Debates- Tuesday, 1st November, 2011

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DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 1st November, 2011

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

__________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

PROCEDURE FOR RAISING POINTS OF ORDER

Mr Speaker: Hon Members, I have observed that there is a need for the House to be acquainted with the procedure for raising points of order during debate.

In this regard, I wish to guide that a point of order is a question raised by an hon. Member who believes that the rules of procedure of the House have been incorrectly applied or overlooked during the proceedings.
 
A point of order must be used by hon. Members of this House to bring the Speaker’s immediate attention to any breach of order or transgression of any law of the House. I have observed that hon. Members have used points of order to raise issues unrelated to the Business of the House. This is a misuse of a point of order procedure. A point of order should:

(a) be for the general maintenance of order and decorum in the House;

(b) be raised on a question of procedure in the House and when procedure is violated; and

(c) relate to business before the House at a particular moment.

I further wish to guide the House that hon. Members should not use points of order to pursue their personal interests or unrelated issues.

I, therefore, encourage all hon. Members to use other procedural mechanisms that are available for raising important and urgent national matters. The following are some of the procedural mechanisms available:

(i) question of an urgent and important nature under Standing Order No. 30;

(ii) His Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time on Fridays;

(iii) ministerial statements by hon. Ministers; and

(iv) Private Members’ Motions.

In conclusion, I wish to advise hon. Members to acquaint themselves with the circular that was issued by the Clerk’s Office on this very important subject.

I thank you all.

_____________

MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dr Lungu): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me a chance to give my maiden speech and contribute to debate on the speech for the official opening of the First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly by His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, the President of the Republic of Zambia, on Friday, 14th October, 2011.

Belated though, I wish to congratulate Mr Michael Chilufya Sata on his election as President of the Republic of Zambia by the people of Zambia on 20th September, 2011. I also wish to congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your deserved election as Speaker of this House. Likewise, I would be failing in my speech if I did not congratulate the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the whole House on their election to these important positions.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank the people of Chama South for voting for me as hon. Member of Parliament for the next five years and pay special tribute to my predecessor, Mr Boniface Nkhata who, in his wisdom, did not seek to be elected as hon. Member of Parliament for the third time. Special thanks go to my wife, Annie, children and grandchildren for encouraging me to go into politics and financing my campaign programme. This was not easy.

I also thank the Central Committee of the Patriotic Front (PF) for adopting me to contest the elections on the party’s ticket. I am indebted to President Michael Chilufya Sata for appointing me to serve as hon. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the PF Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Last but not the least, I wish to congratulate all hon. Members of Parliament from all political parties who emerged victorious in the just-ended parliamentary elections.

Mr Speaker, allow me to comment very briefly on the people of Chama South and how they related with the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government or how the MMD Government did little for the people of my constituency. Some of the Senga-speaking people of Chama District live in Chama South Constituency which has a population of roughly 30,000. They are a rural society that depends on tilling land for its livelihood and socio-economic activities. For twenty years, the MMD Government never graded any of the feeder roads to facilitate mobility to the nearest markets to sell their produce in Chama and Lundazi bomas respectively. The feeder roads in question are:

(a) Kasela Mapamba via Chifunda;

(b) Lundazi/Chasato/Chikwa;

(c) Tembwe Mapamba Road via Chikwa and Chifunda; and

(d) Kawele Tembwe.

Mr Speaker, if a Government refuses to assist the whole population in providing infrastructure for twenty years, then that Government is not interested in its rural population. That is the reason the people of Chama South spoke through the ballot box and voted for the PF to form Government so that their plight could be looked into.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, to emphasise why this rural society divorced the MMD Government, out of the nineteen constituencies that took part in the elections in the Eastern Province, only the Chama South seat went to the PF.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, this is because the people of Chama South saw a future in the PF Government. This is emphasised in the President’s Speech, on Page 7, when he states that: “I would like to see that the pronouncements in economic performance translate into substantial reduction in poverty indicators in our communities all over the country. The challenge of my Government is, therefore, to improve the quality of life for the majority of our people, especially those in rural areas.” It will be interesting to note that this is the only rural society that actually transformed first. They voted the United National Independence Party (UNIP) out of power in 1991, they changed to the MMD and, this time around, they kicked out the MMD in preference for the Patriotic Front (PF).

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, with regard to education facilities, Chama South Constituency has only one day- high school and very few basic schools.

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I would like to be given a very clear ruling on the issue I am about to raise. When hon. Members of the House, especially those on the Opposition, make lamentations, they make lamentations to the Government of the day. Now, it has become very fashionable for those in Government to make lamentations and they are making those lamentations to the people out there on the street.

Is it in order, Sir, for hon. Members of the Cabinet, the Government, to continue making lamentations in this House when they are supposed to ensure that they listen, respond to and address the concerns that are raised on behalf of the people of Zambia?

Mr Speaker: Order!

My ruling on this issue is that hon. Members on the right are, indeed, entitled, briefly, during their maiden speech, to address matters that concern their constituencies.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: However, they should also devote more time to addressing the policy issues that they intend to pursue and assume the functions of the Executive.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: So, I trust that the hon. Member will also address the policy issues in due course.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, thank you for protecting me. I now turn to what I intend to do and thus share with the House on foreign policy and international relations.

Mr Muntanga: Yes, Angola!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, some hon. Members in the House have argued that the President’s Speech is silent on foreign policy. This is not true. Our President is an action-oriented man.

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Only a few days ago, the President hosted a luncheon for the Chinese businessmen at State House, shaming critics that he was anti-Chinese.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah! He is the one who was anti-Chinese.

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear, Bwekeshapo!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, speaking as an hon. Member of the Executive as regards international relations and co-operation, Zambia is a member of the international community. As such, it maintains membership of several regional and international organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), African Union, Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement and United Nations.

Mr Speaker, conspicuously absent this afternoon is His Honour the Vice-President and the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs who are attending Commonwealth conferences in Australia. That is part of our foreign policy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, in order to maintain and enhance international relations and co-operation, the PF Government shall, among other requirements:

(i) retain Zambia’s membership to the international organisations and agencies;

(ii) promote friendly and cordial relations with Zambia’s neighbours, all African States and other foreign countries;

(iii) pursue a foreign policy based on common interests and respect;

(iv) ratify, domesticate and implement all international conventions that Zambia has signed, especially in relation to human and people’s rights, the rights of women and cultural rights; and

(v) develop a professional career diplomatic service to serve in Zambia’s missions abroad.

Mr Speaker, our ministry will develop a professional diplomatic career service. Gone are the days when people were just sent abroad to rest after shouting too much viva in elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I do not want to waste much time because I may be misunderstood in the House. I have summarised my speech as much as possible to be concise like a miniskirt and in line with Government policy in international relations.

Laughter

Dr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I do know that in this House people come with preconceived ideas, but what we are here for is to see the way forward. My ministry is well vested in international relations and foreign policy mist of which we have already implemented.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Miniskirt!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr P. Ngoma (Feira): Mr Speaker, allow me to humble myself as I thank you for allowing me to deliver my maiden speech to this august House. I will confine my speech to issues relating to my constituency. Before I deliver the speech, please, permit me to start by congratulating you, Mr Speaker, on your election as Speaker of this very important institution called Parliament. Also, allow me to further congratulate Hon. Mkhondo Lungu and Hon. C. K. B. Banda, SC., on their election to the positions of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House respectively.
Mr Speaker, I would be failing in my duties if I did not congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on winning the 20th September, 2011 Tripartite Elections and becoming new President of the Republic of Zambia. May the Good Lord bless him.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank the late President, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., for sending me to work in a mission abroad. May his soul rest in peace. He was a good man of action who tried to eradicate corruption and greatly imparted knowledge on the Zambians. However, it was unfortunate that he was denied the needed time due to political pressure and his early death.

Mr Speaker, let me end my congratulatory remarks by thanking the people of Feira Constituency, the team which campaigned for me day and night, all the MMD cadres, and my family and relatives. May God be with them all the time because they are the people whom God used to bring me back to Parliament. The first time they brought me to this House was in 2002, a Parliament that was dissolved in 2006. This time around, it was their will, again, that I should come back from diplomatic duties abroad and re-contest the Feira seat.

Mr Speaker, before I comment on the President’s Speech presented in this House by the President, I request the Government to listen attentively to the issues my constituency is faced with.

Mr Speaker, if efforts by those in authority could be stepped up in providing some services in Feira Constituency, people would have a high living standard because the district has the potential to develop.

Mr Speaker, as mentioned earlier, the people of Luangwa felt that between 2006 and 2011, they were left behind in politics, although some developments were being seen, but communication between them and the political leaders was not adequate. This made them think of me and put my party the MMD under pressure to bring me back into politics so that the services that I rendered to them from 2001 to 2006 could be replicated. This is what made me come back to Parliament. I was and still am their choice.

Mr Speaker, the people of Feira Constituency are eagerly waiting for their constituency to be developed by the PF Government under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. They strongly believe that the cake will not be shared on partisan lines despite my being from the MMD. The previous Government did a lot for them in terms of infrastructure, health and education, to mention, but a few. However, they think that more needs to be done by the PF Government.

Mr Speaker, the people of Feira Constituency would like an improvement in the rehabilitation and tarring of the D45 Road. The rehabilitation of this road is of paramount importance as it connects two countries from the Great East Road Junction, southwards to the Luangwa Boma Border to Mozambique via the Luangwa River to a district called Zumbo, and from Luangwa District through Kanyemba Border Post that connects to Zimbabwe by crossing the Zambezi River. The two rivers meet at the Luangwa-Zambezi River Confluence, taking their waters into the Indian Ocean. Therefore, I invite all hon. Members of this House to visit this district using this road so that they can see what I am talking about.

Mr Speaker, funds permitting, there is a need to construct a triangle bridge in the near future to connect the three countries and reduce the dangers of people drowning because of using canoes on the Luangwa and Zambezi rivers because the only pontoon that was there was withdrawn by the previous Government.

The construction of a bridge will also reduce congestion at the Chirundu Border Post as traffic to the eastern part of Zambia, including Malawi and Mozambique from South Africa through Zimbabwe, will use this road as a shortcut to its destination.

Mr Speaker, if the above-mentioned road were to be tarred, there would be a lot of development in all sectors, including tourism. The people in my constituency welcomed the pronouncement by the President to construct a new road as indicated on page 28 of the Speech. However, they would be happier if construction of any new road would come after tarring the old roads to allow access by vehicles going to the two border towns of Zumbo and Kanyemba from the Luangwa Border Post.

Mr Speaker, as regards the electrification of the district, the previous Government introduced the Rural Electrification Programme to electrify rural districts and constituencies.  In 2004, the Lusaka Provincial Administration was given K3.5 billion as part payment for this project for Luangwa District. To date, nothing has been done and the people are still waiting. The then hon. Minister of Energy and Water Development, Mr George Mpombo, launched this project, but it did not take off. At the moment, the district depends on generators sets to supply power to the people at the Boma only, and for export to Zumbo District in Mozambique.

Mr Speaker, if such electrification were to be provided to the whole district, this would help develop the district, thereby boosting both agriculture and tourism.

Mr Speaker, in Feira Constituency, the human-animal conflict between elephants and the community has been the order of the day. People’s lives have been lost and crops in the fields destroyed. This has brought about many differences between the community and the Government. If this remains unchecked, the Government will lose its popularity as the previous Government did. Therefore, one way in which this matter could be resolved is by creating a national park with an electricwire fence to keep animals away from people. Today, we have a district as a game management area, which means that animals are allowed to move at will instead of being confined to a special area and away from people.

Mr Speaker, the conflict has become so acute that more loss of life is expected. In addition, poachers and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officers are fighting over wild animals whilst animals are running away from the bush to the villages,. This is causing damage on both sides. There is a need, therefore, to resolve this conflict so that people can begin to live peacefully. This can only be done by permanently separating the two.

Sir, crocodiles have also become a source of concern. The reptiles kill, at least, one or two people in a month by knocking them off their boats when they are fishing on the rivers. This happens on the Zambezi River at Amoro and Kanyenze villages.

Feira Constituency has, today, seen the construction of a number of primary and secondary schools. The constituency has four secondary schools and more than fifteen primary schools. School leavers come to Lusaka for university education if they have good results or to colleges if they have average results. However, because college fees are too high and students cannot afford transport fares to and from Luangwa District, they end up as drunkards and take part many vices. The spread of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/ Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is ...

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, the Opposition is debating the President’s Speech in order to give its proposals to the Government. Is it in order to have only two hon. Ministers in the House to listen to the debates?

Mr Speaker: I think, in the absence of a clear explanation, it would be fair, I suppose, to presume that the Executive is also involved in the discharge of the Executive function. Apart from that, I note that we do have two hon. Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers present. I think that they are in a position to fully respond, in due course, to all the concerns that are being raised.

The hon. Member may continue with the debate.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, with the introduction of a college to absorb most of the youths, the above-mentioned vices would be a thing of the past. The people of Luangwa, therefore, are looking forward to the immediate construction of a college.

Mr Speaker, on the introduction of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) camps, the constituency had one ZNS camp in the mid 1970s during the UNIP era. However, when the MMD took over power, the camp at Mphuka Rural Reconstruction Centre was done away with, creating a big shortage in agricultural products. If the rural reconstruction centre could be reintroduced, many youths can be engaged and made productive. Land in Chief Mphuka and Senior Chief Mbuluma is in abundance. The military wing does not even have to bother to apply for land because both chiefs are prepared to host the ZNS camps.  Therefore, I would like to propose that the ZNS camps be introduced in all districts of Zambia like it was during the UNIP era. This will teach the youths to be self-reliant.

Mr Speaker, allow me also to touch on a few issues in the President’s Speech. Though the Speech highlighted a number of issues, it was not clear on some issues that relate to the forthcoming Budget. In the previous governments, the President’s speech gave an idea of what the budget would be like. Therefore, I hope that the Budget Speech will be clear to the general public on the Government’s intentions to develop this country.

Mr Speaker, on youth empowerment, like I said earlier, the only way to help the youth is by introducing the ZNS camps as well as constructing colleges in districts.

Sir, let me conclude my maiden speech by thanking all hon. Members in the House. I just wish to urge the Executive to stand up, speed up and work harder because ninety days is too short a time to show development. In fact, even five years is not enough to complete what you want to do.

I would like to thank you and the people of Feira Constituency again. I promise to work hard for the benefit of all in the constituency.

God bless everybody in the House.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to present my maiden speech and contribute to debate on the President’s Speech.

