Wednesday, 12^th July, 2023

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

STATUS OF FISP FOR THE 2023/2024 FARMING SEASON

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to present a ministerial statement on the status of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for the 2023/2024 Farming Season.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government will continue to implement the FISP in the 2023/2024 Farming Season. The total number of beneficiary farmers targeted is 1,024,434 small-scale farmers countrywide.

Mr Kafwaya: Only!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I repeat that it is 1,024,434 small-scale farmers countrywide. This is the same figure as in the past two or three seasons. The programme will be implemented using two modalities, namely the direct input supply and the electronic-Voucher (e-Voucher) system. The direct input supply modality will be implemented in the Eastern Province, the Northern Province, Luapula Province, the Copperbelt Province, Muchinga Province and the Western Province, covering a total of 551,187 small-scale farmers.

Madam Speaker, let me repeat the provinces where the direct input supply will be implemented. These are the Eastern Province, the Northern Province, Luapula Province, the Copperbelt Province, Muchinga Province and the Western Province. Meanwhile, the e-Voucher system will be implemented in Lusaka Province, the Central Province, the Southern Province and the North-Western Province covering a total of 473,247 small holder farmers.

Madam Speaker, the total estimated cost to the Government for the 2023/2024 FISP is K7,152,481,292.47. I will repeat that the cost is K7,152,481,292.47. Of this amount, K1,549,273,497.68 will go towards the implementation of the e-Voucher system while, of course, K5,603,207,794.80 will be for the direct input supply modality.

Madam Speaker, the following is the eligibility criterion for one to qualify to receive inputs under FISP:

1. an individual farmer should be a member of a registered farmer organisation and selected by the Camp Agriculture Committee (CAC). These are the CACs which we were discussing yesterday;
2. be a registered small-scale farmer and actively involved in farming within the camp coverage area;
3. cultivating not more than 5 ha of land;
4. have the capacity to pay the prescribed farmer contribution of K400;
5. not employed by the Government, public institutions and not in formal employment;
6. should be a Zambian and possess a green National Registration Card (NRC);
7. should have an active phone number; and
8. not benefitting from a similar government programme such as the Food Security Pack under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

Madam Speaker, each targeted farmer under the direct input supply will be entitled to the following inputs in the pack:

1. 3 x 50 kg basal dressing fertiliser;
2. 3 x 50 kg top dressing fertiliser;
3. 1 x 10 kg bag maize seed; and
4. one of the following seeds:
5. 1 x 25 kg bag of soybean seed;
6. 1 x 20 kg bag of groundnuts seed;
7. 1 x 12.5 kg rice;
8. 1 x 5 kg sunflower;
9. 1x 20 kg common beans;
10. 1 x 10 kg cowpeas; and finally
11. 1 x 10 kg sorghum.

Madam Speaker, the other seeds, of course, I will repeat them. It will be soybeans, groundnuts, rice, sunflower, common beans, cowpeas or sorghum. More crops have been included in the input pack under the FISP to encourage crop diversification for farmers and of course, to improve our dietary selection.

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that farmers on the e-Voucher system will be at liberty to choose agriculture inputs which are not limited to fertilisers, maize and legumes. The fixed value of the pack is approximately K9,581.18.

Madam Speaker, allow me to correct the misconception that farming inputs under the FISP for the 2023/2024 Farming Season have delayed. There is no delay, whatsoever, in the procurement of inputs. The procurement process for the 120,380 metric tonnes of D Compound fertiliser was concluded way back in May, 2023 and two suppliers were shortlisted and awarded contracts to deliver fertiliser. As of Friday, 7^th July, 2023, the United – let me correct this. As of today, the United Capital Fertilizer Zambia Company Limited had delivered 38,774.68 metric tonnes, which is about 50.3 per cent of what the company was asked to supply.

Mr Mundubile interjected.

Mr Mtolo: Madam, the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is about to conclude its tender procedures for transport and warehousing because it is subject to the Government’s procedures. Therefore, it is not as quick as a private company.

Madam Speaker, regarding the registration of farmers, this is an ongoing process which is done through the CACs based in the camps. There are 468 agricultural extension blocks which are divided into 2,508 camps.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to a timely distribution of inputs and transparent selection for beneficiaries. The New Dawn Government under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, is committed to improving the livelihoods of our people and increasing food security in the country. Among the many interventions that can actualise this aspiration is the prudent implementation of the FISP, which the Government is undertaking together, of course, with this noble House.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Mundubile (Mporokoso): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his statement.

Madam Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister has highlighted that a two-tier system will be used, namely the electronic-Voucher (e-Voucher) system and direct input supply. Previously, implementing these two systems created a challenge for the Government in that the people under the direct input supply modality collected a definite number of bags of fertiliser, if you like. For the e-Voucher system, depending on the sensitivity of prices, sometimes over the years, the quantum of support reduced because the prices of fertilisers and inputs went up.

Madam Speaker, to avoid a similar challenge for this Government, where accusations are made as to how inputs are being distributed, is there a formula that is being employed under the e-Voucher system to make sure that when there are price changes, the quantum of support also changes correspondingly?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question.

Madam Speaker, yes, the system is going to be very sensitive to price changes. If there will be a fluctuation, the figure which I mentioned, which was approximately K9,600 for the e-Voucher system, will accordingly be shifted.

Madam Speaker, to also give hon. Members comfort, I would like to state that the way in which we are selecting the agro-dealers is that they will be linked to the major suppliers of fertiliser under the direct input supply modality, so that there will be no major price movement.

Madam Speaker, allow me to also mention that the Leader of the Opposition was very right when he said I discussed a two-tier system. I will come back to the House to disclose another tier which we are adding onto the FISP arrangement. This will cover 30,000 farmers, but it will be on a loan basis arrangement, as we shift from the free FISP to a more elaborate banking loan situation.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker gave the Floor to Mr A. I. Banda.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear! Vubwi! Smile!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, let us allow the hon. Member to ask a supplementary question.

Proceed, hon. Member.

Mr A. I. Banda (Vubwi): Madam Speaker, thank you very much and I thank the hon. Minister for the statement he has given.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that for a farmer to benefit from the said programme, there is a need for one to have an active Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. What will the ministry do for areas where people would not access the mobile phone network?

Hon. Members: Quality!

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member for Vubwi for that question, which is very important.

Madam Speaker, the areas where the e-Voucher system will be implemented have been very carefully selected and most of these areas are already under mobile phone network coverage. The e-Voucher system is the one which demands so much that the farmer should have connectivity. However, of course, even under the direct input supply modality, for information purposes, we are working on that and we are collaborating very closely with technologists so that our country should be covered. With what we know, very soon, Zambia will be 100 per cent covered by phone network.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the criterion which was used to select the regions for the electronic-Voucher (e-Voucher) system and the direct input supply modality under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). Which of the two systems has a higher value package in monetary terms?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, a number of factors dictate which system can be tried where. Firstly, the ecological zone within which that area falls has a lot to do with what you try. Secondly, the issue which the hon. Member for Vubwi raised also plays an important role. Is the area easy to connect by phone or not? Thirdly, the type of crop that can grow in a particular area is also considered. I will give a very specific example for the third reason because it can affect any of us and at this point, we are still able to accommodate a change because it is early in the season.

Madam Speaker, hon. Members from the Southern Province, especially in the valley areas, actually wrote to us and said that they would prefer to be on the e-Voucher system because in their areas, maize is not a preferred crop. They would like to go for sorghum, cowpeas and so on and so forth. We listened to that and we slotted in some of those districts on the e-Voucher system. Our role is to make life easy for the farmer. So, we will listen to the representatives of the farmers.

Madam Speaker, the second aspect of the question is closely linked to what the Leader of the Opposition asked. I would like to give comfort to the hon. Member and the nation that if he looks at the value of the fertiliser we are buying, the quantity we are giving out and the price of seed, he will see that it is almost equivalent to the figure, which I mentioned. So, all that has been taken into account so that we do not disadvantage any region, whatsoever.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to ask a question on behalf of the people of Kwacha Constituency to the hon. Minister of Agriculture, one of our hardworking Ministers in the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government However, before I do that, allow me to wish a quick recovery to one of our brothers, Hon. Ambassador Kalimi, who was involved in a road traffic accident.

Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister if at all there are prospects by my Government to increase the number of beneficiaries for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for the 2023/2024 Farming Season. I ask this question because the –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, just ask the question. Do not explain.

Mr Charles Mulenga: Thank you for your guidance, Madam Speaker.

Is there any possibility of increasing FISP beneficiaries for the 2023/2024 Farming Season? Further, is there any possibility of increasing the number of bags?

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, it is one question per hon. Member.

Mr Charles Mulenga: Thank you Madam Speaker, I am sure the hon. Minister has gotten the question.

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, is there any possibility of increasing the size of the pack? No, there is no possibility of increasing the size of the pack, whatsoever.

Is there a possibility of increasing the number of beneficiaries? On this actual programme, no. However, I did indicate when responding to the hon. Leader of the Opposition that I would come back to the House to give indications for an extra 30,000 beneficiaries of a different programme, which we would like to pilot, which is based on very low interest loans as we migrate, – and I want the hon. Member to get this point – from this free FISP into a loan situation.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: There is too much talking, hon. Members. Can we lower our voices.

Ms Phiri (Milanzi): Madam Speaker, I would like to know when the fertiliser will reach the individual farmers?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, firstly, fertiliser will be in all the depots probably in the next two months or so to give to the farmers. We are now in the process of selecting the farmers. Once the selection has been done, for those areas where we shall have the fertiliser already delivered, we see no reason we should delay. It will be immediately after beneficiaries have been selected.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. E. Banda (Petauke Central): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the good people of Petauke Central this opportunity, through me, to ask a supplementary question to the hon. Minister of Agriculture.

Firstly, I want to congratulate the hon. Minister of Agriculture for the job well done this year. I can confirm that in Petauke, we have started receiving fertiliser.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr J. E. Banda: More than 40 per cent of the beneficiaries have received. So, continue with the same spirit, mutisunge. 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said the Government is in the process of selecting farmers. Are the new co-operatives or new farmers going to be brought on board?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, firstly, let me acknowledge the kind words from the hon. Member for Petauke Central and, indeed, from the hon. Member for Kwacha. Thank you, colleagues for observing that we are working, and working hard.

Madam Speaker, the selection of farmers is entirely up to the CACs, which hon. Members should have influence on. Yesterday, I promised that we would do a letter. So, the letter has been drafted, and probably, by tomorrow, we will have the letters in our pigeonholes, which will give authority to hon. Members to have influence on CACs in their areas. So, hon. Members, have effect.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, thank you so much. I appreciate the assurances coming from the hon. Minister. I am sure this year will be totally different from what we had last.

