Wednesday, 23rd October, 2024

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Wednesday, 23rd October, 2024

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

SUSPENSION OF BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Mr Second Deputy Speaker:  Hon. Members, I have two announcements to make. In the first announcement, as you may be aware, the House convened on Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 to attend to urgent business in accordance with Standing Order No. 166(4).

In this regard, I wish to inform you that the House Business Committee met on Thursday, 17th October, 2024 and resolved that the House will not sit on Friday, 25th October, 2024, but will instead, sit on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024 to consider any outstanding urgent business.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

RE-LAUNCH OF THE TUBERCULOSIS CAUCUS

Mr Second Deputy Speaker:  Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that there will be a re-launch of the Zambian Parliamentary Caucus on Tuberculosis on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024, at 1800 hours at the Grand Palace Hotel.

The hon. Madam First Deputy Speaker will grace the occasion.  Hon. Members who are interested in joining the Zambian Parliamentary Tuberculosis Caucus are invited to attend the re-launch on a voluntary basis.

I urge all hon. Members to give support to this important event.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR KAPYANGA, HON. MEMBER FOR MPIKA, ON THE ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, MR LUFUMA, ON LIFE ASSURANCE POLICIES FORCED ON CIVIL SERVANTS

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Mr Speaker, life assurance policies are very important in as far as covering the lives of our people is concerned.  However, applying for a life assurance policy is an individual’s option. Civil servants across the country are complaining that they are finding various life assurance policy providers appearing on their payslips and that money is being deducted for policies which they did not apply for. Top on the list of the culprits is the Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZISC), which deducts money from civil servants for policies they have not signed up for. I, therefore, direct this Urgent Matter Without Notice to the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

 Mr Speaker, I seek your serious indulgence.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I urge you to file in a question to the relevant ministry and it will be addressed accordingly.

MR MICHELO, HON. MEMBER FOR BWEENGWA, ON THE ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, MR LUFUMA, ON THE BREACHED DAMS IN BWEENGWA CONSTITUENCY

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, the urgent matter I wish to raise is directed to the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation. Since he is not present in the House, I will direct it to the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

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

Mr Michelo: Mr Speaker, animals in Monze District, in particular, Bweengwa Constituency, do not have water to drink. So far, a number of animals have died due to insufficient water supply in the constituency. A number of dams were breached during the floods, and right now, Monze District does not have a single dam. The district has the highest number of cattle in this country, yet not even a single dam has been constructed there. At the moment, there is only one dam, which has been rehabilitated using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).  The ministry has not done anything in the constituency since the dams were breached.

Mr Speaker, I want to know the reason the breached dams have not been worked on. I also want to know why the new dams are not being constructed now, before the next rainy season so that next year, we do not face the same crisis that we are in today.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, I think that the Government and all Zambians are already aware of issues to do with the scarcity of water supply. However, you can still file in a question and the relevant hon. Minister will update the House. If you are Zambian, you should be aware that due to the drought, we are experiencing a huge scarcity of water supply country-wide.

MR CHEWE, HON. MEMBER FOR LUBANSENSHI, ON THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA, MR MWEETWA, ON THE DISRUPTION IN TRANSMISSION OF THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL BROADCASTING CORPORATION IN LUBANSENSHI CONSTITUENCY

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the Urgent Matter Without Notice that I am raising is directed to the Ministry of Information and Media. You may wish to note that information is very critical in decision-making. Today, is almost the fourth or fifth day since the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Television (TV)1 and TV2 stopped broadcasting in Lubansenshi. The people of Luwingu, Lubansenshi Constituency,  and Zambians at large would like to know what has caused the disruption in transmission.

Mr Speaker, this is a critical period in which we are celebrating our Independence. People should be given updates on what is happening and the peace that the country is enjoying. At the same time, this is the rainy season and farmers need to be guided in terms of how this rainy season is going to be. In other words, it is the responsibility of the national broadcaster to give updates on politics and other national issues. I would like to find out why the hon. Minister of Information and Media has remained quiet while ZNBC TV1 and TV2 are not broadcasting and giving information to the Zambian people.

Mr Speaker, I need your serious guidance.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker:  Hon. Member, I urge you to file in an urgent question and the hon. Minister will be able to clarify the issues that you have raised.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

TOPICAL ISSUES FOR THE 2024/2025 FARMING SEASON

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for according me this opportunity to update the House on topical issues pertinent to the Agricultural Sector. I will, therefore, give the House an update on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for the 2024/2025 Farming Season as well as the practicability of the weather advisory note on the 2024/2025 season.

Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has been implementing FISP since 2002 with the aim of providing subsidised inputs to small-scale farmers. This is in order to ensure food and income security at the household level.

Mr Speaker, FISP for the 2024/2025 Farming Season has targeted the usual 1,024,434 farmers and the programme will be implemented using two modalities which are; the Direct Input Supply (DIS) and Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) systems. The DIS will target 285,168 farmers in forty-two districts while the e-Voucher will target 739,266 beneficiaries in seventy-four districts countrywide. Furthermore, training on the FISP modalities for the 2024/2025 Farming Season for the Ministry of Agriculture staff and agro-dealers commenced on 26th August, 2024. It is worth stating that so far, the ministry has conducted four sessions of each category and this is ongoing.

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that a total of 779 input suppliers applied online as agro-dealers. These have since been screened and verified. Copies of the lists of the verified agro-dealers will be availed to all the hon. Members of Parliament through the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly. The ministry has also put up mechanisms to monitor the performance of agro-dealers to ensure that malpractices are curtailed.

Mr Speaker, in the 2024/2025 Farming Season under the DIS modality, the Government has procured 42,775.20 metric tonnes of D compound and 42,775.20 metric tonnes of Urea. Two suppliers were contracted to supply and deliver D Compound, while eleven suppliers were contracted to supply and deliver Urea fertiliser. The House may wish to note that the contracted suppliers have since commenced with the delivery of the above stated inputs in the respective districts. As of 22nd October, 2024, out of the 42,775.20 metric tonnes of D Compound fertiliser, 41,312.50 metric tonnes had been delivered, representing 97 per cent while out of the procured 42,775.20 metric tonnes of Urea, 33,981.60 metric tonnes had been delivered representing 79.44 per cent.

Mr Speaker, allow me to inform the hon. Members of this august House that the Government has contracted seventeen suppliers to supply and deliver various seeds as follows:

Seed Type                               Quantity (metric tonnes)

 

maize                                       2,851.68

soya beans                               1,485.78

groundnuts                              2,091.54

rice                                              134.58

cow peas                                         8.30

common beans                         1,004.66

sunflower                                     277.51

sorghum                                        18.75

millet                                               0.40

 

These supplies have also commenced the delivery of seed to various districts across the country.

Mr Speaker, in accordance with the released rainfall forecast, Zambia is expected to transition from the current El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to a weak La Nina phase during the 2024/2025 Rainy Season. We have been guided that this transition is likely to influence Zambia’s rainfall pattern, resulting in normal to above normal rainfall in most parts of the country, particularly in the following provinces:

  1. the North-Western Province;
  2. the Western Province;
  3. the Southern Province
  4. Lusaka Province;
  5. Central Province;
  6. the Copperbelt Province; and
  7. the Southern districts of the Eastern, Muchinga, the Northern and Luapula provinces.

