Thursday, 17^th July, 2025

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

 

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM KONKOLA SECONDARY SCHOOL

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of pupils and teachers from Konkola Secondary School, Copperbelt District.

 

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

 

I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM PINEWOOD SCHOOL

 

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

 

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

 

I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

CONSTUCTION OF PIPED WATER IN EACH CONSTITUENCY

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, you will recall that on Friday, 4^th July, 2025, the House was informed that the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation had mobilised resources to support the construction of piped water schemes in each constituency. Further, on Friday, 11^th July, 2025, the House was informed about the extremely low response that the ministry had received from the hon. Members. 

Despite the two announcements, the ministry has reported that as of 14^th July, 2025, only eighteen submissions had been received, and that any further delay had the potential of affecting the implementation period of the project. Therefore, this announcement serves as a final reminder to all hon. Members who have not submitted the two proposed sites, including the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, to urgently respond to the ministry’s request. Submissions should be sent to Engineer Richard M. Kangwa, Acting Director, Water and Supply, via WhatsApp, No: 0977- 410571.

Hon. Members, kindly note that failure to submit by the given deadline will entail exclusion of your constituencies from benefiting from this piped water scheme.

I thank you.

I do not know whether the challenge is on the use of the GPS.

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Laughter

Madam Speaker: That is what I thought.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister of Water, Development and Sanitation, please assist. Hon.  Members are not familiar with the information that you want them to provide. Please, clarify on the issue of the GPS.

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Eng. Nzovu): Madam Speaker it is very easy. We are using council officials. It is very easy. Please submit. Please.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, the members of the public are listening to this announcement. So, we should not hear that this or that constituency has no water. Here is an opportunity that has been provided. Please, let us provide the information. The GPS can be done by the council.  So, hon. Members, work with your councils.

Thank you very much for that commitment. It is an undertaking.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Do not worry about last year. Submit now.

_______

 

URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

 

MR MUMBA, HON. MEMBER FOR KANTANSHI, ON ENG. NZOVU, THE HON. MINISTER OF WATER DEVELOPMENT AND SANITATION, ON LACK OF WATER IN MUFULIRA DISTRICT

 

Mr Mumba. (Kantanshi): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker:  An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

 

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, my Urgent Matter without Notice is directed at the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation.

 

Madam Speaker: You can proceed.

 

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, it has come to my attention that it is now over a week since Mufulira District received water. In fact, this afternoon, I was told that Mupande Compound, which is prone to typhoid, is highly affected. I know the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation is fully aware of that.

 

Madam Speaker, we intervened as a district. We bought a water bowser during the time we were buying equipment for road maintenance activities, but unfortunately, Mulonga Water Supply and Sanitation Company Ltd has not been able to provide water. 

 

Madam Speaker, what are some of the immediate measures the ministry can provide to Mufulira District before it gets diarrheal diseases that might affect even the achievements that have been scored of having a zero-cholera Zambia?

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence.

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

 

Has the hon. Member for Kantanshi provided the two sites for the water? I think that will be the immediate measure in my view.

 

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, as a law-abiding citizen and a responsible hon. Member of Parliament, who has diligently served Kantanshi, I have.

 

Madam Speaker: Very well. So, since you have, I suggest you put in a question because that matter does not qualify to be an Urgent Matter without Notice.

 

MR CHISOPA, HON. MEMBER FOR MKUSHI SOUTH, ON MR CHIKOTE, THE HON. MINISTER OF ENERGY, ON LOAD SHEDDING

 

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, my Urgent Matter without Notice is directed at the hon. Minister of Energy.

 

Madam Speaker:  You can proceed.

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, in March, the hon. Minister of Information and Media held a press briefing where he announced to the nation that in June, 2025, load shedding would finish.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, to date, load shedding is still there. It is like he was saying the opposite.  Load shedding hours have increased, subjecting the small entrepreneurs like barbershops –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

Hon. Member for Mkushi South, repeat what you said. Small what?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chisopa: Small entrepreneur, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: You may proceed.

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, small entrepreneurs are closing shops. Those running businesses like welding shops, barbershops, and salons are folding up because the UPND has failed to provide power to the Zambian people.

 

Hon. PF Member: They are exporting!

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Energy in order to remain quiet, and not come to this House to explain why we still have load-shedding, when we were assured that load-shedding would be a thing of the past by June?

 

I seek your indulgence, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Mkushi South, since the issue is ongoing, it does not qualify to be raised as an Urgent Matter without Notice. I suggest that you file in a question, and then the hon. Minister of Energy can address that issue.

 

______

 

QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

FRA MAIZE PURCHASE DELAY

 

378. Dr Mwanza (Kaumbwe) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

 

1. why the Food Reserve Agency has delayed to commence the purchase of maize from farmers in Kaumbwe and other parts of the country;

 

1. what the cause of the delay is; and

 

1. what measures are being taken to secure adequate maize stocks for national food security.

 

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala) (on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo)): Madam Speaker, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has delayed to commence the purchase of maize in Kaumbwe Constituency owing to the high grain moisture content in the maize, which still averages 14 per cent as of today, 17^th July, 2025. The acceptable grain moisture content to commence the purchase of strategic food reserves is maximum 12.5 per cent in maize as provided for in Statutory Instrument No. 296 of 1969, as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 329 of 1969 of the Laws of Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, as indicated above, the cause of the delay in commencing the purchase of designated crops is due to high grain moisture content. The FRA is waiting for the grain moisture content to reach the statutory level allowed of 12.5 per cent in maize.

 

Madam Speaker, the following are the measures being taken to secure adequate maize for national food security:

 

1. Attractive Price

 

The FRA is offering suppliers a price of K6,800 per tonne or K340 per 50 kg bag. At the current market price, as alluded to earlier, farmers have moved huge quantities of stock to FRA selling points for sale to the agency;

 

1. Increased Number of Satellite Depots Across the Country

 

The agency has increased the number of satellite depots from 1,200 to 1,600 across the country to improve farmer access to FRA selling points and to boost volumes being purchased by the agency. The satellite depots are well spread across the country, even in remote areas where other traders have difficulty accessing them;

 

1. Digital Transactions

 

The FRA has significantly embraced technological transformation and has since digitalised all transactions with farmers, namely:

 

1. digitalised data capturing using point of sale (PoS) machines;

 

1. digital weighing scales; and

 

1. digital payment systems.

 

1. Multiple Payment Channels

 

The FRA has, for the first time, introduced multiple payment systems, namely:

 

1. over-the-counter bank payments;

 

1. direct bank transfers; and

 

1. mobile money (Airtel Zambia, MTN Zambia, Zamtel).

 

Madam Speaker, these multiple modes of payment have encouraged farmers to supply their maize to the FRA, thereby, ensuring that there is national food security.

 

Madam Speaker, all the requisite materials to facilitate the purchase of maize are already in place, that is, grain bags, twine, scales, etcetera.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Madam Speaker: Maybe, for clarity, what is the year of the Statutory Instrument?

 

Mr Kapala: 1969.

 

Madam Speaker: I thought I was mistaken, or that I did not hear properly.

 

Dr Mwanza: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has attributed the delay by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to purchase maize to the high grain moisture content of 14.3 per cent currently, when the allowable content is about 12.3 per cent. How does the FRA determine the grain moisture content? We expect officers from the FRA to get grain samples to test from farmers who want to sell maize. However, no grain has been collected from farmers to be tested for grain moisture content. Is grain moisture content based on rainfall gauges?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, for the FRA to come up with this specification, it had the right equipment to determine the grain moisture content. That is why I indicated in my response that the moisture in the grain has to reach a certain percentage for the FRA to start buying maize.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: How is that done?

 

Madam Speaker: For clarity, the question is: How does the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) know the grain moisture content of the maize that is with the farmers, since it did not collect grain samples?

 

Hon. PF Members: Yes!

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, people have already taken their maize to FRA selling points. I am sure that the FRA took samples from that maize for it to not start purchasing maize.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I am grateful.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the hon. Member for Kaumbwe for the manner he couched his question because that has given us an opportunity to interact with the hon. Minister.

 

Madam Speaker, maize is being bought in Chitambo Constituency. However, the problem is overcrowding because the sieves are not enough. Can the hon. Minister assure the country that the ministry will add more sieves at satellite depots so that crowding and fighting for sieves can be reduced when farmers are selling their maize?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I think that is just an operational issue. We should be able to talk to the FRA so that it can attend to that concern.

 

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

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

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Lubansenshi want to know how much the Government has secured for buying maize from farmers, what the mode of payment is and how long it will take for sellers to receive their money.

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I am reliably informed that money for half a million metric tonnes is available. Other players are also encouraged to go into the market and buy the maize that is available.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: A Ministerial Statement was rendered to that effect. Maybe, hon. Member, you can refer to that just to assist you get the answer that you want.

 

Mr E. Banda (Muchinga): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, indeed, Zambia recorded a bumper harvest, maybe, the first of its kind in a number of years. However, bumper harvests come with challenges, especially for peasant farmers. How sure is the ministry that all the farmers, especially those at the small-scale level, will sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA)? I have asked that because people in certain areas, like in Serenje District, have only been allocated 10,000 metric tonnes, and we have areas where the FRA has not yet opened depots, such as Mukopa, Nambo, Masase and Kalumbu. So, how sure is the hon. Minister that people will sell their maize to the FRA?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, that is well noted. I mentioned in my statement that the FRA has increased the number of satellite depots from 1,200 to 1,600. If there will be a need for additional depots, I am sure the agency will look into the matter.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, thank you.

 

Madam Speaker, our concern in Kantanshi is, basically, the private sector participation that the hon. Minister talked about. As you may know, Kantanshi borders Mukambo Border. Is it Government policy for the private sector to be free to export maize after the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has bought the 500,000 metric tonnes or what is the Government’s position on that matter?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I think, I am constrained to comment on export issues. That is a matter that should be left to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, we are in a modern world in which technology is advancing. I want to know whether the ministry has plans to procure large-scale dryers for drying maize when the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) buys it so that the agency can enter the market in a timely manner to avoid the exploitation of farmers by briefcase buyers.

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I cannot commit my ministry to the procurement of dryers. However, that is something that we will look into. Should the situation demand that we need to dry the maize faster, we will do the needful.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) Board Chairperson today announced that 1 million metric tonnes of maize will be exported to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Zambian Government and Congolese representatives to export that maize. We produced 3.6 million metric tonnes of maize in the last season. If one million metric tonnes is exported, it means that we will remain with 2.6 million metric tonnes of maize. The local farmers are waiting for the FRA to buy their maize. Is the announcement by the FRA an indication that the Government is not willing to buy the maize and would rather export the maize into the DRC so that farmers are desperate to start exporting their maize?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I talked about the start of buying the maize. I did not talk about exporting. As regards the Board Chairperson of the FRA announcing that the agency will export 1 million metric tonnes of maize, that is news to me. I will need to get back to this august House to confirm that at an appropriate time.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr C. Chibuye (Mkushi North): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, the Acting hon. Minister of Agriculture has stated that half a million metric tonnes of maize is what the Government will buy and that the money for that tonnage is readily available. Does the half a million metric tonnes include the supply that is coming from commercial farmers, or will it only be from peasant farmers?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I do not think there is any segregation to decide whether the maize is from peasant or smallholder farmers. What we know is the total tonnage that will be covered and the money that is available. Should the situation change, we will inform the House about how we are going to proceed beyond the half a million metric tonnes that we are ready to buy.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Shakafuswa (Mandevu): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to ask a question.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Mandevu are worried. Just the other day, the Ministry of Agriculture appealed, through the hon. Minister of Information and Media, to farmers to sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to ensure that we secure our food for the coming years. The rainfall period ended at the same time in all the provinces. How is it that the FRA has moved in to buy maize in other parts of the country, yet it says that the moisture content in Kaumbwe is high? When is the agency going to start buying maize in Kaumbwe?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Mandevu has already given the answer to that. The areas where the rainfall period ended late will be the last in terms of buying because the moisture content in the maize is still high. At such a time that the moisture content drops to 12.5 per cent, then, the FRA will start buying the maize.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Mandevu, you said that the rainfall stopped at the same time. Is that what you said?

