Tuesday, 19^th November, 2024

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

______

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I have received communication to the effect that in the absence of Her Honour the Vice-President, who is attending to other Government business, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, has been appointed Acting Leader of Government Business in the House from today, Tuesday, 19^th November, 2024, until further notice.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

DEBATE ON THE HEADS OF EXPENDITURE

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as you may be aware, the debate on the Motion of Supply will be concluded tomorrow, Wednesday, 20^th November, 2024, and, thereafter, the House will resolve into the Committee of Supply to consider individual Heads of Expenditure, which will commence on Thursday, 21^st November, 2024. The House may wish to note that in accordance with Order No. 171(2), Her Honour the Vice-President or the relevant hon. Minister shall only present the Head Total of a Head of Expenditure for approval by the House. There shall be no policy debate at that stage. This means that debate shall be restricted to clarifications on the figures allocated to a Head. The clarifications shall be restricted to not more than one hon. Member from each political grouping represented in the House, as provided for by Order No. 171(4). Consideration of all the Heads of Expenditure shall be concluded within five Sitting days, as provided for by Order No. 171(9).

I thank you.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Those who are not familiar with the provisions should refer to the Standing Orders.

STAFF OF THE PARLIAMENT OF TANZANIA

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the following staff from the Parliament of Tanzania:

Ms Lily Mraba – Director of ICT and Leader of the Delegation;

Mr Kelvin Chiwangu – ICT Officer;

Mr Julius Lemwai – ICT Officer; and

Mr Lukindo Choholo – Protocol Officer.

On behalf of the National Assembly of Zambia, I wish to receive our guests and warmly welcome them into our midst.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM JEMBO SECONDARY SCHOOL

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence in the Public Gallery of pupils and teachers from Jembo Secondary School of Pemba District.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM AURORA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence in the Public Gallery of pupils and teachers from Aurora Christian Academy of Lusaka District.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_______

RULING BY MADAM SPEAKER

POINT OF ORDER RAISED ON TUESDAY, 15^TH OCTOBER, 2024, BY DR C. ANDELEKI, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KATOMBOLA CONSTITUENCY, ON THE STATUS OF MR J. E. BANDA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR PETAUKE CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY, FOLLOWING HIS ABSENCE FROM THE HOUSE AFTER HIS DISAPPEARANCE FROM CHIPATA CENTRAL HOSPITAL

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I have a ruling to deliver on a point of order that was raised on Tuesday, 15^th October, 2024, by Dr C. Andeleki, hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola Constituency, on the status of Mr J. E. Banda, hon. Member of Parliament for Petauke Central Constituency, following his absence from the House after his disappearance from Chipata Central Hospital.

Hon. Members, you will recall that on Tuesday, 15^th October, 2024, Dr C. Andeleki, hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola Constituency, raised a point of order. The point of order was premised on Article No. 72(2)(c) of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia, which provides for the vacation of office as an hon. Member of Parliament, where an hon. Member acts contrary to a prescribed Code of Conduct.

In his point of order, Dr C. Andeleki, MP, stated that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, disappeared from Chipata Central Hospital on Thursday, 20^th June, 2024, following his charge of aggravated robbery and attempted murder. In that regard, Dr C. Andeleki, MP, enquired whether Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was still a Member of Parliament within the definition of Section 2 of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. 12 of the Laws of Zambia given that he had not appeared in the House since 20^th June, 2024. The Hon. Madam First Deputy Speaker rendered a ruling on Tuesday 5^th November, 2024, wherein, she referred the matter to the Committee on Privileges and Absences for determination and for the Committee to make appropriate recommendations by Friday, 15^th November, 2024. This decision was premised on Order No. 223(1) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, on an hon. Member’s failure to attend Sittings, which provides that:

“(1) If, during a Session, a Member is absent for four or more consecutive Sittings of the Assembly without permission, in writing, from the Government Chief Whip or the Speaker, the matter shall stand referred to the Committee on Privileges and Absences for hearing and determination.”

Therefore, in line with Parliamentary Practice and Procedure and in accordance with the rules of natural justice, on Wednesday, 6^th November, 2024, the Office of the Clerk wrote to Hon. J. J. Mwiimbu, MP, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, and Hon. S. Mulusa, MP, Government Chief Whip, to state what they know about the absence of Mr J. E. Banda, MP, since Thursday, 20^th June, 2024. Additionally, on Monday, 11^th November, 2024, the Office of the Clerk wrote to Dr C. Andeleki, MP, to ask him what he knows about Mr J. E. Banda, MP’s absence. However, Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was not written to since his whereabouts were unknown. The responses from the witnesses are summarised below:

Mr C. Andeleki, Member of Parliament

In his letter of response dated 12^th November, 2024, Dr C. Andeleki, MP, indicated that he was aware that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was arrested on 20^th June, 2024, for the offence of aggravated robbery and attempted murder. He stated that in August 2024, Hon J. J. Mwiimbu, MP, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, informed the country of the escape of Mr J. E. Banda, MP, from Chipata Central Hospital where he was receiving medical attention. He further indicated that since his disappearance, Mr J. E. Banda, MP, had not attended Sittings of the House contrary to Order No. 223 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024. Lastly, he pointed out that the continued absence of Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was a breach of the Code of Conduct for hon. Members. As such, a vacancy had occurred as per the provisions of Article No.72(2)(c) of the Constitution.

Mr S. Mulusa, Member of Parliament

In his response letter dated Tuesday, 12^th November, 2024, Mr S. Mulusa, MP, Government Chief Whip, stated that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, did not seek permission from his office for his absence. He also indicated that he did not know Mr J. E. Banda, MP’s whereabouts.

Hon J. J. Mwiimbu, Member of Parliament

In a status report dated 11^th November, 2024, Mr J. J. Mwiimbu, MP, explained that on Sunday, 30^th June, 2024, Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was arrested by the Zambia Police Service (ZPS) for alleged aggravated robbery in Vubwi District dating back to 14^th December, 2015. He indicated that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was subsequently committed to the High Court for trial on 19^th July, 2024, by the Chipata Magistrate Court and remanded at Namuseche Correctional Facility. He added that on Thursday, 1^st August, 2024, Mr J. E. Banda, MP, fell ill and was taken to Chipata Central Hospital for treatment. Subsequently, three correctional service officers and two ZPS officers were assigned to guard him. However, on Sunday, 4^th August, 2024, between 2100 hours and 2200 hours, Mr J. E. Banda, MP, escaped through a hospital window despite being under a five-officer guard team. Mr. J. J. Mwiimbu, MP, explained that this occurred when Mr J. E. Banda, MP’s wife requested privacy for him to undergo a routine treatment for his ailment. Further, he stated that investigations were ongoing to determine his whereabouts, including a manhunt, witness interviews and an internal review of the officers' actions during the escape.

Hon. Members, Dr C, Andeleki, MP's point of order raises the issue ofvacation of office as an hon. Member of Parliament where an hon. Member acts contrary to a prescribed Code of Conduct. Article No. 77(1) of the Constitution confers on the National Assembly the power to regulate its own procedure and make Standing Orders for the conduct of its business. It states as follows:

“(1) Subject to this Article, and Article No. 78, the National Assembly shall regulate its own procedure and make Standing Orders for the conduct of its business.”

Additionally, Article No. 72(2)(c) of the Constitution provides as follows:

“(2) The office of a Member becomes vacant if the Member-

(c) acts contrary to the prescribed code of conduct.”

Further, Order No. 243 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, requires hon. Members to seek permission to be absent, and provides as follows:

“243. Permission to be Absent

(1) A Member seeking to be absent from a Sitting of the House shall seek written permission of the Government Chief Whip or the Speaker in such form as the Speaker may determine stating the period of absence, the reasons and any other relevant information.

(2) The Government Chief Whip shall keep custody of requests for permission and may not disclose the information to third parties without the written consent of the Speaker.”

In addition, Order No. 223 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, on a Member’s failure to attend Sittings provides as follows:

“(1) If during a Session a Member is absent for four or more consecutive Sittings of the Assembly without permission in writing from the Government Chief Whip or the Speaker, the matter shall stand referred to the Committee on Privileges and Absences for hearing and determination.

(2) If the committee finds that the Member has offered a satisfactory explanation for the Member's absence from Sittings of the Assembly, there shall be no further proceedings on the matter.

(3) If the committee finds that the Member has not offered a satisfactory explanation for the Member's absence from the Sitting of the Assembly, the committee shall, through the Speaker, report to the House recommending appropriate action to be taken against the Member.”

Furthermore, eminent authors on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure, M. N. Kaul and S. L. Shakdher, in their book entitled Practice and Procedure of Parliament, Seventh Edition, (New Delhi, Lok Sabha, 2016), on page No. 425, state that:

“Each constituency expects that the member it elects will take his seat in the Lok Sabha and attend the sittings of the House, except when it is necessary for him to remain absent on account of unavoidable reasons. It is the right of the Lok Sabha to receive from him an account as to why he was absent. The duty of members to the House is paramount and they are expected to remain absent from the sittings thereof only when there are compelling reasons to do so.”

From the above authorities, it is evident that a parliamentary seat is rendered vacant when an hon. Member acts contrary to a prescribed Code of Conduct. In casu, the prescribed Code of Conduct alleged to have been breached is Order No. 243 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, on an hon. Member's requirement to seek permission from the relevant authorities.

Hon. Members, the Committee met on Wednesday, 13^th November, 2024, to deliberate on this matter. Three witnesses; Mr J. J. Mwiimbu, MP, hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Mr S. Mulusa, MP, Government Chief Whip, and Dr C. Andeleki, MP, appeared before the Committee to make oral submissions. Their submissions are set out below:

Dr C. Andeleki, Member of Parliament

Dr C. Andeleki, MP, relied on his written submission. In summary, he stated that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, had been absent from the Sittings of the House since 20^th June, 2024, prompting him to raise a point of order. He indicated that Mr J. E. Banda, MP’s continued absence breached Order No. 223 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, and was deemed to have vacated his seat under Article No. 72(2)(c) of the Constitution.

Mr S. Mulusa, Member of Parliament

Mr S. Mulusa, MP, reiterated that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, did not seek permission from his office for his absence. He added that he was not in receipt of information on Mr J. E. Banda, MP, from his proxy or family member, as such, he did not know Mr J. E. Banda, MP’s whereabouts. When asked why his office did not deal with the matter expeditiously, Mr S. Mulusa, MP, stated that the matter involving Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was criminal in nature and that he was under lawful custody until his escape. In that regard, his office could not intervene.

Mr J. J. Mwiimbu, Member of Parliament

Mr J. J. Mwiimbu, MP, reiterated what he stated in his written submission. However, he expressed hope of locating Mr J. E. Banda, MP, in due course.