Mr Speaker, therefore, I wish to alert the farmers and the nation at large of the anticipated effects of the normal to above normal rainfall on our agricultural sector for the 2024/2025 Rainy Season. This phenomenon may trigger extreme events, including flash floods, resulting in the resurgence of pests and diseases, damage and displacement of community infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, to mitigate these risks, it is essential that we implement proactive measures. The Ministry of Agriculture is, therefore, strongly advocating for early planting in susceptible regions and these are the Southern Province, Central Province, the Western Province, the North-Western Province, the Copperbelt Province, Luapula Province and parts of the Eastern Province, Muchinga Province and the Northern Province. Farmers in these areas should be encouraged to plant early. Furthermore, they are urged to ensure optimal field preparation, incorporating effective drainage systems to minimise waterlogging and potential crop damage. The House may wish to note that if we do not take care of our fields, there will be serious implications for our crops

Mr Speaker, the onset of the growing season is defined with a criteria of an area receiving a total of 25 mm of rainfall in the first ten days, followed by a total of 20 mm in the next twenty days. Therefore, fields should be well prepared and drained to minimise waterlogging. Additionally, farmers are urged to be well prepared in terms of inputs and the availability of implements.

Mr Speaker, I am pleased to report that the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has taken proactive steps to bolster extension services to ensure that our farmers receive the technical guidance and support they need to thrive nationwide. This initiative includes the training of extension officers in all 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.

Mr Speaker, in light of the anticipated rainfall patterns, the Government urges farmers to diversify their crops according to the specific rainfall forecast for each district and province. In this regard, we recommend that our farmers diversify their crop production to include other climate-resilient crops such as sorghum, cassava, millets and early-maturing legumes including cowpeas, common beans and groundnuts. In addition to these measures, farmers should ensure that they plant quality certified seed as well as implement conservation agricultural practices, including the following:

  1. no till or reduced till farming;
  1. cover cropping;
  1. crop rotation;
  1. organic mulching;
  1. integrated pest management;
  1. precision irrigation;
  1. agro-forestry; 
  1. conservation tillage; and
  1. integrated nutrient management.

Mr Speaker, farmers are also encouraged to consult with their local agricultural extension officers for tailored advice on crop selection and planting schedules, pest and disease control and soil conservation techniques.

Mr Speaker, the Government will continue to take proactive steps to enhance monitoring and surveillance of crop pests and diseases to prevent outbreaks. This is especially crucial in areas prone to flooding, where post-harvesting mitigation strategies will be implemented. The ministry, therefore, utilises data from various modalities to predict crop pests and diseases by applying machine learning methodologies. This is because growth environment data is relatively easy to obtain. Attempts are made to predict crop pests and diseases by utilising deep learning models to predict crop pests and diseases from environmental data, such as temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration. These models can identify risk scores, enabling early diagnosis and prevention of crop pests and diseases.

Mr Speaker, I wish to alert farmers in Chama District, Mafinga District, Isoka District, Nakonde District, Chinsali District, Mungwi District, Senga District, Mbala District, Mpulungu District, Kaputa District, Chiengi District, Nchelenge District and Mporokoso District of potential episodes of normal to below normal rainfall as stated by the Metrological Department. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging our farmers in the areas mentioned, to plant drought-tolerant and climate-resilient crop varieties, implement conservation agricultural practices and enhance irrigation management to optimise water use, considering the prevailing situation in the country. Farmers are further advised to grow high producing medium maturing varieties in areas with below normal rainfall.

Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, planned to intensify monitoring, early warning, and awareness as well as good information dissemination to farmers. Army worms are expected to increase due to dry conditions. Therefore, farmers are advised to increase pest scouting to facilitate the control of the pests. Even in Chadiza, when people wake up in the morning, they need to go to the fields to check physically for the availability of the pests. That is what pest scouting is all about.

Mr Speaker, the Government is working tirelessly to enhance the farmer’s preparedness for the farming season and also ensure that our farmers have access to essential inputs. In this regard, the e-Voucher system is encouraged as it will eventually facilitate efficient input distribution as well as promote transparency and accountability. I, therefore, wish to caution our farmers against the selling of subsidised inputs as this is a criminal offense and anyone found doing this, will face the wrath of the law. The bags of fertiliser that the farmers receive are clearly labelled ‘not for sale’ and so, if one is found selling, he/she will be arrested.

Mr Speaker, the House may further wish to note that to improve the targeting of beneficiaries, the Ministry of Agriculture commenced the registration of farmers in March 2024 through the Zambia Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (ZIAMIS). The Ministry has thus, integrated ZIAMIS with mobile network providers such as Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited (ZAMTEL), Mobile Telephone Network (MTN), and Airtel Network Zambia (Airtel) to enhance the screening of farmers on FISP and ensure that the registered famers’ National Registration Cards (NRC) match with the phone numbers. One of the requirements for a farmer to qualify as a beneficiary on FISP in each season is for him/her to have an active phone number which is registered in his/her name. This is required for the following reasons:

  1. enhance farmer identification and traceability;
  1. facilitate smooth insurance pay-outs. We have money for the insurance which we want to give to the farmers because they suffered the drought effects. We are failing to contact them because their numbers are going to the wrong people. That is why we want numbers that are active;
  1. enhance farmer extension service outreach and targeting;
  1. facilitate and ease FISP farmer beneficiary transactions such as payment of farmer contribution and collection of inputs; and
  1. monitoring and evaluation of the programme.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that the affected farmers, whose numbers appear as invalid or incorrect are requested to verify and update their phone numbers or obtain new phone numbers. The numbers should be registered in their names, and immediately notify the District Agricultural Co-ordinators (DACOs), through the Agriculture Camp Extension Officers. These activities are ongoing and I, therefore, wish to urge our farmers through this august House to urgently deposit the contribution of K400 so that they collect their inputs on time. Farmers are further, urged to not share their inputs as they are bonded in their individual capacities when they sign bonding forms, which commits them to selling a minimum of 10 x 50 Kg bags of white maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, the Ministry of Agriculture is urging our farmers to take necessary precautions and adopt mitigation strategies to minimise the impact of the anticipated rainy season for the 2024/2025 period. I would also like to take one more opportunity to inform the nation that the delivery of farming inputs to various districts is already in progress for the 2024/2025 Farming Season. We are thus, calling on all potential FISP beneficiaries to expeditiously redeem their vouchers to facilitate timely planting.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement presented by the hon. Minister of Agriculture.

 

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mpika, please, let us avoid debating while seated.

