measures were put in place. I also just want to commend Hon. Dr Musokotwane for the debate he just gave because he has responded to the earlier debate where he was referring to the inflation rate being a tax on our citizens. In his immediate past debate, he talked about the challenges that Zambia has faced, just like any other country in terms of the effects that the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) has had on the economies of the countries. Zambia is not an exemption. He has talked about the factors that trigger the escalation of the inflation rate. So, we want to commend him for that.

Mr Chairperson, I thank you.

Question put and agreed to.

THE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT LEVY ACT

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move that it is expedient to amend the Skills Development Levy Act so as to revise the provisions relating to the charge of a Skills Development Levy.

Mr Chairperson, the purpose of this Motion is to enable me to introduce legislation to amend the Skills Development Levy Act so as to introduce changes that were announced in the Budget Speech on 25th September, 2020.

Mr Chairperson, I want to thank this august House for the unanimous support.

I thank you, Sir.

Question put and agreed to.

THE MINES AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT ACT

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move that it is expedient to amend the Mines and Minerals Development Act so as to provide for the change in name of the metal bulletin.

Mr Chairperson, the purpose of this Motion is to enable me introduce legislation to amend the Mines and Minerals Development Act so as to introduce changes that were announced in the Budget Speech on 25th September, 2020.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for this opportunity to support the proposed amendment. I submit that this amendment will actually help clarify many things. The Mines and Minerals Act has been very instrumental in the management of our mines. We believe that this amendment is necessary to give effect to a lot of other subjects that it deals with.

With those few remarks, I thank you.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Chairperson, I wish to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central, the Deputy Chief Whip for his debate and support. Indeed, I thank all the hon. Members of this august House for this support.

I thank you, Sir. 

Question put and agreed to.

_______

HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Resolutions reported.

Report adopted.

Question put and agreed to and Madam Speaker appointed the Acting hon. Minister of Finance to be a committee of one to bring the necessary Bills to give effect to the resolutions of the Committee of Ways and Means.

______

BILLS

FIRST READING

THE ZAMBIA REVENUE AUTHORITY (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Zambia Revenue Authority Act so as to –

  1. revise the composition of the Governing Board;
  1. revise the quorum of the Governing Board;
  1. provide for the meetings of the Governing Board; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Budget Committee. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 9th December, 2020. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE INCOME TAX (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Income Tax Act so as to –

  1. increase the Pay-As-You-Earn tax free threshold for individuals to forty-eight thousand Kwacha per annum;
  1. increase the amount allowed as a deduction for employing a person with disability to two thousand Kwacha per annum from one thousand Kwacha per annum;
  1. increase the tax credit for persons with disabilities to six thousand Kwacha per annum from three thousand Kwacha per annum;
  1. reduce the income tax rate to fifteen per cent on income earned by persons providing accommodation and food services;
  1. reintroduce a local content allowance for utilisation of selected local raw materials to encourage local content, value addition and agro-processing;
  1. increase the number of years for claiming development allowance to five years from three years on expenditure incurred on the growing of, rose flower, tea, coffee, banana plant, citrus fruit trees or other similar plants or trees;
  1. increase the tax rate on betting to twenty-five per cent of gross takings from ten per cent of gross takings;
  1. provide for the imposition of withholding tax on payments made by a resident company in the Republic to a non-resident company in respect of royalty financing;
  1. provide for the mandatory maintenance of books of accounts in Zambian Kwacha; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Budget Committee. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 9th December, 2020. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Customs and Excise Act so as to:

  1. reduce the customs duty on selected agriculture equipment and inputs;
  1. increase the customs duty on selected agriculture products;
  1. provide for a deduction mechanism for excise duty paid on airtime by service providers;
  1. provide for a time frame for pre-clearance for imported goods through a customs aerodrome;
  1. remove the customs duty on copper ores and concentrates;
  1. introduce selected goods on surtax on imported ethyl alcohol;
  1. introduce excise duty on reconstituted milk; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Budget Committee. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 9th December, 2020. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Property Transfer Tax Act so as to:

  1. apply property transfer tax, in the case of an indirect transfer of shares, to a transfer of shares that represents at least ten per cent of the value of shares in a company incorporated in the Republic;
  1. redefine the criteria for the determination of realised value on indirect transfer of shares;
  1. remove trusts from the list of exemption of property transfer tax; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to the forgoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Budget Committee. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 9th December, 2020. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE VALUE ADDED TAX (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Value Added Tax Act, so as to –

