Thursday, 8^th June, 2023

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

GUIDANCE ON POINTS OF ORDER AND MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I have one announcement to make, arising from what has transpired in the House, in the last two days. This is in relation to the manner in which we are discharging our duties and responsibilities in the House.

Hon. Members, I wish to guide the House on two important rules of procedure, namely points of order and matters of urgent public importance, under Standing Orders No. 131 and 134, respectively.

It has been observed that some hon. Members still do not seem to know when and how to raise each of these matters.

Points of Order under Standing Order No. 131

Hon. Members, a point of order is principally raised when there is a breach of procedure by another hon. Member. It cannot and should not be used to debate, require or request another hon. Member to speak in a particular way. Further, a point of order cannot be raised because an hon. Minister has not answered a question to the satisfaction of the questioner.

Hon. Members, in order to successfully raise a point of order, it is imperative to observe the following steps:

1. ask yourself which rule or law on privilege has been breached by another member;
2. once the rule or law on privilege allegedly breached has been identified, you indicate electronically that you would like to raise a point of order;
3. when the Hon. Speaker recognises you, raise the point of order by, firstly, citing the Standing Order or law that has allegedly been breached; and
4. then, state what the breach is and end with, “Madam/Mr Speaker, I seek your ruling.”

Hon. Members, in citing the rule, it is not sufficient to simply say, for example, “Standing Order No. 65.” An hon. Member must state a specific paragraph of Standing Order No. 65 that has allegedly been breached. For instance, if Standing Order No. 65(1)(a) is being relied upon, then, a point of order should be raised in the following manner:

“Madam/Mr Speaker, Standing Order No. 65(1)(a) requires that a Member confines his or her debate to the subject under discussion: Is, then, the hon. Member on the Floor in order to embark on a cross-country debate?

Madam/Mr Speaker, I seek your ruling.”

That is just an example of how a point of order can be raised.

Hon. Members should not debate their point of order before or after raising it. A point of order must be precise.

Matters of Urgent Public Importance under Standing Order No. 134

Hon. Members, the essence of a matter of urgent public importance is to bring to the attention of the House and the Executive a widespread event in the country. The event should not be peculiar to only a small section of the country. The subject matter should not only be clothed in a national character, but also be capable of being debated. Its importance should be such that if the Executive does not intervene immediately, a catastrophe would befall the nation. For example, floods, droughts, fall army worms, and invasion of locusts, are some of the events or instances contemplated by Standing Order No. 134, as matters of urgent public importance because they usually affect a large section of society.

 

An outbreak of a disease in a constituency, for example, although urgent and important, cannot be raised as a matter of urgent public importance because it is not debatable and widespread. The appropriate tool to employ under such circumstances is a Question of an Urgent Nature, under Standing Order No. 76.

Hon. Members, in raising matters under Standing Order No. 134, be reminded of the following steps:

1. at the appropriate time, indicate electronically that you intend to raise a matter of urgent public importance;
2. the Presiding Officer will recognise and call you to raise the matter;
3. start your statement with the phrase “Madam/Mr Speaker, the matter I wish to raise is directed at Her Honour the Vice-President or the hon. Minister of whatever ministry”; and
4. state the matter concisely and end by saying “Madam/Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance. Do not debate the matter. I repeat; do not debate the matter.

Hon. Members, henceforth, the Presiding Officers will strictly enforce the rules regulating points of order and matters of urgent public importance to ensure proper and smooth transaction of Business in the House.

I thank you.

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MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

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

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

Mr J. E. Banda: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity, on behalf of the good people of Petauke Central, to raise a matter of urgent public importance, under Standing Order No. 134.

Madam Speaker, as we are talking now, there is a bad accident between Kisasa and Solwezi, which –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

You have just been guided. You are already out of order even going by the manner in which you are starting.

So, can we make progress.

The hon. Member for Luena may raise his matter.

Hon. J. E. Band remained on his feet.

Hon. Government Members: Sit down!

Mr Anakoka (Luena): On a matter of urgent public impotence, Madam Speaker.

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

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, thank you very much. The people of Luena are not in the habit of raising matters of urgent public importance unless it is very important.

Hon. Opposition Members! Ah!

Mr J. E. Banda: Animal farm!

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, the nation has been seized by this matter of urgent public importance, which I direct at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

 

Madam Speaker: First of all, hon. Member for Luena, you may resume your seat.

Hon. Member for Petauke Central, you shouted, “Animal farm!” Who is it directed at?

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: No! Hon. Member for Petauke Central, please, leave the House.

Mr J. E Banda left the Assembly Chamber.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Luena, you may proceed.

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, thank you very much. The matter of urgent public importance I am raising is directed at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, and it is to do with an issue that has engulfed the nation in form of a debate. The nation has been subjected to many innuendos, insinuations –

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Luena, just state the matter of urgent public importance. Do not debate. What is the subject matter?

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, thank you very much.

The matter is to do with the alleged missing K65 million, which was forfeited –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Luena!

You may resume your seat.

We have already asked the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to come to the House on Tuesday next week with a ministerial statement on that matter. We cannot be repeating the same issue.

Hon. Members, that concludes the matters of urgent public importance.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE LUNDAZI/TIGONE CROSSING POINT

The Minister of Finance and National Planning and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Speaker, as directed by you, following a matter of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Brenda Nyirenda, Member of Parliament for Lundazi Constituency, I wish to provide an update on the status of the broken-down bridge connecting Chasefu and Lundazi districts.

Madam Speaker, the Government, through the  Road Development Agency (RDA), awarded several transport contractors a contract worth K417,108,471.29 to work on the Lundazi/Chasefu Road. The start date for the contract was 26^th January, 2016, and the completion date was 25^th July, 2020. Initially, the contract that was awarded to Sable Transport Contractors was to upgrade the road to bituminous standard, but due to financial constraints, the road was downgraded to gravel. The contractor did 80 per cent of the work, but due to financial constraints, the contract period lapsed.

Madam Speaker, the current situation is that the Lundazi/Chasefu Road is no longer on contract, as the contract awarded to Sable Transport Contractors lapsed, as earlier mentioned, and there is no budgetary allocation for the road in the 2023 Budget. However, the RDA is attending to all critical points on the Lundazi/Chasefu Road, which include Tigone Crossing Point. The RDA, through the provincial office, and using its contingency funds, is currently on the ground working on a portion of the road that is 30 km away from Tigone. Tigone Crossing Point will be the next to be worked on.

Madam Speaker, as an immediate measure, the RDA will construct a concrete reinforced drift, considering that the water levels are low. This will facilitate the safe flow of traffic over the crossing point. As a long-term measure, the RDA will put up a culvert on the Tigone Crossing Point.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given. 

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me a chance, on behalf of the people of Lundazi, to ask a follow-up question on the ministerial statement given by the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House. The people of Lundazi and Chasefu are grateful for the stopgap measure that the Government is planning to put in place. However, anything that is temporary is not good enough for that road, especially that this is the road that helps our people to move up to Chama. You will find that buses will eventually fail to go to Chasefu and Chama.

Madam Speaker, work on that road was flagged-off by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia. Now that the hon. Minister is talking about the temporary works that are going to be done, when should the people of Lundazi, Chasefu and Chama expect to have this road and the bridges permanently worked on?

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, I want to thank Hon. Nyirenda for that question. Indeed, as she has observed, the measures that have been put in place are merely temporary. However, at that crossing point, as I indicated in the statement, there is a concrete drift. A concrete drift is a depression that is concretised so that if water passes over, it remains intact. Therefore, people will still be able to cross because, as we are told, the water levels never get to be very high. However, specifically answering the question of when this can be done, we are about to enter the budgeting session. The hon. Member of Parliament should lobby so that this issue can also be considered as we consider the 2024 Budget. The Budget Session is just about to start.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as you ask questions on points of clarification, please, remember not to debate.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, if I heard the hon. Minister correctly, he said that 80 per cent of the work was done by the contractor who is working on this road. Is he in a position to send back his engineers to ascertain whether 80 per cent of the work was done on this road? What we know is that not even 5 per cent of the work was done.

Madam Speaker: Now, hon. Member for Chama South, you answering your own question. Just ask a question on a point of clarification. Do not provide an answer.

Hon. Member for Chama South, have asked your question?

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, we do not believe that 80 per cent of the work was carried out. So, I would like to find out if the hon. Minister is in a position to send engineers to ascertain whether 80 per cent of the work was truly done to avoid misinforming the people of Chama, Chasefu and Lundazi.

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, as I said, 80 per cent of works having been done is the report that we received from the Road Development Agency (RDA). In view of what the hon. Member has said, we will pass on the message to the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to verify whether, in fact, it was 80 per cent or something less. So, yes, the hon. Member’s question has been taken note of and we will pass it over to the relevant authorities.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for that statement. This road is very critical to the entire Eastern Province and other neighbouring countries because of its proximity to the port of Dar-es-Salaam. The hon. Minister has said that emergency works are taking place, which I am aware of. Has the Government provided enough resources for the Road Development Agency (RDA) to carry out a good job up to Muyombe turn-off?

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, yes, for the specific tasks that have been identified, adequate resources have been provided.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nyambose (Chasefu): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me an opportunity, on behalf of the special people of Chasefu, to ask a follow-up question to the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

Madam Speaker, I came back from the constituency on Friday last week, and when I hear that 80 per cent of the work was done, I feel uncomfortable because the Government is not given accurate information. It is difficult for me to ask a question without adding meat to it. So, is the hon. Minister aware that, currently, the Road Development Agency (RDA) team, which is working on the stretch from Egichikeni to Kulamayembe, is not working because of a lack of resources? Now, how do we expect it to work on the two damaged crossing points?

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the question. He is saying that the RDA team is not working at all. We will check and verify whether it is a fact of resources or something else. So, we will check. May I also request that the hon. Member carries out an independent verification and let us know his findings.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I just want to find out how much these temporary works will cost the Republic.

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, I apologise for not having those details, but later on during this Sitting, I will give this information to the House if the officers from the ministry who are here have it.   

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker looked at the seat occupied by Government officials.

Madam Speaker: I was just looking behind to see if the officers are there. Officers should be proactive.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, I thank you for the privilege to ask a follow-up question to the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

Madam Speaker, in the past, when we have requested the Road Development Agency (RDA) to undertake emergency works, we have been told that money is not available in the suspense account. I want to find out from the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, who is also the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, if the resources are, indeed, available to carry out these emergency works.

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, I indicated earlier on that the RDA has been provided with resources for this work. Therefore, I can only presume, because I cannot be very sure, that resources may have just been delayed. Otherwise, they are available for the work to be carried out.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr E. Daka (Msanzala): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me a chance, on behalf of the good people of Msanzala, to ask a follow-up question directed at the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House. How much was paid to the contractor for the work which he did, which is reported to be at 80 per cent? How much is remaining to be paid to the contractor?

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, I think, we have to remember that these questions were targeted at the Leader of Government Business in the House, which, generally, tend to be questions of a general policy nature. When my hon. Colleagues get to that kind of level of details, I would advise them to put in separate questions for the hon. Minister responsible to provide the details.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Mwanza (Kaumbwe): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the remedial measure on the Tigone Crossing Point is  a reinforced concrete drift, which will later be supported by a concrete culvert. What is the rationale behind putting a reinforced concrete drift now when in the next three months, we will have rains? Why not come up with a permanent solution, right now, by putting up portal frames at Tigone Crossing Point? Is the challenge due to money or what?

Madam Speaker: I do not know if the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business has gotten the question.

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, if you recall when I was giving this statement, I said that there are no budgeted for resources to fix the roads to the levels that we desire under the 2023 Budget. There are not. However, given an emergency situation, it was decided that some resources be extracted from somewhere to make the place passable. In making the place passable, the first step is to put a drift there. I repeat that the job of a drift is to aid a place that gets water-logged by reinforcing it with concrete so that even if there is a bit of water flowing over the place, it does not become too muddy or slippery.

Madam Speaker, we are told that the water levels there never get too high. So, in terms of dealing with an emergency, that should be adequate.

Madam Speaker, I also said that the next step would be to make a concrete culvert there. This means that there will be a tunnel dug underneath and concrete placed at the top. The water will flow underneath.

