Tuesday, 18th November, 2025

Tuesday, 18^th November, 2025

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

VISITORS FROM LUSAKA DISTRICT

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

Mr Mutete Susiku Kashimani; and

Mr Mikatazo Wakumelo.

On behalf of the National Assembly of Zambia, I wish to receive our guests and warmly welcome them into our midst. You are most welcome and you may resume your seats.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_______

URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR KANG’OMBE, HON. MEMBER FOR KAMFINSA, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, DR NALUMANGO, ON THE HEAVY RAINFALL THAT AFFECTED MOST OF THE HOUSES IN KAMFINSA

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, allow me to direct an Urgent Matter without Notice at Her Honour the Vice-President, whose office is responsible for disasters.

Madam Speaker: You can proceed, hon. Member.

Madam Speaker, in my constituency, particularly, there is a disaster that affected house Nos. 333, 334 up to 590 in Ndeke. When I arrived in the constituency, I took time to visit some areas, and in the process, I discovered some wall fences and houses that had collapsed and as a result of the heavy downpour that was experienced over the weekend.

Madam Speaker, as a responsible hon. Member of Parliament, I took time to verify the extent of the damage. I now wish to report that seventeen houses in Ndeke, seven houses in Ndeke Presidential, and eight houses in Ndeke Changa Changa have been severely damaged as a result of the heavy downpour. Lastly, the entire wall fence at a primary school in Mulenga Compound has also collapsed.

Madam Speaker, I wish to request for Government’s intervention in this matter. The calamity has affected more than ten houses. If they were less than ten houses, we would have been told that the situation does not qualify to be a disaster. Our people need relief. I know that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), at local level, has a component for disasters, but the extent of that damage cannot be rectified using the CDF. I, therefore, seek your indulgence as I look for a solution to the problem affecting our people in the constituency. I arrived on time so that I could direct the matter to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, hon. Member for Kamfinsa, for raising that issue. However, if I were you, instead of raising the matter on the Floor of the House, I would have dashed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to alert it about what happened. You cannot not just come to the House and make a statement. The people in your constituency have suffered some misfortune. So, even if Her Honour the Vice-President comes to deliver a statement after a day or two, that will not resolve the problem. So, hon. Member for Kamfinsa, I would urge you to inform the DMMU about what has happened in your constituency quickly. That way, the problem will be resolved quicker than you raising it as an Urgent Matter without Notice.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, we first bring the matter here.

Madam Speaker: No, we do not do that.

So, the matter is not admitted.

MR MUNG’ANDU, HON. MEMBER OF FOR CHAMA SOUTH, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF EDUCATION, MR SYAKALIMA, ON THE PENDING CLOSURE OF CHINGOZI BASIC SCHOOL IN MAPAMBA WARD OF CHAMA SOUTH CONSTITUENCY

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, this matter is directed at our hardworking hon. Minister of Education.

Madam Speaker: You can proceed, hon. Member.

Madam Speaker, I have just returned from my constituency. When I was there, I visited several schools and among them, is Chingozi Basic School in Mapamba Ward, Chama South Constituency.

Madam Speaker, Chingozi Basic School is about to be closed. The head teacher of that school called for a community meeting and announced that the Government had decided to close the school. The children who will be affected when that school is closed are those in Grades 8 and 9. Where the school is located, it will be difficult for learners to access another school because of the distance which is about 80 km and 110 km. This means that about 500 pupils will have to go to a boarding school. So, when I enquired why the school is being closed, I was told that the school has no trained basic school teachers for Grades 8 up to 12. I believe that is contrary to what the Government is doing. I announced to the community that for the first time in the history of this country, His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has employed more than 35,000 teachers. So, there is no way a secondary school cannot have a trained teacher.

Madam Speaker, I found the same situation at Pondo Basic School–

Madam Speaker: If you can wind up, hon. Member. Your time is up.

Mr Mung’andu: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the reason was that because of the new curriculum, pupils had to be moved to a boarding school which is about 80 km away. My analysis is that if we are not careful with rural schools, this might happen throughout the country.

I want to ask the hon. Minister, what measures have been put in place to ensure in schools, not only in Chama South, but countrywide, pupils are not disadvantaged considering that this Government has employed more than enough teachers to close the pupil/teacher ratio?

I seek clarification on this matter.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, hon. Member.

The guidance that I gave to the hon. Member for Kamfinsa, applies to you, hon. Member for Chama South. You can put in an urgent question if the issue is so worrying. In addition, the other thing is that you should have brought it–

Have you had a discussion with the hon. Minister of Education? I am sure you have not. So, it is important to always liaise. I am not saying, hon. Members should not ask questions, but I am simply saying that as we are asking questions, let us also consult the respective ministries. Further, as the hon. Members of the backbench are raising these questions, I am hoping that hon. Ministers are taking note of the concerns so that they can address and deal with them.

The last one will be the hon. Member for Lunte.

MR KAFWAYA, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR LUNTE, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, DR NALUMANGO, ON THE DECLARATION OF THE RETURN OF CADREISM

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, following the unfortunate incident that occurred in Chingola, that is, the stoning of the President, we have seen members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government; hon. Ministers and party functionaries, some of whom are hon. Members of Parliament sitting in this assembly chamber, declaring the return of cadreism. After these UPND hon. Ministers and senior members declared the return of cadreism, …

Mr Tayali: Question!

Mr Kafwaya: … we saw an attack on the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretariat, where UPND cadres went to perpetuate violence …

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Sampa: In Matero as well!

Mr Kafwaya: … – and in Matero I am being told, – even against innocent citizens who are now nursing wounds. Some UPND hon. Ministers have disowned those members of the UPND.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the national youth chairperson has claimed responsibility stating, in no uncertain terms, that those who attacked the PF Secretariat and innocent citizens are UPND cadres. Is this not a matter that is important for the UPND to consider clarifying, particularly because there are contradictions between some hon. Ministers and party functionaries?

Madam Speaker, I seek your further direction, as I direct the matter at Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker: Definitely, that is an issue that borders on the relationship between the two political parties. We are the House of Representatives. We deal with issues concerning the people, their needs, health and wellbeing. So, I would rather we not bring political issues into the House. You can discuss them outside. If you want to make pronouncements, I do not want to be drawn into discussing the Patriotic Front (PF) or the United Party for National Development (UPND). I would rather not discuss that issue.

Hon. UPND Members: Quality!

Madam Speaker: So, the matter is not admitted. That concludes Urgent Matters without Notice.

______

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

STATUS OF PAYMENTS TO FARMERS WHO SUPPLIED MAIZE TO THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY (FRA) DURING THE 2025 CROP MARKETING SEASON

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for granting me this opportunity to provide another update to the House on the status of payments to farmers who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) during the 2025 Crop Marketing Season.

Madam Speaker, during my last update to the House, about two weeks ago, I alluded to the underlying causes of payment delays and the concrete steps the Government has been taking to resolve the matter. Further, I also assured the House that the maize grain purchased from farmers was in safe storage.

Madam Speaker, the 2025 Crop Marketing Season opened on 30^th June, 2025, and closed on 31^st October, 2025. The FRA was faced with an overwhelming response from our small-scale farmers who, as we may all know, produced a bumper harvest. I wish to emphasise that during the 2025 Crop Marketing Season, the FRA had planned to purchase 543,000 metric tonnes of maize at a cost of K3,692,400,000. We encouraged our farmers to produce more, and they responded to the call. Therefore, due to one; the overwhelming response from the farmers, two; the bumper harvest we obtained; three, the need to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their maize, and, four; the need to secure the maize obtained from the farmers, the maize was produced en masse everywhere, including Muchinga.

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the Government decided to allow farmers to continue depositing their maize with the agency and, by the close of the marketing season, 1,663,921.15 metric tonnes, valued at K11,314,750,520, was supplied by 846,655 farmers from across the country. Just think of the jump. This is an increase of 307 per cent above the planned target of 543,000 metric tonnes.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the extra cost for the increase was, therefore, K7,622,350,520. This amount is what we are dealing with. We paid quickly for the first 543,000 metric tonnes. The amount was cleared within two weeks.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government has continued to make payments to farmers across the country. Even today, payment is being made at all the banks across the country, and it is not only during working days, but even Saturdays and, for some banks, Sundays. So far, we have paid out K4,882,358,574.64 to the farmers. We have also paid K1,276,991,425.36 in auxiliary costs for transport, loaders, grain bags and other things, bringing the total amount paid out to K6,159,350,000. I will repeat that. As we are seated in this House today, the ministry has paid out K6,159,350,000. It is important to note that the Government is making arrangements for the balance to be paid, and will continue paying farmers until the last one is paid. Allow me to reiterate that the Government remains committed to making the outstanding payments to the farmers.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude my statement, allow me to thank all our farmers for their continued support of the Government and contribution to national food security. I thank the farmers of Zambia, for this huge production. We look forward to more next farming season.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

VISITORS FROM LUSAKA DISTRICT

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

Mr Saviour Mulewa Kashinka;

Mr Mwansa Mumba;

Mr Oscar Asah Lungu; and

Mr Jeff Tembo.

On behalf of the National Assembly of Zambia, I wish to warmly welcome our guests into our midst.

Thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

______

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement rendered by the hon. Minister of Agriculture.

Ms S. Mwamba (Kasama): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask a question. I would also like to thank the hon. Minister for the Ministerial Statement, even though it does not seem to give much hope.

Madam Speaker, my question is very short. The Government has paid in excess of K6 billion, but for farming inputs, only about K4.8 billion has been paid. What is the exact figure for the balance to be paid, and when does the hon. Minister expect to mobilise the funds because farmers are in dire need of inputs? We are now in the rainy season and farmers have not yet planted.

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the actual balance to be paid directly for maize is K6 billion. I hope this is correct.

Madam Speaker, with your indulgence, let me do the calculation. I could be using an old figure.

Madam Speaker: Stop the clock as the hon. Minister calculates.

Laughter

Mr Mtolo started calculating.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, thank you for your kindness. The actual balance is K6,432,391 – It has disappeared.

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member can calculate the balance.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, in the last two Ministerial Statements that the hon. Minister has presented to this House, he has emphasised that the only reason farmers were not paid on time was that he had only planned to purchase 543,000 metric tonnes of maize from farmers. However, he has decided to buy the rest of the maize, of course, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Madam Speaker, as we are talking here in the people’s House, farmers are supposed to be planting. The Ministerial Statement he has just rendered to the nation, through this House, does not give the exact date that the last farmer will be paid.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the farmers, I want to know why they should continue selling maize to the FRA only, at a time when the hon. Minister’s Government should be in the forefront of finding an alternative market for them. The FRA only collects the farmers’ maize on credit, year in and year out. This makes it difficult for farmers who are not on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to plan for the next farming season.

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, thank you. First of all, I would like to thank Hon. Kapyanga. He has been very calm and it is nice to see him in that collected manner. I am very impressed.

Hon Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, it has become evident that once I set a date as a target, I am put under so much stress. For example, I had said that our target is to pay our farmers after 31^st October, and I mentioned it so many times that that is our target. When we miss that target by even an inch, I am put under so much stress and trouble. Therefore, I am now becoming reluctant to give dates because I will be called out me here and accused of having given a government assurance. Now, that is an offence. Therefore, I have been guided to use very good language and say that we will do everything possible, as soon as possible, to pay the farmers.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I will give an example. I went to Chipata to give out resources under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). As I was giving out those resources, I said, “Look, we are doing everything possible, including selling maize to Malawi so that that money can come”. That is exactly what Hon. Kapyanga said, that we should sell grain on behalf of the people at a good price, which we did at US$385 per tonne. That is a massive price. Immediately I concluded, there was a nice journalist there who decided to say, “The Minister says you will be paid after Malawi sells”. By the time I was trying to correct that statement, it was too late.

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I should learn. I am only human. I will adapt and avoid giving dates. Instead, I will just be saying, “As soon as possible”.

Hon. Government Member: That soon is soon.

Mr Mtolo: Yes, that soon is soon. Thank you, sir.

Laughter

Mr Mtolo: I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask a question.

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I want to thank our farmers for producing a bumper harvest. However, I think that our farmers –

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

Madam Speaker: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, we are debating a very important topic, and I was quietly listening to the hon. Minister explaining nicely how things are being done. Now, I want to know whether the hon. Minister is in order to be so faithful and to clearly explain figures without leaving anything out? Is he in order to be so clear, as opposed to the story that we had in the past, especially when those on the left were ruling? They would put a veil on all the information. Is he in order to be so clear, without putting any politics into this?

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Since no Standing Order has been cited or breached, the point of order is not admitted.