  1. provide for the use of an electronic payment machine as a payment method and introduce a penalty for failure to comply;
  1. provide for a trigger point for the computation of the two year period for an assessment based on an incorrect or inadequate return;
  1. revise the penalty for submission of false returns and statements;
  1. provide for an upward adjustment of the penalty for evasion of taxation; and
  1. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Budget Committee. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 9th December, 2020. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT LEVY (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Skills Development Levy Act, 2016, so as to revise the provisions relating to the charge of a skills development levy.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Budget Committee. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 9th December, 2020. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE MINES AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2015, so as to provide for the change in name of the Metal Bulletin.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Budget Committee. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 9th December, 2020. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

_______

BILLS

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE (Amendment) BILL, 2020

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 2 – (Amendment of section 2)

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Mr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 2:

  1. on page 7, after line 12

(i)         by the insertion of the following new paragraph immediately after paragraph (j):

(k)        a designated foreign authority;; and

(ii)        by the re-numbering of paragraph (k) as paragraph (l); and

(b)        on page 8, in line 30

by the deletion of the words “a person who” immediately after the word “means” and the substitution therefor of the words “an institution which”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

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

CLAUSE 3 – (Repeal and replacement of section 5)

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 3:

  1. on page 9, in lines 32 to 38

by the deletion of subclause (1) and the substitution therefor of the following:

(1)        The Centre is the designated National Centre for receipt, from reporting entities, and analysis of suspicious transaction reports, and any other information relevant to money laundering, and terrorism or proliferation financing and serious offences relating to money laundering, and terrorism or proliferation, including information from designated foreign authorities, made to the Centre under this Act or any other written law and for the dissemination of the results of that analysis.;

(b)        on page 10

   (i)         in lines 19 – 21

by the deletion of paragraph (d) and the substitution therefor of the following:

(d) conduct strategic analysis to identify related trends and patterns relating to money laundering, financing of terrorism or proliferation or any other serious offence related to money laundering, financing of terrorism or proliferation;; and

   (ii)        in line 33

by the insertion of the words “related to money laundering, financing of terrorism or proliferation” immediately after the word “offence”; and

(c)        on page 11

(i)         in line 3

by the insertion of the words “related to money laundering, financing of terrorism or proliferation” immediately after the word “offence”; and

(ii)        in lines 10 to 11

by the deletion of the words “or competent authority” and the substitution therefor of the words “competent authority or designated foreign authority.”

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 3, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 5 – (Repeal and replacement of section 16)

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 5, on page 12, in line 29 by the insertion of a comma and the word “data” immediately after the word “documents”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 5, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 6 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 7 – (Repeal and replacement of section 19)

Mr Kampyongo on behalf of Dr Ng’andu: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 7, on page 17, in line 39 by the insertion of the words “related to money laundering, financing of terrorism or proliferation” immediately after the word “offence”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 7, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 8, 9 and 10, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 11 – (Repeal and Replacement of Section 26)

Mr Kampyongo on behalf of Dr Ng’andu: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause11, on page 23, in lines 34 to 36 by the deletion of paragraph (b) and the substitution therefor of the following:

(b)        submit a suspicious transaction report in any country affected by the suspicious wire transfer, and make relevant transaction information available to the Centre.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

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

Clauses 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 18 – (Amendment of Section 54)

Mr Kampyongo on behalf of Dr Ng’andu: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move the following amendments in Clause 18:

  1. in line 17 by the insertion of the words “related to money laundering,

            financing of terrorism or proliferation” immediately after the word “ offence”; and

(b)        in line 22 by the insertion of the words “related to money laundering, financing of terrorism or proliferation” immediately after the word “offence”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

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

Clause 19, ordered to stand part of the Bill

CLAUSE 20 – (Repeal and Replacement of Section 58)

Mr Kampyongo on behalf of Dr Ng’andu: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 20, on page 29, in line 19 by the insertion of the words “related to money laundering, financing of terrorism or proliferation” immediately after the word “offence

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 20, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

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

_______

HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

The following Bill was reported to the House as having passed through Committee with amendments:

The Financial Intelligence Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Report Stage on Tuesday, 8th December, 2020

THIRD READING

The following Bill was read the third time and passed:

The Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 2020

_______

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE in the

Chair]

VOTE 09 – (The Teaching Service Commission – K7,704,814)

(Consideration resumed)

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for allowing me to continue debating the Teaching Service Commission budget line for 2021.

