Friday, 20^th September, 2024

The House met at 0900 hours

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM ROYGEO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I have two announcements to make. In the first announcement, I wish to recognise the presence in the Public Gallery of pupils and teachers from Roygeo Christian School in Lusaka District.

On behalf of the National Assembly of Zambia, I warmly welcome our visitors into our midst.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

EYE SCREENING EXERCISE BY VISION CARE EYE HOSPITAL

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that Vision Care Eye Hospital has been granted permission to conduct a free comprehensive eye screening exercise for hon. Members of Parliament and staff.  The exercise aims at promoting eye health care through early detection and treatment of common eye ailments.

The exercise will be conducted from Monday 23^rd to Friday, 27^th September, 2024 as follows:

1. Monday, 23^rd to Thursday, 26^th September, 2024 from 0900 hours to 1600 hours; and

1. Friday, 27^th September, 2024 from 0900 hours to 1300 hours.

Interested hon. Members are, therefore, encouraged to find time to participate in the exercise.

_______

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I see no indications for urgent matters without notice

THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Interruptions

Hon. Members: Let the Information and Communication Technology Department (ICT) restart the clock.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 The Information and Communication Technology Department (ICT), can we, please, move at the same level. You are supposed to display the names of the hon. Members who have indicated to speak on my screen immediately after I finish making the announcement.

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, the people of Kantanshi are concerned. They have noticed that the Government comes up with very good policies, announcements and pronouncements. However, those announcements and pronouncements are not happening on the ground where the people are, who are actually our voters. I will give examples. Firstly, on the issue of solar products, the Government announced that prices would be reduced because duty and taxes would be removed, but that has not happened. The prices of solar products are still high for people to find their way into surviving through the load-shedding that we are facing as a country. Secondly, there have been concerns about the Social Cash Transfer (SCT), on which your Government is doing well as people are getting as much as K800 and in some cases, K1,200.  However, the concern is that the mobile service providers like Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Kantanshi, please, summarise your question because we have many hon. Members on the list who would like to ask questions as well.

Mr Mumba: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I will just give that as a second example because this is what is on the ground. MTN mobile money, for example, has not been paying the SCT on time. Sometimes, it takes two to three weeks to make the payment. By the time the Government is making the second or third payment, that is when people are getting their first payment. These concerns have been brought to the attention of the Government. Why has it taken the Government so long to respond to them when they are actually part of its own policies.

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for Kantanshi who started by acknowledging the good policies and announcements that the Government has put in place. However, he is concerned that the good policies and announcements are not trickling down to the people of Kantanshi. He has particularly thanked the Government for the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme. However, his real concern is that the mobile service providers, particularly, for mobile money, are taking too long to pay out.

Madam Speaker, I hear the hon. Member. It is important that we engage and we will engage through the hon. Minister of Technology and Science to know exactly what is happening. I cannot give him the answers because I thought that the mobile money transfers were instant. That is what I know from where I am standing. However, if there is a matter that has to do with the length of time that the Social Cash Transfer funds take to reach the people, then it is an issue that we need to look at with the MTN mobile money service providers, in particular, to see what is happening.

Madam Speaker, we are aware that we may have challenges in areas where the network is a problem. In fact, people have been suggesting that we pay in cash, using different points of payment. You will remember that this mode of payment had its own challenges. However, many people complain that accessing the Social Cash Transfer through mobile money is difficult, they do not know how to proceed.  For some, the distance that they have to cover to access these mobile money providers is too long. So, they resort to sending their grandchildren to go and collect the money on their behalf, who sometimes, gon’ga them by presenting a lesser amount than what they actually collected. For example, they would give them only K400 and the poor people would not know what to do. So, we are, indeed, in a place where we have to continuously look at what is happening and we will definitely look at that. We will engage the MTN mobile money providers.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika): Madam Speaker, the Zambia National Service (ZNS) mealie meal has disappeared from the market. Although people used to queue up for it, at least, it was affordable. This time around, the mealie meal is no longer found in retail shops like Shoprite.  It is not there in Katete or Mkaika. Has the ZNS stopped producing this mealie meal or is it that there is no maize in the country?

Mr Kampyongo: Ba Mtolo, move closer to Her Honour!

Laughter

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, your hon. Members sometimes –

Mr Kampyongo: Ba Mtolo, abene ba nsala!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Mkaika for that question. What I know is that the distribution of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) mealie meal has been decentralised. The issue of the ZNS mealie meal disappearing in Mkaika is something that can be looked at. If it was there, what would have happened? Otherwise, the ZNS is still milling –

Mr Kampyongo: Question! (mimicking a female voice).

Laughter

The Vice-President: Who is asking?

Is it the hon. Member for Nakonde?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Simumba: It is that one! (pointing at Mr P. Phiri)

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Oh, it is Kampyongo.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Her Honour the Vice-President, are you done responding to the question?

The Vice-President:  Madam Speaker, I am not done. Let me finish.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You may continue.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, ZNS is still milling and the mealie meal is going to the centres. Remember, the hon. Members here in the House were saying that the distribution of the ZNS mealie meal should not be limited to only a few selected shops and that it is important that other shops also participate. This is exactly how the ZNS has moved forward. It has decentralised the distribution. Some shops are accredited to the ZNS and they can sell the mealie meal as well. So, if what the hon. Member said is what is happening, then, it is because the demand from the people is too high.

Let me use this opportunity, hon. Member for Shiwang’andu to say –

Mr Simumba: It is the hon. Member for Mkaika who asked the question.

Mr Kampyongo: She is talking to me. It is nalumangonomics.

The Vice-President: Hon. Members, the point is that maize is available in many places, including where there is drought. We continue to encourage people to reduce on the cost of mealie meal by purchasing maize.

Hon. Member interjected.

The Vice-President: Yes!

Purchase maize, it is cheaper. Particularly where we are selling it at community sales price, people will get it at – Is it K350?

Mr Mtolo: K330.

The Vice-President: At K330 per 50 kg bag of maize. When you mill that maize, you will get 48 kg of mealie meal. So, hon. Members, let us encourage our people to buy maize. They can mill it using either solar or diesel hammer mills. They will get more value from using maize. However, to answer the hon. Member’s question, I want to say that the ZNS mealie meal has not disappeared. It is being milled.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the people of Lundazi a chance to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question. This morning, there is a screaming headline in the Daily Nation Newspaper entitled “Judiciary lacks autonomy and it is at the mercy of the Executive”.

Mr Michelo: UKA paper!

Ms Nyirenda: Madam Speaker, of late, we have seen that the Judiciary is only quick to act on cases which involve the Opposition …

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Ms Nyirenda: … and it is very active in dealing with matters that involve the family of the Former Head of State, …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Ms Nyirenda: … His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. I want Her Honour the Vice-President to clarify the perception that is out there, using this forum, that as the Executive and the United Party for National Development (UPND) party in particular, you are not holding the Judiciary to ransom that it should only disfavour those who are in the Opposition.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Michelo: We are not like the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, which used to do that.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Lundazi for that very important question because it gives us an opportunity to explain ourselves, here where we are. The hon. Member said that she read a statement somewhere, except that the statement has not been laid on the Table. The statement says that the Judiciary lacks autonomy and it is at the mercy of the Executive. That is a perception. Here, we all know that we believe in the principle of separation of powers. Even the Constitution –

Mr Kasandwe: Question!

The Vice-President: This is what I know. If you know better, do not ask.

Laughter

The Vice-President: This is what I know. Let me explain what I know.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, can we give a chance to Her Honour the Vice-President to respond.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, that perception is there, but what we need to know is that, through the Constitution, there is separation of powers. The point is that the three institutions or wings of Government should be able to provide checks and balances. This is exactly what it is. So, when one sees a statement and probably does not read the whole statement, one starts to think that there is something wrong happening between the Executive and the Judiciary. The appointment of Judges is a provision in the law and nothing else. I know that this allegation comes about because Judges are appointed by the President. This is the way it has been since Independence. Counsel Tembo from Feira, this is the way it has been. The separation of powers is there. Judges do not work under anybody’s direction.

Mr Chisopa: Question!

The Vice-President: If it was happening before, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: …even those who may question, may have done it wickedly. This is not something you can allege and prove. Counsel Chisanga, you cannot allege and not prove.

Madam Speaker, I am looking at counsels because when people are asking such questions, as lawyers, they should be able to come out. Yes, if you are not happy with this Executive, you may not be happy with the law, but do not allege that we are doing anything wrong. No.

Mr B. Mpundu: Imwe mulibakayele!

The Vice-President: When you give an example, hon. Member for Lundazi, of the fact that there is pursuit of the Opposition, particularly the Former Head of State, there should be evidence and you can simply take us to court. Go to court and tell them who you have seen to be corrupt. Give evidence. You cannot start making that comparison without evidence to show that others who are committing crimes are not brought to book. That is another matter. The interaction between the Judiciary and the Executive is provided for in the Constitution. Nobody is interfering. That is an allegation. No one is interfering with the operations of the Judiciary. The Judiciary does not take people to court. It is the investigative wings that investigate and take people to court while the Judiciary decides.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member said that some cases are delayed while others are fast-tracked. Remember, more courts have now been created to handle different cases. The Ministry of Justice is here to fast-track cases so that they are quickly disposed of and people are not left hanging all the time without knowing their fate. People should know whether they are guilty or not. If they are not guilty, then they should be acquitted. The hon. Minister of Justice knows the right words to use when one is found not guilty. So, this is what is happening, hon. Colleagues. If the hon. Member is referring to cases against the Former President or his family, she is advised to go and defend her position in the courts of law and prove that what is happening is wrong. Prove that the person they are arresting had this particular resource and it came from this point. That is all, and they will be acquitted.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sialubalo (Sinazongwe): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this rare opportunity to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question.

Madam Speaker, of late, we have witnessed or heard of a lot of property being seized by the courts of law, which means that the said properties are perceived to have been dubiously acquired. Now that the courts of law have taken that decision, and looking at the drought that we are experiencing, I would like to hear from Her Honour the Vice-President, whether it is possible to expedite the disposition of those properties so that the resources can be used to resolve the hunger situation and construct students’ accommodation and many more. Is it possible to expedite the disposition of the same properties?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you.

Madam Speaker, I hope that the hon. Member is referring to the forfeiture of proceeds of crime. Yes, indeed, we have heard of the seizing of properties that may have been wrongly acquired. The question the hon. Member for Sinazongwe puts up is that if we could expedite the disposal of the property. I think that this is controlled by law and those who know, definitely, when the time comes, they dispose of it. When that happens, then, the money goes into the Treasury. At whichever time, the money goes into the Treasury. I do not know how long it takes for the forfeited property to be disposed of. However, disposing of properties that have been forfeited to the State is definitely part of the process. They will be disposed of when matters are over.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker. 

Mr Simushi (Sikongo): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to ask a question. Before I ask my question, allow me to congratulate the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government for winning all the by-elections.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simushi: The trend continues, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, in 2019, this country was faced with a severe drought and the response then, from the Patriotic Front (PF) Government was to feed our people with gaga, muluku or better still, animal feed.

 Mr Simumba: Question!

 Mr Simushi: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President what motivated her Government through the able leadership of His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema to come up with such well-designed, well-co-ordinated and well-measured drought response plans to the extent that today, our people are not starving and they are happy.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simumba: Insala na malaiti!

The Vice-President:  Madam Speaker, I thank you. Ema question aya!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

The Vice-President: Yes, really, sometimes, we would want people to acknowledge the good work that the Government is doing. I would like to thank the hon. Member for Sikongo for that and also for congratulating us for winning the by-elections. That is how the congratulation came.

Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate for any Government, as alleged by the hon. Member, to feed its own people on wrong food. That is very bad. If this truly happened that people were fed on gaga, then that is unacceptable. What motivated us then? It is what motivates us and what motivated us to fight so hard until we took over power. What motivated us is the desire to serve the people better, to serve our own Zambians better. This is what motivated us to have a very well-designed response plan to the drought.