Mr Speaker, from the outset, I would like to thank the mover and seconder of the Motion on the Floor and thank them for the very good things they said about our Parliament. I would also like to say that I take Hon. Dr Musokotwane, Hon. Kakoma from the North-Western Province and Hon. Simbao’s contributions as my own.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, first of all, I would like to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on his election as Fifth President of the Republic of Zambia. In front of a successful woman is a successful man. In this regard, allow me to congratulate Dr C. Kaseba, the President’s wife, on becoming the Fifth First Lady of the Republic of Zambia. My message to Dr Kaseba is that, ...

Interruptions

Mr Mwanza: … as she joins the circle of First Ladies, she should consider forming a charitable non-governmental organisation (NGO) ...

Hon. Opposition Member: Aah!

Mr Mwanza: … which can work with women from rural constituencies such as Solwezi West.

Sir, let me also congratulate you on your deserved election to the position of Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: In the same vein, I wish to congratulate the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House and Hon. Felix Mutati, MP, who was elected as Leader of the Opposition. The election of the Leader of Opposition is provided for in the Standing Orders of the House and applies to an opposition party that has a minimum of fifty-three seats. The MMD, as it stands today, has fifty-four seats. Therefore, it qualifies to have one of its members recognised as such.

Mr Speaker, in addition, I wish to congratulate the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Amussa Mwanamwambwa, on having guided this House as Speaker for thirteen years during which period he made very impressive rulings that were appreciated both internally and externally. I further congratulate him on being awarded the Great Honour of Distinguished Service, First Division, by the Head of State.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: This is a great honour not only to Hon. Mwanamwambwa’s family, but the nation and his wider circle of friends and acquaintances. I wish him good health in his retirement.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank a veteran politician, former Chief Whip in the last Parliament, Mr Vernon J. Mwaanga, under whom I served as Deputy Chief Whip for two-and-half years. V. J, as he is popularly known, is one of the few Zambians who have served four of Zambia’s five Presidents during which service he significantly contributed to the growth of democracy in the country. In this regard, I thank Mr Mwaanga and wish him a successful and peaceful retirement.

Mr Speaker, my final appreciation goes to the wonderful people of Solwezi West Constituency, particularly those in the peripheral areas of Ifumba, Kamano, Kyangozhi, Kalengelenge, Lukendo and Kanzala.

Laughter

Mr Mwanza: These and the other community centres in Solwezi West Constituency gave me support under their party, the MMD. I can only return their loyalty and trust by advocating for their development and the improvement of their standard of living. I am most grateful to them all for this show of confidence in me. I am only the second Member of Parliament, after His Royal Highness, Chief Mukumbi, to serve the constituency for two terms since Independence. This is not a mean achievement.

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, with ten wards, Solwezi West Constituency is the largest in Solwezi District. It is mostly rural and in dire need of development. It has the following four royal establishments or chiefs:

(i) Senior Chief Mukumbi;

(ii) Senior Chief Musele of the Lunda People of Solwezi District;

(iii) Chief Mumena; and

(iv) Chief Matebo.

Sir, the constituency has a population of close to 34,000, most of whom are small-scale farmers who face many challenges owing to a variety of reasons that include poor extension services and lack of adequate farmer-support in terms of inputs such as seed and fertiliser, and a ready market for their produce.

Sir, the constituency also faces other challenges in areas like education, healthcare, agriculture and local governance.

Mr Speaker, due to the rapid population growth in the Lumwana-Kalumbila area, the constituency requires one boarding school in each of the four chiefdoms. As you know, this is an area in which there is a lot of mining activity. Therefore, there is a critical need for adequate education facilities for children.

Mr Speaker, as the President stated on page 4 of his Speech, healthcare is an important matter in national development. In the case of Solwezi West Constituency, there is a need to expand the delivery of health services by upgrading the rural health centres I shall name. However, before I do so, I wish to congratulate my former Government on having built the Lumwana District Hospital in Solwezi.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Mwanza: I am sure the new Government will soon go and officially open it. In addition to this, we also want health services in the following areas:

(i) Kankozhi;

(ii) Chovwe;

(iii) Muyashi;

(iv) Mangala; and

(v) Kalengelenge.

We need to have the impact of healthcare facilities felt. The health centre at Old Matebo is dilapidated and requires upgrading, adequate staffing and an adequate supply of the necessary drugs. There is also a need to construct health posts in all the ten wards.

Mr Speaker, while it is necessary to plan to build a university at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali District, we, in Solwezi, also demand the transformation of the Natural Resources Development College into a full-fledged university of agriculture.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: The transformation of the NRDC should be made on the lines of current steps undertaken to make the President’s Citizenship College transformed into Zambia’s third university.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: We also need a university of technology in Solwezi as part of this diversity of university education.

Mr Speaker, taking the policy of decentralisation forward must be a critical a undertaking to:

(i) increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to K5 billion, like my friends have said;

(ii) work on the feeder roads which are in very poor state. These are as follows:

(a) Kisasa to Ifumba and Senior Chief Musele’s area;

(b) Matebo Turn-off through to Meheba, which has been a thorny  problem. I am glad that the hon. Minister responsible for that province is listening and will be able to take some action in this regard;

(c) Kyansumunu Turn-off to Sub-Chief Kibanza’s Palace, which is a distance of less than 20 km but, in its current state, it takes one not less than one-and-half hours to drive the distance;

(d) Kalengelenge/ Mangala in Solwezi West; and

(e) Lukendo Road.

Whilst our friends in the new Government have created the ninth province, …

Hon. Member: Tenth!

Mr Mwanza: … which I have no problem with, we, in Solwezi West, appeal for the creation of a new district to be known as Mumbezhi.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mwanza: We have been talking about this for the past five years.

Hon. Government Member: The MMD was in power for those five years.
 
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, that area houses the Lumwana and Kalumbila mines which are recent developments. Therefore, the new Government should consider creating a new district there. Additionally, we need the Lumwana Development Plan to be implemented to enable our council in Solwezi to control the development of the area. Those who have been there know that it is a shanty town that is growing. We need to move in very quickly to ensure that we plan the development structure in that area.

Mr Speaker, regarding infrastructure development, I thank the new Government for pledging to continue with the projects currently under implementation. In line with this, I appreciate that the works on the Mutanda/Chavuma Road, the tarring of the Mumbwa/Kasempa Road and the construction of a bridge at Kafue and Lunga in the Kafue National Park will be completed. These are very important roads that will improve communication between Lusaka and the North-Western Province.

Sir, we also appreciate the disclosure by the President that the Kalulushi/Old Kalengwa Road to Kasempa will also be worked on. Currently, trees are growing on it and this is not good for Zambia forty-seven years after Independence.

Hon. Government Members: Where were you?

Mr Mwanza: You are there now, ...

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Mwanza: … so, I do not want to answer those questions. You are the Government in power now.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Please, address the Chair.

Mr Mwanza: I am sorry, Mr Speaker:

Mr Speaker, Manyama and Lumwana East are two of the fastest growing communities in Solwezi West Constituency. Unfortunately, there is no electricity, banking services, proper markets and postal services in the area. These services are urgently required and should be planned for by the new Government. Most entrepreneurs depend on their own thermal or solar power. The Government should plan for the development of these services to meet the rising demands of the mining community so that there is a better life.

Mr Speaker, Solwezi West Constituency is home to two of Zambia’s mines, namely Lumwana and Kalumbila. As has already been stated by my colleagues who spoke earlier, there is a need to introduce mineral tax for the sustainable development of North-Western Province, in particular, and Zambia, in general.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, on the issue of governance and youth involvement in politics, I would like to congratulate the PF and the two major opposition parties, the MMD and the United Party for national Development (UPND), on adopting young members to contest Parliamentary seats in various constituencies.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: These young hon. Members of Parliament have potential to take up Executive positions. Unfortunately, the Ruling Party has failed the people of Zambia by not appointing young Members of Parliament to the Executive in preference for old and recycled politicians.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Mwanza: The Government must equally represent the different population groups. At the moment, the Cabinet is not balanced in that all the people who have been appointed are either friends and funders of the PF or are a collection of a wider circle of friends and relatives.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: This should not be allowed. These people all come from the Northern Province. It is wrong.

Mr Speaker, the PF vigorously campaigned for the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement, but not for its implementation.

Hon. Opposition Member: Ba Mbuzi bagona!

Laughter

Mr Mwanza: The question is, given this background, where are we today and where are we going with regard to this matter? I hope that the Commission of Inquiry earlier announced, which is purely on alleged killings of some people early this year in Mongu, is not being used to make the people of Western Province think that the commission will only resolve the Barotseland Agreement.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to caution the PF Government not to use the appointment of Hon. Inonge Wina as a substitute for the actual recognition of the implementation of the collective agreement.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to deliver my third maiden speech to this House.

Hon. Government Members: The last one!

Mr Ntundu: Sir, I want to begin by saying that I am very disappointed with the Executive for not being present in the House.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank my party, the gallant UPND, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: … for adopting me to contest the Gwembe seat for the third time.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: This shows that my party has confidence in me and I pledge to be loyal and committed to it.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: I am coming again for the fourth term.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I also thank my family, especially my wife, Electra, for her support in the elections.

Mrs Banda: How many wives?

Mr Ntundu: Sir, let me also congratulate you on your election as Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Imwe, muzimvela, imwe! That is the problem with you.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: In fact, your behaviour is worse than that of these guys seated this side (Pointing at hon. MMD Members).

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Sir, when the MMD was on the Government side, they were not behaving the way these guys are behaving now.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: You guys!

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your election as Speaker of this House. Having known you for a long time, I have not doubt that you will be able to control this House effectively. I also want to congratulate the Deputy Speaker on his election.  I have no doubt that he will also perform his duties without favour. I congratulate the Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House on his election.

Sir, I congratulate the MMD on bringing multi-partism.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: If it were not for the MMD, the PF would not have been on the Government side.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Sir, now that the PF Government is in charge, I want to assure them that we have no ill-feelings about them.

Hon. Government Member: But bitter!

Mr Ntundu: We are not bitter.

Hon. Government Member:  You are!
   
Mr Ntundu: Sir, we shall support you when you bring good Bills that will favour Zambians. If you will bring Motions that will not be in favour of Zambians, we shall shoot them down so that you can dissolve Parliament if you feel like doing so.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Member: Even tomorrow!

Mr Ntundu: Yes, and you will still see me seated on this side of the House even after the elections which will be held after the dissolution of Parliament.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Sir, we have a new President now, whom we adore so much. We know that Mr Sata got his Presidency because he won the elections. We have no doubt about that. However, we want to tell you that …

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: …if you do not listen to us,…

Hon. Government Members: Address the Chair!

Mr Ntundu: When you were on this side of the House, you knew what our cries were. You knew what we wanted. I have no doubt that you will do what the Zambians want. I therefore, advise you to give the Zambians what they want.

Mr Speaker, I also want to say that my party president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, praised the PF when it got the seat of Presidency. He was the first one …

Hon. Government Members: Where?

Mr Ntundu: He is the next President after Sata.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: When you were on this side of the House, you were saying that you were an alternative Government. We, on this side of the House, are now saying that we are the alternative Government.

Mr Speaker, I also want to talk about taxes. I do not want to cry over spilt milk. I do not want to blame the MMD Government for what it did not do. I, therefore, want to tell the new Government what it is supposed to do.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, before I talk about taxes, let me state that in Gwembe, the Government needs to work on the Gwembe/Chipepo Road.

Mr Mushanga: You have been hon. Member of Parliament for that constituency for some years, why did you not work on the road?

Laughter

Mr Ntundu:  Please listen to what I am saying. If you do not know the history of this House, go and consult the archives of Parliament. The history of this House is that whenever there is a general election, more hon. Members of Parliament from the Ruling Party than from the Opposition crumble. Even in the next elections, most of you will crumble. You will not come back to this House.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Now that you are in charge, I am telling you to work on the Bottom Road in Gwembe. We also want you to work on the feeder roads and bridges in Gwembe. We also want a grader at our council. I am, in fact, doing you a favour by telling you what you are supposed to do in Gwembe. If you do these things, …

Mr Mwila: Address the Chair!

Mr Ntundu: Through you, Mr Speaker,…

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: … if the Government is going to do these things in Gwembe, it will create a platform for future development in the area. I am giving you this advice on a silver plate. If you do not want it, that is your own fault. You know that in Gwembe, you only got about 163 votes. Are you telling me that you do not want to get more votes in the next elections?

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I am very ashamed of the behaviour of some people on the right.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: I did not expect that my friend, Hon. Mwila, could behave in the manner he is currently behaving. In my next debate, I am going to fish out all your debates and lay them on the Table of this House so that Zambians know your true colours.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: I have a lot of information that I can fish out, including what you were saying about the Chinese when you were on the left side of the House.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about taxes. I have said in this House that I am a financial consultant who understands the way taxes are administered. There was a time when the South African Government was consulting me over taxes. I know that it will be very difficult for our colleagues to reduce taxes.

Hon. Government Members: How?

Mr Ntundu: Where will you get the money to run the country?

Hon. Government Members: We know!

Mr Ntundu: Sir, the only way you can reduce taxes is to find other avenues of raising revenue such as putting up of tollgates on the Zambian roads. The Government also needs to find ways of reducing excise duty on diesel so that farmers can spend less on their inputs. The Government needs to find other avenues of raising revenue if it is to afford to reduce tax. If it does not find those avenues, it will not be able to afford to reduce taxes.

Interruptions

Mr Mwenya indicated.

Mr Ntundu: Listen, iwe mufana!

You listen to my advice. Do you know what more money in people’s pockets means?

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Mr Ntundu: What does it mean? You just talk about it without even knowing what it means.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: If you do not do things according to my advice, you will never put money in people’s pockets. I can bet with you on that. How many days are remaining out of the ninety days in which you promised to effect a number of changes?

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Sir, the other advice that I want to give our colleagues is that the people of Zambia have given President Sata a mandate of five years which he should complete. Zambians are not interested in having another election soon. If our President thinks that there is a lot of money in the coffers, let him use it to work on the roads first. He should not use that money on fresh elections. The people of Zambia are not interested in that. After all, if you do that, you will not get the same number of votes …

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: … as you did in the recent election because you have already injured a lot of people, if you did not know.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Ask me what people are saying in the streets now. They are angry with you. Besides, today, your friend, The Post, wrote about some appointments by the President.

Mr Muteteka: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, firstly, let me apologise to the debater on the Floor, who is debating very well for interrupting him. This is my first point of order in this House. Is it in order for the Government to be waffling and disturbing the speakers on the Floor of this House instead of paying attention to what is being said? Is it in order for hon. Government Members to bring disorderly behaviour to this House? I need your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

My ruling is that as far as possible, everybody should ensure that the speaker on the Floor of the House is given an opportunity to be heard, ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: … and be heard as clearly as possible.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The very essense of our being here depends on the freedom we have to express ourselves.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The absence of this freedom makes our assembly literally meaningless.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Let us, therefore, give the speaker, who is on the Floor of this House, the maximum opportunity for him to express himself.

