Tuesday, 17th June, 2025

Tuesday, 17^thJune, 2025

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM ST. MONICA’S GIRLS SCHOOL

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of pupils and teachers from St. Monica’s Girls School in Lusaka District.

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

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM CHINESES INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

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

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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URGENT MATTER WITHOUT NOTICE

MR B. MPUNDU, HON. MEMBER FOR NKANA, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, MRS NALUMANGO, ON PLANS TO REPATRIATE ZAMBIAN STUDENTS IN WAR-TORN ISRAEL AND IRAN

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Madam Speaker, I rise on an Urgent Matter Without Notice which I would like to direct at the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. However, seeing that he is absent, I direct the matter at Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, you may be aware that there is now a full-blown war between Israel and Iran. We have a contingent of Zambian citizens, particularly over 200 students in Israel. I am aware that there are other Zambian citizens who are in Iran. It would interest you to note that some of our Zambian students have already been caught up in the cross fire even though no fatality has been recorded. Is Her Honour the Vice-President in order to sit quietly and not come to inform the nation of the interventions that the Government is employing to repatriate those citizens in Israel in the wake of the escalating war between the two nations?

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, you can file in an urgent question which can be considered.

MR MTAYACHALO, HON. MEMBER FOR CHAMA NORTH, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, MRS NALUMANGO, ON WHETHER ZAMBIA IS AMONG THE COUNTRIES THAT WILL FACE TRAVEL BAN RESTRICTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, my Matter Without Notice is directed at the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Since he is not in the House, I kindly direct the question at Her Honour the Vice- President.

Madam Speaker, we have had several media reports that suggest that Zambia is among the twenty-five African countries which will potentially face travel ban restrictions by the United States of America (USA) Government. I think, this has caused anxiety among the people of Zambia, especially those who want to go and work or study in America. I thought it was important that the hon. Minister should come to this august House to update the House on the real situation. The hon. Minister should allay these fears by stating whether or not there is a potential travel ban that has been imposed on Zambia.

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Chama North, I suggest that you file in a question then, the hon. Minister will come and address that issue.

We make progress.

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

MEASURES TAKEN BY THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE COUNTRY EPIDEMIC PREPARED

319. Mr Munsanje (Mbabala) asked the hon. Minister of Health what measures the Government has taken to make the country epidemic prepared.

The Minister of Health (Mr Muchima): Madam Speaker, in order to make the country epidemic prepared, the Government, through the Ministry of Health, has taken various measures, including the following:

setting up the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) as an agency for ensuring public health security through strengthening systems for disease surveillance and intelligence emergency preparedness and response, laboratory systems and diagnostic capacity for public health events, human resources for health and information management, risk communication and community engagement;

conducting risk assessment, mapping and profiling of public health threats and hazards that are likely to occur in the country and the region in order to adequately plan for any eventualities;

developing a comprehensive national multi-sectoral multi-hazard emergency preparedness and response plan that outlines co-ordination mechanisms for addressing public health events as well as contingency plans for preparedness and response to virus epidemic and projected diseases of epidemic potential;

Developing the National Action Plan for Health Security that highlights the various areas and activities to be implemented in order to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to epidemics and pandemics through a one health approach;

continuing to build capacities in ensuring a strong workforce is available at all levels to address public health emergencies, including epidemics and pandemics;

Strengthening the implementation of the international health regulations in order to prevent, protect against, control and provide public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks that avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade;

ensuring strengthening of general health service provision and commodity security to be able to effectively respond to any disease outbreak; and

strengthening co-ordination with local and international partners through various platforms, such as the multi-sectoral epidemic preparedness, prevention, control and management committees that have been established at national, provincial and district levels to address public health threats, hazards as well as epidemics.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, let us reduce on the talking. Otherwise, I will ask what the seventh measure the Government is taking to address the pandemics is, and you will not be able to answer. So, do not force me to do that.

The hon. Member for Mbabala may proceed.

Mr Munsanje: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Health for that very comprehensive response.

Madam Speaker, is the ministry considering operationalising the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) by putting a budget line in the 2026 Budget for its operations, particularly, the epidemic preparedness centre.

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the supplementary question. Yes, in fact, the main function of the Ministry of Health is to fight epidemics and pandemics. So, in the 2026 Budget, there is a provision for that.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa). Madam Speaker, outbreaks normally occur either at the border or within the mainland of Zambia. From his response, the hon. Minister has indicated that measures have been put in place to attempt to deal with the problem when it occurs. Most of the times we have had cases of outbreaks, we have appeared to be logistically ready in the capital city, not at the various border points in Zambia. how ready are we to deal with disease outbreaks at various borders or crossing points? Sometimes, internally, we are ready to deal with disease outbreaks, but we need to consider that we have people who cross into the country from other places. With reference to the question by the hon. Member for Mbabala, how ready are we to deal with disease outbreaks at crossing points?

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I thank Hon. Kang’ombe very much for that question.

Madam Speaker, yes, I mentioned that we are prepared to deal with disease outbreaks at district and national level. Even at the borders, we carry out disease surveillance. Additionally, we liaise with various countries that we share borders with through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). As the hon. Member is aware, Zambia is the chair of the Africa CDC. These are issues we have been discussing here and also, in Washington. How do we liaise? We have prepared an action sheet so that every country is able to notify us on disease outbreaks. Some countries used to hide information. Whenever there was an outbreak, some countries would not alert others. This time, countries must alert us so that we are aware of whatever is happening. The hon. Member is very right, but we have upped surveillance action.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, my supplementary question rides on the question asked by the hon. Member for Kamfinsa. Ebola, the Coronavirus Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other epidemics emanate from people who come from other countries. Does the Government intend to employ public health nurses to go into communities to fight such epidemics? Does it have a plan to employ more public health nurses in that regard?

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

Madam Speaker, the answer is yes. Actually, we have been employing public health workers, and they are being trained to help us in communities. Additionally, we want to fuse in the Environmental Health graduates into the health sector to increase capacity.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, I rarely rise on points of order. I think this is the second point of order I am raising, and it is directed to the hon. Member of Parliament for Nkana Constituency and the hon. Member for Mpika Central, Hon. Robert Kapyanga.

Madam Speaker, my point of order is pursuant to Standing Order No. 14, which is on decorum and etiquette in the House. Your hon. Members of Parliament from the Eastern Province are coming late to the House because the two hon. Members of Parliament I have mentioned have come to the Assembly Chamber with some substances that may be very harmful to the hon. Members of Parliament from the Eastern Province. As you can see, even the hon. Members of Parliament for Petauke Central, Feira, and Hon. Chabinga are busy pouring substances. I do not know what type of substances they are. I seek your serious ruling because this situation will affect the quorum. The quorum is collapsing because hon. Members of Parliament are coming very late as they fear to be baptised by our hon. Colleagues.

