Tuesday, 18th February, 2025

Tuesday, 18^th February, 2025

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

NEW EDUCATION CURRICULUM

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that the hon. Minister of Education was supposed to present a Ministerial Statement on the new education curriculum today, Tuesday, 18^th February, 2025. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the statement will be presented on Thursday, 20^th February, 2025.

SUSPENSION OF AID BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGENCY INTERNATIONAL AID (USAID)

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation was expected to issue a Ministerial Statement on the suspension of aid by the United States of America (USA) Government through the United States of America Agency International Aid (USAID) this week. The Executive has indicated that it is still carrying out consultations on the matter, and that it will revert to the House in due course, once the consultations are completed.

I thank you.

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URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

Madam Speaker: I see none.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: I am sure the system is open now, but I see none. So, we make progress.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Can we have those Urgent Matters without Notice? Information and Communication Technology (ICT), what is the problem? Is it manual? Oh! I understand we have gone manual. Eh! There are so many surprises here. Maybe, you can -

How do I know now?

Laughter

Madam Speaker: I have previously guided that please, have faith in yours truly.

Hon. Members: Hear, Hear! Welcome back!

Madam Speaker: So, do not worry. We will soon be rejoicing.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: So, we leave it at that. Now, let us go back to business. Otherwise, I also have the power to stop the process.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Madam Speaker: No, but rest assured that it will be done. It is still not working. If there is anyone who wants to indicate, they can stand up and we will –

URGENT MATTER WITHOUT NOTICE RAISED BY MS MWAMBA, HON. MEMBER FOR KASAMA CENTRAL, ON MR MUCHIMA, HON. MINISTER OF HEALTH, ON LOW STOCKS OF SECOND LINE AND THIRD LINE ANTI-RETROVIRAL DRUGS IN HEALTH FACILITIES

Ms S. Mwamba (Kasama Central): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Ms S. Mwamba: Madam Speaker, thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and welcome back. It is good to see you in the House. My Urgent Matter without Notice is directed to the hon. Minister of Health or the Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, it has been noted, and this is also in the public domain, that most clinics or health facilities have low stocks of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for Lines 2 and 3 anti-retroviral therapy (ART), thereby putting the lives of our loved ones who are on ART in further danger. Some people have had to travel all the way from Kasama to come to the University Teaching Hospitals (UTHs), hoping to access ART, but they have only been given the children’s dosage for one or two weeks. What is the Government’s position on ARVs at the moment, especially given that the United States of America (USA) has suspended funding to the health sector?

I beg your guidance, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: From the announcement that I just made a while ago, there is supposed to be a Ministerial Statement that the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation was supposed to make concerning a matter of a similar nature. I know, this is on anti-retrovirals (ARVs), tuberculosis (TB) and what not. It is either one is affected or infected. We are all –

Everybody wants to know the position. So, I would urge the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to hasten the consultations so that he can come back and issue the Ministerial Statement because the people of Zambia want to know what the position is. We need to see what alternative measures can be taken. I think, we will leave it like that for now, until the hon. Minister comes back with the Ministerial Statement.

MR CHEWE, HON. MEMBER FOR LUBANSENSHI, ON MR NKOMBO, HON. MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, ON THE CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND AMBULANCES

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised by the hon. Member for Lubansenshi.

Mr Chewe: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the Urgent Matter without Notice that I am raising is directed to the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on the issue of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) ambulances. As you may be aware, there are some video clips that were circulating that showed that the CDF ambulances had started arriving in the country. I would like the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to share with us how far he has gone, so that the people in our constituencies can start using the ambulances and appreciate even the services.

Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

I am sure, we are all gathered here to transact some business. However, if we make noise, we may not understand what is happening. You are saying “Welcome back”, but is this how you are going to welcome me? Remember that I have the power to delay further.

Laughter

Mr Samakayi: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Lubansenshi, you can file in a question. I know that this is a matter that was discussed in an earlier Sitting, but you can just file in a question that can be presented to the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development so that he gives an update on that issue of ambulances.

MR MENYANI ZULU, HON. MEMBER FOR NYIMBA, ON MRS NALUMANGO, THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ON THE SHORTENING OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised by the hon. Member for Nyimba.

Mr Menyani Zulu: Madam Speaker, thank you and welcome back.

Mr Menyani Zulu: My Urgent Matter without Notice goes to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning but, since he is not in the House, I will direct it to the Leader of Government Business in the House, Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, if my memory serves me well, last year, we tackled the issue of procurement in this House. If I remember well, there was a shortening of the procurement process in a Bill from twenty-eight days to fourteen days.

Madam Speaker, the purpose of our having money sent to our districts and constituencies is to see projects implemented quickly for the benefit of our people in this country. Now, what has been happening is that we are still advertising the procurement of projects for twenty-eight days. My question is: Was the shortened procurement process not implemented? Was whatever we did here a circus, especially to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA)?

Madam Speaker, I beg your guidance.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nyimba, I suggest that you file in a question addressed to the hon. Minister so that he can make some clarifications on that.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

THE ELECTRICITY SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote): Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to update the nation on the current electricity situation in our country and to outline the measures that are being implemented to mitigate the impact of reduced electricity supply on the Zambian economy. As you may be aware, 2024 was very challenging, as it saw the disruption of the social lives of our people and low productivity in our critical sectors, such as mining and agriculture. We are still facing significant challenges in the electricity sub-sector, which has seen a reduction in power generation due to the effects of the drought that the country faced during the 2023/2024 Rainy Season.

Madam Speaker, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are involved in activities such as welding, barbershops, salons and restaurants, have been the most affected during this period. Further, we have seen a significant reduction in the disposable income of these business owners who mainly reside in densely populated areas. We, as the Government, are alive to the unique challenges that our people are facing and we are taking a holistic Government approach to resolve them.

Madam Speaker, the current national installed electricity capacity stands at 3,777 MW while our current electricity generation capacity is 1,400 MW against a daily national electricity demand averaging 2,800 MW, leaving a deficit of 1,400 MW. The House may wish to note that there has been a slight increase in power generation amounting to 269 MW, which is attributed to the gradual increase of water levels in major river basins. Further, the country is importing an average of 133 MW from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). I know that the issue of electricity exports is very topical. However, we need to put it into context. Despite the contractual obligations, ZESCO Limited begun to gradually reduce electricity exports from 520 MW to 150 MW as of February 2025. You may wish to note that the exports are charged at a higher tariff than the domestic tariff. So, ultimately, that represents a financial lifeline for ZESCO Limited.

Madam Speaker, the country has seen some significant downpours from late December 2024 to-date. While that is exciting, the impact on power generation is still minimal. We should see a significant impact on our water reservoirs in the next two months to three months. To-date, the following are the water levels in our major reservoirs:

Itezhi-Tezhi is currently at 15 per cent compared with 48 per cent around the same period last year;

Kafue Gorge is currently at 17 per cent compared with 43 per cent around the same period last year; and

Kariba is currently at 6 per cent compared to 16 per cent around the same period last year.

Madam Speaker, the three scenarios given clearly indicate that despite the good rainfall that the country has received, the usable water levels for electricity generation still remains below average.

Madam Speaker, on 10^thOctober, 2024, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) approved ZESCO Limited’s application for an emergency tariff adjustment. The utility company anticipated raising US$15 million monthly to support the importation of power to cushion the power deficit.

Madam Speaker, I am aware that in certain areas, power supply has gone below the approved minimum of seven hours. This is mainly attributed to the following:

inadequate transmission capacity to wheel power from neighbouring countries; and

delayed restoration, which sometimes is due to failure of controls. That is equipment failing at the time of restoration, faults and vandalised installation during the time the circuit is out on load management.

Madam Speaker, the Government remains accountable to the people of Zambia and is prudent in managing resources, contrary to the assertion by the hon. Member of Parliament for Nakonde, who said that collections from electricity tariffs have been mismanaged.

Madam Speaker, despite an increase in electricity tariffs, ZESCO Limited was unable to raise the targeted revenue of US$15 million per month. Instead, it only managed to raise US$2.4 million and US$2.7 million in November 2024 and December 2024, respectively.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Chikote: The utility company did not meet the targeted revenue because it did not sell the desired quantum of energy on account of the following:

a time lag between meter reading and billing for the post-paid customers. For instance, the November energy sales were only billed and paid for in December 2024; and

bulk purchase of prepaid units by customers prior to the implementation of the emergency tariffs. A number of prepaid customers bought units in bulk prior to 1^st November, 2024, in order to avoid emergency tariffs. As such, ZESCO Limited did not realise adequate revenue from emergency tariffs.

Madam Speaker, I would like to outline some of the measures we are pursuing in the short to medium-term as follows:

continue with the power importation from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) market;’

implementation of the net metering policy;

expedite the completion of the 100 MW solar power plant in Chisamba by May 2025;

expedite the development of the Kanona …

Interruptions

Mr Chikote: … 25 MW solar power plant by April 2025;

development of the Mansa 50 MW solar power plant in Luapula Province by the end of 2025;

Sixty sites for 5 MW micro-generation projects, which gives a total of 300 MW, are expected to be developed and commissioned by the end of 2025; and

completion of the 300 MW Maamba Phase II Project to attain commercial operations by the end of 2026. Currently, the contractor is on site and we expect the first 150 MW in 2026 and the last 150 MW in December 2026.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I want to take this moment to sincerely sympathise with all Zambians for the disruptions and challenges load-shedding has caused in our daily lives. The frustrations and difficulties the people of Zambia have faced can never be ignored. I, therefore, wish to assure the nation that our Government remains committed to ensuring that load-shedding is permanently dealt with through continued tireless efforts to deliver reliable, affordable and accessible electricity for all Zambians.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement presented by the hon. Minister of Energy.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for issuing that Ministerial Statement.

Madam Speaker, among the effects of load-shedding are increased teen pregnancies, early marriages and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Interruptions

Mr Katakwe: Among the measures that the hon. Minister highlighted, I did not hear him mention any collaboration with the hon. Minister of Health to address the increase in STIs such as HIV, teen pregnancies and early marriages. Can he clarify if there is any such collaboration.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

I do not know how the hon. Minister of Energy will discuss early marriages.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, we have one Government. In order to support health centres, we are collaborating with the Ministry of Health on measures to provide power to such facilities.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Madam Speaker, I have listened to the hon. Minister of Energy and I sympathise with him because the water levels in reservoirs in different areas are still low. It has been one year down the line since we started experiencing a power deficit in our country and the hon. Minister has only given us two solutions to the situation. The power that will be generated at the Chisamba and Mansa solar plants will only add about 150 MW to the power grid. We will still experience long hours without power. Is the hon. Minister in a position to tell the nation how much solar power, wind energy or other alternative sources of power the ministry is exploring at the moment apart from hydropower?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, this Government is not only going to focus on hydro-power generation but will also explore renewable energy sources or power generation mix. Even in my statement, I mentioned some of the solar power plants that we are likely to commission by April or May, which are going to supplement our hydro-power. Many solar power plants are being constructed across the country. I mentioned Chisamba because we are about to commission some solar power plants there. So, mixed power generation projects are in the pipeline, and power purchase agreements have been signed. Even today, I signed a power purchase agreement with Kiona Energy Limited. We will allow independent power producers (IPPs) to come on board to start developing –

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

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, projects to produce power using other energy sources are in the pipeline. There is work in progress.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, avoid debating while seated, or asking questions before you are called to do so. In other words, I am requesting that you maintain order and dignity in the House.

Mr Simumba (Nakonde): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of load-shedding …

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe: Question!

Mr Simumba: … has stated that we will continue importing power.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nakonde!

Several hon. Members want to raise points of order.

Hon. Member for Nakonde, I do not know if there is a ministry called ‘Ministry of Load-shedding.’ Please, address the hon. Minister using the recognised capacity and position.

Mr Simumba: The hon. Minister of the Ministry of Energy, a ministry where load-shedding is rampant, –

Laughter

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that the purpose of the emergency tariff was to cushion power shortages so that the Zambian people could start receiving seven hours of power per day.

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

Mr Simumba: Today, Madam Speaker, even after the emergency tariff –

Madam Speaker: Sorry, hon. Member for Nakonde. There is someone directly behind you who wants to raise a point of order.

Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, what is your point of order?