May the hon. Member continue, please? 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your protection. Before the point of order was raised, I was talking about a newspaper which is a friend of the PF.

Hon. Government Member interjected.

Mr Ntundu: What I want to talk about has come from your friend, so you should take it as gospel truth.

Mr Speaker: Order!

May the hon. Member on the Floor address the Chair.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, through you, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: … if what this paper says is true, then those on your right are gone.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, if it is true …

Hon. UPND Member: You have appointed corrupt people!

Mr Ntundu: … , then the PF is not fighting corruption.

Hon. Government Members: What is true?

Mr Ntundu: We have read from the newspaper of your friend. Did you not read the newspaper which I am talking about today?

Hon. Government Members: Tell us!

Mr Ntundu: We have read the newspaper of your good friend who has been supporting you for many years.

Hon. Opposition Members: Which newspaper?

Mr Ntundu: Of course, I am talking about The Post, a newspaper which is only a friend of you alone.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: I can even lay it on the Table of the House.

Mr Speaker, today’s headline in The Post newspaper says “Sata appoints Xavier as PS”.

Hon. Opposition Member: Shame!

Mr Ntundu: The whole story is on page 4. I can lay this newspaper on the Table.

Hon. Government Members: Lay it!

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, my debate is not going the way I wanted it to go today …

Laughter

Hon. UPND Member: It means you are very sad.

Mr Ntundu: … because I am a very sad man.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: I have been put off. I am mawuless.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

What does that mean?

Mr Ntundu: It means wordless, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: I am now beginning to think that the MMD was a better Government than the PF.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: I do not need a job from you for me to support you. I will support you wholeheartedly when you bring Bills on the Floor of this House which favour Zambians. In fact, I will be the first one to support you.

Hon. Government Member: You did not vote for the Speaker.

Mr Ntundu: It was a secret vote. How do you know?

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: After all, I am told that you did not vote for the Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member should not debate the election of the Speaker.  

Laughter

Mr Speaker: He is already in the Chair.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I need your protection. I was just stating that one hon. Member from the PF did not vote for you.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: The hon. Member of Parliament for Bahati.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: On the other hand, I, from the UPND, voted for you.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Finally, Mr Speaker, I would like to say that my colleagues from the PF are guaranteed of the support of the hon. Member of Parliament for Gwembe. I shall give them my support when they need it.

Mr Chisala: On what conditions?

Mr Ntundu: I have already stated that there are no conditions attached. I am not looking for a job. However, I will support you when you bring good Bills and Motions to the House such as the Constitution Amendment Bill which the President said was going to be brought to this House. If that Constitution will have everything the people of Zambia want, we will support it.
 
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: However, if it will lack what the people of Zambia want, we will shoot it down.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: In fact, you should not complain when you bring a bad Constitution to this House and we refuse to support it like to you did regarding the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) Bill.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Do not be surprised when we do that. As you bring the Constitution Amendment Bill, you should consult us so that we move on the same path.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to see the CDF increased to K10 billion.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, my PF colleagues seem to be ‘trodding’ on the same path as the MMD hon. Members were. 

Hon. Government Members: Treading!

Mr Ntundu: You are appointing cadres to foreign missions, and yet you cried foul whenever the MMD did the same thing.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: You are doing the same thing.

You are doing the same thing even when it comes to appointing Permanent Secretaries. Was Malupenga not your cadre?

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: He was your cadre whom you have rewarded.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Address the Chair.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, through you, I am advising my colleagues to ‘trod’ on a different path.

Hon. Government Members: Tread!

Mr Ntundu: ‘Trod’ on a different path …

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: … because if you do not, you will be on this side after the next elections and we will be that side. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: With those very few words, Sir, I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my maiden speech as well as to say a few things about the President’s Speech to this august House.

Mr Speaker, I wish to magnify God for his goodness and faithfulness to me, my family and friends. I believe that it is God who has elevated me to this honourable status of Member of Parliament in our great Republic of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I join my fellow hon. Members in congratulating you on your deserved victory. I also congratulate the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on their election to their respective offices.

I also wish to express my profound gratitude to the people of Kwacha Constituency, my campaign manager and spiritual adviser, Fr Frank Bwalya, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: … the chief of don’t kubeba, officials at all levels of my party, PF, and all churches for choosing me as their representative to this august House.

Mr Speaker, I wish to thank my wife, Annette Mutale, for being there for me before, during and after the elections. I also thank my children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and all my relatives for their support. Indeed, their support was not in vain.

Mr Speaker, my special thanks go to all my friends who sacrificed both materially and financially before and during the highly-heated elections in which I beat Joe Malanji, the …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: … MMD Task Force Chairperson for the Copperbelt. I emerged winner with a very big margin.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: Mr Speaker, I promise to represent all the people of my constituency adequately regardless of their political affiliation and other categorisations that tend to divide people.

Sir, allow me to take advantage of this opportunity to congratulate our Republican President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on his election.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: This electoral victory, which he deserved, had been long overdue. Going by the patience he has demonstrated to this nation, indeed, patience is a virtue.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: The President’s demonstration of patience serves as a lesson to all upcoming politicians on the need to have patience to excel in the political field. Indeed, to achieve just about anything, we need perseverance.

Mr Speaker, having lived in Kitwe all my life and worked for forty-four years for the mines, I have come to this august House with a wealth of experience.

Hon. Government Member: Abena Nkana!

Mr B. Mutale: My last position was that of sectional engineer at Mopani Copper Mines where I was in charge of water works and engineering services such as structural maintenance, railway transport and township maintenance. This was until I resigned recently after having won the election as hon. Member of Parliament.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr B. Mutale: Besides working, I also run private businesses involving engineering works, supply, civil construction, catering services and, in fact, I can feed people here, as well, …

Mr Muntanga: You can do what?

Mr B. Mutale: Catering services ...

Hon. Government Members: Hammer, hammer!

Mr B. Mutale: … farming and cleaning services.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: Sir, I joined the PF in 2001. At the time, it was not common to join an opposition party. I decided to join the PF because its vision can help me effectively contribute to the governance of our rich country that would result in providing a better life for our people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: Mr Speaker, my time will be dedicated to effectively representing the interests of the hardworking and modest people of Bulangililo, Ipusukilo, Riverside, Nkana East, Kwacha and Chantete, among other townships.

Sir, there has been no significant development in these areas, hence I want to briefly state some of the challenges affecting the communities.

Sir, let me begin by requesting the Executive to consider building a bridge across the Kafue River at Mufuchani, in Riverside. The governments before the PF - the UNIP and MMD, both paid lip service to the construction of the bridge despite experiencing a fatal disaster that resulted in the deaths of many people. May their souls rest in peace.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: In fact, the MMD used the construction of this bridge as its campaign song. I remember very well, three weeks before the elections, the former President, including Hon. George Kunda, SC., coming to Kwacha Constituency and camping there on several occasions. They came into Kwacha Constituency and flagged off the rehabilitation of the roads. Those roads just gave us coughs because of the dust they raised and there was no cough mixture in the hospitals.

Mr M. H. Malama: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: Sir, I am hopeful that this working Government will set the construction of a bridge that can give the area in Chantete easy access to the eastern side of my constituency as a priority, for purpose of decongestion and future developments.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mutale: Mr Speaker, forty-seven years after Independence, there are still no facilities to talk about on the eastern part of Kitwe, except for one mission school and orphanage run by the Faith Baptist Church. When this bridge is constructed, there will be various developmental activities in this area.

The construction of the Mufuchani Bridge is the only way the City of Kitwe will develop new infrastructure and properties. It will further improve the farming activities which are already taking place in this area.

The second issue is that of poor sanitation and water reticulation. Some people in Kwacha Constituency are still drawing water from wells and using pit latrines, forty-seven years after Independence. I wish to appeal to the Government to consider completing the sanitation works left by the MMD Government.

Sir, even the boreholes that are drilled in areas such as Riverside are not healthy because they are installed near septic tanks. This is a health hazard. It is unfortunate that the water and sewerage companies have failed to put up workable sanitation lines despite charging people exorbitant fees.

Mr Speaker, I am sad to note that despite the Nkana Water and Sewerage Company having gotten billions of kwacha from the Government and the African Bank, it has done nothing to increase the capacity of its water plant and machinery. This has resulted in people not getting the water they so much deserve when it goes without saying that water is life.

Sir, for example, in Ipusukilo, people do not receive water despite the water being pumped in their area. However, as a working Government, I am confident that the lives of these people will be improved as these challenges will be addressed by His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata’s administration.

It is gratifying to note that, in his Speech, the President mentioned the reintroduction of water sanitation and sewerage grants to utility companies to enable them maintain and upgrade water and sewerage infrastructure in the urban and peri-urban areas. Sir, this timely pronouncement by His Excellency will greatly benefit Kwacha Constituency and many other constituencies throughout Zambia.

Mr Speaker, we all know that the MMD Government used to allocate plots to people without providing the desired services that come along with plot allocation. However, I have no doubt that our Government will address these issues of water shortages and poor sanitation as a matter of urgency.

Sir, you may wish to know that Kwacha Constituency also houses the Copperbelt University (CBU). This institution of higher learning was given a blind eye by the MMD Government. Although a few hostels were built, students still have to share rooms. For example, four to six students share a room as well as beds. As if this were not enough, they also cook from the rooms and this makes them very uncomfortable.  Furthermore, even the ablution blocks are in a very deplorable state and need quick attention.

Mr Speaker, if we do not invest in these students, what is the future of this country? I am sure my working Government will address the concerns of the CBU students. This is in line with the President’s Speech on enhancing tertiary education and ensuring that graduates are able to compete favourably at the international level.

Sir, Kitwe, like many other towns on the Copperbelt, used to have afternoon cleaning and washing activities once a week. Shops would close in the afternoon for cleaning using fire hydrants. However, ever since UNIP left office, this business of cleaning towns in the afternoon stopped. I would like to suggest that we continue doing this to keep our surroundings clean.

Mr Speaker, several roads in my constituency are in a deplorable state due to lack of proper drainage systems. The previous Government used to unblock drainages and pile the dirt alongside the roads and when the rains came, the dirt went back into the drainages.

This has to change because that is not the way of doing things. The PF Government will embark on a programme of unblocking the drainages as well as ensuring that roads have proper reflective signs in order to reduce accidents.

Mr Speaker, I am proposing to my Government that a road be constructed between Nkana East and Ndeke Village to decongest the main road going into town from the Ndola direction.

Mr Speaker, I am happy that the President has made it clear that the so-called “Formula One Last Minute Road Project”, which the MMD Government started to work on in order to influence voters, but failed to complete, and other projects will be completed in a better way.

Mr Speaker, Kwacha Constituency used to be a spectacular place with street lights in place, social amenities such as play parks and grounds and sports halls, among other facilities and these kept youths away from mischievous behaviour. However, under the MMD Government, all these facilities were lost and community sports halls have been turned into beer halls.

I wish to suggest to my Government to revive these social amenities. I am also suggesting that we find ways of supporting sports in this country because we cannot get any medals where we have not invested.

Sir, in my quest to see a better Kwacha Constituency coupled with a greater city of Kitwe, I am proposing that many clinics start functioning on a twenty-four hour basis since, at the moment, they only operate during daytime, especially in places like Chipata, Mwaiseni, Ipusukilo, Kapoto and Kwacha compounds. We also need to upgrade these townships to standards where people live in comfort and appreciate what the Government is doing.

Mr Speaker, my constituency has the largest number of voters and their expectations are high. We might not meet all the immediate expectations, but we shall try and do our best through our PF action-oriented policies that are workable.

Mr Speaker, we shall deliver more money in the pockets of the people, but that does not mean handouts, but through hard work. For example, the price of fuel has come down and this will translate into a huge saving for the people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr B. Mutale: Mr Speaker, this will reduce prices of goods and so there will be more money in the pockets of people. In this regard, my constituency will benefit from the intentions expressed in the President’s Speech regarding manufacturing. In this sector, the President, in his speech, seeks to rejuvenate the manufacturing sector through the promotion of public-private partnerships (PPPs). The President considers this sector an important one for employment creation for people. Commerce, trade and industry is at the centre of economic growth and development and, therefore, I welcome the President’s call to strategise in order to create jobs and wealth for our people.

Mr Speaker, why should our people continue to live in abject poverty, and yet Zambia is blessed with a lot of natural resources which we should all benefit from? The President, in his Address, clearly stated that foreign direct investment (FDI) is welcome, but it must be understood that the most sustainable and lasting investment must come from the Zambian citizens.

Mr Speaker, unemployment levels among our people have greatly affected development. This is why I praise the President’s Speech on offering employment opportunities for our people, especially the many young men and women.                                                                                                                                                          The Government shall concentrate its efforts on skills training and create self-employment opportunities, especially for the youth of our country.

Mr Speaker, the youth of any country in the world are the future leaders. It is for this simple reason that I strongly agree with the President’s Speech on youth empowerment. For twenty years, the MMD Government failed to address this effectively. Many of our young people have poor education, lack formal skills and, consequently, remain without jobs which can enable them earn a living, and hence contribute to national development. In this vein, my Government will enhance the capacity of the ZNS to provide skills training to many of our youth through the various ZNS camps across the country.

Mr Speaker, for us to succeed as a nation, we must work hard by putting our efforts together in order to achieve the intended goals. I am a messenger to this House representing the people of Kwacha Constituency and I am hopeful that my working Government will do everything possible to address the development concerns in order to improve the lives of my people and the Zambians in general.

Mr Speaker, may God bless the Republic of Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Mwaliteta): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to stand before this august House to deliver my maiden speech.

Mr Speaker, allow me to join the nation in congratulating His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on winning this year’s Presidential Elections with a landslide victory. The President deserves support from all hon. Members of Parliament, especially our colleagues who have moved from the right to the left side of this august House in this First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Speaker, I must state that the people of Zambia made a choice to vote out the MMD and vote in a new leadership. The people of Zambia have, once more, demonstrated their desire to move out of the various difficulties they have been facing, especially poverty and diseases.

Mr Speaker, may I convey a message of congratulations and best wishes on your ascendancy to that distinguished position of Hon. Speaker, especially on behalf of the people of Kafue and, indeed, on my behalf.  The people of Kafue and I wish you God’s guidance as you superintend over the deliberations of this august House. I also wish to congratulate the hon. Deputy Speaker and the hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House. I also wish to thank the President of the Republic of Zambia for appointing me as hon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Speaker, in the same vein, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate His Honour the Vice-President, hon. Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers on their appointment to such distinguished positions to serve the Zambian people irrespective of their political inclinations. The task ahead of us may seem difficult for our colleagues on the left but, as the PF Government, we shall take this country out of the doldrums of poverty.

