DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Thursday, 23rd February, 2012

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______ 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

REVISED GLOBAL YELLOW FEVER RISK MAP AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VACCINATION

The Minister Health (Dr Kasonde): Mr Speaker, I have been advised to avoid any preambular notes, but proceed straight to my statement. 
        
Laughter

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for this opportunity to address this House and the nation at large on the revised Global Yellow Fever Risk Map and recommendations for vaccination.
    
Mr Speaker, my statement is aimed at highlighting the new criteria for classification of countries for risk according to the prevalence of yellow fever cases, the disease pattern of yellow fever and some of the measures that may be put in place to control it.

Mr Speaker, I would like to start by briefing the House and the nation at large that the revised Global Yellow Fever Risk Map and recommendation for vaccination came about as a result of deliberations of a meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2010, at which the WHO reviewed its global yellow fever risk and recommendations for vaccination. This followed consensus on the WHO working group on geographic risk of yellow fever. 

Mr Speaker, yellow fever is an acute and often fatal infectious disease caused by the yellow fever virus transmitted in tropical and sub-tropical regions, mainly through the bite of infected species of the mosquito, one type that applies to Africa and another which applies to South America. 

Countries are classified for risk according to the extent of prevalence of yellow fever cases that have been identified. The classification is broken into endemic, transitional, low potential for exposure and no risk. With the new criteria, Zambia’s status has been re-classified from no risk to low risk. This means that the risk for infection in Zambia is low and vaccination is not generally recommended for all travellers coming to Zambia, but may be requested from those travelling from countries that are endemic, transitional or low potential for exposure. 
    
Mr Speaker, because Zambia hass a low potential for exposure, travellers from Zambia into other countries may be requested to prove vaccination status. Low potential for exposure means that Zambia has areas along its boundaries which would fall under the following categories: 

(i)bordering countries where yellow fever is endemic or transitional. This is the category under which Zambia comes because we border Angola and Namibia, where there is yellow fever. The other three do not apply to Zambia. However, I will present them just for your knowledge; 

(ii)countries that have yellow fever vectors and non-human hosts present would also fall under the same category;

(iii)countries where there are reports of yellow fever infections detected in either human beings or non-human primates; and 

(iv)countries that have shown blood tests or other evidence of low levels of yellow fever viral transmission in either population, in the past, would also fall under the same category.   
    
Mr Speaker, South Africa and Tanzania have recently announced that all Zambians travelling to those counties will need to produce evidence of yellow fever vaccination, as a result of the revised classification of Zambia into a low risk country. 

Mr Speaker, allow me to brief the House and the public on the disease pattern of yellow fever. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of fever, a relatively slow pulse and headache. The temperature can be as high as 39 or 40 Degrees Centigrade. The skin becomes flushed and the eyes become red. 

Additional symptoms may be those of nausea, vomiting, constipation and muscle pains, especially of the neck, back and legs, restlessness and irritability. After a few days, approximately three to nine, fever returns and jaundice (yellow eyes) may appear and the patient begins vomiting black vomit. The disease is diagnosed or confirmed by laboratory tests which are easily available in Zambia and the death rate among those who contract the disease is somewhere around 10 per cent. 

Mr Speaker, prevention of yellow fever can be achieved through vaccination. The vaccine is available in our public health institutions to the travelling public and because it is not a part of routine immunisations, there may be a small fee charged. This vaccination will offer immunity for a period of ten years. The vaccination must be given, at least, ten days before the travel date. 

I am happy to inform this august House that thirty-four vaccination centres have been commissioned countrywide and, also, to assure the House, as we stated earlier today, that the concern about lack of vaccines has been resolved and that need not worry hon. Members.

It must be remembered, however, that when one acquires yellow fever, there is no definitive treatment. However, supportive treatment which is aimed at alleviating symptoms is available and there is a need for the patient to be confined to bed rest.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, allow me to state that because Zambia has been classified as having a low potential for exposure, travellers from Zambia into other countries may be requested to prove vaccination status. It is, therefore, imperative that Zambians travelling outside the country know their yellow fever vaccination status and carry an approved yellow fever vaccination booklet provided on vaccination at designated centres.

In addition, Zambians travelling abroad must take interest in learning about the risk status of the countries they are travelling to so that they can take the necessary measures before departure.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

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

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, now that Zambians are required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination in countries like Tanzania and South Africa, how accessible are these vaccination centres and what is the actual vaccination fee?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I appreciate that the hon. Member for Mafinga would be particularly concerned, bordering with another country that is asking for yellow fever vaccination. In terms of access, I have, in fact, attached to my presentation a list of all centres that are allowed and mandated to give these vaccinations. This will be available with the document I have submitted. In addition, we shall publish, in the newspapers, so that everybody knows what the nearest point is for them.

Mr Muntanga: Lay it on the Table.

Dr Kasonde: It is on the Table.

Mr Muntanga: Ooh!

Dr Kasonde: Yes, Sir.

With regard to the fee, this really differs between those that are private and those that are public. I do not have a figure for the private, but for the public it is a very nominal fee. It should have been K3,000, but I know that there have been variations to it which is a practice relating more to the practice of the individuals than to what they have been instructed to do.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Chituwo (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister about the countries that have a higher risk than Zambia, the countries we border with, Namibia and Angola. Considering that our borders are porous, are there any special measures put in place to have the residents in those border areas vaccinated, as we are aware that the countries engage in cross-border trade?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, that is a very important question. We do not have control over the practices of our neighbours and, perhaps, may it remain so. However, this, as I said, was a conclusion arrived at by the WHO. We have received the information through the WHO, which at the same time, has communicated to all African countries. I would like to think that our neighbours will follow those instructions and, in that case, we can, perhaps, feel a little safer.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I am aware that, currently, the Ministry of Health, through the Lusaka Urban District Health Management Board (LUDHMB), charges K400,000 for yellow fever vaccination. I would like the hon. Minister to indicate to this House whether he has issued instructions to reduce that fee of K400, 000 to K3, 000?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, as I tried to point our earlier, the figure that was given varied in various places for various reasons and it has been a matter of great concern to me partly as an hon. Minister and also as a traveller that any figure has been plucked from anywhere and used. I think it is our duty, and I agree with the hon. Member, that we should make clear of what the official figure is, whether or not it will conform to that figure now. However, I know that it is our duty to issue to the public as well as the staff what the correct figure is. I accept responsibility and we will do that.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, if I heard the hon. Minister correctly, he said that we have now been reclassified to a low potential for exposure to yellow fever category. May I know what we omitted or did not do, as a nation, for this reclassification?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member will be glad to know that we did not omit anything. In fact, my reading of history is that the last case of yellow fever was recorded and published in 1943. There have been other suggestions, but not proven. Therefore, there is nothing that we did not do and nothing that my ministry has not done, but it is entirely because we are the neighbours of countries that do have the disease.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, my concern arises from the fact that we had to wait until our people travelling to South Africa had to be subjected to harassment and haranguing before our Government could come in and tell us what is happing. I would like to know when the hon. Minister learnt about this reclassification from the WHO.

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, the meeting at which this decision was made was held in 2010 and was published for the first time to the scientific community in the Lancet Journal in August, 2010. It is possible that there were administrative concerns by a government, but it would not have been the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, which on entry into office immediately took up the issue, hence the announcement.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, recently, Muvi Television exposed the existence of some illegal clinics in the townships. What measures has the Government put in place to ensure that such clinics do not give vaccinations illegally?

Dr Kasonde: Sir, our position has been that we produce a list of health practitioners that are mandated to offer this service. In the event that any member of the public chooses to go to a traditional healer or a clinic which is not registered, we would not wish to take the responsibility for that choice.

Thank you, Sir.

Ms Siliya (Petauke): Mr Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister clearly informed the House how serious yellow fever is. I wish to find out if there is restricted access to the yellow fever vaccination books because there are many instances where citizens travelling to countries where there is a high risk of yellow fever just pay medical officers a token fee of K50,000 or so and get a duly stamped yellow fever vaccination book without, actually, getting the vaccination. Has the ministry done anything to restrict access to these books and stamps?

Dr Kasonde: Sir, I appreciate the hon. Member’s question. We are aware that there has been, as I referred to earlier, a very serious practice of purchasing yellow books. As usual, I would avoid going into the chronological order …

Laughter 

Dr Kasonde: … in which these activities were conducted.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Konga (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, following the statement by the hon. Minister of Health indicating the reclassification of Zambia from a ‘no risk’ to ‘low risk’ country because of its proximity to countries where the risk of yellow fever is very high, does the Government intend to vaccinate Zambian nationals in areas in close proximity with countries where the risk is very high?

Dr Kasonde: Sir, our policy is not to do so and I will give reasons for that. In fact, yellow fever vaccination is not without risk and, therefore, when it is given, it is done taking into account the comparative advantage of vaccination without risk and not vaccinating. When travel demands that the vaccination should be done, that will be given. When an individual intends to go to a country that is labelled endemic or transitional, the vaccination should be given. When no such conditions appear, we are of the view that the individual would be taking a risk unnecessarily and we would not intend to do so.

Thank you, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, the policy of the Government on this matter is welcome. However, there are issues of ability to implement. Apart from the exorbitant fees that are currently being charged for vaccination, and I can confirm this because I have had to pay something like that myself, what is the Government doing about reducing the inconvenience to access because people have to move around and queue up at a few places in order to be vaccinated? Why does the ministry not, for example, consider licensing every medical institution that has been licensed to offer other medical services in this country to offer this service so that people do not crowd in a few places?

Dr Kasonde: Sir, the designation of centres that will provide this service follows an assessment of the capacity to provide and this assessment is not a single exercise, but continuous. It will be considered at any given time whether or not the numbers of health institutions that are currently operative in this area are adequate to cope with the demands and, if not, which ones could be designated for that purpose. Nevertheless, we must insist on quality and capacity before we designate any particular centre.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I just wanted to find out from the hon. Minister what other dangers Zambians pose to South Africa when they go there because when we board the plane, it is sprayed, but planes from South Africa are not sprayed. If there is no danger that we pose, then, that is a little dehumanising. Please, advise what other danger we pose to South Africa.

Dr Kasonde: Sir, I would be very interested to find out the specific dangers that the hon. Member is asking about but, I think, it would be unethical to do so in public. However, with regard to Zambia versus South Africa, Zambians travelling to South Africa do not pose any risk to South Africans for the simple reason that they will not get in if they do not have immunisation certificates. We can, therefore, feel satisfied that we are not exposing South Africa to any risk. 

Now, whether or not the spraying should cover South Africans travelling to Zambia, we have to take two things into account. Firstly, South Africa, on the map which is available of countries affected by yellow fever, is a ‘no risk’ country and, therefore, what would be the legitimate reason to demand of them to prevent a disease that does not exist in their country? Secondly, there is a standing instruction from the WHO on what spraying should be done for all air travel and not just this particular route between South Africa and Zambia. We should expect that South Africa will respect the WHO instructions in this regard.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what the ministry is doing to sensitise people that having yellow fever vaccination is actually for their own good as opposed to thinking that they are taking a risk to South Africa or other countries. I am saying this because most people avoid getting the vaccination not knowing that, actually, it is for their own good.