Let us move on as soon as possible to the next stage.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I want to thank our farmers for producing a bumper harvest. However, our farmers are discouraged because it has now become a trend every year for them to be paid very late, hence it is very difficult for them to plan.

Madam Speaker, the people of Chama sold 76,000 bags of maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). However, to date, only 20,000 bags have been paid for, leaving a balance of 56,000 bags. The hon. Minister is saying that farmers will be paid as soon as possible. I think that our people need answers. The hon. Minister may not state the actual date when farmers will be paid, but I want him to assure the farmers who have not been paid in Chama and the rest of the country that they will be paid maybe in one or two weeks. I think, that way, our people are going to appreciate that, rather than him saying that farmers will get paid as soon as possible.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, let us avoid being repetitive. We need to make progress. I believe that the hon. Minister has answered that question already. So, let us make progress.

Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, is the Government going to continue with the trend of paying farmers in December, when farmers supply maize in July? That distorts planning for acquiring seed and other implements. What could be the best plan that the ministry could come up with, so that we move away from this trend and pay farmers much earlier before the planting season?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I thank Hon. Charles Mulenga for that very important question.

Madam Speaker, Hon. Charles Mulenga has raised two issues which are absolutely important. Regarding the first one, each time I have come here with a Ministerial Statement, I have not shied away from the answer. Just like the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika said, I have always said that we had a budget for 543,000 metric tonnes, which this House appropriated. We paid our farmers for the 543,000 metric tonnes in two weeks. In two weeks, they were all cleared.

Mr Nkandu: Kokolapo.

Mr Mtolo: However, the Cabinet which is so caring, decided that it would not let farmers suffer with the maize that they had harvested, because the market is yet to develop to absorb that maize. Therefore, instead of letting maize get wasted in the hands of farmers, we were compelled to get the maize and make sure that we struggled to look for money to pay the farmers. That is why we seem to be struggling. I have always said here that let us develop crop marketing, just like we have developed fertiliser distribution. I would like people like Hon. Charles Mulenga to get involved in crop marketing, the way Hon. Mwambazi is involved in fertiliser supply; he is a major supplier of fertiliser. We should also become maize buyers. We should collect, bring maize together and sell it. That is what will develop the sector. In the absence of that, I would like the country to hear me. We are going to bring back big grain traders like Louis Dreyfus Company (LCD) and Glencore into the country, so that they can start assisting the Government to buy maize.

Madam Speaker, I want to repeat that if we are struggling with 3 million tonnes of maize, what will happen when we have 10 million tonnes? We need the private sector to get involved. Hon. Members of Parliament and all those who have the capacity to get involved in this thing should do so. Otherwise, we will be discouraging our farmers from growing maize. People should be assured that when the private sector fails, we will collect the maize again.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his responses.

Madam Speaker, when I was in my constituency, I was asked the question regarding the payment of farmers. Nevertheless, I want to thank the hon. Minister because he has explained the matter. When private sector players went to my constituency to buy maize, a 50 kg bag of maize started costing between K220 and K280. However, the Government was there to maintain the price and protect our farmers. For that, I would like to thank the hon. Minister.

Madam Speaker, has the hon. Minister secured the money to pay our farmers? Is the money ready so that they are aware that they will be paid? Has he secured the money?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, let me start by thanking Hon. Mung’andu. We have been in touch. When he has a meeting in Chama, he calls and we talk, and, sometimes I talk to farmers. I would like to thank him for that.

Madam Speaker, let farmers be at peace because the Government is a very big machine. All the farmers will be paid as soon as possible. There are things we are doing in order to pay farmers This is where I have been guided to be careful. As I speak, somewhere in the galaxy, US$35 million is going to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning so that we pay the farmers because I have sold maize. However, when I make an assumption that the money will land tonight and therefore I will start paying farmers tomorrow, I will put myself in trouble if the money will not land. Therefore, I can only say that we will pay the farmers as soon as possible. Arrangements have been made beyond sales. We have made arrangement with local banks, beyond the K5 billion which, at one point, people here doubted that it would be paid. Now, you have seen that it has been utilised.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwila (Mufulira): Madam Speaker, unfortunately the hon. Minister cannot avoid the question of when farmers will be paid, because that is the question everyone is asking, especially when they see that the next-door neighbour who supplied maize probably around the same time as them has been paid, but others are still waiting.

Madam Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt on biasedness and the lack of objectivity on who gets paid first, could the hon. Minister explain what criteria is being used to pay farmers? The ministry does not have all the money at the same time; it is paying farmers as money becomes available. What criteria are being used to pay farmers? Those who are remaining to be paid want to know where they are in the queue when it comes to getting paid. What criteria are being used to pay farmers in bits as the Government has been doing it?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, our payments are first-in, first-out. It is as simple as that. What Hon. Golden Mwila, Member for Mufulira should be thinking about is–

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Interruptions

Mr Sampa (Matero): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned that the balance that is yet to be paid to the farmers is about K6.4 billion, which represents about to 50 per cent of the total amount. The Government collected maize from farmers in June this year and promised to pay them within a month, in July. We are now in November, five months plus, but farmers have not been paid. The Government sold maize to Malawi and we believe it was paid in United States of America Dollars. The hon. Minister is living well and everything at his home is well. He is able to pay bills and feed his children while our farmers in Chipata are languishing. Our farmers were expecting their payments so that they could pay their debts.

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

Madam Speaker: There is an indication for a Point of Order, hon. Member for Matero. Hon. Member for Kalabo Central, what is the Point of Order?

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker, my Point of Order is on relevance, Standing Order No.71.

Madam Speaker, there are two entities here. There is Hon. Mtolo, who is the hon. Member of Parliament for Chipata Central, and the hon. Minister of Agriculture. Is the hon. Member for Matero in order to refer the matter to Hon. Mtolo instead of referring it to the hon. Minister of Agriculture?

Madam Speaker, I need your assistance.

Laughter

Mr Miyutu: Is he in order?

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, hon. Member for Kalabo Central. Of course, the hon. Member for Matero is out of order for personalising his question.

Hon. Member for Matero, please address the hon. Minister of Agriculture. Do not personalise matters. Whether he eats or not, that has nothing to do with the position of the hon. Minister of Agriculture. So, please, ask a relevant question that is related to the Ministerial Statement. Let us stick to the issues raised in the statement that was presented by the hon. Minister.

You may proceed.

Mr Sampa: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I am grateful for the guidance that my beloved brother from Kalabo Central has given. I have visited Kalabo before.

Madam Speaker, given that the hon. Minister promised that he would pay all the farmers by end of October, is he in a position to apologise to the farmers in the Eastern Province, including those in the other nine provinces for having misled them?

Is he able to apologise now?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, fortunately, I am miles ahead of Hon. Miles Samba.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Miles ahead!

Mr Mtolo: Miles ahead.

Madam Speaker, on a serious note, I explained that we had a target. Therefore, if we failed to hit the target, we do not need to apologise but try again and again.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: So, what is there for me to apologise? The hon. Member should listen to what I said. He should not assume.

Madam Speaker, firstly, there was an allegation that we said we would pay the farmers in one month. You can get the record from the Hansard if that is what the hon. Member is saying. That is not correct; it is false. Then, he says I should apologise because I promised everyone that we would pay them. I said our aim was to– That is what I said.

Madam Speaker, I forgive my dear brother, Hon. Miles Sampa, for the confusion that has encroached on him of late. I do not know what is wrong.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa rose.

Eng. Milupi: Of late!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, let us concentrate on the issues before us. However, I just want to remind the hon. Minister that issues of miles have been done away with in Zambia. We are now looking at kilometres.

Laughter

Mr Simumba (Nakonde): Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security for keeping quiet as if nothing happened at the Secretariat. It is a sign of acknowledging the new policy of cadreism.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, you can imagine that no arrests have been made. If it were the other way around, there would have been many press briefings. However, Zambians are watching what is happening from the other side and I am sure that they will make a very good decision come, 2026.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nakonde!

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Nakonde, please ask your question.

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) purchased 811,588 bags of maize in Nakonde, which amounts to K253,343,260. However, the Government has only paid K22 million.

Mr Kapyanga: It got the maize on credit.

Mr Simumba: It got maize worth K253 million on credit, and it has only paid K22 million.

Mr Nkandu: That is not correct!

Mr Simumba: You, just concentrate on the losing teams. We are discussing serious issues here, okay.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, let us have some order.

Mr Kapyanga: Nama honda!

Mr Simumba: Nama honda!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Avoid talking to each other because that can lead to misunderstandings. Let us restrain ourselves from doing that.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nakonde!

Let us restrain ourselves.

Hon. Member for Nakonde. Have you concluded your question?

Mr Simumba: Madam Speaker, I have not.

Madam Speaker, I feel very hurt when you do not guide the hon. Members on your right like the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Mr Simumba: One day, it will not be good.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Interruptions

Mr Simumba: Yes!

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nakonde!

Mr Simumba: You think you are a champion?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nakonde, you may take leave of the House. Go and cool down. When you have cooled down, you can come back.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Please, leave the House. Go and cool down. When you have cooled down, you can come back.

Mr Simumba left the Assembly Chamber.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: You must also take the Standing Orders and revise them while you are outside.

The next Member to ask is the hon. Member for Msanzala.

Interruptions

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

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, if we want to make progress on this matter, let us avoid unnecessary Points of Order. I am not evaluating–

Mr E. Daka remained standing.

Madam Speaker: Order hon. Members for Msanzala!

Hon. Members, I am not evaluating your Points of Order, but we need to be serious with work. We only have eight minutes remaining. We have so many hon. Members who want to ask questions. We are not allowing the whole discussion to flow because of the interruptions through Points of Order.

Hon. Member for Mkushi South, what is your Point of Order?

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, we come for serious business here, in this House. It is very unfair that the House can send the hon. Member for Nakonde out when the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Arts is the one who provoked our colleague.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, is the House in order to not chase the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Arts, as opposed to chasing the hon. Member for Nakonde?

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious guidance.

Mr Kapyanga: Ema point of order aya!

Madam Speaker: Order!

First of all, the hon. Member for Mkushi South is raising a point of order on me through that same comment. I know what I am observing from here, the front. I did not chase the hon. Member for Nakonde. I told him to go and cool down, and come back when he has cooled down. So, please, let us not put fuel where there is no fire at all.

Let us make progress. From now on, no points of order.

Hon. Member for Msanzala, you may proceed.

Mr Daka (Msanzala): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, firstly, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Agriculture for the speedy supply of farming inputs this year. Our people are receiving the inputs. Secondly, I would like to thank him for collecting the maize that our farmers would have been stranded with.

Madam Speaker, I was in the constituency over the weekend when the ministry sent the money, K50 million, whilst I was in the bank withdrawing some money. When I went to the constituency, I relayed the message to the people to go to their banks on Monday to get the money. However, some forms are flying around suggesting that our farmers should use other modes to receive money. So, they need to go to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to sign some forms so that they can use either Airtel Money or something else. I thought the hon. Minister was supposed to enlighten our farmers through his statement so that they can be made aware if the ministry has changed or added modes of payment, and whether it is Airtel Money or through the bank.

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I thank Hon. Elias Daka, the Member for Msanzala, for, first of all, his kind words. I think, it is important to encourage one another. Secondly, for what he brought out.

Madam Speaker, banks are congested because of the inflows of funds that we have had, and that is becoming a serious problem. People wait; it takes a few minutes to pay each farmer, but by the time the last farmer is paid, people are still in the queue. So, the agency decided to carry out a model form of payment using cellular phones so that, if it works well, we can send the money that we receive to many more people in a given day than we are currently doing. So, it is true we are carrying out this experiment in Nyimba, where we gave a certain number of farmers a form to confirm their cellular phone numbers. If that number is correct, then, the banks can send the money directly to the cellular phone, and we can use the digital platform to pay the farmers. We have not rolled this out because a number of farmers are refusing. They would rather receive the money in cash and deposit it into the same bank themselves. A few who agreed are the ones who gave us the forms. It is voluntary so that we can try it out. The idea is that as we go on, we stop paying the farmers cash, through the banks. We can be sending the money into their mobile money accounts. However, the danger is that many scammers can infiltrate cellular phones, and get the hard-earned income of the farmers. So, we are doing it quietly in Nyimba. Once it succeeds, we will start rolling it out, because the process is a problem. There is congestion at the banks.

Madam Speaker, I thank Hon. Daka for that because, at least, now the other hon. Members know what we were trying to do as a pilot to learn and then cascade it to other areas.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to ask a question on a point of clarification.

Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by commending the hon. Minister, as this is a very important national subject that concerns nearly every one of us in the country. I also commend him for being candid in the manner he is using his words, especially when it comes to promising the dates of offsetting the money to the farmers. It is also commendable that the ministry cleared the bill for the 543,000 metric tonnes that was planned for. It is a job well done.