Mr Speaker, allow me to convey special thanks to the people of Kafue for having elected me as their hon. Member of Parliament. I shall ensure that I do my best to contribute to the process of improving their lives. I am equally highly indebted to my two mothers in my constituency, in particular Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II and Chieftainess Chiawa, for the prayers and support they gave during the campaign period. My special gratitude goes to my family for its unwavering support during the campaign period and, of course, to all the PF structures in Kafue.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Kafue Constituency, I am glad that we now have a leadership that is committed and action-oriented. The people of Kafue have renewed hope in the leadership of his Excellency the President,  Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, that employment opportunities will be created, retirees will be paid their dues while the road infrastructure, such as the Chiawa Bridge, as well as water and sanitation system, will be improved. The people are confident that more schools as well as health facilities will be taken closer to where they are.

Mr Speaker, I am optimistic that where our colleagues failed is where an opportunity exists for us to succeed and make a mark and a major turn around in improving the lives of our people irrespective of their political affiliation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Speaker, the people of Kafue deserve a constant flow of quality water just as they need a health care system that will thwart the high prevalence of malaria and other preventable diseases. The people of Kafue are confident that the Government will work to bring such services close to the people and ensure that there are enough drugs and medical personnel in all the health centres.

Mr Speaker, allow me to mention that as area hon. Member of Parliament, I am aware of the land disputes that became rampant in my constituency before I assumed office. I, therefore, wish to assure the people of Kafue that the PF Government will embrace and promote transparency and anti-corruption tenets in land allocation and ensure that the rightful people acquire land.

Mr Speaker, may I now contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of this House, that is the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address delivered to this House on 14th October, 2011. The Speech set out economic, social as well as governance policies that will see the poor people of Zambia live a better life in an economy that promotes equity and justice.
Mr Speaker, it is regrettable that some of our colleagues feel threatened and harassed when we talk against corruption.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: All those with dirty hands should know that the long arm of the law will visit them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Bwekeshapo!

Mr Mwaliteta: The innocent will be protected by the law. I wish to remind all my colleagues on your left that we have not forgotten how public affairs were mismanaged and resources abused. We all remember that our mothers were subjected to carrying buckets to the hospital whenever they were due to have a baby. We all remember because we were there when these things were happening.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Ema hon. Members of Parliament aya.

Mr Mwaliteta: We all remember that our hospitals had no drugs and each time a Zambian citizen went to the hospital, whether because of a toothache, malaria or swollen legs, he/she was just given Panadol. This was all because of mismanagement of public resources.

Mr Speaker, those talking about being harassed should not forget that one of the Opposition leaders was threatened with physical harassment prior to the general elections and the immediate past Government did nothing about it. All it did was justify and protect the perpetrators of these threats. We all remember this.

Mr Speaker, I want to assure all Zambians, especially my colleagues on your left, that the fight against corruption being instituted by the new Government is not meant to fight political opponents or target certain individuals. The anti-corruption crusade is aimed at cleaning up the system of governance in order to ensure that all Zambians have equal chances of accessing national resources to achieve broad-based human development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Those who are clean and innocent have no reason to run, but the guilty ones are always afraid.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: It is unfortunate that our colleagues expect us to protect them and cover their wrong deeds in the name of them having occupied high offices in the country. We want the people of Zambia to know that we are here to ensure that their resources are well protected and will be utilised in the most efficient manner for their benefit.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Ulelanda bwino.

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, has made it clear that the PF Government will fight corruption by allowing the law to take its course. The people of Zambia are assured that the PF Government will not use any security agency to victimise or harass them. All security agencies will operate without interference and with optimal professionalism. Therefore, I urge all the hon. Members of this House to support the President in his fight against corruption and ensure that the people of Zambia are given the much-needed development.

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Fighting corruption is top on the agenda of our ministry and I want to endorse the political will shown by the President to fight corruption which should be supported by all well-meaning Zambians.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: With regard to the issue of police posts razed by my colleagues on your left, my ministry will soon put in place an infrastructure development plan that will address the challenges of inadequate and dilapidated infrastructure countrywide over the next few years. Hon. Members of this House are also encouraged to invite the private sector to partner with the Government in putting up police posts in their respective constituencies. The ministry will, however, not allow substandard structures such as containers as police posts.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to express my gratitude to the people of Kafue for the confidence and trust in me. I assure them that I shall work extra hard to ensure that I assist my President, His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, to deliver on all our promises to the Zambian people. The people of Kafue changed the Government because they wanted to change their lives.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

The Deputy Minister for North-Western Province (Ms Limata): Mr Speaker, I am delighted and humbled by the opportunity to debate the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Speech to the First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. This is the first official opening of Parliament speech under the PF Government. Allow me to congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your deserved election to this position in the House. Let me also congratulate the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on their election to these important positions.

I also wish to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on his election victory as the President of this great nation, Zambia. I also wish to thank His Excellency the President for appointing me as hon. Minister for North-Western Province, which is the new Copperbelt of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Limata: The task before me, as hon. Minister of this province, in contributing to its development and that of our great nation at large, is enormous.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank the former Republican President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, and the MMD for their support and for adopting me to stand on the party ticket.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. UPND Members: You  will regret.

Ms Limata: I will never regret.

Laughter

Ms Limata: I will be failing in my duties if I do not recognise the contribution of the churches within and outside Luampa Constituency for supporting and praying for me. To all the churches, I say thank you very much.

Sir, I also wish to thank the members of my family for their support, prayers and encouragement during the trying period of campaigns. Let me also express my profound gratitude to the people of Luampa for electing me as their hon. Member of Parliament for the second time. It is not easy to come here for the second time.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Limata: I am honoured and humbled for the confidence they have shown in me. I wish to thank the people of North-Western Province, heads of departments of various organisations and political parties for accepting me to work with them in the province. I have received overwhelming support from all over the North-Western Province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Limata: Mr Speaker, poor planning limits economic opportunities for our people and therefore, poses a major barrier to the achievement of meaningful national development. Therefore, I wish to thank the President of this country for not forgetting the province on the development agenda.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Ms Limata: The roads that need to be worked on in the province are as follows:

(i) Kalulushi/Kasempa, Mumbwa/Kasempa and Kasempa/Kaoma; and

(ii) the Kaoma/Lukulu/Zambezi and also the road that links Kabompo to Mwinilunga District.

In addition to the roads I have mentioned above, I wish to ask the President to consider adding the Kaoma/Luampa/Machile Road which will link North-Western and Western provinces to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia respectively.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Limata: It will be a shortcut.

Mr Speaker, once again, I would like to thank the people of Zambia for conducting peaceful elections and giving the PF the mandate to transform Zambia into a viable economy which will give dignity to our people socio-economically.

Mr Kambwili: Nabalanda bwino ba mayo.

Ms Limata: Mr Speaker, once more, I thank the people of Luampa for the confidence and trust they have in me by electing me as their hon. Member of Parliament.

May the Good Lord bless you all and bless the people of Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on your election as Speaker of this august House. Your success is testimony of the trust the House has in you. We have the hope that you will conduct the business of the House without fear or favour. Allow me also to congratulate the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on their election.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this rare chance to stand here and address this august House. First and foremost, I wish to thank the UPND and its president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, for adopting me as its candidate for Nangoma Constituency. I also pay tribute to the people of Nangoma for re-electing me as their hon. Member of Parliament. By so doing, the residents of Nangoma have made me their servant and I stand ready to be of their service by effectively representing them through this august House.

UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: By giving me their vote again, the people of Nangoma clearly demonstrated the confidence and trust they have in me and the nation as a whole.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, I will always be duty bound to serve them. I intend to visit my area as frequently as possible to monitor projects which I will come up with together with my constituents.

Interruptions

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, poverty in Nangoma Constituency ranges from having not enough food to eat, not having access to medical facilities to many other forms of human deprivation. My task in the next five years will be to play the role of commander in the fight against poverty. It will not be an easy fight, but it will be won at any cost.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: For this fight to be won, however, one thing is crucial, and that is I will need to spend more time with the people of Nangoma.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, my people, just like other Zambians, are in a hurry to develop and raise their standard of living. The people of Nangoma have re-elected me because I am an action-oriented man and so that we can initiate developmental projects to empower women and youths.

Mr Hamududu: Give them more oxen.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, with regard to health, I wish to take this opportunity to state that a healthy population is a productive population and, therefore, key to national development. In this case, if we are going to promote economic growth in this country, we must have a healthy workforce. This means that the Government should formulate the national budget in such a manner that more resources are committed towards improving health services and infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, the Government should not only build new hospitals and clinics, but also improve the supply of drugs and ensure that both hospitals and clinics have adequate and appropriate personnel. The HIV/AIDS is claiming many lives of our people everyday.

Mr Speaker, there is a lot of potential for tourism development in this country. Tourism can create employment for the locals, boost development and, indeed, encourage other development activities. I call upon the Government, through the appropriate ministries, to look at the potential of the game park in Nangoma Constituency. In Nangoma Constituency, we have the Blue Lagoon National Park which has great potential for exploitation. I would also like the new Government to work on the Nampundwe/Mumbwa Road which passes through the Blue Lagoon National Park. The road is in a very bad state. The President never mentioned any road to be worked on in the Central Province. I want to know why.

Mr Hamududu: Businessman, hammer!

Laughter

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, it is worth noting that Nangoma, just like many other rural constituencies, depends on agriculture as its economic mainstay. It is both a source of food and money. In short, it provides employment to almost all men and women in the area. There is a need to strongly support this sector in my constituency. Therefore, there will be a need to emphasise this to my constituency officials.

Mr Speaker, as hon. Member of Parliament for Nangoma, I would like to see an improved crop marketing structure. We need to improve this aspect with the new Government as they are promising to change things in ninety days.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: Though it is not easy. I think they still have time to go to the media, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), since they are now friends, and their baby, The Post, and tell the nation that with regard to the promises of more money in their pockets and the Barotse Agreement, nothing will happen.

Interruptions

Mr Hamusonde: So, it is better to tell the nation that it was just a campaign strategy.

Hon. Government Members: Who?

Mr Hamusonde: You have to tell them that it was just a campaign strategy.

Hon. Government Members: To tell who?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Hamusonde: Otherwise, they should not forget that the twenty-two rebels who left the PF had time to go to their leader and apologise, but they never apologised. Time is still there for you to go to the ZNBC to tell the nation that it was just a campaign strategy. There are only four years and some months to go. Otherwise,  ...

Hon. Government Members: Aah! Iwe!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: … sixty Members of Parliament will not come back.

Interruptions

Mr Hamududu: Hear, hear! You are right.

Laughter

Mr Hamusonde: They will not come back.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, as hon. Member of Parliament, I would also like to see an improvement in the crop marketing structure as I said.

Mr Speaker, the President, in his speech, talked about prioritising livestock restocking and making dipping, vaccination and treatment of diseases of all cattle compulsory. The idea is welcome and this should happen as soon as possible. However, the Government should do it using Government resources because small-scale farmers want to dip their animals, but there is a problem of funds.

Mr Hamududu: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, the Government should do this like it is done in Botswana, where the whole process is taken care of by the Government.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, as we are all aware, clean water for drinking is essential for healthy living. I wish to see enough boreholes sunk in Nangoma and dams constructed. These matters need to be attended to in rural areas. People there have a right to clean water as much as those in the urban areas.

Mr Speaker, my appeal to the PF Government is to extend their programme of clear water supply to every part of this country, especially Nangoma, because I know very well that we do not have enough boreholes there.

Mr Speaker, on education, I wish to say that this is a basic human right. It is against this background that I appeal to the PF Government to continue building schools. There is a need for more schools to be constructed in rural areas, and to send more trained teachers to many rural constituencies to improve literacy and encourage those who still have the will to continue with their education.

Mr Speaker, we do not have a high school in Nangoma Constituency and the only nearest high school is Sanje School near Mumbwa. Kasale School should be upgraded to a high school.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili interjected.

Mr Muntanga: You have just arrived, iwe!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, on road, transport and communication, the Nampundwe Road via Blue Lagoon needs immediate attention in certain areas. We would like to see something done about that road. This road leads to a tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon National Park. If this road is worked on, it will attract many activities and, in turn, bring development. Therefore, on behalf of the people of Nangoma, I wish to make an earnest appeal to the Government of the day to develop the area that has great potential by improving the roads.

Mr Speaker, with these words, I thank you.

Mr Muntanga: Hear, hear!

Mr W. Banda (Milanzi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to make my maiden speech in this august House.

Mr Speaker, let me join my colleagues in congratulating you, the hon. Deputy Speaker and hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on your election.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr W. Banda: May I also congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on his election as Zambia’s Fifth President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Many thanks go to the former President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, for handing over power in a dignified manner.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr W. Banda: To all hon. Members of Parliament, I say congratulations on your election.

Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to give a word of advice to my fellow new hon. Members of Parliament that, whilst you are in this House, please, be patient and learn from old hon. Members of Parliament as they debate. Listen to the hon. Mr Speaker and never pretend that you know everything regardless of whichever department or Government institution you came from. This is Parliament. I give this advice, especially to the young hon. Members like myself. To the Executive, I say, please, be accommodative and do not feel shy to consult the experienced hon. Members of Parliament from this side on the running of Government affairs. This should be done for the betterment of our nation.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr W. Banda: To some hon. Ministers, please, do away with that mentality of thinking that you are still this side of this House and show us that you are governing.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr W. Banda: To our UPND colleagues, you are senior in the Opposition, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr W. Banda: … and hence we are looking forward to learning from you.

Mr Muntanga: We shall deliver.

Mr W. Banda: Mr Speaker, I am representing Milanzi Constituency in Katete District of the Eastern Province. Just like some of the constituencies of the country, Milanzi is among the least developed constituencies. There has been some improvement in many areas although more still has to be done in the areas of health, education, agriculture, roads infrastructure, water and sanitation.

Mr Speaker, I am happy that the office of the District Commissioner is going to be maintained by the new Government because it is through this office that we share the problems our constituencies are facing.

Mr Speaker, on the President’s Speech, I am happy that the construction of the Katete/Chadiza Road was mentioned. This is a welcome development and the people are looking forward to this.

With regard to the CDF, I feel that K5 billion would be adequate for each constituency.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr W. Banda: In conclusion, may I thank the people of Milanzi for giving me a vote.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Taundi (Mangango): Mr Speaker, ..

