Friday, 13^th June, 2025

The House met at 0900 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM FRANCISCAN CONVERT PRE AND PRIMARY SCHOOL

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence in the Public Gallery of pupils and teachers from Franciscan Convent Pre and Primary School in Ndola District.

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

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM CHIKANZI ACADEMY SCHOOL

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

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

There was a request for a photograph. I do not know if our visitors will still be around by the time we go for break. Maybe, we can then use that opportunity to take a photograph.

I thank you very much.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_______

URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR CHAATILA, HON. MEMBER FOR MOOMBA, ON THE VICE-PRESIDENT, MRS NALUMANGO, ON THE POOR NETWORK SERVICE BY AIRTEL ZAMBIA

Mr Chaatila (Moomba):  On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, my matter should be directed at the hon. Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Mutati, but since he is not in the House, I will direct it at Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, one of the mobile phone network service providers in this country is Airtel Zambia. Airtel Zambia’s service provision can cause harm to the nation if it is not managed well. We are in a situation in which calls are cut at any time by the company.

Madam Speaker, my matter is especially important for hon. Members of Parliament from rural areas, where we rely on ambulances from urban areas. Yesterday,  expecting mothers in my constituencies were supposed to be rushed to Monze General Hospital and phone calls were made for an ambulance to take them there. Unfortunately, the nurses were not able to get through to the general hospital. In fact, the calls went through, but the lines cut. The phone lines couldnot connect for a very long time, thereby risking the lives of the expecting mothers.

Madam Speaker, this matter needs your urgent attention and therefore, I seek your direction.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: It seems that is a general concern.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: I believe that the hon. Minister of Technology and Science has been on the Floor of the House to give assurances on the erection of telecommunication towers. The issue of erecting towers affects the phone reception network provided by Airtel Zambia or Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Zambia. If communication towers are not erected,  the phone reception is negatively affected. 

Phones are also used for mobile payments for programmes such as the Social Cash Tranfer (SCT) Scheme. So, I think, it is important that the hon. Minister of Technology and Science comes to the House on Wednesday next week to update us on why mobile phone services are poor and what is being done to ensure that the service providers comply with the guidelines. The service providers need to ensure that mobile money payment systems are reliable, especially for our constituents in rural areas.

I can see that the hon. Minister of Technology and Science is not in the House, but I am sure he is listening wherever he is. He needs to come back to the House and deliver that statement on Wednesday next week.

MR KAMPYONGO, HON. MEMBER FOR SHIWANG’ANDU, ON THE VICE-PRESIDENT, MRS NALUMANGO, ON THE ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT REGARDING THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT, MR EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, my Urgent Matter without Notice is directed at Her Honour the Vice-President. As I raise this matter, I would like to acknowledge the national address that was delivered by the Republican President yesterday. My urgent matter emanates from that statement. The key message I took from that statement is the call to the nation for reconciliation and healing so that we can prosper. Indeed, for that to happen, there should be genuine, sincere and proper reconciliatory platforms. In other jurisdictions, national truth and reconciliation commissions are set up, where discourses are premised on grievances that are tabled and ironed out.

Interruptions

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I need your protection.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, let us allow the hon. Member to raise  his urgent matter. However, hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, you have one minute. According to my count, you are now remaining with eleven seconds.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I am failing to concentrate because I am being disturbed.

Madam Speaker: Okay, just summarise your matter and be brief.

Please, hon. Members, let us not interject. Let the hon. Member raise his issue and then it will be addressed.

Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, you may proceed.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, in the past, we have seen undesirable circumstances culminating into healing and general reconciliation. I have in mind the Third Republican President, the late Patrick Mwanawansa, and the Fifth President and founder of the Patrotic Front (PF), Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, may their souls rest in peace.  It took the illness of the late President Michael Sata to bring the two leaders together.  Circumstances may be different today, but we would like to see the beginning of the healing process that the President spoke about, which will then give practical solutions to what we are besieged with as a nation.

Madam Speaker, I would like to know from Her Honour the Vice-President when practical, genuine and sincere conflict resolution mechanisms will be put in place in order for the nation to prosper.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, hon. Member of Parliament for Shiwang’andu. I am sure, the message from the President is very clear, that we are now in a period of national mourning and that this is a time to heal and let love lead. So, if there is any reconciliation or any talk about reconciliation, why do we not allow first the mourning to end? We put our Sixth President to rest and then, we can explore and see how the reconciliation process can be done.

Hon. Members, for reconciliation to happen, both sides have to agree.  The people involved should be willing to give and take, and to discuss candidly, their grievances, if there are any grievances at all. So, for me, I think that maybe, it is premature for us to start talking about reconciliation for now. Can we allow the people of Zambia to mourn their late President in harmony and peace. Once that process is complete, then we can go to the next step of reconciliation.

So, for now, in my view, let us heal and talk about reconciliation once that healing from the mourning has taken place. This is because right now, people may be emotional. When one loses a loved one, one is emotional. Everyone can be emotional. So, you cannot talk about reconciliation when you are emotional because your level of appreciating issues is diminished in a way. So, I am sure, after the body has been laid to rest and people have healed, then, we can take the next step. That is my view.

_______

THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha): I appreciate, Madam Speaker. Thank you so much for according me the opportunity to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question.

Your Honour, how are you? Good morning.

Laughter

Mr Charles. Mulenga: Madam Speaker, we seem to have a very big concern in the country on the issue of deforestation. At the rate we are losing trees in the country, we may end up having a desert. It is important that the Government puts in place interventions measures to ensure that we avoid going that route. I would like to know from Her Honour the Vice-President if there is any deliberate plan in the Government to ensure that deforestation is curtailed so that we avoid having a desert in the near future.

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Kwacha. Indeed, I am fine, as you can see.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Despite the funeral that we have in the country, I would say, it is a good morning because God has allowed us to live to today. He has given us life.

Madam Speaker, the issue the hon. Member brings to the Floor is that of deforestation. The concern is that if nothing is done, Zambia might turn into a desert. Indeed, climate change issues have a lot to do with how we handle our forests.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member asked what interventions this Government is putting in place to ensure that our country does not turn into a desert. I remember this question coming up even in the last Meeting. Of course, I will leave it to the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment to give a very clear answer.

Madam Speaker, deforestation mostly has to do with charcoal burning and finding energy sources for many people who may not have energy. That is why, to really look at this issue holistically, it means that we have to find enough alternative energy for the people. The Government is working on that because the energy is not only for the people in the villages, but also for those in urban areas. Therefore, we have to increase the supply of energy. I know, we are struggling, but the Government is working hard to increase the supply of energy. We are also looking at different technologies of producing charcoal. I think, if we cared to look, we would see that there are technologies that are coming up that we should popularise, even as hon. Members of Parliament. People are able to use coal briquettes. I talked about the promotion of coal briquettes, meaning, the use of coal as alternative energy for cooking by people in the compounds.

Madam Speaker, there are also other technologies by which twigs can be turned into charcoal. However, it is more important that we all be interested in tree planning. Tree planting is not only about pine trees. We can also engage ourselves in planting even fruit trees. Basically, let each one of us plant a tree. Imagine what would happen if each one of us, not just in this House, but every household, planted a tree and ensured that it grew? That is one way of mitigating the impact of cutting down trees. So, there is a need to replace the tress that we are cutting. I do understand the importance of the question and the importance of stopping deforestation, and the Government is working on that. However, it needs everybody to be on board.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you very much and greet Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, some time back, Her Honour the Vice-President stood where she is and talked about ‘Nalumangonomics’, which implied that the prices have to go up in order to reduce.

Madam Speaker, Roan Antelope Milling Company in Luanshya was selling a bag of mealie meal at K370. Last week, I was buying the same mealie meal at K230. We have also seen a reduction in the cost of fuel in the past two months.

Madam Speaker, has Her Honour the Vice-President been vindicated? Can she tell the nation that we are yet to see more reduction in the prices of essential commodities, especially mealie meal and fuel, so that, maybe, the people of Roan Constituency can join her on kwenyu?

Laughter

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, thank you very much and, indeed, greetings to the people of Roan through the hon. Member.

Madam Speaker, according to the ‘Nalumangonomics’, prices go up and then come down. The term was coined by somebody who is no longer with us in the House. It was not me, but I liked it because it is true. Basically, what it means is that you have to face reality and tackle it in terms of the cost.

Hon. Members: Kwenyu

Laughter

The Vice-President: Thank you.

Kwenyu!

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member should assure the people of Roan that this Government is going to work to stabilise the cost of living.

Mr Nkandu: Quality!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I am thankful that the hon. Member has noted that there is a decrease in the cost of mealie meal, for example. I believe that it is not only the cost of mealie meal that has reduced. He has also mentioned that there has been a reduction in the cost of fuel. I wish he could have gone on to say that we have also seen the Kwacha gain strength, because it is in the strength of the Kwacha that –

Hon. Government Members: Kwenyu!