I will not go through the details about this issue because after this segment, I have a statement to issue. Maybe, the other question can be asked if there will be a need. However, I know that the statement I will issue will be very clear and, therefore, there will be no questions. I will be speaking to the drought response plan. It is the love, hon. Member for Sikongo, that we have for our people. His Excellency the President and his entire Government and the Cabinet have said that we should not let anybody die of hunger. This is why many interventions have been put in place because we love the Zambian people, we are servants of the people and, therefore, we are not bosses. If others are bosses, this Government is not. We are servants of the people. That is why we are doing the right thing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Andeleki (Katombola): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity on behalf of the people of Katombola Constituency to ask a question to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, this morning the people of the Republic of Zambia woke up to the news that the United Party for National Development (UPND) party has won all the by-elections.

Mr Simumba: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Andeleki: Madam Speaker, the people of Katombola Constituency are asking what this win means in terms of the policies for the New Dawn Administration.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Katombola, who wants to know how we managed to win all the by-elections that were held yesterday. He is wondering what that means, what the Zambian people are thinking and how they are feeling. That is a very good question.

Madam Speaker, it means that the Zambian people are happy with the policies of this Government and they also appreciate it. To show their appreciation, they voted for the UPND candidates everywhere, because they know that they will be connected to the right Government. They have no time to start looking at –

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: They have no time – eaya yene. They have no time to start hunting when they have already found the right thing. It is because the UPND Government is doing the right thing for the people of Zambia. They will continue to vote for the UPND party.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mubika (Shangombo): Madam Speaker, Zambia is a Christian nation. When the righteous are in authority, the majority rejoice. The Republican President is an elder at his church and Her Honour the Vice-President is a Bishop.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Mubika: What word does Her Honour the Vice-President have for some of our citizens who today, are forming parties like the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA), the following day, they form UKWA and are busy expelling themselves, failing to even meet the citizens to campaign. As a Christian, what word does she have for them so that they can come back and support this Government? The UPND Government has no segregation as seen from the programmes that are happening. For example, there is the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) programme, where all the constituencies are being funded irrespective of political affiliation.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simumba waving a party symbol.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Please, you can stop the time.

 Hon. Member for Nakonde, I am sure, you know our Standing Orders. Why are you bringing that symbol into the House? Please, avoid bringing symbols or any political slogans in the House.

Mr Simumba interjected.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nakonde, I am talking to you. You should avoid bringing political slogans in the House, including the symbols.

Her Honour the Vice-President, you may continue.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Shangombo who says we are a Christian nation. Indeed, I am not ashamed to be called a Christian. I thank him for acknowledging that. I am a Christian, number one before the rest. 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member says that there are many good programmes that we are undertaking, but there is opposition from a party called either the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) or UKWA.

Hon. Government Members: UKWA.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I am sure nobody in this House is UKA or UKWA. You do not have such a party, in this House. However, the Opposition is supposed to support the Government. This is a very serious point. I will say this: in our multi-party situation, dispensation, indeed, the Opposition must support a progressive Government like the UPND. Let us understand what support is. Support is not just saying yes to something, rather it can also mean saying no, but in a constructive manner.

Madam Speaker, this is what this Government expects from an organised Opposition. However, that Opposition where they –

Mr Mubika: They expel one another.

The Vice-President: Yes, they expel one another, they are too busy to provide us with the right checks and balances so that we can work together for the good of the people. They are too involved in themselves. That is not Christianity. They are so involved in issues among themselves that the only thing they see is their fights and the Government as an enemy. We should not do that, rather let us work together for the good of our people. Hon. Members of Parliament in this House, must always support that which is good for their people. Even if you are in the Opposition and you want to take over power, you do not want to take over a finished country. Look at how we are struggling. From the finished areas of our governance, members of the Opposition should support us so that one day, when they win after fifty years, they will find a strong Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, they will find a strong country with a good economy and responsible people. That is what they want. After fifty years, we would have done a good job and leave the country in a good state for the Opposition.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, in his quest to fight corruption, the President came to this House and talked about the recovery of a motor vehicle, which was not even in his speech.

Madam Speaker, the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government has failed to recover the US$13.5 billion in illicit transactions, which was revealed in the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Report. To date, the UPND Government has failed to arrest those who are involved in corrupt activities involving the US$13.5 billion. None of them has been arrested.

Madam Speaker, I want to know from Her Honour the Vice-President what makes these people in Government think that the people of Zambia can trust them and that they will not kick them out of power in 2026.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Mkushi South for that question, except that the preamble was difficult for me to follow.  He said that the President spoke about the fight against corruption. Then, he spoke about motor vehicles and in the end, he mentioned the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Report. It has been a little difficult for me to follow what the hon. Member is trying to say.

However, the issue of the FIC Report which he talks about and the US$13.5 billion involved and that there have been no arrests, I think, was dealt with in the last Meeting. We talked about that and we will continue, all of us as Zambians, to look to the investigative wing to bring this to a conclusion. We said that we cannot decide who to arrest and who not to. So, yes, he is bringing it to the fore, he is speaking to the Zambian people and the investigative wings are listening. However, to just go and arrest people based on the title of the FIC Report, which is suspicion, is not the way to go. Hon. Counsel Mundubile should know that people cannot be arrested based on suspicion, but let the investigative wings investigate and bring those people to book. Umulandu taubola. I am saying this sincerely, umulandu taubola.

Madam First Deputy Speaker:  What does that mean?

The Vice-President: How is it said in law?

Mr B. Mpundu: The umulandu does not bola.

Laughter

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, criminality is not time-barred. Hon. B. Mpundu should know that criminality is not time-barred.

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member should ask the Counsel, he will know that criminality is not bound by time. So, he should take his time. If there is truly suspicion, it will not end at that because a day of reckoning will come. So, the hon. Member should not worry. Some people thought they would never appear in court, but they are now appearing. This is Zambia.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr C. Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity given to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question. Good Morning to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, I would like Her Honour the Vice-President to make a comment and clarify serious reports trending on social media and other media platforms where it is alleged that because of various lacunas in the Constitution, the President wants to continue to hold office for eight years. This is very serious, and we need to put a stop to such misinformation. So, I would like Her Honour the Vice-President to clarify and indicate exactly what the President stated in his address to Parliament.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, thank you and good morning to the hon. Member for Kwacha.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate this question. It is a matter of the Constitution. The interpretation of the Constitution is never one way. That is why lawyers are in court arguing over one statement. This one says this and another one says that. However, what did the President really mean?

Any well-meaning Zambian will not just interpret what the President’s statement meant. This is because when one makes a statement, there is a lot that one looks at. You do not just hear the words, rather you also look at the posture and the context in which a statement was made.

Madam Speaker, surely, I thought people would appreciate the statement that was made by the President. Whether he was right or wrong, they should appreciate the spirit with which he said it. This is because he said that the lacuna in the Constitution can make us do wrong things, without saying the word wrong. That was the implication. The implication was to amend the Constitution. Remember, he was talking about the Constitution amendments and he brought in this issue. If your friend tells you that the house you live in has a window that is never completely locked and a thief can easily enter through that window and rob you, then you say that person wants to come and rob you. I hope I am saying something.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: If he is the thief, can he warn you?

Hon. Members: No!

The Vice-President: Then I do not understand where we are going. The President said that we needed to look at the Constitution. There is a chance that the Constitution can be manipulated. He was basically saying that we should not allow anybody, not him, anybody, who can come later and manipulate it to do so. So, let us ensure that we tie the knots, where there are loose ends in the Constitution. That was why he brought that issue here, in the House. If he meant to manipulate it, hon. Member for Kwacha, he would not have said it. This is because the people who came up with the Constitution did not even see that there was something wrong, yet they blame him. If people say that there is nothing wrong, then they should just say that they are comfortable with the way it is, until they find that Article 52(4) may have no solution at the end of the day. I have a Masters of Law degree, guys.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Madam Speaker, most of the farmers in Chinsali who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), have not been paid.  I would like to know from Her Honour the Vice-President when those farmers will be paid.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, this matter was brought out yesterday, and the hon. Minister of Agriculture guided. However, the matter has been brought out again, today. I think that on a matter like this, there is very little I can say, but to acknowledge that it has happened. Some people have not been paid yet. However, the Government is working hard to ensure that those people are paid. I think, there are other issues that we will continue to talk about, but what is true is that the Government is working on ensuring that people are paid so that they can participate in the next farming season properly.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, I think that it is very embarrassing in this era to see people playing victim to the crimes they committed. The recent Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Report covers the period between 2014 and 2022/2023, and 85 per cent of illicit transactions stated in that FIC Report were during the time of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, the US$13.5 billion.

Interruptions

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, let me borrow the words of the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning that we really need to enhance our education and that reading is very important. The moment some people saw the block figure of US$13.5 billion mentioned in the FIC Report, they thought that it was accumulated only under the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government, forgetting that 85 per cent were transactions carried out between 2014 and 2021.

Madam Speaker, what message does Her Honour the Vice-President have for the Zambian people so that they know the real culprits who were involved in the illicit transactions stated in the FIC Report? When will the culprits be arrested? This is what the President has been talking about, when he said that past, present and future corruption must be dealt with. What is Her Honour the Vice President's take on this matter?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I think that for now, the issue of the FIC Report dating back to 2014 is something that I will need to verify.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: I am sorry, but we have to give facts in this House. I am not saying the hon. Member is not right.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Listen! 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

The Vice-President: Hon. Members, I am giving out the answer. You listened to the question. So, can we talk to one another.

Madam Speaker, definitely, we will clarify if this particular FIC Report covers that period mentioned because cases may take long to trace.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

The Vice-President: I am saying that we will verify the stated period. We will look at that because we have seen these FIC Reports over time. So, if this current one has reference to the cases, it is possible, hon. Colleagues to verify. Unless you say that you have read it 100 per cent. So, we will verify that. However, standing here, today, it will be difficult for me to state the position. I will need to quickly have a look at the issues and maybe come back to this House and satisfy the hon. Members who want to know what this FIC Report is about and the timeframe.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Halwiindi (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, we heard one of the senior members of the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA), say that some councils are run by the Patriotic Front (PF) and those councils were mentioned. When I saw the video, it did not really bother me. However, what bothered me was what I heard this morning on Millennium Radio, where one of the Mayors was disputing Government programmes. He went on to say that Mulungushi Textiles will never open and that he does not want to buy graders or see graders bought using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Further, I have seen a lot of destruction in Kabwe, where vandalism is too much on CDF projects yet we are pushing for projects to be done.

Madam Speaker, this has now gotten me worried, that maybe what we heard on social media that certain councils are run by the PF could be true. However, these institutions are a very important component in development because you know that the United Party for National Development (UPND) has enhanced decentralisation and some institutions have devolved their functions. Therefore, what advice would Her Honour the Vice-President give to such institutions, which are very important and are delivering developmental projects to the people of Zambia, especially the people of Kabwe?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, you may have noticed that the House has gone quiet except for the hon. Member of Parliament for Mkushi South.  That is, indeed, a painful statement. That statement cannot be made by any leader anywhere except one with the intention of frustrating programmes of the Government.

We are a democracy. Abraham Lincoln defined democracy. Therefore, if we are a true democracy, we are a Government of the people, by the people, and for the people. How can you be a leader but want to frustrate something that works for the good of the people?

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the attitude of this House towards that question. I think that it beats all of us. No leader in their right mind can frustrate the good programmes of the Government. Anybody who says such should not be listened to, and they are already alienating themselves from the people of Zambia. I think, we lose wisdom along the way. They are already de-campaigning themselves because nobody will trust them. Nobody will. You cannot start vandalising property. Do you think people will then vote for you? No.

Madam Speaker, all of us, as political party members, particularly those in the Opposition, must teach our people and tell them what people are looking for from them, not to destroy the country. We cannot allow it. Please, we have only one Zambia. Let us work together. It does not matter whether you are in the Opposition. The Opposition exists for a purpose.

Madam Speaker, when I was in the Opposition and people said we wanted to take over the Government, I said “Yes, that is why we are here. We will take over Government from the Patriotic Front (PF). The only thing we will not do is to do it illegally." So, any Opposition should see itself as the Government. Therefore, why would you start destroying what the Government is doing? Come on. Such words should not be uttered by a leader of our country. That is an unfortunate statement. Such a person should repent because it is not only bad, but evil as well.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

_______

 STATEMENT BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT

MITIGATION MEASURES BY THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION UNIT IN RESPONSE TO THE 2024 DROUGHT SITUATION

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, thank you so much for the opportunity to raise a point of order, which ordinarily should have come during the forty- five minutes of the Vice-President's Question Time. However, because of the decorum, I had to hold myself until now.

