Thursday, 27^th October, 2022

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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Hon. PF Members left the Assembly Chamber.

Interruptions

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OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

The following hon. Members took and subscribed the oath of allegiance:

Bernard Kanengo

Charles Abel Mulenga

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MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

MR J. E BANDA, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR PETAUKE CENTRAL, ON MRS MASEBO, HON. MINISTER OF HEALTH, ON THE PARTIALLY OPENED GENERAL HOSPITAL IN PETAUKE CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY

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

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

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving the people of Petauke Central an opportunity to raise a matter of urgent public importance.

Madam Speaker, in Petauke, there is a general hospital which was partially opened.

Hon. PF Members entered the Assembly Chamber

Interruptions

Mr J. E. Banda: Let me work. Can you keep –

Madam Speaker, I am asking for your protection.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Can we have order in the House so that we allow the hon. Member for Petauke Central to finish with his matter of urgent public importance.

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, this matter is directed at the hon. Minister of Health. In Petauke Central Constituency, we have a general hospital which is partially opened and usually cushions the Petauke General Hospital.

Madam Speaker, this hospital has a Toyota Land Cruiser and an ambulance, borrowed from other institutions, but at the moment, both these vehicles are not functional. In the event of an emergency, a patient cannot be referred to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) or Saint Francis in Katete. Due to that, we are likely to experience a higher mortality rate.

Madam Speaker, the x-ray machine is also not working. What happens in the event of any accident or anything that requires the use of the machine? The good people of Petauke Central are asking for your intervention, Madam Speaker.

MR J. DAKA, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR CHADIZA, ON MR MTOLO, HON. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, ON THE LATE DISTRIBUTION OF FERTILISER

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

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

Mr J. Daka: My matter of urgent public importance is directed at the hon. Minister of Agriculture.

Madam Speaker, farming, or agriculture, in my constituency is a matter of life and death. Unfortunately, my constituency is characterised by poor rural connectivity such that when it rains, some parts of the constituency become inaccessible.

Madam Speaker, as I speak, there is no single bag of fertiliser that has been received in my district or constituency. People are worried now because rains have come. What might happen is that the fertiliser may not even be delivered to its intended destination in my constituency.

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Agriculture in order to keep quiet? I seek your serious indulgence on this very important matter from my constituency.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will start with the matter that was raised by the hon. Member for Petauke Central, directed at the hon. Minister of Health, in which he said there is a hospital that was built and partially opened. He, then, brought in another issue of two motor vehicles that are not working, a Land Cruiser and an ambulance. He, again, went on to say the x-ray machine at that hospital is not working.

Hon. Member, I think you are well guided on how matters of urgent public importance should be raised. This should be a single item. However, you have presented three matters. So, it will be best for you to come up with a question so that all these issues that you have brought out can be attended to by the hon. Minister of Health.

It is also important for you to visit the hon. Minister of Health so that you have a discussion with her. I remember, about two days ago, she openly said that hon. Members of Parliament could also visit her office and discuss certain issues that are urgent so that they can be sorted out at that level.

The hon. Member for Chadiza has raised a matter directed at the hon. Minister of Agriculture. It is like there are two issues even here. He talked about poor rural connectivity and then went on to talk about fertiliser. He said there is not a single bag of fertiliser that has been received in his constituency.

This, too, is a general status. I do not think there is anywhere where the distribution of fertiliser has started. Therefore, I urge the hon. Member of Parliament for Chadiza to bring an urgent question so that this matter can be attended to by the hon. Minister of Agriculture.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

DILAPIDATED ZAMBEZI DISTRICT HOSPITAL

The Minister of Health (Mr Masebo): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you most sincerely for granting me this opportunity to update the House, and the nation at large, on the dilapidated hospital in Zambezi District and measures being taken to address the issues affecting the hospital.

Madam Speaker, the House may recall that on Friday, 21^st October, 2022, the hon. Madam First Deputy Speaker directed that a ministerial statement be issued on the dilapidated hospital in Zambezi District. This directive followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Kambita, Member of Parliament for Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, let me begin by giving a brief background of Zambezi District Hospital. It is, indeed, an old and dilapidated district hospital which was built in the colonial era in 1940. The hospital has no staff housing and was intended to serve a smaller population than it is serving today. Zambezi District has not benefitted from infrastructure rehabilitation or construction of a new district hospital.

Madam Speaker, the hospital was last assessed in March 2022 and was found to have vertical cracks arising from the foundation and extending to all major support walls, which included the operating theatre. Various stakeholders were engaged to discuss the way forward and the consensus arrived at was to build a new Zambezi District Hospital, including the installation of modern medical equipment. In this regard, the site for the new hospital has been identified under customary land within 6 km of the existing hospital.

Madam Speaker, plans to build a new hospital were captured in the Ministry of Health Infrastructure Operational Plan for 2022, and the construction of a new hospital has been included in the 2022/2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Madam Speaker, in terms of human resource, Zambezi District does not currently have an anaesthetist. However, there is a trainee anaesthetist who is due to complete training in 2024. Further, another anaesthetist has been identified to start training in 2023. The House may further wish to note that anaesthesia is an in-service training programme and, as such, there are no unemployed anaesthetist that we could have employed in the just ended recruitment of more than 11,00 healthcare workers.

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government equitably allocated Zambezi District with 107 new health workers or members of staff. Out of the 107, Zambezi District Hospital was allocated thirty-nine new members of staff, broken down as twenty-nine professional staff and ten general workers. This was done to alleviate the staffing shortages at the hospital.

Madam Speaker, may I also mention that statistics at the hospital have not shown a substantial increase in deaths at the facility. The theatre operating table is old and, indeed, requires replacement, and so is the theatre operating light. Despite these challenges, the hospital has not recorded any death on the theatre operating table in the last three years.

Madam Speaker, in as much as the operating theatre is in a deplorable state, it is functional and the hospital is currently able to conduct surgeries such as caesarean section, surgery to correct hernias, surgery of the abdomen such as ectopic pregnancy and ovarian mass.

Madam Speaker, Zambezi District has two level one hospitals namely, Zambezi District Hospital and Chitokoloki Mission Hospital, which is about 52 km away from the district hospital. The mission hospital has specialised surgeons and a good operating theatre and an anaesthetist. Therefore, the district hospital does refer patients that require major surgeries and intensive care unit to Chitokoloki Mission Hospital. The district hospital has one ambulance that is in good condition and two utility vehicles.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, let me to take this opportunity to commend health workers across the country in general and, in particular, health workers at Zambezi District Hospital who have continued to provide quality health services to the community despite the state of the hospital caused as a result of many years of negligence by the former Government.