The Vice-President: Kwenyu, huh?

Laughter

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the cost of living comes from how we perform in the general economy at the international level, because we are affected by external factors. The Government has been working to ensure that the economy grows. We can export our products and the United States (US) Dollar can become weaker in our country while our Kwacha becomes stronger so that our people can live within their income. Yes, the Government will continue to stabilise the cost of living through hard work, not laziness. It will continue to provide a conducive environment for investment by both local and foreign investors. This economy, with the policies put in place by His Excellency and his team, is poised to become a very strong one, and the people of this country will appreciate. In fact, they have started appreciating. They do not need any other President today.  The current one is the right man. He is leading from the head. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, on matters of the economy, let us appreciate where we have come from and where we are today. We can have hope that with the President at the helm, we will make this country better.

Hon. Colleagues, we are going far. We will see many more good things in our economy.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Madam Speaker, the demise of the Sixth President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has brought many factors to the fore. Many people have been calling for reconciliation. Many people who saw how the Former President was treated by the Government have called –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Let me give guidance.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Let me give guidance, hon. Member for Lunte.

I am sure, the hon. Member for Lunte was in the House –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member for Lunte was in the House when the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu raised an Urgent Matter without Notice, and I guided that it was premature to discuss that issue. Even according to our traditions, we discuss, what do you call it in Bemba?  Isambo lyamfwa?

Hon. Members: Isambo lyamfwa!

Madam Speaker: We discuss that after the burial.

So, hon. Members, I am appealing to you, to put this issue to bed for the time being. Let us allow people to mourn. When people mourn, they say all sorts of things because there are emotions involved. Let us cool down first. Let us be human beings. Once we are done, then, we can talk about these issues. I think, it is said that mulandu tauboli or something like that. These issues cannot go to bed. They will be discussed. It takes seriousness and reasonableness on the part of all the parties involved to discuss these issues so that they can be put to rest.

At this point, hon. Member for Lunte, I am appealing to you to wait for the period of mourning to come to an end. Let us put the late President to rest. Then we can talk about these issues. I do not know if that is too much to ask.

You may ask your question, hon. Member.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, thank you so much. I come in peace, as I always do. Given your guidance that I should not ask the question I intended to ask Her Honour the Vice-President, which was on whether, within the United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership, she sees –

Interruptions

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, I will change the question.

Her Honour the Vice-President –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Please, let us allow the hon. Member to ask the question so that we hear where he is coming from.

Interruptions

Mr Kafwaya: I will change the question.

Madam Speaker, one Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development promised the nation that if the ambulances that were procured using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money collected from all constituencies were not delivered in full by May, he would resign. We are now in June, but the PS has not resigned. Your Government has also not fired that PS, …

Laughter

Mr Kafwaya: … reinforcing the belief that it does not matter whatever UPND leaders tell the nation, the leadership does not care. Leaders can mislead the people and the Government does not care. Why has the Government failed to fire that PS?

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, I know, we are emotional. Even the manner in which the question has been asked shows that the hon. Member for Lunte might be very annoyed.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Let us cool down.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Okay.

Let us just tone down, please.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Lunte for this question. He was thinking on his feet what question to ask, after being guided by you.  Now, it means he has many questions.

Madam Speaker, his question is very important but, I think, we need to understand the situation. The Permanent Secretary (PS) said that he was going to resign. He never, at any time, said, ‘Let the Government fire me.’

Interruptions

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Kwenyu!

Mr Nkandu: Ema politician aba!

The Vice-President: Honourable, kwenyu!

Madam Speaker, we need to follow the issue, as hon. Members. When the PS said what he said, our hon. Colleagues were following. We were also following. This is a personal integrity issue, not a governmental one. Honestly, if I say that I will do something, not everybody should be held accountable for what I say. It is not the hon. Minister who said that he would fire the PS. Neither did I say –

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Hon. Colleagues, can we talk to each other.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Are we listening to the answers?

Hon. Members: Yes!

Madam Speaker: So, let us give Her Honour the Vice-President ­–

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, we are listening to Her Honour the Vice-President. So, let us pay attention. She is Number Two in the country. Let us pay attention to the responses.

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I think, they understand the answer. That is why they are making –

Madam Speaker, truly, when we utter things, let us not utter them for other people. So, I am not exonerating the PS. Neither is it the duty of the Government to fire him. He made the utterance. It is up to you to hold him accountable, not us. We did not promise to fire him.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the country is going through a tough time with regards to electricity supply. We have a very good programme that the ministry and the Government have come up with called net metering. It is worth noting that the programme will be a very good one if we surround it with good policies. Net metering is a situation in which one can sell electricity to ZESCO Limited. However, how does one do it? The problem is that it is not attractive to the people of Zambia. I conducted research and discovered that only forty-five customers have connected to the system in the whole Lusaka Province. Many people in this country have excess power, but the fact is that they are not being paid any money; they are told that when they sell electricity to ZESCO Limited, they can only be paid in electricity units. Is the Government in a position to come up with a policy to make net metering lucrative by giving some incentives to those who want to sell electricity to ZESCO Limited? Can they be paid a bit of money instead of making them pay money to connect to the power utility and then promising them electricity units?

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon.  Member for Chitambo for this question which, I believe, many people have an interest in, as we saw the other day when the hon. Minister of Energy was trying to explain net metering.

Madam Speaker, it is good that the hon. Member has acknowledged that the programme is good. I do not know whether it is not policy, in itself, that people can sell excess power, particularly the power they generate through solar systems or any others. The hon. Member has also said that the programme is not attractive currently because there is no monetary gain. It is, basically, about paying through power. That is the way it comes, I think. Instead of money, one will get power back. There will be a time of need, basically, when one can get that power back. That is what it is. If it is good, let us work together to see how it can be improved. I am not very conversant with the system to really say that people can get money. I know that the programme is also there in other countries. What I am not aware of is whether people are paid cash when they are on the programme. I think, there is a need to study the issue even further.

Madam Speaker, it is good that the hon. Member realises that the programme is good because it is making people generate their own power and reducing the national energy deficit. We will continue to improve. The hon. Minister is in the House. If there is a need for more studies, we will do that. However, the situation is good. We need to attract more people onto the programme. The hon. Minister will come to this House later to tell us how we are moving and where we are studying the programme.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. A good morning to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, admitting failure when it is encountered is a hallmark of leadership. Her Honour the Vice-President was recently quoted in the media telling the Zambian people that even if they voted out the United for National Development (UPND) Government, they would remain poor. A good economy translates into citizens eating three times a day and their lives being made better. Going by Her Honour the Vice-President's admission, I would like to know if her statement was, to a larger extent, an admission that her Government has lamentably failed …

Madam Speaker: Are you debating?

Mr Kapyanga: … to change the lives of the people who voted for it to have their lives changed.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Ask your question. Do not debate, please. Time is ticking.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, it is the same one I am asking. My question is: Was that an admission on her part that her Government has failed to change the lives of the Zambian people, who voted for it to better their lives?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Good morning to the hon. Member for Mpika. I thank him for this wonderful question. It gives us an opportunity to speak to one another.

 

Madam Speaker, as Vice-President and as a person, I hardly want to fight with anybody over a statement they attribute to me. Every statement that is made, its content is in context. One needs to have the context of the statement. You do not find me saying something and then you say that I have insulted you when you do not know whom I am talking to.

 

Madam Speaker, I was not talking to the Zambian people in general. I do not blame the hon. Member because what was put out was like I was addressing Zambians at a rally. I was addressing policy drafters from Southern and Eastern Africa. They are the people who put together the things that we implement, and I was –

 

Interruptions

 

The Vice-President: You better listen.

 

Madam Speaker, I was telling them that they had to be serious about the things that they gave us to do to help the people. We do not want policies or resolutions that do not work. I had an audience. I understand the hon. Member when he says that, because if the statement is put like I was addressing a rally, then, it is like I was talking to the people of Zambia. I was talking to professionals who had a duty to ensure –

 

Madam Speaker, the topic was on poverty reduction. I hope that the hon. Member for Mpika understands. I had an audience who had a duty to ensure that they were working on policies that reduced poverty. Is it wrong to tell such a crowd that they should not go on giving us things that did not reduce poverty? I understand that when it comes out in the media, and one is looking for something juicy, then, one can say what was said. The statement was not addressing Zambians. I was addressing a group of professionals who had a duty to work on mechanisms for reducing poverty. I hope that is understood.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Sefulo (Mwandi): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question. A good morning to Her Honour the Vice-President. This question is from the people of Mwandi.

 

Madam Speaker, I recently took a trip to Mwandi, and the situation on the M10, also known as the Nakatindi Road, has deteriorated to a standard that I cannot explain. The Zambia National Service (ZNS) went there and did some works on the road. However, just for one to drive from Livingstone to Mwandi or Sesheke, the hours it takes have increased because the road has become very bumpy and dangerous. I want to know from Her Honour the Vice-President if it is in her plans to remember the people of Sesheke, Mulobezi and Mwandi in the immediate future and fix that road before the elections.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

Our rules are very clear. I do not know what is happening, leading to excitement and debating whilst seated. That is a breach of our Standing Orders. Please, let us desist from doing that.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Mwandi for this question. A good morning to her, too.

