Thursday, 6th November, 2025

Thursday, 6^th November, 2025

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM SPRING SPY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR SIMUMBA, HON. MEMBER FOR NAKONDE, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, DR NALUMANGO, ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN NAKONDE DISTRICT

Mr Simumba (Nakonde): Madam Speaker, on an Urgent Matter without Notice.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, the matter I wish to raise was meant to be directed at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security. Since the hon. Minister is not in the House, I will direct it at Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, the security situation in Nakonde is quite alarming. That is a border town and, every now and then, people are killed, including being burnt to death. If there is any suspicion that someone is a thief, mob justice takes place.

Madam Speaker, I took the initiative of writing to the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security so that, maybe, he can double the number of officers in Nakonde because people are living in fear. As early as 1800 hours or 1900 hours, most people are already in their homes, due to fear of what might happen to them.

Madam Speaker, the people who are killing others in Nakonde do not spare anyone, even commandos are being killed. There is a report of one officer who was stabbed badly. That is the situation we are currently going through. Therefore, I seek your guidance on whether the hon. Minister can double the number of police officers in Nakonde. In addition, officers in Nakonde lack adequate transportation. So, we request the hon. Minister to provide us with transportation so that, at least, the officers can have something to use.

I seek your serious guidance on this matter, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nakonde, we visited Muchinga Province when the House was on recess, and I recall that we had a discussion over the same issue. So, clearly, that is not a new matter that requires immediate attention.

Hon. Member, since you have raised the matter, the most important thing that you can do is to visit the office of the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security and bring your concerns to his attention, if he has not heard them already. However, I recall that after speaking with you, I also spoke with the commanding officer in Nakonde to draw his attention to the same problem. It is understood that criminals cross over the border to commit offences, and then they go back to the other side to hide from law enforcement agencies. It is an on-going problem.

It is understandable that as the hon. Member of Parliament for Nakonde, you have that concern, which is genuine. Unfortunately, it does not qualify to be raised as an Urgent Matter without Notice. However, please, engage the relevant authorities to see how you can bring sanity to the border town of Nakonde. So, the matter is not admitted.

MR ZULU, HON. MEMBER FOR NYIMBA, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND INTERNAL SECURITY, MR MWIIMBU, SC., ON THE ISSUANCE OF NATIONAL REGISTRATION CARDS IN LUANGWA WARD

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Zulu: Madam Speaker, I rarely raise matters during this Session.

Madam Speaker, my matter is directed at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security. We have five days left before the voter registration exercise closes, and one ward in Nyimba, called Luangwa Ward, is only accessible by helicopter. It takes about two days to drive from Nyimba to Chikwasha, Mbilisau or Mantungulu, which are closer to Serenje. The areas border Serenje, Mkushi and Rufunsa.

Madam Speaker, we communicated to the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, through the office of the District Commissioner (DC), about the situation in that area. As of yesterday, or the day before, as the district leadership, we agreed that we should consider sending the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) vehicle to pick up personnel from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security to issue National Registration Cards (NRCs) in Luangwa Ward. Officers who went there before to conduct voter verification and registration were provided with a helicopter from either the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) or the Zambia Police Service. When we pleaded with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to include personnel from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, they refused. They said that the officers were not part of their plan and that the decision had to be made from Lusaka. So, we communicated through the Government channels. As of today, Thursday, the ECZ officers have demobilised from that area. The same thing happened during the census. I complained about those people who were not counted. This time, people have not been issued with National Registration Cards (NRCs). If you check the ward I am talking about, you will see that it had the lowest number of people registered as voters because no one bothered to issue NRCs in the area. For the last five years or so, no NRC has been issued in the area. Those who want to get NRCs have to go to Mkushi or Masansa, which are 150 km away, or they have to go to Nyimba, which is 200 km from their home. In addition, they have to climb mountains to get there. The country will have elections next year. The people in that area will be deprived of the right to choose their leaders because they did not register to vote.

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence to compel the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to send his personnel to Luangwa Ward, specifically the following areas: Chikwasha, Mbilisao, Mantungulu and Malopa. Luangwa Ward has only five polling stations. Out of the five, only one polling station had officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security to issue NRCs. So, my plea to you –

Madam Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Mr Zulu: Madam Speaker, my plea to you is to compel my able hon. Minister to go to that area with a chopper.

Madam Speaker: I wish I had the powers to compel the hon. Minister to do certain things.

Hon. Member for Nyimba, I believe we have discussed the issue of voter registration. I know that there were many questions which were not allowed because we ran out of time. I appealed to hon. Members to engage the authorities. Even if the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security came back to the House with a Ministerial Statement on that issue, how would that help the people whom you are concerned about to get voter's cards and National Registration Cards (NRCs)? It would not help. The best thing to do is to engage the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, have a chat and see how best the matter can be handled. You can go to the area yourself and encourage people to register and get NRCs because those are the same people who are going to vote for you, is that not so? Let us not wait to bring issues on the Floor of the House. Bringing issues on the Floor of the House should be the last resort when you have tried everything and it has failed, and you want your constituents to know that you have been pushing, but the door was not opened. I am sure “Mwakali kuli” is listening.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Sorry.

I did not see the hon. Minister who was not around. Here is here now. He is listening. Thank you very much.

So, please, engage the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Mr Mubika: Mwakali kuli!

MS NYIRENDA, HON. MEMBER FOR LUNDAZI, ON MR SIKUMBA, THE HON. MINISTER OF TOURISM, ON THE HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, on an Urgent Matter without Notice.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Ms Nyirenda: Madam Speaker, the matter I wish to raise is directed at the hon. Minister of Tourism.

Madam Speaker: You may proceed, hon. Member.

Hon. Government Members: Human and animal conflict.

Ms Nyirenda: Yes, it is a good guess. It is about human-animal conflict.

Madam Speaker, firstly, we lost two children just after you officially opened our constituency office in Lundazi. One of the children died instantly after a hyena attack. A hyena picked the child whilst the children were resting in the evening around a fire. The hyena mauled the child and the child died. Secondly, children in Mukomba Ward were playing in the evening around 1600 hours or 1700 hours. A hyena attacked a six-year-old Grade 1 child in Lundazi. The father made a chase for the child. The child was mauled and the intestines were ripped out. The child died.

Madam Speaker, the people in Mukomba area, Kachenche area, Mutuwanjovu and surrounding areas hear sounds of hyenas. Last evening, I was called as late as 2300 hours about the hyenas. The caller said: “Hon. Member, we are failing to move around. Hyenas start moving and making sounds in our area around 1700 hours.”

Madam Speaker, if I had my way, I would have used the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to solve the problem. Our friends in Malawi have managed to put up a fence, hence all the wild animals are running towards our area. It is no wonder that a man in Chasefu killed a leopard, just last week.

Madam Speaker, this matter is urgent. The people of Lundazi, Chasefu and Lumezi need the Government’s intervention in this matter. Since the hon. Minister of Tourism is not around, we need Her Honour the Vice-President to allocate some funds from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to put up a fence so that wild animals do not finish us.

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious indulgence.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. The human-animal conflict is always a big problem. Of course, it is sad that lives have been lost and we continue losing lives. However, I believe there is a programme being implemented by the Government in terms of putting fences around game parks. I know that the programme is being implemented in Livingstone and other areas. Hon. Member of Lundazi, just engage the hon. Minister of Tourism when he comes to the House. I think, he was around yesterday or the other day. Just engage him and see how best this problem can be solved. What we want now is a solution. Ministerial Statements are not yielding much. I believe in having workable solutions. I know that the hon. Member for Chama South has managed to do something with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I know that the CDF cannot solve everything. However, I read a document on what the Government is trying to implement through the Ministry of Tourism. Of course, resources are limited, but the Government is trying to implement the programme of fencing off game parks. Maybe, you can engage him. Your area may be one of those that have been targeted. If not, you can put in a word for your area. You can say, “Please, consider us also.” So, let us work on that proposal.

On that ground, your Urgent Matter without Notice is not admitted. It is not that the matter is not important; it is very important. The hon. Member needs to engage the hon. Minister of Tourism to find solutions. Thank you very much.

We can make progress.

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BILLS

FIRST READING

THE INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING AUTHORITY BILL, 2025

The Minister of Information and Media (Mr Mweetwa): Mr Speaker, I beg to move to present a Bill entitled The Independent Broadcasting Authority, 2025. The objects of this Bill are to:

continue the existence of the Independent Broadcasting Authority and redefine its functions;
reconstitute the Board of the Independent Broadcasting Authority and redefine its functions;
regulate the broadcasting industry in the Republic;
provide for pluralism and diversity in the broadcasting industry;
repeal and replace the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 2002; and
provide for matters connected with and incidental to the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technologies. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Thursday, 27^th November, 2025. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL BROADCASTING CORPORATION BILL, 2025

The Minister of Information and Media (Mr Mweetwa): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill titled the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Bill, 2025. The objects of the Bill are to

continue the existence of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation and redefine its functions;
reconstitute the board of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation and redefine its functions;

provide for the imposition, payment and collection of a broadcast levy;
repeal and replace the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Act, Chapter 154 of the Laws of Zambia; and
provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technologies. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House on Thursday, 27^th November, 2025. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE (Amendment) Bill, 2025

The Minister of Justice (Ms Kasune): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The object of this Bill is to amend the Criminal Procedure Code as to:

provide for forensic criminal procedures;
make defilement, rape, incest, stock theft, stealing of medicine, medical supplies, cotton, copper, diamond, gold, railway, aircraft, ventricle, signalisation, installation with associated facilities and installations, distribution systems, transmission systems, vessels, traffic signs and navigating marks non-bailable;
making the destroying of or damaging of an aircraft, distribution system, transmission system, road, air infrastructure, airdrome, vessel and navigation mark non-bailable; and
provide for the matter connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights and Governance. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Thursday, 27^th November, 2025. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Madam Speaker: The question was supposed to be asked by the hon. Member for Isoka. However, by prior arrangement, …

Eng. Nzovu: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: … the hon. Member for Kantanshi will ask on her behalf.

There is an indication of a point of order.

The hon. Minister was indicating for a point of order when I was talking. So, I was wondering whether the point of order is on me or on somebody else.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister, you can now have your point of order.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I rise on Standing Order No. 216 - Dress Code for Members. The official dress for a male member shall be a formal executive suit, or a formal pair of long trousers, a shirt, a necktie and a jacket.

Madam Speaker, I know we received the first rains today. Most of us used umbrellas, some used raincoats. Is Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya in order to come in a raincoat to this House?

Laughter

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

I do not know now whether the hon. Minister has got a new cousin in the hon. Member for Lunte.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: However, from where I am sitting, I am seeing the hon. Member for Lunte dressed in a nice green jacket with a scarf. Now, I do not know where the hon. Minister comes from where the jacket can stand as a raincoat.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: I am sure it was on a light note. So, we can make progress. They just wanted to acknowledge that you are looking very bright, hon. Member.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: So, let us proceed. The Hon. Member for Kantanshi, you have the Floor.

IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES

55. Mr Mumba (Kantanshi) (on behalf of Ms Nakaponda (Isoka)) asked the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock:

whether the Government has any plans to implement youth and women empowerment programmes under the following livestock farming activities in Isoka District;
fish farming;
chicken rearing; and
goat rearing;
if so, when the plans will be implemented;
what the targeted number of beneficiaries per year is; and
if there are no such plans, why?

