Tuesday, 28th March, 2023

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     Tuesday, 28th March, 2023

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

WORKSHOP ON THE ROLE OF ZANACO IN THE CDF EMPOWERMENT LOAN PROGRAMME

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I inform the House that a workshop has been organised for all hon. Members of Parliament, to share an update on the role the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) is playing in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Empowerment Loan Programme.

As members of the CDF committees in your various constituencies, the information which will be shared during this workshop will be beneficial for the success of the programme. All hon. Members of Parliament are, therefore, being requested to attend the workshop which will be held on Wednesday, 29th March, 2023, in the Amphitheatre, here at Parliament Main Buildings, starting from 0930 hours to 1230 hours.

Please note that attendance to the workshop will be on voluntary basis.

Hon. Members: Question!

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

However, I urge all hon. Members to attend this important workshop and make the most of this opportunity.

I thank you.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: I thought you did not like money.

Laughter

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

IMPACT OF CYCLONE FREDDY ON CHAMA DISTRICT

232. Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North) asked the Vice-President:

  1. whether the Government is aware that on 15th and 16th March, 2023, several houses and crops in the following areas in Chama District were destroyed due to the effects of the tropical storm Cyclone Freddy:
  1. Kaozi;
  2. Mpalalusenga;
  3. Mwalala; and
  4. Mabinga; and
  1. if so, what urgent measures are being taken to assist the affected families.

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, the Government is aware of the destruction of crops and houses in Chama District caused by Cyclone Freddy on 15th and 16th March, 2023. The following indicates the hectarage of damaged crop fields and the number of houses completely destroyed in each ward:

         Ward                           Agricultural Hectarage (ha)               Houses Destroyed

         Kaozi                           59                                                        20

         Mpalalusenga              60                                                        26

         Mwalala                      165                                                      10

         Mabinga                      140                                                      37

         Total                            424                                                      93

Madam Speaker, for immediate relief and as urgent measures to support the affected communities in Chama District, the Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has provided both food and non-food relief items as follows:

         Item                             Quantity                                              Unit

         Tents                           40                                                        Nil

         Chlorine                      100 cases of 12 bottles per case          350 ml per bottle

         Salt                              15 cases                                               20 kg per case

         Sugar                           20 cases                                               20 kg

         Cooking oil                 30 cases with 12 bottles per case        750 ml per bottle

         Mealie meal                100 bags                                              25 kg

         Mealie meal                250 bags                                              10 kg

         Beans                          25 bags                                                50 kg

Madam Speaker, in addition, the House may wish to note that Chama District has already received about 718 metric tonnes of relief maize, translating into 14,360 bags of 50 kg of relief maize, which has also covered the affected areas.

Madam Speaker, by way of detail, the relief maize so far distributed to affected households in the four wards is as follows:

         Ward                           Quantity                                             

         Kaozi                           1,522 X 50 kg bags

         Mpalalusenga              1,483 X 50 kg bags

         Mwalala                      920 x 50 kg bags

         Mabinga                      900 X 50 kg bags

Madam Speaker, further, the Office of the Vice-President, through the DMMU, has planned to conduct a comprehensive assessment for both Chama North and Chama South constituencies. This is intended to ascertain the extent of the disasters in the area and also, map out areas that are hard to reach. Recommendations from the comprehensive assessment will be used to provide a roadmap to mount long-term solutions.

Madam Speaker, for the long-term, the DMMU will begin by conducting a sensitisation campaign using local structures to encourage communities to adhere to tenets of disaster risk reduction, which, in part, will involve encouraging communities to establish residences on higher ground to avoid flooding.

Furthermore, Madam Speaker, the Government, through the DMMU, on 24th March, 2023 released the following items to assist the affected areas in the Eastern Province and to support overall preparedness in the region:

         Item                                                             Quantity         

         Mealie meal (25 kg bags)                               250

         Mealie meal (10 kg bags)                               250

         Beans (50 kg bags)                                         25

         Cooking oil (750 ml bottles)                              15       

         Sugar cases (20 kg per case)                           10

         Salt cases (20 kg)                                            5

         Chlorine boxes (12 bottles per box)                   50

         Tents (various sizes)                                        50

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, I thank Her Honour the Vice-President for her reaction. I want to state here to Her Honour the Vice-President that these disasters happened between 15th and 16th March, 2023. As I am talking, up to this time, our people have not received any help, when the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) was supposed to start helping these affected people. Instructions came from the headquarters that the local DMMU office should not continue distributing relief until the DMMU from Chipata goes to do an effective assessment.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, our people have not received any help even as I am speaking here. So, when is the Government going to ensure that these people are helped as quickly as possible because this number is too high? We cannot wait for officials from Lusaka when people are sleeping hungry.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, what here hon. Member is bringing out here is totally contradictory to what I am informing the House. It should be noted that this is information that we are getting on the ground and the things that we are sending from here. We are generally, in touch with the District Commissioner (DC) in the area. The DC is one of the people we are in touch with, including the regional coordinator.

Madam Speaker, if what the hon. Member is telling us is different and he has been speaking to the people on the ground, then I wonder which the true information is. However, this is the response that I have from being in contact with the people on the ground. I think I have given what has been shared by the DMMU since the cyclone came on the scene, on 15th and 16th March, 2023. That is the information I have. If it is totally contrary to the information the hon. Member has, then I think that would be a serious breakdown in communication.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, I am very thankful to Her Honour the Vice-President and I want to commend her office and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). From her statement, it is clear that the Government has acted swiftly in taking relief to our brothers and sisters in Chama North. Further, Her Honour the Vice-President has mentioned in her statement the measures the Government is taking for both the long-term and short-term.

Madam Speaker, I, however, want to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President whether the relief food that is being given to our brothers and sisters in Chama North is going to sustain them until the next farming season, looking at the devastation that was caused to their fields. We saw video clips where people were being given bags of mealie meal. What is the long-term measure that the Government is going to put in place to ensure that this relief is not just relief for an instance, but something that will see them through to the next harvest season?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member has raised the issue of long-term relief. I think the word ‘relief’ means just that. It is not a permanent situation for the whole year because we know that, for example, the destroyed fields mean that people do not currently have food and, therefore, we have to come in. It is a mitigation issue, so that people do not die because something has come up.

Madam Speaker, for the long-term, I believe that there is preparation for that, and this is the concern. This is not only happening in Chama. Hon. Members can tell us exactly where all these mitigation measures are taking place. I cannot stand here and commit that the DMMU will continue to feed the people for the whole year. We are going to see what happens. Like I have said, there will be assessments to tell exactly who are really in need. We have not said that all the fields are destroyed. I think there will be more information. So, I cannot make that commitment.

Madam, whatever has happened, we have to come in so that people do not die instantly because they are found outside and have no shelter or food to take immediately. We have to come through and then we continue to do the assessment. However, to say that this will be done throughout the year is not something I can commit to now. We pray there is something more permanent to address that situation.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I thank Her Honour the Vice-President for her responses.

Madam Speaker, the people of Chama are very delighted to hear the amount of food that the Government is giving them. Her Honour the Vice-President has mentioned bottles of cooking oil and beans. However, I have to report to Her Honour the Vice-President. We want to tell the people of Chama that the Government is sending these items to them. However, as to whether they are receiving these items, is a question that Her Honour the Vice-President and we, as elected leaders, should follow-up on.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, ask a supplementary question. Do not debate.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, I just wanted to explain to the people.

Interruptions

Mr Mung’andu: It is for your benefit.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, when you stand up, please, ask supplementary questions. Do not debate. It is not the time for debate. If you want to debate, move a Motion on Wednesday, then we can sit and debate the issue.

You may proceed.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, as I said, we are grateful for what the Office of the Vice-President is doing.

Madam Speaker, yesterday and the day before, I was talking to the district Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) Chairperson, who is the District Commissioner (DC). I know the Office of the President has sent an officer there. The DC indicated that we will only start helping people when the roads become passable. It is the DC who said that and I asked him as to whether the problems will wait. Now, what is it –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Chama South, please, do not start giving evidence because what you are saying now is alleging that you spoke to this and that person. Ask a supplementary question, please.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, is Her Honour the Vice-President aware that the help they are sending to the people has not yet started reaching them because of the reasons I have given? It is possible for the technocrats to mislead the Government; no wonder I am asking.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Do not answer your question. How do you ask a question and answer it? What is the point of asking a question if you already know the answer?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, thank you for the guidance.

Madam Speaker, when people are instructed to provide relief, they should come back to tell us if they are unable. When people are hungry, we cannot say until this and that is done. I do not think that is the way the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) works. We have had disasters in other places. If we have to fly in with choppers, we do that. So, I will follow-up on what the hon. Member is bringing to the table, to see what is really happening.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: So, hon. Member for Chama North and hon. Member for Chama South, Her Honour the Vice-President will follow-up the issues you have raised to ensure that the relief that had been sent has been received by the people.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Madam Speaker, I thank Her Honour the Vice-President and I commend her for the good work she has done in Chama, and Mbabala, where we had disasters in Hakaloba and Kabimba areas. However, is the Government considering improving the package of the services being provided to include mattresses wrapped in plastic because when a disaster happens, people sleep on a wet floor? Could that be provided as well.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question.