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member poses a challenge by asking the ministry with regard to those countries where there is no risk. In other words, in the case of South Africa, we cannot really say to someone that he/she is getting vaccinated to protect him/her because there is nothing to be protected from. However, there are important categories of people which, I think, the hon. Member might be referring to. Those that are travelling to Angola and Namibia should be advised to get the vaccine. I have stated, in my statement, that they should be vaccinated. If any person from Zambia is travelling out of the country, he/she should find out whether that country is safe to go without the vaccination. That is the important point we get from your contribution and we shall try and publicise it as much as possible.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, if a person is travelling to South Africa, for instance, is he/she supposed to be vaccinated the day he/she is travelling or three days before?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I seem to recollect that I mentioned, in my statement, that it is ten days. One of the reasons that this certificate became a hot cake was that, in order to subvert the ten days, people were paying in order to have it two or three days before travelling. I hope the hon. Member was not one of them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chilangwa (Kawambwa): Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm whether people living with HIV/AIDS react to the vaccine? If this is the case, does it mean that they cannot be vaccinated and, therefore, cannot travel?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, there is no evidence to suggest that HIV/AIDS positivity becomes a risk factor for yellow fever or the yellow fever vaccine. I do appreciate that, in general, the reduction in the immunity status of an individual may make them unable to produce the reaction that causes defence subsequently. To my knowledge, we have not studied that and the guidance that has been given by the WHO does not give any specific instruction on this issue.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by the question raised by the hon. Member for Kawambwa, Mr Chilangwa. However, I am reliably informed that this vaccine is not supposed to be given to people living with HIV/AIDS because the doctors have said that it is not good. However, …

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Member seems to be addressing himself.

You may continue.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, yes. Can the hon. Minister tell the House what measures have been put in place to protect people with HIV/AIDS? 

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, …

Laugher 

Dr Kasonde: … I did say that as a matter of principle, the effect of HIV/AIDS is reduced ability to produce the antibodies that fight whatever disease you are trying to protect against in general. So, when a person is HIV/AIDS positive, there is that risk. Within that risk, we are now looking at the extent to which the positivity has actually affected the immune status of the individual. That is why I said, firstly, that there is no specific guidance that says if you are positive or negative, you do this. Secondly, it is important for the practitioner who is dealing with the individual to satisfy himself/herself either by testing or history taking that there is no significant risk in administering immunisation to a person whose immunity is otherwise compromised. That is why it becomes so important to have the right people doing the right things.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, three weeks ago, I travelled to South Africa by road and I witnessed a Zambian being turned back at Polokwane Border in South Africa despite having a yellow fever certificate. He was told that the certificate was not the right one. May I know what the special features on this yellow fever card or certificate are?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, there is a special feature that states …

Interruptions 

Dr Kasonde: … the type of vaccine that was given. Anybody who is going to give vaccines has details of the batch number so that we are able to follow up if any problem arises as to which which particular vaccine batch was a problem, hence this number. If that number did not appear, they will be right to turn back that person. There is a possibility, of course, that in a society where corruption is not entirely eliminated, someone would wish a completely different page to be enclosed. That does not follow under health.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, it has taken seven months from the time the information was received in this country from the WHO for a ministerial statement in this regard to be brought to this House. Tracing the flow of information in this country, how assured are we, in the Western Province, that this information will reach Kalabo, …

Laughter 

Mr Miyutu: … because it borders with Angola and, everyday, there is an influx of Angolans coming into Zambia? So, how assured are we that this information will reach the people of the Western Province as quickly as possible so that they are aware of the situation?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, this was the rationale behind presenting the state of affairs to this august House. My understanding was that, through this House, I could talk to the most senior leaders as well as to the public. I hope that the hon. Member for Kalabo Central will be a conduit for the transmission of this information to Kalabo Central.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

I thank you, Sir. 
________________{mospagebreak}

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY EXTENSION

100. Mr M. B. Mwale (Malambo) asked the Minister of Lands, Energy and Water Development whether the Government had plans to extend the supply of electricity to the Southern part of the game management area (GMA) in Malambo Constituency.

The Deputy Minister of Lands, Energy and Water Development (Mr C. Zulu): Mr Speaker, Malambo Constituency electrification works that have been carried out, to date, include the establishment of a 66/11KV, 2.5MVA sub-station at Mfuwe from which two distribution lines have been extended. One line covers a distance of 60 km and supplies electricity to Chichele area in the GMA. The other distribution line from the sub-station covers a distance of 50 km and provides electricity to Mfuwe Airport, Jumbe and Mambwe Boma areas.

According to the Rural Electrification Master Plan (REMP), currently being implemented by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), the rest of the areas in Malambo Constituency are earmarked for electrification within the next four years; and this includes the southern part of the GMA in Malambo Parliamentary Constituency.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, is the ministry aware that the lack of a deliberate policy of taking power to the southern part of the GMA has resulted in the area leading to the national park being congested, resulting into a lot of human-animal conflict?

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, we are aware. However, we have only been around for four months. Therefore, it will really be unfair …

Interruptions

Mr C. Zulu: It is why I said that all these programmes are already on the ground and will extend to the whole GMA in the next four years. It is true that there was no deliberate policy, then, but now it is there.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I am a little dissatisfied with the hon. Deputy Minister’s answer because institutions live on while human beings come and go. Would he be categorical and answer the question by the hon. Member of Parliament for Malambo on what his Government is doing about the question at hand.

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, I do appreciate Hon. Gary Nkombo’s concern. The point, here, is that there was no deliberate policy then but, now, it is there and we are working on it. It is as simple as that.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, when these questions are asked by any hon. Member of this House, whichever party he belongs to, and whether he was in the Government or not, a satisfactory answer must be given.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: The question is very straightforward. You are, now, in the Government. What is the position of your Government at this moment? That is the question. When are you going to electrify this place?

Hon. PF Members: Which one?

Mr Ntundu: That is why some of you will be fired very shortly that side.

Laughter

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, we should learn to be attentive sometimes. I said that, according to REMP, currently being implemented by REA, the rest of the areas in Malambo Constituency are earmarked for electrification. This means that other areas have been covered already. Within the next four years, we will sort out all those issues. Hon. Mwale, I thank you very much.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutati (Lunte): Thank you, Mr Speaker, …

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, this august House, over which you preside, is regulated by Standing Orders and hon. Members of this House enjoy the privileges under the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act, Cap. 12 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, last year, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Executive, came to this House and informed us that it had decided to relieve all the District Commissioners (DCs) of their duties because they were political party cadres. The Government informed the House and the nation, through you, that, effective that date, all DCs would be appointed from and among civil servants currently under employment. Of late, however, we have witnessed that the Government, which is headed, in this House, by my very good friend, His Honour the Vice-President, Dr Guy Scott, has replaced the civil servants, whom it had employed and appointed as DCs, with party cadres holding positions in the Patriotic Front (PF). Some of the party cadres who have been appointed are from the United Party for National Development (UPND) and have never been civil servants. 

Sir, I would like to find out from you whether the Government was in order to have come to this House to mislead us and the nation on what it had done to those who were serving as DCs. Is the Government in order to mislead this august House on this serious issue?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: I will request His Honour the Vice-President to come up with a statement on the subject at an appropriate time.

I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mutati: Yes, the hon. Minister has, rightly, said that the basis for electrification is a master plan, through REA, which was founded on the deliberate policy to take power to the southern part of the GMA. At the same time, he has said that there was no policy, then, but there is one now. Would he be clearer about policy?

The Minister of Lands, Energy and Water Development (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, yes, I think the master plan is based on the policy which was developed to govern the electrification of the rural areas of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Yaluma: Now, be as it may, I did mention, on Monday, that, I think, the master plan is a working document that has to be revisited because it is only of 65 per cent confidence level. So, when we electrify, we do come up with other alternatives and modifications depending on cost and technological considerations that arise at the time you are about to implement.

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, I remain completely puzzled by the answer given by the hon. Minister. The question by the earlier debater indicated that, where there is electricity, there was increased human-animal conflict and he wants electricity to be taken elsewhere. Will it reduce the human-animal conflict when electrification is extended to the rest of the GMA, especially that the hon. Minister has said he will electrify the whole area in four years?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, as regards the first question by the hon. Member for Kalomo Central, we are not going to answer it because the answer resides with the person who asked it. As for the second one, we said four years is the time within which we have said we are going to extend to the remaining part of the ...

Interruptions

Mr Yaluma: As regards the other part of the GMA which is not electrified, when we say we are going to electrify the remaining parts, we are not just saying that we will radiate the lines whichever way ...

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister, who is answering very well, in order to refuse, on the Floor of this House, to answer a question that has been asked? I need your serious ruling.

Mr Speaker: As the hon. Minister of Lands, Energy and Water Development proceeds responding, please, bear that in mind.

You may continue.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I will do justice to the question. When we say that we are going to electrify the entire GMA, we do not mean that we are going to radiate electricity in any area and in any direction without paying due attention to the statutory requirements. So, when we do this, we will be very observant of the specific regulations governing the electrification of the area.

Now, as regards the four years we are talking about, we would have done it within a shorter time than that, but the network in the area is very weak. What we are trying to do, from now, is to deal with the huge master plan on the distribution lines. We are waiting for the reinforcement of the Pensulo/Chipata 330 KV Power Line. After this is done, we will take up the other 66 KV to Mfuwe. Then, we will continue connecting other areas that cannot be accommodated now. So, the reinforcement of the network is the determinant on when we are going to connect the other parts of the GMA, which we said we will do in four years.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, may I know if the PF Government has any plans, in line with REMP, to prioritise, in terms of benefits, the people who were displaced along the Zambezi Valley during the construction of the Kariba Dam, which is, now, generating this electricity that we are talking about. I know, for instance, that the majority of the people in Dundumwezi were displaced to pave way for the construction of the Kariba Dam, and yet Dundumwezi Constituency is not connected to the national grid. We have seen, in the past, rural areas that are thousands of kilometres away from the Kariba Dam being connected with electricity while ...

Mr Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Member for Choma Central should ask a supplementary question to that given by the hon. Member for Malambo.

You may continue, please.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, thank you for your guidance.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Siliya (Petauke): Mr Speaker, I just wish to follow up on the question by the hon. Member for Lunte so that we avoid any doubt. Is there a policy or not? In his answer, the hon. Deputy Minister, at one point, said that there was no deliberate policy before, yet, now, in four months, they have come up with the policy. The hon. Minister, then, came on and attempted to state that there was a policy. 

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, in order for us to embark on the electrification project, there was a policy. Otherwise, we could not have been doing so. I repeat that. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Yaluma: However, ...

Mr Speaker: Order! 

I think the hon. Minister has answered the question.

We go to the next question, please.

