Friday, 14^th March, 2025

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

PRESENCE IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY OF PUPILS AND TEARCHERS FROM SONSHINE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of pupils and teachers from Sonshine Secondary School in Lusaka District.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

PRESENCE IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY OF PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM NDOLA TRUST SCHOOL

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence in the Public Gallery of pupils and teachers from Ndola Trust School in Ndola District.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

SEMINAR ON THE NEW SCHOOL CURRICULUM IN ZAMBIA

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Institute for Parliamentary Studies and Training, will hold a one-day seminar on the new school curriculum in Zambia. This follows numerous questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement rendered by the Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima, MP, on Tuesday, 20^th February, 2025. The Seminar will be held on Monday, 17^th March, 2025, in the Amphitheatre, starting at 0900 hours. All hon. Members are encouraged to attend this important event.

I thank you.

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URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR MIYUTU, HON. MEMBER FOR KALABO CENTRAL, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND INTERNAL SECURITY, MR MWIIMBU, ON POLICE OFFICERS BEATING UP YOUTHS IN KITWE DURING YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, my Urgent Matter without Notice is direct at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: You can proceed, hon. Member.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, yesterday, when I watched a clip of police officers beating up the United Party for National Development (UPND) youths in Kitwe, I had to close my eyes.  I even remembered a South African movie called “Sarafina”. I like watching that movie because it reminds me of what used to happen in South Africa during Apartheid, where the police would hit human beings like stones.  So, when I saw that yesterday, I had to close my eyes. I even remembered Hon. B. Mpundu.

Mr Speaker, this is my first time to rise on an Urgent Matter without Notice, because I felt very bad. This happened on 12^th March, 2025, during the Youth Day celebrations in Kitwe. I saw the police officers hitting harmless boys who had nothing with them. At least for me, I am holding a pen, but for them, they had nothing in their hands. None of them was holding anything. They only had their clothes on.  The police officers hammered the boys as if they were robbers or criminals who had stolen cattle.  Surely, I would like the hon. Minister to update us on what happened in Kitwe, that led the police to beat the boys with short batons in such a way.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Member. Maybe, I will request the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to update the House on Wednesday, 19^th March, 2025, on what transpired during the Youth Day celebrations in Kitwe.

MR B. MPUNDU, HON. MEMBER FOR NKANA, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND INTERNAL SECURITY, MR MWIIMBU, ON THE VIOLENCE OCCURRED IN KITWE DURING YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): On an urgent matter without notice, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr B. Mpundu: My Urgent Matter without Notice is directed at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: You can proceed, hon. Member.

Mr B. Mpundu: Mr Speaker, national days such as the International Women Day, Youth Day, and Independence Day  are meant for people to come together to practice the patriotism.   The Youth Day in particular, reminds us of the young people of Zambia who died at the hands of colonial masters. Therefore, anyone who reminds us of those days on such an important day must be locked up. In Kitwe, youths of the United Party for National Development (UPND) attacked …

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, …

Hon. PF Members interjected.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Nkana, resume your seat. The hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security will issue a ministerial statement on that issue. At that point, you will be free to seek clarification in that regard.

Mr B. Mpundu: Mr Speaker, the matter is different.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: This is one and the same issue you are talking about.

Mr B. Mpundu: If I am raising a matter, you must rule when I finish.  That is the rule of Parliament.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, I have guided. 

MR KANG’OMBE, HON. MEMBER FOR KAMFINSA, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF JUSTICE, MS KASUNE, ON THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kang’ombe: My Urgent Matter without Notice is directed at the hon. Minister of Justice.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: You can proceed, hon. Member.

Mr Kang’ombe: Mr Speaker, with your permission, the hon. Minister is aware that suddenly, there is a heated public conversation going around regarding the issue of the constitution making process and the amendments that the Government wants to bring to Parliament for consideration.  By practice, amendments to a document as important as the Constitution are normally subjected to the public to be able to decide whether Provision (a), Article 1, 2 or 3 are reasonable amendments. However, what is transpiring now is that there is a document somewhere which is being referred to as a draft and, as a result of that speculation, the debate on this topic will continue. The only way to put this debate to rest is, obviously, to make the document public.

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to not come to Parliament and present the draft document, publish it, explain the road-map or the Constitution-making process, indicate to members of the public what their role in amending this important document will be and, of course, indicate to the public what the cost of the Constitution-making process will be? In short, is the hon. Minister in order to not come to Parliament to give the full details that we require so that we can have this matter put to rest and to allow the public to participate in the process called Constitution-making?

I seek your indulgence, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, what you have raised is an important issue. However, this matter should be raised when the draft is presented to Parliament. So, the Government, at the right time, will bring that issue to Parliament for scrutiny. At that point, you will be able to dissect the draft.

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THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika): Thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question.

Mr Speaker, my question is on the amendment of the Constitution, which the President talked about. The Government says that we have agreed to amend the Constitution. However, the people of Mkaika, my fellow hon. Members of Parliament and I have not agreed. So, with whom has it agreed?

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Mkaika for that question on the issue of who “we” is.

Mr Speaker, who is “we”? “We” is the people of Zambia. That is true. “We” is we, the people of Zambia, which includes the people of Mkaika. I think, when politics are attached to anything, it becomes a little acrimonious sometimes, even where there is no need. This Government is clear on the fact that the purpose of this Executive sitting here, in this House, through the President, is to serve the people of Zambia. Therefore, whatever we do is done in the interest of the people. The Executive is, definitely, not the people. It is part of the people. However, when we say, “We have agreed” that means that we are looking only at those things that the people of Zambia have already spoken on. Nobody is going to introduce, for example, things from somewhere else. The fear is always that people in the past sometimes wanted things in the Constitution that favoured them. That is not for this Government. So, who are we? We are the people who participated in the Mvunga Commission, the Mwanakatwe Commission and the Mung'omba Constitution Review Commission. As Zambians, we should not always think that expensive is the best. We already have what people have spoken on and that is the only source of information which, indeed, should be looked at, not sneaking in things.

Mr Speaker, people are even imagining the 50 per cent plus one provision, but that is a principle people cannot change because it was just brought in. What would be the purpose of such? To advantage ourselves?

I believe not this Government, hon. Minister of Justice.

Mr Speaker, people are bringing in issues about the Government wanting to increase the term of office. That is contentious. We, and some people here, in this House, agreed earlier that we would only look at non-contentious issues. How can we take the 50 per cent plus one provision as a non-contentious issue?

Mr Kapyanga: Question!

The Vice-President: The 50 per cent plus one provision, Hon. Kapyanga from Mpika, is contentious.

Mr Speaker, one does not treat that issue as non-contentious. I know the hon. Member enjoys questioning. He needs answers now. He should give answers too.

Mr Speaker, we cannot change the term of office just like that. Even people here, in this House, can refuse. So, why are we imagining things? The process of constitutional amendments has a period – if I am not mistaken – of thirty days in which everybody is supposed to look at it. Hon. Members should give themselves a chance. This Government is very sincere on the fact that the people of Mkaika must be part of the constitutional-making process. If after the hon. Member has sight of it says ‘no’, at least, he would have a reason for saying that something is not right. However, for now, the hon. Member can trust this Executive on the fact that whatever is coming is for the improvement of governance, the livelihoods of the people of Zambia and the improvement of citizen participation in democratic dispensation.

Mr Chisopa: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: Question!

The Vice-President: Again, you can question.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, the question I want to ask Her Honour the Vice-President is on ‘Nalumangonomics’, which she always refers to in this House.

Mr Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President indicated to this Parliament and the entire nation that the country passed through a serious drought period that has not been experienced before. Dundumwezi was one of the areas that did not even have grain. As I stand here, I can confirm to the House that not a single person out of the 123,000 inhabitants of Dundumwezi died out of hunger. Can Her Honour the Vice-President explain more about ‘Nalumangonomics’? What has the Government done this time round for it to manage to take maize to all the selling points of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA)? Where did the Government find the wisdom, which the people of Zambia want to renew in 2026?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Dundumwezi for taking note that we had a severe drought recently. It is important to be concerned about every Zambian, whether they are in a drought-hit area or where there is rainfall. As Zambians, we are loving people and we are concerned about others who may not have what we have.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member referred to his constituency and said that 123,000 people in Dundumwezi survived the drought. We can safely say that we are out of the woods because nobody has died and the people will soon start harvesting. The question is: How did we do it together with the hon. Members here?

Mr Chisopa: Question!

The Vice-President: Okay, one of them is refusing. He was hoping for the worst, but the best happened because hon. Members gave their support to the Government. To start with, we used the wisdom from God. All wisdom comes from God. In this case, God gave us the same wisdom that he gave to Joseph during seven years of drought. As leaders of this country, we did all that we could using God’s wisdom. God’s wisdom identifies leadership and God saw President Hakainde Hichilema as a leader.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, we need to remember that the Budget had to be re-aligned and we had to look for maize elsewhere to ensure that it was available in this country. We used every resource that we could mop up through prudent management of resources to ensure that maize was taken to all the constituencies that were affected by drought. Maize was taken back to the selling agent, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), because that was a year after the FRA had collected maize from farmers. We took maize right back to the communities. We ensured that we distributed maize where necessary under various relief programmes. In some places, we distributed maize under the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme and the Cash-for-Work Programme. We distributed maize to various areas to ensure that it was available. There were even community sales at reduced prices. I can itemise so many things, but I do not want to speak too much.

Mr Speaker, love conquers all. The love of the Government for its people is what drives it to ensure that nobody dies during a crisis. Therefore, we thank God for giving us wisdom. Fortunately, God has now given us rainfall. It has been a little too much, but generally, it has been good. Therefore, the crop harvest this season will be plenty, according to what people cultivated. In the future, our dream of producing 10 million metric tonnes of maize will come true because the Government is promoting agriculture.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simushi (Sikongo): Thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question.

Mr Speaker, the able Government of the United Party for National Development (UPND), led by President Hakainde Hichilema, a visionary leader, has managed, to a large extent, to address most of the ills practised by the previous administration. In this case, I am referring to caderism and violence in markets, bus stations and during by-elections, as well as discrimination.  This country will soon be going for general elections because 2026 is around the corner. Can Her Honour the Vice-President assure the people of Zambia that during the 2026 General Elections we will not see what we saw in the past. In this regard, I am talking about the pre-marking of ballot papers and declaring of non-existent constituencies, such as Chitulika.

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

Mr Simushi: Can Her Honour the Vice-President assure the people of Zambia that the Government will prevail on critical issues that might affect our nation.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Sikongo for that question, which is more of a concern. The issue of caderism, and particularly violence during elections, will not be allowed. It should not be allowed from whichever angle. That is what this Government stands for. We are all cadres. People should not associate cadres with negativity. The negative caderism that borders on violence is criminality. That is the way the Government views it. That is why the President of the Republic of Zambia has said that when you get involved in such things, you are on your own. At least on our side, it is clear. Anybody who gets involved in criminality, such as violence or any other form, will be on his or her own.