I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

I can see that the hon. Member for Chama North has already been baptised, ...

Laughter

Madam Speaker: ... and so has the hon. Member for Feira.

An hon. Member interjected.

Madam Speaker: Well, whatever event happened, I did not see it. It was not within my –

Hon. Members: Ema ruling aya!

Madam Speaker: If it means paying, just pay.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Until national mourning comes to an end, prepare to pay.

Hon. Member for Chama North, it is part of your tradition. We can only observe.

Mr B. Mpundu: Ema Speaker aba!

Madam Speaker: Let us make progress.

For some people, it is not because of the tradition; it is just God’s nature to give them white hair.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: However, if you pay me, it is okay, I can rule you out of order.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Let us make progress.

LACK OF SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS UPGRADED TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KALABO

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

why the following schools which were upgraded from primary to secondary in Kalabo Central Parliamentary Constituency in 2023 did not have secondary school teachers as of May 2024:

Sihole; and

Liumba; and

when the teachers will be deployed to the schools above.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the ministry has been deploying secondary school teachers to both Sihole and Liumba secondary schools. As of May 2025, Liumba Secondary School had twenty-one secondary school teachers while Sihole Secondary School had sixteen secondary school teachers.

Madam Speaker, as a result of the answer given to part (a) of the question, (b) falls off.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Let us tone down.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, part (b) of the question is on when the teachers are going to be deployed. The staffing levels currently, as the hon. Minister has stated, are almost at –

Madam Speaker, Sihole Secondary School is supposed to have fifty-two teachers and Liumba Secondary School likewise. So, one can see that the schools are operating with less than 50 per cent of the required number of teachers. Those schools have already reached the phasing out of the primary school level, meaning that they are fully-fledged secondary schools. When does the Government intend to cover the deficit and deploy, at least, higher staffing levels?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, obviously, we may not fill the establishments fully, but we will continue sending teachers to those secondary schools, which are below half of the numbers of staff required.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, taking advantage of the question that has been asked by the hon. Member for Kalabo Central, I wish to know, when a school is upgraded from one level to the next or a new facility has been built in any constituency, what informs the ministry in terms of providing teachers to that facility. Obviously, there is construction of different educational facilities taking place in all the constituencies. So, at what stage is the ministry informed of a facility being built and the teaching positions that will need to be filled? Clearly, if we had that in place, we should not be having a problem staffing the school facility in Kalabo Central. My question is: What informs the ministry to provide a teacher to a facility?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, each time we say that a school has been upgraded, obviously, the impetus is to provide teachers. That is all.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe: What informs?

Madam Speaker: It looks like the hon. Member for Kamfinsa is not satisfied with the answer. He is asking what informs the opinion of the Ministry of Education to provide teachers to the schools that are being built all over. As you know, with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), more schools are being built. So, I think, this is a countrywide problem. Maybe, you can just try to address it in full. I do not know if you have the answer now. Maybe, you can come back later with a Ministerial Statement. Since this question covers many hon. Members, let us allow the hon. Minister to come back with a Ministerial Statement on Friday. Is that okay?

Mr Syakalima: Next week.

Madam Speaker: Next week, Tuesday? Thank you very much.

The hon. Minister of Education will come back with a full statement on this matter on Tuesday.

With that, hon. Members, if it is not related, – I do not know if you want to ask more questions.

Ms Sefulo (Mwandi): Madam Speaker, before I ask my question, let me just take cognisance of the efforts that the Ministry of Education has put into ensuring that teachers are deployed to our various constituencies. With that being said, I want to know if the understaffing of schools in Kalabo has anything to do with the issue of partial establishments. I ask because that is the challenge we are facing. We have situations in which schools are not fully established, or are not established at all, meaning that when teachers are deployed to other schools, they have to report to the schools that do not have establishments just to fill up the gap. So, I want to know if that is related to what is happening in Kalabo.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, that is a slightly new question.

Madam Speaker, obviously, for the schools that are upgraded, we take teachers from one school to the other in order for them to begin teaching. Given the problem of establishment, that is a matter of the Budget, if you like, and the deficit that we have had in the past.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Madam Speaker, Sihole Secondary is a rural school in Kalabo. As much as the required numbers are not met, we are grateful for the goodwill that the ministry is showing in sending more of what is needed.

Madam Speaker, I do not want to say that it is from the hon. Minister's office, but from the headquarters (HQ) and the province, there are some letters again to transfer some teachers from the few that have gone to Sihole Secondary School back to town, Lusaka. What measures is the ministry putting in place to ensure that the few who were sent to Sihole Secondary School are not again transferred to Lusaka? When it is time for recruitment, they rush to go to Sihole and Liumba secondary schools. After they have been employed, some do not even report, they are given transfers. Others go kwa Sihole for two months, then, they are back. What measures is the ministry putting in place so that the goodwill is at least maintained? Otherwise, the basket will not be filled kwa Sihole and learning in the rural places will be compromised. Some people came from rural places, even the hon. Minister.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister, you may proceed, although it appears like it is a new question.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I am not aware of that particular case. I may need to verify, particularly that he has mentioned Sihole. So, I will check.

If I realise that you are not telling the truth, I will report you to the Hon. Speaker.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

CONSTRUCTION OF YOUTH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING CENTRE IN CHADIZA DISTRICT

321. Eng. J. Daka (Chadiza) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts:

whether the Government has any plans to construct a Youth Skills Development Training Centre in Chadiza District;

if so, when the plans will be implemented;

what the estimated cost of the project is; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts (Mr Nkandu): Madam Speaker, the Government desires to construct youth resource centres in almost all the 116 districts to facilitate youth’s access to skills training. However, the Government has no immediate plans to construct a skills training centre in Chadiza District.

Madam Speaker, as stated above, the ministry does not have immediate plans to construct a youth skills training centre in Chadiza District.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of constructing a youth skills training centre in a rural district is estimated as follows:

a basic skills training centre may cost between K5 million to K10 million; and

a well-equipped skills training centre with matching infrastructure may cost between K30 million and K60 million.

Madam Speaker, at the moment, resources for constructing a skills centre in Chadiza are not available. When resources are available, we will consider constructing a youth skills centre in Chadiza, especially given that there is only one resource centre in the Eastern Province, which is in Lundazi.

Madam Speaker, we do not want to make many Government assurances that will not be fulfilled.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I paid attention to the response that the hon. Minister provided to this very important question regarding the construction of a youth skills training centre in Chadiza. In his response, the hon. Minister gave the estimated cost of constructing a youth resource centre. He stated that a basic one would cost between K5 million and K10 million and if it was equipped, the cost would be between K30 million and K60 million.

Madam Speaker, money from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) cannot meet that cost. If we were to allocate K5 million for a basic resource centre, it means that other priorities in a district would not be taken care of. Is the hon. Minister able to assure the people of Chadiza that in a given annual work plan, he intends to include such a project? That particular cost has to be met by the central Government, since it is part of its programme to provide such facilities in our respective constituencies.