Madam Speaker, the Government, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), is now struggling to clear the K7 billion that was not planned for. The hon. Minister has mentioned that there is a market in Malawi. Even though the Government is putting together resources locally from the banks, at the end of the day, it needs to pay back that money. Apart from Malawi, does the FRA have any inquiries coming in currently from neighbouring countries to purchase this maize that was collected from the farmers so that, at the end of the day, that helps the Government offset the debt it is incurring from the local mobilisation through borrowing from the banks? Does the Government have any current inquiries, maybe, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, or any other country that would want to purchase our grain?

Mr Mtolo: Yes, is the answer, Madam Speaker. A positive yes. I am constrained to not mention the names of where we want to sell, because I want us to sell, and I do not want that market to be grabbed by other potential suppliers. So, we have a market elsewhere.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Most grateful, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I will draw the hon. Minister’s attention to the policy in the Government. Agriculture, as far as the President's pronouncements, is supposed to be viewed as a business. Now, the Government has a target; 10 million metric tonnes. It hit 4 million metric tonnes, and all of a sudden, the whole outlook is like the Government was not expecting that; it has just happened, considering the challenges being faced beyond the 550,000 metric tonnes that the Government had budgeted for. When I look at the deal that the Government has with the banks, and the hon. Minister keeps referring to the private sector, clearly, Zambians have not been able to participate. Even though the hon. Minister has been calling on hon. Members of Parliament, the real businessmen who should benefit from this new dawn policy are out there. Now, going forward, we have good rainfall. We hope that we can even hit 6 million metric tonnes, according to the aspirations of the New Dawn Government. What assurances is the hon. Minister giving us about his ministry coming out with clear policies on whether raw maize will be exported, as the banks will do, or whether value will be added? Since we are a liberalised economy, when can we have clear guidelines that will not prohibit anybody from trading, but freely find markets and not be accused of being smugglers? When can we have a clear policy?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, I would like to sincerely thank Hon. Anthony Mumba of Kantanshi for that question. First of all, let me clarify the Government’s position regarding maize hoarding. The national food strategic reserve size, in terms of maize, that the Government is supposed to buy using the FRA is no more than a maximum of 1 million metric tonnes. It has evolved from 200 metric tonnes, 300 metric tonnes, 500 metric tonnes and now we have taken it to 1 million metric tonnes. So, no matter what quantity the country produces, the agency will only appropriate funds to procure the strategic reserve quantity. I think that is very important to understand. We are not going to buy 8 million metric tonnes of maize, even if it is produced. We will not. The Government’s policy is to buy only what the FRA can hoard. That is only for maize that we can use in times of tragedy, such as the drought we recently experienced, as well as enough to allow for imports. So, it could take three, four or five months to allow imports to come in. That is how the strategic food reserve is established. That is how the size is set.

Madam Speaker, let me move on to another issue. The hon. Member asked what the Government’s policy is insofar as trade in maize and mealie meal is concerned. I have tried to make it as clear as possible each time I stand on the Floor of the House that the Government’s policy is open borders. Unless we are constrained, as it happened last year, we are not restricted in maize trade. Due to the sensitivity of maize, we keep a very close watch on what is happening. We issue export permits and hon. Members are free to apply. The country is free. This information is for this House and the people out there to come for an export permit so that they can sell. We have determined what quantity to sell out. That quantity is 700,000 metric tonnes. So people are free to get involved in selling that 700,000 metric tonnes. Today, Hon. Mumba is free to come to my office and we will give him an export permit. We will just tell him what to do.

Madam Speaker, the reason we take an interest is because we want accountability. We want the money to show as part of agriculture’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). What we discourage is informal, undocumented trade. We have been warned severely by Cabinet that we should ensure that we indicate what is going out so that we can see the financial inflows coming in.

Madam Speaker, more than 85 per cent of Zambians are involved in agriculture, but the sector’s contribution to our GDP is less than 10 per cent. You can imagine that. That is what we want to defeat. It is not that the contribution is genuinely at 10 per cent, but because there are a lot of undocumented exports. You can just go to Chipata and see in certain areas how much soybeans and maize is being exported. Go to Kasumbalesa and see how much mealie meal is taken out. Go to, is it Kipushi, which borders Angola, and see how much maize is being exported.

Eng. Milupi: Jimbe!

Mr Mtolo: Yes, Jimbe, which borders Angola, I am sorry. So, we have that problem. We would like to capture the record and show the real value of agriculture in this country, which has never been shown properly. So, we want to document what we are doing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nkandu: Naupya!

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

DIESEL AND PETROL SHORTAGES EXPERIENCED AT SOME FILLING STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

78. Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa) asked the Minister of Energy:

whether the Government is aware of the shortage of diesel and petrol at some filling stations across the country; and

if so, what urgent measures are being taken to ensure the steady supply of fuel.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote): Madam Speaker, the Government is aware of the diesel and petrol shortages experienced at some filling stations in the country. The intermittent fuel stock-outs in the retail market were due to logistical challenges related to part clearance delays, produce uplifts and transportation.

Notwithstanding the above, Madam Speaker, as of 17^th November, 2025, the fuel stock in the country was 55.7 million litres of diesel and 21.2 million litres of petrol, translating to 12.4 days and 11.6 days of cover, respectively.

Madam Speaker, the current daily consumption of diesel is standard at 4.5 million litres, and petrol is at 1.6 million litres. The country, on average, continues to receive 3.6 million litres of diesel through the Tanzania Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipeline and the balance of the diesel and all petrol requirements by fuel tank vehicles daily.

Madam Speaker, the Government has put in place the following measures to address the intermittent fuel supply in the country:

through the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), INDENI and TAZAMA have been directed to prioritise diesel allocation to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) supplying the retail market;

through the ERB, TAZAMA has been directed to operate extended hours of loading at the Ndola Fuel Terminals to enhance fuel uplifts by OMCs;

through the ERB, a waiver has been issued to all fuel transporters and OMCs for extended night movement of fuel tankers from 0500 hours to 2000 hours, to 0500 hours to 2200 hours to quicken the delivery of fuel to filling stations; and

the Government has held bilateral engagements with the Government of Tanzania and Mozambique, the two countries where most of our fuel is imported through, to help iron out logistical challenges at the loading ports to avoid delays in offloading cargo ships and loading road tankers for fuel destined for Zambian markets

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister responsible for energy has indicated the three reasons we keep experiencing the shortage of diesel as well as petrol. We have heard these reasons before. Logistical and transport challenges, and failure to uplift the product on time. In the last couple of years, we have heard these reasons before. Every time these reasons are advanced, we expect that they will be attended to. Unfortunately, we keep having these two commodities not available for people to uplift.

Madam Speaker, the responses that the hon. Minister has given today are the same responses he has given in the past. What is the difference this time around? What will comfort citizens that this time around logistical challenges will be addressed, and that uplifting of the product will be done and transportation will be available? Clearly, people have been inconvenienced.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the difference is that the situation is slowly improving, as we implement the measures I have just mentioned. The situation today is not the way it was two weeks ago. Now, you can find the product in some filling stations, especially here in Lusaka. A number of filling stations lacked the product but now they have it. The situation is slowly improving because of the measures we have implemented. I am very confident that going forward, we will not have disruptions or fuel shortages.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his answers so far.

Madam Speaker, the problem seems to be persisting. I say so because most filling stations in Mpika, Lusaka and other towns have no petroleum products such as the ones listed in the question. The hon. Minister keeps talking about logistical challenges. That does not bring comfort or hope to any Zambian out there who has been hit hard by load-shedding. Petroleum products are the consolation in the midst of load-shedding, because our people have resorted to running their businesses using petroleum products. However, when they go to filling stations, they find that there is no petrol or diesel. Where is the problem? Who is not doing what they are supposed to do? The hon. Minister should just tell the nation what the problem is. Is it the closure of Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company or the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) pipeline? What is the problem?

Mr Kafwaya: Landeni fye ichishinka.

Mr Kapyanga: Just tell the nation what the problem is. The issue of logistical challenges is not even there. Can he fire the person in charge of logistics so that the Zambian people can start having fuel normally.

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

Madam Speaker, we do not fire people in that fashion. We do not just wake up and start firing people. The issue here is the fact that I laid on the Table when I responded to the hon. Member. One of the factors that has caused all these issues, like I said, is logistical challenges. People should not forget that currently, the national demand has risen simply because our pricing in the region is the lowest. As we are talking, even trucks from Tanzania going to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are refuelling in Zambia. Trucks from Zimbabwe and Namibia are also refuelling in Zambia because our product is very cheap. As a result –

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

Mr Chikote: Yes, you can find out.

Madam Speaker, we have put measures to make sure that uplifting of petroleum products is enhanced, so that the products are found in all our filling stations. As of last week, about thirty-nine filling stations were completely dry, but the number has now reduced to nine. So, that means the measures we have put in place are slowly responding to the challenges people are facing.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I have given them confidence that going forward, disruption of fuel supply will not be there. I have even given the stock we have as a country. So, it is just a matter of making sure that we efficiently implement the measures that I have stated here, and then the situation will stabilise.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I thought the question was asked by the hon. Member for Mpika. I do not know if he has followed the answer because he has been walking and consulting. Hon. Members when you ask a question listen to the answer, rather than just raising a question and then not listening to the answer.

The next question will be from the hon. Member for Bahati.

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Madam Speaker, I want to confirm here that we experienced the fuel shortage in Mansa as well. The sad part is that all those who tried to buy fuel using plastic containers were charged by fuel attendants. I do not know if the hon. Minister is aware of that. All those who are buying either diesel or petrol using plastic containers were charged an extra fee of maybe K10 per 5 litres or K20 per 20 litres by filling station attendants. I do not know if the hon. Minister is aware of that.

Madam Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister is –

Madam Speaker: I thought you had already asked the question.

Mr Chibombwe: No.

Madam Speaker: It is one question per hon. Member.

Mr Chibombwe: Madam Speaker, I just want to –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Let the hon. Minister answer your question.

Mr Chibombwe: Madam Speaker, I have not asked the question; I was just trying to contextualise my question.

Madam Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member was asking why people who were using plastic containers to buy fuel were being charged. That is the question. So, the hon. Minister of Energy can now respond.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, first of all, the disruption of fuel availability could be one of the effects arising from the situation that we are going through. However, you must also note that the regulator does not allow plastic containers to be used. If someone intends to charge somebody who is going to buy fuel using a plastic container – first of all, using a plastic container to buy fuel is breaking the law. The law does not allow anybody to use plastic containers at a filling station.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I am just wondering whether the hon. Member for Bahati paid to use a plastic container.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: That is on a lighter note.

Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, you may proceed.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, one of the policy pronouncements that the new Government announced was cost reflective prices. According to the first Budget Speech by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, the price of petroleum products and electricity was going to be cost-reflective. That was the new policy, and as a result the price of fuel was adjusted. In his statement today, the hon. Minister said that the price of petroleum products is not very good because it is not reflective of the actual cost. That is what he is saying today. We want to understand today, should we take the statement from the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning or the one from the hon. Minister of Energy? The price of fuel was adjusted to make it cost-reflective. We want to understand which position we should adopt today.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I never said that the prices that we are offering now are not cost reflective. I never said that. All I said is that people from other countries come into our country to refuel because our prices are favourable.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chikote: That is what I have said. So, I do not know where the hon. Member has found the issue of prices not cost reflectivity.

Mr Nkandu: Quality!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, in our reforms, we are now trying to implement the open access policy, which promotes competition. This has given us favourable prices. The issue is not about prices being cost reflective, but about the reforms that we have brought to the industry, which are promoting competition to benefit our citizens.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nkandu: Hear, hear!

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the responses.

Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how the ministry is monitoring the quality of the diesel that the ministry importing. I say so because I have noted that a number of vehicles that are being serviced by Toyota Zambia Limited, for example, are being retained soon after being serviced. The problem is to do with the fuel system. Now, we are being told that we should check on the quality of fuel that is being imported. Today, I was at Toyota Zambia Limited, and actually I found many vehicles being retained there. Would the hon. Minister confirm how the ministry is monitoring the quality of fuel that we are importing?

Mr Kafwaya: On a Point of Order, Madam.

Madam Speaker: Before we ask the hon. Minister to respond, there is an indication for a Point of Order. What is a Point Order, hon. Member for Lunte?

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, I thank you so much for the opportunity.

Madam Speaker, my Point of Order is based on the guidance that you have continuously given us with regard to hon. Members debating while seated.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts enjoys debating while seated. Just a while ago, when the hon. Minister of Energy was responding to the question posed to him, the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts was saying, “Naupya” to his hon. Colleague, the Minister of Energy.