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government is committed to providing affordable quality health services at all levels. In order to take health services as close to our people as possible, the New Dawn Government, under the leadership His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema has continued with the construction of thirty-six district hospitals countrywide completing construction of the remaining sixteen mini hospitals as well as completing the eighty-seven out of the target of 650 health posts.

Madam Speaker, as highlighted in the speech for the Official Opening of the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly by His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema, the New Dawn Government, going forward, will not only focus on completion of on-going projects, but will also embark on the construction of additional health facilities as well as upgrading and modernising existing ones, including the construction of maternity wings at all health centres in Zambia. 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, the people of Zambezi East Constituency would like to know exactly when the ground-breaking ceremony for the hospital, whose site the hon. Minister indicated has already been identified, will be done.

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, early 2023.

I thank you, Madam Speaker. 

Mr Mukumbi (Zambezi West): Madam Speaker, may I know whether the Ministry of Health has done a land assessment at the old hospital. I believe that there is enough land to build on instead of constructing the new hospital at a site further from the old one. The hon. Minister stated that the new site is about 6 km from the central business district and is on traditional land.

Madam Speaker, considering that there will be challenges to travel that distance, will it be possible to do a land assessment in the premises of the existing hospital so that difficulties in travelling distances can be addressed.

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, I think that the issue of the site is for the district to decide. I encourage the hon. Member of Parliament to approach the local authority. They can agree. If it is feasible, I would have no problem.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, I am concerned. From the statement of the hon. Minister, Zambezi District Hospital is an old structure. It has eventually developed vertical cracks starting from the foundation.

Madam Speaker, in civil engineering, that sends a very serious signal that the structure is weak and can collapse at anytime if no underpinning is performed urgently.

What is the hon. Minister of Health doing about that situation because these are serious indictors that the structure can go down at any time? To avoid catastrophe, is she thinking of evacuating or finding an alternative for patients whilst she plans to build a new hospital?

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, I do not think this crack is a year old. It seems to me that it is an old crack.

I think it is up to engineers in the district and the occupant, that is, the management of the hospital, to say so if they think that the structure could collapse before the new one is constructed. However, from what I get, it is just one of those problems that many buildings have now because they are not being rehabilitated. That is why in this year’s Budget, we have put up a fund for rehabilitation. Sometimes, a building can have a crack, and you are able to fix it.

Madam Speaker, in the case of Zambezi, even just the structure is not that big. It is small and that is why we have just opted for building a completely new modern hospital. Otherwise, the crack can be fixed. So, maybe, temporarily, the crack can be fixed. However, like I said, it is up to the people who are occupying the facility to be able to get the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to assess it and see whether they can still be there until next year when the other building will be completed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the people of Chifubu an opportunity to raise their voice on behalf of the people of Zambezi District.

Madam Speaker, considering the statement the hon. Minister of Health has given that the equipment the hospital has is almost obsolete to the extent that major operations are referred to Chitokoloki First Level Mission Hospital, which is about 52 km away, will she give the district hospital new equipment which it can use? Patients cannot be transferred to a hospital which is 52km away, a distance almost the same as that between Ndola and Chingola. It is quite a long distance. Is the ministry considering giving the district hospital equipment which can be transferred to the new hospital once it is constructed to avoid patients travelling long distances?

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, equipment is being purchased not only for Zambezi, but also for many hospitals countrywide. You will note, Madam, that we have basically inherited a system that is non-performing. Everything is at a standstill. That is what we have inherited.

Madam Speaker, I thank the President and the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning who have worked hard to turn this country’s economy around in one year.

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mrs Masebo: At least, we now have some resources that we can use to buy new equipment. The delays are only due to procurement procedures. Otherwise, resources are available and I think that the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) has already advertised for the procurement of equipment for most of our health facilities countrywide.

Madam Speaker, the situation in the health sector is definitely not good countrywide because we inherited a health sector which did not have functional equipment. Most of it is broken down. Even when repaired, it only works for three days and breaks down again. Sometimes, it will last for one week.

Madam, as you know, most hospitals do not have adequate human resource, even with the New Dawn Government trying hard in year one to give them more. In fact, by the end of this recruitment, we would have recruited more than 13,000 health workers just to try and create some minimal service delivery to our people.

Madam Speaker, it is a challenge and I think that it is important that hon. Members appreciate where we are coming from and help us. We should work together to make things better. I try very hard to stop the blame game, but when you have those that left the mess beginning to make public statements as if they have just arrived, I am forced to use this forum to speak to them indirectly.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. E. Banda (Petauke Central): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the good people of Petauke Central this opportunity to ask a follow-up question on behalf of the good people of Zambezi.

For the good people of Zambezi, this hospital is the nearest health facility they can go to. The hon. Member of Parliament for Zambezi East, Hon. Kambita, mentioned that even the ceiling board is dilapidated. It can even fall any time and it also has cracks. We all know where we are going, and that is towards the rainy season. During the rainy season, that is when we usually experience blown-off roofs and a lot of other things because of strong winds. Now, what urgent measures have been put in place to prevent such disasters from happening in Zambezi?

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, from the follow-up questions, I get the feeling that, maybe, the situation is so bad that even as we talk, this hospital could collapse. If that is the correct position, I ask the hon. Member of Parliament to come through to the office so that we can have a deeper discussion and see that we take measures immediately, at least, to avert any possible loss of life or something bad from happening. In such an event, people might say this matter came up and the hon. Minister took it very casually. I am not taking it casually. It is just that I know that a number of structures in this country today are not in good condition. They need repairs and building of new ones completely in some cases, which will depend on availability of resources.

Madam Speaker, as I said, we do have the resources and are moving towards making sure that we build a new hospital. However, if the situation is as desperate as I am hearing from the hon. Member of Parliament for Petauke Central, who lives in the east, but somehow at night flies to Zambezi, and so has more information, the hon. Member for Zambezi East can please come through on Tuesday so that we can look at the matter.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has repeatedly indicated that a lot of hospital infrastructure in the country needs urgent rehabilitation. She has also indicated that this is due to our culture of poor maintenance when it comes to public infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister is this: Beyond just inheriting this poorly maintained infrastructure, we have also inherited a situation where maintenance resources have not been properly utilised. You find that somebody is supposed to carry out maintenance works worth K10 million, but they just throw some cement around the building. In the government books, there is K10 million worth of work done. What are we going to do differently, going forward, to ensure that resources spent on maintaining buildings visibly match the value and increases the life of the infrastructure as far as procurement and supervision is concerned?