Mr Chairperson, last week, when I was debating this budget line, I gave a preamble to my debate that, I come from a family of teachers. Both my parents were teachers. I realise that the teaching profession is a noble career that deserves to be managed seriously. The Teaching Service Commission provides an opportunity to ensure that this noble profession is well managed to enhance productivity in this country.

Mr Chairperson, the challenges that we face with the Teaching Service Commission are twofold. One is that the Teaching Service Commission is underfunded, year in year out, thereby hampering its output. As far as I know, the Teaching Service Commission is supposed to appoint teachers, after that, confirm them, and after confirming them, it is supposed to promote those who deserve promotions. In some cases, it is supposed to transfer people between areas of service. However, this very important task has been affected by political interference. People who behave like cadres have been brought in that very important commission. We have situations where placement of staff in schools is now based on political patriotism. Such a situation has compromised the performance of teachers in institutions. There are many other challenges. The people who deserve promotions in most institutions have not been promoted because of cadre-ism; they are professional but do not patronise the Ruling Party. That has to come to an end. If this commission is to do any good to this country, we need to ensure that promotions are based on professionalism as the system is designed.

Mr Chairperson, one other thing that the commission is failing to do is to motivate the workers that it appoints into this very important and noble profession. We have situations where teachers are not even accommodated. Other commissions are trying to ensure that their staff are accommodated, but the Teaching Service Commission has left its teachers unattended to. There are many problems regarding accommodation in the teaching service. That must be looked into. The commission must be empowered enough to go round the country and establish how to support its teachers.

Mr Chairperson, with those few remarks, on behalf of the people of Zambezi East, I thank you.

Ms Kucheka (Zambezi West): Mr Chairperson, thank you for according me this opportunity to add the voice of the people of Zambezi West to the debate on this Vote.

Mr Chairperson, from the onset, let me say that I support this Vote, which is the Teaching Service Commission, with a heavy heart, or with reservations. The Teaching Service Commission has neglected mostly the teachers in rural areas. If you go to most schools in rural areas, for instance Zambezi West, you will find that a school which has classes from Grade 1 to Grade 7 only has one or two teachers, meaning that teachers are overwhelmed with work. There is no deployment of teachers. We have many teachers who completed their college education, but they have not been deployed. This is very unfortunate. Where is the Teaching Service Commission?

Mr Chairperson, it is also important that the Teaching Service Commission is well-funded in order for it to be able to reach out to far-flung places to help those teachers who are finding life difficult at their schools. The commission should also make sure that the material being used in schools is in tandem with the school curriculum, and the infrastructure where the teachers are staying is in good shape. The men and women who have completed college are just roaming the streets of this country, they are not being deployed. No employment has been offered to them. Where is the Teaching Service Commission? Parents take their children to colleges in order for the children to find employment. I do not know what is happening with our Government these days. In the old days, as soon as someone completed college, they would be deployed immediately. What is happening now is that ladies and gentlemen who have completed college are just roaming the streets. I do not know whether there are schools and pupils on those streets that they are teaching. The unemployed teachers are just roaming the streets, and that is very unfortunate.

Mr Chairperson, another task, or one of the primary functions of the Teaching Service Commission, is discipline. It is supposed to be visiting schools so that it can see the behaviour of the teachers and the problems that teachers are facing. However, this commission is a commission for just towns and the provincial capitals. Why is it not visiting the rural areas? I want it to be visiting rural areas. I appeal to the Government to fund this commission fully so that we can see its good work. I appeal to the Government to deploy many teachers because most schools in rural areas have no teachers. Why are teachers not being deployed when we have many teachers who have completed college? Children need to learn because education is very important for each and every one of us. Why should we not put the –

The Deputy Chairperson: We have lost the hon. Member, we cannot get her. We have to move on to the hon. Member for Lufwanyama, Mr Fungulwe.

Mr Fungulwe (Lufwanyama): Mr Chairperson, thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate on the Teaching Service Commission. As you are aware, this commission reviews the demand and supply of teachers in various institutions. As the hon. Member of Parliament who spoke earlier has alluded to, in these schools need to be upgraded, but the teachers who are there are not qualified to teach the higher grades. So what is the Teaching Service Commission doing?