Madam Speaker, the third step, of course, is for the full engineering works to be carried out when money is available, and I urge the hon. Member to lobby under the 2024 Budget.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Nyirenda: Madam Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House for all the answers he is giving to the people of Lundazi. However, I want to find out how long these remedial works will take so that our people can be able to use the facility at Tigone.

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, the RDA has deployed manpower there to deal with the emergency. It is my expectation that those emergency interventions should be completed before the onset of the rainy season.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

UPGRADE OF MARKETS IN MONGU

279. Mr Amutike (Mongu Central) asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:

1. whether the Government has any plans to upgrade the following markets in Mongu Central Parliamentary Constituency:

1. Black; and
2. Green; and

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

The Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (Mr Mubanga) (on behalf of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Nkombo)): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the Government plans to upgrade the Black and Green markets in Mongu Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, the plans will be implemented in 2023 and 2024, subject to the availability of funds.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Amutike: Madam Speaker, the people of Mongu Central are very delighted to hear this Government assurance that they will receive modern markets in 2023 and 2024. Therefore, I would like find out what the plans in developing these markets include. Is the hon. Minister able to state what kind of modern infrastructure the Government is going to build in Mongu Central?

Mr Mubanga: Madam Speaker, the ministry has a standard of markets that will be constructed. The fact that Mongu is the capital of the Western Province, the construction of markets there will be like what has been done in other provincial centres.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker. 

Mr C. Mpundu (Chembe): Madam Speaker, has the hon. Minister already carried out a feasibility study for the expansion of the market, looking at the period he is talking about in which to implement the markets in question?

Mr Mubanga: Madam Speaker, as a ministry, we are in the process of doing what the hon. Member is asking about and we will come back to the House with that information.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has assured the people of Mongu that works will be done in 2023 and 2024. Is he able to inform the public which funding will be utilised for this project? Is he going to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) or the Central Government has put up a separate budget line for these activities? The people need to be assured when these works will be undertaken.

Mr Mubanga: Madam Speaker, as a ministry, we have plans to raise funds towards the construction of that market. We also have funds in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) account. So, we can still use part of those funds.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): Madam Speaker, Government expenditure is subject to the consolidated account, which is the Control 99, whose approval is done by this Parliament. The hon. Minister said that plans to construct the markets will be implemented, subject to the availability of funds. I would like the hon. Minister to confirm whether these funds were budgeted for in the 2023 Budget or there are plans to budget for them in the 2024 Budget.

Mr Mubanga: Madam Speaker, they will be budged for in the 2024 Budget.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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MOTIONS

REPORT OF THE PLANNING AND BUDGETING COMMITTEE

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adopt the Report of the Planning and Budgeting Committee for the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Monday, 5^th June, 2023.

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Moomba: Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order No. 195(4), your Committee undertook a study on the effects of illicit financial flows on the Budget and its sustainability.

Madam Speaker, let me indicate, from the outset, that public resource mobilisation is a solution to assuring a balanced Budget and an indispensable strategy that the Government has to use in its implementation of social sector spending, poverty reduction and public service provision.  However, the Government fails to achieve a balanced and credible Budget due to numerous factors, resulting in Budget deficit.

Madam Speaker, one of the main drivers of high budget deficit is illicit financial flows, which is money that is illegally earned, transferred or utilised or the illegal movement of money or capital from one country to another. Illicit financial flows have an adverse effect on the Budget and its sustainability. 

Madam, it is noteworthy that illicit financial flows have a crippling effect on societies and economies not only in Africa, but also on a global scale. According to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), it was reported that between 2001 and 2010, an estimated US$88.6 billion left Africa as illicit capital flight. Furthermore, according to the report of the high-level panel on illicit financial flows from Africa, copper accounted for 80 per cent of illicit financial flows in Zambia, while the nation accounted for about 65 per cent of illicit financial flows on the African continent.

Madam Speaker, I am confident that your hon. Members have had occasion to peruse through the Report of your Committee on the Effects of Illicit Financial Flows on the Budget and its Sustainability.  I will, therefore, only highlight very few salient issues.

Madam Speaker, firstly, the Government must enhance its efforts in owning and managing the mines. Your Committee was extremely disturbed to observe the mechanised and syndicated illegal mining that is being undertaken at the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), with extreme impunity in broad daylight. Your Committee acknowledges the Government’s resolve to reduce dependence on the mining sector, considering that it is a wasting asset, but instead investing more in agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. Your Committee notes that the mining sector remains the country’s panacea to its quest for diversification, in as much as this has not come to fruition fifty-eight years after Independence, as the country has continued to get a raw deal. In light of this, your Committee recommends that the Government ramps up its efforts to ensure true ownership and management of the mines. 

Madam, dividends emanating from the mines must, firstly, benefit Zambians then, would-be investors. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government considers limiting the mining activities by foreigners in green fields not until there is sufficient capacity to mine and sell the minerals for the betterment of the citizens.

Madam Speaker, secondly, is the lack of investment in laboratory services, technology and monitoring capacity of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development. Your Committee observed that the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development is not present throughout the country, as there are only six mining bureaus. This has led to increased illegal mining activities, which aid illicit financial flows. Your Committee also observed that the ministry only tests samples of minerals for export using an x-ray fluorescence, which examines only the surfaces of the samples, as opposed to examining the whole consignments earmarked for export.

In light of this, your Committee strongly recommends that the Government ensures that the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has presence throughout the mining value-chain and the country at large. Your Committee, further, recommends that the Government ensures that the ministry invests in modern and state-of- the-art technology.

Madam Speaker, thirdly, is to enact a single comprehensive law to govern financial and economic crimes. Your Committee observed that there is a robust legal framework with isolated pieces of legislation that individually speak to different economic crimes, without a comprehensive legislation to govern economic crimes in Zambia. Furthermore, the isolated pieces of legislation are not aligned holistically to address how and in which court, financial and economic crimes may be prosecuted.

Your Committee, therefore, recommends that as a matter of urgency, the Government enacts a single law designed to specifically govern financial and economic crimes. Your Committee is of the view that this will make it easier not only for law enforcement agencies and the courts to investigate and prosecute, but also for the citizens to clearly identify and set parameters of what constitutes economic offences.

Madam Speaker, fourthly, is to modernise the operations of investigative wings and enhance their capacity. Your Committee observed that the fight against illicit financial flows is a complex undertaking and that perpetrators are often a step ahead of the investigative wings.This is exacerbated by the fact that most of the investigative wings lack modern systems and equipment to track and monitor financial transactions and detect illicit financial flows.

In light of this, your Committee recommends that the Government ensures that there is adequate and continuous support in terms of technological advancement and human resource to be able to undertake complex financial investigations. Your Committee, further, recommends that the Government ensures that investigative wings operate independently without undue political interference.

Madam Speaker, the fifth recommendation is to install state-of-the-art equipment at borders. Your Committee observed, with concern, that there are no baggage scanners at the Chirundu, Mokambo and Kasumbalesa borders.  As a result, officers from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and other agencies fail to physically inspect individual luggage due to brevity of time.  Your Committee, further, observed that this creates a loophole for people to conceal and smuggle items such as illegally earned money. 

Madam Speaker, in light of this, your Committee recommends that, as a matter of urgency, the Government installs baggage scanners at the three border posts and other borders countrywide. In addition, the Government must install scanners to detect minerals before export at all borders to ensure that all revenue leakages are sealed.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to place on record sincere appreciation to the stakeholders who provided information to your Committee. Gratitude is also extended to the Office of the Clerk for the support rendered to your Committee.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Madam Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

Mr Mung’andu: Now, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, in seconding the Motion that has been ably moved by the Chairperson of your Committee urging the House to adopt the Report of the your Committee on the Effects of Illicit Financial Flows on the Budget and its Sustainability, which was laid on the Table of the House on 5^th June, 2023, I will comment on a few issues that were not covered in the Chairperson’s speech.

Madam Speaker, firstly, I will comment on the management of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM). In agreeing with the Chairperson on the need for the Government to enhance its control and management of the mines, it was observed that when Vedanta acquired KCM, it found concentrates in excess of about US$60 million.

Madam Speaker, Vedanta Resources bought that mine at US$25 million, and already mined concentrates were in excess of US$60 million. All that the company did was set up a concentrator to process already mined concentrates, and managed to realise money in excess of US$60 million, probably, within a year or two, and paid off the Government. Instead of investing in mining and exploration, the company decided to invest in the processing of concentrates from other mines, including mines from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Zambian Government reminded Vedanta Resources on the need to, instead, also get involved in mining. Not only once, but twice it failed to adhere to that commitment, resulting it being put under care and maintenance. That is what led to the Government’s takeover of KCM.

Madam Speaker, clearly, the witness, which was the KCM management, indicated that the Government should never try to bring back Vedanta Resources, and I hope the hon. Minister of Mines and Mineral Development is here listening. If Vedanta Resources is brought back to KCM, I think, that will be the end of the New Dawn on the Copperbelt in terms of support. I have to state that. Instead, the Government has to ensure that it injects capital into KCM, which is now ably run by Zambians, who have since gone ahead to involve themselves in mining activities.

Another issue, Madam Speaker, that was not covered by the Chairperson is the encroachment on KCM land. In 2017, the Government, then, gave a licence on KCM mining rights to a company called Sensele Mining, and people or cadres started mining there. When the New Dawn Government took over, for it, it went further to equip the Sensele Mine, …

Mr B. Mpundu: Kansensele!

Madam Speaker: Is it Sensele or Kasenseli?

Hon. Members: Kasenseli!

Mr Mung’andu: It is Sensele that is written here; ….

Hon. Member: Do not confuse him.

Mr Mung’andu: … do not confuse me. It is Sensele not Kasenseli.

Madam Speaker, it has equipped the mine with all sorts of equipment, such as dump trucks, and excavators, and when mining takes place, the resources are not accounted for. So, it is very important that the resources are accounted for because if you look at the international report on illicit financial outflows from Africa, US$ 88.6 billion is lost. Out of that amount, 60 per cent is coming from Zambia. Eighty per cent of that 60 per cent is coming from the mines. It is important that the President and the Government look into that area.

Another area of concern, Madam Speaker, is the declaration of the money that comes into our country through the borders. Our law requires that any money above US$5000 should be declared when it is being brought into the country. However, that is voluntary. It is not mandatory. As a result, if you check the figures that have gone through in a year, Mokambo Border is in excess of US$1 billion. That is money that was legally declared to have entered the country, but is not tracked in our financial system, thereby posing a risk of our country actually being used as a centre for illicit financial outflows abroad.

Madam Speaker, the other point that I would like to augment with the points raised by the Chairperson is that our borders are not being well managed, particularly Chirundu. When we are exporting, what has been learnt is that we do not have staff on our side to check all the exports. Exit countries, such as Zimbabwe, are the ones which check on our exports. That has posed a great challenge for us to know what exactly is being exported.

Last but not the least, Madam Speaker, this country is producing gold in huge quantities. What happens, for example, at Kasenseli Gold Mine − the mine my hon. Friend wanted me to mention − or, maybe, Lumwana Copper Mine is that when the gold is mined, it is taken to South Africa for processing. Then, it is brought back into the country through the Bank of Zambia to be kept as our national strategic reserve. As for the tracing mechanisms of the value of that gold and the quantities, we, as a country, do not have, particularly for the gold that is produced by mines such as Lumwana Copper Mine and Kansanshi Mine. That gold is exported in the form of copper ingot, processed abroad and paid for abroad. We, as a country, need to look at this problem, as a matter of urgency, so that resources are mobilised for our country.

I beg to second, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: As hon. Members are debating, please, let us stick to the report.

Hon. Member for Lunte, you may proceed.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. My old friend, Hon. Chaatila, and his Planning and Budget Committee have brought an important report to the House on the effects of illicit financial flows on the Budget and its sustainability. I intend to speak briefly. I am interested only in two points, one is found on page 7 and the other one on page 21.

Madam Speaker, let me just indicate that this report relates to the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, which is the period between September 2022 and August 2023. That is the relevant period for this report. My hon. Colleagues highlighted, on page 7, the reasons illicit financial flows exist in our country. They told us that commercial transactions, criminal drivers, Government corruption, and non-beneficial information about owners of companies are part of the reasons. The hon. Colleague who has just seconded this report asked about Sensele Mining. So, if you do not know who the owners of Sensele Mining are, it is the reason there are illicit financial flows because that is a lack of beneficial owner information.