Madam Speaker, that proposal is one that can be done according to an assessment. We cannot point at certain things and say that each time there is a disaster, those are the things we take. There is no package we can refer to. For example, we did not send blankets to Chama. Depending on the type of disaster, in some places, we send blankets. So, there is no standard package. We assess the situation and give as need arises. So, I cannot say that we will improve the package and have a permanent package for everybody because the effects are not exactly the same.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), there is a component for disasters. In Bweengwa Constituency, when we had floods, we utilisedK250,000 of the CDF, and bought 200 bags of mealie meal. So, what have the two constituencies done because under the CDF, there is a component for disasters, so that the people can see that our two honourable colleagues love them?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question.

Madam Speaker, we have debated the issue of the 5 per cent of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of the 60 per cent. That amount should be used as the quickest response in all the constituencies. I remember standing here and saying that do not use the 5 per cent of the 60 per cent on other issues, so that hon. Members can quickly respond to disasters using that 5 per cent. I stood on the Floor of the House and said the 5 per cent may not be enough. If one calculates, it may not do all the things that one needs to do. However, the quickest response is to use the 5 per cent and hon. Members can tell us that they have used the 5 per cent. Many hon. Members run to us before they use the 5 per cent.

Madam Speaker, in view of the situation in Chama District, particularly in Chama North, the hon. Member will agree with me that the requests have been coming. So, we started supporting the people in that area a long time ago because they were assessed under the vulnerable the previous season, and that is why the figures of things are high. If you have been following, the hon. Member for Chama North has been requesting for things and we have been sending. That is why the figures of things are high. So, we have been working with the people of Chama. I remember following up on what the people would be eating. Under the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), we have community sales for maize. So, Chama is one of the districts where people can buy maize under community sales. The people in Chama have access to maize through the FRA as per the request of the local leadership, including the hon. Members of Parliament.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

I convey greetings to Her Honour the Vice-President, from the good people of Petauke Central and Chama.

Interruptions

Mr J. E. Banda: It is my time. Let me ask the question.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Petauke Central, you have already taken one minute that could have been used by another hon. Member to ask a question. So, please, just ask your question.

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, some people are saying ichisungu ichichine, echo batuma baku Petauke.

Madam Speaker, there are human/animal conflicts in Chama, which have left the people of Chama without food.

Interruptions

Mr J. E. Banda: Finish then I will talk.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Petauke Central –

Mr J. E. Banda: I am not protected. You are–.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Petauke Central!

Please, ask a question which is related to the question that is being discussed. Do not bring in other matters which Her Honour the Vice-President might not have addressed her mind to. We are talking about the disaster, which was caused by Cyclone Freddy. The animals do not form part of Cyclone Freddy. So, please, ask your question.

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, I am guided.

Madam Speaker, I thank the Office of the Vice-President for giving food to the people of Chama, who were affected by Cyclone Freddy and the human/animal conflict. However, Her Honour the Vice-President said the good Government of Zambia sent 14,000 bags of maize to the good people of Chama. Is the relief only for the people who were affected by Cyclone Freddy or it includes even the people who were affected by the human/animal conflicts?

Interruptions

Mr J. E. Banda: Ah!

Nkazikikani, that is why ku constituency kwanu sibamufunani bantu, endani mukaba one.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Petauke Central, when I reluctantly call upon you, please, use the time properly. Otherwise, I will start doubting whether I should give you the Floor. That question is not related to the one being discussed.

Let us make progress.

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving a chance to the people of Lundazi, through me, to ask a follow-up question. Cyclone Freddy has also affected the people in Lundazi and many other places, and there was a warning to that effect. When your children are affected, it is just wise to take a chance to follow up if what you have sent has not arrived or, maybe, going there so that they can feel the love of a mother.

Madam Speaker, is the office of Her Honour, the Vice-President, planning to visit the people of Chama and Lundazi, some of whom are in places almost cut off by Cyclone Freddy?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, probably as my honourable son from Petauke Central says, maybe the language becomes difficult because I thought I had mentioned that we would do a comprehensive assessment. I also, in responding to when I was told that nothing had arrived, committed to follow-up. So, I have given this assurance because there is a conflict between what I am giving and what the hon. Members are giving me. So, when the hon. Member says that when my children are crying I should follow-up, I will do that. If it means personally travelling, I will. We have to follow-up so that we can synchronise the responses on the ground and what I have.

Thank you, Madam.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, the suggestion in view of the fact that people are saying that they have not received the food is that it would be nice to take videos of people receiving food so that they are circulated. Maybe that is the only way because I doubt that somebody would be given all that food and then say that the food has not reached. So, where is the food? There must be a problem here.

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Thank you Madam Speaker. I commend Her Honour, the Vice-President’s Office because I have noted that her office is responding to the disasters. However, I think there is a disconnection between the local Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) administration and the hon. Members as well as other stakeholders. I say so because even last week when I raised the issue of bridges in my constituency, the DMMU in Lusaka was ready to respond and it did so by sending boats. Unfortunately, the boats cannot work where they were sent because what were needed were just culverts. So, even when the boats arrived in Chinsali, people asked the District Commissioner (DC) that “Nomba ba DC kupena?”

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Now you are giving us evidence and a story. This is time for supplementary questions. If you want to engage Her Honour the Vice-President, please, do so quietly. Do not start giving us stories of what culverts, boats and so on and so forth are. What is your supplementary question?

Learn from the hon. Member for Kasama Central. She knows how or ask questions. She is your neighbour there.

Laughter

Mr Mukosa: Thank you Madam Speaker for your guidance. I will do as advised. Should I finish that?

Laughter

Mr Mukosa: So that is how the people asked that “Nomba Ba DC kupena? Imwe tamu mwene ati the boat cannot pass?” Anyway, let me ask my supplementary question.

Madam Speaker, what is the Office of the Vice-President doing to improve the engagement that should be there between the DMMU and hon. Members as well as other stakeholders so that we should not have the situation where food has been released at the DMMU in Lusaka, yet the stakeholders do not know. If that is done, we cannot have hon. Members saying that the food has not arrived, yet her office has done a noble job.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I think the engagement between the people’s representative and the DMMU under the Office of the Vice-President must be strengthened. This is why we said that they should come. Sometimes we want to be like one hon. Member, since we do not debate ourselves, who wants to raise the same points with the Vice-President, in the House and so on. I think what I am saying is that there should be stronger engagement so that we can, together, follow what is happening. Sometimes, here, we answer for the people to hear who is talking but when actual help is needed. I understand and we will do that. We have to engage because my office receives recommendations and we follow that. If what is on the ground is different then it means that even the hon. Member and my office are failing because we should know exactly what is needed.

I thank you.

Madam Speaker: I think we have spent a lot of time on this question. Seven hon. Members have asked questions. So, I will allow three more to ask questions in the manner that they have indicated. Hon. Member for Lubansenshi will start, followed by the hon. Member for Mkushi North, and the hon. Member for Bwana Mkubwa will be the last one to pose a question.

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Madam Speaker, the people of Chama North have this problem that Her Honour, the Vice-President’s Office has responded to positively. Unfortunately, food has not reached the ground and they are anxiously waiting. Is Her Honour, the Vice-President able to tell them the timeframe in which they will receive that food because I believe that the food is already in the constituency or district? However, due to one or two reasons there is that challenge. They are very much interested in knowing when exactly they are going to receive the food so that they can clear their minds.

Mr J. E. Banda interjected.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Petauke Central!

Please, I am trying to accommodate you so do not push me against the wall. If you knew, you would just remain seated and follow the proceedings.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I think the answer, basically, is what I have already said. We will engage, whether it is today. I cannot change the response I have, and the hon. Member will definitely be told what happened. I have a different response and the hon. Member said something else. I will definitely engage the people on the ground then we will decide. Maybe food is at Kalondo. What is that place? Maybe it is stuck in Nyimba. As far as I am concerned we sent. So, I will follow up, and then we can give timelines. To give a timeline when the response I had said that the food was there would be very difficult for me to do.

Thank you, Madam.

Madam Speaker: Before the two hon. Members ask their follow-up questions, I will give an opportunity to hon. Member for Chama North who raised the substantive question.

Mr Mtayachalo: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the people of Chama appreciate the assistance given to them. However, we shall continue to knock on the Vice-President’s door to ensure that our people’s interests are safeguarded.

Madam Speaker, looking at the magnitude of the disaster that is 424 ha and ninety-three houses destroyed. Is the Vice-President intending, maybe, to work together with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services so that those affected can be put on Social Cash Transfer (SCT) instead of us always knocking on your doors?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Chama North for that question.