Ms Nakaponda (Isoka): Mr Speaker, thank you very much. The hon. Minister has indicated that Isoka is one of the constituencies or districts that is going to have normal or abnormal rainfall. This is the constituency which has a number of farmers benefiting from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). Therefore, my question is: Since Isoka is also benefitting from the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) programme, how many tonnes of drought-resistant seed has the ministry supplied to Isoka?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, thank you. Just to correct the hon. Member, Isoka is one of those districts that will receive normal to below normal rainfall, not abnormal. The regions in Muchinga Province, Luapula Province and the Northern Province with certain parts of the Eastern Province, are going to have normal to below normal rainfall. Therefore, the message here is to plant early. When we give a statement like that, as the Ministry of Agriculture, I do not just look at FISP, I also look at the entire farming community in Zambia. Therefore, our guidance to those who are not on FISP is to buy early maturing and drought-resistant seeds, which are available in our country. Zambia is the largest exporter of seed in Africa. We have all types of seed, one just has to buy the right seed. However, the seed that we give under FISP has all these qualities.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Nakaponda: How many tonnes?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I do not have the exact figure for Isoka, but I do have the number of tonnes of seed which we have bought, as a country. I can give you an answer at break time. We will call the office, we have all the information.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity that you have given me to ask a question. In his ministerial statement, the hon. Minister indicated that certain parts of the country will receive normal to above normal rainfall. This time around, we are talking about the rain starting in October. We are almost concluding the month, but we have not seen a vigorous approach from the ministry to deliver inputs such as fertiliser and seed to most parts of the country.

Mr Speaker, I would like to find out when exactly the ministry intends to move in and start the vigorous distribution of inputs. This is to avert challenges that farmers face in accessing these inputs during the time when it is raining heavily.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I will borrow the term which the hon. Member used and say that we are absolutely vigorous in our distribution of the farming inputs. I wish to let the country know that fact. I can give the hon. Member the figures for seed, D compound fertiliser and Urea fertiliser deliveries for the Copperbelt, where he comes from.

Mr Speaker, in as far as the whole country is concerned, I had indicated earlier on that the Government is supposed to supply 42,775.02 metric tonnes of D Compound. We have supplied 41,312 metric tonnes, which in percentage terms is, 97 per cent. If this is not the definition of vigorous, then I need to be calmly educated by the hon. Member.

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the Government is supposed to deliver 42,775.02 metric tonnes of Urea fertiliser. As we speak, we have delivered 34,000 metric tonnes, which is 80 per cent. So, in both cases, we have been exceptionally vigorous and I wish to assure the hon. Member of Parliament, and a good friend, that we are doing very well in this area. If he wants more details, our office is open and we are very happy to discuss with any hon. Member in the House who needs clarification.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, maybe, what the hon. Member was trying to put across was that the people who have been assigned to distribute fertiliser on behalf of the Government, who are the agro-dealers, are not doing enough. Maybe, they should be engaged to ensure that the end users, access the input. So, I think, the onus is on your office to ensure that the agro-dealers do the needful.

Mr Charles Mulenga: Exactly.

Mr Sialubalo (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, thank you so much. The ministerial statement which the hon. Minister just issued is very important. I want to find out from him whether the ministry already has plans to have this ministerial statement reaches each and every corner of our country through our community radio stations so that an ordinary farmer can get adequate and accurate information.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, thank you and I wish to thank the Hon. Member for that point.

Mr Speaker, immediately after this statement is released from here, it will be public information and I would encourage the hon. Members to get a copy and also help us to disseminate the information. I take note of what the hon. Member has said and I will make sure that we send this statement to all the Provincial Agricultural Co-ordinators (PACOs) so that they can give it to the radio stations in different parts of the country. I will definitely do that.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chala (Chipili): Mr Speaker, I thank you. Last season’s distribution of farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) was very biased, to say the least.  Looking at the current rain pattern, how has the ministry prepared the distribution of the inputs for this year to ensure that Zambia is  food secure?

Mr B. Mpundu: Hear, hear!

E question iyi!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, thank you and I would like to also thank my very good friend, the hon. Member for Chipili for that question.

Mr Speaker, there are two or three things that I think the nation should know through that question. Firstly, the figure of beneficiaries in the country has never been changed. We, as the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government, continued with the figures which were there even under the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, which is 1,024,434 farmers. I am happy that the hon. Minister of Agriculture then, is here, in the House and seated directly opposite me, he knows about this figure.

Mr Speaker, secondly, there has been no deliberate change in these figures. The weather is an interesting phenomenon. Last year, the rainfall pattern was good in the northern parts of Zambia and poor in the southern parts of Zambia. No one needs to explain that, we all saw it. Here we are this year, the weather is going to be poor in the northern parts of Zambia, but very good in the southern parts of Zambia, this is a complete change. These are not figures which we have come up with ourselves. They are figures given to us by the hon. Member responsible for climate issues. It is a fact that we will have average and below average rainfall out there, just as I had indicated in my response to the hon. Member for Isoka.

Mr Speaker, it is raining heavily right now in some parts of Zambia. We have colleagues in those areas and they are telling us that it is raining. Yesterday, it was raining heavily in Luapula and parts of the northern parts of Zambia, but that rainfall is going to be short-lived. The message we should take from what I have said is to plant early.  So, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment comes and tells us about the weather and the Ministry of Agriculture applies that information on what farmers should do. That is the most important point we should get from what I was saying this morning; to plant early and to plant the right seed.

Mr Speaker, we are not going to vary the figures, if that was the question. The quantity of fertiliser that went to the northern, southern, eastern, western and central parts of Zambia has remained static, it is exactly the same.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister –

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

The Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, you know our rules. You cannot raise a point of order on a ministerial statement.

May you proceed, hon. Member for Bweengwa.

Mr Michelo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for that ministerial statement. The major beneficiaries of the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) programme are the extension officers in the ministry of Agriculture and not the farmers. The misunderstandings and all the negative statements being made on the ground are a result of the mismanagement of the farming inputs by the majority of the extension officers. They are the ones involved in this very big scam. I know the ministry is in the process of cleaning the system, and in that process, I think that this is the right time to not involve the agricultural  camp extension officers (ACEOs) in the cleaning system, instead, it should bring in other agencies such as the Office of the President (OP) and the Office of the District Commissioner (DC) to help identify the beneficiaries of the inputs. This is because if we continue with the status quo, the same people who produced the data, which is not clean, will again, reproduce the same dirty data. So, would it be unfair for us, as a country, if we involved other ministries or other offices such as the Office of the DC, the OP or the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to clean up the system properly?

Mr Speaker, when some farmers are not found in the system for the e-Voucher programme, they are told to go back and bring other people instead of themselves. Therefore, why can we not remove the ACEOs because we know that they are the major culprits and every time they hear about the e-Voucher programme, they start salivating?  I would like to know the hon. Minister’s take on that one.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I thank you and I wish to most sincerely thank Hon. Michelo for that position.

Mr Speaker, this is a serious problem and honestly, I would like all the hon. Members in this House to assist us on this particular issue. We, as the Ministry of Agriculture, now have the whole list, and I am going to give each and every hon. Member the list of all the agro-dealers and all the farmers in their area. It is a big document. We have been saying this continuously and as I am speaking, out of the 1,024,000 farmers, we have verified close to 800,000 farmers. Where are the other 200,000? We found out that they were simply not there, but we want to give farmers the inputs. This is where hon. Members of this august House and, indeed, as the hon. Member for Bweengwa said, the Office of the President (OP) and the District Commissioners (DCs) should help to list new and genuine members. Sometimes, the hon. Members in this House would come to me and say that they have identified certain people who are a problem, I would then request that they give me the names so that I can get rid of them.