Madam Speaker, the confusion we had last year is that we had the same number of beneficiaries as the one the hon. Minister has given us. However, we ended up with more people benefitting from the same programme. It ended in a situation where our farmers were even sharing fertiliser and other inputs using what they call medas.

Out of the number the hon. Minister has given us, could he confirm whether there will be farmers who will be weaned off the programme. What necessitated the matter of urgent public importance I raised are the fears of the farmers that have been told by Camp Agriculture Committee (CAC) officers that they will be weaned off the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). If any, how many people will be weaned off the FISP, which is now going to be revised?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, let me thank Hon. Kampyongo who raised the matter of urgent public importance which has brought us to this statement. It is important for the nation to know. So, thank you for raising the matter.

Madam Speaker, there is no way we can have more than 1,024,434 farmers, it is impossible. If that happens, it is a serious error, which we, as hon. Members of Parliament should check in our areas. We know how many farmers are supposed to benefit in a particular area and the fertiliser, which is sent, is sent as a pack because of that number. So, we should not allow larger numbers as that will spoil the entire programme. It will not give us the expected returns.

So, there is no way that numbers can increase. I think that was an erroneous statement coming from the hon. Member. How can numbers increase? Even last year, I stood here and gave the number as 1,024,434.

Madam Speaker, as regards weaning off some beneficiaries, in certain areas, farmers who have been benefiting for a long time and have been identified have been taken out. However, what I can confidently say is that by 2025, none of the famers who are on the system now should ever get fertiliser, going forward because they would have done their three years, whether they are new or not.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, thank you very much. I think I have been provoked by the last answer where the hon. Minister said that by 2025, the ministry is going to wean off all those farmers who have been receiving fertiliser. Now, have we undertaken a programme to sensitise farmers and let them know that after three years, they will be weaned off the programme so that we have newcomers or, maybe, is this when the ministry is planning to start sensitising farmers? This is so that we do not shock them. I think it is important to sensitise them. How far has the ministry gone with the sensitisation of small-scale farmers so that they are not shocked?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I thank the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources for that observation. The answer to his question is, yes. We have a programme of sensitising farmers. The hon. Member will recall that two years ago, we had started taking farmers off the programme. However, it was in this House where I was guided to first sensitise the farmers and not take them off. This statement is part of the sensitisation that by 2025, any farmer whose name is on the list now will not be on the FISP anymore because whether they are new or not, they would have done three years. Hon. Members of the House are asked to inform their farmers.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. In Kalomo Central, I was told by the farmers that they should not receive the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher System System). I went around the wards and they said that they did not like it because when they dealt with agro-dealers, they were duped. Many terms came in – when it came to redeeming, they could not get their inputs even though the money was there. So, now that the hon. Minister has indicated that the Government will continue to implement the e-Voucher System, what measures has the ministry put in place to ensure that we do not have the same problems we had? For example, where a person would receive money on the phone but could not get it. Secondly, they had other problems of being duped by agro-dealers. When agro-dealers were delayed in paying – I still have people, like in Katundulu, whose money was gotten six years ago, but, they have never collected their fertilisers from agro-dealers. I still receive phone calls.

Mrs Mazoka: Under Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr Kamboni: So, what measures has the ministry put in place to ensure the e-Voucher System is better and the people receive it with two hands?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the question is what measures we have put in place to ensure that farmers collect their inputs. Number one, the most important thing is that all those who will be on the e-Voucher System will be supported effectively by the resource in the system. Previously, money was usually not there. Number two, the product will be available. Like I indicated, we are trying to marry agro-dealers to major fertiliser supply companies who are supplying in other areas so that the product will always be there. Finally, we will make sure that if the farmer’s number on the system – If the document for swiping is not working, the farmer can simply get his/her number and give it to the agro-dealer, and in that way, he/she will be given their inputs. That was another problem causing congestion and farmers, as the hon. Member said, being duped by being told to swipe then not given the inputs. However, I must say, I would not like to ruffle feathers, but the system was actually made bad by agro-dealers who were not genuine and had no heart for the farmers and messed up the system deliberately because of fraud. That now will not happen because they will be arrested. That I can assure you. This is a warning to those would-be agro-dealers. If they think that it will be business as usual, they will go to jail.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: I am adding ten more minutes since there are many other hon. Members who have indicated.

Hon. Member for Bwacha, you may proceed.

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, especially for adding ten more minutes. For the sake of the farmer, especially maybe, those who did not follow the ministerial statement as it was being delivered on the Floor of the House, could the hon. Minister mention, again, the ‘carateria’ used by the Government through the ministry to –

Laughter

Eng. Milupi: Carateria?

Mr Mushanga: Yes, it is correct, Hon. Milupi. Thank you.

What criterion was used by the Government for the provinces to be on the direct input support programme and the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher System System) system?

Laughter

Mr Mushanga: The question is very clear, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The word is criteria.

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the areas under the direct input supply modality are the Eastern Province, the Northern Province, Luapula Province, the Copperbelt Province, Muchinga Province and the Western Province. The areas that are going to be on the e-Voucher System are Lusaka Province, the Central Province, the Southern Province and the North-Western Province. The reasons for some of these areas being where they belong is, firstly, the ecological area; the climatic conditions of the area and what crops can grow. Secondly, we also tried to see if the area is easily reachable by technology such as mobile phones. It is easy to try it on the e-Voucher System Programme. Thirdly, the request from the area through the district agriculture coordinators and, indeed, through hon. Members of the House that they wanted to be in a given system has also been respected. I repeat, at this point in time, if an hon. Member feels that his/her area needs to change the system, he/she is free to let us know before it is too late. Once fertiliser is finally taken to the areas 100 per cent, it will be impossible because the inputs taken are dependent on what system is being used.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and welcome back. Small-scale farmers are still apprehensive about what transpired last year in terms of the distribution and allocation of farming inputs. The hon. Minister clearly indicated that United Capital Fertiliser Zambia Company Limited has 38,000 metric tonnes on the wheels going to various destinations. Could the hon. Minister be in a position to also state as to what volumes were placed with Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) and what is in its stock ready for distribution.

Mrs Chonya: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I will round up the figures. United Capital Fertiliser Zambia Company Limited was given about 77,000 metric tonnes of which it has delivered more than 50 per cent. NCZ was given about 43,000 metric tonnes and it currently has in stock, already produced – I am happy that your hon. Members went to see this fertiliser.

Hon. Members: Yes!

Mr Mtolo: Madam, I was told you constituted a team to go and see the fertiliser and that team went. 10,000 metric tonnes are available. So, NCZ will simply produce another 30,000 metric tonnes and distribute. We are very hopeful and confident that it is going to supply the fertiliser on time.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, I would like to join the House in congratulating the hon. Minister for preparing well for the farming season.

Madam Speaker, the people have heard the millions of dollars that will be invested through taxpayer’s money into this agricultural season. However, I think their greatest concern is the cost of living; the prices of some of the products of their own investments as taxpayers.

Madam Speaker, in the previous framing season, we had a bumper harvest. However, we have already seen a spike in the prices of products such as feed for chickens, which is a by-product of this very activity that you are carrying out. When are we going to see a strategy coming from the ministry that will speak to the cost of living or the cost of the end products from this sort of investment that the taxpayer is putting in?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that very important question. I will endeavour, in future, to come and discuss the pricing of mealie-meal, maize and maize products. For us to achieve reasonable prices for inputs such as fertiliser, we need competition in this country for those companies. Right now, we have noticed a huge drop in the price of fertiliser from last year to this year, simply because of the fertiliser company producing in Zambia, at least the D Compound fertiliser.

Madam Speaker, we are hopeful that as more companies come and compete with United Capital Fertiliser Zambia Company Limited, the prices will go down. We are very hopeful. By next year, the company will begin to produce urea fertiliser. We will definitely see a drop in the prices of urea. That does not mean that we should be celebrating one company. We need multiple companies, three or four, so that they compete against each other to find the proper price. That is what will bring the prices down.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take advantage of this and say that, – I am sorry, I am eating into time – we as Zambians, especially in this House, should realise that it is not only the cost of inputs that determine the price of the products of maize and its products, even the competing situation around us. If we are going to have all our neighbours not having what we have, the price will generally go up and that is what we are experiencing. It is up to us to allow maize and mealie-meal to achieve their economic price. When you see us giving cowpeas, sorghum, millet and sunflower, it is because we want people to start changing the eating habits. Porridge in the morning, nshima at lunch time and in evening is making mealie-meal very cheap. We need to start bringing other products on the table, so that people can have a healthier diet and then mealie-meal will find its proper price and Zambia can benefit.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for giving us the assurance that he will give us some letters in order to resolve some issue in the Camp Agriculture Committees (CACs) in our constituencies.

Madam Speaker, in Mushindamo District, we have some people going around claiming to represent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) recruiting and collecting money from unsuspecting members of the community intending to go into farming. Therefore, could the hon. Minister state whether the Government has engaged some NGOs and agents to be collecting money under the Farmer Input Support Programmes (FISP) in constituencies.

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, it is true there is a lot of fake documentation going around. The culprits have forged my signature – that is not my signature at all – and documents from the Ministry of Agriculture, which are false. Those people should be reported to the police. Do not even waste your time, just take them to the police. The Government does not engage strange agents. The Government will come in the public and tell the public who it has engaged. Right now, please, let us inform our constituents that those documents are false and just report the culprits to the police.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: I see there are so many hon. Members who still want to ask questions, but we can only ask so many questions within the time that we have been given. Sincere apologies to those hon. Members who have not been called on. However, please, do engage the hon. Minister of Agriculture further to see how we can iron out some of the issues.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

ZAMBIA RAILWAYS LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE REHABILITATION

361. Mr Hamwaata (Pemba) asked the Minister of Transport and Logistics:

1. whether the Government has any plans to rehabilitate the Zambia Railways Limited infrastructure, countrywide;
2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
3. what the duration of the project is;
4. what the scope of works is; and
5. what the estimated cost of the project is.

The Minister of Transport and Logistics (Mr Tayali): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the Government has plans to rehabilitate the Zambia Railways infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, plans to undertake the major rehabilitations on the Zambia Railways line have commenced. To this effect, in 2021, a contract was signed with a possible contractor in the name of Team Sweden Rail and Phase I of the contract, which includes final track assessment, has reached 86 per cent. The Government is exploring ways of funding Phase II of the project, which includes the complete rehabilitation of the infrastructure among other components. However, financial closure has not yet been reached. The full rehabilitation of the Zambia Railways line will, therefore, commence as soon as funds are secured.

However, due to the poor state of the railway line, the Government has been implementing stopgap measures to ensure continued provision of the service. The Government has continued to release funds to facilitate the maintenance of critical sections or structures.

Madam Speaker, the long-term rehabilitation of the Zambia Railways line is expected to take a period of four years from commencement.