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Kamfinsa for that important supplementary question.

Madam Speaker, in my earlier response, I do not think I indicated the source of money that the people of Chadiza can use to construct a youth training centre. I said that the Government does not have immediate plans to undertake such a project. When money is available, the Government will construct ta youth skills training centre in that district. I further said that it is very important to have another youth skills training centre in the Eastern Province because there is only one in the entire province, which is in Lundazi. Other provinces have more than three youth training centres. It is important that we consider constructing a youth resource centre in Chadiza so that we can, at least, have two in the Eastern Province.

Madam Speaker, I did not say that the people of Chadiza should use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to construct a youth skills centre. As a Member of Parliament, I understand that the money for CDF is not meant for big capital projects. So, I cannot advise hon. Members to use the CDF for such projects. Yes, they can, if they can stagger the allocations over a number of years. The resources can be allocated annually for a particular project that will be undertaken for a number of years. In such a situation, the Government will definitely move in to help.

Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to indicate to the hon. Members, as I said last time, that some of these questions can be asked while having a cup of tea in the Minister’s office. For example, an agreement can be made to consider giving the people of Chadiza a resource centre that they have been looking forward to even by next year. The ministry has a strategic plan for infrastructure development, which involves constructing one or two major projects annually. So, those are some of the issues that hon. Members can discuss with hon. Ministers in their offices and decide how best their constituencies can be considered in particular strategic plans.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Eng. Daka: Madam Speaker, we appreciate the responses from the hon. Minister, although they do not meet the expectations of the people of Chadiza. I just want to mention that since he has brought up the issue of visiting his office, I will be going there so that we can discuss in detail when the ministry will include a youth training centre for Chadiza in its strategic plan.

Madam Speaker: That was a comment. In other words, the hon. Member for Chadiza has accepted the invitation for a cup of tea with the hon. Minister to discuss the issue.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that hon. Members who want to build youth training centres using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) can do that over a number of years. I know that certain constituencies have started doing that, such as Dundumwezi and Itezhi-Tezhi. Is the hon. Minister able to tell me or the people of Dundumwezi the minimum requirement for a rural constituency like Dundumwezi to build a youth resource centre?

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

Madam Speaker, before we get confused about which district or constituency should have a resource centre, I must mention that there are guidelines that we have to follow. There is a criterion that has been set for constructing resource centres. We are not supposed to construct two resource centres in one district.

Madam Speaker, before a resource centre is constructed, we first look at the population density of the area, especially of youths between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five years and the centrality of the location. I am aware that Dundumwezi is in Kalomo District and there is a youth resource centre in that district. What we can do for now is to see how best resources can be pooled between Kalomo Central Constituency and Dundumwezi Constituency so that more infrastructures can be constructed at the existing youth resource centre in the district. Secondly, we look at the availability of land for the youth resource centre and the proximity of the area to resource centres nearby. So, it is not right to say that we should have a resource centre in every constituency. However, we can boast of having, at least, one resource centre in every district. So, people in constituencies where there are no resource centres should use the centres in other constituencies that fall under the same district.

Madam Speaker, let me also clarify that in my response, I did not mention the issue of using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I think, that came from Hon. Kang’ombe, who wanted me to discuss the issues related to using the CDF, but I just said that right now, we do not have resources. However, the Government is very desirous of making sure that we construct resource centres in every district and that can only be done when the money is available.

Madam Speaker, there is nothing wrong with the hon. Member of Parliament using the CDF to construct a resource centre. A practical example is Mufumbwe Constituency. The hon. Member of Parliament for Mufumbwe has been allocating a lot of resources towards the refurbishment of the resource centre in that particular district. So, even other hon. Members of Parliament can also take a leaf from the hon. Member for Mufumbwe and help because skills development is very critical in our country. It is not everyone who will find a white-collar job. However, if young people have skills, they will be able to fend for themselves and earn a living from the skills that they would have acquired. This is what the New Dawn Administration is trying to promote.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. Let us make progress.

PLANS TO CONSTRUCT A POLICE POST IN MUNKONGE CHIEFDOM

322. Ms Mwamba (Kasama Central) asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security:

whether the Government has any plans to construct a police post in Munkonge Chiefdom in Kasama District;

if so, when the plans will be implemented;

what the timeframe for completion of the project is; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu, SC.): Madam Speaker, in responding to the question asked by the hon. Member of Parliament, …

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, there are too many discussions going on. Please, if you cannot avoid talking to each other, just whisper or step outside and have a chat so that we can listen and follow the proceedings properly. May the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security continue.

Mr Mwiimbu SC.: Madam Speaker, I wish to state that the Government has plans to construct a police post in Munkonge Chiefdom in Kasama District. The project will be implemented when the process of securing land from the traditional leadership is finalised.

Madam Speaker, the cost estimates of constructing the police post are made in relation to the actual land and when funds become available.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security has standard designs for the construction of police posts with a completion timeframe of between twelve and eighteen months.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Mwamba: Madam Speaker, I just wish to thank the hon. Minister for the answer. It is very promising that he has given the timeframe and just to say that the Government will construct the police post at Munkonge.

Madam Speaker, Munkonge is not only my village but also a very strategic area in Kasama District, especially on the Luwingu Road. Currently, it is the getaway to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Luapula as well as the Copperbelt. There are a lot of road traffic accidents that occur in that particular area. There is currently a mini hospital as well as a court. So, I wish to thank the hon. Minister for the police post that is earmarked for construction as it will not only service the people of Munkonge. I also pray that we can have other police posts dotted around Kasama District as we only have central police, and crime is seemingly increasing as is the population.

Madam Speaker: Thank you. So, it was a word of appreciation. Hon. Minister, would you like to comment?

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Speaker, I just want to appreciate the sentiments by the good hon. Member of Parliament for Kasama Central. I am aware that the people of Kasama have confidence in her.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Muchima: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

TOTAL NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK IN DUNDUMWEZI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

323. Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi) asked the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock what the total number of livestock in the following wards in Dundumwezi Parliamentary Constituency was, as of April, 2024:

cattle in Mikata Ward;

goats in Chamuka Ward; and

sheep in Naluja Ward.

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala): Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that my ministry collects livestock statistics at district level every two years. In the intervening year, on an annual basis, my ministry uses administrative data. The last livestock survey was held in 2023. However, based on the 2024 administrative statistics for Kalomo District, the House may wish to note that the estimated number of livestock in the following wards in Dundumwezi Parliamentary Constituency was as follows:

Ward No. of Animals

Mikata 11,600 cattle

Chamuka 2,500 goats

Naluja 800 sheep.