Hon. Members, in its deliberations, the Committee noted that if Mr J. E. Banda, MP, was found to have been absent without permission, the Committee could not impose penalties under Order No. 223(4) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, due to his unknown whereabouts and inability to appear before it. Therefore, in dealing with this matter, the Committee observed that it had the following recommended options:

1. for the Office of the Speaker to instruct the Attorney-General to commence legal action in the Constitutional Court to have the Petauke Central Parliamentary seat declared vacant for breach of a prescribed Code of Conduct as provided under Article No. 72(2)(c) of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia; or
2. for the hon. Member to be given seven days within which to attend the Business of the House, failure to which Hon. Madam Speaker should invoke Article No. 72(8) of the Constitution by informing the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of the occurrence of a vacancy in the Petauke Central Parliamentary seat.

Hon. Members, after considering the written and oral submissions from the witnesses, the Committee observed as follows:

1. Mr J. E. Banda, MP, had been absent without permission since 4^th August, 2024;
2. his absence without permission breached the prescribed Code of Conduct, that is, Order No. 243 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024;
3. the Petauke Central constituents had been unrepresented since June 2024, thus, it was in the constituents’ best interests to have representation in the Assembly;
4. due to Mr J. E. Banda, MP's unknown whereabouts, pursuing legal action through the Attorney-General was impractical as the rules of natural justice would not be attained; and
5. in line with the rules of natural justice, it was important for Mr J. E. Banda, MP, to be accorded an opportunity to attend the Sittings of the House, failure to which Hon. Madam Speaker should invoke Article No. 72(8) of the Constitution.

In view of the foregoing, and in line with Parliamentary Practice and Procedure and in accordance with the rules of natural justice, the Committee unanimously resolved to recommend that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, be given seven days within which to attend the Business of the House, failing to which my office should invoke Article No. 72(8) of the Constitution by informing ECZ of the occurrence of a vacancy in the Petauke Central Parliamentary seat.

Hon. Members, I have considered the recommendations that were made by the Committee. I note, however, that there is no legal requirement for the House to pass a resolution to endorse the recommendations. Nonetheless, due to the peculiar circumstances and gravity of this matter, there is a need for this House to pass a resolution on the course of action to be taken against Mr J. E. Banda, MP.

I now put the Question. The Question is: That Mr J. E. Banda, MP, be given seven days within which to attend the Business of the House, failing which my office should invoke Article No. 72(8) of the Constitution by informing the ECZ of the occurrence of a vacancy in the Petauke Central Parliamentary seat.

Hon. Opposition Members called for a division.

Madam Speaker: A division has been called. Ring the bells.

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

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, we are undergoing a process. Is there a provision for raising a point of order?

Mr B. Mpundu interjected.

Madam Speaker: On who? There is no provision for points of procedure. You cannot raise a point of procedure.

Question that Mr J. E. Banda, MP, be given seven days within which to attend the Business of the House, failing which Madam Speaker’s office should invoke Article No. 72(8) of the Constitution by informing the ECZ of the occurrence of a vacancy in the Petauke Central Parliamentary seat put and the House voted.

Noes – (25)

Mr Chala

Mr Chibombwe

Mr C. Chibuye

Mr Chisopa

Mr Fube

Mr Kafwaya

Mr Kalobo

Mr Kampyongo

Mr Katambo

Rev. Katuta

Ms Mabonga

Mr B. Mpundu

Mr Mtayachalo

Mr Mukosa

Ms Mulenga

Mr Mushanga

Mr Emmanuel Musonda

Mr Mutale

Ms S. Mwamba

Dr Mwanza

Mr Mwila 

Ms Nyirenda

Ms Phiri

Mr Shakafuswa

Mr E. Tembo

 

Ayes ­ (62)

Mr Amutike

Mr Anakoka

Dr Andeleki

Mr Chabinga

Mr Chanda

Mr Chinkuli

Ms Chisangano

Mrs Chonya

Ms Halwiindi

Mr Hamwaata

Mr Hlazo

Mr Kabuswe

Mr Kambita

Mr Kamboni

Mr Kangombe

Mr Kapala

Ms Kasanda

Mr Katakwe

Mr Kolala

Mr Lihefu

Mr Lubozha

Mr Lumayi

Eng. Mabenga

Mr Mandandi

Mr Mapani

Mrs Masebo

Mrs Mazoka

Mr Mbangweta 

Mr Michelo

Mr Miyutu

Mr Moyo

Mr Mubanga

Mr Mukumbi

Mr Mulaliki

Mr Charles Mulenga

Mr Chipoka Mulenga

Mr Mulunda

Mr Mulusa

Mr Mumba

Mrs Munashabantu

Dr Musokotwane

Mr Musumali

Mr Mutati

Mr Mutelo

Mr Mweetwa

Mr Mwene

Mr Ngowani

Mr Nkandu

Mr Nkulukusa

Mr Nyambose

Eng. Nzovu

Mrs Sabao

Mr Sikazwe

Mr Sikumba

Mr Simbao

Mr Simunji

Mr Simushi

Mr Simuzingili

Brig. Gen. Sitwala

Ms Tambatamba

Mr Tayali

Mr Wamunyima

Abstentions – (03)

Mr E. Banda

Mr Menyani Zulu

Mr Mabumba

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: I am in the middle of delivering a ruling, hon. Members. Can I have your attention.

I will now proceed to address Mr J. E. Banda, MP, in absentia.

Mr J. E. Banda, MP, you have seven days from today, Tuesday 19^th November, 2024, to Tuesday, 26^th November, 2024, within which to attend the Business of the House. Should you fail to attend the Business of the House within this period, I shall, in line with Article No. 72(8) of the Constitution, proceed to inform the ECZ of the occurrence of a vacancy in the Petauke, “Peta-UK”, as he used to say it, …

Laughter

Madam Speaker: … Petauke Central Parliamentary seat.

I thank you.

______

URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR KAMPYONGO, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SHIWANG’ANDU, ON THE PROCEDURE FOR DISCIPLINING AN HON. MEMBER WHO IS ABSENT WITHOUT PERMISSION

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, on an Urgent Matter Without Notice.

Madam Speaker, my Urgent Matter Without Notice is pursuant to Standing Order No. 223. The people of Petauke Central are about to lose their representative. The Standing Order that I am going to cite, which you also referred to, states, as follows:

“Failure to attend Sittings

1.  If, during a Session, a Member is absent for four or more consecutive Sittings of the Assembly without permission, in writing, from the Government Chief Whip or the Speaker, the matter shall stand referred to the Committee on Privileges and Absences for hearing and determination.
2.  If the Committee finds that the Member has offered a satisfactory explanation for the Member’s absence from the Sittings of the Assembly, there shall be no further proceedings on the matter.
3. If the Committee finds that the Member has not offered a satisfactory explanation for the Member’s absence from the Sittings of the Assembly, the Committee shall, through the Speaker, report to the House recommending appropriate action to be taken against the Member.
4. A Member who is found guilty of absenteeism shall be suspended as follows:seven days for the first offender; fourteen days for the second offender; and thirty days for the third and subsequent offender.”

Madam Speaker, these are the rules of this august House. Where did the House get the procedure that we have just conducted? It was based on which law?

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance.

Interruptions

Hon. PF Members: Kwisa?

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Shiwang'andu, you are completely out of order. You are challenging the ruling of the Hon. Speaker that has just been delivered. I am sure you were seated there, in your seat, listening. If you had listened carefully, you would have been well-versed with the reasoning behind the ruling. Further, it is not within your powers or authority to stand on the Floor to challenge a ruling that has been delivered. There are other procedures. Please, acquaint yourself with the Standing Orders, then, you can challenge matters in an appropriate manner. What you have done right now is completely out of order. It is not even supported by any Standing Order. So, you are out of order.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

MR MENYANI ZULU, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR NYIMBA, ON ENG. MILUPI, THE HON. MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ON THE ACCIDENTS HAPPENING ON THE PETAUKE/LUANGWA ROAD

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Madam Speaker, on an Urgent Matter Without Notice.

Madam Speaker, in the last seventy-two hours or so, fatal road accidents have been experienced on the stretch between Petauke and the Luangwa Bridge. In the last month or so, Hon. Eng. J. Daka asked a question related to the same situation. What is really happening that the Government cannot take responsibility for the deaths that are occurring on that stretch? The number of vehicles that have overturned in the last twenty-four hours is four. We have been requesting for road signage on that road.

Madam Speaker, my matter is directed at the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. How many deaths should we expect to occur or vehicles to overturn, especially between Lenamo and Kapindu, for the Government to move in and put up signage? The property that is being wasted is more than the money that the Government needs to invest in putting up road signage, which one may sometimes call road furniture. How many deaths are we expecting to witness before the Government can move in to do what is supposed to be done?

Madam Speaker: Thank you hon. Member for Nyimba for that point that you have raised. Please, explore other means to bring that matter to the attention of the hon. Minister responsible. The matter is not admitted.

MR CHIBOMBWE, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR BAHATI, ON HON. DR MUSOKOTWANE, ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, ON THE CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN KARIBA TOWN

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Madam Speaker, on an Urgent Matter Without Notice.

Madam Speaker, my matter is directed at the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane. There are reported cases of cholera in Kariba Town. According to the latest available information, there are about twenty-one confirmed cases and two deaths. I would like to find out if the Government is aware of those cases in Kariba Town, which is near Siavonga. If yes, then, is the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House in order to remain quiet without informing the nation of the measures that the Government is taking to ensure that cholera does not spill over into Zambia?

Madam Speaker: Again, hon. Member, find other means of bringing that matter to the attention of the hon. Minister responsible. I think, we have spoken about issues of cholera several times. The responsibility also falls on all of us to keep clean environments. The former hon. Minister of Health used to issue statements on the same matter. It is high time that people took up the responsibility of living in clean conducive environments.

–––––––

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

UPDATE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FARMING INPUTS

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala) (on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo)): Madam Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to update the House on the distribution of farming inputs for the 2024/2025 Farming Season.

Madam Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has been implementing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) since 2002, with the aim of providing subsidised inputs to small-scale farmers to ensure food and income security at the household level.

Madam Speaker, for the 2024/2025 Farming Season, FISP has targeted 1,024,434 farmers. The programme is being implemented using two modalities, that is, the Direct Input Supply (DIS) modality and the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) modality. The DIS modality is targeting 285,168 farmers in forty-two districts while the e-Voucher modality is targeting 739,266 beneficiaries in seventy-four districts countrywide. I wish to inform the House that we have 793 registered agro-dealers of which 617 are active and seventy-six are inactive.

Madam Speaker, the Government has procured 42,775.2 metric tonnes of compound D and 42,775.2 metric tonnes of urea at an estimated cost of US$71.8 million under the DIS modality for the 2024/2025 Farming Season. Two suppliers were contracted to supply and deliver compound D while eleven suppliers were contracted to supply and deliver urea fertiliser. As at 18^th November, 2024, all the procured 42,775.2 metric tonnes of compound D have been delivered, representing 100 per cent. Out of the procured 42,775.2 metric tonnes of urea, 42,235 metric tonnes have been delivered, representing 98.74 per cent.