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that very important question. It is important in the sense that, indeed, in Zambia in general, we are normally good at building anything, but their maintenance seems to be a challenge. In the 2021 Budget, we noted that there were no resources really worth talking about for maintenance or rehabilitation for the Ministry of Health.

Madam Speaker, if you recall, in the inaugural statement by His Excellency the President in September 2021, when he came to Parliament, he did indicate in that speech that his administration would ensure that we did not just build new things, but maintained what we built. Following that presidential statement, you will note that under health in the 2021 and even 2022 Budgets, we have made provisions which are, at least, sufficient. Of course, it is not to cover the whole country, but a good starting point where it is possible for us. That is why it is possible for me to say to the hon. Member of Parliament for Zambezi East to come through. We do have resources that can be used to do some repairs urgently to avert any accident.

Madam Speaker, resources have been allocated even in the 2023 Budget. This is the reason His Excellency the President is insisting that we decentralise a number of these functions. You will note that for health, he went further and, in the Gazette Notice, actually given some of these important functions to local authorities countrywide. This is meant to ensure that issues such as the one he is asking can really be effectively dealt with. It is not possible for the Ministry of Health to be going round the country every day to check what is happening here and there and expect that it is going to fix these things in a short time. However, once we fully decentralise to a particular local authority, and resources are given to it, it will be easy for it to do rehabilitation works. It will also be easy for them to be able to see that this structure now requires repairs there and then.

Madam Speaker, let me tell you some good news. Only yesterday, I went into Chongwe to commission a new hospital and next to that hospital was a school with a blown-off roof. So, the people there told me that Katoba Secondary School had a blown-off roof. In the past, we would have had to wait for approval from Lusaka. It would have taken me to come and beg the hon. Minister of Education because the person at the district would say that he/she had no resources. Now, with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), we have already recommended that the roof sheets must be bought and fixed. So, this underscores the importance of decentralising functions and resources to the district. These issues of repairs and disasters can be dealt with at the district level, unless the disaster is very big and requires the Office of the Vice-President to come in.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

CONSTRUCTION OF MILLING PLANT IN MAGOYE CONSTITUENCY

80. Mr Michelo (Bweengwa) (on behalf of Mr Malambo) (Magoye) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

1. whether the Government has any plans to facilitate the construction of a milling plant in Magoye Parliamentary Constituency;
2. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
3. if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mulenga): Madam Speaker, I must make known, from the outset that I will respond to this question as a member of the Cabinet. This matter used to sit under co-operatives, which has since been moved to the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development, but the collaboration between us enables me to respond to the question as it was brought to my ministry.

Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to facilitate the construction of milling plants in provinces, and that caters for constituencies like Magoye, by creating a conducive business environment where private and public players such as the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) can invest.

Further, the ministry is promoting the implementation of the Rural Industrialisation Strategy and the Local Content Strategy which promote value addition to local endowment resources in their localities.

Madam Speaker, the plans will be implemented when the players, that is, the ministry responsible for the setting up of milling plants in the area, initiate and conclude feasibility studies which are needed to enable the setting up of a milling plant, which are: Power availability, off- take of raw materials for the plant and engagement of stakeholders like the ZNS and other associated ones.

Madam Speaker, part (c) of the question automatically falls off following the response given above.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, let me just thank the hon. Minister for the response. Bweengwa being a neighbouring constituency to Magoye, I think, my people will benefit. I just look forward to the actualisation of the same project.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, Magoye Constituency is in the Southern Province, which is our country’s national maize belt, hence the demand for the construction of a milling plant in the area.

Madam Speaker, we appreciate that the Government has acknowledged that it will set up a plant, which may take a bit of time. As hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, does he have some private partners on a list who he may engage to supplement Government efforts to set up this highly demanded facility in Magoye Constituency?

Mr Mulenga: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Chifubu. I appreciate the concern that he has raised. Indeed, the Government is committed to seeing to it that the aspect of industrialisation and value addition that we continue to talk about is brought closer to areas where people produce raw materials.

Madam Speaker, it is in pursuance of this cause that hon. Members have seen that stakeholders I mentioned like the ZNS continue to set up these plants. Recently, the hon. Minister of Defence opened up milling plants in Monze, Chongwe and Mpika. In due time, given the fulfilment of facilities I talked about, we will extend our investment in the respective constituency.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the good people of Kabwata a chance to ask a question. Looking at the time it will take using the Zambia National Service (ZNS), is the Government able to offer incentives to players in the private sector that would want to invest in a milling plant in Southern Province?

Mr Mulenga: Madam Speaker, the recent Budget, which was presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, is very consistent with the one that we are still using and provides incentives to the private sector, both local and foreign, to bring in manufacturing equipment which also includes milling plants at concessional rates. So, definitely, the Government has provided incentives for the expedition of the establishment of such facilities.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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MOTION

2023 BUDGET

(Debate resumed)

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Nkombo): Madam Speaker, I stand here to support the 2023 National Budget delivered by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, to this august House.

Madam Speaker, the Budget presented by the hon. Minister does renew hope for a better Zambia through the revenue and expenditure measures outlined, and reinforces our resolve as a political party in Government, to contribute to the country’s growth as well as prosperity. I, therefore, commend my hon. Colleague for delivering such as an inspirational and transformative Budget address to the nation anchored on the theme “Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods”. This theme is most appropriate as it comes at a time when we are striving to revive our economy for sustainable development and improved service delivery for our people.

When we say New Dawn, Madam Speaker, we do not mean a joke. At this point, let me quickly congratulate Hon. Charles Abel Mulenga, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Kwacha Constituency…

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: … and also a new hon. Colleague, Mr Benard Kanengo, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabushi.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: I welcome my hon. Colleagues to the people’s house, the legislative assembly.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: They should not worry about the noises. My mother told me that empty tins make a lot of noise.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister!

Would you, please, withdraw the phrase “empty tins” and replace it with a better one.

Mr Nkombo: With pleasure, Madam Speaker, I withdraw what my mother told me, that empty tins make a lot of noise.

Madam Speaker, in support of the Budget Speech, I take cognisance of the increased allocation in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K4 billion to K4.4 billion. This entails that each constituency will receive K28.3 million starting from the next fiscal year, 2023 in comparison with the K25.7 million that was allocated in last year’s Budget.

