Tuesday, 25^th October, 2022

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

WORKSHOP ON CO-OPERATIVES AND SMES FOR MPS

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I inform the House that the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development has been authorised to conduct a half-day workshop for all hon. Members of Parliament on the progress made in executing the ministry’s mandate of fostering the growth and development of co-operatives and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The workshop will be held on Thursday, 27^th October, 2022 from 0830 hours to 1230 hours in the amphitheatre, Parliament Buildings.

Although attendance is on a voluntary basis, hon. Members are encouraged to attend this important programme.

I thank you.

______

RULING BY MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

POINT OF ORDER BY MR J. CHIBUYE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR ROAN CONSTITUENCY, ON WEDNESDAY, 5^TH OCTOBER, 2022, AGAINST AMB. R.  KALIMI, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR MALOLE CONSTITUENCY, FOR INSULTING HIM WHEN THE HOUSE WAS CONSIDERING THE MOTION OF SUPPLY

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, the House will recall that on Wednesday, 5^th October, 2022, when the House was considering the Motion of Supply and Mr K. A. Mukosa, hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali Constituency was on the Floor, Mr J. Chibuye, hon. Member of Parliament for Roan Constituency, raised a point of order.

In his point of order, Mr J. Chibuye, MP, asked whether Amb. R. Kalimi, MP, was in order to insult him. In his immediate response to the point of order, the Hon. Mr Second Deputy Speaker reserved his ruling to a later date. I have since studied the point of order, and I now render my ruling.

Hon. Members, a review of the verbatim recording revealed that Mr J. Chibuye, MP, in raising his point of order, did not cite the relevant Standing Orders that had been breached by Amb. R. Kalimi, MP, as required by Standing Order No. 131(3). On this basis, the point of order is not admissible.

I thank you.

______

MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

MR J. E. BANDA, HON. MEMBER FOR PETAUKE CENTRAL, ON MR MTOLO, HON. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, ON FERTILISER PACKS FOR FARMERS

Mr J. E. Banda (Petauke Central): On a matter of urgent public importance, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr J. E. Banda: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving the good people of Petauke this opportunity to raise a matter of urgent public importance.

Mr Speaker, the Eastern Province is known as the food basket, which can supply the whole country with food like maize, our staple food. I am a product of a farmer and I am here in Parliament because of farming.

Mr Speaker, our farmers take four months to prepare for each farming season. It takes four months for them to prepare so that they can have a good harvest. This year, farmers were told that each co-operative would only receive three packs. Co-operatives have more than forty farmers. The farmers received the message at gunpoint. Three packs is only eighteen bags of fertiliser. How are forty farmers going to share eighteen bags of fertiliser? It is impossible. If it will be like that, it means that next year the good people of Petauke and the Eastern Province, at large, will experience hunger. There will be hunger in Petauke and in the Eastern Province as a whole.  When we are attacked by hunger, it means many people will die out of hunger.

Mr Speaker, I know that maybe I can ask this question through a question under Standing Order No. 74, but the allocation and the deadline have been given. I am sure that this week the farmers will start receiving the packs and once they start receiving the packs, there will not be any intervention. The good people of Petauke are asking the hon. Minister of Agriculture and the Government to intervene in this matter to prevent hunger which can strike not just the Eastern Province and Petauke but Zambia at large. As you know, the Eastern Province and the Southern Province are the main suppliers of our staple food. There are many suppliers of our staple food across the country.

Mr Speaker, I am asking if the good Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, can intervene so that farmers can have Plan B because as it is now without Plan B –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

I think this House has been guided on a number of times how you rise on this matter. When you rise, you state what you are rising on and then seek guidance. There is no need to debate what you are trying to address. Thank you, but the point has been taken.

MR MTAYACHALO, HON. MEMBER FOR CHAMA NORTH, ON MR MTOLO, HON. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, ON FERTILISER DISTRIBUTION IN CHAMA NORTH

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): On a matter of urgent public importance, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr Mtayachalo: Mr Speaker, I raise my matter and it is directed at the hon. Minister of Agriculture. I am in the constituency and I have been monitoring the issue of farming inputs. Just yesterday, I went to our local storage shed and found that there is no single bag of fertiliser, and farmers are concerned about this. The Vice-President herself and the hon. Minister of Agriculture said on the Floor of the House that farming inputs would be delivered on time.

Mr Speaker, I am alive to the fact that the road network is very bad. Our worry is that farming inputs will not reach many farmers, –

Mr Mtayachalo was inaudible.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I think you are not audible enough. So, we are making progress.

MR CHEWE, HON. MEMBER FOR LUBANSENSHI, ON MR MTOLO, HON. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, ON FERTILISER DISTRIBUTION IN LUBANSENSHI

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi):  On a matter of urgent public importance, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr Chewe: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving this opportunity to the good people of Lubansenshi Constituency. The hon. Member for Petauke Central talked about the distribution of fertiliser across the country to our farmers, which seems to be a serious problem.

Mr Speaker, on Friday and Saturday, the good people of Lubansenshi Constituency sent me to kindly ask the hon. Minister of Agriculture a question concerning this issue of fertiliser because they do not want to lose lives.

On the same Friday, Mr Speaker, there was chaos concerning the Camp Agriculture Committee (CAC) members. The people alleged that CAC members are the people who have not done justice in terms of giving fertiliser to the members of co-operatives. The people in Chanda Mwamba Village in particular, together with the people in Chifwile, rose in numbers and tried to attack CAC members. As I explained, the people alleged that the CAC members are the people who are not doing justice; maybe they want to hide the fertiliser.

Mr Speaker, the CAC members together with their families fear for their lives. They are not at peace because of that allegation. My question is directed at the hon. Minister of Agriculture. What urgent measures is he putting in place to ensure that the lives of these CAC members, District Agriculture Co-ordinating Officers (DACOs) and other officers at district level are secured?

Mr Speaker, I am aware that the President of this Republic, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, is a listening President who is likely to intervene in this crisis on the distribution of fertiliser. Is the hon. Minister able to assure the nation that since there is this crisis, before the actual distribution of fertiliser can commence, the Government can supply more fertiliser so that we cure this problem?

I seek your serious guidance on this matter, Mr Speaker.

MR MUNG’ANDU, HON. MEMBER FOR CHAMA SOUTH, ON MR MTOLO, HON. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, ON FERTILISER DISTRIBUTION

Mr Mung’andu: On a matter of urgent public importance, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A matter of urgent public importance is raised.

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, Chama South has a challenge with internet connectively and maybe, that is the reason Hon. Mtayachalo was not audible, but clearly, his question is in line with the question by the hon. Member for Lubansenshi; it is over fertiliser. He indicated that there is no single bag that has arrived in Chama and he wants to know when the people of Chama will start receiving fertiliser to avert possible starvation and death.

Coming to my question –

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Mr Mung’andu: That was for Hon. Mtayachalo.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I think we did not receive any instruction that you would represent Hon. Mtayachalo. So, I take it that was your own matter. So, you may resume your seat, hon. Member.

Mr Mung’andu: Hon. Speaker, with your indulgence, I stated –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Resume your seat.

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

All the matters raised are interrelated in a way, so, I will ask the hon. Minister of Agriculture to respond to them later on. Today, he is presenting his ministerial statement and I am sure he has taken note of the questions that have been raised. He will shed light after his ministerial statement to give the position of the Government. Thank you.

Let us proceed.

______

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

STATUS OF THE 2022 MARKETING SEASON

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you most sincerely, for giving me this opportunity to update the House on the status of the 2022 Agricultural Marketing Season by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) specifically on white maize.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that the FRA commenced the crop purchase programme in August, 2022 and is expected to close all purchases for the season by 31^st October, 2022. As at 13^th October, 2022, the agency had purchased a total of 287,408.60 metric tonnes of white maize valued at K1.035 billion.

Mr Speaker, as at 20^th October, 2022, the agency had sold a total of 500,359.88 metric tonnes of maize valued at K2,001,439,526.48 for local and export markets. The local sales were mostly to millers, which accounted for 87 per cent of all maize sales conducted.

Mr Speaker, using the proceeds from the sales of maize, the agency has at 21^st October, 2022, paid out a total of K698.14 million for maize, which accounted for 67 per cent of the total of the K1.452 billion owed for all crops purchased.

Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to liquidating the outstanding K336.53 million for maize purchases across the country. Based on the current sales trend, the agency projects to raise funds to clear the balance owed to the farmers by the end of October, 2022. The agency continues to disburse funds to all districts for crop payments to farmers based on the proceeds realised from maize sales.

Mr Speaker, the Government is cognisant of the fact that timely payments have a bearing on farmer inputs for subsequent farming seasons. It is against this background that the Government is giving this issue the attention it deserves. As we speak, all the FRA outlets have funds and are paying farmers for all that they delivered.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that the maize that has been sold to international buyers stands at 13 per cent. According to him, 87 per cent was sold locally. Would he be kind enough to explain to the people of Zambia and this Parliament how that sale of the 13 per cent of the maize was done. Was it a private sale to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) or was it a Government to Government arrangement?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, to date, the Government has not yet conducted a Government to Government sale. The sales that we are talking about are private between the FRA and individuals who take maize outside.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) purchased 297,488.6 metric tonnes of maize on 13^th October. Is the hon. Minister aware that some depots such as Chikwa in Chama South Constituency and others in Malambo Constituency, where our Provincial Minister for the Eastern Province is a Member of Parliament, were advised by the FRA to first construct slabs before it could purchase maize from farmers? At the point that the communities in those respective areas had completed constructing the slaps, the FRA announced the closure of the maize purchasing exercise.

Is he going back to ensure that the farmers who were told to hold onto their maize are able to sell it to the FRA and, probably, be able to, again, buy seeds for the next farming season? Is he going to re-open those few depots or the opportunity will cease once the maize purchasing exercise is closed?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, let the hon. Member get clearly what I said. I indicated, in very clear terms, that the agency is going to close purchases on 31^st October, 2022. Therefore, if there are farmers who have maize, they are free to take to the depots so that the FRA can procure it.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr J. E. Banda: On point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr J. E. Banda: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order pursuant to Standing Order 65. Is the hon. Member for Chama South in order to call you ‘Madam Speaker’?

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: In this seat, we interchange. So, as a human being, it is normal for him to make such a mistake, although it is not in order.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I am Mr Speaker and the only Mr Speaker in this House.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: So, for now, I think we will exercise a bit of leniency, but repetition will be contemptuous because that will be intentional.

Laughter

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Mr Speaker, my issue is on the date he has targeted to finish paying off farmers. He said that on 31^st October, he will finish paying for all the maize that has been bought by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Sir, I am looking at how realistic that is because today is 25^th October and there are six days remaining. I appreciate and commend the efforts that he has made in paying what he has paid so far. However, I am concerned. In the event that he does not finish paying off by 31^st October, I will come back here on the 5^th and remind him that he made a commitment because he has made a commitment.

Mr Speaker, how realistic is the date he has given, considering he said that on the 31^st is when he will to stop buying?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I will repeat. Our aim shall be to endeavour to pay farmers by the end of the month because funds are available. In the event that we have a few technical issues here and there, maybe, another few days will do, but our aim is to work and conclude payments by the end of the month. That is our target and we will work towards it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister (Inaudible)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I think we still have a challenge there in Chama. Connectivity is a challenge.

Mr J. E. Banda (Petauke Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving the good people of Petauke Central this opportunity. This is not a follow-up question as the good people of Petauke have understood well. I thank the hon. Minister for that statement.

Mr Speaker, you guided the hon. Minister to also touch on the issue of packs. This is what the good people of Petauke Central are interested in a lot. They are listening and waiting for answers regarding interventions.

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the responses he is giving in this honourable House. My question is: Since he has indicated that he is going to finish making payments to the farmers who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) by the end of this month, could he kindly confirm to this House that the farmers who are intending to deposit the money for the 2022/2023 Rainy Season should also wait until he pays them?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I did not even understand what you were saying. What were you saying?

Mr Chewe: Mr Speaker, I was saying that the hon. Minister has indicated that those who supplied maize to the FRA will get their money by the end of this month. Could he kindly confirm to the farmers, especially those in Lubansenshi Constituency, who have not yet been paid by the FRA, that the date to deposit money for the Farmer Support Input Programme (FISP) will likely be at the end of the month, so that they know. At the moment, farmers do not have the money to deposit because the Government has not yet paid them. Could the hon. Minister kindly confirm if the date to deposit this money will be at the end this month?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I inform the hon. Member of Parliament for Lubansenshi that I made it very clear that, currently, all the depots for the FRA have money. If there are farmers in our constituencies who are not yet paid, please, we ask them to go and collect their funds. It would be erroneous to start marrying the two. We would be setting a very dangerous precedent to say that we marry the payment for FISP which is K400 to the payment for maize. That would be almost instigating chaos. If there are farmers who are not paid, let them go and collect their money. The two should not be related in the manner the hon. Member is putting it through.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mung’andu: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, I refer to Standing Order No. 133.