Madam Speaker, these figures were as at April, 2024.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, what is the ministry doing to encourage farmers to construct dip tanks for small livestock like sheep and goats? Is there any policy in place to ensure that even small livestock are given the required dip tanks?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, in fact, we had issued a ministerial statement sometime back to indicate to the House that the functions of dip tanks will now be devolved to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

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

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, I just want to thank the hon. Minister because I was also looking at the veterinary officers. However, recently, the ministry gave a camp that necessitated me to ask that particular question.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for that. I also wish to state that the ministry should continue subdividing our large camps so that they can provide very good extension services to the farmers in Dundumwezi Constituency.

Madam Speaker: Thank you. It was an appreciation. So, let us make progress.

______

MOTIONS

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON FISHERIES SUBSIDIES UNDER THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources on the Ratification of the International Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on 13^th June, 2025.

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference as set out under Standing Orders 206(a) and 207(f) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, your Committee considered the International Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies under the WTO.

Madam Speaker, in order to appreciate the ramifications of Zambia ratifying the agreement, your Committee sought both written and oral submissions from stakeholders. The House may wish to note that the WTO is composed of member states which govern it and make decisions collectively through ministerial conferences or regular meetings of ambassadors. Zambia has been a member of the WTO since its establishment in 1995.

Madam Speaker, the brief background to the agreement is that one of the critical areas of focus under the WTO negotiations has been the regulation of fisheries subsidies. This agenda was formally introduced during the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Doha in 2001. At that conference, member states committed to developing rules to discipline harmful subsidies, particularly, those contributing to overcapacity and overfishing, and this commitment was reaffirmed in 2005. The regulation of fisheries subsidies has become increasingly urgent due to escalating unsustainable global fish stocks. The world fishing industry depends on the natural reproduction of marine resources. However, the past decades of overfishing driven by the economic attractiveness of the sector have put intense pressure on fish populations.

Madam Speaker, in response to the status quo, the WTO members reached a landmark agreement on fisheries subsidies at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in 2022. The objective of the agreement on fisheries subsidies is to promote sustainable fishing practices and curb subsidies related to overfished stocks. The agreement also seeks to introduce critical provisions that will address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, overexploitation of fish stocks and unregulated high seas fishing.

Madam Speaker, the stakeholders who appeared before your Committee are in support of Zambia ratifying the agreement. Your Committee is also in support of the agreement. However, your Committee has made some observations and recommendations, which I will now highlight.

Madam Speaker, your Committee observed that ratifying the agreement will provide financial support and critical capacity building opportunities for Zambia. The financial and technical support received will assist Zambia to implement and promote sustainable fishing practices. Therefore, ratifying the agreement will enable Zambia to combat any possible harmful subsidies by introducing critical provisions that addresses illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. In light of this, your Committee recommends that the Government utilises the expected financial support as intended and ensure that sufficient funds are allocated for capacity building and training of staff for the effective implementation of the agreement.

Madam Speaker, your Committee observed that the agreement will strengthen the role of WTO in addressing global environmental challenges and also contribute to the implementation of other multilateral goals, such as the global biodiversity framework. In this regard, your Committee recommends that Zambia demonstrates its commitment to international co-operation in terms of addressing global challenges by ratifying the agreement.

Madam Speaker, your Committee is, however, concerned that the agreement focuses on oceans and seas, without taking into consideration inland waters, as the case is for Zambia. Your Committee is concerned that if Zambia ratifies the agreement without careful consideration, the agreement may disrupt the livelihoods of fishing communities and impact the country's economic trajectory negatively. In this regard, your Committee urges the Government to consider raising this concern before implementing the agreement. Doing so will ensure that the country's socio-economic programmes are not negatively impacted through the implementation of the agreement.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, allow me to render my sincere gratitude to you, and to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to your Committee throughout its deliberations.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

Mr Katambo: Now, Madam Speaker.

Mr Katambo: Madam Speaker, I beg to second that this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources on the Ratification of the International Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies under the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Madam Speaker, in seconding the Motion, allow me to make a few comments on the issues highlighted by the chairperson of your Committee. However, before I do that, allow me, on behalf of the people of Masaiti, to send my sincere condolences to Mama Esther Lungu and her family for the passing of our Sixth Republican President, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. I also pass my condolences to the family of the late Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Roy Ngulube.

Madam Speaker, this House should ratify this agreement because it seeks to strengthen the role of WTO in addressing global environmental challenges. This agreement will also contribute to the implementation of other multilateral goals, such as the global biodiversity framework.

Madam Speaker, there is the issue of disease control and management. We appreciate the systems that the ministry has put in place, but there is a need to strengthen them by identifying the origins of the diseases and their eradication. Within the ministry, there is also a need to prioritise the budgetary allocation to disease management and control.

Madam Speaker, the hon. chairperson emphasised the issue of over-fishing. There is the use of illegal or wrong fishing gear; such as mosquito nets, and fishing in restricted areas or breeding grounds in our natural water bodies. So, there is a need to check on the depletion of fish stocks in breeding grounds so that the ministry enforces tough laws for fishmen, especially on using recommended fishing gear.

Madam Speaker, the ministry also implements the fish ban. It is important that it also engages the neighbouring countries we share our natural bodies with to implement fish bans when we do. A good example is Tanzania and Zambia. We enforce fishing bans at the same time. However, other countries still undertake fishing while Zambia implements the fish ban.

Madam Speaker, it is also important to note from the Committee’s report that as at April, Zambia had not deposited its instruments of acceptance to the agreement. Ninety-six countries have already deposited their instruments of acceptance to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), while nineteen countries, including Zambia, have not. So, working in a multi-sectoral approach with the nine ministries; the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Finance and National Planning, among others, it is important that the ministry deposits the instruments of acceptance. The worry is that we may be ruled out. We may run out of time. It is important that Zambia benefits from the agreement.

Madam Speaker, it is also key that the ministry looks into the reports on illegal and unregulated fishing practices because once the country signs the agreement, the new status will help reinforce and combat those issues; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, especially in the artisanal capture fisheries, which I am sure the hon. Minister is well-versed with.

Madam Speaker, with those few comments, I second this Motion, and I ask that your House overwhelmingly supports the ratification of the agreement.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr E. Tembo (Feira): Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the mover and seconder of the Motion.

Madam Speaker, I would like to present some opinions and observations, on behalf of the people of Feira, on the debate on the Motion to adopt your Committee’s report, which has been presented before this House.

Madam Speaker, as you may know, Feira’s economy is run by fishing activities. So, we are quite interested and keen to see to it that fishing promotes Zambia’s economy. In line with Article 63 of the Constitution of Zambia, the report has been presented to this House for adoption and guidance for the Executive to assent to the agreement. It is an international agreement on fisheries subsidies under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). I know that reports that are presented to this House come with recommendations to adopt them, and that the recommendations are submitted by many people. So, we just go by that. However, I want to dwell on the demerits that have been pointed out in the report, which I agree with. The objective of the agreement in the report reads:

“… to prohibit certain forms of harmful subsidies which primarily go to industrial fishing fleets to artificially lower fuel … [and things like that].”