Madam Speaker, this increment goes to show that the Government has an unwavering commitment to fiscal decentralisation and to the enabling of local communities to fulfil their aspirations through identification and implementation of projects that address their immediate development needs in more ways than one.

Madam Speaker, the additional allocation to the CDF will enhance interventions to provide key socio-economic services such as improved water and sanitation in health and education facilities, procurement of school desks, electrification of schools and hospitals, provision of maternity services at health centres, and social sector growth points as well as water reticulation and sanitation in markets and other public utilities and areas.

Madam Speaker, we in the Government have given ourselves a target that by the end of 2024, none of our respectable women will deliver in any place that is less than a fully furnished maternity wing. What is better than that? This will be done through the expanded CDF, which is broadened by size and extent.

Madam Speaker, it is now my plea to hon. Members of Parliament to follow the Government’s policy because this particular facility as policy was clearly absent in the previous Governments. Now that the people have been given the mandate to chart their own development trajectory, we think that the barest minimum we can do is to make sure that rural social growth points are given the attention that they require. We need to ensure that there is running water in all schools and clinics in rural areas that are going to be run by solar energy.

Madam Speaker, in his address, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning highlighted some proposed structural reforms. These include leveraging on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for improved service delivery as well as enhancing public financial management.

Madam Speaker, these measures have provided opportunities that the ministry I am privileged to run intends to harness in many ways such as leveraging the use of ICT. In line with the Budget Address by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, my ministry will enhance the use of ICT by local authorities for the services they offer. To this end, we will continue to roll-out of the Electronic Levy (e-Levy) collection system in bus stations and markets. The system is expected to enhance revenue collection and management by local authorities, which is currently leaking. This measure will put local authorities on the path to financial autonomy, thus reducing the Central Government's fiscal deficit.

Madam Speaker, the roll-out of electronic platforms will enhance accountability as well as transparency in public service delivery.

Human and Social Development

Madam Speaker, with heightened fiscal decentralisation, as reflected in the increased CDF allocation, it is envisaged that the Government will make great strides towards human and social development through the creation of local employment opportunities. As highlighted by the hon. Minister in his address, it is envisioned that the graduates from the skills colleges who are being sponsored by a component of the CDF would be the ones to be contracted to undertake CDF projects in their areas as entrepreneurs rather than employees.

Madam Speaker, for jobs such as building of classroom blocks and teachers’ houses, among others, local people will be turned into local contractors. That is the Government’s aim.

Madam Speaker, local authorities are better placed to provide public services owing to their greater proximity to the people than the Central Government. For this reason, we are the nucleus of the decentralisation and devolution agenda. It is, therefore, gratifying to note that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has allocated K1.3 billion for the Local Government Equalization Fund (LGEF) to support the operations of local authorities in the delivery of public services.

Madam Speaker, before I conclude, let me make a few responses to the comments that were made by hon. Colleagues during their time to debate this Budget.

Madam Speaker, it is disheartening and discouraging that the difference of more than K23 million that has been allocated to our people through the CDF vehicle cannot be recognised. Some negative hon. Members of Parliament have decided not to recognise the fact that the Government has given them enough leverage and authority to superintend on the aspirations of the people in their localities. This never happened in this country ever before where, the Ward Development Committees (WDCs) are sole prime movers of the development agenda for the locality that they operate in.

Madam Speaker, previously, what used to happen is that projects were indentified from an unstructured point of view where the Constituency Development Committees (CDCs) were the ones who were doing the appraisal based on what the hon. Member of Parliament or the Councillors thought. Now we have a structured way where it is involving more people to decide what they need to do for themselves.

Madam Speaker, I want to take my hat off to a number of hon. Members of Parliament who have shown, not by word, but by deed and revelation, such as the hon. Members of Parliament for Kanchibiya, who is way ahead of most of us in the implementation of the CDF. This also goes for the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central who is way ahead of many.

So, I ask myself a question: Why are some hon. Members of Parliament saying that this is not functioning? It means that they are indolent. Indolence is not an insult. It simply means that they are absent and lazy. I am encouraging hon. Members of Parliament to stop complaining ...

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

Mr Nkombo: ... because the CDF is real and is sitting in constituencies.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister!

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, it is also a fact that your Government, led by the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema –.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I rise on an important point of order, pursuant to Standing Order 65.

Madam Speaker, this is an honourable House and many times, you have guided that we must not debate ourselves and use language that is disrespectful to each other. Is the hon. Member in order to brand all of us here on both your right and left as lazy? After singling out only two hon. Members of Parliament, is the hon. Member in order to imply that all hon. Members here are lazy, including himself, because out of all of us, he has only mentioned two hon. Members?

Madam Speaker, is he in order to –

Mr Mukosa: Standing Order 58.

Mr Kampyongo: I am also rising on Standing Order 58 which talks about the manner of speaking. We expect the hon. Minister to deliver a policy statement here and show, at least, some mutual respect for all of us because we are the honourable representatives of our people.

Is he in order to brand all of us on your right as lazy and uncaring hon. Members of this august House when we are trying to work with his ministry in making sure that we take development to our people? I seek your very serious ruling.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The presiding officer cannot know at what stage each of the hon. Members is at with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). However, grouping everybody as lazy will not be fair to those hon. Members of Parliament who are already doing something in their constituencies with the CDF. So, the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development was out of order to group all hon. Members of Parliament who have not or are not seen to be doing anything as lazy. The hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development will withdraw the word lazy and find an appropriate or suitable word to use.

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the word I used was indolent which means lazy. I withdraw it, gladly. I was only referring to the hon. Members of Parliament who are constantly complaining that the CDF is not working. The guilty are afraid. That is what my mother told me.

Madam, in ending this debate, I was saying that the Government is way ahead of the hon. Members of Parliament because it has deposited all the money that is required per quarter. It is sitting in the accounts and hon. Members of Parliament and their committees are failing to use it.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe): Madam Speaker, before I make a statement to support the wonderful Budget by the able hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, I want to congratulate the two new hon. Members of Parliament …

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabuswe: … who have joined the august House after clobbering those who were competing with us.

Laughter

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I was part of the campaign team and I know what happened. So, congratulations Hon. A. Mulenga and Hon. B. Kanengo. Welcome to the House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabuswe: From the outset, I express my gratitude to you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to debate on the Budget Speech by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning which was presented to the august House on Friday, 30^th September, 2022. Allow me to congratulate the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, for ably delivering a very inspiring Budget speech under the theme ‘Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods’ which gives a lot of optimism to the people of Zambia.