Madam Speaker, what does it mean to His Excellency the President, in terms of choosing Ministers who are not ripe? The hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts has declared that his hon. Colleague is now ripe after four years of being Minister. Is he in order to start appreciating the President now, saying that now his hon. Ministers are ripe when they have been unripe all that long?

I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Kapyanga: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, hon. Member for Lunte. I think it is not within my jurisdiction to determine who is ripe and not ripe.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: However, hon. Members, on a serious note, please, let us restrict ourselves from debating while seated. I have guided several times. It does not matter whether it is the hon. Minister or a backbencher, rules have to be complied with. I do not want to see an hon. Minister sent out because if they are, their questions will not be dealt with. So, please, let us take note of that guidance.

Thank you very much. The hon. Minister may now answer the question.

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

Madam Speaker, hon. Members must take note that we are aware of that report. The Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, is monitoring the quality of fuel. My hon. Colleague is going to update the nation based on the report and the issues that are being raised.

Madam Speaker, as of today, I can confidently tell the House that the quality of fuel that we are using is just okay and is of standard quality. However, we are going deeper to find out where the problem really is.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. I can see that many hon. Members have indicated. We have so much work to do. It is very difficult because if I curtail someone, they will say that I always do that. So, please, as we ask our questions, let us be specific and to the point so that we can allow everybody to ask a question.

Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, I am grateful.

Madam Speaker, the situation particularly, in Kitwe, is gloomy because of the fuel shortage. Is it not the right time to start looking at widening the source especially Angola, which is nearby, so that it helps in reducing the fuel shortage?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the Question.

Madam Speaker, the Government is trying to explore a number of interventions to make the products available to our people. Going forward, and in the longer term, the Government is considering operationalising the strategic facilities such as the Mongu, Chipata, Lusaka, including all the depots in the country.

Madam Speaker, further, it is not just about opening other sources. There are also a few things that we need to put in place to make sure that going forward, the product is available to our citizens.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, I am just wondering how the hon. Minister is making some of the statements. One wonders how people from other countries can come and refuel from dry filling stations that do not have fuel.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister came to this august House and assured us that when the Tanzania Zambia (TAZAMA) pipeline was cleaned up and initially monopolised by those who were using it, who did not allow others to use the pipeline, that was the biggest bottleneck that contributed to prices being adjusted monthly and the erratic supply that was witnessed then. The hon. Minister came back to this august House and told us that the Government was going to implement an open access policy but the problem has persisted.

Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether indeed, the conversion of the TAZAMA pipeline from moving the commingled crude oil, which was being refined at Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited, to diesel, has really worked according to the desire of the Government and that indeed, the Government will revisit that decision.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the nation has benefited from open access reforms. That is why I have said that, as a country, we are enjoying favourable pump prices. The pump prices are favourable for our citizens.

Mr Kapyanga interjected.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, on the question of whether that has addressed the issue of supply, in my submission, I stated that national demand has risen from 3.2 million litres to 4.5 million litres per day. That speaks volumes. People must understand that the reforms the Government has introduced in the energy sector are working for the nation. Even the hon. Member is enjoying the favourable pump prices. I have stated that our pipeline is transporting 3.6 million litres compared to the 4.5 million litres per day national demand, as the other percentage is transported by road. This Government is also looking at other interventions that can ensure that 100 per cent of the product comes through the pipeline, and ensure that the commodity is available for our people.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, it is now 1603 hours. We are far behind time. It was my wish to allow every hon. Member who has indicated to ask a question, unfortunately, we need to make progress.

IMPROVEMENT OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF PETAUKE DISTRICT

79. Mr S. Banda (Petauke Central) asked the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation:

whether the Government has any plans to improve the water supply and sanitation services for the residents of Petauke District;

if so, when the plans will be implemented;

whether a twenty-four-hour supply of piped water will be provided; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Eng. Nzovu): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this House that the Government has plans to improve the water supply services for residents of Petauke District.

Madam Speaker, implementation has started with the Government funding the Eastern Water and Sanitation Company Limited (EWSC) to engage a consultant to conduct a feasibility study to come up with a project that will migrate Petauke Township from the current use of groundwater, which is a challenge because of high calcium content, to surface water from reservoirs from existing dams and the proposed one.

Madam Speaker, the results of the feasibility studies will determine the hours of supply that will be achievable.

Madam Speaker, as alluded to in response to part (a) of the question, indeed, the Government has plans to improve water supply in Petauke District.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr S. Banda: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for his clarifications.

Madam Speaker, as the hon. Minister may be aware, water is life for both flora and fauna. The commodity should be in place twenty-four hours a day, seven days in a week. Can the hon. Minister provide a clear timeline for when water supply will be improved in Petauke?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member for Petauke Central, water is life and, indeed, we need to improve water supply in Petauke District.

Madam Speaker, the Government has engaged a consultant who will undertake feasibility studies, designs and drawings, as well as costs for not only ensuring that the source is determined, but also designing the treatment plant and water reticulation systems. This is a long-term project that has started. The feasibility studies and designs will take a year, which means 2026. We hope to start this big project in 2027. However, several interventions are in place. The ministry is drilling commercial boreholes in the area and undertaking other measures with the hon. Member. The major project will only start in 2027, and is big and costly.

Madam Speaker, I sympathise with the people of Petauke. Calcium is a big issue in the district. There is water stress, not because there is no water, but due to the high calcium content. So, many water pipes get blocked. Hence, the change from underground water to surface water, which is currently being designed.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Madam Speaker, as my hon. Colleague from Petauke Central has alluded to, water is life. I would like the people of Lubansenshi to benefit from this important question regarding water. Due to climate change, communities are affected, not only in Petauke. I would like to know if there are plans to review the utility companies in terms of water supply, not only in Petauke but other districts, such as Luwingu District. Knowing well that when the country experienced a drought, most programmes were affected. Water is a critical commodity that everyone needs. I would like to know if there are plans for capacity building for all the utility companies, for instance, Chambeshi Water Supply and Sanitation Company (ChWSSC), which supplies water to Luwingu District, Kasama District and other districts, so that people can know that, indeed, the ministry has such plans.

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

Madam Speaker: I am constrained by time, hon. Member for Chipili. What is the point of order?

Mr Chala: Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. Minister when he responded to the hon. Member who asked the question that is on the Floor. He said that the project will be undertaken in 2027, when he knows that the question falls within his five-year mandate, which was given to him by the people of Zambia. Why did he mention 2027 when the question is supposed to be considered within the mandate that runs up to 2026? He is mocking the hon. Member who asked that question.

I need your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member for Chipili is out of order.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: I am constrained by time. That is why I am –

Hon. Member for Lubansenshi, you have opened up the question too much. This is a constituency-based question. If you want to have a general discussion, you can ask your own question. We still have a lot of work to be done. I suggest that you file in your own question to address that issue. So, I will not ask the hon. Minister to come in.

Mr Chibombwe (Bahati): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker, and I would also like to thank the hon. Minister, Eng. Nzovu, for his statement.

Madam Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister alluded to the fact that the water in Petauke has a lot of calcium and that his ministry needs to engage a consultant to eliminate the calcium. However, what I know is that to eliminate calcium from underground water, all we do is install basic filters. Is he saying that it will take the ministry two years to look for the filters or does a consultant need to be engaged to look for the filters? Has the ministry failed to do that?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question, but I think that he misunderstood my response. It is not about eliminating calcium. The situation concerns calcium and other chemicals that solidify in water pipes. This problem is very big, as Hon. Banda would confirm. So, we are now trying to change the water source. Instead of relying on underground water, which we have tested multiple times, our findings show that for the supply to be cost-effective, we need to switch from underground water to surface water.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Mr S. Banda: No, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Are you satisfied?

Mr S. Banda: Yes, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Let us make progress so that we catch up on time.

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL CAMP IN MITWI WARD IN KALABO CENTRAL

80. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

whether the Government has any plans to establish an agricultural camp in Mitwi Ward in Kalabo Central Parliamentary Constituency;

if so, when the plans will be implemented;

if there are no such plans, why; and

what other interventions the Government is taking to improve agricultural production in the ward.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to establish an agricultural camp in Mitwi Ward of Kalabo Central Constituency. The Government has been subdividing camps with huge farmer populations to reduce the officer-to-farmer ratio. Therefore, areas including Mitwi Ward in Kalabo Central Parliamentary Constituency have been engaged to propose the camps that need subdivision.

Madam Speaker, the plans will be implemented when all preparatory work has been completed. This includes obtaining treasury authority to facilitate the formal creation of agricultural camps. The plan is under consideration.

Finally, Madam Speaker, the Government will continue to provide a range of agricultural services, including extension services and input support, to enhance production, productivity and climate resilience in Mitwi Ward.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to thank the hon. Minister for the response.

Madam Speaker, we are eagerly awaiting that creation. However, is the hon. Minister aware that Mitwi is being served by Ngoma, and the camp officer responsible for serving Ngoma does not reside there but at the Boma? What efforts is the Government making to ensure that this area is served even before a farming camp is established?

Mr Mtolo: Madam Speaker, let me take advantage of what the hon. Member has raised. If there is a camp which houses where the officers are not residing, which is common, please, inform us so we can ask the camp officers whether they wish to continue their work or not, as it is a common feature. I am appealing to this House that where camp officers are not staying in the area, please, let us know so that we can speak to them.

Madam Speaker, I did not know that the camp officer was not staying in that area but at the Boma. Maybe, allow me to discuss with the hon. Member so that I can sort this out since it is administrative.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. With that, we make progress.

______

MOTION

REPORT OF THE ZAMBIAN DELEGATION TO THE 151^ST INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION ASSEMBLY AND RELATED MEETINGS

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Report of the Zambian Delegation to the 151^st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and Related Meetings, laid on the Table of the House on Friday, 14^th November, 2025.

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Wamunyima (Nalolo): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, the 151^st IPU Assembly and Related Meetings were held at the International Conference Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, on 19^th to 23^rdOctober, 2025. The theme of the Assembly was, “Upholding Humanitarian Norms and Supporting Humanitarian Action”. All IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, its subsidiary bodies and standing committees, convened during the Assembly.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the IPU Zambia Group to present to the House the outcomes of your delegation’s participation at the 151^st IPU Assembly and Related Meetings in Geneva, Switzerland. It is my honour to present this report and beg that this House adopts the same.

Madam Speaker, the 151^st IPU Assembly brought together parliamentarians from across the world in full recognition of the vital role of national legislatures in addressing global and national challenges. Our attendance at this gathering underpins Zambia’s commitment to multilateral parliamentary diplomacy, strengthening our national legislature and aligning our work with global norms and best practices.

Madam Speaker, during the Assembly, the discussions were centred on several themes of profound relevance to Zambia, which include:

parliamentary action in humanitarian crises, underscoring the fact that Parliaments must not only make laws, but also anticipate and respond to emergencies;

recognising and supporting the victims of illegal international adoption and taking measures to prevent this practice; and

parliamentary action against transitional organised crime, cybercrime and hybrid threats to democracy and human security.

Madam Speaker, your delegation made meaningful contributions in line with the outlined themes. Allow me to highlight some of the resolutions that were adopted at the 151^st IPU Assembly as follows:

the IPU urged member countries to provide for effective sanction mechanisms for domestic repression of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations, including adopting appropriate criminal legislation and ensuring that national judicial authorities had the legislative means to prosecute those who were responsible for serious IHL violations and war crimes;

the IPU urged all states, regardless of whether they were parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child or the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of inter-country adoption to formally acknowledge the existence of illegal inter-country adoption and their impact on children and their families, and to implement the necessary legal, administrative and investigative measures to bring to account those responsible, and to prevent their occurrence in accordance with relevant international agreements;

the IPU also urged all states to formally recognise persons affected by illegal inter-country adoptions as victims, and thus issue an apology and commit to providing them with appropriate support, protection and access to justice, and where possible, reunifications; and

the IPU urged all states to take note of the fact that the 1949 Geneva Convention and its additional protocols were core to the IHL and adopted as a multilateral response to the horrors of the Second World War.

Madam Speaker, in addition to the resolutions, the IPU leadership issued a statement regarding the situation in Madagascar. The IPU expressed its deep concerns about the military takeover in Madagascar and the suspension of that country’s constitution. Further, it condemned the loss of life, injuries and destruction to property resulting from the unrest. The IPU leadership echoed that Madagascar represented not just a grave threat to the stability of the Southern African region, but also set a dangerous precedent for democracy across the continent, in clear violation of international law.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, allow me, on behalf of the IPU Zambia National Group, to thank you and the Office of the Clerk for affording your members an opportunity to represent the National Assembly of Zambia at the 151^st IPU Assembly and Related Meetings.