Sir, as far as we know, the Teaching Service Commission advises the Government on matters related to the teaching profession such as deployment of teachers in schools which require qualified teachers. This commission also advises the Government on matters relating to the profession such as appointments. Nowadays, however, you would find that the people who are appointed in these offices are cadres of the Ruling Party. That is what is really happening on the ground and the Teaching Service Commission should advise the Government professionally. 

Mr Chairperson, there is also the issue of transfers. You would find that as an hon. Member of the Opposition, I have a relative who is a civil servant. However, once I am seen with that person, he/she is transferred somewhere very far. So does it mean that because we are in the Opposition, we should run away from our relatives? The Teaching Service Commission should advise the Government properly on this matter.

Sir, the only problem we have seen is that instead of the Teaching Service Commission giving advice, things are vice-versa. The Teaching Service Commission is now getting advice from politicians in the Ruling Party. Hence we are experiencing transfers which are frustrating teachers, simply because a teacher has been found with a relative who is in the Opposition. Sometimes people are even transferred because of just names, especially the names which start with ‘Ha’. So we are appealing to the Teaching Service Commission to advise the Government professionally. Cadres should not be brought into the teaching profession.

Mr Chairperson, if you go to schools in rural areas, you will find that pupils sit on the floor because there are no desks in classes. All these are issues on which the Teaching Service Commission should advise the Government. That is why we are saying the Teaching Service Commission should be mobile. It should be visiting places in rural areas and see what pupils and teachers are going through. There is also no accommodation for teachers.

Sir, there are also schools that have been upgraded, but there is no establishment. You would find that a teacher is frustrated because he/she cannot be put in the right scale. So it is the task of the Teaching Service Commission to advise the Government correctly.

Mr Chairperson, with these few remarks, I support the Vote and thank you.

The Minister in the Office of the Vice-President (Mrs Mwansa): Mr Chairperson, I would like to thank all the hon. Members who have debated on Vote 09, Teaching Service Commission, and I will respond to a few queries.

Sir, one of the queries was on infrastructure and curriculum. Hon. Member should know that issues of curriculum and infrastructure are not a mandate of the Teaching Service Commission. This is the mandate of the Ministry of General Education.

Sir, there was also a statement that the commission is not upgrading teachers. Many teachers have upgraded their qualifications in order to improve their skills and competence. The commission is not able to upgrade all the teachers’ salary scales because the payroll establishment has inadequate positions in higher salary scales. However, whenever positions in the higher salary scale are available, the commission processes the salary scale of the upgraded teachers.

Mr Chairperson, another query was on the Teaching Service Commission not assigning payroll establishment to schools. The Teaching Service Commission has no mandate to issue payroll establishment to schools as this is a mandate of the Public Service Management Division (PSMD), working with the line ministry.

I thank you, Sir.

Vote 09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 88 − (Muchinga Province − K51,578,374), VOTE 90 − (Lusaka Province − K78,609,714), VOTE 91 − (Copperbelt Province − K78,676,308), VOTE 92 − (Central Province − K77,212,343), VOTE 93 − (Northern Province − K70,389,238), VOTE 94 − (Western Province − K87,459,646), VOTE 95 − (Eastern Province − K71,829,539), VOTE 96 − (Luapula Province − K70,831,835), VOTE 97 − (North-Western Province − K67,889,677) and VOTE 98 − (Southern Province − K81,535,981).

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Mr Chairperson, I am honoured to present to this august House the unified policy statement in support of the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the Office of the President – Provincial Administration for 2021.

Sir, Provincial Administration embodies the presence of the central Government at the regional level. It is responsible for effective and efficient coordination in the implementation of national policies and programmes on behalf of sector ministries in the provinces. The mandate for Provincial Administration is derived from Article 150 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, and the Government Gazette Notice No. 836 of 2016. This is actualised through the following mission statement:

“To coordinate and administer implementation of national policies and programmes in the province in order to enhance service delivery and promote sustainable development.”

Mr Chairperson, Provincial Administration will be migrating from the Activity Based Budget (ABB) to the Output Based Budget (OBB) in 2021. Accordingly, the 2021 budget estimates have been prepared based on the five OBB programmes aligned to the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and Vision 2030. The programmes are:

  1. community development and social services;
  1. natural resource management;
  2. economic development;
  1. local government services; and
  1. management and support services.