Hon. Opposition Members: Bulela bautwe!

Mr Taundi: … I thank you for affording me this opportunity to present my Maiden speech in this august House. The elections were tough, but God made me ‘victirious’ …

Laughter

Mr Taundi: … I wish to sincerely show gratitude to the great people of Mangango Constituency for the clear mandate given to me.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Taundi: To my family, I say thank you very much. Indeed, without you, my victory is meaningless.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer!

Mr Taundi: Mr Speaker, allow me to join the entire nation in congratulating the Republican President, His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on his deserved election. It has not come as a mistake as God knew about it even before. I wish to thank our party President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, for that historic peaceful handover of power to the PF …

Mr V. Mwale: Twalibapela bayonaiwile beka!

Mr Taundi: … as others pay the price for that. It shows that our young democracy is maturing. At this point in time, allow me to thank the able party structures in the MMD that were involved in the adoption process. They gave the people of Mangango Constituency their choice, going by the way they voted.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Taundi: I also wish to show gratitude to my campaign manager, Mr Kenny Ndumba, Constituency Chairman, Mr Ben Liwoyo, Rosemary Makalicha, Doreen Yuvwenu, Lawrence Lumai, David Nchengu and many others. To them, I say job well done.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Taundi: Mr Speaker, let me convey my profound gratitude to Chief Mutondo and the sub-chiefs in Mangango Constituency for allowing me to go round talking to people.

Mr Speaker, I wish to congratulate you on being elected Speaker of the House. My congratulatory messages also go to the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on their election to their positions. I also wish to congratulate my fellow hon. Members of Parliament, both new and old, on their deserved victories …

Mr Chitotela: You are Angolan!

Mr Taundi: I am a Zambian.

Mr Speaker, it was not easy for us all. Mangango Constituency is big. It has seven big wards and stretches from Kanjimba to Kaba Hill, and shares boundaries with Luena, Lukulu East, Luampa and Kaoma constituencies and the main occupation in this constituency is farming.

Mr Speaker, Mangango Constituency, like any other rural constituency, faces many challenges, especially in the areas of agriculture, education, water and sanitation, health, communication, energy, youth infrastructure and others.

Mr Speaker, most people in Mangango are farmers dealing in livestock and crops such as maize …

Interruptions

Mr Taundi: I said the farmers deal in livestock ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer!

Mr Taundi: ... cassava, groundnuts and rice being the major ones. They contribute to national food security. However, most of their labour does not pay as diseases affect their produce, there is a lack of ready markets, storage facilities and veterinary and agricultural extension officers, in addition to the poor road network. All these impact negatively on the people’s farming activities.
In fact, the famous Mongu rice comes from this constituency. There are areas such as Winda, Luambuwa, Kafwasonyi, Kalwalo and Kasabi where people grow rice but, sadly, are not connected to any road. The rice produced ends in the hands of scrupulous buyers who pay them very little and sometimes even robe them of their produce, thereby inflicting more misery on the farmers. The talk of poverty reduction shall be meaningless if feeder roads in rural areas are not constructed. In short, the people of Mangango need feeder roads, more veterinary centres and staff, dams, dipping facilities, agriculture extension officers, additional satellite depots, storage sheds and increased packs of fertiliser from 4 x 50  kg to 8 x 50 kg.

Mr Speaker, the Kaoma/Lukulu/Zambezi Road passes through my constituency. I am glad that, in his speech, the President promised to construct this road. This road is of high economic value as it links the three districts to the rest of the country. Therefore, I urge the PF Government to urgently upgrade it to bitumen standard.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Taundi: The House may wish to know that the stones that are used to build roads in the Western Province come from Mangango. Unfortunately, only pits have been left which people fall into when they are full of water during the rainy season. In fact, there is no road that leads to the quarry. Therefore, it should be put on record that Lukulu Road should be worked on because it is very important to the development of the people in the area. The people of Mangango are not happy that their stones are being used in the construction of various projects in the Western Province. The Mongu/Kalabo, Mongu/Senanga roads have also been constructed using stones from Mangango. However, it is very sad, indeed, to note that the people in this area have not benefited anything from this. Other roads that are required to be upgraded to gravel standard are Chilombo/Kayimba, Chilombo/Nyango, Mangango/Nyango, Kafwasonyi/Winda Mayukwayukwa/Luambuwa, Mayukwayukwa/Kafwasonyi and Kalwalo/Kalumbilo.

Interruptions

Mr Taundi: This is Zambia. The old Mongu Road passing through Namalazi, Mulundu and Ndondo, if graveled, can be useful to the farming communities along this road. Bridges are required because there are many streams which become flooded, making it difficult for school-going children to cross on a daily basis, especially in the rainy season. The larger part of the constituency has no mobile network. People walk long distances to deliver messages and some areas are prone to crime. I hope the able PF Government is going to deliver in this area.

Allow me, Mr Speaker, to inform this House that there are few schools in this constituency. There is only one high school and the other one is still being constructed. The one which is nearer is a day school. However, we need a boarding school and a few basic schools. This is a challenge as it is not compatible with the growing population. Therefore, there is a need for more schools, classrooms, teachers, teaching materials and laboratories.

The whole constituency has only one mission hospital which is also understaffed. There is a need to improve staffing, provide good linen and expand this institution. There is only one doctor. There are a few clinics which are understaffed and, in most cases, are run by a few unqualified personnel.

The other major cry of the people is energy. Institutions such as hospitals, high schools, the ZNS camp and open prison cannot maximise their full potential due to lack of electricity. The main grid is less than 80 km on average from these institutions. The provision of electricity to this constituency through the Rural Electrification Programme can change everything for the better because those dealing in timber can install their machines and improve methods of farming such as irrigation, in case of the ZNS and the open prison. This can be done because there are rivers that are very close to this area. Once this is done, there will be job creation and there will be more money in people’s pockets. Power is very important to Mangango.

Mr Speaker, allow me to talk about water and sanitation. The constituency needs boreholes because people are tired of sharing water with domestic animals. Women and children walk distances to fetch the unsafe water. Most schools and other institutions do not have enough toilets, thereby posing the danger of communicable diseases such as cholera. This can be avoided through Government intervention.

On the issue of delivery of justice, I wish to say that this is essential. In Mangango, people still sit under trees to hear court cases. There is a need to construct some local courts in areas such as Mangango, Kafwasonyi, Kasabi, Mwanambuyu, Mushwala and Namimbwe.

Sir, on the CDF, I would like to suggest that it be raised to K5 billion.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Taundi: In the spirit of decentralisation and transparency, this money should be channelled straight to the constituency offices and allocated to the approved projects by the area development committees. Once this is done, meaningful development in constituencies will be enhanced.

Finally, once again, I wish to thank the people of Mangango and the nation at large for the chance given to me to be a representative of the people in Parliament. Indeed, I shall endeavour to be the conduit of development between the people and the Government.

 May God bless you all.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali (Bangweulu): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my maiden speech to the House.

Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Bangweulu, to join the legion of hon. Members of Parliament who have congratulated our President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on his election as Republican President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, let me take this opportunity to also congratulate you, your deputy and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committees of the Whole House on your election to your respective important positions to this august House.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: While I may hesitate to vouch for the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committees of the Whole House, I do not harbour any iota of doubt over your ability to deliver what is expected of you. Your performance, so far, attests to this.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, your performance, so far, has clearly vindicated the PF which supported your candidature. It has, at the same time, brought shame on the retrogressive forces that wanted to derail our programme of the de-politicising institutions of governance.

Interruptions

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, I will be failing in my duties if I did not thank the following individuals and organisations that gave me invaluable material and moral …

Hon. Members: Order!

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member for Bangweulu in order to allege that people who participate in voting in this House are retrogressive when it is actually a democratic right and a duty for Members to perform in an institution of democracy? 

Mr Speaker: Order!

I think I have stated before that, as far as possible, the Chair should not be brought into the debate.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Secondly, I also recognise that every hon. Member seated here has a right to vote for a candidate or an issue, for that matter, of their choice. I do not think it is appropriate to disparage any manner of voting.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Member: Long live the Chair!

Hon. Government Member: But, mulevota bwino.

Mr Matafwali: … support during the period before and after the elections. This includes my dear wife, Anna Chisenga Matafwali who, unfortunately, hails from Muchinga Constituency; my children, Vincent, Chabu, Bwale and Ngosa; my sisters, Ketz, Lizzy, Deophine and Cholwe; my brothers, Dr Bright Chunga and Mr Daniel Luswili  and my dear great friends, Gilbert Nyirenda, Mabvuto Nyirenda, Osbert Nyirenda, Denis Chiwele and Julian Nyemba. I should also acknowledge the assistance rendered to me by the following party stalwarts: the party President, His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, members of the Central Committee, especially Mr Samuel Mukupa, Dr Ngosa Simbyakula and Hon. Davis Mwila.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: I also thank the Luapula Province, Samfya District and Bangweulu Constituency executive committees, Dr Chileshe Mulenga, and all members of the research team of the PF. Above all, I should extend a lot of gratitude to the wonderful people of Bangweulu for giving me a whooping 16,884 against the 3,000 plus votes for my closest rival.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. H. Malama: Ebaume aba!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, I should also extend my gratitude for the contributions made under very difficult circumstances by the past hon. Members of Parliament in my constituency. These are my late father, Mr Scott Matafwali, Bishop Dan Pule and, of course, the one and only, Joseph Chambula Kasongo, whose stay of twenty-seven years in this House compares with few, if any, in the History of the Zambian Parliament.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, Bangweulu Constituency, which was originally called Samfya Central Constituency, is located at the centre of Samfya District in Luapula Province. Lying on the shores of the beautiful Lake Bangweulu, with its beautiful sand beaches, my constituency provides sanctuary to the famous and tasty imbowa fish. The constituency is surrounded by, and is a neighbour to Chifunabuli, Luapula, Milenge, Mansa and Bahati constituencies.

 Mr Speaker, the beautiful sand beaches and historical sites such as the famous ichimuti baluba, which is a tree with more than ten types of leaves on it is a tourist attraction.

Mr Speaker, the people of Bangweulu Constituency, and Luapula Province in general, are crying over the neglect and marginalisation that the region has suffered for twenty years at the hands of the MMD Government. I speak with anguish and agony and my heart bleeds on recollecting that our forefathers struggled to obtain political Independence from our colonial masters with the hope that they would secure the country’s future.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Although the UNIP Government started off very well in its quest to improve the living standards of our people, the advent of the MMD Government in 1991 came with a number of challenges in several sectors such as fishing. Bangweulu Constituency, as a predominantly fishing area, is not immune to the various challenges experienced by most constituencies as outlined by my fellow hon. Members who have spoken before me.

Hon. Government Member: Nchelenge!

Mr Matafwali: In Lake Bangweulu, just like in other natural water bodies, the fish stocks are depleted. It is surprising to note that in their twenty years of misrule of this great nation, the MMD never made any deliberate effort to reverse this situation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: On the other hand, in a typical Animal Farm fashion, when cattle stocks were decimated in certain regions as a result of such diseases as denkete, the Government was swift to implement interventions such as cattle restocking.

Mr Speaker, it is, therefore, gratifying to note that the PF Government of His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata is cognisant of the predicament of areas such as Bangweulu. In his speech, at the Official Opening of this august House, he stated that:

“My Government notes, with great concern, the rapid depletion of fish stocks and species in our rivers and lakes, which deprives many of our local people of a source of livelihood. To reverse this trend, the Government will strengthen the institutional framework and streamline the management of fish resources.”

Mr Speaker, agriculture is the second largest economic activity in my constituency. However, just as the earlier speakers indicated, farmers face an array of challenges ranging from poor input distribution to poor storage and marketing arrangements. It is my hope, however, that the sector will undergo surgery so that it is responsive to the ever-changing industrial dynamics.

Mr Kaluba: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, the road network in my constituency is in a deplorable condition and needs to be attended to immediately.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, though the previous Government made a feeble attempt to rectify the situation, the work done was of low quality as the contracts were awarded to inexperienced MMD cadres …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: … who included an hon. Deputy Minister in the previous Government.

Hon. Government Member: Balebuta!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, allow me to reassure the people of Bangweulu that all the culprits will soon be held accountable for their actions.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Sir, the Education Sector is faced with many challenges in my constituency, characterised by the lack of adequate school equipment and teaching aids, teachers, teachers’ houses, and lack of requisites in general. The teachers are demoralised and school infrastructure is dilapidated.
Mr Speaker, the Health Sector, like in many constituencies, is also faced with numerous challenges such as lack of health centres and inadequate health personnel, medicines and equipment.

Sir, the absence of power supply in Bangweulu as well as most of Luapula Province poses a major challenge in the development of this area. While I am aware of the long-term measures that are being proposed to rectify this problem, the people of Luapula are hopeful that other measures will be implemented soon to mitigate this problem.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, the list of challenges in this sector is endless. It is against this background that the people of Bangweulu are no longer living in despair since the 20th September victory has given them a big ray of hope for a better Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, our colleagues in the MMD may argue that we should carry on with the job of delivering development to the people of Zambia without reference to the past. However, it is important for them to realise that, for any development process to be meaningful, it must be put in its proper historical perspective.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: People should know where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going.

Mr Speaker, our friends must realise that the reason we are always pointing at past mistakes is that we do not want them repeated if, by some miracle, they bounce back in power. If anything, we totally sympathise with them. I would like them to put their act together because, if they are not careful, they will fade away from the political landscape faster than UNIP.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, the people of Bangweulu, like other Zambians, are looking for accelerated development. However, they are cognisant of the various competing needs and challenges our new Government is faced with.

Mr Speaker, the slow growth in the world economy and the financial woes our co-operating partners are faced with make me propose that the CDF should be increased by 200 per cent only in the coming year. The bottom line is that we should learn to live within our means.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Matafwali: Any demands beyond this percentage will be unrealistic and will be considered a political hallucination.

Interruptions

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, I like being very objective. As such, I always give credit where it is due. In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Hon. Catherine Namugala and the entire MMD NEC for giving me a very weak candidate to compete with.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, on the other hand, my tongue is tied on congratulating Mr Rupiah Banda on his so-called peaceful handover of the instruments of power. My understanding of the situation is that he did what was required of him.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: In any case, we are aware of the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres by some eminent people in our society that led to Mr Rupiah Banda conceding defeat.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! We know.