Madam Speaker, the Government has also delivered seed to the various districts of the country. As at 18^th November, 2024, the following quantities have been delivered:

1. maize seed - 2,663.78 metric tonnes out of 2,851 metric tonnes have been delivered, representing 93.41 per cent;
2. soya beans - 1,186.91 metric tonnes out of 1,485.78 metric tonnes have been delivered, representing 79.88 per cent; and
3. groundnut seed - 1,809.72 metric tonnes out of 2,091.54 metric tonnes have been delivered, representing 86.53 per cent.

Madam Speaker, the Government is working tirelessly to enhance the farmers’ preparedness for the farming season by ensuring that they have access to the essential inputs. In that regard, the Government, through the Treasury, has released K2.2 billion out of the expected K6.2 billion to pay the agro-dealers for the delivery of farming inputs, leaving a balance of K4 billion.

Madam Speaker, farmer tagging commenced on 2^nd September, 2024, and as at 18^th November, 2024, 1,006,108 farmers have been verified and tagged out of 1,024,434 farmers, representing 98.21 per cent. Additionally, as at 18^th November, 2024, 914,902 farmers have made deposits while 755,139 farmers have redeemed or collected their inputs, translating to 228,256 farmers who have redeemed their inputs under the DIS modality out of 252,946 farmers who made deposits, representing 90.34 per cent. Similarly, 526,613 farmers have redeemed their inputs using the e-Voucher modality out of the 661,956 farmers who made deposits, representing 71.23 per cent. I am, therefore, encouraging our beneficiary farmers to retrieve their transaction codes and to check their e-Voucher balances by dialling the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) code *727#. I am well aware that some of our farmers were affected as their cellular phone numbers did not correspond with their names during the verification exercise. Therefore, I am requesting all the farmers whose cellular phone numbers appear as invalid or incorrect to verify and update them or obtain new cellular phone numbers that are registered in their names, and immediately notify the respective District Agricultural Coordinators (DACO) office through the Agricultural Camp Extension Officers (ACEC). These activities are ongoing. I wish to urge our farmers, through this august House, to urgently deposit the farmer contribution of K400 and to collect their inputs as soon as possible. Farmers are further urged to not share their inputs as they are bonded in individual capacities when they sign the bonding forms, which commit them to selling a minimum of ten by 50 kg bags of white maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

 

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report that our Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has taken proactive steps to bolster extension services to ensure that our farmers nationwide receive the technical guidance and support they need to thrive. This initiative includes training extension officers in all the provinces on the delivery of farming inputs for the 2024/2025 Farming Season as well as providing the much-needed guidance on the type of inputs to utilise for optimum results. Therefore, farmers are encouraged to consult with the local Agricultural Extension Officers (AEOs) for tailored advice on the following:

1. crop selection and planting schedules;
2. pest and disease control; and
3.  soil conservation techniques.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to take one more opportunity to inform the nation, once again, that the farming inputs have already been delivered to the various districts for the 2024/2025 Farming Season. We are thus calling on all potential FISP beneficiaries to expeditiously redeem their vouchers to facilitate timely planting.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, you are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement issued by the Acting hon. Minister of Agriculture.

Hon. Member for Chadiza, you may proceed.

Eng. J. Daka (Chadiza): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that there is a delay in the issuance of Authority to Collect (ATC) cards in some districts to the extent that farmers troop to the office of the District Agricultural Co-ordinator (DACO) almost daily creating crowds, but nothing is happening. That situation has the potential to create food insecurity in the next farming season if it is allowed. If the hon. Minister is aware, what mechanisms has the ministry put in place to curb that vice?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I do not have information about that deficiency. However, I will consult so that we can clarify the situation.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, one of the challenges that our farmers are facing, particularly in Luena Constituency, is the verification process. Our people have to travel long distances to the points where the verification process is undertaken. Normally, one of the members of a given group undertakes the process for the rest. However, this time around, the requirement was that all the members of a given group should report physically to the points to complete the verification process. Due to the long distances that our people have to cover in some places, is there a way in which we can ease the process for them so that the Government's good intention of delivering inputs on time is not defeated by that onerous requirement?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, if I remember correctly, the substantive hon. Minister of Agriculture answered that question previously.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, one of the challenges that some of the farmers in rural areas like Kalabo are facing is that they only have, for example, three agro-dealers who use the e-Voucher system. So, when farmers go to procure the inputs, they are not readily available. The farmers have been requesting to be allowed to acquire the inputs from Mongu where there are many agro-dealers. What makes the system difficult that the farmers cannot procure the inputs from Mongu where they are readily available?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, it is a good question. If we were going to introduce additional measures to allow people to start procuring the inputs elsewhere, it would create many problems for the ministry. We need to stick to the laid down procedures so that there is order and accountability.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, we have noticed that during this time when people get farming inputs, some take advantage by way of engaging in scamming activities. A post is circulating online with the heading: 2024/2025 Agricultural Grants, and it reads:

“The Ministry of Agriculture has signed a grant amount of K100,000 to be paid to both large and small-scale farmers. Application for grant can be done online on the portal.”

Madam Speaker, I want to know if the post is authentic or not. I recall that people in Mushindamo were scammed out of their money during the last farming season. That post is circulating everywhere. The hon. Minister should confirm.

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, many scams are going on in this country. We will take it that if that circular was not published in the print media, then, we should worry that it might not be authentic. However, I will still get back to the hon. Member after I verify what he has just presented to the House.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, permit me to thank the Government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture. I can tell you that as at today, over 90 per cent of the farmers in my constituency have redeemed their farming inputs. I am also told that about 800 farmers have issues with their cards. You will agree with me on the fact that a good number of co-operatives with, maybe, a membership of thirty are only given ten or fifteen vouchers and in some cases five. With the success scored under the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) modality, as in my constituency, and since the Budget was increased, are there plans to increase the number of e-Voucher beneficiaries during the 2025/2026 Farming Season?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I cannot commit to that because it is a policy statement that I am sure the substantive hon. Minister of Agriculture will issue a statement on in the House.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, it is said that we are as strong as our weakest link. At the moment, the Ministry of Agriculture is not doing well. We must agree to that effect. I will give an example. A co-operative with thirty-eight people is given seven packs. If a cooperative is given seven packs, what is expected is that only seven people will participate in agricultural activities while the thirty-one members watch, and yet the ministry is telling us that the farmers must not share the inputs. How does the ministry acquit itself of its position that our farmers must not share inputs when the packs they are receiving are inadequate?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I have read out the amount of inputs that have already been distributed and what the outstanding figures are. The ministry is aware that it has not delivered some of the inputs. They will be delivered as soon as possible. We should be able to give everybody who is entitled to the packages.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Maybe, the hon. Member for Kanchibiya can repeat the question.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, the ministry is telling the members to not share the inputs, yet a co-operative in Kanchibiya, which has thirty-eight people, has received seven packs. The implication is that only seven of the farmers belonging to that co-operative can participate in the agricultural activities this farming season. My question is: What happens to the thirty-one members? If the ministry insists that the farmers should not share the inputs, what happens to the other thirty-one in the group? What is the ministry’s plan for the thirty-one members because it has only provided for seven? What is it doing to provide for the thirty-one who have not received the inputs? What is it telling them indirectly? Is that they must not share or share or what? What is the position?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, the target is to provide for the 1,024,434 farmers. Those are the ones who are being provided for. It is news that there are a number of co-operative members who have not received anything and that they have been removed from getting inputs through the e-Voucher system. I need to verify that.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, in Mbabala we have situations in which our farmers have to redeem their inputs from agro-dealers in Choma Town. Is there a way for the ministry to cap the differential pricing by agro-dealers? Each agro-dealer is charging different prices on fertiliser and seed, especially seed, and that has created a challenge in terms of the availability of seed in the district. Our farmers are failing to find seed because of that deferential pricing, which is causing a challenge. Is there a way that the ministry can cap the pricing so that we, at least, have standardised reasonable pricing in line with the ambitions of the programme?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, this question is similar to the one that was posed earlier in which the farmers were asking for alternative sources for the inputs. As I indicated earlier, if we are going to allow additional players into the agro-dealer business, we are going to have chaos, and we do not want to do that because the Budget and the amount that is available for the disbursement are already set.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Samakayi (Mwinilunga): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, if I remember well, the Ministerial Statement came up as a result of the question that I posed on Friday last week. The question I asked was to the effect that why had Mwinilunga not received seed up to that point. That question has not been addressed in the statement. What I am hearing is that the seed has been delivered. Where has it been delivered? The question was: Why did Mwinilunga not have the seed? I expected it to be addressed in the statement.

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I do not think I have specific information on distribution per district. What I have are national figures, which have been given.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I think that this time around we cannot feel too proud in saying that we have managed to reach, at least, 90 per cent input distribution in November. The farmers have just started planting their seeds and applying basal dressing. Going forward, what message does the hon. Minister have for our farmers about early procurement and delivery of fertiliser so that all our farmers can have their inputs on their farms before the end of October?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, there is always room for improvement. It is the wish of the ministry to get to 100 per cent input delivery in the next farming season.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mabumba (Mwense): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to turn the hon. Minister’s attention to two things within the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) policy. Number one, beneficiary identification and, number two, productivity levels. When one looks at the productivity levels per hectare for the farmers who get inputs under FISP, one sees that it is about 2 tonnes per hectare compared with the production of a commercial farmer or any other type of farmer, the produce is 6 tonnes or 7 tonnes. Further, when one looks at the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture, one sees that FISP accounts for the largest allocation. So, what measures is the Government putting in place to improve the productivity levels for our farmers to commensurate with the amount that is invested, which is given to the Ministry of Agriculture?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, this is a legacy problem whereby resources do not match the output. This Government is trying to slowly wean off farmers on FISP so that they can move on to the credit window facility to improve their production. They will be compelled to do more because of the loans that they would have to obtain from the banks.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Simbao (Luanshya): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the agro-dealers in Luanshya have increased the prices of fertiliser, as a result, the farmers are getting a bag less than what they were expecting. Is the ministry aware of that?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I do not think that the ministry is aware of that situation. Otherwise, I could have included it in my statement. That is a claim that we need to verify at the office.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nyambose (Chasefu): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for this opportunity you have given me to ask a question.

Madam Speaker, allow me to add some meat to the question. The Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) is very important and it is an emotional issue. It borders on food security and the livelihoods of our people. There are also legacy issues attached to it. I want to salute the Government for the credit window facility that it has introduced. However, I do not think that FISP is dying out soon. The facility will continue. Knowing that the Co-operative Act does not sit with the Ministry of Agriculture but with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, is the Government considering reviewing the matter holistically? The Ministry of Agriculture does not regulate the number of people in a co-operative. So, it maintains the same number of packs given to each co-operative. Has the ministry considered either coming up with another regulation for FISP to target vulnerable, but viable farmers so that we can resolve the matter? The delay in distribution is there, but what is our Government doing to look into this important matter, which is critical for the country?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, each year the Government budgets for 1,024,434 members. So, the number is limited. It is not something that changes. It is what the Government can afford to subsidise. Of course, there are vulnerable members of the society. I know for sure that even the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services assists vulnerable people.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I also thank the hon. Minister for his responses.