Madam, the scope of works for major rehabilitation will include the following:

1. complete track and civil rehabilitation works;
2. purchase of brand-new rolling stock and equipment;
3. refurbishment and installation of signalling and telecommunications system; and
4. capacity building, as well as training.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the full rehabilitation is around US$1 billion.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, I am grateful once again for allowing me to ask a supplementary question to the hon. Minister of Transport and Logistics. The hon. Minister is aware that for many years, the cost of rehabilitating the railway line as well as the locomotives has been huge. Has the Government taken steps to build the right local capacity to be able to rehabilitate both the railway line and the locomotives locally without contracting any foreign company?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that supplementary question. The company needs immediate intervention estimated at US$100 million per year for the next three years, which will bring the total to US$300 million to merely sustain its operations. This infrastructure, which we must all agree that is close to 120 years old, has saved its time and outlived its usefulness. Therefore, the hon. Member will appreciate that going by the state of the infrastructure, in order for us to bring it to international standard where we can increase the speed of the locomotives to about 120 km/h, we shall need substantial capital investment in order for this particular sub-sector; the railway sector, to make a significant contribution to this country’s economic development. So, the Government will continue to pursue other potential means which can bring in sufficient funds that would allow us to fully rehabilitate not only the track but also the equipment in terms of the locomotives.

Madam Speaker, there are a number of interventions such as the €150 billion European fund that is looking at potentially helping particularly African countries, where we can come together and that a regional project of rehabilitating our railway infrastructure could be financed. So, we are running with this, front and centre, because we envisage that the railway sub-sector going forward, particularly with the robust pronouncement of copper production from 800,000 to 10 million metric tonnes in a decade as well as the anticipated increase in agriculture production, we must have a viable railway sector in order for Zambian’s economy to move forward.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Malambo (Magoye): Madam Speaker, around the year 2012, there was an investment of up to about US$120 million obtained, of course, from the Eurobond which was highly celebrated. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if that money was truly invested in this sector because the railway sector is truly an eyesore.

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I am grateful to the hon. Member for that very important question, which keeps coming up on the Floor of this House because like the hon. Member has alluded, yes, there were those pronouncements. To this day, this Government is grappling with debt in huge sums. On one hand, we have been left with this debt without a compensating asset side, this is what the President has been preaching. There was literally no investment in the railway sub-sector. There may have been one or two vehicles purchased …

Laughter

Mr Tayali: … but nothing significant to turn around the railway sub-sector and this is why we have said that we are hoping that the law enforcement agencies can really help us so that we may come to terms. Where has this taxpayers’ money gone? Can the people that made decisions to borrow account for the monies that they borrowed because this Government, which means well for its people, is now having to face these challenges of no fiscal space to deal with the many challenges that we are faced with.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has outlined quite a number of issues that the ministry intends to undertake to refurbish and ensure that Zambia Railways is viable again. I know the hon. Minister has answered one of my concerns, which is on speed. Many movers of goods are resorting to using the roads. What incentives is the ministry putting in place to entice these movers of heavy loads to come back to the railway line and use it for the ministry to recoup the K1 billion that the ministry invested in refurbishing the railway system?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. Suffice to say that those who are in business conduct business, first of all, to be efficient in order for them to move their goods to the markets. It is very difficult to incentivise this particular sector. If traveling from Ndola to Livingstone takes close to twenty days, that is actually not enough to entice the transporters. So, it is a question of what comes first. Is it the chicken or the egg? We feel that there is a very urgent need for us to improve on the infrastructure in order to gain the necessary speed. That, coupled with lower rates of transportation, should be able to entice the private sector to move their goods off the road, particularly the heavy ones, and on to the track. At the moment, limping as the Zambia Railways is, we have also introduced what we are calling open access, whereby, we have allowed the private sector, those that are able to invest in locomotives as well as wagons, to be able to join the parastatal. Hopefully, we can incentivise with a fair rate which should be low enough in order for them to take that risk of a longer period of time …

Hon. Nkombo’s mobile phone rang in the Assembly Chamber.

Mr Tayali: … it will take to move their goods.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Sialubalo (Sinazongwe): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if there are any plans of moving away from diesel-propelled trains to electric ones in the nearest future by the ministry?

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, can we pay attention to what is going on. There is a lot of talking.

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I would liken that question to the previous question, whereby as a country, we have to put our house in order in various ways and the railway sub-sector definitely being one of them, before we can start dreaming about electric trains. We have to fix that which we have at the moment. We cannot run before we crawl. So, let us, first of all, fix these diesel locomotives and get them to run efficiently. That way, we may be able to attract investment so that side by side with the common diesel locomotive we may have electric trains. However, there is an issue obviously of energy sufficiency and surplus to be able to support more infrastructure that will depend on electricity generation by our counterparts in the Ministry of Energy.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. I will take three more questions so that we make progress. The hon. Member for Kaumbwe, then Kabwe Central, then Luena will ask their questions in that order.

Dr Mwanza (Kaumbwe): Madam Speaker, our Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) trains, of course, are limping, moving at a speed of maybe 30 km/h or 40 km/h. Are we thinking of improving the gauge? Right now, we have the cape gauge. So, are we thinking of putting up the standard gauge so that we are in conformity with the Southern African Railways for interoperability so that when the locomotives or wagons get to our railways, there should be interconnectivity?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for asking a very well-informed question. Yes, indeed, there are plans to migrate in future from the current cape gauge to the standard gauge. Particularly, I made reference earlier to the European fund, which seeks to integrate the regional rail network, where one locomotive can move from Durban all the way and cross into Zambia up to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It would be nice if our infrastructure was standardised. We have neighbouring countries such as Tanzania that are already leading the way in that particular regard. However, in our country, like said, there is obviously an issue, first of all, of learning to crawl before we can walk and eventually run. We have to fix our current infrastructure. Like I said, plans such as the connection between Kafue in Zambia and the Lion's Den in Zimbabwe are actually already underway.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Hamwaata: Madam Speaker, I am still speaking on behalf of the Zambian people. The hon. Minister said that the total cost of rehabilitating the railway will come to US$1 billion. He further indicated that Phase I of the rehabilitation project is about 86 per cent done. What is the cost of the first phase?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, that is a detail that may have slipped my attention. In terms of what we spent, it is nothing, obviously, compared to the US$1 billion. This was basically financing some sort of feasibility study on how the general track infrastructure could be improved in terms of some of the unnecessary curves being straightened so that ultimately, speeds could be enhanced. I could, however, encourage the hon. Member to come through to the office and such a figure will be availed to him.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Halwiindi (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, an investment of a billion dollars is a lot of money. The people of Kabwe are happy that the headquarters for Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) are in Kabwe Central. We are excited. Bearing in mind that we have too much competition regarding using the road to transport heavy-duty goods, is the Government planning to come up with a law that will compel a certain tonnage of goods to be transported by rail so that the investment in rail can come back within a short time or period?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I have no doubt that as we grapple to improve the country’s infrastructure, particularly in the road sub-sector, we will really need to work hard to improve or rather protect the road sector. Such a law would definitely help us in terms of protecting our roads. However, like I said, at the moment, we need to keep the wheels of our economy turning, the more reason we may not be very strict in enforcing such a law or bringing about such a law. We have to continue to move our economy as we strive to resuscitate the Zambian economy.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Madam Speaker, currently, Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) has a financing gap ranging between K10 million and K15 million on a monthly basis. One of the areas where it has been trying to be innovative is the area of its staff cost, but it can only go so far. That means it needs to look at its operating costs, and this brings me to the question of what is happening in its workshops.

Madam Speaker, the ZRL sits with massive workshops which are filled with obsolete equipment and technology. Is the ministry going to consider, in the assistance that it provides to the ZRL regularly, securing capital or funding specifically for the ZRL to equip the workshops? It does have the capacity to manufacture some of the rolling stock that it would salvage from some of the old wagons so that it can reduce its operating costs? Any plans to finance its capital expenditure in that context?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, unless the hon. Member knows something that I do not, there is no such machinery lying idle in the ZRL workshops. As a matter of fact, what we see is that some of the very, very dilapidated wagons are having to be sold off as scrap metal. So, in terms of recapitalisation of the workshops, there are not such immediate plans.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the responses provided so far. In responding to the substantive question, the hon. Minister said that financial closure has not yet been reached. When are we likely to see the financial closure reached?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I am afraid I will not stand on this Floor of Parliament and give an assurance as to when that will happen, but suffice to mention that once we do reach that stage, we shall come back to this House and inform the rest of the nation that we have reached financial closure.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

STALLED CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL REGISTRATION OFFICE IN KALABO

357. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security:

1. why the construction of the National Registration Office in Kalabo District has stalled;
2. when the project will resume;
3. who the contractor for the project is;
4. what the contract sum for the project is;
5. how much money had been paid to the contractor, as of August, 2022; and
6. what the timeframe for the completion of the outstanding works is.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Nkombo) (on behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu)): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the construction of the National Registration Office in Kalabo District stalled due to the delayed payment of interim payment certificates (IPCs), which resulted in the project’s completion period extending negatively, affecting the contract sum as the prices of building materials began to escalate. The contract was then recommended for termination.

Madam Speaker, the project will resume when the termination is fully concluded and the procurement process to engage another contractor is finalised. The Western Province administration is in the process of finalising the termination of this contract. The project for the construction of the National Registration Card (NRC) office in Kalabo District was in 2014 awarded to a company called Apotech Services Limited. The project has not yet been awarded to another contractor as the project balance is still under evaluation –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, there is too much commotion. Is there something that we need to know? Can we concentrate and listen to the hon. Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security. You may proceed, hon. Minister.

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the project sum was K1,060,080 only. Once the project is re-advertised and awarded, then a new contractor is going to be known as well as the new contract sum.

Madam Speaker, the contractor was paid a total sum of K294,094,017 only as of August, 2022.

Madam, the timeframe for the project will be determined once the new project is re-advertised and awarded.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, delayed payment on the part of the Government led to stalled projects. How long does the process of termination take to be completed?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, just like contraction of a contract, termination also has legal processes depending on what clauses are contained in that particular contract. I am afraid I do not have the contract in front of me, but suffice to say that on my supplementary notes, I have actually been informed that termination has since happened. I am sorry I had not flipped the other page, but termination has since happened.