 

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, yes, the rainfall stopped at the same time. I am also a briefcase buyer. My worry is that farmers in Kaumbwe signed up to sell a certain percentage of maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). If the agency delays buying from them, they will opt to sell to us. As a result, the FRA will not ensure food security. The rainfall stopped at the same time. I am a farmer.

 

Madam Speaker: My question is: Did the rainfall stop at the same time?

 

Mr Shakafuswa: Yes, almost.

 

Laughter

 

Madam Speaker: Anyway, let us make progress. Please, engage the Acting hon. Minister of Agriculture.

 

Mr Twasa (Kasenengwa): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to ask a question.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to know if there are other ways the ministry can employ to ensure that it buys maize from the farmers at the earliest possible time. Maybe, the ministry can calibrate the scales so as to increase the tonnage. In addition, it can give an allowance so that the moisture content in the grain or corn is reduced further. That way, instead of buying an exact 50 kg bag of maize, it will be over by half a kilogramme or 1 kg just to accommodate the overweight. That way, we will not expose our farmers to briefcase buyers and we will also not lessen the Food Reserve Agency’s (FRA) chances of buying enough grain.

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I do not think it is normal for the FRA to buy additional kilogrammes (kgs) just to offset or buy maize quickly from small-scale farmers. No. When one supplies a 50 kg bag of maize, one will be paid the amount that is equivalent to that bag. So, there is no way of buying maize with high moisture content. That will create a lot of problems in the future.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chala (Chipili): Madam Speaker, in the report, the Acting hon. Minister has stated that the Government will buy almost half a million metric tonnes of maize. Has the ministry done its homework regarding the coming season, to calculate whether we will have good rainfall or not? Why can the Government not buy more than what it has stated, in case we have a calamity in the 2026/2027 Farming Season?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I like people who plan ahead. That is what this Government does as well. We are good at planning ahead.

 

Madam Speaker, we are looking at saving maize that can last us, at least, another two years. Worrying about whether we are going to have poor rainfall next season is something that can be serious. However, we will ensure that we mop up the maize that is available, and that should last us up to next year.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Mwanza: Madam Speaker, moisture content of maize is not acceptable for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), but it is acceptable for private buyers. Many private buyers are buying the commodity in my constituency and in other parts of the country where the FRA has not started buying the grain. The opportunity cost that the Government will miss by not allowing the agency to purchase the commodity this time borders on national food security. Has the ministry conducted an assessment to ascertain the quantities of maize that have been forfeited in terms of maize that could have been bought, due to the late start in the buying of maize in some parts of the country, such that it will have a big impact on national food security? Remember, most farmers got Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) loans and are tied to selling their commodity to the FRA. At the same time, private buyers are free to enter the market, and they are buying, sometimes, at a higher price or at a lower price. So, the opportunity cost is lost in not getting the commodity during this period when the moisture content is acceptable for private buyers but not for the Government. Has the ministry done that assessment so that the country does not face national food security issues during next year's season?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, farmers have delivered tonnes of maize to the FRA depots. I do not see how the Government will lose out in terms of opportunity cost. The Government must also be cautious about the fact that if it buys maize that has high moisture content, it might end up with an aflatoxin calamity. Remember, there was that issue, and this Government does not want to risk the lives of its citizens.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Simumba (Nakonde): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, Nakonde alone is expected to produce about 45,000 metric tonnes of maize, and those farmers are beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). The Government is expected to buy about 20,000 metric tonnes of maize. So, there will be a balance of 25,000 metric tonnes. I want to know whether it is okay for the farmers to sell the remaining maize to Tanzania, or that cannot be allowed?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, maize from Nakonde will be bought. If there will be surplus, the Government will make a decision on that. However, farmers have not yet been given the authority to export any maize.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Madam Speaker: Anyway, I cannot ask you a question.

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: Before the hon. Member for Kankoyo asks his question, a point of order is raised.

 

What is the point of order, hon. Member for Mkushi South?

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order pursuant to Standing Order No. 71. In responding to the hon. Member for Nakonde, the hon. Minister said that the Government will make a decision. Today, the board chairperson of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), Suresh Desai, informed the nation that the agency will export 1 million metric tonnes of maize. Is the hon. Minister in order to make policy shifts in this House when the Government has already made a policy and a decision to export 1 million metric tonnes of maize?

 

I need your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: I believe that the Acting hon. Minister of Agriculture addressed that issue. He stated that he was not aware that there was a press briefing. So, I do not know why the hon. Member for Mkushi South wants to bring up that issue again. The hon. Minister is in order. So, the point of order is not admitted.

 

Let us make progress.

 

Mr Mabeta (Kankoyo): Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

First of all, allow me to thank the Ministry of Agriculture for the strides we seeing in the agriculture sector. My question is on the storage capacity in the country. Looking at the bumper harvest we have this year, and the policy statement by the President indicating that the vision of the United Party for National Development (UPND) is to increase maize production to 10 million metric tonnes, do we have enough capacity to store the maize we are harvesting from now going forward?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I beg to come back to the House to indicate the current capacity in comparison with the bumper harvest that we are expecting.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kandafula (Serenje): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me an opportunity on behalf of the people of Serenje to ask the hon. Acting Minister of Agriculture a question.

 

Madam Speaker, we are happy to hear that the Government has increased the number of depots. However, I would like to find out how the increase was done. For instance, Serenje has two vast wards which do not have a single depot. On Tuesday, there was an accident involving people from Mbaswa who were transporting their maize to Lupiya Ward.

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, the increase in depots is a moving trend. I can assure the House that should we have a situation where it is established that additional depots are needed, as the ministry, we will ask the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to open more depots.

 

I thank you. Madam Speaker.

 

Mr S. Banda (Petauke Central): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me a chance, on behalf of the good people of Petauke, to ask a question to the hon. Acting Minister of Agriculture.

Madam Speaker, there is information that is circulating in Petauke that each and every farmer must sell 10 bags of maize or more to qualify for this year's Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) allocation. What will happen to farmers who did not manage to harvest 10 bags and more of maize?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, that information is circulating in Petauke. I do not have such information in my office. Should that information be proven to be true, I will come back and update the House.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Rev. Katuta (Chienge): Madam Speaker, in his last response to the hon. Member for Nakonde, the hon. Minister said that the Government has not yet decided. Is he now expecting farmers in places like Chienge to keep their maize until the Government decides?  Money is now scarce and everyone wants it.  When is the Government going to make it a policy to allow the maize surplus from the farmers in Chienge and the rest of the country to be exported? 

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I responded to a similar question.

 

Madam Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Member of Parliament for Chienge has established that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has indicated to buy less maize in Chienge than what they have produced. I said that should such a situation arise, we will ensure that all the maize is bought from Chienge.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

 

However, I believe there is still a nagging question that is not cleared, especially that people are listening and that they have all the maize in stock, which if kept without pesticides, can go to waste.  I believe it will be necessary for the hon. Minister of Agriculture to come to the House and clarify the fact that some members of the public benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

 

From what I remember, the hon. Minister of Agriculture announced that the people who benefited from FISP must sell their produce to the FRA. Now, in view of the fact that there are limited resources for the FRA to buy maize from the people, what will happen? That is what people want to know. They need clarification on that issue so that they know how to handle their maize.

 

Maybe, the hon. Minister can address that issue because it has been raised three times this week. People want to know why the FRA is taking time to move on the ground.   However, I now understand that the FRA has actually moved on-site in some areas and it is buying maize. The worry is on the excess maize. What will happen to it? I thought I should just give guidance since I was listening to both sides.

 

Thank you very much. I do not know if the hon. Acting Minister of Agriculture can find time to come back to the House and clarify that issue.

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, well guided. I will come back to the House to give a Ministerial Statement on the matter.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. When are you likely to come back, hon. Minister? Can we give you time next week on Tuesday or Wednesday?

 

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, give me up to Wednesday. I should be able to come back with a full statement.

 

I thank, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

 

So, the hon. Minister will come back to the House on Wednesday, 23^rd July, 2025, next week to give clarity the issue, which has left a few questions unanswered.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

_______

 

GROUPED QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

I have permitted the acting hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to respond to Question Nos.  379, 380 and 381, as grouped questions.

 

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Eng. Nzovu) on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Madam Speaker –

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, I have not heard the hon. Members of Parliament ask questions to the hon. Minister, but he has already started answering.  I do not know whether that is a new procedure.

 

Madam Speaker: The problem is with me. I skipped that part. Thank you for the correction. The fault is mine. We are looking at Grouped Questions for Oral Answer under Standing Order No. 83.

 

PLANS TO TAR THE LUWINGU-CHABA ROAD IN LUWINGU DISTRICT

 

379. Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

(a)     whether the Government has any plans to tar the Luwingu-Chaba road in Luwingu District;

(b)     if so, when the plans will be implemented

(c)     what the estimated cost of the project is; and

(d)     if there are no such plans, why.

380. Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to tar the Shantumbu road in Kafue District; 

 

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

 

1. if there are no such plans, why.

 

PLANS TO UPGRADE TOKYO WAY AND AIR ROAD IN LUSAKA DISTRICT

 

381. Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development: 

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to upgrade the following roads in Lusaka District to dual carriage way, in order to ease the flow of traffic in the city:

 

1. Tokyo Way; and

 

1. Airport Road.

 

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Eng. Nzovu) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Madam Speaker, in response to the questions raised by the hon. Members for Lubansenshi and Kabwata Parliamentary Constituencies, I wish to state that the Government has plans to upgrade to bituminous standard the Shantumbu Road in Kabwata Parliamentary Constituency and the Luwingu/Chaba Road in Luwingu District, and to upgrade the Tokyo Way Road and the Airport Road to dual carriageways.

 

Madam Speaker, the plans to upgrade the Shantumbu Road in Kabwata Constituency and the Luwingu/Chaba Road in Luwingu District, and to upgrade the Airport Road to a dual carriageway are scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026. Plans to upgrade the Tokyo Way Road to a dual carriageway are scheduled to commence when funds are secured by the Treasury.

 

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of upgrading the Luwingu/Chaba Road to bituminous standard will be known once the procurement process for the civil works commences.