SHANG’OMBO DISTRICT EDUCATION BLOCK

101. Mr Njeulu (Sinjembela) asked the Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training when the construction of the Shang’ombo District Education Office Block, which started in 2003 and was abandoned in 2008, would resume.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training funded the project in full, but the cost of construction went up. This did not make it possible to complete the project as planned. However, the Office of the District Education Board Secretary has budgeted for the completion of the office block in the 2012 Budget.

I thank you, Sir.

PRESIDENT’S PREROGATIVE OF MERCY

102. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Home Affairs how many prisoners were released from prisons countrywide through the President’s prerogative of mercy from 2007 to 2011, year by year. 

The Deputy Minister of Home affairs (Mr Mwaliteta): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that a total number of 4,550 prisoners were released through the President’s prerogative of mercy from the year 2007 to 2011 countrywide. Of this number, 1,268 were released, in 2007, 103, in 2008, 584, in 2009, 831, in 2010, and 1,764 in 2011.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, may I know the total number of prisoners that were released by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, in October, 2011, from the following prisons:

    (i)    Mumbwa Prison;

    (ii)    Chimbokaila Prison; and

    (iii)    Mukobeko Prison.

The Minister of Home affairs (Mr Sakeni): Mr Speaker, I cannot give the figures off the cuff. I can, however, state that the President released a number of prisoners from the said prisons as well.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the individuals who have been released through the prerogative of mercy are no longer convicts and are entitled to be given positions in the Government service.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, off the cuff, I cannot respond to the question by Hon. Mwiimbu because it is totally new. However, generally, when prisoners are released, we do not follow them up to check on whether they have been employed by anybody. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to respond to my question in a categorical manner. When one gets to be pardoned through the privilege of the prerogative of mercy of the Head of State as provided for by Constitution, does he cease to be a convict?

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, I believe he becomes a free citizen.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, you were not audible.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, a person who receives the President’s pardon is a free person who can get employed and engage in business. In short, he is a free citizen.

Mr Kunda, SC., (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, out of the number that has been given, how many of the prisoners were on death row? If there were any on the death row, what is the policy of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government on the death penalty? Will the President be signing death warrants for those convicted of crimes such as murder, treason and so on and so forth?

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. former Vice-President for his question.

Laughter

Mr Sakeni: However, that is a totally new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, releasing 1,764 prisoners into society is a huge undertaking. I would like to find from the hon. Minister of Home Affairs what follow-up mechanism is in place to ensure that the ex-prisoners do not become a danger to society.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, in fact, the bulk of the 1,764 that the hon. Member has talked about were released under her Government. Under the PF Government, a lesser number was released. 

Hon. MMD Members: So?

Mr Speaker: Order! Let the hon. Minister answer the question and then you can follow up with questions.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, about 1,200 were released by the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) before elections. After we came into power, we released over 1,700. As regards follow-up programmes for ex-prisoners, of course, there are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) …

Laughter

Mr Sakeni: … who help rehabilitate prisoners.

Hon. Opposition Member: Question!

Mr Sakeni:  That is very important. There are some civil society organisations (CSOs) which handle these cases and make follow-ups. We, in the police, also check on ex-prisoners whenever crimes are committed. There are rare cases of hard core habitual criminals who are re-arrested. On a good number of occasions, ex-prisoners get rehabilitated and we are grateful to the CSOs for helping us in that regard.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out why the hon. Minister of Home Affairs, a former worker in the Office of the President who understands the need to follow-up on the lives being led by people such as the ex-prisoners, has failed to tell us why the Government is not doing so.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, when an ex-convict commits an offence, follow-ups are made and the individual is arrested. There are also those who live normally and are integrated in society. There are people out there who actually get reformed after being imprisoned. There are also those who are treated as habitual criminals. The lives being led by such individuals are monitored by the necessary law enforcement agencies. That is why we have the Police Intelligence Unit which monitors the activities which the ex-convicts are engaging in. However, it is not the Government’s mandate to always watch the back of each ex-prisoner. Some of these ex-prisoners could have gone into prison for small offences. For example, someone could get imprisoned for catching fish during a fish ban. Surely, is that a type of ex-convict you can waste your resources monitoring?

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, my understanding is that every district should have, at least, a prison facility. The inmates from Chilubi, which has been a district for sometime, have exerted a lot of pressure on the Luwingu District Prison. May I know what measures the new Government is putting in place to have a new prison constructed in Chilubi Island.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, even though that is totally a new question, I can still give a bonus answer. We are doing everything possible to put up, at least, a prison in each district, funds permitting.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that others are habitual criminals. Now, from 1,700 who were released by the President, may I know how many were re-arrested for committing either the same or other offences.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, that is totally a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, as the Chair, you have always advised that hon. Ministers should research extensively in order to have answers to anticipated questions which may arise from the response to the main question. Unfortunately, the hon. Minister is even looking elsewhere.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Now, here is one question which I believe is an anticipated one. What sort of offences did those who were released commit?

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, am I protected?

Mr Speaker: Order! You are protected, but I am also assuming that you are through with asking your question.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: No, Sir. This is the reason, one day, I used a word which is unpalatable, but, today, I will simply urge the hecklers to close their mouths. Please, let the hon. Minister respond to my question.

Sir, I would like to know what sort of offences these prisoners who were released committed. Is it adultery or …

Mr Speaker: Order! I think you are belabouring the point.

Mr Sakeni: Mr Speaker, most of the offences were minor ones ranging from those who were caught fishing during the fish ban, assault and poaching. The ones who were released included those who were serving below three years and had served almost half their sentences. Some were released as a result of the good conduct they had exhibited while in prison. For offences regarding bicycles, I presume they will be considered …

Laughter

Mr Sakeni: ... in the next parole.

Thank you, Sir.
KAPUTA DISTRICT POLICE POSTS

103. Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa) asked the hon. Minister of Home Affairs:

(a)when additional police posts would be constructed in Kaputa District which had only one police station and one police post;

(b)at which places, in Kaputa District, the Government intended to construct additional police posts; and

(c)when a motor vehicle for Kaputa District Police Station would be procured.

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government will construct additional police posts in Kaputa District by 2015, once the funds are available.

Sir, there are four places that have been identified for construction of police posts in Kaputa District and these are Kasongele, Mukupa Katundula, Nsama and Nsumbu.

Mr Speaker, a land cruiser was procured for Kaputa District Police Station in 2007. I am sure it is still serviceable. The ministry may, however, consider allocating an additional motor vehicle to Kaputa District Police Station once other police stations without vehicles are provided with.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

CHINGOLA/SOLWEZI ROAD

104. Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West) asked the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a)whether the Government had any plans to build a dual carriageway on the Chingola/Solwezi Road;

(b)how much money had been spent on resurfacing the road in 2010; and

(c)when the Government would ask Kansanshi and Lumwana mines to contribute towards the regular maintenance of the Chingola/Solwezi Road.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, it is the policy of the PF Administration to improve the movement of traffic on all its roads. We hope to ensure efficiency and safety on our roads by employing appropriate interventions.

Yes, this Government has plans to construct dual carriageways on selected roads, including the Chingola/Solwezi Road. However, when funds are available, we will be in a position to prioritise. As things stand now, the Kitwe/Chingola Road poses a bigger challenge in terms of the smooth flow of haulage traffic. 

Sir, in 2010, US$350,939.00 was spent to mostly carry out resurfacing works. Lastly, since 2009, First Quantum Mine, representing Kansanshi Mine, has been contributing to the maintenance of the Chingola/Solwezi Road. 

Arising from the participation of the Kansanshi Mine, the Road Development Agency (RDA) has noted that the works should be carried out in accordance with the standards and specifications as set out by the same agency. The Government, through this ministry and, our agent, the RDA, will swiftly engage Lumwana Mining Company to also start contributing towards the maintenance of this road.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Deputy Minister give us a definite answer on when this construction of a dual carriage way will be done.

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, this administration is fully aware of the shifting travel patterns in this country. However, allow me to repeat that, as things stand now, if you look at traffic volumes on our roads and compare them, in terms of those where travel times are longest and safety is much at risk, you will appreciate that the Chingola/Solwezi Road may not be the number one priority. 

Interruptions

Dr Mwali: The Kitwe/Chingola Road is the number one priority. We are committed, as soon as funds are available, to extend this to other stretches which also pose a big problem.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I have picked up a paradox in the answer by the hon. Minister. We have been told, and it is on record, that Kansanshi Mine pays US$1.5 million, every day, but because of the state of the road, most transporters have actually restricted the movement of their trucks to day time only because of the dangers on the road. This means that if you say that you will only work on that road when funds permit, you are then constraining your ability to raise money from that mine. Therefore, why do you not improve the state of that road so that the US$1.5 million daily contribution to the fiscus can actually increase and enable you have more money?

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, this administration wholly appreciates the contribution that First Quantum Mine is making towards the maintenance of that stretch on our road. However, we also need to be aware that there are also other companies that are contributing even greater damage to that stretch than this mining company. Already, First Quantum Mine is complaining about Lumwana Mine not paying for the usage of the road and, thus, soliciting that it also comes on board. That is why we are saying that we will urgently engage Lumwana Mines so that it also starts making contributions towards the maintenance of that road.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, before we talk of the construction of this road, I would like to know if the feasibility study has been done.

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, the feasibility study for the dual carriage way on the Chingola/Solwezi Road has not yet been done. We will come to that once funds are available and priorities are clearly set.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Mr Speaker, what is the problem with this road? Is it the rate of wear and tear or the congestion?

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, I thank you for that brilliant question by the engineer, Hon. Simbao, who fully knows that, on most of our roads, we are facing problems of congestion, which at times is artificial, and also wear and tear.

I thank you, Sir.

_________

MOTIONS

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 19, 20 and 31 be suspended to enable the House sit at 1430 hours tomorrow, Friday, 24th of February, 2012, and also to omit the Vice-President’s Question Time from the agenda.

Mr Speaker, this Motion is straight forward and simple and it seeks to permit the House to sit tomorrow, afternoon, Friday, 24th February, 2012. Hon. Members are aware that Standing Order 19 provides that the House shall sit at 0900 hours on Friday, which is in the morning, but its suspension will enable the House sit in the afternoon, tomorrow, instead. This will enable His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), to address this august House. He is arriving at the airport at 1400 hours tomorrow afternoon and so we cannot, obviously, fit him in the morning. 

Sir, the suspension of Standing Order 20 will enable the House sit until business is concluded instead of the normal hour of adjournment. Furthermore, Standing Order 31 provides for the Vice-President’s Question Time for thirty minutes on Fridays. The suspension of this Standing Order will enable the House dispense with the Vice-President’s Question Time. However, frustrating as that may be to Hon. Muntanga, …

Laughter

The Vice-President: … this will help us to provide sufficient time to listen to the UN Secretary-General’s Address and also to debate a Motion of Thanks on his Address. This is a purely procedural Motion that could not be less controversial and it is necessary, at this stage, to allow our distinguished guest to address us. I, therefore, urge all hon. Members of the House to support it.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to debate this non-controversial Motion to suspend Standing Orders 19, 20 and 31 in order to pave way for, indeed, a distinguished member of this universe, His Excellency, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the UN. 
    