I thank you, Madam Speaker

Ms Sefulo (Mwandi): Madam Speaker, is there any given time that the Government can stall a project? Previously, especially with the immediate past Government, we had many stalled projects whereby when one goes back to complete the project, he/she could not do that because the quality of works had been compromised because of the projects having stalled for a long time. Is there a specific amount of time that the Government can stall a project?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, I think the answer to the question by the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwandi is that it will normally be circumstantial. There is no standard period within which one can resume or end a project once it is stalled. However, this phenomenon has a historic perspective. In the past, the Government that was there before us had embarked on an overzealous infrastructure development programme that did not have corresponding fiscal space. So, you see that from the year 2014, many projects that were below 80 per cent had been shelved, they had been put on the side. So much money or colossal amounts of money had been spent because when the Government realised that there was no fiscal space to complete these projects, it decided to stop and only fund those projects that were above 80 per cent. To date, only a few projects, including those that were above 80 per cent, have been duly completed. So, this is the part of the inheritance that we, as the Government picked up from our erstwhile brothers who were governing then ...

Laughter

Mr Nkombo: ...and to state that now, going forward, we are strictly abiding by the appropriation of monies by this House so much so that, as much as possible, we do not over-procure against budgets that are not fitting. Therefore, we are in the spirit of cutting the coat according to the cloth.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa used a wrong microphone.

Madam Speaker: Your microphone, hon. Member, is the next one. You are lost

Mr Mukosa: At least, now, I have found it.

PROMOTION OF FISH FARMING IN CHINSALI

358. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. whether the Government has any plans to promote rice farming in Chinsali District;
2. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
3. which areas have potential for rice farming in the District.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Chinsali, Hon. Chikosa –

Mr Mukosa: Mukosa, not Chikosa.

Mr Mtolo: Yes, the Government is promoting rice farming in Chinsali District. The promotion of rice production has been on-going in a bid to diversify diets and stimulate resilience to climate change among farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture working closely with private entities like the Common Market for Conservation (COMACO), the ones who produce ‘Its Wild’ products, provides inputs, extension services and the market for rice producers. COMACO has a large rice processing plant in Chinsali capable of processing 700kg of paddy rice per hour. In addition, the ministry through the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) provided a grant to Mukwasu Enterprises, a local entrepreneur in Chinsali. The grant was for the establishment of the rice processing plant that would improve the quality of milled rice. The processing plant is fully operational.

Madam Speaker, plans are already being implemented. The hon. Member may wish to note that the Government has put in place the National Rice Development Strategy which clearly stipulated measures on how to improve the rice value chain to support the domestic consumption and export of rice.

Madam Speaker, the major rice growing areas are mainly on the Chambeshi Flood Plains in the agricultural camps of Chibesa Farmer Training Centre, Chinsali Central, Chambeshi, Charles Mbesuma, Kalela, Chunga Chilunda, Mubanga, Kaso and Muzamanze.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Agriculture, Mr Matole Phiri.

Laughter

Madam Speaker, I would like to find out …

Madam Speaker: Order!

What did you …

Mr Mukosa: Mr Mto …

Laughter

Mr Mukosa: What is your name, Sir?

Laughter

Mr Mukosa: Mr Mtolo Phiri.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Ah!

Order, hon. Members! If you do not know the name, then just mention the ministry.

Mr Mukosa: Thank you for your guidance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Agriculture if there is anything his ministry is doing to help the rice farmers in Chinsali find market.

Madam Speaker: I think there is a lot of chimbuya here.

 Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the answer to Hon. Mukosa’s question is, yes. I just mentioned that there is a huge plant in Chinsali which is able to polish not less than 200,000 tonnes per year. So, the hon. Member has such a market.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisanga (Lukashya): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that this process has been on-going for some time. What has been the positive outcome from this implementation and are there any plans to extend it to the eastern side of the Chambeshi River where Shiwang’andu and Lukashya constituencies are?

Madam Speaker: Order!

The hon. Minister may answer the first question. The other one is meant to extend the question.

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, unfortunately, despite all the efforts, honestly speaking, rice production in the country has not reached levels which are above our consumption pattern. We are trying to address this by bringing in the World Food Programme (WFP) which is ready to work with us. Further, we are going to look at rice production in the Western Province, the Northern Province, Luapula Province and the Eastern Province.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: So, if there is any other province which feels that it can develop this and we can prove it using our agriculturalists and scientists, we would want to promote rice production.

Madam Speaker, the eating habits have to change in this country. So, we will be very happy to promote rice production.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the responses.

Madam Speaker, the areas the hon. Minister is mentioning such as the Western Province, Luapula Province and the Northern Province have a lot of water. Generally, in Zambia, we just grow rain-fed rice. Is the Government promoting the production of rice through irrigation?

 

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, yes, we are promoting many irrigation facilities. The hon. Member might be happy to know that recently, even the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) is supporting programmes for irrigated rice and irrigated wheat. So, if there are areas where the hon. Member thinks he would like to irrigate or wants to have an irrigated facility, the ministry will give him the technical knowledge and the CEEC will give him the financial capacity.

I thank you, Madam 

Mr Mukosa indicated assent. 

Madam Speaker: Thank you. I can see the hon. Member for Chinsali is happy.  So, we make progress.

THE REHABILITATION OF CLASSROOMS AND TEACHERS HOUSES IN MBABALA CONSTITUENCY

Mr Mweene (Mangango) (on behalf of Mr Munsanje (Mbabala)) asked the Minister of Education:

1. when rehabilitation of classrooms and teachers’ houses, whose roofs were blown off during the 2021/2022 Rainy Season at the following primary schools in Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency will commence:

1. Frances Davison;
2. Chilalantambo;
3. Kadombo;
4. Mapanza;
5. Chibwe; and
6. Lugwalo; and

(b)     what the cause of the delay in commencing the works is.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the rehabilitation of classrooms and teachers’ houses whose roofs were blown off during the 2021/2022 Rainy Season at Kadombo Primary School, Mapanza Primary School, Chibwe Primary School and Lugwalo Primary School in Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency commenced in 2022 and progress has been made to this effect. The House may wish to note that so far, two 1 x 2 classroom blocks at Mapanza Primary School and a 1 x 2 classroom block at Chibwe Primary School have been rehabilitated.

In addition, the contractor is on site to rehabilitate a 1 x 2 classroom block at Lugwalo Primary School while the projects for staff houses at Mapanza Primary School and a 1 x 2 classroom block for Kadombo Primary School awaits the contractor to move on site. However, the project at Frances Davison Primary School and Chilalantambo Primary School combined will commence as soon as funds are made available.

Madam Speaker, the cause of the delay in commencing the works was due to financial constraints.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mweene: Madam Speaker, as we know, the New Dawn Government has put priority in the education sector and so, I would like to request the hon. Minister to kindly put in a lot of effort so that works at the remaining schools like Frances Davison Primary School and Chilalantambo Primary School commence on time because we have insufficient classrooms. As we speak, most of our learners are learning from one classroom on shifts. I would like to find out from him when funds will be available so that works at Frances Davison Primary School can be quickened.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members! We are one.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I think my colleagues have partly answered my question, and …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Syakalima: … I, therefore, wish to state that these were provided for last year, and we finished them. So, since the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for 2023 is now trickling in, I am sure the money will be made available.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, there are two primary schools that the hon. Minister has indicated as those awaiting a contractor to move on site. Now, considering that the period that has passed since the damage happened is long, what could be the cause of the delay for the contractors moving on site?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I am not quite sure, but since I said the project awaits the contractor moving on site, it means there could have been problems that led to the contractor not moving on site. However, I may not state the real problem now because I basically do not know but a contractor will be moving on site. So, the hon. Member should be comforted that this one is not about negotiating. It is just awaiting the contractor moving on site.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The last question will be from the hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi.

Mr Mutinta (Itezhi-Tezhi): Madam Speaker, to what extent are the rehabilitated schools factoring in climate resilience so that we avert the potential disasters in the coming season?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I am sure they took care of that problem because no one would want a problem to recur and do a bad job. So, I am quite right. It is only that I have not been on the ground to inspect and I am not an engineer. I am sure engineers certified something. Sometimes, when a shoddy job is done, the roofs are blown off. So, if you want to go and rehabilitate, I think, care must be taken that the structure becomes resistant to any form of calamity that can befall the structure itself.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

STALLED CONSTRUCTION OF NSAMA DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

360. Mr Elias Musonda (Chimbamilonga) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

1. why the construction of Nsama District Administration offices has stalled;
2. when the project will resume;
3. at what stage of completion the project was, as of August, 2022;
4. what the cost of the outstanding works is; and
5. what the timeframe for the completion of the outstanding works is.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Madam Speaker, the construction of Nsama District Administration Offices stalled due to financial constraints. However, due to passage of time, the contract has since expired.

Madam Speaker, the project is expected to resume once a new contractor has been procured.

Madam Speaker, as of August, 2022, the project was at 70 per cent completion.

Madam Speaker, the cost of the outstanding works is K2,607,645.00.

Madam Speaker, the timeframe for the completion of the outstanding works is four months from commencement date.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Elias Musonda: Madam Speaker, once the new contractor has been procured, are we likely to have a timeline of activities that will culminate into the completion of these works?

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is asking for a timeline. I said four months from the start of the project to completion.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: I am sure the hon. Member is satisfied. He has not indicated to ask another question. So, do we make progress?

Mr Elias Musonda rose.

Madam Speaker: Oh, do you want to ask another question?

Mr Elias Musonda: I am done, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Oh, thank you very much.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS INSTALLATION AT PARLIAMENT AND GREAT EAST ROAD

JUNCTION

362. Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East) asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:

1. whether the Government has any plans to install traffic lights at the junction of Great East Road and Parliament Road in Lusaka;
2. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
3. if there are no such plans, why?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the Government has no plans to install traffic lights at the junction of Great East Road and Parliament Road in Lusaka as this would cause a traffic backlog on the Great East Road, especially at peak hours.

Madam Speaker, as stated at (a) above, there are no plans.

Madam Speaker, the Government has no plans to install traffic lights at the said junction as this may cause a backlog of traffic on the Great East Road especially at peak hours. The Great East Road is one of the major trunk roads designed to carry traffic which must relatively be uninterrupted.

Furthermore, Madam Speaker, my imagination is that probably, this question may have been lodged in before the flyover bridge was erected. Now, with this flyover bridge, it just becomes impractical to put traffic lights, especially that just a few yards just before or after, depending on which bound traffic you are on, there are traffic lights at Manda Hill.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister consider alternatives for the safety of hon. Members of Parliament because I do recall that in the past, there was a road traffic accident where an hon. Member of Parliament died at that very junction and now some kind of a barrier has been put and that helps only the Vice-President.

 

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the traffic accident that I recall having happened there that involved an hon. Member of Parliament involved Hon. Elias Miyanda, Member of Parliament for Kalomo at that time, back in the years. The very reason that barricade was put was to prohibit anybody coming from Parliament and he/she is town-bound trying to cross the road because it poses a big danger. Therefore, it goes without saying that, that was a preventive measure. So, if you are town-bound, you must just consider spending a few extra minutes right round the traffic circle at Arcades under the bridge and go to town as you may wish.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

PROCUREMENT OF HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT FOR MULOBEZI DISTRICT

HOSPITAL

364. Eng. Mabenga (Mulobezi) asked the Minister of Health:

1. when the following will be procured for Mulobezi District Hospital:

1. X-ray machines;
2. incubators;
3. infant resuscitator machines;
4. ambulance; and
5. utility motor vehicles; and
6. when the broken-down ambulance for the hospital will be repaired.