2020 PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Mr Chairperson, despite the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and constrained fiscal space, Provincial Administration received K163,387,730 of the budgeted non-personal emoluments by the end of the third quarter of 2020. Success was scored in coordinating the implementation of government programmes and projects under each of the five pillars of the 7NDP.

Pillar One: Economy Diversification and Job Creation

Mr Chairperson, good infrastructure facilitates the attainment of sustainable social economic development, by improving connectivity between people and space. To this end, the Government continued with the construction, upgrading, and rehabilitation of roads and other economic related infrastructure across the country. Some of these projects include:

  1. the construction of one stop border posts at various point of entry;
  1. construction of some  international and provincial airports;
  1. rehabilitation of trunk ,township and feeder roads; and
  1. construction of industry yards.

Mr Chairperson, the Government has continued focusing on the agricultural sector given its unique positive contribution to the economy by having targeted interventions along its various value-chains. These interventions were executed through the following activities:

  1. over one million farmers benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), for the 2020/2021 farming season with all inputs delivered by October 2020.
  1. to enhance fish production, the Government has supported the establishment of commercial fish hatcheries across the country.
  1. to promote livestock production, the Government has been constructing and rehabilitating livestock service centres and dip tanks to across the country.
  1. in an effort to further diversify the agricultural sector and promote production of high value cash crops, the Government is promoting the production of cassava, cashew nuts, pineapples, and sugar cane.
  1. to ensure sustainable management and utilisation of forest resources, the provinces undertook the strategy of strengthening forestry patrols, establishment of forest plantations, and continuous reforestations of selected forest reserves. So far, over one million seedlings have been planted country wide.

Pillar Two: Poverty and Vulnerability Reduction

Mr Chairperson, the incidence of poverty in the country still remains high, particularly, in the rural areas. This has been worsened by the effects of climate change and variability during the 2019/2020 agricultural season. This impacted negatively on the agricultural sector’s productivity and food security. To this effect, the Government has responded by implementing climate adaptation and mitigation projects such as Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape, Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development, and Strengthening Climate Resilience in the Kafue and Barotse Sub-Basins. In the short term, the Government has been offering social protection programmes such as the Social Cash Transfer Programme, and relief food.

Pillar Three: Reducing Developmental Inequalities

Mr Chairperson, the Government attaches great importance to reducing developmental inequalities. This is demonstrated through the commitment to complete infrastructure projects across the country especially those that have reached 80 per cent completion. The Government has continued to construct, upgrade, and rehabilitate roads and maritime infrastructure. To facilitate connection of electricity to rural areas under the Rural Electrification Programme, the Government is implementing several off-grid and on-grid power projects across the country.

 Pillar mFour:  Enhancing Human Development

Mr Chairperson, to accelerate human development, progress has been registered in the construction and upgrading of social infrastructure in the education and health sectors. In a quest to improve access to education, the Government has continued to construct and upgrade new and existing educational infrastructure across the country. The Government is also constructing trade schools and skills development centres. These projects are at various stages of completion.

Under the health sector, Provincial Administration continued to coordinate and monitor the implementation of health programmes that are meant to improve to access to quality health services, especially, to the rural communities with over 400 out of the 650 health post completed and operational country wide.

Mr Chairperson, under the water and sanitation sub-sector, a number of safe water points across the country have been drilled and equipped. Additionally, a number of dams and water harvesting structures are under construction. Similarly, a number of bulk water supply projects in major towns across the country are being constructed.

Pillar Five: Creating a Conducive Governance Environment for a Diversified and Inclusive Economy.

Mr Chairperson, to enhance citizens’ access to information and participation in national development, the Government has continued constructing communication towers in all the Chiefdoms. The Government is also constructing provincial studios in all provinces in a phased manner.

In an effort to enhance law and order, the Government is constructing infrastructure for our men and women in uniform. A number of housing units and office blocks have been constructed.

THE 2021 BUDGET

Mr Chairperson, the combined 2021 Budget Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Office of the President Provincial Administration, is K736,013,687.

Priority for the 2021 Budget Estimates

Mr Chairperson, in preparing the 2021 budget estimates, provincial administration has placed focus on priority areas expounded in the 7NDP based on regional dynamic comparative advantage.

The main output planed for 2021, will resolve around the following five output based budget programmes:

Community Development and Social Welfare

 A total of K152,913,056, has been allocate to this programme to facilitate the provision of social protection, youth and sport development, promotion of national values and principles, coordination of child rights, and women empowerment programmes.