Mr Speaker, it is only appropriate that the House grants him audience for it is, indeed, a historic visit to this country. Dag Hammarskjöld, tragically killed by a plane crash north of Ndola, was the last UN Secretary-General to visit this country in 1962. 

Mr Ban Ki-Moon presents a fresh breath to this country by his visit tomorrow. As you may be aware, the UN is a global family that has placed democratic principles and good governance tenets at the centre of its operations. Having said so, inter alia, the main issues that the UN is concerned with are human rights, gender, environmental issues and the welfare of refugees. In this regard, please, allow me to draw your attention to how I see the democratic governance status of this country.  
    
Mr Speaker, guided by the Constitution of the land, which is the grand norm, my interpretation of the governance structure of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, which is one of the issues that I believe the Secretary-General will address tomorrow, is the style of governance …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, this is a procedural Motion. Let us confine ourselves to the nature of the Motion, which is procedural. Please, indicate whether you support or oppose the Motion. 

You may continue. 
    
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I have clearly stated that I support the Motion. 

Hon. Government Member interjected.

Mr Nkombo: Can you excuse me. 
    
Mr Speaker, I need your protection. The clock is ticking and I did not know that I was limited to just opposing or supporting the Motion. I have comments to make. I was sent to this House by the people of Mazabuka Central to discuss the issues that, I think, the UN Secretary-General may address to this House tomorrow. Unless we put it on record that I have been gagged, I will be very glad to sit down. If this is the case I will sit down. 

Mr Speaker: Order!
    
The guidance of the Speaker is that there is a Motion put by His Honour the Vice-President to suspend specific Orders and this cannot be done independently of the House. His Honour the Vice-President is, in fact, by this Motion, seeking support or, if need be, opposition of the House on the point. That is the Motion before us. 

The hon. Member for Mazabuka Central may proceed. You have not been gagged. 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I want to put it on record that I have been gagged. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Kunda, SC. (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, I support the Motion. The visit by the UN Secretary-General to Zambia is timely. 

Mr M. H. Malama: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda, SC.: The UN Secretary-General occupies a very important office. Zambia is a member of the UN and is a signatory to a number of international conventions, many of them on human rights. It will be an opportunity for hon. Members of Parliament and the Civil Society to raise very serious matters to do with observance of human rights in this country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda, SC.: Zambia is degenerating into a totalitarian State. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda, SC.: This visit will give us an opportunity to speak to our Secretary-General on the need to counsel the President of this country on the need to respect human rights. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir. 

Mr Kunda, SC.:  This is a very important occasion. 

Mr Speaker: Order! A point of order is raised. 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to move this point of order. In so doing, I want to say that I do it with a very heavy heart. I do it with a heavy heart because, less than two minutes ago, you guided this House when you guided the hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central, who decided to be so uncourteous …
    
Mr Livune: Question!
        
Mr Lubinda: ... by referring to you as having gagged him, when you were simply guiding him, on the Motion before the House being procedural. I now wonder whether the former Vice-President, who, obviously, is missing this office, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Lubinda: … is in order to present to this House his own innuendoes about what His Excellency the UN Secretary-General’s mission to Zambia is. 

Hon. Opposition Members: What is your point of order?

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member in order not to wait and listen to the address of the Secretary-General before he makes such comments? I seek your serious ruling. 

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I think that the Motion before the House is plain and simple. I will repeat the words plain and simple. However, there is, obviously, an attempt, through this Motion, to bring in substantive issues. This is not the right time for those substantive issues. You will have the liberty, tomorrow and other fora available, to express your views. Nobody is gagging you. 

The Vice-President has presented a Motion which is to suspend business. We normally sit in the morning on Friday, but he is saying that let us sit in the afternoon. Are there any serious objections to this proposition? Can I hear those that are objecting to the suspension of these Orders? 

I have given my guidance and I will, therefore, allow the hon. Member for Muchinga to proceed, bearing in mind what I have said about this being a procedural Motion. Let us not belabour this point. 

You may proceed. 

Mr Kunda, SC.: Mr Speaker, we support the Motion. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda, SC.: However, I am saying that when the UN Secretary-General comes here to speak to us, he will speak to the Committee on Human Rights and Governance and we will give him a dossier …

Laughter 

Mr Kunda, SC.: … on the rampant human rights abuses. The role of this House is to check on the Government so that it rules us according to the Constitution and the UN Charter. 

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Mr Kunda, SC.: That is all I am saying.

Mr Speaker: Order! Order!

My fear is that the hon. Member of Parliament for Muchinga is actually pre-empting tomorrow’s questions.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: There is no need to pre-empt tomorrow’s meeting. Are there any contrary views?

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to make my views on this Motion known.

Sir, this Motion is proposing to suspend Standing Orders 19, 20 and 31. As a result of the suspension of the Standing Orders, your hon. Members will be denied the right to ask questions pertaining to what is happening in the country, currently, to His Honour the Vice-President in this House tomorrow. It is not my intention to oppose the Motion but, if other hon. Members want me to oppose it, I can do so.

Hon. Government Members: Oppose!

Interruptions

Mr Mwiimbu: Yes, do you want me to give the reasons?

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Interruptions

Mr Mwiimbu: With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will give the reasons for opposing this Motion.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Sir, the first reason I am opposing this Motion of suspending the Standing Orders is what is currently happening in this country. Our chiefs in Zambia, specifically in the Southern Province, are living in fear because of that Government (pointing at the PF Government Members).

Interruptions

Mr Mwiimbu: That is the reason I would want to oppose this Motion.

Interruptions

Mr Mwiimbu: The other reason I am opposing this particular Motion, if you want me to oppose it, …

Interruptions

Mr Mwiimbu: … is …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Order!

The hon. Member is on the Floor.

Mr Mwiimbu: Yes, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: He is free to debate in the manner he is debating.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: However, unpalatable it may be, let him record his opposition.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: The second reason for opposing this Motion is that I have intentions of raising issues, tomorrow, with regard to the violation of the Constitution by that Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: That Government (pointing at the hon. PF Government Members) is on record of violating many provisions of the Constitution and privileges of this House. I am opposing it because the day before yesterday, on Tuesday, you swore in two hon. Members of Parliament in this House who were given positions in the Government before taking the oath of allegiance to the Constitution. That is a violation.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Shame!

Mr Mwiimbu: That is one of the reasons I am opposing the Motion.

Hon. PF Member: Address the Speaker!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I am opposing this Motion, since they have been asking us to oppose it, because of the various inconsistencies of this Government where it makes appointments and, within two hours, those appointments are revoked by (pointing at the hon. PF Government Members) that Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Look at them!

Mr Mwiimbu: Sir, I am opposing this Motion because of various important issues and one of them being that the hardworking farmers in my constituency, who have been toiling for the last one year and have sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), have not been paid by the Government to date.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Shame!

Mr Mwiimbu: That is why I am opposing the Motion.

Hon. Opposition Members: Look at them!

Mr Mwiimbu: I wanted to raise these issues tomorrow, but I will have no opportunity to do so. Mr Speaker, this Government should not use this House as a rubber stamp to do the things it wants without following procedures. That is one of the reasons we are opposing the Motion. However, because I have looked at the solemn faces that side, …

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: … I have decided to support the Motion, …

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: … so that, tomorrow, …

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: … I will stand up and debate substantially these issues I have raised. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate the PF Government for inviting the Secretary-General of the UN to listen to issues pertaining to the intransigencies it has been committing.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 130 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was indicating to the House that I was going to support this Motion after having taken note of the solemn faces on your right, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: … especially my very good friend, Hon. Lubinda, who has done a lot of work …

Mr Lubinda: Yes!

Mr Mwiimbu: … and has endeavoured to ensure that the Secretary-General of the UN comes to Zambia.

Sir, I also want to give two key reasons for supporting this Motion.

Mr Lubinda: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Firstly, Sir, I want to enable the House debate the allegation that was made by the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry that there is K3.1 trillion in circulation.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Mr Sichinga: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central in order to filibuster the Motion on the Floor of the House by using tactics which are unparliamentary and wanting to intimidate the Speaker by raising irrelevant issues?

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Sichinga: Is he in order to involve the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, who is waiting for the support to the Motion on the Floor by the Vice-President? I seek your serious ruling.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: I think I have made myself clear and I have repeated myself as it were; namely that this is a very plain and straightforward Motion. However, I can see the ingenuity that is being attempted and practised to try and bring all unsundry issues around the Motion. 

There is a complaint that since we are suspending our favourite question and answer session by His Honour the Vice-President, then, hon. Members would be deprived of bringing issues, but there are other avenues, if I may state, by the way, including questions of an urgent nature.

Other than that, this is a very special and historic visit that the Secretary-General of the UN is making to our country. I think that Zambia is in a very privileged position to enjoy this opportunity to interact with a very important citizen of the international community. 

Therefore, I do not think that we should waste the very precious time that the Zambian people have accorded us to represent them and deliberate on their behalf by procrastinating this matter any further than we have done. I think we have aired our views and, tomorrow, we have another splendid opportunity to interact with the Secretary-General. I think that, in all earnest, this should not be a matter that we should bedrock on or, as I have stated earlier, unnecessarily procrastinate. 

We have another important Motion to consider and debate this afternoon. The next item is a much localised Motion that has to do with our day-to-day existence. I hope that we will devote sufficient time and energy to that Motion as well. Then, again, in the interest of expression and privilege of the House, I will allow the hon. Member who was debating to wind up, bearing in mind that there is really no need to generate multifarious and irrelevant issues to the Motion.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, finally, I would like to congratulate our colleagues in the PF on assuring the people of Zambia, particularly the people of the Western Province, that it was going to honour the Barotse Agreement which it has refused to honour this afternoon. 

Mr Speaker, I support the Motion and thank you.

Laughter 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank all the hon. Members who have spoken on this Motion, as all of them were in favour of it. I will not comment on the substantive issues that got dragged in willy-nilly. I am sure we shall hear them again tomorrow and that may be a time to sensibly contribute from this side. Therefore, I ask everybody in this House to support this Motion.

Sir, I thank you.

Mr Lubinda: Ndiye ma Vice-President aba.

Interruptions

Question put and agreed to.

APPROVAL OF GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENTS

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I beg to move that in terms of Article 44 (2)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia, this House do approve the abolition and establishment of the Government Ministries and Departments established by the President as appended hereto or as circulated.

Mr Speaker, let me remind the House that under Article 44 (2)(e) of the Constitution, the President is empowered to establish and dissolve Government ministries and departments as he sees fit, although this prerogative is subject to the approval of this House at an early stage. We have done this before in this particular Session. Last year, we brought very substantial restructuring of Government to this House for its approval and we received the approval. This is a very minor piece of work compared to that because we are not fusing, splitting any ministries or substantially changing the size of the Cabinet. This is a very minor adjustment to the subjects that are dealt with by three ministries.