Mr Nkombo (on behalf of the Minister of Health (Mrs Masebo)): Madam Speaker, the Government provided the x-ray machine for Mulobezi District Hospital in 2018 that was installed at the hospital under the Japanese Grant for Social Economic Programme Support for the year 2017. The Japanese grant had seen thirteen digital x-ray machines procured by the Ministry of Health and Mulobezi District Hospital was a beneficiary with the official handover for all the thirteen digital x-ray machines done in January, 2019.

Madam Speaker, the Government intends to procure medical equipment through the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) which will include among others, incubators and infant resuscitator machines in a phased approach starting this year, 2023 for all public health facilities countrywide. Mulobezi District Hospital is expected to be a beneficiary of this Government initiative.

Madam Speaker, as regards the procurement of ambulances and utility vehicles, the Government has plans to procure 200 ambulances and utility vehicles to cater for the public health facilities across the country, including our beloved people of Mulobezi and Mulobezi District Hospital in particular. The procurement of these ambulances and utility vehicles will be implemented in a phased approach commencing this year, 2023.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that in the first phase, 2023, the Government has planned to procure a total of sixty ambulances comprising three neonatal ambulances, forty-six basic support ambulances and eleven advanced life support ambulances. Further, the House may wish to note that the Government through the Global Fund has procured fifteen Toyota Land Cruiser hard top motor vehicles for Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Tuberculosis (HIV/TB) programme support for the Western Province, the Copperbelt Province and Lusaka Province, and Mulobezi is in the Western Province.

Madam Speaker, in addition, plans are underway to procure ninety-eight more vehicles under the Global Fund for the last mile medicines and medical supplies distribution, but this is awaiting approval by the Global Fund.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to also note that the vehicle which the hon. Member is asking about is an old vehicle which services a vast tough terrain and region and the cost has been increasing significantly and may be too costly to start repairing now. However, the hospital has another Land Cruiser that is being used for emergency purposes.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Eng. Mabenga: Madam Speaker, I was in Mulobezi a few months ago, and there was a complaint from the hospital about the x-ray machines. I do not know, maybe, those x-ray machines are too old and cannot function now. So, is there any way in which the hon. Minister can help us to have those machines work?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Mulobezi for the information that this machine that was commissioned in 2019 is not functional. My encouragement to him is that the district health management team should have communicated this as soon as it discovered that the machine was malfunctioning, so that if there is anything that can be done to put it back into a serviceable condition, that could have been done.

Madam Speaker, I invite him to bring this matter before our office at the Ministry of Health so that someone there can pick it up and quickly check if it is serviceable. If it is not, I am sure that some effort can be made to try and replace it so that our people in Mulobezi Constituency can still continue to enjoy the facility that everyone so direly needs.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has just stated that the Government has intentions to procure medical equipment for health facilities across the country. Are there specific intentions to procure medical equipment for laparoscopies which are critical in medical surgeries for female related health conditions like uterine fibroids and others?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, the question appears to be soliciting further information than what the hon. Minister has said. It appears to be a new question. Hon. Member for Solwezi East, you can put in a fresh question if you want to ask about that. Hon. Member for Luena, you may proceed with your question.

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Madam Speaker, I have just heard the hon. Minister say that the Government is procuring ambulances in a phased manner. Are these the ambulances different from the ones to be procured using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the CDF ambulances are a completely different package from these ambulances that I am referring to here. I mentioned where the source of funding for these ambulances was coming from. I mentioned that it was from the Global Fund.

Madam Speaker, the initiative by this Government to ask or compel hon. Members of Parliament and their Ward Development Committees (WDCs) to go ahead and procure ambulances is to improve the health delivery system in our country. Furthermore, because we are working under a devolved function type of governance now, we thought that the CDF can be useful to ease the burden of the ever-rising emergences that our citizens continue to face.

Madam Speaker, a district or constituency like Kafue, for instance, which has a district hospital and several other health facilities, will need those ambulances. So, I can confirm that these ambulances from the CDF are a compliment to the existing Government effort to make the health delivery system for our people a lot smoother.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Eng. Mabenga: Madam Speaker, when are we likely to get these ambulances and utility vehicles?

 

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, I wish the hon. Member could be a little more specific in his question because now we have found ourselves talking about two sets of ambulances. The CDF ambulances will be procured as soon as the approval processes are concluded, fortunately, in the ministry that I am privileged to superintend. Regarding the other ambulances whose details I provided here, I was extremely clear that fifteen Toyota Land Cruiser hard top motor vehicles are already procured under the Global Fund. That is what I said.

Madam Speaker, I also stated that three neonatal ambulances had been procured at a cost of US$225,000. I also said that forty-six basic life support ambulances at cost of US$ 3.5million and an estimated cost for eleven advanced life support ambulances at US$ 935,000 had been procured.

Madam Speaker, remember, I said, this is coming from the Global Fund. So, I am appealing, ...

Laughter

Mr Nkombo: ... to the hon. Member to be a bit patient so that the ministry responsible can do its work of distributing these ambulances.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

PLANS TO MECHANISE AND BOOST RICE PRODUCTION IN CHITABMBO

365. Mr Kasandwe (Bangweulu) (on behalf of Mr Mutale (Chitambo)) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. what plans the Government has to mechanise and boost rice production in Chitambo District;
2. when the plans will be implemented; and
3. how many farmers are targeted to benefit from the exercise.

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crop Diversification Strategy (CDS) recognises rice as one of the strategic crops that contributes to food and nutrition security, and with potential to significantly increase incomes and employment among rural producers and as such, places rice among the highly prioritised crops. In this regard, the Government has plans to mechanise and boost rice production in Chitambo Constituency.

Madam Speaker, in 2023, the Government through the Agricultural Productivity and Market Enhancement Project (APMEP) procured and distributed mechanisation sets. These include:

1. one tractor ,90 HP;
2.  a combine harvester;
3.  a 28-row planter; and
4. two rippers.

Madam Speaker, this is in addition to the following equipment, which was delivered in between 2018 and 2021 under the same project:

1. two tractors ;
2. two ploughs;
3. two trailers;
4. a combine harvester ;
5.  boom sprayer;
6. planter; and
7.  two drying tents.

Further, Madam Speaker, the ministry is working in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on the promotion of seed multiplication for farmers, as seed is a critical input in rice production.

Madam Speaker, the plans to support farmers to boost rice production in Chitambo Constituency have, as indicated, already commenced and are currently being implemented.

Madam Speaker, finally, the whole mechanisation project is targeting fifty-six clusters, which comprise 3,200 farmers.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

DAMS CONSTRUCTION IN CHADIZA CONSTITUENCY

366. Mr J. Daka (Chadiza) asked the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation:

1. whether the Government has any plans to construct dams in Chadiza Parliamentary Constituency;
2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
3. how many dams were earmarked for construction in 2022;
4. what the estimated cost of the project was; and
5. if there are no such plans, why?

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Mr Mposha): Madam Speaker, this question was sent in 2022. However, yes, the Government has plans to construct dams in Chadiza Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, the implementation of the plans will commence after the completion of feasibility studies scheduled for 2023. The feasibility studies will establish the suitability of dam construction in Chadiza Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, there were no dams earmarked for construction in Chadiza Parliamentary Constituency in 2022. However, the Government did provide funds and maintained two dams in Chadiza, namely Chamandala Dam and Chamuchenga Dam.

Madam, the cost of the project can only be established after conducting the feasibility studies, surveys, detailed technical design drawings and Bill of Quantities (BoQs).

Madam Speaker, as indicated in the answer above, the Government has plans to construct dams not only in Chadiza Parliamentary Constituency, but also throughout the country.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. Daka: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the responses. For his own information, there are twenty-one dams in Chadiza, but twelve of them have been washed away and nine are in a deplorable condition.  Now, with climate change challenges, at a time when we are supposed to be promoting rain water harvesting, the infrastructure which was built a long time ago is being damaged, without any course of action on the side of the Government. Why is the Government failing to formulate policies biased towards maintenance than waiting for structures to be damaged completely?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, it is not true that we are not coming up with measures to undertake rehabilitation works on damaged dams. However, I think what is true is that there has been low investment or low financing in the water sector, including funds to go towards dams rehabilitation.

However, under this Government, I have indicated before, here in the House, that we have started an exercise to conduct an assessment to establish the state of dams throughout the country. These measures are meant to ensure that we provide more resources, first of all, towards the rehabilitation of existing dams, and secondly, to provide resources towards construction of new dams. So, I want to assure the hon. Member of Parliament and the House that my ministry is looking at undertaking rehabilitation works of dams in various parts of the country.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, this is a constituency-based question. So, let us not extend it.

Mr Chisanga (Lukashya): Madam Speaker, since this question was raised in 2022 and we are now in 2023, is the hon. Minister able to indicate to the House when exactly the Government is going to start undertaking feasibility studies as he stated?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, I think this question was addressed under (b) when I said that implementation of the plans would commence after completion of the feasibility studies scheduled for 2023. So, within this year, we are hoping that feasibility studies would have been carried out and completed. Thereafter, we can indicate when we will be able to proceed to undertake the works.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. Daka: Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of Chadiza, I am grateful for the manner in which the hon. Minister is responding to the questions relating to the constituency.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr J. Daka: However, we would want to take advantage now, …

Mr Mulenga: Ah, however?

Mr J. Daka: … and talk about a specific dam which is a major source of water supply for the central business district (CBD) and Nsadzu Ward, which is the Nsadzu Dam. It is the oldest dam we have and it was commissioned in 1976. The dam is heavily silted because of unsound agricultural practices and deforestation, of course. Does the ministry have any intentions of providing some form of intervention that would enhance the capacity or level of service of this dam which serves the masses of my constituency? In short, does the ministry have any short-term intervention measure to enhance the service levels of this dam?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, I know that this is a constituency-based question, but, let me use this opportunity to state that the situation obtaining in Chadiza is actually prevailing throughout the country. If you go around, for example, to Nyimba, the Southern Province, Ikeleng’i, and so on and so forth, you will note that the problems that are said to be in Chadiza are prevalent everywhere because there were no deliberate measures to inject more resources into this sector to address these problems.

Mr Nkandu: Hear, hear!

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, the same can be said about the road infrastructure and many others. So, what I want is to assure the hon. Member that we have put up measures to attend to those challenges not only in his constituency but also in the various constituencies throughout the country.