Madam Speaker, the agreement in the report is clearly talking about countries –

By the way, Madam Speaker, we are talking about an international agreement. Before we even accept this, we need to consider whether Zambia really needs it. That is what I am looking at. In its discussion on demerits, the report identifies that the agreement speaks to countries that have oceans and the kind of fishing practices that are done in those countries. In our country, I think, the challenges are some of those that were brought out by the seconder. I do not see how the agreement will promote our immediate fishing challenges. Things like over-fishing, rivers drying up and promoting fish farming, I think, are issues we should be interested in.

Madam Speaker, I would like to support the ratification, but I am finding it difficult. One of the reasons that has been brought out for us to assent to the agreement is global co-operation, and the fact that we need to show the international community that we are committed to global co-operation. I agree, but it is not done for the sake of it.

Madam Speaker, looking at the report, I do not think we have anything to do with the objectives of the agreement. I think that it is not our role. If one looks back as far as the United National Independence Party (UNIP) era, one of the issues that undermined our trade efforts was our membership in the WTO. We signed so many agreements without thinking through them properly; without seeing future repercussions on our economy. You know with Ministers like the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, …

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr E. Tembo: ... we find ourselves supporting things that work against us. The report is clear. Can Zambia really strengthen the WTO? The WTO, ba Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, is controlled by the Group of Eight (G8). They are the same people who control the United Nations (UN). We are just rubber stamps. So, this Parliament should rise and refuse certain things that come up. I note that we are talking about financial benefits, but we can gain small amounts of money and lose a lot of it. I think that we need to thoroughly look at the agreement.

Madam Speaker, my conclusion, which is the conclusion of the people of Fiera, is that, as it has been observed in the report, it is not clear what Zambia will benefit from the agreement. That being the case, it needs to leave this House, we scrutinise it properly, and then identify the real benefits for the country. Then, we can come back and debate. In a nutshell, the agreement is mostly favourable for countries that have oceans. It lacks clarity on what the agreement is all about. Thirdly, it may also bring potential trade disputes, which is an issue I have already dealt with.

Madam Speaker, I am reluctant to ensure that we ratify the agreement. In all fairness, I think that we are not in a hurry. By the way, agreements do not really have deadlines. People can join an international agreement at a later stage when they decide to do so because circumstances are always changing. We can also wait and see. I do not think that if we do not sign now, it will bring us any harm.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala): Madam Speaker, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources, who is the mover of the Motion currently under consideration by the House. The Motion is urging the House to adopt the Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources on the Ratification of the International Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies under the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that my ministry, alongside the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, was among the fifteen witnesses to appear before the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources. During the engagement, we submitted both written memoranda and oral submissions. On behalf of the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, I extend my sincere thanks to the chairperson of the Committee and to you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to clarify key aspects of the agreement under the WTO.

Madam Speaker, Zambia is a founding member of the WTO and a signatory to the Marrakesh Agreement. From time to time, the Marrakesh Agreement is amended to incorporate decisions taken by member states. For such amendments to take effect, member states must deposit their instruments of acceptance. At the 12^th WTO Ministerial Conference held on 17^th June, 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland, member states agreed to amend the Marrakesh Agreement to include the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. For the agreement to enter into force, two-thirds of the WTO members must ratify it. As of 31^st December, 2024, eighty-eight WTO members had formally accepted the agreement, with twenty-three additional acceptances still needed for that agreement to take effect.

Madam Speaker, I will focus my remarks on the observations and recommendations presented in the report currently under consideration.

Ratification of the Agreement

Madam Speaker, my ministry strongly believes that the agreement is crucial for the fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector, as it ensures the preservation of marine resources for future generations. The House may wish to note that the agreement promotes sustainable and responsible fishing practices by preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as excessive fishing capacity.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of my ministry, I submit that we are generally satisfied with the contents of the agreement. Specifically, after reviewing the decision of the 12^th WTO Ministerial Conference, my ministry strongly recommends that the House does the following:

accepts the decision of the 12^th WTO Ministerial Conference; and

commits to depositing Zambia’s instruments of acceptance with the WTO.

Financial Support and Technical Capacity

Madam Speaker, my ministry acknowledges the Committee’s recommendation that the Government should utilise the expected financial support efficiently and ensure adequate funding for capacity building and staff training. After ratifying the agreement, my ministry will access targeted technical assistance and capacity building resources.

Protection of Livelihoods for Fishing Communities

Madam Speaker, my ministry recognises the Committee’s observation that the agreement will safeguard the livelihoods of fishing communities by promoting sustainable fishing practices and ensuring long-term access to fish resources. This aligns with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (NFAP). In pursuit of this goal, my ministry will soon introduce a Bill in Parliament to establish a legislative framework consistent with the NFAP.

Agreement’s Focus on Oceans and Seas

Madam Speaker, my ministry acknowledges the Committee’s concern that the agreement primarily addresses oceans and seas, while inadequately considering inland waters, which are predominant in Zambia. There is a concern that Zambia’s socio-economic programmes may be negatively impacted as a result. I wish to assure the House that despite Zambia not having direct access to marine resources under international law, the country is eligible to access fishing rights in oceans and seas, provided we have the capacity to do so. So, we are not excluded. Furthermore, the socio-economic programmes of our people will not be negatively affected as the principle beyond the agreement is to eliminate harmful subsidies on fish resources.

Madam Speaker, it is important to note that Zambia is part of the global community, a WTO member and a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG No. 1, which seeks to end extreme poverty. As such, Zambia is connected to marine ecosystems through international trade in fish and other fishery products. Therefore, the Government’s position remains firm. Overfishing and harmful subsidies should not be encouraged, whether in inland waters or in the seas and oceans. Moreover, Zambia should be seen as a supportive participant in global efforts to promote sustainable fishing practices.

Clarity on Prohibited Subsidies

Madam Speaker, my ministry acknowledges the Committee’s concern that the agreement lacks specificity regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and harmful subsidies. The House may wish to note that illegal fishing refers to activities that violate national and international laws and regulations designed to manage and conserve fish resources. We believe that this definition is specific and well-intended to protect and preserve our fish resources.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to state that my ministry considers the agreement in question as essential for regulating fishing activities and ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks and marine resources. We, therefore, welcome the agreement and commend the Committee for its well-articulated and detailed report. Ratifying the WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies will enhance Zambia’s projected production of fish and related products for both domestic and international markets. By eliminating trade distortions and subsidies, the WTO will establish a level playing field for trade in fish and fish products. Furthermore, the ratification of the agreement carries no financial burden on the Government. It will rather enable the country to fully implement the agreement and benefit from its provisions, such as Article No. 7, which will provide access to technical assistance and capacity building support. Zambia will also benefit by promoting sustainable fisheries management, enhancing food security and potentially increasing local economic opportunities.