Madam Speaker, commercial transactions are a big problem because when people are undertaking their transactions, they tend to conceal certain information on invoices, exports, and imports. Some of that information is actually distorted in order to advantage people who engage in commercial activities. However, there is also Government corruption and, for us, that is a big issue. K6.1 billion in the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Report for 2022 was reported to have been stolen money. So, you get to see that Government corruption is a big issue. The Auditor-General’s report highlighting corruption leaked at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Madam Speaker, therefore, I support that in ensuring that we do not have these continuous flows, there is a need for us to strictly look at increasing investment in developing value chains that do processing of copper ores and cathodes locally as opposed to encouraging investment which just externalizes the raw material.

Madam Speaker, your Committee also notes that Section 68 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, which provides indemnity for those who abrogate the law, is also a provision of the law that encourages people to engage themselves in corrupt practices because they know that if they agree to pay back, they can be forgiven.

Madam Speaker, Zambia has laid out an ambitious target to produce about 3 million metric tonnes of copper from about 850,000 metric tonnes in the next ten years. This target must be supported by corresponding amendment to policy. Currently, Zambia has no beneficial ownership of mine policy. This is why it means nothing when we hear that we have US$350 million investment in the mines because that investment is an investment in a mine you do not own. When you look at other jurisdictions like Botswana and Namibia, you will find that they have capped ownership at 50 per cent. Therefore, if we hand over ownership of the leading contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a foreign entity, clearly, we are allowing the continuous loss of finances through illicit transactions.

Madam Speaker, it is very surprising that we spend more time, as a Government, looking for money from our own people when we are losing billions to foreign entities. I think, there is a need for a change of attitude to understand that this is a grant corruption here where the country continues to lose money and part of the reasons here talks of commercial transactions, criminal drivers, corruption and a lack of beneficial ownership. 

Madam Speaker, as I support this report, I would like to take this importunity to urge the Executive to really come to this House and come up with a Financial and Economic Crimes Act, which should address the financial crimes that are being promulgated in this report. We now have the financial crimes court, which is a greater step. However, as regards the jurisdiction of that court, we must also have subsidiary legislation brought to this House so that the court should not only address politicians, but foreign entities that are not paying taxes and are evading it.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to also note that your Committee takes notice that there is a need to decentralise the issuance of export permits to enable small holder businesses or small-scale miners to acquire them so that they can be protected from briefcase businessmen who buy from them and get a permit from Lusaka. In addressing this issue of the issuance of permits from Lusaka when we have mines in the North-Western Province, Copperbelt Province and now we hear that we have mines in Mpika and also gold in Lumezi, there is a need to decentralise the issuance of permits so that we can stop this insinuation that all this should sit in Lusaka.

Madam Speaker, your Committee has adequately described that in changing or reducing these illicit financial flows, we do not to continue speaking and giving good speeches. We need to change the systems. Even the watchdog institution like the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) need to be strengthened and should be devoid of the influence from the Executive so that they could checks and balances. Appointments of people that lead institutions like the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) or any of that nature should also be subjected to Parliamentary ratification, as is the case with other institutions.

Madam, I wish to support the adoption of this report and I thank you.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity given to me, on behalf of the people of Luena, to add a voice to the debate on this very important issue, as proposed in the report presented by the Chairperson of the Budgeting and Planning Committee and seconded by Hon. Mung’andu.

Madam Speaker, just to make sure that we place this matter in its perspective, it is important to restate what this report is actually about. This report is on the impact of illicit financial flows on the Budget and its sustainability. Now, what are we talking about when we refer to illicit financial flows? We are talking about money that gets into the system, but without being captured officially. This means that, for all intents and purposes, the Government could be working thinking that it has K100 billion in circulation when there is K200 billion. If that were to be the case, it would seriously undermine the Budget’s sustainability and the economy, as a whole.

Madam Speaker, it is very important that this issue of illicit financial flows is dealt with effectively. Now, what would be the result if we were to fail to manage these illicit financial flows? If the Government does not have adequate information on how much cash, in whichever currency; foreign exchange (forex) or local currency, is in circulation, it means that the it would be hamstrung when it comes to taking intervening measures, such as managing inflation. You cannot manage inflation if you do not know how much is in circulation. You cannot manage the exchange rate if you do not know how much forex comes in and goes out. Now, how have we got to this situation where this matter warrants serious attention?

Madam Speaker, we have a raft of laws. We have the Foundation for International Community Assistance Act, the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act and many other Acts that have been listed in the report, but we still have a challenge with this issue. What is it that is missing? The people of Luena would like to submit that what is missing are systems that talk to each other.

Madam Speaker, one would be reminded that for an  individual, in an economy such as this one, to end up with K100 million cash in his/her house means that something is wrong somewhere. That amount of money in a system that is functioning effectively would have been impossible to have been acquired legally. I am sure when this matter is dealt with next week, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning will indicate where this money came from and whether it was already officially circulating because that gives signs to the effect that we have a challenge with illicit financial flows in the country. If this is not managed effectively, it could seriously disenable or make it very difficult for the Government to manage its economic affairs.

Madam Speaker, when we take intervening measures, such as increasing interest rates, monitory or fiscal measures, we are expecting a certain level of responsiveness from the economy, but that only happens if the measures are based on the actual situation obtaining on the ground. For example, when we increase interest rates, we will hope that people’s behavioural attitudes, such as spending, investing or saving more will be the result so that we control inflation. However, if there are uncontrolled illicit financial flows, none of that will happen because the economy will not respond, and that places the economy at the risk of serious jeopardy.

Madam Speaker, the issue of Sensele Mine is something that has been going on since the days of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government and our hon. Colleagues, who were in the Government, allowed it to continue exactly in the same way. We do not know why. Why is it that illicit mining has become so sophisticated in some of the parts of the country, such that we have illegal mining, followed by illicit copper processing and transportation and illicit exporting and the money eventually gets back into this country? Where are our watchdog institutions when all this is happening? It cannot be that we have all these laws, but we are still talking about copper being exported illegally and people being allowed to enjoy the proceeds of illicitly obtained cash flows.

Mr Amutike: Quality!

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, just a quick walk around Lusaka will show you some of the signs of what happens or how easy it is for people to clean their money through what appears to be normal economic activities. It is completely possible to build a filling station and get it operational without you having any indication of you having dealt with the bank, as we speak today.

Madam Speaker, people are building malls in two to three weeks because they have stacks and stacks of cash packed in their homes, as we know from some of the examples that we have witnessed in this country. All this is because the systems to monitor the flow of cash, at some point, were either deliberately left to be weak or, maybe, people were ignoring these activities, or even worse, they were perpetuating these activities for their benefit.

Madam Speaker, even as we support this report, we would like to urge that measures be put in place to ensure that the ability of individuals to enjoy the benefits of these illicit flows without being disturbed are curtailed. For example, it should not be so easy for one to just turn up at the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and register a vehicle with only the papers to do with the procuring of the vehicle without any indication of the source of money that was used to procure that asset. It should not be possible to walk into Chilanga Cement to procure 200 bags of cement and go and build a mansion in the bush. Mansions are being built around Lusaka because people had hoarded stocks and stocks of cash, which they obtained in a manner that, I am sure, they would not have liked the system to capture. Faith Musonda’s case is a case in point, but that is just the tip of an iceberg. Therefore, the systems need to be strengthened to make sure that we do not go into that abyss again.

I thank you, Madam Speaker, as I support the report.

Thank you, Madam.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear! Quality!

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to also make a few comments on the debate on the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Planning and Budgeting, ably moved by Hon. Chaatila, who is the Chairperson, and seconded by Hon. Mung’andu.

Madam Speaker, yes, the effects of illicit flows of funds and the effects on the Budget cannot be over-emphasised. Indeed, we can avoid borrowing if we can generate resources from the natural capital that we are endowed with, as a nation.

Madam Speaker, I will focus my discourse on some of the observations made by your Committee, which contribute to this particular challenge we are dealing with. One of the issues the hon. Members of your Committee have raised on page 25 of the report is to do with identity fraud. They are urging the Government to expedite the roll-out of biometric national identity cards.

Madam Speaker, as your Committee has rightly put it, the delay in the roll-out of the biometric national identity cards will have a ripple negative effect on identifying people who are involved in these activities. The current national registration identity we use is susceptible to forgery and duplication and, therefore, can easily be used in the commission of economic crimes, as the kind we are speaking about.

Madam Speaker, I would have liked the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to be here so that I could urge him to expedite this process. All the institutions that are affected by identity fraud, such as the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the financial sector, were mobilised to come on board to support the Government to ensure that the financing of this project was not hampered by the lack of resources. I would have loved to urge the hon. Minister to ensure that this is expedited so that it can be rolled-out to the whole country because fraud starts with identity. Therefore, if a country cannot properly identify its nationals, it then becomes difficult to seal up the loopholes because anyone can walk into the offices of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), for example, with duplicated identification and defraud the institution of huge sums of money.

Madam Speaker, the other issue your Committee raised on page 25 is to do with smuggling using airstrips that are dotted in different parts of the country. These airstrips are being used to loot our natural capital, be it wildlife or minerals. So, there is a need for the security cluster to use concerted efforts to ensure that these airstrips are monitored and the drones that are now in use are equally monitored because people can land in this country, pick the minerals and take off without being identified. What are we losing? The money that we should be appropriating in this House to go to the areas of need is not being realised. Therefore, the Budget cannot be sustained. It can be projected, but if the projections cannot be financed, it comes to nothing.

Hon. Mwiimbu walked back into the Chamber.

Mr Kampyongo Madam Speaker, now that the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, is back, it is important that he looks at this report because there is an issue in there for him regarding the rolling-out of biometric identity cards. He should take it up so that we can seal the loopholes properly. There is also the issue of the airstrips that are being utilised for smuggling and other illicit activities.

Madam Speaker, the last comment is on the issue of the Konkola Copper Mine (KCM). Your Committee is very clear and, in supporting what Hon. Mung’andu submitted, I will quote what your Committee said in the report:

“The Committee observes that KCM is wholly being managed by Zambians without the help of any investor or equity partner. The Committee observes that from 2019, KCM has undertaken measures that can help to revamp the actual mining as opposed to depending on the smelter plant and feed from other mines; and dumped concentrates that were previously mined. The Committee observes that KCM requires US$1.2 million to turn around its operations.”

Madam Speaker, the interesting one –

Madam Speaker: It is billion, hon. Member.

Mr Kampyongo: It is billion, Madam Speaker. Sorry about that.

Madam Speaker, your Committee further says:

“In light of this, the Committee recommends that the Government should focus on empowering the Zambians to manage the mine and not to bring back Vedanta nor any other investor. The Committee is of the considered view that considering that Vedanta had defaulted on the provisions of the mining licence, the Default Notice should be enforced.”

Madam Speaker, this is your Committee’s report and I would like our brother, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, to take cognisance of its recommendations.

Madam Speaker, investors must come as equal partners in developing this nation. What we are endowed with is only natural capital. When we were in the Government, we did not look at what Vedanta Resources Limited was, but we looked at the reason your Committee has highlighted here. That is what prompted the Government to part company with that investor.

Madam Speaker, if there is nothing that Vedanta Resources Limited is going to show, the hon. Minister must listen to your Committee, which came from there. With investors who just want to come here to loot and make their money without leaving anything behind here, we are just going to remain with holes because they leave holes behind where they exploit minerals and we will need to manage these holes for the rest of our lives. So, if we cannot maximise on the resource that is coming from there now, our decisions will come to haunt us in generations to come.

Madam Speaker, in looking for investors, we need to have investors who are going to appreciate partnering with us and who will contribute to the development of this country than leaving us problems. The hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment will have to find money to manage those holes which will be bringing water up from down the abandoned mines and the investors would have gone with all that they would have reaped. 

Madam Speaker, it is very important that the issue of KCM is dealt with appropriately. We urge the Government not to be swayed by the sweet language that will come from this investor, who is well-known for defaulting, as your report has highlighted.