 

Madam Speaker, let me just comment on one issue before I give my thoughts.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Mwandi should not think about elections. That is not our issue. We are here to work and provide services to the Zambian people. This Government will not do things just to win elections. Rather, it will serve the Zambian people. I thought I should remove that fear from the hon. Member.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Mwandi have seen so many things that the hon. Member has done. So, they should not just focus on roads. Roads are important, but what I am saying is that we need to look at things holistically because many things have been done. There are so many good things that the hon. Member has spoken about that the Government is doing.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member asked whether there is a plan in the immediate – Is there such a phrase in English as ‘in the immediate’?

 

Mr Syakalima: Yes, there is.

 

The Vice-President: Okay, that is good.

 

Madam Speaker, the question that the hon. Member asked is too specific for me to say, “Yes, we have a plan”. I am not running the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. Therefore, these are some of the questions she cannot ask me, because I do not know, exactly, which school is going to be built, which tower is being raised or which local authority will receive what. So, I am not able to give the hon. Member a specific answer on this matter.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika): Madam Speaker, I would like to say good morning to Her Honour the Vice-President.

 

Madam Speaker, my question also concerns roads, particularly the Katete/Chanida Road. As Her Honour the Vice-President might be aware, the road was given to a contractor under a public private partnership (PPP). However, the contractor only worked on 3 km of the road and abandoned the work. What we hear now is that the same contractor was given another contract and is now working on the Chipata/Chadiza Road. My question is: Why has that contractor stopped working on the Katete/Chanida Road? Does the Government not have money to fund the contractor or is the Katete/Chadiza Road not as important as the Chipata/Chadiza Road?

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members, as we ask questions, let us not be specific. Our Standing Orders clearly state that when asking Her Honour the Vice-President a question, it should be related to a matter of public policy. When you ask a specific question on the Katete/Chanida Road or Mulobezi Road, for instance, Her Honour the Vice-President will have challenges because she will not have information to give a specific answer there and then. I will ask Her Honour the Vice-President to answer this question but, please, going forward, let us ask general questions that touch on policy instead of specific issues.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, thank you for the guidance.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Mkaika, whose concern is on the Chanida Road. I did not get where the road starts from, but he said that the project is under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. The concern is that the contractor has been moved to another project for the road to Chadiza. The Chanida –

 

Mr P. Phiri: The Katete/Chanida Road.

 

The Vice-President: Chanida/Katete Road.

 

Madam Speaker, I think, there are issues on that road, if I remember correctly, that have to be resolved by the local leadership in the area. I will not go too far in commenting because I do not want to say what i do not have facts on. I think that some issues were raised, but we, the local leadership in the area and the Government, have not agreed on the manner we should proceed. Probably, that is what caused the delay in implementing the project. I think, the hon. Member has an idea about that issue. There is a need to talk again. The Government will not bulldoze the matter, but the demands on the ground are not easy to meet.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, if you are not satisfied, you can file in a specific question to the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

 

Mr Malambo (Magoye): Madam Speaker, we have seen a growing number of fugitives running away from facing justice in this country. I want to know from Her Honour the Vice-President what the Government is doing about such individuals, as they pose a danger to the country. She may be aware that rebel organisations are created in a similar manner. When and how will the Government bring back those fugitives?

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member has talked about people he has referred to as “fugitives”. If they are convicts running away from the law, then, they should be called fugitives. When people run away in that manner, they become a danger to our security. The question is: What is the Government doing to ensure that they do not bring harm to the country?

 

Madam Speaker, I would say that – (coughed).

 

The Vice-President resumed her seat.

 

Madam Speaker: Stop the clock.

 

The Vice-President drank some water.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr J. Chibuye: Back to the sender!

 

The Vice-President: Yes!

 

Laughter

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I was actually looking at who looks like a witch.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mtayachalo rose to leave the Assembly Chamber.

 

The Vice-President: I think, it is Hon. Mtayachalo.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mtayachalo resumed his seat.

 

The Vice-President: That is why he is running away.

 

Laughter

 

The Vice-President: Back to the sender!

 

Hon. Members: Hallelujah!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, he tried to run away, but he was caught.

 

I am sure, that is on a lighter note.

 

Madam Speaker, with regard to what the Government is doing about the fugitives who have gone outside the country, probably, scandalising the country, I think, this is an issue of diplomatic relations and consultations in the countries where they are. I think, our Government and the governments of those countries will continue to talk and see how those people can be – what is the word you used to mean ‘bring them back’? There is a word that is used.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Repatriate.

 

 The Vice-President: To repatriate them, but there is even a stronger one.

 

Interjections

 

The Vice-President: Basically, the language is that there has to be negotiations, because we cannot just go into another country and start arresting people. So, it is something that goes on diplomatically until the right time comes. However, you can never run away from the long arm of the law. You have to just face it and settle it. If you are innocent, you do not run away. Stay and prove your innocence. So, the long arm of the law is applied through diplomatic means, and the fugitives are brought back.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Sampa (Matero): Madam Speaker, greetings from ‘Group Four’ here.

 

Mr Simumba: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, it is very cold here because I have lost a neighbour, Hon. Munir Zulu. I have also lost Hon. Mabonga.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Sampa: I am about to lose Hon. Rev. Katuta.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, allow me to congratulate the new hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, my brother. Unfortunately, I do not see my other brother, Hon. Nkombo. There is space here. Maybe, he can come and occupy Hon. Munir Zulu’s seat.

 

Madam Speaker, I know, you keep curtailing this question over the death of our Former President, ECL (Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu). We are hurting, and that is why we keep getting back to this issue.

 

Madam Speaker, this Government removed our Former President from a plane when he was supposed to go and see a doctor. They stripped him of his entitlements.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Matero!

 

I believe, you are a leader. Let us be responsible in the words that we utter because they can either promote peace or destroy us. So, depending on what type of leader you are, what you are saying can either destroy or build a country. So, hon. Member for Matero, choose your words carefully. What type of leader are you? Introspect and see whether what you are saying is building or destroying the country.

 

Hon. Government Members: Curtail him! 

 

Madam Speaker:  I am not curtailing him.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

This is a serious matter. I am not curtailing any debate anywhere anyhow. You can talk about anything; who has died or whoever, but all of us have lost parents or whomever. We have all been in mourning at one point or another. This is a time of mourning and, in accordance with our African culture, let us respect the mourning period. As I guided earlier, you will do the talking afterwards. You are saying that you are emotional. So, you cannot discuss issues with the reasonableness that is required.

 

Please, hon. Member for Matero, being the leader that you say you are, can you show that leadership in whatever you say. Please, ask your question. The issue of who has died, who did what, whether it is factual or not, I think, does not help us at this time. It does not help anyone, especially the people who are mourning. You are a leader and a member of the Patriotic Front (PF), but there are people who are touched even more, the immediate family members who are mourning, yet you keep adding insult to the injury. You keep adding fuel to the fire. It is not helping. 

 

As a leader, I expect you, hon. Member for Matero, to be responsible in how you discuss these issues. Let us learn from the others who have spoken before.

 

You may procced and ask your question, but not related to the funeral.

 

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, yes, when milk is spilled, we look where we are and where we want to go. There is a funeral, but they keep adding insult to the injury.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, the widow …

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Matero!

 

I have guided.

 

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, will the Government honour the wishes of the widow and the children that she does not go anywhere near the funeral of ECL? Will she honour their wishes?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

What does it take or how should we put it to you, hon. Member for Matero, that there is a grieving family here? 

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

We do not want this debate to end up somewhere else. Whatever is said or not said will be misconstrued, but I will allow Her Honour the Vice-President to respond.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: I have given guidance. Maybe, we can also get wisdom from Her Honour the Vice-President.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I am at pains to stand and try to respond to what the former …

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mayor.

 

The Vice-President: No, president of the Patriotic Front (PF).

 

Laughter

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Matero!

 

You have asked a question. Allow Her Honour the Vice-President to answer it.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I am saying that I am at pains because you have given the guidance that this is not the time for us to debate the issues pertaining to the funeral of the late Sixth President of this Republic; a very important funeral.

 

Madam Speaker, at any funeral, when you are truly hurt, you do not shout and want to see confusion. To honour a person in their death, generally, you keep quiet.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Be Calm.

 

The Vice-President:  Yes, be calm until you put, as we say, the body to rest. For the former president of the PF, who overthrew the late, whom we are –

 

Interruptions

 

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

 

The Vice-President: It was announced in this House –.

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Matero!

 

Please, resume your seat.