Madam Speaker, Standing Order No. 71 is instructive when it comes to discourse standards on the Floor of the House. Many serious matters have been tendered, but because I am restricted to one, I have decided to rise on a point of order on the hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa.

Madam Speaker, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has continued to issue reports from the time the Patriotic Front (PF) was in office to date. It has released reports that relate to corruption or illicit financial flaws in the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government. I will give you specific reports.

Firstly, the US$2.8 billion has nothing to do with the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) or the PF, but with the UPND alone. The K61 billion has nothing to do with the MMD or the PF. It has everything to do with the UPND alone.

Interruptions

 Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the last one is K13.5 billion.

This money has been externalised.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleague now mistakes the FIC Report for the Auditor-General’s Report, which was deliberately crafted by the UPND Government. Is he in order to come to this House to confuse the FIC Reports and the illegal Auditor-General’s Reports?

I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Lunte, when you look at the Standing Order on the point of order, you will see that it clearly states that you have to be very specific. However, I have noticed that of late, when you bring a point of order, you start debating. You are not supposed to debate your point of order. It does not leave room for the Presiding Officer to come in because you have gone around your point of order. Please, hon. Member, is it possible that each time you raise a point of order, you try to be very specific and to the point? Do not debate your point of order.

Mr Kafwaya: Chapwa?

Hon. Opposition Members: No ruling!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The ruling is that the hon. Member for Lunte should not debate his points of order. It is not admissible.

Laughter

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, allow me to thank you for the opportunity to issue a statement on the mitigation measures that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has taken in response to the 2024 drought situation after it was declared a national disaster.

Madam Speaker, I wish to report to this august House that the Government, through the DMMU, co-ordinated the development of the 2024 Food Security Drought Response Plan following the declaration of the drought a national disaster and emergency by the Republican President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on 29^th February, 2024.

This response plan was developed by a multi-sectoral team of experts drawn from State and non-State actors who are organised in six clusters for a co-ordinated response. In these clusters, the core interventions targeted at mitigating the drought effects are outlined and this will run until the next harvest in 2025.

Madam Speaker, to update the House, allow me, therefore, to highlight the core interventions being implemented under each of the six response pillars in the eighty-four drought-affected districts.

Pillar 1: Provision of Immediate Food Assistance

Madam Speaker, under this pillar, the Government is implementing interventions targeted at providing immediate lifesaving and livelihood protection interventions in all the eighty-four drought-affected districts. In this regard, the Government has released 41,485 metric tonnes of maize to drought-affected communities in the eighty-four districts across the country. Of which, as of 17^th September, 2024, a total of 35,639.01 metric tonnes were distributed, with 829,000 households benefiting from the intervention.

The Government is also implementing the Social Cash Transfers (SCT), which is a programme aimed at reducing extreme poverty and the intergenerational transfer of poverty among beneficiary households. In the drought emergence period, this programme has been expanded to include all households that have been negatively affected by the impacts of the drought outside the normal SCT programmes.

Madam Speaker, in addition, the Drought Emergency Cash Transfer programme is also being implemented to bolster the overall social protection intervention aimed at protecting the already vulnerable, and preventing others from falling into the vulnerability bracket. As at 31^st August, 2024, 886,311 beneficiaries had been paid, with the total amount disbursed being at K1.8 billion.

Madam Speaker, to facilitate the availability of food in the affected communities, community maize sales have also been heightened. In this regard, 493 community sales points are currently active in the target districts. A total of 130,375 metric tonnes of maize has been sold through these sales points as at 17^th September, 2024. This maize has benefited 2,607,500 households.

Madam Speaker, further, to stabilise market prices and for the availability of mealie meal, the Government, through the Zambia National Service (ZNS), has released 399,800 metric tonnes of maize from the strategic grain reserves for milling. Of this tonnage, 347,666.02 metric tonnes has been milled and bagged into 11,125,318 by 25 kg bags of mealie meal for sale. Similarly, the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) has also drawn 84,105.41 metric tonnes of maize from the strategic grain reserves for the same purpose. Of this quantity, 77,626.41 metric tonnes has been milled and bagged in 2,209,508 by 25 kg bags of mealie meal for sale in communities.

Madam Speaker, to cover the domestic maize production gap, the Government signed a Government-to-Government contract with the United Republic of Tanzania to import 650,000 metric tonnes of non-genetically modified organism (GMO) white maize. The imported maize from Tanzania is currently flowing into the country. In addition, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has enhanced its operations and by 18^th September, 2024, it had recorded 580,594 metric tonnes of total maize purchase received.

Madam Speaker, the Government has also just initiated a Cash-for-Work programme in the eighty-four drought-affected districts. In this programme, communities are undertaking labour-intensive works such as drainage clearance, molding of bricks and road works. A total of K2 billion has been reserved for this programme. Works have since commenced and payments to beneficiaries will be made once the works are completed and certified within a specified timeframe, which should not exceed a period of ten days in a given month.

Pillar 2: Nutrition

Madam Speaker, under this pillar, interventions under implementation involve the scanning for and treatment of severe and moderate cases of acute malnutrition among children and lactating and pregnant mothers, across the eighty-four drought-affected districts.

Madam Speaker, to date, 4,116,901 children have been screened for severe and moderate acute malnutrition. Of this number, 25,865 children have been treated for both severe and acute malnutrition. Treatment and prevention of malnutrition involves the provision of micronutrients and protein supplements to children and pregnant and lactating mothers.

Pillar 3: Education

Madam Speaker, under this pillar, the school feeding programme has been enhanced, and is now covering all drought-affected districts with an addition of 2,394,208 pupils being provided with meals and safe drinking water. The thirty-six districts, which were not on the programme before the drought have also been included in the school feeding programme. This is being implemented across the eight provinces, excluding the Northern Province and Luapula Province, for a period of 180 days. The meals are being provided to 143,727 pupils considered to be in early childhood education, 1,704,604 in primary school and 545,977 in secondary school.

Pillar 4: Health

Madam Speaker, under this pillar, the Government has heightened vaccinations against cholera, measles and polio. So far, a total of 227,500 persons have been vaccinated against cholera with four years efficacy while 2,268,249 children have been vaccinated against Polio which requires a total of three doses at one-month intervals.

Madam Speaker, there is also heightened disease surveillance in the affected districts, while water quality is being monitored. Given the psychological impacts of the drought on the people, there is also heightened provision of mental health services.

Pillar 5: Energy

Madam Speaker, I wish to report that the country’s power deficit now stands at 1,381 MW. To mitigate this in the short-term, the Government is importing 450 MW of electricity from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) to support commercial activities, and facilitate the greening of 100,000 solar heaters.

Madam Speaker, the Government is also installing twenty-three diesel generators producing 12.2 MW of electricity in strategic institutions such as markets and water utilities.

Madam Speaker, further, a solar loan scheme has been introduced through the Public Service Micro-Finance Company (PSMFC) to enable civil servants to access solar and other products affordably.

Pillar 6: Early Recovery and Resilience Building

Madam Speaker, under this pillar, the focus is on building community resilience to shocks such as the drought we are responding to and facilitation of recovery of the communities affected by the drought. The target sectors and their interventions under this pillar are as follows:

Water Resource Management and Development

Madam Speaker, under this sector, the measures put in place include drilling of boreholes, enhancement of water permitting measures, and the construction and maintenance of dams in the drought-affected districts to support agriculture, human, livestock and animal use.

Madam Speaker, in the drought response plan, 770 dams are earmarked for rehabilitation. So far, ninety dams are being maintained in 2024 with progress at 87 per cent. In addition, six small dams are currently under rehabilitation.

Madam Speaker, the Government is currently constructing sixteen out of the targeted twenty-eight dams, that is, small dams in the drought-affected districts, and progress for these ranges from 5 per cent to 80 per cent.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to report that 270 of the 500 non-functional boreholes are currently under rehabilitation. We have also initiated the installation of 424 out of 1,500 target pipe water schemes.

Madam Speaker, water permitting has also been enhanced by the Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA).  This is the issuance of ground and surface water extraction permits. Since the declaration, a total of 310 water permits have been issued out of the 312 applications that have been received after the declaration.

Livestock and Wildlife

Madam Speaker, under this sector, there has been baling of hay to supplement livestock feeding and increased livestock and animal vaccination against diseases such as anthrax, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and rabies. As of 17^th September, 2024, a total of 744,350 animals had been vaccinated against anthrax. A further, 437,051 have also been vaccinated against foot and mouth disease. The Government has also vaccinated 543,175 against CBPP and 8,095 dogs have been vaccinated against rabies. This has been undertaken in the Southern Province, the Western Province, the North-Western Province, the Copperbelt Province and Muchinga Province.

Agricultural Production

Madam Speaker, under this sector, farmers have been encouraged to plant early maturing maize varieties as well as winter maize. The Government through the Republican President, His Excellency, Mr Hakainde Hichilema on 24^th March, 2024 commissioned the harvest of winter maize of Sadote Farm in Mkushi Farming Block and flagged off the winter maize planting season as a way of beefing up the country’s strategic reserves. Mobile grain dryers have also been purchased to facilitate the drying of winter maize.

Risk Communication and Community Engagement

Under this pillar, there has been heightened community awareness campaigns related to the six core pillars under the drought response plan. These include:

1. the airing of three-minute drought response updates on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) News at 1900 hours every day;

1. sensitisation of communities on rangeland protection; and

1. operation of a twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week national emergency operations centre at DMMU to respond to drought-related inquiries from members of the public and to collect vital information related to the response by all actors involved.

Madam Speaker, in summary, the above measures are targeted at mitigating the adverse impacts of the experienced drought in the eighty-four districts across the country.

Madam Speaker, allow me to reiterate that the above measures are still ongoing and updates will be given as measures continue being implemented in all the eighty-four drought affected districts across the country.

Madam Speaker, hon. Members may remember that when Parliament was rising from the previous Meeting, we had a meeting with hon. Members of Parliament where we gave a detailed response plan. In fact, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and I, are waiting for feedback on what happened in the constituencies when hon. Members were on recess from the work of Parliament.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement issued by Her Honour the Vice-President.

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Madam Speaker, thank you for according me an opportunity to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question after a very extensive statement with a lot of information. In my view and opinion, His Excellency the President declaring the 2023/2024 drought season a national disaster is a step in the right direction.

Madam Speaker, communities are facing twenty-one hours of load-shedding and in some cases, other communities are going for days without electricity. Even where the hon. Members are staying, it is a struggle to find water to bath either in the morning or afternoon. I want to know from Her Honour the Vice-President why the Government is not declaring the shortage of electricity supply a national emergency, not a national disaster, but a national emergency.

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

Madam Speaker, I think, the hon. Member appreciates what the Government has done to declare the drought a national disaster and an emergency. The House should understand what is happening in full context. I will take advantage of this question to explain a little more on this. The drought disaster does not only affect the supply of food, and that is why I gave six pillars. The drought disaster has also affected the energy sector. In my statement, I talked about energy as one pillar. So, it is part of the drought emergency response plan. Mostly, Zambia has relied on hydro-power generation. Therefore, when the country experiences a drought, it goes without saying that electricity generation will be affected.

Madam Speaker, I can generally say that this is part of the response plan. That is why in my statement, I spoke of the power deficit that the country is experiencing and the mitigating measures that the Government has put in place. This includes importing 450 MW of power from South Africa, which I talked about, for commercial activities. Further, the buying of diesel-powered generators to the tune of 12.2 MW, indeed, is also part of the mitigating measures that the Government has put in place.

Madam Speaker, in case someone is thinking of water supply, it is also incorporated in the plan. If there is a drought, it means that there will be no water supply, and if there is no water supply, there will be no electricity. So, the two are interlinked. The drought has brought about a power deficit.

Madam Speaker, the Government is turning, I talked about the PSMFC being given the mandate to support civil and public servants to access loans so that they can get electricity for their home consumption. All these are part of the mitigating measures that are answering to the issue of energy.