In fact, Madam Speaker, before close of this week, we will be sending a letter through the Clerk’s office to request certain information from hon. Members, and I think it should be able to assist us in dealing with issues of collecting information regarding the much-stressed areas in the various constituencies. So, that letter will be coming. Just to emphasise that the hon. Member should wait a little while because we are moving through the various constituencies as and when resources are availed to us to ensure that the various dams are worked on. The President has been emphatic on this issue that we need to ensure that we scale up in terms of the provision of water harvesting infrastructure. Further, as I said earlier, we are looking at first rehabilitating existing dams, and then providing more dams by construction new ones.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Sefulo (Mwandi): Madam Speaker, I am not very sure whether I heard the hon. Member for Chadiza well, did he say that he has twenty-one dams in one constituency? I am wondering because Mwandi has none. However, that is not what I want to ask about.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister spoke about feasibility studies and I think he said, riding on the answer he gave the hon. Member for Chadiza, that the ministry wants dams to be rolled out to all the 156 constituencies. Are there any feasibility studies going on in various constituencies in preparation for the roll out? I am very interested because as I have said, there is no dam in Mwandi.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister, since you decided to expand your answer, you may respond.

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, indeed, like you had guided that this is a constituency-based question, when I talked about the feasibility studies, I was speaking specifically to this question regarding Chadiza Constituency. However, for the other constituencies, as I said, my ministry is undertaking some assessments on various dams with a view to seeing what state those dams are in, and then begin to establish how much money will be required to bring them back to life and ensure that they harvest the intended quantities of water. So, the assessments are being carried out in various constituencies.

Hon. Member for Mwandi, if you have dams in Mwandi Constituency that are dilapidated, –

Ms Sefulo: I have none!

Mr Mposha: Oh, you have none.

So, basically, Madam Speaker, we will be talking about new dams. We will check various constituencies, and where hon. Members feel that a particular area or ward needs a dam, then we can direct our provincial officers to go and check. Once we mobilise resources, we will be able to direct them to the plan that we would have put in place based on the input of hon. Members’ and other stakeholders.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister will agree with me that Chadiza and the entire Eastern Province has a good number of perennial rivers and so, dams are heavily silted. At the end of the day, they burst because they cannot hold the sand and water at the same. In addition, you know that a good number of animals in the province are stolen because we do not have enough water to give them. A good number of our dams were constructed either during the colonial, pre-independence or in the United National Independence Party (UNIP) era. So, based on that and the poor maintenance record of our dams, and to avoid these dams being damaged, does the ministry have any plans of giving the provincial administration a dredger to be working on these dams? That way, the hon. Provincial Minister can easily monitor them to avoid colossal sums of money being spent on the dams such as the one in Chadiza. If we had a dredger, we would not have spent such kinds of money. Does the ministry have any plans to bring in a dredger to be cleaning up our dams?

Mr Mposha: Madam Speaker, we do not have plans, at the moment, to bring in a dredger. However, the assessments that we are conducting coupled with various consultations we are going to carry out, if they require us to engage the services of a dredger in the province, then at that stage, we will be able to consider it.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Twasa (Kasenengwa): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the hon. Minister has covered what I wanted to ask.

COMPLETION OF TOWNSHIP ROADS IN CHINSALI DISTRICT

367. Mr Mukosa asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:

1. when tarring of township roads in Chinsali District will be completed;
2. at what stage of completion, in percentage terms, the project was, as of August 2022;
3. what the contract sum for the project is;
4. when the contractor was last paid;
5. what the outstanding balance was, as of September 2022; and
6. when the outstanding balance will be paid.

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, tarring of Chinsali township roads should have been completed by April, 2022. However, it was not completed due to lack of funds.

Madam Speaker, as at August, 2022, physical progress for the project was at 55 per cent.

Madam, the contract sum of the project –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, when Business was suspended, I was saying the contract sum of this project was K526,944,827.31. The contractor was last paid in September, 2022. The outstanding balance as of September, 2022, is K62 million less Value Added Tax (VAT). The outstanding balance is being liquidated as and when funds are made available. Therefore, a specific timeline, unfortunately, cannot be given to the hon. Member.

Mr  Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, I would like to get confirmation from the hon. Minister if the contract for this project is currently active.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, how I wish this question was part of the substantive question. Unfortunately, I will have to consult with my office to see whether or not this contract is still on-going or it has expired or it has been terminated. At this point in time, I am unable to give a straight answer. However, I can grantee the hon. Member that answer if calls call me in 30 minutes. I will be able to give him the information from my office.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNICATION TOWERS IN MUFUMBWE CONSTITUENCY

368. Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe) asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

1. whether the Government has any plans to construct communication towers in the following wards in Mufumbwe Parliamentary Constituency:

1. Miluji;
2. Shimpandanga;
3. Matushi; and
4. Kashima; and

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

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government undertook a gap analysis in the fourth quarter of 2022 that established the gaps in the following wards:

1. Miluji Ward was captured in the gap analysis report and it revealed that a 56 m tower has been recommended since it is an unserved area. The construction of this communication tower will be undertaken in 2023.
2. according to the result of the gap analysis report, Shimpandanga Ward will be covered through optimisation of existing towers in the nearby location to provide network in the area.
3. the House may wish to note that Matushi Ward area is sufficiently covered by all the three mobile network operators. The plan of the Government is to optimise the existing towers to ensure that coverage reaches the unserved areas.
4. Kashima East Ward has been captured in the gap analysis report and a 75 m tower has been recommended. The construction of this tower will be undertaken in 2023.

Mr Speaker, in view of the response given in part (a) of the question, part (b) of the question automatically falls off.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the answers that he has provided to the people of Mufumbwe. I also thank him for his responses because those are the challenges we are facing in Miluji and Shimpandanga areas. Providing network in the areas in issue will mean that our people will also benefit from what other people in other parts of Zambia are benefiting from. However, the hon. Minister may be aware that in Kashima East and Kashima West, there is a depression which was actually named after him following an accident he had there. He would agree with me that the depression does not have network and the hon. Minister has told us that we will be given a communication tower in 2023. Is this communication tower going to also cover Kashima West or it will just be in Kashima East where we have the Mutati depression?

Laughter

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the location is quite familiar for a different reason and the reason we are putting a 75 m tower as opposed to the 56 m standard tower is for it to be able to cover both wards.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to ask a supplementary question. It is good to note that the ministry is giving a 75 m tower to the people of Mufumbwe. We would also like to thank the Government for the towers that he built in Bahati. I would like to know if the towers being put up are coming with a component of a fibre linkage. Towers that are connected by fibre are reliable, more effective and they have fast internet connectivity. The tower to tower microwave communication is quite slow. So, are these towers coming with fibre linkage?

Mr Mutelo indicated to rise on a point of order.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, I think we will take that into consideration. For now, we are just erecting the towers in those two places. However, we shall take into consideration that additional request.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Mr Speaker, I was indicating for a point of order. So, may I be allowed to raise it?

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

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, according to Standing Order No. 66 (1), unparliamentary, offensive, provocative and insulting language is not allowed in the honourable House, your House. I had to go and seek recourse to the verbatim.

 

Mr Speaker, according to the Hansard, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali, Mr Mukosa, when he was asking a supplementary question to the hon. Minister of Agriculture, said the following:

 

“Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Agriculture, Mr Matole Phiri, …”

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, he then went ahead without further interpreting what the word Matole is and we have allowed this to go into the Hansard even for our children to see. Was the hon. Member in order to say Mr Matole in this House and to refer to the hon. Minister of Agriculture like that?

I seek your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Member. I think I need to study the matter.

Give me ample time to study the matter so that I can look at the wording carefully, knowing very well that, that is a very heavy word. So, I reserve my ruling.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: The hon. Minister knows!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I need to consult the verbatim.

Mr Chisanga: Consult the hon. Minister!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: No, give me ample time. Let us make progress.

Mr Chisanga: The hon. Minister knows.

REVENUE COLLECTION IN TOLL FEES ON THE GREAT NORTH ROAD FROM KAPIRI MPOSHI TO NAKONDE

369. Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning:

(a)     how much revenue in toll fees on the Great North Road from Kapiri Mposhi to Nakonde was collected from September, 2021 to August 2022; and

(b)     how the money was utilised.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that there are three collection toll points on the Great North Road between Kapiri Mposhi and Nakonde, and these are:

1. George Kunda Toll Station in Mkushi;
2. Chilonga Toll Station in Mpika; and
3. Nakonde Border.

Mr Speaker, a total of K793 million was collected in toll fees from these stations from September, 2021 to August 2022. The breakdown of the amounts collected for each toll gate is as follows:

Toll Station               September to               January to                   Total (K)

                                  December 2021          August 2022               

               

George Kunda          21 million                    39 million                    60 million

Chilonga                   15 million                    31 million                    46 million

Nakonde                   226 million                  461 million                  687 million

Mr Speaker the grand total for toll fees collected from George Kunda, Chilonga and Nakonde toll gates was K793 million.

Mr Speaker, the K793 million collected at these three toll stations formed part of the basket of funds for the road sector and was utilised in line with the Road Sector Annual Work Plan. Some of the projects that have benefited from the revenue from the three toll gates during the stated period include the following:

1. payments for routine maintenance, K105.2 million;
2. pothole patching works on the Great North Road, K1,120,000;
3. various feeder roads contracted under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Kapiri Mposhi, Mkushi, Serenje, Mpika, Chinsali, Isoka and Nakonde, K66.7 million; and
4. urban road works in Chinsali, K6.55 million.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chanda: Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the hon. Minister for this detailed response. I think it brings a lot of joy to those of us who are using this particular road.

Mr Speaker, the essence of asking this question was basically to find out if there is a mechanism for ensuring that a percentage of the funds raised from these particular roads, be it the Great North Road, where we have tolling, can be dedicated to maintaining a particular road, in this case, the Great North Road. I think that would be my first follow-up question to the hon. Minister.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: So, is that a suggestion?

Mr Chanda: Mr Speaker, it is a question. Is there a percentage dedicated to this particular road, ploughing back into its rehabilitation? If you look at the state of the road versus what this road has generated, you will see that there is a very sharp contradiction.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I do not think the hon. Minister would be capable of answering that because that is the work of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning just raises money. So, who apportions the money? How is it divided? It is the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. Unless the hon. Minister himself wants to shed light, but that is the work of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, thank you very much, and I thank the hon. Member. Indeed, the function of the Treasury is to allocate funds to all the sectors, including the road sector. It is the sector ministry that now makes provisions depending on how it sees the priorities at that particular time. However, let me also say that for the time being, there is no formula like that, which says that because we have collected so much from this station, therefore, the money stays. That formula does not exist at the moment, the reason being that the national Government takes total responsibility for the roads. For example, on the Great North Road that we are talking about, there is money beyond what is being collected here, which is being used on I think the Chinsali/Nakonde Road. On top of that, I believe there is another portion which is being worked on right now, I cannot remember exactly where. Earlier on this year, I said that among the funds that are being collected, or what we are negotiating for, is the World Bank financing, which is envisaged to work on the Serenje/Mpika Road. This is done in the context of total solution at the national level for key national roads such as this one.