Mr Speaker, we have a situation in Chama South, particularly, in Chief Chifunda’s area. For the past few months, including yesterday – You are aware of that area, Mr Speaker. I am a very lucky person.

Mr Speaker, the boundary between Chief Magodi and Chief Chifunda has been under dispute for the past few months.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, you are debating. This is a point of order. Please, state what has been breached other than debating.

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, the headman in Chief Magodi’s area has demolished a school. As I speak, pupils are not going to school. No wonder I have referred to Standing Order No. 133, so that you use your discretion.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: There is no need for you to debate. Just state what your point of order is about and go ahead.

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, I am stating this so that you appreciate the background since this point of order is being made through your discretion.

Mr Speaker, the boundary dispute has arisen because of the Lundazi Protected Forest Area, where the headman in Chief Magodi’s area is selling land to people. He has demolished a school and a house at that school, where this Government deployed a newly recruited teacher because he wants to give or sell that land to settlers.  

Mr Speaker, for me to bring this issue on the Floor of the House, it means that I have engaged the provincial hon. Minister and we have been talking for the past two months. Is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security in order to keep quiet over this issue? As I speak, I am managing to control the people who are under Chief Chifunda’s area, who are ready to go and confront that headman. Should they do that, I fear we might lose lives. Is the hon. Minister in order to keep quiet when his children at Kapembele Primary School, which has been demolished by this single headman, are not going to school?

I seek your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: That matter is not committed to the Floor of the House and I wonder why you have raised a point of order in that manner. Hon. Member, you know the rules very well. You have been here for a long time. Let us proceed.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, I have just received a text message from the people of Dundumwezi, who are indicating to me that they are worried because the Government elected to leave those who supplied soya beans and rice. Why is the hon. Minister’s statement not indicating when those who supplied soya beans to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will be paid?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the statement which I have issued this afternoon was as a result of a point of order that was raise and I was directed to discuss maize. So, I discussed specifically maize. However, I should hasten to say that the payments which are being given out by FRA include rice and soya beans. So, please, let them go and collect the money.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I do not know if I can now proceed to review the issues which you have asked me to talk about on the fertiliser.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, you can go ahead.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, first of all, let me state that I share the concerns being raised in the House as regards the movement of fertiliser. As the Government, we are equally concerned and I can assure the hon. Member that we are doing everything possible to push, commit and take this as a project that should ensure that fertiliser reaches the intended depots on time.

Mr Speaker, let me take advantage of this to inform the House and through the House, the nation, that the issue which was very contentious as regards the fertiliser movement, of farmers paying individually other than collectively as a society, was resolved. Being a listening Government, we have allowed that a collective position, just like I said last week, be made. If one is making a payment, one does not have to go alone to the bank. However, it can be done as a group as long as there is authentication that indeed, you are the rightful farmers. We are busy making sure that we reduce the congestion caused by many farmers going to specific banks to deposit the K400.

Mr Speaker, like Her Honour the Vice-President said last Friday, the deliveries of fertiliser are way above 30 per cent. The increase is such that we should not have too much worry as Zambians that the fertiliser will not reach the intended depots. The fertiliser will reach the intended deports.

Mr Speaker, I assure the country, and through the House, that fertiliser will be delivered on time. Therefore, the hon. Member for Petauke, the hon. Member for Lubansenshi, the hon. Member for Chama, and many others should rest assured.

Mr Speaker, Chama is a very unique area. No transporter with an appropriate vehicle like a 30 tonne has agreed to go to Chama. So, what is happening is that fertiliser is going to be trans-shipped using smaller vehicles to Chama because of the poor roads there. However, we are still certain that fertiliser will reach Chama on time. The quantities of fertiliser in Chama are not that significant. They will be delivered on time. So, Hon. Mtayachalo should be assured that all will be well.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

The quantities of fertilizer in Chama are not that significant. The fertilizer will be delivered on time and Hon. Mtayachalo should be assured that all will be well.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Agriculture for the statement. On behalf of the people of Mufumbwe, whom I represent, indeed, we are very happy that this year most of the farmers have been paid. This is what the people of Mufumbwe were looking for and even when they were celebration our independence you could see their happiness because they were smiling. However, there is one thing they reported to me whilst I was there. They said that in the same way the Government has managed to pay the farmers, has it also extended the gesture to the people who transported the maize last year but have not been paid? I would like the hon. Minister make a comment on that one. 

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the hon. Member for Mufumbwe for those kind words and factual position.

Mr Speaker, I assure the hon. Member that indeed, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is paying all those who provided services to it, including transporters. For example, I can confirm that just last week –Absolutely! I can see that one hon. Member has got figures. The answer is yes.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Mr Speaker, I commend the hon. Minister for the update he has given us. However, the hon. Minister and many of us are Members of Parliament from rural areas and we represent rural farmers. Therefore, the farmers need to get a clear message especially this farming season. There is no way we can delink the aspect of depositing money and the payments to the farmers. As we know, farmers make money once in a year. It is from that money that they plan for the next farming season. It has always been like that.

Mr Speaker, now, when farmers were paid through cooperatives, they would help each other. Those that got money would help the ones waiting to receive their money by making deposits on their behalf. Now, the hon. Minister is saying each farmer should make deposits as an individual.

Mr Speaker, bearing in mind that the 30^th October, 2022, will be slightly late for the farmers to receive their payments. How much time is the Government going to give the farmers to deposit their upfront for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) inputs?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, firstly, a point of correction to the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu. I just gave a ministerial statement that the farmers can now deposit as a collective. The issue of a farmer going to pay for Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) as an individual has been corrected. The farmers can now put money together and deposit. I think that was the last thing I talked about. However, that does not mean that I should exclude the hon. Member’s question.  The farmers will be allowed to pay up to around the second week of November 2022. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, it is impressive that the hon. Minister will not have any questions of unpaid farmers next year. Out of interest, this question has been a very difficult one because it used to be asked during the Vice-President’s Question Time and to him, as the hon. Minister of Agriculture, as to when the Government would pay the farmers.

Mr Speaker, what has the hon. Minister done differently for him to have money available to pay the farmers as opposed to him referring to hon. the Minister of Finance and National Planning, as was the case last year, when he would say that he was waiting for the Treasury to release money? What has happened this time around?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Kantanshi Constituency who is always on spot in his debates and discussions. I thank him for his positive attitude.

Mr Speaker, I must say that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has continuously allowed the FRA to sell maize in order to realise funds to pay farmers. That is the only secret that is there. The FRA is using the money prudently and properly under the watchful eyes from both sides of the aisle in the Chamber. Therefore, there is no strange behaviour. They are just using the money prudently.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr E. Banda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, my question is well simplified. Can the hon. Minister of Agriculture to make it clear if it is true that the number of packs being issued to farmers has been reduced because this is the source of concern and conflict in the communities where we come from. We are really under fire from the people. Could the hon. Minister, please, clarify on this issue?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Muchinga for bringing up that very important issue. The number of farmers who we are going to give the pack is the same as we gave last year. We gave out 1,024,434. There is no change whatsoever. Therefore, anyone who comes and says that we have reduced the number of packs is in serious error and merely trying to misinform people.

Mr Speaker, the quantity of fertilizer being given out has not changed whatsoever. Therefore, there is no way we can sit here and say that there will be reduction in productivity because we have reduced the quantity of fertilizer given. That is not true. The hon. Members have said this over and over again. We should take this and inform the people accordingly. What has changed? The hon. Member for Parliament for Petauke Central said that we have given three people per cooperative and he multiplied three by six and said only eighteen people. Honestly, how can that be logical? It is simply not possible. So, the hon. Member for Petauke Central is being misinformed. What the people got last year in Petauke is what they are going to get this year, and our hope is that what they produced in Petauke is going to be exactly what they will produce this year, if not better.

Mr Speaker, so there is no change whatsoever. Can the hon. Members take that as a statement of fact. There will be no changes in the quantity of fertilizer and numbers of farmers. What has changed is to eliminate the civil servants and those who have gotten the fertilizer ten to fifteen times. That is not correct. Let other people also get. We are aware that these are the ones who are talking too much and insulting us because we have isolated them and set them aside so that other people can get fertilizer.

Mr Speaker, that is the truth and nothing but the truth. There will be no changes in the numbers.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ngowani (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that there is no change in the   allocation of packs. Is it at national or district level? I ask because the information we have in Mpongwe is that the Government has have reduced about 2,000 bags. Would the hon. Minister clarify on that issue.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, my position would not change. The number of packs that we are giving out at the national level has not changed. If there is a variation, whatsoever, in any area, maybe, we can look at it outside this forum. We can, maybe, look at it at the office so that we see how that could happen.

Mr Speaker, 2,000 is a lot of packs that would make a very significant change in the position in Mpongwe. Therefore, I am interested in that issue. The hon. Member for Petauke keeps on shaking his head. I would be happy to sit with him so that we look at it. Hon. Colleagues should note that these are serious issues. I take them with utmost seriousness because they affect people’s lives.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, I feel the anguish of the hon. Minister and my submission would be that the issues raised by Hon. Banda and the hon. Member for Mpongwe are the same issues we are getting on the ground in Kanchibiya. Maybe, one of the interventions that could help is for the ministry to not leave communication on these issues to the hon. Minister alone. We have Lima Radio and other platforms. So, the hon. Minister should please insist that this information goes out because this is what is obtaining on the ground. I am getting calls from Kopa and different parts of Kanchibiya. The farmers are now worried because of the misinformation and distortion. So, maybe, it would be important for the hon. Minister to consider using Lima Radio and other media platforms to ensure that farmers are adequately informed.

I thank you so much, Sir.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Using my discretion, I have added an extra ten minutes.

Mr Hamwaata (Pemba): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Agriculture indicated that we have 1,024,000 beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). The people of Zambia want to understand why we still have the same number of packs. In my view, and the hon. Minister can correct me if I am wrong; the same number should be equal to the number of beneficiaries. Why is it that the beneficiaries or co-operatives are still sharing the packs? Where is the problem?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Pemba for that very important question. Zambia has more than 3 million farmers. FISP is only for 1,024,434 farmers. In other words, out of every four farmers, we are only servicing one farmer. So, the others will not benefit from the FISP. The FISP does not cover the entire farming community in Zambia. No, it does not. I repeat that the number of farmers under FISP is 1,024,434, but the number of farmers in Zambia is slightly above 3 million. Therefore, the other 2 million plus should service themselves and through other programmes.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Mr Speaker, let me confess that I like the hon. Minister’s charisma, honesty and the way he responds to these questions. The question and trouble is the same for all constituencies. I know that the hon. Minister has belaboured to answer the same issues, but what we are asking him is to find a route and way of ensuring that this information he is giving us reaches out to the farmers. The situation is the same in Luanshya District, where last year, we had about 9,021 farmers who benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). Today, as we are talking, 7,500 have been earmarked to receive the inputs. So, the question is: What has happened to the rest of the farmers who were there last year?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, what has happened is this: There were civil servants who were not supposed to get inputs under FISP. We got them and set them out. There were people who do not exist. They are probably dead. We got them and set them aside. There were people who do not qualify. We got them and set them aside. Now, what we should do is exactly what we did for – What is the hon. Member’s name? How can I forget?

Mr Miyutu: Kalabo.

Mr Mtolo: Yes, the hon. Member for Kalabo. We need to replace the people we have taken out with people from the locality. There were many government officers benefitting from FISP and that is not correct. That is not right. There were many civil servants, such as those from the Ministry of Agriculture, teachers and nurses. They dominated the programme. We have now taken them out. We need to be very happy about this. Therefore, we should now be given farmers so that we replace them. That is the whole thing. So, we should be clear about this.