Madam Speaker, allow me to speak to my hon. Colleagues. I have said that energy comes from water and that there are some areas that are severely affected; they do not have any water supply. I am aware that we have the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and I know that hon. Members had other plans for this CDF, but surely, if your people were to die because they do not have water supply, then you have a failed leadership. If there are areas where they need water, then hon. Members should reprioritize that. I hear that in some places people are moving long distances to draw water because their shallow wells have dried up. Some hon. Members are saying that they will hold on to the CDF money. What do they want to buy? I urge the hon. Members to reschedule their plans. Hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, please, let hon. Members ensure that there is water supply in their constituencies. Water is life. Even if the Government took maize to those places, people would still die if there was no water supply.

Madam Speaker, I apologise to the hon. Member for Bwacha Constituency, I have taken advantage of his question because it is important that I educate the House. Please, can hon. Members quickly ensure that they support this programme. Where the Ministry of Water, Development and Sanitation is drilling boreholes, it may be too slow and, therefore, hon. Members can use the CDF to ensure that people have water supply. So, the Government is looking at everything comprehensively.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sialubalo (Sinazongwe): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I am not politicking, but truth be told, I thank the Government. I say this on behalf of the people of Sinazongwe. People would have died, but the Government intervened through programmes such as Cash-for-Work, with the help of the Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) to make sure that people receive the money and other necessities. There is also enhanced Social Cash Transfer (SCT) and the emergency relief fund. We would, therefore, like to thank His Excellency the President, or let me say, the entire United Party for National Development (UPND) Government for what it has done. We are very grateful.

Madam Speaker, in my constituency, there are two wards out of the sixteen that we have, where we have tried by all means to provide water for our people. I remember I had asked a question concerning the same issue some time back. We drilled boreholes as deep as 150 m, but we could not find any water. We hope that with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation for 2025, we can construct some weir dams so that we can at least start water harvesting. However, in this drought period, it is quite difficult for my people to access water. The closest source of water is Lake Kariba, which is about 30 km away.

Madam Speaker, what immediate assistance can my people get from this caring Government?

The Vice-President:  Madam Speaker, I really appreciate the hon. Member for Sinazongwe for that question and also for appreciating the Government for the good work that it is doing. It is very important that as we mention the challenges that we are experiencing or where the Government has gaps, we also appreciate the effort that the Government has made. I think, the hon. Member has seen other interventions that I did not include in my statement. Of course, there are interventions from co-operating partners such as the Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) –

Where is the hon. Member for Mkushi South? (looked around for Hon. Chisopa) He is not in the House. He has to know that in Luano, there are also very serious interventions by the World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP is in about fifteen districts to provide interventions, …

Mr Chisopa entered the Assembly Chamber.

The Vice-President: … a full package of interventions. I am sure, you (addressing Hon. Chisopa) are aware that they are working together with the Government. We have not left them alone because we are compiling statistics to know how many people are there and how the Government can come in to fill the gap, where there is any.

Madam Speaker, except for this particular question from the hon. Member, of water not being found as deep as 150 m and the only other source of water being 30 km –

Mr Chisopa interjected.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, that one (pointing at Hon. Chisopa) is very happy that the WFP is in Luano doing a good job and the Government is also there. This is how we interact with partners.

However, when the hon. Member for Sinazongwe talks of drilling a borehole as deep as 150 m and not finding any water, really, I become too small to respond to that.

The Vice-President: When we talk of a 30 km distance away from the source of water, then we have to find water. We need to find out if there are any other villages and if they all do not have any water supply, between that 30 km distance to the only source of water, which is Lake Kariba. That is a discussion that can be held with technical people. So, please, come to our offices, particularly, reach out to the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation because we cannot leave people without any water supply. Please, hon. Member, I direct you to the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation. A solution must be found.

Madam Speaker, if we are going to move the people from flooded areas, I urge the hon. Members to start now. We heard what the President said; we should move the people from flood-stricken areas because such disasters have to do with the weather pattern. So, let us talk to our people. However, I thank the hon. Member for appreciating the Governments’ efforts and we will continue to find solutions to difficult situations.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chisopa: Thank you, Madam Speaker. My point of order is based on the relevance of speech and facts.

Madam Speaker, I was in Luano Valley four days ago and people there are suffering. There is no food and no maize, which Her Honour the Vice-President has talked about. The maize is being given to the United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Chisopa: Yes, are you questioning?

Interruptions

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, they are questioning. The maize is being given to the UPND cadres and they are the ones who have the maize right now. The World Food Programme (WFP) can be there, but of what relevance is it if there is no maize?

Madam Speaker, is Her Honour the Vice-President in order to mislead the nation and the people of Luano, in particular, by saying that there is food in Luano, yet people are suffering?

 I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: From what I heard, I think, Her Honour the Vice-President was giving an example on the water crisis and said that there are already some co-operating partners who are helping us in some districts or constituencies. She mentioned one non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is in Luano and that there is a co-operating partner who is trying to assist the people. It was a matter regarding the water supply and not food. So, the hon. Member for Mkushi South, this is an opportunity for you to ask Her Honour the Vice-President questions on issues of food so that you can be given a response for your people in Mkushi South. So, make use of the opportunity. The statement and the questions are still on the Floor of the House.

So, hon. Member, it is you who is out of order …

Mr Chisopa interjected.

 Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: … because you did not come up with the correct information that was given by Her Honour the Vice-President. Use this opportunity, if there is a problem in Mkushi South, bring it to Her Honour the Vice-President so that she can give you a good response.

We can make progress.

Mr Daka (Msanzala): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also thank Her Honour the Vice President for the statement. We appreciate the relief that the Government is giving to our people. However, I would like to ask Her Honour the Vice-President if the Government could increase the quantity of maize given to our people because what they are given is insufficient due to the hunger that is being experienced.

Madam Speaker, the other matter that I want to bring to the attention of Her Honour the Vice- President is the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme that the Government is implementing. This is really making an impact on the lives of our people. However, the challenge faced is the distance between where the people are getting the service from and where they buy the maize. So, the people are asking if it is possible for the Government to give maize to each polling station as selling points so that people can have easy access to the SCT and also buy the maize from those particular polling stations, unlike, covering long distances just to access the maize.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Msanzala. What I love is that people are noticing the efforts made by the Government in this matter.

Mr Mabeta: Exactly!

The Vice-President: Efforts are being made and, that is very important for us because it is encouraging to know that we are doing something.

You are in a drought situation, in a very difficult one. Remember, we had to start reversing maize deliveries. Maize had been collected, but we had to send it back to the selling point because people could not access going into the central purchasing point or collecting point in the district. So, the best we have done is to acknowledge the distance. However, sometimes, we also must contribute. The Government is contributing by taking maize back to where it bought it from. I think that the farmers, our people, who need the food, can walk a little distance.

Madam Speaker, it will be very difficult for me to commit, sitting here, that we will have the resources to take to every polling station. At least, we have endeavoured to see to it that every ward has a selling point. If you have a ward where there is no selling point, please you can come through. However, that is how far we have gone. I know that there are vast wards that we appreciate, but it is just that there are limitations to what we can do. We wish we could do better, but for now, the resources available must ensure that there is a selling point in every ward. That is how far we have gone. Let us just encourage our people to cultivate. The rainy season is set to come early so that at least, by March, we will have something to chew. Sorry about that, but this is the plan.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Simushi (Sikongo) Madam Speaker, indeed, the drought that has hit us is unfortunate as we did not plan for it. However, I would like to thank the Government for the marked response that it has shown in making sure that our people do not die of hunger.

Madam Speaker, in Sikongo, our road has been damaged. As it is now, the trucks cannot take mealie meal or maize to Sikongo. We are getting our maize from Kalabo. I really hope the Road Development Agency (RDA), as we discussed, can quickly patch up the parts of the road that are bad so that the people of Sikongo can continue getting their maize in Sikongo.

Madam Speaker, this devastating drought that we have experienced is something that we have not seen in a long time. What key lessons have we learnt from this drought so that moving forward, we should be able to not necessarily go through the same response that we have, but maybe, to put in certain measures where necessary?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, indeed, this is the first time in our short lives to have experienced a drought as devastating as this. If you have not gone to where the drought has really hit, you may think it is something you have seen before. This year has been devastating whereby, almost all the crops have dried up. Therefore, any Government that has the foresight, which every Government should have, must plan for the future. We should not just be planning for the drought, rather we should also plan for floods. It is possible. We have seen what is happening in the world.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for Sikongo for his response for being concerned about the bad road. We need the roads for transportation, and the hon. Member has already reached out to the Road Development Agency (RDA), which is very important. However, the question is: what key response measures have we put in place for the future? In fact, in my statement, I read Pillar No. 6, on early recovery and resilience building. When it comes to water supply, for example, I talked about the construction and rehabilitation of dams and other things. We have to start damming our water. That is one of the measures that we are putting in place to build resilience. We are looking at power, and that is part of the resilience. So, basically, there are many measures. I read about a number of dams, for example, 770 earmarked for construction. These are dams. Ninety are being maintained. The dams are not a short-term project, they are long-term. So, we are working together, we have to increase agriculture production.

Madam Speaker, there are other measures the hon. Minister of Agriculture will speak to later, on what we are doing to ensure that people can cultivate. So, really, we are looking forward. However, when one has a proposal, one should know where to go. If it is on agriculture, one has to go to the Ministry of Agriculture. If it is on water supply, one must go to the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation and if it is concerning the energy sector, one must go to the Ministry of Energy. One can also take these issues to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). For us, we have never claimed monopoly of knowledge and wisdom, we are one. Come and give us a proposal. Do not hide ati ngatwa wina, limbi tamwakabale amuwinapo. So, what are you going to do to implement your wonderful idea? Bring it now.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, let me start by commending Her Honour the Vice-President for the directives she has given to the hon. Minister responsible for water supply. Similarly, maybe, she can extend those directives to our hon. Minister of Agriculture to ensure that those farmers not only in Shiwang’andu and Chinsali, but also in the Northern Province and other provinces who have received reduced numbers of farming packs can be addressed because this has posed a very big challenge as we speak. I think, Her Honour the Vice-President can take a similar line because that is where we have solutions to deal with the food security.

Madam Speaker, indeed, this disaster has affected so many progressive programmes, including, the famous nalumangonomics, which people have been looking forward to seeing by now, three years down the line. Increasing prices in order to reduce does not seem to be working. Her Honour the Vice-President mentioned that importing about 150,000 metric tonnes of maize is among the measures that the Government is taking.

Madam Speaker, the matter of concern is: who is co-ordinating this importation of grain to ensure that we do not get grain which is affected by aflatoxin, which we recently saw. We also saw some invoices flying around of some genetically modified organism (GMO) maize being imported by one of the Government agencies. Who is co-ordinating this exercise to ensure that the grain we are receiving either through donations like the 1,000 metric tonnes of maize it received, is maize that is authentic and safe for our people to consume?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I hope that was the last question, but I am still seeing green lights, meaning there is still time for more questions.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You have only eight minutes more, Her Honour the Vice-President.

Laughter

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu for that question. I will start by addressing his preamble where he said the people of Shiwang’andu were affected by floods. Yes, they were affected and they are on the list. We are aware. As for Chinsali, I am not aware. However, the issue of the bags of fertiliser is a concern and we will respond to that later, not today. Just to correct the figures, the hon. Member mentioned, it is 650,000 metric tonnes that we are importing from Tanzania, not 1,000 metric tonnes. It is authentic, tested, and non-genetically modified organism (GMO) white maize. Anybody interested can go to the depots because we know where we are getting this maize from. Where we have questions, we have answered here. There is no situation of aflatoxin. Regarding aflatoxin colleagues, I think, we need a comprehensive statement because there is a lot of misunderstanding.

Madam Speaker, people even claimed that the Government had imported bad maize. We should be careful with social media. This information seems to be playing when it is juicy, then all of us read and we say it is happening. It is not happening. I think that the issue of aflatoxin needs to be explained. The hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry will be here next week. He may give a full statement. If I start talking about that issue, I may give inaccurate information. We have not imported any GMO maize. We are not importing any maize which has issues particularly to do with genetic diseases. We are not. This is authentic, tested by Zambians who had to go more than once to test while working together with the people from Tanzania. So, this is what we have and we think it is enough for all of us to survive, at least, up to harvest time.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1030 hours until 1100 hours. 