 

Madam Speaker, as indicated above, the Government has plans to upgrade to bituminous standard the Shantumbu Road in Kabwata Constituency and the Luwingu/Chaba Road in Luwingu District, and to upgrade the Tokyo Way Road and the Airport Road to dual carriageways.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chewe: Madam Speaker, I thank the Acting hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development for updating the people of Lubansenshi and other constituencies. The people of Lubansenshi are happy that the Government has plans to tar the Luwingu/Chaba Road. That is good.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Lubansenshi are waiting to see the Luwingu/Chaba Road rehabilitated. Some sections of that road are in a deplorable state, so the people of Lubansenshi or Luwingu wish the Government would quickly upgrade it, especially the bad sections. Is the hon. Minister able to tell the people of Lubansenshi the immediate measures that will be put in place while we wait for the big plan to upgrade the road, scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026?

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me confirm that the Road Development Agency (RDA) is already assessing the required remedial works on that road. I should be able to advise the hon. Member of Parliament once he visits my office.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Tayengwa: Madam Speaker, the Luwingu/Chaba Road is in my village so I am grateful that it will be tarred. I have never seen any real development in road infrastructure in that place. Concerning all the three roads, is the hon. Minister in a position to give us the scope of works and the designs?

 

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

 

Madam Speaker, it is envisaged that the scope of works for all the three roads will include upgrading to bituminous standard with a double surface-dressed wearing course. Obviously, after earthworks, there will be pavement layer construction, provision of the necessary drainages, culvert installations and road signs and markings. That is the international standard. So, we envisage that these roads will be upgraded to that standard.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chewe: Madam Speaker, I have been in talks with the Regional Manager of the Road Development Agency (RDA) for the Northern Province. He told me that the authority still falls under headquarters. As I mentioned, the Luwingu/Nsanja Road is in a bad state. The people of Lubansenshi wish to know if money has been set aside for road maintenance within this fiscal year. The people of Lubansenshi, Luwingu, Chilubi and Lupososhi all use the same road.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, that is a very important question, again.

 

Madam Speaker, let me assure the hon. Member of Parliament that this Government will ensure that Zambia becomes very well land-linked. The Luwingu/Chaba Road is very vital for the people of Luwingu and others in that part of the country. I have provided the start date for the works on the road as the first quarter of 2026. That means that the Government has set aside funds to start the project.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Tayengwa: Madam Speaker, I am grateful that the hon. Minister has stated that the procurement process will start this year. I want to find out whether funds for these roads will be in the 2025 Budget or the 2026 Budget.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me confirm that we envisage that construction of these roads will start in the first quarter of 2026. As to whether the funds are in this year's Budget or in next year’s Budget, I think that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning can confirm that. Let us now worry about the start date.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Madam Speaker, indeed, it is good to note that the Government has plans to work on all the mentioned roads. I have noted that the Government is already working on some roads in Lusaka. I think that the Great East Road will be expanded from the Airport Roundabout to Munali and Acacia. Other roads in the district are being expanded too.

 

Madam Speaker, in 2024, the hon. Minister assured us that the Government would work on the Pedicle Road, but there is no contractor on site. The hon. Minister assured us that the Government would work on the Mansa/Kashikishi Road, but no contractor is on site. The hon. Minister stated that works will start in 2026. How long is it going to take to complete these projects?

 

Madam Speaker: Now, you have expanded the question. The question on the Order Paper relates to Luwingu and Kabwata. I do not know if the hon. Minister is ready to answer that question.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I can only appreciate Hon. Chibombwe for acknowledging that this Government is doing everything possible to ensure that roads are worked on in the country. That is what this Government is about.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon PF. Members: Question!

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kabwata, do you have another question?

 

Mr Tayengwa: No, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: You have four more questions to ask.

 

Mr Tayengwa: Yes, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Okay, thank you.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Madam Speaker, I have a keen interest in Question No. 380, which was asked by the hon. Member for Kabwata. There is an issue with that road because it leads to a place where some mining activities take place, and it is an economically viable road. Just as a reminder to the hon. Minister that the Road Development Agency (RDA) already published an advertisement in the newspapers for works on the Shantumbu Road and other accessory roads. I am sure that this question, because it takes a long time to process Questions for Oral Answer, has been overtaken by events. So, what we should be asking on or the information we need critically is the scope of works and, maybe, the starting date for the works, as procurement processes are already underway. We saw the advertisement in the newspaper about a month ago. Can the hon. Minister give us more information on the procurement process for the works on the Shantumbu Road? At what stage are we? Even financing was already provided for in this year’s Budget. It is there, we can vouch for that.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I think, the hon. Member may not have been listening to me. When one is sure about the starting date, it means that the work has been scoped, the designs, which I have even mentioned on the Floor, have been done and funding has been allocated. The scope of work, as I already mentioned, is that we will be upgrading the roads to bituminous standard. Therefore, the road works will start in the first quarter of 2026.

 

Mr Mabeta: Correct!

 

Eng. Nzovu: The starting date has been set and the scope of works has been given.

 

Madam Speaker, the importance of the roads in question has been clearly stated. So, the works will start in the first quarter of 2026.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kambita: On a point of Order, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Hon. Member for Zambezi East, what is the point of order?

 

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order No. 71, which is on the relevance of submissions on the Floor of the House, I rise on a point of order on the hon. Minister’s submission.

 

Madam Speaker, I am alive to the fact that the hon. Minister responding is not the substantive hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. He is acting in that role at the moment. However, there are certain details that will speak to the question on the Floor that are very important, and we need them. Probably, the issue is combining the projects that are completely separate. Is the hon. Minister in order to give a blanket answer on all the projects when they are standalone and are at different levels of progress, especially the Shantumbu Road project?

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Zambezi East, I was listening to the hon. Minister as he was giving answers. He specifically referred to each question and gave an answer. He gave an answer to the first question, the next one and so on and so forth. The answer depended on the question that was asked. So, we cannot expect the hon. Minister to answer questions that were not asked. The hon. Minister was in order to handle the questions in that manner, as it was in accordance with our Standing Orders, in particular Standing Order No. 83.

 

Hon. Members, I think, we have exhausted the questions. The people who asked the questions are satisfied. So, I do not think we should flog a dead horse. However, since there are still many indications, hon. Members, you should be precise and to the point when asking a question so that we can make progress.

 

Mr Mabeta (Kankoyo): Madam Speaker, I would like to first thank the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government for the quality of roads that are being worked on. Even if the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriageway is not yet complete, just the quality of the works shows that the Government means business.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mabeta: Congratulations to the hon. Minister and the President for bringing value to the people of Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, my question on the roads that are earmarked for construction is: Are we going to see the good quality of road works maintained, considering the poor state of roads that was left by the previous Government? When one looks at roads such as the Ring Road and those in Ibex Hill, one can see that the quality was poor because the roads have deteriorated within a space of five years. So, as the ministry implements works on the roads in question next year, is the hon. Minister assuring the people of Zambia that the quality will be as good as that of the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriageway?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Order, please, hon. Members!

 

 Can we tone down. Otherwise, you will not get what is being said.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, for avoidance of doubt, the Luwingu/Chaba Road is of bituminous standard with a double surface dressed wearing course, earth works, pavement layer construction, provision of a drainage system, culvert installation and road signs and markings.

 

Madam Speaker, the road in Kabwata is an installation of an asphalt wearing course, bus way, walkways and provision of appropriate street lighting. It is a technical stake. The hon. Member for Zambezi East should read the statement properly.

 

Madam Speaker, as for the question on the type of roads that will be constructed, again, it is according to the specific standard. This Government has committed to ensuring that any project that will be brought on board maintains high quality. It is about quality, price and time. Indeed, all the projects that the UPND Government has been implementing have met those standards. Where there has been a failure, many corrections have been made. This is a Government that has made contractors who have not delivered on their mandate pay back the money it spent on them. So, the House should be assured that quality, cost and time standards will be met. They will be met at all times and according to the specifications and designs that I have read out.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Mwanza (Kaumbwe): Madam Speaker, I will just look at the Tokyo Highway, which is also known as the Ring Road. The Ring Road underwent full rehabilitation a few months ago. It has a hot mix asphalt (HMA) wearing course, complete drainage system and walkways. Why was the plan to upgrade the road into a dual carriageway in the first quarter of 2026 not incorporated into the recent rehabilitation works on the Tokyo Highway? The cost of expanding that road to a dual carriageway could have been incorporated into the recent rehabilitation that the pavement went through.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, it would be advisable for the hon. Member to visit our offices so that we can compare what was done then and what is being done now for his complete understanding.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, I have listened very attentively to the responses regarding the two questions that were raised. I heard that roads are being expanded in Kabwata and in Lubansenshi, but Kamfinsa Constituency, which has been asking for tarred roads, has never been considered. I am wondering which annual workplan accommodates the rest of Zambia, which also needs to be considered. Is there an annual workplan that is being followed and which will guide when constituencies will get their share of road works?

 

Madam Speaker, I am on record complaining about roads in Kamfinsa Constituency. I hear roads are being expanded. When will Kamfinsa get its share of the road works?  Is there a work plan that we should use to guide us?

 

Madam Speaker: The roads in Lubansenshi and Shantumbu is are being tarred, what is being expanded are the Tokyo and Airport roads. So, if the hon. Member for Kamfinsa has a particular question, maybe, it is better if he asks another question.

 

Mr Kang’ombe indicated to speak.

 

Madam Speaker: You can file in another question, which the hon. Minister can address, not now, but at a later date. These are constituency-specific questions. It can never be too late. Please, ask another question.

 

I do not know if the hon. Minister wants to say something.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development is open to all hon. Members of Parliament. The workplan is available at the ministry. Please, I urge them to visit us, whether they are from the Ruling party or the Opposition. We will develop this country in an equitable manner. Everybody will be catered for. So, they should come to our offices.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: There is discrimination.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members, you are being invited. Please, visit.

 

We make progress.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Please, can we make progress. We cannot keep on asking questions and raising points of order. The time is ticking.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Chisopa addressed Madam Speaker while moving to his seat.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Mkushi South, please leave the House. You are excused from the House for today. You cannot be calling Madam Speaker while walking from one place to another. It is like we are just playing games. We have to observe the decorum of the House. You are excused from the House. Today, you will be deemed not to have sat.

 

Mr Chisopa left the Assembly Chamber.

 

Mr Chala (Chipili): Madam Speaker, I did not get the hon. Minister’s response clearly on the Chaba/Luwingu Road. In his response, he said that the Government has a plan to tar the said road. I want to know whether the hon. Minister has attached the year in which the Government’s plans will be actualised in that area.

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I will repeat the answer: the works on the Luwingu/Chaba Road in Luwingu District are scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026. That was my answer.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Eng. Daka (Chadiza): Madam Speaker, my question is based on Question No. 381; the upgrade of Tokyo and Airport roads. Many times, what brings the shockwaves on most of the roads is the type of junctions that are on the roads. So, it is not just about upgrading the carriageways. My question, therefore, is: Are these upgrades coming with junction’s improvement? For example, will there be an introduction of some interchanges at some of the junctions? Expanding lanes, without improving the junctions will not be a lasting solution. So, are we making junction improvements to those road upgrades, especially on the Airport Road?

 

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me thank Hon. Daka for that very important question. He asks such questions because he is a very big consultant.

 

Madam Speaker, let me confirm to Eng. Daka, that yes, indeed, designs will cater for the junctions. I also agree with him that there has been a lot of shoddy work. We know in which period most of those shoddy works were being done.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

______

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

 

VISITORS FROM MWANDI DISTRICT

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of the following visitors from Mwandi District:

 

Mr Lubinda Siyandwa         -       UPND Chairman for Mwandi District; and

 

Mr Silumesi Silumesi           -       UPND Chairman for Mwandi Constituency.