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, has been actively implementing youth and women empowerment programmes in Isoka District under key livestock farming activities, particularly in fisheries, poultry and goat production.

Fisheries Production

Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member for Isoka for asking this important question regarding the Government’s efforts in promoting fish farming as a viable livelihood in Isoka District.

Madam Speaker, the Government has established concrete plans to empower youths and women through aquaculture, recognising its potential to enhance food security, create employment and improve household incomes. Since 2021, over 737 farmers have been supported in the aquaculture value chain in the district through the following key initiatives:

Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP). Through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), the project supported forty-seven fish farmers with pond construction, provision of fingerlings, fish feed, training and extension services. This intervention, valued at K5.2 million, directly benefited seventeen women and thirteen male youths;
Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN II) Project. Under this initiative, 670 farmers were empowered with support for pond construction, and provision of fingerlings and fish feed, contributing to improved nutrition and livelihoods; and
Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Through the CDF, twenty members of the Garden Youth Club received fingerlings worth K30,000, further promoting youth participation in aquaculture.

Madam Speaker, the Government has also continued to provide support through the Isoka Government Fish Farm, which:

supplies fingerlings to farmers at subsidised rates; and
offers free extension services through three officers stationed in the district, ensuring farmers adopt best aquaculture practices.

Madam Speaker, these efforts reflect the Government’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment and sustainable development in rural communities.

Poultry Production

Madam Speaker, since 2021, over 2,186 beneficiaries in Isoka District have received support through the stocking and restocking programme, which provides improved village chicken varieties to enhance household food security, nutrition and income generation. These interventions were delivered through a multi-sectoral approach involving my ministry, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth groups. Key initiatives include the following:

stocking and restocking. My ministry distributed 1,250 improved village chicken varieties in 2020;
CDF Project. Between 2022 and 2025, 360 farmers accessed K1,086,500 in loans and grants;
Food Security Pack Programme. In 2025, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services distributed 280 chickens to 100 farmers; and
Scaling Up Nutrition (SUNII) Project. 476 farmers received 2,380 chickens, and some of the beneficiaries under the Pass-On Scheme handed over 526 chickens to 177 farmers.

Goat Production

Madam Speaker, the ministry supported 1,797 farmers in goat production in Isoka District, contributing to improved livelihoods and food security. The key initiatives include:

stocking and restocking. My ministry restocked 1,413 goats in 2020;
the CDF. Sixty farmers accessed loans for goat production amounting to K190,000 between 2022 and 2025; and
Food Security Pack Programme. Sixty goats were stocked for twenty farmers under the Alternative Livelihood Programme in 2025. Further, 264 goats were distributed through Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs) in Kanyala, Lualizi, Mpungu and Kantenshya.

Madam Speaker, these interventions are part of the Government’s broader strategy to promote inclusive livestock development, enhance food and nutrition security and create sustainable livelihoods for youths and women in the district.

Madam Speaker, as stated, the empowerment programmes are already being implemented and are ongoing. Therefore, the question of when they will be implemented does not arise.

Madam Speaker, while the ministry does not set a fixed annual target due to varying resource availability, it remains committed to increasing participation in livestock and aquaculture initiatives each year. Particular emphasis is placed on empowering women and youths, using the 2020 figures as a baseline for future planning and expansion. In line with this commitment, in 2025, the ministry has scheduled the restocking of Lukundo Livestock Co-operative with one bull and nine heifers, aimed at strengthening livestock production and improving the livelihood of farmers in the area.

Madam Speaker, the Government has clearly demonstrated its commitment to scaling up fish and livestock farming as viable and inclusive options for rural communities in Isoka District. As such, the question of there being no plans does not arise.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, Hon. Nakaponda left me serious instructions to make a follow-up, especially with regards to her youths. Listening to what the hon. Minister has said, it is quite clear that the ministry has been covering the constituency well. Maybe, let me just ask about the targets.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has mentioned that the ministry does not have clearly set targets, but what comfort can he give the hon. Member beyond the 2021 baseline he spoke about, as that was the basis for her motivation to ask the question? To ensure that we have a clear topping on all the good that the hon. Minister has mentioned that the ministry has carried out, what would be the ministry’s position going forward?

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, the issue of stocking and restocking covers the whole country. I do not have the figures right now. I would be in a position to comment as to how much restocking will be done in Isoka District for next year after I get back to the office and check, then, I can communicate with Hon. Nakaponda.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I will ask the hon. Minister regarding the breeds of fish being promoted, even as the Government restocks. Hon. Makozo left this question unanswered before he left the ministry, and moved to the Ministry of Energy; the question of the profitability of the breeds that the ministry is promoting. What we have seen is that the local tilapia breed, which we have promoted in some of the project interventions under the CDF in Kanchibiya, does not work as profitably for our people. This has been the major cry from the people of Muchinga Province, the Northern Province and other parts of the country. I would like to thank the hon. Member for Isoka for raising this question. We need to rethink and re-engineer the breeds. One of those breeds is niloticus tilapia, which proves to be very profitable and promises to fetch good prices on the market. What is the ministry’s policy with regards to diversifying the breeds of fish being promoted, including bubble fish and the other fish species, especially niloticus tilapia, that we have had in that part of the country? We will greatly appreciate a firm response from the hon. Minister.

Mr Kapala: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Hon. Chanda for that interesting question.

Madam Speaker, I would like to put it on record that we are being very careful with introducing foreign fish species in the northern part of the country. This means that, for now, the niloticus type of tilapia is confined to Lake Kariba, if I may put it that way. This species of tilapia helps businesses grow because it grows faster than the indigenous breed that is available. However, research is still on-going so that, at some future point, we may be able to incorporate the niloticus type of tilapia into our northern open waters.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS IN PETAUKE DISTRICT

56. Mr S. Banda (Petauke Central) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

whether the Government has any plans to construct houses for the following categories of civil servants in Petauke District:
doctors;
nurses;
police officers;
correctional service officers; and
teachers;
if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for –

Ms Mulenga entered the Assembly Chamber.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

At least, I now know that the hon. Member for Lunte has a partner.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: May the hon. Minister continue.

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct housing units for all categories of civil servants throughout the country, including those in Petauke District. The plans include housing units for doctors, nurses, police officers, correctional service officers and teachers.

Madam Speaker, the plans will be implemented once funds are secured by the Treasury.

Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to construct houses for all the categories of civil servants stated above.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr S. Banda: Madam Speaker, civil servants, such as the men and women in uniform, deserve decent housing units. So, is the hon. Minister in a position to state exactly when those units will be built in Petauke Central?

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, the answer is that it is dependent upon the availability of resources. I am sure that the hon. Member is fully aware of the fiscal constraints that the country is undergoing and the size of the Budget. That is why necessary projects, such as those he has referred to, at times, take longer than necessary.

Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member that the men in uniform, doctors, teachers and so on and so forth, all require decent houses. That is why the Government of the Republic of Zambia, under the leadership of Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has embarked on a programme of rapid growth of the economy. Everything we do is aimed at growing the economy so that we can have the resources to undertake various projects. In the meantime, the hon. Member must continue to engage us. Where it is possible for us to start or finish some projects, we will do so.

Madam Speaker, for the information of the House, the Government is constructing houses and other public infrastructure in newly created districts and provincial centres in order to facilitate decentralisation, which is the devolution of services to the district centres. The projects are at different stages of progress, but most of them have stalled due to financial constraints. So even in new districts, we still face the same problem. Currently, the Government is focusing on completing the on-going projects. Once those are completed, new projects, including houses for doctors, nurses, police officers, correctional service officers and teachers, will commence, subject to the availability of funds.

Madam Speaker, what we have is a legacy problem. It is not a problem that has just occurred as a result of the current Government, but one that has been there even under previous Administrations. To resolve it, it really needs more resources. To resolve the issue of resources, the growth of the economy is needed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, before I pose my question, allow me to commend the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, and through him, His Excellency the Republican President for being so magnanimous.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr J. Chibuye: Madam Speaker, believe me, the hon. Minister is hardworking and I want to commend him. He is just returning from a nationwide marathon, where he participated in the ground-breaking ceremonies of various road reconstruction projects.

Mr Mabeta: Hear, hear!

Mr J. Chibuye: Madam Speaker, he came to my constituency to do the same and, therefore, who am I not to thank him? I can only hope and pray that the ground-breaking that he did will bear fruit as soon as possible. I thank him very much.

Mr Mabeta: Ebaume aba.

Mr Simumba: Question!

Mr J. Chibuye: Madam Speaker, in the last Meeting, I posed a question to the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, on when the ministry would construct houses for police officers in the Roan Police Camp, which, up to now, has a billboard labelled Northern Rhodesia Police Camp, meaning that the houses were constructed in the colonial era. I was glad that the Acting hon. Minister who responded on behalf of Hon. Jack Mwiimbu promised that the Government would consider or had plans to construct houses in Roan Compound.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development has now responded that the Government has plans to construct houses for various civil servants. Does he have a schedule on how he will address the issue, since he has just given a blanket statement that covers the entire country? Specifically, when will houses be constructed in Petauke Central and Roan Constituency? Of course, we have to bear in mind the resource envelope he has alluded to.

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Roan for his kind words on what we are doing in the country.

Madam Speaker, the issue of the housing deficit in this country is taken seriously by this Government. At the moment, the total housing deficit stands at 1.6 million units. We have calculated that by 2031, this will rise to 3 million units or thereabouts. Therefore, various schemes are being looked at to begin the process of addressing the housing deficit, in addition to the housing units that are specific to Public Service workers, such as the ones he is talking about in the police camps and so on.

Madam Speaker, some of the schemes that we are working on involve interesting investors in putting up housing estates through public private partnerships (PPPs). We are discussing this with some potential concessionaires. The other scheme we are working on is to see if we can lower the cost of construction. To that effect, within the Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ), there is a private factory that is about to be commissioned, which will be manufacturing high-quality concrete panels. These will lower the cost of constructing two or three-bedroom houses. Not only that, they will also drastically reduce the time of construction. For example, it will take about a week to complete a two-bedroom or three-bedroom house from start to finish because of the concrete panels. The issue of the housing deficit is fully recognised by this Government, and measures are being taken.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member may have seen us commissioning some housing estates in Chongwe and other places that have been put up by the private sector. Hon. Members have also seen the Government commissioning some housing units in the new districts and in provincial headquarters such as Choma. So, please, bear with us. That matter should be dealt with if we work collectively, as a country.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Lubozha (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, allow me to also join the hon. Member for Roan in thanking the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. The people of Chifubu are very grateful to the hon. Minister for going to break ground in Ndola. We remain optimistic that the project will be realised to the benefit of the people. The hon. Minister should find time to pass through Chifubu Constituency to get his flowers.

Madam Speaker, the issue of housing is critical, following the Government's recruitment of more civil servants across the country in various ministries. Has the Government taken a step to engage business houses, such as the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), Absa Bank Zambia Plc, the Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc (ZANACO) and many other corporate entities to partner with through public private partnerships (PPPs) to assist the people of Petauke Central by constructing the much-needed houses for the civil servants in that constituency?

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, I thank Hon. Lubozha, Member of Parliament for Chifubu, for that question.