Natural Resource Management

Under the Natural Resource Management Programme, Provincial Administration has allocated K107,483,856 to cater for forest protection and management, water resource development and metrological services.

Economic Development

Under the Economic Development Programme, K107,259,382, has been allocated to cater for land administration survey services, agriculture resettlement, civil aviation services, labour and industrial services, and public infrastructure maintenance.        

Local Government Services

Mr Chairperson, under the Local Government Services Programme, K21,394,208 has been allocated to cater for local Government administration, spatial planning and development control.

Management and Support Services

Mr Chairperson, under this programme, K346,962,153 has been allocated to cater for the following programmes:

  1. provincial and district executive office management;
  1. human resource management and administration;
  1. financial management and controls;
  1. procurement management;
  1. planning, policy and co-ordination;
  1. news and information services; and
  1. Government transport management.

Mr Chairperson, in conclusion, the Provincial Administration will endeavour to contribute to the attainment of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP)’s aspirations, in order to actualise the Vision 2030 by effectively co-ordinating and monitoring the implementation of developmental programmes and projects. Priority will continue being given to sub-programmes that have a high impact in the attainment of broad-based economic growth to ensure poverty reduction and promote employment creation.

Mr Chairperson, in view of the aforementioned, I urge hon. Members of this august House to support the 2021 Budget Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Office of the President, Provincial Administration, as presented.

I thank you, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: As per our custom, three hon. Members of Parliament will debate on each province. We will start with Vote 88 – Office of the President – Muchinga Province. Any further debate?

If no hon. Member indicates, I will call upon the hon. Minister to debate. As I have indicated, three hon. Members will debate on each province.

Mr Nkombo: Point of guidance, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: No one is indicating.

No, hon. Member, we have to move. This is what we do all the time.

Mr Nkombo: Understood, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, I will allow the hon. Minister for Muchinga Province to debate, and Her Honour the Vice-President will wind up debate on all the provinces.

The Minister for Muchinga Province (Mr Sichone): Mr Chairperson, I have the pleasure and privilege to provide an insight of the provisions for the 2021 Budget Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Muchinga Province. Muchinga Province administers, co-ordinates and monitors the implementation of national policies and programmes.

Mr Chairperson, hon. Members might wish to note that, as a province, our vision and mission statement is ‘to become a modern and industrious province with equal development opportunities for all.’ To achieve this, we have done quite a lot with the 2020 Budget. The approved budget was K58,896,034, out of which K20,989,790 was for non-personal emoluments, and the budget allocation for poverty reduction was K8.7 million. To provide a general overview of our performance with the 2020 provisions, I wish to mention that in line with doing more with less, as guided by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, we have done much more than one would have expected.

Mr Chairperson, hon. Members may wish to note that besides the programmes that were provided for in our budget, we implemented other programmes in Muchinga that directly have an impact on us as a province using other budgets, and I wish to talk about the Great North Road. The Great North Road from Chinsali to Nakonde is still under construction. First of all, that project created in excess of 600 jobs for our youths, and there are currently some youths working on it. The project is 15 to 20 per cent complete and certain parts of the road have been opened.

Mr Chairperson, I will be failing in my duty if I do not talk about a programme called the Transformation Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD). The programme is currently being implemented in six districts in Muchinga, namely; Mafinga, Isoka, Chinsali, Chama, Lavushimanda and Kanchibiya. That is a life-changing programme and many livelihood groups are benefiting from it.

Mr Chairperson, allow me to talk about the feeder roads in the province. About thirteen feeder roads projects were procured and eight contractors are currently working on them. Besides that, the Nabwalya Road is also under construction under the Link Zambia 8,000 Kilometre Road Project.

Mr Chairperson, let me not go into details, but allow me to thank my hon. Colleagues who opted to debate quietly in support of the Vote for Muchinga Province. I wish to thank the Secretariat of Muchinga Province, headed by the Permanent Secretary, and all the technocrats and various stakeholders who worked with us to develop and prepare the 2021 Budget.

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

Dr Musokotwane: On a point of order, Sir.

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: You must be respectful. You are baby of yesterday; you cannot be talking like that.

The Deputy Chairperson: Resume your seat, Dr Musokotwane.