Sir, in exercising the above-stated constitutional powers, His Excellency the President Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, abolished the following ministries, technically speaking:

(i)the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

(ii)the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism; and

(iii)the Ministry of Labour, Youth and Sport.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President has, in their place, established the following new ministries:

(i)the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism;

(ii)the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour; and

(iii)the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

Hon. Members will notice that there are seven subjects of matter here and they are distributed among three ministries. In the first version, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stood alone and the other two ministries had three items each. Now, the tourism function has been appended to foreign affairs and there is the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour and the Ministry of Youth and Sport. So, these are very minor changes indeed.

Sir, the functions and subject portfolios are appended hereto or are, in fact, in the book of votes and proceedings. In addition, His Excellency the President has moved the national parks and wildlife portfolio function from the Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism. So, it now exists together with tourism. 

In this regard, I wish to request this august House to favourably consider these measures taken by His Excellency the President. The measures are aimed at improving service delivery in the ministries. There is nothing sinister or underhand about them and will not result in job losses, as qualified serving officers in these institutions …

Mr Muntanga interjected.

 The Vice-President: … will remain in Government service, for Hon. Muntanga’s information. This is a normal reorganisation of functions within the Government. I, therefore, recommend that the House approves these changes.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa) Mr Speaker, in contributing to the debate on the Motion on the Floor, I want to start by saying that this House must continuously remind itself that the people out there have reposed a lot of trust in it. The few of us, who are privileged to represent them, are expected to perform our functions diligently. 

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: The poor people of this country want value for their money because we sit at their expense. In this regard, I want to give the right weight to this Motion. This House ─ the Executive and Opposition ─ has a role and we must all rise to the occasion and perform our functions without fear or favour. Those who are not ready to do that may fall by the wayside while those who are ready will stand up and do what is right for the people. 

Mr Speaker, coming to the issue, I think that the PF was in a hurry to do new things when it formed the Government and the presentation of this Motion has vindicated that. I am going to prove it from the presentation of His Honour the Vice-President. Changes to the ministries must be thorough and consultative. Seeing as within four months they have come here to make more changes is proof that the earlier proposal to this House was not thorough and consultative. There is enough proof. The first proof is that, for example, the tourism function was earlier put without the product as explained by the hon. Member for Mbabala in our last sitting. Tourism marketing was detached from the product and that mistake has been realised in this proposal. The national parks must be together with tourism. A mistake was made by the PF Government because of rushing, instead of consulting, and not being thorough. 

Interruptions 

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, in running a country, you must be thorough and consultative. It is serious business …

UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: … because this is people’s money. We seat in these ministries and this House at the people’s expense. Some people belong to political parties while others do not even vote because they do not want, and it is their right, but respect the taxes that they pay. Do what is right. You are not working for your party, but for the people of Zambia. The party does not pay you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, the current proposals have no convincing reasons. There are no reasons given for the movement of some of these directorates. It seems, now, that the only reasons people are speculating are that these functions are following persons. The basis is personality because, when one hon. Minister performs well on the functions of tourism, then, that must be couriered from where it was to follow the hon. Minister.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Given by DHL!

Mr Hamududu: The labour function, also, has to be couriered from someone, who was doing what the people wanted because some people are uncomfortable, to an hon. Minister who they think is a bit mild on labour issues.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, we read newspapers and, everyday, people are talking. We must listen to them because they are our masters. We are the servants. Listen to the people. The people are saying, for example, that the labour functions must not be relegated a directorate. They want a stand-alone ministry for labour matters because labour issues are very diverse and complex. They need a stand-alone ministry and you have seen on television that people want their issues to be addressed. Many companies are exploiting their workers, and yet when you want to shake the system, some people become uncomfortable. We must stand on the side of the workers not the investors. This is what you were saying when you were this side. That must continue. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Hamududu: If you fail to do that, please, even an early election is possible so that other people can come in and deal with the many issues that are outstanding for the workers of this country.

Mr Muntanga: Kambwili!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, I think that the current hon. Minister, because he is still a Minister legally, has been doing very well.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear. Kambwili!

Mr Hamududu: Now, that function has been taken away from him and been couriered somewhere else where …

Laughter 

Mr Hamududu: … there will be no proper work done. The people are listening. Listen to the people. The people put you in office because you said you will do. Do it. So, apart from moving these functions, the people are demanding a stand-alone ministry of labour. 

Mr Speaker, the reason given for down-sizing ministries, abolishment and establishment was that they want to run a lean Government. They have reneged on that because, at the moment, there are so many hon. Deputy Ministers and this defeats that reasoning.

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Let us avoid running commentaries. You have an opportunity to speak. Let the hon. Member debate freely and in silence.

May you continue, please.

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, I was saying that the reason that was earlier given on wanting to rationalise by reducing Government expenditure and the number of ministries has been defeated by this Government. This Government has already gone back and reneged and is, now, appointing so many hon. Deputy Ministers that they are failing to fit on the Bench.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, so, the expenditure has not changed. Your earlier reason for re-aligning these ministries is not convincing; it was not thought through. If possible, it could have been better for you to go back to the earlier arrangements and think through critically.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: Bring back the borrowed hon. Ministers.

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, there are many issues that have been relegated here. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has had its co-operatives and fisheries components completely erased and its profile reduced. Profiling a function is very important, in terms of funding, when you meet other people who want to help. So, many wrongs have been committed by the PF Government.

Sir, I want to tell the PF Government that to say, “Sorry, I was wrong,” is a sign of greatness. However, the African people have a problem and I do not know what it is. To them, when you defend your wrong thinking you are powerful, then, you are great. That is not being powerful, but a point of weakness. Learn to say “Sorry, I …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: … made a mistake.” What kind of leaders are we, who will continue to defend even wrong things? The interests of our people are more important than our partisan interests. Let us support what is right and not what someone who does not even sit in this House ─ some Secretary General somewhere shouting ─  is saying, 

Laughter 

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, greater work must be done. Do not bring these issues piecemeal so that, going forward in the fiscal year, again, you come back and see this is not working. Can you make a change. Already, you have overloaded some hon. Ministers like the hon. Minister of Lands, Energy and Water Development. I think that, even if the ministries are a little more, if they are leaner, the better. By the way, you can run these ministries without Deputy Ministers. I can give you an example. If you check on the Botswana Website, a few years ago, there were only three Assistant Ministers and sixteen Cabinet Ministers in key ministries. After all, when the full Ministers are not around the Deputy Minister does not act.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, what is a use of having so many Deputy Ministers? That is unnecessary expenditure. If I were in the Government, I was going to turn down that Deputy Minister position because I will not be part of the wasteful expenditure, especially our friends, who have run away from their political parties to go and enjoy in an unjustifiably big Government.

Laughter 

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, the other important issue is that these changes, in view of what we have noticed, are not appropriate now. It would be wise to postpone them for a number of reasons. Firstly, we need a proper review beyond these ministries where, basically, we are just moving one function to follow a Minister. That is what has happened here. So, my proposal to you is that we are not against the changes, but the timing. Can we hold this. Secondly, it would be smarter if these realignments were done at the beginning of the fiscal year. Why? Already, the budgets were approved and, secondly, some expenditure has been incurred, and yet you are transferring the expenditures to another controlling officer, who was, initially, not part of that expenditure. That brings problems in accountability.

Mr Speaker, thanks to you, I sit on the Public Accounts Committee and I am alive to these issues where a Permanent Secretary (PS) has to answer on behalf of another who messed up things. I can see one of my colleagues, whom I will not mention, but sat with me in the Public Accounts Committee meeting, that side, nodding his head. You are showing leadership. It is true.

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, what will happen, now, for example, with the labour function? I am not saying that there was a problem with regard to the expenditure on this function, but if, for example, there was a problem and you move the department to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, part of that expenditure will have to be controlled by another controlling officer. By so doing, you are creating problems for that controlling officer. This is the same with the tourism, wildlife and other issues. 

There are too many issues that have arisen working against this Motion. The first one is that these changes are not thorough and you have proved to us that you made a mistake to delink tourism from the product. 

Hon. PF Members: Aah!

Mr Hamududu: It is here; you have admitted that you made a mistake.

Secondly, these changes are welcome, but the timing. For example, the change to bring tourism together with national parks is positive, but what is important is the issue of timing. Therefore, it will be smarter and orderly if you bring these changes in the next fiscal year. For now, let these proposals pend to enable you do more work as there may be other ministries that may need realignment. For, example, if you go back to the old files, you will note that there was a very big reason, then, for delinking Science and Vocational Training from the Ministry of Education. I was in secondary school, at that time, and I have more institutional memory than some of you who were in Lusaka then. You know that Vocational Training and Science and Technology are so important that you cannot lump them together with basic education. That is why you are having problems. 

 Hon. Minister, through you, Sir, I want to invite you on a tour of some of these learning institutions. I will come at my own expense so that we tour both the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University and I will show you what problems are there. In fact, there was a demand that higher education be profiled a bit higher so that, even within the Ministry of Education, we have a Permanent Secretary in charge of higher education. However, even despite the dilapidation and poor standards of both primary and secondary schools in our country, you still lump that with higher education. You are making it worse because these schools are overloaded and, as a result, cannot perform. Therefore, we have a lot of work to do.

Thirdly, on the area of water, stakeholders are saying that there are too many departments in charge of water. For instance, both the ministries of Agriculture and Livestock, and Lands, Energy and Water Development construct dams. We want a stand-alone and dedicated water department where we can pool resources together and see what we can do to improve the water situation in this country. So, much water is pouring down without it being harvested, and yet, a few months from now, we will be talking of drought. What kind of people are you?

Mr Speaker, as hon. Opposition Members, we will stand up, go forward and give you proper checks and balances, which will make you very uncomfortable. For those of you who mean well for the country, stand up, now, and provide real checks and balances on this Executive because we have given it a two-blank cheque. They are just human beings who need to be helped. In fact, that was the essence of multi-party democracy so that we stand up here and offer alternatives for Zambians to choose from. We need to keep you running.

With these few words, I appeal to this august House to withdraw this proposal and do a thorough review as well as consultation. This is a democracy.

Mr Speaker, I want to inform His Honour the Vice-President that the days of …

Mr Muntanga: Dictatorship!

Mr Hamududu: … no, a monarchy are long gone. This is not a monarchy where someone just stands up and says, today, this and tomorrow that. No, We must be consulted. 

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: Let us be helpful. We are doing a disservice to His Excellency the President, who normally proposes. For instance, if he says, “I wish to do the following. What do you think?” and you are here to just rubber stamp, tomorrow, you will blame him, and yet he asked you. 

Mr Speaker, I think that I am being more faithful to the President by telling him the truth than people who keep quiet. Those who keep quiet are not honest with him. He is asking you to give your opinion and when you do so, it is not disrespectful, but to help him perform. Therefore, some of you who are cowards and quiet, please, start speaking and correct our President. He is only a human being. 

Mr Speaker, regarding these proposals, I suggest that they be withdrawn so that you do a holistic review of all these ministries and re-alignments. Then, towards the end of the fiscal year, you can come and make a proposal so that, in the next financial year, we can have these new well-researched and well-consulted positions put in place. That is how you run a country. This country must tick. Why are we in a vicious cycle of under-performance? Someone told me that this is really diamaka, which is an Afrikaans word meaning a combination of things such as okra, meat and many others so that, in the end, they cannot be eaten, and yet, when eaten separately, they are all delicious. Please, I beg you people on both sides of this House to be leaders. The leadership has played around for too long in the yester-years and, today, do not continue. Stop this.