Mr Speaker, of course, it would also be problematic to say that because this money has been collected in Nakonde, therefore, spend it in Nakonde. The question is, okay, it has been collected in Nakonde, but who says that the payer of that money is a resident of Nakonde? He could be a resident of Lusaka, he could be a resident of Chipata, he could be a resident of another place. So, these are some of the complexities. Of course, you could also extend that to the mining sector and the electricity sector, that electricity levy must all come from Kariba. So, it creates all sorts of problems. For now, the thing is to put the money into one pot and then you say let us divide this as equitably as possible so that every portion of the country receives something to do with roads, including those areas where nothing is collected because they are part of our society.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Sefulo: Mr Speaker, I listened attentively as the hon. Minister was giving these figures of funds that were raised in 2021 and 2022. I have seen a significant increase in the revenue collection and toll fees from January, 2021 to January, 2022 as compared to what was raised in 2021. What does the hon. Minister attribute this increase in revenue collection to? There is more than 100 per cent increase in this revenue collection. Where –

Mr Nkombo: Good question. That is why you defeated Iris.

Laughter

Ms Sefulo: What does the hon. Minister attribute the increase to?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Mwandi for that question. I know what she wants to hear.

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane: What she wants to hear is that this Government is more transparent, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: … more caring and looks after money. However, unfortunately, I cannot be very conclusive on that because the first portion is a collection between September and December. So, September, October, November, December, it is four months. The other one we are comparing with is January to August, which is –

Hon. Government Member: Under PF.

Dr Musokotwane: This was under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), I mean under the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Interruptions

Hon. Member: Slip of the tongue.

Dr Musokotwane: It was a slip of the tongue, yes.

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane: So, the other one, which is January to August, how many months are those? Eight months. So, obviously, from what you collect in eight months and what you collect in four months, there has to be a difference. So, I would, for now, argue that the periods are the ones that are determining the differences in these amounts.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, thank you for permitting the good people of Lubansenshi to ask a supplementary question through me.

 

Mr Speaker, I followed the hon. Minister well when he said his ministry would manage to raise K793 million, which was very good. This means that, indeed, the Government put in place good mechanisms to have that kind of money. Would the hon. Minister kindly share with this honourable House how, in future, he intends to prioritise areas that are really generating income so that at the end of the day, other sectors can be encouraged to perform better.

Mr Speaker, I am asking this question because right now, the people along the Great North Road and Nakonde Border itself are still complaining that they are subjected to bad roads in that region and others. My question is: What is the ministry in charge of budget and expenditure doing to ensure that, indeed, there are real benefits to the people of Zambia?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Although that is a different question altogether, the hon. Minister may respond.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I think I did indicate that these toll fees are collected at each toll station, but rather than earmarking those monies for the place where they have been collected, the money goes in a common pot. So, from that common pot, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development would now say in the Eastern Province such and such roads are in a very poor state and also state which roads in Luapula Province are in a very poor state and so on and so forth. Then, we equitably give each place something.

I also mentioned the fact that it is problematic to say, because you collected this money in Nakonde, therefore, it must remain in Nakonde. I asked a question: How do you know that the majority of the people paying taxes at Nakonde Border are actually residents of Nakonde? They may be residents of the Copperbelt where there are also challenges in roads. They may be residents of Lusaka where there are also challenges in roads. They may be the residents of Mporokoso where there are also challenges in roads. So, how can you say because this money was collected from Nakonde, the majority of it must go to Nakonde? It cannot work like that. Next time, you will say, the all the electricity levy comes from Kariba in the Southern Province and Kafue. Is Kafue in the Southern Province or the Central Province? It is in Lusaka Province.

Mr Mabeta: It is in the Southern Province.

Dr Musokotwane: It is in the Southern Province. Itezhi-Tezhi is in the Southern Province. Therefore, all the money or the majority it for rural electrification or any electrification must just be in the Southern Province. Would that be a correct thing to do? No. So, let us just accept. We are One Zambia, One Nation. The money goes into a single pot and then we share equitably.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mabeta (Kankoyo): Mr Speaker, I was just reading the update from the National Roads Funds Agency (NRFA) over the collection of toll fees between January this year and May. It shows that the NRFA has already collected K1.1 billion, which is an indication that, indeed, the number of citizens who are willing to contribute to national development is increasing.

Sir, is the money collected from toll gates only used for road maintenance or it is also sometimes used for other Government activities? If we collect K3 billion this year, are we going to spend K3 billion on road maintenance?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, indeed, the hallmark of this Government is financial discipline. One of the aspects of that is, if you have earmarked a certain fund for a specific purpose, that money must go to that specific purpose, and not to collect money for roads, then go and spend it on parties or other things, no. So, I can confirm that every ngwee that is collected from the tolls is given back to the road sector. On top of that, there is extra money that is put in from the Budget.

Mr Speaker, if it had been this Government that borrowed US$10 billion for roads construction, I think the facelift of Zambia would be totally different from what you are seeing today.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chanda: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Minister for his responses. Road users out there would want to know how much these roads are generating and what is coming from the toll gates. So, this sort of information is very critical for the road users out there, as they attach what they are paying to the state of the roads they are driving on.

Mr Speaker, I was going to respond to what the hon. Minister has closed with. However, I think he has taken the question out of my mouth with that sort of submission. Let me just thank him for the sort of transparency around toll gates and this information. Thank you so much.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkandu: Ema MP aba.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I think that was a comment.

Mr Chanda: Yes, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

Mr Menyani Zulu: Mr Speaker, I am happy with the hon. Minister because he said all the money collected is put in one pot and from that pot, the Government distributes to where there are needs. The Government distributes to constituencies or districts like Nyimba, Nangoma and Nakonde which have toll gates.

Mr Speaker, there are questions from the residents of these areas where toll gates are situated. Some are situated about 4 km or 10 km from their towns. People pay K20 for a car and K150 for a truck. I will give you a practical example of Kapiri Mposhi town, which is along the Great North Road. In addition, I can give you an example of Nyimba, which is along the Great East Road.

So, if the Government was putting the money together and distributing it equitably, these townships or districts would have had tarmacs. However, there is no single tarmac, but people from these districts pay toll fees. Yes, there are people who come from Shangombo who pass through the toll gates and pay. Furthermore, during the rainy season, the locals in the said districts cannot even drive to the hospital, which is barely 1 km away.

Ms Sefulo: Just comment!

Mr Menyani Zulu: Iwe.

Laughter

Mr Menyani Zulu: Mr Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning is: With this prudent collection of money that the hon. Minister has given us, does the Government have plans to see to it that as it is distributing money from the central pot, a certain portion is given to areas where the toll gates are situated so that people from those districts can also appreciate what is there?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the question. I believe that this question has been asked in different forms and I have answered. So, my answer will not be different from what I have said before. Therefore, I thank the hon. Member for the suggestion that he has made.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Mbapashe.

 

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): It is not Mbapashe, Mr Speaker, but Pambashe.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is correct in stating that according to the Tolls Act, the toll fees that are collected are to be used for road rehabilitation, road maintenance and road construction. Further, those who live within the 10 km radius where the toll gates are constructed are entitled to what is called ‘the local user discount’. So, they only pay K5 and not K20. Those who traverse the toll gate more than ten times pay frequent user discount which is also at 80 per cent a month. So, if they move for more than ten times, they qualify for that so that the records are set straight.

Mr Speaker, the increase could be attributed to the increase in traffic volume. Bearing in mind that there are all these benefits that are coming, I agree with the hon. Minister that he has to look at his country and so, I thank him for all the answers. The money collected goes to Control 99 before it goes to the Toll Fees Account. How frequent is the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) funded after the collection and how long does it take for the money to move from Control 99 to the Road Tolls Account? We would like to know so that we can hold the NRFA to account in terms of why we are not paying road contractors, why are we not doing road rehabilitation and road construction.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

I think that question was not – Hon. Minister, are you in a position to know?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I am afraid this is a detail that I did not expect. The only assurance I can give the hon. Member is that every ngwee that is collected from the toll gates is invested back in the road sector without any exception. I am sorry I cannot answer the question on how frequent the money is released because the detail is too much.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Chonya (Kafue): Madam Speaker, I also want to appreciate the question from my colleague, the hon. Member of Parliament for Nyimba which the hon. Minister took note of because, indeed, it is a frustration for people who live in Kafue to have these deplorable roads when they frequently pass through these toll gates and pay. However, since the money collected for from toll fees are meant for maintenance and construction of roads, is there any road we can specifically point at that has been financed using money collected from toll gates money in terms a new construction since we took over and prudent as we are?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Member. I am sorry, but I have to intervene. I think those are details that the hon. Minister may not be able to respond to off-the-cuff because they also involve another ministry, which the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Let us make progress.

Laughter

CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH IN LUBANSENSHI

370. Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts:

(a)     what measures the Government is taking to create employment opportunities for the youth in Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency;

(b)     what the targeted sector for job creation is; and

 

(c)     how many jobs are earmarked for creation in 2023.

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts (Mr Nkandu): Mr Speaker, I thought I should be very clear.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member may wish to note that the Government has provided employment opportunities to the Zambian youths through, firstly, the recruitment of young people in the education sector. Further, the hon. hon. Member may wish to note that about 381 teachers were recruited and I believe that 98 per cent are the young people. About 97 per cent were also recruited under the Ministry of Health. I believe that 98 per cent are the young people. So, close to about 500 jobs were created in Lubansenshi alone.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member may also wish to note that apart from the education sector, we also have the health sector, as I had indicated, and the defence wings which are recruiting. We have work in tourism, agriculture, small and medium enterprises and mining just to mention but a few.

 Laughter

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament may also wish to note that we have been providing grants, loans and contracts under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), obviously.

Hon. PF Members: In Lubansenshi.

Mr Nkandu: Yes, jobs are being created in Lubansenshi.

Mr Mabeta: Correct!

Mr Nkandu: Recently, I was in Lubansheshi giving out grants and close to about 220 young people were given empowerment funds under the National Youth Scheme.

Hon. Opposition Members: Tantameni.

Mr Nkandu:  You can call it whatever you want, but it is an empowerment programme.