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to advise my fellow hon. Members of Parliament from the Opposition, especially the new ones, to desist from being used as vuvuzelas by individuals with narrow pocket agendas.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: We should always ensure that our views represent those of our constituents, rather than individuals who cannot see beyond their noses.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, may I now take this opportunity to make some observations on the Motion before the Floor of this House. After listening to various deliberations by hon. Members of this House, especially those from the Opposition, I am of the opinion that there is a need to undertake an orientation …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Matafwali: … to teach them the type of information they should expect from such documents like the Yellow Book, Budget, Party Manifestos and, indeed, the speech given the by President on the Official Opening of Parliament. This is because there has been a misplaced outcry by several hon. Members about some omissions from the Presidential Speech that, in my opinion, are subject matters of all the documents other than the President’s Speech.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech delivered to this House on the Official Opening of the First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly is an inspirational note that is all embracing in the sense that it is a response to all the fundamental and basic issues affecting the people of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, the Speech was very energising and will spur Zambians in all sectors of the economy and spread a new hope for a better Zambia regardless of one’s colour or ethnicity.

Mr Speaker, it must be acknowledged that, unlike some previous presidential speeches, whose content was more of political slogans and hollow promises, …

Laughter

Mr Matafwali: … President Sata’s Speech was more specific and had timelines attached to particular policy pronouncements. On Page 10, Paragraph 4, the President states:

“We shall, in this regard, develop homegrown social and economic development programmes and ensure that all set benchmarks in sector ministries are achieved within the prescribed timeframe.”

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, it is very important and gratifying to note that the President has recognised the need to review the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to establish whether it is achieving its intended purposes.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, it must be appreciated that this programme has gobbled a lot of national resources. It is only prudent that a cost-benefit analysis is undertaken so that a decision to warrant its continuation or cessation can be made.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, it is gratifying to note that the President has realised the fact that the development of human capital is an essential ingredient for the attainment of socio-economic transformation in the country.

Mr Speaker, the President’s call for a war against corruption needs the support of all well-meaning Zambians, regardless of their political affiliation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matafwali: Sir, it must be appreciated that when corruption thrives, development is affected negatively. Even if we were to be given K20 billion as CDF, when there is corruption in our midst, we would not achieve any meaningful development. Long live the President and the people of Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I want to thank you most sincerely for according me an opportunity to deliver my Maiden speech. I shall endeavour to be free of controversy and very brief in line with your guidance.

Mr Speaker, I would like begin by congratulating His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on his election to this very high office of President of this nation. Similarly, I also want to congratulate the presiding officers, starting with you, Mr Speaker and, of course, your staff for ascending to these very high offices. Let me also congratulate all the hon. Members of Parliament on having made it back and those who have made it to this House for the first time, including those who have been nominated to serve the Zambian people.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, I am a man of few words as you shall soon discover. I believe in the words of Mr Vernon Mwaanga who once said on the Floor of this House that a man must only stand to speak only when it is necessary to do so ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: … and not only to speak for the sake of speaking.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, I also want to thank the people of Lukulu East Constituency for the show of confidence in me. As you know, I was nominated in 2008 to this House. This is the first time that I am coming to this House as an elected hon. Member of Parliament. I really thank the people from my constituency and will not take their show of confidence in me for granted. I intend to carry on from where the previous hon. Member of Parliament left. I also pay special tribute to him as we have been ably guided that development is a process.

Mr Hamududu: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: Therefore, I would like to carry the baton from where he left it. I also want to pay special tribute to President Banda, the outgoing President, who nominated me and, therefore, catapulted me onto the political scene.

Mr Hamududu: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: Without him, there is no doubt that I would not have learnt the ropes in this House and, perhaps, I would not have come here as an hon. Member of Parliament. I thank the National Executive Committee members of the MMD and, indeed, all my colleagues, including those whom I interacted with who are on the other side today.

Mr Speaker, I have congratulated our colleagues because that is the essence of democracy. What appeared like a joke today is a reality. The PF is in Government. That is what democracy entails and we need to congratulate them as such. I personally wish them well and hope that they will continue from where we left and that they shall be able to perform even better than we did.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, we tried our best to stay in power but, of course, because we are democrats, having brought democracy, we respect the wishes of the people. They decided that, perhaps, it was time we went on the bench and we accepted like good sports men. That is why even President Banda handed over power peacefully. I think it is disrespectful to suggest that he did so because of other manoeuvres. I think that we should debate objectively on the Floor of this House.

Mr Speaker, since I said I would be very brief, I would now like to turn to matters affecting my constituency. Lukulu East is in the Western Province as, no doubt, all of you know. It is best described as remote and rural with a population of about 57,471 people as per the 2010 Census of Population. The constituency is vast with eighteen wards. The vast majority of the people there suffer high levels of poverty and have inadequate social services such as schools. Where these schools are available, they are far away from the people and most of them are still pole and mud.

Mr Speaker, I have a mammoth task to serve the people of Lukulu in changing their present circumstances. For example, they still continue to cry for the complete rehabilitation and upgrading of the Katunda/Lukulu/Watopa Road. My colleagues, the hon. Member for Mangango and the hon. Member for Lukulu West have also referred to this very important road. The people of Lukulu have cried for this road to be worked on for many years. Successive administrations, right from Independence, have not been able to attend to this road. Therefore, I would like to submit that if this road is upgraded, the circumstances of the people of Lukulu will change. As you know, infrastructure is key to development. Road infrastructure makes it easy for goods and services to be transported from one point to the other. Road infrastructure also makes it easy for people to access their markets and even makes it easy for investment to go to a particular place. Lukulu is still lagging behind in terms of development. It is still suffering chronic poverty because of the fact that the only outlet to this place is still what I would best describe as an earth road. Although it has been graveled before, it is still in bad shape.

Mr Speaker, I, however, do recognise that His Excellency President Michael Sata did mention in his Presidential Address that the Government intends to upgrade several roads and construct new ones. One of the roads which was mentioned is the famous Katunda/Lukulu Road. That was a pronouncement which we welcomed wholeheartedly as the people of Lukulu. We are looking forward to its implementation. We hope that five years down the line, the people of Lukulu will not again miss out on the benefits which this very important road can bring for them. Therefore, my colleagues and I from that region will continue to exert pressure on the Government, particularly on our colleagues from the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, to ensure that this pronouncement is turned into reality.

Mr Speaker, another important matter in Lukulu is the issue of deforestation. Those who have passed through Buseko Market and other places have seen the massive pieces of logs that continue to arrive everyday from the Western Province. Most of them come from Lukulu and parts of Mangango. The rate at which this timber is being harvested is slowly turning the place into a semi-arid place. There is a serious competition for this resource today since the world has a population of about 7 billion. If we do not do anything about the deforestation taking place in that area, our people in Lukulu will soon have to begin to face another problem of desertification. I am busy studying legislation related to our forests with a view to moving a Private Member’s Motion compelling this Government to put a moratorium on timber harvesting for at least five to ten years …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: … so as to allow more trees to be grown. Recently, some Chinese moved into our area. They are logging and ferrying these pieces of timber at an alarming rate. I want to call upon the hon. Minister responsible for looking after our forests to look into this matter before we begin to face others problems caused by deforestation.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: I am still studying the names of the ministries and the nomenclature associated with them. That is why I am not able to say which ministry, at the moment, should address my concern. 

Mr Speaker, the health of citizens is critical to national development. You cannot believe that the people of Lukulu have not seen a Government District Hospital since Independence. The only facility there was started by missionaries. This facility is now old and dilapidated. In fact, it is structured in a way that does not suit a hospital at all.

At the time of our departure from Government, we had started plans to build a district hospital. As you may be aware, there is a plan to build a district hospital in every part of the country. I know that this programme will continue because it is a good programme. I hope that Lukulu will not be left out of this programme. Some of our technocrats and I made a study and I am sure that some of the facts are available for the hon. Minister to look at so that he can see how the people of Lukulu can begin to benefit from the national cake and enjoy the fruits of their independence. They need to start enjoying the fruits of having the PF in power.

Mr Speaker, the people of Lukulu face several challenges, a few of which I have already highlighted. It is one of the few districts still using thermo power. Even at the time we were leaving, attempts were being made to try and connect the district to the national grid. I, therefore, call upon our colleagues in the Ministry of Lands, Energy and Water Development not to shelve this programme so our people can also enjoy the benefits of being a part of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, as I said, I do not wish to bore most of my colleagues with a long speech. I would like to make a few comments regarding the President’s Speech. First and foremost, I will restrict my very brief comments to the health sector which was ably debated by our Health Committee Chairperson of Parliament, Hon. Chituwo. I will, therefore, not dwell too much on it.

Before going into details, firstly, I would like to recognise, applaud and congratulate Dr Kasonde, Dr Chikusu and Professor Luo on being the latest three health professionals to join this Parliament.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: I want to welcome them. I know that certainly they bring a wealth of experience, especially Dr Kasonde and Dr Chikusu, who are in the Ministry of Health. In the true spirit of the Hippocratic Oath, I want to recognise them. The oath goes further to say that when you meet your teachers, you must recognise and even buy them a beer. I am sure they know what that means.

Laughter

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, that was just on a lighter note.

Mr Speaker, I do not wish to criticise, but give counsel. First of all, there was one important omission in the President’s Speech which was also mentioned by Hon. Garry Nkombo and this was the problem of HIV/AIDS. The President was completely silent on this matter. For me and my constituency, we would like to know whether we have begun to reduce our momentum in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will be waiting to hear from the hon. Minister Health when it is his time to come and make a policy statement to state the position of the Government on this matter.

Mr Speaker, I also noticed that His Excellency the President made mention of the problem which everyone is talking about and this is the issue of drugs. The hon. Member for Kafue even talked about it earlier today.

Obviously, we, in the health sector, know that when it comes to the health of citizens, what matters is not the amount of drugs we give them. I think that the most important thing is obviously to prevent diseases. I am glad that in the Ministry of Health, we now have a doctor and a pharmacist, Dr Chikusu. I also know that the two were once credited for setting up Medical Stores. I would like to submit that I hope that their vast experience will lead to us solving some of the problems associated with the supply of drugs to our medical facilities.

Mr Speaker, personally, I know that the country has enough stocks of drugs, even at the Medical Stores. Previously, the Hon. Minister and I, at the time, belaboured the point to our citizens that we have always had an adequate supply of drugs. The only difficulties we experienced were logistical in nature. Some of the shortages could have been as a result of being undersupplied because the information of supply was based on old consumption data.

Therefore, I would like to advise the hon. Minister and Dr Chikusu to revise and review the consumption patterns so that we are able to deal effectively with the problem of being undersupplied. It is not an issue of shortages, but undersupply because there are so many clinics that have been opened. Presently, we give one kit per clinic. This is not enough because, as you may know, the population has increased over the years. Thus, even if you are consistent in supplying these kits, you will find that they run out within a short time. It is, therefore, basically a problem of undersupply which I hope you can address.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk briefly about the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. I applaud the decision to raise the profile regarding maternal and child health. As you know, the millennium development goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 speak specifically about maternal and child health. My feeling, however, is that it should have been left within the Ministry of Health because the hon. Minister is a medical doctor, the hon. Deputy Minister is a health professional and the Permanent Secretary is also a medical doctor. I feel that we are creating another mini Ministry of Health at the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. This will lead to confusion and functional irrelevances. As Hon. Mutati said, it will lead to duplication.  We need clarity.

Mr Speaker, perhaps, we need more clarification from the Government regarding this issue. Maybe, we are speaking from a point where we have not yet been availed with the necessary information on how the two ministries will work. There is confusion. For instance, I would like to know whether it is the entire reproductive health unit of the Ministry of Health which is moving to the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health or is it just the maternal and child health one. We are confused and would like to know the full details. The sooner you come back to us with more information, the better we will be informed about what is going on. Otherwise, I feel that it is still possible to raise the profile regarding maternal and child health with an emphasis on us attaining MDGs 4 and 5 within the Ministry of Health by simply creating a department for it and increasing funding for its programmes.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalila: I, however, also recognise the fact that it is the prerogative of the Head of State to organise the ministries as he pleases. However, we should be on guard of the functional difficulties that arise when the changes are made. In fact, in the first one year, this ministry will have difficulties because it will spend most of its time realigning its programmes and transferring staff. For instance, I am not even sure under which ministry the Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital will fall. Will it be under the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health? Hon. Minister of Health, as you know, most of the health issues are inter-related and must be sorted out in an integrated manner. Therefore, we need you to respond to the issues which I have raised when it is your turn to talk on the Floor of this House.

Mr Speaker, lastly, I would like to comment on another matter that was left out in the President’s Speech,                                                      that is sports. Whether we like it or not, sports play an important role in the lives of Zambians. It creates a feel good factor amongst citizens. In fact, it is a tool that most of us politicians have used for social and political mobilisation. This House, for a very long time, has attached importance to this aspect of our lives to the extent that the Hon. Member of Parliament for Moomba even posed a question regarding it to the Vice-President. I, therefore, would like to know whether it is no longer an important issue now that the PF is in power. I hope that the hon. Minister of Labour, Youth and Sports will respond to my concern when it is his time to speak on the Floor of this House.

Dr Kalila: Well, he is not in the House, but I hope that he is listening wherever he is because the citizens would like to know. When we were in power, as a Government, we attached great importance to sport. We have left behind a show-piece stadium in Ndola and another one under construction here in Lusaka. This underscores the importance we attached to sport. I would like to believe that you will do the same.

Lastly, Mr Speaker, I would also like to join the many colleagues in advocating for the increase of the CDF to the tune of US$1 million or K5 billion.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity to deliver my Maiden speech and also to debate the Presidential Speech.

Sir, I wish to thank the Almighty God for our lives today. I also want to thank him for giving me a wonderful opportunity to work with all the four Presidents that Zambia has had. I had the time to work with the former President, Dr K. D. Kunda. I worked as his pilot for fourteen years of my thirty-year career in the Air Force. I had time to work with the former President, Dr F. T. J. Chiluba, as his Air Force Commander for six years. I also had time to work with the former President, Dr L. P. Mwanawasa, SC., for six years, first as his Minister of Home Affairs where I worked with Hon. Sakeni. Indeed, we did not go to that ministry to witch-hunt.

Laughter

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, I also worked as Minister of Foreign Affairs for a second time under President P. L. Mwanawasa, SC. In 2006, after the general elections, he reappointed me as Minister of Home Affairs.

Sir, I also worked with a wonderful man, the former President, Mr R. B. Banda. I was his Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services until this time. I also worked with His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, before he became President of the PF.

Hon. Government Members: Where?

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Many of you do not know this. Even though you are asking where and how, it is important to understand that I worked with him very closely when I was Air Force Commander. In my formative years as an air force officer, he played a role.

Mr Speaker, let me go ahead and congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on winning the elections this year and setting up the Government. I also wish to congratulate my colleagues on your right, the hon. Ministers, hon. Deputy Ministers and hon. Members of Parliament, on forming the Government. May God continue to guide you in what you are doing for the people of Zambia.