Hon. Opposition Member laughed.

Mr Mtolo: Yes, the one laughing is a victim of that. He has failed to give me the names of people he says are a problem so that I get rid of them, but I am not here to discuss that. The issue is the point that Hon. Michelo has raised, which is very important. I am asking the House to help us come up with names of farmers to replace the ones whom we have finally caught up with and are no longer on the list. People were failing to go and get their inputs. For the first time, we have inputs everywhere and we are asking people to go and get them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Why? It is because we have sieved out many crooked farmers. Those who thought they could come with documents of their children, wives and uncles et cetera are now caught out. So, hon. Members of Parliament assist us. Here is a chance for you to identify genuine farmers and give us the genuine farmers so that we can put them on the list. Otherwise, we will have a year when we will cross over into next year with fertiliser, which people have not gotten and this will be very unfortunate.

Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member and I have taken his guidance. We are already working with the OP and DCs. However, we will enhance that position because we are asking people to go and get fertiliser, but they are not going. So, we will do that everywhere without exception.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chonde (Milenge): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his answers, which I have been listening attentively to.

Mr Speaker, the process of redeeming agricultural inputs in Milenge Constituency is quite slow, owing to the fact that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is still holding on to the supplies it received. Taking advantage of the interface I have with the hon. Minister, when is the FRA paying the farmers? I believe the situation is the same elsewhere.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, in his question, the hon. Member linked two issues. He said that the farmers are not making their contribution of K400 to receive their inputs because FRA is delaying their payments. I am working very hard with the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to make sure that farmers are paid in total. So far, there has been some positive reaction. I am expecting close to K1 billion from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, hopefully, we will receive it this week or next week. Once we receive the money, all the farmers in this country will be paid. I can only pray that I am paid as quickly as possible.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Mr Speaker, the inputs are accessed through co-operatives and the agriculture camp extension officers (ACEOs) have been going around in Mpika Constituency, in Katibunga, Mukungule, Chishala, Kasenga and everywhere, telling the farmers the number of packs that each co-operative will receive. From that information, most of the farmers who have been on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for some time now have been told that they will not get the inputs this year. In his statement, the hon. Minister re-iterated that the ministry has maintained the number of FISP beneficiaries at 1,024,000. However, the information on the ground is that some farmers have been removed from the programme. This information has been delivered by his extension officers.

Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister confidently tell farmers out there if he has removed some of them from the programme.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, thank you, and I am breathing well my dear hon. Member for Chipili.

Mr Speaker, first of all, allow me to assist the hon. Member for Mpika with the correct figure. May the hon. Member write it down, the figure is 1,024,434 farmers under FISP, and that is the first issue. The hon. Member has said that farmers are told that there is a given list or number for each co-operative and that it was clear that some farmers had been removed from FISP.

Mr Speaker, this is how it works; the ministry gives fertiliser to a given area, let us assume this segment here is Mpika. If the ministry gives the fertiliser to Mpika, how it will distribute that fertiliser amongst its farmers is up to the co-operatives to decide. Whom to take out and put on the list to receive the fertiliser is also up to the co-operatives.

Mr Speaker, I stood on the Floor of this House this morning to ask hon. Members of Parliament to be part and parcel of that process. I also wrote a letter to authorise hon. Members to be part of that process. So, the onus of who to take out or maintain on the list of beneficiaries is entirely on the co-operative movement and the district. The Ministry of Agriculture has nothing to do with that. I can confirm that the ministry has not changed the figure. The figure will remain as it is at 1,024,434 beneficiaries on FISP. It will not change or drop. That is the position of the ministry. Therefore, if there is anyone who has been removed from the programme, then those are internal issues happening at the co-operative level. The ministry does not get involved at the co-operative level, as to determine who is removed from the list and who should not.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister indicated to the House that he has not finished paying the few farmers who produced maize last year, 2023, in Luapula Province.

Mr Speaker, looking at the agro-dealers who have been giving out farming inputs such as fertiliser to our farmers, is the hon. Minister in a position to tell the nation if the Government will be able to pay the agro-dealers who are redeeming the Electronic Vouchers (e-Vouchers) as soon as their invoices mature?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, thank you and thank you hon. Member for Nyimba for that question.

Mr Speaker, yes, we have contracted 799 agro-dealers. I remember, when I came to this House, I asked hon. Members to be part and parcel of the agro-dealership. The system is such that once a farmer gets the authority to collect their inputs, they can have their e-Voucher redeemed at any agro-shop. This is important and if farmers get their e-Voucher, whether in Sioma or Kalomo, they should be told that they are not compelled to use the e-Voucher in one agro-shop. Farmers can get seed from one agro-shop and still get fertiliser and lime from different shops. They are not compelled –

Mr B. Mpundu: You are not compelled to each other.

Mr Kapyanga: Yes!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

 Hon. Members for Mpika and Nkana, please, let us maintain order. Today is Wednesday, and I do not want to send anyone out.

May the hon. Minister continue.

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, to conclude and for the interest of the hon. Member for Nyimba, yes, as a ministry, we are making every effort to pay agro-dealers. I can assure him that a week or so ago, money was put in so that those agro-dealers who redeemed their e-Vouchers can have their money. It is the job of the Ministry of Agriculture to make sure that what we tell the nation happens. If agro-dealers redeem, they get their money instantly. I received some feedback from some agro-dealers who have not been paid. The ministry is working on that and it will make sure that they are paid. So, thank you hon. Member for the reminder, but it is our responsibility to make sure that it happens.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to clarify on the information that has been circulating out there that farmers who got the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) loans and grants do not qualify to be beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). This has caused a lot of uproar, especially in our rural constituencies. Different information is being disseminated by the District Agricultural Co-ordinators (DACOs) and the Agriculture Extension Camp Officers.

Mr Speaker, we would want the hon. Minister to make it very clear, on the Floor of this House, what the position of the Government is, currently, with regard to farmers who got CDF loans and grants.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, through this question from Hon. Kateka, Member of Parliament for Solwezi East –

Hon. Government Member: It is Katakwe.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I am being corrected that it is Katakwe, I am sorry Hon. Katakwe. That issue of the CDF loans has been corrected and it will not apply. I would like to repeat that statement that the issue of a member getting a loan from the CDF will not affect their rights to get a loan under the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) or FISP. So, they are eligible and no one should stop them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, we discussed it and realised that under the CDF, farmers could have gotten a loan as a club and not as an individual. Therefore, we cannot start apportioning that to a particular individual and deny him/her SAFF or FISP. So, this should be as clear as I am putting it.

Mr Speaker, if a farmer got a grant or a loan from CDF, that farmer is still free to get FISP and SAFF. I hope, I have made it very clear.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Kasandwe (Bangweulu): Mr Speaker, it is a fact that some co-operatives have not received their farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). It is also a fact that others have been removed from the programme.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that farmers should not share their inputs. He has also maintained the number of FISP beneficiaries and he further said that he has no role in removing beneficiaries from the list. What is the intention of the Government in this matter because when there was a change of Government, there was emphasis from the ministry on registering more co-operatives? The number of co-operatives from 2021 to date has increased, yet the Government has maintained the same number of packs. What does the hon. Minister think is the best way to manage this situation? What is the intention of the Government in terms of harmonising the new and the old beneficiaries? It is also a fact that some new beneficiaries are receiving their FISP, while the old ones are not.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I repeat: as the Government, we are not encouraging the sharing of inputs. Do not share those inputs. Once you get them, they are yours, go and use them on your farm. We will not change that position.