Mr Kampyongo: Thank you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to raise this point of order, pursuant to Standing Order 71(1)(b).

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister responsible for energy, in one of his responses to a follow-up question, informed this August House that today, as he is trying to expedite load-shedding, he was signing a power purchase agreement (PPA). For purposes of the record, we know that the signing of contracts and obligations, such as PPAs, is done by the power utility company, which has a fully-fledged Board and, to some extent, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. Is the hon. Minister of Energy in order to stand on the Floor and tell the whole nation that he is abusing his authority by doing work which is not supposed to be done by him, as Minister of Energy? His predecessor is near him and can advise him. We want the record to be corrected so that we can see how to follow up on this matter.

Madam Speaker, I seek your ruling.

Madam Speaker: That is a question disguised as a point of order. I will give an opportunity to the hon. Minister to explain what he meant when he said that he signed the power purchase agreement (PPA).

Mr Chikote: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I know that the hon. Member is just trying to participate in asking questions on this Ministerial Statement.

Madam Speaker, the point is that I am in charge of the Ministry of Energy. So, I witnessed the signing of the power purchase agreements. I am part and parcel of what is happening because I am in charge. We, as the Ministry of Energy, signed the power purchase agreements.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

Anything done on behalf of the hon. Minister is done by him. That is the clarification.

We make progress. The hon. Member for Nakonde may proceed.

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, before I was interrupted, I was stating that the purpose of the emergency tariffs was to cushion the Zambian people from power shortages, so that they could start receiving power for seven hours per day. However, today, Zambians are still subjected to receiving power for fewer than the promised seven hours of power per day. Some areas receive power for less than one hour. Why has the hon. Minister continued to collect the emergency tariffs even after not achieving what he promised the Zambian people?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, first of all, I stated in my Ministerial Statement that ZESCO Limited projected that we needed to raise its revenue so that the country would continue importing power to supply to our citizens. However, we did not achieve that objective because ZESCO Limited could not manage to sell the power. The reason we came up with the emergency tariffs was to support ZESCO Limited in terms of resources, so that it could import power. However, ZESCO Limited did not realise the targeted budget of K15 million. That is what I stated in my Ministerial Statement. The company collected less than the budgeted K15 million. Therefore, how do you expect it to continue importing the power we are talking about? I still feel that we should continue charging the emergency tariffs so that we raise the targeted revenue to support the importation of the power that we are talking about.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kandafula (Serenje): Madam Speaker, if I am not mistaken, the hon. Minister said that we will be importing about 133 MW. He also said that ZESCO Limited is exporting 150 MW. Which one has a higher tariff? Is it the exported power or the imported power or are they at par? Maybe, that information can help us know whether ZESCO Limited is making loss or profit.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I mentioned that the high tariffs are on the power we are exporting. The power supplied domestically has lower tariffs. That helps to supplement ZESCO Limited’s revenue. ZESCO Limited has a number of debts. So, maintaining the contractual obligations that the company has helps it to survive.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kangombe (Sesheke): Madam Speaker, while the country and the people of Sesheke note the interventions that the ministry is putting in place –

Mr Chala: On a point for order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Sesheke!

A point of order is raised.

Mr Chala: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Energy in order to not answer the question? If it was not clear, he would have asked for the question to be repeated. The hon. Member here (pointed at Mr Kandafula) was trying to find out the difference between imports and exports. On what tariffs is Zambia importing and exporting power? So, we want to know whether we are making something out of what we are doing.

Interruptions

Mr Chala: Yes.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

That is not a point of order hon. Member for Chipili, it is a follow-up question. So, you can ask it as a follow-up question.

Hon. Member for Sesheke, you can proceed.

Mr Kangombe: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam, while the country notes the interventions that the Government is putting in place such as open access and other interventions to ensure that we are kept afloat, would the hon. Minister be candid and clearly indicate to the nation the balance sheet, as it were, of ZESCO Limited, which was plus or minus 23 per cent of the sovereign debt at the time that this Administration came into power and what the Government has done so far to ensure that the balance sheet of ZESCO Limited remains bankability?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister of Energy, I do not know if you got the question.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the question.

Madam Speaker, the balance sheet for ZESCO Limited, which this Government inherited, was terrible. It stood at US$1.8 billion. In view of the efforts this Administration put in place to support ZESCO Limited, currently, ZESCO Limited’s balance sheet stands at US$390 million.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: hear, hear!

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, let me join other hon. Members who have welcomed you back in the House. It is nice to see you in the new year.

Madam Speaker, the statement by the hon. Minister was well- elaborated, but very worrying and also very interesting because it was supposed to assure the people from the Copperbelt, especially from Kantanshi, who are receiving power for only two hours, and this makes us get under immense pressure. I do not know where our constituents are expecting us to get the power they are looking for. However, I am happy that the hon. Minister has also identified the fact that businesses have been disturbed in terms of resources that they would generate.

Madam Speaker, considering that the anticipated amounts of money that would have been made from the emergency power tariffs are not in any way showing signs of improvement, what is the ministry considering doing in the short-term, having implemented the emergency tariffs in areas where our people continue to receive power for less than two hours? Sometimes, even two days pass without power supply. What is the ministry planning to do for such areas as we continue to see the water rising and the investments that the hon. Minister has talked about? Our people are demanding for some form of solution. What is the ministry thinking?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question.

Madam Speaker, the ministry or the Government is implementing short-term measures. I clearly stated that we are putting in place solar power plants, and we shall commission one in Chisamba in April and this will increase power supply because the plant will be generating 100 MW.. I also stated that in two months’ time, the water levels will rise. Therefore, our power generation will not be the same. Slowly, we are getting there. So, I assure the hon. Member that in two months’ time, things will not be the same.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chikote: We are likely to increase the hours of power supply to our citizens. Measures are being put in place. We are not just seated. This is a serious Government and is committed to addressing the challenges our people are facing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Wamunyima (Nalolo): Madam Speaker, we, indeed, welcome you to the House.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Energy for the Ministerial Statement, and I sympathise with him on how he wants to raise the money when we have a few hours of power supply. I do not know what mathematics is at play because if we have a few hours of power supply and we increase the tariffs, we may still not raise that money.

Madam Speaker, in terms of the rates of ZESCO Limited, energy in this country has not been cost-reflective for many years, therefore, making it unattractive to invest in energy in Zambia. I want to find out from the hon. Minister of Energy if the current tariffs are cost-reflective as we are not aware of any cost of service study that has recently been undertaken by ZESCO Limited.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for his question.

Madam Speaker, there is a lot that we are learning from the emergency tariffs that were approved. So, these are some of the measures that the Government gradually is putting in place to make sure that ZESCO Limited becomes a viable utility company. So, the hon. Member for Nalolo should be assured that we are looking at the tariffs and will support ZESCO Limited so that it can stand on its own in relation to the tariffs.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Madam Speaker, I would like to seek clarification. In his statement, the hon. Minister indicated that the amount that we were targeting to get from the emergency tariffs was US$15 million, but we only managed to raise US$2.5 million or thereabout. What are the reasons being attributed to ZESCO Limited’s failure to raise the money that it said it was going to raise based on its projections? ZESCO Limited introduced emergency tariffs and people started paying, but it still failed to raise the money that it said it was going to raise.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for his question.

Madam Speaker, in my statement, I stated the reasons we failed to raise the intended amount and one of them was the bulk purchase of the prepaid units by customers prior to the implementation of the emergency tariffs. That is what I said. I also said that a time lag between metre reading and billing for post-paid customers is another reason we did not realise the targeted or projected monthly amounts.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, in my statement, I stated the reasons for failing to raise the intended amount. One of the reasons was the bulk purchase of prepaid units that customers made prior to the implementation of the emergency tariffs.

Mr Nkandu: Hear, hear!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I also said that it was due to a time lag between metre reading and billing for post-paid customers.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, the hydrological data on the water levels in the Kafue River Basin and Zambezi River Basin that the hon. Minister has presented to this august House show a worrying trend. In delivering his Ministerial Statement, the hon. Minister has also admitted that we do not have adequate infrastructure to import electricity. What is the progress on the construction of the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector so that we can bring in power from the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP)?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, work on the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya Interconnector is in progress and it has advanced. It is one of the measures that we classified as long-term.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Mulenga (Kalulushi): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that he was sorry for the misery that ZESCO Limited had caused the people of Zambia. I will narrow the situation to my constituency. The people of Kalulushi are suffering. The constituency experiences electricity blackouts now and then, especially at 2000 hours. Majority of the people whom the hon. Minister has apologised to are my constituents who own saloons and are welders, among others. That is their livelihood. As if that is not enough, we have been given a carbon dioxide centre. So, we are suffering two-fold; the centre and blackouts.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister’s apology is not enough given the misery that ZESCO Limited has caused the people of Kalulushi in terms of loss of businesses and the suffering that has caused poverty, in particular. What is the Government going to do about that because an apology is not enough? ‘Sorry’ is not going to bring back their businesses and food. I want the hon. Minister to assure the people of Kalulushi, in particular, the people in Central Kalulushi who are given two hours of electricity supply. An apology is not enough. What is the Government going to do for them? One of the conditions of a government is to take care of its own.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as we ask questions, let us not debate.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I am sure that the hon. Member was not listening attentively when I was delivering my Ministerial Statement. I stated that one of the measures that this Government is putting in place in the short-term is ensuring that the Chisamba Solar Plant is commissioned, which is going to add 100 MW to the national grid. That is how this Government is responding to all its citizens, not only for the people of Kalulushi. This Government is committed to addressing the challenges that people are going through. The hon. Member must get the real information and help sensitise our citizens.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: There is a lot of talking. In the process, we cannot even hear the answers. Let us reduce on the chatting.

Hon. Member for Mpika, you may proceed.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, many investors would want to invest in electricity generation. I have managed to mobilise more than five investors for hydro, wind and solar generation in Mpika. However, the bottlenecks and bureaucracies in signing power purchase agreements with ZESCO Limited have hindered the process. Instead of asking the people of Zambia to pay higher electricity tariffs, why does the Government not deal with bottlenecks, such as the two-year feasibility study provision, so that it can accelerate investment in the electricity generation sector?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, as I already stated, this is a serious Government. This Government has gone ahead to bring reforms to the sector that have increased private-player participation. I do not know what the hon. Member was asking about, but we have signed a number of public-private partnership (PPPs) agreements. The process is done in a short period. We have streamlined all the processes to just hours. Today, when a private player is seeking a licence from the ERB, the process just takes forty-eight hours. What bureaucracy is the hon. Member talking about? Those bureaucracies used to happen in the past, not currently.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Mpika, I have not called upon you. The idea of raising a point of order is to not argue over the answer that has been provided. So, we make progress.

Hon. Member for Lunte, you may proceed.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, I took note when the hon. Minister mentioned that the export of power is topical in his Ministerial Statement. Indeed, it has been topical since the Namibians’ visit to Her Honour the Vice-President. I also observed that electricity exports continued. It is the Government’s social contract with the people of Zambia to provide them uninterrupted power supply. Which contract does the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government consider more important between the social contract to the people of Zambia and the power that it has continued to export as a result of signed contracts?

Madam Speaker: I assume that the hon. Member for Lunte is part of the Government. So, I do not know what he means when he says “United Party for National Development (UPND) Government”. We are all part and parcel of the Government. There is the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. The hon. Member for Lunte is a member of the Government by virtue of being a member of the Legislature.

Hon. Minister, you may respond.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Lunte should be the last person to speak about supplying of uninterrupted power because he knows the state in which his party left ZESCO Limited.

Madam Speaker, we respect the social contract we signed with the people of Zambia and it remains our priority. Hence, we are putting measures in place to ensure that ZESCO Limited is able to provide utility services to people. That is how much we respect the social contract we have with the people of Zambia. So, we are putting various measures in place.

Ms Mulenga: Hammer!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I also said that we have reduced the exporting of electricity from 520 MW to 150 MW.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Sorry, hon. Minister, for interrupting you.

Hon. Member for Kalulushi, please, restrain yourself. You were given an opportunity to ask and you asked your question. So, do not debate while seated. I know it is interesting to shout, but let us restrain ourselves.