Hon. Members, I think we have done this before, and I know what those who would also like to guide want to put forward. We usually allow hon. Members from a particular province to debate. That has been our custom and what we have been doing.

We cannot allow an hon. Member of Parliament from a different province to debate on a province he does not come from because we might deny hon. Members who understand the problems in that province an opportunity to debate. Yes, I know that we are national leaders but it is important to give hon. Members who hail from a particular province an opportunity to debate. We will now move to Vote 90 – Lusaka Province.

Mr Syakalima (Chirundu): Mr Chairperson, thank you very much for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Vote for Lusaka Province. However, I should have also contributed to the debate on the Vote for Muchinga Province because I know part of that area. Since I only have five minutes to contribute to the debate on the Vote for Lusaka Province, I would like to say that we have had some rains of late, and we have to be careful. I am sure the hon. Minister has seen the floods around Lusaka even when the rains have not yet intensified.

Sir, we are currently grappling with the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic and we were in a terrible situation when we started having COVID-19 cases in the country. However, we are now in the rainy season when cholera becomes a problem. We have seen drainages around but water has been going into people’s houses. This means that the effluent is actually going into people’s houses, so, we will soon have another problem. We are happy God has helped us because we have not been so much devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the only problem we have had is cholera. So, if we are not careful, we will again be in the doldrums due to a disease which shall turn out to be a pandemic. Every year, we do not learn lessons. When we first had cases of COVID-19, it was difficult to prevent it because it is a new disease and people found it difficult to adapt to the situation. However, we are used to cholera and we should prepare for it. For now, I do not think we are prepared in anyway.

Mr Chairperson, rather than just inspecting bars and chasing people around, hon. Provincial Ministers should check on what happens in other ministries because they represent provinces. There are projects under the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development and hon. Provincial Ministers are the overall bosses of the provinces so, they must be checking such activities. They should not only be inspecting projects which are in the budget as of now. It is not supposed to be like that.

Sir, we all know that Chirundu is a border area and the Government gets millions and millions of kwacha from there but the people in Chirundu do not have water. Chirundu township is about 2 km from the Zambezi River, but there is no water. The people in Chirundu collect millions of Kwacha for the country every day, but they do not have water, and this is a problem. 40 per cent of the water bodies in Southern Africa lie in Zambia. So, how can people be thirsty? There is adage that in the midst of plenty, a fool starves. We have so much water on this land. Here in Lusaka, if we say there is no water, it is understood because Lusaka is far from Kafue. However, Chirundu is 1 or 2 km from the Zambezi River but people do not have water. How can that be? The people in Chirundu complain of not having water, yet those who work make sure they go to work every day. How do people go to work without water when they need to bath and wash their clothes? They do not have water for one, two, three to four weeks, and in some cases, even six months. Where is the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company?

Mr Chairperson, recently, we were looking at the Auditor-General’s Report on water utilities. About K1.4 billion went to waste for about six to seven water utilities. So, the money is there. Lusaka is a capital city of Zambia. So, most people come to Lusaka, yet there is no water. How will tourists look at us if they are told that we do not have water when we have water just a few kilometres away? When the tourists go to Chirundu, they cross the Zambezi River when there is no water in the area. In Zimbabwe, even if people suffered for a long time, they have running water every day. These are the people we share the same one-stop border post with. The rainy season has begun and cholera might break out again. If we do not have running water, we will have diseases such as dysentery, cholera and other water borne diseases. So, we have to be serious this time around as we get you out of there.

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions

Mrs Chinyama (Kafue): Mr Chairperson, I wish to thank my hon. Colleague for stressing the point on water, which takes away what I wanted to say. Suffice to say that there is equally a water problem in Kafue, yet it is very close to the Kafue River. So, I hope that as the Government concludes the Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project, Kafue will also benefit. I heard the hon. Minister responsible pronounce that the Government will do something for Chilanga. I hope the Government will do something for Kafue as well because we are in the same boat.

Sir, Lusaka is one of the highly urbanised places but there is also youth unemployment. I acknowledge the little effort that the Government has made in terms of introducing internship programmes for our youths, which provide temporally relief to our unemployed youths. However, I must express concern that we were told that the youth empowerment programme in Kafue would be launched on 7th October but up to now, it has not happened. Clearly, there has been some interference in this programme. I hope the Government will be above board and will do the right thing and implement that programme, so it can benefit the deserving beneficiaries.