Mr Speaker, secondly, it is the responsibility of the hon. Member of Parliament for Bangweulu and the constituents to find out who has been getting fertiliser from 2002 to 2024. It is not just right for one person to be getting fertiliser for all these years. We cannot have the same people benefitting from FISP for twenty-two or twenty-four years. What about the others?

Mr Speaker, thirdly, the game that will change all this is the SAFF Programme. I have continuously said it here, in the House, that the programme which we want to embrace and grow is SAFF also known as the credit window. This is an affordable financing facility for our farmers. We will not get to this issue of new and old support programmes for farmers. As I said earlier, that is an in-house issue. We came here, on the Floor of the House and presented our plan to isolate the farmers who got loans for three years. At first, everyone was happy, but when we implemented it, the House here told me to change it, stating that people cannot graduate from FISP because the quantity of the inputs is very small. So, we have introduced SAFF and up to K500,000 is in the offing for each farmer and that is where we should gyrate to. That is where you should take those farmers who feel they have been taken out of FISP.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, for the first time in thirteen years, farmers have received their inputs in October. This, indeed, is wonderful news to them. Therefore, I would like to congratulate the hon. Minister for the job well done. People in Choma Constituency  and Mbabala Constituency are swiping right now.

Mr Speaker, however, I would like to follow up on the issue of the agriculture credit window programme because there is a lot of interest from my farmers who want to expand their agriculture based on that programme. What mechanisms can the ministry help us with to ensure that we recruit as many farmers as possible on the agriculture credit window programme? I think that by having the right materials to give out to our farmers such as recruitment forms and communication brochures, our farmers can get more information and know who to contact so that the programme can move in the right direction. I would like to enquire more on that programme as our farmers want to venture into large-scale farming once more in the 2024/2025 Farming Season.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Mbabala for his kind words. It is nice sometimes to encourage us with such kind words.

Mr Speaker, I have heard what the hon. Member has said. Sometimes, it is good to listen very carefully and implement what people are suggesting. The ministry is promoting SAFF through the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) and the radio stations. However, I hear the hon. Member on brochures and I think that he is telling us to enhance the communication system. SAFF is a good way to go and I think we will try to work hard. We even have co-operating partners who are trying to assist us in terms of communication so that we can enhance the programme.

Mr Speaker, I would not like to comment much, but to say that I hear and appreciate what the hon. Member for Mbabala has said. I will discuss it with my colleagues at work so that we can see how we can enhance the communication system. It is not the first time that I have been told that our communication in this area is poor, so we will work on it.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

UPGRADE OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO BOARDING SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SIAVONGA DISTRICT

     53. Mr Mulunda (Siavonga) asked the Minister of Education:

  1. whether the Government has any plans to upgrade the following day secondary schools in Siavonga District to boarding secondary schools:
  1. Matuwa;
  2. Chaanga; and
  3. Sianyoolo;
  1. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
  1. if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government has immediate plans to upgrade Matuwa and Chaanga Day Secondary Schools in Siavonga District to boarding secondary schools. However, Sianyoolo Day Secondary School may be considered for upgrading when additional funds are made available.

Mr Speaker, the implementation of these plans has already begun at Matuwa and Chaanga Secondary Schools under the Global Fund and the Keeping Girls in School (KGS) initiative. The contractor is on site, and construction is progressing well, with the dormitories currently at 90 per cent completion.

Mr Speaker, regarding Sianyoolo School, the House may wish to note that the Government is in the process of completing its construction as a day secondary school, as planned. Once the construction is finalised, the Government may consider upgrading it to a boarding secondary school, subject to availability of funds.

Mr Speaker, due to the response in part (b) of the question, part (c) of the question falls off. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

COUNTRYWIDE ANIMAL RESTOCKING EXERCISE

  55. Ms Mwamba (Kasama Central) (on behalf of Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa)) asked the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock:

  1. whether the Government has any plans to conduct a countrywide animal restocking exercise, following the loss of animals during the anthrax outbreak that occurred in November, 2023;
  1. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  1. what the estimated cost of the exercise is; and
  1. what breed of animals will be availed for restocking.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo) (on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala)): Mr Speaker, the hon. Member may wish to note that the countrywide stocking and restocking exercise is an on-going Government programme which started in 2017.

 Mr Speaker, indeed, the Government has plans in the immediate, medium and long term to continue with the restocking exercise. For the information of the House and the country at large, stocking refers to placing of livestock in areas which are traditionally livestock keeping, while restocking refers to placement in areas which lost livestock due to a number of causes such as disease outbreaks, including anthrax and other hazards.

Further, due to limited financial resources, the stocking and restocking programme operates on a pass-on-the-gift model to ensure all eligible citizens benefit from the intervention. In this model, initial beneficiaries are expected to pass on equal numbers of livestock received to another beneficiary at no cost.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member may wish to note that the Government is currently carrying out a countrywide stocking and restocking exercise. Placements have been and are being made in all the provinces, that is; the Northern Province (dairy and goats), the Eastern Province (beef cattle and goats), Muchinga Province (dairy cattle and goats), the Southern Province (beef and dairy cattle, goats), Lusaka Province (goats), Luapula Province (beef cattle, pigs and goats), Central Province (goats) and Copperbelt Province (dairy cattle and goats). The number of livestock being placed in 2024 is 780 beef heifers, twenty-five beef bulls, ninety-six dairy heifers, fifteen dairy bulls, 5,000 goats and 125 pigs.

 Mr Speaker, the hon. Member will note that from the placements that have been undertaken, the 2023 anthrax outbreak areas have been covered. These are the Western Province, the Southern Province, the Eastern Province, and Muchinga Province.

Further, the hon. Member will recall that Bwana Mkubwa Constituency is among the beneficiaries of the restocking exercise, where the ministry has placed ten dairy heifers, and one bull in the Kafubu Resettlement Scheme.

Mr Speaker, in 2024, the Government is expected to spend a total of K26 million for the stocking and restocking exercise, while K27 million is budgeted for 2025.

Mr Speaker, the ministry is placing different livestock breeds in various parts of the country. For example, beef cattle - Borans, Braham, and other crosses; dairy cattle - Jarseys, Fresians, and other crosses; local goats; pigs - Large White, Landrace, and other crosses.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms S. Mwamba: Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Bwana Mkubwa, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for his well-explained and elaborate answer.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

STALLED CONSTRUCTION  OF THE SAMFYA INTERNATIONAL

CONVENTION CENTRE

56. Mr Kasandwe (Bangweulu) asked the Minister of Labour and Social Security:

  1. why construction of the Samfya International Convention Centre in Samfya District has stalled;
  1. at what level of completion, in percentage terms, the project was, as of April, 2024;
  1. when the construction works will resume;
  1. what the cost of the project is;
  1. who the contractor for the project is; and
  1. how many jobs will be created once the centre is operationalised.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima) (on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Social Security (Ms Tambatamba)): Mr Speaker, in its quest to grow the fund and ensure sustainability, the Workers' Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB), embarked on the development of the following projects in the Northern Circuit:

  1. Samfya International Convention Centre;
  1. Kasama Shopping Mall and Hotel; and
  1.  the Chinsali Budget Hotel.

The combined total projected investment for the board in the Northern Circuit was going to be K1.47 billion. Executing the projects all at once proved to be onerous and a threat to the fund. The Samfya International Convention Centre had the largest share of the investment amounting to K966.86 million. This amounted to about 30 per cent of the total investment portfolio of the board and proceeding with the investment would have resulted in the funds being tied up and threatened liquidity or survival and it could equally have been against prudential principles.