Madam Speaker, yes, indeed, I think that is implied in the answer that I gave earlier. We are trying to leverage the private sector in terms of getting them involved in helping the Government in resolving the issue of the housing deficit. The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and banks that he has talked about can be engaged. In addition, we have an agency under the ministry called the National Housing Authority (NHA), whose mandate is to attend to issues of housing. As the Government, we are engaging potential investors to work with through joint venture partnerships to develop housing estates. We bring together institutions and investors. The contribution of the institutions is usually land and things like that, whereas the investors bring capital. I think, in the near future, you will begin to see the fruition of some of these arrangements.

Madam Speaker, the other way in which institutions like NAPSA, the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) and banks get involved is through financing. When we have projects like construction of housing estates through PPP arrangements, the financing of those PPP arrangements involves money from outside the country or from the equity contribution from the concessionaire as well as loans from institutions such as NAPSA. So, we encourage them to participate through availing funding for the development of housing estates.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to mention that one of the things that will help this country address the issue of the housing shortages or deficit is citizens' attitude towards high-rise living. I think, you will find that in Zambia, we have had attempts to build high-rise housing such as those in Kabwata. I think, those are five storey buildings, if I remember very well. The idea of high-rise living has really not caught on in Zambia. If you look at other places like the Middle East, you will see that they have high-rise buildings. Last week, I was in Luanda, Angola, and I saw high-rise housing. Those who have been to China have seen that the country has been able to address housing shortage by having massive housing estates comprising maybe, fifteen floors because people are used to living in high-rise housing. I think, we need to start educating people. If they accept that type of housing, we will then be able to address the issue of the housing deficit and also improve unplanned settlements. This is because it will then be easy to accommodate those people in unplanned settlements in high-rise buildings, which will free land that can then be used for investors to pay for the development of those houses. As a ministry, we will come up with a plan when we are ready to do that.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me a chance to ask a supplementary question on behalf of the people of Petauke Central.

Madam Speaker, today I would have joined my friends in congratulating the hon. Minister if he had finished construction of the Chipata/Lundazi/Chama/Matumbo Road. The hon. Minister came and broke ground four years ago for the project. However, only 4 km has been worked on, meaning that only 1 km per year is worked on. I choose to not join celebrations on breaking ground on projects around the country because I know very well that the Chipata/Lundazi/Chama/Matumbo Road has not been completed. Today, I would have just said that I endorse him, but I cannot. The hon. Minister has advised the hon. Member of Parliament for Petauke Central to continue engaging him in finding a solution to the challenge of housing for civil servants.

Madam Speaker, a stopgap measure would be to increase housing allowances for teachers and other civil servants, knowing that they can easily find accommodation on their own. We know that it is only six months before Parliament is dissolved. Even if my brother from Petauke engaged the hon. Minister today, what miracle would the hon. Minister perform to provide housing units to the people in Petauke? Is it just a political answer, so that it can pass, or are there other ways or methods that can be used to help the people of Petauke?

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Ms Nyirenda: The hon. Minister must be very straight in his response, looking at the time. Does he think it is the right time to ask the hon. Member of Parliament to continue engaging him on that issue?

Mr Twasa: Onani ba Muchima mwamene bamu yanganilani.

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member–

Ms Nyirenda left her seat.

Eng. Milupi: I do not know. Maybe, she is coming to ...

Mr Mubika: She is coming to see you!

Eng. Milupi: ...thank me.

Madam Speaker, I think the hon. Member has made various points. Sometimes, political points need to be answered. Firstly, the current Government has never done ground-breaking work on the Chipata/Lundazi Road.

Ms Nyirenda conversed with Mr Muchima.

Madam Speaker: I hope the hon. Member for Lundazi is listening.

Interruptions

Ms Nyirenda: I am always sanctioned by these elders!

Hon. Government Member: Leave my uncle alone.

Laughter

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, since a concern has been raised, it must be replied to.

The current Government has not done ground-breaking work on the Chipata/Lundazi Road. What happened four years ago on that stretch was the commissioning of the Lundazi Bridge and the other two bridges. That is what I went to commission.

Coming to the road that the hon. Member for Lundazi has mentioned, the Government had made plans for it. The quickest and most efficient way to do it was through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which was funded by the American Government. The Chipata/Lundazi Road, all the way to Chasefu, was put as top priority. It was at the top of the list under the 2025 Budget. However, as the hon. Member would recall, President Trump assumed office on 20^th January, 2025, and dissolved the MMC aid. By now, work would have been done, but due to the dissolution of the MCC and other agencies of the American Government, we have had to go back to the drawing board, to find other ways of funding that particular road. That is why it was put at the top of the MCC funded projects for 2025.

Madam Speaker, the issue of engagement is not a political stance. The Government is a continuous process. We, as the New Dawn Government, are ruling until August 2026. Going by the way things are, I know that the hon. Member for Lundazi is a very senior member of a faction of a certain political party, but we shall continue because of the performance we have brought to the country.

Hon. Member for Petauke, Hon. Simon Banda, do not listen to the hon Member for Lundazi. Continue to engage the Government. We will find a solution that we will be able to implement. This is a serious and long-term Government.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa indicated.

Madam Speaker: The last Member to debate is the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu. Sorry, hon. Member for Matero. You just came in and indicated.

May the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu proceed.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwan’gandu): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to make a follow-up question. I want to agree with the hon. Minister. I do not know whether he is launching a campaign or not. I heard him say that our dear lady is a senior leader of a faction. We also know that he is a President somewhere. Whether his political party is big or small, he is a President.

Madam Speaker, I totally agree with the hon. Minister that the issue of housing for public servants could be historical and requires pragmatic solutions. I will take him a little bit backwards. When the current Government came into power, some projects were already underway. I think repeatedly, the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security has spoken about some of the projects that were in phases. The phases saw the construction of modern housing units for our men and women in uniform under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and the Ministry of Defence. Maybe, the hon. Minister was asking because– I worked with the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to build housing infrastructure in Monze. I could understand why he saying, “bakali kuli”? He was spot on.

Laughter

Mr Kampyongo: Indeed, Monze has modern housing units for both police and correctional service officers. The same applies to Mazabuka. The hon. Member for Luanshya should have remembered that the stand-out housing units in Luanshya and many other areas were built under the same programme in phases.

Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister, what happened because there are certain cantonments under the Ministry of Defence, even here in Lusaka, under which Petauke was going to benefit from along the way, if the phased programmes were rolled-out as planned. He said that the Government is a going concern and that it should have been prudent for the current Government to pick up from where the programme was left. What is the current status on those projects? Looking at the newly created districts and provincial headquarters, as he said, most housing units were advanced, but I have not seen anything in past budgets for resources to be channelled to the infrastructure that is yet to be completed. So, I would like to just find out from the hon. Minister, what happened to the rolling-out of the projects that gave relief to our public servants?

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, on the issue of rolling-out the housing projects, the hon. Member should be the first one to recognise and acknowledge that a number of projects were started, but his Government postponed or shelved those that had not reached 80 per cent completion. He was a senior member of his Government. The current Government is listening, and it does listen to the voices from this House, especially the Opposition. When he makes that statement, we take it very seriously, and that is why I advise people like him, since he is going to be in Opposition for a long time, to undergo training on how to advise us so that we can always accept it.

Madam Speaker, in terms of housing, I have stated what we are doing and it will take a long time. The country will have a deficit of 3 million housing units by 2031. Even countries y like Kenya, where the living conditions are high, have embarked on a programme to build 200,000 units per annum. Even with that strategy, reaching a total of 3 million would take several years. So, it is a serious problem. It needs all of us to work together. The Government is looking for various financing models. That is why, as a country, we are a member of Shelter Afrique, an organisation established to look at the housing situation in Africa. At our meeting in Algeria, we transformed this into a development bank so that we can have access to funding. One of the problems we have in Zambia is high interest rates. So, even mortgages are not easily available to the general citizenry. We are aware of this problem, and we are doing what we can to address it. It has to be done properly so that it is sustainable.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

What is the point of order, hon. Member for Shiwang’andu?

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I was just being courteous. I meant to raise this Point of Order contemporaneously on the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. I am rising on Standing Order No.71. I posed a straightforward question to him, and in response, he decided to draw me into his debate. I was very respectful to him, knowing that he is a president, I do not know whether it is president with a small letter P or a capital letter P.

Mr Sampa: Nashala neka party!

Mr Kampyongo: These political parties with two people.

Hon. Member: Question!

Laughter

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, was he in order to insinuate that I, who has deliverables, as the housing units I spoke to, that are there for everyone to see

Eng. Nzovu: He has not seen.

Mr Kampyongo: He knows well.

Madam Speaker, was he in order to insinuate that, firstly, I would be in the Opposition for a long time, …

Mr Sampa: We are coming into power in eight months.

Mr Kampyongo: … when, actually, he is the one there by default?

Laughter

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, as the president of a political party, we do not see his political party on any register here, in this House. Was he in order to also insinuate that I should go for training in order to advise them, when I can show him what we did? The housing units, which people are already enjoying, are there. He has failed to continue from where we left off. Can that be my fault? When they came into power, they promised that they would add more to what we did. Alas, he is now giving assurances to the hon. Member for Petauke Central, and we are concluding the budget approval process for next year, yet there is no sign of anything happening in the direction of housing in Petauke. Was he in order to not invite me to show him what we did in order for us to leave those deliverables, which are there for everyone to see?

I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sampa: Hear, hear!

He is a one-termer.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, you forgot to mention that the hon. Minister acknowledged that you are a good advisor.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: He gave you credit, but you forgot all that. You only concentrated on the negatives. Anyway, I think, you have sufficiently debated your Point of Order. So, we leave it at that.

Let us make progress.

CONTENTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM

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

whether the primary school curriculum contains subjects aimed at imparting learners with good moral values;
if so, what the subjects are; and
if there are no such subjects, why.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, the ministry wishes to place it on record that Zambia's education system is anchored on the national values and principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia, which guide the design and implementation of the curriculum to ensure that education fosters the intellectual, moral and civic development of learners.

Madam Speaker, the primary school curriculum contains subjects aimed at imparting learners with good moral values. The subjects provided in the curriculum are designed to respond to the needs of the individual learner, society and the nation, and global trends, while taking into account national values and principles. This applies to both lower primary, which is Grades 1 to 3, and upper primary; Grades 4 to 6 levels of education. The curriculum developed by the Curriculum Development Centre under the 2023 Zambia Education Curriculum Framework integrates moral and ethical content across various subjects as part of the holistic approach to learner development. In view of this, moral and ethical values are not taught as a standalone subject but are systematically integrated into existing learning areas across the curriculum.

Madam Speaker, the subjects that promote good moral values are integrated across the primary school curriculum. At the lower primary level, the curriculum incorporates moral and ethical aspects through subjects such as literacy and language, and creative and technology studies, both of which are designed to foster character development and positive social behaviour. In literacy and language, topics such as conversation cover areas like greetings, family, home chores and community practices, which help learners to cultivate values of respect, responsibility and empathy. Similarly, the topic of etiquette focuses on good manners and appropriate social conduct, encouraging learners to build positive relationships with others. In creative and technology studies, learners are taught moral values through topics such as hospitality, which emphasises good manners and respect when interacting with others, including visitors and tourists. The topic on tourism further exposes learners to different cultures, helping them appreciate diversity and embrace values such as tolerance and understanding.