Madam Speaker, let me inform the House that the Assembly resolved that the 152^nd IPU Assembly and Related Meetings will be held in Istanbul, Tukiye, from 15^th to 19^th April, 2026.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Mr Wamunyima: Now, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I rise to second the Motion to adopt the Report of the Zambian Delegation that participated in the 151^st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and Related Meetings, ably moved by Mr Harry Kamboni, MP, and First Vice-President of the IPU Zambia National Group.

Madam Speaker, allow me to begin by commending your delegation for its exemplary work in representing Zambia on the world parliamentary stage, thereby signalling our nation's commitment to multilateral dialogue, legislative diplomacy and responsive governance.

Madam Speaker, the assembly convened under the overarching theme, “Upholding Humanitarian Norms and Supporting Humanity in Times of Crisis”, and deliberated on the roles and responsibilities of parliamentarians. However, allow me to focus on the specific meetings and resolutions of the forum of young parliamentarians, before turning to the implications for Zambia.

Madam Speaker, the assembly hosted a forum of young parliamentarians and other committee meetings. Importantly, the debates touched on health, digital transformation, climate change and youth empowerment and action for education in emergencies. The participation of young parliamentarians in this assembly is of particular interest to our Parliament, given our national aspirations for youth inclusion and leadership. The forum of young parliamentarians convened at the margins of the assembly to bring perspectives to the assembly and its deliberations. The following were the key features and commitments of the forum:

the forum prepared and presented a youth overview report on the subject of illegal international adoptions, emphasising the need for victims to be heard and to avoid stigmatisation; and

the young parliamentarians affirmed the importance of youth participation in decision-making, particularly in areas of humanitarian response and digital governance, climate change and inclusion. This was greatly emphasised by youth representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the youth council.

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that the forum of young parliamentarians observed a reduction in the participation of young people generally, as 2.8 per cent of parliamentarians around global parliaments are below thirty years, and 37 per cent of parliaments around the world have no Members of Parliament below the age of thirty, and 6.7 per cent of parliaments have none under the age of forty. This follows elections in various legislative assemblies, and arose as a concern about the reduced participation of young parliamentarians in legislative assemblies. It is also important to note that the forum of young parliamentarians also approved, in principle, the revision and recognition of the youthful age of parliamentarians under the IPU from forty-five to forty years old.

Madam Speaker, in education emergencies, there was a side event co-hosted in the assembly, where young parliamentarians joined law makers and civil society to commit to parliamentary action on education and crises. The forum signalled its role in innovation in parliaments, and its desire to engage more actively with parliamentary diplomacy, oversight, youth leadership and structural reforms of parliaments to allow greater youth participation.

Madam Speaker, I, therefore, urge the House to recognise that the contribution of the young Members of Parliament at the IPU Assembly is more than symbolic; it represents a call for young legislators globally to step into leadership roles, to advocate for change, and to hold key government institutions accountable.

Madam Speaker, the outcomes of the 151^st Assembly and the work of the young parliamentarians entail several implications for our own Parliament, such as:

Legislative Review and Reform

Our Parliament should undertake take review of relevant national laws on humanitarian assistance, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), child protection and adoption, cyber law, digital governance and youth representation to align with the standards of commitments to the Assembly. Particularly, I would like to mention that it is important that the Zambian Government expedites the enactment of the Youth Bill, which seeks to replace the repealed National Youth Development Council Act;

Youth Inclusion and Leadership

We must strengthen mechanisms of youth participation in parliamentary processes and committees, oversight activities and policy making, and foster membership and capacity to build young Members of Parliament to align with the forum of young parliamentarians; and

Oversight and Accountability

We should calibrate our oversight functions, as a Parliament, to ensure that humanitarian norms, digital protection and education in emergencies and youth participation are not only implemented on paper with budgets but with monitoring frameworks and parliamentary inquiry where necessary. This calls for this Parliament to expedite the building of capacity in post-legislative scrutiny.

Madam Speaker, in closing, may I thank all members of the delegation for their participation, and your noble office for its leadership. I now urge all hon. Members to support this Motion and to join me in the pledge that we will translate the resolutions and the commitments of the IPU Assembly into tangible progress here for Zambia for the benefit of youth institutions and for the benefit of all people.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker, this calls for this Parliament to expedite capacity building in post-legislative scrutiny.

Madam Speaker, in closing, may I thank all members of the delegation for their participation and your noble office for its leadership. I now urge all hon. Members to support this Motion and to join me in the pledge that we will translate the resolutions and commitments of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly into tangible progress for Zambia, for the benefit of the youth, institutions and the people.

Madam Speaker, I beg to second.

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

Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking you most sincerely for providing leadership by leading the delegation to the 151^st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Meeting. Let me also thank the Chairperson of the IPU Zambian Chapter, Hon. Kamboni, for the job always done.

Madam Speaker, as I add my voice to this very important subject, I want to quote your report on page 6, Strategic Objective No. 2, which states:

“As of October, 2025, the percentage of women in Parliament had risen to 27.2 per cent from 26.9 per cent in October 2024, while that of the young hon. Members of Parliament under thirty years had reduced to 2.77 per cent in October 2025, from 2.87 per cent in October 2024.”

Madam Speaker, the impact report of the IPU as highlighted from the page I have just read is very concerning, especially in our case as a country which is a member state. We used to have many youths elected by the people of Zambia to represent various constituencies in championing their calls. Some youths got arrested and imprisoned. There is a youth who was abducted but later fled the country.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mpika, let me give guidance.

Mr Mubanga: Send him out.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as we debate, let us be factual. Let us debate within context. The former hon. Members whom you are bringing into your debate breached the law. They were subjected to legal processes, and in the process, they were found wanting and they left the House. So, it cannot be a subject matter of your debate. You should discuss other issues. There are several issues that you can debate. For example, how we can increase participation of women and youths in the House.

You may proceed as guided.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, thank you. I always appreciate your guidance. It has shaped my standing in Parliament.

Madam Speaker, participation of youths in Parliament is a very important undertaking that must be promoted at every level. We cannot continue on the same trajectory to say that youths are the future leaders–

Interruptions

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I need your protection.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members.

Let us allow the hon. Member for Mpika to debate his Motion. If you have any contribution to make, please do indicate. We are running out of time. So, can we restrain ourselves from debating while seated.

May the hon. Member for Mpika continue.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, thank you for your protection.

Madam Speaker, I was saying that participation of youths in leadership positions must be promoted at every level. Currently, the youths should be in the forefront to promote youth participation in leadership in our country. Our own hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts is over thirty-five years old.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: He is about forty-five years old.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, let us not–

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, we are not allowed to debate ourselves.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members.

Hon. Member for Mpika, you can give examples, a lot of them, but do not debate the hon. Ministers or Members of the House in general.

You may proceed.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, the inclusion of youths, even in the Cabinet, is very cardinal. It creates a reservoir for future national leadership.

Mr Nkandu interjected.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts, please, restrain yourself from debating while seated. This is the last warning.

May the hon. Member for Mpika continue.

Laughter

Rev. Katuta: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker, under the same report, the summary of business that was conducted during the Assembly, Item No. 3.0 – Emergency Item, states:

“Pursuant to Rule No. 11 of the IPU Statutes and Rules, the following two requests for the inclusion as emergency items were submitted:

global call for Parliamentary solidarity and coordinated action on Madagascar. The request was submitted by South Africa on behalf of the African Geopolitical Group.”

Madam Speaker, this is a very important item. What happened in Madagascar must be condemned by all nations, and solidarity must be given to all those who are making efforts in trying to resolve the crisis.

Madam Speaker, what happened in Madagascar was as a result of citizens led by young people protesting against the high cost of living, load shedding, shortage of fuel and rise in the price of essential commodities.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mpika, let us be factual. Is there load shedding in Madagascar? Let us be factual. Let us stick to the report. The report will guide you. There are so many issues that you can debate.

You may continue.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, …

Madam Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was still looking at the points on the situation in Madagascar on page No. 5 of the report.

Madam Speaker, governments in all African countries, and to avoid what happened in Madagascar, must listen to the people, and their cries. When citizens want services, such as electricity, lower cost of fuel, lower cost of living, and other essential commodities, those in the Government must listen, and what happened in Madagascar would be avoided. The youths, the generation Z (Gen Z), in Madagascar, took to the streets because the power utility company in Antananarivo was not supplying power to the citizens. They technically had load-shedding. The President fled the country, and that is when the military took over.

Mr Kafwaya interjected.

Mr Kapyanga: Sorry?

Interruptions

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, that should be avoided by listening to what the citizens want. Citizens of every African country must be given better services by their governments.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I thank you most sincerely, again, for leading the delegation to that very important assembly.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, we have a lot of work on the Order Paper. So, please, do not think that I keep cutting the time when you are about to speak. Unless people want to debate for two minutes each. We still have two Bills at Committee Stage and one Bill at Second Reading to consider, and we do not have time.

Hon. Member for Kafue, please, bear with me.

Ms Chonya (Kafue): Yes, two minutes.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kafue, you have two minutes.

Ms Chonya: Madam Speaker, in two minutes, I would like to support the Motion to adopt the report.

Madam Speaker, pertinent issues were discussed, some of which we have picked from the hon. Member for Mpika’s debate. For example, the focus on the youth, and the importance of youth representation, has been my issue this week; talking about special interest groups. The only regret is that seeing from the way the hon. Member was debating, instead of him putting up a strong case for the youth, he was bringing – and I thought –

Interruptions

Mr Kafwaya: No!

Ms Chonya: Okay. I am guided. I will retrieve that.

Interruptions

Ms Chonya: Madam Speaker, when we are engaging on such issues, we should do it with seriousness, without bringing in the trivia, because then we are missing an opportunity to have these groups represented, as in the way we are also playing around with the Constitution-making process, which is an opportunity to help us bring in the youths.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, these forums are an important platform for international solidarity and to learn best practices. I encourage Parliament to continue prioritising these forums because that is what we need to do as Parliamentarians; to go out there, learn and bring back lessons. I regret that the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) delegation was not represented at the just-ended session that closed on Friday, last week. I would not want to buy into the issue of limited resources. I think, it is a matter of prioritising what is important to Parliament. Representation at the national and international levels is very important. It gives a good image of the country, and we can also defend the country when there is misinformation. For instance, the stoning issue in Zambia came up when they were talking about the issue in Madagascar. It was our responsibility to defend and set the correct record by saying that what was reported on social media was not correct, according to what happened on the ground.

Madam Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member's time expired.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, although I prepared for eight minutes, I will see how I can squeeze my points.

Madam Speaker, I would like to address what happened in Madagascar, which is an issue of constitutional order. Before that crisis, they had a problem with the constitutional order. What followed is what we, as Members of Parliament, are supposed to address, especially in defending the Constitution.

Madam Speaker, having said that, since I have just been given two minutes, let me address the issues concerning humanitarian norms and action. I would like to bring our attention back to the local level. I know that they were discussing those issues at the international level. However, we are not well-seated to tackle humanitarian crises that can happen as earthquakes, droughts, floods, and even human-driven behaviour, like coup d'état and military action. If you check our Emergency Powers Act, and compare it with the Disaster Management Act and Articles 30 and 31 in the Constitution, you will see that there are gaps, and they do not speak to one another. So, insofar as we wish to play ball at the international level, we need to address our domestic policy and legal framework for handling humanitarian crises, especially old laws, such as the Emergency Powers Act, which needs to be revised, and the Disaster Management Act. The former stipulates declaring a crisis, but it does not match with Articles 30 and 31 of the Constitution.

Madam Speaker, having been given two minutes, I think I will end here.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. I wish you had gone further to state how the problems can be addressed because we want solutions. Anyway, time is not sufficient.

The Minister of Information and Media (Mr Mweetwa): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this occasion, on behalf of the people on your right, to respond to the many issues that have been raised by your hon. Members on the Floor of the House, as I support the adoption of your delegation’s report.

Madam Speaker, first of all, I wish to point out to those managing the time that I am not supposed to be given two minutes because I am responding.

Madam Speaker, let me begin by indicating that we, on your right, are grateful to you for your able leadership. Through you, we are also grateful to the able leadership of His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema. In the last four years of the New Dawn Administration, Parliamentary Committees have managed to go about their business around the world. From 2016 to 2021, your Committees failed to travel out of the country. Your Committees used to travel for ten days locally.

Mr Kampyongo: Is that responding?

Mr Mweetwa: The days were even reduced to seven or less. Very few Committees managed to travel between 2016 and 2021. Among them, the Public Accounts Committee, to which I was a Member, travelled to Uganda and Canada. That is all. All other Committees were told that there was no money.

Interruptions

Mr Kampyongo and Mr Kafwaya rose.

Mr Kampyongo: He is debating the institution, Madam Speaker.