 

The Vice-President: It was announced in this House that he was the president of the PF, and then we heard that he was no longer the president.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, then we heard that Hon. Chabinga had become president. Then, we sit –

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, we do not want to have this kind of debate today, when the body of our Former President –

 

Please, understand, hon. Member for Matero, he was our President.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

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

 

The Vice-President: It was announced in this House –

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Matero!

 

Please, resume your seat.

 

The Vice-President: It was announced in this House that he was the president of the PF, and then we heard that he was no longer the president.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, then we heard that Hon. Chabinga had become president. Then, we sit –

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, we do not want to have this kind of debate today, when the body of our Former President –

 

Please, understand, hon. Member for Matero, he was our President.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: He was the President for all of us just like President Hakainde Hichilema is his President, whether he likes it or not. Being in the Opposition does not make the President to not be his President. That is where the confusion starts. The late Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu was our Former President. We agree.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nakonde!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I do not think that he understands what he is shouting about. Mr Lungu was the President and there was no alternative President. There was no parallel Government, like they want to put it; that they can have a State Funeral without the Head of State. Is that not treasonous? They want to remove the Head of State? Please, hon. Colleagues, this is a serious matter. If they do not mourn now, I do not know when they will mourn this man whom God allowed to rule this country for seven years. His family is mourning.

 

Madam Speaker, like you said, and I am sorry to refer to what you have said, we are making it more painful for the family. They want to continuously make the family feel the pain. They have no love. They want to gain political mileage through the death of a man. The dead cannot speak.

 

Hon. Government Members: Shame!

 

The Vice-President: People cannot do that. They should allow the country to mourn. This is a people’s funeral. It is a funeral for all the Zambians. We should allow the family to mourn. People should check their hearts to see if they are using this situation. I am sorry to say this, but they should not confuse personal relations with political relations. The late was a President. So, let us mourn him with dignity. Let us not use him – If they want to use this situation for political gain, they should stop it.

 

Mr Sampa interjected.

 

The Vice-President: Sorry, hon. Member, I have to speak. You asked the question despite the guidance that was given.

 

You will get the punishment you deserve from God Himself. You cannot use a dead man’s body. Please, let the family mourn. Let Zambians mourn. We have all lost. It is painful, hon. Colleagues, because he was the only surviving Former President. We needed him. Whether it was for quarrelling or politicking, we needed him. People need to understand that we needed him. The fact that we differed politically does not mean that we wanted him dead. Neither are we happy to see him gone.

 

Hon. Colleagues, this is a funeral. If one hates a dead man, one is worse than Satan himself. Nobody hates a dead man. We loved him. We wanted him, just like we want you, hon. Member for Matero, even though we belong to different political parties. I can argue and quarrel with you, but when you die, you will still be my son. In reality, you are my relative. Let us differentiate that. Why do we want to turn this funeral into national acrimony? No, let us use this funeral to unite ourselves. We will go back to politics, and I will say, ‘hon. Member for Lunte, you are so wrong. You should be removed from Lunte because we have a candidate who is better than you’ When I say that, does it mean that there is hatred? No! That is democracy. Now, we are using democracy to bring bitterness and anger in the country. No! Hon. Member for Nkana, let us, for once, allow the Lungu Family to have –

 

Mr Sampa interjected. 

 

The Vice-President: No! Ulelanda mwana!  

 

Laughter

 

The Vice-President: I should be talking to my son, the hon. Member for Matero.

 

Madam Speaker, we must mourn. If they hated Lungu –

 

 

Mr Kafwaya interjected.

 

Laughter

 

The Vice-President: Hon. Member for Lunte, calm down.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Lunte, please.

 

The Vice-President: Let me appeal to the House, Madam Speaker, like you did. Let me repeat what you said.

 

Interruptions

 

The Vice-President: Hon. Members, please, calm down. Whether you are a member of the United Party for National Development (UPND) or not, calm down. This is a time to calm down. When we are mourning, let us mourn. We have lost a human being. Other than being a Former President, he was a human being, too. I am saying that everybody should calm down when we think of this funeral. We have done enough. This Government will truly honour the family. That is why we have taken this long. People are still talking. The Government does not want to bulldoze. When people are mourning, they should be listened to, and we are listening so that we bring harmony.

 

Madam Speaker, if we wanted to use power of governance, we would have said, ‘This is the date for burial’ and that would have been it. Some people are even asking, “Why did he not announce the programme?” I really do not want to spend time here arguing about this. It is a fact that there was an announcement on the period of mourning from a political party. The Government also announced the period of mourning. Now, should we continue with, co cise, as we call it where I come from? No! We are talking to the family. Yes, the Government is talking to the family. The only prayer is, let the family mourn, please. We should not take the matter politically. We have all lost, but the family has lost more. We need to allow them to mourn. No one should take up responsibilities they do not have in this matter because they may make mistakes. 

 

Madam Speaker, I have just said that there is no State without a Head of State. It is a dangerous way to move. If a Learned Counsel refers to the State without a Head of State, does it mean he is assuming that position? It is dangerous. Please, can we mourn together. Every true Zambian is hurting during this time. Can we allow those who are hurting to mourn so that we can move on to other issues, as Madam Speaker guided. We have only one Zambia. For seven years, we had only one President, and I enjoyed quarrelling with him. I remember him.

 

Capwa, ayi?  Let us mourn him in peace,

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Like I said, let us take wisdom from Her Honour the Vice-President. We try to guide. Please, let us mourn in harmony and peace. Actually, speaking for myself, the late President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was a very close friend. We worked together. He was a lawyer; we were colleagues. We worked on cases together. So, maybe, the pain that you are feeling is not more than what I am feeling. So, let us not judge who is more injured and who is happy. Nobody can be happy following a death. All of us have lost a loved one at one point or another. Nobody has not lost a loved one. I do not know whether you have experienced a death before, hon. Member for Matero. However, I am sure, you have. How was the funeral of your uncle, the Former President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, handled? Would you like for there to be confusion during the funeral of another person? It is not good. Please, desist from that. You are a leader, a former leader, as it has been said.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Sampa rose from his seat and walked towards the front of the Assembly Chamber.

 

Madam Speaker: Okay, can ­–

 

Security, can you –

 

Mr Sampa was restrained by Mr Katambo and Mr Zulu.

 

Madam Speaker: What is happening?

 

Mr Sampa interjected.

 

Madam Speaker: Ah! You see now?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Sampa was escorted to his seat by Mr Katambo and Mr Zulu.

 

Madam Speaker: And that is the chief mourner.

 

Mr Sampa left the Assembly Chamber.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

You can see that I am really restraining myself. We do not want any problems during this time of national mourning. Please, behave yourselves, hon. Members. For a former leader of the Patriotic Front (PF), he is not showing a good example to anyone. Just imagine that these proceedings are broadcast live, and we have somebody behaving like that. Very sad! Very sad, indeed!

 

Anyway, let us make progress.

 

Interruptions

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: Before we proceed, hon. Member for Nkana, do you have a point of order? What is the point of order?

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order on the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to cite our tradition and practice in the House and marry that with Standing Order Nos. 137(2) and 137(3).

 

Madam Speaker, yester-night, the United States (US) Embassy issued a health warning to its citizens on acute heavy metal poisoning. You will recall that around 18^th February, 2025, there was serious contamination in the Mwambashi River by Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited (SMLZ). The company spilt over 50 million litres of acid and toxic waste, including heavy metals. It has come to light that there are reports of widespread dead fish and illnesses that are consistent with acute heavy metal poisoning among the people who live along the Kafue River as well as the Mwambashi River. In the US Embassy’s warning, the citizens are, in fact, asked to take precautions, namely avoiding immediate areas around the Mwambashi River as well as downstream into the Kafue River, avoiding river water for at least 100 km –

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

 

Without disturbing your line of thought, is that point of order you are raising in accordance with our Standing Orders? For a point of order to be raised, it has to relate to a breach that happens on the Floor of the House. What you are saying, from what I have heard, is about something that happened some time back, a statement that was made yesterday, but not on the Floor of the House. So, what breach has happened just now on the Floor of the House for which you are raising a point of order against the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation? Please, can you raise it in accordance with our Standing Orders.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, the standard practice of this House is that we raise points of order on matters that are of interest to the nation, and you have permitted them before.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr B. Mpundu: You have permitted them, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

 

Please, do not accuse me of doing something that is not correct. A point of order and an Urgent Matter without Notice are two different things. So, is it an Urgent Matter without Notice you are seeking to raise, or a point of order? The two are different. Which one is it? If it is a point of order, it has to relate to a breach that has occurred on the Floor of the House. If you are talking about the pollution and other things that have previously happened and a statement that was made by a stranger outside the House, those cannot qualify to be raised as points of order. So, please, raise the breach that has happened on the Floor of this House for which you want to raise a point of order.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, it is not my intention to engage you, but the standards and procedures of this House –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr B. Mpundu: (pointed at Hon. UPND Members) Imwe naimwe, lekeni ifyabupuba ndelanda pano. Ifimitwe.