Mr Speaker, any party that wants to use violence as a means of campaign will not be tolerated and punishment will be meted out. It will definitely meet the consequences or power of the law. Therefore, the 2026 General Elections must take place peacefully and proper procedure must be followed. There should not be any pre-marked ballots used. If pre-marked ballots were used previously, those who did that still lost. So, why should we go that way when we know that it does not work? I repeat; no pre-marked ballots should be used.  People will vote freely with no caderism. They will cast their ballots and votes will be counted because the rules of universal suffrage will be followed. I know that Zambians will vote and, indeed, my party will come out with a clean win.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity given to the people of Kwacha to ask a question to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Mr Speaker, we have seen a growing trend in our country of some church leaders taking a partisan stance to speak ill of some leaders serving in the current Government. They have drifted away from their principal role as advocates of the gospel and shepherds of lost souls. This has extended to some youths, who have resorted to insulting our leaders, as seen recently when one youth insulted our Head of State. As the Vice-President of this country, with a rich background in spiritual welfare, what advice can she give to such church leaders and youths who are in the habit of insulting Government leaders, especially as we approach the crucial tripartite elections in 2026?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, in responding to the concern raised by the hon. Member for Kwacha on church leaders and the youths, on the church leaders – if I got him well – I think, it is important to state that some have taken a partisan stance. It is difficult, sometimes, to handle questions like this or to advise because when one holds a certain role, people see him or her in that role, for example, in this House, even if I have my personal opinion, when I give it, it becomes the Government’s position. That is what I can say to the church leaders. There are two things; church leaders surely must not be partisan, but they will speak for the people. We have to understand that. However, they must remember that as long as they wear the robe, being partisan is difficult even when they are giving their personal opinion. Therefore, there is a need for them to take care because they will always be seen as church leaders. What they do must be done within the confines of that which they have been called to. I cannot speak so much on what they have been called to. As men and women of God, church leaders should not go down a path that makes them seem like they are also in battle politically. They should take their position. They are the peacemakers. We can even speak negatively in a loving manner because a church leader will not limit himself or herself to praise. When we talk about checks and balances, for example, they can come from the Church. However, it is how one does it. So, church leaders must remember who they are. In speaking for the people, they should not be perceived to be partisan because of the manner in which they do it. They have a serious role to play such that if they follow us –

Mr Speaker, as politicians, we know how we handle one another. Church leaders are the fathers of the nation who are supposed to bring peace and unity. They should harmonise rather than stand on one side. That is what I think. God has blessed me. So, if I take off this ‘coat’, I can also be a church leader.

Mr Speaker, on youths who insult, I think, we have lost it as a nation. Even if a father is wrong, does one insult him? That should not be condoned by anyone. It does not matter who is being insulted. If one’s child insults one’s neighbour and one thinks that is okay, one should wait until that child insults him or her. There is no room in our tradition or culture for young people to insult. If it is for political purposes, one should know that politics is about ideas, not insults. We can argue and quarrel in this House, but we do not have to insult. Starting with us, as parents, let us tell our children, our young people, to stay away from young people who insult whether they are paid or not because whoever insults an elder, insults you too. That is how we were raised. At least, where I grew up, one could not insult an elderly person. Insults are not admissible. Some of our youths insult so much that one wonders if they are normal or if they have issues of mental health. I think, it could be mental illness that drives some of our young people. If one is an immoral, ‘I do not care’ type of politician, one can even give money to someone to insult.

Mr Speaker, when I was young, there was a song in my vernacular language, which went like, “Bamupela six pence, katuke noko”. It was sung to a foolish person. You never do that. One should not pay or be paid to insult anybody. Imagine that it is not coming from one’s heart. It must be horrible. That should not be allowed, not for politics, and not for any reason. One can talk to one’s parents. One does not have to insult them.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Mr Speaker, I want to agree with Her Honour the Vice-President in saying that the Church is a peacemaker. As the hon. Colleague from Kwacha has said, 2026 is around the corner. When is the Government and the United Party for National Development (UPND) planning to reconcile with the Bishop who was called lucifer, …

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Kafwaya: … the Bishop whose church their police cordoned, the church whose priest the Government summoned for just delivering a homily in Ndola and, finally, the Bishop from the Eastern Province who is being threatened by the Government for speaking up for the people? Are the two entities thinking about reconciling with the Catholic Church before the 2026 Elections?

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I may have missed a few words – I do not know why. I hope, principally, he is referring to a priest being called lucifer by somebody.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: I think, on that score, let me say –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, avoid debating whilst seated. You ask questions but before Her Honour the Vice-President responds, you start making noise. Why do you ask if you have answers?

Your Honour the Vice-President, you may continue.

The Vice-President: Hon. Member, let us talk.

Mr Speaker, I think, I have already given the answer in the manner I responded earlier. To start, I understand that sometimes it is difficult to tell that this is Nalumango or that is the Vice-President. Sometimes, arguments are between individuals, human beings. It is difficult for one to say that one did not talk about the Vice-President, but about Nalumango. Few people can separate the office from themselves. Sometimes, it takes the courts of law to say that one did something in one’s personal capacity. As the Government, surely, we have pronounced that the Church is a partner. I think, I have answered the question. You do not want me to go into details kwati ulimwaiche naiwe.

Laughter

The Vice-President: Uyo tonfwa.

Laughter

The Vice-President: Sorry, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I was saying that I have made it very clear that sometimes issues are between two individuals and not the organisations they belong to. It is difficult to understand, but   the position I am giving is that of the Government now. I am saying so as the Vice-President.

Mr Speaker, what I am saying is that the Church is a father, peacemaker and reconciler. Therefore, we should see it from that angle. To us, it is a partner in development and in bringing morality to this nation. Church leaders are our partners in various functions. We have no issues with them. There is no quarrel at all.

Mr Speaker, sometimes people make us to go to all sorts of churches because we appreciate the fact that there are many churches. Hon. Colleagues should know that if there is no Church, there is a lot we cannot do out there. When we speak, it is from a political point of view, and people see it. However, when the Church speaks, it speaks to the constituents, who are also our constituents, to bring up issues that help us to live together. So, we appreciate the Church and realise that it is our partner. As I said there is no quarrel or division between us, as the Government, and any church. I am referring to the Church of God for everyone hearing out there. That is who we are. If people think that there is a need for reconciliation, who should initiate it? First of all, the problem has to be identified and the one on higher ground takes the responsibility. We have said in this House that the Church is the father of the nation. It is on higher ground and it should lead us all.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to interact with Her Honour the Vice-President.

Mr Speaker, the cost of living has reached unbearable levels for ordinary Zambians, …

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: … as prices of fuel, food and electricity and unemployment among the youths continuously rise. Would it not be more important for the Government to focus on sorting out those issues, other than constitutional amendments for politicians to give themselves more positions?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has now asked a proper question, instead of just saying, “Question!” Now, that is a question that I can respond to.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member said that the cost of living keeps going up. We have discussed that issue. The Government is extremely focussed on looking at how the cost of living can be managed. I am using the words ‘cost of living can be managed’ deliberately. ‘. That is a concern of the Government. If the hon. Member looked at everything we are doing, he would see that it is all about managing the cost of living.

Mr Speaker, the other week, I spent some time looking at issues that are tackling the cost of living, except that the hon. Member wants to equate the issue of constitutional amendments to the cost of living. I know that, generally, if we are to carry out a wholesale constitutional review, it becomes very expensive because many things have to be considered. For instance, a referendum can be carried out, depending on which part of the Constitution we want to touch. If we set up commissions to go around the country to gather information, it would be costly. However, I think, it is important to understand that the process that is being proposed currently to amend the non-contentious issues in the Constitution is not expensive.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: It is the cheapest way you can formulate. For example, as a way of developing Mpika Central and Nabwalya, there would be delimitation of Mpika. Does the hon. Member for Mpika not see the beauty that he would get in terms of developing areas in Mpika, including Nabwalya? So, when we talk about a constitutional review, we should think of service delivery to the people. Will it get better? Service delivery is a developmental matter.

Mr Speaker, apart from service delivery, constitutional amendments are about citizens’ participation, which I already talked about. For example, delimitation creates smaller constituencies, which leads to more opportunities for citizens’ participation. Is that not what the hon. Member for Mpika wants? We need to agree on such matters. I have already mentioned that this matter should not be acrimonious. If people want certain parts of the Constitution reviewed,a long process is required. So, we can simply say that particular parts of the Constitution will not be touched. However, what the Government is proposing is is the most effective and non-expensive way of addressing certain provisions, which is participation through commissions and the publication of proposed amendments for thirty days. In the process, for instance, every Zambian will be asked whether they want their constituency delimitated or whether hon. Members of Parliament should be part of the councils. Are those contentious issues? So, which other way can we go about it? If we are to amend one clause, it is just an amendment. We need to look at what people are saying on the issue of constitutionalism. People talk about the amendment of particular sections and not a wholesale review of the Constitution. That is not the case. We need to look at those provisions that are of concern and amend them. So, let us learn to not continuously talk about the Constitution of 1991 or the one of 2016.” We should instead talk about the amendments we need to make in 2025.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: This is because the constitutional framework of the entire document will still remain. We need to amend where issues have risen or where we have seen lacunas. It is a simple matter. So, hopefully, the hon. Member for Mpika will agree with me that the issue of constitutional amendments is about development and care for the people of Zambia.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: We have not had a female representative. So, I will give the hon. Member for Kafue an opportunity to ask a question.

Rev. Katuta: What about the youths?

Hon. UPND Members: Aah!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Have you seen why there is a need to amend the Constitution?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: According to our records, we have just one youth in this Parliament, Hon. Wamunyima. The rest are over thirty-five years old. We are the only Parliament in Southern Africa with one youth. So, there is a need to amend the Constitution.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mrs Chonya (Kafue): Mr Speaker, in a way, my question has been overtaken by the excellent response that Her Honour the Vice-President gave concerning the whole idea of the constitutional amendment process. Maybe, my question will just be –because I have been a stakeholder, I know that the Government means well in this process …

Hon. Chisopa: Question!

Mrs Chonya: … and that we are looking at –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Proceed with your question. You are debating.

Mrs Chonya: Mr Speaker, my question is on the aspect of timing. Her Honour the Vice-President has said that the process will require at least thirty days. I want to know whether there is an indication as to when we are actually going to start it because we need to get going on this important exercise, which the people of Zambia have been yearning for. Where I see the President as having the political will ...

Mr Chisopa: Question!

Mrs Chonya: ... to help us achieve what we have been crying for through various constitutional review commissions, especially on women representation –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Alright. Order, hon. Member!

Your Honour the Vice-President, you may respond.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for encouraging me and for the Hon. Speaker’s bit of information, which is very important.

Mr Speaker, there is only one youth in this House, and as a nation, we must be embarrassed. We must work on that. It can only be done properly, not through a first-past-the-post system, which we use only. Let us find ways through the Constitution that are more affirmative to the youth and the women so that they can come through. There is no other way for us to have proper representation of women and the youth under this. I think, it is important that certain issues in the Constitution, like delimitation, are self-determining. We may overlook it, but the provision is self-determining because it already speaks of the ten years, and the census was held. So, we are within the provisions of the Constitution for us to undertake delimitation, which cannot be done until the number of hon. Members of Parliament is agreed upon. So, how do we do that? Do we just bring one provision? No. Other things need to be looked at. The timing –

Mr Speaker, maybe, I can use this time to say that if we lose this opportunity, certain provisions in the Constitution, including delimitation, cannot be done mid-way, which means that we may have to wait until the next National Assembly, and that will be in 2031. Elections cannot be held in the middle of a parliamentary session. So, that compels us. If we really have to undertake delimitation – I am just giving one – it has to be now. I mean beyond this term, then, the elections will be held under the same system. Another style can only be adopted in 2031. Is that what we want? So, when we come back to the House ­ what percentage of women do we have in the House? 15 per cent ­ we should come back with 1.02 per cent? – I am just saying, that is not a fact – Can we have one hon. Member who is a youth until after 2031? No. Let us not quarrel over things that we can agree on. The timing is right. We have gone through and handled many things, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: … such as the drought, outbreak of cholera and debt that was difficult to handle. We have reached a point at which we can all agree that we will do the process for the sake of the people of Zambia cheaply and easily.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: I am sure, we are using the enquiries kind of – (she asked Ms Kasune)

Ms Kasune: Yes.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, concerning the expense, the hon. Member should not even worry. We want the cheapest yet best way. As Zambians, we like to complicate things. We think that when it is complicated, then one is educated, or that when it is complicated, then, it is good. We have found the leadership through President Hakainde Hichilema, and we can do it together.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members should not throw away the good things. If one says that the proposed non-contentious issues are not good, we will listen. We are a listening Government and so is the President. At that moment when one asks why this and that have been brought in, I can promise the House that it would be withdrawn. We know that the things that people are thinking about are not the things that we should worry about. Nobody is going to bring a provision to change to a simple majority, for instance. Those are not the things. I remember that somebody in this House said that we wanted to increase the term to seven years. Those are dreams. I said I was not aware of that, and that person’s response was that I could not know. However, there is no way. This Government is very responsible. We cannot bring things such as increasing the term of office through an enquiries process. So, let us relax. The people of Zambia voted for this Government to work for them, and it is working. Some voices are genuinely concerned, but many of them are detractors who listen to politicians. They should not. Politicians like acrimony, but on this one we are working together.

