DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 14th December, 2011

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER
_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

ZAMBIAN DIPLOMATS SERVING ABROAD

52. Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe) asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

(a) how many Zambian diplomats serving abroad had been recalled by the Government, from September, 2011 to-date;

(b) how much money had been spent in repatriation fees and gratuities as a result of the action at (a);

(c) whether political party cadres were sent into foreign service in the period at (a); and

(d) what the Government policy with regard to sending political party cadres into foreign service was.

The Minister of Health (Dr Kasonde) (on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Kambwili)): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that from September, 2011 to-date, the Government has recalled fifty Zambian diplomats serving abroad.

Mr Speaker, K11,980,994,560.80 has been set aside for the repatriation of Zambian diplomats serving abroad.

Mr Speaker, no political cadres have been sent into Foreign Service in the above period. Diplomatic appointments have been made on the basis of requisite qualifications and those appointed are still undergoing appointment formalities. As a result, none of the appointees has reported at their respective stations yet.

Mr Speaker, currently, there is no Government policy with regard to sending political party cadres into Foreign Service.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs whether rushing to recall fifty diplomats and spending K11.9 billion in repatriation is prudent management of Government resources.

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for acknowledging my extensive knowledge of Foreign Affairs.

Laughter

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I do not regard that recalling fifty diplomats during this period is in any way a rush. It was a thought-out exercise. Therefore, I do not agree with the hon. Member who described it as a rush. I am confident that it is a prudent way to proceed.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to confirm or deny that the entire workforce of the diplomatic staff at our embassy in Malaysia has been recalled.

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I cannot confirm or deny the number of people who have been recalled from our Malaysian Mission.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, I would advise those who are inclined to ask supplementary questions to ask supplementary questions and not new ones. This information cannot be readily available. It has to be sought.

Colonel Chanda (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, in light of the pronouncement made by the hon. Minister, may I learn from him whether there are any efforts being made by the Government to establish a career diplomatic service.

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, in my response to the question about how many officers have taken up their positions, I did indicate that there were a number of formalities which actually include orientation and training for diplomats to be. It is certainly the Government’s intention to provide such training and guidance before staff are appointed to the Foreign Service.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 Dr Chituwo (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, may I, please, know what will happen to the luggage and goods of the recalled diplomats who were based in Tripoli that were pilfered from the embassy.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Again, I am apprehensive about this question. However, I will give the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs the liberty to elect how best to respond.

Hon. Minister, you may continue.

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I would like to appreciate the fact that the hon. Member for Mumbwa has gone to the extent of investigating the goings-on in Tripoli. I think that it is a good thing for hon. Members to take an interest in the details of the activities of the Government. I will, therefore, take his advice and also do the same in due course.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chisanga (Mkushi South): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the status of Mr Mwakalombe who was sent to Mozambique.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I did say that there have been no cadres sent. I am not in a position to determine whether or not a Mr or Mrs X is a cadre or not, when I made it so clear that none of them has been sent.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, what is the major reason for these unprecedented recalls?

Interruptions

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I have had an occasion to express my admiration for the hon. Member of Parliament for Mafinga and I have no reason to alter my view. I think that the hon. Member will appreciate that the prerogative is that of the President and it is not up to the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs to delve into the details of the appointments.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

TANZANIA-ZAMBIA RAILWAY AUTHORITY

53. Mr Chishimba (Kamfinsa) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a) what future plans the Government had on the Tanzania-Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA); and

(b) what the financial position of TAZARA had been as of 31st September, 2011.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Mwenya): Mr Speaker, the governments of Zambia and Tanzania acknowledge the need to revamp and improve the operations of TAZARA. TAZARA has underperformed and requires an immediate solution to the problems it is currently facing. The two governments have engaged two teams of consultants and an independent taskforce to look at how best to improve the operations of TAZARA. The two consulting teams are expected to hand in their reports by March, 2012, while the independent taskforce has already handed in its report.

Sir, the financial position of TAZARA has not been satisfactory. Though the trend shows a successive increase in turnover, the performance against the budget is an average 74 per cent. The trend shows that there was a turnover of US$36.36 million and US$39.23 million in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 respectively, while that for the 2010/2011 financial year was US$42.07 million. The operating costs have also progressively increased. The operating surplus that is indicated does not include debts, depreciation and other accruals, hence the true picture is that net losses have been experienced in the last three years.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister why TAZARA has not been meeting its statutory obligation.

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Mukanga): Mr Speaker, TAZARA has not been meeting its statutory obligation which stands at US$36 million because of lack of political will. TAZARA had a statutory obligation of US$75 million that was shared between the shareholding nations, Tanzania and Zambia. Whilst Tanzania had reduced its statutory obligation to about US$16.2 million, Zambia’s still remains the same. So, this has to do with political will.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kalaba (Bahati): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if the Managing Director of TAZARA has resigned or not following the pronouncement of his wish to resign.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, resignations do not take place in such a manner where somebody makes a pronouncement in Dar-es-Salaam, Mpika or Kasama that he has resigned. What is important is to put it in writing. I think it is also not prudent management to be making unnecessary pronouncements to the public.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chungu (Luanshya): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out when the last meeting of the Council of Ministers took place.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, apart from the meeting of Council of Ministers that took place yesterday, the last Council of Ministers’ meeting only took place in 2009. It is the responsibility of the Council of Ministers to provide direction to the board. Since the council has not been meeting regularly, I think that could be one of the reasons for the poor performance of TAZARA.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central): Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister why the two governments, Zambia and Tanzania, have not fully utilised the services of TAZARA in the transportation of goods from Dar-es-Salaam to Zambia?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, TAZARA was established to be utilised by the two countries. However, there has been poor performance in the recent past. We have tried, as a Government, to ensure that we do everything possible to create a conducive environment to enable the managements to utilise TAZARA for the benefit of the two nations. When we saw that the performance was not as expected, we engaged consultants to find out exactly what was wrong because we also believe that it can be profitable.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kaingu (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, railway is the number one form of transport in tourism. When will the Government focus its attention on revamping the entire railway system in Zambia?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I wonder whether it is the number one form of transport in tourism. That is a limited way of thinking because there is also air transport. We believe that we are not only going to consider the locals, but also the people who come from very far, including Europe. However, we are doing everything possible to revamp the railway system. That is why we had a meeting of Council of Ministers to look at TAZARA so that we revamp its operations. We are also engaging all stakeholders to ensure that the transportation of goods and services by railway is revamped and there is increased efficiency. Without that, there would be no improvement even in the road and other sectors.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Zimba (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister confirm that TAZARA is performing better in Tanzania than Zambia. If so, why?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, TAZARA operates as one entity and there is no demarcation in as far as performance is concerned. The performance of TAZARA has not been acceptable even on the Tanzanian side. That is why we have been discussing to try and revamp TAZARA as one entity. For your own information, the Managing Director for TAZARA is a Zambian. I do not think that statement of TAZARA performing better on the other side is acceptable.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, there are many trucks that are heavily laden with goods from Tanzania that pass through our roads up to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Is there a way the Council of Ministers can persuade the people who are transporting these goods to use the railway line instead of the roads which are being damaged by the heavy trucks?

Mr Mukanga: Sir, I am grateful for the question by Hon. Namulambe who used to be the hon. Minister of Works and Supply. When people are transporting goods for business, they would like to use the quickest possible mode of transport. Presently, people in business are not using railway transport because they believe it is not quick enough. If they do not use the quickest possible transport, they will incur a lot of costs. Therefore, according to their business understanding, they would rather use the roads. However, what we are trying to do at the moment is ensure that we improve the railway sector to compel people to use the railway lines as opposed to roads so that we remove the strain on the roads.

I thank you.

____________ {mospagebreak}

MOTION

FUNDED INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOMENT APPROACH

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that in view of the increased socio-economic activities that may come to bear in a particular locality, this House urges the Government to pursue a funded integrated urban development approach to ensure that the existing public infrastructure and amenities are not unnecessarily put under strain.

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Yes, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, this is a non-confrontational Motion whose implementation will benefit all citizens. A Motion such as this one should be a true reflection of partnership in governance between Cabinet and the ordinary hon. Members of Parliament. It must, therefore, be responded to from this premise rather than from that of antagonism.

A funded integrated urban development approach can improve livelihoods and save lives, sustain and improve property value, save the environment and ensure that as much resources as possible are used on productive activities in the local economy. This Motion has the potential to make our environment and the economy more attractive and competitive. An attractive and competitive local economy promotes wealth retention as well as wealth ownership of the residents of that economy. It also ensures that urban poverty is curtailed through integrated planning and that wealth ownership in local economies and wealth retention is enhanced. This is what will underwrite the sustainability of our cities.

Mr Speaker, while the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection will take the lead, it is expected that the integrated approach will include all economic sector ministries, including the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication.

Mr Speaker, our country, today, has reached a stage where one needs to translate economic growth into economic development. The population count from the 2010 census of population and housing for Zambia was 13,046,508 as at October, 2010. Thirty-nine per cent of that population was said to be living in urban areas and 61 per cent in rural areas. An annual population growth of 2.8 per cent means that the total population as at October, 2011 stood at 13.4 million, with 5.2 million and 8.2 million people residing in urban and rural areas respectively. This means that our urban population has that natural pressure of a population growing at 2.8 per cent.

Mr Speaker, the other pressure on our urban population growth will come from economic development. Page 40, point 20, sub-point 6 t of the Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto states that the PF Government will “promote the establishment of small and medium-scale enterprises and prescribe the supporting curricula to enhance entrepreneurial skills.” Sub-point 7 states that the PF Government will “establish an Industrial Development Commission to identify and initiate industries.”

Mr Speaker, these are noble pronouncements that speak back to the need to grow our industrial sector in order to underwrite the jobs that the PF plans to create. In countries that have experienced economic development, two structural changes have been observed. This is the rising share of industry along with the falling share of agriculture in national production and the increasing percentage of people who live in cities rather than the countryside. This is because as industrialisation takes place, a labour-intensive agriculture sector loses human capital to the newly-created industries.

Mr Speaker, this has been observed in South Korea but, more recently, in China and India. Rising food prices as a result of demand by the new middle class is usually a consequence of economic development. This means that as Zambia’s population will be turning more urban than rural due to that particular productive policy pronouncement that I have referred to in the PF Manifesto, our urban settlements and the existing social and economic infrastructure will come under extreme strain.

This scenario is generic though and can apply to all urban and rural areas in Zambia. There is, however, some unique cases that need immediate attention and to which the requested funded integrated urban development approach is required to be applied as a matter of urgency to create sustainable cities or towns.

Mr Speaker, some amongst ourselves might be wondering what an integrated urban development approach is. The concepts and visions of integrated urban development approach that have emerged in the post-sustainable development era are explored in terms of laying the foundations for a common vision of sustainable urban development. This involves building consensus over the vision of urban development across a wide range of stakeholders in the urban environment and across a range of spatial and local economic development; development activities and environmental and social issues, including local economic development. The resulting vision of urban development is that of a relative adoptive process in which the current urban fabric is gradually adapted, over time, to suit more sustainable lifestyles with shared local economic development.

Mr Speaker, the resulting approach to urban development should provide a unique integrated representation of the scope and extent of the sectors that link together socio-economic and technical dimensions as well as planning, property, design and construction interests in time and space. Impediments to the implementation of the vision and method must be explored, including lack of demand and capacity, absence of agreed targets and indicators together with other policy challenges undermining full sustainable development assessment and evaluation of urban and redevelopment proposals.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, again, others amongst ourselves, might be wondering what the features of a town that is a product of an integrated urban development approach are. It would be a green city and it might be designed anew, but is it more likely to be one that has evolved and redeveloped, over time, as would be the case with Solwezi, Chinsali and Choma?

Mr Speaker, certain features are important and should be present in a town that is a product of an integrated urban development approach. These are:

(i) diversity and vitality;

(ii) presence of respect for human health and the environment;

(iii) resource conservation;

(iv) adequate social and economic infrastructure;

(v) accessibility for all groups, especially the physically challenged and aged, such as Hon. Solomon Mbuzi;

Laughter

Mr Mulusa:   (vi) the presence of places for socialising, good health and education facilities as 
well as opportunities for citizens to participate in commercial and industrial opportunities across all economic sectors; and

(vi) the presence of an environment that promotes local economic development and wealth retention …

Mr Mbuzi: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Laughter

Mr Mbuzi: Mr Speaker, I do not understand why this hon. Member of Parliament who is debating intelligently, but begins to refer to Hon. Solomon Mbuzi as (inaudible). I understand that, but is it important to mention that? Now, is he in order, please?

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I think that the mover of the Motion had adequately indicated the intention, namely that the target is the aged. He should not have gone further than that.

Laughter

Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, my apologies. The target group should include the aged and any hon. Member of Parliament who walks with or without a stick.

Laughter

Mr Mulusa: … (vii) wealth retention in the local economy as well as enhancement of local wealth ownership.

Our towns may be planned and redeveloped using the powers they have to plan and redevelop the creation of municipal infrastructure through investments and by regulatory policies.

Mr Speaker, there is a need for a funded integrated urban development approach. The word ‘funded’ is deliberately added to ensure that the crafting of an integrated urban development plan is accompanied by funding to prevent the crafting of such a plan from just ending up as a mere exercise of compliance but, rather, it actually gets implemented. An integrated urban development approach will also ensure that there is promotion of economic development with social inclusion.

Mr Speaker, several cities, towns and districts in Zambia have, for a long time, been existing with some weak form of social and economic equilibrium. For some towns such as Solwezi, this has been affected by assuming a new status which has put a strain on society and has inconvenienced it from various angles. This is due to the fact that the new status assumed has come with consequences that have not been met with deliberate integrated development plans. The consequences of this development are negative social and economic challenges for the local society and the local economy.

Mr Speaker, Solwezi Town is usually accessed through a national road that connects it to Chingola Town on the Copperbelt. This road has a one-way lane in each direction. The heavy traffic on this road has made it a danger to users, as it can no longer cope with the heavy traffic of heavy duty trucks on a daily basis.

This single-lane road leads into and passes through the middle of Solwezi Town in its narrow form, thus making cyclists and pedestrians compete for space with motorists. This has resulted in numerous accidents involving motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, more often than not, resulting in the loss of life.