Madam, let me reiterate that the Budget has given hope to our people owing to a number of positive developments and pronouncements which will uplift their livelihoods going forward. Some of these progressive developments include the following:

Economic Growth

Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth projection is anticipated to be at 3 percent. When we took over the reins of power, the country was in negative growth. Now, the country is on a positive trajectory, meaning that we are on the right path.

2022 Budget Performance

The overall Budget performance in 2022 is expected to be one of the most favourable in many years as revenues have so far exceeded the target while expenditures have been contained within the target.

Debt Position

We found this country bleeding and in distress in as far as debt is concerned. With the able leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia and the able hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, we have managed to secure the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported programme and Zambia is engaging its creditors to conclude debt restructuring which will result in debt reducing to affordable levels for our country. Other sectors will begin to benefit because of the restructuring of the debt.

Domestic Arrears

The stock of Government domestic arrears or pending bills decreased by 8.4 per cent to K44 billion in June 2022 from K48.1 billion, as at December 2021. The reduction is due to the Government paying suppliers of goods and services and, thus, curbing the accumulation of new arrears, thereby, addressing the impoverishment of our people by doing away with the delay in paying for goods and services provided.

Madam, let me now take this opportunity to highlight some of the progressive pronouncements in the 2023 Budget which touch on the resolve by the Government of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema to reposition the mining sector once again as the hub of the economic transformation agenda under the United Party for National Development (UPND) Administration.

Madam Speaker, to stimulate investment in the mining sector and ensure that the country's aspirations, which include the attainment of the 3 million metric tonnes of copper per annum, in the next nine years are met, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has pronounced the following measures:

1. replacement of the current Corporate Income Tax regime with a friendlier Presumptive Tax for artisanal and small-scale mining, which are predominantly Zambian wholly owned licenses;
2. reduction of Property Transfer Tax to 7.5 per cent from 10 per cent on mining rights held by exploration companies to encourage mining exploration; and
3. restructuring of the Mineral Royalty Tax with respect to copper which include reducing the lowest marginal rate to 4 per cent from 5.5 per cent.

Madam Speaker, in the past few days, I have received information that the mine in Mkushi which could not begin to operate because of the confusion in Tax Policies in the previous Government has announced that it will begin to produce.

Madam, further, a mine in Mwekera, which could not operate because it was confused with the policies in the mining sector which were changed more than twenty times, will begin exploration because of the policy environment that the New Dawn Government has created and because of the predictability and the stability of the economic policies that are being propagated by the New Dawn Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabuswe: These and many other incentives under the 2023 Budget which are part of the ongoing policy, legal and institutional framework which my ministry is undertaking, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, are aimed at enhancing production and consequently contributing to revamping the mining sector in Zambia.

Madam Speaker, I assure the people of Zambia that we remain steadfast in revitalising the mining sector through various interventions such as reorganising artisanal and small-scale mining, which includes gold mining, increasing of geological mapping and mineral exploration, and increasing participation of Zambians in the mineral value chain and promoting local content.

Madam Speaker, in view of the above, the following are some of the reforms that are happening in the mining sector:

1. formation of a mining regulatory commission which will help in increasing compliance in the mining sector;
2. formalisation of the artisanal and small-scale miners;
3. formation of the Mining Appeals Tribunal;
4. reviewing of the Mines and Minerals Development Act No. 11 of 2015; and
5. restructuring of the mining cadastre system by adopting transparency and accountability mechanisms.

Madam Speaker, it is for this reason that Cabinet recently approved some of the reforms mentioned under the mining sector, including the new national mineral resource development policy which my ministry will be launching soon.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Chikote): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Let me also join other hon. Members in congratulating the hon. Member for Kabushi, Mr Bernard Kanengo, and the hon. Member for Kwacha, Mr Charles Abel Mulenga, on their victory. I thank them and welcome them to the House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you for according me this opportunity to make a contribution to the debate on the 2023 Budget Address by Hon. Dr Musokotwane, MP, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, delivered to this House on Friday, 30^th September, 2022. Allow me also to join other hon. Members who have spoken before me to congratulate the hon. Minister on his well-delivered speech to this House.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister delivered a well-intentioned speech to this nation. As you may be aware, the negative impact of global trade could have been worse for this country had it not been for the good people of this country choosing His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Administration ensured that the ever-rising inflation was curbed by the prudent utilisation of resources by His Excellency the President. The Government is also promoting economic growth from the lowest levels by providing resources to the actual areas of need through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Both these areas are earmarked for improvement in the 2023 Budget, as outlined by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, on page 13 of his Budget Speech, stated the importance of the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sector. The hon. Minister did state that the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sub-sectors remained the main source of livelihood for the majority of our people. He further informed this august House that this sector is not only the largest employer of our population, but also provides strategies to transform the sector and make it a key driver of the economic transformation agenda of our country.

Madam Speaker, the provision of extension services is the surest way to improve productivity in the livestock and fisheries sector. In order to enhance extension service delivery to our farmers, my ministry was granted authority to employ 470 extension officers in 2022, and the most critical positions, especially at provincial and district levels, shall be filled.

Madam Speaker, in addition to this year’s provision, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning also committed to the provision of an additional 500 positions in the 2023 Budget. This will go a long way in supporting our farmers. To augment this, the support from the Treasury goes beyond human resource and includes extension kits, transport and accommodation.

Madam Speaker, this is a clear manifestation of the New Dawn Government’s campaign promise of creating jobs for our youths. I am sure even a doubting Thomas can now see that we are a serious Government when it comes to job creation. Evidence is already there in the education and health sectors. Furthermore, more recruitment has commenced in the defence and security wings and before long, you will see the same under the fisheries and livestock sectors.

Madam Speaker, aquatic and animal health is critical to improving production and productivity of both fisheries and livestock. Animal disease control and prevention is, therefore, one of the important preoccupations of my ministry. In that regard, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for providing additional funding in the 2023 Budget towards animal disease control.

Madam Speaker, my ministry will continue implementing preventive measures against diseases of national economic importance, management and public health. My ministry will also complete some infrastructure, particularly regional laboratories, quarantine facilities and checkpoints for enhancing diagnosis, prevention and control of diseases. This is very important and we are going to actualise these provincial laboratories to assist our farmers so that they do not have to travel long distances.

Madam Speaker, the provision of funds earmarked for vaccine production by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning shows, again, that the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government places priority on livestock development. My ministry will, therefore, upscale vaccine production at the Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) to international standards aimed at reducing prevalence of diseases in the country.