Madam Speaker, with these few remarks, I wish to support the recommendations of your Committee.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, these are moments when I feel very sad to be a Zambian, in particular, and an African, in general. We cannot lose so much money that belongs to us. We are supposed to be a rich continent and country, but we are not because of these financial flows. I will define illicit financial flows, as I read it from Google, as an illegal movement of money or capital from one country to another. It means that money leaves our country without any trace and it does not even go through the tax process. It just goes like that.

Madam Speaker, my question is: Where are the brains to sit down and find out ways to curb this vice? How can this vice be so elusive that for fifty years, we cannot curb it? Somebody asked a very important question here that, “Why have we failed, in fifty years, to get equipment that can detect all these financial flows at the borders and everywhere else?” People can come here, easily get money and take it away without leaving any trace or impact on the economy. Why is it that people can come and conduct their business transactions that do not have any positive impact on our economy when we need more revenue? The biggest question is: What are we going to do now? The hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development has homework. As Zambians, including the people of Kalombo and I, we need that money like yesterday.

Madam Speaker, these illicit financial flows can be stopped even without having very expensive machines if all of us became very patriotic. I think in the school curriculum, we need to start teaching Zambians to be patriotic so that they can protect what is theirs. You see, if you have money in a country that is dirty and is not developed, you will not enjoy it. If you go to a country that is well-developed, the little that you have will treat you very well because you will have access to better hospitals, roads and everything.

Madam Speaker, Mr Anderson Mazoka said that if one is wearing a good perfume, but he/she is surrounded by garbage, that perfume will not be smelt. It will smell like garbage. So, one needs to be in a surrounding that smells good. This is about us, as Zambians. Every time these things happen, we want to blame the Government. No. Every one of us from wherever we are needs to be patriotic.

Madam, we know that in these mines, people elude tax. They can owe K60 million to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), but pay K50,000 to someone who offers to help them evade making that payment. The K60 million, which would have benefited the country in terms of medicine and other areas, would have gone just go like that.

Madam Speaker, we need to change. I think we need to go back and change the curriculum in schools. We should teach the Zambians to be patriotic. Africans should be taught to value what they have. Today, if I start mining, I will be called an illegal miner just because I am black. The Zambians will not be very comfortable with me. If, today, I got mining equipment and obtained a licence, I would still be called an illegal miner. However, if a foreigner came, he would be wholly accepted and even be helped to obtain money freely without paying tax.

Madam Speaker, we should ask our accountants who work at these mines what happens there. There was a young man I knew who worked at a mine in Solwezi. That young man resigned on the basis that they were being told to under declare what was being mined by other Zambians, yet we come around as if things are okay. 

Madam Speaker, we want to benefit from these mines. The hon. Minister of Mines and Mineral Development should come up with a comprehensive report, at least, as an attempt to stop this. We cannot be talking about the same story year in and year out. No. We need a report on how we can curb these illicit financial flows because it is a lot of money and we, as a country, desperately need it. This is the revenue we should get into our country, but we are not getting it.

Madam Speaker, every day, illicit financial flows are becoming more sophisticated because of technology. We are not investing more. We should put more money into where we make money. We cannot make money without putting in more money. If you are in business, the more money you put in, the more you get out of it. Even in the mines, we must have a system that will allow us to invest more in equipment to detect many of these things we are talking about. So, these are things that we are talking about.

Madam Speaker, even for the Sensele Mine that we are talking about, when did operations start? The operations at the mine started under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) regime. Under the Patriotic Front (PF) regime, it was in existence and it is still there. What is happening?

Madam Speaker, so, we cannot say that everything is happening because of the Government.  When I do something wrong today, I should not wake up tomorrow and say it is because of the Government. Who is the Government? It is us. I think we need patriotism to defend what is in this country so that all of us can benefit. If we leave everything to just a few individuals, then, we must forget about it. Even in football, for one to score, there is always a build-up. It is not the job of the striker alone. The goalkeeper, the midfielder and others must play their role. We should love this country and all protect what is ours so that we can all benefit from it. Like I said, you can wear perfume, but if you are surrounded by garbage, you will smell like garbage. You will not enjoy that money, no. This is why we need a good country. So, let us work together and come up with a solution. This challenge is not only for Zambia. No. It is a matter that needs attention.

Madam Speaker, Parliament has spent money on this report. May I now congratulate Hon. Chaatila and your entire Committee for doing a fantastic job in coming up with this report. It is not about politics here. It is all about the country and what it needs to get. So, from the report, my question now is: What is going to be done? Is it business as usual, whereby we just read the report, close it and off we go? No. We must come up with counter methods of how to deal with these illicit financial flows. If we can seal this, we will be a rich country. We will get all the revenue that we want. We are struggling to get revenue here and there and we are even changing formulas, yet we have money that is being taken away freely like that. We need that money here. The most important point is for us to now begin to invest in modern equipment that can help us curb these flows. We need to do that.

 Madam Speaker, we should not take identity very lightly. We are losing a lot through concessions. These people can fly into Zambia and take everything that belongs therein. We do not want that. This should be taken seriously and stopped. We need to progress. It is a sensitive issue, but it should be talked about. It is about being patriotic Zambians. Let us love our country and protect the little that we have so that every Zambian can benefit from it.

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I thank you.

Thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: The subject is very interesting, but we need to move on. We do not have enough time. So, I will call on the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development.

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe): Madam Speaker, in supporting this Motion, and in trying to avoid politicking, yes, it is very sad that we have had an illicit flow of money in our country. If you have a problem, you cannot solve it by being emotional. You have to sit down and look at why what is happening has been happening. I think that is a starting point.

Madam Speaker, I want to zero-in on the mining sector because that is the sector that your Committee touched. While in the Opposition, as the United Party for National Development (UPND), we observed certain illicit activities that happened around the mining sector. What did we do when we took over power? His Excellency the President, whilst in the Opposition, made it clear that certain decisions that had been made around certain mining tenements were wrong because they were going to put this country into problems. Particularly, for the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), some decisions were just going to create cash cows for certain individuals. We said that the provisional liquidation of KCM was wrong.

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

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, who is my brother, is giving a Government position. The practice of this Parliament is that reports must be laid on the Table and given to all the ministries concerned. 

Madam Speaker: What Standing Order are you relying on, hon. Member?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I am coming to that.

Interruptions

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, it is expected that hon. Ministers will read the Government’s position in this House in response to matters raised in a report and lay the documents on the Table. Now, if the hon. Minister will just speak without reading the Government’s position, as it is written by the Permanent Secretary (PS), which is supposed to form part of the Action-Taken-Report, will he be in order to do that? I may not cite the relevant Standing Order, but this has been the practice and position of the Government.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Chitotela: Yes, you may not agree with me but this has been a Government position. It is an established practice that whenever an hon. Minister is responding to a report, …

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, now you are debating.

Mr Chitotela: … he or she must give the position of the Government.

Madam Speaker: You are debating, hon. Member.

Mr Chitotela: Oh, sorry, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

The hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development is not responding to the report, but reacting to the issues that were raised by hon. Members as they were debating. So, I believe he would not anticipate what questions he would react to. The hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House is the one who is going to respond.

Hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, you may proceed.

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, well-guided.

Madam Speaker, immediately this Government took over power, it needed a vehicle that it would use to sanitise the mining sector in Zambia to bring sanity and order. I have always said, as a Minister, that where there is confusion, only crooks benefit. So, we wanted to bring order. So, what did we do? We did away with the policy that we inherited. The Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has launched a new mining policy. So, it is important for hon. Members to be in tune with what is happening because we launched a public document and it is available. This document will now guide us and part of it will deal with issues like the illicit flows that are happening, the confusion around the mining sector, the understating of production figures, and the lack of integrity in the sector; all that is being addressed through the mining policy.

Madam Speaker, what is the first practical step we have taken to address some of these issues? As I am speaking to the House, I have on my desk the new Minerals Commission Act, which we are looking through and will be brought to this Parliament. We are setting up a Minerals Commission that will be a regulator. It will regulate the sector across the mining divide. It will look at stating correct production figures, like the hon. Members have cited, which is why we have been losing.

Madam Speaker, this country has mining surveyors who have been trained. Mining surveyors are basically mineral accountants. This Minerals Commission will employ surveyors. I want to zero in on how we have been losing money through the understatement of production figures. This Minerals Commission will have personnel in various mining companies who will check what they are producing. If they produce 20 metric tonnes, these mineral accountants will be able to know that 20 metric tonnes of ore can produce so much of minerals. There, they cannot cheat. Now, therein, lies the concern by my hon. Member who talked about patriotism because then, we would need those Zambians to be serious, focused and never be compromised by any mining company that would want to cheat.

Madam Speaker, the way the mining sector has been run, anyone can cheat. It is so porous. However, we are now sealing those holes through a regulator who is going to regulate the whole system. This is what we are doing now. All the issues that are being raised cannot be addressed without putting structures in place. These are the structures that we are putting in place. Already, I am very shocked that an hon. Member can say that if one takes a machine and goes to mine, they would be called an illegal miner. That is not the correct position. What we are doing, right now, is actually to formalise whoever is called an illegal miner.

Madam Speaker, we are working on a concept paper, which is already on the Table. We are already trying to look at gold buying centres. I just came back from Mansa. I was not in the House yesterday. We are looking at how we can formalise the manganese sub-sector to create formalities that will make it legal and profiled in the mineral value chain of Zambia. In a nutshell, what we need in this country is order. This is what President Hakainde and the New Dawn Government have brought to the table. Where there is no order, there will be crookedness and there will be money being put under people’s pillows, like we have experienced in the past. These things will happen not until we have structures like we have right now.

Madam Speaker, I have always said that if people look at the New Dawn Government in the next three to four years, they will see order. They will see how this country will enhance its benefits in terms of the mining sector. We are working day and night to achieve this.

Madam Speaker, KCM was liquidated in 2019 and people failed to find a solution for three years. The KCM, right now, is bleeding and it is in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). These are issues that were left behind by the previous Government. We are, therefore, not going to play the blame game. As the New Dawn, we are equal to the task.

Mr Mabeta: Correct!

Mr Kabuswe: We are going to revive these mines and there will be no more talk. It is the misbehaviour of certain administrations that allowed certain investors to misbehave.

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

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabuswe: For us, we are saying that order is coming back to this country and nobody is going to misbehave.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, what is your point of order?

Mr Kampyongo: It is a serious procedural point of order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: There is no point of procedure. Under what Standing Order is the point of order being raised?

Mr Kampyongo: Under Standing Order No. 65(1)(a), and I will read it:

         “Content of Speech

(1)       A member who is debating shall –

1. confine his or her debate to the subject under discussion;”

Madam Speaker, the subject under discussion is your report. Like my hon. Colleague had stated, the standard practice is that when your report is circulated and tabled, the relevant ministries cited in the report must take interest in the report and respond with a written script that should be put as a Government Assurance.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister, who should have stuck to the report, decided to veer off the report and we have not gotten any tangible response to the recommendations that were made by your Committee.

Madam Speaker, was the hon. Minister in order to trivialise your report? I do not know what we are going to get and put on your record.

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious guidance.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, on that issue, I had actually guided when the hon. Member for Pambashe raised a point of order. The relevant Standing Order is Standing Order No. 58(5)(a) which reads:

“(5) Despite (4), a –

1. minister moving a motion or rendering a ministerial or policy statement shall read a speech.”  

So, the speech is only read by the hon. Minister where he/she is moving a Motion or rendering a ministerial or policy statement. The hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development was just reacting to the points that were raised by the hon. Members, as they were debating.  As I indicated earlier, the hon. Acting Leader of Government Business in the House is the one who is going to respond. I am sure he will be able to read a statement to that effect. So, the hon. Minister was in order to respond in that manner. He was talking about the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and illicit mining, which are the subject of the report. So, I do not know where the problem is. The hon. Minister was not out of order.

The hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, respond to issues that were raised.

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to make brief responses to the issues that were raised by your Committee and hon. Members of this House.

Madam Speaker, the two issues I would like to comment on are the need to expedite the roll out of the biometric national identity cards and development of a national policy on the management of private airstrips to curb smuggling.

Madam Speaker, I do concur with the recommendations of your Committee where it is urging my ministry to expedite the roll out of the biometric national identity cards. Your Committee indicated that the current National Registration Card (NRC) is susceptible to forgery and duplication. I agree, and I want to state, on the Floor of this House, that we witnessed this vice of duplication of NRCs, forgery and NRCs being given to aliens and children who are seven years old in certain areas with a view to enable them to vote in the 2021 General Elections. As a responsible Government, we will not allow this vice to recur.