Therefore, the board, in exercising its fiduciary duty decided to put the development of the Samfya International Convention Centre on hold to find a suitable partner to execute the project with and share the risk.

Mr Speaker, the design works are 100 per cent complete as of April 2024. However, construction works have not commenced at the international convention centre. In addition, the WCFCB constructed a twenty-roomed modern lodge for the Samfya Towns Council as a resettlement package to pave way for the construction of the international convention centre.

Mr Speaker, the construction works are expected to commence once the negotiations with the new partner are concluded. It is envisaged that by the fourth quarter of 2024, the negotiations would have been concluded.

Mr Speaker, the project is estimated to cost US$3 million. Once negotiations are successfully concluded, the joint venture shall appoint and announce the contractor.

Mr Speaker, during the construction, 1,000 jobs are expected to be created and 500 permanent direct jobs during the operation of the investment.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Mr Speaker, owing to the drought, the Acting hon. Minister is aware that the southern half of Zambia is facing serious challenges. The Victoria Falls is drying up. The other side of the country would have been a relief because tourists would have been rerouted to that end.

The hon. Minister has not put a timeframe for the construction works. Would it not be prudent for the ministry to open up negotiations if there is trouble in agreeing with the onboard partner? This project cannot go on in perpetuity. The hon. Minister is aware that the people of Luapula are yearning to have that convention centre, which will change the landscape in terms of tourism for that region. Can the Government not open up so that prospecting partners can come on board and actualise that dream investment?

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I did put the timeframe for the negotiations. I said it is envisaged that by the fourth quarter of 2024, the negotiations would have been concluded, meaning that maybe by December, negotiations would have been concluded.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kasandwe: Mr Speaker, I have been part of the complete process from the beginning to the time the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the board and Samfya Town Council. The investment is as a result of the 2017 Luapula Exposition and Investment Conference, where the Workers' Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) committed to this project. The board had asked to be given two years from 2018 to 2022 to find the money and invest it in the construction of the Samfya International Convention Centre.

In 2020, at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the town council chamber, the WCFCB informed the stakeholders that it had mobilised the necessary funds to start the project. That is why in 2020, the ground-breaking ceremony was undertaken. However, along the way, I have come to understand that the money that was mobilised for the project is part of the money that the board has now channelled to the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriageway project. That is what I have been informed. So, I want to find out why the Government would move the funds meant for the Samfya project and invest it elsewhere, because for us, that international convention centre is a game changer.

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I have not come across anything of that nature showing that money meant for the Samfya project was channelled to the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriageway project. All I was informed was that they could not go ahead with the project. The designs cost money. According to his question, I said as of April 2024, the designs were completed. I even put a footnote stating that the construction works have not commenced on the international convention centre due to the issues I highlighted. I indicated that the commencement would have tied up the funds and threatened liquidity or survival. It could equally have been against prudential principles.

So, I am not aware of the money that was transferred elsewhere. I thought the funds were transferred to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA). However, I will find out.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kasandwe: Mr Speaker, I wish the substantive hon. Minister was here, in the House, because she has been following these issues. What the Acting hon. Minister is saying shows that he may not be privy to the complete package of the project. He keeps saying, “I was told” or “I was informed”. Since he is the one answering questions, I would like to put this to him again: If the WCFCB has no immediate funds, to invest and I am told it is  looking for a partner, why can it not just advertise so that those who are ready with available money would quickly come and invest in that project?

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, just to correct the impression, the hon. Member has said that all I am saying is that “I was told,” however, he also told me that “he was told.”

Laughter

Mr Syakalima: So, I am correcting the impression because I am Acting Minister, I do not have the full information. Actually, I do because I am in the Government. So, the answer that I am giving stands. I answered by saying that “I am told” because he also said, “he was told”. However, in the statement, there is an answer which I have given. I have said that by the fourth quarter of 2024, the negotiations would have been concluded. This is October going into November, and the fourth quarter ends in December. Are you not patient enough? I am sure you are.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Mr Speaker, when this project was being arranged between the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) and Samfya Town Council, there was an agreement. It stated that for the land that the council would offer to the board, the board would in return construct a lodge for Samfya Town Council, which the hon. Minister alluded to in his answers. I want to know if that lodge has been handed over to Samfya Municipal Council.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I do not know whether the hon. Minister can answer that because the question is completely different from what we are considering. Maybe, the hon. Minister can comment.

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I will just read what I read, in case he did not get me.

In addition, the WCFCB constructed a twenty-roomed modern lodge for the Samfya Town Council as a resettlement package to pave way for the construction of the Samfya International Convention Centre.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chonde (Milenge): Mr Speaker, listening to part of the hon. Minister’s answer, I would like to know if he would be in a position to give the reason the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) has not given back the lodge to the council because the council fulfilled its obligation. What could be the reason? That is what we are interested in.

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I would not want to say something that may not please the hon. Member. I even read what the answer is. So, whether he is talking about commissioning or handing over, it is a different issue altogether. This question was very specific and I answered it accordingly. So, the hon. Member should not bring other issues that were not included in the questions.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 REDUCTION OF PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

 57.   Mr Kolala (Lufubu) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry what measures the Government is taking to facilitate the reduction of prices of the following essential commodities:

  1. mealie meal;
  1. cooking oil;
  1. sugar; and
  1. fuel.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo) (on behalf of the Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry (Mr Chipoka Mulenga)): Mr Speaker, in answering this question, I will combine the agricultural products, mealie meal, cooking oil and sugar, then deal with fuel on its own.

Mr Speaker, in an effort to facilitate the stabilising and reduction of prices of these essential commodities, the hon. Minister has been working closely with both the public and private sector stakeholders in the value chains and some of the measures include:

  1. engaging with manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and distributors of sugar to discuss and resolve the looming shortage of sugar and other foodstuffs in the regional market. You will recall that the issue of sugar had become very prominent, maybe this has been overtaken by events, but I think we have crossed that line; 
  1. attracting investments in the production of fertilisers in our country with the aim that the overall production cost will reduce for the elements in agriculture;
  1.  in the case of mealie meal, the Government through the Zambia National Services (ZNS) is producing mealie meal to give consumers an opportunity to acquire the commodity at a cheaper price. The Government is working with the private sector milling companies to produce mealie meal at a low cost. That is why you would have noticed that the issue, which had become very hot in the country has kind of stabilised because of the engagement with the private sector;
  1. increasing the production of the essential commodities through different avenues such as the cultivation and delivery of winter or early maize;
  1. construction/rehabilitation of water dams, drilling of boreholes and equipping them with, solar-powered systems, rehabilitation of non-functional boreholes as a way of enhancing the production of these agricultural products; and
  1. the introduction of Statutory Instrument (SI) 110 for the importation of equipment or inputs used in the production of essential commodities, which companies can use to apply for exemption of duty when importing inputs intended to be used in the manufacturing of goods in the Republic.