May the hon. Minister continue.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I was saying that when it comes to service delivery, the people of Zambia should know that they are a priority. We were exporting 520 MW, but because of the challenges that the country is experiencing, the Government was able to negotiate and lower the exports to 150 MW. This is despite the fact that there re contractual obligations. That is how much we value our people. So, what else do our hon. Colleagues want to see? We have gone far to put measures in place so that the power deficit that the country is facing is addressed. So, where is the problem?

Madam Speaker, some hon. Members should be the last to ask certain questions. If I open a Pandora’s Box in responding to them, they will say that I am trying to politick. I am restraining myself so that I can respond to the hon. Member accordingly. Without politicking, I can say that the previous Government messed up ZESCO Limited that we are talking about today.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Lunte, resume your seat.Otherwise, you will not get your mangoes.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order!

Let us make progress.

POLLUTION OF WATER BODIES CAUSED BY ILLEGAL MINING

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Eng. Nzovu): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to address the House and the nation at large on the pollution of water bodies caused by illegal mining activities in the country. This Ministerial Statement is in response to a resolution of the House Business Committee on Tuesday, 28^th January, 2025.

Madam Speaker, allow me to, first of all, put context to the description of illegal miners for purposes of providing clarity. Illegal miners can be described as individuals or groupings engaged in mining activities without obtaining necessary licences or permits from the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development and other regulatory bodies such as the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA). Illegal miners are mostly small-scale, informal and of no fixed aboard and they operate outside regulatory control.

Madam Speaker, I seek to deliver this Ministerial Statement by providing brief details on the affected water bodies as a result of mining activities and the salient legal provisions relating to the protection of water bodies from pollution. I will close my statement by highlighting the measures my ministry is taking to stop the scourge of pollution through illegal mining.

Madam Speaker, in the recent past, the country has seen a rise in illegal mining activities in mineral-rich parts of the country. Unfortunately, the illegal mining activities have the potential to have negative effects on water resources. This is a major concern, particularly for the North-Western Province, Copperbelt Province, Luapula Province and the Central Province. The illegal mining activities in these provinces and other parts of the country have contributed to the pollution of water resources. Contamination and waste from illegal mining-related activities is often discharged directly into water bodies, compromising the sources of water supply locally as well as causing environmental degradation.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to provide brief details on some of the water pollution incidences that have occurred in the recent past from illegal mining-related activities. Allow me to begin with the North-Western Province, which has seen a rise in such activities. For example, in Kasempa District of the North Western Province, there has been a surge in illegal gold mining activities, which caused pollution of the Dengwe River and Lufupa River through the washing of gold-bearing earth materials in the water bodies. This has affected the water quality in the district. Investigations by WARMA on the Kasempa water pollution incident indicated that perpetrators were members of the public seeking gold fortunes through illegal mining.

Madam Speaker, illegal mining activities have not spared Mwinilunga District, where the quality of water in the Mudanyama River, a tributary of the Lunga River, has been affected by illegal gold miners. Another notable river affected by pollution from illegal mining activities in the North-Western Province is the Kafungulwa River in Solwezi District.

Madam Speaker, in Muchinga Province, illegal gold mining activities in Chitamba area of Mpika District have been polluting the Kanchibiya River and its tributaries. In the Central Province, Changwena River, Musofu River and Chibefwe River in Mkushi District and Momboshi River in Chisamba District have also suffered from pollution as a result of illegal mining activities. In the Copperbelt Province, the situation is similar to what has happened to some sections of the Kafue River. For instance, in Chingola District, sources of water have been polluted by illegal copper miners.

Madam Speaker, recently, there was a water pollution incident at the Mimbula Mine Copper Project in Chingola where the Chabanyama Stream was polluted due to the collapse of the tailing storage facility. The incidence resulted in residents having challenges accessing quality water supply for domestic use. My ministry, through WARMA and in collaboration with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment through ZEMA, acted to ensure that the pollution incident was mitigated and necessary remedial actions were taken.

Madam Speaker, in the Copperbelt Province, mines such as the Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) Plc, Mopani Copper Mine Plc, Non-Ferrous Company Africa Mining (NFCA) Plc, Rongxing Investments Limited and Sino-Metal Leach Zambia Limited have at times occasioned pollution of water sources and compliance enforcement has been conducted by WARMA in order to stop pollution. The big mines in the Copperbelt Province have contributed to the pollution of the Kafue River and Mwambashi River as well as Itimpi Stream and Mwatishi Stream.

Madam Speaker, Mkushi District and Serenje District in the Central Province are other hotspot areas where registered manganese mining companies have often polluted water resources. For instance, Daxing Mining, Melucky Mining, Amour Ferro Alloys and Lijing Mining Company Limited have all been investigated and penalised by WARMA for offenses involving the pollution of water resources in the area. Some companies were even ordered to cease mining operations in order to implement remedial measures to prevent water resources from being polluted.

Madam Speaker, WARMA and ZEMA have penalised mining houses that have polluted water bodies. They have meted out penalties and taken remedial measures to stop further pollution. Further, WARMA will continue conducting compliance and enforcement inspections even to legally registered and licensed mining houses because there is a challenge of water pollution even from formally and legally registered mines.

Madam Speaker, what are the legal provisions on the protection of water bodies from pollution? Section 47(2) of the Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011 has mandated WARMA to monitor the resource quality and control the pollution of any water source. Further, this House may wish to note that Section 48 of the Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011 has made direct or indirect discharge of any organic or inorganic pollutant into any water body a strict liability offence, and the offenders are punishable by law with a fine not exceeding 100,000 penalty units, K40,000, one-year imprisonment or both. Further, under Section 163 as read with Section 173 of the Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011, illegal abstraction of water for washing minerals attracts a penalty of 500,000 penalty units or K200,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both.

Madam Speaker, WARMA's role in abating pollution of water sources is complemented by the provisions of Section 32 of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011, which provides that a person shall not, without a licence, discharge, cause or permit the discharge of a contaminant or pollutant into the environment if that discharge causes or is likely to cause an adverse effect. The Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 has provided that offences of this nature shall attract, upon conviction, a fine not exceeding 700,000 penalty units or imprisonment for a period of seven years, or both. The fine under the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 translates into K280,000.

Madam Speaker, the law is very clear regarding the consequences and penalties of water pollution emanating from illegal mining. However, the illegality has continued with impunity. What do we do? Certain measures have been undertaken by my ministry. In response to the rising cases of water pollution, my ministry has implemented, and will continue to implement, several measures to curb this challenge as follows:

Enforcement of Acts

The Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011 and the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 will be enforced. The provisions of these Acts will be strictly enforced, going forward;

Strengthened Compliance Monitoring

Compliance measures to prevent would-be offenders as well as to penalise offenders will be strengthened;

Legal Framework Review

A review of the Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011 is underway to enhance provisions related to water pollution and increase penalties for violations from the current 100,000 penalty units or K40,000, or one-year imprisonment to above 700,000 penalty units or K280,000, or a maximum of seven years imprisonment, or both. We believe that these new provisions will deter would-be offenders

Mapping and Delineation of Water Resources

We will continue the mapping and delineation of water resources. WARMA has been mapping and delineating water resource areas, including hotspots with a high risk of pollution from illegal mining activities in the country. This is meant to enhance the protection status of important and strategic water resources, such as sources of water supply for commercial water utilities.

Development of Water Quality Information Management System

We will develop a Water Quality Information Management System (WQIMS) to facilitate data storage, data analysis and reporting on water quality to support evidence-based policy making.

Strengthen Regulatory Institutions

We will strengthen regulatory institutions such as WARMA through increased funding. This will enable such institutions to engage adequate inspectors and invest in modern and innovative technologies for monitoring pollution and effective compliance and enforcement.

Public Awareness

The ministry has enhanced public awareness and stakeholder engagement on aspects of water stewardship, pollution prevention and water resources protection and preservation.

Inter-Ministerial and Stakeholder Collaboration

There will be enhanced inter-ministerial and stakeholder collaboration. Therefore, we will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security as well as traditional leaders to regulate illegal mining.

Madam Speaker, let me reaffirm my ministry's commitment to safeguarding Zambia's water resources from the detrimental impacts of pollution from mining activities. We shall continue to enforce the law and implement measures that ensure access to clean and safe water for all. We, therefore, call upon this august House and all our citizens to help us realise this vision.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement presented by the hon. Minister.

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, from the statement by the hon. Minister, it seems illegal mining is a serious problem in the country. There have even been reports that sugilite has been depleted. Illegal miners are not helping the country at all. Why does the Government have a laissez-faire approach to dealing with the people who are stealing our minerals and contaminating our water? Why does the Government not send police officers to deal with illegal miners the way it does when an opposition political party has a rally?

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Ms Nyirenda: Why are you questioning me?

Interruptions

Ms Nyirenda: I am not diverting.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Lundazi!

Please, just ask your question. Do not bring politics into your question.

Ms Nyirenda: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I have not finished.

Hon. Member, we are dealing with the issue of pollution of water, not political rallies that are happening. So, stick to the question. Ask a clear point of clarification that you want to hear from the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation.

Ms Nyirenda: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The illegal miners do not pay taxes, so they are stealing from innocent Zambians. What serious measures is the Government going to put in place to ensure that these thieves are curbed?

Mr Mapani: Simple.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that very important question. I understand the manner in which it has been asked by the Deputy Secretary-General.

Madam Speaker, we are dealing with issues of water pollution. We are dealing with ensuring that we supply quality water to our people. Time and again, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development has come on the Floor of this House and announced the policy changes. He has presented various laws and regulations on the Floor of the House to ensure that mining is done in a safe manner. We have also seen the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security and the hon. Minister of Defence come to this House to announce measures to reduce the levels of illegal mining. This Government is very serious about stopping illegal mining activities. Further, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development announced that the ministry has given permits and licences to various associations for small-scale miners to ensure that they participate in mining activities and stop illegal mining. There is no laissez-faire attitude at all. We are serious about empowering our people to utilise the natural resources.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, the statement that the hon. Minister has issued today is about water pollution by illegal miners in the country. It is very easy to regulate registered mines because we know where the areas covered by the mining licences start and end. So, it is very easy to issue penalties and correct the problem when legal mines are involved. The hon. Minister has referred to illegal miners. These are Zambians. They are young and old people who want to benefit from the resources. It means we still have to allow them to benefit from the resources we have as a country, even as we try to correct the illegal mining problem.

Madam Speaker, I know that the hon. Minister is responsible for water, but what level of collaboration is taking place between his ministry and the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, to ensure that the young people participate in mining, while ensuring that they do not pollute our water bodies? We are calling them illegal miners, but in my view, they are Zambians who want to earn a living. What do we need to do to correct the problem?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank you the hon. Member for that very important question.

Madam, time and again, many hon. Ministers have pronounced a one-Government approach on the Floor of this House. The hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment and I sit in the Cabinet where the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development presents ideas on how to effectively empower the people. Therefore, when we pronounce the increase in mineral production in the country, we also include the small-scale miners.

Madam Speaker, what we are doing is to ensure that we regulate the mining activities. I agree with the hon. Member that it is very difficult to regulate illegal miners. I said in my statement that illegal miners are of no fixed aboard. They are always on the move and some of them are foreigners. Indeed, it is a daunting task, but we believe that if we work together, with everybody in this House, we should be able to manage it.

The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development has upped its activities and it is registering as many associations as possible. The ministry is also conducting awareness campaigns to attract illegal miners to register so that they can mine safely. After they are registered, they can also be taught about environmental protection as stipulated in the Environmental Management Act.

Mr C. M. Mpundu (Chembe): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the people of Chembe, to ask a question on this subject matter.

Madam Speaker, the impact of pollution on human life cannot be overemphasised. Pollution is not caused by the mines only. What measures has the ministry put in place to sensitise communities particularly, the miners on the effects of pollution?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Chembe has brought up real issues that we are actually trying to look at.

Madam Speaker, the issue of pollution is worsening in the country. I should add that it is not only caused by illegal miners but also, legal miners. Many of our streams, rivers and other water sources have been polluted. I clearly stated in my statement that firstly, we are trying to address the situation by strictly enforcing the existing laws and regulations. Secondly, we are trying to increase the penalties. Currently, a penalty is only K40,000, but we want to increase it -y to K300,000. We also want to ensure that the period is increased from one year to seven years. We believe that with more enforcements of stricter penalties, the would-be offenders will stop polluting our river sources.