Mr Speaker, let me mention that they are the ones who are shouting the loudest, and shamelessly so. It is those who have been on the programme for more than three years, whom we are trying to isolate. They are the ones who are shouting the loudest. So, we will not bend. We are going to keep these numbers like this and if we do not replace the farmers, we will only give 7,000 farmers in the area. However, the idea is to replace them so that we maintain the numbers. I can give absolute figures. There were 230,000 farmers who did not qualify, whom Smart Zambia Institute captured and we set them aside. That is a big number and we are replacing those. We will not deal with illegal beneficiaries, no.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Siachisumo (Lufwanyama): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Agriculture has said there are 1,024,000 farmers who have been benefiting for period up to now. Does this mean that new co-operatives are not going to get the fertiliser? I am asking this because in my constituency, Lufwanyama, most of our people are not getting the fertiliser. There was segregation between the new co-operatives and those who were on the list of getting fertiliser initially when they were registering the co-operatives. It is the same people who have been getting fertiliser for almost five years now. Are the new co-operatives going to get the fertiliser?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I like the information the hon. Member for Lufwanyama has and that is the type of information we need. On this programme, we do not want all those who have been getting fertiliser for five years. We want new co-operatives. So, this is where – Now, you see the hon. Member is shy with that issue because he does not want to be found to be saying “no, these cannot get and yes, these can.” However, that is what we need. We do not need people who have been on the programme for more than three years to continue. When this programme started, it was as follows. You get 100 per cent the first time. In other words, you get your six packs. In the second year, you get 75 per cent. In the third year, you get 25 per cent and that is it.

So, recipients were supposed to be graduating, but the graduation process on the programme has been a failure. So, you get the same members for five years, but that is wrong. These are people who, when you take them out of the programme, cry wolf so much and are very unhappy.

Mr Speaker, we will not take them back. We want them out. We want new members. The priorities on this programme are the new co-operatives and the old co-operatives are second level or second priority. These problems we are having are exactly the same as those in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. Hon. Mwamba should, one day, come and talk about this issue. It is the exact same problem. The same people would like to get help continuously without change.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutinta (Itezhi-Tezhi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving an opportunity to the people of Itezhi-Tezhi to add to the debate on this question.

Sir, looking at the explanation that has been given by the hon. Minister, and considering that there are many drastic changes that have happened to this project, which, for me, are well meant, the people of Itezhi-Tezhi welcome the changes.

Now, I feel that the reason we are getting these calls, as hon. Members of Parliament, is that information is not well disseminated. Considering this change, what drastic measures has the ministry put in place to see to it that information flows well? For me, this is a typical issue of misinformation and people not being guided properly. That is why we may have these challenges in the communities. What is the ministry doing, which is extremely different, considering that information which people should get should be right so that they appreciate the concept and we manage misinformation on the ground?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Itezhi-tezhi for his kind words. I think he could be right. Maybe our information flow was lacking in one area or another, but I will tell him that before this programme was rolled out, we had all the Provincial Agriculture Coordinators (PACs) brought into Lusaka and we talked to them. A document was done and released to all provinces. Even now, when we have said that we accept to let co-operatives congregate and put names together so that they do not all go to the banks, we have done that. We have gone to radio stations and given memos, including giving them to District Commissioners (DCs). So, we can only do so much.

Mr Speaker, I want to repeat that the ones who are really crying foul are the beneficiaries who have been on the programme for a long time who feel aggrieved for being taken out. As hon. Members, I think we must be alive to that. However, we will improve. It might appear that on this issue of information, we could have lagged. We will improve and do much more. I am sure my brother Hon. Katambo knows what I am talking about. Sometimes, it is the people who are supposed to disseminate the information who are the culprits, and they change the information. We will do our best; we will see what we can do.

Mr Speaker, I thank you and the hon. Members for their support.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Let us make progress. I think that for those of you who still want clarity, the hon. Minister’s door is open. You can engage him at your own time.

THE STATE OF THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE MAKONDO STREAM AND THE STATE OF THE STRETCH OF THE ROAD BETWEEN SERENJE AND MPIKA DISTRICTS

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Mr Speaker, I extend my profound gratitude for according me this opportunity to provide some clarity to this august House and the nation at large on the two matters of urgent public importance, namely the state of the bridge across the Makondo Stream –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

The front bench on the left where the Opposition Whip and the Leader of the Opposition in the House are, there is a lot of noise coming from there.

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The opposite is supposed to be the case because the people of Zambia want to listen when the hon. Minister is talking. So, let us be orderly.

The hon. Minister can continue.

Eng. Milupi: Mr Speaker, I was saying I will provide some clarity on the two matters of urgent public importance, namely, the state of the bridge across the Makondo Stream and two, the state of the stretch of the road between Serenje and Mpika districts.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members may recall that on Wednesday, 19^th October, 2022, the hon. Speaker directed the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to issue a ministerial statement on matters of urgent public importance raised by the Member for Zambezi East Constituency, Hon. Brian Kambita, and the Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya Constituency, Hon. Sunday Chanda.

Mr Speaker, I will start with the matter raised by the hon. Member for Zambezi East and I quote what he said:

“Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to raise this matter of urgent public importance. The reason I have risen on a matter of urgent public importance for the first time since this avenue was introduced to Parliament is that the people I represent are in dire need of the Government’s intervention.

Mr Speaker, there is a place in my constituency called Makondo where there is a stream that is a tributary of the mighty Zambezi River. Being a tributary of the Zambezi River, the stream is highly infested with crocodiles. Further, in that area, the school to which children go is on the western side of the river while most children live on the eastern side. Those children were using a crossing point where there is a dilapidated bridge that was built in the colonial days. The bridge is made up of sticks that were put together there. That bridge has now collapsed and children cross that wide crocodile-infested stream on small boats, which endanger their lives.

Mr Speaker, I took the initiative to visit the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to find a solution to the problem. Unfortunately, I was advised to go the Road Development Agency (RDA) and come up with a budget. The budget was made and it was as big as K13 million. We thought we could contribute to the budget from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). However, our CDF budget for capital projects is only K14 million. So, how can it fund the bridge? Further, there is a ready-made bridge, an acrow bridge, but our Government is unable to give us that so that it can be laid there at the crossing point.

Mr Speaker, I need the Government’s intervention. This matter is brought to Her Honour the Vice-President so that she can intervene and help us to find avenues of ensuring that the children in the area are not caught by crocodiles while crossing Makondo Stream to go to school. That is a daily event. Now, with the rainy season almost here, it has actually started raining in Zambezi, and one of the children was almost caught by a crocodile the other day.

Mr Speaker, I need your indulgence in drawing the attention of Her Honour the Vice-President to that life-threatening situation.”

Mr Speaker, in reacting to the above matter raised by Hon. Kambita, Member of Parliament for Zambezi East Constituency, I want to state that the Government of the Republic of Zambia is concerned about the children in Zambezi, who are crossing a river by boats to access education.

Madam Speaker, in addressing this matter, let me remind the House that the Government entered into a contract with Acrow Corporation of America for the arrangement of financing, design, fabrication and delivery of 131 prefabricated Modular Acrow Steel Panel Bridges at a total project value of US$73,776,849. The contract was signed on 6^th September, 2013.

Mr Speaker, the Acrow Bridge Project was financed through a credit arrangement entered between the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Export–Import Bank (EIB) of the United States of America (USA) and Citibank.

Mr Speaker, under this arrangement, the Government was expected to provide resources for the construction of the substructures like the abutments and piers, and installation of the bridge components. The project was earmarked for implementation in seven out of the ten provinces of Zambia, namely, Muchinga, Luapula, the Northern, the North-Western, Lusaka, Central and the Eastern provinces.

Mr Speaker, Zambezi District is one of the districts under the North Western Province which has been earmarked to benefit from the components of the 131 bridges which have already been delivered in the country, under the Acrow Bridge Programme.

Mr Speaker, the Government intends to construct eleven Acrow Bridges in Zambezi West Parliamentary Constituency and five Acrow Bridges in Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency. In view of the limited resources, the Government plans to initially construct two Acrow Bridges in Zambezi West Parliamentary Constituency, using the Zambia National Service (ZNS), and the budget for the required works together with the implementation plan have already been prepared by the ZNS. The implementation of the works awaits the release of funds from the approved 2023 Supplementary Budget, which was approved by Parliament in June this year.

Mr Speaker, the construction of Acrow Bridges in Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency, including Makondu Stream crossing point, has been included in the 2023 Road Sector Annual Work Plan and will therefore, be undertaken in 2023. The Government shall endeavour to secure funds to ensure that the required bridge works on Makondu Stream crossing point in Zambezi East are undertaken as plans to ease the movements and suffering of our people, especially school going children. 

Mr Speaker, the second matter of urgent public importance was raised by Hon. Sunday Chanda, Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya Constituency, who stated:

“Mr Speaker, my matter of urgent public importance touches on the road stretch between Serenje and Mpika. This is a stretch that we are using every other week. This particular stretch is a death trap. We are recording accidents every other day and week. Sir, my question and plea go to the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to the extent that what are the plans for this section of the road? It must not take until one of the hon. Members of Parliament or Government official loses a life for us to wake up to reality. What are the plans to rehabilitate or work on this particular road? What are the plans before the onset of the rainy season?

Mr Speaker, we have lost too many lives and we continue to lose lives every other day. If you are on that stretch, you feel the pain that motorist and the public users are facing every other day. So, my matter is directed at the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development as to what extent and when do we expect this particular stretch of the road to be redeemed. Sir, I do not want to say is the hon. Minister in order because I do not want to cross a certain line, but the question is; when do we get this particular stretch of the road addressed by this particular ministry.”

Mr Speaker, in reacting to the matter of urgent public importance that was raised by Hon. Sunday Chanda, Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya Constituency, I acknowledge that the Serenje to Mpika Road is indeed, in a deplorable state. The Government is saddened and concerned about the continued loss of life on that road and any other road across the country. This loss of life on our roads must be curtailed.  While poor roads contribute to the loss of life and accidents, we must as a country, also deal with the human element that contributes significantly to road traffic accidents. Failure to observe road traffic rules, and use of vehicles that are not road worthy, are also contributing to the needless loss of life on our roads.

Mr Speaker, the Serenje to Mpika Road is part of the Serenje to Nakonde Road corridor which is in need of rehabilitation. The Government is actively taking actions to ensure that the conditions of the entire corridor are improved. The Government has already engaged contractors to undertake rehabilitation works on the Chinsali to Nakonde section of the road. The works are being implemented in two lots. Physical progress on Lot 1, which is from Chinsali to Isoka is currently at 85 per cent, while the progress on Lot 2, which is from Isoka to Nakonde is currently at 77 per cent. Works on Lot I are expected to be completed by 24^th February, 2023, while works on Lot 2 are expected to be completed by March, 2023.

Mr Speaker, the Government has received finance amounting to €110 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a grant amount of €72.45 million from the European Union (EU) towards the cost of rehabilitating the 162 Km of  the Mpika to Chinsali section. It is envisaged that procurement of civil works contracts will be concluded in the second quarter of 2023. 

Mr Speaker, the Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA) has engaged Messrs China Geo Engineering Corporation to undertake holding maintenance works on the road section between Chinsali and Lukulu. The works had stalled due to funding challenges. However, the contractor has been paid part of the outstanding amount for the works done and commenced works on Thursday, 20^th October, 2022, with excavation of materials at the borrow pits. Work on the road section commenced on Saturday, 22^nd October, 2022, and is expected to be concluded in April, 2023.

Furthermore, the Government through the RDA shall endeavour to undertake holding maintenance works through Force Account on the section of the road between Serenje and Lukulu to ensure that the entire section from Mpika to Serenje is kept safe for road users as major rehabilitation works are being waited.

Mr Speaker, in the long-term, the Government intends to undertake full rehabilitation with the road once financing for the same has been mobilised. I inform the House that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has expressed interest to finance the rehabilitation of the 60 km stretch with the road from Mpika towards Serenje. To this effect, a tender for the consultancy services for design, review, the update and preparation of tender documents for the rehabilitation of a section of the Serenje to Mpika Road from the start of the dual carriageway section in Mpika, approximately 60 km, was floated and closed in August, 2022. The tender is currently under evaluating and is expected to be awarded before the end of October, 2022. It is envisaged that the works tender will be floated once the designed review and updating of the tender has been concluded.

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to inform this August House and the National at large that Government is concerned about the state of this section of the road, but the Government is also considering the public private partnership (PPP) approach to finance the Serenje to Mpika rehabilitation work, subject to viability. In this regard, a tender for the feasibility study solicitation document preparation, transaction advisor and design review for the rehabilitation of the road from Serene to Chinsali, which is about 404.54 km, in Central and Muchinga provinces of Zambia under the PPP model was floated on 29^th August, 2022 and closed on 21^st October, 2022. Evaluation of the bids will commerce soon and thereafter, feasibility studies will be undertaken by successful bidder. The studies will provide information that the Government can use in developing the road using PPP.

 Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement given by the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the two statements. However, hon. Minister, there are so many acrow bridges that are supposed to be put on various crossing points in Zambia. The Makondo one is just one out of so many. May I find out from the hon. Minister how his programme is and how he is going to approach the installation of these acrow bridges. I stand here to also to agree with him that the acrow bridges are in this country and this is just a stone throw within Lusaka. We and every Zambian know knows that. I am sure hon. Members of this House are interested just like the hon. Member of Parliament for Zambezi East who asked about the Makondo Bridge. For instance, I have four of them in Mufumbwe which are supposed to be installed. I do not know whether the hon. Minister has a comprehensive programme that he is now going to carry out the installation of the programmes.