Madam Speaker, we are rolling out this programme of biometric national identity cards despite the monetary constraints. Once the budgetary provisions to enable us to provide the biometric national identity cards are made, we shall proceed accordingly. Currently, we are registering members of the public pertaining to biometrics. We are not yet issuing the cards because of obvious problems which we are encountering. Once these problems are resolved, we will start issuing the cards. We have been to Lusaka and other provinces. We have already started registering members of the public with a view to giving them biometric cards soon.

 Madam Speaker, the other issue is security at private airstrips.  I agree with the hon. Member of Parliament for Shiwang’andu that there is no security at most of these private airstrips. I agree. We are aware of what was transpiring in the immediate past where wild animals in the game parks were being transported out of this country and game was taken to private game ranches in Lusaka without following the laid down procedures. This was occurring because there were no security measures that were put in place. We have learnt a lesson and we do not want these vices to recur. We are putting measures in place, together with the Ministry of Defence, so that private airstrips and other airstrips conform to the requisite standards of security.

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I thank you for giving me this opportunity.

I thank you, Madam.

The Minister of Justice (Mr Haimbe, SC.): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the Motion to adopt the Report of the Planning and Budgeting Committee for the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly. I will be brief.

Madam Speaker, to start with, I wish to commend your Committee on the very progressive recommendations made in the report, in particular with regard to certain proposals for legislative amendments.

Madam Speaker, we, as the Ministry of Justice, would like to state that we will take keen interest in the suggestions or the recommendations of your Committee in regard to those particular matters, as aforementioned.

Madam Speaker, indeed, it has been recognised, on the Floor of this House, during debate on this Motion that there are some progressive steps that have been taken by the New Dawn Government in an attempt to curb illicit financial flows. Amongst those recognised is the setting up of the Economic and Financial Crime Court, which is doing a diligent job. However, it has been suggested that the scope of the court be expanded because courts are being used to deal with politicians only.

Madam Speaker, I would like to correct that impression, as it is not the position. The law, as all hon. Members ought to be aware, is blind. It does not look at the hue of a particular individual who is facing criminal liability. So, as things stand, the Economic and Financial Crimes Court deal with all and sundry, regardless of the specific spots that they actually have. They do not deal with politicians only, but also all persons in the jurisdictions who may come in conflict with the existing statutory provisions.

Madam Speaker, this is an important point to clarify as we move to actually enhancing the operations of those particular courts through their appropriate rules and regulations which will be put in place very soon. In short, we are putting in measures to make the courts even more efficient as a Government in whole and, of course, recognising that this is the job of the Judiciary, being a separate arm of the Government.

Madam Speaker, there was also a suggestion that, perhaps, there must be one law that defines all economic and financial crimes. Much as that is a respected submission, the practicality of it raises certain questions. May I assure the people of Zambia, at this stage, that the laws, as they are in various pieces of legislation, do provide a background or a basis upon which persons may be held accountable for any transgression relating to illicit financial flows. The process of harmonising those laws, of course, in terms of the Criminal Code, Procedure Code and Penal Code is underway. However, to suggest that only a single Act be put in place would entail a lot of work being done at a huge cost with very little, perhaps, benefit to the nation, as a consequence. However, we do appreciate the suggestion and we will look at it from that perspective.

Madam Speaker, one particular and very important observation made in the report is in relation to the prohibition of exporting of ore and cathodes. The report notes that there is a lacuna in our laws, currently, to the extent that there is nothing, particularly in the statute book, that prohibits the export of ore and cathodes. We shall be conferring with the line ministry, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, to address this matter specifically because quite clearly, it is one which contributes sufficiently to the question of illicit financial flows in the form of the material that goes out in the pretext of the extractive industry.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to take particular note of the conclusions of your Committee at page 61. It was suggested that, perhaps, the report is specific for the period which it refers to, being the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly. However, if one looks at the report, one would see that, for example, there is mention of US$8.8 billion having been lost in the period of 2001and 2010. This means that we are dealing with a historic problem when we speak of illicit financial flows. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us in this House to determine how to address this matter to take cognisance of that fact and deal with not only the historic matters, but also the present, which the New Dawn Government is endeavouring to do.

Madam Speaker, before you tell me to wind up my debate, looking at the time, I submit and I support the report.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, maybe, just for purposes of guidance, good order and efficiency, for the other reports that we are going to consider, when a report is talking about a number of ministries, it is better that the report is submitted to the reporting ministries so that the hon. Ministers can submit policy reports. This way, we will be compliant with Standing Order No. 58(5)(1), in that, when a policy statement is made, it is supposed to be in writing. This is just for purposes of good order and efficiency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours. 

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank the Planning and Budgeting Committee for the important report tabled on illicit financial flows, which has been tabled before this House. 

Mr Speaker, as a player in global affairs, Zambia is obviously not spared from the repulsive scourge of illicit financial flows. Any form of illicit financial flows from our country, through tax evasion or abusive tax avoidance, leads to leakage of vital resources of the Government, which, consequently, undermines our development efforts.

Mr Speaker, successfully combating illicit financial flows will generate positive impacts for the good governance of our country, economic growth and poverty reduction.

Given the transnational nature of illicit financial flows, it is imperative for Zambia to continue co-operating with other countries to combat financial crimes. Therefore, the importance of advancing international tax co-operation and tackling illicit financial flows to safeguard and mobilise domestic resources to bridge the financing gap in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will remain crucial in our developmental efforts.

Mr Speaker, let me highlight some of the strategies that the Government, through the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), has instituted to fight tax evasion and financial crimes:

1. Fighting predicate offenses that lead to tax evasion.

The ZRA has set up a dedicated investigations unit that targets countering tax evasion practices and prosecuting such offences, and a number of persecution cases have been recorded. The authority has further set up the enforcement unit whose mandate is partly executing anti-smuggling initiatives;

1. Setting up a specialised transfer pricing unit

Since 2012, the ZRA has been building capacity for transfer pricing audits. To this effect a number of officers were identified and have been trained over the years to increase their knowledge in transfer pricing. The officers have attended transfer pricing training in countries such as Malaysia, Netherlands, France, South Africa, Norway, South Korea and many others.

In 2016, the ZRA established the transfer-pricing unit, which is expected to conduct specialised audits that can detect transfer-pricing practices, among multi-national companies.

The ZRA has also partnered with collaborating partners, over the past few years, such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), United Nations (UN), African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) to offer training to the officers on dealing with multi-nationals and international taxation in general, which cover transfer-pricing;

Setting up of the forensic laboratory

The ZRA has set up a functional forensic laboratory with the help of the Government and other co-operating partners that will help auditors and investigators uncover hidden financial transactions and trace illicit financial flows;

Mandatory Taxpayer Identification Number (TP1N) Requirement

This will help the ZRA monitor suspicious transactions and potentially tax proceeds from the informal sector. The requirement will also shine a light on businesses or persons that shy away from declaring their sources of income; and

Fiscalisation

It is expected that with the roll-out of the transaction monitoring devices in 2018, tax evasion and illicit financial transactions can be monitored and controlled.

Mr Speaker, we have embraced the “Whole of Government” approach to combat money laundering and other financial crimes, as we recognise that knowledge and skills required to effectively fight against these offenses are often spread across different bodies, such as tax administrators.

Madam Speaker, as I close, I just want to emphasise the point that the report made with respect to the issue of political – What do they call it?

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: Political commitment.

Mr Speaker, political commitment to the fight against this vice is very important. I am glad to say that the New Dawn Administration has focused on giving these bodies that fight these kinds of vices total freedom to act professionally and pursue their work in the manner that they see fit.

Mr Speaker, you will recall that some time ago, there was a big conflict between the Government and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). The FIC was always being accused of sensationalising things by the Government. The feeling across the country was that FIC was having its hands tied with no freedom to act. I am glad to say that FIC, now, is totally free to conduct its work, identify these vices and act in any manner that it feels is required. In other words, I think, we are making progress.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chaatila: Mr Speaker, I would like to put on record my appreciation to the hon. Members who debated and supported this report. Allow me to also thank the Members of this Committee for their hard work, commitment, and co-operation during the period we undertook this task. It is, therefore, my plea that all the hon. Members support the report.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Question put and agreed to.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Government Assurances, for the Second Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 6^th June, 2023.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr E. Tembo (Feira): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, your Committee, in performing its duties, was guided by its terms of reference, as set out in the Standing Orders. During this Session, your Committee considered fifty-six new assurances and 180 outstanding assurances.

Mr Speaker, allow me, from the outset, to state that your Committee’s observations and recommendations on the various assurances that were probed are documented in your Committee’s Report. I will, therefore, only highlight a few of the assurances that are a mere sample of the bigger picture relating to assurances made on the Floor of the House.

Mr Speaker, let me start by highlighting some of the assurances that have been actualised by the Government. Allow me to commend the Government on successfully implementing the assurance that was made on the Floor of the House on 20^th July, 2022, on the Mpika Water Project. In addition, the rehabilitation of the Great North Road between Chinsali and Nakonde is underway and work is progressing very well.

However, Sir, allow me to state that, generally, your Committee observed, with disappointment, that many assurances made on the Floor of the House are not backed by financial provisions, and because of that, most of them have not been actualised.

Mr Speaker, at this juncture, permit to me to briefly comment on some of the assurances made on the Floor of the House. On Thursday, 7^th October, 2022, the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation made an assurance that the Government had plans to construct Makululu Water Project in Kabwe, and the contract was signed on 15^th January, 2019, to be undertaken in a duration of twelve months. Your Committee, during its local tour, visited Makululu Water Project to appreciate its implementation. Your Committee noted, with displeasure, that despite the pronouncement by the Government, nothing significant had been done due to a lack of funding for this project.

Further, Mr Speaker, your Committee was informed that Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company had no title deeds for all the water resources to secure the land from encroachment by the local people. In view of this, your Committee strongly urges the Government to include this important project in the Budget line for 2024 and the work plan under the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation. In addition, your Committee urges Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company to secure the title deeds for all the water sources in order to avoid encroachment by the local people.

Mr Speaker, allow me now to draw the attention of the House to another assurance your Committee dealt with. On Wednesday, 6^th October, 2021, the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development informed the nation, through this august House, that the Government had plans to rehabilitate the stretch between Serenje and Chinsali along the Great North Road, covering a distance of 396.4 km to keep the road from further deterioration.

Mr Speaker, your Committee, in May 2023, undertook an on-the-spot check on the rehabilitation of the stretch between Serenje and Chinsali. Your Committee learnt, with displeasure, that only pothole patching on selected portions of the road was underway at the time of the tour. This was contrary to what was promised on the Floor of the House that the road would be rehabilitated. In this regard, your Committee strongly urges the Government to immediately secure funds for the rehabilitation of the important economic road without any further delay.

Mr Speaker, lastly, allow me to comment on an assurance made by the hon. Minister of Education on Wednesday, 1^st December, 2022, that the Government had plans to construct Michael Chilufya Sata Girls’ Boarding School in Isoka Parliamentary Constituency, which commenced in 2013. The time frame for completing the project was within a period of twelve months.

Mr Speaker, during your Committee’s interactions with the officers from the Ministry of Education and an on-sport check of the project revealed that the school had been partially opened with 223 girls, who are currently squatting at Isoka Secondary School. This has made the learning of science subjects difficult as the learners were unable to conduct practicals in the laboratory.

Mr Speaker, at the time of the tour, your Committee found that the contractor was not on site, contrary to what was reported by the Ministry of Education. Further, nothing much has been done on this project due to erratic funding towards it.

Mr Speaker, in view of this, your Committee urges the Government to ensure close supervision on the on-going projects countrywide in order to give the correct position of the status of the projects to your Committee.

Mr Speaker, as reported in your Committee’s report, there is a huge number of unfulfilled assurances and your Committee finds this situation unacceptable. Therefore, your Committee urges the Government to only make assurances to the House when there is a Budget line to support its implementation.