Madam Speaker, in light of that, it is necessary that the report on ratifying the WTO International Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies be adopted. The ratification of the agreement is particularly crucial for developing and least developed countries as it provides flexibility in addressing capacity constraints, supports sustainable small-scale and artisanal fishing and promotes economic growth and food security.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the seconder of the Motion, the hon. Member of Parliament for Feira, and the hon. Minister for contributing to the Motion. My elder brother, the hon. Member for Feira, pointed out challenges in the report that he did not understand properly.

As Members of Parliament, it is important that, as we read the reports that are brought on the Floor of this House so that we get the gist.

Madam Speaker, let me thank each and every hon. Member of Parliament. For those who have not yet gone through the report, it is important that they do so, so that they understand the issues fully because there are real benefits of being a party to the agreement.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, WATER DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

Mr Hamwaata (Pemba): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism on the Report of the Committee for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 13^th June, 2025.

Madam Speaker, in line with its terms of reference, your Committee considers, …

Madam Speaker: Order Hon. Members! He is cruising.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Supersonic speed.

Madam Speaker: It is June. Ni June, so, ...

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): I beg to second the Motion, Madam Speaker.

Mr Hamwaata: Madam Speaker, I am in express mode.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House adopts the Report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism on the Report of the Committee for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 13^th June, 2025.

Madam Speaker: Since you have already moved the Motion. Now, you can debate.

Mr Hamwaata: Madam Speaker, in line with its terms of reference, the Committee considered a topical issue on private sector participation in the energy sector. In carrying out this important task, your Committee sought both written and oral submissions from various stakeholders.

Madam Speaker, let me state from the outset that your Committee is cognisant of the complex landscape of the private sector involvement in the energy sector. However, it is optimistic of the sector's potential. Allow me to highlight some of the salient issues observed by your Committee during its deliberations with the stakeholders.

Madam, your Committee was informed that low private sector participation in the energy sector was due to the high initial capital requirements and the lack of cost-effective tariffs. Therefore, to fully harness private sector participation, the Committee recommends that the Government addresses the existing barriers and creates an environment that incentivises private sector engagement. This can be by enhancing regulatory clarity, simplifying licencing procedures and building on the momentum of open access regime with the aim of achieving cost-reflective tariffs. Further, the Government should endeavour to set up developmental financial institutions to help mitigate the high initial capital requirements in the sector.

Madam Speaker, as you may be aware, the energy sector is a critical part of the economy. However, during its local tour, your Committee observed that there is no alignment of national development goals, namely agriculture, energy and the environment, as agriculture is prioritised at the expense of existing power generation investments which drive the economy. Further, there is no co-ordination between the national agricultural needs and energy needs. For example, a permit was given to Upper Lunsemfwa Dam Project to construct an irrigation dam upstream when the already existing Lunsemfwa Power Station downstream is operating at 40 per cent due to depleting water levels.

Madam Speaker, the failure by the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) to conduct routine water assessment of catchment areas and the lack of collaboration will disadvantage a power generating plant amidst the power crisis in the country. If the construction of the Upper Lunsemfwa Dam Project upstream is not reconsidered, Lunsemfwa Hydro-power Station will permanently shut down.

Madam Speaker, if such a capital-intensive investment is not protected, how do we then expect to attract investment in this sector?

Madam Speaker, your Committee is of the view that the shutdown of Lunsemfwa Power Station will exacerbate power instability in the region. In this regard, your Committee recommends that the construction of the Upper Lunsemfwa Dam Project should be reconsidered. Additionally, WARMA should ensure that the physical assessment of catchment areas is undertaken before creating water rights permits to avoid over-abstracting of water in already exhausted catchments.

Madam Speaker, your Committee is also in agreement with stakeholders who expressed concern with the 3 per cent excise duty on power generation imposed on companies generating power for self-use. In this regard, your Committee recommends that the Government considers removing the duty as a way of incentivising and encouraging businesses to be innovative and, in turn, relieve the Government of the power burden being experienced. As Members of Parliament, it is important that, as we read the reports that are brought on the Floor of this House so that we get the gist.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, WATER DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

Mr Hamwaata (Pemba): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, in line with its terms of reference, your Committee considers, …

Madam Speaker: Order Hon. Members! He is cruising.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Supersonic speed.

Madam Speaker: It is June. Ni June, so, ...

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): I beg to second the Motion, Madam Speaker.

Mr Hamwaata: Madam Speaker, I am in express mode.

Madam Speaker: Since you have already moved the Motion. Now, you can debate.

Madam Speaker, if such a capital-intensive investment is not protected, how do we then expect to attract investment in this sector?

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairperson, acting chairperson of the Committee and the team for this report. This is a report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism.

Madam Speaker, I will focus on the four challenges that are affecting the participation of the private sector in the energy sector. Firstly, it is the open access guidelines which, according to your Committee’s report, have not been fully developed. As the hon. Minister responds, he needs to explain to the nation why a policy can be announced without fully developed guidelines. It is indicated in your Committee’s report that, unfortunately, we have adopted the open access model, yet there are no guidelines.

Madam Speaker, secondly, the report indicates that the cost of licencing is too expensive. We wanted this report to highlight what should be done, and I hope that, as the hon. Minister responds, he will tell the nation why licencing has remained expensive.

Madam Speaker, thirdly, item number three in the report states that tariffs have remained non-cost reflective, meaning that we are not attracting enough investment. That is according to your report. This is not Christopher Kang’ombe speaking.

Madam Speaker, the fourth challenge is a lack of infrastructure to transmit the commodity called electricity.

Madam Speaker, I will focus on the third challenge, which is non-cost reflective tariffs. In 2019, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) put out an advertisement for a consultant to undertake a cost-of-service study. What is a cost-of-service study? It is, basically, a report that informs one at what rate power should be generated, transmitted and sold to the consumer. In 2019, the African Development Bank (AfDB) gave the country US$600,000 to engage a consultant. A report was prepared and given to the Ministry of Energy. However, what followed was that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, in his first Budget Speech presented in 2021 for the 2022 Budget, under paragraph eighty-nine informed this nation about implementing cost-reflective tariffs, and allow me to quote what he said:

“Madam Speaker, to attract investment within the electricity sub-sector, we will implement cost-reflective tariffs.”