Madam Speaker, the Government is also alive to the fact that the cost of borrowing for our small-scale farmers in the agricultural sector is high and unaffordable as they are considered to be high risk. This perception by our financial institutions has left our farmers vulnerable as they cannot expand their enterprises. Good ideas are lost due to the lack of loans.

Madam Speaker, in his speech, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning addressed the issue of improving financing opportunities by leveraging on private sector financing. This is critical to the development of the entire economy as private sector-driven growth is both sustainable and also frees up resources for social sector support. This is the balanced growth I spoke about earlier.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, may I take this opportunity to refresh the memory of the hon. Members of this august House that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning stated that he was a bearer of a message from His Excellency, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, and recommended favourable consideration of this Motion. This is a progressive Budget presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and, therefore, I call for support from all well-meaning citizens.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Defence (Mr Lufuma): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute and deliver a few comments on the 2023 Budget Address by the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, which he delivered to this nation through the National Assembly on Friday, 30^th September, 2022.

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, allow me to congratulate Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, Minister of Finance and National Planning for a well-delivered, excellently articulated and inspiring 2023 National Budget to the National Assembly.

Madam Speaker, the need to achieve socio-economic transformation by implementing measures to stimulate growth and ultimately improving the livelihoods of our people was emphasised by both the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, during the occasion of the Official Opening of the Second Session of the Thirteen National Assembly and Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance and National Planning, during the 2023 Budget presentation hence the theme for the 2023 Budget reading ‘Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods.’

Madam Speaker, in his presentation, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning highlighted the policies and strategies that underpin the allocation of resources in the 2023 Budget. These are prescribed according to the strategic development areas of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) namely, Economic Transformation and Job Creation, Human and Social Development, Environmental Sustainability and Good Governance. This is very important.

Madam Speaker, in view of the foregoing and in the quest to curb unemployment, the Government plans to recruit 5,000 soldiers across the three services namely, the Zambia Army (ZA), the Zambia Air force (ZAF) and the Zambia National Service (ZNS).

Madam Speaker, the ministry also plans to increase the number of ZNS Youth Skills Training Centres for the vulnerable youths in the next years. The underprivileged youths will be trained in life sustaining skills that include carpentry, tailoring, plumbing, cookery, auto mechanics as well as agriculture. This will help reduce unemployment amongst the youth.

Madam Speaker, through the Land Development Branch (LDB) under the ZNS and, in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, we will continue to improve infrastructure by maintaining, rehabilitating and upgrading road infrastructure, water reticulation and haulage, particularly, in rural areas. This will help improve access to rural communities and to clean and safe water.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform you that the Government has since engaged my ministry to construct the New Kasama Airport which, unfortunately, our hon. Colleagues before us were not able to do.

Madam Speaker, …

Hon. PF Members: Which colleagues?

Mr Lufuma: You know them.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, they are here.

Laughter

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, in contributing to the manufacturing industry for purposes of stimulating growth and achieving value addition, my ministry, through Zamcapitol, will continue with the manufacturing of windmills, harmer mills, steel water tanks, tank stands, gang nails, aluminium pots and pans, meat processing smokers and other agro-processing equipment.

Madam Speaker, my ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, shall continue to improve the provision of quality defence healthcare services. The ministry will ensure that it increases the number of people accessing defence health care services at Maina Soko Military Hospital and Northern Command Military Hospital. The ministry will also expedite expansion of health care infrastructure and continuous training of medical students.

Madam Speaker, my ministry shall continue to create a conducive governance environment for a diversified and inclusive economy by improving delivery of defence services. In addition, the ministry commits itself to ensuring that there is sustainable peace and security in both the country and the region. As the President always says, instability anywhere is instability everywhere. We are all aware that peace and security is a prerequisite to any social and economic development in any country. This Budget recognises this fundamental principle. My ministry, therefore, renders its support in total.

Madam Speaker, before I complete and sit down, it is necessary that I, too, register my congratulations and appreciation to Hon. Bernard Kanengo, Member of Parliament for Kabushi Constituency, who has been able to remove the bulldozer.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: We shall nickname him as the new bulldozer.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear! 

Hon. PF Member: Question!

Mr Lufuma: My congratulations also go to Hon. Charles Abel Mulenga, Member of Parliament for Kwacha Constituency, ...

Hon. UPND Member: The new Bonanza.

Mr Lufuma: ... the new Bonanza.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, allow me to thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Health (Mrs Masebo): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you for granting me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the 2023 Budget whose theme is ‘Stimulating Economic Growth for Improved Livelihoods.’

Madam, I would like to commend the hon. Minister of Finance for a progressive 2023 National Budget despite the New Dawn Government inheriting an economy that was highly indebted with limited fiscal space. Indeed, this Budget gives hope to the people of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, the speech highlighted a number of factors that have contributed to the slowdown in economic growth such as lower output in agriculture due to the late onset of rain, drought and flash floods in some parts of the country as well as weak performance in the construction sector. However, our Government will remain focused on delivering the promises that we made to our people.

Madam Speaker, I also note a number of achievements recorded in various sectors including education and health. Allow me to commend my Government for fulfilling the promises it made of providing free education up to Grade 12, recruiting over 30,000 teachers, providing bursaries for vulnerable learners through the CDF and recruiting 11,000 health workers. This, indeed, is unprecedented.

Madam Speaker, I also note the commitment by my Government to amend the Constituency Development Fund Act to make it more efficient by streamlining the approval processes. This will ensure that projects are commenced and completed on time.

Madam Speaker, the increase in the allocation to K4.4 billion in 2023 is a welcome move. This will help address challenges faced by communities, especially in rural areas, as priority will be to improve water supply and sanitation at health and education facilities. It will also help in the electrification of schools and hospitals, and provision of maternity services at health centres.

Madam Speaker, the health sector does not work in isolation in the provision of health services, but depends on other key sectors, among them, water and sanitation. It is, therefore, gratifying to note that the Government will increase access to clean and safe water and sanitation services by the completion, construction and rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation facilities in various parts of the country and, an allocation of K2.3 billion has been allocated in 2023. This will ensure that our people have access to clean and safe water which contributes to the reduction of waterborne diseases.

Madam Speaker, I wish to commend my Government for increasing the allocation towards the dismantling of domestic arrears to K6.8 billion from K3.1 billion in 2022. My ministry will benefit from this measure in that it will be able to settle outstanding debt owed to suppliers of goods and services, especially medicines and medical supplies which were left by my predecessor and his Government. Overtime, accumulation of drug debt has become unbearable. As a result, most suppliers could no longer supply medicines as they needed to be unlocked through debt servicing.