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr A. I.  Banda (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, thank you for the chance given to the good people of Vubwi to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question. The people of Vubwi appreciate the efforts that the Government is making in trying to respond to the drought situation. The people of Vubwi are experiencing challenges of water supply. Since inception, Vubwi District has not had a dam. At the same time, we were promised by the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation that the ministry would maintain some of our boreholes in the constituency, but no funding has been given to Vubwi to undertake that exercise. I wish to find out what the Her Honour the Vice-President thinks should be done immediately to address this challenge. Otherwise, there is a very big challenge in Vubwi in terms of water supply. We have no dam and most of the boreholes are not working, so, we feel we will start losing lives due to the lack of water supply.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for his question, but particularly for premising his question on the appreciation of the work that is going on. As long as we are alive, challenges will also remain. So, we first appreciate it as we continue to look for solutions to the challenges. The challenge that the hon. Member brings to the fore; lack of water supply is a huge problem. He also said that there was a promise from the hon. Minister that the Government would rehabilitate or maintain non-functional boreholes. I can assure him, as I am sitting next to the hon. Minister here, that this work of rehabilitating boreholes will start now because we do realise that it is even hot now and this can be a very difficult period. The hon. Minister says that, as they promised, they will come on the ground to start maintaining the boreholes. We are aware.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity on behalf of the good people of Mbabala to ask a question on the excellent statement issued by Her Honour the Vice-President. I would like to thank Her Honour the Vice-President for the hard work she is putting in to ensure that our people do not go hungry so that we stay resilient to the disaster situation.

Mr Speaker, we have a report in Mbabala that shows that we continue to have some issues with the dams which we had applied to be rehabilitated. These are Mbole, Kabanga, Kabanze and Sibubomba. However, they are not on the list of dams which are being rehabilitated despite having dried up thereby causing a serious situation in Mbabala.  Because of that, our communities are always on me to try and get the dams to start functioning.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to add that we have done an excellent job in Mbabala with the budget re-alignment to ensure that programmes such as the Cash-for-Work and Social Cash Transfer (SCT) work, as well as other related works, which we are doing. However, the community maize sales need to happen the way the hon. Minister …

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, be precise and ask your question.

 Mr Munsanje: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your guidance.

 Mr Speaker, the clarification which I want is that, as agreed here, the maize is supposed to be bought at the depot by the headman identifying buyers. However, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has come up with a form that requires seven signatures for a community to buy the maize. This is very bureaucratic and it is not helping our communities in Mbabala District and Choma District. So, we would like that process to be reversed immediately to ensure that what we agreed upon here, where the headman is supposed to identify the buyers, is what is implemented. I just want to get a comment from Her Honour the Vice-President on this matter which is supposed to improve our efficiency.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Mbabala for that question.  Again today, I think, we are being the leaders we are because people are acknowledging the work and that is pushing us to work even harder. When His Excellency the President listens to such, then he knows that the work that is in place is being appreciated. Although the hon. Member has talked about many things, generally, it is one question. So, I will go to the last one where he said the forms have too many components which require seven signatures for a person to buy the maize.

Mr Speaker, I want to say that this is not a DMMU matter. I know the hon. Member said that the DMMU has put in place all these programmes.  I think that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will be in a good position to tell us about that matter. I would love to learn and then, give the hon. Member a proper response.  I do not know whether it is happening everywhere and that seven signatures are required before a person buys the maize. I do not know. Was it a local arrangement? So, I would love to learn, hon. Member.  I cannot –

Interruptions

The Vice-President: So, is Mbabala a little backwards in the implementation of new guidelines?  I cannot answer properly here because even if they talk to me, it is not the DMMU which is responsible for that, rather it is the FRA that sells maize. So, it is important that there is contact, probably between the hon. Member for Mbabala and the hon. Minister, and I will also learn so that tomorrow, I understand how this sale of maize works. I am not aware and I have no answer right now for the hon. Member. The process being described here sounds like something we stopped doing.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I have added eight more minutes because this is a topical issue and there are many hon. Members who have indicated.

 Mr E. Tembo (Feira): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Her Honour the Vice-President for the presentation.

Mr Speaker, I remember that at the end of the last Meeting, we actually had a meeting with Her Honour the Vice President to look at all these issues. However, I am concerned about the way these programmes have been implemented. They are quite good programmes, but the implementation has been problematic, just like my colleague from Mbabala has said. For instance, in some cases, with the Cash-for-Work programme, we have seen segregation based on partisan lines and cadres see this as a reward system. My issue, however, is that I would like to know whether we have put in place a monitoring and evaluation system to see whether or not this is working because I worry that we can have a good report that things are working when on the ground, the situation is different. So, my question is whether there is a monitoring and evaluation system for these programmes.

The Vice-President: I would like to thank the hon. Member for Feira, whose concern on the interventions is the monitoring, evaluation and the allegation that the distribution of support is on partisan lines.

Mr Speaker, this is why we had a meeting at the office of the Vice-President. This is some information that we should receive because that is not the guidance. Hon. Member, are you saying all those that are not – When you say partisan, I hope it is not your party which is grabbing things and distributing them. If it is the Ruling Party, I think it is important that we get clear feedback from you because that is the reason we had a meeting; for you to bring back information. If you want us to answer on each issue you find, then we will have to take a lot of time, probably, the entire sitting. However, you were given an opportunity to come back. As far as I am concerned, only one hon. Member called back to raise concerns so that we can make follow-ups.  As far as we know, we have the guidelines which are very clear.  For example, programmes like the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) are being done under the Ward Development Committees (WDC). These are structures which are particularly in constituencies where hon. Members have influence on some of them. So, we do not know how these issues become political.

Mr Speaker, I hope that we do not just politicise thee issues for the sake of it, but we will make a follow-up and see because as far as we are concerned, we are monitoring through the system that is already in place because this is not a new programme that we have created. It is something that has worked. However, I would appreciate if a little more information is given. Is it a general question or it is something that has been experienced in Feira? Is he saying that the programmes now have a monitoring and evaluation system? Is that what the hon. Member is saying?  If it is in Feira, we need specific information.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Shakafuswa (Mandevu): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to ask a question to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Mr Speaker, may I join the other hon. Member in thanking the Government for the measures that have been put in place to help with the drought situation. However, allow me to indicate that the maize sales are yet to start in Mandevu Constituency and this is where we have more than 500,000 people, and many mouths to feed.

Mr Speaker, allow me to comment on the energy and water management resources pillar. Regarding the energy issue, the people of Mandevu are complaining that despite the Government putting in place measures and incentives for the people who are importing solar products, the prices for these products are too high. Where are the watchdog institutions, the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)? I heard the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) lamenting. Why are they not going on the ground to punish the people exploiting the Zambian people, especially the people of Mandevu?

Mr Speaker, lastly, let me also talk about the water crisis in Mandevu Constituency. The water issues are well known to the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation. However, the people of Mandevu are taken aback that despite its committing to work with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), having committed K3 million and for it to provide K5 million, the ministry has written to us that it does not have money. In the meantime, we do not have water in Mandevu.

Mr Speaker, what message of assurance is Her Honour the Vice-President giving to the people of Mandevu amidst this water crisis, now and in the future? We do not have water supply.  We cannot drill boreholes like the others because of where we sit as an aquifer. I hope she does not see this as politicking.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I appreciate everybody who has seen whatever little this Government is endeavouring to do for the sake of the Zambian people. It is important because from that premise, we can move together to find the solutions.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member commented on the issues of sales. I cannot answer until we find out if there are points of sales and if not, why there are no sales. Is it that the maize is not there or is it that they want it, but it is not provided for? I have to understand that.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member also talked about solar components being expensive. I think, this issue was raised before, and the Government has done its part. It has indicated that it will zero-rate all components that have to do with solar so that people can access them. However, the hon. Member should know that he is in a liberalised economy and that is how difficult it becomes. I think, we have to admit that there are good and bad things in our system. In a liberalised economy, people take advantage. There is a question of demand and supply. So, they know that all of us want this product and they are cashing in. All we can do is to appeal to them. This is our country. They need to know that we are their clients, and they do not have to benefit one-off, because if we cannot afford anymore, then even the market, the owner of the solar products will collapse. So, it is just up to the business people to ensure that they support their clients because business is dependent on people. That is my appeal to the people dealing in solar products, of course, using your question and concern.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member is urging us to go and punish those business people who are exploiting the Zambians. I do not know whether there is a law that can provide for that kind of punishment. If there is, let us invoke it, but I am not aware and I am not saying I am aware of all the laws. However, I am not aware of this particular one that would permit us to move in and start punishing people who are selling things exorbitantly when the Government has declared that we zero-rate those products.

Mr Speaker, the issue of water supply, indeed, was brought out in my response plan. Therefore, for Mandevu, we may even have a second part, in terms of provision of water because we have to respond not just to the drought, but to the cholera issue also. There are plans for water co-ordination under the DMMU so that we can quickly come in because water is life. We must visit Mandevu and see where there is more need so that we can support our people to have water. I cannot tell what the hon. Member provided and agreed on with the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation. I may not have an answer to that, but water is necessary, and I am very happy that the hon. Minister is here. We have to continue and see where the need is more critical so that we can prioritise the areas as we go on. It is unfortunate that this has happened to us. It is not intentional and we have to work together with the progressive hon. Members of Parliament to support our people.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

WITHDRAWAL OF SECURITY SERVICES FROM KATETE FRUIT PROCESSING PLANT

14. Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning: 

1. whether the Government is aware that the security company that was contracted to provide security at Katete Fruit Processing Plant in Katete District withdrew its services;

1. if so, why the security company withdrew its services;

1. what measures are being taken to ensure that the plant is secure; and

1. when the plant will be officially opened.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, the Government is aware of the prevailing security situation at the Eastern Tropical Fruits Company. The Eastern Tropical Fruits Company Limited had a running contract for the provision of security with G4S Secure Solutions Company Limited which on 20^th July, 2023, discontinued the provision of security services due to a delay in securing alignment on terms of engagement.

Mr Speaker, as a short-term remedial measure to ensure that the plant is secured, the key Eastern Tropical Fruits Company Limited employees have been allocated to work in shifts to ensure adequate personnel presence at the plant around the clock.

Mr Speaker, as a long-term solution, the Government, through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and on behalf of the project company, is currently undertaking to procure  a security firm to provide security on a yearly renewable contract.

Mr Speaker, the plant is earmarked to be commissioned within the fourth quarter of 2024.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr P. Phiri: Mr Speaker, why has the ministry taken so long to open this plant? If the plant was opened, the issue of security would not have occurred.  If the plant was opened and everything was in place, we would not be talking about security today. I am aware that a similar plant somewhere has been opened. However, why has the ministry delayed the opening of the one in Katete?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I already said that this plant will be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2024. I wish to inform the House that the IDC had lined up several similar projects for commissioning, starting with the Mwinilunga itinerary, which was done. That was followed this week by a similar project in Chitambo and the third and final project now is the one that is destined to be opened in the fourth quarter of 2024, in other words, before the end of the year.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 UNCOLLECTED GARBAGE IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF LUSAKA

15. Ms Halwiindi (Kabwe Central) asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:

1. why there is so much uncollected garbage in the Central Business District of Lusaka; and

1. what urgent measures are being taken to collect the garbage and avert the outbreak of diseases.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Nkombo): Mr Speaker, the uncollected garbage in the Central Business District (CBD) of Lusaka and Lusaka as a whole, is attributed to the following factors:

1. the indiscriminate disposal of waste in the CBD as a result of citizens' poor culture and attitudes towards the disposal of waste;

1. the increase in the use of plastic packaged products which are poorly disposed of; and

1. frequent breakdown of refuse compactors and other equipment, which reduced the capacity of the solid waste collection company to promptly remove garbage that is generated.

Mr Speaker, the following measures have been put in place to remedy the situation:

1. the Government has enhanced maintenance of waste collection equipment to ensure consistent service. As a result of this, all broken down equipment has now been repaired and collection of waste is ongoing at a steady pace;

1. the Government through the Lusaka Solid Waste Management Company, which is a new company, has embarked on an activity to install litter bins in the CBD so as to provide citizens with facilities to throw litter or waste in;

1. the Government has continued public awareness campaigns through the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy programme which is underway to educate the public on proper waste disposal and the importance of maintaining cleanliness; and

1. the Government has commenced the engagement of all the manufacturers and distributors of plastic packaged goods to agree on how they can contribute to the removal of packaging materials from the environment.