Eng. Milupi: Mr Speaker, I suppose the main part of his question is about the comprehensive plan we have for the installation of these brings. This is what we have done. As he quite rightly says, the bridges are already in the country. In fact, they are at the Road Development Agency (RDA) yard in Lusaka West except one that was installed in the Eastern Province.

Sir, we have three avenues. The first one is that we are quite willing to work with those hon. Members of Parliament who were prepared to use some of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to carry out some sub-structure work such as abutments and piers and that once these abutments and piers were done, RDA had committed to move the bridges to site and have them installed. One of two hon. Members are already working on that.

Sir, the second plan of action is that we allocated two acrow bridges for each constituency under the Supplementary Budget which was approved by this House. There was a figure of K1.65 billion for the road sector in that budget. So far, not a ngwee has been released. So, when that money begins to be released, we shall begin to implement what we have said on the two acrow bridges as we have stated.

Sir, the last aspect of the plan is the 2023 Budget. We hope then that many bridges will then be installed to ensure that our populations which were allocated with bridges begin to benefit from these bridges.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mundubile (Mporokoso): Mr Speaker, when there was a change of design on the Mongu/ Kalabo Road, a number of bridge components remained unused from the initial design. In view of the financial constraints, does the ministry intend to import some bridges from the Western Province to Zambezi East and place them on some crossing points?

Eng. Milupi: Mr Speaker, the leader of Opposition is an interesting politician. He has said something that raises questions in my mind. He is talking about whether we intend to ‘import’. The word is ‘import’ from the Western Province. I do not know what he is trying to imply because I thought we are one country.

Laughter

Eng. Milupi: However, the hon. Leader of Opposition will note that out of the seven provinces that were allocated the acrow bridges, three were left out and that includes the Western Province. It was not facilitated in terms of the acrow bridges. So, to expect that these bridges will now go to those areas where bridges were already allocated under the Acrow Programme, probably, is asking too much. The Western Province, like all other provinces, also has its own needs that need to be addressed.  We are trying to ensure that the 130 bridge that are yet to be installed are installed using the action plans that I have already stated.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, mine is firstly to thank the hon. Minister for his statement. I can attest to the fact that some works are on-going on the sections that I alluded to in my question.

Sir, we are aware that the Great North Road is the economic gateway to East Africa and everything that can be done should be done on this road. I am glad that the hon. Minister took the question off me because I was going to ask whether the Government was considering the public-private partnership (PPP) model in upgrading this road not only for Zambia’s benefits, but also because upgrading this road is critical for the region, especially for countries in the north/south corridor.

Eng. Milupi: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya, Hon. Sunday Chanda, first of all, for acknowledging that in spite of the question, work was already underway even when the question was being raised.

Sir, the status and importance of the Great North Road to this country are without question, not only to this country but also as an international gateway. In other words, other countries rely on that road. That is why, sometimes, we are taken aback when we see the level of neglect that was on that road in a Government that confessed that it was there for infrastructure development.

Sir, infrastructure cannot be undertaken without taking the needs of the country into account, especially the economic needs. This is an economic road, but we note that it was neglected and that is why it is in the state it is in. However, that is not surprising as it is not the only one. We have the Katate/Chanida Road, which brings in a high percentage of the finished fuel that comes in from the Port of Beira, and the Chingola/Kasumbalesa Road which, again, is a very important economic road that was neglected. That also includes the Ndola/Sakanya Road and the Mufulira/Mukambo Road, which are important economic roads.

Mr Speaker, I assure the hon. Member and this august House that the New Dawn Administration pushed on by the agenda of economic recovery and the growth of this economy, will not follow the path of neglecting these economic roads. That is why we are doing what we can to work on all these roads, especially the ones that link us to other countries. Among these is, obviously, the Sesheke/Livingstone Road which is almost non-existent now. It is a huge task that has been left on our hands, but the New Dawn Administration is up to the task.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, just to set the record straight, the same approach the United Party for National Development (UPND) has taken was the same approach taken by our administration because that stretch is long. The two stretches he has highlighted here, being Nakonde/Isoka Lot and Isoka/Chinsali Lot, were contracted with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB). That is the work he is referring to as making progress because we realised the importance of this road.

Sir, the same approach he has taken, which we appreciate, of going back to the AfDB, which has also shown its commitment to deal with the Chinsali/Mpika Road and the Department for International Development (DFID) support our colleagues are getting on the other stretch, is the same approach. So, it is not a question of neglect, but it is the huge amounts of money that are required to go to the rehabilitation of that road.

Mr Speaker, my question is about the contractor he has mentioned who has gone back to the site to do the temporary rehabilitation works. Within the enclosed, he is getting most of his finished fuel products through that stretch. Last week, I was concerned when I found a tanker which had rolled and people scampering trying to get diesel –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, you are debating. I thought you wanted to ask a question to the hon. Minister.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I am trying to give a scenario to the hon. Minister so that I – I am almost concluding.

Sir, with that concern, it is not the first incident that is happening. We may record some calamity, like the Kabwe incident, that we discussed with him. Is this contractor able to simultaneously work on those critical areas that are extremely damaged between Serenje and Mpika where road carnage is very high? Could he, maybe, share with us what kind of works the contractor is doing, because we have seen in the past people heaping gravel and it being washed away within weeks. Would the contractor be able to simultaneously work before the rains commence? What sort of work is this contractor doing on those critical stretches?

Eng. Milupi: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, whose constituency is actually on that stretch.

Sir, when he talks about what the contractor is doing and so on, I can only just remind him of the beginning of the bemba saying; ubulimi bwakale, ...

Laughter

Eng. Milupi: So, he needs to forget about what they did in the past. It will take him nowhere.

Sir, the contractor who is working, China Geo-Engineering Corporation –

Mr Kampyongo interjected.

Eng. Milupi: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu is disturbing my flow.

Laughter

Eng. Milupi: The contractor we have put is doing emergency holding works just to ensure that the road is passable. His question was if they are going to be able to continue. I did give a timeframe during which these works are going to be done and we shall continue to monitor. With the little funds available, we shall continue to ensure that as much work as possible is done.

Sir, this New Dawn Government is not happy when we see traffic slow down so much because of the potholes. I have been on that road. During the rainy season, our women and youth selling roasted maize cobs do not have to wait for the truck to stop, they just go as it is moving and sell and transact. That is not very satisfactory. So, we will do what we can, but long term, it is a complete rehabilitation either through the funding that I have talked about or through a PPP which we are working on very diligently.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr J. Daka (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, I admit that the hon. Minister has made a great effort this year by the proposed incentives that they want to include under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode of financing. We are all aware that for a road to be worked on under this mode of financing, it has to attract investment.

Sir, the hon. Minister has cited this model on some sections of this T-2 road. The current Act has failed to produce any tangible results. I have seen in this year’s Budget Speech that he has proposed amendments to the current Act. The people of Chadiza would want to know how soon the hon. Minister is bringing this old Act for repealing and replacing before this honourable House.

Eng. Milupi: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Chadiza, Eng. Jonathan Daka, who knows a lot more about what I am talking about than most people because he is an engineer. As regards the Act that he is talking about, the Government is fully mindful of the fact that it requires to be updated. Very soon, it will be brought to this House so that it can attend to it.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member said that we have not achieved much in terms of public-private partnerships (PPP). However, I can tell him that a lot has been done. This is basically almost a new concept. I know that it has been done on one or two locations. I think it was done on the Lubama Market. However, in terms of roads, we are charting a new course. It is detailed discussions. The Government has to look at the people who are coming in with unsolicited or solicited bids and ensure that they are not coming for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts, but that they are investors bringing money in and this has to work in terms of their ability to generate resources to pay back for their investment and get their profit over a much longer period of time like fifteen, twenty or twenty five years.

Mr Speaker, so that is what we are doing and we are mindful that in order to make this work, not only do we have to put in incentives, but we also have to make sure that the law is amenable to this kind of investment. One of the issues that we found is that stability in our laws, taxation regime and respect and honour of property rights is absolutely important. Where Governments come in and expropriate people’s private assets, it does not help when these matters come. These are some of the matters that we are seeing as we negotiate these things. However, the law will be changed and we shall bring that to this House to ensure that we correct all these things.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: As I had earlier added five minutes more to the consideration of this ministerial statement, let us make progress.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

EXPANSION OF MKUSHI DISTRICT HOSPITAL MORTUARY

76. Mr C. Chibuye (Mkushi North) asked the Minister of Health:

1. whether the Government has any plans to expand the mortuary capacity at Mkushi District Hospital;
2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
3. what the estimated time frame for the completion of the project is; and
4. if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Health (Mrs Masebo): Mr Speaker, the Government has no plans to expand the mortuary capacity at Mkushi District Hospital currently.

There are no current plans to implement the expansion of the mortuary as the current one is adequately providing the needed service.

There is no estimated timeframe as the Government has not planned for any expansion of the mortuary at Mkushi District Hospital.

There are no plans by the Ministry of Health to expand the mortuary at Mkushi District Hospital because the existing mortuary is able to contain the number of bodies currently being kept.

Mr Speaker, in addition, Chipefwe Urban Health Centre which is the former district hospital situated 3Km away from the district hospital is also equipped with a mortuary unity capable of being utilised in an event that there are more bodies than the hospital is able to handle.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Mr Speaker, I happened, at one time, to use Mkushi Mortuary when my aunt passed away, and it is, indeed, a very small unit. If I am correct, the unity can only accommodate about three bodies. Looking at Mkushi, the catchment or the population of the district is close to fifty thousand. People from Chalata and Ngolonga all take their deceased to Mkushi Mortuary.

Mr Speaker, I am sad to hear that there are no current plans for the Government to build or expand the mortuary at Mkushi Hospital. Are there any means or ways that could help people transport their dead ones in case the capacity is filled, from Mkushi to Kapiri Mposhi?

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I think there are two issues here. The hon. Member is saying that the current mortuary is not sufficient and that sometimes it is full because it is small. I said that there is another one. The answer was that when this facility is full, there is another mortuary which is at the old hospital which people can fall back on. However, I note that the hon. Member is still saying that even with that one, people are still going out of the district for help.

Mr Speaker, my response, therefore, is that it would help if the hon. Member could officially write to the ministry so that this matter is investigated. If, indeed, what he is saying is correct and factual, the ministry could budget for it.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, is the ministry in a position to partner with the Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC), so that it can also come in to advise on how to purchase units and facilitate an extension.

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is a Government fund. The CDF has instructions or regulations which state that it is allowed to spend money on various sectors and health has been identified as one of the key sectors on which CDFCs have been advised to spend money.

Mr Speaker, on the question as to whether the Ministry of Health can facilitate, the answer is yes. The CDFC makes the decision. Once that decision is made and it has to do with a particular sector, for example, health, all it needs to do is engage the director of health in that particular district and the help will be forth coming. If it is beyond the district, you they can get in touch with the provincial health director and the provincial health director, if not able to do it, will always refer such requests to the Ministry of Health.

Mr Speaker, the short answer is that anything to do with health which CDFCs want to do, the Ministry of Health, through its various organs which are the district health offices, the provincial health offices and, indeed, the head quarters is game to work with them and the councils to ensure that projects are implemented.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr C. M. Mpundu (Chembe): Mr Speaker, when was this mortuary constructed for it to not have been expanded? Riding on the question by the hon. Member for Roan, we understand that the population is increasing. 

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I do not know when the mortuary was constructed and off the cuff, I would mislead him. If an hon. Member of Parliament has a facility that he can see that truthfully, that facility is not adequate due to high population, or may be, that the facility was built in 1902 or whatever the case may be, it will only be helpful for the affected hon. Member of Parliament to write a letter to the ministry. I keep repeating that we should not waste our time here debating things that need to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Mr Speaker, if hon. Members know that they have situations that are bad for their people, they are better off just writing letters to the ministry to seek our attention so that we can quickly help them. The hon. Members should remember that we make the budget for the ministry. However, even as we budget, our budget is never 100 per cent perfect. There will still be shortages. So, out of those hon. Members who write to report their problems or even request for things like ambulances, you will find that maybe, we will only a budget for 100 hospitals. Now, how many facilities do we have in the country? We have 116 districts and more hospitals. So, certain places will be left out.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament who know the process of making sure that their needs are prioritised will be assisted. So, right now, we are talking about constructing mortuaries.  We have a list but I cannot tell what it is all about. I can only say that it is for those who have officially written to the ministry or have visited the Permanent Secretary (PS)’s office and other relevant directors, and their needs have been prioritised. We always had a list and when time for planning comes, we have the information.