Further, through you, Mr Speaker, your Committee recommends that where an assurance cannot be fulfilled on account of a change of policy, the Leader of Government Business in the House should ensure that the House is notified through an appropriate statement on the Floor of the House by the concerned hon. Minister in a timely manner. This will help to avoid a situation where your Committee continues to pursue the implementation of such an assurance. 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, allow me to place on record gratitude to your Committee and to all the stakeholders who tendered both written and oral submissions.  Your Committee also wishes to thank you, Mr Speaker, and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to it.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

Mr E. Tembo: Now, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr E. Tembo: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the Chairperson of your Committee, Hon. Eliot Kamondo, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mufumbwe, for ably moving the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Government Assurance. Allow me to thank the hon. Members of your Committee for the good and hard work they put in coming up with the report.

Mr Speaker, most of the issues in the report have been highlighted and I believe that my hon. Colleagues in this House have already read it. That being the case, allow me to just highlight a few other projects that we visited and those which were considered and submitted by Permanent Secretaries (PS).

Mr Speaker, on 16^th June, 2017, the hon. Minister of Energy made an assurance that the Government planned to connect Chilubula Mission School in Kasama and surrounding villages to the national grid. That notwithstanding, when your Committee went on the ground, it discovered that nothing had been done. Although this was to be done under the Government Rural Electrification Master Plan, your Committee discovered that nothing had happened. Further inquiry revealed that the issue was at the procurement stage and, indeed, nothing had been implemented.

Mr Speaker, as your Committee, we wish to urge the Government, and in particular the Ministry of Energy, to ensure that the school is electrified together with the surrounding villages because that is very important. This also goes to other assurances on electrification, particularly, in rural places. I know that one of the cries of most of the people of Zambia is the lack of electrification. I know that the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment has been talking about saving the environment. Without electricity, people are resorting to cutting down trees for energy.

Mr Speaker, there is a need for the Government to put up a power line of 1,800 meters to connect the school and the nearby villages. Indeed, as I said, we, as Committee, urge the Government to ensure that the procurement is done by the end of the year and that, at least, this assurance comes to fruition.

Mr Speaker, on 7^th October, 2014, the hon. Deputy Minister of Education then, did make an assurance on the construction of Nakonde Secondary School, which was planned to be completed in 2015. This assurance has not been fulfilled to date.

Mr Speaker, as your Committee toured the school, it discovered that all the works had stalled, despite the fact that the school was actually operational. So, to that effect, students are actually learning in an environment where infrastructure is incomplete. Unfortunately, even sanitation has not been worked on. Your Committee discovered that ablution blocks for both female and male learners were not there. Children were using pit latrines.

Mr Speaker, in view of this, your Committee urges the Executive to urgently ensure that the remaining works at Nakonde Secondary School are actually completed.  One of the issues that came out was that this school needed to be converted into a boarding secondary because there is no boarding school in Nakonde. Your Committee discovered that there was a problem of children moving long distances. To that effect, it is important that the Government considers converting this school into a boarding school although it is not one of its assurances.

Mr Speaker, your Committee discovered that Mpika District Hospital was supposed to have been one of the beneficiaries of the ambulances that were said to have been bought for the districts. However, when we went on the ground, we discovered that the hospital lacked an ambulance, but more so, it did not have any other form of transport, although there was one vehicle that was being used for various utilities.

Mr Speaker, your Committe would like to urge the Government to look into this issue, taking into consideration the fact that it has taken time. We are aware that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is buying ambulances, but it depends on which constituency will provide that.

Mr Speaker, your Committee also noted that Mpika District Hospital actually lacks a mortuary, radiography department and other requisites of a hospital. Your Committee would like to urge the Government to look at all those issues.

Mr Speaker, your Committee, as mentioned by the Chairperson, did look at the Mpika Water Reticulation under the Small Towns Water Reticulation System and Sanitation. Your Committee was satisfied with that and, I think, that it is possible that some of these assurances can come to fruition. This was actually started in 2017 and, at least, we are happy that it has come to fruition.

Mr Speaker, your Committee looked at the issue of the Nsombo/Chaba Road, which is under rehabilitation in Luwingu, and also, as mentioned earlier, the Nakonde/Mpika Road. These roads are actually of very high economic value. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Government, notwithstanding the fact that it has money issues, to ensure that these assurances are implemented.

Mr Speaker, before I sit down, let me also look at some of the other submissions that were made by the PSs. In this case, I am looking at issues that were considered in the Action-Taken Report, which is the installation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) equipment in primary and secondary schools. As a country, we need to start making progress, as we know that the world is moving in that direction. I urge the Ministry of Education to ensure that the issue of ICT in schools is expedited and implemented.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to state that your Committee is very important because it provides oversight on the Executive. It is important that it is well-supported so that it ensures that all these assurances that are made on the Floor are implemented.

Mr Speaker, having said that, let me express my gratitude to you, the Clerk of the National Assembly and the members of staff who were quite useful during the Committee’s deliberations, as well as the tours. I would, once again, thank the Chairperson of your Committee, Hon. Kamondo, as well as the hon. Members who really made valuable input from their valued skills.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Amutike (Mongu Central): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me time, on behalf of the people of Mongu Central, to debate this Motion. I would like to thank the mover and the seconder for ably debating this Motion.

Mr Speaker, the people of Mongu Central would like to draw your attention to page 115 of the report where it talks about the construction of King Lewanika University. It states:

“On 2^nd December, 2014 the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education made the following assurance:

‘Mr Speaker, the construction of King Lewanika University in the Western Province would commence in January 2015. The contractor, by the name of Datong Construction Limited, had been identified. The project is estimated to cost K160 million. The project would be constructed within a period of three years’”

Mr Speaker, this is one of the Government assurances that have not been fulfilled and the people of Mongu want to register their disappointment because eight years down the line, this King Lewanika issue is still a pending matter and nothing has happened, so far, apart from a signpost that has been erected there. We ask the New Dawn Government to fulfil this construction. We know that education is an enabler and equaliser. We want to ask the New Dawn Government to take escalate this matter. The people of the Western Province cannot be sending their children to Lusaka and Copperbelt for university education. We know that we have more than thirty public universities in Zambia, but none of them is in Western Province. That cannot continue. Therefore, we want to ask the New Government to take this as a matter of public urgency.

Mr Speaker, we want to thank the Government for other assurances that have been fulfilled. For example, recently, there was the commissioning of the Lwanginga Bridge. We know that construction work is happening there. This is what we want to see happening in the Western Province. We want to thank the Government for the completion of the Kafue Hook Bridge. This is what we want to see. We want the Western Province to feel that it is a part of Zambia. We want to receive development equitably so that the people of the Western Province too can enjoy the benefits of the New Dawn Government and of belonging to the Republic of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, in supporting this Motion, we want to place it on record that this university has become a sore to the people of the Western Province. We want to ensure that our children go to primary and secondary schools, and university right in the Western Province. So, we wanted to make these remarks about the King Lewanika University so that everybody, including the hon. Minister, could comment on this issue so that the people of the Western Province listen to the way forward on this matter.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Chama North, to add my voice to the debate on this very important report. First and foremost, I want to thank the Chairperson of this particular Committee, Hon. Kamondo, and also my good friend, Hon. Emmanuel Tembo, who seconded this Motion.

Mr Speaker, I will quickly go to page 69, on the stalled rehabilitation of the Chama/Lundazi and Chama/Matumbo roads. Your Committee noticed that the Government had not fulfilled the promise it made to the people of Chama. I stand here as a very sad person because the issue of the Chama/Lundazi and Chama/Matumbo roads has been on the Government drawing board since 1964. Up to this time, the people of Chama have continued to lament over this particular road infrastructure. I remember I was in Grade 3 in 1976 when the Matumbo/Chama Road project started but, to date, it has not been completed.

However, I want to commend the late President, Mr Micheal Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace, and his Government, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, for being the only Government that actually looked into the interest of the people of Chama, especially regarding the Chama/Matumbo Road.

Mr Speaker, a 42-km stretch from Matumbo up to Chief Lundu has been worked on. From Luangwa to Chama, a stretch of 25km has been upgraded to bituminous standard. Now, we are remaining with 62km. On the Chama /Lundazi Road, the previous Government worked on 30km and we are remaining with about 130km. So, it is an appeal to the New Dawn Government to also leave behind a good legacy and ensure that it continues from where the previous Government ended.

Mr Speaker, the Chama/Matumbo/Lundazi Road is a very critical trade route. This is the shortest route to the port of Dar-es-Salaam from the Eastern Province, including for the neighbouring countries of Mozambique and Malawi. However, since that road has not been completed, transporters from Tanzania going to Mozambique have to pass through Lusaka and those in Chipata have to pass through Kapiri Mposhi to get to Chipata instead of just passing through Chama/Lundazi.

Mr Speaker, according to the report, on 1^st October, 2019, the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development made an assurance, on the Floor of this House, that the Chama/Matumbo/Lundazi Road rehabilitation was going to be completed by 2020, but now we are in 2023, and nothing has been done. This is the same with the road from Isoka, Muyombe, Chama and Lundazi. That area is very critical in terms of agriculture. The last time the Muyombe Road was graded was during Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s reign. From that time, to date, not even a grader has passed through that particular road from Chama to Muyombe when Muyombe and Kanyerere are the food basket of this country.

Mr Speaker, it is my appeal to the New Dawn Government to ensure that the Chama/Matumbo and Chama/Lundazi roads rehabilitation is completed without further delay. I believe that the people of Chama also deserve a fair share of the national cake. The people of Chama pay taxes to this Government. There is no way that they can be completely neglected from 1964. So, it is really my prayer that this New Dawn Government ensures that the works on this particular road are completed.

Mr Speaker, according to the report, the Executive notes that this road is considered for the Private-Public Partnership (PPP). While we appreciate that route, our worry is that there may not be any investor who may develop an interest to develop that road to bituminous standard. So, it is an appeal to this Government to have a second option and not rely on a PPP arrangement because that may not work. The people of Chama are crying over this particular road. It is our wish that this New Dawn Government will be able to deliver on its campaign promises.

Mr Speaker, the second point is the issue of the construction of communication towers in Chama. The hon. Minister assured us, on this Floor of the House, that before the end of 2022, communication towers would be constructed in Chibale and Lundu chiefdoms. However, up to this time, these two Chiefdoms have no mobile communication network.

Mr Speaker, Chief Lundu has to travel a distance of 40km from Matumbo to access network to enable him use a phone. I do not think that in this day and era, people can continue to climb trees in order to communicate. So, it is my prayer that the Government honours its promise. The hon. Minister assured the people of Chama that the first communication tower would be constructed in the first quarter of 2023. However, we are now in the second quarter of 2023 and nothing has happened.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, is the issue of sinking of boreholes. The hon. Minister made an assurance, on the Floor of this House, that boreholes were going to be sunk in Chama before the end of 2022. We are now in 2023, but nothing has happened at all. So, I want to appeal to the Government to ensure that the contractor quickly moves in and sinks boreholes as quickly as possible because we have a challenge of terrain there. If the boreholes are not sunk during the dry season, it means that the people of Chama, especially in areas where there is no access to clean water, will continue to suffer.

Mr Speaker, I totally agree with your Committee that the tendency of making assurances on the Floor of the House without corresponding funding must come to an end. The assurances made on the Floor of the House must also accord an opportunity to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to make reference to them when formulating the Budget so that they may be incorporated therein. Your Committee has ably noticed that there are no work plans even when the Government has been making assurances.

Mr Speaker, with these remarks, I want to support the adoption of this very important report. I think we must give credit to your Committee and support it because if it is fully supported, it will be able to hold the Government departments accountable and the hon. Ministers will be able to work very hard. I support the adoption of this particular report.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Halwiindi (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity to add a voice, on behalf of the people of Kabwe Central, to the debate on the Motion that has been moved by the able hon. Member for Mufumbwe, Mr Kamondo. I also want to thank your Committee for emphasising the issue of water supply in Kabwe and, to be specific, the Makululu Water Supply Improvement Project.

Mr Speaker, allow me to state that this project commenced in 2019 during the previous regime but, to date, this issue still stands. In the report, we are told that the scope of work was to rehabilitate the boreholes and also to erect a tank for water storage.