Madam Speaker, I will take the hon. Minister back to the concern that was raised by the hon. Member for Luanshya. One of the biggest problems that we have with the agro-dealers is that they have increased the price of fertiliser, meaning that instead of one getting eight bags of fertiliser, one ends up getting less, maybe, six bags. That, obviously, defeats the efforts that the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government is making in its commitment of giving out a certain number of bags to the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) beneficiaries. If the ministry does not act quickly, the danger in that means that there will be a challenge in production. If our production capacity has a challenge, then the end objective for spending so many millions of United States (US) Dollars on taxpayers’ money to, ultimately, have a cheap bag of mealie meal will not be attained. Even under the credit window facility, the conditions that have been prescribed are so unattractive to our people who are at the tail-end of receiving the resources for them to participate. In fact, there is a general feeling that the conditions are more skewed to commercial farmers who produce maize at a huge cost in terms of support. Of course, their production per hectare is higher, but the result is that the Government spends more. What are some of the immediate steps that the ministry will take to quickly address the cost of fertiliser and seed before the situation defeats the whole purpose of the investment, which has been put in place on behalf of the Zambian people?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I gladly noted that the hon. Member started by giving advice and stating the challenges. I think that he appreciates the challenges that are being faced in the implementation of the programme. The issue of the price increases will be addressed and dealt with. I am sure that Hon. Mtolo can issue a statement to the House regarding the price differential.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The only concern, Acting hon. Minister of Agriculture, is that people are currently planting their seeds. So, if they are being given fewer bags of fertiliser, then, they are being disadvantaged. I think that is what the hon. Members are saying. I do not know if there is a mechanism by which the ministry can tie down the agro-dealers to stick to one price so that it can accrue to a number of bags. I think that would be the best way. The matter is urgent. So, if you can address the substantive hon. Minister of Agriculture quickly so that the ministry can attend to those issues, that would be best.

 

REDUCED NUMBER OF CASH FOR WORK BENEFICIARIES IN KALABO DISTRICT

 

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Nkombo): Madam Speaker, thank you for the honour of allowing me to present a Ministerial Statement on the concerns that were raised by the Member of Parliament for Kalabo Central Constituency, Hon. Chinga Miyutu, regarding what he termed to be the reduced number of Cash for Work beneficiaries in his constituency.

Madam Speaker, the Cash for Work programme has 500,000 beneficiaries across 123 constituencies in Zambia that were affected by the drought during the previous rainy season; the 2023/2024 Rainy Season. The beneficiaries are supposed to work for ten days in a month and then receive a payment of K600. The programme commenced in September this year. So, it has been in implementation for two months only. In the two months that the programme has been running, the ministry, which I am privileged to run, has disbursed K600 million, split as K300 million for September and another K300 million for October, to all the 123 constituencies.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Kalabo Central Constituency, Mr Chinga Miyutu, who raised the query on the reduced number of beneficiaries may wish to note that there have been 4,661 beneficiaries, of which 3,059 on one hand are under his constituency and on the other hand 1,602 are under Liuwa Constituency. Since the commencement of the programme, the ministry has disbursed K5,593,200 for the two constituencies for September and October. The funds are sufficient for all the 4,661 beneficiaries for the two months. With that background, I can report to this august House that contrary to the assertion that may have been communicated to the hon. Member for Kalabo Central, there has actually been no reduction, whatsoever, in the number of beneficiaries either for his constituency or, indeed, Liuwa. The situation on the payments remains as I reported to this august House on 1^st November, 2024, to the effect that the mode of payment for the beneficiaries under the programmes is through the banks via mobile money transfer using the available mobile service providers. My ministry has engaged the banks and mobile service providers to provide cash-in-transit (CIT) services in areas that may not enjoy mobile network signal.

Madam Speaker, finally, should there be any challenges or queries surrounding this programme and, indeed, any other that is domiciled in the ministry that I run, my doors remain wide open for any hon. Member of Parliament or, indeed, citizen who has a concern to come through so that we can make the programmes more successful.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, you are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement presented by the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

Hon. Member for Kalabo Central, you may proceed.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, let me also quickly thank Hon. Garry Nkombo, Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development for the way he accommodates people who visit his office. If I had the powers, I would have replicated his attitude in many of those –

Laughter

Mr Miyutu: I can assure you, Madam Speaker, that this country would have, at least, moved a metre forward. It is true. When one goes to his office, immediately one enters the secretary’s office, one is shown the way to go.

Hon. UPND Members: Correct!

Mr Miyutu: I can attest to that.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miyutu: I always speak from the bottom of my heart. Madam Speaker, the people he works with are the ones letting him down. I called the Council Secretary and the treasurer who work in his office. The hon. Minister should forgive me. Through the poor workmanship in those councils –

Laughter

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has tools in the councils. The people who are supposed to work on his behalf to deliver on the intentions of His Excellency the President are not there. There are people who eat and breathe, but there is no efficiency. You know that I like telling the truth because I live in the constituency, and that is what I always tell the people. One particular day, I told the people who work at the council that they did not want Hakainde Hichilema (HH) to win in 2026. That is what I told them. The hon. Minister is right. Yesterday, I was called by the treasurer and the Council Secretary who affirmed what the hon. Minister has said. The situation is a let-down. Look at how many hours the hon. Minister has spent on the matter. By this time, we would have been dealing with other issues, but because of the poor workmanship at the bottom, we are spending time on issues without bearing fruit. Those people should be punished for wasting the nation’s time.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: It was a comment.

I do not know whether you want to comment on a comment, hon. Minister.

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, I can only say that I am thankful for the accolades and compliments, and to also indicate that we are determined to correct all those ills that the hon. Member has just explained.

Madam Speaker, as you may be aware, when one wants to determine whether a fish is rotten, one checks the head. So, I am glad that the hon. Member thinks that the head is still okay. We will attend to the issues that may be challenging our people in our constituencies.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.  

Madam Speaker: Thank you, very much.

Time is of the essence. Otherwise; the head is going to rot. That is what the hon. Member is saying.

Mr E. Banda (Muchinga): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, indeed, Hon. Nkombo is one of the hon. Ministers who need to be appreciated. Even when one finds him leaving the office, he will come back and listen to that one. I will not be silent on that compliment to him. However, I will not waste much of the time praising him only, I also want to mention that even the Permanent Secretaries (PSs) in his ministry are good people.

Madam Speaker, what criteria does the ministry use to allocate the funds? Muchinga is one of the biggest constituencies, but it was only allocated K391,000. With wards like Serenje, which has six zones, the money that goes to each zone only makes it possible for eight people to work, and that has brought many problems. Maybe, if he could tell us the criteria that is used, we could understand once and for all because our people ask us questions for which we fail to give them answers. Contrary to my brother’s comments, I do not blame the councils because they are doing everything they can. However, they are in awkward situations because, sometimes, they have no answer to convince the people.

Madam Speaker: Thank you. That is also a comment.

Hon. Minister, do you have any answer?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member has asked a question apart from the compliment that he gave, for which I am grateful.

Madam Speaker, I think that his question was related to the criterion that is used to determine the levels of funding. At the time we were establishing this programme, a lot of work went into determining how we were going to work around it, and primary among the variables that we looked at was population, whose information we got from the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats). It was also the poverty and vulnerability levels in each district. Those variables alone cannot be deemed to be accurate. However, they are the variables that we used to determine, for instance, I can give an example of Kapiri Mposhi. I think it stood out among the constituencies in the hon. Member’s region as having recorded the highest population, vulnerability levels and I think the age range. The programme is also limited to a certain age. So, those are the variables. Like I said in the termination of my delivery at the podium, if an hon. Member wishes to get more information, he or she can come through to the office, have a cup of coffee and we can walk through the way everything was determined in arriving at the level of funding each affected constituency was to receive.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Rev. Katuta (Chienge): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to welcome the hon. Minister back to the House.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned 123 councils, are they the ones that were affected by the drought? I have heard some hon. Members say that there is no Cash for Work programme in Luapula Province in general. I would like to find out if the programme was just for the districts that were affected by the drought.

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, that is the case. The Cash for Work programme is limited to only 123 constituencies that were hardest hit by the drought situation, according to the statistics, that we experienced. I can also confirm that after an assessment, if my memory serves me correctly, I do not have the details, a couple of constituencies in Muchinga Province were added to the programme because of the vulnerability levels and the situation at hand. To be specific, after a long time, the hon. Member’s province, Luapula Province, the Northern Province and parts of Muchinga Province this year have proven that they can feed this country. What I am trying to say is that the production of maize, which is our staple food, overshot projections exponentially to levels that we have not seen before. That is the reason more inputs have deliberately been pushed up north to the regions where the rainfall pattern is still normal and above normal.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member’s area, especially the northern point of Chienge, did not experience a drought situation. However, that is not to say that our people in Chienge do not deserve relief if they need it. According to the assessment of the drought situation, those areas received sufficient rains and the people produced enough food in excess of their requirements, which is now feeding the southern part of the country.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, I will not hesitate to join the many hon. Members who are thanking the hon. Minister for the good job that he is doing.

Madam Speaker, just last week, I dealt with a group that was pursuing the Mufulira Council for their Cash for Work programme payments. Using technology, I put the Town Clerk on a conference call with the people. Her explanation was that the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) indicated that the issue was about the money bouncing from the accounts or some excuse of that nature, which did not make any financial sense. One other thing that I discovered is that the Government has continued to rely so much on mobile service providers like MTN Zambia and Airtel Zambia whether it is for the Cash for Work, Social Cash Transfer (SCT) or Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) payments. However, there seem to be many complaints coming from the beneficiaries about not receiving their money on time. One of the mobile service providers that has been cited is MTN Zambia.

Madam Speaker, considering the huge sums of money that the Government is spending, I want to find out how often the hon. Minister’s ministry interacts with the mobile service providers or even other providers that are given opportunities to do business with the ministry. I ask this so that our people do not feel that they are doing the work for free or that the Government does not mean well. When somebody works and he or she does not get his or her money, obviously, his or her tongue changes in terms of appreciation, and he or she starts saying something else. What is the ministry doing to ensure that our people have that confidence?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, in my last Ministerial Statement, I laboured a bit explaining some of the challenges that we were facing in this novel programme called Cash for Work. One thing that we desisted from doing, which we are now going back to in exceptional cases, was the temptation of using bulk cash because therein one will find fraud and temptation. So, as I indicated, there will be some CIT in areas that have network challenges.