Madam Speaker, at the upper primary level, the curriculum continues to instil moral values, mainly through social studies, a subject that promotes civic and social responsibility. Within this subject, the topic on family underscores the importance of family roles, relationships and responsibilities, thereby, nurturing values of respect, unity and responsibility. The topic on friendship encourages learners to build positive relationships anchored on empathy, kindness and co-operation, while togetherness highlights the importance of community, mutual respect and collective responsibility, fostering social cohesion. Further, the topic on governance introduces learners to the principles of leadership, decision-making and accountability, thereby, promoting fairness, transparency and good citizenship.

Madam Speaker, beyond the formal curriculum, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President, through the Department of National Guidance and Religious Affairs, has developed a National Values and Principles Guide. This guide serves as a foundation for the development of supplementary materials that reinforce the teaching of moral and ethical values among learners, thereby, nurturing responsible, respectful and value-driven citizens.

Madam Speaker, in view of the foregoing, part (c) of the question, which seeks reasons for the absence of such subjects, does not arise. The ministry remains committed to ensuring that education in Zambia not only imparts knowledge and skills, but nurtures learners who are morally upright, responsible and guided by national values and principles.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, the basis for this question is similar to what was asked yesterday when we were talking about visas. What is the yardstick that the ministry uses to measure the impact of the mentioned subjects to achieve the morality that is required?

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Please, hon. Members in the Backbench, let us listen. This is a moral issue. We can learn something.

Laughter

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I can spend the whole day explaining this issue because it is part of the things I used to do at the university, teaching ethics and morality, and it took me a whole year to teach. This time around, however, I am just mentioning small things about imparting morality. Probably, let me define values and morals. Values are broad principles guiding behaviour and decision-making, such as respect, honesty and responsibility. Morals are rules of conduct based on societal norms of right and wrong. These are the things that will guide us as we teach certain subjects to young students.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, which brackets of learners are targeted for moral lessons and who are the teachers teaching the same lessons? Is it done under civic education? I ask this because I have not seen it done in our rural areas. I really want to know so that I can follow up on the issue.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, first of all, let me answer the last part of the question because I answered the first part when I was reading the written text.

Madam Speaker, I said that the lower primary consists of Grades 1 to 3, and the upper primary consists of Grades 4 to 6. Those who are trained as teachers in universities also receive training in areas of morality, as they study educational psychology. It is embedded in the curriculum. At college, we also teach educational psychology. So, moral issues are embedded in their training and teachers learn what is required. However, we continue practicing what we call continuous professional development (CPD) so that teachers can refresh and update their knowledge.

Madam Speaker, on the other hand, we have so many teachers. Some of them are morally upright, while others may not be. However, they are taught in colleges and universities to follow certain standards of behaviour as they teach because they serve as role models for children. The reason we have done that is because of the way society has been of late.

Madam Speaker, you may have observed that when the President comes every year to speak about principles and values that we hold as a country, his audience is usually this generation (pointed at hon. Members). If you look at this generation, it looks very damaged. So, we decided that it was best to talk to the younger generation, just as it used to happen when we were growing up. We want to instill good morals and values at an early age, whilst the child is still growing cognitively. Maybe, we will salvage the next generation. That is why we are starting from the early ages. If we start imparting good morals and values at an early age, we will have a society that is morally upright. That was the motivation for starting to impart good values and ethics in children at early childhood education so that they can grow up with them.

Madam Speaker, hon. Colleagues who are my age can remember what used to happen when we were growing up. For instance, if you picked up money on the street, you would look around to see who could have dropped it. If you saw someone ahead, you would run up and ask, “Did you drop this?” If the person was honest, they would check their pockets and confirm whether they had dropped the money. If they had dropped the money, they would say yes. If not, they would say that they did not. Then, you would take the money to your mother and say, “I found this on the street.” This time around, when children pick up money on the street, say a K1, the first thing they will do is look for snacks like Jiggies to buy. They will not even ask who dropped that money. That is what we are dealing with. So, that is why we are trying to instill morals at an early age through early childhood education. If you have checked, you have noted that our President is now a champion in Africa of early childhood education. Everybody has appreciated what we are doing in early childhood here in Zambia.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

_______

MOTION

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, WORKS AND SUPPLY ON THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Mr Mubika (Shangombo): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Transport, Works and Supply on the Proposal to Ratify the North-South Corridor Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), laid on the Table of the House on 5^th November, 2025, for the Fifth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

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

Mr Mubika: Madam Speaker, the Committee, in accordance with the terms of reference as set out in the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, was tasked to consider the proposal to ratify the North-South Corridor MoU.

Madam Speaker, I wish to state from the outset that the Committee is in support of the proposal to ratify the MoU. The ratification of the North-South Corridor MoU is of immense strategic significance to the Republic of Zambia. That instrument directly aligns with our national aspirations for enhanced regional integration, economic diversification and sustainable development. The corridor linking our country to major seaports, such as Durban, Beira and Dar-es-Salaam, will improve Zambia’s access to international markets, lower transport costs and strengthen the country’s position as a competitive and viable trading partner within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Madam Speaker, it is the Committee’s concerted view that the ratification of that MoU will attract sustainable and substantial investment in infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics through public-private partnerships (PPP), thereby creating employment opportunities for our citizens and stimulating industrial growth.

Madam Speaker, the North-South Corridor’s focus on integrated transport systems, which entails combining road, rail and port infrastructure, will enhance supply chain efficiency and facilitate the smooth movement of goods and services across borders. Furthermore, the institutional framework under the MoU will promote transparency, consistency and co-operation among member states by harmonising trade and transport policies and providing clear mechanisms for dispute resolution.

Madam Speaker, allow me, at this point, to highlight a few observations and recommendations made by the Committee in its report, which are based on various concerns raised by stakeholders.

Madam Speaker, the Committee observed with a measure of concern that Zambia may be exposed to significant fiscal pressure arising from obligations under the North-South Corridor Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). These obligations could potentially include financial penalties in the event of non-compliance. Additionally, the extensive tax exemptions and privileges extended to the corridor management institution risk diminishing the nation’s revenue base. In light of these considerations, the Committee strongly urges the Government to undertake a thorough fiscal impact assessment prior to committing the country to binding financial obligations. Furthermore, the Government should negotiate adequate safeguards and establish clear limits on tax exemptions so as to ensure that Zambia’s participation in the North-South Corridor yields tangible and net economic benefits to the nation.

Madam Speaker, the Committee observed that the North-South Corridor presents an invaluable opportunity to enhance supply chain efficiency through the integration of road, railway and port transport systems. Such integration is anticipated to shorten transit times and reduce transportation costs for exporters, thereby enhance Zambia’s trade competitiveness while supporting sustainable economic development. In this regard, the Committee urges the Government to accord priority to revamping and upgrading the national railway and road network and formulate policies that promote multimodal transport systems, which will ensure that Zambia fully capitalises on efficiency gains and improved freight movement envisaged under the North-South Corridor Initiative.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the Committee is of the considered view that the North-South Corridor presents a strategic opportunity for Zambia’s regional integration and economic advancement. However, such participation must be pursued prudently with due regard to fiscal sustainability, infrastructure readiness and legislative coherence.

Madam Speaker, allow me to urge the House to support the proposal to ratify the North-South Corridor MoU.

Madam Speaker, finally, I wish to pay tribute to the stakeholders who interacted with the Committee for the valuable insights they provided. Gratitude also goes to you and to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia for the guidance and support rendered to the Committee throughout its deliberations.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Mr J. Chibuye: Madam Speaker, now.

Madam Speaker, thank you very much for according me the opportunity to second the Motion on the ratification of the North-South Corridor Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on behalf of the people of Roan Constituency. The Motion was ably moved by the chairperson of the Committee, and, of course, he raised a number of salient matters.

Madam Speaker, in seconding the Motion, allow me to emphasise a few points that emerged during the interaction that we had with various stakeholders. I will probably start with the question as to why the MoU is important. The proposed MoU is directly aligned with Zambia’s national objective of deepening regional integration, which underpins our agenda for economic diversification and inclusive sustainable development.

Madam Speaker, what are some of the benefits that the country is going to have following the ratification of the MoU? I will highlight a few of them as follows:

Economic and Employment Benefits

Madam Speaker, the MoU will lower transport costs arising from improved corridor infrastructure, which will render our trade more efficient and stimulate job creation in logistics and manufacturing.

Regional Competitiveness

Madam Speaker, through the corridor, Zambia stands to gain a competitive advantage in regional commerce. It will also promote robust partnerships with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in advancing shared development goals. As you know, our country is no longer a landlocked country; it is land-linked. So, ratifiying the MoU will indeed bring many benefits to the country.

Investment and Infrastructure Development

Madam Speaker, ratification of the MoU will attract investment in infrastructure, including multimodal road, railway and port links, and create the conditions for public-private partnerships (PPPs) that drive industrial growth and modern transport systems. We are all aware that our railway infrastructure in the country needs great attention. Once we ratify the MoU, it will be an opportunity for us to look at the railway sector.

Enhanced Supply Chain Efficiency

Madam Speaker, a properly functioning corridor will enable smoother movement of goods and services across borders and reduce delays, bottlenecks and high logistical costs that presently constrain our exporters and manufacturers.

Madam Speaker, let me now briefly highlight why revitalising our railway network cannot be overemphasised. We are all aware that our railway network in the country today is not up to standard. In most cases, our trains move at a snail’s pace. In places where they move fast, they move at 20 km per hour. This affects business and the turnaround time. Our national railway company, the Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL), holds the vital mandate to provide freight and passenger services and to connect Zambia with neighbouring countries, thereby linking us to regional ports and enabling imports, transit and exports. Secondly, our railway sector is significantly underutilised. The excessive reliance on road freight inflicts logistical costs, accelerates road wear and tear, and leads to congestion and higher accident risks. Therefore, a robust railway system would shift bulk freight to the railway, reduce costs and alleviate pressure on our highways. It is a fact that a lot of cargo now moves on roads. As such, our roads are overburdened. Once railway infrastructure is improved, the Statutory Instrument (SI) that compels transporters of bulk cargo to move 30 per cent of their cargo through rail will be visible. It can only be visible if our railway lines are perfected. Thirdly, when Zambia upgrades the railway line from the Copperbelt to the southern ports via the corridor, manufacturers in Ndola and Kitwe will be able to ship finished products and inputs at significantly lower costs and faster turnaround, thereby making local value addition more viable. Similarly, agricultural produce will be moved in better ways to regional and global markets, thereby reducing post-harvest losses and increasing profitability. We know that when perishables are transported via the railway line, losses are reduced by 90 per cent. Therefore, I concur fully with the Committee’s recommendation that the Government should prioritise upgrading our national railway and road networks.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to reaffirm the Committee’s full support of this MoU, and I urge the House and the Government to move decisively in ratifying the MoU and to reiterate our commitment to revitalising Zambia’s railway infrastructure, thereby unlocking the considerable economic potential of the North-South Corridor for the benefit of all Zambians.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

The Minister of Local Government Housing and Rural Development (Mr Sialubalo) on behalf of (the Minister of Transport and Logistics (Mr Tayali)): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank all the hon. Members for supporting the Committee's report.

Madam Speaker, the Government remains committed to actualising the vision of becoming a regional transport and logistics hub. Zambia is traversed by several transport corridors In order to adequately take advantage of our geographical position, it needs to effectively collaborate with her neighbours to ensure the development and facilitation of trade, transport and logistics infrastructure and systems along the different corridors to ease the movement of goods and people.