Is it not so, hon. Member for Mpika?

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

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

Ms Mulenga: Ah! Awe, naimwe.

Dr Andeleki (Katombola): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me, the voice of Katombola Constituency, this opportunity to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question.

Mr Speaker, the people of Katombola are happy that education today –

Hon. Opposition Members: Ah!

Dr Andeleki: Mr Speaker, can this House allow me to ask the question?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Hon. Chisopa, avoid debating whilst seated. Also, you are in the House, sit properly. Do not as if you are in a truck.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Katombola, you may continue.

Dr Andeleki: Mr Speaker, I was saying that the people of Katombola are very happy. The children are going to school for free, even when it was said that free education is not possible.

Mr Speaker, our Government inherited empty coffers. Now, women are getting money through the Cash-For-Work programme and nearly everyone is receiving youth empowerment, grants, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Ask your question, hon. Member.

Dr Andeleki: Mr Speaker, the people ask where the Government got the money to roll out free education and the Cash-for-Work programme when the Patriotic Front (PF) said it was not possible to provide free education in this generation and K36.1 million CDF allocation?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, basically, what I got from the question is where did we get the money? When we were campaigning, there is something that I remember we said many times over which was that we were going to have prudent financial management. We also said that we would close all the bleeding points so that money that goes to non-issue expenditures, including corruption and theft, would be saved. We had to close those gaps and holes, and then prudently manage that which we had. That is what we have done. We have had prudent management and because of that, we managed the little that we had prudently and the debt on one side, and we are able to provide free education and all sorts of social welfare needs.

In fact, hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, if you look at your budget, the bulk of it is social welfare. That is what we have been doing, for the information of the hon. Member for Kalulushi. This Government is pro-poor.

Rev. Katuta: Question!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: What is the SCT Programme for? Is it not pro-poor?

Mr Chisopa interjected.

The Vice-President: Yes, we found the programme. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government also found it. Maybe, some people do not know.

Mr Mapani: They do not.

The Vice-President:  Hon. Colleagues in the previous Government found it. Some of us were seated here in this House when the SCT Programme was introduced. In my former constituency, because now my constituency is the whole Zambia, some people refused and said “This is witchcraft. How can you get free money?” So, our hon. Colleagues found it and we also found it in place. We have expanded it and that is what is important. It is now the enhanced SCT Scheme. We are a truly pro-poor Government. That is why we even have grants under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). That is also pro-poor.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: We want all the constituencies to develop.

Mr Chisopa: Kalulushi!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, our Government is pro-poor and we will do everything possible for the people of Zambia. The constitutional amendments will be about the people of Zambia.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I think that hon. Members have heard from Her Honour the Vice-President.

_______

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

UPDATE ON THE ACTION TAKEN ON THE POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE TAILINGS DAM AT SINO METALS LEACH ZAMBIA LIMITED

The Minister of Green Economy and Environment (Mr Mposha): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to present this Ministerial Statement on the acidic pollution that affected the Mwambashi Stream and the Kafue River recently. The purpose of this statement is to update the House and, through this House the nation, on the extent of the pollution and, most importantly, the efforts that the Government has put in place to contain the pollution.

Mr Speaker, on 18^th February, 2025, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) received a notification from Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited concerning the failure of one of its tailings dams, namely TD 15F. The notification was made in line with the requirements under Section 35(1) of the Environmental Management Act of 2011, which was amended to give effect to the Environmental Management Act, 2023.

Mr Speaker, Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited explained that the tailings dam wall had collapsed and that leach residue was discharged into the open environment. Leach residue is a highly acidic solution of copper sulphate with a potential of hydrogen (pH) of less than one. However, the cause of the incident has not yet been established as investigations are still on-going, but preliminary findings indicated that the failure could have been caused by poor design and maintenance of the tailings dams.  The failure led to the release of acidic effluent into the Mwambashi Stream, a tributary of the Kafue River, resulting in severe contamination. The spill caused fish to die, disrupted water supply, damaged crops and adversely affected local agriculture and socio-economic activities in the surrounding communities.

Mr Speaker, I wish to report that Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited was ordered to cease all operations by ZEMA on the same day that the incident occurred. Additionally, ZEMA has since issued an environmental restoration order, which requires Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited to explain in detail how it will clean up the pollution, which has affected the Mwambashi Stream and the Kafue River.

Mr Speaker, the acidic pollution in the Kafue River disrupted water supply, as I mentioned earlier, in Copperbelt Province, especially in Kitwe. One of the immediate measures taken was to neutralise the acidic pollution by dosing lime at strategic locations and also to continue monitoring water quality to ensure acidic levels (pH) were returned to normal. However, after acidic levels were normalised and the water supply was restored in Copperbelt Province, we received disturbing reports that the acidic pollution had reached Mpongwe and Ngabwe in the Central Province. At this point, the Government considered the matter as an environmental emergency. It, therefore, constituted a high-level team comprising my office and that of the hon. Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, hon. Minister of Agriculture, the hon. Ministers for Copperbelt Province and Central Province, the area hon. Member of Parliament for Lufubu, which is in Ngabwe District, Mr Kolala, the National Co-ordinator for the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and the board chairperson for ZEMA.

Mr Speaker, the team undertook a fact-finding mission to Ngabwe District and visited the Ngabwe Harbour and pontoon area on 28^th February, 2025, where, indeed, acidic pollution was confirmed. As a result, the ministerial team resolved to mobilise and deploy a technical team to contain the pollution to ensure that it does not extend to Mumbwa District. Therefore, a joint and multi-disciplinary technical team was constituted comprising of the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), ZEMA, Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Additionally, about 240 tonnes of lime were mobilised, including all the necessary logistics for the dosing of the lime.

Mr Speaker, on Saturday afternoon, 1^st March, 2025, I, accompanied by the hon. Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, led the joint team to Mumbwa at the ZAF Airbase to undertake the challenging task of containing the pollution. On Sunday, 2^nd March, 2025, the technical team started its operations, which included carrying out water quality testing at strategic locations from the Ngabwe Harbour in Ngabwe District up to the Mushingashi Conservancy in Mumbwa District. The dosing of lime was then undertaken by ZAF using three helicopters. The dosing of lime and testing of water quality continued till 5^th March, 2025. About 50 tonnes of quick lime were dosed over a stretch of 65 km.

Mr Speaker, the technical team made all efforts to track the acidic pollution along the 65 km stretch downstream from the Ngabwe Harbour and prevented any further contamination. I am pleased to report that as at 6^th March, 2025, the acidic pollution in the Kafue River appears to have been contained as the potential of hydrogen (pH) levels are within the acceptable range of 6.8 to 7.9. However, the technical team will continue monitoring the pH levels very carefully on a daily basis for the next two weeks in order for us to ensure that the pollution is fully contained.

Mr Speaker, the pollution incident at Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited has underscored the importance of environmental compliance and safety in the mining sector and, indeed, other sectors. While the emergency response efforts in this incident will mitigate the immediate impact, the medium and long-term sustainable measure is to compel Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited to clean up the pollution it has discharged in the environment.

Mr Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank various Government agencies, the private sector and local communities for the collaborative manner in which we tackled this unfortunate incident.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement presented by the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment.

Ms Mulenga (Kalulushi): Mr Speaker, I am a very disappointed Member of Parliament. For me, this Ministerial Statement has brought a lot of sadness. The source of the pollution is in my constituency. The constituted team that the hon. Minister has talked about was in my constituency minus the Member of Parliament, the owner of the district. In his Ministerial Statement, the hon. Minister mentioned that the hon. Member of Parliament for Lufubu and Ngabwe District was involved. However, none of the hon. Members of Parliament from the Copperbelt, where the major pollution took place, were involved. I come from the place where the pollution came from, but I was not in the team that was constituted. This is why the people on the ground are saying that when hon. Ministers go to their area, it means something is happening, things are flying under the carpet. What does the hon. Minister mean when he says that the potential of hydrogen (pH) levels of the water have been contained? On Saturday, the people affected wanted to protest. I had to stop them. The effluence is still going into streams. If the ministry had involved the local leadership, none of this nonsense would be happening, but because –

Mr Kambita: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Ms Mulenga: I withdraw the word ‘nonsense’ and replace it with ‘senseless’ issues would not be happening. Chinese foreigners have come into the country because the Republic of Zambia has allowed them to invest. The hon. Minister has involved the Ministry of Agriculture –

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Ms Mulenga: This is a serious issue. I know that those people want to be re-elected next year. So, they better listen.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, you are debating.

Ms Mulenga: So, protect me from those who are talking.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Avoid debating. Just ask a question

Ms Mulenga: Mr Speaker, this is a serious issue; I am trying to help them.

Mr Kambita interjected.

Ms Mulenga: You are not the Speaker, keep quiet.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, you are supposed to ask a question. Be precise.

Ms Mulenga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that pollution is still on-going? Regarding the team he constituted, the Ministry of Agriculture has only involved the District Agricultural Co-ordinator (DACO) to go and see where their tu ma farm plots are. Is he aware that soil has been polluted? Is he aware that people’s health is at risk? The compensation these people are talking about is just compensation for crops. Is he sure that in 2026, when those noise makers go to their constituencies, the people in their constituencies will receive them?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Ms Mulenga: They went to a constituency and did not even involve the hon. Member of Parliament. Were they receiving money or something?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Ms Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I want to find out, were they receiving money or did they really come for the people?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, if you want to ask a question, ask. Avoid debating.

May the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment respond.

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

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: No more points of order. Let us transact business.

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I reluctantly thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalulushi for that question because it was riddled with a lot of insinuations.

Mr Speaker, first of all, when we go out to work, we just go to do our work. The hon. Member was a Minister. If, in the past, that is what she used to do when she went to visit sites, that is, collect money, I want to say that we are a different group. However, if she has any evidence of people who were collecting things under the carpet, I think, she is at liberty to report those people.

Mr Speaker, as I indicated, we included the hon. Member for Lufubu - because we had gone on a fact-finding mission when we were told that the pollution was advancing towards Central Province. If the hon. Member had been available, she should have reached out. This was an emergency so we were all rushing. The hon. Member of Parliament for Lufubu reached out and so we included him. This is why I appeal to hon. Members of Parliament that, when something happens in their constituencies, they must engage the Government. She waited and has come here just to complain when she never even called us to tell us what she said here. What she has said here is quite unfortunate.