Madam Speaker, that is what Hon. Musokotwane said in his first Budget Speech. Recently, another announcement was made by the Ministry of Energy that there would be an emergency tariff adjustment. Today, there is an emergency tariff in effect. The tariffs that people should have been buying electricity at are not the tariffs that people are being charged because the ERB authorised ZESCO Limited to implement an emergency tariff adjustment. What am I trying to say this afternoon regarding the issue of investment in the energy sector? My point is that tariffs have been adjusted to attract investment. I was expecting this report to acknowledge the reality. The reality is that the tariffs were adjusted. The reality is that there is a report called the cost-of-service study, which informs one what rate will attract the required investment. So, as I read your Committee’s report, I hope that the hon. Minister will respond to the question on which tariffs we are charging people for electricity. Is it the cost-reflective tariff, which was announced by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, or the tariff that was recommended in the study, which was undertaken? Is it the emergency tariff that the Government is imposing on consumers today? The reality is that we are paying more. My expectation today was that the report would inform us how much money has been raised, as a result of the emergency tariff adjustment, and that from raising that money, a certain amount of electricity was imported, and that is how the challenge has been cushioned.

Madam Speaker, the reality is that our people still do not have access to electricity despite this report showing that measures were taken to deal with the problem. Therefore, my submission, on behalf of the people of Kamfinsa, is that this report has fallen short of highlighting a key aspect, which is that the tariffs have been adjusted. The expectation from the people of Kabwata, Kamfinsa, Chavuma, Kapiri Mposhi and other constituencies was that after the tariffs were adjusted, based on the background that I have adequately given, we would see minimised load shedding. Unfortunately, we have not seen the desired outcome from the implemented emergency tariffs which, according to the history that I have provided, confirms that the tariffs are higher than the ones we used to pay before.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I hope that we will hear a response from the hon. Minister on what we have done with the money that we have been asking people to pay, which is higher than the previous rate, in order to mitigate load shedding.

Madam Speaker, lastly, the report has too many components. It has tourism, fuel and energy. I recommend that the report focuses on the electricity subsector next time so that we can deal with it and conclusively make our recommendations. Then, the Committee can be requested to compile another report that would provide information on the tourism subsector.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, we are too limited today to talk about everything that is in the report because, unfortunately, the people of Kamfinsa have only been given eight minutes.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, eight minutes applies to all the hon. Members. We give the same time. So, we are not discriminating.

Hon. Member for Chama North, you may proceed. You have eight minutes.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Chama North, to say a few words on the debate on this important report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism, which looked into private sector participation in the energy sector in Zambia.

Madam Speaker, it is a fact that the energy sector is critical to our country’s economic development. I think that, as a country, we have also not done much in terms of investment in power generation. In the past four decades, this country has seen little investment in the sector while, at the same time, the economy has been growing and the population increasing. A number of economic developments are taking place in this country, especially in the mining industry, and that means an increased demand for electricity.

Madam Speaker, the issue of cost-reflective tariffs has been with us for a long time now. It is not just now that we are hearing about cost-reflective tariffs. After the fall of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government implemented the policy, and ZESCO Limited increased the tariffs every year. The story about achieving cost-reflective tariffs has been there since time immemorial.

Madam Speaker, I do not really agree with the notion of comparing. In your Committee’s report, comparisons were made with countries like Malawi and Tanzania, just to mention a few. It is better to realise that those countries have different economic landscapes. If, at all, the people in Botswana or South Africa pay more for electricity, that cannot apply to Zambia. It is better to have cheaper electricity so that we can increase production. The higher cost of production means that we do not create more jobs, and the cost of living increases. So, why not invest more in power generation as a country and take advantage of the increasing demand in Southern Africa? Southern Africa needs a lot of electricity and we need to take advantage of that demand, given that Zambia is well-positioned in the region. Personally, I do not support the notion of implementing cost-reflective tariffs.

Madam Speaker, Hon. Kang’ombe spoke about a cost of service study that was carried out by the Energy Market and Rates Consultants. The consultants recommended that electricity tariffs in Zambia should be increased by 17 per cent every year for the next five years, starting at US$0.10 kW/h. That tariff is too expensive for people in Zambia. I believe that if we are to resolve the current electricity challenges in this country, the State must continue to play a key role in investing in power generation. If we leave it to the private sector, we shall continue singing the same song of power deficits for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, the Committee has highlighted the fact that the initial investment required for an energy project is quite huge. Usually, private sector players do not want to invest in projects that take long to get a return on investment. They want to invest in projects in which they can recoup their investment within one year. Building a power station takes many years. This is why the State cannot divorce itself from the issue and leave everything to the private sector.

Madam Speaker, the last time there was significant investment in power generation in this country was in 1977. That is when the Kafue Gorge Hydro Power Project was completed with an installed generation capacity of 900 MW. There were other major investments in power generation, such as the upgrading of the Kariba North Bank Power Station from 600 MW to 1,080 MW capacity and construction of the Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station. After that, there have been no investments in power generation. All the projects I have mentioned were State-sponsored. So, for many years, we have been talking about low electricity tariffs, but I do not think that is the issue to focus on. The State must continue to invest in power generation. We want the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to allocate resources towards power generation programmes every year because leaving everything to the private sector has not helped this country whatsoever.

Madam Speaker, some economic decisions made in the past have been very detrimental to the nation. For example, the closure of the Indeni Petroleum Refineryhas had serious negative effects on Ndola Energy Company Limited. Ndola Energy Company Limited produces more than 100 MW of electricity, but for it to do that, it has to use heavy fuel.

Madam Speaker, we can take a leaf from other countries. For instance, Ethiopia has built one of the largest hydro-power projects in the whole African continent that has a generation capacity of more than 6,000 MW. The money for the project was generated locally within Ethiopia and from Ethiopians in the Diaspora. It was not borrowed. I believe that we should invest more resources in power projects so that Zambia can become a net exporter of electricity in the Southern African region.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to state that there is a need to transform our national power utility. ZESCO Limited will be able to meet the national power demand if we depoliticised the energy sector. All of our Governments, from the time of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), the Patriotic Front (PF) and now the United Party for National Development (UPND), have been politicising issues to do with ZESCO Limited. Even appointments to key positions in the company are not done on merit. As a result, ZESCO Limited is not able to operate as a business entity, despite it having the potential to operate viably if it is not politicised. We need to allow the best people to run our power utility. As long as we politicise the energy sector, we shall continue to talk about ZESCO Limited failing to meet the national demand for electricity.

Madam Speaker, I think, we need to do more to address the current energy challenges. The UNIP Government was able to build the Kafue Gorge Hydro Power Station, which was producing 900 MW at the time Zambia’s population was less than 3 million people. The Government needs to invest more in power projects so that we can export as well as meet current and future domestic demands for electricity.

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, I support your Committee’s report. I thank you.

Mr E. Tembo (Feira): Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the Committee as well as the mover and seconder of the Motion for a job well done.

Madam Speaker, your Committee has presented a report on the private sector’s participation in the energy sector. The report has underscored the fact that investment in energy programmes requires a lot of capital. The House will agree with me that for the private sector, in most cases, it is not about how much money the promoter of a project has. , It is rather about how organised the investor is and the bankability of the project. In this country, the private sector in the energy sector basically refers to multi-national corporations or foreign companies.