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

Mr Mweetwa: Today, Madam Speaker –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Hon. Minister, just stick to the report. We do not have much time, please.

Hon. Members, I will not allow Points of Order. As I indicated, we still have Committee work. We have two Bills to be considered at Committee Stage and one Bill to be considered at Second Reading. So, we do not have much time.

Hon. Minister, continue without debating the institution.

Mr Mweetwa: Madam Speaker, I am well guided and I must immediately veer off that path.

Madam Speaker, let me commend your delegation. It performed a successful tour to Geneva and brought us a report. I thank the leader of the delegation for ably moving this Motion and the seconder.

Madam Speaker, according page 5 of the report, on the summary of business that was conducted during the 151^st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and Related Meetings, top of the agenda was the concern by parliamentarians around the globe on the issue of the military takeover in Madagascar. We have heard the submission from the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika. He said it is important for Governments to listen, otherwise citizens will take action. He even referred to electricity.

Madam Speaker, I would like to submit on the Floor of this House that the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika, who was elected on the Patriotic Front (PF) ticket, should be the last person to talk about electricity and load-shedding. This is because some of the challenges that the Government faces or is grappling with now, such as load-shedding that has plagued the nation, are a creation of the hon. Members on your left when they were in the Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Madam Speaker, today, we cannot mention load-shedding as a trigger point for civil action by citizens. Currently, ZESCO Limited has no financial integrity to import power from Mozambique because it is sitting on a huge debt of US$81 million. It was more than that as of August, 2021. However, as I speak today, it is at US$81 million, which was left by these same people on your left, who today want to come here and begin to play smart.

Eng. Nzovu: Imagine!

Mr Mweetwa: Madam Speaker, the country will not move forward if we continue on the trajectory of hypocrisy. What I expect the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika to do, if he wants to talk about electricity, is to, first of all, apologise and say, “We left this country in a malaise, in a quagmire, for which President Hakainde Hichilema and his Administration have worked tirelessly.” That is what I expect of him, and not talking about the Generation Z (Gen Z) taking action.

Madam Speaker, in Zambia, Gen Z refers to the youths. Which youths does he want to take action? In the last four years of President Hakainde Hichilema’s Administration, more than 100,000 public jobs have been created and the youths have been employed. That is limited to the Public Service. Through the private sector, investments have been injected into the country as a result of an attractive and predictable legal regime and a conducive business environment. As a result, jobs have been created. Which Gen Z did he talk about taking action?

Madam Speaker, the Gen Z in this country are for Bally. Our hon. Colleagues should begin to accept the reality that President Hakainde Hichilema has delivered. Yes, the Government has certain issues to deal with, such as electricity and load-shedding. The issues are well known to the public. For sixty years of Zambia being a nation, there has been no investment in alternative power generation outside hydro-power. That is what the problem is. So, for all those who are leaders, let us scale up and be able to tell the nation the truth.

Mr Kapyanga: Four years!

Mr Mweetwa: If the PF in its ten years of being in power did what the United Party for National Development (UPND) has done in four years in terms of opening up the electricity sector to bring in private sector participation in power trading, the country would have been somewhere else today. We would not have been talking about that issue.

Madam Speaker, the problem we have in this country, as you are aware, is that politicians want to take over the Government without ideas. What ideas do these people (pointed at the Opposition) have?

Hon. Government Members: Nothing!

Mr Mweetwa: Zero, except saying, “We want to take over”. They have never addressed the nation on what they would do about the electricity shortage in the country. Zero! The only thing they repeatedly talk about is power because when they were in power, they were used to making corrupt deals. That is all. That is what they want power for, not to serve the people of Zambia. So, the time has come for citizens to know who stands for what.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika spoke about the IPU lamenting the dwindling numbers of youths in Parliaments around the world. In this country, upon the resolution of this House in 2023, President Hakainde Hichilema and his Administration resolved to amend the Constitution in order to bring more youths here. Some of these people have become turncoats. They have begun turning against what they believe in. They are going around telling people: 'No, we cannot amend the Constitution.” However, they come to this House to lament the dwindling number of youths. Stop this hypocrisy.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kalomo Central, wind up the debate.

Mr Kamboni: Madam Speaker, may I thank the seconder of the Motion, the first speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kafue, and the outstanding Minister of Information and Media, Hon. Cornelius Mr Mweetwa.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kamboni: I think that he has already summarised the debate for me.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

BILLS

SECOND READING

THE CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION PUBLIC PROTECTION Bill, 2025

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu, SC.): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Madam Speaker, with your indulgence, before I present the Motion, allow me to share my excitement pertaining to the happenings which took place from yesterday to today. I am happy. I am a very happy hon. Member of Parliament and Minister because the doomsayers, political sadists, and political quislings have been shamed. They were so excited that the Government of the United States of America (USA) had abandoned us.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Nay, Madam Speaker. The Government of the USA has assured us that we are governing this country properly. So, it has come back with US$1.5 billion. That is very good news. I can see my hon. Colleagues on your left looking down.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu, SC: Madam Speaker, I am still sharing the good news. Tomorrow, the Premier of China is coming to visit us with very good news.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mulyata: Kwenyu.

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: The Premier of China will come with good news tomorrow because we are doing well, on behalf of the people of Zambia.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Speaker, with those remarks, let me thank you for the opportunity to present –

Eng. Nzovu: And Israel.

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Speaker, and Israel.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu SC.: Madam Speaker, let me thank you for the opportunity to present this memorandum on the –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Let us allow the hon. Minister to proceed.

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Speaker, let me thank you for the opportunity to present this memorandum on the Closed-Circuit Television Public Protection Bill No. 1 of 2025, following its deferment. The Bill was deferred after the Republican President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, raised concerns relating to:

invasion of privacy;

excessive bureaucracy;

unclear costs and fees;

transparency, oversight and abuse risks; and

scope and overage.

Madam Speaker, we recognise that the concerns raised are legitimate and valuable in ensuring that the final Act strikes a balanced alignment between security imperatives and constitutional rights. This is especially since the Bill was designed as a forward-thinking legal framework to govern the installation and operation of both fixed and mobile CCTV systems, aiming to strengthen public safety while safeguarding individuals' privacy and data rights.

Madam Speaker, arising from the concerns raised, we have proposed targeted amendments to ensure that the Bill fully complies with the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, the Data Protection Act No. 3 of 2021 and other relevant regional and international standards, including the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, Malabo Convention of 2014.

Invasion of Privacy

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that the initial Bill already contained several foundational safeguards designed to protect personal privacy and prevent abuse of surveillance powers as highlighted as follows:

Section 23(2) requires all installations in public premises or along public roads to take into account the right to privacy guaranteed under the Constitution and other laws;

Section 24 expressly prohibits the installation or operation of CCTV in sensitive areas, such as changing rooms, bathrooms and other places where personal privacy is reasonably expected, except under judicial authorisation for investigations;

Section 25 limits access and disclosure of CCTV data to authorised officers acting within prescribed circumstances; and

Section 26 sets strict limits on data retention. The one month maximum for non-relevant footage requires data viewing to take place in a private setting and forbids the use of CCTV for personal or unauthorised purposes.

Madam Speaker, collectively these provisions demonstrate that the Bill recognised privacy as a core principle and integrated data protection norms into the surveillance framework.We acknowledge that while these provisions establish a solid baseline, they require further refinement to ensure enforceability, independence and alignment with the Data Protection Act and constitutional guarantees under Article 17, the right to privacy.

Proposed Strengthening Measures

Madam Speaker, to build upon the Bill's existing strengths, the following targeted amendments have been proposed:

Judicial Oversight

Amend Section 25 to require that access to CCTV data for routine investigation shall be subject to a judicial warrant issued under the Criminal Procedure Code. Emergency access may be granted only in cases involving an imminent threat to life or national security.

Independent Audit

Introduce a new section, 26(a) mandating annual privacy and data handling audits to be conducted jointly by the Data Protection Commissioner and the Human Rights Commissioner with summary findings published for public accountability.

Data Security and Retention

strengthen Section 26 by requiring the inscription of all stored data, maintaining digital access logs and a maximum of thirty days retention period extendable only under written approval linked to an ongoing investigation; and

comply with the Data Protection Commissioner in cases of unauthorised access or data compromise.

Public Awareness and Signage

Require visible signage at CCTV locations indicating the presence of surveillance. These additions do not alter the Bill’s core objectives but rather, strengthen their legitimacy and constitutional alignment. They also ensure Zambia’s compliance with the Marabo Convention, Articles 8 to 13, and international best practices regarding surveillance governance.

Excessive Bureaucracy

Madam Speaker, as the President noted, the current approval timeframe of fifty days under Section 14 may create unnecessary administrative delays. In that regard, we propose to reduce the decision period to thirty days and introduce a fourteen-day fast-track process for low-risk installations. These measures not only retain oversight but also align with the Government’s policy on reducing red tape and supporting the private sector.

Unclear Cost and Fees

Madam Speaker, the initial Bill’s use of the term, “prescribed fees” provided flexibility for regulatory adjustment. It should be noted that the fees will be prescribed in the regulations.

Transparency, Oversight and Abuse Risks

Madam Speaker, the ministry wishes to assure the House that strong oversight and accountability mechanisms are already in place. Annual audits are being duly provided for, and the institution remains subject to the scrutiny of existing oversight bodies, including the Data Protection Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Police Public Complaints Commission and the Law Association of Zambia. These frameworks collectively ensure transparency, compliance and the protection of citizens' rights while upholding the operational requirements of a specialised security institution.

Scope and Overreach

Madam Speaker, the definition of “premises” currently borrows broadly from the Public Health Act, Chapter 295, to prevent an unintended regulatory overreach:

Section 2 should be amended to define public premises narrowly as “premises owned or controlled by the state or open to the public without restriction, excluding private residences unless used for commercial or public purposes; and

Section 35 should exempt low-risk private installations, (for example, residential home CCTV not facing public spaces) from full licensing, subject to a simplified notification procedure.

The proposed refinements will make the Bill more transparent and Constitutionally compliant.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I extend sincere appreciation to the Chairperson of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs and all individuals and institutions that contributed to the development of the CCTV Public Protection Bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge all hon. Members of this august House to support the Bill for it has been refined in the interest of the issues that were raised by the hon. Members of this House.

Madam Speaker, thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Brig-Gen. Sitwala (Kaoma Central): Madam Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference as provided for in Standing Order No. 207 (j) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders 2024, the Committee was tasked to reconsider the Closed-Circuit Television Public Protection Bill, N. A. B. No.1 of 2025, which was referred back to the Committee after the Republican President, in the exercise of his powers, returned the Bill to the House pursuant to Article 66(1)(b) of the Constitution of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, from the outset, I want to state that most witnesses who appeared before the Committee were in support of the need to address the issues raised in the message from His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Madam, I am confident that hon. Members of the august House have read the Committee’s Report. I will therefore, only highlight a few issues that caught the Committee’s attention in addressing the concerns raised by the President.

Madam Speaker, in addressing the President’s concern regarding the issue of excessive bureaucracy, the Committee observed that the licensing process proposed in the Bill is lengthy and inconsistent with the Government’s policy direction to reduce red tape. The Committee, in supporting His Excellency the President’s concern, observed that the Executive Director and the National Public Security Command Centre Committee will act sequentially if they participate …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Brig-Gen. Sitwala: … in the entire licensing process. Such an arrangement is likely to create a dual-layer of processing the licences. The proposed process is not only cumbersome, but will also expand the procedural timelines due to overlap between the National Security Command Centre Committee’s decision and the administrative handling by the Executive Director. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the role of the National Public Security Command Centre Committee should be limited to policy formulation and the strategic oversight functions of the centre. The Committee further recommends that the administrative functions should be undertaken by the Executive Director, who should handle the licensing function. In that regard, Part III of the Bill should be amended to remove the licensing functions from the National Public Security Command Centre Committee.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the concern on transparency and abuse, the Committee observes that the absence of clear approval mechanisms in the Bill raises risks of politicisation, corruption and selective enforcement. The Committee, therefore, recommends that an independent surveillance oversight body be established from among the Data Protection Commissioner’s Office. The functions of the body will include ensuring compliance, monitoring and reviewing complaints or appeals on licensing decisions. This will align the Closed-Circuit Television Public Protection Bill No.1 of 2025, with the Data Protection Act No. 3 of 2021.

Madam Speaker, the Committee, further recommends that an independent oversight mechanism be created, which will have a multi-stakeholder board comprising of civil society organisations (CSOs), the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), data protection experts and other like-minded organisations.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the concern on scope and overreach raised by the President in his message to the House, the Committee observes that the term, “public premises” has not been clearly defined. The Committee, therefore, recommends that Clause 2 of the Bill be amended to define, “public premises” as “premises owned” or “controlled by the state” or “open to the public without restrictions.”