Mr Speaker, my Ministerial Statement is very specific; we are talking about the pollution that was caused by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited. The other issues being raised are being handled competently by ZEMA. Should it be necessary, we will bring that information to the House.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, pollution triggered by mining activities is serious. I think, about two weeks ago, on the Floor of the House, I said that Kanchibiya River is still being polluted. I was in Kanchibiya; I just came back yesterday. In terms of emergencies like the one in Kalulushi, how much time does it take Government institutions, like the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), to stop the pollution?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I want to thank Hon. Sunday Chanda, Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya, for that follow-up question.

Mr Speaker, it depends on when the matter is reported. We respond almost immediately. However, it must be noted that sometimes, there is a time lapse from the time an accident happens to the time it is noticed and reported to ZEMA. Suffice it to say that we respond immediately, and this is why there are regional offices. In the Copperbelt, there is an office in Ndola, which is fully manned by very competent officers. So, when the matter was reported, officers immediately moved on-site to the mine and all the affected areas. It is unfortunate that sometimes, accidents happen at night and those who are responsible for operations probably notice them some hours later. By the time they inform us, pollution would have taken place. Otherwise, we respond almost immediately.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, the high level of water pollution especially by the mining companies is quite dangerous. This affects the marine environment.  However, the communities that are usually affected get minimal compensation. I would like to find out from him if the ministry has any intention of reviewing the Zambia Environmental Management Agency Act, especially when it comes to compensating the affected residents.

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, just like any other Act, the Zambia Environmental Management Act, is not cast in concrete that it must not be attended to. It is necessary for any Act to be reviewed from time to time, so that it responds to the emerging issues. Should there be need to review any other Act, the ministry is more than ready to do so.   However, in terms of compensation, once there is an incident like that, an assessment has to be undertaken. The magnitude of the compensation is determined by the results of an assessment. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, I am quite disappointed to note that the Patriotic Front (PF) hon. Members have shunned this very important debate, which concerns the lives of the people of Zambia, when the majority of their constituencies are along the Kafue River.  This is a serious sign of incompetence and it will be very hard to bring them back because they do not have the heart for the people of Zambia. 

Mr Speaker, during the Ministerial Statement, the hon. Minister mentioned that 50,000 metric tonnes of lime were deposited into the Kafue River. I would like to know who will compensation the affected people.  Is it the Government or the mining company that contaminated the river?  Has the Government reserved the name of the company that contaminated the river so that it is charged for incompetence in the coming week?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Hon. Kasauta for that question. Before I respond to it, let me join him in saying that I am also disappointed with those who have been lamenting and asking questions but have decided to walk out of the Chamber. Again, the people of Zambia can see the hon. Members of Parliament who want to trivialise the important discussion that we are having here.  The pollution has affected many people on the Copperbelt and Central Province, particularly, Ngabwe.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the question on who incurred the cost for the logistics including the disposal of lime into the Kafue River, I want to confirm that the cost was incurred by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited using ‘the polluter pays principle’. The Government has directed Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited to incur all the costs related to the operations to normalise the situation.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chala (Chipili): Mr Speaker, part of my question has been asked by my colleague, but I still want to find out if the Government can ask Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited to restock the fish which has been depleted because of its negligence?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, permit me to thank the hon. Member for Chipili for that very good question.

Mr Speaker, the Government has directed Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited to undertake a number of issues. One of them is the restoration of the polluted areas including the fish which was killed. However, before that is done, we will have to engage experts who will have to carry out some study to see the extent of the damage. The results of the study will determine the extent of compensation, while the other aspect will be the restoration.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Rev. Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, what has happened is very sensitive.  I read in the newspapers that the directors of a company that polluted the Kafue River had been arrested.   Have they been taken to court or it was just reported for formality?  We are talking about life here. Why is it taking long since this is according to the law?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member of Parliament for Chienge that this is a serious matter. I therefore, wish to state that the Government is giving it all the seriousness it deserves.

Mr Speaker, we have not reached that stage.  No one has been arrested or taken to court yet. Like I said, first of all, we will have to do the assessment so that we know as a country, the extent of the damage. When we get to that point of taking any one to court, we will inform the House and the country at large.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr A. Banda (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, farmers in Chimwemwe have really been affected by the pollution.  I am sure the hon. Minister knows that the area starts from Kalulushi up to Central Province.  People are eager to know what is contained in the compensation. I hope it is not just compensation for the crops and animals that the farmers have lost but the land too. People are wondering if they will be able to yield anything next year. They are also looking at the revenue they have lost because they have been fishing fish for daily consumption and business. I am sure, if the hon. Minister had been to Sabina, Mufulira and Chingola, he would see a lot of fish. Now, they are unable to get fish. That means they do not have any revenue.  How soon are they going to be compensated?  What is really contained in the compensation?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chimwemwe for that question.

Mr Speaker, yes, it is true that many communities have been affected, including fishermen and women along the banks of Mwambashi Stream who grow vegetables. The pollution also affected maize fields along the banks of the two water bodies. Quite a significant proportion of our people have been affected.

Mr Speaker, regarding the compensation, I want to appeal to our people to be a bit patient because the compensation cannot be determined in the abstract. We need to do an assessment and based on the results, we will determine the losses and the compensation to be given out. Suffice it to say that all those who lost out will be compensated by the company that caused the pollution.

Mr Speaker, as to the likelihood of heavy metals in the river, again, I do not want to speculate. That is why I said that we will engage experts to conduct an assessment to determine the level of pollution in the water and the soil. Right now, I can confirm that the water is safe because of what we have done. We have restored the pH levels but later, we need to go deeper and study the pollution that has gone into the soil and the possibility that there could be some heavy metals. The testing of the soils is on-going, and we have continued monitoring the water quality. We have also been collecting the fish that died as a result of the pollution to undertake some tests. Based on the results, we will be able to tell whether there is a presence of heavy metals and what kind of clean-up we need to undertake. Should there be a presence of heavy metals, the company has already been directed to engage experts, both local and international. We have many experts in the mines and different sectors who are conversant with these issues. We are already receiving many enquiries through ZEMA from various experts out of the country. Once we confirm that there is a presence of heavy metals, they will be contracted to do the clean-up. We are not going to leave anything to chance. If it is proven that there is a presence of heavy metals, the company will have to undertake a clean-up exercise. Suffice it to say that this is not something that will be done within one day, one week or one month. It will take a lot of time, depending on the magnitude of the pollution.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, after listening to the statement by the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment, I wonder whether we are discussing an important issue or not.

Hon. Government Member: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, we are talking about people’s lives here. Thousands have been affected. However, the statement appears like it is trying to soothe Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited. Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited must pay heavily. If there are people who have gone to bed with the company, they must be held responsible. The entire river from the Copperbelt to Kafue has been polluted.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, we all know that the river has been polluted. That is why the hon. Minister has issued the Ministerial Statement. You have to ask a question. So, you may ask the hon. Minister a question. 

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, I appreciate your guidance. The hon. Minister’s statement is trying to tell us the losses that we all know about.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: May you ask the question.

Mr Kapyanga: We want to hear the punishment that Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited has been given. Why does the company still have a licence? The Government should start revocation of the licence.

Mr Amutike: What is your question?

Mr Kapyanga: Are you a joker?

Mr Amutike: You are the one joking right now.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: May the hon. Minister respond.

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika for that question. However, let me, first of all, educate him. We are different; not all of us enjoy being antagonistic. So, if he wants me to be antagonistic towards everyone, I will not do it because I was not raised like that.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, as the Government, we took action. I announced in my statement that the company in question, Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited, was ordered to cease all operations on the same day that the accident happened. So, to say that we have not acted heavily is not fair. I do not know whether the hon. Member was really paying attention, or he was preparing to be antagonistic, as usual. I want to repeat what I said in the statement. Through ZEMA, we ordered the company to cease operations. After the assessments are done, further punitive measures will be undertaken. I know that patience is not part of the hon. Member’s virtues, but I ask him to be a bit patient and wait until ...

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

He is now discussing me.

Interruptions

Mr Mposha: ... the time comes when we will announce what measures we would have taken.

Mr Speaker, I want to assure this House, and through this House, the country, that no one will be spared. I know that hon. Members on the left have a tendency to always be suspicious, that they know what is happening. I think, that is not our culture. We, on the right, have told them that if they have evidence of anyone taking advantage of the incident to do wrong things, they should come out and report it. We are not going to spare anyone. If any company, including Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited, is found wanting, once we carry out investigations and establish that action needs to be taken, we will come in the open and announce to the country the measures we will have to put in place. If the company has to be taken to court, we will inform the country that we are taking it to court. We are not going to sacrifice the lives of our people and the losses they have incurred to favour anyone. The Government will handle the issue following our laid down procedures. We will punish anyone, if it is proven that they were negligent in the manner they handled the situation. The hon. Member of Parliament is assured that we will take action at the right time.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, first of all, it is disappointing that the benches where the Opposition hon. Members sit are empty when we are discussing important national matters. On behalf of the people of Mbabala, I am disappointed to see empty benches on the side of our hon. Colleagues.

Hon. Opposition Members rose.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon Member!

Mr Munsanje: Mr Speaker, my question is –

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

May you resume your seats, hon. Members.

Interruptions

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

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: May you resume your seats, hon. Members!

Interruptions

Mr Munsanje: I want to ask my question, Sir.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

 Avoid rising from your seats if you have not been called upon to speak because that causes disorder in the House. If you want to rise on a point of order, indicate and then I will identify you. I have gadgets. I can see; my eyes are still working.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1040 hours until 1100 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Munsanje: Mr Speaker, before Business was suspended, I was asking the following question: We what is the total estimated cost of reconstituting the whole process in terms of fish restocking, compensation and environmental restorations which Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited will be required to pay?? I am aware that the company was established way back.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, may you ask your question? You are debating.

Mr Munsanje: Mr Speaker, what is the constituted cost of the whole process of restoring the environment?

Mr Kapyanga: Chase him!

Mr Munsanje: For asking a good question?

Laughter

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, like I indicated earlier, the cost of compensation and restoration will be determined by the assessment yet to be undertaken.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: There being no further questions, we proceed with the next Business on the Order Paper.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I must announce that the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment is the Acting hon. Minister of Agriculture.

OUTBREAK OF THE FALL ARMYWORMS IN MBABALA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

253. Mr. Munsanje (Mbabala) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. whether the Government is aware of the outbreak of the fall armyworms in Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency and other parts of Southern Province;  
2. if so, what urgent measures are being taken to contain the outbreak to avert loss of the maize crop in the Province; and
3. what long-term measures are being taken to prevent future outbreaks of the fall armyworms.

 The Minister of Green Economy and Environment (Mr Mposha) (on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo)): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture is aware of the fall armyworms infestation in the Southern Province, including Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency, in Choma District. The fall armyworms infestation rate in the Southern Province is at 35 per cent. All the 379 agricultural camps in the Southern Province have been affected by the fall armyworms. Specifically, 155,715 households and the total cultivated area of 133,454 ha have been affected.

In order to contend the outbreak and avert any loss of the maize crop in the Southern Province, the Government has undertaken the following measures:

1. procured and supplied 6,000 liters of chemicals;
2. procured and supplied 150 sprayers;
3. procured and supplied personal protective clothing to camp extension officers in all the affected areas including Mbabala Constituency; and
4. camp agricultural extension officers, are on the ground training farmers on integrated pest management of the Fall Armyworms including alternative management options such as field scouting, use of botanical pesticides from common locally available plants, such as neem and tephrosia are also promoted for use.