Madam Speaker, this is why I said I cannot give a response to that. To start with, we should all work together to see how we come out of this perpetual response of ‘when funds are made available’. The hon. Member may know that if there is a constituency that has been supported, it is Chama North and that is because of the challenges the people there face. So, we will look at it.

Madam Speaker, I mentioned here that we should work together to see how people can survive. One of the ways is to probably, construct structures away from flooding areas. That is something we can work out together. I cannot say there is money to put them on the Social Cash Transfer Scheme. You approved the Budget, but still, when issues arise, we will look at them. However, that commitment will be too heavy for one member of the Cabinet to just say we will put all of them on Social Cash Transfer Scheme. The Government we will look at it and see what can be done. At the end of the day, thehon.Member must help us find a permanent solution because there is no Government that can feed people throughout the year.

Madam Speaker, Chama North is prone to floods. That is why I said the support started long before Cyclone Freddie reached Chama. So, we need to work together to find a permanent solution. The entire Executive will work with you to find a solution.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr C. Chibuye (Mkushi North): Madam Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President has indicated the measures the Government is taking for our people in Chama North where food is concerned. However, I have not heard her talk about the mitigating measures for those who lost their house in Chama North. What is the Government doing about that?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, when I was mentioning items given to the victims, one of the items I mentioned was tents. Unfortunately, at times like this, families sometimes get disturbed because the tents have different sizes. That is what I read out. So, we have given out some tents which are not equal to ninety and people cannot be put as families. In some other places I have been to, where people were given tents, people were grouped according to gender and age before permanent infrastructure is made available. However, we have sent tents there.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, thank for allowing me to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a follow-up question. The people of Chama have about 424 ha of their cropaffected. Crops grown under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU)are usually insured under floods. I think about US$5 million was paid last year, if I am not mistaken. Has the Government carried out an assessment to establish whether people can be compensated through the mentioned avenues after having their crops insured?

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, in my response earlier, I mentioned that we are going to carry out a comprehensive assessment because right now, there is a rapid assessment which is being done in a hurry to see that people survive. However, the comprehensive assessment will be done under the vulnerable assessment. As regards insurance under FISP,I am sure the members know, but we will help them just as we did last year. The benefits which we got under Africa Risk Capacity and sent through the Social Cash Transfer were not for floods but drought. We are praying that Africa Risk Capacity could also include floods because they have become an occurring thing. We have discussed that, although we have not yet concluded. What was there was drought and the people who were affected have been helped.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

PROCUREMENT OF COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS IN LUBANSENSHI CONSTITUENCY

233. Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi) asked the Minister of Education:

  1. whether the Government has any plans to procure computers for all schools in Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency for use in Information and Communication Technology subjects;           
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
  3. if there are no such plans, why?

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, I inform the house that the Government has plans to procure computers for all the schools in Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency for use in Information and Communication Technology subjects.

Madam Speaker, the procurement of teaching and learning materials, which includes computers, is an on-going process. The House may wish to note that so far, fifty-five schools have received desktop computers and twenty-five schools received laptops in Lubansenshi Constituency. The schools are Katopola Primary School, Don Bosco Primary School and Chifwile Primary School, among others.

Madam Speaker, based on the response in (a), part (c) of the question, therefore, falls off.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chewe: Madam Speaker, the people of Lubansenshi would like to find out when the Government will supply the remaining schools with computers considering that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subjects are not waiting until computers are supplied. The learners are due for ICT and so, they have sent me to ask the hon. Minister when the remaining schools will receive the computers.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I indicated that the supply of the computers and other learning materials is an on-going process. On-going is on-going. So, they will be supplied as we go on.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, yes.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minster of Education has informed the nation and this august House that the ministry has plans to continue with this exercise. Further, in his response to the follow-up question, he indicated that this is an ongoing exercise.

Madam Speaker, one of the challenges that most public institutions face is the issue of the lack security. We have had so many cases and incidences where computers have been stolen by thieves after the Government has provided these very useful tools.

Madam Speaker, are there any measures in place to ensure that these computers that the Government is going to install, at a huge cost, are not stolen as we have had so many cases of theft of computers in schools?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, indeed, there are instances when computers and, generally, materials for schooling have been stolen. What we have emphasised is that those who man those schools should be able to provide security in terms of burglar-bars. Currently, as we build some of the schools, especially the ones that we are building now, the roof is also burglar proofed. Maybe that is the way to go.

Madam Speaker, communities must, otherwise, also be sensitised that when people steal those computers, they just steal from their own children because they are affected. People who do that are actually in those communities. So, when they deprive their children of such facilities, they deprive even themselves in case the classroom from where they stole should have produced a surgeon. They would have killed a surgeon. If they are taken to the hospital and there is no surgeon, they would have killed themselves.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mabeta (Kankoyo): Madam Speaker, I have seen hon. Members of Parliament, like Hon. Anthony Mumba, who have taken advantage of the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to procure computers for schools in their constituencies.

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Education considering giving us a standard type model of computers to be bought in schools so that we have the same type of computers in all schools rather than others having computers made by fwebene?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, that is a very good question and I stand to be advised by the technocrats.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: I had closed the list, but I can see a late indication. We need to make progress.

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Madam Speaker, are there any deliberate interventions that the ministry has put in place to ensure that teachers who are not able to teach subjects which demand Information Communication and Technology (ICT) knowledge are taken care of? What intervention is the ministry putting in place to ensure that teachers who have not reached the level of teaching ICT subjects are able to offer such tasks?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I hope I got his question.

Madam Speaker: I noticed that.

Mr Syakalima: The hon. Member is talking about those teachers who teach Information Communication and Technology (ICT) subjects? Yes, they are upgraded, just like any other profession. As we know, technology is fast growing. So, there are certain things in technology in which they have to upgrade themselves.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned that the programme of distributing computers to schools, especially for the people of Lubansenshi is ongoing.

Madam Speaker, it is important that we know the roadmap or plans on when some of these computers will be distributed so that we can be well informed as we tell our people from our constituencies.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, it is a bit difficult when one has already said “ongoing.” Ongoing is just ongoing and there is no timeframe. If one is walking, you cannot ask that what it is walking. So, ongoing is really ongoing. That is not only happening in Lubansenshi, but also in Bwana Mkubwa. Things are ongoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, following up on what the hon. Member for Parliament for Matero asked concerning the usage of smart phones in schools, what is the Government’s position? There are still schools that are rigid on students using smart phones because of the negative effects that has. What is the Government’s position on schools that, indeed, need to use smart phones, in addition to computers and laptops?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I am not quite sure about the resistance. I need to find out what is happening. Maybe it is an issue to do with what they use the smart phone for, apart from academics. Otherwise, if it is the Government which is providing, it will be specifically for academia and not just going with a smart phone in school and saying, “I want to use it.” It can also be used for ill intentions and, sometimes, it can corrupt morals of children. So, the ministry will make sure that those smart phones are specifically for academia.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, you keep on going out. You need to come back and maintain the quorum. I have seen most benches are empty. Where are the hon. Members?

Interruptions

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, most computer labs were actually converted from classrooms. Therefore, would the hon. Minister be in a position to indicate to this House whether the Government has any plans to build other computer labs or, maybe, encourage hon. Members in this House to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to build computer labs?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, indeed, I encourage hon. Members to use part of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to construct computer laboratories.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as you build the computer laboratories, please, do not forget to build your constituency offices. I encourage hon. Members to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to build constituency offices.

Laughter

REHABILITATION OF THE LUSAKA/MONGU ROAD

234. Mr Amutike (Mongu Central) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

  1. whether the Government has any plans to rehabilitate the Lusaka/Mongu Road;
  2. if so, when the project will commence; and
  3. what the estimated cost of the project is.

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Chikote) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to rehabilitate the Lusaka/Mongu Road.

Madam Speaker, the rehabilitation of the Lusaka/Mongu Road will commence once the preparation of the designs has been completed and funds secured.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the rehabilitation works will be known once the designs have been completed.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: Madam Speaker, may I remind the hon. Minister that the Lusaka/Mongu Road has been neglected for many years by the previous –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Hon. Member, you may proceed.

Mr Amutike: Madam Speaker, I wish to remind the hon. Minister that this Lusaka /Mongu Road was neglected by the previous regime of the Patriotic Front (PF) for many years. The section of the road between the Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) and Lukulu turn off…

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Ask your supplementary question.