Mr Chairperson, the other day, somebody indicated that given the challenges we have, this is the only programme that could have enabled us to do something for the youths. It can only make an impact if the funds or business loans are given to deserving youths unlike cadres who we may want to appease and may just use the money in a few days and start complaining again. So, let us look at the potential of the youths. Having interacted extensively with the youths of Kafue so they can secure the loans, I know that they came up with quality proposals that they submitted in good time. When the proposals were due, no other grouping had submitted its proposals but suddenly, things changed and there are now stories of this and that. So, like I said, I hope the Government will do the right thing for the benefit of our youths. In fact, as a Member of Parliament, I do not look at the political party one comes from. I just do what is best for our youths and country.

Sir, with regard to the Link 2,000 Kilometre Road Project in Chiawa, I was sad to learn that the Government has downgraded the road, which was supposed to be upgraded to bituminous standard, to a gravel road. How I wish the late President’s initial plan had beared fruits. We know that the Leopards Hill Road leading to Chirundu would have brought a lot of relief in view of the traffic that is usually at Kapiri Ngozi. Of late, we have witnessed a lot of accidents that have happened along that road.

So, I hope that as soon as our fiscal space is permissive, we can go back to that plan of tarring the Leopards Hill/Chirundu via Chiawa Road so that the economic nature of that road can be enjoyed.

Mr Chairperson, finally, earlier today, we passed that Bill which is seeking to amend the Skills Development Fund. Again, I hope that the Kafue Resource Centre, which is a marvellous project, can benefit from the fund. Kafue has a spectacular project. Unfortunately, it has not been completed for years. I hope the Government can quickly look at this particular project and if it so wishes, score some points from there. It will be for the benefit of our youths who need a future and those important survival skills since we are particularly talking about the issue of there being limited employment opportunities. I just wanted to add those few remarks.

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

Mr Nakacinda (Nominated) Mr Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity to debate this Vote. I think the policy statement that Her Honour the Vice-President has delivered to the House is on point. I also want to just acknowledge the infrastructure developmental that has been carried out in Lusaka Province. I have relations who have not been in the country for many years and they came into the country last week. Apparently, they were completely lost to find the kind of development that has taken place in Lusaka Province as a whole but particularly the city itself. The flyover bridges that are –

Dr Musokotwane: On a point of order, Mr Chairperson.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Chairperson, I seek your clarification. You said hon. Members must debate on the basis of the province they come from. So, can I find out which province the hon. Nominated Member is debating on?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: I do not know if it is a point of order or a question. However, I think it is something that we need to look at seriously in the sense that firstly, he is a Nominated Member of Parliament. Therefore, if three hon. Members do not indicate their intentions to debate a Vote for a particular province, but the hon. Nominated Member has indicated his intention to debate, why not allow him to do so? He can debate.

I do not see any problem with that. In any case, let it be clear that when I gave guidance earlier on, I just said we will follow what we have been doing. I did not say an hon. Member for Mazabuka cannot debate or say anything on the Vote for Muchinga Province or the Eastern Province. That is why, in fact, he indicated that we are national leaders. However, there are rules of this House, which rules we follow. We have been allowing three hon. Members of Parliament to debate the Vote for each province and the fourth to debate is the hon. Minister of the Province. Here is a hon. Member of Parliament who is nominated, and when we see that the numbers are still hanging, why not allow him to debate. He can debate because he is nominated by the Head of State.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: So, there is nothing wrong here, Sir.

That is my guidance.

Mr Nkombo: Sir, I need further guidance.

The Deputy Chairperson: No, I will not allow that. It is quite clear. I think I have guided the House. Let Mr Nakacinda continue as the third person among those who have indicated to debate the Vote for Lusaka Province.

Mr Nkombo: There is a need for further guidance, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: No.

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Chairperson, for now, I am privileged to have been nominated by His Excellency the President. If chance permits, I would also want to contribute to debate on the Vote for the Southern Province because I also have some interest there. However, I was just saying in terms of infrastructure development in Lusaka, –

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Members, I want to hear clearly, the hon. Member on the Floor, whom I have allowed to debate. Hon. Member, you may continue.

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Chairperson, the infrastructure development is unprecedented. I must state, also, that in relation to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), I think we should commend the hon. Minister for Lusaka Province –

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

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HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

The House adjourned at 1657 hours until1430 hours on Wednesday, 2nd December, 2020.

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