Madam Speaker, working with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, and the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, we are conducting a very good campaign awareness and advocacy to sensitise not only the illegal miners, but also the legal miners on the negative effects of pollution on their own health. Pollution has a very negative effect on the health of our citizens. So, the awareness is ongoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker

Mr Menyani Zulu (Nyimba): Madam Speaker, please, permits me to tell the hon. Minister that I do not believe in the idea of increasing the penalties. I believe sending the police to those areas would be a better solution to the problem that is there. The hon. Minister is privileged to head a ministry which implements carbon trading. He will agree with me that the village concept in those areas has performed wonders. People in villages understand red lines in terms of where to go and where to not go. They understand the importance of preserving a tree and the disadvantages of cutting it down. This has successfully been done and my constituency is the best example of what we are talking about. The hon. Minister knows it.

Madam Speaker, is it not possible to use the village concept on the so called ‘illegal miners’ since they are the owners of the minerals in this country? Why can we not adopt the village concept and use it in the mining sector, the same way it has been used in the forestry sector? We can map and secure the area so that there is no encroachment. We can also tell the villagers to have proper papers to allow them to access to that area, failure to which they can face the wrath of the Government.

Madam Speaker, it is hard to get an artisanal mining license. In my tenure as hon. Member of Parliament, I have just facilitated for one out of the seven, who needed to get licences. My people in the village are not able to get t licences. So, why is it difficult for the ministry to implement the village concept to avoid pollution of rivers?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Nyimba for that important question. Indeed, there are advantages of the village concept and the ministry will engage the hon. Member to see how the concept can be actualised. However, the ministry will continue enforcing the existing laws and regulations, and also increase the penalties. Whilst the hon. Member does not believe in the application of penalties, I want to clearly state that this is the law. Through the Water Resources Management Act, the hon. Member of Parliament will be punished if found polluting the streams. He is going to be charged with a penalty of K280,000 or jailed for seven years.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Eng. Nzovu: This message should be very clear. To those listening, there is a law, and if one breaks it, one will be arrested.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me an opportunity, on behalf of the people of Chilubi, to ask a question and welcome back.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister quoted the Water Resources Management Authority Act and the Zambia Environmental Management. I want to bring to the attention of the hon. Minister the saying that, ‘prevention is better than cure’. I am sure the hon. Minister is aware that Section 29 of the Zambia Environmental Management Act, states that it is prohibited for any project to be carried out without the approval of, ZEMA. What is the view of the hon. Minister on the prevention of projects that need to be carried out? The hon. Minister mentioned many rivers that have been polluted by illegal mining but he did not mention the preventive measures that were taken before mining started. I rest my case, Madam Speaker.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Chilubi may have come into the House late. I stated that there will be increased compliance monitoring.

Interruptions

Eng. Nzovu: Hon. Member for Chilubi, listen to me.

Madam Speaker, there will be increased compliance monitoring. That means that violations by any entity – we are talking about legal and illegal miners, particularly, the legal miners – that are registered, have permits and have gone through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, will be inspected and identified through compliance monitoring. That is the kind of prevention we are looking into. Compliance monitoring will also mean visits to the industries to assess their compliance with the Environmental Management Act, therefore, preventing violations. Other than that, if we find that an entity has already abrogated the provisions of the law, we will effect the various penalties in that law. Prevention is better than cure, and we will move on that path.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, allow me to welcome you back to the House. I wish you a happy new year.

Madam Speaker, one of the rivers affected by pollution is the Kanchibiya River, in which I take particular interest. I have raised this matter with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA). The activities that happen at the mining site in Mpika, which is upstream of the Kanchibiya River, have not only disturbed the livelihood of our people in accessing water from the river, but also their source of livelihood. Some keep livestock and others grow crops on their farms. Just from the discolouration of the water, one can tell that there is massive pollution happening in the river and its tributaries within the district. What is also of concern is the fact that the mining site has no sanitation facilities. So, pollution is not only being caused by the mining activities, but by human excretion upstream, which increases the risk of the outbreak of cholera and other diseases for our people downstream.

Madam Speaker, the mining site has also attracted characters of all kinds, including criminals. The people of Mpepo Chiefdom are living in fear because of the increasing criminal activities taking place because of the mining site. What is the Government doing to address the security concerns and to halt the operations of the mine as they are affecting the lives of our people downstream?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I sympathise with my fellow hon. Member and I hear the concerns that he has raised. The Kanchibiya River has been badly affected.

Madam Speaker, you may recall that the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development as well as the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security announced to this House and the nation, at large, that the Government had upped measures to stop illegal mining activities. Certain mining entities were even closed down because of pollution, bad hygiene and safety risks. The Government has cordoned off certain areas that had a lot of illegal mining activities. I want to assure the hon. Member that the Government is doing everything possible to stop illegal mining. We believe that when mining entities are registered and regulated, they will be safe and there will not be any disease outbreaks.

Madam Speaker, we have a rise in criminality in the areas where illegal mining activities are being undertaken. The issue is on the radar of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security. Using the one-Government approach, a task force consisting of officers from the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Energy, has been put in place by the Cabinet to ensure that operations in the mining sector are streamlined.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, illegal mining has been a source of contamination of our water bodies in the country, and that has adversely impacted agricultural practices, food security and public health. What is the impact on the aquatic ecosystem, and the livelihood of farmers and fishermen?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I have elaborated on the effects of pollution on aquatic life. It is a serious problem that the general citizenry and we, as hon. Members, must rise to resolve. We have seen a depletion of aquatic life in some streams and rivers, even the colour of the water changing completely to the extent that our people cannot utilise it for their domestic needs. The Government is looking into the matter seriously to stop it. So, we call upon everybody involved to help us resolve this issue. We must resolve this issue if we are going to have a healthy population.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kandafula (Serenje): Madam Speaker, I think, my question has been partly touched on by the hon. Member for Chifubu. So, maybe, just for clarification purposes, I will proceed.

Madam Speaker, we have talked a lot about pollution caused by mining activities. Similarly, the t agricultural sector has had similar effects because many chemicals are discharged into the streams. To make matters worse, there is the siltation of rivers so much so that the quantity of water our rivers can hold now has been reduced, which will probably result in them drying up. What is the Government doing about the farmers who also pollute the rivers and the people who have settled on river embankments?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me clearly state that various offences are committed through certain activities, it is not only pollution. The obstruction of water without a permit is punishable by a relevant fine or imprisonment. Secondly, the law is clear on how to deal with people who settle in ecologically sensitive areas. For example, farmers lose their produce for carrying out agricultural activities on riverbanks. The law empowers the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) to order the destruction of crops, obviously, at the cost of the guilty parties. A penalty fee is also attached to it. If I remember correctly, the penalty is about K200,000. So, cultivating and settling on riverbanks is prohibited. Further, the ministry works closely with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to ensure that local councils do not demarcate and give out land in such areas. I think, that was another problem that we identified.

Madam Speaker, one of the other measures that I announced in my statement earlier is the mapping, delineating and demarcating of certain areas which I, as the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, have the power to declare as water-protected areas. If such areas are encroached on, we will prosecute the offenders.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kalobo (Wusakile): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to ask a question. Before I ask my question, allow me to congratulate you on successfully launching the Special Pages on the Parliament Website, which is meant for young learners, and the News Corner, which is meant to highlight the activities and initiatives in constituencies.

Madam Speaker, it is common knowledge that the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), which is mandated to regulate pollution, is incapacitated in terms of human resources and finances. It is also not decentralised.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister highlighted two categories of pollutants. The first is the illegal miners, who extract radioactive minerals. As a result, somewhere in Serenje, people are now developing nerve cell diseases. The second category is the legal miners, such as multinational companies, that pollute our rivers using chemicals like sulphuric and nitric acid, among others.

Madam Speaker, has the hon. Minister ascertained the amount of radioactive materials that go into the rivers he mentioned? Further, what is the amount of chemicals, specifically sulphuric acid, that is discharged into rivers, and what are the devastating effects on human beings in terms of life expectancy?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for that very important question. He may need a bit of education from the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation. The Water Resources Management Act of 2011 has mandated WARMA to monitor the water resource quality and control pollution. Further, this House may wish to note that Section 48 of the Water Resources Management Act has made direct or indirect discharge of any organic or inorganic pollutant in any water body a strict liability or offence. So, the law is very clear.

Madam Speaker, I stated very clearly that using a one Government approach, we are working very closely with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to implement the Environmental Management Act, which deals with issues of pollution. Hon. Members need to remember that before any entity carries out an activity, an environmental impact assessment process has to be done by ZEMA under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment. That assessment is carried out in line with the Water Resources Management Act and various other pieces of legislation. So, the environmental impact assessment is approved according to the provisions of the Environmental Management Act and the Water Resources Management Act. I think that is clear. When we look at the two pieces of legislations, we can obviously see that they complement each other. So, going by the one Government policy, we work together very closely as ministries.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member asked whether we have quantified the levels of pollution. I think, I was very clear in my statement that we have come up with a computer related programme to collect, store, analyse and disseminate information resulting from pollution. So, we are collecting data so that we know the quantum or level of pollution and then, obviously, design mechanisms to enhance our enforcement.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: I think, the hon. Member for Wusakile asked about the enforcement aspect. He said that since the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) is not decentralised and is only located in Lusaka, how will it ensure that there is proper enforcement? The law in place is clear, but then the enforcement aspect is what he wanted to know. Is that correct, hon. Member for Wusakile?

Mr Kalobo: Yes.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I did not get the other part of the question. I can assure the hon. Member that WARMA is not only in Lusaka. I It is also in Ndola and other big towns. So, compliance monitoring has increased. We are doing a lot of monitoring in many areas. Further, I said very clearly that we are collaborating with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment through ZEMA. I wish to inform the House that when we say we are taking a one Government approach, we mean just that. We have carried out joint inspections with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, WARMA, ZEMA, the Forestry Department and the Ministry of Energy to ensure that issues of pollution are controlled.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr C. Chibuye (Mkushi North): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister talked about increasing compliance monitoring. How has compliance monitoring been increased so far in terms of inspecting the mines that were closed? In Mkushi, for example, certain mines were closed, but they are now open. They have started discharging effluents into rivers where we draw water for consumption. So, how has compliance monitoring by the ministry increased in order to ensure that mines that are abrogating the law are suspended?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me thank the hon. Member of Parliament for that very important question. Indeed, pollution from manganese mining in Mkushi and Serenje is a big problem. It is a problem which the New Dawn Government has made every effort to try and control. Mining entities in the area were charged, penalised and closed because many of them were discharging effluents directly into streams.

Madam Speaker, I will take the information from the hon. Member of Parliament that the scourge is on the rise again. I can assure him that we will raise our compliance monitoring. We will go to Mkushi and inspect the mines again.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: We have exhausted the time that was allocated for the Ministerial Statement.

Before we make progress, I would like to welcome the hon. Member for Chawama back from her leave of absence, although she is walking away now. She was away for some time. Congratulations on the birth of her baby boy.

Further, to the newly-elected hon. Members of Parliament, that is the hon. Member for Petauke Central, the hon. Member for Pambashe and the hon. Member for Kawambwa, I say welcome to the House.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: If you have time, please, come through to my Chambers so that I can tell you who to not associate with.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: That was on a light note.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Let us make progress.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

PLANS TO TURN THE HOUSE OF MR LANGFORD SATA INTO A NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE

200. Mr Kapyanga (Mpika) asked the Minister of Tourism:

whether the Government has any plans to turn the house for Mr Langford Sata, the father of the Fifth Republican President of Zambia, Mr Micheal Chilufya Sata, in Chitulika Village, Mpika District, into a national heritage site;

if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

if there are no such plans, why.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, by leave of the House, I would like to withdraw the question.

Madam Speaker: Leave granted.

Question, by leave, accordingly withdrawn.

SURVEY ON HUNGER SITUATION IN CHITAMBO

201. Mr Mutale (Chitambo) asked the Vice-President:

whether the Government conducted a survey to ascertain the hunger situation in Chitambo District, as of June 2024;

if so, what the findings of the survey were;

how much relief food had been distributed in the district, as of June 2024;

how many households received the relief food, as of the same period; and

if no relief food was distributed, why.