 

Hon. UPND Members interjected.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: You cannot allow me to engage the Speaker? Niwebo ule’asuka? Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are, iwe?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Ndelanda naba Speaker. Niwebo Speaker iwe? chimutwe.

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

No hon. Member is allowed to engage a Presiding Officer at any time. So, you cannot say you want to engage me or that I should not engage you. I am giving guidance. My role here is to give guidance and once you are given guidance you follow it. Do not bring up things that are outside that guidance. If that is how you are raising the issue you are trying to raise, then, please, find another way to address it. It might be an issue of –

 

Mr B. Mpundu interjected.

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, please, restrain yourself.

 

Let us make progress.

 

_______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

POLICIES TO ENHANCE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

 

316. Eng. Mabenga (Mulobezi) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts:

 

1. what policies the Government is implementing to enhance sports development countrywide, especially in rural areas;

 

1. what criteria are used to select players to the Zambia National Football Team;

 

1. when the Zambia National Football Team last had a ‘schoolboy international player’; and

 

1. whether the Government has overriding powers over the Football Association of Zambia in the administration of football in the country.

 

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts (Mr Nkandu): Madam Speaker, I just want to say that the first part of this question is similar to the question that we tackled yesterday. I will just add one or two points.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament may wish to note that the Government, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, recently launched the 2024 National Sports Policy and its implementation plan. The policy provides guidance on the implementation of sports programmes across the country in collaboration with institutions such as line ministries like the Ministry of Education, the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), national sports associations, the private sector, sports academies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs). The hon. Member may further wish to note that the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has devolved the Community Sports function to the local authorities in a bid to enhance the participation of all citizens in physical activities and sports of their choice, with a focus on inclusivity for women, youths and people with disabilities in various communities. In addition, my ministry launched the Rural Sport Development Programme (RSDP), and the purpose of the programme is to foster grassroots participation in various sports disciplines and nurture talent in underserved rural areas. We have also come up with other policies, and approached the private sector and corporate world to help us to develop sport in the country.

 

Madam Speaker, one of the programmes we are implementing, in which we have partnered with the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) and the Ministry of Education, is called the ZANACO Grassroots Football, for both girls and boys, which will start soon in all the secondary schools. Also, under Zambia Athletics (ZA), there is an initiative we are calling “Catch Him Young”. These are two of the programmes that will enable districts, constituencies and wards to identify talent at a tender age.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the selection of players for the Senior Men's National Football Team and the Senior Women's Football Team is purely the responsibility of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). In light of the foregoing, the criteria FAZ uses are the technical and physical talents of players in the local leagues and those playing in foreign leagues in relation to tactical considerations. To that effect, the technical bench is tasked with the primary responsibility of selecting players. It does that by tracking the local league and liaising with club coaches on the performance of the players.

 

Madam Speaker, according to the records available, Zambia last had a schoolboy international player for the Senior Zambia National Football Team in 2007, by the name of Emmanuel Mayuka. The current schoolboy international player is Mapalo Simute, who plays for the Zambia Under-17 National Football Team.

 

Madam Speaker, indeed, the Government, through the NSCZ, is mandated to preside over matters affecting the operations of sports association, including FAZ. This is evidenced by Part II, Section 10(2), (3) and (4), regarding the powers of the National Sports Council Act No. 142 of the Laws of Zambia, which states as follows:

 

“(2) Where the Council has reason to believe that an association is acting in a manner prejudicial to the interest of sports or to the public interests generally, the Council may order the suspension of the activities of that association.

 

“(3) Where the Council has reason to believe that any office-bearer or member of an association is or has been acting in a manner, or his further continuance as an office-bearer or member would be, prejudicial to the interests of sports or the public interest generally, the Council may order the suspension of that office-bearer or member.

 

“(4) Where the Council has reason to believe that there has been any irregularity in the handling of the affairs of the association by any office-bearer or member of an association the Council may order the suspension of that office-bearer or member.”

 

However, Madam Speaker regarding the independence of sports associations, Part VI, Section 35, provides that:

 

“Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Council shall not interfere with the day-to-day administration of internal affairs of an association.”

 

Madam Speaker, the NSCZ does not have any control over the day-to-day administration of FAZ, as guided by the National Sports Council of Zambia Act. However, indeed, the Government has a role to play in the management of sports.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Eng. Mabenga: Madam Speaker, I want to know whether we have plans to expand the search for schoolboy internationals to rural areas, especially in Mulobezi, where we have never had anybody play in the national team. Are there plans for the ministry to go into rural areas and identify talent?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, I want to appreciate the hon. Member for Mulobezi for his passion for sports. Yesterday, he talked about golf; today, he is talking about football. Who knows, tomorrow, he might talk about tennis or netball. So, I want to thank him. It is good to know that we have people who are passionate about sports and how we select players.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to confirm that this issue is becoming a thorn in our flesh, as a ministry. When it comes to the selection of players, we should not hide this important fact. I think, it is important and encouraging that the hon. Member has brought up this issue on the Floor of the House so that I can clarify some issues.

 

Madam Speaker, in answering the question from the hon. Member, as I said earlier, the technical bench is the one that looks at who is playing well and who is not, and selects players from the Super League, Division I and all the FAZ divisions. I think, that is the criterion. However, we saw that there is a gap and that the association might not have the capacity to reach Mulobezi and Kaputa. So, as a ministry, we have come up with what we are calling sports festivals, in which we bring every corner of the country together to participate. We then invite FAZ to look at players the association may not have looked at.

 

Madam Speaker, I think, the hon. Member’s call is good, and it is an important observation. So, I can only say that we should help in identifying talent through the initiatives put in place, including Community Sports, which is now spreading to all the 116 districts. We can use those community sports tournaments to identify those we call the crème de la crème to come and compete at the highest level, which is the national level.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: I heard a fisherman being mentioned. Someone said that there are no footballers there and that, maybe, there are only fishermen. Mind you, those could be the greatest swimmers. So, let us promote swimming also. I am sure, next time, it will be swimming.

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Madam Speaker, for your information, you may not be aware, Hon. Mabenga is our bona fide Youth Chairperson here. So, he is right to ask these questions.

 

Thank you, Hon. Mabenga, for these questions.

 

Madam Speaker, under in answering art (a) of the question, one of the programmes that the hon. Minister indicated is the Rural Sports Development Programme. I want to know the strategies the ministry has to ensure that such programmes go down to the rural areas, such as Moomba Constituency, where we have the sports associations. What we have seen is that this country has many good policies but, when it comes to implementation and ensuring that the policies trickle down to our people, there is a big gap. So, I want to know if the hon. Minister can add more information, I know that he has touched a bit on it, in terms of the strategy the ministry has for ensuring that if, tomorrow, I went to Moomba Constituency, at least, the leaders of the sports associations would tell me that they are aware of programmes like the Rural Sports Development Programme. How does he work to ensure that the programme goes down to our people?

 

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Moomba for this important follow-up question.

 

 Madam Speaker, we identified some of the gaps in terms of reaching out to the rural parts of the country, and I want to indicate that one of the ingredients of producing quality players or athletes is to look at the sports infrastructure that we have. There are some disciplines that people in Mulobezi and Moomba Constituency may not partake in because of a lack of sports infrastructure. One of the reasons I came to the Floor of the House is to appeal to hon. Members of Parliament to help us to construct sports facilities in all the constituencies. That was methodically planned because one cannot talk about tennis, volleyball and netball one does not have courts. So, it is important that we firstly understand that sports infrastructure plays a critical role in enhancing sports development in every nation, in this case, Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to encourage hon. Members of Parliament, as we allocate the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources, to help the Government and ourselves in developing sports. We have already shared the prototype multi-sports infrastructure plan.

 

Now, to answer the question, Madam Speaker, regarding the Rural Sports Development Programme we are talking about, we also understand that the associations and federations have no capacity to procure equipment for the districts. It is also very difficult for them to reach Moomba, Shangombo or Vubwi. So, what we have started doing, as the Government, is helping out in procuring sports equipment for every district so that as multi-sports facilities are constructed, they will be matched with equipment that is relevant to what the facilities are supposed to be used for. So, if we have not yet gone to Monze District, we will go there to launch the Rural Sports Development Programme so that we give the hon. Member tools and equipment that he can use to participate in those activities.

 

  I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

 

I actually saw the site in Monze for the sports arena that is coming up. So, what the hon. Minister is saying is true.

 

Hon. Member for Mulobezi, do you have another question?

 

Eng. Mabenga: No, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Do you not have? Okay.

 

Mr Mutinta (Itezhi-Tezhi): Madam Speaker, the selection of players for the Senior Zambia National Football Team has always been a thorny issue, and it is in the public domain. One of the issues coming out is that of widespread concerns around regional biases. Also, there have been cases of the influence of third parties. These are issues that have been in the public domain for a long time. I also do not agree with the idea that the best footballers are always in Lusaka. In Shangombo, Kaputa, Solwezi, Luena, Luampa and Itezhi-Tezhi, it is possible to find somebody who can kick a ball from the centre and it goes into the net.