Madam Speaker, we have noted the stakeholders' concerns in the Committee's report. We have also noted the observations and recommendations of the Committee on Transport, Works and Supply regarding the ratification of the North-South Corridor Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The ministry appreciates the Committee's diligence and concerns raised regarding governance, financing, sovereignty and sustainability of the corridor initiative.

Madam Speaker, however, the ministry wishes to reassure the Committee and the general public that expressed concerns are fully addressed within the design and implementation framework of the MoU. MoU

Madam Speaker, on the concerns about financing and fiscal burden, I wish to clarify that operations and maintenance of the North-South Corridor will not impose a financial burden on the Treasury. The MoU is structured to operate on a user-pays principle, whereby, the costs of corridors, services, infrastructure, maintenance and operational activities will be financed through user fees, tolls, service charges and private sector participation.

Madam Speaker, this approach ensures the corridor is self-sustaining and financially independent while also, attracting private investment to enhance efficiency and innovation in service delivery.

Madam Speaker, on the concerns regarding Zambia's obligations under the MoU, this august House may wish to note that the MoU fully respects the sovereignty of member states. Each participating country retains control over its infrastructure and domestic transport policies. The MoU merely provides a coordination framework to harmonise standards, procedures and systems across borders to promote seamless transport, trade and logistics operations. Zambia's participation is, therefore, not a surrender of authority, but rather, an exercise of regional leadership and co-operation.

Madam Speaker, on the concerns about institutional arrangements, the ministry further wishes to inform the Committee that Zambia has offered to host the headquarters of the North-South Corridor Organisation, which will provide the administrative hub for the implementation of corridor programmes. Hosting the secretariat will not only strengthen Zambia's leadership in regional transport and logistics development, but also to create employment opportunities and attract technical assistance, capacity building initiatives and investment into the country.

Madam Speaker, on the concerns regarding sustainability and implementation, the MoU emphasises the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and the corridor-based management system to ensure that operations are efficient and sustainable. By adopting a multimodal approach encompassing road, rail and border management systems, the corridor enhanced trade facilitation, reduced transport costs and supported industrialisation across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regions.

Madam Speaker, on the concerns about duplication with existing regional frameworks, the ministry wishes to assure the Committee and this august House that the MoU complements existing regional transport initiatives under COMESA, SADC, and tripartite transport and transit facilitation programmes. The North-South Corridor is designed as a coordinating mechanism, not a replacement, thereby, strengthening rather than duplicating regional integration efforts.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, the ministry reaffirms that Zambia's ratification of the North-South Corridor MoU is a strategic step towards realising the vision of a land-linked Zambia that is efficiently connected to regional and global markets. The user pays model, private sector involvement and also Zambia's offer to host the secretariat demonstrate Government's commitment to transparency, self-sustainability and regional leadership.

Madam Speaker, I thank you and urge this august House to adopt this very important report.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mubika: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker, let me also join the Acting hon. Minister of Transport and Logistics in thanking the hon. Members of Parliament who unanimously supported the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the North-South Corridor.

Let me also thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity given to the Committee to render its report.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

BILL

SECOND READING

THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT (Amendment) BILL, 2025

The Minister of Justice (Ms Kasune): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Amutike: Quality!

Ms Kasune: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker, the Small Claims Court (Amendment) Bill of 2025 seeks to amend the Small Claims Court Act, Chapter 47 of the Laws of Zambia so as to revise the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court and increase the number of commissioners that can hear and determine the matters in this court.

Madam Speaker, the Small Claims Court exists primarily to provide fast and quick disposal of cases involving relatively small amounts of money that require speedy, simple and inexpensive court procedures. Currently, the Small Claims Court Act, Chapter 47 of the Laws of Zambia, does not extend the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court to proceedings relating to employment claims or claims arising from the Money-Lenders Act, Chapter 398 of the Laws of Zambia, which involves small amounts of money that also require speedy, simple and inexpensive court procedures.

Madam Speaker, and, indeed, the House and the public, the current jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court has resulted in subordinate courts being overwhelmed with cases involving small amounts of money that can be properly dealt with by the Small Claims Court. Therefore, there is a need to amend the Small Claims Court Act to revise the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court and increase the number of commissioners, which will result in a reduction in the backlog of cases that are before the subordinate court. Improved service delivery leads to effective and efficient administration of justice in our great Republic of Zambia.

As I begin to wind up, Madam Speaker, this Bill is very progressive. I, therefore, urge all my colleagues, hon. Members of the House, to wholeheartedly support it.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Madam Speaker, pursuant to Order 207(j) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, the Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights and Governance was tasked to consider the Small Claims Court (Amendment) Bill No. 16 of 2025, referred to it on Wednesday, 16^th July, 2025.

Madam Speaker, the Bill is well-intentioned and was supported by all the stakeholders who appeared before your Committee. However, the Committee identified certain areas that require clarity and adjustment to ensure that the amendments achieve their intended goal.

Madam Speaker, I will now highlight the key points and recommendations of your Committee. The Bill allows companies and organisations to be represented by an officer, employee or agent. However, the term “agent” has not been defined. The absence of a clear definition could allow legal practitioners to appear in the Small Claims Court under different titles. Thereby, undermining the court's mode of operation as a simple and informal court. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the term “agent” be clearly defined to exclude legal practitioners and limit representation to officers or employees of the body corporate. This will ensure that the Small Claims Court remains a people's court; simple and accessible to all.

Madam Speaker, the Bill expands the Small Claims Court’s jurisdiction to include employment claims. However, the scope of employment claims is not clearly defined. This could lead to confusion and an overlap within the High Court's industrial and labour relations divisions, whose jurisdiction is labour-related matters. Therefore, the Committee recommends that employment claims be limited strictly to simple liquidated matters, such as unpaid salaries, wages or fixed benefits. Complex matters like wrongful dismissal or union disputes should remain with the Industrial Relations Court. This will avoid judicial conflicts and keep the Small Claims Court focused on being a fast-track court.

Madam Speaker, the Bill proposes substantial increases in the penalties for contempt, obstruction and unauthorised adjudication. While it is important to respect judicial authority, the proposed penalties are too harsh and could lead to overcrowding in correctional facilities. The Committee recommends that the maximum fine be reduced to 25,000 penalty units or imprisonment, not exceeding three months. The Committee also recommends an alternative to custodial sentences, such as community service or suspended sentences. This will promote respect for the court without being excessively punitive.

Madam Speaker, the Committee observes that the current law completely prohibits the inclusion of basic expenses such as filing fees and transport costs incurred by an applicant. This unfairly penalises successful parties who have spent money to seek justice. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Small Claims Court be allowed to order payment of necessary disbursements such as filing fees, service costs and transportation expenses. However, professional legal fees should remain prohibited to preserve the court's informal character.

Madam Speaker, it was noted that one of the biggest challenges faced by the Small Claims Court is the enforcement of its judgment. Many judgment debtors simply ignore court summons, and there is no power to compel attendance. Therefore, the Committee strongly recommends that the court be given back its powers to compel attendance of judgment debtors and to enforce orders effectively. These powers were available under Section 18 of the Act, before the 2008 amendments, but were repealed. Restoring them will give the court authority and make its orders enforceable.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, the Small Claims Court (Amendment) Bill No.16 of 2025, is a positive step towards making justice simple, fast and affordable for the ordinary Zambian. However, its success will depend on implementation. Parliament and the Executive must ensure that these recommendations are adopted to strengthen the court's operations.

Madam Speaker, I wish to thank all the stakeholders who interacted with the Committee for the constructive input they offered. Expression of gratitude also goes to you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to the Committee throughout its deliberations.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Kasune: Madam Speaker, as you have seen, hon. Members of Parliament are silent. So, clearly, this is a very progressive Bill and all the hon. Members are in support of it.

Many thanks to you, Madam Speaker, and the hon. Members of your Committee for the hard work. We are, indeed, thankful for their responses and recommendations to the Government and we look forward to looking into them.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question put and agreed to and the Bill read a second time.

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Tuesday, 11^th November, 2025.

_______

MOTIONS

MOTION OF SUPPLY

(Debate resumed)

Ms Sefulo (Mwandi): Madam Speaker, thank you very much. Allow me, on behalf of the people of Mwandi, to debate the Motion that is currently on the Floor of the House.

Madam Speaker, let me begin by saying that this is the first time in the history of this country that we have seen a Budget delivered that is 82 per cent going to be funded by our own resources. This speaks to the direction of the New Dawn Government and we want to ensure that in future, 100 per cent of our Budget is funded by locally generated revenues. That is a step in a positive direction.

Madam Speaker, let me also address the increasing of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Much has been said about the CDF, but seeing an increase from K36 million to the current K40 million is something we in the rural constituencies cannot even fully understand. We are building schools, bringing water closer to children and constructing maternity annexes. In rural constituencies, we are also grading the roads. Furthermore, if you were to walk through a place like Mwandi today, you would see that the difference between what it was five years ago and what it is now is remarkable. This is all because of what the CDF is achieving.

Madam Speaker, I also want to talk about something that we have not talked about; the decision by this Government to decentralise and take powers back to the people. Today, the development that is seen in constituencies is determined by the people themselves. They are the ones who are deciding exactly what they want to see and what should be done in their wards. That is giving power to the people. Before that, we had a situation whereby someone sitting in Lusaka would be making decisions on behalf of the people of Mwandi. Someone in Lusaka would decide where a school was supposed to be constructed in our constituency. As I speak about the 2026 Budget today, the people of Mwandi are able to have a voice in deciding the development they want to see, with K40 million of the CDF allocated to Mwandi Constituency and all other constituencies across the country.

Madam Speaker, I also want to speak about next year’s Budget regarding the increase to the mining sector. In this regard, we are walking the talk. There is so much progress in the mining sector due to the budget allocations from the time we came into Government in 2021. Just last year, the budget allocation for the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development was above K600 million. Today, we are speaking of a budget of K1.2 billion that has been allocated to the mining industry. We have also seen the operationalisation of the Minerals Regulation Commission. That is something that was spoken about over and over again. I do not come from a mining constituency, but looking at what this Government is doing, I would not be shocked if the Western Province becomes part of those constituencies involved in mining.

Madam Speaker, we want to ensure that we know the mineral wealth we have in our country. For the first time in this country, there is a fund dedicated to artisanal miners in Zambia, ensuring that they can access loans and provide for their families. This has never happened before. It is through the Budget that we are seeing such things.

Madam Speaker, we have also seen an increase in the budget allocated to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. We can see linkages happening because of the ministry. So, we are not only improving the mining sector, but also increasing the budget for the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. This is a step in a positive direction.

Madam Speaker, as a country, we have lost a lot because of lack of value addition. In as much as we produce raw materials, there is little that we do to add value to them. The Budget allocates funds to small-scale miners, enabling them to add value to what they produce. This means that the resources we have been losing in various value chains are now being ploughed back to our economy.

Madam Speaker, let me also talk about the education sector –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Ms Sefulo: Madam Speaker, I am going to move on quickly and talk about the issue of social protection. In the Budget for 2026, the amount allocated for social protection has been increased, and more than 250,000 beneficiaries will be added. What does this mean? It means that on top of the people who are already getting paid under the Social Cash Transfer (SCT), 250,000 more beneficiaries will start getting paid. So, I stand here to say that if anyone is going to debate against the Budget, that person is targeting the beneficiaries in rural constituencies who are getting paid under the SCT.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sefulo: If any person today will stand and speak against this Budget, that person is targeting the artisanal and small-scale miners who are going to benefit from the fund that is going to be created.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sefulo: Madam Speaker, if anyone will stand and speak against this Budget, that person is against all those children who have gone to university and have been given meal allowances.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sefulo: Madam Speaker, if anyone will speak against this Budget, that person will speak against all the farmers who have benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sefulo: Madam Speaker, if anyone will stand here and speak against this Budget, that person will speak directly against all the 2 million children who have gone back to school because what is going to support them is this Budget.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sefulo: Madam Speaker, if anyone today will oppose this Budget, that person is saying that we should not build a road network or an airport in Nakonde.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sefulo: This is exactly what this Budget is speaking to.