Mr Mutale: Madam Speaker, with leave of the House, I would like to withdraw the question.

Madam Speaker: Wow, is this a strategy?

Interruptions

Question, by leave, accordingly withdrawn.

CONSTRUCTION OF HYDRO-POWER PLANT AT NANSALA FALLS

202. Ms Nakaponda (Isoka) asked the Minister of Energy:

whether the Government has any plans to construct a hydro-power plant at Nansala Falls in Isoka District;

if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct a hydro-power plant at Nansala Falls in Isoka District. The development of the hydro-power plant at Nansala Falls was allocated to a private developer in 2021. The developer is currently undertaking studies to highlight the technical and environmental feasibility of the project, which will be completed by the end of 2025. The Government is providing technical support to the developer in order to expedite the development of the project.

Madam Speaker, timelines for the completion of the project will be determined once financial close is achieved. Therefore, the Government will provide the necessary incentives to the developer in order to achieve financial close.

Madam Speaker, part (c) of the question falls off as the Government has plans according to the response to part (a) of the question.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Nakaponda: Madam Speaker, for the past years, I have heard the answer ‘when funds will be available.’ We are almost in the campaign period for elections. When will the funds be available for our people to see the light of the words?

Mr Samakayi: Question!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, it has taken time for the project to be implemented. These are some of the challenges private sector players are facing in terms of financial close. However, this Government is working tirelessly to support the private developer to achieve financial close. Like I stated, feasibility studies are on-going and will be finished by the end of 2025. From there, the developer, who is a private sector player, will be supported to get financial close.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister able to share with us the name of the private developer? Why has it taken so long for the developer to start the project, knowing the importance of power in this country?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the name of the private developer is Sister Movement. The project has taken long to start because of delay of financial close. These are the challenges that private sector players in the energy sector are facing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Nakaponda: Madam Speaker, since the private contractor has taken so long, does the Central Government not have money apart from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to carry out projects like the one at Nansala Falls? All we know is that the CDF is doing very well in our constituencies. The Central Government is supposed to fund huge projects like this one. Does the Central Government not have money to carry out such projects?

Hon. Opposition Member: Quality!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) cannot be used to implement big projects. That is the more reason that the Government is committed to creating an environment that supports private sector players in order for them to achieve financial closes to implement these projects. We have considered how important the project is to the energy sector.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kandafula: Madam Speaker, in the contractual obligations, what is the height of the falls and the expected power output? What types of turbines will be installed?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, we will have those details immediately after the feasibility studies are done.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr C. Mpundu (Chembe): Madam Speaker, what specific steps is the ministry taking to construct a mini hydro-power plant at Nansala Water Falls and operationalise it?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, as I stated, projects have been given to private sector players. The only thing the Government is doing is providing technical support in order for the private sector players to achieve the construction of the mini hydro-power plants.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNICATION TOWERS IN KATOMBOLA CONSTITUENCY

203. Dr Andeleki (Katombola) asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

when construction of communication towers in Katombola Parliamentary Constituency will commence;

what the cause of the delay in commencing the project is; and

what the estimated cost of the project is.

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati): Madam Speaker, happy new year.

Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct communication towers in underserved areas to bring coverage to the uncovered population across the country, including Katombola. Considering the foregoing, a communication tower has been constructed at Simango Primary School in Simango Ward in Katombola Parliamentary Constituency. The ministry is working with the Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited (ZAMTEL) and ZESCO Limited to ensure that power is connected to the site. Further, the Government will construct two communication towers at Sinde Primary School and Ndele Primary School.

Madam Speaker, the construction of communication towers in Katombola Constituency was delayed partly due to resistance from the communities in the areas they were first constructed. The towers are being demolished in order for them to be relocated to new locations in Katombola. The resistance slowed down the project. Additionally, the contractor responsible for the project did not commence the construction of the site on time. In that regard, the ministry, through the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), warned the contractor. He has since commenced construction in the new location in a phased manner. According to the project schedule, the contractor is expected to be on-site in Katombola Constituency by April 2025, ensuring that the work progresses as planned.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the forty towers to be relocated is US$4,149,550.03 incurred in procuring equipment, which is exclusive of local services amounting to K31,916 268.49.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Andeleki: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that they met resistance from the people in Katombola Constituency. I would like to find out which of the five chiefdoms did they meet resistance and which chiefs including the Member of Parliament did they engage?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, I said that the towers in question are being relocated from other areas and are being taken to Katombola. They are not been relocated within Katombola. So, there was no resistance in Katombola

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Madam Speaker, I would like to appreciate the hon. Minister’s response to the hon. Member of Katombola. The hon. Minister has mentioned that a tower has been constructed at Simango Primary School which is now waiting for ZESCO Limited to be powered in order for it to render service to the community.

Madam Speaker, in that past, I observed that the Government used to create solar energy around communication towers and the towers were able to provide service to communities. Why has his Government not considered utilising the model that has been there of providing power through a solar system as opposed to waiting for ZESCO Limited thereby, denying the people of this ward service.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Lunte for that question.

Indeed, the model that we have adopted is to have solar and ZECCO Limited power. However, ZESCO Limited is the primary source of power supplemented by solar and in some cases, diesel generators. As we process with the project in Katombola, we are going to add the option of solar.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Andeleki: Madam Speaker, what is clear is that the ministry may be facing some financial challenges. Is the ministry considering taking up an initiative the way the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has taken an initiative on police vehicles and ambulances? Is the ministry thinking maybe allowing constituencies like Katombola that are in dire need of these towers to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to pay the ministry so that the ministry can connect the whole of Katombola Constituency with telephone network?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, before we adjourned the last sitting of Parliament, we had a caucus with the hon. Members of Parliament. We indicated the financial limitation that we have to enable us plant towers. We appealed to them the option of us using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) on a 50/50 basis. If they give us CDF for one tower, the Government will give them one tower. So, that option still remains.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, you will recall that in 2023, the hon. Minister requested us to submit names of the areas that needed to have the communication towers installed.

Madam Speaker, in 2024, you stood on the Floor of the House and gave us a timeline in which we were supposed to have submitted the same areas where we needed the communication towers installed. However, up to now, there has not been any significant progress. I wanted to find you if the hon. Minister can give us a schedule on how they have prepared to construct the towers constituency by constituency so that the issues communication towers can come to an end.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, indeed, we are grateful for the submissions that were made by hon. Members of Parliament in terms of the areas where they wanted the towers to be planted. That information helped us to be able to map out the areas where towers will be planted and this has resulted in the number of towers standing at 998 that require to be planted in order for us to have 100 per cent coverage.

Madam Speaker, under the resource envelope that we have which is essentially under the Universal Access Fund, the maximum that we can be able to do each year is around fifty. So, the hon. Member divides that by 998.

Madam Speaker, I want to inform the hon. Member that we are also working with the private sector and the private sector has responded positively. The two big ones are going to deliver for us 252 towers this year. So, that certainly will increase the coverage.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mutinta (Itezhi-Tezhi): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank hon. Minister for the statement.

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

Madam Speaker: Order! Sorry, hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi, before you come in, the hon. Member for Mkushi South is indicating. It is point of order?

Mr Chisopa: Yes, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: What is the point of order?

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, thank you so much.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has not answered the question. My question to him was whether he could give us the schedule of how the communication towers are going to be constructed, constituency by constituency. That is my request. Now, it is even good that he has indicated that 200 and something towers will be erected, and we have 156 constituencies.

Madam Speaker: I am sure, the hon. Minister can attend to that.

Maybe, hon. Minister, you can just assure the House. For me, the worry is that we are launching all these web pages for young learners but, if the young people have no Internet connectivity in their rural areas, then, the programme will be of no value to them. So, it is actually worrying.

Hon. Minister, you may respond to the hon. Member.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, most obliged. We will provide the information to hon. Members of Parliament.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi, you may continue.

Mr Mutinta: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned that the CDF co-financing option was communicated to the House. I would want him to amplify on how it was communicated so that we explore that option as plan (b). Maybe, we could have missed it.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister, what is your plan b?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, plan b is one for one. This is where you, as a constituency, finance one tower, and we, as the Government, also give you one tower, as was communicated in the Amphitheatre.

Madam Speaker, I thnak you.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of Katombola, we submitted a question today -

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that it appears as though the problem of unperformed contracts in the sector is widespread. What is the ministry doing to ensure that contractors do not sabotage the Government’s commitment to the people in terms of timely delivery? I speak for Kanchibiya, but we are in a similar situation. So, I speak in solidarity with the people of Katombola. What is the Government doing to ensure that contractors do not sabotage what it has committed to do for the people of Zambia?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, indeed, unperformed contracts is one of the problems that the Government has faced. We wanted to empower our local contractors; give them business opportunities. However, probably 80 per cent of them have not delivered according to the terms of the contract. The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has issued notices to the various contractors, including the one who is supposed to be working in Katombola, to the effect that if nothing happens by April 2025, the contracts will be terminated.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, allow me to congratulate and welcome the newly-elected hon. Members who joined us last week.

Madam Speaker, when one travels to South Africa or countries in Europe, one does not see network towers. I think that towers are outdated. Is there a way to learn from our brothers and sisters in those countries so that we can come up with new technology, and stop using network towers? In most modern countries, those things are outdated. How best can we join the countries that are ahead of us?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, a number of countries, such as the ones that have been referred to, use satellite technology, which is exceedingly expensive to carry in our economy. So, under Phase I, we shall use the network towers and, as the economy grows, we will look at alternative technologies.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity you have given me, on behalf of the people of Lubansenshi, to ask a supplementary question.

Madam Speaker, in 2024, the hon. Minister assured us that the working Government would erect the network towers as planned. I understand and sympathise with the ministry, looking at what the country went through because of the effects of the drought. In the interest of fostering development, the systems and operations for teachers and nurses, especially in rural areas, are also anchored on Internet connectivity. Some of them have to cover long distances to access the Internet because of a lack of network towers. They even fail to perform certain tasks. So, they are disciplined by their supervisors. As we wait for the good plans that the Government has, of erecting network towers, what can the ministry do for the teachers, especially those in rural areas? As you may be aware, there is a new syllabus, and software for the same is shared with the teachers, which they have to print out from their respective schools and other areas. In the absence of Internet connectivity, what is the hon. Minister telling them to do?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, we have over 40,000 schools and 11,000 healthcare facilities. The only viable technology that can cover those numbers is communication towers. One can use Star Link, but it would be an expensive initial investment for each school. The Government’s strategy is to deliver communication towers to enable access for our teachers, nurses and other Government officers.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chala (Chipili): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that the ministry has written to the contractors who have failed to execute their mandate according to the programme that the ministry gave them, and that it has given them up to April to perform. I am sure that the Government gave those contractors part payments – I do not know whether it is 20 per cent or 25 per cent. How is the ministry going to recover that money? How is the Government going to handle the issue if the money is not recovered from those contractors and then it wants to give other contractors the same job?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, in the agreements that the ministry entered into with the contractors, there were provisions for performance bonds, which a contractor issues to ZICTA to the effect that if the contractor does not perform as expected, the bonds are cashed in. So, we have performance bonds for every contractor.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

PLANS TO CONSTRUCT WATER RETICULATION SYSTEMS IN MILANZI

204. Ms Phiri (Milanzi) asked the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation:

whether the Government has any plans to construct water reticulation systems in the following areas in Milanzi Parliamentary Constituency:

Mbinga;
Kagoro-Chagaga;
Mzime;
Kathumba Village;
Simon;
Chilembwe;
Kankhomba;
Chamiwawa;
Kapepe; and
Kholowa;

if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Eng. Nzovu): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to sink boreholes and to construct water reticulation systems in the named areas of Milanzi Constituency.

Madam Speaker, several interventions are currently being implemented in Milanzi Constituency as follows:

in September 2023, the ministry signed a twelve-month contract with Nande Ventures Limited to upgrade and mechanise two existing boreholes into piped water schemes in Milanzi Constituency. The scope of works involved upgrading and mechanising two existing boreholes to piped water schemes to cover the aforementioned communities. However, the contract was terminated due to non-performance by Nande Ventures Limited. The final account closure is in progress and the remaining works will be re-tendered in the first quarter of 2025; and

in Mbinga, Mzime, Simon and Kankhomba communities, the ministry, through the local authority, plans to drill one borehole per community with support from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) by the first quarter of 2025.