 

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government has continued to prioritise health and regard it as wealth. Therefore, investing in the health of people will contribute to stimulating growth in the economy.

Madam Speaker, the Government has continued to prioritise the health sector in resource allocation as can be seen in the K17.4 billion allocated in the 2023 Budget, representing 10.4 per cent. The allocation towards procurement of drugs and medical supplies has been increased from K3.4 billion this year, to K4.6 billion in 2023. This is aimed at ensuring availability of the much-needed medicines and medical supplies in our health facilities.

Madam Speaker, further, it is the Government’s aspiration to ensure that all health facilities are manned by qualified health personnel. Therefore, a provision of K307.5 million for recruitment of an extra 3,000 personnel in 2023 will, indeed, contribute to the provision of quality health services for our people.

Madam Speaker, most of our health facilities have obsolete or non-functional medical equipment, which is making it a challenge to effectively manage health conditions. My Government has in the 2023 Budget provided K900 million for the procurement of medical equipment for health facilities. This will go a long way in equipping and re-equipping our health facilities.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to assure the august House that the New Dawn Government remains committed to ensuring that all Zambian citizens are accorded the opportunity to access quality health care as close to the family as possible. My Government will continue to recognise the importance of key determinants of health in addressing health problems and achieving better health outcomes. These include healthy nutrition practices, safe water, sanitation, better housing and improved literacy. This, therefore, calls for a multi-sectoral approach with all relevant stakeholders.

Madam Speaker, in 2023, we will be implementing the decentralisation policy in the health sector. To this effect, we have also made that provision so that we do it in a phased approach. A few identified or selected districts will be targeted. It is hoped that we will gain experience from the implementation in those few districts and improve on the same.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Minister for Copperbelt Province (Mr Matambo): Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to add my voice, on behalf of the people of Copperbelt Province, to the debate on the Budget Speech presented to this House on 30^th September, 2022, by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP.

Madam Speaker, it is a known fact that not long ago, this country was known for negative narratives such as the huge domestic and foreign debt; the worst performing currency in the world; rising inflation; stagnation of economic growth; political violence; breakdown in the rule of law; cadreism; and things like gassing ...

Rev. Katuta: Mkushi ba toba amayanda nomba line.

Mr Matambo: ... until the New Dawn Government came into power. With the coming of the New Dawn Government, our country has now regained respect, hope and admiration among other nations of the world for the strong efforts we are making to improve the economy and the livelihoods of our people.

Hon. PF Member: Question!

Mr Matambo: Madam Speaker, as my colleague, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning ably put it, the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government has laid a firm foundation for restoring debt sustainability, economic transformation and job creation. The stability of the exchange rate of our currency has been restored. In addition, inflation has been reduced and now, the Budget has credibility. In simple terms, we have achieved fiscal discipline. The policies and strategies for 2023 as presented in the Budget Speech, clearly, will increase even further the expenditure on social services for our people.

Madam Speaker, the people of Copperbelt Province are happy with the policy pronouncements contained in the Budget Speech, which we are convinced shall be implemented to the latter. The following are some of the highlights:

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, the education sector has seen and will continue to see tremendous developments with the K23.2 billion or 13.9 per cent of the 2023 total Budget. As the House is aware, the New Dawn Administration recruited 30,496 teachers countrywide, this year. This means that the teacher-pupil ratio has significantly reduced, thereby, improving the quality of education by enhancing the quality of interaction between teachers and learners. This will further improve with the planned employment of 4,500 additional teachers provided for in the 2023 Budget.

Madam Speaker, as if this is not enough, the 2023 Budget, just like this year’s, will continue to facilitate the provision of free education up to Grade 12. This non-discriminatory approach will ensure access to education by learners both in rural and urban areas, equally. The planned completion of the 115 schools that were not completed by the previous regime, in addition to the construction of 120 new secondary schools countrywide earmarked for construction with budgetary support from the World Bank in 2023, will increase access to education in all the ten districts of my province.

Madam Speaker, due to the abolishment of meal allowances by the previous Government, our children in colleges and universities experienced serious challenges that affected their education. Some, in certain cases, unfortunately, engaged in negative social vices to earn some income to enable them to survive. Thankfully, through the efforts of His Excellency the President, meal allowances have been provided for in the 2023 Budget.

Madam Speaker, may I report to the House that students from colleges and universities in the province as well as their parents and guardians are extremely delighted and expressed their gratitude recently when His Excellency the President visited our province last week.

Madam Speaker, we cannot take the peace and security of our nation for granted. This is particularly the case for the Copperbelt Province which has a large international boundary. For this reason, we commend His Excellency President Hichilema for facilitating the recruitment of defence and security personnel in order to enhance public order and safety.

Madam Speaker, I support the 2023 Budget as it will promote public order and safety through the allocation of K5.2 billion or 3.1 per cent of the Budget for operations, construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure as well as recruitment of 2,000 police officers.

Madam Speaker, the people of the Copperbelt Province have since time immemorial depended on the mining sector, and it continues to be a major driver of the economy. However, this sector was a victim of poor management by the previous regime. I am happy, however, that to achieve His Excellency the President’s vision of producing 3 million metric tonnes annually, we are working to urgently resolve the challenges at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mines (MCM). The province is also happy that the Government will continue to empower Zambians with mining licences, create off-take market opportunities and streamline the taxation system. The Government will also licence buyers of gold and other precious minerals so that the trade is formalised.

Madam Speaker the transport and logistics sector requires a lot of work. The Copperbelt Province appreciates the proposal in the 2023 National Budget to undertake the construction of roads with good traffic volumes using the public private partnership (PPP) model, making it possible for the private sector to fund the roads and then later recover their money through toll fees.

Madam Speaker, the Copperbelt Province stands to greatly benefit from this novel initiative by the New Dawn Administration as the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriageway, Chingola/Solwezi, Ndola/Mufulira, Chingola/Kasumbalesa and Lumwana/Kambimba Roads are earmarked for construction using this model. Complementing this with the planned construction and upgrading of infrastructure accessing key border posts like Sakanya, Mokambo and Kasumbalesa, there will definitely be an improvement in the efficiency and a reduction in time spent at the border thereby enhancing local and international trade from which the Copperbelt Province will greatly benefit.