 

Ms Sefulo: Goal to goal.

 

Mr Mutinta: Goal to goal.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mutinta: Madam Speaker, we now have new management at the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). Perhaps, people voted for change, and these are some of the issues that the football lovers have been concerned with. Is the hon. Minister giving us the assurance that there will be fresh air? Will we see a national team that reflects regional balance? Will the allegations of corruption and influence of third parties in the selection of players come to an end so that when people are supporting the national team, there will be a Mundia, Mulenga, Sinjembela, Liato, Mutinta and other names?

 

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, I thank you the hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi for this follow-up question.

 

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the FAZ President and his team, and all those who emerged victorious. This is the first time we are talking about these issues. So, I want to thank and congratulate them most sincerely on their hard work. It is not easy to win an election.

 

Madam Speaker, considering what has been said by Hon. Mutinta, I want to also indicate that I had an experience. I received a call from Samfya and the caller said that he was one of those who could run 100 m faster than Usain Bolt. So, I took it upon myself to make sure that we looked for that boy, found him and tried his running abilities. To my surprise, he could not run even half the distance that Usain Bolt could. This is what Hon. Mutinta is saying. We have people who can score from the centre circle.  Maybe, we can also see if that is really achievable.

 

Madam Speaker, indeed, the technical bench should not be under pressure. On it, there is a white person who does not know the tribe to which any player belongs or where someone comes from. The only thing they look at is talent; whether someone has the skills. So, the issue of having names from every province may not be achievable. What if we do not have anyone in Kaputa who can be drafted in our national team? However, as I said earlier, we are looking at how best we can tap talent from every corner of the country through sports development programmes and other programmes I talked about, like sports festivals.  If there is talent in Mulobezi or Itezhi-Tezhi that matches what we are looking for, we are going to make sure that it is tapped for the national team.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Mulenga: Na apya!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1040 hours until 1100 hours. 

 

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I want to applaud this question asked by our Youth Chairperson from Mulobezi. The golden age of Zambian football was when it was characterised by some of our top players coming from the school system. That is the reason the hon. Member asked about a schoolboy international in the current Zambia National Football Team. We had players like Mr Lewis Shambulo, Bizwell Phiri, Fanny Hangunyu and, in the last few years, Mr Stopilla Sunzu, who came through the Coca-Cola Schools Competition. So, until we reprioritise the involvement of our school system, our return to top-flight football will continue to be a pipe dream. I, therefore, want to know from the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts what programmes are there in this regard and how well he is collaborating with his colleague in the Ministry of Education to ensure that our school system is prioritised as far as sports are concerned?

 

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for Lukulu East for this important follow-up question. I also want to say that the hon. Member for Lukulu East is very experienced when it comes to issues of football. He is commenting from an informed position, and I want to appreciate that.

 

Mr Speaker, having said that, I want to also say that this Government does not work in silos. We always work, as I said, in collaboration with line ministries, and I even mentioned the Ministry of Education, because we saw that gap. We saw that the Coca-Cola Inter-Schools Tournament is the one in which our children were participating. We also, at one time, had the Airtel Rising Stars, which targeted young people under the Ministry of Education. As a ministry, we took it upon ourselves to see how best we could fill that gap. So, I went to the Managing Director of the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) to see how best we could get back to the roots by targeting boys and girls in schools.

 

Mr Speaker, everyone here, especially Hon. Mabenga, may be aware that previously, we used to see – and I will give a practical example from Luapula Province, where some of us were – there used to be tournaments like Kapapula at the junior secondary level, that is, Grades 8 and 9, and the Buffaloes Tournament from Grade 10 to Grade 12. Those were tournaments in which every secondary school participated.

 

Mr Speaker, I think, somewhere along the way, we went wrong and abandoned football and other sports disciplines in schools. What we used to witness was that secondary schools with boarding facilities were identified where all the other secondary schools in a given province could meet and participate in every sporting discipline. That encouraged young boys and girls to participate in sports activities. As I said, and we do not know where we went wrong, we abandoned all that and, obviously, it was difficult to identify talent from school-going children. What did we do? We decided, as a ministry, to get back to where we started. So, as I am speaking to the nation through the House, I want to indicate that more than K2 million was pumped into what we are calling the ZANACO Grassroots Football Under-17 Tournament by ZANACO. This tournament targets our boys and girls in secondary schools. We launched the programme at Sunset Stadium. I was the guest of honour, and we had representatives from the Ministry of Education. The hon. Minister was not around at that time. We also had representatives from the Defence Forces.

 

Mr Speaker, very soon, the hon. Member of Parliament will see enhanced sports tournaments in all the provinces. The tournaments will start from the constituencies, go through the districts and up to the provincial level. Then, in the provinces, as I said, those we call the crème de la crème will be selected. Those are the young boys and girls who will compete against others from other provinces. The provinces will feed into the Under-17 National Team. That, in itself, will cure the aspect that the hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi talked about. The ten provinces will be able to contribute players to the Under-17 National Team every corner of the country through such tournaments as ZANACO Grassroots Football.

 

Mr Speaker, I think that the hon. Member is on firm ground; there is a need for us to get back to where we came from. There is also another gap-filling initiative in which the newly elected ZA President, I should also congratulate him, has come up with a programme called Catch Him Young. That is an initiative in which we are working with the Ministry of Education, again, to target secondary schools for tapping talent in athletics. Athletics is vast because there are also field events. These are some of the initiatives that the Government is putting in place to develop and football together, as a country, and get back to where we started from.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Nyimba will ask the last question.

 

Mr Zulu (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, I am worried by the hon. Minister. We are politicians and, as a politician, maybe, he is forgetting the good he did last year and is not commenting on it. So, allow me to remind him that the money the Government disbursed to the councils across this country last year did well in the promotion of sports. Now that he has not commented on that, I am worried that, maybe, he has forgotten to give us the same money this year.

 

Mr Speaker, looking at this question asked by our Youth Chairperson, Hon. Mabenga, in question (c), when the national football team –

 

Eng. Mabenga: Question!

 

Mr Zulu: When we talk about “schoolboy international”, are we only talking about the senior national team or are we also talking about the Under-23, Under-20 and Under-17 teams? I ask this because the boys playing in the junior age categories are also schoolboy internationals. Is the hon. Minister saying that the boys and girls playing at that level are not school-going? Are they all school dropouts? A schoolboy international should be a schoolboy international. Any level of international team, whether Under-17, Under-20, Under-23 and up to the senior national team are all national team players. Are the boys and girls playing in the under-20 team schoolboy and schoolgirl internationals or dropouts?

 

Mr Nkandu: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Nyimba for this important question, although I did not know that we had a Youth Chairperson in the name of Hon. Mabenga. I am just learning from the hon. Member for Nyimba that Hon. Mabenga is our Youth Chairperson. Whatever that means, it is a compliment.

 

Mr Speaker, I want to take advantage of this opportunity to give guidance to us, as politicians. This is because, sometimes, we feel that – we always – I do not want to use the word ‘lie’. So, I will say ‘mislead’. Politicians are there to help to manage the affairs of those who may not have the capacity to express themselves. That is why I do not agree when it is said that politics are dirty; we just make them dirty. Politicians are the ones who look after people who need help. So, how could we engage in dirty things? I, for one, am not of those who say politics are dirty. I believe that many of the hon. Members of Parliament here are also not part of those who engage in dirty politics. There is nothing dirty about politics, unless we bring dirt into what we have been called to do. I thought, I should also mention that. Furthermore, it is not the case that politicians only make rhetoric. There are some of us, especially in the New Dawn Administration, who, when we make promises, we fulfil them.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkandu: It was yesterday when I made the very clear statement here that creditable leadership is measured by its capacity to fulfil its promises. That is what I said here.

 

Mr Speaker, we have creditable leadership now because many of the things we promised the Zambian people have been fulfilled. In fact, 80 per cent of the promises have been fulfilled. That is a distinction. So, people need to be aware that there could be leaders or politicians who make promises, but do not fulfil, but not this New Dawn Administration. We are striving to make sure that every promise that we have made to our people is fulfilled and, I think, we are on the right trajectory. Having said that, let me get back to the question.