Mr Speaker, with that proposal to withdraw and await proper work, I thank you.

Mr Mutati (Lunte): Mr Speaker, I want to start by agreeing with the previous debater that this Motion should be deferred to an appropriate time for the reasons that he has ably outlined. For instance, reasons of addressing ourselves to key issues of functionality, harmony and output as well as eliminating the impression that ministries and departments are loosely available for walking about. These must be kept focused on outputs. 

We are not in disagreement that the President is empowered by the Constitution to make the changes that he made, subject to approval by Parliament. What we find discomforting is that, having approved the Budget not too long ago, the same Budget has, now, been impregnated with a certain sense of confusion, making it difficult, at the end of the Budget year, to zero down on accountability, on who did and did not do what. 

It will also be difficult to monitor decisions that you did not take part in. Therefore, when you transfer, you, probably, continue to implement a decision that you do not do correctly. Therefore, the first thing that we must do is that, at the beginning of the year, we have these ministries re-aligned in whatever manner you deem appropriate. 

Mr Speaker, through you, His Honour the Vice-President, our dispute is not on issues of a minor nature, but that we must create order and constitutionalism. That is why we are brought to this Parliament to offer checks and balances. Therefore, on this side of the Opposition, we are not going to dispute the rationale behind these alignments, but that the timing of this particular decision must be deferred, as my fellow hon. Member said, to a time when there is logic and analysis so that we have a more certain and concrete direction going forward.

Mr Speaker, on this side of the House (Opposition), we want to request His Honour the Vice-President to be kind enough and show the leadership that he has shown, so far, so that when he does not see a decision as being carried out in a proper manner, he defers it. We are proposing that he defers it to September. Then, we shall support it wholeheartedly because the framework of reasons that he is going to give us will, then, be sound and will be used as a basis of creating the Budget for 2013.

Mr Speaker, we just ask His Honour the Vice-President to defer to September.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, at least, we do not lie about trillions of Kwacha.

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to make a contribution to the debate on the Motion on the Floor. In the first instance, I want to express my disappointment with the fact that we have advised this Government before on the need to follow the law; the Constitution and regulations.

In this particular instance, the issues that we are debating, today, …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Dr Musokotwane: Aah!

Mr Speaker: I am trying to secure some silence for you because there was a lot of muttering.

Dr Musokotwane: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I was just saying that the issues that we are debating, today, as I understand them from my colleagues who are lawyers, are actually issues that should have been debated even before action was taken. However, what we are seeing happening, today, is the continued violation of the Constitution such that an item is brought to this House simply for rubberstamping purposes. 

Mr Speaker, our colleagues have now been in office for six months, …
     
   Interruptions 

Dr Musokotwane: … sorry, I appologise, I meant to say that, very soon our colleagues would have been in office for six months. 

Since they should have settled by now, we expect them to start following the law as they do things. The new Government should not bring Motions to this House for approval after ministries and departments that they have created have already started functioning. This is not correct. I think His Honour the Vice-President tried to skate around this issue, but the point is that the Government is now asking us to rubberstamp its decision.  This is not acceptable.

Mr Speaker, let me now deal with the issue ...

Mr Chisala: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Is the hon. Member for Liuwa in order to continue using the word ‘rubberstamp’ which is unparliamentary? I seek your serious ruling.

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Liuwa, as he proceeds with the debate should find a suitable substitute for the word which Hon. Chisala has complained about.

You may continue, please.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I now turn to the issue regarding the constitution of the ministries. The constitution of the ministries clearly shows the need, again, for those who are now in the Government to consult those who were part of the previous regime. If they were to do that, I am sure they would have saved themselves a lot of embarrassment. A point was made the last time we discussed this issue that, indeed, you cannot split the Ministry of Tourism’s marketing and product development aspects. The new Government did not bother to ask why the previous regime had organised the ministry in the manner it did. If it had bothered to do so, we would have explained. Today, we would not be sitting here facing this embarrassment. Zambia is the only country in the world, today, where there is a proposal for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to manage wildlife and tourism. It is the only example in the world I can think of. So, if you had bothered to ask in the first instance, ladies and gentlemen, we would have explained. However, those in the PF Government are in a hurry to change everything without understanding issues. So, this is the embarrassment that we are going to face today.

Mr Speaker ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Hon. Members, please, avoid making running commentaries. For those of you who may not be able to refrain from making running commentaries, you may have to make them outside. I am sure there are other people who will benefit from your running commentaries outside.

The hon. Member for Liuwa may continue.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the request before us this afternoon is rather strange in the sense that we are being asked to approve the establishment of Government ministries and departments that are rather abnormal in the way they have been constituted. I think as my colleague mentioned, the specific example I would give is like that of mixing sour milk with fish. That is unpalatable. 

Mr Speaker, ministries are normally constituted of units which offer services which are somehow related. That is important because when personnel are recruited for a ministry, the recruitment is done on a basis that it is one entity in which people could be transferred amongst different units. Sometimes, some individuals can go and act on behalf of others in another unit within the same entity. In the process, a dignified ministerial vision is delivered. However, what we are seeing, today, are labour issues being mixed together with information and broadcasting ones. It is difficult to imagine what kind of vision is going to emerge out of such a ministry because these are just totally different issues altogether. So, this is why I say that this is a very strange mixture.

Similarly, just to repeat or emphasise the point, I find it very strange that tourism can be mixed together with foreign affairs. Maybe, it is because of the mistaken belief that tourism is about foreigners who could be white people or Asians. Maybe, it is that belief which made the Government think that by taking the tourism portfolio to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it would have done a good job when that is not the case. Which ministry is going to promote tourism for the local people if we assume that tourism is for foreigners? Is it the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? That is why I am saying that things are being done in a strange manner.

I commend the Government for embarking on tourism development. That is identifying the products and packaging them into something that is marketable. It also includes protecting and promoting tourism products such as wildlife and environment. I commend the Government for bringing the various tourism aspects together because, in the first instance, they should have been together. However, we should also look at things in totality. Now, we have a situation whereby the hon. Minister here must worry about game guards, tsetse flies and all sorts of things. This is just very strange.

It shows that this process was not thought through carefully. The only conclusion we can draw out of this is that these portfolios were changed for the sake of certain hon. Ministers. That is all. There can be no other logic behind this. Now, look at the cost of these changes on the economy. The people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do not have the competence to handle matters regarding tourism. It is impossible for them to have such competencies. Therefore, what will happen is that one of the functions in the ministry will suffer. I can imagine that the only function that will suffer is tourism. So, the country is going to suffer. We will make economic losses. In other words, instead of performing to our optimum capacity, we will frustrate tourism development and, in turn, hurt the people of Zambia. 

Mr Speaker, there are also other added costs. Once again, departments or officers must move from one ministry to the other. These are all unnecessary costs. For a Government that came into office with the desire to rationalise and conserve the resources of the country, I find it very strange that it came up with proposals like this. 

Mr Speaker, the PF Government came into office on the basis that it was going to do certain things that were very attractive to the young people. It promised that it was going to create jobs for the youth and put more money into our pockets. Now, when you look at what is being done and the effort that the Government is making in terms of where it is spending our time and money, you see that it is expending effort on things which are trivial or mundane to that noble task of creating jobs. My appeal to the Government is that it needs to refocus. Let those who are in the Government tell us how the jobs will be created and how they are going to put more money into our pockets. That is more important than creating districts and ministries willy-nilly. The renaming of airports is not an important issue as far as youth employment is concerned.

Hon. Government Member: Question!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I also urge His Honour the Vice-President to withdraw this proposal. I think that deep inside even him, being a very learned and intellectual man, he knows that it is not the correct thing to do. Reverse this. Take it away and bring it back when you are ready. 

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, I would like to support the calls to defer this Motion because I think that the PF Government has not done enough research to support the decision to make changes in the composition of the ministries in question.

Mr Speaker, if you look at the portfolio functions of the three ministries in question, you will notice that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism has sixteen, the Ministry of Youth and Sport has four and the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour has twelve. Honestly, the Ministry of Youth and Sport does not even qualify to be called a ministry. It can as well be a department because it only has to deal with sport. I wonder why the PF Government would frustrate some hardworking hon. Ministers who were doing extremely well in certain ministries.

Hon. Opposition Members: Kambwili!

Ms Lubezhi: I am one of those people who was very disappointed when I heard of these movements. 

Hon. Opposition Member: Kambwili is a real man!

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, as other colleagues have said, I do not think we will achieve the desired economic strides in the tourism sector. For me, tourism is very important to our economy. It is a ministry that should have stood alone instead of appending it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and expect the Minister of Foreign Affairs to talk to game guides.

Mr Speaker, that is my contribution and I thank you.

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, I want to start by saying that I was following the Vice-President closely as he was moving his Motion. He advanced two reasons in support of the Motion. Firstly, that under Article 42 (e), the President has powers to realign ministries. Secondly, that this Motion has been moved in order to improve service delivery. However, I would have loved His Honour the Vice-President to indicate what deficiencies had been noticed from the time the portfolio functions were earlier presented to this House. Otherwise, what I can see is that, very soon, we will have an hon. Minister without Portfolio because of taking away portfolio functions from certain ministries.

Laughter

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, the workers complained bitterly when the portfolio function of labour was removed from sport. This is because the youths had faith that as the hon. Minister addressed the issues of labour, he would also tackle the issue of youth unemployment. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Namulambe: Further, people have been complaining about bad working conditions. When we were in the Government, we were being told that we did not care for the welfare of the workers in some companies. The words of the then hon. Minister of Labour, Youth and Sport, since we have not yet approved the change, were that he was going to die for his people and that he could not let his people suffer as he served in that portfolio. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, after this portfolio function was taken away from this man, who was just trying to speak for the workers because some people did not speak for the workers, the people complained. So, who are we helping? 

Mr Speaker, let me follow these issues in a chronological order as we have been reading them in the newspapers. When a mini reshuffle was made, it was following a complaint that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, then, was not getting along with the ambassadors. Again, because of the manner in which he handled the companies, some investors complained and this portfolio was taken away from his ministry. 

Mr Speaker, in today’s The Post Newspaper dated 23rd February, 2012, there is an article under the heading “Kambwili has become Kalu’s Campaign Manager – Mwewa.” The second last paragraph says:

“I was sleeping, resting, he is not my friend. He calls me, he has never been my friend. Is that not anarchy? He is the worst Sports Minister the country has ever had. If we have such kind of Ministers, is it possible to deliver in ninety days?”

Sir, this person is trying to instigate the President to take away the portfolio function of Sport from Hon. Kambwili.

Laughter

Mr Namulambe: He will then remain the Minister of Youth. 