Mr Speaker, township roads are also in the form of rarely attended to gravel roads that are mostly eaten away by rainfall. Deep and dangerous gullies created by run away rain water are a common feature along and across township roads in Solwezi. The town is in a high rainfall belt area and records one of the highest rainfall statistics in the country. Due to its undulating landscape, in the absence of a proper drainage system, rain water flows uncontrolled and leaves a lot of damage in its wake.

Mr Speaker, health facilities include one public provincial referral hospital and one district clinic. These two health institutions are, more often than not, in a deplorable state except for the referral hospital now undergoing renovation, courtesy of First Quantum Minerals. In the rural outskirts, death of women in labour is a common occurrence as referred to before.

Mr Speaker, education facilities in the entire district are not anything to write home about. As highlighted in my maiden speech, children in the districts attend schools where they are not given good hope of a better life. School leavers are at a competitive disadvantage because education facilities are few and in a poor state. The absence of a key craft training institution is a conspicuous characteristic of the town. As a consequence of this, unemployment levels, despite the presence of job opportunities from three mines, are unbelievably high, especially among the youth.

Mr Speaker, the population of Solwezi, over the last ten years, grew by almost 20 per cent, but there has not been any corresponding growth in the social and economic facilities or in the maintenance of the existing ones. This scenario has led to a lack of economic infrastructure, leading to added costs for the transportation of goods and services and increased road traffic accidents which more often than not result in loss of life.

Mr Speaker, the growth in the population in Solwezi has resulted in the district hosting 33 per cent share of the entire province’s population. Despite that, Solwezi has never seen corresponding growth in its social facilities such as health and education, to mention but a few. Economic infrastructure such as the Solwezi/Chingola Road, which is the main economic infrastructure, remains under increasing serious strain due to a lack of complete rehabilitation. As indicated earlier, the local township roads are also under serious strain due to increased traffic volumes.

Mr Speaker, statistics on road traffic accidents for Solwezi District displayed in the Provincial Traffic Department Office show the following in 2011 alone:
 
Month Number of Road Accidents
 
January  68
February 67
March 64
April 46
May 50
June 49
July 70
August 59
September 66

Mr Speaker, apart from individuals, companies and insurance companies losing assets through road accidents, lives of people in their productive age have been lost. This has resulted in children being orphaned and impoverishing those who may have been dependant on the deceased. 

Mr Speaker, this does not make Solwezi an attractive place for those from other parts of the country and, indeed, outside the country to reinvest the money they earn in Solwezi to help to develop the town.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, this Motion seeks to ensure that we create sustainable cities. A sustainable city is defined as: “one that meets its present and future human development objectives without growth in throughput of matter and energy beyond the regenerative and absorptive capacities of its local, national or international hinterland.”

Mr Speaker, poverty is among the major drivers of urban environmental degradation. The urban poor who are unable to compete for scarce resources or protect themselves from harmful environmental conditions are most affected by the negative impacts of urbanisation. It is estimated that 60 per cent of the urban population in Zambia lives below the poverty datum line and that female-headed households are disproportionately affected.

Mr Speaker, inadequate waste collection and waste management systems are the cause of serious urban pollution and are a health hazard, especially in cities in developing countries such as our own. Cities in urbanised countries also face the consequences of past environmentally damaging production techniques and inadequate waste disposal as we have seen on the Copperbelt where Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) was requested to pay K10 billion to victims of pollution.

Mr Speaker, this Motion, if successful, will ensure that all districts, towns, cities and provinces in Zambia develop in a dispassionate manner using policies and strategies that speak back to our local challenges. The towns that need immediate attention at the moment are Solwezi, Chinsali and Choma. This House has a duty to ensure that Solwezi, Chinsali and Choma residents and any other residents of any locality faced with increased socio-economic activities are not subjected to unnecessary inconvenience due to their public infrastructure and amenities being subjected to undue strain.

I, therefore, appeal to all my colleagues in this House to support the Motion.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, now.

Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to second the Motion on the Floor. The challenges highlighted by the mover of the Motion call for an accelerated and funded integrated urban development approach to achieve sustainable development.

Considering that the environment hosts people and economic activities, sustainable development is increasingly being emphasised in development policy formulation. This aspect is also emphasised in this Motion.

Mr Speaker, sustainable development must be achieved through integrated development planning as suggested in this Motion. Sustainable development is a meeting point for environmentalist and developers. The definition of sustainable development given by the Brundtland Commission is:

“Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the current generations without compromising the future generations’ ability to meet their own needs.”

Mr Speaker, development involves a progressive transformation of the economy and society while caring for the environment. A development path that is sustainable cannot be secured unless development policies pay attention to such considerations as changes in access to resources and the distribution of costs and benefits.

Mr Speaker, this Motion is non-controversial. It merely spells out the fact that development must be planned, funded and managed. It cannot just happen by its own volition. The Motion ensures that we do not wait until our settlements deteriorate so much that we then need to implement costly urban renewal programmes. Rather, it ensures that specific settlements whose social and economic infrastructure come under strain due to such localities taking on new responsibilities are immediately assisted to ameliorate the impact of such strain by being subjected to an integrated development plan that is funded.

Mr Speaker, more recently, the idea of sustainability has become an unavoidable requirement due to the impact of urban development on the environment and quality of life. The idea of the three pillars of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental concerns should all be integrated in urban development so that the environmental stresses associated with urban development and related changes in land use and human activities under alternative demographic, economic, environmental and policy scenarios are managed.

Mr Speaker, we need to adequately account for the environmental stresses associated with urban development and related changes in economic and human activities under alternative demographic, economic, environmental and policy scenarios.

The implementation of funded integrated urban development strategies that are timely and accurate is crucial to achieving sustainable urban development. The development of integrated models is critical in providing useful inputs to urban growth management strategies that will result in more efficient urban settlements. The objective of this Motion is to ensure the implementation of funded integrated urban development approaches in our targeted localities.

Mr Speaker, while settlements elsewhere can develop purely from private sector initiatives, here, the Government must provide leadership. Our local economies assuming new status need to benefit from well-crafted sustainable development strategies, of which a funded integrated urban development approach is one, in order to achieve the economic efficiencies, human development as well as poverty eradication through suitable planning. These areas include, Solwezi, Chinsali and Choma.

Mr Speaker, social and economic infrastructure in Solwezi District has been put under serious strain by the consequences of the growing mining activities in the district. The town will soon be joined by Choma and Chinsali districts as the new provincial headquarters of Southern and Muchinga provinces, respectively. The new administrative burdens that will be placed on these two towns will destabilise their social and economic mosaic and harmony if not mitigated by a funded integrated urban development plan.

Mr Speaker, Chinsali and Choma districts will soon take up, like I have said, new administrative responsibilities. This Motion, if accepted, will be of immediate assistance to the three districts.

Mr Speaker, having pronounced the new provincial headquarters for Muchinga and Southern provinces, respectively, by the President, Chinsali and Choma districts will face unimaginable social and economic challenges if no accelerated, funded integrated urban development approach is applied. Imagine the entire provincial staff complement moving into Chinsali or Choma without initially planning the districts in an accelerated and integrated manner. The sudden increase in population will put pressure on housing, thus increasing prices for houses and rentals. The sudden increase in population as a result of inward migration of workers, spouses and dependants will also put a strain on the water and sanitation facilities, leading to water-borne diseases. It will also put a strain on the existing health and education facilities. Township roads will also come under serious strain due to the sudden increase in traffic. This will further lower safety standards, as our roads are not built to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

Mr Speaker, our economy, in general, is losing a lot of money through the challenges that this Motion is aiming to solve. This is because when a locality is not adequately planned and economic efficiencies are non-existent, economic inefficiencies across the board set in. It is now possible to lose as much as one hour trying to move from one end of town to the other and back due to traffic congestion in most Zambian towns today. If you are a worker, that is one-eighth in an eight-hour day shift. Assuming that all civil servants are delayed as they go to work and in between assignments, one-eighth of the trillions contained in the Yellow Book as emoluments will be paid by the Government without obtaining any benefit in return. Aggregated at the national level, we have budgeted to spend about K8 trillion on personal emoluments. If each one of our civil servants is delayed by sixty minutes in an eight-hour day shift, the economy is losing K1 trillion per annum by paying civil servants for their time one-eighth of which they are not economically productive at work, but stuck in traffic. If you add private sector salaries, the economy is losing trillions more in the same manner. This means that, on aggregate, our products and services are more expensively produced than competitor goods and services.

This Motion, therefore, promotes the competitiveness of our economy broadly. Economic and social infrastructure such as national, provincial and township roads should, therefore, be adequate and in excellent condition for the economy to achieve productive efficiencies.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

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

Dr Chituwo (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, I have only two points to make on this Motion, which has been ably moved and seconded, just as a way of emphasis.

Sir, as we have heard, population increase is here to stay. With that, we have seen the migration of people from the rural into urban areas, because there is this notion that the lights in Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone will provide an easy livelihood. However, when people arrive in urban areas, they find themselves in unplanned settlements and are confronted with joblessness, poor housing and inadequate water and sanitation.  This becomes a catch twenty-two situation because they cannot go back to the rural areas. Therefore, they stay in town, thereby increasing the strain on the cities.

Mr Speaker, this Motion is certainly a wake up call and a chance for the Government to seize the opportunity presented by the three cities. We can also see and experience the stress that has been put on those cities. Having initially been planned for very small populations, these cities have seen population increases and the strain on the cities that I mentioned is there for everybody to see. Alongside the already existing cities, we have green fields that present us with the opportunity to have a funded integrated urban development.

Sir, the most important aspect of development that should be well-planned, if we do not have the funds for all the other aspects, is road access. The experts state that the area that is covered by road access should be a third of the total area of development. A good example is the development of Manhattan in the United States of America (USA). The city was planned in New York 100 years ago. Since then, there has never been any new plan for its development because everything,  including the streets that the people see today, from First Street all the way to Thirtieth or whatever number the last street is assigned, was planned for at the beginning of the city’s development. The planners also made sure that the roads were big enough to accommodate not only motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, but also took care of drainage infrastructure, lighting and business activities. It is, therefore, an opportunity and a timely reminder that this can be done in Choma, Solwezi and Chinsali. Obviously, the planners of 100 years ago are not alive today. Similarly, we should not plan for tomorrow, 2012 or 2015, but for a century and beyond.

Mr Speaker, the urbanisation of cities might be viewed as a nuisance from the perspective of the provision of social services because it puts a strain on municipalities. However, cities are engines of economic development. Along these planned road accesses, one invariably sees the cost of estates increasing. One sees economic activities in shops of all sorts. One also sees the construction of schools, colleges and other infrastructure. This is a Motion that needs to be supported. Actually, it needs to be extended to all the other districts where the municipalities, districts and cities have shrunk in area and are having to ask for land for development from traditional leaders. When this land is given, the settlement should be well-planned so that the livelihoods of urban people become more manageable.

Sir, I wish to add one more issue that I have advocated for, and over which the hon. Member for Moomba Constituency, who is listening very attentively, has opposed me. He is an engineer while I am not, but I still believe that this point must be considered. As we plan for horizontal development in our residential and business areas, let us also plan for the vertical development as brought out by many studies in developed cities. You maximise on economic gains by constructing, at least, four-storey buildings, whether you have power or not. If people are able bodied, they will be able to climb four storeys. We have to adapt in order to survive the pressure that our growing population is exerting on our cities. This is a proven way of surviving. One can provide services ...

Mr Lubinda nodded.

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I can see the hon. Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism is nodding vigorously. One can provide services, be it water, sewerage, power, social amenities or playgrounds in an area that is densely populated if planned properly. I urge the Government to consider, as an addition to our urban development, the aspect of utilising vertical space.

Mr Speaker, this is a very timely Motion that needs to be supported by everyone.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Masebo (Chongwe): Mr Speaker, I want to begin by commending the junior hon. Members for bringing a Motion on the Floor of this House. I think it is good when young hon. Members of Parliament ...

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: ... show enthusiasm. I think the people of Choma Central and those who voted for the other hon. Member voted wisely. However, I do not know what this Motion is intended to achieve because I am fully aware that that is the way the PF Government intends to go.

Mr Speaker, the PF Government intends to bring about integrated development in this country. I am also aware that even the laws pertaining to the Town and Country Planning Act were reviewed in an effort to achieve exactly what the hon. Members have raised on the Floor of this House through this Motion. It is like saying the PF Government is being urged to drill boreholes so that people can survive and not die, and yet the drilling of boreholes is there in the Yellow Book. Maybe, what the hon. Members should have done is talk about increasing the funding to drilling of boreholes and not urging the Government to pursue a funded integrated urban development approach to ensure that the existing public infrastructure and amenities are not unnecessarily put under strain. So, I think the Motion is neither here nor there because that is what the Government of the day is already doing. However, let me say that it is good when hon. Members emphasise what the Government is doing and the Government should not frustrate what the Backbench is trying to emphasise as an important aspect of their job.

Sir, we do not want to be like the previous Government. Hon. Members used to bring Bills and Motions on the Floor of the House, but even straightforward ones were always shot down. I do not consider that good leadership for those who will be in Government.

When young hon. Members of Parliament go out of their way and engage in deep research in order to come up with a Motion, their submissions must be considered. I am aware that the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Childhood and Environmental Protection is fully aware of the issues that are being raised as we debate the Motion which is currently on the Floor of the House. Debating motions such as the one we are considering should be seen as opportunities for us to educate each other. We need such education even as Backbenchers because we might go onto the Frontbench tomorrow.

Laughter

Mr Miyutu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mrs Masebo: It is good …

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I have never risen on a point of order. Is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to continue to blame the previous regime for certain things when she was an hon. Minister in that Government?

Mr Speaker: What is being debated is policy. Therefore, the hon. Member is in order to refer to the policies of the previous Government and also its disposition. I will not go into an inquisition of who belonged to what party and when in order to regulate the debate which is currently on the Floor of the House. Otherwise, I will be involved in a very difficult task because of the political history of this country.

The hon. Member may continue.

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that we are here to debate, exchange views and educate each other. We are also here to provide information to the people through our debates. Before the point of order was raised, I was not only commending the mover for a good job, but also asserting that he was urging the PF Government to do what it is already doing. Therefore, there is nothing new which the Government is being told to do. 