 

Mr Speaker, I think, the question was very clear in the manner it was asked, and that is why we had to look only at the issue of ‘schoolboy international’. Yes, we have boys and girls who are playing for the Under-17 team. Some of them are not in school. Let us not say “school dropouts”. However, there may be some who are in school. So, I think, the answer we gave is the right one, and we are on point. As I said earlier, we are going to make sure that through the programmes we have highlighted, we have more boys from the schools who will participate in the national teams. Let us give the practical example of Senegal, which scooped all silverware because it invested a lot in developmental sport. When we talk about developmental sport, we mean the Under-9, Under-12, Under-15 and Under-17. So, what we need to do now, as a country, and the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning is listening, is invest in developmental sport. This is because it is the Under-17 team that will feed into the Under-20 team, the Under-20 team will feed into the Under-23 and then the Under-23 will feed into the senior national team. So, if we neglect developmental sports, our excelling in the future is not granted. The reason we have come up with all these initiatives is to make sure that we have a pool of boys and girls where we can tap talent from so that in the future, we can feed into our national teams.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF A BOARDING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN NABWALYA CHIEFDOM IN MPIKA DISTRICT

 

317. Mr Kapyanga (Mpika) asked the Minister of Education:

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to construct a boarding secondary school in Nabwalya Chiefdom in Mpika District;

 

1. if so, when the plans will be implemented;

 

1. what the estimated cost of the project is; and 

 

1. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Education (Syakalima): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to construct a boarding secondary school in Nabwalya Chiefdom in Mpika District.

 

Mr Speaker, implementation of the plans will commence once funding is secured from the Treasury.

 

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of the project will be determined following the completion of engineering designs, environmental assessment reports and other related planning processes that inform the bills of quantity (BoQs).

 

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

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

 

______

 

MOTIONS

 

REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO THE 150^th INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION ASSEMBLY AND RELATED MEETINGS

 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker gave the Floor to the hon. Member for Kalomo Central, but he was not in the House.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Is there any hon. Member who was on the delegation with the hon. Member for Kalomo Central?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kamboni walked into the Assembly Chamber.

 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member: I wish to produce Hon. Kamboni.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kamboni rose.

 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Kalomo Central, you may resume your seat first. In future, let us ensure that we take our parliamentary work seriously. When you know that you will not be available, you should assign someone to replace you. So, let us ensure that parliamentary work takes precedence and that we attach the much-needed seriousness to it.

 

Hon. Member for Kalomo Central, you may proceed.

 

 

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Zambian Delegation that participated in the 150^th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and related meetings laid on the Table of this House on 13^th June, 2025.

 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Dr Mwale (Nchelenge): I beg to second the Motion, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Kamboni: Mr Speaker, the 150^th IPU Assembly was convened under the theme, “Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice.” Delegations from 129 Member Parliaments participated at the Assembly. All IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, subsidiary bodies and standing Committees convened during the Assembly.

 

Mr Speaker, before I proceed, allow me to join the House, on behalf of the IPU Zambia National Group, in conveying my heartfelt condolences to the Lungu family on the demise of the Sixth President of Zambia, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. May his soul rest in eternal peace. On the same note, allow me to convey my heartfelt condolences to the Ngulube family and to you, Mr Speaker, on the untimely passing of Mr Roy Ngulube, Clerk of the National Assembly who died on Monday, 7^th April, 2025, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, while attending the 150^th IPU Assembly and related meetings as part of the Zambian delegation.

 

Mr Speaker, our delegation would like to thank you sincerely for your strong leadership during this difficult period. You ensured that there was teamwork and everyone in the delegation played a critical role to ensure that Mr Roy Ngulube‘s remains were brought back home in the shortest possible period of time. Allow me to also thank the Parliament and Government of Uzbekistan, the IPU, the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) and the Chargé D’affaires at the Zambian Mission in Moscow and his team for the unwavering support rendered to the National Assembly of Zambia during a difficult period. We remain profoundly grateful for the compassion and solidarity demonstrated by them.

 

Mr Speaker, the theme of the 150^th IPU Assembly was timely, given that the world is now experiencing high poverty levels. It is worrying that after decades of steady gains, the progress made in reducing poverty had stalled in recent years with about 720 million people, which is 9 per cent of the world, living on less than US$2.15 a day. This has led to a number of countries in the world going way off track in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 1 of ending poverty by 2030.

 

Mr Speaker, inequalities have become an inescapable reality, with the wealthiest 10 per cent of individuals in the world claiming 52 per cent of the global income. The poorest 50 per cent of the population survives on just 8.5 per cent of the global income. That calls for us legislators to play a crucial role in fostering social development and promoting justice through crafting of laws, ensuring Government accountability and championing policies that promote social welfare and equity that address poverty, education, health care, employment, gender equality and social inclusion in order to ensure that no segment of society is left behind.

 

Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the 150^th IPU Assembly, among others, adopted the following resolutions in line with its theme:

 

1. close the gender pay gap and strengthen social protections for care work, which is mostly carried out by women, and eliminate discrimination in employment against women and minority groups;

 

1. enact laws that give women the right to own land, inherit property or borrow money to ensure women’s equal right to work;

 

1. increase the representation of women and youths in parliaments and all other major decision making bodies, commensurate with their numbers in society; and

 

1. make health coverage universal by investing more in primary health care for prevention and by making health care more affordable to all income groups, particularly through the public system and not-for-profit private providers. We also need to ensure that the long-term care needs of disabled people and the elderly are duly considered.

 

Mr Speaker, before I conclude, allow me to congratulate Hon. Madam Speaker on her well-deserved election as the IPU Vice-President representing the African Geo-Political Group. She was chosen as the first Vice-President. May I also congratulate Hon. Jacqueline Sabao for her election as the fourth member of the Executive Committee.  She was nominated as a rapporteur for the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development for the subject item: Building a Fair and Sustainable Global Economy: The Role of Parliaments in Combating Protectionism, Reducing Tariffs and Preventing Corporate Tax Evasion.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kamboni: Mr Speaker, as I conclude, let me inform the House that the Assembly resolved that the 151^st IPU Assembly and related meetings will be held in October, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 

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

 

Dr Mwale: Now, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion moved so ably by the first Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Zambia National Group, Hon. Harry Kamboni, MP, that this House do adopt the Report of the Zambian Delegation to the 150^th IPU Assembly and related meetings.

 

Mr Speaker, before, I proceed, allow me to join my colleagues in the House in conveying my heartfelt condolences to the Lungu family on the untimely death of our dear Sixth Republican President, the late Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. May his soul rest in eternal peace. In the same vein, may I also pass my deepest condolences to the Ngulube family on the death of Mr Roy Ngulube, former Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia, who died in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, whilst in your delegation attending the 150^th IPU Assembly.

 

Mr Speaker, in seconding this Motion, I wish to commend the Zambian delegation for representing the country with dignity and commitment at such a significant international forum under very emotional circumstances having lost one of our colleagues in the delegation. The Assembly, which was held under the theme: ‘Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice’, provided a platform not only for deliberations, but also for building consensus on critical global challenges.

 

Allow me, Mr Speaker, to highlight two key areas not extensively addressed in the main submission, but which formed part of the broader discourse during the Assembly.

 

Mr Speaker, the Assembly called for increased representation of women and youth in Parliaments and all other major decision-making bodies to commensurate with their numbers in society.

 

Mr Speaker, you will agree with me that the future of democracy hinges on inclusive governance. As such, strong emphasis was placed on creating space for youth voices in Parliaments. Therefore, as legislatures, we must actively remove barriers that hinder young people from seeking elective office and include their perspectives in policy formulation. Hence, I urge this House to reflect deeply on how we, as Zambian legislators, can go beyond rhetorics and implement youth quotas, invest more in civic education and mentor young leaders, especially at local government and constituency levels.

 

Mr Speaker, secondly, allow me to draw the House's attention to the importance of inter-parliamentary co-operation and diplomacy, a cornerstone of the IPU. As member Parliaments, we were encouraged to promote dialogue and co-existence between parties to conflicts based on the principles of international law, including respect for internationally recognised borders, as a means of working towards peaceful and constructive dispute resolution. Therefore, our participation at the assembly allowed the Zambian delegation to engage with hon. Members of Parliament from across the globe, fostering mutual understanding and laying the ground work for future bilateral collaboration. These partnerships are crucial in amplifying Zambia's voice on the international stage and ensuring that we remain active contributors to global governance.

 

Mr Speaker, before I wind up, allow me to join the mover of the Motion in congratulating the hon. Madam Speaker on the well-deserved election as Vice President of the IPU, representing the African Geo-Political Group. This is a proud moment not only for the National Assembly, but for our entire nation. It affirms Zambia's leadership in advancing democratic governance and multilateral cooperation.

 

Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Jacqueline Sabao, MP, for her appointment as a rapporteur for the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development. Her role will be instrumental in shaping global discourse on fair trade, tax justice and inclusive economies.

 

Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I fully support the Motion and urge all hon. Members to do the same so that the important resolutions and lessons from the 150^th IPU Assembly could be effectively integrated into our national legislative priorities.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kamboni: Mr Speaker, may take this opportunity to thank all hon. Members of Parliament for agreeing to everything that has been said by the seconder and and you, Mr Speaker, for allowing us to present the report.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL ECONOMY, TRADE AND LABOUR MATTERS ON A REVIEW OF ZAMBIA’S MINING LICENSING FRAMEWORK

 

Mrs Sefulo (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adopts the Report of the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters on a Review of Zambia’s Mining Licensing Framework for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 12^th June, 2025.