Mr Speaker, of course, we do get consolidated lists from the provinces. However, even with those consolidated lists, it is the councillors and hon. Members who are active on the ground. Sometimes, even those that have the power to make decisions, you will find that they will choose areas where the councillor or the hon. Member are coming from, leaving areas that are really in need. So, we need to work together.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health has the highest number of health facilities in the country. So, if we do not work together and hon. Members continue bringing questions which they know I will not answer, they are not be helping themselves. Again, I say, “Let us work together.”

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr C. Chibuye (Mkushi North): Mr Speaker, I was almost getting worried that the owner of the question is not being granted a change to ask a question. 

Mr Speaker, how I wish the hon. Minister could have gathered enough information about the other facility she has talked about called Chibefwe. What I know is that the mortuary at Chibefwe has not been operational for over a year now and that the mortuary is actually at the district hospital and it is only taking three bodies. 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr C. Chibuye: Yes, it is only taking three bodies. It is actually very inconveniencing, especially when there are accidents along the Great North Road. We normally transport bodies to either Kapiri-Mposhi or Masansa. The distance from Masansa to Mkushi is 50 km and to Kapiri-Mposhi is 92 km. So, you can imagine the inconvenience that the vulnerable families go through.

Mr Speaker, could there be the best way possible that the hon. Minister could attend to this matter through her office, so that we can actually try and expand our mortuary?

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I will be very honest. I said that the capacity of this mortuary is good enough. When it is full, they can use the other mortuary which was for the old hospital since they now have a new district hospital. I do not understand how the mortuary in question takes only three bodies. Obviously, three is a very small number. 

Mr Speaker, let me say this and I want the hon. Members to understand me. When questions are asked, they are answered by the people on the ground that send the answers. So, in this regard, when the director of health or the doctor-in-charge of a facility in question gives us information, we take it that it is correct. That is why it is important for hon. Members to help themselves and their Government by ensuring that when they have an important concern like this one – Surely, if you have a mortuary that only accommodates three bodies, looking at the way people are dying nowadays, it means that that mortuary is not sufficient.

Mr Speaker, I am saying that there is another mortuary which is working and the hon. Member is telling me that in fact, that mortuary has not been working for more than a year. The answer is saying that in the case where that other mortuary is full, they can use the other mortuary. Unfortunately, you can see that the answer that I have and what the hon. Member is saying do not tally. That is why it is important for hon. Members not to take time to report these issues. Questions take time and sometimes, even the answers that are given may have lapsed. 

Mr Speaker, I will have to verify this answer concerning the other mortuary because the answer says that when the other mortuary is full, there is this other mortuary which they can fall back on but the hon. Member is saying that even that mortuary we are talking about has not been functional for over a year. Therefore, it means that this answer is wrong.

Mr Speaker, let me find out and tomorrow, I can bring a full report.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has encouraged us, as hon. Members to apply for part of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) or indeed, any other initiative to put up mortuary facilities. Indeed, I under what the hon. Member for Mkushi North is saying because Mkushi is along Great North Road and there are road traffic accidents (RTAs) that occur. Shiwang’andu Constituency is almost on the same stretch. Through the initiative of the area hon. Member of Parliament three years ago, we put up a three body unit at one of the health facilities along the road, but the challenge is maintenance.

Mr Speaker, even as the hon. Minister is encouraging us, does she put these facilities on the routine maintenance plan? It seems we can put up a facility and whilst the machine is still new, we start having challenges like the one in Mkushi, which has been down for a long time. Is there a routine maintenance plan for these facilities? If there is, do they also co-opt those that are done on a routine maintenance plan, like the one in Shiwang’andu? 

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that follow-up question. I think it is an important question because it will help us clarify certain things.

Mr Speaker, there are two things here. Hon. Members of Parliament are putting up hospitals, clinics, rural health centres, mini hospitals or whatever they are called. Recently, our Deputy Chief Whip here, Princess Kasune, was able to construct a very good mini hospital, if I may call it that, in her constituency through her own personal organisation of well wishers. It is new, in good condition and everything is there, including the equipment. However, that equipment may start breaking down one day. So, the question that the hon. Member has asked is important and I want hon. Members to listen and listen carefully.

Mr Speaker, if you constructed something privately, like she did, using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) or through a well wisher donating, the first thing you must do as you commission that facility is to hand it over to the Government. You hand it over to the Government through the Ministry of Health, using the office of the Director of Health. Then the Director of Health will register it as part and parcel of our assets so that for any programme, including drug distribution, maintenance and so on and so forth, it will be treated as if it was purely a government clinic, including staffing.

Mr Speaker, we would be able to provide staff that we pay as Government. This is what the Government is doing currently for mission clinics or hospitals. The officers there are paid by the Government. They are on the Government’s payroll. The drugs there are also given by the Government. When we distribute to government facilities, we also distribute to them. When we do not have, even them they do not have. When we have, they also have. Even when we procure an ambulance, we can give an ambulance to a mission hospital. So it is in the same vein.

Mr Speaker, that is why I said last time that we have a number of ambulances that are not working. If an hon. Member of Parliament feels it is necessary to take one of those that are not working and fix it using CDF so that it can be used at a particular facility, we will give the go ahead. You can even buy an ambulance using CDF and give it to your district, say Chinsali District Hospital. If that ambulance breaks down or something goes wrong, it will be the responsibility of the Government to fix it. So, I hope my answer clears other questions.

I thank you, Speaker.

Mr Kafwaya: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, thank you so much for according me this opportunity to raise a point of order against the hon. Minister of Health. My point of order is premised on Standing Order 70, which reads:

“Types of Questions

There are four types of questions as follows:

1. question for Oral Answer;”

Mr Speaker, the question on the Floor was properly put on the Order Paper. After the hon. Minister gave us her written answer, you allowed follow-up questions. This is standard procedure. My hon. Colleague seated behind me, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chembe, asked the hon. Minister a question and in her response, she said the following. She used the expression “to come here and waste time by asking questions”, which is provided first on the Order Paper and by your direction.

Mr Speaker, secondly, the hon. Minister said, “You come here to ask questions which I cannot even answer”, when in fact you have directed that the hon. Minister should answer accountability questions. Is the hon. Minister in order to tell us that the questions we are asking her are, both, wasting time and that she cannot even answer some of them?

I seek your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: If I heard the hon. Minister correctly, I think what she was trying to put across was the emphasis on encouraging hon. Members to ask questions that are quite pertinent and relevant to the Business of the House. This was after an hon. Member asked when that structure was built. Yes, it was a very good question, but at the same time, I think everyone knows that at this point even a rocket scientist may not know how long it has been since Mwami Hospital was built. I think that is what she meant in that context. For example, if I was to be an hon. Minister today and you ask me when the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) was built, it is difficult for me to know. So in that regard, I think that is what she was trying to say. Let us proceed and make progress.

PROCUREMENT OF AMBULANCES FOR SOME HEALTH FACILITIES IN GWEMBE DISTRICT

77. Mr Simuzingili (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Health:

1. whether the Government has any plans to procure ambulances for the following health facilities in Gwembe District:

1. Gwembe District Hospital;
2. Munyumbwe Level 1 Hospital; and
3. Chabbobboma Mission Health Centre;

1. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

1. what the cost of each ambulance is.

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to procure ambulances to cater for various health facilities countrywide that do not have adequate ambulance services. The procurement will be implemented in a phased approach and health facilities in Gwembe District are expected to benefit from this Government initiative. Due to the increasing demand for ambulances for maternal and neo-natal emergencies and road traffic accidents, coupled with the high cost associated with the ambulatory service, I inform the House that at the district level, ambulances are managed from the district health office. The district is divided in zones and available ambulances are –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the question. Before business was suspended, I was saying that the Government has plans to procure ambulances to cater for health facilities countrywide, facilities that do not have adequate ambulance services. The procurement will be implemented in a phased approach and health facilities in Gwembe District are expected to benefit from this Government initiative.

Mr Speaker, due to the increasing demand for ambulances for maternal and neonatal emergencies, including road traffic accidents, coupled with the high cost associated with ambulance service, the House may wish to note that at district level, ambulances are managed from the district health office. The district is divided into zones and the available ambulances are assigned to zones. A zone is a collection of health centres and health posts. The assigned ambulances are utilised to send referrals to higher levels for specialised management care. At hospital level, ambulances are attached to district hospitals, general hospitals, central hospitals and teaching hospitals.

Mr Speaker, the plan to procure ambulances is expected to be implemented this year, 2022.

Mr Speaker, the procurement is still on-going and as such, the cost of each ambulance can only be made available at the conclusion of the procurement process. The House may wish to note that the tender was advertised through open national bidding and has since been closed. The bid evaluation will commence before the end of October, 2022 with the final award of contract expected to be completed in the first week of December, 2022 with an estimated delivery period of four to six months.

Mr Speaker, the allocation of ambulances will be based on need across the country.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Health. The hon. Minister may know that different districts have got different terrains and obviously, ambulances have to be either modified or there will be some special features that can make those vehicles last in places like Sioma and Mongu, for example. This tender that the hon. Minister has spoken about, just for the record, did it consider the various terrains because that will definitely influence the cost of each ambulance and then also – Well, let me not add a different question. Still on the aspect of different terrains, we do not want the hon. Minister to be accused of having bought ambulances that were over priced without our people understanding that there was some consideration that was being made in the procurement process because that will definitely have an influence on the actual price.

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for a valid follow-up question. Since this process is not complete, it will be important for those who have interest, by way of experience, to refer to the specifications that were advertised or included in the contract that was advertised. I will say that I have not really had an opportunity myself to look at that contract to know exactly what the specifications are. All I know is what I was told that the advert was on and that it would go on until end of this October. So, I think the point the hon. Member has brought out is very serious because I know that the ambulances we currently have are not good for certain terrains. I get information from the drivers of the ambulances when I meet them and they say, “Madam, the ambulances are not good for this terrain. Do not make a mistake, and please do not allow these people to get this type of ambulances. Please get Toyota or Mercedes Benz.” So, you get those vibes coming from the drivers themselves who are using these ambulances.

Mr Speaker, all these issues are important because once we buy, it is too late to start bringing up such issues. So, maybe, now that these issues are coming up, it will be good to take an interest for those of you who are good at these issues of mechanical nature to take interest in the procurement of ambulances. All I know is that in terms of the policy decision, I think, we had resolved that we would buy water and road ambulances. Just like we are pushing to ensure that we find resources in future or now for air ambulances under the Flying Doctor Service, all things being equal. So, again, we have had an opportunity to look at certain ambulances that have come into Zambia. Unfortunately, I am aware that they are not proceeding. So, I really do not know where we are going to get the ambulances from because it will depend on the people who are going to bid. I just hope and pray that we are going to get the right ambulances, especially taking into account the issue of terrains because, indeed, in some areas, you really have to get those good quality tyres and those big vehicles which are strong, otherwise they will only work for three months.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao (Luanshya): Mr Speaker, in Luanshya, using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), we have managed to fix five ambulances, and they are good. We have decided to station these ambulances in far flung places because people suffer to bring patients to the main hospital. Our biggest problem is who to drive these ambulances. How can the ministry assist us seeing as these ambulances have been fixed?

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Member for being very innovative. As hon. Minister of Health, I commend him and, as hon. Members normally say, ema MPs aba. He does not just talk, but also acts. That is good. So, all I can say to the hon. Member is that he should come through to the ministry so that we sit with management, especially those who are responsible for human resource. Let us see if we can find drivers as quickly as possible, hopefully by next week.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuzingili: Mr Speaker, Gwembe only has one ambulance, which is ten years old, servicing five zones. There is no ambulance we can say can be repaired. So, if there are any that have minor challenges, as Gwembe District, we are willing to look at them and use our Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to repair them.

Sir, the other part is that we are comforted that the hon. Minister will prioritise Gwembe when new ambulances come.

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I was just trying to get further information on Gwembe from my iPad. I have found that the district has three ambulances. Two belong to the Government and the other one belongs to the Centre for infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (CIDERZ). Unfortunately, the current situation is that all the three ambulances are non-runners. So, the district is relying on one utility vehicle for the transportation of patients across the district and to Monze Mission Hospital.

There has been a non-runner ambulance for almost four years now due to the unavailability of spare parts on the market for the model. Again, this takes us back to the issue of models. The models that we buy must be those for which we can easily get spare parts. However, it looks like we cannot even get spare parts for this one.