   Mr Speaker, hon. Members should know that one can import any agricultural piece of equipment at no duty at all. A tractor, plough and irrigation system will come into the country for free. All of this is meant to make production cheaper. Also, the Government is currently reviewing the legal regulatory framework on the fees, licenses, processes and procedures affecting the course and ease of doing business in key strategic sectors such as agriculture, and manufacturing and these include edible oils and daily sub-sector and finally energy.

Mr Speaker, let me now move on to the second part of the question, which is fuel. As of 30th September, 2022, the Government of Zambia implemented the policy decision to disengage from the procurement of petroleum products. Since then, all petroleum products consumed in the country are imported by oil marketing companies. On the international market, the product trades in foreign currency such as the United States Dollars. What are we doing to reduce the cost of this fuel? 

Mr Speaker, the Government has put measures to facilitate the reduction of fuel prices. Firstly, is the conversion of the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipeline. The Government recently converted TAZAMA Pipeline from transporting crude oil to transporting finished Low Sulfur Gas (LSG) oil.

Secondly, the Government is also working with private sector players to expand the storage capacity for fuel to 400,000 cubic litres.

Thirdly, is the introduction of the pilot biofuel blending with ethanol programmes. Finally, the construction of multi-product pipelines. The Government is already in discussions of constructing at least two multi-purpose pipelines in an effort to increase fuel supply and reduce transportation costs in the long term,  which can help reduce the cost of fuel.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the Government remains committed to ensuring the security of fuel supply and reducing the cost of pump prices and prices of all essential commodities. Further, the Government will continue to monitor the prices of all essential commodities and the public sector lead fuel mechanism or any further available opportunities.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1041 hours until 1100 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to clarify something since the issues we are considering are related to the price index and all other areas that are included in the question. Two weeks ago, I was buying fish feed and found it priced at K735 per 25 kg bag. In terms of inflation, that entails that prices have gone through the roof. Feed is a by-product of a base material called maize. The Government seems to have concentrated much on the issue of meal meal.

Mr B. Mpundu: It is mealie meal!

Mr Fube: Yes, mealie meal, so to speak. It has ignored the fact that feed for livestock is also a serious problem in Zambia, which is also making feed for livestock expensive. What is the hon. Minister’s position on the issue of feed, especially that it comes from a base material called maize?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, indeed, the hon. Member for Chilubi is right that the cost of feed in Zambia has increased. It is not an isolated case, the major ingredient for the feedstock, as the hon. Member said, is maize. We know that because of the drought, the price of maize has increased. The Government intends to stimulate the production of maize, and so we increased the price over time from K120 to K150, then from K150 to K180, from K180 to K280, now, it is at K330 per 50 kg bag. Inadvertently, you will expect prices for feed to increase. However, we encourage those colleagues who are in the industry, which needs feed, to try and integrate and produce these inputs on their own. It will probably reduce the cost and give them both a competitive and comparative advantage.

 Mr Speaker, we are encouraging colleagues who are in the poultry business and fish industry, where maize is a huge input, to try and cultivate their own maize and mix it with vitamins so that they can have the feed produced on the farm. Otherwise, the prices will continue escalating until we reach an international level, which is way above the Zambian price structure.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Mr Speaker, in his response on interventions that the Government is employing to deal with escalating commodity prices, the Acting hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry said that the Government is working on reducing the price of fuel. He said that among other things, that the Government is firstly, converting the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipeline from carrying commingled fuel to carrying diesel and secondly, constructing other storage facilities.

Mr Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister’s perspective, how converting a pipeline from carrying commingled fuel to a single product reduce the price of fuel. When the hon. Minister speaks about the storage facilities, he will not even be using those facilities. Can the hon. Minister kindly explain how those interventions are going to reduce the price of fuel?

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Nkana will appreciate that one of the highest costs in fuel other than the exchange rate fluctuations is the transportation element of it. Once we reduce the cost of how we move our fuel from the source to the load points here in Zambia, the fuel prices will begin to reduce. Right now, the major component, as I said, is the exchange rate issue, and  because of that, we are still encouraging pipeline installations in this country. Right now, we have the TAZAMA pipeline and the Namibia-Zambia Pipeline. We are looking at having the Angola-Zambia Pipeline. There will be the Zimbabwe-Zambia Pipeline and the Mozambique-Zambia Pipeline so that we can have the fuel carried through these pipelines and reduce the cost of transport and, therefore, benefit the people. That is one way we can start harnessing the good prices of fuel, which sometimes exist if the Dollar is a bit stable.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Mr Speaker, I sympathise with the Zambian people.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: May the hon. Member ask a supplementary question.

Mr Kapyanga: I sympathise with the Zambian people –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 May you resume your seat.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The purpose of this opportunity is to ask supplementary questions and not to debate. The two are different. So, you are expected to ask supplementary questions, which the hon. Minister should respond to. So, may you ask a supplementary question.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated the measures that the Government has put in place to reduce the cost of fuel, in particular, the disengagement from the procurement of fuel and the conversion of the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipeline. The Government did this in 2022 and 2023, however, the price of fuel keep increasing. May the hon. Minister, please, tell the Zambian people why the measures that the Government has put in place have failed to reduce the price of fuel.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, first of all, let me correct the impression that the price of fuel in Zambia is excessively high. Compare the price of fuel in Zambia to the price of fuel in Malawi, Zimbabwe –

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Let me finish, to the price of fuel in Angola, which is a major producer of fuel, to the price or fuel in England or America …

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Mtolo: … to the price of fuel in many parts of the world. I am asking you to be honest with yourself.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, you will notice that Zambia still ranks very fairly in the lower bracket of the price of fuel compared to our neighbours and the international market. Therefore, when we discuss these issues, especially in this House, we do so in order to solve problems and not to inflame and incite so as to cause unnecessary tension. That is not the purpose of a House like this one.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Interruptions

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: The question was building and necessary. The question was on what we are doing to reduce the prices of essential commodities. I have given a list of the measures we have taken. Firstly, we are making sure that the fuel is brought through pipelines rather than trucks, which is a bit more expensive. Secondly, we want to hold a little bit more fuel so that we can stabilise the fluctuations and, thirdly, we are bringing in the private sector so that they can also manage the transportation of fuel. As the Government, we have pulled away on a given date. Most of the fuel coming into the country is managed by the private sector, but it does not mean that we will leave it open like that. We will monitor and provide facilities that can reduce the price of fuel.

Mr Speaker, first and foremost, we need to be clear; let us not inflame and think that the price of fuel in Zambia is higher. Hon. Members can compare the prices with the local arrangement on their own.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Mtolo: Yes, because the common denominator is the Dollar, you can compare prices. We can talk about the purchasing power, the salaries et cetera, but fuel is sold by few countries at a certain price. They do not choose where it goes or whether you have inflation, which is high or not. They just sell at a given price. It is up to you to buy it or not. We are working on reducing the price through the measures that I have explained.