 

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

 

I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear! 

 

THE ORDER OF DISPOSAL OF BUSINESS ON THE ORDER PAPER FOR

THURSDAY, 17^TH JULY, 2025

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as you are aware, yesterday, Wednesday,16^th July, 2025, I made some changes pertaining to the disposal of business on the Order Paper. Similarly, today, Thursday, 17^th July, 2025, I have brought forward the consideration of Orders of the Day appearing on today’s Order Paper as item No. 8, to enable us to consider them now, and thereafter, we shall go back to consider the Motions.

 

Hon. Members, the changes are in line with Order No. 61(1) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, which provides that the House shall dispose of business in the order it appears on the Order Paper or in such a manner as the Speaker may, for the convenience of the House, direct.

 

I thank you.

 

______

 

BILLS

 

SECOND READING

 

THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS BILL, 2025

 

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu, SC.) (on behalf of the Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Ms D. Mwamba)): Madam Speaker, with leave of the House, I beg to move that the Bill be deferred to a later date to enable us to make further consultations. 

 

Question put and agreed to. Leave granted.

 

The debate on the Bill, by leave, accordingly deferred.

 

THIRD READING

 

The following Bills were read a third time and passed:

 

The Animal Health (Amendment) Bill, 2025

 

The Supplementary Appropriation (2025) Bill

 

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025

 

The Customs and Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025

 

______

 

MOTIONS

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to represent my hon. Colleagues in rendering a report on the operations of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), which all of us are familiar with.

 

 Madam Speaker, NHIMA began its operations in 2019, and it has played a critical role in expanding healthcare access and also in reducing financial inequities and promoting a more sustainable healthcare system. However, Madam Speaker, in the past two years –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Lukulu East, you need to move the Motion.

 

Dr Kalila: Madam Speaker, I did not move the Motion. My apologies for that.

 

Madam Speaker: Please, move the Motion and then, we will go to the debate.

 

Dr Kalila: Madam Speaker, thank you for that reminder.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House adopts the Report of the Committee …

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kalila: … on Health, Community Development and Social Services for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly laid on the Floor of the House on 3^rd July, 2025.

 

Madam Speaker: Is the motion seconded?

 

Ms Nakaponda (Isoka): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Quality!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Dr Kalila: Madam Speaker, we are presenting the report of the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services on the operations of NHIMA, and I was just beginning to lay the ground by saying that in the last two years, probably even more, NHIMA has been facing significant challenges in its operations due to low solvency levels.

 

Madam Speaker, I am assuming that hon. Members have read the full extent of our report, which was circulated actually last week. So, basically, ours will just be highlights, together with my hon. Colleague who is seconding this report.

 

Madam Speaker, NHIMA’s current problems stem from the fact that their collections on a monthly basis is K110 million, and yet, hon. Members have to pay K117 million. So, most of the hon. Members from a financial background can see that NHIMA is technically insolvent, so to speak, and there are reasons to this.

 

 Madam Speaker, further, in interrogating this, the Committee conducted tours in selected districts across Central, Luapula, Northern, Muchinga and Lusaka provinces, where we interacted first-hand with the various players, who actually administer this scheme. Secondly, we also interacted with many key informants or what we normally call stakeholders, and were able to infer the following.

 

Madam Speaker, firstly, it is important to realise that all the stakeholders commended this policy intervention as being very necessary and that it has saved lives and it ought to continue.

 

Madam Speaker, secondly, the Committee noted that in recent years, as I said, its income has plateaued while the claims from health providers have exponentially increased. For instance, in 2023 and 2024, a surge in claim volumes resulted in a loss of 143 per cent and 135 per cent respectively. This also meant that some claims were unpaid, well over K508 million in 2023, and K453 million in 2024, highlighting the growing financial pressure on the scheme and the unsustainable dependence on financial contributions only from members. We must say that the Committee appreciates the Government’s intentions for NHIMA to operate a self-financing model. However, it is concerned by the lack of budgetary support.

 

Madam Speaker, right from the start, NHIMA has never received any budgetary support from the Government except in 2025, and thanks to the Government and hon. Members who advocated for this. It now receives K1.5 million, which was appropriated in this year’s budget. Clearly, this amount is very inadequate considering that it needs at least a minimum of K230 million, especially at the beginning of its operations. By the way, NHIMA started without any operational money that was given to it.

 

Additionally, Madam Speaker, currently, citizens contribute 1 per cent and then, employers also contribute 1 per cent. This is clearly very inadequate because the actual reports that supported the setting up of that clearly, stated that the more acceptable contributions to run this scheme very profitably needed a contribution of 2.5 per cent from employees and another 2.5 per cent from employers, which makes it 5 per cent. So, you can see that clearly at 2 per cent, the scheme has been suffering greatly leading to where we are today. So, we would like to advise and recommend that changes should be made to this contributory rate to graduate it slowly upwards until probably we reach 5 per cent. Failure to that, we also recommend that this contribution should be based on the gross pay, unlike currently, when it is 1 per cent of the net.  If it is transformed into a gross payment, it will release a bit more money into the scheme to make it a little bit more viable.

 

Madam Speaker, thirdly, the House will realise that this benefit package is uniform across every sector. So, whatever amount we are paying, we actually enjoy the same benefit package. We propose that different benefit packages be introduced with premiums that are different to suit the benefit package that one is on. Those who are able to pay more should be able to access more in the benefit package unlike the way things are currently.

 

 Madam Speaker, the Committee is also equally concerned that tariffs for various procedures under NHIMA appear to be very inconsistent. For example, to clean your ear or what is known as ear sealing, you pay K1,800, but to do a prostate biopsy, which is a little bit more complex, you pay less. So, how can that be profitable? So, basically, the pricing structure and model must also be looked at.

 

Madam Speaker, as my hon. Colleague will highlight further issues, let me just say that there were also concerns about fraudulent claims by some citizens who own health facilities. That was a concern to the Committee, to the extent that we are suggesting that there must be an electronic invoicing and receipting system that will send Short Message Service (SMSs) to people immediately they use a service. If one went to a hospital under NHIMA, one would not know how much one spent on the service. One would probably walk away not knowing the amount spent. So, one needs to be told immediately how much one incurred, so that one can track expenses under NHIMA.

 

Madam Speaker, there were so many issues in the report, and as I said, hon. Colleagues should have gone through it because it is a very good report. It really delved deep into some of the problems at NHIMA, and my hon. Colleagues might mention some of them. Let me just say that currently, NHIMA is a flagship programme that many countries admire. People from other countries have been admiring it and coming for benchmarking. All we need to do is improve it so that it can continue to serve our people.

 

Madam Speaker, I see that time is not with me, so let me just thank all the stakeholders who submitted written and oral evidence to the Committee. I also extend my deep appreciation to you, Madam Speaker, for giving us the opportunity to undertake this critical oversight function. I also urge hon. Members to put our heads together to save this very important policy that has saved many lives, particularly those of the poor and the vulnerable. Let us all find ways to extend NHIMA services, particularly to underserved areas. Right now, it appears that NHIMA is concentrated along the line of rail.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

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

 

Ms Nakaponda: Now, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Nakaponda: Madam Speaker, allow me to sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to second this important Motion, which has been ably moved by Dr Christopher Kalila, the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukulu East.

 

Madam Speaker, universal health coverage is a global principle aimed at protecting the most vulnerable in society by ensuring access to quality and affordable health services. This is the foundation upon which the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) was established. Therefore, the Committee’s resolution to review NHIMA’s operations is essential, as it seeks to ensure that all Zambians have access to affordable and quality healthcare services, especially women and children who are mostly at risk of suffering the consequences of poor healthcare services. For this reason, I fully support the Motion, and in doing so, I would like to highlight a few issues raised in the Committee’s report.

 

Madam Speaker, firstly, as noted in the report, the Committee found that NHIMA lacked a sufficient system to equally detect or prevent fraud. Further, it lacked a standard mechanism for monitoring the impact of its operations towards achieving universal health coverage. Therefore, I support the Committee’s recommendation that NHIMA should strengthen fraud detection, prevention, and claims verification mechanisms. Further, I agree with the Committee’s position that the Ministry of Health should develop a strong monitoring and evaluation framework for regular data analysis and reporting on the progress towards attaining universal health coverage.

 

Madam Speaker, NHIMA’s resource pool is reducing at a fast rate because of the low registration rate and poor contribution patterns by the formal sector. To raise more revenue, it is important for NHIMA to strengthen partnerships with telecom companies, local authorities, informal sector associations, community organisations, and traditional leaders to improve identification, registration, and contributions in the sector.

 

Madam Speaker, I further support the Committee’s concern regarding pre-authorisation difficulties in times of emergency care. Many healthcare providers reported that waiting for special approvals before attending to patients was not practical in emergency situations. Therefore, I support the recommendation to introduce round-the-clock support services and automated systems to prevent delays that normally stand between the patient’s right to access treatment and the hospital’s right to obtain payment for offering services.

 

Madam Speaker, lastly, the Committee noted a lack of clarity on how funds generated through NHIMA were being mismanaged by some public healthcare providers. I, therefore, support the Committee’s call to enforce regulations governing the use of internally generated resources in public health facilities. If properly enforced, the regulations will help to guide investments when buying medical and non-medical equipment. In addition, the regulations will eliminate wasteful expenditure and help healthcare providers to invest in things that will improve the welfare of patients.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, I second the Motion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr A. Banda (Chimwemwe): Madam Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank the chairperson of the Committee for moving the Motion, and the seconder for seconding the Motion.

 

Madam Speaker, I will be brief regarding the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA). I will look at just one or two issues affecting our patients in private hospitals. Private hospitals seem to be more interested in making money rather than serving patients. I hope that the hon. Minister knows that currently, some hospitals are restricted to seeing only twenty patients a day. What is happening is that the twenty patients seen on a Monday can only go back for review if there is space during the week. If there is no space, those patients will not go back for review. If you looked at the kind of money that NHIMA is spending on patients on x-rays and other tests, you would see that it is a lot. If a patient does not get better, that patient has to go elsewhere to be treated. There are no maternity services in most private hospitals. If you looked at the situation, you would see that NHIMA is spending a lot of money on private hospitals. That is why the Government should look at improving its own public health facilities. Once that is done, the situation will get better. We are paying money to NHIMA so the service should befit what we are paying.

 

Madam Speaker, we need to get rid of what is called the low-cost ward at public hospitals. I do not understand why we still have high-cost and low-cost wards when NHIMA pays for patients. The idea of paying for low-cost or high-cost wards is more like segregation. Most people believe that health personnel who attend to patients at low-cost wards do not have enough experience. That may not be the case, but the attitude of the workers or the health personnel at low-cost wards is something that one cannot even want to talk about. That is why your Committee has spoken about referrals. Why do patients from Chimwemwe skip their clinics and go straight to the hospital? It goes back to our clinical staff’s attitude. For example, a patient who has had a headache for five days manages to buy a painkiller, takes it for five days, but does not get cured. He or she goes to the clinic, waits for two hours on a bench for his or her turn, but the personnel are busy on their cellular phones, chatting and having their tea. When the time comes to attend to him or her, they prescribe panadol. Even I would not go to such a clinic. I would rather jump the queue and go to the hospital.