Madam Speaker, what I said the last time I was given an opportunity to explain the challenges that are arising alongside this programme, which caused the banks to dishonour the payments, as my hon. Colleague has put it, were, for example, the cases in which one has one’s name as Hon. Anthony Mumba and his number is 0966 blah blah, but in the register of the mobile service provider, he uses the name Misheck Nyambose. So, such an anomaly would be found on the sheet, and our experience was that the entire sheet would then be disqualified. So, we went back to our people, whom we strongly believe in, knowing that there is no free lunch, and worked out the issue. This cash-for-work idea was introduced to, basically, inculcate the culture of avoiding handouts. It is a Government programme initiated by the Government. So, the delays and challenges in paying off our citizens should not be mistaken as a failure on the part of the Government to provide the money. Last time, I indicated in my Ministerial Statement that as far as the Ministry of Finance and National Planning is concerned, it is up to date with the disbursement of money to the ministry that I am privileged to run and, in turn, we are also up to date with the disbursement of the money to the local authorities. So, we are determined to overcome the challenges. I am quite sure that, if the programme, as it is ongoing, continues beyond the stipulated time that we designed to give relief to our people, it will help many people. Remember that it was our intention, through the stewardship of our President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, to not have the people die of hunger, and that every citizen participating in this programme, at least, gets a K600 every ten days. So, it was deliberate, but it does not mean that it does not come with challenges. We are doing our very best to ensure that we minimise the challenges as much as we can so that we can put a smile on the faces of our citizens.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as you ask questions be brief and precise to the point so that we can also allow other hon. Members to ask.

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

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Hon. Member for Mitete, what is the point of order?

Mr Mutelo: Madam Speaker, my point of order is pursuant to Order No. 71. As the hon. Minister was explaining all the good things and bringing the hon. Members up to speed on what is happening, he said, “Blah, blah, blah” at some stage without explaining what it means. Was the good hon. Minister in order to not explain the meaning of the expression? The hon. Member of Parliament for Chienge also picked up on it.

I seek your ruling, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: These things that you follow on social media will mislead you. I did not hear the hon. Minister saying blah, blah, blah. The hon. Minister was just explaining what the issues are. So, he was in order.

Hon. Member for Mitete, you are the one who is out of order because you are saying blah, blah, blah.

Laughter

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, my question is related to the one that the hon. Member of Parliament for Kantanshi asked and has since been responded to. Just as a quick rider on that, given the mismatch that is found sometimes between the name of the person who has done the work and the name that is showing on the system of the mobile service provider, would the ministry consider putting more emphasis on the National Registration Card (NRC) number as the key field to ensure that people who are supposed to benefit from this well-intended programme do so in a timely manner? At the moment, we still have people who have not been paid but the Government is on course and it has been releasing the funds on time. Is it possible to be that flexible?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, it should be understood clearly that money issues are sensitive and bulk money is always at threat of fraud. Even in a normal bank transaction, when one is transacting money from one account to another, especially interbank transactions, there will be variables such as names. I want to put it to my hon. Colleague that even in his name, Mubita Anakoka, if the ‘a’ at the end of Anakoka is missing, the transfer is likely to not go through.

Madam Speaker, the National Registration Card (NRC) number is another field requirement. Do not forget that we are working in collaboration with the mobile service providers that would not want to be held liable in the event that someone tried to outsmart the system by channelling the money on a contact basis to the wrong destination. We have contacted our mobile service providers, and the onus is on the participants to give the correct details for the required fields on the platform for transferring money as so desired. We cannot tell MTN Zambia and Airtel Zambia to use the NRC number only as a key field because, as you may know, there are some cases in which NRC numbers are duplicates. People can forge NRCs. Anything can be forged. So, that is a security measure that satisfies the owners of the platform and we have to respect that. We can make suggestions, but I do not think the NRC number alone can be enough security for all the transactions to go through. If the name is different or a letter is missing from the name, the transaction cannot go through.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, I know that the hon. Minister has already attempted to answer the question that I am about to ask, but I will ask it differently.

Madam Speaker, through your courtesy, today I attended a workshop, which was organised by the Cabinet Office through the gender division and a coalition of other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). One of the issues in their presentation was the modality of payment. In the research they conducted, it was concluded that most people in our communities, especially in the rural areas, prefer to be paid in cash given that mobile money transfers have technological glitches. Obviously, the ministry is using mobile money platforms and the bank for the Cash for Work programme and from what the hon. Minister has said, the ministry is in discussion with the banks to work out how they can help the areas where there is no technology. With that said, how does the ministry reconcile the research under the gender division of the Cabinet Office, which indicates that most people prefer to be paid in cash given the technological glitches that we have in many parts of our country?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, I was not at that workshop. However, if the beneficiaries of this programme prefer cash to digital payments, then, that is a given. It is fine. On our end, as the people who are running this programme, we find the digital payment system less of a headache than doing the opposite, as my hon. Colleague from Mwense has said. All that notwithstanding, just a minute ago I said that in the areas where our citizens do not enjoy a smooth flow of mobile network signal and connectivity, we have arranged for CIT. So far, we think that this programme is going quite well in 90 per cent, I hope I am not exaggerating, of the areas that enjoy good mobile network signal and connectivity. Therefore, if it is not broken, do not fix it. To start saying that we will be paying out cash and everyone starts saying that they also want cash, then, we are going to weaken the system.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Nyambose: Madam Speaker, I want to join the others in commending the hon. Minister for the reception that we always receive when we visit his office. It reminds me of the former Town Clerk of Kitwe, Mr Ali Simwiinga. When one visits the hon. Minister’s office with a problem, even when one gets a negative answer, one is satisfied with that negative answer. Keep it up. One leaves satisfied even when one realises that it was a negative answer when one gets home because of the way he handles people.

Laughter

Mr Nyambose: Madam Speaker, the issue that I want to bring up in relation to this matter is that of targeting. You may wish to know that there is a group of people called Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs) in our constituencies. I will speak for Chasefu. The CWACs have caused many problems, not only under the Cash for Work programme, but wherever they operate. I pray that something happens so that we can do away with them. They pick their children and relatives, leaving out the vulnerable people. They have brought about many complaints in the constituency. In Chasefu, we have formed satellite committees, which are more representative, with the good, hardworking District Commissioner (DC), Mr Jimmy Phiri. Is the ministry considering replicating what is happening in Chasefu in all the constituencies so that this good policy that it has come up with benefits the people without segregation? People should feel that they are picked because they are vulnerable. Is the ministry considering broadening the team that targets vulnerable people or the people who should benefit from the programme?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, let me just express my appreciation to the hon. Member for Chasefu for his kind words about the work culture.

Madam Speaker, the issue of the Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs) is coming to me for the first time. I would like to know, as we get along, whether that is a general problem that our hon. Members are encountering in their constituencies, …

Hon. Members: It is!

Mr Nkombo: … or it is not.

Madam Speaker, let me thank the hon. Members for opening my eyes to the issue of what one would call selfish behaviour by those who are charged with the responsibility of looking after people’s interests and aspirations. Let me just tag that point as a working note to send a circular and also a signal to all the councils to ensure that they adhere to the spirit of all-inclusiveness. The database is clear on who a beneficiary of this programme is and who is not. We can watch the trends to see whether or not we can catch one or two culprits who want to fill their cups at the expense of a Government programme that is designed to create some relief for the general citizenry. Notwithstanding, the CWACs are not the “alpha” and “omega” in this whole exercise. The Ward Development Committees (WDCs), the royal highnesses, chiefs, and the headmen were invited to the party to oversee and ensure that the recruitment process was as fair as possible. We will also sharpen our communication protocol through community radio stations to give a signal of punishment to whoever is taking that route to benefit their households, and only their households.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Menyani Zulu: Madam Speaker, the programme is a good thing and it is working. Some of us have used the same opportunity to start working on a dam which, the other good hon. Minister promised to repair last year. However, his ministry has not done it. So, we have used the same programme to see to it that the dam is fixed.

Madam Speaker, I have a problem with the data that the ministry is using, which came from the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats). We are all politicians in the House and we understand figures. In my constituency, a ward with four streams was given more money than a ward with nine streams. To be specific, (reading from the cellular phone) the nine streams practically mean that the voting capacity is over 6,000 and the one with four streams is likely less. In fact, I know it is about 3,900 votes in that ward. What criteria is the ministry using to register beneficiaries? I will mention the names of the wards. Ngozi Ward has 280 beneficiaries and Vizimumba Ward has 392 beneficiaries, which is a smaller ward. Previously, before it was divided, we were told that a candidate needed to win over voters in Vizimumba to win the Nyimba Constituency seat. Even after the delimitation of the ward, it is still being allocated more beneficiaries surpassing the bigger ward. The question is: Which data is being used because based on the current data, of which I am aware, Vizimumba is smaller than Ngozi Ward in terms of population and voters. We need to know which data is being used so that we can clarify the issue. This programme is too good for us to mess it up.

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, “This programme is too good for us to mess it up”. The last time I checked, “mess up” was a bit unparliamentary. I wish the hon. Member could withdraw it.

Madam Speaker, we are using ZamStats –

Madam Speaker: Sorry, hon. Minister.

Hon. Member for Nyimba, there is a request for you to withdraw the phrase “mess up”. Use another term, please.

Mr Menyani Zulu: Madam Speaker, this programme is too good for us to not take advantage of and empower our local people.

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, as a teacher of English, I could say that the programme is too good to be spoilt.

Laughter

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the data that we use is from what was previously called the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which is ZamStats today, which houses the data hub of many things that help us to make decisions. The hon. Member has indicated that in his area certain dynamics have changed as a result of delimitation, if I got him right, and that certain wards that have more people are benefitting less than those that have fewer people. I will answer this question by giving him some advice. The information that we use most times comes from the bottom to the top as end-users pick it up. If the hon. Member goes to Nyimba Town Council, he will find that information sitting in his council files. He should ask his Council Secretary to assist the ministry in giving us the actual situation on the ground against what is on paper. I am sure that is also a one-off case or, maybe, there will be a few other cases of a similar manner. However, let us do this together. Now that the hon. Member has brought the issue before me on the Floor of Parliament, I would like to work with him in correcting that issue by first getting the statistics, which I am not privy to at the moment as quoted from his cellular phone, get back to ZamStats to verify the information and then go to the council to ask it why it did not correct that situation so that we can have the desired amount of money going to the beneficiaries.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I see many indications from hon. Members who still want to ask questions, and we do not have much time. Therefore, I will ask the hon. Member for Kabwe Central, being the only female, to ask her question.

Ms Halwiindi (Kabwe Central): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, from the reports that the hon. Minister is getting from the constituencies, it is obvious that the councils are somehow failing to manage the programme. We know that the programme is from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), and it has been assigned to the Local Government for it to be managed. From what we are getting, this programme, which is addressing a situation that is a disaster in nature, really needs serious supervision. We know that K150,000 was assigned for administrative costs. However, what is happening on the ground is that the whole K150,000 is going to the council and the DMMU does not get a percentage of any of it. Would the ministry allow the DMMU to be given a percentage so that it can monitor what is going on at the local authorities?

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) is constituted from various departments of every district operation headed by the District Commissioner (DC). If supervision that is being done by the local authority has created those gaps and the hon. Member thinks that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU)’s DDMC is incapacitated to also assist in perfecting the system, then, there is no harm because this whole issue is not cast in stone. I can tell you for instance that we have just sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Secretary to the Treasury to see if we can vary a bit in how we are working in urbanised constituencies such as the ones in Lusaka District.