Madam Speaker, allow me to conclude by stating that the Committee supports the Bill and, urges the House to take into consideration the recommendations stipulated in the report, which address the concerns raised by the President.

Madam Speaker, finally, permit me to express my sincere gratitude to you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to the Committee during the deliberations. The Committee is also indebted to all the stakeholders who appeared before it for their co-operation in providing the necessary memoranda that formed the Committee’s report.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: As I said earlier, we still have a lot of work to do. So, I will give hon. Members four minutes each to debate, and I will pick two hon. Members from the list that has been provided.

Mr Kafwaya rose.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, just wait. I am still giving guidance.

I will give an opportunity to the hon. Member for Lunte, followed by the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, to debate for four minutes, then on my right, the hon. Member for Mongu Central. In that order.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Madam Speaker, this Bill has come back to the House for Second Reading. Bringing one Bill to the House twice is part of what the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security considers governing the country well. What is the cost implication for the people of Zambia? What is unfortunate about this is that the President is the one who rejected the Bill. This is not a Private Member’s Bill. This is a Government Bill. This Bill passed through the Cabinet, which the President chairs, and also has the Vice-President, all hon. Ministers, the Attorney-General and the Secretary to Cabinet, yet it was brought back to the House. We told the Government to not pass it because it was a bad Bill. The people who made submissions to the Committee also said that it was a bad Bill, but this Government, because of the arrogance of the number of the United Party for National Development (UPND), passed it. What did the President say? The President said that he could not sign it into law because it is a bad Bill. It is very unfortunate, and that is poor governance. That is not good governance, even though the hon. Minister thinks this is good governance. I think that, in view of managing the limited resources that the Zambian people have, this is extremely poor, and it must come to an end.

Madam Speaker, consider the provisions under Section 29 of the Bill. A member of the governing Committee, which the Government is trying to establish, can search one’s house without a search warrant. He or she can just dream that a particular entity has a closed-circuit television (CCTV) installation and then pops up to search the premises. Some of our CCTVs point everywhere, and you know that some people misbehave within their premises. That particular person will observe whatever private things people do in their own homes. This is a bad Bill. Bills like this should not be given a chance in a country where the Government is civil, in a country where the Government listens, and even hon. Ministers stand and say that they are governing people well.

Madam Speaker, US$1.5 billion will come from the United States of America (USA), and we are grateful. The Government should amend the Budget, and it cannot just be excited about the news. The Budget is still on the Floor of the House. The Government should take into account that particular information. That would be good governance.

Madam Speaker, what did the internal legislative do for this Government to bring such a bad Bill? What work did the Cabinet do for this Government to bring such a bad Bill to the House? Yet, the chairperson of the Cabinet would betray everyone who attended that Cabinet’s meeting, which passed this, and say that he is not comfortable. This type of governance is terrible, and it should come to an end.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, by the way, I have been in this House for nine years. This is the only time I have seen a President rejecting a Government Bill. If the Bill was presented by any Private Member, I can accept, but not a Bill that came from the Cabinet that he chairs. That is poor on the part of the UPND.

Madam Speaker, I do not support this Bill.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: For purposes of balancing the debate, I do not know – Alright, let us move on to the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, since I have already given guidance, to be followed by the hon. Member for Mongu Central.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to make a few comments on the debate on the Bill that has been presented for Second Reading.

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I commend the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security for operationalising the national public security command centre. When we started that project to enhance public security, our hon. Colleagues then, on the other side of things, raised many concerns. I am happy that they have appreciated the value of establishing that command centre, and are operationalising it. That is what governments should do.

Madam Speaker, I just have a few concerns, because we have debated this Bill before. The reasons that the President sent the Bill back are the issues I debated; the fear of intrusion into privacy. Sending a Bill like this back is an indictment on both sides, especially the Backbenchers, forget about the hon. Minister who moved the Motion. Our role, as Members of Parliament in this House, is to scrutinise Bills and take into account people’s concerns when we are legislating. So, I urge my hon. Colleagues to remember that it is not enough to say “Aye”, and vote.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, we have a lot of work to do. The President has sent us back an indictment. If he did not send the Bill back, it would have passed with the concerns that he raised, which we also raised in this House.

Madam Speaker, to simplify it, the Bill will regulate the public cameras that you see, because they are meant for security to observe and ensure that there is public safety for citizens, such that if someone is abducted, you can play back the video, just like it is done internationally. Now, we have a law that will be used when the Government wants to prosecute offenders. However, the conflict is on those closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) that you install at your private premises, because they equally have to be regulated. The proposal to have those licensed was questioned by members of the public because one installs CCTV to ensure that one’s premises are safe. Now, you must be required to have a licence, and you should be prescribing. These are the issues that people raised. It is important that the hon. Minister gives the people assurances on those valid concerns. Otherwise, it is a requirement for public security. I think, we have even taken time to introduce the provision. It is a challenge if you are not able to regulate and see the events that occur on a daily basis at all shopping malls.

Madam Speaker, I would like to emphasise this point. We are legislators, and when we legislate, it is not about being on the left and right. We must scrutinise these Bills on behalf of the people who sent us to this House. The President said that we are sleeping on duty, and that this Bill came from this House, but that he could not assent to it becoming law. ‘Go back and look at it.’ That is what it means. We must see that as an indictment on all of us, especially my hon. Colleagues on your right, because when we speak here, they think we are politicking. The same reasons that the President has cited are the reasons that I spoke about here because I was conversant with the project in question. However, my hon. Colleagues on your right always want to think that it is politicking. We have a duty to protect our people and make sure that the laws that we enact here are in their best interest. There are a number of laws that have been enacted here that have become problematic, such as the cyber laws and the one for emoluments, which have come to haunt people.

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, your time is up.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I want us to remain vigilant as legislators on behalf of the people.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Amutike (Mongu Central): Madam Speaker, the people of Mongu Central want to support the Bill. The fact that it is back in the House does not make it a bad Bill. The fact that it is here in the House means that it is a good Bill. That is why I said that when all else fails, we trust in Bally to fix it. So, the President has fixed this Bill. That is why we are moving forward. Nobody can abandon their car on a public road and dash to Zimbabwe to wait for the President to establish the relationship between Zambia and Zimbabwe so that we can follow them to Zimbabwe. We will now install closed-circuit cameras on the roads to monitor what is happening. That is the goodness of this Bill. Let us use science and technology to ensure that we are safe so that we can create peace and enhance security in our country. That is what technology is all about. That is why we want to use cameras in our public spaces.

Madam Speaker, yes, when this Bill was first presented to the House, there were concerns about invasion of privacy, but that has now been settled. There will be nothing like that. So, the cameras will be placed in public places where everybody has the right to be. Therefore, we will be able to monitor security, ensuring that our people are safe as they are trading, shopping and that their cars are secure at the malls. That was the whole intention. There was no sinister motive behind this Bill. That is why we, the Backbenchers of the Ruling party, when we were debating this Bill, were very clear because we have no sinister motive in passing any Bill. We do not pass any Bill so that we can fix others. We pass every Bill in this House in the interest of the public to ensure that our public is safe and people have the security that this Government can give them.

Madam Speaker, we have been assured by the hon. Minister that even when the prosecutors or law enforcement agencies would want to get evidence from the installed cameras, they would need to follow another procedure, which would require them to apply for permission through judges. I think that is another layer of security for which the Zambian people can be assured that this Government means well. For that reason, we would like to thank the President for bringing back the Bill after refining it and ensuring that anything that was of concern to anybody, or to all citizens, even the Opposition, which raised issues, are now addressed. We are now happy that we have a clear and nice Bill for which the Zambian public can have confidence in the United Party for National Development (UPND). The New Dawn Government only implements laws that are in the interest of the people and we want to enhance security and a peaceful environment that we live in.

Madam Speaker, with those few words, we want to support the hon. Minister for a job well done. We thank Bally very much for fixing the Bill. We told our friends that when all else fails, Bally can fix it.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu, SC.): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Shiwang’andu for the able manner he debated the Bill on the Floor, together with my Colleague, the hon. Member of Parliament for Mongu Central.

Madam Speaker, I would like to respond to the hon. Member of Parliament for Lunte, who has walked out. I cannot see him –

Mr Kafwaya: I am here.

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Oh, he is at the back.

Interruptions

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Speaker, I am a very proud Member of Parliament. I am a very proud Minister that I have a President who analyses Bills that are presented before him. I have a President who hears the submissions of those who have concerns. My President is different from other Presidents. He is totally different from the previous President, who used to sign anything that was presented before him with his eyes closed, without reading.

Mr Mubika: In Heroes Stadium.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: We have clauses in the Constitution that are inimical to our interests because they were just signed anyhow. We have laws in this country that we are amending because they are bad laws. They were made by my Colleague, Hon. Kafwaya, when he was an hon. Minister. We are amending so many laws here because they are bad laws that were enacted by him and this Government. They were signed without reading or analysing.

Madam Speaker, fortunately, we have a President who is understanding. When members of the public raise issues, he listens. Once he understands what the issues are, he refers a Bill back to Parliament. That is how it should be. We have a President who is a democrat. Hon. Members of the Opposition raised issues and the President listened. That is why he did not sign this Bill. It just shows that there is no better President who has ruled this country other than him. On 13^th August, 2026, the people of Zambia will vote for him again because he is the best we have, and his best is yet to come. Even those who have paid K200,000 are wasting their time. After all, we do not know which political party they are paying that amount for.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. Colleagues for supporting the Bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Lunte, I said that I would not allow Points of Order.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, he mentioned my name.

Madam Speaker: He was just giving an example, I suppose. He was responding to the – Okay, hon. Members, let us not debate ourselves. If an example is given because of a position that we held, maybe, that is understandable.

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

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Wednesday, 26^th November, 2025.

_______

BILLS

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

THE ZAMBIA INSTITUTE OF PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY BILL, 2025

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 2 – (Interpretation)

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move the following amendments in Clause 2:

on page 7 in lines 12 to 14, by the deletion of the definition of “certified procurement practitioner” and the substitution therefor of the following:

“certified procurement and supply practitioner” means a professional designation awarded by the Institute that indicates that a procurement and supply professional has met the prescribed standards in procurement and supply;; and

on page 9 in lines 7 to 9, by the deletion of the definition of “procurement and supply firm” and the substitution therefor of the following:

“procurement and supply firm” means an entity that specialises in providing procurement and supply services, training and consultancy;.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 ordered to stand part of the Bill

CLAUSE 52 – (Prohibition of heading procurement of Unit without a certificate as a procurement and supply practitioner)

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 52, on Page 31, in lines 3 to 9 by the deletion of Clause 52 and the substitution therefor of the following:

Prohibition of 52. (1) A person shall not head a procurement Unit unless that person is a

heading is a certified procurement and supply practitioner.

procurement

Unit without (2) A person shall not offer employment to a person as head of a

certification as

certified Procurement Unit who is not a certified procurement and supply practitioner.

procurement and

supply (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is liable to an

practitioner

administrative penalty.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clauses 52, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedules ordered to stand part of the Bill

Title agreed to.

THE COTTON BILL, 2025

Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 5 – (Constitutional Board)

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 5, on page 12, in line 1 to 13 by the deletion of subclause (1) and substitution therefor of the following:

There is constituted the Board of the Cotton Board of Zambia which consists of the following part time members appointed by the Minister:

a person with knowledge and experience in matters relating to cotton, as the chairperson;

a representative of the ministries responsible for

agriculture; and

finance;

a Representative of the Attorney General;

a representative of the most representative association responsible for cotton farmers;

a representative of the of the most representative association responsible for cotton ginners;

a representative of the Cotton Development Trust;

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 5, as amended, is ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 6 and 7 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 8 – (Price consultative forum)

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 8 on page 14, in lines 13 to 17 by the deletion of paragraph (f) and substitution therefor of the following:

(f) a representative of the most representative association responsible for cotton ginners.

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 8, as amended, is ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedules ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

______

HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

The following Bills were reported to the House as having passed through Committee with amendments:

The Zambia Institute of Procurement and Supply Bill, 2025

Report Stage on Thursday, 20^th November, 2025

The Cotton Bill, 2025

Report Stage on Wednesday, 19^th November, 2025

THIRD READING

The following Bill was read the third time and passed:

The Small Claims Court (Amendment) Bill, 2025

______

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

MOTION

MOTION OF SUPPLY

(Debate resumed)

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (Mr Mwiimbu, SC.): Madam Speaker, let me begin by expressing sincere gratitude to the chairpersons and members of the various Committees that scrutinised the heads of expenditure under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security. I also extend my appreciation to all hon. Members who debated the ministry’s budget. Their observations are highly valued and will inform both the implementation of this budget and the preparation of future budgets.