There is a Toyota Landcruiser ambulance which has not been running for one month now due to a break down and needs about K52,000 to be put back on the road. I am sure the hon. Member can consider fixing that one because it just has a minor issue. One of the crucially needed parts, worth, approximately, K39,000, was paid for two weeks ago. Delivery by the supplier, Toyota Zambia, is being awaited. However, the part that was not in stock needed a special order.

Mr Speaker, in addition, the district has spent more than K154,000 this year on the same vehicle. This is the only ambulance that transports patients from all facilities to hospitals and from Munyumbwe Hospital to Monze Mission Hospital with high referral rates on a bad road network.

Mr Speaker, the district hospital only has one ambulance, which has not been running for one month now as it was involved in a road traffic accident. Currently, it is in the garage for repairs. Worth to mention, also, is that it is very old. It is almost ten years old now, and this has led to constant breakdowns that have strained the hospital and diverted resources meant for other services to service or repair it.

Mr Speaker, I think that there are efforts to ensure that we get an ambulance in Gwembe, except in the long term. Gwembe will have to wait for the new ambulances that are being ordered. For now, the hon. Member of Parliament can work closely with the Hospital Director and the District Health Director to see how we can support each other. The hon. Member has a budget under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the province, the district, and the ministry headquarters also have their budgets. However, the district budget has gone low. So, maybe, we can rely on the provincial budget, but if the province does not have, then we have to find answers. That is why we are here. That is why I say, for certain things, especially things which are emergencies; hon. Members should not wait until they have to come up as questions on the Floor of the House.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for that protection. I did not mean that hon. Members should not ask questions. The context was that there are certain things that cannot wait to come as questions. We are dealing with heath matters, which are urgent. If a question is filed, it will take one week or so and days will go by. So, it does not help. I did not mean that questions should not be asked or that it is not hon. Members’ right to ask. It is their right. However, I was just making an appeal not to waste time. So, it was in that context.

Sir, even now, all I am saying is that let us meet over certain things and resolve them together. Hon. Members can use the phone and say, “Our ambulance has broken down and that is the only one we have.” You cannot stay for one week or two weeks without an ambulance and wait to come and ask a question in Parliament. It means that one is losing time. So, let us see what we can do over the K52,000 because information is that it is the only money required.

I thank you, Sir.

_______

BILL

SECOND READING

THE INVESTMENT TRADE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BILL, 2022

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane) (on behalf of the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mulenga)): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make my statement on the Investment, Trade and Business Development Bill, 2022. I also thank your Committee for the consultations undertaken in a transparent manner on the intent, contents and implementation modalities of the Bill. This Bill is part of the process of strengthening the legal and institutional framework with regards to implementation of the Government policy on trade, investment and business development. The Bill strives to respond to the Government’s priority of improving the framework for attracting and promoting domestic and foreign direct investment, promote local participation in investment, strengthen the framework for monitoring of investments, strengthen the provisions on trade and industrial development and facilitate the development of industrial infrastructure and commercial services.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that trade, investment and business development matters are currently being provided for in the Zambia Development Agency Act No. 11 of 2006. However, over the years, the Zambia Development Agency Act No. 11 of 2006 has become inadequate in addressing issues of investment, trade and business development. Therefore, there is a need to repeal and replace the Act to address the gaps and weaknesses and provide mechanisms to strengthen the implementation of the policy framework on trade, investment and business development to foster economic growth in the country.

Mr Speaker, the Investment, Trade and Business Development Bill of 2022, is arising out of the need to split the Zambia Development Agency Act No. 11 of 2006 into two separate Bills namely:

(a)        the Zambia Development Agency Bill, No. 19of 2022; and

(b)        the Investment, Trade and Business Development Bill, No. 20of 2022.

This was necessitated by the need to have an independent legal framework that would fully focus on investment, trade and business development which is aligned to international best practices in handling investment and trade matters.

Sir, the aim of the Bill is to improve and strengthen the framework for attracting and promoting domestic and foreign direct investment, promote local participation in investment, strengthen the framework for the monitoring of investments, strengthen the provisions on trade and industrial development and facilitate the development of industrial infrastructure and commercial services.

Mr Speaker, the specific objectives include to:

(a)        foster economic growth and development by promoting trade, business development and investment in the Republic through an efficient, effective and coordinated private sector led economic development strategy;

(b)        promote economic diversification through the growth of exports;

(c)        promote, facilitate, protect and monitor domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI);

(d)        promote investment through joint ventures and partnerships between local and foreign investors;

(e)        facilitate the development of industrial infrastructure and commercial services;

(f)         promote research on matters related to industrial development;

(g)        facilitate the protection of infant industries; and

(h)        provide for matters connected with, and incidental to, the foregoing.

Mr Speaker, the Investment, Trade and Business Development Bill provides the general principles that will guide investment and trade promotion in the country. The general principles will provide the precepts to guide the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) in the execution of the trade and investment promotion mandate. Notably, the general principles highlight the need for trade and investment to improve the overall economic performance of the country and its people, and to promote diversification, value addition and increased exports.

Sir, innovatively, the Bill provides for promoting and upholding environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors which refer to the three key factors when measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment in a business or company, and will, therefore, strengthen the impact of investments in the domestic environment.

Mr Speaker, the Bill will also expand the scope of areas that could be declared as having unique economic regulations. In the Bill, a special economic zone is defined as an area that is subject to unique economic regulations and includes Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZ), industrial parks, inter-country trade zones and export processing zones. The Bill further provides that the hon. Minister responsible for industry may, before declaring an area to be a special economic zone, issue a conditional permit to facilitate the establishment of a special economic zone. This will allow the Government to develop the framework for different types and nature of special economic zones, including the unique economic regulatory conditions that would be applicable to the different types of special economic zones. This is expected to strengthen the framework for special economic zones in Zambia and provide for a more targeted approach to the development of special economic zones and the applicable unique economic regulations.

Sir, further, the conditional permit will allow for commitment to be shown on the part of the investor by developing the requisite infrastructure before the special economic zone would be declared a full-fledged special economic zone which would be eligible to further incentives. This measure is expected to increase the benefits accruing to the country from the incentives provided.

Mr Speaker, the Bill introduces incentives specifically for exporters of locally produced goods and services. This is expected to spur domestic production and consequently, lead to increased export earnings. It also provides for harmonisation in the provision of fiscal incentives by aligning the validity period of the incentive to the relevant tax law from which that incentive is drawn.

Further, the Bill withdraws incentives from a business once the ownership of that business is changed. This will strengthen the incentive regime and reduce incentive-shopping behaviour among investors. This will also strengthen compliance and monitoring and evaluation of business activities of a licence, permit or certificate of registration holder. This measure reduces the time that it takes for the holder to request renewal of the licence, permit or certificate of registration. At the point of renewal, the renewal will be subject to the holder proving that they have met the pledges made at the time they applied for the licence, permit or certificate of registration.

Sir, the implementation of the Bill, once enacted, will be coordinated by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry through the ZDA. This will involve the formulation and promulgation of regulations through Statutory Instruments (SIs) for the better carrying out of the objects and purpose of the Bill.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to thank the House for the opportunity to present this important Bill and I urge hon. Members of this honourable House to support the Bill as it will play a pivotal role in contributing to Zambia's national aspiration of becoming a prosperous middle-income country by 2030, and improve and strengthen the framework for attracting and promoting domestic and foreign direct investment.

Sir, I would also like to thank members of your Committee for the good work they did in scrutinising the Bill and also to thank the stakeholders for participating in the consultative process.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Mr Speaker, the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters was tasked to scrutinise the Investment, Trade and Business Development, Bill, N.A.B. No. 20 of 2022, pursuant to its mandate as set out in the National Assembly Standing Orders, 2021.

Mr Speaker, let me indicate from the outset that both the stakeholders who made submissions on the Bill and your Committee are in support of the proposed piece of legislation. This is because the Bill aims to address some of the shortcomings of the Zambia Development Agency Act, especially with regard to fostering domestic-led investment.

Sir, while supporting the enactment of the Bill, your Committee wishes to share some of the concerns raised by the stakeholders.

Sir, your Committee notes that Clause 10 seeks to provide for authorisation for investors to transfer out of the Republic, after payment of taxes and liabilities; dividends; principal and interest of any foreign loan; management fees; royalties and other charges in respect of any agreement and net proceeds of sale or liquidation of a business or any other liabilities.

Your Committee observes that while this provision is one way of attracting investors, it has the potential to destabilise the balance of payments. In this vein, your Committee strongly recommends that in order to avoid reverting to extreme measures of control on the externalisation of profits, the Bill should provide additional incentives to investors who do not externalise their profits.

Mr Speaker, your Committee observes that Clause 11(2)(a), provides for the ZDA to facilitate and protect infant industries, while Clause 11(2)(h) provides that the Agency will move towards large and more unified markets in the form of free trade areas, common customs areas or single markets. Your Committee opines that it is practically impossible to protect infant industries, while at the same time consolidating the larger market. This requires the removal of barriers to trade which, in essence, are the safeguards of infant industry protection. In this regard, your Committee recommends that before moving towards large and more unified markets, infant industry protection should be prioritised by invoking all necessary trade protection instruments to nurture and protect local firms to a level where they are able to compete favourably with peer industries.

Mr Speaker, Clause 21 provides for period of validity of and renewal for licence, permit or certificate of registration. While considering the position of the Government that this measure is intended to strengthen compliance in the monitoring and evaluation of business activities, your Committee is of the view that this is contrary to the desire of the Government to reduce the cost of doing business. Your Committee notes that on one hand, the Government is talking about reducing the cost of doing business as an incentive to foreign direct investment, while on the other, it is increasing the cost by reducing the period of licence validity.

Mr Speaker, your Committee further observes that one of the challenges that has hampered the growth of investment in Zambia is the weak monitoring and evaluation programmes administered by the ZDA, due to various constraints, key among them, is limited funding and human resource. In this regard your Committee recommends that the validity period be retained at ten years and the monitoring capacity for ZDA be enhanced.

Mr Speaker, your Committee observes that under Clause 35, the minister responsible for finance, on the recommendation of the director-general, may grant an investor, who has complied with the terms and conditions of the certificate, licence, relief or exemption from any tax or duty to which the investor is eligible. Your Committee is of the view that this gives unfettered discretion to the minister, the agency and the director-general to grant incentives and is a recipe for abuse of authority.

In this vein, your Committee recommends that all incentives and the criteria for qualifying for them, should be consolidated in a schedule that is reflected in the country’s national planning and budgeting documents, such as the industrial and trade policies and the annual National Budget.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, let me place on record your Committee’s gratitude to all the stakeholders for their oral and written submissions on the Bill. Further, your Committee thanks the office of the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and services rendered to it during the consideration of the Bill.

Mr Speaker, I thank you!

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, the people of Kanchibiya support this Bill on Investment Trade and Business Development. In supporting the Bill, allow me to place on record that as a people in Kanchibiya we are believers in metamorphosis, where a wheelbarrow can turn into an aeroplane, and a caterpillar into a butterfly and a small nation into a great nation.

Mr Speaker, fifty eight years ago, the founders of this country lead what is the Zambian dream, a land of work and joy in unity all one strong and free.  We are seated with a situation where the challenge before us is to create and an economy that can create jobs for our people especially the young people. The labour market has no capacity to absorb these jobs. The demographic dividend we are dealing with can become a demographic doom unless we do something that is very drastic. No wonder this particular Bill becomes very important in our quest to achieve that dream of a land of work and joy in unity, all one strong and free. Fifty eight years later the younger generation of this country would feel as though that dream has been deferred.

Mr Speaker, it is very important for us to then begin to agree that there comes a time when we must think not just outside the box but away from the box because the chances are very high that probably the box does not even exist in this endeavour. There is a call for us to focus on the African Continental Free Trade as country and to ensure that there is successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade at national level so that it also serves as a measure or a bridge between the long standing problems that countries like Zambia have faced when it comes to having a fragmented market for different products.

Mr Speaker, this market creates a continental white market embracing fifty five countries. We are talking about 1.5 billion people. We are talking about a market whose value goes up to 3.4 trillion Gross Domestic Products (GDP). The question before us and why this Bill is important, is what is it that we are doing as country to prepare ourselves for the African Continental Free Trade agreement so that we avoid becoming that damping ground of superior products coming from outside the country.

Mr Speaker, one area that we must potentially be looking at and should create jobs is the pharmaceutical industry. We are standing at a point when Zambia does not produce her own drugs to supply its population and we depend on input largely from India, East Africa and other countries. We ought to focus as we look at business development and attracting investment to this country, we ought to focus on growing the local capacity in the pharmaceutical industry as well as attracting or incentivising those pharmaceutical international companies in India and everywhere to come and set up in this particular country. Therefore, with these pharmaceutical industries being set up in this country, we will be creating the jobs that Zambia needs to create.  