Madam Speaker, with the onset of the rainy season, we have observed that our citizens are collecting garbage, the process is manual, and putting it on sideways, but the local council and the Lusaka Solid Waste Management Company do not have the capacity to collect and take it to the dump site. So, we have said that for the good programme to not be spoilt, can we not consider hiving off a certain amount from that allocation to buy either tractors with trailers or tipper trucks so that we can be collecting the garbage at the same time as our citizens would be clearing it from the undesignated areas. If that letter has not reached the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, I am sure it is on its way. I am trying to say that nothing is cast in stone. Where hon. Members see lapses, gaps or omissions we can make amends because this programme is meant, first and primarily, to give relief to our citizens who are now working, and helping to collect garbage and to sort it in such a way that it is easy to lift and dump, which is what I call the silver lining on the dark cloud. However, we have found a challenge. Our citizens are doing their work, but if the garbage is not collected on time, with the onset of rainfall, the garbage starts sliding back with the rainwater into the drainage systems. So, all that can be done. All it requires is keeping a live connection with the ministry that is running the programme, which is my ministry, and we also keep a live connection with the ministry that provides the money, the Treasury. When all our plans are appreciated, it is the reason that these things are put in place.

Madam Speaker, maybe, before I resume my seat, let me congratulate the hon. Members of the Patriotic Front (PF) who are in this Assembly Chamber. I want to thank them most sincerely for being Parliamentarians. I know that earlier on there was some consternation around a ruling. When we were in the Opposition, we used to do the same. We would leave the Assembly Chamber and come back soon after because the act of staying away from the Chamber for too long disadvantages the very people who wake up early in the morning to vote. So, congratulations to the President of the PF.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa interjected.

Mr Nkombo: Congratulations also to the former President of the PF, …

Laughter

Mr Nkombo: … and all the members who have shown a lot of patriotism in the midst of what one may deem to be dissatisfaction as a way of processes. We also went through that. We even went through worse. This profession of politics is not for the faint-hearted. Send a message to those who have gone for good. If I were the one responsible for the Treasury of this National Assembly, I would not pay them the Sitting Allowance as a symbiotic way to lurch on to somebody who is being beckoned to come back to work because they are not in the House. All that happened earlier today was beckoning an hon. Colleague to say that work is waiting for him, and that he needs to do his work. However, people decided to go into unionism. My intention was to thank those who are in the House and to encourage those who are outside to say that if the National Assembly pays them for today’s Sitting they would have obtained money via false pretence, a pecuniary benefit, and pretended to be a union when this is a Legislative Assembly, bungwe ya bantu, kwamene bantu bakumanina, where people from all the corners of this country meet. So, hon. Members can protest aloud in the commonwealth, but they must come back after liaising.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much for that comment.

There was an indication from the former or is it the President of the Patriotic Front (PF).

Hon. Member for Matero, you may proceed.

Laughter

Mr Sampa: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. PF Member: Ati alebwelelapo!

Laughter

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I was seated attentively listening to what the hon. Minister was saying. He was addressing and thanking the President of the Patriotic Front (PF) in his discourse, but he was not looking in my direction.

Laughter

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, is he in order to look the wrong way leaving the bona fide elected President of the PF, Miles Sampa?

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: I could not see from here where the hon. Minister was looking. He probably has squinty eyes. So, you can forgive him for that.

Hon. Members, let us get back to work.

Hon. Members who are outside the Assembly Chamber, you have heard the appeal. Please, come back and do some work to represent your people. We come here every day to speak on behalf of the people. This is the People's House. So, if you miss out, you miss out on a number of things.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

MEASURES TAKEN TO ASSIST HOUSEHOLDS DAMAGED BY HEAVY RAINFALL IN CHAMA

129. Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North) asked the Acting Leader of Government Business

1. whether the Government is aware that the heavy rainfall that fell on Wednesday, 6^th November, 2024, damaged several houses and public infrastructure in some townships and villages in Chama North Parliamentary Constituency; and 
2. if so, what urgent measures are being taken to assist the affected households.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Speaker, the Government is aware of the heavy rainfall that fell on Wednesday, 6^th November, 2024, which damaged several infrastructure in Chama North Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, to determine the extent of the damage caused by the rainfall, the Government, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), undertook a rapid assessment in the constituency where it was discovered that thirty-eight households had their housing units and household goods damaged.

Madam Speaker, it is from the rapid assessment report that the Government provided the following food and non-food items to the affected families:

1. tents (size 4x4) – twenty packs;
2. beans 50kg – ten bags;
3. blankets (size 3/4) by twenty pieces – three bales;
4. salt 1kg by twenty packets – four boxes;
5. saudi dates 8kg – seventy boxes;
6. dignity kits – thirty boxes;
7. vaseline – seventy boxes;
8. school in a tent – five packs; and
9. sugar 2kg by ten packets – four boxes.

Madam Speaker, I thank you

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister has acknowledged that about thirty-eight houses were affected. However, I know that the number is more. It is about sixty-eight. He has also mentioned that the Government has only been able to provide twenty tents. So, if we go by the number of affected households, which is thirty-eight, why has the Government not provided thirty-eight tents?

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, the people who conducted the assessments, as you may know, are from the local disaster management office. They are the ones who physically went to the place and provided this information.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, I think, maybe, the other follow-up question is on the fact that apart from destroying people’s homes and public infrastructure, the heavy downpour destroyed the food that people stored up –

Madam Speaker: Order!

 Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours

_______

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Mtayachalo: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was asking the hon. Minister a follow-up question.

Mr Speaker, the storm caused many devastating effects in Makeni and Chimwemwe townships, and also Chizimba Village. People even lost their food. Now, looking at the list that the hon. Minister has highlighted, one can see that there is no provision for mealie meal or maize apart from beans and salt. There is nothing, yet the people completely lost their food. Why has the Government not provided maize or mealie meal to the affected households?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, as I said, the local disaster management office, which means that it is from the district, assessed the disaster. The officers are the ones who made the assessment and recommendations based on what they saw and the kind of interventions they could request from the Central Government. So, I am not sure why the hon. Member did not engage the local office, look at what they were proposing and then make recommendations. As at now, the Central Government acted based on the recommendations from the district.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Nyambose (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, let me ride on what my brother from Chama North has indicated to the effect that the storm not only affected houses, but public facilities such as schools. If you note, the rainy season has come violently. It is causing a lot of damage, especially to old infrastructure that was built using mud and blocks. Unfortunately, most of it are schools and health facilities built before the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which is bringing up proper structures. The damage did not only happen in Chama North, it also happened in Chasefu on the same day. The damage is everywhere and assessments are being done.

Mr Speaker, the disaster management component of the CDF has been depleted in most constituencies. However, we have money that is being mopped up. It has not been utilised because certain areas have ongoing court issues. The money is sitting in our constituency accounts, and it will not be utilised. The question is: Would the Government consider allowing constituencies, like Chama North and Chasefu, to utilise the money that is being held on account of legal or any other issues for disaster management; to roof the infrastructure that was damaged so that come 2025 when the pending matters are resolved, we can replace the monies? Would the Government consider that approach?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, absolutely correct. I also want to say that we have all had disasters in our constituencies. About two months ago, the person who is speaking now had a disaster in his constituency. What did we do given the scale? Disasters come in different scales. There is a scale that the district and constituency cannot handle like, perhaps, a collapsed bridge across a major stream. However, for classrooms and other similar smaller infrastructure, what we did in our constituency was to take a look at the component for disasters under the CDF, and that is the money that was utilised to repair the damage that had been done to blown up classrooms. Currently, another disaster has happened. So, in a similar fashion, nothing is stopping Chama North Constituency from utilising that emergency portion. If that emergency portion of the budget for the CDF in Chama has been exhausted, there is nothing that stops the constituency from making evaluations to the effect that while certain projects should have been done, they have an emergency. The evaluation can be undertaken by the provincial office. They might not even need to come to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development or my ministry. That is something that they can decide so that they can repair the infrastructure that is now exposed because of those emergencies. That is something that is 100 per cent within his capacity to do so that they can solve that problem.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Sampa (Matero): Mr Speaker, this is the first time I am asking the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, effectively the Acting Vice-President, and substantive hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning a question since he presented the National Budget. I want to congratulate him on the good 2025 National Budget. I look forward to it taking effect on 1^st January, 2025, so that the Government can start paying off what it owes companies and individuals. The Government should meet payment of its debts when they fall due.

Mr Speaker, the last time I stood on the Floor I asked the people of this country to pray for rainfall, and prayer meetings were held. We did not get rainfall we got a downpour countrywide. Hence, the question that has been asked by the hon. Member for Chama North on the rainfall that brought the destruction of houses in Chama. With heavy rainfall comes diseases like cholera in this country. Last year and the year before, lives were lost. So, as much as we ask for rainfall in Chama and elsewhere around the country, my question is: What measures is this Government putting in place to mitigate the risk of cholera so that we do not lose lives? Are we going to be reactive and move in when people start dying? What measures are being put in place in Chama to ensure that the heavy downpour does not bring cholera, and not only in Chama but elsewhere in the country?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I think that is a question that extends or stretches what we are discussing at the moment. We are discussing the infrastructure that was destroyed in Chama and what the Government is doing about it. The issues concerning cholera are very important, but I think they are outside the scope of the question we are dealing with.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, we have a component for disaster in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which is a very good idea that could have helped the people of Chama. However, the challenge we have is that following the mopping up of the money in most of the constituencies, that allocation was also mopped up. As a calamity has occurred in Chama, it means that the council has to apply for that money, and the money usually takes long to get to the constituency. How is the Government going to help the people of Chama and other constituencies in terms of having money available in the constituencies in case of any future calamities so that the calamities can be attended to as they occur?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, if the hon. Member for Chama North faces that problem, he should send me a note even this evening to help push the realise of money quickly under his constituency budget so that he can attend to the emergency.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

_______

MOTIONS

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SCIENCE SERVICE CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTIVE LAND MANAGEMENT

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources on the Ratification of the Treaty of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management, for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Monday, 11^th November, 2024.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Ms Mabonga (Mfuwe): I beg to second the Motion, Mr Speaker.

Mr Michelo: Mr Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference as set out under Order No. 206(a) and Order No. 207(f) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, the Committee considered the Treaty of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL). To appreciate the ramifications of ratifying the treaty, the Committee interacted with stakeholders who tendered both written and oral submissions before it.

Mr Speaker, as the House may be aware, the treaty was adopted by the SASSCAL Council of Ministers on 26^th September, 2021. The objectives of SASSCAL are to strengthen the original capacity to generate and use scientific knowledge, products and services for decision-making on climate change and adaptive land management through research management, human capital development and service brokerage. The ratification of the SASSCAL Treaty is, therefore, driven by the need to address the pressing challenges created by climate change and land degradation through regional co-operation, scientific research, capacity building and sustainable practices.