Mr Speaker, lastly, we have said before, here, on the Floor of this House that the new programme; Cash-for-Work programme, which is a drought relief measure, is a silver lining on the dark cloud, where our citizens who qualify to engage in this Cash-for-Work programme have been designated public areas to assist with the management and disposal of waste.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Halwiindi: Mr Speaker, this question was raised earlier as an urgent question without notice, but then I was advised to file in a question. The hon. Minister indicated that there is indiscriminate disposal of waste, which we all know is a cancer that we have in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, are our laws adequate to make sure that Zambians and those who are in the habit of throwing garbage anyhow are brought to book? Maybe, we can try, by all means, to stop this vice.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, we have adequate laws that speak to the nuisance that comes along with indiscriminate disposal of waste. The application of these laws is something that can easily be done, if everyone co-operates. We are coming from a very difficult past, where one of the reasons there was indiscriminate disposal of solid waste was our people departing from designated trading areas, markets in this case, to go and sell on the streets.

Mr Speaker, at that point, you could see the extent of the problem only during the hours of darkness when people have gone home. It was a bit difficult to see during day time because all the streets and the public areas were filled with people doing some sort of trading.

Mr Speaker, now that people have been put, to a certain extent, in designated trading areas, it is plain to see when garbage starts piling. This is the reason, I can only appeal to the conscience of all citizens that in order to circumvent the outbreak of water-borne contagious diseases such as cholera, we need to play our part.

Mr Speaker, I have also stated that the Lusaka Solid Waste Management Company, which is a new company, having been registered a few years ago and operationalised this year, is going to ramp up its activity and make sure that this particular problem that we have as a country, is dealt with. Suffice to say that there are enough laws that can be applied for public nuisance of indiscriminate disposal of waste.

Mr Speaker, we also have a problem, as a country, of the disposal areas. Lusaka has plus or minus four million people and we have only one of what I would call a former engineered landfill at Chunga dumpsite. I am calling it former because it stopped functioning as an engineered dumpsite or landfill a long time ago. So, some of the steps that we are taking include making sure that each location has a designated landfill and also that we invite the technology of people who can produce energy and fertiliser out of waste so that we can start processing waste continuously as it is being generated. However, as it is today, it is sufficient to say that the level at which waste is being generated has outstripped completely, the capacity of the municipalities throughout the country to collect it.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Halwiindi: Mr Speaker, I am also aware that there were contracts given to companies to carry out the routine maintenance of the city, to help clean up the town. Were those contracts awarded? Secondly, did the contract also include garbage collection or the collection is done by the Lusaka City Council (LCC) alone?

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the answer is in the affirmative. I can elaborate here and now that when we took office in 2021, we found that the performance contractors, as they are called, had their contracts terminated. At the termination of the contracts, which were riddled with many problems in terms of non-performance as a result of one thing or another, the Lusaka City Council (LCC) blamed the contractors for not meeting their obligations. The contractors also blamed the city council for not paying them their dues. So, they were almost in a state of a stalemate, but I am glad to report to the hon. Member of Parliament that new contracts have now been signed. So, because they started operating about a month and a half ago, I am certain that we will see an improvement in terms of the cleanliness of the city.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you, the question was quite specific.

_______

MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Simushi (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, thank you so much for the opportunity to debate the President’s Speech. To start with, allow me to mention that the speech by the President to this House was very inspirational because it comes at a time when our country is going through   challenges caused by the devastating effects of the drought. However, I think that it is during times like these that we can assess the kind of leadership that we have. During the speech, it was clear that, indeed, this country has a visionary leader who has given us hope amidst the crisis. Indeed, there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

Mr Speaker, I want to thank the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, for standing strong. Had it been other Presidents, they would have wilted amidst the huge challenges this country is facing. To the contrary, we have seen the President and his Administration rise to the occasion as demonstrated by the number of measures, which the President and his Administration have put in place to make sure that the effects of the drought do not bring doom to this country.

Mr Speaker, the President further highlighted a number of challenges as well as gains that this Administration has made in a space of three years of being in office. I think that the biggest challenge that we are faced with, of course, is the issue of the drought coupled with the power deficit such that today, the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are having challenges putting food on the table. As I said, it is important to appreciate what this Administration is trying to do, to make sure that our people remain afloat despite the challenges that we have.

Mr Speaker, I want to also speak to the gains that this Administration has made in just a space of three years. In referring to these gains, I want to zero down to what is happening in my constituency, Sikongo. For the first time in the history of this country, the people of Sikongo now feel that they are part and parcel of this country. This, of course, can only be attributed to the good leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF), indeed, is making serious inroads insofar as development is concerned in Sikongo Constituency.

Mr Speaker, what am I talking about? I am talking about the number of classroom blocks that we have managed to construct. We have managed to construct over twenty-six classrooms and we have put about 7,707 desks in those classrooms. I am talking about the number of rural health centres we have constructed. We have constructed over ten rural health centres.  I can comfortably say that in the Western Province, Sikongo is leading in that aspect.  In addition, we have constructed over fifteen maternity wings. We have also managed to construct a radio station called Tukongote FM.

Mr Speaker, all the projects mentioned above have been done in three years. This is something that has never happened before. I cannot forget about the storage shed that we have and many other projects that we have done. We are dredging the Makoma Mweni Canal, which has not been dredged ever since the United National Independence Party (UNIP) left power. However, as we speak, those things are being worked on. I am talking about the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme and Sikushi Secondary School and many other developmental programmes. So, indeed, the three years of the New Dawn Administration have been marvellous, not only to the people of Sikongo, but also to the people of Zambia at large.  All these gains through the CDF are happening across all the 156 constituencies, including those held by the Opposition even though they may want to speak ill about what we are doing.

Mr Speaker, I also want to speak to what the President said, which is very important; turning challenges into opportunities. I think, that statement is loaded and I want to appeal to the people of Zambia to take it seriously. What that statement simply means is that amidst the challenges that we are facing, we can turn those challenges into opportunities that can help us propel our economy to greater heights and give our people opportunities to change their lives. So, indeed, the people of Zambia should make sure that they take advantage of the opportunities that come with the challenges that we face today, as a country. Doing so will be the best thing to do unlike what we saw in the past. People were just encouraged to line up using the famous statement, tantameni. I think that should not be the case. In this case, the President is telling us to work hard. He is asking us to do more work and more work because that is where we get sustainable livelihoods, not depending on handouts and that should be discouraged. The people of Zambia should appreciate that approach because that is what will ensure that the people of this country begin to generate wealth for themselves.

Mr Speaker, the other issue that the President spoke about in his speech, which of course he has continued to speak about each time he comes to this House is unity. I think, unity is very critical to the development of our country. I want to speak to the Opposition political parties and tell them that even as we engage in politics, let us take that statement seriously. Unity is the only thing that can make this country prosperous and develop sustainably. Outside unity, our country can have little development. Where there is no unity, there is confusion. That statement is very serious. Please, as we engage in our politics in this country, let us make sure that we take unity seriously.

Mr Speaker, with regard to unity, the President also said that we should all be part and parcel of this development. It is the collective responsibility of traditional leaders, the Opposition, and the Church to make sure that this country, moving forward, is united in diversity.

Mr Speaker, as I come to the end of my presentation, I would like to quote what the President said. I cannot agree more with what he said. The President, in his speech, said:

“With determination, resilience, and hard work, let us build a Zambia that stands tall as a beacon of hope for generations to come.”

Mr Speaker, we owe it to the future generations of this country. Before we are gone, we should make sure that those who will come after us inherit a country they will be proud to call Zambia. For that to be achieved, it is the responsibility of each of us to do our part positively and in a manner that brings joy and glory to this country.

Mr Speaker, as I end, allow me to say that, indeed, this country is in the right hands. I do not think we could have had a better President, than President Hakainde Hichilema during a time like this one, when we are faced with a major crisis.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity given to the good people of Kabwata to debate the Motion of Thanks.

Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech was delivered at a time when the people of Zambia needed to listen to the voice of hope and this is exactly what the President came to give to the Zambian people.

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, in his speech the President talked about the infrastructure and one of the factors of production is actually a good road network. We have seen what has been done on the road between Chililabombwe and Kasumbalesa. We have also seen what is happening with the Dual-Carriage Way. Sometimes, I also look at the Chibuluma Road, and some boys would always want to trivialise this road …

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Tayengwa: … yet this was a promise that was given to the Zambian people when the President was campaigning, before 2021.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, this is exactly what we have done. The other infrastructure that the President talked about is the development of airports.

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, look at what we have done in Kasama. We also want to extend that development to Nakonde and Mansa. The development of some of the infrastructure will help us boost the tourism sector in the country.

Mr Speaker, the President also talked about the education sector. As far as I am concerned, the President did mention that the Government is going to employ over 4,000 teachers. My only concern is that even as we recruit some of the teachers, let us not recruit teachers who are going to damage the future of our children.

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Tayengwa: We have heard of some teachers and headteachers who have gone to the level of molesting our children. Just yesterday, I received a report from a private school, whereby one teacher beat up a child, who, I am told is about two years old. The child bled almost to death. Therefore, even as we look at the recruitment of teachers, let us ensure that we recruit teachers who will add value to our teaching system. This is what we need to see.

Mr Speaker, the President also talked about the health sector. He brought out a number of issues and one of the issues, which I want to talk about, is mental health. I believe that Chainama Hills Mental Hospital needs to be upgraded or have new infrastructure because what is there now was built way back in 1953 by the Catholic brothers, who gave it to the Zambian Government. What we now need to see is infrastructure that will be able to accommodate even some leaders who are actually dealing with mental health issues, like my colleague from Nkana.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear.

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, there are people who need to be sent to some of these facilities, and so once you put up infrastructure of high standards, it will help some politically-exposed individuals who may need to be sent there. The challenge we have is that even the children of rich people would not want to be sent to that institution because it looks like a prison. What we need now, therefore, is to put up infrastructure that will help individuals like the one from Nkana.

Interruptions

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, the other issue I want to raise –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Kabwata, I will curtail you. You are bringing your friends into the debate. We do not debate ourselves.

Mr B. Mpundu: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, let him stop interrupting me.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, may you stop interrupting the hon. Member for Kabwata.

Laughter

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, the other issue that the President talked about is the issue of enhancing the agriculture system. Regarding the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme (CATSP) that the Government is running, we have seen that in the past years, the Government through the Central Veterinary Laboratory managed to manufacture over 100,000 vaccines. This means that those vaccines that we started manufacturing locally will be able to reduce some of the animal diseases that we are facing like the contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), east coast fever and the like.

Mr Speaker, the President was on point as he gave hope to the people who venture into agriculture.

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Tayengwa: He also gave hope to the people who are in the energy sector. Yesterday, I was at pains listening to someone who was busy propagating or talking about the energy sector. He said that hydro-power solution is the best that we have and that it is able to generate electricity. I have a concern, one cannot take US$2.5 billion and invest it in hydro-power generation without looking at the future. The issue of climate change did not start yesterday or five years ago, rather, it started thirty-five years ago. We heard about the depletion of the ozone layer thirty-five years ago. Why did the previous Government not invest US$2.5 billion in the manufacture of solar system or in the establishment of some solar plants? That is what it should have done. The Government should have actually gotten that US$2.5 billion and invested it in the nuclear energy, then, we would not be having these challenges that we are facing. Today, even as we are passing through this side, (pointing to the left side of the House) –

Mr B. Mpundu interjected.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Nkana, you are disturbing.

The hon. Member for Kabwata is saying what people want to hear.

You may proceed hon. Member.

Mr Tayengwa: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

If you look at what has been happening in the energy sector, you will see that we are now providing solutions. Look at what we have done with the Maamba Energy Limited (MEL). We have managed to now invest and start another plant that will be able to add 300 MW to our national grid. This is what we wanted to hear from the President and this is what we have done.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I believe that the speech of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia gave hope to the Zambian people in the energy sector. The speech by the Head of State gave hope to those Zambian people who want to venture into farming.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Tayengwa: Mr Speaker, look at what has happened with the teaching fraternity. We are moving in the right trajectory because this Government, means serious business. I can guarantee you that the good people of Kabwata will support this President to the latter, until we see real development in our country.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sialubalo (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, I thank you so much for the opportunity given to the people of Sinazongwe to support this candid speech delivered on 13^th September, 2024, by His Excellency the President, here in Parliament.