Mr Speaker, let me place on record that we can talk about the jobs that we would create in the public service but we also know as a principle that it is ideally not the duty of the Government to create jobs. The Government should create that enabling environment and the more and earlier we migrate to activating and creating that environment for different sectors, the better. If we had a thriving pharmaceutical industry in this country we would create a sources job for our doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and so on and so forth.

Mr Speaker, there is every need for this Government and country to invest in research and development to a larger extent. At the moment, the attention we pay to research and development as a country leaves much to be desired. Zambia was ranked amongst the worst performers in innovation and ranked 122 out of 131. This was by the Global Innovation Index of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

So, low levels of research and development inhibit levels of collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry as well as any other industry we may wish to thrive in as a country.

Mr Speaker, it is also very important for us to look at some of the low hanging fruits. For those of us who are coming from rural constituencies such as Kanchibiya and many others, there is a lack of potential for us to venture into crop production for crops such as avocado. Now, neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, for example, exported 11,237 tonnes of 510 containers worth US$33 million in 2021. There are enormous growth opportunities still available in this market. The global market for avocado is valued at US$14.2 billion in 2022, and it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.1 per cent from 2022 to 2028. For those of us who represent rural communities, this is a low hanging fruit for Zambia.

Mr Speaker, we speak about the livestock sector, for example. We have a sort of environment that should allow Zambia to compete with Botswana and Namibia, yet we are still lagging behind. There are certain things we do not need to reinvent the wheel. What lessons are we learning from Botswana and how has it managed to penetrate the market it has penetrated? How about Namibia and the markets that it has been able to penetrate?

Mr Speaker, the time is right for us to summon our courage as a nation and agree that it cannot be business as usual. Zambia is strategically positioned as we all know and as we have sung. For us to penetrate these markets, the business model of engaging ought to change. We are not just focusing on the local market, but we are also looking at the regional market and the continental market.

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks, let me register that the people of Kanchibiya do support this Bill.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I thank the House, so very much, for the overwhelming support for the Bill.

I beg to move.

Question put and agreed to and the Bill read a second time.

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Tuesday, 1^st November, 2022.

_______

MOTIONS

BUDGET 2023

(Debate resumed)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, today, 25^th October, 2022, is the last day for hon. Backbenchers to debate this Motion. Thereafter, hon. Ministers will be expected to respond to the concerns that were raised during the debate.

Dr Chilufya (Mansa Central): Mr Speaker, on 30^th September, 2022, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Development, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane presented the 2023 Budget Address anchored on the theme ‘Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods’.

Mr Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to share my perspectives on the Motion on the Floor. I congratulate the hon. Minster for presenting his second successive Budget in the life of the    Thirteenth National Assembly, and as usual, his speech befitted his statue of an international acclaimed economist.

Mr Speaker, I will begin by referring to part one of the Budget Speech. The hon. Minister identified three notable factors that slowed down economic growth in the previous year. The Russia/Ukraine war, the partial lockdowns in China attributed to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the tight financial regulations in strong economies.

Mr Speaker, let me draw your attention to the second factor, the lock downs in China attributable to COVID-19. What are the emerging lessons that we have learnt? We have learnt that a Budget must be resilient to accommodate the shocks that may come with public health emergencies.

Mr Speaker, I am expectant, therefore, that his Budget will incorporate public health security measures to accommodate the possibility of the reoccurrence of COVID-19 or, indeed, any other public health emergency. Modern budgeting systems include measures that consider big possibilities of public health epidemics or pandemics. You will need to anchor on the opportunities that we have in Zambia. The Zambia National Public Health Act was passed in 2020 and it provides for the establishment of the Public Health Emergency Fund. If we resource that fund, we are saying the country is then on high alert, in terms of surveillance, to detect possible outbreaks and preparedness will be enhanced and the response will be adequate.

Mr Speaker, the Budget is audibly silent on public health emergency and I appeal to the hon. Minister to resource the public health emergency fund so that he can instil confidence in investors that in the event of national shocks such as Ebola, COVID-19 or, indeed, any other incidence of public health emergencies, he will be able to respond appropriately.

Mr Speaker, let me emphasise that in 2018 when the COVID-19 outbreak hit the globe, there were countries that had already started preparing for epidemics informed by what happened in West Africa when there was an Ebola outbreak. Economies were growing at the rate of 12 per cent and they re-graced to negative growth.

The African Union (AU) made a decision to establish the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and encouraged countries to establish public health institutes to ensure that they institutionalised public health security. So, resource the national public health institute and let them be pitched high in the hon. Minister’s budget.

Mr Speaker, I will conclude on that point by agreeing with the hon. Minister that economies shrunk. If you look at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, it actually showed that there was reduced growth in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 6.5 per cent to about 3.1 per cent because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). If you look at the discretionary support expenditure, low income countries spent up to 6.5 per cent and high income countries spent up to 35 per cent of their GDP because they did not prepare and no one expected COVID-19 to happen. So, we need to emphasise the need for us to invest in health security to protect our economic reconstruction programme.

Mr Speaker, on page 30, the hon. Minister talked about human and social development. He spoke about health being wealth and he did pick out three fundamentals, which are human resource for health, infrastructure and medicines. I would have been happier if he had included healthcare financing. The National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) is a very important healthcare financing tool. This is a matter that the hon. Minister needs to pay attention to. It has removed the need for out of pocket payment and is actually a very important aspect of universal health coverage.

Sir, the hon. Minister has increased expenditure on drugs. However, I want to remind him that even last year, he had increased expenditure on medicines, but we have not seen the return on that investment. Hospitals today do not have laboratory reagents; they do not have medicines on the shelves; and this translates, as he has rightly put it in his Budget Speech, into loss of lives.

Mr Speaker, if you do not have laboratory reagents, it means that all your medical emergencies, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, hypertensive crises or hypertension in pregnancy, women who are actually fit and develop eclampsia, result in late diagnosis and even death. It is an urgent imperative for the hon. Minister to ensure that his investment in health translates into the availability of medicines on the shelves. Otherwise, the toll on human life is worrisome.

Mr Speaker, I am happy that the hon. Minister has emphasised the need to complete infrastructure that was started by the previous Government. I am emphasising ‘complete’ because I want to respond to the hon. Minister of Education, who has repeatedly said, “There should be social shame. These people did not do anything”. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has said ‘completing’ meaning he is acknowledging that there was construction that was commenced. That is why he talked about completing sixteen mini hospitals. The key is that there were ninety-nine already done. He has also mentioned completing one specialist hospital, meaning that five were already done. He also talked about completing eighty-three health posts, meaning that of 650 health posts, less eighty-three were already done. So, I am impressed that the hon. Minister is investing in infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, I conclude by emphasising that the Government’s tone for universal health coverage must be based on resilient health systems and ensuring that the supply chain is fixed. The supply chain in this country, today, is collapsed and for this reason, the health system is collapsed. We must ensure that we save lives and push towards universal health coverage by fixing all the fundamentals of universal health coverage. I support the hon. Minister’s Budget.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lumayi (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity given to the wonderful people of Chavuma to contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of the House on the 2023 Budget. The people of Chavuma want to congratulate the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for presenting such a wonderful Budget and their confidence is coming from the performance of the 2022 National Budget.

Mr Sing’ombe: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, you would agree with me that going through the statistics from 2016, when I became an hon. Member of Parliament, to 2021, the releases under the Budget of the Patriotic Front (PF) party to provinces and other spending agencies were not the way it was under the United Party for National Development’s (UPND) National Budget for 2021/ 2022.

Mr Speaker, we are confident that the Budget the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning presented before this House is going to yield good results for the people of Zambia. It was not the case in the previous Government to see a budget presented to the House and finances released accordingly. In the 2022 Budget, a very good percentage of the resources that were budgeted for the people of Zambia was given to ministries. It is only good that ...

Rev. Katuta: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Lumayi: ... when a government is performing, people should stand up and say congratulations and thank you. During their time ...

Rev. Katuta: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lumayi: ... some of our hon. Colleagues here who would want to show themselves to be stars praised budgets which did not perform.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: Therefore, when the people of Chavuma are on the Floor of the House to contribute to this important Motion on the Floor of the House, the spirits do not enjoy being disturbed when they are representing the people of Chavuma.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government for taking on board what the hon. Members from the PF party and other opposition political parties in this House have submitted. On the Floor of this House, during their budget, they told us that where they came from, all the roads were tarred; there was water; and everything was alright. Now, when we have presented our budget as the UPND, this is when they are telling us to say that they are in trouble.

Mr Speaker, I understand our hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. He is going to deliver according to what they are complaining about because we, as the UPND Government, are not looking at a region or district. Ours is to look at Zambia as a whole country.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, the financial management by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and his team has resulted in the UPND gaining a lot of confidence from the outside world. Everyone is able to see what is happening. Our hon. Colleagues failed to negotiate the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. The whole team put all their brains together, but failed to gain confidence from the outside world.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: So, the people of Chavuma thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for ensuring that Zambia, today, is on the world map. Every person around the world is talking good things about Zambia. This is because the management put in place by President Hakainde Hichilema and his Executive is of men and women whose interest is to develop the Republic of Zambia.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, the people of Chavuma are very expectant of the 2023 Budget. In 2022, all the schools in my area have been receiving grants. All the heads of department have been receiving what belongs to them. In 2023, therefore, we want the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to ensure that the Chiyeke/Chingi Road is tarred because that is an international road. We want the Rainbow Road from Chavuma West Bank connecting Zambezi West Bank to be worked on so that our people can move their produce nicely, unlike the situation now.

Mr Speaker, we understand that we took over an economy which was in the intensive care unit (ICU), during the time when we had many Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases around our country but, putting the economy where it is today, hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, I say, “Job well-done.” The people of Chavuma have all the confidence that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and his team are going to successfully implement the 2023 Budget.

Mr Speaker, for past five years I have been in Parliament, maybe, I have only received K2.5 million as Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Hon. Government Member: Correct!

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, under the UPND Government, I have thirty-two capital projects which are under construction in my constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: So, if someone thinks that the people of Zambia will turn their back on President Hakainde Hichilema and team, then they are wasting their time. By the way, allow me before I conclude my debate, to congratulate the UPND Government for winning the Kabushi and Kwacha by-elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: People thought that the UPND was going to fail to win those two seats. Now, we have shown them how politics are done …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: … and we will continue to do it so that they can know that they are competing with a team which can laugh with them nicely. Congratulations to the UPND Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, allow me to ask the people of Zambia to rally behind His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema. He is doing very well with his team of hon. Ministers and especially the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Rev. Katuta: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Jamba: I thought today you were very humble since you have been sitting there quietly. What has happened?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Rev. Katuta: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing the voice of Chienge to stand on a point of order. The hon. Member who has just finished debating has been talking about the former Budget not being actualised because of non-release of funds. He had said that the current 2022 Budget has been successful. As I stand here, Chienge has not received the full Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Interruptions

Rev. Katuta: Is the hon. Member who was on the Floor saying the truth according to Standing Order No. 65? Is he in order to be misleading the nation? In the meantime, there are community schools in Chienge which have never received any grant. So, I want to know which Budget the hon. Member is referring to.

Mr Speaker, I need your serious ruling on this one because we do not have this money he is talking about.

The Second Deputy Speaker: Your point of order is dismissed because you did not even cite which Standing Orders have been breached.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Let us make progress.

Rev. Katuta: I cited Standing Order No. 65.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I did not hear you though.

Rev. Katuta: No! I did cite the Standing Order.

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Okay, if you say so but hon. Member, which month is this?

Laughter

Rev. Katuta: It is October.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Rev. Katuta: We are in the fourth quarter and we have only received half of the monies that we are supposed to receive. So, his is not being factual.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Okay, thank you. You may resume your seat.

Rev. Katuta resumed her seat.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: According to my calendar, we still have two more months.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The year has not ended yet.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Let us make progress.

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this chance to just make some few comments on this wonderful Budget. Indeed, I am elated to talk about the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) before I go to anything else.

Mr Speaker, the people of Mufumbwe are very happy with the CDF that we have received and have continued to receive.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, yesterday, when I was celebrating Independence Day with the people of Mufumbwe, they said, “For the first time, we are seeing people smiling. It is like it is the new independence. Zambia has been liberated for the second time.”

Rev. Katuta: Our gallant freedom fighters liberated us!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: So, the message that I am going to convey comes from the people of Mufumbwe.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: Hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, the people of Mufumbwe are very happy with this Budget because it is able to answer their problems. The previous Budget answered their problems. It is like people were not expecting such amounts of money in terms of the CDF. However, we are getting used to that. We are absorbing part of this money and it is doing wonders.