Mr Speaker, I would also like to urge all those who are currently part of the Front Bench to act differently from the way the previous Front Bench did. Maybe, I should be specific and say that they should act differently from the ones who were part of the Front Bench during the Banda Administration. That way, the new hon. Member of Parliament will know that I was not part of the Banda Administration.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Masebo: Those who are part of the Front Bench today should not do things to frustrate the Backbench. They should also not frustrate the Opposition because just like us who are in the Ruling Party, they have a role to play in the development of this country. When a Motion is brought to this House and it makes sense, even if it is a repetition of what we have dealt with before, let us support it and just say, “You have adequately debated this Motion because what you have said is correct and is what we are doing. Thank you very much for supporting us.” When we approach matters that way, the hon. Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Childhood and Environmental Protection will not have problems when she begins to ask for the support of hon. Members for her to break certain houses so that a road can be put up in the name of implementing the integrated development approach and upgrading unplanned settlements. That is an example of some of the effects of this process that we are talking about.

Mr Chairperson, we should not only be talking about urban development because I think that the PF Government is not just looking at plans aimed at developing urban areas. It is also looking at ways of developing rural areas. After all, the majority of us are from the rural areas.

Mr Speaker, what we are currently debating has reminded me of the last Motion which was raised on the Floor of this House during the last session which was moved by none other than the current able hon. Minister of Mines and Natural Resources and seconded by the able hon. Member of Parliament for Chongwe. It was shot down on the Floor of this House. It was a basic Motion which was urging the Government of the day to ensure that unemployment statistics were clearly packaged so that it would be possible to make calculations regarding job creation and the coming in of investors into the country. We went round Government departments which told us that there was a problem with regard to issues of employment-related statistics in this country. The then Leader of Government Business sent a note around the House urging the hon. Members to shoot down the Motion. I hope, the current Leader of Government Business will not be - I would have used an English word which Mr Speaker would have said is unparliamentary - that bad …

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: … such that he will be unable to see the logic of the Motions which will be ably moved by the Opposition. When a good Motion has been moved, we should support it. I hope we will not see the Leader of Government Business sending notes instructing us to shoot down a Motion when there is nothing which should be shot down.

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: These are straight forward matters. I am cognisant of the fact that the PF Government is already doing what the Motion is urging it to do. Maybe, what the Motion is urging the Government to do was also being done by the previous regime. I support the Motion despite it not addressing anything new. Let us all work towards ensuring that this is a proper House in which we debate issues and respect each other despite being from different sides unlike what was happening before. I want to continue reminding my colleagues about what was happening in the previous regime so that they do not repeat the mistakes of the people who were at the helm then who thought they were going to be in power wamuyayaya.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Any hon. Member opposed to the Motion?

The Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Childhood and Environmental Protection (Professor Luo): Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I want to say that I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak on the Motion on the Floor of this House.

I want to start by saying that, maybe, the Motion should have read “Urging the Government to Support or Endorse an Integrated Development.” We are talking about urbanisation in Zambia, which is on record of being one of the most urbanised countries, because we did not take a wholesome approach to development many years ago. We thought that development was about Lusaka and the Copperbelt. However, development should, in fact, be about the whole Zambia. Therefore, we should be looking at an integrated development approach for the whole country. I would have loved the mover of this Motion to put things in that perspective.

Mr Speaker, because of increased urbanisation, those of us who live in the cities are now feeling the strain on our infrastructure. However, if it were the other way round and we lived in the villages like I did some years ago, we would feel the strain of living under poor conditions. The PF Government is cognisant of that fact. That is the reason it is promoting an integrated development approach for the whole country.

Mr Speaker, why do we want an integrated development approach for the whole country? This is because it will help us to co-ordinate our development activities well and will attend to both the physical and socio-economic needs of our people. As PF, we would like to bring dignity to the Zambians. We want all Zambians to enjoy being part of this country. This will help us improve infrastructure and take social amenities to everybody regardless of where they are. The PF will not promote rural to urban migration because the living conditions will be good in their respective places.

Mr Speaker, let me also give comfort to the mover of this Motion by stating that, in fact, my ministry has already been looking at various development approaches which can be taken in order to develop this country. I just want to state that coming to this House to say that you want us to promote a funded integrated development approach is not enough because the Government has no resources to be the only source of funding for this type of development. Therefore, we need to look around and see how else we can effect this type of development.

Mr Speaker, I want to repeat something which I have said in one of my previous debates on the Floor of this House. Our councils are non-functional. They have no functional financial, monitoring and evaluation systems. Therefore, we need to clean our councils and make them viable so that they can help us deliver these services. We are cognisant of the fact that we cannot send resources to councils that may not be able to do the work that we want them to do. Therefore, our approach is as follows:

(i) as shown by our budget, the Government will support the development of the entire country, district by district;

(ii) the Government will work with partners through the public-private partnerships. These partnerships will be carefully thought through so that the Zambian people also benefit from them; and

(iii) we will attract those that are able to provide loan support for our development. Again, such initiatives will be thought through so that we avoid careless borrowing. This will help us to monitor how the resources that are meant for an integrated development approach are used.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of my ministry, I wish to state that even though this Motion is non-controversial, it should not remain as it has been proposed. It should be improved upon and must state the integrated development for the urban cities alone, but for the whole country.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Luo: The ministry will take this paper to Cabinet for its endorsement. After that is done, I will share with this august House how we will approach the type of development which we are talking about.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the reminder from both the hon. Minster of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection and Hon. Masebo that, actually, plans for a funded integrated urban development approach are already in the offing. However, I would still like to remind the Government that for a change, it should approach people’s concerns with a difference. It should have compassion for the people

Sir, earlier, I talked about the situation which is obtaining in Solwezi, Choma and Chinsali. In the case of Solwezi, maybe, the people there have been waiting for the plan which we have been talking about for ten years. If this Motion had been raised at the time the mining activities were beginning, the people of Solwezi would have had an opportunity to know how the Government was going to develop their area.

Mr Speaker, I am aware that the discourse around integrated development planning started way back in the 1990’s. Zambia was represented at international conventions, workshops and seminars regarding integrated development planning. The people who attended all those gatherings came back and shelved all the information they had acquired and whatever integrated plans that they had developed.

Sir, earlier in my debate, I mentioned key words regarding integrated development planning. Anyone who cared to listen would have realised that I had taken care of all the concerns regarding integrated development planning in my debate. I talked about the issue of funding for the simple reason that most of our plans are never fully implemented due to lack of funds. I will give a hard copy of this Motion to whoever wants to receive it. You will see that even rural areas are talked about in this Motion.

Mr Speaker, I really want to thank Hon. Masebo for debating very well. I was impressed with her debate. It shows that sooner or later, Zambia will have a female President.

Ms Masebo: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulusa: May the good Lord continue blessing our women hon. Members of Parliament.

Interruptions

Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, this Motion, as stated, calls for development for the entire nation, but with special focus on a few towns which need more attention because they are in a critical condition.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

_________

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the 
Chair]

VOTE 20 – (Loans and Investments – Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection – K337,562,525,000) and  VOTE 29 – (Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection – K458,266,174,873). 

(Consideration resumed)

Dr Kazonga (Vubwi): Mr Chairperson, before the House adjourned last night, I was looking at the services which are provided by the local government. One specific area I looked at was the issue of water supply and sanitation ….

Interruptions

The Chairperson: Order!

There are too many hon. Members who are talking. Please, if you want to consult, you should do so quietly or go to the lobbies. May the hon. Member, please, continue?

Dr Kazonga: Mr Chairperson, in my debate, I indicated that poverty, both in rural and urban areas, can be addressed through adequate water supply and sanitation.

Now, I will proceed with more details such as those on the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NRWSSP). 

Sir, as you are aware, this programme was designed in 2006 and will run up to 2015, but broken up in two parts from 2006 up to 2010 and 2011 to 2015. The aim of this programme is to actually look at issues that concern our people. One of the objectives of the NRWSSP is to improve access to clean water from 37 per cent at the time of the baseline survey to 75 per cent by 2015. Access to proper sanitation should be increased from 13 per cent at the time of the baseline survey to 60 per cent by 2015. I indicated yesterday that the institutional framework currently for water supply is very good. We just need to strengthen it in a few areas.

 

 

Sir, under rural water supply and sanitation, the district councils and communities are responsible for implementing the programme. For peri-urban and urban areas, we have the National Peri-urban and Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Programme which was being designed at that time. I am sure it has been finalised by now. The instruments for delivery in urban areas are commercial water utilities (CWUs) and I ask myself why these commercial water utilities are not fully performing according to the set standards.

Mr Chairperson, there are a number of challenges that they are faced with and one of them is dilapidated infrastructure. This infrastructure was meant for smaller populations at the time it was put up and it has not been rehabilitated or extended for a long time. As such, you find that the supply of water is quite limited and we have a number of leakages in some of the infrastructure because of the old age. That is why, in the commercial water utilities, we have unaccounted for water (UFW) going as high as 40 per cent and this reduces the number of people having access to clean water supply and sanitation.

Sir, let me emphasise that clean water supply and sanitation are health determinants. Immediately these two are tackled, we should be able to see a reduction in health costs. Therefore, I want the hon. Minister to know that I am happy to see a provision for the sinking of boreholes amounting to K31 billion. I am sure that both Vubwi and Lundazi constituencies will benefit from this. The people want to have access to clean water supply and sanitation, therefore, Lundazi and Vubwi must be considered for this borehole drilling exercise.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kazonga: Hon. Minister, through the Chairperson, let us have equity in the distribution of these boreholes, bearing in mind that equity is not equality, but treating cases as demand arises. I want to emphasise that as far as I am concerned, the structural arrangements to deliver are in place. We just need to strengthen a few gaps here and there. In terms of human resource to perform these functions, most of the people who perform these functions are qualified, but they need further training which should not be too much of a limiting factor. So, we need to address these issues so that our people have access to clean water supply and sanitation.

Mr Chairperson, when I look at a commercial water utility such as Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC), the current capacity is 110,000 cubic metres per day. Looking at the increase in population in Lusaka, this is not adequate. By 2015, this capacity needs to increase to about 160,000 cubic metres per day so that most of the places that are not serviced can be serviced. Therefore, I want to urge the hon. Minister to look at possible expansion in the distribution of networks, storage facilities and invest adequately in infrastructure for the future.

Sir, it is not an easy programme and it will take long to implement. However, with the provision in the Yellow Book, the increase in the provision for Peri-urban Water Supply to K73 billion from K54 billion, I a good step that has been taken. That will assist to just begin the process. There is a lot that we need to do in as far as water supply and sanitation is concerned. As earlier indicated, poverty is not just linked to income. It is linked to access to some of these facilities such as water supply and sanitation.

Mr Chairperson, in conclusion, I want to urge the hon. Minister to closely monitor the commercial water utilities or councils once these resources are released to them. That is why I was impressed when the hon. Minister talked about monitoring and evaluation in the policy statement. Let us strengthen the monitoring mechanism so that these resources are put to good use.

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

The Chairperson: Before the next speaker starts his debate, I must emphasise what the previous speaker mentioned on the need to give water supply and sanitation everywhere, particularly to Lundazi. I think the hon. Minister will take note of that.

Laughter

Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to present my maiden speech and, also, contribute to the debate on the Floor of the House.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Sir, allow me to state that my full names are Oliver Chinyama Mulomba, hon. Member of Parliament for Magoye Constituency. 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, allow me to thank Mr Hakainde Hichilema, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: … popularly known as HH, the President of the United Party for National Development (UPND), for his admirable hard work and tenacity in keeping the party strong, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: … united and disciplined. Amidst a hostile political landscape in which to survive as an opposition political party, you require focus and consistence, the attributes of Mr Hakainde Hichilema are the requirements needed for any political party existing here, in Zambia, to form the next Government. I also thank the UPND leadership and members at large for their confidence in my candidature during the general elections, which were scheduled for 20th September, 2011, and the by-election, which was scheduled for 28th November, 2011. I would be failing in my duties if I did not thank the entire campaigning team led by my hardworking campaign manager, Hon. Douglas Syakalima.

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

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, allow me to give special thanks to the beautiful people of Magoye Constituency who kept the promise to vote for a party which presents the best hope to revamp the Zambian economy, especially through agriculture which is the main economic activity in the area. I will be failing in my duties if I do not thank the members of my family who supported me before and during the elections. I am sure they will continue supporting me.

Mr Chairperson, as a proud representative of the people of Magoye, I want to place on record their huge disappointment over the statement issued by an hon. PF Government Minister in this House, following the just ended by-election, particularly referring to the outcome of the elections in Magoye. The hon. Minister said that the people of the Southern Province can even vote for a stone if it was adopted on the UPND ticket.

Hon. UPND Members: Shame!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, such remarks are not only unfortunate and disappointing, but also alarming and undemocratic.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: This is because the citizens of this country enjoy constitutional human rights of association.

Mr Chairperson, I want to urge those in Government …

Hon. UPND Member: Kambwili!

Hon. Opposition Member: You will be associating with stones.

Laughter

Mr Mulomba: Let me repeat myself.

Mr Chairperson, I want to urge those in Government, especially the Front Bench, which is composed of hon. Ministers, to ponder on their words before issuing statements that could be inflammatory and emotive and, in turn, endanger the peace of this country …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: … and bring division among Zambians.

 Mr Chairperson, Zambia needs a united leadership which respects all citizens, even in their diversity.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, I wish to end this point by stating that I am not a stone.

Laughter

Mr Mulomba: I have never been a stone and I shall never be one.

Hon. UPND Member: Kambwili!

Mr Mulomba: Even those who did not vote for the PF candidate, in Magoye, have never been, are not and shall never be stones.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, allow me also to thank the two traditional leaders in my constituency who were non-partisan during the campaigns and I hope to work with them during my tenure of office to bring about development.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, allow me also to congratulate Hon. Sichula on his victory and my sister, Hon. Masebo, on her victory, even though she forgot to congratulate me when she gave her maiden speech.

Laughter

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, there are a number of challenges in Magoye. I come to this House as a bearer of a message of poverty, under development, lack of good road infrastructure, lack of agro-related infrastructure such as dip tanks, dams, agro extension services, lack of good marketing arrangements for agro produce and lack of sufficient access to health and education facilities, among others.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, being fully cognisant of the fact that the issues I am tabling before this House, today, are not new, I make a commitment that I shall be working with the rest of the hon. Members of this House in conjunction with the people of Magoye and the UPND, under the able leadership of Mr Hakainde Hichilema, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: … to ensure that we take the most needed development to Magoye, the Southern Province and, indeed, Zambia.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. UPND Member: Quality! 