Mr Amutike: … is completely washed way. There is completely no road. Is the hon. Minister able to give a time frame as to when this road will be worked on?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I do understand the hon. Member’s concern especially that I also come from that same province. I know the road he is talking about and how long it has been in that state without being attended to. The New Dawn Administration is committed to providing service delivery to our people. Therefore, as the New Dawn Government, we have allocated money to a consultant who is working on the project already and this will take nine months. Immediately after nine months, we will resume the eighteen months work period and a twelve months defect liability period. That is the way we are going to proceed with this road. We do understand what was happening in the past over this same road.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Madam Speaker, the people of Luena are very excited to hear a time line attached to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Mongu/Lusaka Road. My question is: Is the design of the road going to concentrate only on the section between TBZ, Tateyoyo and Katunda or we are redesigning the road all the way from Tateyoyo to Mongu? I am saying so because there are many sections that are becoming dangerous bit by bit, and sooner or later, they will fall into a state of disrepair like it is between Katunda and Tateyoyo. So, even as we are grateful for the bridge that has been completed, can he indicate whether the road will be rehabilitated from Tateyoyo all the way to Mongu?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for his question as it truly reflects how important the road is. The money that has been committed will cover 87.3 km, and that is from Tateyoyo to the Katunda/Lukulu junction.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kangombe (Sesheke Central): Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate that the people of Mongu, just like those in many other parts of the Western Province are suffering. The Sesheke/Kazungula and the Lusaka/Mongu roads are very important roads that connect the Western Province, which is formally known as the Barotseland, to the rest of the country. Most of the areas in the Western Province are completely cut off from the rest of the country and the people of that area feel that this is a deliberate move by the Government. Does the hon. Minister realise that if only the maintenance policy of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development was adhered to, the status of all these roads as well as the roads that are being rehabilitated now, the situation would not be where it is?  Does he agree with me that this is the problem? If yes, what is the response?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed. What is this Government going to do? I stated in my preamble that this Administration is committed to providing service delivery to the people. We are trying to do all the best that we can to make sure that we start building our resources in order to attend to several needs of our people. So, the roads that the hon. Member has mentioned indeed, require urgent attention. This Government is making sure that all these roads are given the attention they require.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Madam Speaker, it is true that the Lusaka/Mongu Road is an economical road because we see a number of trucks laden with copper on this road. For the stretch between Tateyoyo and the Katunda Junction, is there any immediate measure that the Government can take to help the situation as we are waiting for consultancy that will take nine months and the defect liability period that will take twelve months as the hon. Minister stated? After the road construction would have been done all the way up to Katunda, do we see the light at the end of the tunnel, that the Lukulu/Watopa/Mwembeshi Road will be reached?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, the Lusaka/Mongu Road has been in bad shape for some time. As soon as we took power, this Government made a commitment to attending to these roads.

One of the evidence is the completed Kafue Hook Bridge, which we are about to commission. That shows that the Government is committed to service delivery, and I assure all hon. Members of Parliament from the Western Province that the road will be attended to by this administration.

Madam Speaker, although it is not allowed, the hon. Member asked me two questions when he was supposed to ask one question. On the issue to do with the Lukulu/Mumbezhi/Watopa Road,–

Hon. Member: From Katunda.

Mr Chikote: From Katunda, indeed. In my preamble, I said that the Government is committed to working on the roads. Those are some of the roads the Government will attend to. So, the hon. Member should note that the Katunda/Lukulu Road will be attended to by the Government.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I will allow a few more questions, although we have exhausted the question.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, this afternoon when I was coming here, I was delighted to find the Zambia Army cleaning up Addis Abba Road. Officers were cleaning the drainages and picking garbage. Kudos to the Zambia Army.

Madam Speaker, do we see the Government having a deliberate policy for would-be contractors on this road and many other roads in Zambia? Is there a deliberate intervention to make sure that the roads have proper drainage systems? Without proper drainage systems, most roads will be affected by water logging and will get damaged. We want to see proper drainages. Does the Government have such a deliberate policy?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the Government believes in quality, delivering within the specified arrangements, and it believes in quality in relation to the value of the money. So, drainages and the quality of roads are some of the aspects the Government considers whenever it is providing service delivery.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government spent huge sums of money to build –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, please, let us not bring in party politics. Ask your supplementary question.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, the previous Government spent millions of taxpayers’ money with partners to build an industrial yard in Mongu, which means that the road leading to the industrial yard is very important. From Mongu to Kalabo, taxpayers’ money was used to build another expensive road. My follow-up question –

Interruptions

Mr Kang’ombe: With your permission, Madam Speaker, can I proceed?

Madam Speaker: Can we have order, please!

Proceed, hon. Member. Ask your supplementary question.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I will ask my supplementary question in the manner that will allow everyone to understand my point. The previous Government spent money on the two important projects.

Madam Speaker: You are repeating yourself, hon. Member. Can you ask the question. Time is running out and we have other matters to attend to.

Interruptions

Mr Kang’ombe: Am I protected, Madam Speaker, to ask my follow up question?

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, ask your supplementary question. Do not repeat yourself, please. We have already heard the preliminaries.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, thank you for your guidance.

Madam Speaker, my follow-up question to the Acting hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development is: How much money has the Government allocated to undertake the works for the designs, the feasibility study and the actual road works?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, it is sad when somebody starts talking about what happened in the past with regard to the Lusaka/Mongu Road. I know how we used to be answered when I used to sit on the other side. So, when somebody says money was spent on that road, it makes us feel bad.

Madam Speaker, coming to the hon. Member’s question, I stated in my answer that the money for the designs and preparation of tender documents which has already been allocated, is K5 million. When the designs and tender documents are done, that is when we will know the cost of the road or the money that will be allocated to the road.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The last question will be from the hon. Member for Petauke Central.

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, firstly, I thank the hon. Minister and the New Dawn Government for increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to K28 point something million.

Madam Speaker, we are waiting for the Government to have money to attend to the road, which is under the hon. Minister’s ministry. For any person to ‘touch’ the road, he needs to seek guidance from the ministry. If the road is passing through eight constituencies, can eight constituencies put money together from the CDF, since the CDF has been increased, to work on the road? Is it allowed to put money together and work on the road as we are waiting for the Government to work on it?

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has guidelines. The way this money is supposed to be used is guided by what is stipulated in the guidelines. The hon. Member should note that the CDF is Government money. The projects that are driven by the CDF are identified by communities. In short, the hon. Member should acquaint himself with the guidelines of the CDF.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

MALARIA VACCINES

235. Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Health:

  1. whether the Government has any plans to procure malaria vaccines;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. how many doses of the vaccine are earmarked for procurement;
  4. what the total cost of procuring the vaccines is;
  5. how efficacious the vaccines are; and
  6. when the vaccine will be rolled out, countrywide.

The Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Ms Mwamba) (on behalf of the Minister of Health (Mrs Masebo)): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to procure malaria vaccines. The House may wish to note that the procurement and the introduction of malaria vaccines will depend on the recommendations to be made by the Zambia Immunization Technical Advisory Group (ZITAG), which is currently reviewing the scientific and programmatic evidence as to provide a recommendation on whether the country should adopt the malaria vaccination.

Madam, malaria is one of the leading causes of illnesses, health facilities attendances and deaths in Zambia and is one of the public health priorities for the country. The Government through the Ministry of Health initiated the process of exploring the possibility of introducing the malaria vaccine to add to the current malaria control strategy in Zambia. The process is anticipated to be completed by June, 2024.

Madam Speaker, the implementation of the plan to procure and introduce the malaria vaccine will depend on recommendations to be made by ZITAG following a full review process that takes into consideration efficacy, possible impact, global supply availability and the cost effectiveness of the interventions. The Government intended to make and application for a possible introduction of malaria vaccine in 2024.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that the World Health Organisation (WHO), working with partners and members states, developed a matrix framework to guide the allocation of the initial limited doses of vaccine incorporating market dynamics, scientific evidence of implementation, social values, fairness and equity. All eligible countries will introduce will introduce the vaccine in a phased manner except the initial three pilot countries, which are Malawi, Ghana and Kenya, after a successful application.

Madam Speaker, using the privatisation matrix, the programme in Zambia will target an initial vaccine supply of 888,215 surviving infants in 2024 distributed across seventeen districts in six provinces. Each Child is expected to receive four doses according to the recommended guidelines. However, all this depends on the outcome of the ongoing review process by ZITAG and a decision on whether to submit an application is granted by Cabinet.

Madam Speaker, the cost for the malaria vaccine is estimated to be US$9.89 per dose for the initial supply during 2023/25. Zambia will be eligible for support through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to access an exceptional and time-limited co-financing support for the malaria vaccine introduction. The support will be reviewed no later than 2027. Based on Gavi’s classification of eligible countries for support, Zambia is expected to initially contribute US$0.20 per dose annually and this will be subject to annual incremental revisions until the country assumes full financing capacity within eight years once the country is reclassified into a country graduating from Gavi support.

Madam Speaker, the House may to note that based on this co-financing agreement, during the initial phase of vaccine roll out, the cost of vaccines is US$70,572. This does not include shipping costs and costs for activities to prepare for the roll out. In the subsequent years, the amount will vary depending on the number of doses required based on the rate of inclusion of new districts in the phased introduction.