Madam Speaker, as mentioned earlier, indeed, the Government has plans to construct water reticulation systems in the specified areas of Milanzi Constituency under the 2025 National Budget.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Phiri: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his response.

Madam Speaker, I recognise that two out of ten areas are currently receiving attention regarding water reticulation. The hon. Minister has mentioned that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is one of the interventions. He knows that the CDF is insufficient to meet competing needs in our constituencies. Are there other sources of funding to ensure that the people in the mentioned areas have access to clean water supply?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, indeed, the people of Milanzi need clean water supply. The ministry had planned very well to procure schemes for people in Milanzi. However, the contractors disappointed us. As I already said, we have since terminated the contract. I can assure the hon. Member of Parliament that we will quicken the processes of procuring a new contractor so that the work is completed for people in Milanzi to have water.

Madam Speaker, again, let me take this opportunity to warn local contractors, whom we are supporting so much, that shoddy work will not be tolerated. Whenever they are given contracts, they must execute the work according to contractual provisions. Non-performance of contracts affects people. The Government has embarked on ensuring that it provides quality water supply to people, but in many cases, local contractors have failed us.

Madam Speaker, to the people of Milanzi, I say, we are almost there. We will re-tender the works and provide water schemes to them.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Madam Speaker, I would like to appreciate the hon. Minister’s response to the question from the hon. Member for Milanzi. In his response, the hon. Minister stated that the contract involving Nande Ventures Limited was terminated on account of failure by the contractor to abide by its terms. Why has he reported the termination of the contract under interventions as opposed to reporting it as a challenge?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I did not get the question. Maybe, the hon. Member can repeat it.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, you can repeat the question.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, in his response to the question posed by my hon. Colleague, the hon. Minister indicated the measures that are being taken to ameliorate the suffering of the people of Milanzi regarding the non-availability of water supply. He reported the termination of the contract involving Nande Ventures Limited under measures. My thinking is that the cancellation of that contract is part of the problem for which the hon. Member posed the question. Why has the hon. Minister decided to report the cancellation of the contract under measures being taken by the Government as opposed to reporting it as a challenge?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that important question.

Madam Speaker, on a light note, I wish to inform the House that when I was talking to the hon. Member of Parliament for Lunte, I told him that when he is smiling and not annoyed, he looks very handsome. So, I encourage him to smile more.

Laughter

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, when a contractor is not performing, obviously, the contract gets terminated. The various legal provisions in the contract are then followed. The contract in question has been terminated. We will recover the advance payment and cash in the performance bonds. Indeed, I reported the termination under measures being taken, but other processes are ongoing.

Madam Speaker, I want to report the good news that following the termination of that contract, the processes of re-tendering have started. I think that is what the people of Milanzi would like to hear. They want to know when we will provide water. The process will be started by re-tendering those works because the funds were already provided for the contract.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Phiri: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has assured the people of Milanzi that the Government will provide water to them. What is the timeframe for the completion of the work?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I cannot give the hon. Member the exact date, but I can assure her that we will quicken the process. I estimate that within the next three months, we will be seen back on-site. I can only invite the hon. Member to my office for a detailed update. We will sit with the technocrats for a more detailed briefing. We are concerned that the contractors have not performed well in a number of places. We will ensure that we get better contractors. Going forward, we will be looking at the historical performance of contractors before contracting them, because some of them have been a disaster. They have affected provision of water to our people.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that the contract for Nande was terminated. It means that there was some partial performance on that particular contract. Given that background, and bearing in mind inflation and many other factors that can affect the new contract, what was the initial cost and what is the projected cost of the project?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the question was very specific; it did not look at cost. I invite the hon. Member of Parliament for Milanzi and the hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi to come to my office for a detailed briefing. We can sit down, get the facts and then see how we can move positively together.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Nyirenda: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has openly indicated that local contractors are a challenge. It seems we have the same problem in Lundazi. The local contractors awarded contracts under his ministry seem to be failing us. We still have serious challenges with water. In his response to the question by the hon. Member for Milanzi, the hon. Minister talked about only two areas where contractors have been. Maybe, the contracts for the other areas have been terminated. The hon. Member of Parliament for Milanzi asked about ten areas. Did the ministry contract one contractor for the whole Eastern Province? Does the ministry have different contractors for this particular one?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, as the hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi correctly stated, there was partial performance, and then the contract was terminated. Indeed, the contractor is the same contractor who was supposed to carry out most of the works. The contract, as I said, has been terminated. We are now looking for a more competent contractor to carry out the works. I can confirm to him as well as to the hon. Member for Lundazi that, indeed, I am aware of the issues in his constituency. I am also aware that there is a contractor who has not performed well in that area. Again, it is a similar situation. Non-performance will lead to termination of contracts, and then we get better contractors. I want to assure the two hon. Members of Parliament that the Government is seriously looking at the issue. My assurance to the people is that we will resolve the issue and provide water to our people.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutinta (Itezhi-Tezhi): Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm that the contractor was contracted locally. Was he engaged by the province or the national office? In Itezhi-Tezhi, we are also facing the challenges posed by hiring local contractors. The contractors who were hired to upgrade most of the water points carried out shoddy works, and we do not know who to talk to because we do not know how they were contracted.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me confirm. I have assured the hon. Members of Parliament that it is not only Milanzi, Lundazi and Itezhi-Tezhi which have faced problems with local contractors. Other constituencies have faced the same problem. I assure every hon. Member of Parliament here that having recognised that we have this problem, the Government is doing something about it quickly. It is the reason I issued a stern warning to local contractors in particular that, even as we carry out our policy of empowering them, we need them to perform well. Lack of performance will lead to termination of contracts and recoveries of any money which the Government would have spent. We are already recovering a lot of money from local contractors for non-performance. Remember, when we give contracts, we also demand performance bonds. We demand advance performance bonds for any payments we give them. So, our money is secure. However, moving forward, we do not want to waste time with non-performing contractors. Obviously, we will put them aside and get contractors who can perform. I assure all hon. Members of Parliament who have been negatively affected that the Government will remedy the situation, and our people will have water.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chala (Chipili): Madam Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to make me understand bond cashing. I asked the hon. Minister of Technology and Science a question. He said that the Government recovers money through cashing bonds. The ministry has already terminated the contract in Milanzi. I want to know whether the contractor was given a part payment that was more than the bond that the ministry is going to cash. For example, when a contractor who has a K20,000 or K30,000 bond is given a contract costing K250,000, and then he fails to perform, how does the ministry recover the balance when his bond is probably K60,000? Can the hon. Minister kindly make me understand how the ministry is going to recover the money from the contractors who are not performing to the expectation of the Zambian people?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for that very important question. Again, the contractual provisions are such that when the Government allows the request for an advance payment of, say, 20 per cent from a contractor, the contractor gives us a bond in turn. That is security for the money we are going to pay him. In the event that he does not perform, he does not utilise the advance payment he was paid. We recover it because it is an insurance bond or a bank bond. So, we cash it. Secondly, before a contractor signs a contract, he issues a performance bond. If he fails to perform, we cash his bond. Now, when he is given an advance bond, obviously, the expectation is that he will go on-site to work. When he starts working, he starts adding value. He starts implementing the items in the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) so he starts accumulating value. Now, that value he accumulates is what pays off the advance bond. In fact, after termination of a contract, we sit down with the contractor and do what is called a final account to see who owes the other. Once we finalise the accounts, the other processes kick in.

So, the hon. Member must be assured that with this system, the Government will not lose any money at all. The Government will cash in the advance bond and make full recoveries. I have been assuring the hon. Member for Milanzi that even as these processes are going on, we will start the procedure of procuring new contractors to ensure that the work is finalised. The people in Milanzi have nothing to do with the performance of the contractor. They just want water. So, they will be given water through the new contracts.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The quorum has collapsed. Ring the bells.

Where are the Whips?

Business was suspended from 1731hours until 1732 hours.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Are we okay?

Let us make progress.

CROP FAILURE IN KALABO DISTRICT

205. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

what the major causes of crop failure in Kalabo District are; and

what measures the Government is taking to encourage small-scale farmers to grow drought-resistant crops?

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Speaker, the major causes of crop failure in Kalabo District include:

drought;

flash floods; and

pest attack.

Madam Speaker, Kalabo District is prone to unreliable rainfall at the beginning of the wet season, which affects crop establishment, while dry spells at critical stages of crop development reduce yields.

Madam Speaker, the Government is taking the following measures to encourage small-scale farmers to grow drought-resistant crops:

provide early maturing seeds through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP);

encourage early maize planting in Kalabo District;

promote cultivation of drought-tolerated crops such as millet, sorghum, and cassava, as these crops are better adapted to dry conditions;

link small-scale farmers to a credit window to allow them access credit for irrigation;

encourage farmers to adapt to climate-smart agricultural practices such as efficient water management, soil conservation, and crop diversification among others; and

encourage integrated pest management like hedge rows, intercropping, weeding, and other cultural methods that are beneficial to drought-prone areas.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has given us very good answers. Now, when are the measures that the hon. Minister has mentioned going to be actualised? The activities that he has mentioned are supposed to be undertaken by farmers. Madam Speaker, I am raising these concerns because those who have grown their maize on the upper land are bound to lose out. That is my question.

Laughter

Mr Miyutu: So, I do not know if the hon. Minister can understand my question.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I think it is clear to the hon. Minister.

Mr Kampyongo: Ebene ba nsala!

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, this morning, I was speaking to the Senior Crops Officer, Mr Siakwa Nchimunya, of the Western Province. He told me that actually, he had meetings with the farmers in the affected areas last week. So, the measures are being actualised and information is being exchanged.

Madam Speaker, the FISP buys seed that is tolerant to drought and this seed is being distributed to the affected areas.

Madam Speaker, the cultivation of millet, sorghum, and cassava is ongoing in Kalabo. Actually, the major crops grown in Kalabo are rice, millet, sorghum and cassava. If the hon. Member has noticed, other than maize and rice, the other crops that are grown in Kalabo are tolerant to drought. So, I can assure Hon. Miyutu that the activities are being carried out. The encouragement of farmers to go into climate-smart agriculture is ongoing. The farmers in the hon. Member’s constituency were actually being trained on these things as I said not long ago.

Madam Speaker, in integrated pest management activities, farmers are encouraged to do intercropping and to also, use cultural methods. There are certain cultural methods that allow crops to grow well because they repel the fall armyworms and the black beetle, which are a problem in those areas. So, those are ongoing activities. However, if the hon. Member feels that certain expected activities are not done, he can come and inform me so that the activities can take place. Otherwise, the activities are ongoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, the interaction between the skilled technical officers and farmers is being barred by the number of extension officers and agricultural camp officers. What measure is the Government going to put in place to improve the numbers so that interaction is effective?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I am delighted with what the hon. Member has said. This House appropriates funds for employment and all economic activities. I would have liked him and the other hon. Members of the House to also indicate the need to employ extension officers.

Madam Speaker, I have said before on the Floor of this House that in Israel, there is one extension officer to fifty farmers. Further, the average in the world is one extension officer to 400 farmers. In this country, there is one extension officer to 1,500 farmers. So, that is an impediment to agriculture. Let us bring up these issues at the right time. Talking to me now about recruiting extension officers when the Budget has already been approved is just like pushing me against a wall. For this year, we, as a House, approved a budgetary allocation to employ teachers and health workers. How I wish that the hon. Member could have remembered to suggest that we add extension officers to that list.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubozha: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to ask a question on behalf of the people of Chifubu.

Madam Speaker, in his initial response to the question on the Floor, the hon. Minister elaborated that one of the causes of crop failure is drought. Drought occurrence seems to be a big problem in our country. The drought we experienced last year was even declared a disaster by the President. What is the Government’s policy on crop failure, and what is the ministry doing to assist the affected farmers?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I indicated that drought is one of the causes of crop failure in Kalabo. The Government’s policy is inclined to irrigation. It is for that reason that we are encouraging small-scale farmers to apply for funding for irrigation facilities. Last week, I presented a Ministerial Statement in which I indicated that Indo Zambia Bank and the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) Plc have started inviting farmers to apply for irrigation and mechanisation loan facilities. I also said that the National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) should be left out because it is overwhelmed. I encourage hon. Members to opt for irrigation because it is the answer to the drought.