Madam Chairperson, the overarching mandate of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security is to provide and maintain internal security as the bedrock for sustainable socio-economic development. The proposed 2026 Budget has been prepared with particular focus on ensuring the maintenance of law and order before, during and after the 2026 General Elections. As the country moves closer to the election period, we have observed a notable increase in criminal activities, including sophisticated crimes, violent offences and electoral-related acts of misconduct. These developments pose a direct threat to peace, public safety and the stability necessary for free and fair elections.

Madam Chairperson, ensuring the safety of our citizens in such a context is not only a statutory responsibility, but a national imperative.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Chairperson, despite our commitment –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, we have not yet gone into Committee of the Whole House.

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Speaker, I apologise.

Madam Speaker, despite our commitment, we continue to operate under significant resource constraints and shortages in manpower, operational vehicles and modern information technology systems are straining our security apparatus at a time when demands on law enforcement are ever-increasing. These challenges limit our ability to respond swiftly to criminal threats, maintain adequate patrols and deploy modern crime detection methods. Nevertheless, we will continue to apply every mechanism and innovative approach available to ensure that law and order and the rule of law are constantly upheld. In this regard, the ministry is advancing the operationalisation of the Safe City Project, which will greatly enhance crime detection and provide real-time surveillance capabilities. This technological investment will serve as a force multiplier, particularly in a period when traditional resources remain limited. It will deter criminal activities, improve response times and expedite the administration of justice. We are also strengthening forensic capabilities by improving operations at the forensic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) laboratory and enhancing the capacity of the office of the State’s Forensic Pathologist. These incentives are critical in supporting effective crime investigation and prosecution.

Madam Speaker, to improve security readiness ahead of the 2026 General Elections, the ministry will continue to increase police presence countrywide. This will be supported by improvements in service delivery and the creation of safe and conducive working environments through the construction of office blocks and police stations. We remain committed to completing the construction of six office blocks for the National Registration, Passport and Citizenship Department in Chirundu, Kafue, Chililabombwe, Sikongo, Shangombo and Siavonga. Further, we will finalise the rollout of the Integrated National Registration Information System (INRIS) to the remaining districts. A robust identity management system is indispensable for national security, electoral integrity and effective crime prevention.

Madam Speaker, in our continued efforts to improve the legal and police environment, the ministry will review the Registrar of Societies Act, Chapter 119, the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Chapter 51, the Passport Act and the Firearms Act. These reforms will modernise our security framework and strengthen national security administration.

Madam Speaker, the proposed 2026 Budget stands at K757,160,908, of which K559,909,529 will be funded by the National Treasury, while K197,241,379 will be provided by the World Bank under the Zambia Refugee and Host Communities Project. These resources will support priority programmes aimed at enhancing crime prevention, crime detection and overall national security, which are especially critical as we approach the 2026 General Elections.

Madam Speaker, going forward, the ministry will continue to strengthen key security and governance programmes, including ensuring the secure and accurate issuance of legal identity documents, improving the registration of vital statistics, promoting registration of societies, managing safe and orderly migration, combating threats of terrorism and other crimes.

Madam Speaker, I also want to inform the nation that what transpired in Chingola is very unfortunate and should not be tolerated. We have noted with concern hon. Members of the Opposition and some clergy who have been applauding the criminals who threatened the life of the President and the State of Zambia. We will not allow lawlessness in this country.

Madam Speaker, anyone, and I mean anyone, who will be found wanting in the process of our investigation will be held accountable.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu, SC.: Madam Speaker, we hope no one will blame us for the actions we are going to take. It is unthinkable that members of the public, no matter how aggrieved they are, can take such a heinous act. Those youth criminals in Chingola and their sponsors will be held accountable. There are laws in this country that govern the safety of the President. We will apply them to the fullest so that no other member of the public will follow what transpired in Chingola.

Madam Speaker, with these few remarks, I would like to thank you for giving me a chance to debate the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion of Supply for the 2026 National Budget presented to this august House on Friday, 26^th September, 2025, by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Madam Speaker, allow me to commend the Expanded Planning and Budgeting Committee for its detailed scrutiny of the macroeconomic and fiscal frameworks and for the insights arising from Sector Committee consultations. The 2026 Budget is presented at a time when our country is emerging from the devastating effects of the El Niño-induced drought and is on a steady path toward economic recovery. The projected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.4 per cent in 2026 and the theme “Consolidating Economic and Social Gains towards a Prosperous, Resilient and Equitable Zambia,” provide a solid policy direction for our continued transformation.

Madam Speaker, the education sector remains a cornerstone of national development. I, therefore, welcome the Committee’s reflections on the allocations under Vote 9 and Vote 80.

Madam Speaker, the Committee has accurately highlighted the operational challenges faced by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), especially with respect to recruitment, promotions, deployments and oversight of the 126 human resource management committees across the country.

Madam Speaker, the allocation of K22,868,309, the equivalent of roughly K200 per teacher annually, is insufficient to fully support digitalisation, recruitment system strengthening and rural monitoring. In response, the Ministry of Education will, in 2026, collaborate with the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) and Smart Zambia Institute to prioritise digitisation of teacher management systems, strengthen human resource management committee capacities and rationalise operational costs so that limited resources deliver maximum results. We will also continue to advocate for improved funding in subsequent budget cycles.

Madam Speaker, the allocation of K30,590,689,212 to the Ministry of Education underscores the Government's unwavering prioritisation of education. This represents a nominal increase from 2025, even though the share of the National Budget has reduced from 13 per cent to 12 per cent due to competing national needs. The Committee highlighted several critical challenges, which I wish to address.

Early Childhood Education

Madam Speaker, the increased Early Childhood Education (ECE) allocation is welcome, but the shortage of trained teachers and infrastructure remain a concern. In 2026, my ministry will scale up teacher deployment to ECE centres, strengthen community-based ECE models and ensure that the utilisation of the K262 million under goods and services is transparent and targeted at improving early grade learning materials and environment.

Primary Education Decline

Madam Speaker, the reduction in the Primary Education allocation from K15,471,725,29 to K13,713,809,631 is noted with concern. Even amidst these fiscal pressures, we remain committed to sustaining the free education policy, addressing overcrowding and improving the pupil-teacher ratio currently standing at 44 to 1. To mitigate these pressures, we will:

continue to target recruitment and equitable deployment of teachers;

accelerate the reallocation and rehabilitation of idle or incomplete infrastructure; and

strengthen the fundamental learning using evidence-based approaches under the Zambia Kwanza Initiative.

Secondary Education Infrastructure

Madam Speaker, while Secondary personal emoluments increased, infrastructure funds declined, slowing the progress of 317 ongoing secondary school projects. My ministry is engaging the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to prioritise school completion through reallocation efficiency, community partnerships and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)-based infrastructure support.

Higher Education and Universities

Madam Speaker, although funding to higher education increased to K2,845,369,708, university funding remains inadequate, considering legacy debts and operational costs. The Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB)’s liabilities exceeding K100 million are being addressed through a phased dismantling plan and improved loan recovery mechanisms.

Madam Speaker, we have so many cross-cutting issues which the ministry is addressing through a combination of policy and operational measures, including teacher deployment reforms, textbook procurement optimisation, public-private partnerships (PPP) for infrastructure and strengthened collaboration with local authorities for school construction and skills development initiatives.

Madam Speaker, as we debate the 2026 Budget, we must recognise that the education sector is not merely a line item. It is a foundation upon which Zambia's long-term economic resilience, equity and prosperity will be built. Despite fiscal constraints, the Budget demonstrates the Government's firm commitment to investing in people, improving learning outcomes and transforming Zambia into a knowledge-driven economy. My ministry remains steadfast in ensuring that every Kwacha allocated to education delivers maximum impact for the learner, the teacher and the nation. I, therefore, fully support the Motion of Supply and urge this august House to do the same.

Madam Speaker, let me speak briefly on a few items that I heard hon. Colleagues talk about both inside and outside the House. Regarding free education, I understand that some people are saying that when they come back to power, if at all they will, they will cancel free education. I have never known a person who can talk like that. This is why I will come back to this House to legislate on free education so that one day, even if we have a mad man for a President, this country will never go back to no free education. First of all, free education is a policy. It will be a law, so that anybody who comes here will find it.

Madam Speaker, over 2.3 million children are now back in school. Where were these children going to be in the next twenty years without free education? They were going to be criminals. The people on the left were going to start accusing my hon. Colleague, the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, of increasing crime, yet they are the people who actually planted a nursery of criminals, vagabonds.

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for releasing the money for free education. We want our country to improve its standing in the world. So, no one will ever remove the free education policy. I also understand that some people are saying that they will cancel meal allowances for students. How? Who can vote for them if they are going to cancel meal allowances for students? Do they know how many students we are feeding now? Each of the 2.3 million children have mothers and fathers or guardians. Multiply 2.3 million children times two parents. That is already 4.6 million voters for the President. So, where will they find a person who does not want to vote for the President?

Madam Speaker, I know what happened in Britain. When the Labour Party was campaigning, it said that it was going to employ 6,500 teachers. The Conservative Party promised to recruit 4,600 teachers. The Labour Party won the election on the promise of recruiting 6,500 teachers. This Government, through the President, has so far recruited more than 42,000 teachers in this country. This is a country with a population of 20 million. Great Britain has a population of 250 million to 260 million inhabitants. So, that single act of free education will make the President become the President again in 2026. So, the people on the left could be wasting their time because numbers do not lie. Parents are truly happy about their children being in school. Some of the 2.3 million children actually passed Grade 12 and are now eligible voters; they will certainly vote for the President. Already, we are talking about the School Feeding Programme. Before the drought, we were actually feeding children in eighty-seven districts. During the drought, we scaled up the number to 106 districts. Next year, we are going to be feeding children in 116 districts. In the whole country, who would not want to vote for a President of that calibre?

Madam Speaker, the people on the left also want to cancel the CDF. There are so many things that they are promising to cancel. We will not allow them, and Zambians will not allow them. Therefore, they can go and campaign on the basis of something else. What the President has done is invest in the people.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Ms Tambatamba): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you most sincerely for according me this opportunity to debate the 2026 National Budget.

Madam Speaker, it is well-known that there is transformation taking place. So, this Budget is commendable because it is founded on pillars that will drive us into a promising future for our children. Therefore, I rise to fully support the 2026 National Budget presented to the National Assembly by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, on 26^th September, 2026, under the theme, “Consolidating Economic and Social Gains Towards a Prosperous, Resilient and Equitable Zambia.” These are meaningful words in a period of significant global economic uncertainty. The Budget presented by the hon. Minister is not merely a statement of numbers. It is a strategic blueprint for a more resilient, competitive and inclusive society for our children and our future. For that, I commend the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and the New Dawn Government for the visionary outcome-driven agenda as expressed in the Budget for the year 2026.

Hon. Member: Social Cash Transfer!

Ms Tambatamba: Of course, Social Cash Transfer.

Madam Speaker, in response to the theme, I will not go into details of the figures in the Budget. Since we are a prudent Government, I know that hon. Members, since they belong to various Committees, appreciated what is allocated to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, besides the overall Budget. The allocation to the ministry is meaningful towards its agenda. It is also aligned with the constructive elements and cost lines. In terms of industrial harmony, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through joint inspections, is using the existing legislation to support the Decent Work Agenda.

Strategic Investment

Madam Speaker, the key strategic areas of focus, of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in the Budget, is the strategic investment in human capital by building a healthier, safer and expanded competency pool of citizenry. In addition, the national infrastructure development, energy and agriculture are key pillars in enhancing national development.

Madam Speaker, human development, cost lines and skills development targets building capacity and competency in enhancing our deliverables in the key sectors selected by the New Dawn Administration, under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership. So, human capital is not included. It is targeted as skills development in agriculture, tourism, mining, and energy. We have acknowledged as a nation, both on the left and the right in this House, that results are being achieved.

Social Protection

Madam Speaker, the Budget has made provisions for health care and free education, as already alluded to by the hon. Minister of Education. The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services is spearheading social safety nets, which demonstrate the Government's unwavering commitment to leaving no one behind.

Fiscal Discipline

Madam Speaker, the 2026 Budget path to fiscal consolidation and credibility is commendable. It sends a strong signal of stability to international markets and investors out thereby, ensuring that our country remains a secure and attractive place to do business. Hence, the United States of America (USA) and the People’s Republic of China governments’ interaction with the Zambian Government.

The Chairperson: Order, hon. Minister!

(Debate adjourned)

The House adjourned at 1854 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 19^th November, 2025.

Search form

You are here

Order Paper

parliament.gov.zm