Laughter

Mr Namulambe: The time the youths will complain about youth unemployment, they will say that he has failed to provide employment and this portfolio will also be taken away from his ministry. So, he will remain a minister without portfolio.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, I think that there is a need for the Government to give proper reasons on why this ministry is being realigned. If it is a question of disciplining an individual, discipline him or her instead of realigning these ministries. The civil servants are getting confused. Further, are we also going to change the allocations in the Budget?

Mr Speaker, I suggest that this Motion be deferred.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Order! I will eventually come to the right when I am done with the left, and then we will wind up. 

The hon. Member for Mwandi.

Hon. PF Members: Ooh!

Mr Kaingu (Mwandi): Ooh! What?

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to make a contribution to the debate on this Motion.

Sir, in all these arrangements, the industry that has suffered most is tourism. Now, I know why tourism must suffer like this. It is because this Government does not know or understand where we came from with it.

Mr Speaker, tourism was under the social sector until the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) came into power. We moved it from the social sector to the economic sector. We profiled tourism to be number two to the agricultural sector. This was because, at that time, copper, in terms of production and pricing, was very low. So, we looked around, as a Government, to find out which sectors could help our economy and tourism become the second industry which would.

Sir, we did our level best. I remember my colleagues, Hon. Kalifungwa and Hon. Kabinga Pande, who were there before me, tried to transform the sector into an economic one. By 2007, when I went to the ministry, we worked on an institutional legal framework for the ministry and the sector was very strong. By 2008, the tourism industry contributed 2.9 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP).

Mr Speaker, now one wonders why someone should play around with such an industry. For those who do not know, tourism is the largest employer in the world. It is the biggest industry. Owing to its crosscutting nature, because of tourism, a transporter, a hotelier and a farmer gets business. So, you can see how serious this industry is. Now, we see it being played like a ping-pong.

Sir, just about two months ago, tourism was under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Before we could adjust and understand why the President had moved it there, we are now being told that it has been moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Nkombo: Next it will be taken to the Police!

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: I hear you.

Mr Speaker, I wanted to contribute on the importance of tourism, where we came from, how we built it and how we beefed it up to be a better sector. I do not know whether this Government has sectors. It does not know what should fall under the social or economic sector and as such, just putting things together. So, I wonder why, today, we can even be considering this Motion in this House. 

Mr Speaker, borrowing from what my colleagues have said, and owing to the fact that the Vice-President is a well-informed person and a doctor like me, …

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: … I know that the he will not go ahead with this Motion.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order! We will now move to my right.

The Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism (Mr Shamenda): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Members who have contributed to the debate and I would like to support the Vice-President’s Motion.

Sir, the establishment of ministries is the prerogative of the President.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Let him be free to speak in a manner he pleases. He is not doing any harm to anybody.

Laughter

Mr Shamenda: Mr Speaker, when leaders consult, they use many forms of consultations. They do not stand on an ant-hill and consult the public because that becomes a public meeting. People have a way of consulting just as the Government does. We are in the Government and it has machinery and a way of consulting before decisions are made.

A coach, whether his team loses or wins, has a responsibility of creating a team. How it performs, is the prerogative of the coach.

Mr Ntundu: No! No!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shamenda: Mr Speaker, running a government, as a lot of hon. Members have mentioned, is based on collective responsibility. 

Mr Ntundu interjected.

Mr Speaker: Order! May the hon. Member for Gwembe, leave the House, please.

Mr Ntundu walked out of the House.

Mr Shamenda: Mr Speaker, I am very grateful. 

A Government is elected on the platform of its manifesto. A government is like a football team. One footballer might be brilliant, but can you imagine him facing eleven members of another team alone? When playing football and you score 3-2, one of the goals that you may concede might have been an own goal by one of your players. However, you always win as a team. You are not going to select and say that those who have won are ten minus one who scored against his team. If you personalise things such as running a government, then, you will have a problem.

Interruptions

Mr Shamenda: You can only run a government as a team. The allocation of ministries and the discussions we are having, today, could have been, maybe, helpful at the time when the ministries, in their entireties, were presented to this House.

Interruptions

Mr Shamenda: Mr Speaker, what has been done, today, is merely an alignment of portfolios. Some of those who were in charge of the Ministry of Youth and Sport know very well that it stood on its own at one time until when there was a change of Government. For anybody to stand and say that there is no country anywhere in the world where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be combined with the Ministry of Tourism is misinforming the public, even when we are supposed to be informing it. 

Mr Speaker, I have had the privilege to have some little exposure from a few countries that I have been to. In one of our neighbouring countries, the Ministry of Labour is the Ministry of Home Affairs as well. So, for somebody to have been insinuating that, tomorrow, you might find the Ministry of Tourism with the police is alright. 

Laughter

Mr Shamenda: Mr Speaker, it depends on the team work and the allocation of responsibilities. As I said earlier on, a party in government runs on the promises that it makes through its manifesto. It does not matter who is where. The important thing is to deliver as a team. There could be more changes if the captain finds it fit to come back tomorrow and make some other alignments. Management is dynamic. 

Mr Speaker, at the moment, most of the people that we refer to as tourists are coming from outside. There is nothing wrong with combining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Department of Tourism. It depends on how you manage your members of staff. That is why we have got directorates. It is not like the politicians we have had before. That is why some of them are going to have problems very soon.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shamenda: Sir, it is not the responsibility of a politician to run departments in a ministry. That is why when Parliament is dissolved, the Government machinery keeps running hence the need for a professional Civil Service. The type of spaghetti that you might have does not matter, but how you cook it does. Therefore, it depends on how you allocate responsibilities and having the right people in the right places. 

Mr Speaker, we have had a lot of serious problems on the industrial scene. I had the privilege of talking to those people whom you referred to as having suggested that labour could stand alone. We had a debate and they regretted having made that statement.

Interruptions

 Mr Shamenda: I have no cause to stand here and tell a lie. I am not in that habit. 

Mr Speaker, the issues of labour laws and working practices have not been explained to the employees and employers in general. Putting the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting together with labour would bring labour on a front page. 

Laughter

Mr Shamenda: Sir, people will be able to understand and put across the various labour legislation and the activities of what is happening on the industrial scene. As a result, labour conflict is going to be minimised. 

Mr Speaker, the President, as a captain, has found it fit to make a few adjustments. Looking at the arguments which are being put across, even if we had put labour to stand on its own, people were going to stand up and say we were creating more ministries. If you are looking for a fault, you can always find it. I think it is the responsibility of this august House to give advice. Let us try it and if it does not work, we will go back to the drawing board and see how we can make it better. At the moment, the captain has indicated that, from his vision and the PF Manifesto, which was written by those who are in the Government today, he feels that the best way we can deliver is by aligning the ministries in the way we have done. I have no doubt that the same critics, today, will be the ones praising the decision which has been taken tomorrow. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to urge this House and some hon. Members who have open minds not to personalise issues of the Government. One time, Shakespeare said, “The world is like a stage. We all play our part and leave room for other people to perform.” Therefore, let us not put a wedge where it is not supposed to be. A government works as a team. It does not matter what position one will play. As long as we are in the PF team, we will play in any position and I would like to assure you that we shall deliver.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Mines and Natural Resources (Mr Simuusa): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this debate. 

Mr Speaker, I was quietly listening to the on-going debate in this House. I was dismayed at the insinuation that this Government is treating portfolio planning, arrangement and function haphazardly by putting them in a bag, throwing it in the air and placing them wherever the bag lands.  

Mr Speaker, I wish to state that the PF Government is a responsible Government. Therefore, there is no way we can allow statements such as we do not plan when we do our things as well as when we run our ministries.  

Mr Speaker, the PF Government made a promise to the people. I remember that I was a very fierce opponent and critic of the previous Government on this one basis where we will make a difference. I stated that the biggest difference between the previous Government and the PF Government would be that, firstly, we shall do things differently and, secondly, do them smartly. We would not let it be business as usual and run things in a dull manner. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, I speak on behalf of the Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources. Doing things smartly requires interaction. It entails scanning the environment to see what is going on and make the decision to respond to the conditions prevailing on the ground. 

Mr Speaker, my ministry used to be called Mines and Minerals Development. It has now changed to Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources, where the forestry and wildlife function has been incorporated. The number of international visitors and the number of people that have come to my office to agree with the wisdom of such a decision would surprise a lot of people who have debated. 

We are talking about exploiting synergies. I wonder if my colleagues, especially the previous Government, can understand such concepts. 
    
Hon. MMD Members: Aah! 

Mr Simuusa: We are talking about exploiting synergies. Mining is about exploiting minerals. There was a debate in this House about whether Zambia was benefiting from the mineral resources given to it by God. The answer was no because we were not exploiting and managing the mineral resources responsibly. 

Forestry is more about conservation. In Finland, at the moment, 30 per cent of the GDP is from forestry. We only contribute 5.2 per cent, and yet a third of the forest cover in Southern Africa is in Zambia. It is very shameful that, with such vast forestry reserve, we only contribute 5.2 per cent to our GDP, and yet a much smaller country such as Finland, with less forest cover and less favourable conditions, is contributing 30 per cent, which is more than what our mines contributed under the previous Government at 9.8 per cent. 

The challenge was that forestry was treated as a predominant conservation. The previous Government did not understand that, actually, forestry, if exploited responsibly, can be turned into what is called green gold. The previous Government did not know this. 

Hon. MMD Members: Aah!

Mr Simuusa: It may take a miner like myself to know that this is green gold. Re-aligning the ministry appears strange to my colleagues because they did not do things smartly.  

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, we want to do things smartly. This is why, sitting here, I was dismayed at the insinuation that we are doing things haphazardly. 
        
Mr Speaker, as we continue to re-align these ministries, the previous Government will realise that we will be very interactive. For instance, I was very critical when they sold off shares in the mines instead of increasing our shareholding. In the next two to three years, this country will see a boom. However, we will miss it if we do not position ourselves …
    
Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir. 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I am beginning to doubt my intelligence, but I want to know whether or not the hon. Minister of Mines and Natural Resources is in order to divert the attention of the House from the Motion, which is dealing with a specific issue on two ministries, to start discussing how the previous Government sold off shares in the mines. 

Laughter 

Mr Nkombo: I seek your ruling, Sir. 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, as they debate, are free to make analogies. However, as they do so, I think that it is important to put into context the specific Motion at hand. 

I have been quite liberal in allowing the use of analogies and digressing from the main business, but this should not be at the expense of debating the Motion at hand because we are trying to reach a resolution on this particular Motion, which is very specific. His Honour the Vice-President has put proposals for the establishment of ministries and, as far as possible, the debate should be centered around those issues.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, I support the Motion, but I wanted to demonstrate …

Interruptions

Mr Simuusa: … that in re-aligning the ministries and portfolios, it is not right to say that we are doing things haphazardly.
 
I want to demonstrate, yet again, and reiterate that the PF Government will do things smartly and interactively. Time will tell that what we are doing will bear fruit. As the previous speaker said, the re-alignment of ministries will improve and, in a sense, interact with what is obtaining on the ground and advance performance. The way the portfolios are aligned in my ministry shows that we have a plan and a direction and we will do things smartly, going by what is happening on the ground. Already, the response is positive and results are beginning to show. The public and everyone sitting in this House knows this fact.