Madam Speaker, when it comes to crop failure, you will appreciate that the Government gave instructions to the effect that the farmers who are in the areas that experienced the drought should not be harassed to pay back the loans they obtained. I said that only the areas where there was a drought. Again, I gave a clear statement on that last week because there was an hon. Member from an area where the rainfall was good, and he was pushing in that direction. I clearly stated that I would not encourage hon. Colleagues, for example, in Shiwang’andu where rainfall was good, to say that farmers in that area should not pay back the loans that they obtained. However, colleagues in Monze, one of the eighty-four districts hit by the drought, experienced obvious crop failure. So, they should not be harassed. That is the Government’s guidance.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to ask a question on behalf of the people of Chilubi.

Madam Speaker, under the Ministry of Agriculture Head in the 2023 Budget and 2024 Budget, the hon. Minister informed this House that the Comprehensive Agricultural Transformation Support Programme (CATSP) had replaced the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) because that programme was broader. If one checks for the same programme in the Yellow Book for those two years, one will find that the only improvement that the programme made was on the recruitment of extension officers and procurement of motor bicycles, which were heavily funded under that programme. Today, the hon. Minister is insinuating that this House did not support that programme, otherwise, the ministry would have sent extension officers to Kalabo. Having said that, how many of those extension officers, who were recruited under that Head, were sent to Kalabo, especially since crop failure was established and the measures that the hon. Minister has talked about anchored on the extension officers? He also talked about drought-resistant crops and many other measures, like educating people, and he mentioned Mr Nchimunya who is the Senior Crops Officer for the Western Province. We need extension officers for this programme. Having appropriated those provisions under the Head in the 2023 Budget and 2024 Budget, maybe, he can inform this House how many officers the ministry sends to Kalabo to arrest the situation?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I am grateful to the hon. Member for Chilubi for bringing out the issue of the Comprehensive Agricultural Transformation Support Programme (CATSP). He has seriously confused the programme with the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Madam Speaker, I will, yet again, try to clarify the two programmes. The CATSP encompasses FISP. So, it cannot replace FISP. The FISP is a subset of CATSP. We are improving FISP from Direct Input Supply (DIS) under which we were giving fertiliser through the electronic voucher (e-Voucher) system under which a farmer has a choice to collect what inputs he/ she wants. It is, therefore, an improvement on FISP. The FISP is just one element of CATSP. Lately, the ministry has been seriously talking about irrigation for small-scale farmers. It was not there before. The irrigation system was a preserve of large-scale farmers. That is what CATSP is bringing.

Madam Speaker, in terms of mechanisation, the hon. Member should encourage his farmers to get tractors and other equipment. Those provisions were not there before. These things were a preserve of large-scale farmers. Under CATSP, we are bringing the small-scale farmers in tune so that they can continuously cultivate crops.

Madam Speaker, I like the question that the hon. Member has asked because it allows us, as a ministry, to elaborate that CATSP has not replaced FISP, but that FISP has been improved within the CATSP programme. Having said that, the hon. Member may be happy to know that due to attrition, maybe, death, resignation and so on and so forth, we had the space to employ about 300 extension officers. Although it is still a small number, I wish to confirm that the 300 officers were employed. Further, I have a bit of good news in that we have pushed for more extension officers. Soon, the House will hear a submission for the need to bring up irrigation services, and that the service cannot come on its own. So, we need extension staff to improve the work. I wanted to emphasise that. So, hon. Members should not be surprised if we come with an enhanced request for extension officers because, as you are aware, the drive for irrigation, mechanisation and technology to be taken to the small-scale farmers has been uplifted. With that, I am positive that there will be room for more extension officers.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, let us not move away from the question on the Floor of the House –

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Yes, I have seen you. I am just giving guidance.

The question on the Floor is very simple and it reads;

“

what the major causes of crop failure in Kalabo District are; and

what measures the Government is taking to encourage small-scale farmers to grow drought resistant crops.”

Hon. Members, those are the two parts of the question and it is very simple and specific.

Mr Nyambose: On a point of order, Madam.

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

Mr Nyambose: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to raise this important point of order. As you are aware, I rarely rise on these issues. Today, I am speaking as a nationalist, and my point of order is pursuant to Standing Order 253. I will read it for the interest of the House.

“Speaker to Decide on Cases not Provided For

Where a procedural question arises on a matter that is not expressly provided for by these Standing Orders or by other Orders of the House, the Speaker shall decide the question.

(2) A decision made in paragraph (1) of this Standing Order shall be based on the Constitution of Zambia, statute, law and the usages, precedents, customs, procedures, traditions and practices of the Parliament of Zambia and other jurisdictions.”

An example of other Parliamentary jurisdictions is that of the Commonwealth.

Madam Speaker, I am rising on this important point of order because just two weeks ago or some few weeks ago, the nation was treated to some news to the effect that our Head of State was unwell, that Maina Soko Military Hospital had been closed and all the other insinuations. That brought anxiety to the whole nation, especially to some of us, because of the President being the leader of this nation. The health of the President and any eminent leader of this country is a concern to the Zambian people. When I walk around, people ask me as to what is happening because they love their leaders. Two other cases, for example, are those concerning the former leader of the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), Madam Edith Nawakwi, and our only surviving Former President, Mr Lungu, whose health is a concern for the nation. When we move around, people ask us, but we have no answers, and it is not provided for. Is the hon. Minister of Health or the Leader of Government Business in the House in order to keep quiet and not inform the nation or this House on the status of the health of our beloved eminent leaders, whom we so love, so that the Zambian people’s hearts can be settled?

Madam Speaker, I beg your ruling on whether the Leader of Government Business in the House is in order to keep quiet and not inform us, who would like to know.

Mr Chisopa: Question!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: How I wish this matter were brought up when we were looking at Urgent Matters without Notice. However, since you have said that I can use my discretion, and these matters, to me, are of national interest, specifically, the issues to do with our Former President and the former leader of the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), the hon. Minister of Health should come to the House tomorrow – I am sure, like the hon. Member for Chasefu said, people are asking him and we are seeing posts on social media.

Her Honour the Vice-President, do you want to say something?

Interruptions

Mr B. Mpundu: How?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana. Since this is a matter of national interest –

Mr B. Mpundu: How?

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health has to gather information and whatever is brought to the House should be factual. The hon. Minister of Health should come to the House to inform the country at large on what is happening to the former leader of the FDD and the Former President of the Republic of Zambia, on Thursday this week.

We make progress

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will allow three more hon. Members to ask questions because we have dealt with so many issues on this question. However, be mindful of the question that is on the Floor of the House. Let us not generate new questions.

The first will be the hon. Member for Kanchibiya.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, the people of Kalabo have asked a question about crop failure. One of the interventions that I thought would come out from the response on the side of the Government would be to make soil testing compulsory. Soil fertility is a major reason we are experiencing low productivity and crop failure. It is easy to prescribe drought-resistant crops, but it is important to note that even drought-resistant crops can result in crop failure. So, why is the Government not making soil testing compulsory, as in the case of Kalabo and I think, other parts of Zambia can learn from that?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Member’s concern and he will be happy to note that the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with co-operating partners, is actually undertaking a national wide soil testing exercise. However, I have taken note of what the hon. Member has said.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chisopa: On a point of order, Madam.

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

Mr Chisopa: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on a very serious point of order, pursuant to Standing Order 71.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is speaking very good English. However, you will recall that the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) were introduced a long time ago, before the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government came into power. Further, the purpose of the e-Voucher, when it was introduced, was to enable a farmer to make a decision on whether to buy farming implements, irrigation equipment or medicines for animals. Therefore, the e-Voucher programme was running in tandem with FISP. Therefore, is the hon. Minister in order to say that the programme has been introduced by this Government, which is going out next year, the UPND, when he knows that he and his colleagues found the programme in process when they took over?

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mkushi South, when raising a point of order, you are supposed to be specific. Further, you are not encouraged to raise points of order on responses by an hon. Minister when he is still on the Floor. There is still time, and you should have asked a follow-up question.

The hon. Minister will take your matter into account as he responds to the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu’s question.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Did somebody ask a question?

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, firstly, I want to acknowledge the hon. Minister’s statement. He said that Shiwang’andu has received a reasonable amount of rainfall this season. I can confirm that. I wish the assurances the hon. Minister gives on the Floor were practical. If they were practical, we could have recorded a bumper harvest this year, but the farmers have had to share fertiliser in ma meda.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is your question, hon. Member? We are looking at Kalabo Central, and what the major causes of crop failure there are.

Mr Kampyongo: Yes, Madam Speaker. In his response, the hon. Minister cited Shiwang’andu.

Madam Speaker, when responding to my hon. Colleague from Kalabo Central, the hon. Minister said that here, we appropriate funds for the Government’s expenditure. I agree, but he also knows that here, we deal with Budget estimates proposed by the Executive. We expect him to come here with proposals on how much he wants to spend to recruit extension officers for us to approve. That is our duty.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalabo Central has seen interventions in the Western Province, such as the introduction of cashew nuts, because of the area and the soil texture. What practical measures is the Government putting in place to scale up the growing of crops such as cashew nuts? How many extension officers will be recruited specifically to ensure that drought-prone areas have crops to make our farmers productive?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, you encouraged me to deal with the question from the hon. Member for Mkushi South. The hon. Member alleged that the e-Voucher System was introduced by the previous Government, the Patriotic Front (PF). I wish to indicate that it would be helpful for him to do a little research before he stands and makes such allegations. The Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) is an improvement of what the co-operatives used to do in the country. For the information of the hon. Member, there was a programme called Fertiliser Implements Pesticides and Seed (FIPS). They only changed the ‘S’ and the ‘P’ to call it ‘FISP.’ He should be careful when talking to people who are managing ministries, such as myself.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: I want to educate him, Madam Speaker. These programmes started under the United National Independence Party (UNIP). There was a programme called FIPS. We changed the ‘S’ and ‘P’ and called it FISP, and now people think that it is a new programme, no. The programme started long ago when we had serious people who thought about productivity in the agricultural sector. That is why we used to have bumper harvests.

Madam Speaker, having said that, I encourage people, especially hon. Members of Parliament, to understand that FISP is part of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP). It cannot substitute the other one. I was explaining a few minutes ago. Please, let the hon. Members who have a problem understanding this approach the ministry so that we can share knowledge.

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, having said that, I wish to move to productivity issues. You guided that this question is straightforward. The question is about the major causes of crop failure and what measures the Government is taking to address them. I read out six items, which I can repeat. That is what the Government is doing.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu talked about the bumper harvest. Who does not know that the Southern Province, the Eastern Province, parts of the North-Western Province, parts of Lusaka Province and parts of the Copperbelt Province suffered a serious drought? The five provinces could not have produced bumper harvests. Let me remind the hon. Member that we have planted. When we look at the forecast, we expect a good crop. Maybe, we should talk about this after the harvest.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

ELECTRIFICATION OF CERTAIN AREAS IN BWANA MKUBWA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa) asked the Minister of Energy:

when the Government will electrify the following areas in Bwana Mkubwa Parliamentary Constituency:

Kavu;

Mitalula;

Kamafwesa;

Kwa Musonda; and

Kwa Hope;

what the estimated cost of the project is; and

what the estimated timeframe for the completion of the project is.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to electrify the following areas in Bwana Mkubwa Parliamentary Constituency:

Kavu Mitalula;

Kamafwesa;

Kwa Musonda and

Kwa Hope.

Madam Speaker, however, I must state that the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has been having discussions with Ndola City Council (NCC) on the possibility of electrifying the areas using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the project will be determined once the discussions are concluded and the feasibility studies are done. The estimated timeframe for the completion will be determined once the scope of works is determined.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwambazi: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Energy for the response. It is unfortunate that there are no immediate plans to electrify the aforesaid areas in Bwana Mkubwa Constituency. I asked this question earlier concerning the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) as well as the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Are the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development collaborating to help us with the estimate cost of electrifying the aforesaid areas? We have contributed some funds from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), but we have not seen any traction on the matter. The money is lying idly at either the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development or the local authority, as it were. Does the ministry plan to collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to give us a cost estimate, so that we can see if we can electrify the areas using the CDF?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, some contributions have been made from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards electrification of certain areas. Discussions are on-going to find the possible ways of releasing the contributions to the Constituency Development Fund Committees (CDFCs) and give them the opportunity to decide how to use the money. The hon. Member may wish to note that we are ready to give technical support to the CDFCs to help them understand the cost of electrifying the proposed places.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the Statement.