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, I wish to turn to the Vote on the Floor on Local Government, Early Education and Environmental Protection.

Mr Chairperson, allow me to add the people of Magoye’s voice in supporting this Vote on the Floor of the House.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, local government is the hub of development in any given arrangement. This is because it is where the people in the front line or operators and decision-makers in social service delivery are placed.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Chairperson, allow me to ask the responsible hon. Minister to consider implementing the Decentralisation Policy as quickly as possible because this will capacitate local authorities and improve service delivery for the poor people in the villages. I am speaking from experience because I come from the village and I am proud to be a villager.

Mr Chairperson, finally, allow me to urge the hon. Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection to consider introducing gratuity or salaries for councillors ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: … who are elected on the same ballot as the hon. Members of Parliament and the President. Above all, these are the people who are with the people we represent here all the time.

Mr Chairperson, with these few remarks, I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Chairperson: Any further debate?

Mrs Masebo indicated.

The Chairperson: I will give the Floor to Hon. Masebo for the sake of balancing gender.

Hon. Opposition Members: Again?

The Chairperson: Order!

Let me explain.

This is a different Head from the one we considered before and we try as much as possible to balance gender. Unfortunately, if it is one person, who is female, indicating to speak, she has the day.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Opposition Member: She is your friend.

Mrs Masebo (Chongwe): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for this very rare opportunity to add my voice to a subject matter that is very dear to my heart, and that is local government.

Mr Chairperson, I am glad that the PF Government has given local government its place in the economic dispensation of this country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Masebo: If you look at past speeches or budgets, you will see that local government was usually given lip service. However, looking at the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning’s statement, even when it comes to the health and education sectors, education comes first and health second because the PF Government understands the importance of education as it relates to reducing the disease burden on the nation and, also, on the economy.

In the same vein, local government comes immediately after health in terms of importance. When you look at the President’s Speech, then at the speech by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and the Budget, you will notice that for the very first time in a long time, local government has been given the due space in the whole set up. This is how it should be because the PF Government understands that local government is the peoples’ ministry. This is where the people are. The other ministries are equally important, but they are not as close to the people as local government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
 
Mrs Masebo: I am very happy with the Front Bench because it is a very good team. I hope that Zambia will be like South Africa where an hon. Minister holds office for five years and is not changed, every year, because one gets lost.

Mr Chairperson, even the principle of decentralisation has been well-articulated not just in the speech, but also the allocation. It is not just a matter of talking about the policy, but putting money in the councils so that they can carry out the functions that they are mandated to.

In my opinion, even when we talk about the Decentralisation Policy and look at the Local Government Act of 1992, which was done by Mr Sata when he was hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing and one hon. Member of Parliament who is seated here now, as Minister of Agriculture and Livestock and others, you will see that the many functions of local government were already articulated in the Local Government Act. For example, all these issues of roads, water and sanitation, garbage collection, drainage, early child education and environment were there but, over the years and because of the bamba zonke kind of leadership and changing things everyday, …

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: … we lost track.

The Chairperson: What is bamba zonke? Can you, please, translate?

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: If the Vice-President was here, he would have helped me with the translation.

The Chairperson: No, you are the one who said it.

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: Bamba zonke means trying to do everything at one time and get confused in the process. I hope I am right.

Hon. Members: Haphazard!

Mrs Masebo: Haphazard.

We reached a stage in the confusion where we were preaching decentralisation, and yet we were centralising. We saw bills coming to this House where powers of the local authorities were removed and transferred to sector ministries. So, we did not even know what we were doing. There was total confusion.

Sir, I hope this time around, we shall run a Government where, if an hon. Minister stands up to speak, one is forced to say, “Ba Minister, baimilila, bakamba.”

Laughter

The Chairperson: You are not supposed to speak vernacular in here. What does that mean? Can you translate that phrase?

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: When an hon. Minister stands up to speak, you say, “Yes, an hon. Minister has stood up to speak, this is a real Minister,” and not where you start questioning, “Is this a Minister or …”

Laughter

Mr Kalaba: A journalist!

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: So, as an advocate of the decentralisation process, I am a very happy person even as I sit here at the Backbench talking to the Front Bench. I can see a lot of hon. Members want to ask questions. By the way, the hon. Minister of Local Government, Housing Early Education and Environmental Protection calls me co-minister. I am her co-minister. As you can see, I do not even feel like I am absent from the ministry because there are a lot of consultations going on and …

Hon. Member: Mmn!

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: … people are learning from past mistakes and getting better. That is good and that is what we want. You can see that the budget has taken care of many things that should have been taken care of a long time ago if we knew what we were doing. Instead of taking three steps forward, we took seven steps backwards. So, we never made any progress.

Mr Chairperson, some money has been allocated to the hon. Minister’s ministry, but I am very disappointed because if you recall, it was said on the Floor of this House that out of seventy-two districts, only fifty-four rural districts had their debt cleared. Again, we came back to this House and reported that fourteen municipalities had their debt cleared and we only remained with four cities by 2007/2008. Today, …

The Chairperson: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the 
Chair]

The Chairperson: We are waiting for those who are still coming in. Can you, please, move quickly so that we make a quorum?

Mrs Masebo: Mr Chairperson, when business was suspended, I was saying that by 2008, the Government had managed to clear outstanding arrears for all the fifty-four rural district councils and fourteen municipalities. What had remained were the four city councils because those were quite big and needed to be planned for. The idea then was to help the local authorities to be at zero debt and ensure that they begin to meet their statutory obligations and pay salaries. I am very disappointed to learn that, in fact, we have gone seven steps backwards.

Sir, there are three things under local government that the hon. Minister needs to look at. There is the issue of capacity, resources and proper planning and implementation of the plans. Capacity in terms of staffing has always been an issue, hence the formation of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC). I do not know whether it has started working because we have not yet felt its impact but, looking at the current Budget, I see that there is quite a substantial amount of resources allocated to the LGSC.

Mr Chairperson, it does not matter how much money you send to the councils, as long as the recipients of that money have no capacity to use the money effectively, it will be money down the drain. It will just be like putting money in an endless pit. So, we need to do first things first by ensuring that the LGSC looks at all the officers in the local authorities countrywide so that we have the right people on the job.

As you may be aware, Sir, history has it that many people in local authorities are not qualified for the jobs they are doing. They were employed because they were someone’s tribesman or campaigned for someone. That was the order of the day since the councils made the decision to employ. This is why we said we needed a specialised body that would actually employ people in a professional manner. So, we want to see the effects of the LGSC in as far as employing qualified people in local authorities is concerned, especially people who are going to work in the accounts department, town clerks and council chairpersons.

Mr Chairperson, the second issue is that of resources. Of course, we know that over the years, most of the resource base for councils was taken away. I have in mind the grain levy and housing units. However, it is gratifying to note that, at least, although the Government has taken away that resource base, it has started giving back part of this to the councils. However, that is not an end in itself.

There is more to local government than just money and good officers. There is also what we call political will to implement the Laws of Zambia. This is a very important component of the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection for it or the councils to succeed. Therefore, I call upon all of us, politicians and hon. Members of Parliament, to assist the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection in ensuring that the laws are followed and we are participating in the affairs of the councils by attending council meetings.

Lastly, Sir, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is an important resource in terms of capacity building at the local level. I want to advise the hon. Minister to review the guidelines which I gave. There are a number of shortcomings …

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: … which she needs to review.

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: If you may recall, when we came up with the first regulations, this got some hon. Members of Parliament arrested.

Mr Mwila: Yes, Mabenga!

Mrs Masebo: They were arrested because they thought this was money for them to start paying their cadres or doing business with. Under the Mwanawasa regime, which also did not tolerate corruption, we came up with new regulations and very few hon. Members were found wanting with regard to the use of the CDF. In fact, I cannot remember any hon. Member of Parliament being arrested or even burying money during that time.

Sir, we now have to move a step further and ensure that we review the guidelines for the use of these funds because times have changed. We have to ensure that the resources are utilised effectively for the benefit of the grassroots. So, I am actually suggesting to the hon. Minister that she improves the guidelines so that we can see results from the use of the resources, especially taking into account the fact that the fund has been increased to K1 billion per constituency. This is a lot of money if properly utilised.

Mr Chairperson, we know that some hon. Members of Parliament claim that this money is theirs and even accuse the Government of the day of not working, and yet it is the same Government of the day that gave them that money. That is why the regulations are important.

Mr Chairperson, I also want to state that it is important that we get the Government to pay its dues to local authorities in terms of rentals, rates and water and electricity bills. Usually, the Government is the culprit in this regard. The Government kills its own institutions. That is why the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) was sold in the end. This bank was sold because the Government owed it a lot of money. Hon. Ministers, hon. Members of Parliament and other leaders and politicians also owed ZANACO a lot of money before it was privatised.

So, we have to ensure that institutions such as the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) and water utility companies are paid what is due to them. Let us not allow a situation where hon. Members of Parliament or hon. Ministers go round encouraging individuals and organisations not to pay electricity and water bills because that is destructive to the same institutions which we are supposed to support.

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

Mrs Masebo: So, we need to support the Government and the councils because, as hon. Members of Parliament, we are all councilors. I hope that this time around, we will not see some experienced councillors coming here to ask the hon. Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection questions which they should be asking themselves. Such questions only show ignorance because the councils are run by us.

Mr Chairperson, we have to ensure that resources that are sent to councils are used properly because it is not possible for the hon. Minister to be in all the seventy-four districts at the same time. She can only be there through us, hon. Members of Parliament. So, we are all co-Ministers of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection by virtue of us being councillors.

Mr Chairperson, this discussion can go on and on because local government is a wide subject. I am, however, happy that the former hon. Minister, my student, Hon. Dr Kazonga, spoke very well about water and sanitation and that this administration has allocated enough resources to that. On the other hand, the other former hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing does not speak too well about this subject because he did not go through me.

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

Laughter

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Chairperson, from the outset, I want to say that I support this budget, although the allocation for Loans and Investment – Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection has been reduced from K648,465,104,023 this year to K337,562,525,000 in 2012. I was expecting an increase or the retention of the same amount so that the money goes towards infrastructure development, especially in the new councils. There is, therefore, a need for the ministry to consider infrastructure development for the new councils in the 2013 Budget because some of them do not even have houses for their staff. As such, there is a need to give them some more resources.

Mr Chairperson, further, I heard the hon. Minister lamenting the non-performance of councils, and yet every year, it is the hon. Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection who approves the budgets for the councils. Some of the budgets for councils have been increasing every year, but people do not see any benefits. Whatever resources that are raised in these councils go towards the payment of salaries and wages, leaving very little for development. Councils have many functions, but there has been no performance because of lack of adequate resources, and yet we keep approving budgets which are not adequate.

Mr Chairperson, the Government has been giving some councils compensatory grants in lieu of the crop levy that was somehow withdrawn. However, councils such as Mpongwe, which depended so much on grain levy, have not seen this compensatory grant. As such, the provision of services to the people in the area has greatly suffered. For instance, for the last quarter, the council is owed over K500 million and there is not even a promissory note in relation to when this grant is going to be given. It is either we are allowed to start collecting the grain levy or the Government honours its responsibility of giving councils the grants for compensation in lieu of the grain levy.

Mr Chairperson, furthermore, the councils can operate effectively, but the calibre of some of the staff leaves much to be desired. I remember during the time when I was council secretary, we had the likes of Messrs Emmanuel Chenda and Ali Simwinga. The Lusaka City Council is lucky to have Mr Andrew Mwanakulanga because he is a very good Town Clerk. However, most practical people are gone. Yes, people may have degrees, but local government is a very complex sector to run. For this reason, courses that are offered by the Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute are vital for people who are running the councils, especially those in financial management.

Mr Chairperson, a person may be a qualified accountant but, if he/she has not been trained to handle the local government books of accounts, he/she will find it very difficult to understand the system. When the auditors come, even when people have not stolen, they might be deemed to have done so, and yet it is just because of the lack of understanding of how to manage books of accounts for councils. So, there is a need to actually give more money to Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute and ask councils to send their officers for training in local government finance and administration. This is going to help us a lot in the smooth running of local authorities in our nation.

Sir, I am happy that the Government is going to review the Rating Act, but I have noticed that the provision of the grants in lieu of rates is very little, considering that the Government has put up a lot of new infrastructure. So, there is a need for the Government to increase the grants in lieu of rates to the councils. Furthermore, the Government must increase allocations on capital grants to councils. The timely release of specific grants to enable councils discharge their functions properly is also important.

Mr Chairperson, we have many councils in this nation whose revenue base is very weak. As such, when the ministry is giving grants to all councils, it must think of proportionately giving these grants so that those with low revenue bases receive more resources. We have seen that councils such as Lusaka City Council (LCC) which can earn a lot of money through rates get more money through grants for drainages in Kanyama, and yet the council can do this from its internal resources. For instance, if we were to ask the LCC, how much money it raises from the rates and what type of services it provides to the residents of Lusaka, we would be surprised because, if you move at night, there are no streets lights, but only people sweeping the roads. Where does the council take the billions it raises?  After all, it is the one that benefits more in terms of roads that are funded by the Government when it can raise its own resources.

Mr Chairperson, my appeal to the Government is that it should ensure that rural councils are given more grants and those municipal councils with a lot of property should be left to fend for themselves. Councils such as Kalabo, where I was the other time, cannot raise money. Maybe, it can raise money from fish levy, but I do not know.

Hon. Opposition Member: Mangoes.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Chairperson, there is a need for the Government to consider having a formula of giving bigger grants to the rural authorities. Further, municipal councils should be weaned off grants from the Government. They must be able to raise money from rates because, for instance, the LCC, with the improvements at Manda Hill, the construction of the Levy Junction Mall and the other shopping malls that are coming up, can raise a lot of money from service provision. Therefore, we want this money to go to Mpongwe, Mwinilunga, Shang’ombo and Kazungula and let these big councils raise money through rates and service provision.