Sir, let me also congratulate the former President, Mr R. B. Banda, for handing over the reigns of power in a manner that has made Zambia to be looked at with pride.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, at this stage, allow me to render unreserved apologies to His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata for the many injurious words that I spoke against him …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order, order!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: … when I was Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services. The former Vice-President, Mr George Kunda, SC., clearly said that we spoke many injurious words to one another and it is necessary that I render an apology today.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Sir, I also want to render an apology to the wonderful son of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: … against whom I also said many injurious words. I apologise to him.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, all authority comes from God and it is necessary that we respect the authority he has given to us.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, let me, at this stage, also congratulate you on your election to the wonderful position of Hon. Speaker and I further extend my congratulations to Mrs Matibini and your family. You are playing a very big role in this country. Let me also congratulate the hon. Deputy Speaker and the hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on their election to their respective positions.

Mr Speaker, let me also congratulate my great party, the MMD, on winning fifty-five seats under very difficult conditions.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: I also wish to thank the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the wonderful work that they continue to do in this august House. Last year, in the last Session of Parliament, we ate bread everyday until it started coming out of our ears. Therefore, we thank the Clerk of the National Assembly for the very good menu in the restaurant now.

Mr Speaker, let me also congratulate and thank the immediate past Speaker, Hon. Amusaa Mwanamwambwa and Mrs Mwanamwambwa on the selfless way they gave themselves to the people of Zambia in their work not only in here, but also the nation at large. We pray to God that they shall continue to reap the benefits of what they did for this nation.

Sir, I wish to thank the people of Keembe for electing me for the third time as their hon. Member of Parliament to this august House. I also want to thank my campaign manager, the foot soldiers, councillors and polling agents.

I also wish to thank my beautiful wife, Jane, for being a wonderful campaigner for the youth and women. She is a wonderful lady from Itezhi-tezhi. Good people come from there.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, it is wonderful to be here and join all my colleagues in contributing to the development of our country, Zambia.

Sir, let me also thank all the Christians who prayed for peace in Zambia at the time of elections. That peace must be sustained and upheld. We ask them to continue praying and allow God to touch our leaders in this country so that we may continue to live in peace.

Sir, I also want to thank Cardinal Mazombwe who spoke wonderful reconciliatory words at St. Ignatius Catholic Church on Sunday. These words, which unite the country, were spirit filled and I would like to thank him and congratulate him on guiding the nation in which way it must go. It is necessary that this country reconciles very quickly, after elections, and gets on good footing to ensure development.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: The people of Keembe have asked me to congratulate President Michael Chilufya Sata on his election and they want to remind him that when he went to Keembe, there were many promises he made, including working on the Landless Corner Road. We believe that he is a man of action and he will fulfil the promises he made.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, let me now turn to the issue of the President’s Speech. Everybody from the left side of the House has spoken about the many lacunas in the President’s Speech and I agree with them. I also agree with those on your right who have said it was a good speech. Good speech it was but, indeed, it was lacking in certain areas. It is possible and common for any first-timer president to miss out a number of issues in an address, but he will improve as we go along.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: If you may recall, Mr Speaker, there was President Mwanawasa, SC. here and many of those on your right called him a cabbage, until his death. However, he ended up being one of the best Presidents Zambia has ever had.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Sir, the issue that was left out completely by the President is that of national security. National security is important because everything that was spoken about in this speech can be thrown into the dustbin if we do not have national security in the country. I, therefore, wish to address this issue.

Mr Speaker, when many people are fired from employment, it becomes a national security problem. For example, seventy-two District Commissioners were fired at one time and, indeed, we know that statistics say that every job in Zambia feeds ten people. Therefore, 720 people being affected in one instance provides a national security problem, …

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: … let alone when you look at the issue of twenty-six military officers being removed from the rank and file of the defence forces, it creates a security problem in the country.

I want to ask my colleagues on your right to understand that this is free advice which I do not need to be paid for. It becomes a security problem and no longer a labour issue when you have so many people out of employment. Many others are uncertain and this makes the economy go down because the unemployed cannot fully participate in the activities of their country. Therefore, I advise that we reconcile this country by doing away with the issue of firing people because these are our people.

Mr Speaker, the second point I would like to discuss is that of democracy. If the PF continues on the line it is going, democracy in Zambia is endangered.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, the endangering of democracy by the people on your right provides a matter for us to discuss here. Democracy allows for people to speak freely. The harassment of many hon. Members on this side of the House is in itself a danger to democracy. We cannot allow a situation where a former Vice-President can be hounded out of a Government house. You should be ashamed because this is being done by the PF cadres. There should be an apology given to him because he is the former Vice-President.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: He did nothing wrong, but everything good for the country. He cannot be hounded out of the house in that manner.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, the terrorisation of many of the hon. Members here in the hunt for corruption cannot work because there are new methods now of investigating corruption rather than going to their homes and breaking their locks. We cannot accept the creation of a police State in this modern Zambia. No, this should not happen. Harassment of political opponents is a thing of the past. For example, a hammer mill was collected from hon. Musokotwane’s house.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

The Government will have an opportunity to respond.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, many people have been harassed here and I would like to say that this is very unfortunate because this is not the Zambia that we want. We would like a democratic Zambia in which people are going to express themselves freely.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, democracy is being eroded by the people on your right. Unless they pay attention to this, we are going to be a laughing stock in the world because we would have lost an opportunity to develop democratically.

Mr Speaker, let me, in the few minutes that I have left, deal with one important issue. This is the issue of the seventy-one or so petitions that the PF has taken to the courts of law. This is a danger to democracy.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: There have been so many petitions because the PF Constitution that I have here clearly says that:

“The Judiciary …

Mr E. Lungu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Edgar Lungu: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Is the hon. Member in order to debate matters which are subjudice as they are in the courts of law?

Interruptions

Mr E. Lungu: All the petitions are in the courts of law and it is a known fact that we cannot debate issues that are in the courts of law. I seek your guidance.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Every participant in an election has the right to petition an election and, once that petition is filed before the courts of law, unfortunately, this House has no right to further debate the matter until it is appropriately disposed of. This is a right that candidates enjoy in an electoral process and so it is not inconsistent with democratic ethos.

Will the hon. Member continue.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, thank you for that guidance. In the PF Constitution, on page 4, Article 3, it clearly says:

 “All Government institutions are going to be under the PF”

This means that everybody in the Government should be a cadre.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: How then can all those petitioners be heard democratically and according to the rule of law if the courts are under the PF?

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, even the exercise for us to ensure that everybody partakes in the elections when all institutions of governance have been given to cadres poses a challenge. Today, we have many issues of corruption. For example, there is the issue where the Director of Public Prosecutions is being hounded out of office in order to bring in a PF cadre, Mr Mutembo Nchito.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, this is not in order. Every Zambian should be allowed to work according to his/her capability in this nation, Zambia.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, I have given my life to defend this nation. We must defend this country from issues of corruption.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, the appointment of the Director General for the Zambia National …

Professor Luo and Mr Kambwili stood calling for points of order.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I hope the points of order being called for are on procedural issues.

Mr Kambwili: Yes.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to question the appointment of the Director of Public Prosecutions when that appointment will be ratified by this House, a point at which he will have a chance to either accept or reject that appointment? Is he in order to question the Presidential prerogative in that manner? I need your serious ruling.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

A discussion of this matter will be deferred until it is properly brought before this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, Zambia is a wonderful country and we should not turn it into another One Party State. In whatever we do, we should make sure that democracy thrives at all costs. It is us here who should make sure that democracy is upheld.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, we should make sure that the people of Zambia learn that this democracy is important. Not only that, it is also important to understand that whilst you point a finger at others when looking for corruption, three fingers are pointing back at you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, the appointment of the Director General of the ZNBC is an act of corruption. The Act clearly says that you must advertise the job in order to have the right people fill that position.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: There was single sourcing for manpower.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, single sourcing to get someone in a job is corrupt.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: If we are in a position where we are saying we are allergic to corruption, even the gentleman who was appointed should be allergic to corruption.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: I am not upset. You are saying “Yalimikalipa”, but you will be surprised to learn that I was in a position to use the gentleman who has been appointed Director General of the ZNBC for the purpose of Director of Programmes. However, after being interviewed, amongst others, it was discovered that he did not have the relevant qualifications such as a diploma. How then, today, do you make him a Director General?

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: This is corruption.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, I want to speak very freely because it is only in this House where I can do so. I conclude by saying that there are many jobs of young personnel that are under threat at the ZNBC. Many young people are being threatened with dismissal because of their association with the MMD. These people are Zambians and, therefore, we must respect their positions.

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, order!

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I seek your very serious ruling on this matter. Is that former Reverend, …

Interruptions

Mr Lubinda: … who is speaking with so much spite, hate and anger, …

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Lubinda: … in order to make insinuations in this House that hon. Members on your right are corrupt without him taking the course of action that any enlightened hon. Member of Parliament would take, which is to appeal to the Chief Justice to set up a tribunal to investigate those who are corrupt like these people on this side did over one of his colleagues? Is he in order to make such insinuations and take advantage of the absolute privilege of this House?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, order!

My ruling is that it is not a procedural issue. Hon. Members on my right will have an opportunity to respond.

The hon. Member may continue, please.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, my appeal to the wonderful friends and relatives that I have on your right is that let us reconcile this country.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Let us bring every Zambian into the national development framework so that we can contribute to the betterment of our country.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Let us not create a situation where some people are seen to be more Zambian than others.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, that is wrong and I stand here to speak for the people of Zambia. Unless the Government changes its direction, the hon. Members on your right are dividing this country. Let us listen to the wisdom of Cardinal Mazombwe and others that God is speaking through, for us to ensure this country moves forward.

Mr Speaker, you have a wonderful task in this House. God bless and I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, order!

The Deputy Minister for Central Province (Mr Kosamu): Mr Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to address this august House on the Motion of Thanks to the Speech by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, during the official opening of Parliament on 14th October, 2011. I am grateful that I have this rare honour to ask the House to join me in congratulating His Excellency the President on being democratically elected to that office.

I also wish to congratulate you, Mr Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House, on your election to your positions. Congratulations also go to all my fellow elected and nominated hon. Members of Parliament in this House. I also take this opportunity to thank my party, the PF, for adopting me as the hon. Member of Parliament for Serenje Central Constituency. This simply shows the confidence and trust they have in me.

I also wish to convey my profound gratitude to the people of Serenje Central Constituency for electing me as their hon. Member of Parliament. I feel most honoured and humbled for the confidence they have shown in me to serve them under the PF for the next five years. Historically, there has not been any opposition political party that has won the Serenje Central seat. It is not easy to unseat the ruling party. Where I come from, I have been nicknamed ‘giant killer’ because I was fighting the former Vice-President, the hon. Member for Muchinga, and Ruling Party hon. Members from other constituencies.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: By virtue of the trust and confidence they put in me, all I can say is that I will dedicate all my energies tirelessly in serving the people of Central Province and the nation at large in line with the PF vision which is:

“The citizens of this great land not only deserve better lives but are entitled to better lives.”

Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank the President of my party, who is also the Republican President, for appointing me hon. Minister for Central Province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Last but not the least, I would like to thank my wife and family members for supporting me tirelessly.

Mr Speaker, the positive words of commendation for the House by His Excellency the President came with a clear call to all hon. Members of Parliament, whether from the Opposition or Ruling Party, to work hard in the delivery of socio-economic development to the Zambian population. His Excellency the President laboured to put facts before this august House showing the state of the nation and the outlook for 2012 and beyond. Let us all, therefore, rise to the occasion and take our rightful place as intermediaries for effective delivery of development primarily at the lower levels such as the village, ward and constituency through sound legislation.

Mr Speaker, as observed by His Excellency the President in his Speech, our country is endowed with a lot of natural resources, yet poverty levels still remain high coupled with low formal sector employment opportunities. There is, therefore, a need for the Government to introduce programmes to accelerate socio-economic empowerment of citizens, especially the youths and women. It is also imperative to create employment opportunities for our people, especially the youths graduating from high institutions of learning.

Mr Speaker, our Government has prioritised key development policies and programmes which, once implemented, will trigger development and assure our people of a decent living standard. The four core development programmes are education, health, agriculture and local government and housing. It is expected that these four sector programmes will be supported by other sectors such as infrastructure development, social protection, commerce, trade and industry, energy and tourism.

Mr Speaker, as you are well aware, there is a positive correlation between education and economic development. The PF Government recognises the paramount responsibility of the Government to provide this education. One way this will be achieved is in collaboration with parents and communities as may be appropriate. I wish to applaud the President for his commitment to establish universities and technical colleges in every province and rehabilitate the existing ones.

Mr Speaker, our Government recognises health as one of the priority sectors that contributes to the wellbeing of the nation …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.

[MR DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Kosamu: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was talking about health services. The Government recognises health as one of the prioritised sectors that contribute to the well-being of the nation and, therefore, remains committed to providing quality health services to all of its citizens. A healthy population is critical to improved productivity. The Government will, therefore, continue investing in the health sector in order to bring health care close to the people and ensure sustainability of the nation, and the human capital base required for sustainable economic growth.

The determination of the PF Government to increase the budgetary allocation in the health sector from the current levels of 6 per cent to, at least, 15 per cent of the National Budget, in accordance with the Abuja Protocol, should be commended by this august House.

Mr Speaker, on local Government and housing development, the Government realises the significant role local government plays as a conduit for delivering services, infrastructure and development to the local communities.

Therefore, I wish to reiterate the sentiments raised by His Excellency the President that there is a need to re-establish a system of local government which will promote local economic development, improved delivery of essential infrastructure and services through local self-government.

Mr Speaker, the majority of our people live in rural areas. Therefore, the role of traditional leaders in national development need not be overemphasised.

I wish to commend His Excellency the President for creating a new Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs.

Furthermore, the intention of the Government to review both the Local Government Act and the Chiefs Act and other relevant pieces of legislation should be lauded by all well-meaning Zambians.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about infrastructure development. An economy with poor infrastructure may fail to realise sustainable economic development, as it limits economic opportunities for our people and, therefore, poses a major barrier to the achievement of meaningful national development.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

It appears we are consulting loudly. Can we consult quietly because I cannot hear what is being said.

May the hon. Member continue.

Mr Kosamu: It is gratifying to note that the PF Government shall commit a substantial part of the national annual development budget to infrastructure development.

In this vein, priority must be given to the on-going projects involving construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and health centres before embarking on new ones.

Mr Speaker, as regards social protection, the great majority of people wallowing in chronic poverty are vulnerable groups such as women, children and people with disabilities.