Madam Speaker, earlier in the afternoon, the hon. Minister mentioned that you are currently diversifying the energy mix from the traditional hydroelectric supply to solar and wind. I want to appeal to you that you should focus more on wind energy because there is significant potential for wind energy in the country considering our geo-location and the high speed winds that the country receives.

Madam Speaker, what would be cheaper for ministry to electrify the areas in Bwana Mkubwa to connect the aforesaid villages or compounds to the grid or construct a min-solar grid?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, that is why I have said collaboration and discussions are ongoing. We are looking at how we can facilitate programmes that will drive the resources that we have contributed from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards the solar energy. This must be put in mind that the programmes are also driven by the CDF Committees. We are going to help the constituencies and give them the estimates or the cost of putting up a solar plant. In terms of which one is cheaper, actually, solar energy is cheaper compared to putting up a hydro-generation power. So, I want to say that we will continue helping our constituents to understand what type of energy they can apply in their constituencies.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Energy for the answers he is providing.

Madam Speaker, perhaps I just want to understand when or the estimated lead time. Looking at that the contributions that were done between 2022 and 2023, and now, we are in 2025, going towards 2026, we should be able to ascertain and see to it that yes, there is a roadmap and by such a time, probably, we will have some of the estimated costs. Imagine the devaluation of the money or whatever money we have kept from 2022 to 2025, and what we are supposed to do with a million Kwacha, we would discover that there is escalation of cost. So, what assurance is he giving to the people of Kamafwesa, Kavu and Mitalula that the ministry is going to give them the timeline to ensure –

It might not be precise, but a timeline to which we will have these costs and then, try and also maybe, do some variation to ensure that the much needed programmes or projects are carried out through Rural Electrification Authority (REA).

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, there is need to expedite this programme so that we are able to respond to the challenges that we are facing in our constituencies especially with the funds that are just lying idle. I just want to state to the hon. Member that I will not be in the position to give specific period because our experts are doing the works on how we are going to guide on the usage of the money in collaboration with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwila (Mufulira): Madam Speaker, the areas in question are actually the Peri-urban areas of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency and they qualify within the real man's scope of Rural Electrification Authority (REA). I believe that when all hon. Members from the 156 constituencies were directed to reserve one K1 million from Constituency Development Fund (CDF), it was envisioned that areas like the ones in Bwana Mkubwa would have benefited by now from the K1 million that the constituency contributed.

However, it appears that REA was not and even now is not even ready to use that money. They have no roadmap as he actually stated that he is unable to give us a roadmap of how that K1 million, which even us in Mufulira contributed. Why did the Government rush to direct us to reserve the money instead of using it on other equally important projects in the constituencies? Why did they rush to ask us to reserve the money when there is no roadmap, not ready and yet, they continue to hold on to that money, which constituencies need for other projects as well?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, the initiative which led us to instruct each constituency to contribute K1 million from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards electrifying the constituencies was the money which was designed and meant for technical support and not to execute the project. The K1 million we have been contributing cannot be used to carry out any project. However, we sat with the experts to find means and ways as we are driving the agenda of exploring other means of energy sources. We feel that the same money can be used in putting up solar energy or rooftop solar system. These are the things which are being discussed. Indeed, Bwana Mkubwa does not qualify as a rural area hence, it was not even in the master plan for rural electrification.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the responses. Suffice to say that I was born in Bwana Mkubwa which is a peri-urban constituency. So, I want to make judicial notice in that regard.

Madam Speaker, I want to find out how the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) advises the Ndola City Council to consider using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) even before feasibility study could be done to understand the cost involved in bringing electricity to the areas the hon. Member for Bwana Mkubwa has raised. How did they prescribe that Ndola City Council should consider using the CDF to bring electricity to these areas without understanding the cost or how much it would cost to bring electricity to the areas identified in the question by the hon. Member?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, indeed, the reason REA decided to engage Ndola City Council is very simple because the Ministry of Energy is looking at other alternative sources of energy. So, we felt that, since Bwana Mkubwa does not qualify as a rural area, we engaged the city council to start exploring the possibility of influencing the council to bring rooftop solar energy because that is the only way we can do it because our vision is to make sure that our people facing power challenges can assisted.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I am a bit shocked and confused. Firstly, the hon. Minister said that the project in Bwana Mkubwa could not be undertaken due to a lack of funds – if I got him right the first time. Later on, he said that the K156 million, which we, as constituencies, have been contributing since 2023, is meant for technical support and that it cannot do anything beyond that. If you followed the National Budget presentation for 2022 to 2024, in 2023, the budgetary allocation under the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) was doubled compared with 2021, and it has been increasing since then. I am shaking because my constituency also falls in the same category as Bwana Mkubwa. The hon. Member for Bwana Mkubwa has been told that the ministry does not have such resources, as a response to a question he asked about money under REA, which we appropriated. Another request for each constituency to spare K1 million was made, yet there is no trickle-down effect to Bwana Mkubwa. I want proper clarification from the hon. Minister because I am really shocked and confused.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is so confused that he has even failed to pose a question.

Madam Speaker, the issue here is that the money that was contributed from the CDF was meant for technical support.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Chikote: Secondly, Madam Speaker, the money is not sitting with REA. People should get that clearly. The money is still with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Access to that money still requires us to follow the CDF guidelines. The REA comes in to give the technical support that is required in terms of electrifying our constituencies. That is what is in place.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will take the last question from the hon. Member for Bwana Mkubwa.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: We are moving away from the question.

Mr Mwambazi: Madam Speaker, the people of Bwana Mkubwa are now at sea because we are trying hard to understand. Earlier, the hon. Minister alluded to the fact that the ministry has no immediate plans to extend the national grid to the aforesaid areas and that my constituency does not qualify for expansion under REA, yet we contributed K1 million for technical support. What hope is the hon. Minister giving to the people of Bwana Mkubwa? We are not going to get support from REA, and we will not be given anything under the Ministry of Energy. So, where are we being placed? Or are we going to get a refund of the money we contributed to REA?

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Before the hon. Minister comes in, there is an indication for a point of order from the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu.

Mr Kampyongo: Thank you, Madam Speaker. My point of order is pursuant to Standing Order No. 71(1)(b).

Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleagues here will agree with me that we had a workshop with the Rural Electrification Authority in the Amphitheatre prior to the decision to deduct the K1.6 million. All hon. Members have been waiting because the money was deducted at source. Now, the hon. Minister is telling us that the money was for technical services, which we never discussed in the Amphitheatre. Is he in order to now cast all of us at sea like my colleague from Bwana Mkubwa? We have been waiting – I think, this is the second year, to see how we can implement some of the connectivity programmes in our constituencies. Is he in order to now start saying that the money is with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, not with him, and that it was meant for technical services that he cannot elaborate? We want to settle this matter. If that money cannot be used, please, let us have it so that we can apply it to other areas of need in the constituencies. Hon. Members will be very happy to recall it because they do not seem to have any concrete programme from the hon. Minister of Energy.

I seek your serious guidance, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Of course, the matter came from a question that was very straightforward from the hon. Member for Bwana Mkubwa, but a good number of you, hon. Members, asked about the contribution of K1.6 million towards the same project of electrification. Maybe, the hon. Minister could come to the House to update you because we were not in that workshop and, so, we do not know what transpired. Maybe, it would be better if the hon. Minister came and updated the House on where we are with that contribution of K1 million from each constituency. It is like hon. Members are not sure on who was included, what the money is for and what the technical issues are.

Hon. Minister, please, can you schedule a Ministerial Statement so that you can come and update the House on the K1 million?

Mr Chisopa: They shared the money.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister of Energy, you may respond to the last question that was asked by the hon. Member for Bwana Mkubwa.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the hope for the people of Bwana Mkubwa is that our experts are collaborating with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on how we are going to address connectivity issues in the areas that the hon. Member has mentioned, which are not connected to the national grid. We are waiting for the works to be concluded. As soon as that is done, we will give the right feedback to the people of Bwana Mkubwa. The hope is that our people will have access to electricity before 2030.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

______

IMPLEMENTATION OF BAN ON CHARCOAL PRODUCTION

(Debate resumed)

190. Ms S Mwamba (Kasama Central) asked the Minister of Green Economy and Environment:

what measures are being taken to implement the ban on charcoal production, countrywide;

what awareness programmes are in place to sensitise the public on the ban and the implications of charcoal production to the environment; and

what sustainable and affordable alternatives to charcoal are being promoted, especially in rural areas where people are highly dependent on charcoal.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister for Green Economy and Environment, you may continue.

The hon. Minister was not in the Assembly Chamber.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Have we forgotten?

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: It seems that the hon. Minister is not around.

Mr Kampyongo: Her Honour the Vice-President is here.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, repeat your question.

Laughter

Mr Kampyongo: With pleasure, Madam Speaker.

Although the Government is sleeping on duty.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, the question I was –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Withdraw the statement, hon. Member.

Mr Kampyongo: It is withdrawn, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the question that I posed to the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment was to the effect that the issue of charcoal burning has been with us for some time. He spoke about legal charcoal burning versus illegal charcoal burning, but it has just been the same, historically. The reason has been limited sources of energy. I asked him what practical measures the ministry was putting in place to provide affordable alternative energy sources because now with load-shedding, which is stressing our people, everybody, particularly, those in low-density areas, is depending on charcoal. What practical measures are being put in place to address forest sustainability on one hand, and to deal with the practical need to provide our people with alternative sources of energy on the other hand?

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, that is a very important question.

Madam Speaker, I believe that the Government and everybody else who is concerned with issues of climate change would agree that there is a need to reduce on cutting down of trees to produce charcoal. The Government is aware that it is not an easy thing to fully implement the banning of charcoal burning or use of charcoal, unless, as the hon. Member has said, there are alternative sources of energy.

Madam Speaker, as the Government, we are not sitting idly. For example, if one goes to Mtendere Market today, they would see that we are promoting the use of coal briquettes as an alternative source of energy. That is the direction we are taking, particularly for low income areas. We are aware that even if electricity was provided for twenty-four hours in a day and seven days a week, many people would not manage to use it. That is why the Government is looking at alternative sources of energy.

Madam Speaker, there are other innovations that the Government is following through to provide alternative sources of energy, particularly for cooking and sometimes for providing warmth during the cold season. We are working on that seriously. In fact, companies from the private sector have been engaged so that, together, we can see how we can popularise alternative energy sources. Apart from encouraging the use of coal briquettes, there is a new type of breezier that uses the coal briquettes.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The last hon. Member to ask a question is the hon. Member for Mkushi South. You may proceed.

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President has indicated that it is not possible for the Government to completely stop charcoal burning because it has not found an alternative energy solution to cater for everyone in this country. We have heard of situations in which some people have had their charcoal confiscated. There have even been statements that charcoal burning has been banned. What exactly is the position of the Government on the matter? Further, what are the laws guiding the issue of charcoal burning? May Her Honour the Vice-President be categorical in her response.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Unfortunately, hon. Members are only allowed to ask one question each.

Her Honour the Vice-President, you may choose one question to respond to.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member wants me to be very categorical in my response, yet his question is not categorical. However, I will try to respond to him.

Madam Speaker, I did not say that it is impossible to completely stop charcoal burning, but rather said that it is not an easy task. It has to be done progressively. The hon. Member asked if there are laws guiding charcoal burning. The laws are there and when he talks of people being arrested, it is done within the laws that are operating today. People are not allowed to freely cut down trees in the name of charcoal burning. There are laws guiding that the issue. That is why we have the Forestry Department, which oversees or monitors charcoal burning in the country. So, indeed, people will be arrested for breaking the laws that exist today. Banning the burning of charcoal is a situation we are trying to address in order to preserve our environment. So, charcoal burning is not allowed anyhow, and there are laws guiding the matter. That is the Government’s position at the moment. So, people will be arrested if they break the law.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

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MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1836 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 19^th February, 2025.

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Tuesday, 18th February, 2025

Order Paper

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