 

Madam Speaker, fraudulent claims are something that NHIMA can work around. Patients need to sign for the bills at the time they are attended to. The bills should then be sent to the patients by NHIMA with a statement so that the patient can check whether the bill is what he or she was charged. I also agree with your Committee on the fact that the contribution is low. The 2 per cent contribution from basic pay is low. Increasing it to 5 per cent would be okay for NHIMA, but the question is: What about the small companies? Will they manage to pay the 5 per cent? The Government needs to look at the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and the Workers' Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB). I think we pay too much money to NAPSA. I do not see why we cannot reduce the per cent towards NAPSA and shove it to NHIMA. Another board that gets people’s money is the WCFCB. The Government has made it mandatory for every company to register with the WCFCB. We have few worker-related accidents, but people pay a lot to the board. Some of that money should be channelled to NHIMA. The WCFCB works well for mining companies and companies that conduct business with mining companies because accidents are frequent in that sector. I do not understand why other traders should have WCFCB provisions.

 

Madam Speaker, I understand that your Committee said that NIHMA carters for selected services related to physiotherapy. I do not believe that we should have selected services for everybody who goes for physiotherapy. Those who are forty-five years old and above should be allowed to access all the services that physiotherapy provides. We all know that as people age, their muscles tend to twist. So, we cannot have restrictions. Besides, we do not even know the selected services. I wish your Committee had itemised them.

 

Madam Speaker, it is true that NIHMA can make its own money by continuing to invest in financial instruments. It has already shown us how it made money when it partnered with the Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZISC). That is what the authority needs to continue doing with the unused funds to make money.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I wish to support the Motion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: I kept looking at the hon. Minister of Health to see whether he was getting what was being said.

 

Mr Muchima indicated dissent.

 

Laughter

 

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member for Chimwemwe kept looking down, but the notes were few. I do not know what he was looking at. So, I was wondering whether he wrote in a shorthand form or some sort.

 

It was interesting. Keep it up, hon. Member.

 

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, I am grateful for this opportunity you have given me to speak on an issue that I am passionate about; access to healthcare for our people.

 

Madam Speaker, you may recall that in 2023, I presented a Motion before this House urging the Government to actualise the provision of health services to the poor and vulnerable. Parliament agreed with my proposal to the effect that, in line with Section 16 of the National Health Insurance Act, we need to give access to healthcare to the poor and vulnerable. I will premise my submission on the earlier conversation we had. May I also indicate, for your benefit, that five months ago, I wrote a letter to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia to bring another Motion to request that we get part of the income from the money that we raise through Value-Added Tax (VAT) to contribute to the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) expenses. The issue and why we need –

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, the letters you wrote are bedroom issues. They are not supposed to be discussed in the House. They are administrative.

 

Mr Kang’ombe: Much obliged, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: So, just go into the debate.

 

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I was building up to my debate. I was trying to illustrate that I have consistently advocated for NHIMA to be a more responsive institution. That is why some proposals have been made. You gave me guidance to the effect that my proposal would be considered after this report is tabled. That is why I referred to my proposal on channelling part of the VAT towards NHIMA. Nonetheless, you have given guidance.

 

Madam Speaker, I will refer the House to page No. 8 of the report. I hope hon. Members have had time to read it. It is detailed. What is surprising –

 

Madam Speaker: What does "You guys" mean?

 

Mr Kang’ombe: Pardon?

 

Madam Speaker: You said “You guys”.

 

Mr Kang’ombe: I did not say “Guys”.

 

Madam Speaker: Oh, okay. Maybe, I misunderstood. I thought you said, “You guys, I hope ...”

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Okay. Anyway, hon. Members, we refer to one another as hon. Members.

 

Mr Kang’ombe: That is what I did, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Okay, then. Proceed.

 

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I have lost a lot of time. I hope you will give me extra minutes.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kang’ombe: Quite frankly, Madam Speaker, my debate has been interrupted twice.

 

Madam Speaker, I will refer you to page No. 8 of the report which, for those who have not had time to read the report, outlines twenty challenges that NHIMA is facing. That is alarming. An institution that is supposed to provide healthcare to those who can find money and those who cannot is facing twenty challenges. Some of the challenges mentioned in this report are purely administrative, things that NHIMA can quickly resolve on its own, and challenges that we need to help it resolve. That is why this report is important. It states what we need to confront head-on and to resolve the problems. Coming from a constituency that has almost seven unplanned settlements, such as Mulenga, Chankalamu and Zamtan compounds, I do not think our people will afford normal healthcare if we do not get NHIMA right. We need to get NHIMA right. National health insurance has two contributors; those who can afford it, people who have salaries, and those who cannot afford it. So, when I read about twenty challenges, I am alarmed as a Member of Parliament, because if we resolved five challenges, we would still have fifteen more to resolve. When are we going to resolve twenty challenges for an institution that is supposed to resolve our challenges in the healthcare system?

 

Madam Speaker, I will quickly take the House through one of the challenges that was identified. The third challenge indicates that if one goes to a public health facility and a private health facility for the same service, the fees will differ. One institution will tell the patient that because he or she has malaria, he or she must pay a certain amount of money. However, when one goes to a private health facility, the rate is different. We need to help our people access health care. Given this challenge, who will resolve this problem? Your report has highlighted it as a challenge. I hope that, as the hon. Minister of Health acts on the recommendations in this report, he will also pay close attention to issues that could disadvantage our people.

 

Madam Speaker, I will take you to another challenge identified in the report for the benefit of those who have not had time to read the report. On page 16, the report states that some people are not eligible to access NHIMA services, but they are admitted into the system. So, when the health institution tries to claim its money from NHIMA, the claim is rejected, stating that the patient is not eligible to access NHIMA services, and it is not known how the patient was admitted into the system. Therefore, NHIMA cannot pay. So, I ask myself, who, in the first place, could not resolve that administrative problem. This is because some things need policy guidelines here, and others require the attitude of our workers to improve. There are some issues that we need to be discussing here, spending the precious time of the people of Zambia, and there are other issues that NHIMA should be able to resolve on its own. That is why, for me, an institution cannot have twenty challenges. Given that we have exposed the twenty problems that NHIMA is facing, I want to appeal to the hon. Minister of Health, and the Committee that has done a very good job of bringing up these challenges to resolve these problems that have been identified.

 

Madam Speaker, it will take the whole day for me to go item by item because this report is quite voluminous. What we need to do for now is to get a commitment from the hon. Minister of Health. As he responds, he should be able to say that since the Government does not have enough time, it is making a commitment on problems No. 1, 2, 3 up to the 20^th problem. This is because these problems affect our people in terms of access to health care. That is what the hon. Member of Parliament for Chimwemwe tried to illustrate. He illustrated that people face challenges in accessing health care. Only a few months ago, a decision was announced that certain services would no longer be in the NHIMA package. Then what is the use of health insurance if the ministry states that it cannot afford certain services, and that people should contribute 50 per cent? Then, what is the use of NHIMA? That is what the Government announced three months ago. Patients have been going to health facilities to have their eyes checked, for example, but they are told that such is not a real problem and does not require the attention of NHIMA. Therefore, they can sort it out on their own. There are complaints coming from our community. Old men and women in Kamfinsa cannot have their eyes checked because the NHIMA regulations have changed.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, with your indulgence, in 2018, this Parliament enacted a law on the National Health Insurance. It is a good law. In 2019, a Statutory Instrument (SI) was signed that allows us to now implement health insurance. It has been almost five to six years since its implementation. It is about time we got this NHIMA programme right so that our people can benefit.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, I will be very brief. Firstly, allow me to thank the Committee for the great work done. Allow me to also thank the previous speakers on this very important Motion.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to build on what the hon. Member for Chimwemwe touched regarding fraudulent claims by institutions accredited to the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA). This probably calls for the Office of the Auditor-General to take particular interest in the financial operations of this very important authority. This is because we have heard of NHIMA-accredited institutions complaining about delayed payments. However, the feedback we also get is that there is serious room and serious reason to believe that there are fraudulent claims. So, in balancing the cry about delayed payments and the need for us to interrogate fraudulent claims, it only becomes important that the Office of the Auditor-General takes particular interest because these are public funds, in as much as they are being collected from members of the public. At the end of the day, this is a parastatal, I want to believe. Therefore, the Government and the Auditor-General must take particular interest in this issue.

 

Madam Speaker, another issue that is very important is the issue of equity and access to NHIMA services. The majority of NHIMA-accredited institutions are located in urban areas as opposed to rural areas. It is very important to find creative and innovative ways of rolling out this particular intervention in rural areas in the spirit of ensuring that we attain universal health coverage, as a country.

 

Madam Speaker, I would also wish to submit to the hon. Minister of Health that there is every reason for us to expand the contribution base. I think, this speaks, again, to the need for us to look at the informal sector. This conversation has been had within the context of broadening the tax base and how to formalise the informal sector, the extent to which we creatively bring the informal sector on board, and flexible payment options such as mobile money et cetera, for the informal sector to come on board and contribute to this very important intervention.

 

Madam Speaker, it is also important for us to speak to the enforcement of compliance. It is important that there is compliance to the maximum in this regard. Further, it is important that we also look at building investment and reserve funds; health investment reserves. There is nothing wrong with NHIMA investing in options such as Government bonds for us to build solvency buffers for this particular fund.

 

Madam Speaker, as I near my conclusion, it is important that we look at NHIMA and earmark the sin taxes, as was brought before this very important House. We looked at increasing sin taxes on commodities such as alcohol, tobacco, and betting services so that we could earmark sin taxes to support NHIMA reserves. This is a recommendation that we are making as the people of Kanchibiya.

 

Madam Speaker, the last point is what I had alluded to in my preamble, that it is very important for us to ensure that there is financial accountability on the part of NHIMA. Even as we speak to the inadequacy of funds versus what they are paying out to their accredited firms, it is just important that NHIMA is also made to account for every Ngwee or Kwacha being collected from members of the public, and that if there be any fraudulent claims, as we have read in certain quotas, it is brought to a halt.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, I rest my case.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to say a few words. My debate will be very brief. However, before that, may I take this opportunity to thank the mover of this particular Motion, Hon. Dr Kalila and the seconder, Hon. Nakaponda, for doing justice to this report.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee did a very commendable job. The report, which is brought on this Floor of the House is always very detailed. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that the Executive acts on these reports. If reports are generated every year, but they are not acted upon, then we are doing a disservice to the nation. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) under the management of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) was a very good proposal by the Government then, which was meant to provide quality health care to our people, especially the poor and the most vulnerable in society. We have seen the numerous challenges that NHIMA has been facing. So, it is important that we bite the bullet and ensure that we address the challenges. We all know that if our country was not healthy, we would not be here.  So, we need to ensure that we urgently address the challenges that NHIMA is facing.