 

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mrs Sefulo: Mr Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference as set out under Orders 206(j) and 207 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, the Committee undertook a study on the Zambia’s Mining Licensing Framework, during the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

 

Mr Speaker, in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), the Government has noted that Zambia’s licensing process is characterised by bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies which, to a certain extent, prolong the time required to secure licenses thereby, affecting project timelines.

 

It must be noted, Mr Speaker, that having a credible mining licensing framework offers numerous benefits to a country, particularly those rich in natural resources. Such a framework enhances transparency, attracts investment, ensures environmental and social safeguards and maximises national economic benefits.

 

A clear and predictable licensing process reduces uncertainty making the country more attractive to reputable investors. Fair allocation of licenses ensures that mining rights are awarded based on merit, capability and compliance with legal requirements.

 

Mr Speaker, in short, a credible mining licensing framework transforms a country's mineral wealth into long-term, sustainable economic and social development. It turns resource potential into real measurable benefits for both the State and its citizens.

 

Mr Speaker, having interacted with various stakeholders on the subject matter, your Committee made observations and recommendations contained in the report. I will highlight a few.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee observed with concern that mining licensing involved multiple requisite licences that made the mining licensing application process lengthy and tedious. The Committee is of the strong view that that promoted illegal small-scale and artisanal mining in our country.

 

Mr Speaker, in this regard, your Committee urges the Executive to streamline the application process to reduce on multiple licences, working together with the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development and other regulatory authorities such as the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also observed that mining licensing is centralised and only done in Lusaka by the Cadastre Department. This not only adds to the cost of renewing mining licences but also slows down the licensing process. Your Committee is therefore of the view that the Cadastre Department be decentralised as the current state of affairs makes it difficult for small-scale and artisanal miners to formalise their activities due to lack of capital and time required to meet the cost of logistics.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee further observed the need to legislate and establish mineral markets. Your Committee is of the strong view that establishing mining markets will enable miners and small-scale mineral traders do business openly and benefit from the real global price of minerals. The mineral markets will also serve as a means of tracking mineral production, bringing buyers to one place, and curbing mineral smuggling. In this regard, your Committee urges the Executive to put in place mining regulations that will promote the establishment of mineral markets in all key mining regional centres, without delay.

 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, allow me to pay tribute to the stakeholders who interacted with your Committee for providing valuable insights.  Gratitude also goes to the Office of Madam Speaker, and the Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia, for the guidance and support rendered to the Committee throughout the study.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

 

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

 

Mr J. Chibuye: Now, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to begin by thanking the mover of the Motion for the manner in which she has brought out the salient issues and highlights of your Committee's observations and recommendations.

 

Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion, allow me to comment on a few things or highlight your Committee’s observations and recommendations, which the mover did not touch on. To begin with, on the standard operating procedures, your Committee observed that the existing mining registration does not codify the standard operating procedures of the licensing process of mining cadastre operations. Your Committee is of the view that this erodes the confidence of financial investors in Zambia. Your Committee therefore, urges the Executive to enact regulations to codify the standard operating procedures of cadastral processes that are globally acceptable. Your Committee stated that we must conform to acceptable international standards in this aspect.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also observed that there was a need to automate tracking of exploration progress and reporting to minimum standard levels. Your Committee therefore, recommends and urges the SMART Zambia Institute workflow system to focus on automating tracking exploration progress and reporting to ensure that accountability for each licence tracking sits with a single officer.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee, further observed with concern, the Government's intention to replace the existing mining Flexicadastre system with the Government Service Bus (GSB) system by the SMART Zambia Institute. Your Committee is of the view that if the transition is not handled with caution, the replacement could lead to significant negative impact on Zambia’s mining industry and the economy. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Executive to ensure that the system aspects that pertain to responsibility, accountability, consultation, and information dissemination are not compromised in the GSB system.

 

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks that the mover did not touch on, I sincerely wish to thank you as I beg to second.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe): Mr Speaker, I thank your Committee for its report and the concerns raised.

 

Mr Speaker, we, as a ministry, have been undertaking reforms. We are very much aware of the concerns that your Committee has raised about the licensing system. I would say that your Committee is on point, and I want to congratulate it for the many issues it has raised on the licensing regime.

 

Mr Speaker, as a ministry, we created a new policy in 2022. Within that policy, we set out to address most of the issues raised by your Committee. The first thing we realised is that the licensing system had serious issues which created loopholes for manipulation and, in turn, corruption. As such, immediately we took over we had to shut down the cadastre system to see how we could clean it up and lessen the manipulation that resulted in corrupt activities. One of the key issues we thought could cure issues of licensing was digitising the cadastre system. Therefore, we have been working on going digital on all platforms in as far as licensing is concerned. 

 

Mr Speaker, I am sure that your Committee, during its investigations, met some of our officers. I am sure that the members of the Committee were told that we are going digital. We implemented the new digital platform, I think, two or three months ago, and it is running parallel with the old system, which is called Trimble. Of course, the new system has its own challenges and that is why we have decided to run both the new and old systems in parallel.  We will continue running the old system until we reach a point where the new system is perfected. The licensing system will be 100 per cent digital, meaning that it will cure corruption, and the issue of licences taking too long to be processed. The platform we are preparing will make it easy for Zambians, artisanal miners, large-scale miners and international investors to apply for licences in the comfort of their homes. That is what we are doing to ensure that the whole process is digitised.

 

Mr Speaker, after this Parliament approved the Geological and Minerals Development Bill, as I said the other day, the ministry is now introducing a directorate that will solely look at the affairs of artisanal miners. The productivity numbers for 2024 indicate that artisanal miners and small-scale miners contributed close to 45,000 metric tonnes of copper. We want them to scale up to 100,000 metric tonnes, and that will require formalising their operations, as the ministry is doing. The formalisation process is in full gear. The ministry has given in excess of 700 licences to artisanal miners, is putting up gold marketing centres and creating an aggregator that will help them. We want to teach artisanal miners safe mining practices. Further, we want them to mine on behalf of big mining companies. In that case, we are encouraging the mining companies to take on artisanal miners by off taking from them, teaching them safe mining practices and dressing them up with proper personal protective equipment (PPE) so that as they mine, they mine safely, properly and also have off-takers in form of big mining companies following their activities.

 

Mr Speaker, because of the Bill that was approved by this Parliament; the Minerals Regulation Commission Bill, the mining sector will have a regulator that is going to be dotted around the country to regulate mining activities. We, as the New Dawn Government, realise that the mining sector is critical to Zambia's economic development, as such, we cannot just have one office in Lusaka and a few bureaus dotted around. We wanted a regulator that would be checking on every mining activity across the country in order to mop up information on those activities. Even as we say that we are currently at 820,000 metric tonnes production, as that is what we are able to put out in terms of the records that we have, as a ministry, we realise that Zambia has many leakages, and that will be cured by the regulator. When the regulator is put in place, it will cure the leakages that we have so that we can correctly state the production figures of all the minerals that are mined across this country.

 

Mr Speaker, exploration is one thing that is very important to this country. I would like to thank President HH (Hakainde Hichilema) for the bold decision to undertake the mapping exercise. I would also like to thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, as the money has continued flowing to support the mapping exercise. The exercise will help us, as a country, understand what we are sitting on in various areas. Even in areas that people thought did not have minerals, like the Western Province, indicators are good from the preliminary reports that we are getting from the exercise. That is why it is a game changer for Zambia. We are going to end situations in which young boys digging for cassava, for example, discover gold in Mufumbwe, Kasempa or Mumbwa. We are mapping to be able to understand what this country is sitting on so that when the Government negotiates the provision of licences, which the Committee talked about, and deals, we will be negotiating from a position of strength. That is why, again, through the ingenuity of President HH, we have created what we are calling a ‘deal room’. Those who have licences will access that deal room with investors, and the Government will be able to help our artisanal miners, who may not be very educated but know mining operations, to strike proper deals so that no one eats on top of their heads. That is the deal room that President HH has brought about. This is what it means to have a leader who thinks, is creative and an economic manager. The mining sector is on the rise because of proper, creative and very intelligent leadership.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank the Committee for its observations. The ministry will do its best to implement many of the things it has recommended.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Sefulo: Mr Speaker, I just want to recognise the assurances that have been made by the hon. Minister of Mines and Mineral Development in taking in the recommendations that have been made by the Committee.

 

With that being said, I submit, Mr Speaker.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

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The House adjourned at 1157 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 17^th June, 2025.

 

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WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTION

 

CONSTRUCTION OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KALABO DISTRICT

 

318. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Education:

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to construct day and boarding secondary schools in Kalabo District;

 

1. if so, how many such schools will be constructed; 

 

1. when the plans will be implemented; and

 

1. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Mr Speaker, construction of Ñuma Day Secondary School and Sishekano Boarding Secondary School has already commenced.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government is constructing one day secondary school and one boarding secondary school in Kalabo District.

 

Mr Speaker, due to the response to part (a) of the question, part (d) falls off.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.