Speaker, according to the WHO, vaccination efficacy in the first six months following the completion of the initial three doses was estimated to be at 68 per cent. The efficacy decreased over time and six months after the fourth dose vaccine efficacy was 43. The evidence therefore, shows that although a fourth dose extended a period of protection, it did not restore efficacy to the level seen after the initial vaccine series.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that data on the effectiveness of malaria vaccine generated form pilot phases in parts of Ghana, Kenya and Malawi showed that hospitalisation with server malaria among children administered with three doses of vaccine was reduced by 29 per cent. However, it must be noted that these observed levels were only observed when malaria vaccinations were done complimentary to other malaria control strategies such indoor residual spraying and the use of insecticide treated bed nets. The vaccine had been shown to be safe and well tolerated. No major safety concerns were noted during the pilot phase of vaccine introduction in Ghana, Malawi, and Kenya. There is a small risk of seizure within seven days, mainly within two to three days, of vaccination.

Madam Speaker, subject to the final decision, the alternative plan for the country is an initial rollout to seventeen districts that have the highest need in 2024, and the targeted districts increasing annually in a phased approach until eighty-four districts that currently meet the criterion for malaria vaccine introduction are reached. The introduction is expected to be completed by 2030, subject to availability of newer and effective vaccines.

Madam Speaker, the vaccine rollout countrywide will depend on the recommendation by the Zambia Immunization Technical Advisory Group (ZITAG).

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that currently, there is only one type of malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The supplies of the vaccine are very limited and are expected to remain so in the short and medium terms. As such,any supply to countries is controlled by an allocation framework, meaning that countries can only procure within the allocated quantities.

Further, Madam Speaker, I also inform this House that the malaria vaccine is available as an additional tool for countries to evaluate the possible adoption as part of the Comprehensive Malaria Control Strategy. However, this has to be guided by specific country needs. Following comprehensive evaluation processes, I will provide further updates once the on-going review processes have been concluded.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: With that elaborate answer, do we need to ask supplementary questions?

Laughter

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, I apologise to my elder sister. She deserves a drink of water after reading such a lengthy response.

Madam Speaker, I come from a rural constituency called Kanchibiya Constituency. In this constituency, malaria is a reality. In the situation that we find ourselves, the quest for a vaccine becomes non-avoidable and the more the reason we sought a mouthful response from the Executive.

Madam Speaker, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the wide spread use of the vaccine. This was after the results the hon. Minister referred to, from Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. This vaccine has reached more than 900,000 children since 2019. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director, described this as a historic moment. He said the long awaited malaria vaccine for children was a breakthrough for science.

Madam Speaker, has the Zambia Immunization Technical Advisory Group (ZITAG) any timeframe attached to the studies it is doing? It should not prolong the process because every minute for a child in Kanchibiya matters. However, even in an area such as Lusaka, which is considered malaria free, they still have malaria.

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, I do sympathise with the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya because I also come from that area, and so, I understand what he is talking about. However, as I said, there is a need for serious research, which is currently on-going until 2024. According to the advice by the technocrats in the ministry, this vaccine is controlled. Before it is administered, many things are taken into consideration. I think this is where I can end with that question. However, with the composition of ZITAG, there is a group of researchers comprising various stakeholders such as academicians, professional bodies and medical researchers. When they are ready, they will inform the ministry as to when the rollout can begin.

I thank you, Madam, Speaker.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, I want to indicate that I am also an interested party because I come from a malaria-prone area. I presume the hon. Minister was talking about the malaria vaccine going by the name mosquirix. Given that, I want to know – We have had failure rates. What we have believed from childhood is that vaccines are supposed to prevent a disease. We have had a different experience with the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and many others. This vaccine which the hon. Minister is referring to has, at April 2022, been administered to one million children. Given the fact that she talked about the efficacy, as people of Chilubi, we just want to be safe. Could the hon. Minister indicate whether the efficacy will not go like the failure rate that we have witnessed with COVID-19 vaccine?

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi for that follow-up question. I just want to remind him to not mislead the public that the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine has failed. It has not failed. We have not recorded that evidence which he has. As far as the ministry is concerned, this vaccine has been very successful.

Madam, the malaria vaccine is also proving to be successful in countries where it has been rolled out. As I said, it has been rolled out in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, and those countries are recording success stories.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Sabao (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, as a caring Government, is the New Dawn Government considering using aerial spray as a long term measure for eradicating malaria in this country?

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, a vaccine, doctors will agree with me, is a preventive measure. It does not mean that when you are vaccinated against the Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19), you will not get the virus. You will get it, but its effects will be mild. I presume, though I am not a medical expert, that even when you have a malaria vaccine or are immunised against malaria, you might get it, but very mildly.

Madam Speaker: Order hon. Members!

There are too many little parliaments around. Can we follow the answers.

Proceed, hon. Minister.

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chikankata asked whether we consider residue spraying. That is also a control measure against mosquitoes. Residue spraying continues. The vaccine that we are talking about is immunisation so that we can control malaria, especially in children.

I thank you, Madam.

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member for Kanchibiya will be last one to ask the hon. Minister.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, with your permission, we are going to bring such loaded questions because, I think, that is the essence of Parliament as opposed to the petty politics that we sometimes find ourselves in.

Madam Speaker, I commend the hon. Minister for her responses and say to the Executive that the reality of the malaria disease burden is very high in rural areas. It is important for the Executive to attach a lot of seriousness to it so that the Zambia Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (ZITAG) does not slow the rate at which the Executive provides solutions, especially to children in rural areas.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: That was a comment. When you see the big doctors not asking questions, you make progress. The hon. Member for Mansa Central has been very quiet.

Laughter

GULLY NEAR THE KAZUNGULA BOARDING SCHOOL IN KAZUNGULA DISTRICT

236. Mr Andeleki (Katombola) asked the Minister of Education:

  1. whether the Government is aware that a gully has developed near the Kazungula Boarding School in Kazungula District;
  1. if so, what measures are being taken to prevent the gully from expanding and weakening the school infrastructure; and
  1. what the estimated cost of preventing the expansion of the gully is.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that, yes, the Government is aware that a gully has developed near Kazungula Boarding School, in Kazungula District.

Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to undertake comprehensive works to prevent the gully from expanding and weakening the school infrastructure. The House may wish to note that the following measures were undertaken to protect the school from this gully:

  1. introduction of scour checks in the storm water drain;
  2. strengthening the stilling basin; and
  3. additional gabion protection to the gully walls to protect the weak sandy soils.

Madam Speaker, these measures were aimed at slowing down the velocity of the water to reduce erosion on the soils which would deepen the gully further. However, this has not resolved the problem completely.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of stopping the expansion of the gully is K30 million.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Andeleki: Madam Speaker, when do we expect action by the Government to stop the erosion that is taking place and threatening the only boarding secondary school in Katombola Constituency?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I think, by next week, we are sending a team from here. I was actually there last year and saw for myself that the gully is actually threatening the school. I think the soils where they built the school are not good. I asked the engineers there whether they really did soil testing. The area was a forest. I think that now that they are cutting a lot of trees, the gully is expanding. So, we hope to quickly move in so that the school is not threatened. With every rainy season, the gully actually becomes bigger.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the estimated cost is K30 million. Looking at the ministry’s budget, that money is not budgeted for. If we have to work on that problem this month, seeing as the hon. Minister said that next week, a team is going there, where are we going to get the K30 million from?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, the question is: What is the estimated cost of preventing the expansion of the gully? Depending on the veracity of the problem, you know we always have supplementary monies. So, even if you cannot see a particular budgetary line, we can always get a supplementary budget. So, those things happen here.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister considering bringing engineers to book because, surely, colossal sums of money were spent on constructing that school. Here we are complaining about the gully that will end up probably collapsing the entire school. What is the hon. Minister doing to ensure that those who constructed that school are brought to book?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I am not quite sure whether I will bring them to book, but I think that it was bad job that was done by the contractor in 2017. I think the engineering part of it, even if I am not an engineer, I went there and I saw, I complained to them that the contractor they took there did a bad job. That school is going to collapse because the gully is now almost surrounding the entire school. So, that cost – this is the way, previously, that money which is for the Government could be abused, just like that.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, it was just a bad job which was done.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

237. Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation:

  1. whether the Government has any plans to rehabilitate the following dams in Mkaika Parliamentary Constituency:
  1. Chisale;
  2. Nthambo;
  3. Walira; and
  4. Mzime; and
  5. if so, when the plans will be implemented.

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Mr Mposha): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to rehabilitate dams in Mkaika Parliamentary Constituency namely, Chisale, Nthambo, Walira and Mzime.