Mr Speaker, the Government is cognisant of the fact that fall armyworms are migratory pests, which cannot be completely eradicated. Therefore, to avert future outbreaks, the Government has continued with the implementation of integrated pest management options including the following:

1. practicing good agronomic practices such as early planting with the first effective rains, weeding to remove Fall Armyworms, alternative hosts;
2. encouraging intercropping and crop rotation;
3. using Fortenza dual treatment seed;
4.  using tolerant varieties, which will be available on the market next season; and
5.  promoting use of botanical pesticides as soon as the pests are identified.

Secondly, the Government has produced an integrated Fall Armyworm Management Extension Manual for Zambia, which has been distributed to all field staff as a reference tool. The third one is the production of the crop diversification strategy to encourage farmers to plant crop varieties that are not susceptible to fall armyworms.

 I thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr Munsanje: Mr Speaker, Mbabala, which is one of the heavy-weight producers of maize in the country, is definitely at risk of not harvesting enough maize because of fall armyworms. Is the ministry thinking of a more efficient way of controlling armyworms, like helicopter spraying in fields as opposed to relying on manual spraying, which is a bit slow and might not reach every crop in the fields?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Mbabala Constituency for that follow-up question.

Mr Speaker, the Government has put in place the measures I announced. As to whether we need to scale up measures or use more robust interventions, the Ministry of Agriculture will look into that. Suffice it to say that we have put in place measures that we feel, for now, are adequate to contain the problem.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Andeleki (Katombola): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his responses. As he is aware, Katombola Constituency is neighbouring Mbabala, and the people in the constituency also grow a lot of maize. Armyworms are the biggest threat to maize, and that is what is discouraging most farmers in the Southern Province from growing maize. Is the ministry considering availing medication to the places where our farmers are because pesticides are hard to find during the rainy season?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola for the question.

Mr Speaker, as the Government, we want all the provinces to produce and harvest enough maize, which is our staple food. In view of the fall armyworms infestation in the Southern Province, the Government will ensure that the chemicals we have procured are availed to the districts in the province. However, if as reported by the hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola, it is difficult to access the chemicals, through our agriculture Extension Officers, we will check the situation and ensure that the chemicals are provided to where the problem is. In addition to the very good questions that hon. Members of Parliament are asking on the Floor, I ask them to engage the Office of the District Commissioner (DC) or engage the hon. Minister of Agriculture here at Parliament to see which areas have the chemicals and which ones do not.  We will be more than happy, as a ministry, to get the chemicals as close as possible to where the problem is.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Malambo (Magoye): Mr Speaker, I want to appreciate my hon. Colleague, the Member of Parliament for Mbabala, Mr Munsanje, for this very good question. As you know, Magoye is predominantly a farming area, and it has been affected by armyworms as well. I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) has produced an armyworm-resistant seed. Will the seed be available on the market this year? What are the quantities, and where will the seed be distributed?

Mr Mposha: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Magoye for that question.

Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I will ask the substantive hon. Minister to engage the hon. Member for Magoye on whether that variety will be on the market and the quantities. I will ask the substantive hon. Minister to engage the hon. Member for Magoye, and through him, other hon. Members who are affected.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

CONSTRUCTION OF A POLICE STATION IN CHIPANGALI DISTRICT

254. Mr Lubusha (Chipangali) asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security:

1. whether the Government has any plans to construct a police station in Chipangali District;
2. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
3. if there are no such plans, why?

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu, SC.): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to construct a police station in Chipangali District. Currently, police services for the district are provided by Mugubudu Police Post under Chipata Police Station. The House may wish to note that the Government also plans to construct another police station in Kasenga Ward in Chanje Chiefdom. A 150 m x 100 m plot of land has been secured from the traditional leadership for the project.

Mr Speaker, the implementation of the plans to construct a police station in Chipangali District will commence when funds are made available.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubusha: Mr Speaker, kindly allow me to sincerely thank the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security for that wonderful answer. The good people of Chipangali are extremely humbled and grateful to this Government for the assurance the hon. Minister has given them.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubusha: We have been having very serious challenges in terms of security in Chipangali. As you may be aware, Chipangali is one of the biggest districts in the Eastern Province and the country. It has been challenging for the people of Ntope to travel for over five hours by car to access police services. Therefore, the initiative that has been brought by the able Government is highly appreciated by the good people of Chipangali.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITIONS IN THE COUNTRY

255. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

1. when Zambia last held a science or technology exhibition;
2. where the exhibition was held;
3. who the main exhibitors were;
4. what the fields of the exhibitors were; and
5. what benefit, if any, the exhibition had to the country.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Ms Tambatamba) (on behalf of the Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati)): Mr Speaker, Zambia held two science and technology exhibitions in 2024. The exhibitions were held from 8^th to 9^th May, 2024, in Lusaka. The exhibition focused on different fields of science and innovation. The main exhibitors included various research centres under the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) as follows:

1. Animal Science Research Centre (ASRC);
2. Water and Environmental Research Centre (WERC);
3. Food Science Research Centre (FSRC);
4. Energy Development Research Centre (EDRC); and
5. Materials Engineering and Technical Services (METS).

Mr Speaker, the fields covered by the exhibitors included the following:

1. animal science and biotechnology; animal feed innovation and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) testing;
2. water and environmental engineering; cost effective water treatment solutions;
3. food science and nutrition; development of tomato powder, avocado puree and nutraceuticals;
4. energy research and sustainability; biogas production and radiation monitoring; and
5. materials engineering; development of hospital-grade materials and energy generation solutions.

Mr Speaker, the exhibition promoted research and development innovations that are critical for Zambia’s future competitiveness. Therefore, the benefits of the exhibitions contribute to addressing food security, environmental sustainability and energy challenges, among others. Further, the event also fostered international collaboration, which is vital for technology transfer and capacity building in fields like agriculture and water management.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, when we, as a country, hold science and technology exhibitions, how does the ministry connect those activities to employment creation so that, at the end of the day, the country benefits directly from them?

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that good question, which is practical and seeking meaning.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has asked how exhibitions can lead to employment creation. The path that the New Dawn Administration of His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has taken is one that entails that whatever expense we make must have meaning, effects, implications and an impact. As the House may have heard what I said earlier – just to repeat some of the points – one of the topics that was covered is food and nutrition development. The development of tomato powder, avocado puree and nutraceuticals is the generation of an innovation that has created an opportunity for pursuers in the business sector. With that illustration, we believe that exhibitors were speaking to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are expected to adopt the ideas because they are the job creators. A scientist delivers an idea and innovation. The exhibition was a marketing place of ideas for implementers, job creators and entrepreneurs to learn and take them up. I believe that there is a connection between the Ministry of Technology and Science, and the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development in promoting such ideas for our people to take them up.

Mr Speaker, the other idea was biogas innovation for energy research and sustainability in relation to climate change. Biogas production is one of the areas of energy production. I believe that the link between the two ministries will move the job creation agenda so that money is not wasted on exhibitions and research that do not yield practical implications in people’s lives.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, of course, the market can be there, but what is critical is research and development. I want to find out what the ministry is doing with the new ideas that are coming up and whether it is investing in research and development. Is the ministry going to increase funding to the key sectors in that regard?

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, as I have explained in response to the hon. Member for Kalabo Central in his follow-up question, we do not work in silos as ministries that form the New Dawn Administration. Whatever comes through as results from each ministry is tabled the Cabinet and, subsequently, ends up with the technocrats. Thereafter, whatever is produced is harvested by each ministry to promote the actual implementation that would create jobs. 

Mr Speaker, let me just highlight the investments that are going into the innovation of our pathways to development so that hon. Members and the public can understand how serious the New Dawn Administration takes science and technology. These are as follows:

1. to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to harnessing science, K178.1 million, representing 17.2 per cent of the ministry’s budget, was allocated to science research and development for 2025;
2. technology and innovation have been allocated K58.5 million, representing 5.6 per cent of the ministry budget; and
3. to promote applied research and development, the Government has allocated K60 million for the modernisation of the NISIR.

Mr Speaker, I would like to say to the nation, members of the public, entrepreneurs, businesses and industries that business operates on a demand-and-supply basis. The demand that comes from industries and entrepreneurs that are coming up will encourage direction of more resources into the sectors, which are well-tailored to the development direction that this Government has put in place.  So, I encourage hon. Members to identify areas for job creation in their constituencies and make them visible. They need to understand and know where they can get supplementary information about industries that they can set up in their own constituencies.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chinkuli (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to ask a question. I also want to thank the hon. Minister for the response that she has given, especially to part (e) of the question on the benefits of exhibitions to the country. Agriculture is one of the sectors that have benefitted from exhibitions.  It came out very prominently in the hon. Minister’s response that the agriculture sector has benefitted from exhibitions. My question is: How exactly have the exhibitions impacted the agriculture sector, looking at the challenges the sector is facing, coupled with crop failure as a result of climate change?

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, the work is ongoing and the focus is clearly on key sectors that have been prioritised by this Government, through the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU). Agriculture is a key sector. Other sectors such as science and technology, energy, health, education and mining and minerals development are all part of the key sectors, but agriculture is number one.

Mr Speaker, as the hon. Member may have heard me say, agriculture is linked to other value chains under sister ministries like the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. A particular initiative that the hon. Member should take note of is the one that focuses on tomato puree and avocado production using technology to foster value addition. That is a demonstration that the primary focus is on agriculture, which is the mainstay of our economy. However, all the sectors that feed into agriculture are interlinked. So, various programmes have been lined up to provide a platform for investigations beyond laboratory test that are conducted at the Ministry of Agriculture. In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Technology and Science have on-going work to try and resolve issues that are of concern to the nation, including the ones expressed by the hon. Member in his question.

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Mr Mutinta (Itezhi-Tezhi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for her responses. I believe the hon. Minister is aware that we are at a time when science is critical in resolving emerging challenges in our country, particularly with regard to agriculture and climate change. Just two days ago, there was a headline about a young graduate from the Copperbelt University (CBU), who has invented an artificial intelligence (AI) system that uses greenhouse materials. If the hon. Minister read the story of that young person, she would discover that he is a product of the Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) programme and many other initiatives that take place at the school level. What is the ministry doing to integrate constituency activities with school programmes such as JETS? From small community initiatives, we are able to harness talent everywhere, rather than just having initiatives e in Lusaka.    

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, indeed, that is a cry that the Government has heard right at the time we started administering the affairs of this nation. In this regard, the President of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has sent out a very strong message about unlocking rigidities that are in the way of delivering the much-desired development, growth and prosperity. That relates to the first pillar in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which speaks to economic transformation. Therefore, hon. Members are called out to make the message about unlocking rigidities relevant to people out there. It is very important for us, as peoples’ representatives, to work in collaboration with the Government in our respective constituencies so as to bring reports or information to the relevant authorities. That way, the ministry will be able to recognise the developments that are taking place. That includes reports on talent, innovation and knowledge emerging from the Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists’ (JETS’s) fairs across the nation.

Mr Speaker, unlocking rigidities in service delivery speaks to the topic at hand. As the people’s representatives, it is incumbent upon us to urge the Government to put in place a mechanism that will ensure that various ideas, including those from JETS fairs, find their way to the ministry and institutions such as the science research centres dotted around the country. So, on behalf of the Government or the President, I strongly urge all hon. Members to bring forth information from the 156 constituencies to the ministry so that it forms part of the planning for the ministry for this year and for the future. That is what it means to embark on economic transformation and job creation together with the Government.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, regarding the science and technology exhibition that took place in 2024, I would like to know whether it is the Government’s desire to hold the event annually.

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, I missed the last part because the hon. Member whispered.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, could you, please, repeat the question.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I asked whether it is the Government’s intention or plan to make the said exhibition an annual event.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, maybe, you can engage the substantive hon. Minister because the Acting hon. Minister might not be able to answer that question.