Mr Speaker, let me state that the stakeholders who appeared before the Committee were in support of Zambia ratifying the SASSCAL Treaty. The Committee is also in support of the proposal to ratify the treaty and, in doing so, it has made some observations and recommendations, which are documented in the report. Allow me to highlight some of these observations and recommendations.

Mr Speaker, the Committee observed that Zambia was able to make its annual contributions to SASSCAL from 2017 to 2020. However, since 2020, it has not honoured its obligations. That has resulted in arrears accumulating to €1.3 million. The Committee contends that this is a matter which, if not addressed correctly, has the potential to result in penalties that have serious consequences for the country. In that regard, the Committee, strongly, urges the Executive to consider settling the arrears without further delay. The Committee further urges the Executive to ensure that the funds for honouring the financial commitments and effective implementation of the treaty are provided for in the National Budget.

Mr Speaker, the Committee also observed that SASSCAL aims at, among other things, generating scientific knowledge and supporting national, regional and global efforts in strengthening adaptation and mitigation strategies. The Committee further observed that SASSCAL’s research priority areas include climate change, food security, water security, sustainable forests and woodlands, and biodiversity conservation. In light of that, the Committee recommends that Government ministries under whose purview the aims and priority areas of SASSCAL fall should develop and implement mechanisms that support SASSCAL’s cause. The ministries are documented in the report. Furthermore, for the treaty to be implemented effectively by the concerned ministries, the Committee recommends that the Government allocates sufficient funds for the implementation and monitoring of the treaty.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, allow me to sincerely thank you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to the Committee throughout its deliberations.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

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

Ms Mabonga: Now, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I beg to second that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources on the Ratification of the Treaty of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL). In seconding this Motion, allow me to make a few comments. The SASSCAL Treaty aims to generate scientific knowledge and support national, regional and global efforts in strengthening adaptation and mitigation strategies. The research priority areas for SASSACAL include climate change, food security, water security, sustainable forests, woodlands and biodiversity conservation.

Mr Speaker, to strengthen the objectives of SASSCAL, it is critical that ministries that have activities related to what the treaty seeks to address take specific steps as follows:

1. the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment should put in place mechanisms that will support the generation of scientific knowledge to support and strengthen climate change objectives, especially in relation to drought prediction, disaster aversion and overall climate change resilience measures in the country. In that regard, early warning systems must be heightened;
2. the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources should devise mechanisms that will strengthen adaptation technologies and mechanisms surrounding erosion management and desertification mitigation as well as sustainable soil and land conservation techniques;
3. the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation should devise mechanisms that will enhance water harvesting and conservation to promote water security;
4. the Ministry of Agriculture should put in place measures that will enhance climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies;
5. the Ministry of Technology and Science should present an overall value of the ministry, and all the bodies and agencies that are under its portfolio; and
6. the Ministry of Education should provide the sector with valuable information that can be used to enhance knowledge across all levels of both vocational and technical education.

Mr Speaker, to ensure that the SASSCAL Treaty is effectively implemented by those ministries, there is a need for the Government to allocate sufficient funds for its implementation and monitoring.

Mr Speaker, allow me to take this opportunity to thank the mover of the Motion, who is the chairperson of the Committee, and all the members of the Committee.

Mr Speaker, with those few comments, I thank you.

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, allow me to add a few words to the debate on this Motion.

Mr Speaker, we all agree that the objective of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) was to strengthen regional capacity to generate scientific knowledge, products and services for decision-making on climate change management through research and human capital management. You will agree with me that no country is an island and, as Zambia, we need to co-operate with our colleagues within Southern Africa. Many times, we lag behind. We, currently, owe €1.3 million to the administration of this important treaty. From 2020 to date, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has not managed to pay its obligations to SASSCAL. What is SASSCAL and how important is it to us? Practically speaking, Hon. Mutati’s ministry needs to have extra information from our neighbouring countries on how we are going to fight cyber issues. He is in charge of the Ministry of Technology and Science, and it is an area from which each Government department wants to get information. All the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and SMART Zambia Institute issues fall under his ministry. If we do not get information from our colleagues within the region, where are we going to get it? The SASSCAL deals with different universities and academia. It deals with people who understand and are experts in climate change and soil issues. We need to belong to SASSCAL and we need to stay up to date on issues. It is not money wasted. It is money invested for the betterment of our country. My prayer is that this country moves now to ensure that we pay our obligations.

Mr Speaker, looking at the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, one can see that it should be in a position to understand the changes in dynamics in terms of how to drill our boreholes and how to conserve water. This is a country in which we see floods as a curse or problem. We should start harvesting water in different areas. Last year, we had floods in Bweengwa, how did we deal with the situation? Did we harvest the rainwater? Are we able to harvest rainwater? What technologies or new ideas are there? We might not have ideas about how to harvest the water, but our colleagues within the region would be able to assist us with new techniques and technology in that area.

Mr Speaker, I agree with the seconder of the Motion to the effect that many ministries are linked to the issues outlined in the treaty. The Ministry of Agriculture needs to put up measures to enhance smart agriculture. If there are areas that receive rainfall below 800mm, what type of agriculture are we going to practice in those areas so that we can harvest something? If we have areas that receive high volumes of rainfall, what type of agriculture are we going to practice? We should be looking at smart agriculture in every region of our country so that we can get the best benefits from the peasant farmers as well as the commercial farmers by engaging our friends in the region. Surely, if we do not do that we are not going to achieve anything. We, as a nation, will lag behind. It is that simple. If one does not contribute, one will not get the information.

Mr Speaker, looking at the Ministry of Education, one can see that we need to train our children from as young as Grade 1 about smart agriculture. This is the only country in the world where English is compulsory and agricultural science is an optional subject. We have a problem. If one travels to countries that have succeeded economically either in terms of security, technology or industrialisation, those are countries that have respected agriculture. We even discourage our children by saying “Sungavitange vi agriculture”, meaning, “You cannot take agriculture. What are you going to benefit from it?” However, we know that whether one is an hon. Minister of Technology and Science, one should have a garden at one’s home so that one’s children can appreciate how important it is for us to have food in our homes. Whether one is a Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, one needs to know that it is important to have a farm. What is it that we are doing if we are not training our children or imparting them with the proper knowledge between Grade 1 and Grade 12?

Mr Speaker, I would like to urge the hon. Leader of Government Business in the House to honour our obligations to SASSCAL.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, I want to thank the chairperson as well as the seconder, who is the vice-chairperson, of the Committee for presenting the Motion.

Mr Speaker, the benefits have already been alluded to. Allow me to raise what could be the demerits for us to warn ourselves against even as we move towards the ratification of the Southern African Service Centre for Climate and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) Treaty.

The first item, Mr Speaker, is what the report brings out, that is, the €1.3 million, which is the financial burden that comes with the ratification of the treaty. The challenge is that membership in SASSCAL requires Zambia to contribute financially toward the centre’s operations. The impact is that it could be a strain on our National Budget, particularly when resources are already stretched by pressing local challenges such as poverty, education and health needs.

Mr Speaker, the second dimension I would like us to look at is the unequal benefit distribution. We know that the benefits from regional institutions like SASSCAL may not be distributed equally among member states often favouring countries with stronger institutions and technical capacities. If we lack the infrastructure to utilise the data that is generated by SASSCAL, the impact on Zambia is that we might not fully benefit from the research, data or technologies that are developed. Further, the risk of bureaucratic inefficiencies becomes important for us to pay attention to when we go through the report. Regional organisations sometimes suffer from slow decision-making and implementation due to conflicting interests among member states. The impact of that on our unique challenges, and battles with climate change and land management priorities is that they could be overshadowed by the broader regional agenda.

Mr Speaker, the fourth dimension is the dependency on external expertise. Ratifying the agreement might make Zambia reliant on SASSCAL for climate and land management solutions rather than investing in local solutions or research. As it is a fact, we, as a country, pay and place a low premium on research. Looking at our policies and how much we channel towards research, one can see that we still do not place a high premium on it. So, ratification could undermine the growth of Zambia's capacity to address climate and land management issues independently.

 Mr Speaker, I would also like to talk about the mis-alignment with national priorities. Sometimes, the priorities of a project that is undertaken by regional bodies, such as SASSCAL, might not align with Zambia’s specific climate and land management challenges. That can lead to a mis-match of resources –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time expired.

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, I rise to commend and thank the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources for the Committee’s thorough work on this important report. I also extend my gratitude to the hon. Members of this House for their invaluable contribution during the debate.

Mr Speaker, my ministry fully supports the ratification of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) Treaty as it aligns with our national development agenda, as expulsed in the key pillars of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which spells out the commitment to addressing the pressing challenges caused by climate change. Climate change has shown that it is linked to challenges ranging from water and sanitation, health and nutrition, poverty and inequality, and human and social development, in general. As noted by the Committee, the reality of global climate change continues to threaten livelihoods and eco-systems. Southern Africa faces acute vulnerability to climate-induced disasters such as drought and floods, which disrupt agricultural productivity and strain water resources. The challenges demand collective regional action and robust scientific research to bolster our adaptive capacities. The SASSCAL Treaty offers an indispensable platform and opportunity to address those challenges through science-driven solutions and regional collaboration.

Mr Speaker, SASSCAL helped member states, including Zambia, to transition from reliance on imported scientific approaches to localised and tailored strategies, as recommended by the Committee, that target efforts to deal with climate change. The efforts will be driven by the relevant ministries to support SASSCAL goals. We want to be part of the larger solution approach to enhancing climate-smart agriculture, improving water harvesting techniques, mitigating, desertification and strengthening early warning systems for climate-related disasters.

Mr Speaker, as already pointed out, ratifying the SASSCAL Treaty will unlock numerous benefits for Zambia enhancing our ability to effectively respond to climate change. Some of the key sectors that will benefit include:

1. agriculture. Improved data and climate-resilient techniques will enhance productivity and food security;
2. water resources. Tools for monitoring and managing water levels in critical reservoirs such as Lake Kariba will secure Zambia’s hydro-electric and agricultural needs;
3. forestry and biodiversity. Strengthened monitoring systems will help conserve our ecosystems; and
4. renewable energy. Projects such as H2ATLAS-Africa will advance green hydrogen production, contributing to energy security and sustainability.

Mr Speaker, Zambia has already benefited significantly from SASSCAL initiatives. The investments exceeding €3.9 million have modernised our scientific infrastructure, including:

1. nineteen automatic weather stations;
2. research laboratories; and
3. tools like the bathymetric survey boat at the University of Zambia (UNZA) for measuring water volumes.

Mr Speaker, those resources have supported key programmes that focus on integrated research in water, agriculture and biodiversity. Additionally, human capital development is the cornerstone of SASSCAL. Thirty-six Zambian students have advanced their studies at the bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) levels, contributing to a cadre of climate-resilient professionals.

Mr Speaker, while Zambia has faced challenges in meeting its annual subscriptions to SASSCAL, the Government is committed to clearing those obligations. We recognise the immense benefits of a SASSCAL membership, which far outweigh the financial obligations. Ratifying the SASSCAL Treaty is a strategic step towards empowering Zambia to combat climate change through research, collaboration and innovation. It will enhance our adaptive capacities, strengthen our economy and secure a sustainable future for all the Zambian people.