Mr Speaker, I would not say more than what I have said. Inflammatory statements are not necessary here.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Mtolo: I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, borrowing without the intention to repay is dishonest.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Michelo: Borrowing without repaying is financial fraud.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Michelo: The Patriotic Front (PF) Government borrowed fuel, which it was selling to the Zambian people without paying back. That is financial fraud. The same people who were just borrowing fuel are today here trying to champion their incompetency. Hon. Minister, now that the Government is paying for the fuel, which we are reselling to the Zambian people, at what price would the PF Government this time around sell the fuel, if it were buying the fuel without borrowing the money and paying back as it did?

 Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, as servants of the people in these positions, ours is to try to be as calm as possible even under the most severe provocation, and tell the world and the Zambians the truth. In this case, you will see people becoming emotional. This is because during our colleagues’ time in office, there was a lot of collecting of things without paying for them and this is a fact. We imported electricity as well as fuel without paying for them. We could have been giving people these commodities at a lower price because we had not paid for them. It is the current Government which is struggling to pay for all the old debts.

Mr Speaker, right now, the amount of money that we are paying for the same fuel, which was left by the previous Government, is huge.  Who does not know the bill that was left? Which price would anyone talk about that was lower than what we have? So, to answer Hon. Michelo’s question, I wish to state that I am grateful to him for bringing out the issue he has brought out. However, we are dealing with many issues. We are now servicing the debts, paying for fuel and electricity. We are buying more desks in schools and also paying pensioners because they were not paid.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: We are now paying for many things. So, it is the whole horse.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I did not wish to stand here and bring out issues which would provoke our colleagues from the previous Government. Therefore, I will really try to get back to what we are considering and thank Hon. Michelo for the issue he has raised. We will try as much as possible to deal with the errors of the past so that we can have a clear future.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Dr Mwanza (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for allowing me, on behalf of the people of Kaumbwe, to ask a supplementary question.

Mr Speaker, I will dwell on agricultural commodity prices other than energy because that is the area which the Acting hon. Minister deals with. Regarding the cost of mealie meal, cooking oil, and all other agricultural-oriented products, what performance assessment criteria is the Government putting in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the outlined measures that it has taken to reduce the prices of these commodities? We want to reach at least an affordable level of buying agricultural products. So, I would like to know the performance of the interventions towards the reduction of commodity prices.

Mr Mtolo: I thank you, Mr President and I thank the hon. Member for the question.

Mr President, this is –

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: No, it is Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Maybe it is a blessing, one day it may happen. You never can tell.

You may proceed, hon. Minister.

Mr Mtolo: Thank you, Mr Speaker. You will excuse me. We interact with His Excellency the President almost every day, but my apologies. It is not, ill-intended in any way.

Mr Speaker, the overarching issue of measurement is simply price. There is nothing else one can look at. Let us look at the price of sugar. A couple of months ago, the price of sugar had increased. There were serious interventions and the price was reduced. Yes, we looked at what was causing the increase in the price. The price of sugar was reduced to what it was before.

Secondly, let us look at fertiliser. By simply encouraging production here, we have bought fertiliser at the price of about US$800 to US$830 per tonne. This is the fertiliser, we were buying at US$1,600 close to US$2,000 per tonne. So, the overarching issue here is price.

Mr Speaker, let us look at the price of mealie meal. On the issue of maize and mealie meal, we, the United Party for National Development (UPND) enhanced the price of maize to the farmer and because the price was so low, the production of maize had decreased. So, what did we do? We enhanced the price to K330 per 50kg bag so that we can have a good production capacity and also …

Interruptions

 Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I will continue.

Mr Kapyanga rose.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

 Hon. Member, may you resume your seat. Let there be order in the House.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is lying.

 Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mpika, leave the House.

Mr Kapyanga left the Assembly Chamber.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for that intervention.

Mr Munir Zulu rose.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Lumezi, may you resume your seat.

According to our Standing Orders, points of order are the discretion of the Presiding Officer. So, if I feel that I should not grant you one, there should be no problem. That is my discretion. So, for now, I feel like keeping the House in order and, therefore, I am not granting any point of order.

So, hon. Member for Lumezi, may you resume your seat.

Mr Mtolo: I thank you, Mr Speaker. I repeat, for the sake of the record.

Mr Speaker, we have reduced the price of fertiliser to US$830 per tonne, which we used to buy during the Patriotic Front (PF) Government at US$1,300 to US$1,400 per tonne. It was almost at US$1,600 per tonne, but we have reduced it. That is the way we measure if the Government is doing well or not.

Mr Speaker, I think, I have given enough examples to the hon. Member who asked the question on the criteria the Government is using to judge itself whether it is doing well. I said that the bottom line is price and I have given an example of how the price is assisting us.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Minister. The question has ably been dealt with and answers have all been repeatedly availed on the Floor of the House.

___________

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Lufuma): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1129 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024.

____________

WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTION

NUMBER OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS COUNTRYWIDE

54.   Ms Katuta (Chienge) asked the Minister of Health:

  1. how many psychiatric hospitals there were, countrywide, as of April, 2024;
  1. what the total number of the following medical personnel, deployed to the hospitals above was, as of the same date:
  1. psychiatric doctors; and
  2. psychiatric nurses; and
  1. what measures the Government is taking to ensure that psychiatric medicines are made available in all health facilities, countrywide.

The Minister of Health (Mr Muchima): Mr Speaker, as of April 2024, there was one specialised Level IV psychiatry referral hospital, that is, Chainama Hills College Hospital in Lusaka. In addition, there are also psychiatric units that have been set up in all Level I, Level II and Level III hospitals.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health has currently deployed 333 health workers categorised as below:

  1. psychiatrist doctors - eleven specialists;
  1. psychiatrist nurses - 322 mental health nurses.

Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to ensuring steady availability and access of essential medicines and medical supplies in health care facilities including psychotropic medications.

The following are the measures being taken to ensure availability of psychotropic medications in all health facilities:

  1. the Government through the Ministry of Health has developed the National Health Strategic Plan 2022-2026 which prioritises medicine availability and access across the country;
  1. substance abuse and mental disorders are among the leading causes of hospital attendance among the youths. The Government has prioritised availability of psychotropic medicines and are now part of the essential medicines list. This means that they form part of the medicines that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. Furthermore, a specific psychotropic medicines budget line has been introduced to ensure adequate psychotropic medicines are procured and distributed;
  1. the Government through the ministry is revising the Health Centre Kit to include medicines for non-communicable diseases, including psychotropic medicines;
  1. the Government enacted the Mental Health Act of 2019 to establish the Mental Health Council, which will be dedicated to overseeing mental health services, including ensuring that psychotropic medicines are available at the point of care. The board is in place now and the budget line for the council has been provided;
  1. training and mentorship of healthcare workers to enhance medicine management skills and strengthen the rational use of medicines in facilities; and
  1. strengthening the National Joint Task Force against pilferage of medicines and medical supplies in all public health facilities.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.