CONSTRUCTION OF STUDENT HOSTELS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA, COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY AND MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY

256. Rev. Katuta (Chienge) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

      (a) when the construction works on the student hostels at the following universities will be completed;

            i.  University of Zambia in Lusaka District;

            ii. Copperbelt University in Kitwe District; and

            iii. Mulungushi University in Kapiri Mposhi District.

     (b)   what the cause of the delay in completing the projects is; and

     (c)   what the cost of the outstanding works on each project was, as of December, 2024.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Mr Speaker, the works on the student’s hostels at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in Lusaka District are expected to take about twenty-four months to complete once works are commenced. The works on the student’s hostels at the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Kitwe District are expected to take about eighteen months to complete once works are commenced. The works on the student’s hostels at the Mulungushi University in Kapiri Mposhi District are expected to take about thirty-six months to complete once works are commenced.

Mr Speaker, the delay in completing the projects was due to funding constraints.

Mr Speaker, the total cost of each project will be fully ascertained once all the outstanding works are procured. The projects are currently being retendered.

 Mr Speaker, I thank you.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote) on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Mr Speaker, works on the student hostels at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in Lusaka District are expected to take about twenty-four months after the commencement of the project. Works on the student hostels at the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Kitwe District are expected to take about eighteen months after the commencement of the project. Works on the student hostels at the Mulungushi University in Kapiri Mposhi District are expected to take about thirty-six months after the commencement of the project.  The delay in completing the projects was due to funding constraints.  The total cost of each project will be fully ascertained once all the outstanding works are procured. The projects are currently being retendered.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Rev. Katuta: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the response from the ministry. However, I am wondering why the Government is referring to the issue of funds and the procurement process when many business entities have approached the universities to complete the construction of the student hostels at Mulungushi University, UNZA and CBU. I am wondering why the Government is referring to the issue of funds when there are private companies that are ready to do the work. 

Mr Speaker, we have UNZA students who rent boarding houses in Kalingalinga, who are always attacked by the fluffy boys. Our future generation or future Members of Parliament stay in pathetic conditions. Those places are always flooded. Why is the ministry referring to the twenty-four months completion period when challenges of accommodation for students have been there for many years?  It is just a matter of advertising and private institutions will come on board and do the work. This is being done at the expense of our children. Why would they even give us the completion period of twenty-four months instead of advertising so that bidders can be on board? 

Mr Chikote: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House and indeed, the hon. Member, that the projects were halted by the previous Government. My Government considers education as a priority.

Mr Speaker, in my first response, I said that we have retendered the projects because we had to renegotiate with the contractors who were awarded the contracts.  Those projects were halted for a long period. So, this Administration is committed to making sure that the welfare of our students in universities is considered. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Rev. Katuta: Mr Speaker, Standing Order No. 71 states that we have to be factual. I am not agreeing with what the hon. Minister is referring to.   There was a time when the Government awarded a contract to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to work on the hostels at Mulungushi University. So, I do not understand the contractor the hon. Minister is talking about. I have a passion for education and I have been making follow-ups on the universities. It is the reason I brought up this question on the Floor of the House.

Mr Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to be factual because what is prevailing on the ground is that, when this Government took over power, NAPSA was awarded a contract to construct hostels at Mulungushi University. I am not sure which contractors were awarded contracts to work on hostels at the other two universities.  Many companies have tendered their willingness to complete the construction of hostels at the universities.

Mr Speaker, I want this Government which claims to be passionate about the people to come out clearly on this issue because I have information of who tendered first or who wants to work privately without getting any penny from the Government. So, which contractor is the hon. Minister referring to?  If he is referring to private contractors, we cannot be talking about eighteen and thirty-six months completion period.   It is their money and they are going to work at their own pace to get it back.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, when the Government gives its position, we must adhere because it is its position. However, in case the hon. Minister wants to respond, he can go ahead.  

Mr Chikote: Mr Speaker, first of all, the hon. Member must know that this Government is passionate about the education sector. The Government has committed to implement the Free Education Policy.  It is unfortunate for the hon. Member to say that the Government is doing nothing and that, she knows the people who are supposed to be on board. 

Mr Speaker, the ministry has renegotiated the tender for the completion of six hostel blocks at Mulungushi University with Jiang Hu Investment Limited at a contract sum of K410 million to construct the hostels she is talking about. So, the Government is in the process of responding to the challenges our students face.  There are a number of processes the Government is putting in place to address the challenge which the previous Government did not attend to. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr C. Mulenga (Kwacha):  Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to ask a supplementary question to the hon. Minister. I also want to thank him for his honest response towards this question. Just like it has been alluded to by my hon. Colleague, the problems at CBU, UNZA and Mulungushi University have reached alarming levels, where students are being attacked because they come from places outside the university parameters. The hon. Minister has stated that the contract has been retendered and the process is ongoing.  What is the timeframe for the construction of the hostels for the students’ accommodation? 

Mr Chikote: Mr Speaker, I will quickly share how we have lined up the process of implementing the projects.  The construction of hostels at the CBU has been divided into six lots. Lot one comprises of four hostel blocks with a total capacity of 640 students. The contract has been retendered and awarded to Hua Chang Infrastructure Engineering Zambia Limited at a cost of K123,596,000 with a contract duration of twelve months. The contractor is currently on the site. Lot II has not yet commenced but the processes are on-going. The Ministry of Education has re-negotiated the tender for the completion of four hostel blocks in Lot III, with Hua Jiang Investments Limited as the contractor at a sum of K187,695,426.20. The Ministry of Education is awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Justice before resumption of works. The ministry has gone further to re-negotiate the tender for the completion of four hostel blocks in Lot IV, with Hua Jiang Investments Limited as the contractor at a sum of K194,473,677.46. The ministry is also waiting for clearance from the Ministry of Justice before resumption of works. Lot V consists of electrical, sewer and water reticulation systems as well as the road network and the stormwater drainage. Currently, the ministry is in the process of re-engaging the contractor, Gosvin Engineering Limited, to complete the outstanding works. Lot VI comprises five hostels with a total student capacity of 800. Currently, the ministry is in the process of re-engaging the contractor, Millers Construction Limited, to complete the outstanding works.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

CONSTRUCTION OF CHIPATA/LUNDAZI ROAD

257. Mr Lubusha (Chipangali) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

1. when the construction of the Chipata/Lundazi Road will be completed; and 
2. at what level of completion in percentage terms the project was as of December 2024. 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote)(on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Mr Speaker, the Government has secured funds to reconstruct the 222 km Chipata/Lundazi/Chasefu Road to bituminous standard under the Millennium Challenge Compact Project, an agency of the United States of America (USA). The project is estimated to be completed within twenty-four months after commencement.

However, it should be noted that with the current policy shift in the USA, the Government awaits official communication on the status of the project. In the short-term, the Government is carrying out periodic maintenance works on the Chipata/Lundazi Road. The reconstruction of the road had not commenced as of December 2024. However, periodic maintenance works are at 65 per cent.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Lubusha: Mr Speaker, this road is important because it connects several constituencies, such as Chipata Central, Chipangali, Lumezi and Lundazi. It is the pathway for the good people of Chasefu, Chama North and Chama South. The hon. Minister has said that the Government was expecting some funding from the United States of America (USA), but due to the shift of policy in that country, the Government is awaiting a response. In case the Government receives a negative response, is there any other arrangement for the road to still be reconstructed?

Mr Chikote: Mr Speaker, indeed, the Government is expecting a yes or no answer from the official communication it is awaiting. This Administration is committed to improving the welfare of its people, and it takes the road that has been mentioned as important for economic activities in this country. Hence, this Government is ready to look for local resources. Like the hon. Member heard from our President, whatever happens with our co-operating partners regarding the new policy shift, this Government has to stand on its own to address its own affairs. So, this Government will use its resources to attend to the challenges that people are facing on this road. That is why you have seen that the Government has put a periodic maintenance schedule for the road to make it motorable.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Mr Speaker, a pronouncement was made that the road would be reconstructed. I know, some of my hon. Colleagues danced to that tune. They celebrated the announcement that the road was going to be reconstructed soon.

Mr Speaker, I have heard the response by the Acting hon. Minister of Infrastructure Housing and Urban Development –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, may you ask your question.

Mr Kapyanga: He has taken a U-turn from the earlier positions. It is very important for the hon. Minister to be very categorical.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, may you ask your question. Be precise.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, I am constructing it.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, may you ask your question. Is your name Richard?

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, this is a very important road. Those people on the right lied to the people of the Eastern Province that they were going to work on the road. This is the reason I want to construct a very powerful question.

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

Mr Kapyanga: When will the Government attend to Lundazi Road?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, at times it does not pay to be antagonistic unnecessarily. I was guiding you. At times, it does not pay to behave in that manner.

Mr Chikote: Mr Speaker, I want to assure the hon. Member that this Government regards the road as important. I have said that there is no U-turn regarding this road because the Government takes it as important. I said that the Government had an agreement with the Millennium Challenge Compact Government Project of the USA, and it was ready to reconstruct the road. However, there was a policy shift in the USA. That does not mean the Government will fold its hands and sit.

Mr Speaker, I have assured the hon. Member who has posed the question that the Government will look into finding resources to undertake the reconstruction of the road. All it is waiting for is the official position of the USA. Once we get it, we will make a decision. If we receive information in the negative, we will find the resources to reconstruct the road because the road is very important. This is what I explained. So, there is no U-turn on the road.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Mwanza (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, what is the cost of the 220 km road works? How much funding was supposed to be provided by Millennium Challenge Compact?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, did you get the question?

Mr Chikote indicated dissent.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, repeat your question and speak more loudly.

Dr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, there was some intent to fund works on the 220 km road from Chipata to Lundazi. What was the agreed cost for that stretch?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Acting hon. Minister, have you got the question? The hon. Member is saying that a principal amount was agreed upon in the scope of works that should have been executed. However, if you cannot answer the question, the hon. Member can liaise with the substantive hon. Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development. He is free to go to the hon. Minister’s office, and the two can have a discussion.

Let us make progress.

Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to ask a supplementary question.

Mr Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to assure the people of the Eastern Province that the Chipata/Lundazi Road will be worked on before 2026.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, the hon. Minister has just spoken. You want him to be repetitive? What assurance do you want to have?

Let us make progress.

ISSUANCE OF DEATH CERTIFICATES

258. Mr Miyutu asked the Minister of Health:

1. why the issuance of death certificates to relatives of deceased persons takes twenty-four hours; and
2. whether there are any plans to expedite the process.

Mr Mwiimbu, SC. (on behalf of the Minister of Health (Mr Muchima)): Mr Speaker, the process of issuing death certificates in Zambia is governed by the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Chapter 51 of the Laws of Zambia. This legal framework mandates a structured procedure to ensure accuracy, accountability and compliance with the statutory requirements. The Ministry of Health plays a pivotal role in this process, particularly, in the issuance of the medical certificate of cause of death. The process entails the following steps:

1. notice of death. This is submitted by an appropriate authority, which may include a relative, member of the community, village headman, the police or a health facility;
2. medical certificate of cause of death. This document is issued by a health facility. It is a critical component of the death registration process. The document certifies the cause of death and is a pre-requisite for the issuance of a death certificate for persons dying within the facility;
3. police report for brought-in-dead cases. In instances where a person dies away from a health facility, a police report is required to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death;
4. coroner's report in the case of road traffic accidents (RTAs) or suspected foul play. Where death results from an RTA or suspected foul play, a coroner's report is mandatory to provide further details on the cause of death;
5. letter from the chief for rural deaths. In cases where a death occurs in a rural village, a letter from the local chief is necessary to authenticate the death; and
6. original national registration card or passport of the deceased. The original identification document of the deceased must be surrendered and attached to the application for a death certificate.