 

Madam Speaker, let me quickly talk about cancer. Today, if one went to the Cancer Diseases Hospital, one would be alarmed by the number of people who are admitted there.  The medication for cancer treatment is very expensive and NHIMA is not able to cover the costs. So, most of our people are dying because they cannot afford the cancer treatment. Now, what are we going to do? Are we going to continue folding our hands as leaders and continue seeing our people who cannot access expensive cancer drugs dying? Really, we need to take a holistic approach and ensure that NHIMA is given enough funds for it to provide quality healthcare to our people.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also talk about the optical services or eye treatment. I have been a regular patient at some of the eye hospitals. Recently, NHIMA decided to do away with certain services related to optical services or eye treatment. I am aware that even health practitioners have engaged the Ministry of Health on certain services that have been abandoned by certain private health care institutions. Now, some of those services are only available in public hospitals like the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH), Ndola Teaching Hospital and Kitwe Central Hospital. However, you would find that some Government institutions are not able to undertake delicate operations. Meanwhile, private institutions that are specialised in corneal transplants under optical services are about ten in the country. In the meantime, that service is not available in Government hospitals, but NHIMA does not cover that service. There are also other conditions like glaucoma and cataracts which are also not covered under NHIMA.  Further, Government hospitals do not have the capacity to provide spectacles to our people. Health practitioners have warned that if we do not take radical measures to ensure that NHIMA is fully funded, we risk having a blind society. So, that is the gravity of this particular problem.

 

Going forward, resources should be mobilised within the country. For instance, there are certain taxes like the television (TV) levy or fuel levy. Surely, if we can pay such taxes, why can we not pay levy on health care? Everyone gets sick. I do not think there is any Zambian who can be against the idea of us paying more towards health. So, time has come for us to ensure that the Government allocates more resources to the Ministry of Health so that NHIMA can have enough resources. Apart from that, Zambians must also pay more.

 

In conclusion, I am happy that the report talks about recapitalising the Zambia Flying Doctor Services. Sometime back, that service used to be very vibrant. However, the performance of the Zambia Flying Doctor Services over the years, has gone down completely. If the Zambia Flying Doctor Services can be recapitalised, people in rural areas will be motivated to pay more if health services are taken closer to them.

 

With these few remarks, Madam Speaker, I support this Report.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

 

Mr Mwila (Mufulira): Madam Speaker, I thank the mover and the Committee for this report. Indeed, they have done a very good job to bring to the fore, the challenges that NHIMA is facing.

 

Madam Speaker, the issue of NHIMA affects all of us either directly or indirectly, especially we, hon. Members of Parliament. All of us, in one way or another, have experienced the challenges that have been highlighted in the report in our constituents.

 

For example, a few weeks ago, one member in the constituency fell ill and was attended to by a public health institution. Unfortunately, the drugs that that member needed were not available in that institution. So, that person was given a prescription and went to a NHIMA-accredited pharmacy, where he found the drugs but were not under NHIMA. So, that person had to buy the drugs for   K495.  Those are real problems.

 

Madam Speaker, my concern with the information in the report is the sustainability of NHIMA. Page two of the report states,

 

“In just the last five years of operation, NHIMA faced among others challenges; the threat of insolvency due to unsustainable income flows; a growing number of beneficiaries; and fraudulent claims.”

 

That is a very big problem. When the word “insolvency” applies to an institution, it simply means that institution cannot operate.

 

Madam Speaker, the mover of the Motion mentioned that NHIMA is incurring more costs than the funds that it is raising. I have looked at all the solutions and recommendations, but the issue of money surpasses all.  NHIMA has been sending out exclusion messages to clients to alert them on certain services that are not available and also, the issue of delayed reimbursements to accredited institutions. This is coming to one thing, which is funding. NHIMA needs funding. If we do not address the issue of funding, the threat of insolvency will soon become real. I cannot just imagine living in a country without NHIMA. What is going to happen to the health services in this country?

 

Madam Speaker, stakeholders have submitted the request of K230 million. The K230 million would go towards capital contribution and also, to settle outstanding medical bills. We need to interrogate ourselves on how we can raise that K230 million. We can talk but at the end of the day, if we do not address the issue of capital injection, NHIMA will collapse very soon. Let us imagine having such a situation happening in this country.

 

Madam Speaker, now, how do we address the issue of inadequate funding?  The report is suggesting the increase of contributions and I agree with it.  Since 2019, we have had the same contributions. We cannot do that when the cost of things and the inflation rate have been rising. We are simply not reflecting the reality on the ground. So, the 2 per cent that the people in the formal sector are contributing needs to be revised urgently. The 2 per cent is divided into two. I per cent is from the employee and 1 per cent is from the employer. The report suggests having moderate increases. However, the threat of insolvency cannot wait for the introduction of the moderate increment. We need to find a way of increasing contributions from people in the formal sector can urgently increase their contribution because the threat we are faced with is real.

 

Further, Madam Speaker, we know that the informal sector, according to the law, has been placed on voluntary contribution. Now, we cannot sustain that. We need to find a way of making it mandatory for the informal sector to contribute. Health provision and healthcare are a must for everyone. When we talk about universal health coverage, we need to have universal contributions towards health services.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Mwila: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that when we have universal health coverage, we must also have universal contributions. Currently, contributions from the informal sector are voluntary. I think, we need to change the law as soon as possible, so that it becomes mandatory for people in the informal sector to pay contributions to the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA). There are many ways that I want to suggest. Firstly, contributions from people in the informal sector should be mandatory, and that can be enforced because traders are in markets. The Ministry of Health or NHIMA can work with local authorities so that when local authorities issue trading licences, they ensure that licences are issued to informal operators who have made contributions to NHIMA. That is one way that can be used because the informal sector is under local authorities. People in the informal sector make contributions to local authorities in one way or another. That way, we will increase the financial base.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 

You may continue, hon. Member.

 

Mr Mwila: Madam Speaker, we can also work with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).

How has the ZRA managed to ensure that before it issues a tax clearance certificate, the recipient should have complied with all tax obligations? So, NHIMA can also work with the ZRA to ensure that those getting tax compliance certificates have complied with the regulation to pay NHIMA contributions. The law must expand contributions not just to individual workers but also to corporate entities.

 

Madam Speaker, if you went to the ZRA, you would find that some registered companies submit nil returns every month. However, even with nil returns, they cannot get a tax clearance certificate until they have complied with nil returns. So, in the same vein, NHIMA can find a way to collaborate with the ZRA to ensure that corporate entities are brought on board to make contributions, so that employees are not the only ones making contributions. Of course, corporate entities contribute 1 per cent, but I am talking about those companies that submit nil returns at the ZRA. Nil returns mean that a company has no employees and, therefore, it does not contribute to NHIMA. However, how can a company continue to submit nil returns for five to ten years? A company that is registered must somehow make contributions.

 

Madam Speaker, above all, the threat of insolvency is very big regarding NHIMA. As I said earlier, we do not want to wake up and find that NHIMA cannot continue to exist anymore because it has run out of money. Capital contribution being sought from the Treasury is just one way to help the institution; we need to bring brains together because NHIMA is for Zambians. We must bring all Zambians with knowledge about how the scheme can work together. The scheme started in the Patriotic Front (PF) regime, with Dr Chilufya as the Minister of Health, and he is still there. Why can Dr Chilufya not join hands with NHIMA and the Ministry of Health to share how NHIMA was envisioned to run without problems of insolvency as we are experiencing now?

 

Madam Speaker, we need to address this issue now rather than later so that we do not throw Zambians in limbo. One day, they might wake up and learn that NHIMA is no more.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

The Minister of Health (Mr Muchima): Madam Speaker, firstly, I thank the mover of the Motion and the seconder.

 

Madam Speaker, in response to the Report of the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services, I will dwell on the essence of my ministry, and then I will also respond to the comments by hon. Members.

 

Madam Speaker, I have carefully considered the observations and recommendations made by the Committee, and as per standard practice and procedure, my ministry will provide a detailed action-taken report. In the meantime, allow me to give my general comments on some of the observations and recommendations made by the Committee, as well as matters raised by fellow hon. Members.

 

Harmonising Legislation

 

Madam Speaker, internal processes to harmonise the disparities and contradictions named in the identified pieces of legislation have commenced. Notwithstanding that, and given that the process of changing pieces of legislation takes time, I have, for example, directed the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) and the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) to work together in a way that does not contravene any piece of legislation.

 

Tariff Revision and Restructure of the Benefits Package

 

Madam Speaker, it is, indeed, true that the claim tariff prices have not been revised by NHIMA since inception. There was an attempt to revise the claim tariff price in 2023 through an amendment to the benefit package. Actuarial modelling revealed that the current tariffs were not financially sustainable for the scheme due to limited income levels against projected claims. The Government, through the ministry, has now started a comprehensive revision of the benefits package that will have cost-reflective prices, while creating ceilings to prevent frivolous use of the scheme. The benefits package will also be differentiated into tier groups, among other proposed changes.

 

Treasury Support for Exempted Groups and Change to the Contributory Base from Basic to Gross Income

 

Madam Speaker, I concur with the recommendation made by your Committee to support the poor and vulnerable people. Since its inception in 2019, the scheme has received claims in excess of K850 million from citizens in the exempted category. That is unsustainable. The Government has, however, continued to look for resources to support the vulnerable populations. For example, the Government has secured approximately US$2.5 million from co-operating partners to enlist 40,500 poor households onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). As the House may be aware, the resource envelope for the nation is limited. Nonetheless, the Government is working on actualising the recommendation made by your Committee to provide capital injection into NHIMA. This Government is dedicated to safeguarding the financial stability of the authority.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government, through my ministry, is working to revise the contribution rates by amending Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 63, 2019, as recommended by the actuarial studies and your Committee, to make them cost-reflective. The authority is equally working to expand staffing in critical departments, such as clinical audits, which will enhance identification of fraud, waste and abuse, in line with the recommendations highlighted by your Committee. The authority is also in the process of procuring a robust electronic information system to curb fraud perpetuated by some facilities.

 

Disproportional Accreditation of Healthcare Providers in Rural Areas and Strengthen NHIMA’s Audit Mechanisms

 

Madam Speaker, effective in 2023, the authority halted wholesale unsolicited accreditation of healthcare providers and introduced a needs-based accreditation criterion to ensure equity in the distribution of facilities. The drive to accredit more health facilities in rural areas was started in June 2023 and, so far, 179 rural health facilities have been accredited. In addition, the authority has accredited thirteen mini-hospitals since December 2024, bringing the total to date to sixty-five mini-hospitals. I can confirm the presence of NHIMA in all 116 districts of the country, with every district having at least one NHIMA-accredited facility. The authority prioritises accreditation of rural health facilities to improve equity of access.

 

Madam Speaker, before I conclude, I wish to state that I took note of certain contributions by hon. Members and would like to share the Government’s position on particular issues. The House may be aware that this Government is wary of increasing taxes anyhow. Only people in the formal sector currently contribute to the NHIS. The informal sector was not captured because of the registration aspect, which the authority is revising and improving. That is one hindrance we need to overcome.

 

Madam Speaker, the first recommended deduction rate was 5 per cent, but that was going to bring a lot of discomfort among employees in formal employment. So, it was lowered to 2 per cent. That is why the contribution was set at 1 per cent from the employer and 1 per cent from the employee. However, actuarial studies, again, have moved it to 2 per cent. We just hope it will not be politicised because, in this country, people do not look at issues objectively. They look at matters subjectively. They will start blaming the Government, and yet today, all of us in this House, both on your left and right, agree that we should revise the rates. The amount that NHIMA collects is insufficient. Hence, the collection of K110 million against the payment of K170 million does not balance. However, if we agree, in totality, and not bring in politics, then, we shall say that the provision is a welcome move. One hon. Member I know, on your left, will go to Mpika and start saying, “Look at this Government, it is increasing taxes”, and yet that is what we have all agreed to in this House.