Mr Speaker, I urge this House to adopt the Committee’s report and support the ratification of the treaty. Together, we can ensure that Zambia remains a proactive and collaborative player in regional and global climate change resilience efforts.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Ms Tambatamba) (on behalf of the Minister of Green Economy and Environment (Mr Mposha)): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources on the Ratification of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) Treaty.

Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Committee for the immense work that it put into preparing the report under review in this Session of the National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, all the Committee’s concerns are well noted by my ministry. The Government, through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, will address the concerns that were raised on the ratification of the SASSCAL Treaty. The ministry is engaged in international research initiatives and climate science platforms such as the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ensure that national research is aligned with global best practices and findings.

Mr Speaker, the ministry has created formal collaborations with universities, research centres and think tanks focused on climate change and sustainability, and has established joint research programmes and initiatives that align with national climate action goals, for example, SASSCAL plans to establish graduate schools in its member states to contribute to the knowledge-based society. In the case of Zambia, the plan is to establish a graduate school in forestry and woodlands management.

Mr Speaker, the ministry is in the process of developing an integrated national measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system to support the development of a national climate database that includes real-time data on projects that are being implemented, emissions, temperature changes and climate vulnerabilities. The database will be publicly accessible to researchers, policymakers and the public.

Mr Speaker, with regard to early warning systems, the ministry is expanding and modernising weather observation infrastructure to enhance the accuracy and reliability of weather and climate information. For instance, the ministry, through the Meteorology Department, has installed 120 automated weather stations across the country. As part of strengthening the early warning system for all end-users, the seasonal rainfall forecast is also translated into Zambia’s seven local languages, which provides information on drought and other climate risks such as floods, extreme temperatures, strong winds, pests and diseases. The ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, is training extension officers to interpret weather and climate information to enhance farmer preparedness. On the other hand, the ministry is developing a national framework for climate services that will ensure structured delivery of tailored climate services for the end-users.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the ministry plays a central role in fostering scientific research and innovation that is needed to strengthen national and global efforts in combating climate change. Therefore, I urge this House to support the adoption of this report.

I thank you, Mr Speaker. 

Mr Michelo: Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the seconder of the Motion, the vice-chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Menyani Zulu, Member of Parliament for Nyimba; Hon. Chanda, Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya; the hon. Minister of Technology and Science and the Acting hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment, especially that they have taken note of all the concerns that were raised in the report.

Mr Speaker, you may wish to know that climate change is real and we are headed for a serious crisis if we do not put our heads together. I would like to urge all the hon. Members to take this message to their homes, constituencies and families. Climate change should become a household discussion. If we do not do that we will, definitely, miss out. We may already be aware that the crisis that we are in currently is because of the effects of climate change.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

REPORT OF THE ZAMBIAN DELEGATION TO THE 149^th INTER PARLIAMENTARY UNION ASSEMBLY AND RELATED MEETINGS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker gave the floor to Mr Kamboni.

Mr Kamboni: Mr Speaker, I finished presenting my speech to move the Motion. It is the hon. Member for Nalolo who is supposed to be on the Floor as the seconder

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nalolo, you may proceed.

Mr Wamunyima: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended yesterday, I was referring to the conversations that took place at the Forum for Women Parliamentarians at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meetings in the context of science and technology. It is good that the hon. Minister of Technology and Science is in the House to hear this because the conversation took into account aspects of inequality related to science and technology. There is no doubt that the participation of women in science and technology, among other things, can influence the agenda. It was also observed that the present gender imbalance in science and technology (ST) education, which favours boys and men, is often the reason for the barriers that our ladies face. In that regard, I would like to encourage my fellow Parliamentarians to strongly lobby the Government to ensure that young girls study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects so that more women and girls can effectively participate in decision-making processes, especially of a technical nature such as discussions around artificial intelligence (AI).

Mr Speaker, I also took the occasion to participate in the Forum for Young Parliamentarians at which aspects of capacity building were raised for young Parliamentarians in the House to ensure that their debates are informed by research.

Mr Speaker, before I wind up, allow me to highlight one important issue that arose during the Assembly. The saddening conflicts that are taking place in Israel, Lebanon and Gaza were a major concern during the deliberations. Your delegation joined many other Parliamentarians in calling upon the international community within the framework of the IPU meetings to exert more pressure on the parties to the conflict in Israel, Lebanon and Gaza to avert the spectre of a full-scale war in the region from which no one would escape. You will agree with me that an escalation of the conflict in that region would greatly disrupt, among other things, the flow of petroleum oil from the Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf to Europe, and the deterioration of the global economy, which would eventually affect everyone. It is my prayer that, as Parliamentarians, we urge everyone to ensure respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which all nations have agreed to be bound.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me remind my hon. Colleagues that technology can undermine human rights and aggravate inequality if used improperly or maliciously. For that reason, we, as Parliamentarians, have a crucial role to play in promoting a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all, including a safe online environment, to prevent harassment, bullying and cybercrime, particularly when it is gender-based.

Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kamboni: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Members for their support. I think the issues the report discusses are straightforward.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to thank you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the support and help rendered to the Committee during its programme of work. I further thank all the others who were involved.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Question put and agreed to.

MOTION OF SUPPLY

(Debate resumed)

Mr Chinkuli (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, thank you for this opportunity that you have given me to say a word or two on the debate on the Motion.

Mr Speaker, I want to examine the Ministry of Justice's budget allocation, particularly the allocation to the Legal Aid Board Zambia, from which I feel people who live in places like Kanyama would benefit. From the outset, I want to thank the Government for allocating some funds for that institution to move forward.

Mr Speaker, you may wish to note that the institution is heavily mandated. The Act that brought it into existence and a few other statutes mandate this institution so heavily that if it is not adequately funded, it cannot perform its mandate. You will realise that the institution provides legal services to persons whose means are inadequate, like the people of Kanyama and other places. The people of Kanyama benefit from that institution. Each time they find themselves in conflict with the law, they rush to that institution. It is the only institution mandated to provide such a service. Further, it is not only the people seeking its services who give it pressure. The other year, we enacted the Children’s Code Act, which mandates the same institution to ensure that any child who is in conflict with the law is represented. Not only that, the same statute demands that wherever there is a child who is in conflict with the law, he or she should be taken before the courts of law. Looking at that, one can see that the institution seems to have some challenges. It does not have good infrastructure to use in attending to the vulnerable people.

Mr Speaker, the other challenge that seems to be hitting the institution is a lack of advocates. Further, it is not fully present in all the districts. It is only present in a few districts. If the situation is like that, it means that the concept of a just and accountable Judiciary, which guarantees justice for all, may not be achieved. Though the Government has done a lot, I would like to encourage it to do more. It should see how best it can vary some sections within the ministry so that certain funds go towards the institution. The other alternative I can encourage the Government to look at is the Supplementary Budget. I am of the view that this institution should be considered as we shall be looking at the Supplementary Budget.

With those few remarks, I wish to support the Motion to adopt the Budget.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to add my voice to the general policy debate on the Motion of Supply moved on Wednesday, 5^th November, 2024, by my elder brother, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Mr Speaker, allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate the hon. Minister on his well-delivered 2025 National Budget speech, which outlined the key interventions that the New Dawn Administration will be implementing. Let me also thank the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources and all our stakeholders who made contributions to the Sector Policy Analysis on Head 86; Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, when it was tabled before the Committee. I also join hands with the others in thanking the chairperson of the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee for the hard work that his Committee put in reviewing all the Heads of Expenditure, and coming up with the observations and recommendations in the report we are now considering. We have taken note of the observations and recommendations made by the Committee.

Mr Speaker, the Budget Speech that was presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning was the fourth Budget speech that the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government has presented to this House. In his speech, the hon. Minister pointed out that our country was hard hit by the drought, which was caused by the El Nino weather conditions.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members may wish to note that Zambia was hardest hit in Southern Africa and my ministry, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, were at the epicentre of the adverse impact of the drought. The climate change challenge, notwithstanding, it is evident in the content of this year’s National Budget that the New Dawn Government continues to pursue a progressive and strategic direction that will manifest in positive dividends for the people of Zambia. It is also evident in the Government’s prompt and precise response to the drought that we have a working Government that places the interests of the Zambian people first. Through our response, we have ensured that nobody dies of hunger.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapala: Mr Speaker, in addressing the impact of the unprecedented drought on the fisheries and livestock sub-sectors, my ministry re-aligned its budget in 2024 to address the effects. Under livestock development, we focussed on disease control and prevention and targeted diseases such as anthrax, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and foot and mouth disease (FMD). As a result of the interventions put in place such as intensified vaccination campaigns as well as heightened surveillance and sensitisation programmes, outbreaks were averted and that resulted in reduced incidences of diseases despite the severe effects of the drought. My ministry also heightened sensitisation in good livestock production and animal husbandry practices to improve the health and nutrition of the animals. Procurement and distribution of pasture and rangeland seed were key, among our interventions, in improving animal nutrition.

Mr Speaker, in the fisheries sub-sector, our focus was on the promotion of sustainable fisheries. We worked with the communities in establishing community-based fish management areas to support and enforce sustainable fishing practices. The interventions ensured that we averted disasters in our two sub-sectors. That is what a responsible and pro-active Government does.

Mr Amutike: Hear, hear!

Quality!

Mr Kapala: Mr Speaker, going forward, my ministry is not only looking to support the sub-sectors in augmenting the gains recorded thus far, but it is also working to build resilience for the future. Noting the recommendation that was submitted by the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee to the effect that most of the annual budget for our ministry did not mainstream climate change mitigation and adaption measures such as the construction of dams, I wish to assure the House that, as the Government, that has been our focus and we have planned a number of interventions to build resilience.

Mr Speaker, using a multi-sectoral approach under our ‘One Government’ policy approach, we, as a ministry, have planned for the construction of dams as part of our water harvesting initiatives and we have been working closely with the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation as well as the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment. For instance, priority has been given to rehabilitating the Dam in Mochipapa in the Southern Province and an allocation of K7.5 million has been provided. My ministry has also provided K58 million for rangeland management and pasture production. The focus is on rehabilitating degraded rangelands, which have been affected by over-sowing and enhancing pasture production through irrigation.

Mr Speaker, to build resilience in disease control and management, the ministry is domesticating the production of all key vaccines for diseases of national economic importance. In that regard, the Government has set aside K200 million for the construction of a new viral vaccine plant that will augment existing facilities at the Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI). Further, we are repealing our legislation, refocusing our policies and re-arranging our programmes to mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives. Some of the programmes we will undertake in that aspect include:

1. development of the Livestock Development Bill;
2. review of the Fisheries Act No. 22 of 2011 and the Animal Health Act No. 27 of 2010; and
3. review of the National Livestock Development Policy.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

(Debate adjourned)

_______

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1812 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 20^th November, 2024.

_______