Mr Chairperson, the three councils in Copperbelt Rural, namely Mpongwe, Lufwanyama and Masaiti need adequate funding for water provision. The boreholes should not only be sunk in Lundazi, …

Interruptions

Mr Namulambe: … but also in Mpongwe, Lufwanyama and Masaiti because the Kafue River is being polluted. Therefore, when you are considering sinking boreholes, can Copperbelt Rural also be considered adequately? Give us more water so that our people can drink clean water. The grants that you give come from the copper which is being mined there, and yet the people who gave up their land by paving way for the mines are not benefiting anything. We, the people of Copperbelt Rural, are demanding that the Government looks after us by giving us clean water. You are in the Government now and so, you must give us clean water. Even money for the creation of the new Muchinga Province will come from us.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Namulambe: We must be compensated. Yes, you have your province, but only when you give us money to develop our districts will we appreciate you. Yes, we can have the new roads, province, capital and whatever it is called, but remember where the money is coming from. The people are watching.

Mr Chairperson, if anything, can the Government divide the Copperbelt Province into two provinces? The Copperbelt Rural must be a province on its own and Copperbelt Urban must be a province on its own. That is when, maybe, you will be able to consider us. Hon. Minister, this is a friendly request that you should give us money for development in Copperbelt Rural. Next year, you must improve the allocations for infrastructure for all the newly-created councils and increase their capacity.

Mr Chairperson, we are happy that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has been increased from K720 million to K1 billion. It had been increased to about K800 million, but it was the pressure we put on the Government which made the Executive move the amendment to increase it to K1 billion.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

Mr Namulambe: If anything, I would like it to be increased further …

The Chairperson: Order!

In all honesty, I do not think it should be called pressure, but rather advice which the other side has considered favourably. Therefore, let us not take a swipe at them for taking our advice.

May the hon. Member continue.

Hon. Government Member: Long live the Chair!

Mr Namulambe: Mr Chairperson, thank you for that wise counsel. I would like to ask the Executive to increase the CDF to K2 billion next year.

With these few remarks, I wish to support this Vote with a request that the hon. Minister be considerate enough and give us K500 million compensatory grants in lieu of the grain levy for Mpongwe District Council.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Chairperson, thank you for according me the opportunity to debate the Vote for the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection. I tend to agree with my colleagues who have debated on the Floor of this House on the importance of this ministry. Local government is the Government of the people, for the people and it is supposed to be by the people. Unfortunately, we have not yet reached that level.

Mr Chairperson, nearly all the Governments, from the time of Independence to date, have been adopting this fallacy of believing that local authorities can stand on their own two feet without the support of the Central Government. I stand here without fear of any contradiction to state that there is no council whatsoever in this world that survives without financial support from the Central Government. I heard my sister, Hon. Masebo, who is very passionate about the local government system in this country, heaping blame on the MMD Government of former President Rupiah Banda and exonerating the Government of the former Republican President, that gallant son of Zambia, Mr Levy Mwanawasa, SC. I also note that she has praised herself for being a Member of the PF Government that is very focussed on issues of local government. She may be right because those are her ambitions, but we should also look back at history and, when we do that, we will realise that most of the major problems which we have currently in the local government system are as a result of what my colleagues on the other side of this House did.

Mr M. H. Malama: Question!

Mr Mwiimbu: I have been questioned, Sir. I would like to reveal what I did not want to reveal.

Mr Muntanga: Ulula!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, the financial malaise of the councils in this country started at the time my beloved President of the Republic of Zambia was hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Mwiimbu: At that time, a law was introduced that anyone who had served for twenty-two years in the local authorities, in spite of his/her high quality managerial skills or qualifications, was retired. People were retired in haste without looking at the financial implications. Those financial implications are still dogging us today and I hope that the … – it is only that the good words are usually unparliamentary.

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: Otherwise, I would have said …

The Chairperson: No. Do not say it. Please, continue, but I do not want to hear the word.

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, let them correct the mistakes they made since they have the opportunity to do that now. They must be magnanimous enough to admit that mistakes were made. It is only when you admit the mistakes that you will be able to correct them and forge ahead. I have no doubt …

Mr Chilangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

The Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Chairperson, is the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central in order to insinuate on the Floor of this House that the PF Government made mistakes in the past when it has only been in power for less than three months? I need your serious ruling, Sir.

The Chairperson: As you debate, Hon. Mwiimbu, you can take that point of order into account.

Mr Mwiimbu: With glee.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, at the time I was in local government, I worked with my dear brother, Hon. Chenda, for whom I have a lot of respect, under the instruction of the former hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing, and came up with that law, which is actually affecting the local government system now. If Hon. Chilangwa did not know, I was saying the President of the Republic of Zambia should correct the mistake he made when he was Minister of Local Government and Housing. I have no doubt that he knows this and will correct it.

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe: Wanywishya, mudaala!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, I heard my good sister, the hon. Minister of Local Government, Housing and Early Education and Environmental Protection, stating that the councils are not functioning. She may have the right to comment like that, but she should also be considerate of the plight of the workers. When you say it is not functional, that means the local authorities are dead and there is nothing whatsoever that is happening. It will not be in our interest to blame our officers in that manner.

I have no doubt that she will reflect on that and try and encourage the officers who are working under very difficult conditions. I know that there are a number of local government officers who are qualified and hard working, but cannot perform due to the policies of the previous Government and, partly, this current Government that has not changed the policies.

Mr Chairperson, the hon. Minister talked about decentralisation and the former hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing also has been talking about decentralisation. It is my considered view that there is a contradiction in terms of their pronouncements on decentralisation. I am one of the people who have been consistently opposing the introduction of the Local Government Service Commission.

Mr Chairperson, the Local Government Service Commission is actually a counter measure to decentralisation. What is now obtaining is that the appointment of officers is being done centrally by an organ of appointed individuals who make appointments on behalf of the local authorities. We must also realise that the vices we have been condemning in the appointments of the local councils are also being committed.

The Local Government Service Commission is also appointing people out of patronage. We have no doubt that even the recent appointments that were made by the Local Government Service Commission and which the hon. Minister is also against in certain cities and towns, were not done prudently. As a result of the Local Government Service Commission, most of us are councillors.

Mr Chairperson, there is unprecedented indiscipline now in the local authorities. The officers have realised that they no longer owe any allegiance to the councils.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: They know that they now owe allegiance to a force that is outside the jurisdiction of local authorities.

Mr Hamududu: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Therefore, councillors, cannot discipline anyone. The workers know that the only authority that can discipline them is an authority they cannot see and can easily compromise. It is prudent, if you still want to have the Local Government Service Commission, to give the disciplinary power to the local authorities. That way, you will be able to make progress. Unfortunately, the indiscipline which is rife in the Civil Service has been transferred to local authorities. Disciplinary procedures are now taking years as a result of the law which we passed in this House.

I have no doubt that the President of the Republic of Zambia has been consistent in opposing the Local Government Service Commission. I tend to think that he will make another recommendation to reverse the Local Government Service Commission because it is counter productive.

Mr Chairperson, we have been told that this year, the Government has provided a lot of money to the local authorities, but I do not agree with this assertion. In terms of boreholes, we are told that 3,000 boreholes are going to be sunk but, considering the number of constituencies and how vast constituencies such as Mpika and Katombola are, this figure may not be adequate.

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.

The Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Chairperson, thank you for allowing me to raise this point of order. Let me first make cognisance of the sentimental debate by my colleague on a matter that is very close to his heart and to the hearts of many people in this House. However, I have noticed that he has drifted away from the issue of the Local Government Service Commission. Is he in order to drift away from that matter without declaring the fact that he, our colleagues in the UPND and some of the colleagues on this side of the House, when the Local Government Service Commission Bill was brought to this House, debated against it vehemently? Is he in order, therefore, to drift away from that part without declaring that he, too, using the power that he has as an hon. Member of Parliament, will propose an amendment to the law so that we proceed along the lines that he is suggesting? Is he in order to veer away?

Interruptions

The Chairperson: Order!

The hon. Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism has cleverly debated his point of order.

The hon. Member for Monze Central may continue.

Mr Mwiimbu: Thank you, Mr Chairperson. I admit that my colleagues, the PF hon. Members who were in the House in the previous Parliament, and ourselves voted against the Local Government Service Commission, but we were defeated. I have no doubt that my colleague, Hon. Lubinda, will lobby his colleague in Cabinet so that she immediately brings a Bill to repeal the Local Government Service Commission. I have no doubt that he is going to do that.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, before the point of order was raised, I was saying that there is a misrepresentation that a lot of money has been given to the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection. However, the money that has been given to this ministry is not adequate. If I had my way, I would provide more. I gave an example of the allocation for sinking boreholes. Three thousand boreholes entails only ten per constituency. Why should we be celebrating ten boreholes per constituency? The local authorities are owed K200 billion in retirees’ benefits. The Lusaka City Council alone owes retirees K50 billion, but only K1 billion has been allocated for it to pay retirees.  With the money that will be provided, nothing tangible will happen.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson.{mospagebreak}

The Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection (Professor Luo): Mr Chairperson, let me start by thanking my colleagues who have contributed to the debate on the Motion. As the hon. Minister responsible for this portfolio, I want to acknowledge the total support that I have had for this budget.

Mr Chairperson, let me just mention a few issues. Some of my colleagues talked about issues in the councils in this country such as capacity building.  I want to agree that in the short period we have been in the ministry with my colleague, Hon. Banda, and my Permanent Secretary, we have recognised this as an issue. It is not only the numbers that are an issue but, also the calibre and manner of hiring of staff. Furthermore, no matter how intelligent and honest a member of staff might be, if there are no systems in place – they are just thrown into a pot of boiling water and the results will, obviously, be very bad. So, as we address the issue of councils, we must address the issue of systems, especially financial systems; accountability; transparency; procurement; and monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the councils.

Sir, I want to, again, affirm that I am not belittling the fact that the councils do have hardworking staff. There are some people in the councils who are hardworking, but I think that it is also important for us to accept the fact that we have challenges and huge problems in the councils. These can be attributed to many reasons.

Mr Chairperson, I would like my colleagues who are here, since they are councillors, to take a keen interest in their councils and even audit what is going on there. In the short period that I have been an hon. Minister, I have noticed that most of the lodges that are mushrooming in the different cities belong to our staff, and yet they are not being paid. Where are they getting the money they are using to construct these lodges from? Some of them own seven houses. When you audit the plots, you will be told that they were sold by an officer from the council. I have no apology to make because His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, has given me an assignment to put the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection in order. Therefore, I expect you, my colleagues here, to support all the efforts that we are making in that regard.

Sir, the implementation of projects in our councils is flawed. Therefore, we are introducing measures to ensure that all the funds allocated in this budget being debated today are secured. I have asked all the staff to provide action plans with time lines and these will be evaluated. So, if a department informs me that they are going to implement a project in three months, they have to account for what they have done or why they would have failed to do that in three months. Again, this is important because they will set their own targets, measurements and indicators to ensure that services are delivered. 

Mr Chairperson, laws are not being enforced. I want to appeal, once more, to hon. Members to be part of the enforcement of laws. Please, do not oppose, but support me. Even if you have personal interest in the various projects, remember that Zambia is bigger than you? Even if there are some monetary gains from an activity that is taking place, think of the legacy that you are going to leave for your children. Think of the Zambia that you are going to leave for your children because, once you put your children and your children’s children welfare before yours, maybe, some of the complaints that we are putting forward will come to an end.

Mr Chairperson, I am very proud that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has decided to increase the CDF to K1 billion. However, as the hon. Member who debated before me mentioned, the CDF is not going to come easy as has been the case in the past. A piece of legislation will be put in place to strengthen the guidelines because the audits have revealed maladministration of the fund. For example, I visited a council last week or the previous one where, they have received K21,100,000 consecutively for the last three years for the same project. I went on the site and all that is there is a slab. I also want to tell the hon. Members of Parliament that I am a very energetic and inquisitive hon. Minister. I will be in every constituency to see how the CDF will be used.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Luo: Mr Chairperson, God has blessed me with a lot of energy and, for as long as I have it, I will be available.

Sir, in relation to water and sanitation, the excuse that is always given for our inability to provide water is that of dilapidated infrastructure. However, if you go back to our budgets, we should be asking questions …

The Chairperson: Order, wind up, hon. Minister.

Professor Luo: Even the little that we send out, what is it used for? I think our major problem, in this country, as I have found out in my ministry, is our priority setting. It is very easy for us to buy new cars, attend workshops in some of the most posh hotels, and yet we are not providing a service to our people. As I will be drawing up ten commandments in my ministry, one of them will be, “Thou shall not attend a workshop more than once in six months.”

Laughter

Professor Luo: Mr Chairperson, I told you a while ago that we should forego personal gain and put Zambia first.

Interruptions

Professor Luo: Sir, climate change has become an issue that is very important.  Recently, my ministry was part of the COP 17 on Climate Change. We are going to make it a priority as I work with my colleagues, the hon. Ministers of Mines and Natural Resources, and Lands, Energy and Water Development.

Sir, on the issue raised concerning the reduction in Loans and Investments, I want to tell my fellow hon. Members that the reason is that some of the programmes have already been completed. The other reason is that apart from the money that has been provided for in our budget, there are also co-operating partners who are going to put more money into the activities. However, as you know, sometimes, our co-operating partners give us this money much later because of their financial years. That also applies to water and sanitation. As a counsel to Hon. Mwiimbu, there will be more money coming to us from our co-operating partners.

Sir, in terms of the cost of retirement, may I tell Hon. Mwiimbu that, sometimes, when we see something at face value, it might look like there is an obvious causal relationship between that thing and another. However, I think that we should look at it this way: if you have a team of staff which is costing you so much per month to maintain and you keep them for a long time, the cost of maintaining that team might be higher than the cost of retiring it. So, maybe, we need to start looking at this because, as more people get retired, I do not want the hon. Members of Parliament here to say that we are creating a problem. I am saying so because the audits of some of our councils and other statutory bodies reveal that it is more expensive to keep people that have received fourteen grants and they can only account for one.  Probably, that is why some councils have not been receiving money. We have come up with the requirement that before a grant is given, the council or the statutory body must account for the money that it received prior to the request. We cannot continue throwing water in a leaking pot like that.

Mr Chairperson, the money that has been given to us, as a council, is a good beginning and it demonstrates political goodwill which we should celebrate. As hon. Minister, I am actually celebrating that I have been appointed to a ministry that, for the first time, has a good budget and gives me more impetus and zeal to work than I would have if I had gone to one where I would have been struggling to get funding. So, it is a good beginning and I want to thank you all for supporting this Vote and the ministry. I look forward to working with all of you. In fact, next week, you will all receive letters of invitation to meet all of you before you leave so that we can talk and think about how we are all going to be responsible. When you see people hiring our lodges that have sixteen rooms and six chalets at K1 million every month, for example, you should quickly come and tell me so that I can act. If you have a council that hires a whole motel that has thirty rooms and so many other facilities for K8 million, you should come and tell me. You are the eyes of this ministry.