Mr Speaker, the ministry’s primary responsibility in this process is the issuance of the medical certificate of cause of death. In most health facilities, the certificate is issued within twenty-four hours of the confirmation of death provided all requisite medical information is available. This step is indispensable as it establishes the cause of death, which is a statutory requirement for the issuance of a death certificate. While the ministry ensures the timely issuance of the medical certificate of cause of death, the overall process of obtaining a death certificate involves multiple stakeholders. The process also involves the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, the process cannot take less than twenty-four hours because of the requirements highlighted above.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker. I have heard the hon. Minister's response.

Mr Speaker, I have heard that there are almost one or two types of certificates. My concern is on the certificate that is issued immediately after a person is certified dead; the one which is signed by the medical doctor when a person is declared dead. When a body is deposited in the mortuary, the twenty-four-hour rule arises. The relatives cannot get the body until that period has lapsed. The body is already in the mortuary. What is the gist on waiting twenty-four hours to access a body after depositing it in the mortuary? A person is dead, but the certificate is issued after twenty-four hours. What is the idea behind that?

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Mr Speaker, my hon. Colleague may have heard the advice I gave the House. There is a structured process for the issuance of death certificates. In the event that there are no other encumbrances, the certificate is issued within twenty-four hours. We do not wait for twenty-four hours to lapse. However, as I indicated, if a person dies outside a medical facility, certain procedures are required, for example, a police report has to be generated. That situation may take longer than is necessary. So, those are the delays. Ordinarily, if a person dies within a health facility, issuance of the certificate is done within twenty-four hours.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I have heard the hon. Minister’s response and he said that a death certificate is issued within twenty-four hours of confirmation of death. I did not want to mention this, but usually many of my questions arise from experience. The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Zambia, the one which is located – I do not know where it is located – but, it is because of that institution that I am asking this question. I did not want to mention the hospital, but there is a rule at UTH, which states that one can only access that certificate after and not within twenty-four hours, as indicated by the hon. Minister. So, I see a conflict in statements here. I do not know which one is correct; whether it is within twenty-four or what we were told that it is after twenty-four hours. So, any further clarification from the hon. Minister will help.

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Mr Speaker, as I indicated, death certificates are normally issued within twenty-four hours. What my hon. Colleague has brought up is an exception, which I am going to follow-up at the ministry to find out why the mentioned establishment has issued that notice.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

_______

MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Mr Speaker, thank you so much for this opportunity to add the voice of the people I represent to this important Motion on the speech delivered by the President.

Mr Speaker, there are four key elements of governance, which are accountability, transparency, rule of law and participation. In his speech, the President talked about the fight against corruption. Fighting corruption can only be complete when the fight is against the past and present corruption. Currently, the Government is only concentrated on fighting past corruption, which some are now calling a political witch hunt. On the other hand, there is current corruption, like the selling of Mopani Copper Mines Plc without this House approving the sale. That is corruption and it must –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Do you have a copy of the President’s Speech with you?

Mr Kapyanga raised a document in his hand.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, it is important to ensure that you are very factual when debating, rather than making assertions that can mislead the public. The hon. Minister was on the Floor of the House and he clarified what happened regarding the matter you have mentioned, but you still insist because you want things to be done according to what you believe in. Please, just debate. You have been here for three years and you know by now that this is a House of rules.

You may proceed.

Mr Kapyanga: Thank you so much for the guidance, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I was talking about the fight against corruption. The fight against corruption can only be complete if past and current corruption is fought. Corruption does not only happen when one receives a bribe because even in decision-making there is also corruption. How can a consortium take over the collection of money on tollgates on the stretch between Lusaka and Ndola even before completing the construction of the road? If that is not corruption, then what is? The fight against corruption can only be full-fledged when both past and current corruption is fought.

Mr Speaker, today, we have been told that fuel prices will soon be reduced because Agro-Fuel Investments Limited has been chucked out of the monopoly of running the Indeni Refinery. Why was that decision not made in the past if corruption was not at the centre of everything? The fight against corruption is not only about fighting your political opponents. That is a political witch hunt.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) recently reported on the externalisation of US$2.5 billion and no single person has been arrested. You then wonder what kind of a fight against corruption we now have, whereby the corrupt today are not being arrested. The people who have apartments in Chaminuka worth K1 million are the ones being arrested. The people who are taking US$2.5 billion out of the country are not being arrested.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Do you have evidence on those allegations you are making or you just want to make political capital and mislead people? Avoid making such assertions.

Mr Kapyanga: Thank you for the guidance, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, page 3 of the President’s Speech talks about the issue of alcohol and drug abuse. The President also talked about the measures that the Government has put in place to fight the scourge. However, sensitisation alone is not the solution. The root cause of the problem is lack of employment. Youths of today have no jobs. It is actually 12 per cent of Zambian youths who have no jobs. It is the responsibility of the Government to create industries where youths can find work. As I said, the solution is not about merely undertaking sensitisation. The existence of the Government is meant to provide solutions and better the lives of people. However, this Government has failed on that score.

Mr Speaker, the lives of our youths are now at great risk. This is the more reason we now have junkies.  Instead of addressing that big issue, we now have decided to give them a name.

Mr Simumba: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simumba: There is no quorum here!

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, our country today –

Mr Simumba: There is no quorum here!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nakonde, …

Mr Simumba: There is no quorum.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: … you are not at a market place. You are in the House.

Mr Simumba: There is no quorum!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: May you leave the Chamber.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Leave the Chamber or you risk me naming you, and giving you some days to rest. May you leave the Chamber.

Mr Simumba left the Assembly Chamber.

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

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, in our country today, people in compounds are suffering.

Mr Anakoka: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga: They need the Government to provide solutions. We are talking about the Cosntituency Development Fund (CDF), Social Cash Transfer (SCT) and Cash for Work programmes.  These are not new policies. They have always been in existence. People want new things that will better their lives.

Mr Speaker, in the Amnesty International Report of 2023, US$4.5 billion was quoted in tax evasion. That is uncalled for. This Government must take governance very seriously. We are talking about the lives of the people of Zambia. Mr Speaker, those people cannot be here discussing Constitutional Amendments when our own people are suffering. What kind of people are they who do not even fear God such that they cannot take care of their own people unless, they amend the Constitution?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, may you resume your seat. Let me guide you.

At some point, you were saying your constituency is vast and that the CDF you are given is meant to alleviate poverty in your constituency. Today you say this, and the following day, you say something else. The President emphasised on the need to delimitate the constituencies. That can only happen if we amend the Constitution. You know what is right, but you are just doing politics.

May you continue.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, the Constitution is a people’s document. You cannot just wake up and start amending the Constitution without consulting the people.  There must be broader consultation so that all the Zambians agree to what we want to put in the Constitution.

Mr Mposha: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: That is a people’s document. No one can decide to amend the Constitution without consulting anyone. There must be consultation and consensus must be built. Without that, no person would agree. You cannot consult yourself when it comes to amending the Constitution. That is impossible.

Mr Anakoka: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga: This country has stakeholders or citizens who must be consulted.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I want to urge this Government to focus on bettering the lives of the Zambians. That is what matters right now. You cannot go into 2026 with a litre of fuel being sold at K34, and the cost of mealie meal at K600 per bag. That is uncalled for.

Mr Amutike: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga; Mr Speaker, these people, baleufwilako abalanda uluse!

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

I have guided you several times but you kept referring to documents that are not here.  You also have resorted to using unpalatable language that is not allowed on the Floor of the House just to ensure that you amass political capital. That is not what you are supposed to do.

Mr Amutike (Mongu Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving a chance to the people of Mongu Central to say a few words on the President’s Speech, which was anchored on national values and principles.

Mr Speaker, before I do that, I want to thank the people of the Western Province, in particular, the people of Mongu Central, for having hosted a very colourful and successful National Youth Day.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: Mr Speaker, there is a medical term called “hydrocephalus.” It describes a condition where one’s head accumulates water. I can refer that to people who flip-flop on issues. They talk without substance and are usually very antagonistic. Such people are not only out there, but in this House as well.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mposha: Correct!

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Dr Chilufya: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Amutike: You have just experienced that. When you see them talk, just remember the word, ‘hydrocephalus’. Their heads are full of water.

Dr Chilufya: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Amutike: The United Party for National Development (UPND), the New Dawn Government, did not only inherit a bankrupt economy but also, a broken society.  Good morals were eroded in this country. That is why you found ˗

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

Mr Amutike: Iwe!

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. The hon. Member is referring to people who have a very unfortunate medical condition called hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus means having a blockage that allows accumulation of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in the head. This causes the head to bulge in children. It is an unfortunate medical condition which requires treatment and more often, it is surgical. It will be most unfortunate if this House goes on record to stigmatise people with such an unfortunate condition.  Is he in order to place this House in that path where we are now looking down upon those many children with hydrocephalus, an unfortunate condition that results in a lot of suffering of our children. In addition, I cannot see anyone with hydrocephalus in this House.

Mr Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Mongu Central is out of order. Let us ensure that our language befits the House. So, may the hon. Member for Mongu Central proceed.

Mr Amutike: Mr Speaker, thank you for the guidance.  I think certain people need to be examined to determine their correct position.

Laughter

Mr Amutike: Mr Speaker, I was saying that the New Dawn Government inherited a bankrupt economy and a broken society with bad morals because of the PF Government. Many people, especially the young girls and boys, started drinking heavily under the PF Government because of the bad influence of the leadership composed of people who used to drink Jameson in public, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: … even throwing and showing it all over the places.  Children copied it from the PF leaders. This is why His Excellency the President was here to remind us to uphold our national values and principles. It is not that he was just doing it. It is a reflection of our society.

Mr Speaker, you will note that the people representing the public out there, who sit on your left are not here. They only want to get paid without being here. Where are they? I hope the Parliament TV cameras can shoe the empty seats in this House. They are not here but they still want to continue getting paid for doing nothing. Ubomba mwibala, alya mwibala has continued. That is why they are not there (pointed at the Opposition Bench).

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: Mr Speaker, that is why it is very important to keep on reminding ourselves on the worth of upholding national values.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, may you translate what you have just said.

Mr Mwene: Masholi!

Mr Amutike: Those people who want to benefit for doing nothing. They want to get paid for doing nothing. People are getting paid to be in this Parliament, but they are not here to listen and debate this important speech. What do you call that? That is the same tendency that was there in the past. People were saying we cannot bring free education or increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). So, where has the money come from?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: Money has always been there, but people just wanted to pocket it.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: That is their character.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: That is why they are not here because they are not happy that the New Dawn Government has increased the money, and that there is nothing to put in their pockets. They are not appreciating free education because many people are benefitting. For those who watched the Youth Day celebrations, in Mongu, about fifty people who are beneficiaries of the CDF matched. Just like the lady from Mufumbwe, those people appreciate what the New Dawn Government is doing by empowering people in the whole country and bringing equity to everybody. However, the people on the left, not the good ones there, but those who sit around there, those who have run away, are not happy with such policies. They want to continue perpetuating the culture of stealing and getting money for free.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Withdraw the word ‘stealing,’ it is unparliamentary.

Mr Amutike: They want to continue perpetuating the culture of people getting money they have not worked for. How do they go out of the House when they know they are getting paid? They are hon. Members of Parliament sitting here in this House. They just walk away. They are not here to represent their people and debate a very important speech by the President.