Madam Speaker, we have increased the allocation for social protection. We are keeping our children in school by providing free education, we are increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and we are making sure that the children who are in universities get their meal allowances. There is no well-meaning Zambian who can oppose this Budget.

Madam Speaker, with that said, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, here is a reminder. We have ten days to debate this Motion, that is, seven days for the Backbenchers and three days for the hon. Ministers. We are counting days. Let us not rush to debate on the last day. Let us use all the days.

Mr Mulunda (Siavonga): Madam Speaker, I would like to make a few comments on the report of the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee. I want to back the observations and the recommendations of the Committee which were made during its deliberations. These are found on page 45.

Madam Speaker, one of the issues that came out from sector committees was the release of funds from the Treasury. What came out from almost all ministries is that there is untimely disbursement of funds, which affects implementation of different programmes in ministries. We have seen that the budgets that are submitted by ministries are not the budgets that are approved. At the end of the day, ministries get a quarter of what they budgeted for in a year, and this has greatly affected the implementation of their programmes.

Madam Speaker, on page 47 of the report, there is an issue concerning the utilisation of the CDF. The CDF is a very good programme. Like my hon. Colleague the previous debater said, no one can stand up and say anything bad about the CDF because it has reached everywhere. From the year 2022, we have seen that the Government has been increasing the allocation to the CDF. Why? It is because the CDF is the only fund that has reached the remotest parts of this country. Everywhere you go, every ward you walk into across the nation, you will see the CDF at work. However, there have been challenges in the implementation of the CDF projects. Ministries, departments and local authorities are complaining about the same thing. We have seen local authorities delaying the implementation of projects. In most cases, they attribute the delay to the ministry’s delay in disbursing funds. The Committee urged the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to disburse funds on time so that the projects that are supposed to be implemented or executed are done within the acceptable period of time.

Madam Speaker, we have also seen that we have many challenges in terms of capacity in some local authorities, and this has hampered a lot of development. In some cases, we have seen abuse of the CDF. Just as the Committee observed, capacity is not there in some local authorities. Therefore, we urge them to take a proactive stance so that they are able to implement projects.

Madam Speaker, there are many things that the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government has implemented since 2021 when it took over the governance of this nation. One of them is, of course, the Free Education Policy, which has seen 2.3 million students go back to school. Everybody has been asking the question: If the Government did not introduce the Free Education Policy, where would the 2.3 million students go?

Mr Mutelo: They would have become cadres.

Mr Mulunda: Some are saying that they would have become cadres. Yes, they could have become cadres. We know the behaviour of cadres; nobody would want to see that.

Madam Speaker, this Budget is the best. What the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has proposed in the 2026 Budget is going to improve every sector of this country. Every sector has been catered for adequately, and we appreciate that.

Madam Speaker, we never dreamt that one day, we would have a Budget that would take care of every citizen of this country, and that every citizen would be able to get a share of what the Government has secured. So, this is what is making us, the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government, very proud because we have taken good care of every citizen of this country.

Madam Speaker, I wish to state that I back the recommendations of the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee. I also want to say that those recommendations must be taken into action so that they are actualised in order to move this country forward.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity.

Madam Speaker, as I begin my debate to support the Report of the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee, allow me to thank the President of the Republic of Zambia, the Executive including Hon. Milupi, for the undertaking the ground-breaking ceremony for the Solwezi/Mushindamo/Kipushi Road.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, that is historical for the people of Mushindamo.

Madam Speaker, this report is very enlightening. So, I will pick one point from page 10, which is Vote 46 - Ministry of Health.

Madam Speaker, I choose this because it is passionate to my heart. If we look at the three Arms of Government, for us, as a Legislature to pass effective laws that–

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, the consultations are becoming louder.

You may continue, hon. Member.

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, we have the three Arms of Government, and one of them is the Legislature. For the Legislature to pass laws that will stand the test of time, it needs to be healthy. For the Judiciary to execute its mandate, it needs to be healthy. For the Executive to formulate the policies that are to be implemented, it needs to be healthy.

Madam Speaker, the allocation for Head 46 has increased in nominal terms, but decreased in percentage terms of the National Budget from 11.8 per cent in 2024 to 10.3 per cent in 2026. This falls short of the Abuja Declaration of 15 per cent of the National Budget, which is supposed to be allocated towards the health sector.

Madam Speaker, that has an implication on the health of the citizens. As it is said, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. For instance, the K2.7 million that has been allocated to the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) limits the capacity of NHIMA to attain universal health coverage (UHC). Your report also states that there is a delayed and partial disbursement of operational funds to the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) and that has continued to affect the timely procurement and distribution of essential medicines.

Madam Speaker, your report talks about 4,500 health workers to be recruited between 2025 and 2026. This is insufficient because the gap for the health personnel is 46 per cent. So, that 4,500 is just a drop in the ocean because Zambia currently, stands at the ration of one doctor to 12,000 patients. For the nurses, the ratio is one nurse to about 15,000 patients. So, there is a need actually, for more allocation to the health sector, notwithstanding the fact that the allocation to nutrition in your report is at K19 million. This is far too low because we need about K80 million for us to have comprehensive treatment of severe acute malnutrition. As the House may be aware, about 32 per cent of children who are under five in Zambia are stunted.

Madam Speaker, what does that imply? It means their cognitive development and future are affected. From the education sector, we will be amazed to see that even the performance of our children in school is affected. Why? This is because of stuntedness. So, the allocation of K19 million is too low. At least, we need to increase it to K80 million for nutrition to be attained. So, we need to relook at the Budget towards the health sector.

Madam Speaker, if we look at the emolument aspect, the personal emolument, which is actually outstanding has been allocated with less than K1 billion. This affects the morale of the health workers. The health workers are very important in this nation. Therefore, we need them for us to be healthy and productive in every sector. Further, your report states that several statutory boards in the Ministry of Health are yet to be constituted and that needs money. For example, we are currently operating without the national health policy, which is a strategic instrument that we need in the health sector.

Madam Speaker, your report states that persistent gaps in meeting the UHC in terms of funding, the workforce capacity and delivery in terms of the efficiency within the health sector require more concerted efforts. If need be, this calls for the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to come up with a Supplementary Budget, and so be it, Madam Speaker, because we need to fund the health sector adequately, for us to be able to have a healthy nation, and of course, not forgetting that the pilferage and leakage are sealed. Therefore, there is a need for more allocation to the Minister of Health or the health sector in order to enhance monitoring and evaluation.

Madam Speaker, as I support Motion, I thought I needed to highlight these aspects because they are quite fundamental. For every one of us to sit here, it is because there is some degree of good health. Imagine if we were all sick of communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease and mental health, among others, we would not be able to make laws or even pass this Budget. Therefore, in as much as all other ministries are very important in terms of the allocations, I consider that the health sector is the bedrock. For the hon. Ministry of Finance and National Planning to collect revenue, it needs to have a healthy workforce. For the Ministry of Agriculture to implement all the factors that are needed for a bumper harvest, we need to have a healthy workforce. For the Judiciary to have the wheels of justice rotating in order to bring justice to collect revenues that have been lost through corruption and the like, it needs to be healthy.

Madam Speaker, I call upon the Minister of Finance and National Planning to relook the health sector allocation. For instance, the workforce that contributes to NHIMA has a higher percentage, but when it comes to consuming the health services, those people who do not contribute more make the largest percentage in terms of benefits. So, there is a need and a call to relook the health sector Budget.

Madam Speaker, I thank you, and I support the report.

Mr Mapani (Namwala): Madam Speaker, I thank you so very much for this opportunity. You have allowed me to add two or three sentences to the Motion on the Floor of this House now.

Madam Speaker, the K253.1 billion is a Budget for the people. This is a developmental Budget that looks at the concerns of the citizens across the country.

Madam Speaker, a reasonable person will agree with me that this Budget is above board. We have seen how much was allocated to the Ministry of Education. This means that the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government has put education at the core and that is the way it is supposed to be. We have had the emphasis on a couple of issues under the education sector. Among others, is the School Feeding Programme. It was mentioned on this Floor that this Budget would ensure that the School Feeding Programme is spread to all the schools across all districts in the country. That is very important in the sense that the young ones, who go to school, will be given the zeal to attend classes without complaining, because they will have something in their tummies. It is not only the education sector being worked on. It is only when we have an enlightened community that we can start talking about development. We are humbled that the New Dawn Government, through this Budget, has seen the need to ensure that all the corners of this country are touched.

Madam Speaker, we have also heard that this is a budget that is also looking at decentralisation. When power is devolved, given to the people, it needs money. There are many elements that have been pronounced in this Budget that will give power, indirect or direct, to the people to choose what they want to be done in their respective constituencies.

Madam Speaker, further, allow me to look at Vote 10 – the Zambia Police Service Commission. Indeed, there is an increase from the previous budget. This Commission has many duties to perform. However, because of the amounts that were allocated previously, it was difficult for it to execute its obligations. I am happy now because, going by the allocations in the 2026 Budget, I expect the Commission to perform its obligations in the interest of the citizens. There are a couple of pillars that it intends to achieve with the K26 million that has been allocated. One of the few is to ensure that human resource management is at the core. This is, again, a Commission that is just centred in Lusaka. Given the amount that has been allocated, I hope that its presence will be felt in all the provincial centres. If, indeed, the obligations or the duties are decentralised, it is only then that people can talk about its duties and the need to have this Commission. In other words, with the increased budget allocation to Vote 10, I expect the Commission to spread to all the provincial centres.

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker gave the floor to Mr Kafwaya.

Interruptions

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I hope I have the freedom to speak, given the apprehension I am receiving from my hon. Colleagues.

Mr Samakayi: Question!

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the source documents for the report we are considering are the budget speech presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, and the annual borrowing plan. So, I am happy to have both in my hands. I would like to read page No. 4.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Lunte, we are also looking at the Report of the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee.

Mr Kafwaya: Yes, Madam Speaker, absolutely. As I said, these are source documents. They were the basis of the submissions made to the Expanded Planning and Budget Committee. That is what I said.

Madam Speaker, regarding the outstanding payments, on page No. 4, the hon. Minister –

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Can we minimise the movements.

Mr Amutike: On a Point of Order, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: A Point of Order is raised.

Mr Amutike: Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleague, Mr Kafwaya, is a member of the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee.

Hon. PF Member: Muli balwele, imwe, ba mudala.

Mr Amutike: Is he in order to contribute to the debate on his own Committee’s report?

I seek your ruling, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kafwaya: What Standing Order has been breached?

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

My ruling is that the debate is on the Motion of Supply. So, the hon. Member is allowed to contribute to the debate on the Motion.

Ms Sefulo: For the first time, you are in order.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, paragraph 22 of the 2026 Budget Speech states:

“The outstanding payments to suppliers of goods and services increased by a modest K3.3 billion to K84.1 billion between December 2024 and August 2025.”