Madam Speaker, the rehabilitation of the four dams in Mkaika Parliamentary Constituency will be undertaken after the completion of the countrywide feasibility studies scheduled for 2023 to ascertain their status, use and location, for the purposes of planning.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, what is the estimated cost of the rehabilitation of these dams in Mkaika Constituency?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, as indicated, plans will only be implemented once feasibility studies have been conducted. The cost will only be established after feasibility studies will have been undertaken.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika): Madam Speaker, when will the feasibility studies be undertaken?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, like I did indicate in my response, the feasibility studies are scheduled for 2023.So, this will be done within the year, 2023.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, let us pay attention to the answers, otherwise, we will be asking questions that have already been attended to.

Mr J. Daka (Chadiza): Madam Speaker, we also need dams in Chadiza. What is the type and capacity of dams that they intend to construct in Mkaika?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, the question I am responding to is very specific to the effect that we are discussing the rehabilitation of dams and I have specifically mentioned the dams in question. So definitely, the question the hon. Member of Parliament for Chadiza is asking, if I got him correct, in terms of what type of dams are under construction, we are not taking about the ones we are going to construct, but the ones we are intending to rehabilitate.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF ZESCO LIMITED

238. Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North) asked the Minister of Energy:

  1. whether the proposed restructuring of ZESCO Limited will lead to job losses at the power utility company; and
  2. if so, what measures will be taken to mitigate the job losses.

The Minister of Green Economy and Environment (Eng. Nzovu) (on behalf of the Minister of Energy (Mr Kapala)): Madam Speaker, the proposed restructuring of Zesco Limited will not lead to job losses at the power utility company. The restructuring of Zesco Limited will be to improve its operations, autonomy, and efficiency, and ensure that the company’s long-term financial sustainability is achieved. The restructuring will lead to the improvement of the company’s financial performance and efficiency, resulting in the company becoming profitable while delivering electricity at internationally competitive prices and efficiencies as well as quality.

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Government will ensure that good conditions are created to ensure that there are no job losses considering that Zesco Limited is a highly technical company that requires professional staff for the company to run effectively, efficiently and profitably. Further, the Government will also ensure that the company diversifies its power production so that there will be availability of adequate supply of electricity from various sources of energy which are reliable at the lowest economic, financial, social, and environmental costs, and consistent with national goals.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.  

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Madam Speaker, there have been talks of more or less segmenting Zesco Limited into distribution, generation and other facets of the company. Are we talking about the same when it comes to restructuring? What are the similarities and differences?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the issue of unbundling Zesco Limited has been on the table for a very long time into generation, transmission and distribution. Basically, what we are talking about here is not unbundling, but improving the efficiencies of Zesco Limited.

Madam Speaker, as the hon. Member may recall, in the past, Zesco Limited was loaded with a lot of costs. At the moment, Zambia’s debt is largely due to the fact that Zesco Limited – The debt basically, is attributed to some of the construction projects and Zesco Limited. However, also, various costs were laden on Zesco Limited and as a result, the company became highly indebted facets.

Madam Speaker, what we are trying to do at Zesco Limited is basically, not only to improve efficiencies in deliveries so that the company is able to firstly, provide the requisite power for the demand available but also, looking forward to the projected higher demands, taking into account the New Dawn Government’s target for increasing its copper production to 3 million tonnes a year in the next decade.

Madam Speaker, we are also ensuring that in the advent of climate change now, energy security is key and our answer is to ensure that the energy mix at Zesco Limited is improved. Other than hydro power, we are promoting production from solar and wind energy. I am sure hon. Members saw our President signing a deal Masdar and several other deals to ensure that there is energy sufficiency and surplus so that we can also cater for the export market.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, I am happy that the acting hon. Minister is a former Zesco Limited employee.

Laughter

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, there is a culture at the power utility company that every time there is a change of Government, workers are laid off in the name of reorganisation or restructuring. So, what measures is the New Dawn Government putting in place to ensure that workers are not laid off using the restructuring exercise to avoid brain drain, since this is what is happening even under the New Dawn Government?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, indeed, I am a former Zesco Limited employee and I was actually with Hon. Mtayachalo in my time.

Laughter

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, so it will be a very healthy debate and I can assure the hon. Members that if they want clarifications there, they are free to ask the necessary questions.

Madam Speaker, I think let us get to the basics. When the New Dawn Administration formed Government, it ensured that there is energy security and that ZESCO Limited starts running again. It further ensured that there was necessary technical expertise at ZESCO Limited. Hon. Members will agree with me that ZESCO Limited is running again and that there is a competent management, one that is tackling the debt effectively and ensuring that there is no longer unnecessary debt accumulation.

Madam Speaker, you will note that right now, there have been reductions in tariffs at Itezhi-Tezhi Power Station and Mamba Power Station. For the first time in a number of years, ZESCO Limited had not been meeting its financial obligations and it had not been paying its debt. I am sure you saw President Hakainde Hichilema commissioning the last unit, Unit No. 5 at Kafue Gorge Lower. This is as a result of ZESCO Limited’s new management plugging the holes and ensuring that the project which was suspended a few years back starts running and is completed. This speaks to the fact that the New Dawn Government ensures that there is meritocracy in all its institutions. So, I assure the hon. Member of Parliament that there will be no unnecessary retirements at ZESCO Limited, but those who will be found wanting, surely, will need to be replaced. Our goal is to unite the country. There will be no victimisation, as there has been no victimisation at all. We will support ZESCO Limited to ensure that there is sufficient and surplus energy.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Sabao (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, I did not indicate.

Madam Speaker: There was an indication on the laptop.

Mr Chisanga (Lukashya): Madam Speaker, even in 2019, ZESCO Limited was still operating. It did not start operating when the New Dawn Administration formed Government.

Madam Speaker, will the Government deal with the issue of casualisation at ZESCO Limited?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished lawyer, the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukashya. Indeed, ZESCO Limited was operating in 2019, but I must inform him that by 2019, that project had stalled. There were no longer any disbursements. I wonder whether the project would have been completed if the New Dawn Government had not come into power.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, having said that, in 2020, having sealed the leakages at ZESCO Limited, ZESCO Limited started funding that project using its resources resulting into the commissioning of Units No.2, 3, 4 and 5.

Madam Speaker, as regards casualisation, yes, we have good facilities there at a low cost using the local expertise; Counsel knows what I am talking about.

Mr Chisanga interjected.

Eng. Nzovu: Please, listen to me very carefully. There are normally many people discussing these highly technical issues. So, now that you have the privilege to listen to me, please, listen very carefully, especially hon. Members on my left.

Hon. Opposition Members: On your right!

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order!

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, casualisation is a thing of the past. Actually, it was rampant in the years gone by. Right now, there is no unnecessary employment of workers. Workers are employed as per project. So, casualisation is the thing of the past. We want to give our fellow Zambians contracts that are long-term and also ensure that they have pensionable jobs.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, I just want to make a plea to the hon. Minister. Having worked at ZESCO Limited and represented the workers, I feel sad when I meet many former workers who lost employment. My plea is that let us ensure there is continuity even when there is a change of Government. The trend of laying off people when there is a new Government is retrogressive to the nation.

Madam Speaker: That was a comment. Hon. Minister, do you want to comment on that?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member. It is, indeed, a concern for those of us who have worked at ZESCO Limited. In the past, there has been victimisation whenever any Government comes in place, not only during the reign of the Patriotic Front (PF) and the Movement for Multiparty for Democracy (MMD) Governments. However, this trend has stopped. We are moving in the right direction.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Chama North always goes together with Chama South.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, the concern here is to do with the possibility of loss of employment due to the restructuring of ZESCO Limited. Instead, the hon. Minister gave us a catalogue of how ZESCO Limited’s efficiency is being improved. I know that they have reintroduced twenty positions for Deputy Directors at ZESCO Limited, which were non- existence, and they are consuming a lot of money belonging to ZESCO Limited.

Madam Speaker, there is also a concern of people being fired, which the hon. Minister acknowledged. Is the hon. Minister in a position to explain to this House how many people were employed through political connections and how many are being replaced through political connections, so that they also fall victim when the right time comes? That is something we are against. We need professionalism in institutions.

Madam Speaker: Although your question is promoting the same thing that you do not want to.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question.

Madam Speaker, to the contrary, you will see the number of employees growing at ZESCO Limited because our policy is to ensure that Zambia has sufficient and surplus energy. I am glad to inform the hon. Member of Parliament that we have already signed deals to bring solar plants on board. I am sure the hon. Member saw the Minister of Energy, Hon. Kapala, signing a US$2 billion deal. This will ensure that there are solar plants in all provincial capitals. There will be solar plants next to the existing hydropower units. This aim, which aim is being actualised, will need manpower. When we do the projections right now–I am glad we were discussing the increment in copper production and Hon. Kabuswe is working hard to ensure that he produces3 million tonnes of copper per year in the next decade.

Mr Kabuswe: Hear, hear!