Mr Speaker, if the implementation of this project had been completed, we would not have found ourselves in the current situation in Kabwe because we would have had water storage. At the moment, added onto the problem which we have is the erratic water supply by the Kakuru Water Works boreholes, which the whole of Kabwe relies upon. Once in a while, when there is no electricity supply to the boreholes, the pumps automatically stop. Since there are no tanks for water storage during the times we have running water, we do not have water most of the time in Kabwe.

Sir, this problem is coupled by the old Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company pipes, hence we have an emergency situation in Kabwe. The main transmission line from Mulungushi Dam burst last year. We have, therefore, been depending on the boreholes that cannot even sustain the need for water supply in Kabwe. There is an emergency that needs to be attended to urgently.

Sir, I am happy that, last year, there was an assurance that was given by the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation that the Government was going to look into the issue of funding the project to supply water to about 35,000 households in Makululu. As know you know, Makululu is the largest shanty compound even in Central Africa. Therefore, this project is also supposed to help with the supply of water to the surrounding areas.

Mr Speaker, in Kabwe, we have very important Government institutions like the two barracks and police camps, but most of the time, there is no water. You will find that in a day, water will only run for an hour and there are no storage tanks. So, this becomes a challenge.

Apart from that, Mr Speaker, our town is the most contaminated by lead. Without water, we cannot do our gardening; we cannot green our areas and we cannot plant our lawn, hence there is too much dust exposing us to lead contamination.

Mr Speaker, in shanty compounds like Makululu, children go to sleep without proper bathing. So, they are also exposed to lead contamination because of the lack of water. There is an emergency in Kabwe.

At the moment, Mr Speaker, the Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company is trying to work on the main transmission pipeline but, again, there is only one pump which is at Mulungushi Dam. So, if it packs up, it means that the whole town will not have water. So, there is an urgent need for the Government to look into so that the problems of water in Kabwe can be resolved because, without water, there will be poor sanitation. Water is life.

Sir, as I have said, the water pipes of the reticulation system are old and there are leakages all over the compounds in Kabwe. Since there is no continuous supply of water, lead and other dirty materials accumulate and when water supply is restored, it circulates together with these materials and people drink it. So, we really need help from the Government.

Mr Speaker, it just that I am a very strong woman otherwise, I would have started crying because of the situation prevailing in Kabwe. Some women even come to my house because Lukanga Water and Sewerage is near my house. Every day, they come to complain. Last year, they were even on radio complaining about not having had water for two weeks.

Mr Speaker, of course, there are clinics that need to be helped in terms of water. We have tried to sink boreholes using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), but it is a big area and we need help so that the main circulating line can have a continuous supply of water.

Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I would like to support the report. There is a need to find other avenues of making sure that this project, including the projects of water supply from the the dam, are funded to ensure supply of good, adequate and clean water for the people Kabwe. I have already said that this town is sensitive in that it is highly contaminated with lead. We need to green the area. I am sure that even as the Cabinet sits in its meetings, it says that Kabwe should be a green town. Now, how do we green it without water? It is impossible. There are other activities that we would want to engage in, but water is very cardinal.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I totally support the report and I hope that the Government will look into this serious issue.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Chonya (Kafue): Mr Speaker, I just regret that this very important report is coinciding with another critical assignment which has taken a good number of our hon. Ministers away from the House, which is the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit. Otherwise, it would have been nice if they were to listen to these issues. After all, the issues of Government Assurances are later on supposed to be implemented by them.

Mr Speaker, having said that, let me start by conveying the gratitude of the people of Kafue to our New Dawn Government for its plans to construct Soloboni Day School, among many other secondary schools that this Government is going to construct. This information is also contained in the report that we are looking at where in October 2021, the Government made an assurance to build 120 secondary schools.

Mr Speaker, the whole of last year, the Government was negotiating and now, it has successfully completed the negotiations. Now, we are assured of these schools being built across the various districts, including one in Kafue. We are so happy and grateful. This good news was broken to the people of Kafue yesterday as I was launching other projects that are being supported by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which is another good thing that is happening during this time.

 Mr Speaker, if I had my way, I would have also wanted the Government to focus on those schools which were started some time back and still remain incomplete across the country. There are about – The number is escaping me, but in Kafue, we have one such school. It is called Chikupi Secondary School. When the hon. Minister was making this announcement initially, I started wondering why we were not completing those schools before embarking on constructing new ones. However, I believe that due attention will still be given to these schools because we cannot afford to have them remain incomplete otherwise, it will be a waste.

Mr Speaker, I have talked about one school in Mkushi, which made me feel very sad. During your Committee’s tours, we found the mining activities closing in on the school, as the ditches were very close to the school, which threatens its future. I do not know what is going to happen. Otherwise, well done to the Government. If we continue on this trajectory, I am sure that we will score more and more positives for ourselves.

Mr Speaker, I was saying that this assurance was made in 2021. According to the memo that I have seen at the Ministry of Education, implementation is due in the next quarter of 2023. So, construction is going to start.

Mr Speaker, I wanted to compare and contrast the kind of assurances and fulfilment thereof that has happened with regard to these schools with the 650 health posts, which are also mentioned in this report.

Sir, the assurance that 650 health posts were going to be completed by October 2016 was made by the previous Government on 19^th April, 2016. The report is showing that those eighty-seven health posts that were still pending have not been completed. So, a full term from 2016 to 2021 went by without fulfilling that particular assurance.

Mr Speaker, we are two years into governance and I want to encourage the Government to pay attention to such important programmes. This was a set of projects that were being implemented through a loan from the Indian Government to the tune of US$55.9 million, according to the report. To have eighty-seven outstanding projects means that we need to interrogate further to find out what is happening or what could have happened so that there is accountability for these incomplete works.

Sir, I am trying to be passionate about this because one of the incomplete health posts, among the 650, is supposed to be planted in Kafue, but it has been pending. So, the point here that I am making is that we need to ensure that this particular project is also completed because there is a lot of Government money at stake.

Mr Speaker, in different parts of the report, there is mention of roads that have not been completed. I would also want us to do something about these roads because I would not want this road issue to water down all the big achievements that we have made. We have done very well so far. We have done in two years, what Napoleon failed to do in so many years.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Chonya: Sir, these roads, including the Shantumbu Road, which I was almost talking about yesterday, are almost a death trap. The population in Shantumbu has grown and people have to use a gravel road. When heavy trucks and cars pass through the area, they leave behind dust all over the place. A sad incident that occurred was that one school-going child got confused in the dust and ended up being hit by one of the fast-moving vehicles. As we talk now, that child has lost a limb. He has become disabled on account of the poor state of that road.

Mr Speaker, that is not the only road that is in a bad state. There are many other roads, even within Kafue township and several other places that require attention. I have seen that this report is talking about some roads under the Copperbelt 400 Km Road Project (C400). It is in the same category. We need to do something about the roads and I know that my able Government will be able to do this because, as I have said, we have done so much so far. I am looking forward to seeing that master plan on the roads so that the good works that we have embarked on can continue and keep us in Government for many years to come.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, I just want to take you to page 17 of the report and I will also tackle page 104. In supporting this Motion, I would like to congratulate the Chairperson of the Committee on a well-done report.

Mr Speaker, in 2022, somewhere in February, the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development argued or reported in this House about the completion of our district hospital in Nyimba. In my follow-up question, I asked the hon. Minister if he was sure the hospital would be completed by June, since that was in February. I remember very well that he said, “We are a listening Government. We will complete the hospital by June.” Today is June 2023, and it is one year from the day the hospital was supposed to have been completed, but there is no contractor on site. The money which the Government owed the contractor was paid in 2021.

Mr Speaker, in the report, the remaining works on this project cost K18,450,000. If the Government had money, in fact, it has money, it would have paid the contractor the K18,450,000 and the district hospital in Nyimba would have been completed. It is now one year and six months from the time the hon. Minister made that promise, but there is no contractor on site. The report says that the ministry will start charging the contractor and after ten months or so, the contract will be terminated. However, the report is not mentioning anything about the termination of this contract. The question is: Why do we assure the people of Zambia of things we cannot do?

Mr Speaker, my appeal to the Government is that it should not give assurances when it knows that there is no money because that brings embarrassment to the Executive and to us, as representatives of the people. Therefore, my appeal to the Executive seated there (right side) is to look for K18 million to pay the contractor so that we can have the first ever district hospital in Nyimba.

Mr Speaker, Nyimba has no referral hospital. We have to take our people to St Francis Hospital in Katete in case of emergencies. If you look at the population of Nyimba, it is even, maybe, five times higher than other constituencies in this country with better facilities. You will agree with me that when we pushed for a mini-hospital to be constructed in Nyimba, we were told that the budget for a hospital in Nyimba had been moved to somewhere else.

Sir, my appeal to the Executive is that it looks at Nyimba as a district that is part of Zambia. It is not only the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government that has not looked at Nyimba. There are many Governments that have come and gone without looking at Nyimba, as a district. So, I urge my colleagues to make a difference.

Mr Speaker, Kacholola Dam is a sorry site. The money for the construction of that dam was budgeted for and the contractor was supposed to have been paid. It is not like it is coming from nowhere. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning budgeted for this dam. Today, Kacholola Dam is a sorry site. The contractor has basically demobilised. He mobilised, but the Government could not pay him. So, he moved out. Surely, this is a project which was budgeted for and presented on the Floor of this House, then, we do not pay the money for the construction of that dam. These are things we should ask ourselves whether it is right. Is this the way we want to run the Government? Is this the way we are going to treat the people of Nyimba? These are the questions we should ask ourselves.

The people of Nyimba are also part of Zambia. What I do not understand is why Nyimba is always forgotten about by the people of Chipata and Lusaka. I do not know where the people of Nyimba belong.

Mr Speaker, lastly, I want to challenge the Executive. Many years ago, the Executive promised to give us just fourteen roads of bituminous standard in the district. To date, there is no single tarred road, not even a centimeter of it in the district that has got over 150,000 people. This is the first district you will come across as you enter the Eastern Province. This is a district that hosts the Alexander Miti Toll Gate. It is making a lot of money for this country, but it does not even have a single tarred road. My appeal to the Government is that the people of Nyimba want just a 1.4 km stretch of tarred road and they will be fine with that. We will appreciate if the UPND Government can give us just a 1.4 km of the road leading to the district hospital site. We will be very happy if that is done. The results will show when the UPND Government comes to campaign in Nyimba in 2026.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Justice promised us that the Magistrates Court would be completed by December last year. Six months down the line, the contractor is on site and I will give the hon. Minister 60 or 70 per cent. However, when we promise people that we will complete a job at a particular time, we should also consult the technocrats. We should also consult the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. Therefore, to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, we need K18 million for our district hospital. We are also people just like any other Zambian in this country.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Mr Speaker, indeed, it is good to be a woman and to represent a constituency in the Eastern Province.

Mr Speaker, my debate is just on the conclusion of your Committee’s report which says that, “your Committee notes, with great concern, that most of the assurances, especially under the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development and the Ministry of Education, have remained outstanding”.

Mr Speaker, I support this report because this is the only report which can settle all of us here by showing that a particular Government does not just concentrate on a given part. However, I want to bring to the attention of the House a serious assurance by the Ministry of Agriculture. Any government, and I mean any government, that does not take care of the basic needs of the human wants will seriously have a challenge. In Lundazi, there was an assurance, on the Floor of the House, that 4,709 bags of fertiliser were going to be delivered but, to date, as I stand to speak on the behalf of the people of Lundazi, they have not been given that fertiliser. Basic needs are supposed to be satisfied first before we move to the other needs up to self-actualisation

Mr Speaker, talking about the issue of health, the people of Lundazi were given an assurance, on the Floor of the House, that the former Lundazi District Hospital, a hospital which is nearer to the people, would be worked on and they were going to deliver all the hospital furniture within two weeks. I agree with this report that, indeed, the Ministry of Health is lagging behind. My appeal to the Government of the New Dawn is that it takes care of the people and let them have basic needs like water, food and good health. That way, the Government is going to enjoy its stay. The flag will continue flying and it will be good for it.

Mr Speaker, I want to bring to this House the challenge that the people of the Eastern Province have always had. Governments come and go, yet the Chipata/Lundazi Road has become a campaign song for each and every Government that comes. Our backs move left, right and centre. Sometimes, it is very difficult. I know that there are some hon. Members of Parliament who moved 171km but the stretch which is ugly is just about 60 km. On the stretch from Chipata going into Lundazi, people there are dying. Vehicles are being destroyed every day. We cannot move to freely visit our relatives. It is important that the Government takes care of the people of the Eastern Province by just working on the Chipata/Lundazi Road. I will be the first person to come here to sing praise and worship. They will really enjoy it because I am a passionate speaker.  