Mr Speaker, all of us need to have good morals or values and principles in life to build a better society for all of us.

Mr Anakoka: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: This is not what those people on the left represent. They represent looting and destruction of this country economically, financially, ...

Mr Anakoka: Morally!

Mr Amutike: ... morally, everything. Those are not the kind of leaders we should trust in this country anymore. They should never come back again. They should go forever and ever and be put there.

Mr Anakoka: Hear, hear!

Mr Amutike: Mr Speaker, the constitution review process is very important. There are constituencies like Mongu Central, which has sixteen wards. Then, there are also constituencies like Moomba, where my good friend – who sits here? (Pointed at a seat).

Laughter

Mr Anakoka: Ngabwe!

Mr Amutike: Ngabwe. A person can win by 2,000 votes. They are here.

Mr Speaker, all constituencies are getting K36 million. The hon. Minister of Labour and Social Security’s constituency has twenty-four wards. All of us are getting K36.1 million. That is why it is very important that we distribute the money equitably. Everybody must have a share. Now, small constituencies have an advantage over other constituencies because they are small things. They are small constituencies. So, it is very important that we look at the Constitution and review it ...

Mr Chaatila: Mr Speaker, on a point of order.

Mr Munsanje: Iwe, Moomba, sit down.

Mr Amutike: ... so that all of us can get money equitably. We cannot have constituencies that have 300,000 people and others that have 2,000 people get the same amount of money.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mongu Central, there is a point of order.

Mr Amutike: No points of order are allowed, Mr Speaker, …

Laughter

Mr Amutike: … especially from the hon. Member.

Laughter

Mr Amutike: Mr Speaker, as I conclude, it is very –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: There is a point of order.

Laughter

Mr Chaatila: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to raise a point of order on my hon. Colleague, here.

Mr Speaker, the issue of delimitation is very important. For sure, we need to manage small constituencies such as mine, Hon. Musokotwane’s, Kabwata, and the like. Now, is the hon. Member in order to call my people ‘small things’?

Laughter

Mr Chaatila: Is he in order to call the people of Liuwa and Kabwata ‘small things’?

Mr Speaker, is he in order to call these constituencies ‘things’? The President was on point when he said that we need to manage big constituencies by delimitating them. However, is the hon. Member in order to call the small constituencies ‘small things’?

Mr Speaker, I am an innocent man. I seek your serious ruling. I do not want to be part of the debate only on that score.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mongu Central, stick to the President’s Address.

You may proceed.

Mr Amutike: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, having good morals and upholding national values requires all of us to take care of each and everyone of us, to love our neighbour and ensure that everybody gets a fair share of the national cake. We need to build a country or society in which people value one another. The only driving principle for the constitution review process is that we are all equal and get an equal share of the national cake. So, it is very important that even as we debate the President’s Speech, we remind ourselves of our national values and principles so that we build and take care of this country by sharing our resources equitably. We should make sure that our people have access to all the resources in the country. The people in Mongu Central –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika): Mr Speaker, thank you very much, once again, for giving me the chance to add my voice to the debate on the President’s Speech, on behalf of the good people of Mkaika.

Mr Speaker, I will be brief. I will talk about the delimitation exercise that the President talked about in the House. I want to find out some things from my hon. Colleagues. I will need answers at the end of my debate, especially when the hon. Ministers start responding to the debates.

Mr Speaker, I do not know what has changed now. I was here in 2021 when the Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 10 was presented here. Most of my hon. Colleagues on the right refused to agree to delimitate constituencies. I do not know whether at that time, constituencies were small but this time, they have grown big so now the hon. Members on the right now have consensus to delimitate constituencies. The President talked about patriotism, but where is it? When we see that something will truly add value to our country, let us agree on it because it will benefit the people of Zambia. I agree that constituencies are big. If we had delimitated them a long time ago, this time around, we would have been on another level in terms of development. However, we all refused, especially those who were on the left. They ran away; they never even participated in the delimitation exercise. This time around, it is them who want delimitation. That is why I asked: What has changed now? In 2021, they refused totally.

Mr Mapani: You are drawing tension. You had wrong intentions.

Mr P. Phiri: Let me remind them one thing. In 2021, the Patriotic Front (PF) brought on board some revenue collection measures ...

Mr Mapani: Like which one?

Mr P. Phiri: ... like toll fees.

Mr Speaker, we also saw new airports constructed. Now, the New Dawn Government wants to conduct delimitation again. Now, my question is: What additional revenue collection measures will support delimitation because it needs money?

Mr Anakoka: You should have done it.

Mr Mapani: Ah! They had very bad intentions!

Mr P. Phiri: The hon. Members of Parliament who will man the new constituencies will need money. The enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF) that this Government has brought will have to be channelled to the new constituencies. The people on the right are crying that they inherited a bankrupt Government.

Mr Mapani: True, very true!

Mr P. Phiri: They should have started with revenue collection measures. What have they done? I need answers. They need to woe me so that I support them. I need answers. We need to put politics aside and see things that will add value to our country. You know, in the meantime, we have the high cost of living and our wage bill is high. Teachers applied and, up to now, we have not heard when the Government will employ them. At least, the list of recruited nurses was published. How about that of teachers? When the Government delays, we take it that there is no money to pay the teachers when they are employed. Now, the Government is asking us to delimitate constituencies. I need answers from the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, especially on the additional revenue measures that the Government has brought so that we are on the same page.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to talk about the social issues that the President talked about, such as the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), Social Cash Transfer (SCT), the Food Security Pack (FSP) programme and the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF). The SAFF is a good programme whose implementation needs to be supported.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr P. Phiri: Mr Speaker, we are coming from a drought period and its effects will not end in a year. For instance, in Mkaika and Katete, people are now harvesting and eating grain from their fields. Community sales initiatives are there, but people do not have money to buy. Instead, they are harvesting from their fields. So, at the time of the final harvest, they will only realise, maybe, half of their yield, which will not sustain them until the next farming season. The SAFF programme can supplement their yield in terms of ensuring that people have food in their homes. I would like to appeal to the Government to give the banks adequate funding for loans to be given to farmers. In Katete, not even one person has received funds under that facility. People flocked to the banks as far back as November but, up to now, none have been paid. It is a good programme from which people can benefit. The Government should not stop giving out funds to farmers. The programmes help.

Mr Speaker, when farmers undertake irrigation farming, it will help supplement the food that they will have. As I said, people have already started eating grain from their fields. I think that it is not only in Katete, but elsewhere too. People may not have money to buy maize, even though the grain is readily available. I appeal to the Government to consider working on SAFF so that it can supplement the programmes being implemented to ensure that people have food in their homes.

With those few remarks, I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Speech delivered by the President on the Floor of this House on the Progress Made in the Application of National Values and Principles.

Mr Speaker, in accordance with Article 8 of our Republican Constitution, which outlines the National Values and Principles, and in accordance with Article 9(2), the President is required to present to this House the progress made towards the application of those values and principles.

Mr Speaker, my debate will be outlined as follows: I will make brief comments on each one of those values. Of course, I will cherry-pick the ones I have salient points to mention and elucidate a little on the issues that are important, which the President mentioned and are applicable to the current situation in the country. I will also laud the progress we have made on the national values and principles.

Mr Speaker, on morality and ethics, the President mentioned the prevailing problems that we have around abuse of technology, especially social media. Indeed, we have many cases of cyber bullying. Of course, it emanates from progression in technology and people plucking it out from freedom of speech. Riding on freedom of speech, they think they can say anything and sundry, sometimes infringing on the very rights of the next person. The President mentioned that we have made much progress here to ensure that culprits perpetuating such are brought to book. I am glad that some arrests have been instituted in recent times. The people who cry out loudly the most are the perpetuators of such vices. I will not cry out because I am not involved in cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is a crime; so, we should be reminded that it is not something we can do as we wish.

Mr Speaker, the President talked about patriotism and national unity, and these values seemed to be the biggest portion of his address. Indeed, we need to be patriotic. Only when we are patriotic will we collectively add value to the development of this nation. In being patriotic, we should, at all times, do something that adds value to our well-being or to the well-being of this country’s economy. While we lament and complain about the limited resources to develop our country or our various constituencies, we also have a duty to ensure that the national basket or the national revenue envelope is healthy. There have been times when we have entered a shop and somebody has told us that if we paid in cash instead of a bank transfer, the cost of a product would be low, and we have complied with that. In short, we assisted people who are evading tax. So, where is patriotism in that? We need to ensure that we all pay taxes because it is from the taxes that we get the required development.

Mr Speaker, the President also talked about democracy and constitutionalism. Indeed, democracy has been demonstrated at the highest level of standards in the past by-elections. I think, we have demonstrated, and we have been magnanimous enough, to laud this both on the Floor of the House and in the media. By-elections are no longer marred with violence, as it used to be. There is decency. Now, we can say that we have leadership in place. If you engage yourself in violence or malpractices, you are on your own. The President has repeatedly mentioned this, and I think there has not been any sacred cow in this area.

Mr Speaker, on the issue of human dignity, equity and social justice, equality and non-discrimination, I think, it is on these values that he talked about delimitation of constituencies. Indeed, equitable distribution of resources is what brings dignity. We can now afford to put up a classroom in Katezhi, Nyakuleng’a Ward, because we are getting the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Now, we want this to be even much better because Zambezi East Constituency is vast. Therefore, even when we receive the K36 million, it does only so much. However, if we delimitated Zambezi East Constituency into two constituencies namely, Zambezi North and Zambezi South constituencies, we would get K36 million for each constituency.  This would enhance and accelerate development in Zambezi East. That is the reason the people of Zambezi East support delimitation which requires a Constitutional amendment.  We know that this actually affects us directly. Therefore, when the delimitation is done, it will enhance our ability to accelerate development in Zambezi East.

Mr Speaker, as a representative of the people of Zambezi East, my Chiefs, the general populous of Zambezi East and I, are waiting for the Draft Constitution to be brought to the House as quickly as possible so that we can delimitate Zambezi East into two constituencies.  Therefore, we are making sure that the process is accelerated. I would like to inform the hon. Minister of Justice that we are only waiting for a road map. I know a road map will be given very soon so that we delimitate our constituencies. That way, development will be accelerated.  I am sure everyone else is looking forward to that. The people of Zambezi East would like to end by saying that because of good governance and the trust that they have in us, they can even entrust us with the duty of handling the Constitution. They know that once we say we are opening the Constitution, we will simply limit our focus on the non-contentious issues because we are providing good governance.

Mr Speaker, on that note, I would like to end by saying that sustainable development can only be achieved when you put the leadership in place like the one that is offered by His Excellency the President Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member’s time expired.

Dr Mwanza (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to second the Motion on the President’s Address to this House, on 28^th February, 2025.

Mr Speaker, my focus will be on economic development, which is on page 28, of the speech. For any country to prevail or improve the livelihoods of the people, through reduced cost of living, there must be sustainable economic development.

Mr Speaker, attaining a sustainable economy in the midst of so many natural calamities that happen due to climate change, is a big challenge to Zambia. However, from the time the New Dawn Government came into office, we have been facing challenges caused by climate change. This has brought misery to the Zambians. Climate change has threatened food security, energy, water, biodiversity and forestation. What is the Government doing about it? These issues are outlined in the report.

Mr Speaker, regarding food security, there are many Government programmes that assist farmers to reduce the cost of production.   Some of them are, the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). In the recent past, there has been a programme called Cash for Work. Cash for work is there to mitigate the food security programme, Smart Agriculture and many more. However, looking at short gains rather than future gains, the decision that was made to export maize needs to be revisited in order to secure –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

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The House adjourned at 1255 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 18^th March, 2025.

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