Mr Speaker, when the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government took over power, the first thing it thought of doing was to try and dismantle the mountainous debt which it found. The Government met with the official creditors to agree on how this debt was going to be dismantled, something which the previous Government failed to do. Given the prudent leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, this was agreed and the fruits are very visible in Sinazongwe. As a result of this milestone, and through the speech of His Excellency the President, we have seen works on the Batoka/Maamba Road, which is 88 km, something the previous Government failed to do. We have, for the first time, seen the Dambwa Road leading to the Boma in Sinazongwe Parliamentary Constituency being upgraded to bituminous standard. We have seen the Chisekesi/Gwembe Road being considered to be worked on and upgraded to bituminous standard.

Mr Speaker, the country has seen the introduction of wetland farming where previously, only 600 people benefitted through the Emergency Wetlands Farming Programme and the the figure has increased to over 2,500. The House has also seen a lot of activities not only in Sinazongwe, but a number of road projects have taken centre stage. The country has also seen a serious consideration from the Government to work on the staffing at institutions of higher learning and dormitories for students who suffered for quite some time in terms of accommodation. This will now be a thing of the past.

Mr Speaker, the President also touched on the Constitution. He appealed to Parliament to look at areas of interest. Among the areas the President mentioned were some grey areas in the Constitution, which could lead to a country, once ruled by a dictator, not having elections for over eight years. The President never said that hon. Members should amend the Constitution so that his term of office can go up to eight or nine years. He only highlighted the dangers that should the country in the near future be ruled by someone who does not want to obey the five-year-term, they could manipulate the Constitution using the same lacuna that is in it.

Mr Speaker, the President appealed to hon. Members to also think of getting back to local authorities. As the House may be aware, these are local authorities that are keeping the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which in some ways should be controlled by hon. Members of Parliament. Not only that, there are a number of areas where hon. Members, once allowed, can help local authorities to generate revenues in a number of areas.

Mr Speaker, Sinazongwe is a very vast constituency and when the President said that the country should consider delimitating vast constituencies the people of Sinazongwe were very happy that, should hon. Members of Parliament consider the President’s appeal, they would see a number of vast constituencies being delimitated so that there is effective representation at constituency level.

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Sialubalo: Mr Speaker, I am privileged to be one of the Members of Parliament who visit the Copperbelt Province, particularly, Nkana Constituency in Kitwe. I have seen a hype of activities on Chibuluma Road.

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Sialubalo: Mr Speaker, I was talking to the hon. Member for Nkana Constituency on the benefits that he has seen because of the CDF and he is really appreciating, that indeed, the New Dawn Administration is working.

Laughter

Mr Sialubalo: Mr Speaker, when you hear my friend talk against the achievement, he is merely politicking. He appreciates what the President has done when we meet out there. He is also very happy that Mopani Copper Mines PLC -

Mr B. Mpundu indicated for a point of order.

Mr Sialubalo: Mr Speaker, those are the issues we discuss when the hon. Member and I are together.

Interruptions

Mr Sialubalo: Mr Speaker, it is true. So, why should the hon. Member run away and hide now? Those are the areas that the people of Sinazongwe are appreciating the New Dawn Administration for. We need to be very honest with one another. The debt issue that the country has found itself in was a creation of our hon. Colleagues. So, let us all work together, like what the President said, in trying to find a solution to a problem that was created by our hon. Colleagues.  We are in this disaster that was created by our hon. Colleagues. Therefore, as a nation, we need to unite and say, never should the country ever have a leadership that will be so uncaring.

Mr Speaker, with those few words, I support His Excellency the President’s Speech.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Speech that was delivered on the Floor of this august House.

Mr Speaker, the President came to the House to give the nation the policy direction of what the country intends to do. There are a number of areas that the President touched on and one of them is corruption. When the President came to the House, he clearly indicated that the fight against corruption is real under the New Dawn Administration. He further went on to give a roadmap of how corruption in the country will be fought. The President clearly indicated that the Government will fight against the past, present and future corruption. There will be no need for people who are involved in corrupt practices to hide under their ethnicity, religion and tribal classes. If someone is involved in these misdeeds, the law will visit him/her and the Government will be able to recover whatever it is that was stolen.

Mr Speaker, today, the country is in this energy crisis because in the last sixty years, successive Administrations have been involved in corrupt practices. They have stolen more national resources that could have been invested in today's energy sector. Therefore, the country would not have been in the crisis it is in today. For this reason, the President said that the New Dawn Administration will intensify the fight against corruption so that the country can recover more resources that have been lost.

Mr Speaker, the President also touched on the Constitution amendment. He said that Constitution amendments are necessary to cure the lacunae that are in the Constitution. Further, the willingness of the President to foster legal reforms is in line with the aspiration of the people. The President said that if the lacunae in our Constitution are not addressed, they shall pose a financial burden on the national Treasury. However, some people who did not understand what the President talked about have gone ahead and twisted what he said. Nonetheless, the House appreciates that they are called ba political group three.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubozha: Mr Speaker, the President also touched on infrastructure development and industralisation. Indeed, the President’s Speech focused on some areas such as roads, railways and energy, which are a clear intent to drive the programme of industralisation in the country. These were the important areas that the President touched on.

Mr Speaker, apart from that, the President also looked at the recruitment that is yet to be done, in the coming year. He reaffirmed that the Government will recruit 4,000 workers in the health sector and more than 4,000 workers in the education sector. This is in fulfillment of the New Dawn Administration’s campaign promises, in which we promised to provide employment to the Zambian people. So, what the New Dawn Administration has done in the last three years is a clear indication and in line with the true anthem of alebwelelapo President Hakainde Hichilema in 2026 and not what others are saying that they will come and destroy and fire those whom we have recruited.

Mr Speaker, in Bemba, they say that ichikwanka bachimwena kumampalanya. This means that he who moves with you, is known by the contributions that he makes towards what you are doing. So, if for sure they are saying that they want to come and fire the people we have recruited, then, they have no place where we are going.

Hon. Government Members: Yes.

Mr Lubozha: Mr Speaker, once again, the President also touched on the issue of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Ichola tata, ichola. There will be increased money allocated to the CDF. The bag of money is coming, and with it we are going to foster development in most of our constituencies. The CDF has been a game changer compared to where we have come from, particularly, in the last three years. We have seen unprecedented development in most of the constituencies, including those represented by those who were disputing the CDF. They have seen development in their constituencies. So, indeed, this CDF increment is necessary because it shall continue to develop our country.

Mr Speaker, previously, development was concentrated in Lusaka. The realisation by the President to mop up money in line ministries and take it to the owners of the money, in various constituencies has now just created opportunities for development even in all parts of our country. Indeed, we are seeing this development that has taken place. Infrastructure, such as classroom blocks, police posts, market shelters and many others are being developed in our constituencies, evenly without any discrimination. The CDF is, indeed, a game changer.

Mr Speaker, we want to thank His Excellency the President for the visionary leadership he has demonstrated in the last three years as compared to the past, where we could not see even meaningful development, but rhetorical statement from people saying that they developed the country. However, when we go around, as Committees, in various constituencies, what we see is a sorry sight. I have been around the country with members of your Committees and, indeed, I do not agree with some of what people were boasting about; that development has been there across the country.  However, with the CDF, we have left a legacy that Zambia is developing.

Mr Speaker, may God bless President Hakainde Hichilema, the visionary leader for the moment. Until 2031, Zambia is in safe hands.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Munir Zulu (Lumezi): Mr Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for giving the people of Lumezi an opportunity to speak to the speech that the Head of State delivered in this House.

Mr Speaker, there are so many elephants in the room. The first elephant is health, the second is energy, the third is agriculture and the fourth is the fight against the corruption.

Mr Speaker, the people of Lumezi are saying that they had hoped that the President was going to make pronouncements after having known the culprits involved in the case of the sixty-one containers of medication that were found in Makeni. People should have been fired and not kept as there are enough Backbenchers to take charge of the Ministry of Health. We are more worried knowing very well that the Zambian citizens were subjected to being fed with mealie meal, which contained aflatoxin and people who were supposed to be treated using those medications are –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, let me guide you. At times, it is not necessary as you debate to make statements that are alarming, statements that you cannot substantiate and those that were addressed.

Mr Munir Zulu interjected. 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: So, I would advise you to stick to the President’s Speech and avoid unnecessary utterances that will end up just alarming the State. The Zambians are well aware of that issue, they were informed and issues were addressed. So, that was not part of the President’s Speech. I urge you to stick to the President’s Speech.

Mr Munir Zulu: Mr Speaker, our roles, as hon. Members, is to provide oversight, not only checks and balances. In Lumezi, we do not know that those concerns were addressed. All we know is that the list of milling companies that had their mealie meal containing aflatoxin was published, whether they were addressed, we do not know. So, I am hearing that for the very first time.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I have guided you.

Mr Munir Zulu: Mr Speaker, let me talk about human rights and good governance, which is on page 27 of the speech. The rule of law, respect for human rights and constitutionalism are at the core of our governance system. We are committed to upholding and protecting these principles.

Mr Speaker, in the first year of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government in 2021, it sent paramilitary officers to Lumezi, in Chiefteness Mwansempangwe’s area to exhume the remains of Suzyo Nyika and forfeited his properties. The body was exhumed. In 2021, the question was posed in this House and Her Honour the Vice-President responded by saying that the matter was under investigation. Could it be that the properties that the President mentioned are those of Suzyo Nyika? We had hoped that the President would name and shame the people whom the amount of money mentioned belonged to. We are all in suspense.

Mr Speaker, we had hoped that the would give us guaranteed freedoms and liberties for speaking out. Unlike, a situation in which, for the very first time in the history of this country, a trained police officer from Chibelo Primary School can enter the precincts of Parliament Buildings to abduct hon. Members of Parliament. We had hoped that the President would give us those guaranteed freedoms.

 Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I have advised you on making unwarranted statements. I am a Presiding Officer and I do not know of any given point that an hon. Member of Parliament was abducted.

Mr Munir Zulu interjected. 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The police have a right to go for those who they would want to question. So, abduction is not of question here. There was no hon. Member of Parliament that was abducted. I am privileged to know this because I am part of Senior Management. So, let us just debate the President’s Speech and avoid making unwarranted statements, misleading the people of Zambia and beyond.

You may proceed.

 Mr Munir Zulu: Mr Speaker, had I known that –

I wish colleagues on the other side could respond (pointing at the hon. Members on the right). I am not engaging you, Mr Speaker, I am stating facts. The President said that we should unite the country. If we are going to pretend that we are uniting the country, yet blocking factual representations of the people, then we are not going to unite. This is a fact. We must state facts and then, we are going to heal and we are going to be united.

Mr Speaker, it is a fact that one of the hon. Members of Parliament was once abducted and the police have never investigated that abduction.

Mr B. Mpundu: Hear, hear!

Mr Munir Zulu: It is also a fact that the police came to abduct me from Parliament Grounds.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I have advised you, and I have guided you.

Mr Munir Zulu: Mr Speaker, maybe, I should lie.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: If you choose to, you can.

Mr Munir Zulu: Thank you, Mr Speaker, I will lie.

Mr Speaker, how I wish the President could have protected the whistle-blowers and also disclosed the names of those hon. Ministers under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). How I wish the President would have mentioned what has happened to the nuclear energy plant in Chongwe that was started by the previous regime knowing very well that Russia had sponsored three countries; Zambia, South Africa and Egypt. Right now, Egypt and South Africa are testing their nuclear energy plants. Here, we have lost out on human resource. We trained Zambian citizens in nuclear energy, and we had the atomic agency, but we have lost out. Why?  It is because of condemning whatever the previous Government did. We do not live in the past, we live in the now; the present.

Mr Speaker, this regime that continues to call itself the New Dawn, is no longer a New Dawn, it should have continued with such a good initiative it started with. Instead, it abandoned it. We are now in this crisis. People are dying in hospitals because they cannot keep their insulin medication in ice. What development is there to celebrate?

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Bweengwa said that the motel has no water supply and that is where hon. Members of Parliament from different localities are accommodated. If tomorrow there is cholera, would we say that is development?

Mr B. Mpundu: No!