 

Madam Speaker, an SI will be initiated soon so that we can relook at NHIMA. The NHIS is the way to go. Some services were withdrawn because NHIMA could not afford them. The authority owes a lot of people payments. So, we could not continue with those services. Now, we have devised a cluster system. If one wants more services, one has to pay more. If this is agreed on, with no politics involved, that will be the way to go.

 

Madam Speaker, on evacuations, I was surprised to hear one person talk about the Zambia Flying Doctors Service (ZFDS). I should congratulate the former hon. Minister of Health. The ZFDS is doing a commendable job. There is no province where doctors from that unit are not present. Just today, it is on the Copperbelt Province evacuating people. The service has improved very much, and we need to enhance its operations. It is meant to help and evacuate people from the rural parts of this country. It is also not discriminatory. As long as one is a patient, the service is there to pick people up. Ndola has a fee-paying and non-fee-paying service. The fee-paying service raises money to help poor people. This Government is sympathetic, but the problem is that we bring in cheap politics, even when it is not necessary. If we agree to move the deductions to 5 per cent of the gross of employees’ salaries, the ministry is ready, but that would injure many people. Our President does not want that. He wants taxes to be reduced. The only problem that has delayed that are the legal implications. So, we are going the SI way.

 

Madam Speaker, Rwanda has two categories for health insurance services, that is, for the communities and the normal insurance. So, for people who are between zero to eighteen years old, the Government and its co-operating partners take charge. Then, from nineteen to sixty-four years old, one is eligible to pay for the health services. If we can also include the informal sector, then, we will meet whatever goal we want. Those are the models we want to bring in, as long as hon. Members do not bring in politics. The problem is that when we are heading towards elections, hon. Members start talking about taking note of issues. We will also stand on anthills because today we have all pledged to include all the issues and revise NHIMA to cater for the poor and vulnerable people. I have taken note of that.

 

Madam Speaker, the insolvency of the authority is real. It is in arrears at the moment. If we can expand the contributions – by the way, we should call it an investment – we will put people in categories. The Ndola General Hospital, where my friend is, has been renovated. One cannot distinguish the fast-track, ordinary and standard services. That is why we want to do things differently so that people have options. Further, a standard charge has been implemented to deal with private hospitals that charge higher rates than other hospitals. Those hospitals would just tick things and charge exorbitant prices. They have been cut off so that we can save money.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You can prepare to wind up, hon. Minister.

 

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, the K50 premium that is paid for seven members of a family is too small. We also need to look into that so that, maybe, we can reduce it to three family members. Then, if one wants to add seven people to the scheme, one can pay more.

 

Madam Speaker, I can go on and on. However, I would just like to thank my hon. Colleagues, on your right and left, who have supported the Motion. That is the way to go.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kalila: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to wind up debate on the Motion on behalf of my hon. Colleagues in the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services. I also thank all the hon. Members who have rendered a voice on the report. It is very clear that we are all in consensus that, firstly, we need to save the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA). Secondly, we need to broaden its revenue base. Thirdly, which is very impressive to me, hon. Members went further to suggest an array of methods of how to do it, underscoring the importance that NHIMA continues to play in the lives of our people, particularly the poor and the vulnerable. So, I want to thank all my hon. Colleagues, for supporting us.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Quality!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of this House on Monday, 14^th July, 2025.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is the motion seconded?

 

Mr Allen Banda (Chimwemwe): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference, as set out under Orders No. 206(c) and 207 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, the Committee undertook a study on the Operations of the Higher Education Authority of Zambia for the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

 

Madam Speaker, the Higher Education Act, No. 4 of 2013, read together with the Higher Education (Amendment) Act, No. 23 of 2021, provides for the establishment of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), whose roles, among others, are:

 

1. to regulate higher education institutions and to co-s ordinate the development of higher education in Zambia;

 

1. promote quality education assurance in higher education; and

 

1. audit the quality assurance mechanisms of higher education.

 

Madam Speaker, further, Structural Instrument (SI) No. 51 of 2024 regulations provide for the realisation of registration of higher education institutions and accreditation of learning programmes by the authority.

 

Madam Speaker, let me hasten to mention that an effective higher education authority is essential for maintaining standards, promoting access, equity, ensuring relevance to the job market, and enhancing the global competitiveness of the country’s higher education system. This, in turn, contributes to national development, innovation and poverty reduction.

 

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

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee observes with concern that the existing legal framework surrounding higher education has not completely resolved the overlapping mandates of the HEA with professional bodies. The Committee particularly observes that higher education institutions wishing to offer diplomas in nursing programmes are required to buy and pay for curriculum approval to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia and thereafter, pay accreditation fees to the HEA. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the Executive institutes the process of harmonising the Higher Education Amendment Act, No. 23 of 2021, with the Nursing and Midwifery Act, No. 10 of 2019, which has not undergone consequential amendments, after the amendment of the principal Act.

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee also observes that the HEA is highly centralised, making it difficult to oversee the operations of all higher institutions as per the requirements of the Act. In this vein, the Committee urges the Executive to consider restructuring the HEA in order to increase and align its capacity to the increased mandate and functions as per the Higher Education Act, No. 23 of 2021.

 

Madam Speaker, with regard to the development of the student database, the Committee expresses concern that the authority does not have a student database to allow for monitoring of student enrolment in all higher education institutions. The Committee finds this unfortunate and urges the Executive to mobilise a request for funding and technical support to develop the student database to allow for monitoring of student enrolment in higher education institutions without delay.

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee further observes with concern that despite the enactment of the Higher Education Act, No. 23 of 2021, which expanded the HEA’s mandate and its functions, the Authority has not been expanded in terms of institutional capacity, and the staff complement has not been increased. The increased number of private and public higher education institutions has also put more strain on the capacity of the HEA to deliver its services in an efficient manner. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the Executive considers expanding the institutional capacity and staff complement of the HEA to enable it to meet the mandate for which it was established.

 

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, allow me to pay tribute to the stakeholders who interacted with the Committee for the valuable insight they provided. Gratitude all goes to you and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to the Committee throughout the study.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

 

Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

 

Mr Allen Banda: Now, Madam Speaker.

 

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. May I take this opportunity to thank the mover of the Motion for his able manner in which he has highlighted some critical issues. May I not forget to thank the entire Committee, your office and the Committee clerks we worked with as we put this Committee report together.

 

Madam Speaker, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) is a statutory body. Its core function is to provide quality assurance to all higher education institutions (HEIs). To do that, it needs proper funding. However, the kind of money that is allocated to it through the Budget is so lean. This is why the Committee is urging the Government to look into the Budget and increase the allocation. Further, the Committee wishes to urge the Government to engage external partners for funding.

 

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Education has introduced a foundation level at secondary school, and A-levels will be introduced soon. Having said that, we need to understand that going forward, we will have many learners going to university. However, we only have a few public universities. It means that we have to rely on private universities. This is where the HEA needs to ensure that quality assurance is met. The HEA not only monitors, but also conducts registration, accredits programmes and carries out institutional audits. All this needs money.

 

Madam Speaker, having said that, your Committee also observed that compliance levels are actually not standard, simply because certain institutions are not being monitored. Why are they not being monitored? It is simply because the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has only got one centralised office. What HEA needs is regional offices. All this can only be attained once the budget increases.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee also observes and recommends that the Executive should develop target assistance initiatives to help institutions address specific compliance gaps. Your Committee is also asking the Government to look at the landscape, including technological advancements and evolving learning needs. In this regard, your Committee urges the Executive to conduct periodic reviews of legal regulatory frameworks to align with emerging challenges in technological advancement and international best practice.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few words, I wish to second the Motion.

 

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me an opportunity, on behalf of the people of Chilubi, to debate this Motion. First of all, I would like to thank the mover and the seconder of the Motion, together with the Committee, for highlighting issues that concern higher education.

 

Madam Speaker, let me start by commenting on the Higher Education Act of 2013, which was amended in 2021, which was talked about.  As rightly pointed out, there is a problem, not with the law, but with its implementation. Further, the report also captures how the law is not being followed by both the Higher Education Authority (HEA) itself and the higher institutions of learning.  The report has demonstrated that.

 

Madam Speaker, let me say that it is clear that HEA, which has demonstrated to be toothless in a way, cannot take up a mammoth task of controlling an institution like the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital which is complex.  By that, we are looking at different issues. We are talking about measuring quality and coordinating higher learning institutions. It is highly demonstrated that HEA y is nowhere near control of quality in higher learning education, as it may be.

 

Madam Speaker, we are trying to churn out human capital that can not only compete locally, but also, globally. The report talks about evolving learning needs.  Of course, without naming them, I think the people of Chilubi would like to venture into those evolving learning needs. When we look at that factor, our curricula, programmes, including in institutions that have involved, we are more on intelligence quotient (IQ) that has to do with faculties.

 

Mr Munsanje: Question!

 

Mr Fube: That is all you have come to do in Parliament.  Really?

 

Madam Speaker, the evolving learning needs, in terms of global arrangements include, social quotient (SI), which some people call social intelligence (SI). It includes emotional and adversity quotient. These packages are demonstrated because we nurture human beings. However, we are now tackling issues to do with higher education at that level. We have seen that the report talks about the National Policy of Education of 1996.

 

I remember very well one missionary, Professor Kelly, of the Jesuit Priest who supported that particular policy.  In 1996, when the National Policy of Education was developed, Zambia had a strong three-tier system of education, which included primary, secondary, and higher education.  However, education has evolved and we need to take a lot of things on board, but we are behind.

 

Madam Speaker, this report talks about buildings.  Some institutions are being registered before they have acceptable standards of buildings. We know that there are many colleges and universities that are operating and yet, they just have one office where students register from. So, you will find too many fraudulent activities in such offices.  Some offices are mushrooming without being authorised by HEA. That is a gap. People will be affiliated to different institutions that are not authorised to operate by HEA. 

 

Madam Speaker, what is it that we are supposed to look at? The Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) emphasises the need to have the infrastructure and human capital.  If human capital is our goal, what are we producing from these universities and colleges? I may be forgiven by all who have gone through that process for saying that people go to higher learning institutions, as I have already indicated, just to get some IQ and then, abandon all other areas. We are not training human beings fully and as a result, we have graduates who fail to create social networks. We have graduates who cannot face adversity because they have no resilience. That is because they were not trained to be adversity quotient.  That is the quality that we should speak about.

 

Madam Speaker, clearly, it is demonstrated that this education authority also lacks capacity in terms of infrastructure, which, among other things, can also include personnel. The report talks about centralisation.  I do agree with the report because that is where the problem is.  For instance, we have a situation where 300 companies are registered with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), but not more than eighty are registered with HEA. That is a disaster, Madam Speaker. If that is the situation, what is HEA monitoring? So, eighty out of 300 in terms of percentage is something else. You will find that some amongst the eighty    will be compromised. We will situations where HEA will register learning institutions that have no proper buildings. That is compromise. These are institutions that implement programmes that are not registered with the HEA.  That is a problem.