Laughter

Mr Nkandu: Further, Mr Speaker, the ministry implements youth empowerment programmes countrywide, ultimately benefiting the youths of Lubansenshi. The measures to foster youth employment include skills training, provision of economic grants through the National Youth Scheme, as I said earlier, placement of interns, volunteers and graduates through the National Youth Internship Volunteer and Graduate Programme and general empowerment programmes.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament may further wish to note that youth empowerment programmes will be implemented in a multi-sectoral approach in order to increase employment opportunities for the youths by providing skills training and general empowerment programmes that target job-rich sectors such as agriculture, education, tourism, health, mining, manufacturing and construction industry.

Mar Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament again, may wish to note that the ministry has no set targets in Lubansenshi regarding the employment creation for the youth However, it should be noted that the ministry creates youth employment opportunities through youth empowerment programmes and the provision of youth skills training. In this regard, the ministry has a target of empowering about 22,500 youths at the national level and 10,000 with skills training, …

Hon. Member interjected.

Laughter

Mr Nkandu: …12,500 youths with grants and equipment, under the Graduate Empowerment Programme in order to spur youth self-employment in 2023. Nevertheless, it should be noted that empowerment of the youth will be dependent on the number of applications received by the ministry from your constituency.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chewe: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the response. Now, since the hon. Minister has said that about 500 or so youths have been given jobs starting from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and even the defence wing, is the hon. Minister able to assure the people of Lubansenshi, especially the youths, that the same gesture will be replicated even in 2024.

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the follow-up question. I want to indicate that under the National Youth Development Strategy by the New Dawn Administration, this is not a one-off thing. This is a continuous process because we inherited a huge mountain of unemployed youths. Obviously, we cannot just sit without finding interventions or solutions to the plight of the youths. So, this is a continuous programme. Even next year, we will be employing. I am very sure that when the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning comes here to present the National Budget, obviously, there will be some indications that next year, we will employ the same young people. So, it is a continuous programme.

Mr J. E. Banda (Petauke Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving the good people of Petauke Central Constituency, through me, this opportunity to ask a follow-up question to the hon. Minister of imisepela, the youths. The youths of Lubansenshi are very worried, as you know I am a researcher, and according to my research, I told you that only 30 per cent of our youths are educated while 70 per cent are not, yet the Government is only giving hope to those who fall under the 30 per cent bracket. What about the 70 per cent who are not educated, what hope are you giving them?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. researcher for Petauke Central for that very important follow-up question. The research that this honourable House has been treated to is questionable, first and foremost.

Laughter

Mr Mposha: Even himself is questionable

Mr Nkandu: We may even question when the hon. Member for Petauke Central Constituency conducted that type of research. However, we will give him a benefit of the doubt by saying that this Government has not only looked at people who are educated but everyone. When you look at the empowerment programmes under the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development, you will see that we are not only considering those with academic papers. Everyone is included.

Mr Mposha: Including himself.

Laughter

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, when it comes to implementing the empowerment programmes under the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts in constituencies or districts, we are not only giving empowering the educated ones, but everyone because we understand that every youth wants these empowerment programmes. Now, the only thing that the hon. Member should do is to encourage young people to go to school. I think that is very important.

Mr Mposha: There is free education now.

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, he should not just always cry for those who have not yet acquired a skill.

Mr Speaker, when you look at the CDF, you will see that it is not only considering those with education backgrounds. Everyone can go to acquire a skill. There are people who are rearing goats or chickens, they are involved in many activities. So, I think, it is important for all of us Members of Parliament to encourage our constituents to go to school as the President always indicates that education is an equaliser. In fact, we have done a favour to some of you, researchers.

Laughter

Mr Nkandu: There is a free education policy. People will not be able to pay anything. So, as hon. Members of Parliament, take advantage of these very good opportunities where your constituents will be able to acquire skills and also get back to school. I think that is important.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

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

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

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts said that they have us done a favour by introducing free education. By “they” I think, he means the Government has done a favour to the researchers or hon. Members of Parliament. Now –

Mr Kabuswe: What is your point of order?

Mr Mukosa: Mwebamyemfu naimwe, ikaleni fye.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

There was a point of order that was raised against –

Mr Mukosa: Balembalafye.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, resume your seat.

Mr Mukosa resumed his seat.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: There was a point of order that was raised against you over unpalatable language, but then you continue in a similar manner. You said imyemfu.

Mr Mukosa interjected.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Myemfu, may be myemfu when you are friends and you are joking, but we are not here for jokes. We are here for business. I have not left amake Senza to come and joke here. I am here for business.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: So, avoid that word myemfu and replace it or withdraw it. Withdraw it.

Mr Mposha: And apologise!

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, I gladly withdraw the word, …

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: And apologise.

Mr Mukosa: … imyemfu and apologise. I replace it with beards. The man with beards.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: No, you do not necessarily have to say that.

Mr Mukosa: It is a description. He has a beard. He has kept a beard.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: No, no, no, no! It is not necessary for you to say that.

Mr Mukosa: Okay, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development with a beard.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: All of us are hon. Members in this House.

Mr Mukosa: We can proceed, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: May you resume your seat, hon. Member.

Mr Emmanuel Banda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, I understand that there is a Constituency Development Fund (CDF) component specifically for the youths. Therefore, my question is: Does it mean that the caring Government of the New Dawn took care of the 70 per cent youths that the researcher mentioned, who have no formal qualifications to be employed by the Government? The youths in the 70 per cent bracket, are they catered for in the skills training component so that they go to school and then they can still have something to do?

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the compliments. Indeed, this is a very caring Government. Partly, I would say yes, the CDF has also taken care of a certain percentage of that 70 per cent. Apart from that, I also mentioned that the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development and the Ministry of Agriculture are also taking care of the same 70 per cent. My ministry is also taking care of the 70 per cent.

Mr Speaker, I just came back from the Eastern Province where we gave out about 120 motorcycles to youths. The recipients do not have any formal education. They are in the 70 per cent and they will be taking care of their families using those motorcycles. Apart from that, I said, we are also giving grants and loans. So, the 70 per cent has been swallowed by the respective ministries, but it does not mean we have given grants to everyone. There is also a certain percentage we are about to tackle. So, as we progress, definitely, looking at the huge mountain of unemployed youths we inherited from a certain Government, obviously, we are going to fix it.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mposha: We know it. We know that Government.

Mr Mabeta: Mr Speaker, in my constituency, 320 Jerabos with very little education qualifications, –

Hon. PF Members: What are Jerabos?

Mr Mabeta: The Jerabos in Kankoyo –

Interruptions

Mr Mabeta: 340 Jerabos, through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), …

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

What do you mean by Jerabos?

Mr Mabeta: Mr Speaker, these are small-scale miners. We are miners in Kankoyo. So, we mine at different levels. So, we are small-scale miners.

Interjections

Mr Mabeta: Mr Speaker, these Jerabos who were just surviving on scavenging from the mines were given an opportunity to go to school and some have been employed. The CDF skills training programme has given them an opportunity to go to school to get a skill and they are now working in the mines. So, my question to the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts is: is this Government not really caring for the underprivileged in our society by giving us this resource?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I think it is a comment. You are merely commenting, are you not?

Hon. Members: It is a comment.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: It is a comment. There is no need for the hon. Minister to respond. The hon. Member for Lubansenshi Constituency will be the last one to ask a question.

Mr Chewe: Mr Speaker, we are dealing with the lives of the people of Zambia, in particular, the people of Lubansenshi Constituency. I am happy that there are such plans and some are being implemented. However, I would like to bring to the hon. Minister’s attention, as I ask a supplementary question, that giving grants of K40,000 to a club of about forty or fifty people is a bit temporary. Does the ministry have intentions of engaging us hon. Members of Parliament, for instance, by sitting with us and sharing more ideas on how, together, we can help the youths in terms of job creation? I am convinced that in each and every constituency, we are able to establish something big. For instance, the establishment of mines and irrigations schemes can help create jobs. The establishment of timber processing plants and many other plants that bring about value addition can also create jobs and sort out problems in this country.

Mr Speaker, my question is: Does the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Arts have plans of sitting with hon. Members of Parliament and exchange notes?

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, firstly, we should never create an impression that the giving of grants is temporary. We are sending a very negative statement, and I believe that we should not go that route. When you empower an individual with K1000, K2000 or K5000 – I know, we may have hon. Members of Parliament here who started their businesses with just a K500 and today, they are millionaires.

Mr Mubika: Jay Jay.

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, so, when we are giving grants, please, let us encourage our young people to take care of those grants so that they can earn a living out of them. So, I thought I should make that clear.

Mr Speaker, again, I said that as the New Dawn Administration, we have the National Youth Development Strategy in which we have programmes like the internship programme. In fact, the hon. Member’s district, Luwingu, has also benefitted from the internship programme. That is in our quest to alleviate unemployment levels which the hon. Member for Lubansenshi and his Government created. We are trying by all means to make sure that more of our young people are given jobs. We need to create job opportunities for our young people, especially that creating more jobs and job opportunities for the young people was one of our campaign messages, and we are doing just that.

 

Mr Speaker, in responding to the hon. Member’s question, I would like to say that we do not have the monopoly of wisdom. When he has progressive ideas, he should come to us and we will definitely implement those progressive policies. Obviously, we are going to sieve. When he brings an idea which cannot take us anywhere, we will sieve it. When he brings an idea which will take us somewhere, we will go along with it.

Mr Mposhi: We will agree.

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, with that, I want to thank you most sincerely for this opportunity.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

_______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1808 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 13^th July, 2023.

____________

LAPSED QUESTION

PROCUREMENT OF HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT FOR MULOBEZI DISTRICT

HOSPITAL

364. Eng. Mabenga (Mulobezi) asked the Minister of Health:

1. when the following will be procured for Mulobezi District Hospital:

1. x-ray machines;
2. incubators;
3. infant resuscitator machines;
4. ambulance; and
5. utility motor vehicles; and
6. when the broken-down ambulance for the Hospital will be repaired.

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct communication towers in all parts of the country including in Chipangali Constituency. To this effect, the Government undertook a gap analysis in the fourth quarter of 2022 which revealed that Chipangali Parliamentary Constituency has prioritised nine out of the fourteen sites for the construction of communication towers in Musandile to be located at Mgwazo Primary School, Nthope to be located at Chanyumbu Primary School, Madziatuwa to be located at Madziatuwa Primary School, Mafuta Lukuzye to be located at Sonjola Primary School, Nsingo to be located at Nyafinzi Primary School and Makangila to be located at Makwelelo Community School. The remaining five sites will be considered in the next phase of the project.

Madam Speaker, the plans to construct communication towers in identified sites will be implemented in phases starting with two in 2023.

Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct communication towers in Chipangali Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, no, the entire constituency will not be fully covered in the current phase for 2023. The plan for the other sites is to have them implemented in a phased manner starting in 2024 and this will be determined by the availability of resources.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.