Madam Speaker, when privatisation was proposed in this country, we thought public companies would be sold to Zambians. However, they were sold to foreign companies. I have a problem with that decision because when an economy is controlled by foreign entities, the local people lose their sovereignty. In my view, the privatisation programme should have addressed the participation of the Zambian people in their economy. In this regard, we need to create an environment that encourages the participation of Zambian-owned businesses in the energy sector. I know for sure that there are many Zambian business men and women in this House and around the country.

Madam Speaker, it is high time we started promoting our own businesses in this country. In countries like Kenya and Zimbabwe, there are local people worth millions of United States (US) Dollars. We might think that the performance of the Zimbabwean economy has gone down, but there are over 10,000 Zimbabwean millionaires worth between US$10 million and US$100 million.

Madam Speaker, we need to create an environment that incentivises Zambian businesses to participate in the energy sector and the Ministry of Energy has to take a leading role in that effort. When foreigners come to invest in our country, Zambians should partner with them. Zambian entities should obtain the licences for such partnerships so that they play a critical role and foreign partners are not allowed to do whatever they want.

Madam Speaker, I totally agree with the suggestion to encourage private sector participation in the energy sector. We have heard that the Government has no business in business. I believe that the Government has a role in business in terms of regulation and policy formulation. The Government can even compete with the private sector in business. We see it happening in other countries. For example, in South Africa, the power sector is controlled by the Government. In the United Kingdom (UK), the Government has a role to play in how the country generates its power. We have borrowed so many ideas from the UK, such as the procedures of this House and our governance system. In this regard, I think that the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which is a public institution, must continue investing in the energy sector as a competitor. Of course, as I said, the IDC should partner with private companies with a view of having a controlling stake in the partnership.

Madam Speaker, I agree with the Committee that we need to remove duty on equipment for energy projects. We have seen examples of people in villages generating their own electricity and lighting up communities. What has happened to such ideas? Do we just see them on television while the Ministry of Energy does nothing? Why are we not investing in such ideas? Those are the things we should be talking about in Zambia. There are Zambians who have, maybe, studied something on electricity and have brilliant ideas. I can give a good example of a man who was recently honoured for having produced a simple power system. I believe that has not only happened in the North-Western Province. We have seen several examples of such things happening elsewhere in the past. The challenges in the energy sector are known and I urge the ministry responsible to deal with those issues.

Madam Speaker, having said that, since the report talks about tourism, my district has tourism potential, but no –

Mr Kapala entered the Assembly Chambers.

Mr E. Tembo: Yes, Kapala manje aisa.

Interruptions

Mr E. Tembo: However, there is nothing happening. Actually, people do not see any value in tourism in Feira. I must put it on record that this is why we see the human/animal conflict. The Government is protecting animals to promote the purported tourism, but people are rejecting it and saying that they are devastating them. For instance, if there were some value or income from tourism to compensate victims of animal attacks, elephants in particular, then, what the Government is saying would have sufficed.

Madam Speaker, the ministry has talked about the management of national parks, tour operators and their agreements. Tour operators, who are mostly foreign entities, whom we support, are making a lot of money. So, let me put it on record and this is irrefutable. Tourists pay the offshore accounts, but only come to Zambia to view our animals in the national parks. I am speaking as a person from an area affected by these issues. I am talking about illicit financial flaws, which is one area where people are making huge sums of money, but we cannot detect it in our economy because the accounts are offshore. We need to find a way of detecting the activities, which are undermining our economy.

Madam Speaker, the other aspect or problem about tourism, which I want the hon. Minister to correct me on is that Zambia spends a mere US$3 million per year in marketing tourism, yet we have many wonders such as the Victoria Falls, several other falls and other sites. In my district alone, we have several other heritage sites that can attract tourists. As opposed to what Zambia is doing, Rwanda spends US$20 million on marketing an incident which was negative. It has even gone further and put money in Arsenal Football Club. I am not so much into foreign football. If one talks about the Zambia National Soccer Team, I will say yes. Rwanda has put money in Arsenal Football Club to ensure that the club sells the country. That is what we need to do. So, I expect Zambia to pump more money into marketing tourism.

Madam Speaker, before I sit down, allow me to indicate that Zimbabwe, which only has a quarter or so portion of the Victoria Falls, advertises or markets it as if it is wholly in Zimbabwe. As if that is not enough, South Africa also markets the Victoria Falls implicitly as if it is in South Africa. Do you know what the South Africans say? They say, ‘Visit South Africa, which is only an hour away from the Victoria Falls.’ They do not say that it is in South Africa, but if anyone who does not know where the Victoria Falls is reads that, he/she will think that it is in South Africa. In short, what I am saying is that in order for this country to make more income from tourism, we actually need to pump in more money in marketing our country. Namibia does not have much, but it generates US$300 million annually from tourism, and several other countries are doing so.

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. I will call upon the hon. Minister of Energy to respond. I do not know if the hon. Minister of Tourism and the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation also want to respond.

Mr Sikumba indicated assent.

Madam Speaker: Who wants to respond first?

Mr Chikote indicated assent.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for allowing me to make a few remarks with regards to the Report of your Committee on Energy, Water, Development and Tourism on the Private Sector Participation in the Energy Sector for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

Madam Speaker, I also want to appreciate the work your Committee has done in review of the private sector participation in the energy sector, as highlighted in the report.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Energy has taken note of the various observations and recommendations in the report, which includes the amendment of the Energy Regulation Act No. 12 of 2019, and the Electricity Act No. 11 of 2019, migration towards cost-reflective tariffs, inadequate grid infrastructure, diversification of energy sources and issues surrounding Ndola Energy Company. In response to what is contained in the Committee’s report, I wish to update this House on the strategic interventions that the Government is currently implementing.

Madam Speaker, the ministry has embarked on a comprehensive review of the Electricity Act No. 11 of 2019 and the Energy Regulation Act No. 12 of 2019, with the legislative process expected to be concluded by the third quarter of 2025. This reform is a critical step towards modernising Zambia’s energy, legal and regulatory framework to reflect the evolving dynamics of the energy sector.

Madam Speaker, the review also aims to introduce light-handed regulatory provision specifically tailored to mini-grids and small-scale electricity providers, which are essential for expanding access to energy in undeserved and off-grid communities, especially our rural areas where 60 per cent of our people live. The New Dawn Government is working tirelessly to ensure that no one is left behind, as outlined in our Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP).

Madam Speaker, on the issue of cost-reflective tariffs, the Government is currently implementing the Multi-Year Tariff Framework (MYTF). The guidelines and the rules were developed as per recommendation of the cost-of-service study, which the hon. Member talked about, covering the period 2023 up to 2027.