Mr Speaker, you may be aware that there have been a lot of Government assurances that have never been actualised. Many things were promised in our constituencies. For those who were not here, we had hon. Members of Parliament standing on the Floor of the House when we were on that side (pointing at the Opposition). Some of them went to an extent of crying because what was promised by the Government was not done.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, things have just changed. I have not seen any hon. Member of Parliament here standing and wanting to cry.

Mr Chaatila: Like Miyutu!

Mr Kamondo: The other day, one hon. Member was stopped from dancing for this Budget and the UPND Government. This is actually what is happening now. We are very happy that the Hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has promised the people of Zambia that he still wants to employ more, even after employing 30,000 teachers. Even those who have been employed are now getting their salaries.

Rev. Katuta: They are not on payroll.

Mr Kamondo: One of my nieces who was employed by this Government, for the first time, has even bought me a shirt.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: This is actually progress.

Mr Nanjuwa: Is that the same shirt you are wearing?

Mr Kamondo: This same one as you can see.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mubika: I am a witness!

Mr Kamondo: The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has promised the people of Zambia that he is going to employ 4,500 teachers again. This is good and the people of Mufumbwe are saying that this is what they wanted.

Mr Speaker, yesterday, when we were hosting the Independence Day celebrations, our old retired people appreciated that some of them had started getting their retirement packages. In the 2023 Budget, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning said that waiting for retirement packages for a long time will be a thing of the past. He assured the people that payment of retirement packages would be done within three months of retirement. So, what are we looking for? This is the best thing we wanted and the Government is attending to our problems.

Mr Speaker, under mining, let me state that we have many minerals. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has also promised that even small-scale miners are going to be helped with funds. Indeed, this is a very good thing. We are looking forward to seeing the people of Mufumbwe being empowered. As you may be aware, Mufumbwe is endowed with many mineral resources. So, the Government is going to empower and give licences to the local people of Mufumbwe, and I think this is also going to change the lives of the people of Mufumbwe.

Mr Speaker, let me also talk about energy. In terms of energy, we are looking forward to seeing that Kashima West and Kashima East schools are also given electricity. We have seen that in this Budget, that allocation is there and it is going to answer those issues.

Mr Speaker, under education, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has proposed that they are going to construct fifty-six early childhood centres. The people of Mufumbwe are saying that they have quite a good number of children currently. As the hon. Minister may be aware, Mufumbwe is productive in everything.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: Even in terms of children, we have got a lot of these children who need education. So, we are also asking the Government to give us one of these centres. I also want to report to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning that the CDF has done wonders. Yesterday, I was at Kakundwe Primary School, where I went to check the progress that has been made.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: However, for the first time, when I went to Kakundwe, I found one school was completed and I have pictures of that school. So, this is actually a good job; well done.

Hon. Government: Kakundwe!

Mr Sing’ombe: Question!

Mr Kamondo: Hon. Mr Speaker, why should he question me when I am talking about the progress of CDF...

Hon. Government Member: For Kakundwe!

Laughter

Mr Kamondo: ... for Kakundwe Primary School?

Mr Speaker, we also have a boarding secondary school in Mufumbwe, which was started a long time ago. When the hon. Minister came here, he promised that some resources had been allocated for such boarding secondary schools to be completed. So, the people of Mufumbwe are actually very happy that the only boarding secondary school which is also going to help with issues to do with child marriages is going to be completed. I think this is very good news for the people of Mufumbwe. Not only that but the hon. Minister has also gone further to promise that 115 more secondary schools will be built, and the people of Mufumbwe are expecting two more secondary schools. No wonder I can even join the hon. Member of Parliament who wanted to dance, except that here, we do not allow people to dance. Otherwise, we are very happy, Sir.

Mr Speaker, we are also very happy that the Government is going to construct mini hospitals.

Rev Katuta: Question!

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamondo: So, the people of Mufumbwe are looking forward to be considered, and be given one mini hospital because we only have one hospital, which is also going to help us sort out some problems. Not only that but the only maternity ward at Mufumbwe Health Centre is in a very bad state, so we are looking forward to benefit from this Budget.

Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I agree and support this Budget.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Chibombwe (Bahati): Inaudible

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Bahati is not coming forth. We will allow two Provincial Ministers that have indicated to speak. I think they are trying to take advantage of most backbenchers that have already spoken. So, we will start with the hon. Minister for the Central Province.

The Minister for Central Province (Mr Nanjuwa): Mr Speaker, before I get to my contribution, let me also congratulate my counterpart from the Copperbelt, the hon. Minister for the Copperbelt Province, for the victory in Kwacha Constituency and …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nanjuwa: … in Ndola for having come out victorious.

Rev Katuta interjected.

Mr Nanjuwa: You have taught certain people that elections are not won in the courts of law, but on the ground.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Rev: Katuta: But not with intimidation!

Mr Nanjuwa: Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Central Province, I am grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Budget Speech, which was delivered by the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, on 30^th September, 2022.

Mr Speaker, let me state that the people in the Central Province are really pleased and excited with the socio-economic achievements made by the New Dawn Administration in its first year in office. These achievements have not only manifested into job creation by both the public and private sectors, but also renewed hope and optimism arising from the good governance environment that has been created by the Government.

Sir, we also congratulate His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, for the successful launch of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which was launched this year.

Mr Speaker, the 2023 National Budget presents another illustration on how the Government wants to achieve economic transformation centred on key economic sectors. In our province, we are looking at sectors like mining, agriculture and tourism. We are particularly pleased with the announcement of the establishment of a mining regulatory body because this is critical in the restoration of order in the mining sector especially in our province.  We really appreciate the Government for coming up with these interventions to control and streamline the mining activities in the country.

Mr Speaker, as you may be aware, Central Province has witnessed increased investment in mining and mining processing. However, this has not been devoid of challenges such as illegal mining and under declaration or underreporting of mineral production. This has been a trend from the previous administration.

Mr Speaker, because of the interventions that the New Dawn Government is putting in place in the mining sector, as the provincial administration, we stand ready to support all the activities in the province. We will continue in collaborating with the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development in streamlining mining activities in the province.

Mr Speaker, with the establishment of the mining regulatory body, we are confident that our region will, in a meaningful way, contribute to economic transformation through job creation, increased exports and strong value chain credentials in the mining sector. We are also happy to realise that the Government has plans to assist artisanal and small-scale miners to access affordable capital as well as support partnership with potential foreign investors through joint ventures. This we know is going to help us as a province to contribute to national economic growth. The provincial administration will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, mining cooperatives and all mining entities in the province in order to deliver on this important Government commitment.

 

Mr Speaker, agriculture remains the economic mainstay of Central Province with significant production of diverse crops across all the districts. You may wish to note that for the past few farming seasons, the Central Province is ranked first in all major crops and contributes almost 50 per cent to the national yield. Therefore, the announcement that the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) will be reformed to include extension service support, irrigation development, access to finance, support to value addition and storage and logistics, is good news to our farmers in the Central Province because it will further boost their production levels.

Mr Speaker, we believe that the transformation of FISP to Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme (CASP) will respond to the wider needs of the farming community of our province. Therefore, I assure the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning that the provincial administration will support every effort by the Ministry of Agriculture aimed at ensuring better targeting and equity in the provision of subsidies and services as well as scrutinising the beneficiaries in detail to ensure that only the targeted and deserving people receive the subsidised inputs. We are also grateful, as a province, for the introduction of farming blocks development in the country. This has excited the people in the Central Province. We have in mind the Nansanga Farming Block in Serenje District that has been there for the past fifteen years, yet it has not achieved its purpose.

Mr Speaker, in this regard, we are thrilled by the announcement by the hon. Minister that the Government has secured US$300 million from the World Bank for the Development of Farming Blocks such as Nansanga Farming Block as part of efforts aimed at reviving farming blocks development in the country and in our province.

Ms Kasune: Hear, hear!

Mr Nanjuwa: Therefore, I assure you that the provincial administration will support every effort to revive the farming block development.

Mr Speaker, the Central Province is excited about the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) programme under the New Dawn Government. Let me report that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning was able to release K109 million for the first quarter across all the constituencies in the Central Province. It also released another K109 million in the second phase in the whole province. All the constituencies in the province have received this money and we call this a game changer for the province. We are equally excited that this New Dawn Government has continued to consider CDF as a game changer and has, again, increased the amount allocated under it from K25.7 million to K28.3 million. This has excited the people of the Central Province.

Sir, as I conclude, I assure the hon. Members here of unwavering support from the people in the Central Province of the 2023 National Budget to deliver on the Government’s economic transformation agenda. To many people, the 2023 National Budget bears a hallmark of a clear roadmap towards the economic emancipation of the nation and its people. In other words, we are saying that in the Central Province, no one is going to remain behind because there is everything for everyone to share under this Budget. We congratulate the hon. Minister and the Government at large.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister for the Western Province (Mr Mbangweta): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to say a few words on the Budget Address which was given by Hon. Dr Musokotwane on 30^th September, 2022.

Sir, first of all, we want to thank him, his team and the President because the Budget that they have presented addresses all the concerns of the citizens of this country. Most importantly, they were able to put the enemies of progress in their rightful places, upfront, because for so many years they failed to get the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package. However, when the hon. Minister and his colleagues managed to get it, they went around saying there will be an employment freeze and that the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) would be done away with. Yet, the hon. Minister has demonstrated that contrary to what the doomsayers were saying, they were far off the mark.

Sir, this is the sort of capacity this country has missed for so many years, and it shows why the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government puts a lot of value on education. With educated people, you cannot be handling issues on impulse, but you handle them on the basis of facts and even when you meet your colleagues, you are able to convince them. The reason many people were wishing ill of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) package was because they were still operating in the past. We are no longer in the past. We are now in the New Dawn.

Mr Speaker, it is illustrative that within one year of being in office, the New Dawn Government has achieved a lot in terms of meeting the conditions for economic transformation by stabilising the inflation rate, exchange rate and working aggressively towards debt restructuring with support from cooperating partners. You can only do this if you have capacity and not just pontificating along the way. I say thank you to our Colleagues because they have made us proud. They have made us appreciate that there is more to politics than what we used to hear or see.

Mr Speaker, today, I have seen a list of hon. Members of Parliament who have asked for permission to sit for Constituency Development Fund (CDF) meetings and they come from both your sides. We never used to see this before. So, if there is any demonstration of how good this is, it is there because the management has a list of the people who have asked for permission. So we cannot be told that there is no money. People would not be sitting if there was no money. There is money. The only people who are failing to utilise their position are those people who do know what they ought to do. The people who know what to do are doing that.

Mr Speaker, I also thank the hon. Minister and his Colleagues for undertaking, in the 2023 Budget, the completion high schools which were abandoned by the previous Government from as far back as twelve years. This is very important for the Western Province

because we had a number of schools like, Libonda Secondary School, Mitete Boarding School, Nalolo Boarding School and Limulunga Day School.

In addition, this Government has indicated that in 2023, it will commence the construction of another 120 new secondary schools, which means that we are walking the talk in the context that we want the children to be educated. Out of an educated population is where you get progress, and not darkness and ignorance.

Mr Speaker, as a methodical Government, we are now looking at ensuring that our children are provided with quality education. To this effect, I am also grateful to note that in the Budget for 2023, it has provided for standards compliance personal to be visiting the schools. This is what we missed for a long time. Therefore, with this sort of approach we are sure that education now will be provided at the right stage. What is important is to bear in mind that all this seats on our manifesto that we will bring development to all areas in an equitable manner and this is what makes it to be very good.

Mr Speaker, in the Western Province I am also thankful and happy that in the tourism sector this Government in the new year will pay attention to the Liuwa National Park which has been neglected for so many years and it is our hope and prayer that with the sort of approach the hon. Minister and his Colleagues have taken, the Western Province should move away from the draw dams and start achieving areas required like other areas are progressing.

Mr Speaker, finally, I am grateful to see that the releases for various commitments which were made last year have been achieved and even in the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for this year, the Western Province was among the first few provinces which have started receiving fertilisers. This never used to happen and we are very happy with the hon. Minister of Agriculture for showing competencies at that level.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.    

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

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Is this House in order to continue debating this Motion with only four hon. Members of the Patriotic Front (PF) seated in the House?

Mr Speaker, I need your serious ruling.  

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, we are in order to continue Business of the House because we have a quorum. However, I think it is the duty of the Patriotic Front (PF) Whip to be able to do his job because the Zambians who voted for them are watching and they expect them to be in the House.

Rev. Katuta: There are only four hon. Cabinet Ministers in the House.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1832 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 26^th October, 2022.

____________