 

Madam Speaker, earlier on, I referred to the issue of running institutions such as the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital. I know, for instance, that in terms of a legal and regulatory framework, we have the Statutory Instrument (SI) 51 of 2024, but it has not helped matters. Where are we having gaps in not implementing what is in the law? Who is in charge of implementing the law?  We may amend the law as many times as possible, but from the standing of the Higher Education Authority Act of 2013, which was amended in 2021, and backed up by an SI, we are still very far away from implementation. If we want to say we cannot follow what is already there, even when we bring in new things, we will not follow them. So, we need to probe where the problem is. It is not in the law, but in the system that has been laid out to monitor the higher education institutions.

 

Madam Speaker, when we look into that, we will be home and dry.

 

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

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to you, the mover of the Motion, as well as the seconder. I am sure that we all heard the accent from the seconder. This report is really talking about higher education.

 

Madam Speaker, I have a few concerns highlighted in the report. On page 17 of the report, items number 6 and 7 are on the development of a student database. We have learnt that the Higher Education Authority (HEA) does not have a student database. That is of great concern. We are all aware that not too long ago, this Parliament amended the Constitution. Unknowingly, some hon. Members of Parliament removed themselves from Parliament through the Grade 12 certificate requirement. Unknowingly, I repeat. They could not qualify because they did not have Grade 12 certificates. We have learnt that the institution that is supposed to certify higher education qualifications does not have a database for students. How then can it track students who later want to become Members of Parliament? We have the Government Service Bus (GSB) portal. We have the technical manpower that can develop a database that the institution can simply feed into. It is very important for the Ministry of Education to have access to all admissions in public and private institutions. As students are admitted into universities, for transparency, it is important that certain departments within the ministry have access to student databases, and they can be linked to the HEA. So, I think that there is a need for the HEA to ensure that we have access to student databases. Not only that, there was even a proposal by the HEA to have external quality assurance mechanisms or engagement with examiners from outside the country. We are told that there is resistance to external quality assurance mechanisms by higher education institutions.

 

Madam Speaker, if we are to develop as a nation, we should never allow a situation whereby someone who is a graduate, or who is purported to have completed Grade 12, cannot spell their name or the name of their constituency. I think that that should never be allowed. We can only avoid that if we allow an external quality assurance mechanism to be put in place. This country, I believe, has very gifted citizens. If you went to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, Samsung or Volvo, and I am talking about renowned world institutions, you would find Zambians heading those institutions. Why should higher education institutions resist quality assurance from external experts? That is the reason we have underperforming graduates basically almost everywhere.

 

Madam Speaker, I know that President Hakainde Hichilema has put emphasis on craft skills, and these have to be monitored by the HEA. This country will never be developed by graduates. I want to emphasise that point. Countries are developed by artisans and craftsmen. They are the ones who do the actual jobs, and that is a fact. Engineers simply design; they need people to do the actual work. The ones who do the actual work are craftsmen.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, I have heard the President say that there is a need for us, as a nation, to invest in crafts. I agree with him. I want to challenge those who are building that, if they want to get the best bricklayer or tiler, they are likely to find Zimbabweans to be more committed than Zambians, and the reason is very simple: Zimbabweans are trained. Their education system prepared them, and that is the route that we need to take. How can we ensure that quality is delivered at that level? We need to capacitate the HEA and ensure that the resistance it is facing from providers of higher education in our country is addressed. I am very sure that the hon. Minister of Education, the hon. Minister of Technology and Science and everyone else will address this.

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee has also talked about low levels of awareness among higher education institutions, which leads to them not following regulations and standards. That has an impact on the type of graduates we produce at all levels.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the report is spot on. The Committee has also said that it awaits progress from the Executive on the issues. I hope that progress will be submitted soon.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the debate on this very important subject, on behalf of the people of Mpika.

 

Madam Speaker, let me state from the outset that I support the Motion. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is a very important institution created by Act No. 4 of 2013. One of its important roles is to register –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members on my left!

 

Can you, please go, and caucus from outside, or lower your voices.

 

You may proceed, hon. Member.

 

Mr Kapyanga: One of the roles of the HEA is to register private universities and colleges and advise the hon. Minister on any aspect of higher education.

 

Madam Speaker, this institution must be supported and funded for it to carry out its work effectively. I say so because we have many institutions of higher education mushrooming that do not meet the minimum standards required. You will find one institution operating from a single building and advertising for students to enrol, and it even over-enrols, and that means some students get stranded because when they report at school, they have nowhere to learn from, or they find that the programme that was advertised does not exist. Such things are happening even in my constituency. The HEA cannot act on such things because it does not have reports about such institutions, and its staff are unable to travel to inspect higher education institutions before accrediting them. That institution must be supported for it to carry out its work in terms of quality assurance.

 

Madam Speaker, the other issue, like other debaters have said, is the lack of a student database. This is a serious issue. If we are to produce students who can contribute effectively to the development of this country, the HEA must have a database to be able to monitor the progress of students.

 

Madam Speaker, currently, student unions in our country are being used as political tools, instead of them existing as representatives of students to the management of tertiary institutions. The unions are being paraded for political statements, endorsements and other issues that are against the reasons they exist in learning institutions.

 

 Madam Speaker, we need to prioritise important institutions. Why do we lack priorities? On one hand, the HEA is struggling to carry out its mandate and on the other hand, the Government is spending colossal sums of money on by-elections almost every month. That is unacceptable. There is a need for us to set our priorities straight. The Government must set its priorities right. Instead of the Government spending money on by-elections, it should fund important institutions such as the HEA. Even the money that is being spent on the processing of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, commonly known as Bill 7, as the hon. Minister of Green Economy and Environment has said, should have been used to fund the HEA for it to carry out its mandate properly.

 

Madam Speaker, one of the HEA’s roles is to advise the hon. Minister on any aspect of higher education. The guardians of vulnerable students are struggling to meet the requirements of higher education. We have a bursary provision under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in our constituencies. However, that provision can only be used for institutions accredited to the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA). The HEA should advise both the hon. Minister of Education and the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to, at least, allow local authorities to consider professional courses for vulnerable children so that they can study teaching or nursing using the CDF bursaries. Further, the ministry should also consider placing the Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU) on the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) Scheme. Most students at the LMMU are not on a bursary, even the vulnerable ones.

 

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I want –

 

Mr Mposha: Question!

 

Mr Kapyanga: Ba Minister, naimwe, nishani kanshi?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, please, conclude.

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to emphasise that the issue I have raised should be looked into by the HEA.

 

Mr Mposha: Which one?

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleague is asking which one. I am talking about the parading of students and using them as tools for political slogans and endorsements. They are at higher learning institutions to learn so that they can help our country develop.

 

Mr Mposha interjected.

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I need your protection from Hon. Mposha.

 

Laughter

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I was saying that there is a need to put a stop to the parading of students for political expedience. If people do not have supporters, they can always turn themselves into their own supporters, unlike parading students.

 

 Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, that issue is not in the report.

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts (Mr Nkandu) (on behalf of the Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima)): Madam Speaker –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Mpika!

 

Hon. Member for Mpika, I thought you were going out. You are supposed to listen to the response.

 

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I am not going anywhere.

 

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to respond.

 

Madam Speaker, firstly, I would like to say that what I am about to do is what I am supposed to do. I am sure the hon. Member for Chilubi knows that this is what I have come to this House to do.

 

Mr Fube: Question!

 

Mr Nkandu:  Madam Speaker, I also want to say that I am excited that today, at least, one of the hon. Members on your left has agreed with us on the fact that we do not need by-elections. I am excited that he will support the Bill when it comes to this House. We do not need by-elections because they are a drain on the Treasury.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkandu: I am very happy.

 

Madam Speaker, we also know that students have the right to support the political party of their choice. If they believe that this Government is doing well, we do not need to parade anybody. Those are intellectuals who can differentiate good things from bad things. So, they appreciate what this Government is doing, unlike what was happening another time.

 

Mr Mukosa: Question!

 

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, allow me to also say that what has been said by our hon. Colleagues is something that we need to look at critically, and we appreciate their concerns and what they have told us to do. We have a Republican President who values education. People should not even doubt that what they have told us to do will be implemented. This is where decentralisation, which our hon. Colleagues have talked about, will become a reality in the sense that we are not just giving lip service, but we are taking steps. As we decentralise, we are also matching the resources to the process. So, this is a Government that is doing extremely well.

 

 Madam Speaker, now, allow me to begin, again, by expressing my sincere gratitude for this opportunity you have given me to deliver a statement on the important Motion that has been moved by the hon. Member for Kalomo Central, Mr Harry Kamboni, and ably seconded by the hon. Member for Milanzi, Ms Melesiana Phiri.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, it was seconded by the hon. Member for Chimwemwe.

 

Mr Nkandu: Sorry, Madam Speaker. It was seconded by the hon. Member for Chimwemwe, Mr Allen Banda.  

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to commend the Committee on Education, Science and Technology for its thorough and well-researched report on the operations of the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The report effectively highlights both the commendable strides being made and the significant challenges confronting the authority, whose mandate is central to the regulation, quality assurance and overall development of Zambia’s higher education sector.  

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee's observations and recommendations arising from insightful stakeholder engagements, local institutional tours and a valuable benchmarking mission to Uganda have, indeed, provided this House and the Executive with a clear roadmap for strengthening higher education governance in our country, Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Education acknowledges the concerns raised by the Committee, especially those regarding the overlapping mandates with professional bodies, limited institutional and human resource capacity at the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the burdensome statutory fees imposed on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). These are matters that cannot be ignored if we are to maintain standards while ensuring equity and sustainability in the provision of higher education.

 

Madam Speaker, the recommendation to harmonise the legal framework, particularly the Higher Education (Amendment) Act No. 23 of 2021, with other regulatory Acts such as the Nursing and Midwifery Act, is most welcome. Equally, the call for decentralising HEA operations to ensure better oversight across provinces aligns well with the ministry's broader decentralisation agenda. As I said earlier, we are not only providing lip service, but also providing resources that match what we are talking about.

 

Madam Speaker, we take note of the Committee's concern over the lack of a national student database, the duplication of statutory payments to multiple bodies and the limited consultation on fee adjustments. These are practical governance and co-ordination issues that require urgent redress. I wish to assure this House that the Ministry of Education, working closely with the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Ministry of Technology and Science, will take concrete steps to address these challenges in a consultative and inclusive manner. Furthermore, we shall ensure that the Higher Education Authority Strategic Plan is supported through adequate resource allocation and institutional reforms that will allow it to perform its expanded mandate effectively.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also thank the various stakeholders, public and private universities, colleges, professional bodies, and regulatory agencies who participated in the review process. Their candid submissions provided critical insights into how we can collectively improve the higher education ecosystem.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I, once again, thank the Committee for its diligence. I also want to thank the hon. Members who have debated, for once they were sober in the way they were debating. I thank them very much for their robust debate and the leadership of this House for prioritising education and human capital development as a national imperative.

 

Madam Speaker, together, let us continue to build a strong and responsive higher education system that meets the aspirations of our youth and supports Zambia's transformation agenda.

 

With these few remarks, I want to thank you most sincerely for the opportunity.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi, who has eyes of the law in anything that he says, and so he applies them. May I also thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chama South, who looks at the sociology part of life and many other areas of human endeavor and the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika for the contribution. Finally, I would like to thank the Acting hon. Minister of Education for his elaborate contributions and for adding a lot of spices to all the debates.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1806 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 18^th July, 2025.

 

____________