Eng. Nzovu: This will require additional generation capacity, additional transmission capacity and additional distribution capacity. All this will necessitate the employment of workers. I assure the hon. Members that the ZESCO Limited of today is efficient, and we will ensure financial viability of the company and guarantee that there are no job losses.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member talked about the reintroduction of positions at ZESCO Limited. Basically, that was done to promote efficiency. In the PF regime, there was no Minister of Green Economy and Environment. Look at me. I am here to ensure that the Government promotes efficiency. So, it is the vision you have, to see how you deliver on your mandate.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Eng. Nzovu: So, the hon. Member –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, when business was suspended I was winding up informing and, basically, educating our hon. Colleagues that the desire of the New Dawn Government to have energy sufficiency and surplus is on course. We will develop various solar and wind plants in the country, and we will run the existing hydropower plants efficiently, effectively, and profitably. Further, the necessary expertise at Zesco Limited will be maintained and more will be employed to ensure that there is efficiency.

Madam Speaker, I also assured the House that there would be no cadreism at Zesco Limited, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. UPND Member: Mundubile!

Eng. Nzovu: Cadres, Madam Speaker, will not be employed and put on payroll. There would be no victimisation and casualisation. We want to work with everybody here to ensure that the energy powerhouse delivers on its mandate.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to ask a question. In relation to the matter on the table, there is a definition that talks about corporate restructuring. According to this definition(reading from his phone):

“It is the process of re-organising a company’s management, finances and operations to improve the efficiency, –”

Hon UPND Members interjected.

Mr Jamba: Why are you reading?

Madam Speaker: Order!

Mr Chewe: I am trying to build my question, Madam Speaker. So, am I protected?

Madam Speaker: Okay. What are you reading?

Mr Chewe: The definition of restructuring.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Sorry, I cannot hear what you are saying there is too much noise.

Mr Chewe: I am saying that I am reading the definition of restructuring. Since the topic at hand is about Zesco Limited restructuring, which the hon. Minister has acknowledged.

“… changes in this area can help a company increase productivity, improve quality of products and services, and also reduce costs.”

Madam Speaker, in my understanding, when it comes to reducing the cost, one of the factors or components that a company stands to achieve is to reduce manpower. Could the hon. Minister confirm that with the restructuring process that Zesco Limited is undergoing has already affected –

Mr Chewe’s microphone went off.

Interruptions

Mr Chewe: Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister confirm, to the good people of Zambia and the workers and Zesco Limited that so far none of the workers have been laid off because of the ongoing restructuring? There are some stories circulating that about four or five employees have already been laid off because of the restructuring process going on such as Mr Enrique, …

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Do not mention names of people who are not here.

Mr Chewe: Thank you for your guidance, Madam Speaker. Could the hon. Minister kindly confirm, to the people of Zambia and the workers at Zesco Limited, that so far none of them has lost employment due to ongoing restructuring?

Secondly, are we also able –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Ask only one question. Thank you.

Laughter

Eng. Nzovu: Restructuring, Madam Speaker, is going on very well at Zesco Limited. The House may recall that a few months back the country experienced load shedding as a result of low water levels in Kariba Dam. One of the things that Zesco Limited has done is ensuring that there is better integrated water resource management and the reformation of the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) by empowering it to ensure that there is enough water for both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Madam Speaker, further, Zesco Limited is striving to ensure that its quality of supply, generation capacity, efficiency and reduction of network losses are better and improved. Zesco Limited is also promoting energy conservation, and one of the things it is doing is promoting green buildings. That is the restructuring we are talking about.

Madam Speaker, another important thing Zesco Limited is doing is, basically, stopping the leakages. It is also ensuring better financial management. I think the House recalls that cadres were employed. Those are issues of the past now. So, we want to ensure that there is financial discipline. That is the restructuring we are talking about.

Madam Speaker, Zesco Limited is a very important technical asset. It is the engine for the development of the country. Therefore, the House must, obviously, support the restructuring and operations of Zesco Limited without question. So, I can only ask my fellow hon. Members to come up with a requisite direction for Zesco Limited to ensure that it delivers its mandate.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

INSTALLATION OF ACROW BRIDGES IN MUFUMBWE

239. Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

  1. when Acrow bridges will be installed on the following crossing points in Mufumbwe Parliamentary Constituency:
  1. Musonweji;
  2. Ndongwe; and
  3. Miluji;
  1. what the cause of the delay in installing the bridges is; and
  2. when other Acrow bridges will be installed, countrywide.

The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries (Mr Chikote) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Madam Speaker, the installation of Acrow bridges on Musonweji, Ndongwe and Miluji crossing points in Mufumbwe Parliamentary Constituency will be considered as soon as we mobilise resources.

Madam Speaker, the delay in installing the bridges is due to financial constraints.

Madam Speaker, the Government will install other Acrow bridges, countrywide, in future work plans, subject to availability of funds.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kamondo: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister may be aware that this is one of the assurances that have been given for more than five years and the people of Mufumbwe have been deprived of this crossing point. The hon. Minister has said that the construction of bridges will be undertaken in phases.

Madam Speaker, are the crossing points in Mufumbwe going to be among those to be constructed after the Government finishes what it has started with?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, the construction of Acrow bridges is an old project. These Acrow bridges were supposed to be done a long time ago, but the people of Mufumbwe were denied this privilege to benefit from that service.

Madam Speaker, the New Dawn Administration is trying to make sure that the economy of this country bounces back to its rightful position. It is committed to ensuring that the people of Mufumbwe are also considered in the next allocation to install these Acrow bridges. This is what the New Dawn Administration is committed to.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Madam Speaker, in view of the programmes to construct Acrow bridges in Mufumbwe, is the Government thinking of constructing bridges similar to the ones installed at Chazangwe area crossing into Monze Central in Katimba area as well as Kabanze which goes to Macha Hospital? What is the plan for crossing points that need Acrow Bridges urgently?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, like I stated, this Government is committed to ensuring that there is service delivery. I assure the hon. Member that all the bridges that were secured with installation will be catered for. However, this will be done in phases, depending on the availability of resources. I assure the hon. Member that all the places that were identified will be given positive consideration.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, may the hon. Minister confirm whether the Acrow bridges that have been installed across the country were a donation from well-wishers. If so, is the Government considering getting back to the well-wishers for further donations so that even in places like Mushindamo District, where we desperately need crossing points to be bridged, can be provided with that?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, this support came from our co-operating partners and this was supported by World Bank. What was given to supplement the effort of the Government was indeed, already shared among the crossing points that had been identified across the country. I am sure when it comes to the hon. Member’s area, this Government will consider it and see how it is going to assist the people in that constituency.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mapani (Namwala): Madam Speaker, roughly, how much is required for the installation in Mufumbwe?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I am not in a position to give the actual cost of the Acrow bridges in Mfumbwe because they differ in length and width. So, this can only be done when installation is about to be implemented.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN KATETE DISTRICT

240. Mr Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:

  1. whether the Government has any plans to construct the following infrastructure in Katete District:
  1. a modern market; and
  2. a modern bus station; and
  1. if so, when the plans will be implemented.

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Mr Mposha) (on behalf of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Nkombo)): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct a new modern bus station and improvements to existing markets in Katete District.

Madam Speaker, the plans are under way and the project is being financed by Kreditanstaltfür Wiederaufbau (KfW). The biding document for the works was sent to KfW for a no objection.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Phiri: Madam Speaker, Kreditanstaltfür Wiederaufbau (KfW) is believed to be the company that has been contracted to work on the modern bus station. Unfortunately, it has not done anything and it has not been on site. The shelter which is there is very small and cannot accommodate many people, especially during the rainy season, and it is very dangerous. When is KfW going to be on site to start constructing a new bus station?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, let me correct the wrong impression in that question. The Kreditanstaltfür Wiederaufbau (KfW) is not a contractor. It is actually a financer of the project. I did indicate that documents have been sent to the financer, which is KfW. This is a German entity responsible for development. They are helping us to finance this project. So, the documents have been sent for a no objection to this project and once the process is finalised, you will see the procurement of the contractor and the contractor getting on site.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Petauke Central you have indicated twice. Are you requesting for a point of order or to ask a supplementary question?

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, I have a point of order and a supplementary question.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member you cannot.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order!

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, my point of order was indicated earlier.

Madam Speaker: Earlier like when? I just saw it now.

Mr J. E. Banda: No, Madam Speaker, it was earlier. Am sure –

Madam Speaker: Before we adjourned?

Mr J. E. Banda: No, it was just after we resumed business.

Madam Speaker: What is your point of order?

A point of order is raised.

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, the point of order is based on Standing Order 202 and is directed at the hon. Member of Parliament for Siavonga. Yes, he has woken up. He is the one.

Laughter

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Acilala.