Mr Chairperson, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Chairperson: Order!

I hope that we will move fast because one thing that I have heard from the hon. Minister is that, in some of those votes, there are reductions or no money has been provided because either work was done or some donors are going to fund the activities. So, let us not dwell too much on such issues.

Vote 20/04 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 20/06 – (Loans and Investments – Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection   –  Infrastructure and Support Services – K304,473,201,801).

Dr Kazonga: Mr Chairperson, may I have clarification on page 373, Programme 5011, Activity 009 – Rehabilitation of Six Towns – K4 billion. May I know which towns these are? Further, on page 374, Programme 5011, Activity 003 – Construction – K1 billion. Is that construction of markets or bus stations? Also, how many of these will be constructed?

The Chairperson: I will discourage questions such as the first one because those are administrative and the ministry will be able to know which places those are. I will allow the hon. Minister to answer the second part of the question.

Professor Luo: Mr Chairperson, the answer is the same. I think it is administrative and, if Dr Kazonga is just interested in knowing if Vubwi is included, he can just declare interest.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Vote 20/06 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 20/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 29/01 – (Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection – Human Resource and Administration – K22,388,832,916).

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Chenda) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr Chikwanda)):  Mr Chairperson, I beg to move the following amendment:

Under 15, Records Management Unit, Programme: 1148 Registry Management, Activity 001, by the deletion of the words “Management of MTENR Registries” and the substitution therefor of the words “Management of MLGHEEEP Registries”.

Amendment agreed to. Vote amended accordingly.

Vote 29/01, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 29/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 29/04 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 29/05 – (Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection – Local Government Administration Department –K386,219,886,092).

Mr Chenda: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move the following amendment:

Under 04, Local Government Finance and Audit Unit, Programme: 5004 –  Grants to Institutions – Capital, Activity 002, Constituency Development Fund, by the deletion of “K120,100,000,000” and the substitution therefor of “K150,000,000,000”.

Amendment agreed to. Vote amended accordingly.

Vote 29/05, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 29/06 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 29/07 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 29/08 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 29/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 29/11 – (Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection – Planning and Information Department – K7,563,948,503).

Mr Chenda: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move the following amendment:

(i) under 01, Human Resources and Administration Unit, Programme: 1069 –  Environment and Natural Resources Management and Mainstreaming Programme, Activity 011 by the deletion of the words “Develop and Operationalise MTENR Internal Monitoring and Evaluation System” and the substitution therefor of the words “Development of Internal Monitoring and Evaluation System”;

(ii) under 02, Policy Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Programme: 1050 – Co-ordination of Ministerial and Inter-Ministerial Programmes, Activity 006, by the deletion of the words “Support to Decentralisation  of TENR Functions” and the substitution therefor of the words “Support to the Decentralisation of Ministry Functions”;

(iii) under 02, Policy Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Programme: 1120 – Monitoring and Evaluation:

Activities:

(a) 001, by the deletion of Monitoring Implementation of Tourism Programmes under the SNDP – K194,000,000;

(b) 002, by the deletion of Monitoring and Evaluation of SNDP programmes under Natural resources – K190,000,000; and

(c) 003, by the deletion of the words “Monitoring and Evaluation of Infrastructure Development Under the SNDP – K198,000,000” and the substitution therefor of the words “Monitoring and Evaluation of SNDP Programmes under MLGHEEEP K582,000,000;” and

(iv) under 04, Data Management Information Unit, Programme: 1124 –Management Information Systems, Activity 024, by the deletion of the words “Maintenance and Support to MTENR Website” and the substitution therefor of the words “Maintenance of MLGHEEEP Website”.

Amendment agreed to. Vote amended accordingly.

Vote 29/11, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Chairperson: Order!

We will now move to Vote 78 – Zambia Security Intelligence Service – Office of the President. We would have gone to Vote 33 but, for technical reasons, we will look at it later.

VOTE 78 – (Zambia Security Intelligence Service – Office of the President – K313,402,179,141).

The Acting Leader of Government Business in the House and Minister of Justice (Mr S. S. Zulu): Mr Chairperson, I rise to present the estimates of expenditure for the year 2012 in respect of the Zambia Security Intelligence Service.

Sir, as espoused in the Constitution, it is the responsibility of the Zambia Security Intelligence Service to protect the people and the Republic of Zambia against threats that are inimical to the interests of the country. This responsibility goes with numerous demands for resources to facilitate the smooth and efficient running of this important institution in the architecture of the security system of our country. Therefore, it is our obligation as a Government to ensure that resources, limited as they may be, are put at its disposal.

Mr Chairperson, the legal mandate bestowed on the Zambia Security Intelligence Service is strategic to the preservation of Zambia’s security. It is, therefore, imperative that we give this institution the necessary support to enable it deliver on this mandate in line with the aspirations of the Zambian people to which this institution owes its allegiance. It is only through our support that this institution will discharge its mandate in a professional manner devoid of lack of objectivity.

Mr Chairperson, allow me to remind this august House that the peace that our nation continues to enjoy is as a result of the collective efforts of our defence and security services of which the Zambia Security Intelligence Service is an integral part. The institution has, over the years, proved to be the country’s reliable first line of defence largely on account of the support it has received from this august House in terms of the allocation of resources. It is against this background that I wish to appeal to all hon. Members to be objective when debating the estimates of expenditure for the Zambia Security Intelligence Service for 2012.

Sir, as we consider these budget estimates, it is important that we take stock of the threats facing not only our country, but also the region and the world as a whole and appreciate the fact that no single country can manage issues of security in isolation. The dynamism of security entails that we should invest heavily in institutions that deal with it. This is given the fact that the world is increasingly becoming vulnerable to threats requiring collective efforts in addressing them. In order to fit on this platform, we, as a country, are obliged to move along with other players and provide a lot of resources aimed at enhancing the capacity of our security apparatus.

Sir, as a Government, we are committed to ensuring that we have an efficient and professional intelligence service that will meet the expectations of the Zambian people. We, therefore, undertake to ensure that the image of this noble institution continues to be enhanced through the provision of resources that will enable officers to operate in a conducive environment. Against this background, I appeal for the continued support of this House.

Mr Chairperson, may I now draw the attention of this august House to the proposed budget of the Zambia Security Intelligence Service for 2012. The 2012 budget estimates stand at K313,402,179,141 compared to this year’s authorised expenditure of K281,390,446,217. The increase has been necessitated by, among other things, the need to enhance capacity building and the continuation of infrastructure development such as the construction of office blocks and staff houses in many districts. It is hoped that the continued construction of offices in districts will improve the working environment for officers.

Mr Chairperson, in conclusion, I wish to appeal to this august House to favourably consider the proposed budget before it. It is now my honour to present the 2012 estimates of expenditure for the Zambia Security Intelligence Service for consideration.

Mr Chairperson, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Chairperson: This is one allocation which I know hon. Members are always agreeable with. Having gone through it, I do not see any problem.

Laughter

Mr S. S. Zulu: Mr Chairperson, I am most grateful to all the hon. Members in the House for seriously supporting this budget.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Hon. Musokotwane!

Vote 78/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 80 – (Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training – K4,850,866,692,395).

The Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training (Dr Phiri): Mr Chairperson, I wish to thank you for according me this opportunity to present the estimates of expenditure for the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training for 2012. Allow me to state that my ministry is a merger of two big ministries, namely the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training. The estimates of expenditure will show that this merger is still being worked on. In many respects, hon. Members, the estimates are two in one. The mandate of the new ministry is to provide education, skills and vocational training to the people of Zambia. The ministry will work towards the attainment of high quality education for all and demand-driven technical education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET). The ministry will also promote science, technology and innovation which will contribute to wealth creation and general improvement in the quality of life for all citizens.

Mr Chairperson, my ministry’s priority is to streamline and align the three pillar policies, namely the TEVET Policy, Science and Technology Policy, as well as the Educating our Future Policy. The objective of streamlining and aligning these policies is to respond to the PF Government’s agenda on education, science and technology development so that we create linkages and synergies within the education system.

Mr Chairperson, there have been challenges associated with access and quality in education and TEVET. In addition, science and technology have been marginalised at all levels in the education system. In order to raise the standards, my ministry will begin to streamline the education and training sector by implementing the following sector goals:

(i) creation of two paths (academic and skills) at Grades 8 to 12 and establishing universities and technical colleges in all provinces as well as rehabilitating the existing ones;

(ii) creating exclusively science and technical schools, colleges and universities;

(iii) improving access, quality and relevance of TEVET and academic education at all levels;

(iv) reviewing the Education Act of 2011, the Technical Educational Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Act of 1998 and the amended one of 2005, the Science and Technology Act of 1997, Higher Education Bill, 2011 and the Teaching Professional Bill, 2011;

(v) prioritising information and communication technology education as early as primary school level; and

(vi) reviewing the curriculum to make it responsive to the aspirations of the Zambian people.

Mr Chairperson, the Government’s vision is to ensure that the above benchmarks are met and this will require the support of this august House as well as the citizens of Zambia in general. 

Mr Chairperson, the PF will use the 2012 Budget Estimates as the basis on which to launch its education agenda. In the 2012 fiscal year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training intends to pursue the implementation of programmes that will contribute to the achievement of the sector goals I mentioned. I, therefore, wish to draw your attention to the allocations provided for programmes and activities in the ministry.

Mr Chairperson, the total 2012 Budget for my ministry is K4.85 trillion as compared to K3.71 trillion in 2011. For personal emoluments, the provision in the 2012 Budget has increased to K3.05 trillion from K2.59 trillion in 2011. The ceiling for the ministry’s budget for non-personal emolument programmes has increased from K1.1 trillion in 2011, to K1.8 trillion in 2012.

Mr Chairperson, the following are the major programmes and activities:

Mr Chairperson, the 2012 Budget Estimate has allocated a total of K768.7 billion for infrastructure development. This will facilitate the acceleration of rehabilitation and construction of infrastructure at all levels of the education system.

Mr Chairperson, at the primary school level, K18.6 billion has been allocated for contractor mode and K143.7 billion for community mode projects. At the secondary school level, K303 billion has been provided for contractor mode and K5.4 billion for community mode projects.

Sir, I wish to urge the hon. Members of Parliament to assist the ministry in mobilising communities to actively participate in the successful implementation of these projects. I equally urge this august House to take a keen interest in monitoring the utilisation of the billions of kwacha allocated under the community mode of infrastructure development in their various constituencies.

At the tertiary level, the ministry will embark on the construction of the Kenneth Kaunda University, in Lubwa, in honour of the First Republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda. In addition, Chalimbana, Mulakupikwa, Palabana, Copperbelt College of Education and Nkrumah College of Education will be upgraded into universities. I should mention that Mulakupikwa is far ahead of the other institutions. 

In this connection, funds have been allocated for the building and transformation of these institutions. In order to foster a smooth transformation process of these institutions, my ministry appointed a team of experts to examine the transformation of these institutions. The team was given twenty-one days to work out modalities to guide the ministry and it submitted its report on 23rd November. The ministry is proud of this expertise and will use this report as a guiding tool for the transformational task.

Additionally, the Zambia Institute of Special Education has been allocated K3 billion while the new School of Medicine housed by the Copperbelt University has also been allocated funds in the budget estimates.

Mr Chairperson, I hope that there will be no tragedies, but the ministry has also allocated funds for the unforeseen eventualities such as rehabilitation of infrastructure, particularly blown off roofs at the various institutions countrywide.

Mr Chairperson, I wish to inform this august House that funds have been allocated for the merger of the three Luanshya-based institutions, namely Technical Vocational Teachers College; In-service Training Education Centre and Luanshya Business and Technical College into a polytechnic. 

In addition, there are also funds allocated to TEVET for the construction of new trades training institutes and the rehabilitation of existing ones. Construction will also start for trades training institutes in Lundazi, which should please the Chairperson, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Phiri: …and Mumbwa districts, whereas preliminary works will start for a trades training institute in Sesheke District of the Western Province.

Mr Chairperson, in the science and technology sector, my ministry will work to revamp the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) to promote research and development.
 
The ministry will continue to focus on upgrading research facilities to ensure that they are modernised and meet international standards and also ensure international accreditation of the laboratories in use. This is cardinal, as it will enable the nation make decisions from an informed perspective. In this regard, funds have been allocated for this activity.

Mr Chairperson, I would like to inform this august House that K145 billion has been earmarked for the net recruitment of 5000 teachers. This will reduce the pupil-teacher ratio from the current 50:1 to 40:1 by 2012, thereby contributing to the improvement of quality education. The net recruitment of 5,000 teachers will also help to reduce the backlog of unemployed graduate teachers for primary and secondary school levels. This, in itself, will improve the quality of life for many graduates who have been unemployed for a long time, thereby putting money in their pockets.

Mr Chairperson, the inadequate provision of books and other education materials in schools has contributed to poor performance of learners. Among other things, my ministry will endeavour to improve the pupil-book ratio through allocation of funds for education materials at primary, secondary, college levels of education and for children with special educational needs.

My ministry is also committed to improving the quality of TEVET delivery. In this regard, funds have been allocated for the procurement of educational materials and equipment for TEVET grant-aided institutions. {mospagebreak}

Procurement of student requisites is an important activity in the attainment of quality education. In order to facilitate the implementation of free education at the primary school level, my ministry has allocated funds to this activity. Let me also mention that, on this basis, free education will be extended to the secondary sub-sector as per PF Manifesto when my ministry completes working out modalities to guide the extension of the intervention.

Mr Chairperson, off-hand, I pay tribute to the United Party for National Development (UPND) for this innovation that came from them. When we were partners, we, in the PF, thought it was a good idea. I am only sorry that the partnership did not last long.

Laughter

Dr Phiri: Mr Chairperson, on the issue of upgrading teacher qualifications, I wish to submit that in order to improve the quality of education, the ministry will upgrade diploma-holder teachers to degree level through fast track initiative using distance education and funds have been allocated for this timely initiative.

Sir, allow me to now talk about adult literacy. Adult literacy is a tool for economic and national development as it facilitates a wider spectrum for the community to participate in national issues.