Madam Speaker, paragraph 31 of the same speech reads:

“It is vital that our country experiences strong economic growth year after year. The jobs that we desperately need and the increased revenues we seek to spend on social services and public infrastructure become available only with strong growth.”

Madam Speaker, this is the basis of my contribution. The hon. Minister said that the arrears that the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government owes suppliers of goods and services increased modestly by K3.3 billion to K84.1 billion. So, the UPND Government owes those suppliers K84.1 billion. Then, the Government says that it will plan for the dismantling of the debt to pay off the suppliers. Let me take you to the schedule on page 26, line 3, of the Budget Speech: dismantling of arrears, budgeted at K4.7 billion.

You owe people who are in the middle class K84 billion, then, you say that next year, in 2026, you will only pay K4.7 billion. On the other hand, you say that you need to create jobs. The hon. Minister clearly said that the jobs that we so desperately need have to be created. How will you create jobs when you are holding on to money for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) who deal with the Government? I heard one hon. Colleague say that those who will not support this Budget are trying to circumvent people from receiving the Social Cash Transfer (SCT). When you increase the SCT allocation, you tell the people that we have created so much vulnerability and suffering that the only way people can survive is for us to transfer some money to them.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kafwaya: Instead of doing that, I would rather you pay off the suppliers of goods and services, who, by the way, include farmers. Pay them off so that they can maintain the jobs, and expand the scope for jobs. I will not just end at speaking like this. I will help the UPND Government with the 2026 Budget by ensuring that we allocate a decent amount to the dismantling of arrears. If the Government does not want the help, that is its fault. I will move amendments to this Budget. That will be my help. If the UPND does not want, I will not care much. I will tell the people to look at how they have been considered, what my thoughts were and how I tried to help the Government, and the Government’s reaction.

Madam Speaker, I know that there are many things to talk about. However, let me take you through this small document in my hands. On page No. 2 of this –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Which small document?

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the Annual Borrowing Plan.

Madam Speaker, on page 2, the 2026 Annual Borrowing Plan states as follows:

“Accordingly, gross domestic borrowing for the financial year 2026 is projected at K106 billion. Of this amount, K21.62 billion will go towards financing part of the 2026 budget deficit, with the remaining K84.38 billion is being utilised to refinance domestic debt maturities.”

Madam Speaker, the United Party for National Development (UPND) will borrow K106 billion in 2026 from the local market. If that is added to the K12.87 billion from the international market, it will give us K118.87 billion. That is the total projected borrowing by the UPND Government in 2026.

Madam Speaker, since we were together in this House in the previous Parliament, can I remind you something? The 2021 –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, just continue with the debate.

Mr Kafwaya: The total for the 2021 Budget was K119 billion, which is equivalent to the amount that the UPND Government wants to borrow in one year.

Madam Speaker, by the end of 2026, the UPND Government will spend K1.1 trillion. In five years, it would have spent K1.1 trillion. In five years, the Patriotic Front (PF) only spent K500 billion, less than half of K1.1 trillion. Out of the deliverables that the UPND has produced in K1.1 trillion, no project can be compared to the construction of the Mongu/Kalabo Road and the Kafulafuta Dam. Not even one. No project can be compared to the improvement of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA).

Madam Speaker, we have a problem and that problem can be solved by people who think not for themselves, but for the people. That is why I have pledged here on the Floor of the House that I will help the UPND Government with the 2026 Budget. The Budget will be amended to give the UPND meaningful numbers that will assist the people and, perhaps, help them appreciate the UPND.

Madam Speaker, finally, I want to say that the 2026 Budget does not even balance. It is not balanced. Tomorrow, I will reveal in the press why it is not balanced. In this regard, there have been contradictory statements. In the policy statement, the hon. Minister said, “I am going to offer you a 2.1 per cent fiscal deficit”, but the deficit is over 3 per cent in the Budget. So, we have a problem and we need to solve it.

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, your time is up.

Mr Kafwaya: I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Samakayi (Mwinilunga): Madam Speaker, I am not debating my hon. Colleague, but let mention that sometime last year, or in 2023, Hon. Kafwaya raised the same issue of the Budget not balancing and the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning answered him adequately. So, I do not doubt that the hon. Minister will come to respond to what Hon. Kafwaya has raised.

Madam Speaker, firstly, I wish to thank the Government, through the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, for including the construction of the Mwinilunga Road in the 2026 Budget. The people of Mwinilunga –

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

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

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, it is a well-established practice in the House that hon. Ministers, such as Hon. Mweetwa and others, are responsible for responding to issues raised by Backbenchers like myself. If a Backbencher has thoughts, like I did, that hon. Colleague needs to be clear. Why has the hon. Member currently on the Floor failed to produce clear evidence on why he thinks the Budget is balancing or not? I have gone through the Budget and he has not. If he has a problem with what I said, he should say, “It is balanced and here is how it is balanced.”

Mr Samakayi: Is that my duty?

Mr Kafwaya: Is the hon. Member in order to suggest that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning will respond? What if he will not even prioritise my issue, as has been the case in the past?

I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Mr Samakayi: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Can you cite the Standing Order that has been breached?

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, I have indicated that it is standard practice. That is how it has been all along.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Lunte, the hon. Member for Mwinilunga observed something you brought out, and he clearly stated that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning will address the issue or respond to it. I think that is how it is supposed to be. Hon. Ministers seated here are supposed to respond to the issues that are raised by Backbenchers. I remember that the matter you raised came out during debate on the previous Budget. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning addressed the matter before the House when responding to the issues that were raised. Similarly, he will respond and tell us whether the Budget is balanced or not. According to what you said, the Budget is not balanced.

We make progress. Hon. Member for Mwinilunga, you may continue.

Mr Samakayi: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I was saying that the people of Mwinilunga, represented by the man standing here, are very happy that their road has been included in the 2026 National Budget.

Madam Speaker, my other comment concerns the increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which has been increased to K40 million per constituency. That is a very good gesture from the Government of the Republic of Zambia, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema. It is one way of providing resources to the local people for allocation to areas of need.

Madam Speaker, related to the increasing of the CDF is the issue of delimitation. Why should we have delimitation? It is because more resources will go to rural areas. Many areas continue to be left behind and do not benefit from the increase in the CDF. Therefore, the people in Mwinilunga, Nyimba, Kalulushi, Kafue, Katombola, Mufumbwe, Kasempa, Chilubi, Kanchibiya, Kapiri Mposhi and Chililabombwe want to benefit from the increased CDF. They can only benefit from the increased CDF if delimitation takes place. I would be one of those who would be very sad if delimitation does not take place. The people of Mwinilunga will not be happy if delimitation does not take place. The people of Kanchibiya, Chilubi and Nyimba will not be happy if delimitation does not take place because they will benefit very little from the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Madam Speaker, I will quickly move on to value addition. When we look at value addition, we are also looking at diversification. I first heard this word when I was in Grade 2 or Grade 3, during President Kaunda's time. Moving away from mining to agriculture took long. Perhaps this Government is more pragmatic and is moving very fast on diversification from copper. I think that enhancing copper production alongside agricultural production is very good. The conversation about value addition started during the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and was enhanced during the era of President Mwanawasa and President Rupiah Banda (RB). Of course, we have moved on, but now I think that the speed has increased. My own observation on value addition is that perhaps we need to consolidate the policies and the various strategies for various sectors. We need to bring them together so that we have a consolidated policy position. We should be looking at making monitoring easy and enhancing coherence and policy alignment. We should be improving efficiency in resource allocation and unified capacity building and innovation, as well as better monitoring. Like I said, we need strong regional and international positioning.

Madam Speaker, one thing I want to say on value addition is that Africa has realised that it has not been in control of its resources. Yesterday, I was listening to the President of Namibia talking about taking control of the country’s resources. The new realisation in Africa is that the world order has been very unfair to Africa. If you were asked to go to the richest continent in the world, you would go to Africa. If you were asked to go to the poorest continent in the world, you would come to Africa. What is the matter? Kisikamang’i? Why should we be the richest and the poorest at the same time?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is Kisikamang’i?

Mr Samakayi: Kisikamang’i means “What is the problem?” That is Lozi.

Laughter

Mr Samakayi: Madam Speaker, I think that we need to take a cue from other African countries regarding this realisation. When we consolidate the policy, it will be easy for us to benchmark against other countries on how we are moving in terms of implementing the policy on value addition. This is a very good policy on industrialisation and job creation. So, it is very important. However, my observation is that we need to consolidate it. The policy on value addition is fragmented regarding various sectors. We need to consolidate it for ease of monitoring and enhancing efficiency in resource allocation and various other things I have mentioned.

Madam Speaker, the last point is the issue of the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). It is not doing very well.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Mr Samakayi: Just give me two minutes, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Samakayi: The REA is not doing very well.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No, hon. Member.

Mr Samakayi: The REA is not doing very well. In Mwinilunga, we were asked to give REA four sites to electrify, and we did. The four sites are Kanikombweshi, Kalumbila, Kambusacitolu and Kamapanda –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mwinilunga –

Mr Samakayi: The REA has done nothing to date. So, we are not happy with the way REA is operating.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sampa rose.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Matero, were you supposed to debate?

Mr Sampa: I want to raise a point of order.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order?

Mr Sampa: According to Article 71, –

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Article what?

Mr Sampa: Standing Order No. 71.

Madam Speaker, my point of order is simple. I rarely rise on points of order. However, at this point, I want to find out if the hon. Member was in order to debate while seated.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Which hon. Member was debating while seated?

Hon. Government Members: Kafwaya.

Mr Sampa: The previous speaker, the hon. Member for Mwinilunga, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Anyway, I know it is a joke, because the hon. Member was standing while debating.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, I appreciate the chance you have given me to …

Hon. Government Members: Stand up!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Can we give him room to debate.

Mr Kampyongo: … make a few comments on the Motion moved by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. I will briefly comment on the report from the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee, which analysed the Budget.

Madam Speaker, whilst your Committee acknowledged the increased allocation to the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) scheme in the 2026 Budget, it also expressed its concerns as follows:

“Your Committee is concerned about the delayed disbursements, which undermine the programme's effectiveness in cushioning vulnerable households. Therefore, it recommends that the Government should ensure timely disbursement of funds.”

Madam Speaker, having a programme in place is one thing, implementation of the programme is another thing. Here, we are hyping the social safety net to the people, especially the vulnerable ones, whom my hon. Colleague Mr Kafwaya referred to. The people expect the social safety net programmes to cushion them, but the Government is not disbursing the funds. That amounts to punishing innocent people. There are people right now who are still waiting to be paid huge sums of money for the work they did through what is called the Cash for Work programme. However, we saw information that the programme had been suspended. I used to see women lining up and cleaning drainages. Alas, today, I was shocked because the whole city was flooded. So, you wonder whether the money that was spent on such activities was worthwhile. Some people who worked under that programme have still not been paid. Civic leaders, especially those in rural areas, are under pressure to pay the people. So, it is one thing to have a programme and it is another thing to make the programme effective.

Madam Speaker, there is so much talk about the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Here is what your report is saying. The report says that the Committee appreciates the increase in the CDF to K6.2 billion, which translates into K40 million per constituency. However, the Committee is concerned about persistent delays in the disbursement of funds and the low absorption capacity of local authorities.