Therefore, in supporting the Motion that has been put forward by the Vice-President, I wish to assure the House and the nation that we are a responsible Government and we do not do things haphazardly. Even this Motion that has been brought to the House has been thought through and the results, as my colleague said, will show very shortly. The same critics will be praising such a good move and proposition. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I must say that, in my perception, there is a slight sense of unreality about this debate. All six of the hon. Members of the Opposition who spoke seem to feel that the purpose of Article 44(2)(e) is to enable them micro manage the Executive and debate which portfolio is sitting inside which ministry. My understanding of the purpose of Article 44(2)(e) is that it acts as a general basis for checks and balances in terms of excessive enlargement of the Government, for instance. 

If we came up with thirty ministries, we would expect the Opposition to oppose us on the grounds that we are being far too prolix. That is a word you do not know, Hon. Muntanga.

Laughter

The Vice-President: Far too generous with the public purse.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: Do you know the word, Hon. Muntanga?

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order.

Mr Lubinda: Do you know it?

The Vice-President: However, if we come with a detailed proposition, which creates no new departments or portfolios and simply rearranges which portfolio is coming under which ministerial chair over three different ministries or reshuffling in three different ministries, it seems to me it is not the purpose of 44(2)(e) to enable a detailed critic and bossing about of the President telling him he cannot do this or that because we are entirely within the same envelope cost wise and manpower wise. We are entirely within the same rails as we were in between before.

So, my major objection is being asked to withdraw this Motion. Next time we bring a Motion to this House, are we going to be told in detail how to run this country again? The oversight that Parliament has is, of course, acceptable because it is part of the democracy that all of us espouse and it has brought us to this side of the House and, one day, in the very distant future, might take us back to the other side of the House.

Laughter

The Vice-President: So, really, to go into the details, the detailed argument seems to be based upon the fact that we should have homogeneity in each ministry. For example, if it is wildlife, it should be short, tall, fierce and grass eating wildlife. This should be the ministry and there should not also be some foreign affairs in it. However take, for instance, my office of the Vice-President, which no one has ever objected to, and the former Vice-President is here, it has very diverse functions. There is the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), which has to do with floods, fires and famines. It also has parliamentary business and the Resettlement Division Department, has connections to the Office of the Secretary to the Cabinet and Cabinet Office. This is all stuff which is brought together for a mixture of historical and strategic reasons. It is not homogeneous. It does not have to be homogeneous. If you wanted a homogeneous government, you need about fifty ministries each to stick to some specialised area.

For this reason, I am asking the House not to really over reach itself in trying to tell the President what he can do and what he cannot do because he is not exceeding any budgetary guidelines or any budget that has been passed by this House. He is not incurring extra expenses except for some few expenses that may be involved in reprinting a letter head or two, and the Government will continue. 

Mr Speaker, if we, the Executive were to withdraw this Motion, what happens in three months’ time when, on that side, they are complaining about tourism not even reaching the pathetic 2.9 per cent of the GDP that it did under Hon. Kaingu’s administration, but only reaching 2.3 per cent? We will say, “But you stopped us from doing what we wanted to do with tourism. We wanted to put wildlife, as they have been insisting, management and the resource management together with the selling and marketing of the same resource.” They stopped us from doing it is what our reply would be. That famous time that we came and asked you to approve proposed changes in some few portfolios you refused to put tourism together with wildlife and you told us off, that is what you are asking us to propose.

Interruptions

Mr Muntanga: Aah!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, for the benefit of the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central, let me remind him that one of the things we are doing is to bring wildlife management operators, which is to say that the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

The Vice-President: … and the department of the Government that manages and oversees ZAWA is coming together with tourism. That is part of the Motion that I moved, but I am being asked to withdraw it. At the same time, it is being criticised, it has been said all round by six people that these two should not be separated.

So, it seems that we are damned if we do and damned if we do not and we are expected, by our friends on your left, Sir, to simply do nothing while we are in this Government. What they really want is a taste of strength over this very rather academic issue. So, if they want a taste of strength, I suppose all I can say is bring it on.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Boma!

Hon. Opposition Members called for a division.

Question that in terms of Article 44 (2) (e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia, this House do approve the abolition and the establishment of the Government Ministries and Departments established by the President as appended hereto put and the House voted.

Ayes – (77)

Mr C. R. Banda, MP
Mrs E. M. Banda, MP
Mr I. Banda, MP
Mr L. Chabala, MP
Colonel G. Chanda, MP
Mr H. Chansa, MP
Mr E. Chenda, MP
Dr P. Chikusu, MP
Mr N. Chilangwa, MP
Mr O. C. Chisala, MP
Mr M. Chishimba, MP
Mr R. Chitotela, MP
Mr B. Chungu, MP
Mr S. Chungu, MP
Ms E. Kabanshi, MP
Mr H. Kalaba, MP
Mr C. Kambwili, MP
Mr S. Kampyongo, MP
Brig-Gen B. Kapaya, MP
Mr M. Kapeya, MP
Mr J. Kapyanga, MP
Dr J. Kasonde, MP
Dr J. Katema, MP
Colonel P. Kaunda, MP
Mrs B. K. Kawandami, MP
Mr L. Kazabu, MP
Ms D. Kazunga, MP
Mr P. Kosamu, MP
Mr J. Kufuna, MP
Ms J. M. Limata, MP
Mr G. Lubinda, MP
Mr Edgar Lungu, MP
Mr Effron Lungu, MP
Colonel J. Lungu, MP
Professor N. Luo, MP
Mr D. Mabumba, MP
Mr M. Malama, MP
Mr S. Masumba, MP
Mr C. Matafwali, MP
Mr R. Mbulu, MP
Mr R. L. Mpundu, MP
Mr N. Mubukwanu, MP
Mr P. Mucheleka, MP
Mr E. Muchima, MP
Mr Y. D. Mukanga, MP
Mr K. Mukata, MP
Mr C. Mulenga, MP
Mr D. Mumba, MP
Mr M. Mumba, MP
Mr S. Mushanga, MP
Mr R. Musukwa, MP
Mr B. Mutale, MP
Dr A. Mwali, MP
Mr O. Mwaliteta, MP
Mrs E. M. Mwamba, MP
Mr G. B. M. Mwamba, MP
Mr L. M. Mwenya, MP
Mr R. Mwewa, MP
Mr D. Mwila, MP
Mr M. Ng’onga, MP
Dr J. T. N. Phiri, MP
Mr K. Sakeni, MP
Mr M. Sampa, MP
Dr G. L. Scott, MP
Mr F. Shamenda, MP
Mr R. K. Sichinga, MP
Mr M. Sichone, MP
Mr A. Sichula, MP
Mr F. Sikazwe, MP
Dr N. Simbyakula, MP
Mr W. Simuusa, MP
Mr F. R. Tembo, MP
Professor N. Willombe, MP
Mrs I. Wina, MP
Mr C. Yaluma, MP
Mr C. Zulu, MP
Mr S. S. Zulu, MP

Noes – (0)

Abstentions – (1)

Question accordingly agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

___________

The House adjourned at 1813 hours until 1430 on Friday, 24th February, 2012.

APPENDIX

PART A

ABOLITION OF GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENTS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS;

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, BROADCASTING AND TOURISM; AND

MINISTRY OF LABOUR, YOUTH AND SPORT.

PART B

ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENTS

The Functions and Subject Portfolios of the Newly Established Ministries are as follows:-

1.MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TOURISM;

Portfolio Functions:

    Co-ordination of Missions Abroad
    Diplomatic Corps in Zambia
    External Communications        
    Foreign Policy
    Foreign Service Training
    International and Regional Cooperation
    International Relations
    United Nations Agencies and International Organisations
    Repatriation of Destitute Zambians
    Treaties (Agreements and Conventions)
    National Parks and Wildlife
    Safari Operations
    Travel Agencies
    Tourism Policy
    Accommodation Establishments
    Casinos

Statutory Bodies/Institutions:

    Zambia Anti-Personnel Mines Action Centre
    Zambia Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies
    Zambia Tourism Board
    Zambia Wildlife Authority

Statutory Functions:

Arbitration (Foreign Awards)    Cap. 475 App. 3
Consular Conventions    Cap. 21
Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges    Cap. 20
Geneva Conventions    Cap. 475 App. 4
Investment Disputes Conventions    Cap. 42
Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stock Pilling
and Use of Chemical Weapons    Act. No. 2 of 2007
Tokyo Convention    Cap. 449
Tourism and Hospitality    Act No. 23 of 2007
Zambia Tourism Board    Act No. 24 of 2007
Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines    Act No. 16 2003
Zambia Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies    Cap. 22
Zambia Wildlife    Act No. 12 of 1998

2.MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORT;

Portfolio Functions:

    Co-ordination of Sports Organisations
    Co-ordination of Youth Organisations
    Sports Development
    Sports Policy
    Youth Policy

Statutory Bodies/Institutions:

    National Sports Council of Zambia
    National Youth Development Council
    Youth Development Resource Centres
    Zambia Professional Boxing and Wresting Control Board

Statutory Functions:

Sports Council of Zambia    Cap. 142
National Youth Development Council    Cap. 144
Boy Scouts and Girl Guides    Cap. 141
Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control    Cap. 156

3.    MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, BROADCASTING AND LABOUR;

Portfolio Functions:

    Broadcasting and Television Services
    Library Services
    Information Services
    Information and Media Policy
    Employment Policy
    Factories
    Industrial and Labour Relations
    Labour Policy
    Monitoring Productivity
    Occupational Assessment Services
    Social Safety Net
    Social Security Policy

Statutory Bodies/Institutions:

    Independent Broadcasting Authority
    National Pensions Scheme Authority
    National Social Safety Net Board
    Times of Zambia
    Zambia Daily Mail
    Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board
    Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation
    Zambia Printing Company
    ZAMCOM Education Trust

Statutory Functions:

Apprenticeship    Cap. 275
Employment    Cap. 268
Employment (Special Provisions)    Cap. 270
Employment of Young Persons and Children    Cap. 274
Factories    Cap. 441
Independent Broadcasting Authority    Act No. 17 of 2002
 Industrial and Labour Relations    Cap. 269
Medical Examinations of Young Persons 
(Underground Work)    Cap. 216
Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment    Cap. 276
National Pension Scheme    Act No. 40 of 1996
Printed Publications    Cap. 161
Theatres and Cinematography    Cap. 158
Workers Compensation    Act No. 10 of 1999
Zambia Institute of Human Resources Management    Act No. 11 of 1997
Zambia Mines Local Pension Fund (Dissolution)    Cap. 220
Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation    Cap. 154

PART C

RE-ALIGNMENT OF PORTFOLIO FUNCTIONS

The following have been re-aligned from the Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism:

Portfolio Functions:
    National Parks and Wildlife

Statutory Bodies/Institutions:
    Zambia Wildlife Authority

Statutory Functions:
Zambia Wildlife    Act No. 12 of 1998

________________________