In order to increase participation in adult literacy, the ministry has allocated funds to support the programme. Additional funds have also been allocated to expand access to education through initiatives such as electronic-learning (E-learning) and to promote the use of information technology.

Chair, let me move to …

The Chairperson: Order!

I know what you mean when you say ‘Chair’ but, please, get it right. It is ‘Chairperson’.

Laughter

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Dr Phiri: Thank you for that guidance. Shortcuts always bring disaster.

Laughter

Dr Phiri: Sir, on the issue of outstanding bills, I wish to report that the 2012 Budget Estimates have taken into consideration the ever rising outstanding bills related to personal and non-personal emoluments. To this effect, funds have been provided for in this budget to reduce both institutional and personal emolument-related arrears. Let me add that additional funds have been set aside to reduce the debt burden in TEVET and science and technology institutions. However, although the allocations will reduce the indebtedness of institutions under my ministry, the debt burden remains huge and, therefore, begs further interventions.

Mr Chairperson, on the issue of allocations to public universities, I wish to state that universities shall continue to receive funding through direct grants and student bursaries.

Efforts will be made to improve the quality of education at this level so that appropriate skills, knowledge, attitudes and values required for social and economic development are imparted to learners. To this effect, the following allocations have been made in this budget:

(i) K138,489,226,709 for grants to the University of Zambia (UNZA);

(ii) K56,408,106,981 for grants to the Copperbelt University (CBU); and

(iii) K18,246, 805,424 for grants to Mulungushi University.

In addition, the ministry has also made allocations for bursary support as follows:

(i) K49,547,839,857 for student loans and bursaries awards at UNZA;

(ii) K22,222,701,188 for students’ loans and bursary awards at the CBU;

(iii) K41,063,331,151 for student tuition and accommodation at UNZA;

(iv) K20,480,885,249 for student tuition and accommodation at the CBU; and

(v) K8,881,575,315 for bursary awards for students studying abroad.

In addition, there is an allocation to bursary awards for students in TEVET institutions.

Mr Chairperson, my ministry is aware that through the above grants to our public universities, although allocations to student loans and bursaries, tuitions and accommodation these have been increased, they are by far inadequate. The administration under the current Bursaries Committee arrangement creates additional challenges. There is, therefore, an urgent need to liberate these institutions from the debt burden which strangles their administration. The ministry is discussing, among other things, the possibility of an independent student loan authority to try and meet some of these challenges.

Sir, talking about the support to other institutions, I wish to report that in order to improve the quality of service delivery in TEVET institutions, my ministry has increased the allocation to these institutions in the form of grants. In the same vein, science and technology institutions have been allocated more funds for their programmes and operations in the form of grants. Due to the existing budget ceilings, these are far from the desired levels of funding that the ministry would like to see.

Mr Chairperson, in order to increase production of low cost local teaching and learning materials, the ministry has increased the allocation to the Zambia Education Publishing House (ZEPH). Let me appeal to other Government ministries and institutions to make use of this publishing facility in order to keep it afloat. With support from the public and private institutions, ZEPH can compete favourably to meet national demand for publishing.

Sir, the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ) has been allocated K47.33 billion for the administration and management of examinations. The Grades 7, 9 and 12 examinations have just been completed and a number of challenges have surfaced therefrom. Let me assure hon. Members that the ministry will stand equal to the task in making the ECZ responsive to the expectations of the Zambian people in delivering credible examinations and win the confidence of all stakeholders.

Mr Chairperson, I turn my attention to strategic funds in the ministry. The Strategic Research, the Youth Innovation and the Technology Business Development funds will be essential in facilitating investment in research and development and promoting commercialisation of technologies in order to promote their uptake by the small, micro and medium enterprises. The ministry has strengthened, expanded, re-organised and rationalised the funds to target only national priorities and emergencies. These funds will also be used to finance joint research with our international partners in line with the PF Government’s priorities. Key targets will be projects in indigenous knowledge systems, especially in agriculture and health. To this effect, funds have been allocated to these programmes.

Sir, lastly, but not the least at all, may I now take this opportunity to pay tribute to all former hon. Ministers of Education and hon. Ministers of Science and Technology on whose foundation I stand, for their varying contributions to these two sectors. I also want to pay tribute to our co-operating partners for their continued support to the sector. We do not take their support for granted. I also wish to commend the civil society and the Zambian community at large for their participation in this sector. I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to continue with their support until all children in Zambia have access to quality education at all levels. Allow me, also, to applaud our teachers and lecturers for their commitment and patriotism and implore them to continue helping the Zambian child to grow.

Mr Chairperson, I now wish to call upon hon. Members of this august House to support the budget estimates for the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training as presented. May I urge all hon. Members to help the ministry by keeping an eagle’s eye on the utilisation of the funds allocated to the sector in the 2012 Budget. Knowing how hon. Members of Parliament value the Zambian children, I have no doubt at all, and the ministry is confident, that hon. Members will support the budget estimates as presented.

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

The Chairperson: With that strong presentation I do not see anybody objecting. Is there any further debate?

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Chairperson, thank you for affording me this opportunity to make a few comments on this very important ministry, whose policy statement has been ably moved by the hon. Minister. The policy statement, as the Chairperson has observed, is very clear and detailed. I think all of us are in agreement with what the hon. Minister has said.

Mr Chairperson, I just want to make a few observations. I would like the hon. Minister to know that this is a very complicated sector and is even more complex now with the merging of the two ministries. The challenge on the hon. Minister will be how to redirect this complex ministry. However, I think his interaction with colleagues within the region and international community will indicate that there is a general consensus, internationally, on how the education policy should be refocused.

Mr Chairperson, it is generally agreed among hon. Ministers of Education that in the current contemporary situation, policy goals for education are the same almost everywhere in the world. We are struggling to meet the goals of access to education, improve the quality of education, equity in education, efficiency of the education system and the relevance of education at all levels. These are the universal goals. I think how they are applied just varies in terms of degree.

Sir, there is also general consensus among hon. Ministers of Education the world over that there are five strategic policy options available in order to address the policy goals. These include infrastructure development, teacher recruitment, training, deployment and motivation, procurement of education materials and deployment at all levels, curriculum reform and monitoring and evaluation of the system. These are basically, to a large extent, agreed policy strategic options. It is very clear, from the policy statement, that the hon. Minister has provided for all that. When we look at the education budget, it falls within those strategic policy options.

Mr Chairperson, the hon. Minister has belaboured the point on the allocations to infrastructure development as well as the challenge of ensuring that teachers are trained, recruited for employment and motivated at all levels. He has also belaboured the whole issue of procurement of education materials and distribution to our education institutions and the challenge of ensuring that the curriculum is reformed, reviewed and refocused. He also pointed out the whole challenge of monitoring the entire education system to ensure that it is operating at the level of efficiency and effectiveness that will result in quality products. The budget has made allocations within those parameters and this is what we would expect from the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training and other departments in this very important sector.

Mr Chairperson, without belabouring the figures which have been given very clearly by the hon. Minister, what I would like to point out are just a few challenges which, I think, the hon. Minister could look into. Given the complex nature of the ministry, one of the challenges that, of course, the hon. Minister has to face as he tries his level best to restructure and refocus the ministry in its merged form, is how best to clearly state the roles of the hon. Deputy Ministers.

Mr Chairperson, having been hon. Minister of Education myself, I know that this is extremely important. He needs to find a way of how to get the best out of the hon. Deputy Ministers. I am sure that the hon. Minister is paying a lot of attention to that. In a complex ministry such as this one, the hon. Deputy Ministers have to really apply themselves to what the hon. Minister will assign them as he looks at the broader education development spectrum.

Apart from that, there is the challenge of universities, especially the new ones. It is generally acknowledged the world over and throughout history that a university is not just an institution that is established because the resources are available. A university has to be established with a clear vision and mission. A very good example is UNZA. Before it was established, we had a commission that went round collecting information on what the new university will be for the country and the Lockwood Report was released in 1965. Even before the Mulungushi University took off, a lot of work had to be put into forecasting what the new university would be.

Mr Chairperson, with the expert report that will be released that the hon. Minister has indicated to the House, I am sure a lot of work has gone into forecasting the mission of the individual universities that will be established. I think that is extremely important. Apart from that, we have the whole challenge of the green fields. There are a number of schools that have been constructed countrywide which are not yet complete. These are green fields which, I hope, the hon. Minister will pay attention to and ensure that they are completed in full, whether they are contractor mode or community mode. They are scattered all over the country and have been constructed over the years. I, therefore, hope that they can be completed.

The whole challenge of research and development is an extremely important one which, I hope, the hon. Minister, as he has indicated, will give a lot of attention to because that is very essential for national development. The institutions of research must continuously be probed to ensure that they are engaged in the production of new knowledge, they are engaged in research …

The Chairperson: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the 
Chair]

The Chairperson: Order!

Well, it is now becoming habitual for us to come very late from the tea break. I think that we are delaying our work. One of these days, I may have to cancel the debate and ask that we not be paid for that sitting.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Chairperson, before business was suspended, I was talking about the challenges that face this very important sector and, clearly, one of the challenges has to do with refocusing the entire education sector, be it general education or vocational skills training centres. We should be cognisant of the fact that the 1980s was a lost decade as regards education development in our country. The last high school was constructed in the 1980s, but those were left at the slab level, namely Lumezi and Kafumbwe in the Eastern Province. It was not until the beginning of this century, in 2001, that, as a Government, we begun to pay attention to the construction of new schools. There has been a lot of politics thereon. We have heard, in this House, people saying there has not been any infrastructure development and that no school was constructed. However, that is politics and, in most cases, we say such kind of things as politicians.

Hon. Minister, I think it is very important to remain on course by paying a lot of attention to the programme of infrastructure development at all levels, be it the universities, high schools, colleges, basic schools or what you are calling primary schools. It is very important to continue refocusing our education sector in terms of infrastructure development because that is the only way that we shall expand access to education at all levels. This way, we can truly adhere to the principle that education is an equaliser of opportunities of life for all children in different walks of life. At the same time, it is extremely important to pay attention to the whole challenge of the quality of education. Yes, there was a statement that now quality education is being offered. Yes, provision of quality education is a long-term programme that we have to pay attention to, as a nation, through training of teachers, retraining of teachers, in-service training, provision of education materials and reviewing the curriculum. These are not short-term programmes, but long term and they are part and parcel of national building.

Mr Chairperson, I am happy that in the education budget for 2012, there is attention to in-service training and the upgrading of teachers through the fast track programme which has been there for some time. However, we hope that resources will be made available to make these programmes a reality. The efficiency and effectiveness of the system has to be monitored and I am happy that some money has been allocated to the training of accountants in the ministry.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Chairperson, K465.9 million has been set aside for the training of accountants. That is very important, especially if we are to win the confidence of the various stakeholders in terms of how resources are being utilised in the education sector, and the accountability and transparency that ought to be there. It is very important that those who are handling the resources have the skills and the heart to ensure that education is delivered all across the different levels in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

Mr Chairperson, in my view, this is a very straightforward, clear and to the point policy statement and we should congratulate the hon. Minister on the work that he has put into it, I am sure, working hand-in-hand with the staff. I know the staff are very competent and will be working tirelessly, as they have done in the past, to assist the hon. Minister so that the education sector is continuously refocused in order to serve our nation better.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Mazoka (Pemba): Mr Chairperson, thank you for giving me this opportunity to air my views on behalf of the people of Pemba Constituency on this very important Vote. I would like to commend the hon. Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training for the good presentation of his ministry’s policy statement.

The Chairperson: Can I request Hon. Mazoka to speak a little louder.

Mrs Mazoka: Ooh!

Laughter

Mrs Mazoka: Mr Chairperson, …

The Chairperson: That is better.

Mrs Mazoka: … it goes without saying that education is the engine for the development of any nation. Indeed, we are all here because we have an education.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: If we had not gone through school, we were not going to be here, …

Hon. UPND Member: Especially us.

Mrs Mazoka: … especially me. I was not going to stand here on the Floor of this House presenting this speech in English.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: Therefore, when we are discussing matters of education, we should all take them very seriously.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: Mr Chairperson, indeed, you cannot talk about poverty without paying attention to education.

Further, it must be realised that a stable and democratic society is impossible without the widespread acceptance of a minimum degree of literacy and knowledge on the part of citizens.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: Sir, we can draw lessons from our colleagues in South-East Asia who developed at an unprecedented rate partly because their government deliberately invested heavily in their education system.

It can, therefore, not be disputed that education and economic growth are closely related. To this end, I wish to commend the PF Government for its intended positive education reforms.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: From a policy perspective, the main objectives that confront us in the area of education include the enhancement of educational outcomes of students. This refers to the improvements of test scores or examination results of students resulting in reduction in pupil drop out rate as well as improving their functional performance once they have attained that education. The other objective, for a developing country such as ours, is to increase enrolment ratios in line with the millennium development goals (MDGs) proposition attaining of universal primary education by 2015.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: This being the case, in as much as we must pay attention to educational outcomes, we cannot neglect the importance of the inputs into our education system. Essentially, the output or the outcomes of education are determined by the educational inputs.

Mr Chairperson, let me, at this point, look at some challenges that affect what goes into our education system before I can discuss concerns that I have around the outcomes. The formal education system in Zambia stretches from kindergarten right through to the tertiary level. It is necessary to recognise that, in certain instances, each level of education faces specific challenges. For instance, the need for library facilities might be more vital at higher levels of education than at the kindergarten level. However, the challenges that pupils face at kindergarten have repercussions throughout their schooling. This budget should, therefore, provide for these specific needs.

Sir, in general, some of the inadequacies around what we put into our education system such as our schools still being subjected to lack of sufficient teaching materials and some school infrastructure being dilapidated cannot permit a good learning atmosphere for pupils.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: At a time when the whole world has recognised that computer technology is a vital facilitator in knowledge acquisition, Zambia is lagging far behind. All these issues determine pupil performance.

Mr Chairperson, I urge the hon. Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training to find, in his budgetary allocation, some funds to cater for these very important aspects of education.