Madam Speaker, even as we speak now, the CDF for 2025 has not yet been released. I sympathise with the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development because he is trying so hard to have things done but hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has not given him money. Up to now, we have only received about K6 million out of the K36 million plus. So, we are two years before the fiscal year ends. When are we going to receive the balance so that projects are completed?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

It is two years, not two months.

Mr Kampyongo: Two months, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Yes, but you said we are remaining with two years before the end of the year.

Mr Kampyongo: It is two months. Thank you so much for your correction, Madam Speaker.

So, at the rate we are moving, how much time do we have for us to be able to burnout the funds, even if we are complaining about the absorption capacity of the councils? What are they going to do if they receive money thirty days before the end of the fiscal year? That is a challenge, Madam Speaker. Yes, they can say the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is there, but I stood on the Floor of this House when this issue was brought and I indicated that we were going to still have a challenge. So, it is one thing to say we have increased the allocation when we cannot even fulfil what is already in the Budget for this year. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning must be sincere when he comes to this august House to seek approval to increase the funds. Talking figures of funds is exciting but implementing them is key.

Madam Speaker, lastly, I want to comment on the revenue collection capacity which was mentioned in the Budget Speech. I doubt that the hon. Minister is going to collect the much-needed mobilised revenue from the domestic set-up. Why do I doubt? I doubt because of the way he has structured the non-tax revenue.

Madam Speaker, Part IV of our Constitution, which provides for citizenship has now been expanded to include dual citizenship. What that means is, for example, grandchildren who were born in the United Kingdom (UK) to Zambian parents and automatically became British nationals by birth have now been given an opportunity to reclaim their right to citizenship of Zambia because their descendants or ancestors are Zambians.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is now trying to propose an allocation in the Budget under Fees for Citizenship, Item No. 2 – Certificate of Citizenship by Registration. This is a certificate that is given to those individuals when the Citizenship Board seeks to approve their right to citizenship.

Madam Speaker, in the previous Budget, there was an allocation of K26,666. What does the hon. Minister propose in his Budget? He is proposing that individuals should now pay –

He is even failing to quote the fee in Kwacha. He is proposing that individuals should pay US$10,000 or Kwacha equivalent. What does that mean? He is now proposing a payment of K200,000 for a right to citizenship. How can citizenship be a right? A fee for that has been increased from K26,666 to K200,000. What percentage increment is that? How possible can one realise this money?

Madam Speaker, projections must be realistic. In my view, this is unrealistic. They are denying their citizens the right to be citizens. US$10,000? How many people will pay US$10,000? He is not looking at foreigners. I know that some of them are born here. At the age of eighteen, they are allowed to claim the right to citizenship under Part IV of the Constitution. Now, he is making prohibitive fees in the sum of US$10,000. How many people will pay that? What percentage is it from K26,000 to US$10,000? Now, they are even targeting the Airtel transactions. They are saying that if I send money for two bags of fertiliser for a poor woman in my constituency, that money has to be taxed. Here is a schedule. (Mr Kampyongo waved a document in the air). He has mines but he is failing to collect tax. How many people transact using the money he is targeting? We doubt the capacity of the hon. Minister to generate revenue from local sources because he has targeted wrong areas. That is going to have an effect on our poor people.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Mr Kampyongo: Who does that?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Your time is up.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, as I wind up, …

Hon. UPND Members: There is no winding up!

Mr Kampyongo: … I wish to state that the hon. Minister must have realistic projections in terms of how he is going to mobilise revenue.

Hon. UPND Members: Your time is up!

Mr Kampyongo: You are not debating but you are asking me to wind up.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Laughter

Mr Sampa (Matero): Madam Speaker, greetings from Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where we went to monitor elections.

Hon. UPND Members: Who sent you?

Mr Amutike: Did Chabinga send you?

Laughter

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, you sent hon. Members and they are being made fun of them?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Hon. Member for Matero, you may continue.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, we went there as the African Union (AU) auspices, and Yours Truly, was there too. We went there as Witnesses to the Hague. We realised that those who rise to power and maintain it by using force …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

We are debating the Motion.

Mr Sampa: … are referred to the Hague.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: We are debating the Motion.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to congratulate the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwinilunga, my brother, Mr Samakayi, for being our new leader of delegation to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa: He did a coup d'etat on me, and now, he is the new leader of the delegation to PAP. We are well led and I want to congratulate him for that. He is my good brother, and we are representing Zambia very well at PAP.

Madam Speaker, I want to zero-in on the Budget Speech by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Musokotwane, who is in his last term.

Hon. UPND Members: Ah!

Mr Samakayi: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Matero, please, focus on the Budget, not individuals.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I am well guided.

Mr Amutike: Former President of PF!

Mr Sampa: Once a president, always a president.

Hon. UPND Members: Ah!

Mr Sampa: Incoming!

Laughter

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I want to zero-in on the Budget Speech and state that many issues were raised.

Hon. UPND Members: There are serious issues!

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, very serious issues were bought out. This country is run on a Budget. So, if a poor Budget is passed, the country will, for the rest of the year, not produce any results. I said it here when we approved the last Budget. Hon. Kafwaya and many others said it too. We told them that the last Budget did not have revenue from internal resources. It was backed by external goodwill, through loans and grants. We told them that they made a mistake because they should have received money from the mines. Instead of getting more money from the mines, they gave back the money to the investors through concessions. They put the heart of the country in the hands of foreign income from borrowing and grants. Some of it came from the United States of America (USA). There we are. When Trump took over power, he flipped and said he did not want to put money where there was corruption. The funding that they had put in the Budget for the Ministry of Health was terminated. There we are. They left this country in mwamoneni. Since then, the Treasury for this country is ever broke.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

What is mwamoneni?

Laughter

Mr Sampa: Mwabo –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Can you translate?

Mr Sampa: It just means that we are regretting what we did.

We are into mwamoneni. Mwaona manje apa vinthu sivilibwino.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You are even creating more words.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Can you please use English?

Laughter

Mr Sampa: Mwabona awa. Kwasiya ino.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Ah!

Mr Sampa: Taku lusumpuko.

Laughter

Mr Sampa: It just means that, see, now we are struggling to develop the country because we made wrong decisions. That is what it means.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

There is an indication for a point of order by the hon. Member for Luena.

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to raise a point of order.

Madam Speaker, I have been listening to debates in the House and my good friend, the hon. Member of Parliament for Matero and …

Mr Chinkuli: Oh, he is your friend?

Mr Anakoka: … a colleague who is on the Floor now representing very serious people of Matero. I am raising this point of order pursuant to Standing Order No. 71. The people of Matero expect him to be debating the Budget, which will have an impact on the lives of people in Matero. Is he in order to indicate to debate when he is completely not ready? Clearly, he has not read the report. Clearly, he does not even seem to know what is going on in this House. Is he in order to waste the precious time of the people of Matero by not debating the Motion on the Floor?

I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Matero, I guided you and urged you to be focused. We have not heard the main content of your debate yet. Please, be focused and go straight to the main points.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I am well guided. I am very focused and I know what I am talking about. I am talking about what was under health in the last Budget. If we are to discuss the Budget, we should consider what the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning read in his speech. He started with what he promised in the last Budget and the achievements before he gave us the promises for the next Budget. So, I am just picking up from where he left off.

Madam Speaker, for the people of Matero, in terms of the health posts in the rural outskirts and Matero Referral Centre, the Budget –

Interruptions

Mr Sampa: Yes, Matero has urban and rural areas. It extends to Kasupe and Barlastone area near Chilanga. We are connected to Chilanga, and we have farmers there. The goal in the last budget for health was not met because the American Government pulled out. That is why there are no medicines in our hospitals. That was my point.

Madam Speaker, in the interest of time, I will move on to another item in the Budget. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is one that this Government –

Mr Amutike: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Please, continue, hon. Member for Matero.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, which constituency is this one-term hon. Member of Parliament from (pointed at Mr Amutike)?

Hon. PF Members: Mongu Central!

Mr Sampa: Mongu Central.

Madam Speaker, this one-termer needs to learn what the Standing Orders stipulate. When his colleague is debating, he should listen. He should not interject.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Matero, please, just continue. You are debating through the Chair.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I am well guided.

Madam Speaker, as I wind up my debate, I would like to say that I am a man of few words but a man of action in Matero. My last point is on the CDF. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning keeps increasing the allocation every year, and here, in this House, they clap and say, “Kwenu, kwenu! Increase, increase!” The CDF allocation was increased to K40 million from about K30.6 million in the recent budget presentation, and they all went wild. The Government might as well have increased the allocation to K100 million or K200 million per year, because it does not matter, as it is theoretical. It is virtual. It is not real. The Government does not deliver on whatever promises it makes to hon. Members of Parliament, me included, for all the constituencies of Zambia. The Government promised K30 million plus in the last Budget. This is November, how much of that money has been released? Only about 10 per cent. So, the year will end, and the rest of the money will not be released.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Hon. PF Member: Balimipela, imwe?

Interruptions

Mr Sampa: Balimipela imwe? Ifwe, they have not given us.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Please, do not involve the other hon. Members in the House. Just focus and debate through the Chair.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I am well guided. I do not want you to suspend me like Hon. Binwell Mpundu.

Laughter

Mr Sampa: I want to remain in the House.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Matero, I think, we have to give you time so that you can prepare yourself.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I am winding up.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Go and prepare yourself.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I am prepared. I know what I am talking about. I am just concluding.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You have brought in the issue of suspensions, which is not in any of the reports.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I withdraw and I apologise. I will conclude in thirty seconds.

Madam Speaker, my point is that the K40 million CDF increment is only good if the Ministry of Finance and National Planning releases the money for the constituencies. At the rate at which the money is being released, and the last portion of the allocation, it means that even next year, by say, July, only about 50 per cent would have been released, and with the elections in August, that means that the money will not be released. That is what I am saying. The Government should release the money for whatever is undertaken.

With that said, we will see you after the elections when we move to that side, and you people who are making noise (Pointed to the right) move to our side.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

We are still around up to 5^th December, 2025.

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I meant next year, 2026, when we have the elections in August. The people on your left will move to the right, and those people will move to this side.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

You have concluded your debate. Resume your seat.

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

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

Mr Zulu: Madam Speaker, my Point of Order is pursuant to Standing Order 71. My colleague, the hon. Member for Matero, has blamed the Government with regards to the disbursement of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). We all know that if you are failing to manage your committee, you should not blame the Government for the things that are not being done.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Zulu: Madam Speaker, I am an Opposition Member of Parliament. I am not from the Ruling Party, but I can safely say that we have received over 70 per cent of the CDF disbursement in Nyimba. We are just waiting for the hon. Minister to hand over some of the projects that have been completed.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Zulu: Madam Speaker, I am talking about 2025. We are not talking about 2024. We are done with 2024. We are in 2025. We are even behind for 2026 because we thought that we would have advertised for 2026 projects by now. Is the former Deputy Minister of Finance, and the former president of the Patriotic Front (PF) in order to insinuate that the Government has failed to release money to CDF Committees when the people in Matero, for which he is the Member of Parliament, are failing to execute the CDF?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Zulu: Madam Speaker, is he in order to insinuate that we have all not received the money when it is only he and his constituents who have failed to absorb the money?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa rose.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Matero, resume your seat.

All I can say is that the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development is taking in all the points that are being raised. He will respond to the issue on the late disbursement of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), whether it is true or not. So, we thank God that he is in the House. He will respond.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1809 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 7^th November, 2025.

____________

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