Mr Munir Zulu: Mr Speaker, we must be sincere with ourselves. If anything, the President should have closed down the motel and let hon. Members be accommodated where it is safe because this is a very important Meeting. A Budget Meeting cannot be ignored. Hon. Members cannot be waking up to a situation whereby there is no water supply.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I do not know how many times you want to be guided. Are you aware that we do not debate ourselves?

Mr Munir Zulu: I thought you allowed me to tell a lie.  

Anyway, I thank you and I conclude.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Mr Speaker, the occasion for the President to deliver a State of the Nation Address is an important one. The vision of the country is vested in the President. The instructions he offers represents what he considers as his vision. Last Friday, the nation saw what the President thinks, is his vision.

Mr Speaker, Governments are put in place to solve people’s problems and the head in solving these problems is the President. In Zambia, we think that the Government should unite people. We also think that the Government must safeguard the peace of the country and provide opportunities for the people. What did the President say concerning the provision of opportunities particularly, employment for health workers and teachers?

Mr Speaker, this country has become a country of employment for teachers and health workers. We have seen barber shops, butcheries and bakeries closing down. We have also seen Orca Deco Zambia closing down and MultiChoice Zambia losing business. Every player in the private sector is actually plummeting and they are sending our people back home. You cannot be happy with employing teachers.  

Mr Speaker, what did the President say about the national debt? He said that even though we have restructured the debt, we still carry a very heavy load of debt because of the previous regime’s extravagance.

Mr Amutike: Including yourself.

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, would you consider the building of Kazungula Bridge as an extravagance?

Mr Mundubile: No!

Mr Kafwaya: Would you think about the Mongu/Kalabo Road as extravagance? Can you think about the airports, such as the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport as extravagance?

Hon. PF Members: No!

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, would you think about the communication infrastructure, including data centres as an extravagance?

Mr B. Mpundu: No!

Mr Kafwaya: I am sorry, but the President talked about another runway. He said we would construct another runway. The feasibility study has not even been done yet, but I am not shocked. This is UPND.

Mr Speaker, let me talk about the mining sector. What did the President say about mining? He urged the Zambian people to invest in mining through the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) PLC. I was shocked because this Government has taken 51 per cent shares of Mopani Copper Mines from ZCCM-IH and given them to a foreigner. So, he wants the Zambian people to take their money into mining through ZCCM-IH and then give away those shares for nothing?

Mr Amutike: You sold the mines.

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, I am sorry, but this is a vision of the President for the Zambian people. This is why, for me, I am not supporting this particular speech because it is uninspiring to the Zambian people.

Mr Speaker, the President talked about the fight against corruption. I heard him. He said he has launched a new policy on corruption. I just wondered because if you have a new policy, it ought to give you direction. It ought to guide you in terms of how you conduct the business. Is it in the new policy that when members of the board at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) complain about corruption within the ACC and at the Ministry of Justice, they should be sent home? Is it in the new policy that the solution for complaining against corruption is to be dissolved?

Laughter

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, is it in the new policy that the President launched that when hon. Ministers are being investigated by the ACC, they should not be disclosed, and their identity should be hidden? Now, when one sees an hon. Minister, one starts to think that maybe he/she is the corrupt one.

Mr B. Mpundu: Hear, hear!

Mr Kafwaya: Yet, they could be just five or eight of them, but have painted all the hon. Ministers bad.

Mr B. Mpundu: Na ba Mubanga!

Mr Kafwaya: When people just see a flag on the hon. Minister’s vehicle, they already think it could be one of those involved in corrupt activities.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, the Cabinet is soiled. This policy should be revisited if it has provided for this way of managing corruption.

Mr Speaker, is it not on the Floor of this House where we were talking about Golden Manela? Golden Manela was said to have been brought into existence in four days and was given maize to export on behalf of the UPND. That Golden Manela, to date, has not paid the money to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Mr B. Mpundu: Hear, hear!

Mr Kafwaya: This policy on corruption needs to be clear. It needs to guide –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, do not mention someone who cannot defend himself.

Mr Kafwaya: Golden Manela is a company. It is not a person.

Mr Amutike: A company is owned by a person.

Mr Kafwaya: Even with the hon. Ministers, I did not mention anyone.

Interruptions

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, you have confused me now. You need to give me two more minutes for confusion me for not doing –

Interruptions

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, the President urged hon. Members to not destabilise the progress made by the CDF application.

Mr Speaker, it is not hon. Members who mop CDF money to the Bank of Zambia.

Mr B. Mpundu:  Ni ba Musokotwane!

Mr Kafwaya:  It is not hon. Members who make payments or select projects. There is a very clear process. That process begins from the Ward Development Committee (WDC) to the local authority. Therefore, the President needs to be acquainted.  Earlier today, I heard Her Honour the Vice-President giving counsel to some hon. Ministers. It is now my opportunity to counsel the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to properly acquaint the President on the way the CDF works because when the President speaks …

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

May you resume your seat.

Mr Kafwaya: I thank you, Sir.

 Mr Second Deputy Speaker: There is one thing that all of us know. The enhanced CDF is a brainchild of President Hakainde Hichilema and as such, it does not pay to play politics unnecessarily using the language of havoc to high authorities for political expedience. It is better to confine our debates to the President’s Speech. Trying to trivialise the Presidential Office in a manner that demeans his existence is not right. So, let us just debate the President’s Speech. Besides, we do not debate one another. The hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development is a Member of this House. So, you may proceed in that order, as guided.

Mr Kafwaya: Mr Speaker, the President said consensus to amend the Constitution must come from this House so that there is no possibility of not having general elections for eight to nine years. I would like to tell you how I picked that instruction. I thought that was blackmail on the part of the National Assembly. I thought we were being intimidated into making …

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

May you resume your seat.

 How do you drag me into your debate? You know our rules do not allow that. Concentrate on the President’s Speech. Do not drag me in your context of debate. No! That is contemptuous, hon. Member.

You may proceed.

Mr Kafwaya:  Mr Speaker, I want to end by saying that today, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), has joined the interpretation of the Constitution by saying that there is a problem in Article 52. That debate was started by the President sitting on the throne. However, since I have been misunderstood, I elect to end here and I appreciate the opportunity.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Nyambose (Chasefu):  I thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me an opportunity on behalf of the good people of Chasefu to add a voice to the Motion of thanks on the speech delivered by His Excellency the President of Republic of Zambia on Friday, 13^th September, 2024.

 Mr Speaker, I am consistent in indicating that this Parliament is the luckiest to have a leadership like that of His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the New Dawn Administration. Why do I always say so? When we look at Chasefu, we may know the name, but when we go there, we see underdevelopment, there is just a bush. It has been sixty years after Independence, yet we see no development. However, since the ascending to power of His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the New Dawn Administration, we have started seeing the change.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyambose:  I speak with passion and emotions because I always state facts.

Mr Speaker, on pages 30 to 31 of the speech, His Excellency the President talked about devolution and decentralisation. This means giving power to the local people to determine their own decisions. It is not only power that he has given us, but he has also given us resources. Prior to the coming of the New Dawn Administration, Chasefu was merely getting K1.6 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This time, this devolution is a reality. We have the resources and we can determine what projects to undertake with the K30 million CDF. We have bought the machinery and we are also building health centres. We are building everything we want and Chasefu is happening.

Mr Speaker, such development is not only happening in Chasefu, but across the nation. When I analyse, I say this is the champion of development, there is no other way. The President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the New Dawn Government are the champions of development. They have equally distributed development. If the Government sends K10 million, it will reach Chasefu, Shangombo and even Nkana the same day without segregation. How do we describe such a person and the Government? When he came here, I guessed what he was going to say. Again, he indicated that he intends to increase the CDF. We should be praying for such a leader. For us who come from Chasefu, which was neglected before, we are now happy that we have a leadership that thinks about us. So, I always describe the President as a champion of development.

Mr Speaker, on page 10, the President spoke about the energy sector. Yesterday, when I was seated here, although we are not supposed to debate ourselves, but I heard someone indicating to the nation that the problems we are facing, as a nation, are not a result of the drought and the climate change, but a result of bad governance. I am a person who listens to media. Angola and Namibia are facing the same challenge. It is a global thing and I wonder why some of us come here and choose to mislead the country and impute and insinuate that it is because of bad governance.

Mr Speaker, as national leaders, we are supposed to influence the nation. The people listen to us. However, when you look at some of the lamentations, especially from here, those who sit with me here, in the House, you will see that it is all for politics.

Mr Speaker, we owe this nation good leadership. A magnanimous President says we have seen an issue in this clause of the Constitution and offers that we relook at it.  People then turn around and twist things to say that the President indicated that he wants to be in power for seven years. Is that what he said?

Hon. Government Members: No!

Mr Nyambose: Mr Speaker, the answer is no. I would like to appeal to the Zambians to not take some of the politicians who come to mislead the nation seriously. Regarding this issue of the Constitution, I remember one leader whom I do not want to mention, say that he would sign with his eyes closed. No wonder we are facing problems. He closed his eyes.

Mr Mung’andu: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

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

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, I apologise to my brother and dear hon. Colleague, who is also my neighbour, Hon. Nyambose for interrupting his very good line of debate.

Mr Speaker, our Standing Orders require us to give information that is factual and verifiable. Hon. Member for Nyambose has indicated that –

Laughter

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, my apologies.  Hon. Nyambose, Member of Parliament for Chasefu has indicated that his constituency was receiving K1.6 million as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the past.  What we know, and I am standing on this point of order for the second time, is that we never received K1.6 million annually. We were receiving K700,000.

Interruptions

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, those who were lucky could receive K500,000. It was never a carryover like what is happening. We now have a President who is giving us K30 million, and I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. However, the President even made an announcement that he wants to increase that amount this year.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: State your point of order.

Laughter

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, is Hon. Nyambose in order to mislead the public out there by saying  that people were receiving K1.6 million CDF when we were receiving K500,000, which was given in instalments? In five years, we received the money in instalments, maybe twice. It is better that these issues are put on record. I seek your serious ruling.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Chasefu is completely out of order.

Laughter

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member is completely out of order because he was not even an hon. Member of Parliament, but you, Hon. Mung’andu, were a Member of Parliament. You are talking not just from experience, but from a factual point of view. So, hon. Member of Parliament for Chasefu, ensure that what you say on the Floor of the House is factual.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyambose: Mr Speaker, I stand guided and apologies, we had a raw deal.

Laughter

Mr Nyambose: Mr Speaker, assuming that President Hakainde Hichilema, the one who is giving K30 million to a constituency, came before 2021 and he is in power for thirty years, how would Chasefu look like?  Not only Chasefu, but even these hon. Colleagues here (pointing at Hon. PF Members).

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyambose: Mr Speaker, I do follow social media now, and I was happy to hear that in a place called Kamakonde on the Copperbelt, they are building a 1 x 5 classroom block for the first time. They are using the CDF given by President Hakainde Hichilema. Today, we say CDF is a hoax? Then, we are not being fair to our country.

Mr Speaker, I want to talk about the rule of law. The President should go further by not only ensuring that there is forfeiture of property, but also jailing those found guilty. Take note, those people who are appearing and whose properties were seized were nothing before. Some of us have worked in the local government for a long time and we were trying our best, but we never got the kind of property they got. However, these people became stinking rich, if there is such a word, from nowhere.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, the word “stinking” is not parliamentary, replace it.

Mr Nyambose: Mr Speaker, I withdraw it and replace it with illicitly rich at the expense of the majority of poor Zambians. They should pay back.  When we bring up such issues, we notice a certain tone in this House. One can tell that these people are coming from one house. They had an opportunity to provide good leadership, but they took the Zambians for granted, instead, they were killing the Zambians.

Mr Speaker, some of them are now saying they want to come back. To do what? You have a hyena eating your goats and then tomorrow, the same hyena comes back and says “I am a good person now, I will stop eating goats.” Can you trust that hyena?

Laughter

Mr Nyambose: We are here and we have come to provide leadership. There is no going back. We need good leadership such as has been exemplified by President Hakainde Hichilema. Going forward, he serves his term so that Chasefu can change and others will come. We are not going to go back and retard the country’s growth. Things are happening and Chasefu is developing. We have the first boarding school in Chasefu that is being built by this Government.  Things are moving and they are moving all over the country.

Mr Speaker, I thought I should add a voice to this Motion. Those who said CDF is a hoax are today, clapping for CDF. I support the speech.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

_______

 ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1245 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 24^th September, 2024.

____________