Mr J. E. Banda: … is the hon. Member of Parliament for Siavonga in order to be provoking any hon. Member who stands up to debate, as long as he is on your left, and then when it comes to judging, the presiding officer will judge against that person on the left. As for those on the right, it seems they have some sort of immunity. I do not know which idol the hon. Member for Siavonga is praying –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Hon. Member for Petauke Central you are completely out of order because your point of order is directed at the Presiding Officers. So, you cannot raise that.

Mr J. E. Banda: It was against the hon. Member for Siavonga (Pointing at the hon. Member).

Madam Speaker: No. Please, resume your seat. Can we make progress.

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister indicated that the documents for bidding have gone to Kreditanstaltfür Wiederaufbau (KfW) for a no objection. When will these documents come back from KfW so that the contractor can go on site?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I do not own the pace at which our financiers or co-operating partners operate, but hope that it will be done as soon as possible. Once it is done, I think the hon. Member for Mkaika, who d this question, and through him the others, will be informed.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Madam Speaker, first of all, may I commend the Government and KfW for the wonderful work they are doing around the country. We are beneficiaries in Choma Central where we have a modern bus stop done with the support of KfW. It has plans to go my Constituency in Mbabala to fix one of our bridges at Muyobe. Has the ministry done an assessment of all the new growing markets in rural areas? In Mbabala, for example, there is a market at Chilalantambo, Macha and Simaubi that are ready for this kind of KfW support for modern markets. Have we done an assessment of these new growing markets in rural areas so that they can also benefit on the list of markets to be added and be done by KfW?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, the question is Constituency based. So, this Simaubi you are bringing in is not part of the question. Please, do put in your own question if you want to know more about Simaubi.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, please, allow me to welcome Her Honour the Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of the United States of America, and as she comes, we hope we shall discuss poverty alleviation for our people and not the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Please, can we remain relevant to the questions that we are discussing on the Floor of the House. If you have any press statement to make, please, go and make it as we adjourn and not on the Floor of the House. We are not discussing the visit of the Vice-President of the United States of America.

Mr C. Mpundu (Chembe): Madam Speaker, the information that the hon. Minister has given us pertaining to the affected districts in Mkaika Constituency on infrastructure, has it been given also to the local authority in Mkaika Constituency so that the people in the community who are looking forward to this infrastructure can also be at ease as they wait for the financiers to finance this project?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, the people are aware, and I can confirm that this morning, as I was preparing for this question, I contacted our representative in the district. The Central Government is represented by the District Commissioner (DC), Mr Zimba, who is on the ground, and I spoke to him. He confirmed that he was fully aware of the project and its status, as indicated in my response. In addition to the information that was given to me by my officers at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, I had to call Katete to check what is on the ground. So, I can confirm to the hon. Member that the people on the ground are aware. Maybe, not exactly to the extent he has put the question; that the people in the local authority, but I know that the DC’s office and that of the Council Chairperson and the Council Secretary do collaborate from time to time because they operate in the same district. So, yes, the people are aware. In addition, I want to believe that through this answer, which I have given on the Floor of the House to the hon. Member of Parliament for Mkaika, the people of Mkaika Constituency are listening, and through their representatives, if there is anything they did not know, they will now know.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

TARRING OF ROADS IN MAGOYE

241. Mr Malambo (Magoye) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

(a)        whether the Government has any plans to tar the following roads in Magoye Parliamentary Constituency:

(i)        Magoye/Chivuna; and

(ii)       Nziba/Itebe;

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

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

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Chikote) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to upgrade to bituminous standard the Magoye/Chivuna and Nziba/Itebe roads in Magoye Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, the plans will be considered in future work plans when the Government has mobilised the required funds.

The Government has plans, as indicated in the response given to part (a) of the question above.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Malambo: Madam Speaker, I want to really appreciate the response given by the hon. Minister, and I know that the people of Magoye Constituency are really grateful that in future, Chivuna and Itebe roads will be black as they are going to be tarred.

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you. That was a comment. We can proceed to the next item.

_______

BILLS

FIRST READING

NATIONAL PROSECUTION AUTHORITY (Amendment) BILL, 2023

The Minister of Justice (Mr Haimbe): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the National Prosecution Authority (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2023. The objectives of the Bill are as follows:

  1. revise the composition of the Board and provide for its functions; and
  2. provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights and Governance. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES BILL, 2023

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 2 – (Interpretation)

The Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Ms Mwamba) (on behalf of the Minister of Health (Mrs Masebo)): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 2, on page 7, in lines 1 to 5, by the deletion of the definition of “controlled substance” and the substitution therefor of the following:

“controlled substance” means a narcotic drug, psychotropic substance or precursor chemical set out in the First, Second, Third, Fifth and Sixth Schedules, but does not include stilled spirits, wine, malt beverages or tobacco as defined in the Customs and Excise Act;.

Cap 322       

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

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

Clauses 3, 4, 5 and 6 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 7, on page 11, in line 29, by the deletion of the words “thirty days” and the substitution therefor of the words “ninety days”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

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

Clauses 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 23 ˗˗ (Retail of precursors and listed chemicals)

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 23, on page 17, in lines 32 to 34 by the deletion of Clause 23 and the substitution therefor of the following:

Retail of          23. A retailer shall ensure that the sale of a product containing precursor

Precursor          chemicals set out in the Fifth Schedule is made in accordance with the

Chemicals         guidelines issued by the Authority.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 23, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 24, 25 and Clause 26 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 27˗˗(Classification of controlled substances)

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 27, on page 20, in line 6 by the deletion of the words “or other chemical”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 23, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48and 49 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 50 ˗˗ (Power of Minister to amend Schedules)

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Chairperson I beg to move an amendment in Clause 50, on page 30, in lines 20 to 21 by the deletion of the words “or other chemical”.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 50, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 51 and 52 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules ordered to stand part of the Bill.

FIFTH SCHEDULE

Ms D. Mwamba: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Fifth Schedule, on page 46, in lines 1 to 33 by the deletion of the Fifth Schedule and substitution therefore of the following:

FIFTH SCHEDULE

(Sections 2, 21, 23, 26, 27 and 38)

Precursor chemicals

Name                                                                    Chemical names/descriptions

N-Acetylanthranilic acid                                      (benzoic acid, 2-(acetylamino)-)

4-Anilino-N-                                                         (N-phenyl-1-(2-

Phenethylpiperidine                                         phenylethyl) piperidin-4-amine)

Name                                                                    Chemical names/descriptions

ANPP) 2

Ephedrine                                                              ([R-(R*, S*)]-α- [1-

                                                                         (methylamino)ethyl]-

                                                                              benzenemethanol)

Ergometrine                                                          (ergoline-8-carboxamide,9,10-

                                                                    didehydro-N-(2-

                                                                                hydroxy- 1-methylethyl)-6-methyl-

                                                                            , [8ß(S)])

Ergotamine                                                            (ergotaman-3',6',18'-trione, 12'-

                                                                    hydroxy-2'-

                                                                              methyl-5'- (phenylmethyl)-, (5α))

 

Isosafrole                                                              (1,3-benzodioxole,5-(1-propenyl)-)

                                                                              ((8ß)-9,10-didehydro-6-

Lysergic acid                                                    methylergoline-8-

                                                                              carboxylic acid)

3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2-                              (2-propanone,1-

Propanone                                                        [3,4(methylenedioxy)phenyl]-)

                                                                         (R*,S*)-α-(1-

Norephedrine                                                   aminoethyl)benzenemethanol

N-Phenethyl-4-piperidone                                    (1-(2-phenylethyl)-piperidin-4-one)

(NPP)2

Phenylacetic acid                                                  (benzeneacetic acid)

1-Phenyl-2-propanone                                           (1-phenyl-2-propanone)

alpha-Phenylacetoacetonitrile

(APAAN)                                                             (3-oxo-2-phenylbutanenitrile)

                                                                              (1,3-benzodioxole-5-

Piperonal                                                          carboxaldehyde)

Pseudoephedrine                                                   ([S-(R*, R*)]-α- [1-

benzenemethanol)                                        (methylamino)ethyl]-

Safrole                                                                   (1,3-benzodioxole,5-(2-propenyl)-)

Piperidine                                                           (piperidine)

The salts of the substances listed in this part whenever the existence of such salts is possible.

This part may include preparations and substances that pose a potential threat to public health and includes anabolic steroids.

Amendment agreed to. Fifth Schedule amended accordingly.

Fifth Schedule, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Sixth Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

THE TEACHING PROFESSION (Amendment) BILL, 2023

Clauses 1, 2, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and 10 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

_______

HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

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

The Controlled Substances Bill, 2023

Report Stage on Wednesday, 29thMarch, 2023

The following Bill was reported to the House as having passed through Committee without amendments:

The Teaching Profession (Amendments) Bill, 2023

Third Reading on Wednesday, 29thMarch, 2023.

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MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

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The House adjourned at 1756 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 29thMarch, 2023.

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