Madam Speaker, the Budget for 2022 was very successful and enabled the country, generally, and the Copperbelt Province, in particular, to record positive strides in the economic and social sectors. In recognition of these successes, the people of the Copperbelt Province have continued supporting the Government and policies of Mr Hakainde Hichilema, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia. It is for this reason that the people of the Copperbelt voted peacefully in the recent by-elections.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matambo: The result was that the UPND won the elections and has added two new hon. Members of Parliament to this august House, namely Hon. Charles Mulenga and Hon. Bernard Kanengo, Members of Parliament for Kwacha and Kabushi Constituencies, respectively.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister!

Mr Matambo: Madam Speaker, I congratulate my two hon. Colleagues and ask them to effectively contribute to the welfare of the people that they represent.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kafwaya: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Please, when the presiding officer is shouting for order, the person on the Floor should sit down. The hon. Minister did not actually hear me. I do not know whether you heard me because there was too much noise in the House.

Hon. Members, let us not debate while seated and let us maintain silence in the House. The people who are listening will not be able to get what the person on the Floor is debating. So, can we maintain order in the House.

The Minister for Eastern Province (Mr P. S. Phiri): Madam Speaker, am I audible enough?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You are audible, and you can go ahead.

Mr P. S. Phiri: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate on the 2023 Budget on behalf of the good people of the Eastern Province.

Madam Speaker, we are happy, as the people of the Eastern Province, with the 2023 Budget as it is responding to our needs. Indeed, we can see light at the end of the tunnel in the New Dawn Government under the leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Madam Speaker, being an agricultural province, we in the Eastern Province are delighted that the Government has demonstrated it desire to continue and make the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) even better by reforming the programme in order to include extension service support, irrigation development, access to finance, support to value addition and storage and logistics in addition to providing the usual inputs to farmers.

Madam Speaker, this demonstrates the aspiration of the New Dawn Government to grow the agricultural sector and alleviate poverty. The people of the Eastern Province are happy that this new programme will also ensure better targeting and equity in the provision of subsidies and services.

Madam Speaker, we are happy that all districts in the Eastern Province will benefit from the procurement of the 621 motorbikes and the recruitment of 256 extension officers who will be employed this year, and 500 additional extension officers who will be recruited next year. With these measures, most farmers in the Eastern Province will be provided with extension services through physical visits. Farmers in the province are very grateful and delighted.

Madam Speaker, it is gratifying to hear that the Government will significantly increase the allocation of resources to the Rural Electrification Programme to accelerate the electrification of more rural growth centres countrywide. The people of Katete, Mambwe and Vubwi, among others, being the targeted beneficiaries of the 1,217 targeted rural growth centres, are eagerly waiting for this programme which will change their lives for the better.

Madam Speaker, the promised checklist of the New Dawn Government on free education, teachers and health workers recruitment has elated the people of the Eastern Province. As a province, we benefited 1,127 health workers and 4,202 teachers from this year’s recruitment. As if this is not enough, this working Government will recruit an additional 3,000 health workers, 4,500 teachers and 2,000 police officers in 2023. The Eastern Province will, again, get its share of this recruitment which, in turn, will benefit our people who never had access to quality healthcare.

Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on behalf of the youth of the Eastern Province for giving them hope. They roamed the streets with very little hope of being permanent Government employees.

Madam Speaker, the Government’s decision to establish polytechnics to increase access to skills training will positively impact the livelihoods of the youth. Commissioning of the Lundazi Trades Training School, for example, will not only increase access to skills development for the youth of Lundazi and the surrounding districts, but will also keep them busy and productive thus enhance human development.

Madam Speaker, in 2023, the UPND Government will embark on completing 115 secondary schools with an addition of 120 new secondary schools to be built with support from the World Bank. This should be commended by all well-meaning Zambians as it will see a lot of stalled and uncompleted infrastructure being completed and, in turn, improve the quality of education for learners in public schools.

Madam Speaker, I thank my Government for looking at the plight of students on the loan scheme in public universities. The reintroduction of student meal allowances which was abolished by the previous regime will allow our students who come from poor homes or the valleys of Mambwe and Nyimba to afford basic needs while in school and reduce pressure on their parents. Indeed, the UPND Government is a goal getting administration.

Madam Speaker, the UPND Government will also complete the construction of thirty-six district hospitals, sixteen mini hospitals and eighty-three health posts across the country. The Eastern Province will also benefit from this allocation which will accord the people of Lumezi, Chipangali, Kasenengwa and other districts where people currently have to walk long distances to access health services.

Madam Speaker, with the Government’s scaling up of the Social Cash Transfer Programme by increasing the number of beneficiaries from 1,201,000 in 2022 to 1,374,500 in 2023, our people on this programme will be socially protected.

Madam Speaker, the people of the Eastern Province are happy to learn that the Government intends to address the administration challenges surrounding the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) such as highly centralised approval processes required under the law and, unfavourable procurement processes, among others, to allow them to make their own decisions. This is progressive and we assure you, Madam Speaker, that with the increased allocation to the CDF in next years’ Budget to K28.3 million per constituency, a lot of development will be seen on the ground.

Madam Speaker, the Government, in collaboration with co-operating partners, is implementing the Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project, among other climate change intervention projects in the Eastern Province, which is aimed at promoting sustainable management of the environment. We are happy to learn that the Government will continue to strengthen climate change mitigation and adaptation through the development of climate resilient infrastructure, promotion of sustainable management of the environment, ecosystems and natural resources.

Madam Speaker, allow me also to join my hon. Colleagues on your right in congratulating the two newly-elected hon. Members of Parliament who have taken their seats today.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr P. S. Phiri: I should say to our hon. Colleagues on your left that we are sorry, ni lesa uwabasalile, teifwe. Finshi twinga chita?

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Rev. Katuta: Meaning?

Mr P. S. Phiri: Madam Speaker, with these few words, I support the presented 2023 Budget on behalf of the wise people of the Eastern Province.

I thank you, Madam.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Any further debate, the hon. Minister of Information and Media? She is not in the House; any further debate, hon. Ministers?

There is no indication from hon. Ministers. Unfortunately, today, we are not going to get Back Benchers to debate because most hon. Ministers have debated. Therefore, no one is going to respond if we allow any more people from the Back Bench.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

ADJOURNMENT

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I –

Interruptions

Mr Mundubile: These hon. Ministers are not serious.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Can you allow Her Honour the Vice-President to proceed.

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

Question put and agreed to.

______

The House adjourned at 1627 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 28^th October, 2022.

____________