Mr Speaker, the other issue that needs to be looked at is the opening of the Lundazi District Hospital so that people there can be able to access the health services within the district. People are moving 8km away and this is not because we do not have a hospital, but because all the old furniture was moved from the old hospital and taken to Chintuta Hospital, leaving a hospital which is nearby without any hospital furniture. Alas, when I tried to make a donation, a heavy weight of my relatives called cadres on me, yet I was just trying to be helpful so that I could help the Government of the day.

Mr Speaker, it is an earnest appeal that we need to work on the Lundazi/Mwase Road, even by just graveling it. We understand that the Government has no money and it has stopped and cancelled all the contracts, but how are we going to work on the 40 km road and bridges with the small amounts which we have under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)? My appeal, on behalf of the people of Eastern Province, is that there is a Government assurance that the Chipata/Lundazi Road is going to be worked on. Please, do it and do it today and not tomorrow.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.  

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Mr Speaker, I thank you for permitting me to debate, on behalf of the good people of Solwezi East, Mushindamo District, in particular, and the North-Western Province in general.

Mr Speaker, from the outset, I, indeed, want to support this report. On a sad note, the people of the North-Western Province are saddened by the answers that they are getting on the Floor of this House concerning the roads. They are saying that the money is being generated in the North-Western Province, through the big mines that are there, but when they ask the Government to work on the roads, they are told to look to the future. That has saddened them and they have asked me to debate and support the report in order to give them hope.

Mr Speaker, yes, we appreciate what has been assured and achieved, but also what has not been achieved but assured.

Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to page 221, which talks about the construction of a police administration block. In the North-Western Province, Solwezi in particular, which is the provincial headquarters, the construction of a police administration block stalled for a very long time. The provincial centre is supposed to administer the economic and political agenda for the entire province, but it lacks a modern police administration block. That saddens the people of the North-Western Province.

Mr Speaker, page 225 talks about the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZBNC) offices. Indeed, there was an assurance of constructing the ZNBC offices in the North-Western Province. Alas, to date, there is just a slab there whose construction has stalled for a very long time. People are wondering how they can broadcast the happenings in the North-Western Province without proper ZNBC offices.

Mr Speaker, on page 213, there is an assurance of constructing the Kabompo Gorge Hydro Power Project. Your Committee, at one point, visited the infrastructure where 25 per cent of the work had been done. Today, we are talking about the electrification of our rural areas, yet the construction of this infrastructure stalled for a long time. The people of Solwezi and the North-Western Province at large are asking when the reassurance of the implementation of the Kabompo Gorge Hydro Power project will be made.

Mr Speaker, on page 234, there is an aspect of bridges being constructed. I will give an example of the bridge across the Zambezi River in the North-Western Province that was to be constructed as a crossing point to Mize. Alas, that assurance has not been actualised. This also saddens the people of the North-Western Province.

Mr Speaker, pages 184 and 198 talk about the construction of universities and university colleges. The North-Western Province was assured that a university of mathematics and science would be constructed in Kabompo, but that assurance is far-fetched. This has added to the misery of the people of the North-Western Province, especially that we generate a lot of revenue that contributes to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yet we are left behind.

Mr Speaker, page 172 talks about the construction of roads, through the Private-Public-Partnership (PPP). We have the Solwezi/Kipushi Road, including many other roads in Solwezi, that have been neglected when this is supposed to be the eye-catch area of the North-Western Province. If the roads in Solwezi town, which is the provincial headquarters, can be neglected, how much more road infrastructure in other towns? Without road infrastructure, we cannot expect good development in the North-Western Province.

Mr Speaker, pages 67 and 68 talk about health issues. There was a maternity wing that was assured to be constructed in Lwamfula, in Mushindamo, but nothing has happened.

Mr Speaker, not too long ago, there was a ground-breaking ceremony in the North-Western Province for the construction of a referral hospital, but that assurance seems to be dimming. What is happening?

Mr Speaker, page 132 talks about an assurance of a boarding school in Kucheka Chiefdom. It was assured that this was going to be constructed, but nothing has been actualised.

Mr Speaker, the people of the North-Western Province are saying that if all these Government assurances for the province could be revisited, perhaps, they could heave a sigh of relief. The people of the North-Western Province are complaining and crying. They are even ready to walk to Lusaka to lament the negative answers that they are getting. 

Mr Speaker, they are saying that if the Government could consider a policy that would allow the people of the North-Western Province to have 10 per cent of the revenue that is generated from the mines, most of these assurances could be actualised.

Mr Speaker, I would not want to bore you with more sadness and lamentations, on behalf of the people of the North-Western Province, but I think their voice has been heard. They are saying that they should not be treated like a dog that goes into the bush to hunt, but when it returns home, bones are thrown to it while the people enjoy the meat. This is an adage.

Mr Speaker, with that adage, I support this report.

I thank you, Sir. 

Laughter

Mr Sampa: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

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

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, my point of order is pursuant to Standing Order No. 65. The hon. Member, who was on the Floor, was doing very well discussing the content of the Report of the Committee on Government Assurances. However, he kept on referring to the North-Western Province, but he forgot to mention the road that goes through Katunda, Watupa upto Lukulu. Is he in order to restrict his debate to just one province and not connect it to the Lukulu/Watupa/Katunda Road?

Mr Speaker, I seek your ruling.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I think the hon. Member for Matero was saying that on a lighter note. For the sake of progress, since we are behind time, the hon. Minister responsible may respond. 

The Minister of Justice (Mr Haimbe, SC.): Mr Speaker, on behalf of the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, I am obliged. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice in congratulating your Committee on Government Assurances on the good report it has presented to this august House. The observations and recommendations contained in the report of your Committee have been duly and well-noted.

Madam Speaker, let me hasten to state that the Government, through my ministry, is already taking some steps to improve the management and development of water resources as well as the provision of water supply and sanitation services in the country. These steps include implementing new projects and completing stalled and on-going water supply and sanitation projects to ensure that many of our people gain access to clean and safe drinking water, and adequate sanitation services in various parts of our country.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that the Government has, so far, completed and commissioned some water supply and sanitation projects, which include Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project (KBWSP), Kaputa Water Supply and Sanitation Project (KWSSP) and Chinsali Water Supply and Sanitation Project (CWSP). The projects that have been commissioned have resulted in close to 700,000 people countrywide gaining access to clean and safe water and sanitation services. This is within the first two years of the New Dawn Administration being in power.

Mr Speaker, the Government is also implementing on-going projects, which include the Integrated Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project (STWSSP) in the Western Province, Luapula Province, Muchinga Province and the Northern Province, the Transforming Rural Livelihood (TRL) in the Western Province, Sinda Water Supply and Sanitation Project (SWSP) in the Eastern Province and Kazungula Water Supply and Sanitation Project (KWSSP) in the Southern Province.

Mr Speaker, no doubt, it is clear and evident that the projects being undertaken reflect the national character of our country.

Mr Speaker, the Government is also implementing projects that had stalled, which include the Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Project (ZWSSP), Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Project (NWSSP) and Kafulafuta Water Supply Project (KWSP) on the Copperbelt. These projects, once completed, will contribute immensely to improved access to clean and safe water and adequate sanitation services which, ultimately, will enhance the prevention of outbreaks of waterborne diseases as well as improve livelihood and quality of life.

Mr Speaker, allow me to update the House on the progress the ministry has made in the implementation of some of the projects highlighted in the report. With respect to the Chienge Water Supply Project (CWSP), I want to report that my ministry has concluded redesigning the project and the contract has been awarded. All things being equal, this project will be implemented in the next two years. I want to further mention to this august House that the borehole in Kabendwe area of Chienge District was drilled on 23^rd November, 2022, and will be equipped by the end of this month.

Mr Speaker, regarding the clearance of an addendum for the stalled NWSSP Phase II by the learned Attorney-General, the House may wish to note that the addendum was cleared by Attorney-General’s Chambers and works have since commenced.

Sir, I take this opportunity to highlight the progress made regarding addressing the shortage of water in Kawama West. The House may wish to note that the delay in addressing the shortage of water in Kawama West is being attended to under the ZWSSP, supported by the European Union (EU). The project was scheduled to be commissioned in January 2023, however, progress stalled in December 2022, due to non-disbursement of funds by the EU as a result of the debt situation the country is trying to resolve, which has affected inflows from cooperating partners. Currently, the overall progress for the project stands at 93 per cent and the Government is working to resolve this situation and is hopeful that the project will be completed soon.

Mr Speaker, once these projects are completed, more citizens are expected to have access to clean and safe water and adequate sanitation services. I cannot re-emphasise that enough. This will result in increased revenue for water utility companies thereby, contribute to improved financial viability of the said companies and improved service delivery to our people.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to make an earnest appeal to the hon. Members of Parliament to support the ministry in ensuring a significant amount of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is allocated towards water and sanitation infrastructure development in order to accelerate the attainment of universal access to clean and safe water and adequate sanitation services.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Members who supported this report. We want to place it on record that the Executive should work on issues in the way that the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation is working. We have already highlighted the progress that has been made. If the rest of the ministries could do the same, that would be better.

Mr Speaker, I also want to thank the hon. Members who debated and supported the Motion to adopt the report. Further, I want to thank the hon. Ministers who also supported the report. Most importantly, I want to thank the hon. Members of the Committee. Indeed, this is a very important report.

Mr Speaker, we need more time because we have a lot of work to do, and that is the only way we can do it.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

_______

QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

PLANS TO CONSTRUCT MAIZE AND SOYA BEANS STORAGE SHELTERS IN MWASE

(Debate resumed)

277. Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. whether the Government has any plans to construct maize and soya beans storage shelters in Mwase Chiefdom in Lundazi Parliamentary Constituency;
2.  if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
3. (c) if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Mr Speaker, yesterday, there were two questions that were combined. One question was from the hon. Member for Chilubi and the other one was from the hon. Member for Mfuwe. I will start with the question from the hon. Member for Mfuwe since she is in the House.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member asked how many sheds would be built in the area in Mwase. Our position is that the agency has indicated that we will build a storage capacity of up to 5,000 metric tonnes, which is huge storage facility.

For the second question, which was asked by the hon. Member for Chilubi, Mr Speaker, you will realise that the hon. Member was comparing production against the markets that we are going to open. That was, actually, a bit off the question and I find it difficult to respond because it has nothing to do with storage capacity, as the question was put forward.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Nyirenda: Mr Speaker, Chief Mwase is very glad that the hon. Minister is going to implement the project, and I hope it enters into Government assurances. The Government should deliver because I do not want to come and stand on the Floor of the House to say that it has not been done.

I submit, my brother, oh, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Finance and National Planning and Acting Leader of Government (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1830 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 9^th June, 2023.

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WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTION

 

PLANS TO REHABILITATE ROADS IN LUMEZI

 

278. Mr Munir Zulu (Lumezi) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to rehabilitate the following roads in Lumezi Parliamentary Constituency:

 

1. Mfuwe - Mwanya;

 

1. Chikhomeni - Mwanya; and

 

1. Chanyalubwe - Chitungulu;  

 

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

 

1. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Madam Speaker, the Government considers the Mfuwe/Mwanya Road to be of strategic and economic importance and, therefore, the Government has plans to rehabilitate the road.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government engaged a contractor to undertake emergency construction of 32 km of road from Chikhomeni Village to Mwanya Village in Lumezi District on 1^st April, 2021. The works, however, stalled due to funding challenges, resulting in termination of the contract. In view of the strategic and economic importance of the road, a new procurement for a contractor to undertake the works is being considered and awaits Treasury support. In the interim, the Government shall endeavour to ensure that the road in question is kept safe for road users by undertaking relevant emergency interventions as and when need arises.

 

Madam Speaker, works on the Chanyalubwe/Chitungulu Road were awarded to three contractors for ease of implementation. The three contracts were terminated due to funding challenges. In view of its strategic and economic importance, the Government plans to engage new contractors to continue with the works. Plans to implement the three projects are already in place and await Treasury support.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.