Sir, the inadequate number of schools is another challenge the education system is faced with. As an hon. Member of Parliament for a rural constituency, Pemba, I understand how long distances to schools discourage young people from going to school. There is a need for the Government to build schools within acceptable distances from the homes of pupils across the country. Of particular importance is the need to build more secondary schools in order to accommodate the huge number of pupils who enter the primary level of education. Of course, the increase in the number of schools must be accompanied by the recruitment of more teachers. Related to this is the need to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in schools. Currently, the ratio is too high averaging, I am afraid, I got the wrong ratio myself, but this is what I was told by a former teacher and a district education officer, one teacher to forty-five pupils.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: This is strenuous to the teacher and decreases his/her effectiveness in teaching. We, therefore, need more qualified teachers. A teacher forms an important input into the education system. That said, the education system requires qualified and motivated teachers. In order to realise this, there is a need to motivate the teaching profession by providing attractive wages and conditions of service.

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

Mrs Mazoka: I noticed, with sadness, the serious hardships that teachers in rural areas go through. They lack, among other things, electricity, running water, transport facilities and long distances from the cities. For qualified teachers to be attracted to the rural areas, there is a need for the Government to provide good working conditions such as a hardship allowance and other perks that the Government might deem appropriate.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: The other issue that the Government needs to address is the availability of educational options in terms of vocational and academic types of schooling. It must be recognised that not all students excel in academic learning. Vocational education options must, therefore, be made available to them. In view of this, the Government must also prioritise the formulation of a school curriculum that focuses on trade-related subjects.

Mr Chairperson, another issue that touches my heart, and about which I am very passionate, is the prevalence of practices that discourage both the enrolment and continuation of the girl child in school, particularly in rural areas. The girl child is encouraged and, sometimes, forced into early marriage by her parents due to the low value they attach to girls’ education. This is a serious blow to our attempt to reduce illiteracy levels in our country. I, therefore, urge the Government to spearhead the sensitisation and education of parents across the country on the benefits of education at both the household and national levels.

Sir, I now turn to the issue of educational outcomes in Zambia. Having pointed out the inadequacies of what we put into our education system, it cannot be disputed that the quality of our educational outcomes leaves much to be desired. Zambia is among the worst in our region in terms of educational outcomes of students. A 2011 study by Nick Paulus on fifteen countries in Southern and Eastern Africa ranks our Grade 6 pupils at 14th in terms of their reading and mathematics scores. As if this were not enough, the study finds rural Zambian pupils to be the worst, at number fifteen, in terms of their abilities in reading and mathematics. We perform more poorly than countries like Swaziland and Seychelles.

Mr Chairperson, I would like to touch a little on the curriculum of our education system. There is a need for our curriculum to be tailored towards meeting the pressing needs of our economy. We should frame our curriculum and develop skills in our children that are in line with the development path chosen by our Government. For instance, if agriculture, mining and tourism are seen to be important in driving Zambia’s economic growth, the emphasis of these sectors must be reflected in the curriculum.

Sir, it is one thing to talk about reducing illiteracy levels and supplying more educated people to the economy, but another to talk about their assimilation into the job market. It is often discouraging for citizens to go through the long process of education which, at the end, does not help them get a job. The Government must co-ordinate investment in education with the creation of jobs.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka: Sir, in the final analysis, and looking at the severity of the challenges facing the Zambian education system, I doubt if the 2012 budgetary allocation is sufficient to realise the outcomes that befit a lower-income country such as Zambia.

Mr Chairperson, going back to the issue of construction of schools, there are many schools that were left unfinished. I can give an example of a school in Lundazi, which was left unfinished.

Interruptions

Mrs Mazoka: Mr Chairperson, in my own constituency, I know of some schools whose construction has not finished and was left at the slab level.

Hon. UPND Member: Even in Petauke.

Mrs Mazoka: Yes, even in Petauke.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mazoka:  Please, hon. Minister, can you attend to these unfinished structures so that our children can get the education that they need.

Hon. UPND Member: With these words ...

Mrs Mazoka: No.

Laughter

Mrs Mazoka: Mr Chairperson, someone is confusing me.

Mr Chairperson, I have no choice, but to support the budget for the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training although the money allocated to it is not enough.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Chairperson. I will be brief.

Mr Chairperson, I want to add the voice of the people of Lupososhi in support of the budget allocation to the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training. The ministry needs to be practical rather than just being rhetorical because the status of the infrastructure in most rural areas is very bad, especially at schools in Lupososhi Constituency. The quality of the infrastructure and education at the schools that I am talking about leaves much to be desired.

Mr Chairperson, the teachers in rural areas have been given a raw deal because most of their houses are not well built. They are thatched and have mud floors. The hon. Minister needs to look at the issue of staff houses in rural areas.

Mr Chairperson, indeed, if we are to discourage our colleagues in rural areas and Lupososhi, to be more specific, from letting their children go into early marriages, we need to provide incentives for them to be able to send their children to school. Only then will they stop letting their children go into early marriages because they will have something of value for their children to do. At the moment, the people in rural areas do not see the value of sending their children to school because there is no infrastructure or teaching staff. If it is there, it is of a low quality. The teachers are drunk as early as 0800 hours. Why do they start drinking this early? The answer is that teachers in rural areas are demoralised. They have nothing else to do other than to drink as early as 0800 hours. I am sure the teachers in rural areas can be motivated to concentrate on teaching our children if they are provided with incentives by the Government such as good housing.  

The hon. Minister adequately talked about the provision of educational materials. I would like to urge him to ensure that this issue is given the serious attention it deserves. The schools in rural areas lack almost all the educational materials required. The headteachers have nowhere to sit in their so-called offices. For one to understand what I am talking about better, he/she needs to visit one of these rural schools. If you did, you would find that the headteachers and teachers just stand in their offices. That is if they even have any office worth talking about.

Mr Chairperson, the staffing levels are yet another worry in Lupososhi Constituency. The teachers are there on paper, but not physically in schools. It is such issues that the hon. Minister needs to address in order to provide quality education in rural areas. The people in rural areas also need to get a fair share of the national cake in terms of education.

The problems affecting the community mode of constructing schools are of concern to the people in rural areas, especially Lupososhi Constituency. The communities in rural areas are willing to contribute to the construction of schools, but end up being disappointed most of the time because the schools are never built even after they mould bricks and provide the other required materials which include sand. In my constituency, there are a lot of bricks going to waste when the community was promised a school five years ago. The hon. Minister needs to be practical when dealing with such situations so that we do not waste the energy and time of the people in rural areas because they have other things to do to improve the lives of their children. 

I appeal to the hon. Minister not to use the piece-meal approach of sorting out problems. We have schools in Lupososhi Constituency that have been built using the community-based approach, but do not have teachers’ houses. Thus, the classrooms are there, but there are no teachers because there is no accommodation for them. We should make sure that all plans for the construction of schools have all the necessary infrastructure, especially staff houses so that immediately a school is opened, the teachers are also there.

Sir, there is a secondary school being built in Lupososhi Constituency. I would like the hon. Minister to find out what provisions are on the plan for this school. I also wish to appeal to the hon. Minister to work with his colleague in the Ministry of Lands, Energy and Water Development to ensure that this secondary school is electrified as soon as it is built. I think it will be difficult for us to discourage deforestation when we allow newly-built schools to use firewood as a source of energy. I am sure the continued cutting down of trees for the purpose of providing firewood for newly-built schools will not go down well with the hon. Minister of Mines and Natural Resources. I am appealing to the hon. Minister to ensure that the secondary school, which I am talking about, is electrified so that the people in that area can also get their fair share of the national cake.

With these few remarks, I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kazabu (Nkana): Mr Chairperson, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate regarding the allocation to the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training.

Mr Chairperson, I want to make some observations on three issues that are of great concern to me. The persistent leakages in relation to examinations in this country at various levels of our education system, in particular, at Grade 12 and, in some instances, Grade 9 level are of great concern to me. The leakages really undermine the quality and integrity of our education system. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the hon. Minister to take the necessary measures to ensure that things of this nature do not occur.

When some of us went to school, there was no such thing as revising the papers of the previous examinations. You only saw the examination paper on the actual examination day. However, I do not know whether it is because teachers and students are allowed to revise examination papers of previous examinations that we have run into problems of examination leakages.

Mr Chairperson, all I am saying is that this is one issue which should be tackled head-on. The ministry needs to take decisive measures to ensure that this becomes a thing of the past.

Sir, the second issue concerns the bursaries. I do not know about my colleagues in this House, however, I have observed that, over the years, this facility, which is supposed to benefit the children of the poor, is benefitting the children of the rich. This is an injustice and should not be allowed to continue.

Mr Chairperson, I would like to appeal to the hon. Minister to ensure that when giving  bursaries to young people who are studying at colleges and universities, due consideration be given to the unfortunate children who, for no fault of their own, were born into poor families.
 
Sir, thirdly, is the issue of funding. Yes, I acknowledge the fact that there has been some improvement in the budget allocation to the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training. That notwithstanding, I still firmly believe that our universities need to be funded in a much more adequate manner than what is happening now. Perhaps, it is due to poor funding that we continually experience class boycotts and demonstrations at our highest institutions of learning.

Mr Chairperson, I would like to suggest that, come next Budget of the PF, this area is adequately addressed.

Finally, Sir, I would like to talk about the issue of discipline. I have heard my colleagues who have spoken before me articulate various challenges that face our education system. However, there is one that has not been touched and that is the issue of discipline.

Mr Chairperson, I submit to this hon. House that we can have all the teaching and learning materials in our schools and all the teachers that we need, but if we do not ensure that these teachers are, in effect, role models in terms of discipline, we will lose it. Today, it is not strange for us to hear that a teacher, who is supposed to be a role model, was literally transported to his residence in a wheelbarrow after a good drinking spree.

Laughter

Mr Kazabu: To make matters worse, ask me who is actually transporting this teacher. It is his pupils. What a disgrace!

Hon. Member: It is common in Lundazi.

Mr Kazabu: I do not know. He is suggesting that it is actually common in Lundazi. I do not bear witness to that statement.

Laughter

The Chairperson: Order!

The hon. Member is out of order.

Laughter

Mr Kazabu: Mr Chairperson, I take note of the guidance.

Sir, all I am saying is that as much as we can put all the requisites in our schools, we also need to ensure that the people in whose hands we place the education of our children are a shinning example in terms of discipline.

Let us not allow a situation where teachers misbehave. For schools which are located in the rural areas, cases of indiscipline are very common. Some of the teachers have even forgotten they were sent to those schools to teach our children. They are busy with extra curricula activities which do not benefit our children.

Sir, I would like to urge the hon. Minister to confront the issue of indiscipline head-on. If anyone misbehaves, they should not be treated as sacred cows. If need be, we must get rid of that element because it is a danger to the education of our children.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Chairperson, I wish to state, from the outset, that I totally support the budgetary allocation to this important ministry.

Sir, the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training needs not much emphasis because of what it is. It is public knowledge that the importance it goes with cannot be over-elaborated.

Mr Chairperson, due to the constraint of time, I would like to move very speedily to a few thorny issues.

Sir, I would like to start with school infrastructure. In this country, it is public knowledge, today, that we have a number of community schools which have been constructed by the communities, unfortunately, with minimal supervision by the officers in the ministry.

Mr Chairperson, I am aware that the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training has a wing for building inspectors. Now, what normally happens is that when these schools have calamities at some point, the ministry is supposed to make a report because of the vested interest that it has.

However, the mismatch is that there is no consideration for providing quality construction to try and mitigate the possible outcomes. Today, we have a lot of roofs which have been blown off by wind in most of the schools, especially community schools, because of the mediocre workmanship that was employed in the construction of those particular schools. At that point, the Government has a responsibility of coming in to help in one way or the other.

Mr Chairperson, I would like to advise the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training to take a keen interest and ensure that there is some guidance of some sort during the construction of community schools. When there is a community school under construction, there must be a keen interest, through the various District Education Officers across the country, to ensure that the structure being put up meets the required standards.

Sir, continuing on the issue of community schools, we have a situation, again, where some of these schools have reached levels of producing Grade 8 pupils. These pupils, to a large extent, have been taught by people who are not trained. This is because the teachers who are found at community schools are basically providing a probono facility.

Mr Chairperson, to add salt to injury, the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training normally sends one trained teacher to join five or six teachers who are not trained. So, to an extent, we are saying that our children must have a poor foundation and then, from Grade 8, we bring in quality teachers. What a mismatch.
Mr Chairperson, the hon. Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training must, with immediate effect, declare those community schools Government schools and do away with the community nonsense.

Interruptions

The Chairperson: Order!

Please, withdraw the word ‘nonsense’.

Mr Livune: Mr Chairperson, I am sorry. Basically, I mean that the community school phenomenon does not make sense because of that kind of imbalance. We have mentioned the fact that the foundation for these children is very poor. The teachers are not trained. You will find that at the Grade 8 level, that is when they bring in trained teachers to take over from the people who have laid a very poor foundation. It is not fair. I would like the hon. Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training to take a keen interest in making sure that the children get a proper foundation.

Sir, furthermore, there are untrained teachers who have provided education to our children in community schools. I would like the Government to help them by training them because they given free services over a long time. So, it will not be fair to just throw them out because you have changed the system. As a former trade unionist, that is my earnest appeal to the hon. Minister so that we make things right.

Sir, I support this budget in totality. I would also like to wish the hon. Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training all the best in his execution of duties. He should further look at the issue of science and technology. I am one of those who went to the exhibition at Mulungushi International Conference Centre. We saw a lot of products in the Department of Science and Technology. We saw products such as shackles being manufactured. For the sake of our colleagues who may not be familiar with shackles, these are some of the things that are used in the electrification of our homes. They are produced locally by one of our institutions under TEVET. I would like the hon. Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training and the Minister of Lands, Energy and Water Development to help us market that product so that the money can remain with our people.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune: Sir, ZESCO may be importing those things when we are able to supply our local market. So, I would like us to explore that avenue for the economic benefit of local institutions. They may also be able to help themselves over a long period.

Mr Chairperson, we also have institutions that are able to repair broken test tubes that we use in laboratories in schools. It is possible to make test tubes in this country. So, I would like us to be a little more entrepreneurial and help our institutions so that we can upgrade ourselves as a country.

Mr Chairperson, with these words …

Hon. Members: Continue!

Mr Livune: Sir, I am told that I still have some reasonable time. I would, therefore, like to state that it is important that we continue on this path so that people can appreciate our effort.

Mr Chairperson, I want to urge the hon. Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training to ensure that this utensil is well marketed so that most of our secondary schools can be supplied with it.

The Chairperson: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

__________

HOUSE RESUMED

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

(Progress reported)

___________

The House adjourned at 1916 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 15th December, 2011.