Therefore, let us all join the President’s call for the Government to adopt a vibrant social protection policy aimed at ensuring that all citizens have access to basic social services such as education, health, water and sanitation.

Furthermore, let the House support calls by the Government to domesticate a number of United Nations Conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities which Zambia is a party to.

Mr Speaker, it is a known fact that women are marginalised as regards economically viable activities. Therefore, I urge this august House to support the Government’s intention of increasing funding to the women’s development programmes under the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health.

Mr Speaker, as regards governance, as observed by His Excellency the President, the PF Government attaches great importance to good governance.

The PF Government is determined to promote good governance through strengthening the governance institutions and ensuring strict accountability.

Mr Speaker, zero tolerance to corruption must be commended as it is the only way that will restore confidence in the fight against corruption.

Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to give my Maiden speech that has emphasis on the Central Province. Allow me now to briefly address this august House on the various issues affecting the Central Province.

Mr Speaker, let me begin with the agriculture sector. Following the closure of the mining and manufacturing companies that were operating in the 1990s, agriculture has become the main economic activity in the province.

The province has fertile soils, particularly around Chisamba, Mkushi and Mumbwa which are ideal for the production of cash crops such as cotton and maize. With the normal rainfall received in the province, the soils also support the production of maize at the subsistence level. Therefore, I would like to appeal to my Government to invest more in the agriculture sector in the province, as this will make this province and the nation at large more  food secure and create more jobs for the people.

Mr Speaker, I wish to say that the province also has various resettlement schemes such as Lukanda and Katanino in Kapiri Mposhi District, Katikulula and Kampumbu in Serenje District and Mulakupikwa and Maimwene in Mumbwa District. There is a need to enhance infrastructure development in these schemes.

Mr Speaker, I now wish to comment on fisheries development. There are prospects for the fish industry, especially in the Lukanga Swamps in Kapiri Mposhi. There is a need to harness this potential as it can become a stable economic activity in the province that can lead to creation of employment opportunities and thereby inject more money in our people’s pockets.

Mr Speaker, with regard to livestock development, the strengthening of the livestock industry through the prioritisation of livestock restocking and making of dipping tanks, compulsory vaccination and treatment of all cattle diseases must be commended by all stakeholders of this august House.

The Central Province has a number of livestock restocking projects. As such, making the treatment of livestock diseases compulsory is a welcome idea.

Mr Speaker, permit me to talk about energy development. It is, indeed, true that energy is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of all sectors of the economy as its availability and quality determines the success or failure of national development programmes.
In the Central Province, Lunsemfwa Hydropower Station needs to be fully exploited for the sustainable socio-economic development of the province.

Mr Speaker, it is a fact that commerce, trade and industry are cornerstones for economic growth and development and, indisputably, key in creating jobs and wealth for our people.

In the case of Central Province, many industries closed after the closure of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) mine in Kabwe in 1994. This was because many such industries heavily depended on the mine. Some of the closed industries include Kapiri Mposhi Glass Factory in Kapiri Mposhi, Kabwe Milling in Kabwe, Mulungushi Textiles and other privately-owned industries. There is an urgent need to revamp these industries to create employment opportunities in the province.

Mr Speaker, it is gratifying to note that our Government is determined to rejuvenate the manufacturing sector through the promotion of public-private partnerships (PPPs). Furthermore, the Central Province currently produces fresh farm products in bulk that urgently need the creation of processing industries in order to enhance value addition as opposed to the current scenario.

Mr Speaker, mineral deposits in Central Province includes lead and Zinc in Kabwe with deposits in the Lusaka-Mumbwa-Kabwe Triangle. Konkola Copper Mine is also mining copper ore in Nampundwe, Mumbwa District. Exploration works for copper are on-going in Mkushi District. Further, the Manganese being mined at Kampumbu, Kapiri Mposhi District, is processed in Kabwe although on a small scale.

Mr Speaker, the availability of precious metals in the province offers high prospects for small to medium-scale mining in precious metals. Our mining prospects include gold in Mumbwa. All these economic activities present opportunities for employment creation in the Central Province. The need for creation of employment opportunities need not be over emphasised, as creating jobs will eventually culminate in more money in our people’s pockets.

Mr Speaker, a tourism industry based on a well-formulated government policy and programme can be an important driving force in boosting our economy. I, therefore, urge this august House to support the introduction of policies by the PF Government that will make investment in the sector attractive and profitable to both local and foreign investors. In the Central Province, the Kasanka National Park and Kundalila Falls, the Kafue National Park and the Mumbwa Caves need to be fully exploited so that they boost the tourism potential in the province.

Mr Speaker, infrastructure development is key to national development. Therefore, the construction of modern bus stations and markets must be prioritised. As you may be aware, the Nansanga Farming Block has been created at a cost of about K73 billion. Therefore, there is a need to tar the road from the post office to Nansanga. Further, Nanswa Road, which leads to two important destinations, namely Malcolm Moffat Teacher’s College and Serenje High School through the airstrip, also needs to be fully tarred to attract tourists to the area.

Mr Speaker, household and national food security is very important. However, for this to be successfully attained, there is a need for proper storage of the produce, particularly maize. Therefore, there is a need to build more storage sheds in all the districts of the province.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Kosamu: For me to upgrade all the feeder roads to facilitate the smooth transportation of agricultural produce …

Hon. Opposition Members: Order!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

The order was on this (Opposition) side. Let us, please, debate in an orderly manner because, the moment we do what we are doing, we derail the debate. Order …

Hon. UPND Members: Order!

The Deputy Chairperson: … also gives the presiding officers the opportunity to inform each other. When the Chair is upstanding, you are supposed to stop your movement. It is not an indictment, but a fact that, as we go on, we make these mistakes. Let us remember that in future.

Will the hon. Member continue.

Mr Kosamu: Mr Speaker …

Hon. Opposition Members: His time is up!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time has expired.

Laughter

Mr M. Musonda (Mkushi North): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to deliver my Maiden speech. I will first give the state of Mkushi North Constituency and its challenges and, then, make observations on the speech by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, which he delivered at the Official Opening of the First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, before I talk about my constituency, I congratulate His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata on his victory in the just-ended elections. I also wish to congratulate all those appointed to Cabinet as well as the Deputy Ministers. I urge them to perform to the best of their abilities for the good of all Zambians. I also wish to congratulate the hon. Mr Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committees of the Whole House on their election to their respective positions in this august House. I further wish to congratulate all hon. Members of Parliament on their election by their respective constituencies. I am sure it was not an easy battle. Finally, I also congratulate all nominated hon. Members of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank my wife; my brothers, Peternorasco and Fred; my many friends; and my party, the MMD, and its sympathisers for the valuable support they rendered to me. To them all, I am thankful.

I would also like to pay my tribute to the MMD for adopting me as a candidate for Mkushi North in preference to the many other equally able aspiring candidates. This was, indeed, a reflection of the confidence that the party had in me that I would deliver them the seat, which I did. I assure them that I would perform to their expectations and that of the electorate.

My deep appreciation also goes to the electorate of Mkushi North Constituency and all the people of the constituency in general for according me the opportunity to serve them as hon. Member of Parliament. I will do my very best to represent them fully. By working together, we can reach great heights for the constituency. I would also like to pay tribute to all the past hon. Members of Parliament for my constituency for the efforts they have invested in developing it, starting with the first, who later became the First Republican President, His Excellency, Dr Kenneth David Kaunda and ending with the  immediate past hon. Member, Madam Lucy Changwe.

Mr Speaker, Mkushi North Constituency borders Muchinga Constituency in the east, Mkushi South in the south …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Can we have order from the right? If you have to consult, I think it is only right that you go to the lobby. You need to consult quietly. Otherwise, we cannot hear.

Will the hon. Member, continue.

Mr M. Musonda: … Kapiri Mposhi in the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the north and Ndola Rural to the north-west. The constituency has a population of slightly over 150,000.

Mr Speaker, it is a known fact that development is an on-going process and that there is no constituency that does not face challenges. Mkushi North also faces some problems, some of which I now wish to highlight.

Education

Mr Speaker, education is known to be pre-requisite to the successful development of an area, hence great importance should be attached to the construction of school infrastructure. I should mention that the past Government, indeed, built many schools in my constituency but, …

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Musonda: … despite that, some of the schools still have poor infrastructure. The infrastructure needs to be improved to motivate both pupils and teachers in these schools. Just to mention a few, Kangili Basic School, in one of the wards of Upper Lunsemfwa, is in a very bad state. There is also another school in the same ward called Kasomfi which also needs some improvement.

Mr Speaker, in Musofu Ward north of Mkushi Boma, there is a need to turn Musofu Basic School, which is a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Mission School, into a full secondary school in order to cater for the growing community around this area.  At Chalata High School, there is also a co-education boarding school which, until just about a year ago, did not have electricity. The present situation is that this school has no dining hall, proper dormitories and piped water in the laboratories as well as in the teachers’ houses. The source of water at this school is just one mono pump.

Mr Speaker, there are several other schools in my constituency with either incomplete structures or without teachers’ houses. Those which are simply in a bad state need some maintenance or improvement. I hope things will happen in line with the adage which says, “A new broom sweeps better than the old one.” The former Government was aware of the problems which exist in my constituency. If the problems are looked into by the new Government, it would put them in good standing with the people in my constituency. If the CDF is raised to K5 billion, it can help to sort out most of the problems that are in the constituency which have not been attended to for a long time.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Musonda: Mr Speaker, except for core areas of the constituency which include the Boma area, Musofu and Nkumbi, the majority of the rural communities depend on natural water sources, that is streams and rivers which is not safe. There is a need for the drilling of boreholes or installing mono pumps in many locations. The water sources earlier mentioned are a health hazard because most of the villagers do not see the need to boil water, claiming that it loses taste.

Mr Speaker, the Chiponya/Masansa Road, if worked on, will ease the transportation of goods, agriculture equipment and inputs into the Mkushi Farming Block which is a highly commercial area. It will also make it easier for farmers to take their outputs to the market. The road starts from the turn off along the Great North Road at Chiponya and then joins the Great North Road at Mpula. It also passes through Masansa which has a lot of business activities. It needs the services of a bank or an agency. The Musofu Road, if worked on, can also be a shortcut to Ndola, as there will be no need of passing through Kapiri Mposhi from up north to the Copperbelt. This road joins the Ndola/Kapiri Mposhi Road at Mundawanga near the famous Teka Farms. The road from Fiwale Mission which passes through Chief Mulungwe’s Palace to Shamibanga Game Point also needs some attention. There is growing agricultural activity in the area due to its arable land. The road in Chalata from Mpalasha through Nshinso to Katula which joins Mulungwe/Mboroma Road is yet another road which needs attention.

Sir, of all the bridges which need to be worked on, there is need to construct a bridge at Milombwe near the Milombwe FRA Depot. It connects upper Lunsemfwa to Mkushi Boma. Other bridges are Fikolwa on Myati Road and Sola, with the latter stopping children from going to school in the rainy season because it becomes impassable.

Mr Speaker, mobile phone towers need to be erected in Nshinso and Musofu wards, which have a lot of agricultural activities, in order to ease cell phone communication. Cell phones will make life better for the farmers, as they will easily be able to find out the market prices for their produce.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the issue of security in Musofu, there is no police post. Chalata does not have a permanent structure for such a facility as well.  Therefore, I urge the Government to make sure that police posts are constructed in order to curb crime in the area.

Sir, since the majority of the population in my constituency is engaged in agriculture, there is a need for issues to do with their health not to be over looked. Access to medical care in some places is not easy due to the long distances between people’s homes and the medical facilities. Therefore, there is a need to construct health centres at Chiswa in upper Lunsemfwa which is over 40 km from the nearest rural health centre, Chikabila in Nshinso Ward as well as at  Chibwemukunga and Kafwa in Chalata Ward.

Mr Speaker, the people of Mkushi are very active in agriculture production. His Excellency the President said in his Speech:

“PF does not intend to compulsorily acquire or forcibly take possession of commercial farming land from any farmers.”

Sir, this pronouncement is very exciting and welcome because there are a lot of farmers in Mkushi who came from Zimbabwe who thought that once the PF came into power, what happened in Zimbabwe could also happen here. The assurance by the PF ...

Interruptions

Mr Musonda: ... that nothing of that sort will happen is a welcome. This is a very progressive move. The PF is assured of the support from us on issues that are progressive and will be of great benefit to the nation.

Still on agriculture, there is a need to carefully put in place a good strategy that will make small-scale farmers grow before they can be weaned off Government support. We must cautiously ensure that those who are weaned off do not find themselves in a worse situation than the one they were in before being introduced to Government support  or do not have to come back for more support. We should follow the example of a mother. When a mother is trying to wean a child off milk, she introduces the child to substitutes firstly before finally weaning the child off. In like manner, before weaning the small-scale farmers off the support of the Government, we must make sure that strategies are put in place to ensure that the farmers are weaned off in a sustainable manner and not in a way which will make them come back for assistance after some time.

Mr Speaker, there is a mango processing plant in Mkushi which is not operational currently. I urge the Government to resuscitate the operations of this plant so that youths, in particular, are helped to get jobs. This will help us to put some cash in their pockets.

In order to avoid the wastage of the bumper harvest, particularly in the immediate future, there is a need to construct slabs so that the produce, particularly grains, can be put there before the construction of silos and shields can be undertaken in the distant future. There is also a need to broaden the support offered through the FISP so that it can cater for cash crops such as cotton which can also help the weaned small-scale farmers to stand on their own for a long time.

In conclusion, I wish to assure the people of Mkushi North Constituency and Mkushi District as a whole that I am duty bound to see to it that progressive ideas are put into action across political affiliation for the good of our district while, at the same time, working in close collaboration with the royal highnesses, namely,Chiefs Mulungwe, Shaibila and Chitina. As hon. Member of Parliament together with all the members of my constituency, I shall perform to the expected level with diligence and in the interest of my constituency, district and Zambia as a whole.

God bless my constituency, district and Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda (Zambezi East): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to deliver my Maiden speech as a victorious female hon. Member of Parliament for Zambezi East Constituency.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: I also rise to use this occasion to profoundly thank my party and founder of democracy in this nation, the MMD. We are here enjoying our freedom because of the MMD.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: I also thank the people of Zambezi East Constituency for the confidence shown in my leadership by giving me the rare honour of serving them for a second term.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, allow me to applaud the National Assembly staff, through the Clerk of the National Assembly, for the diligent manner in which they carry out their functions at this important institution.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: How I wish that the work culture that prevails here could be emulated by other sectors in the attainment of good governance that we so much desire in this nation.

Hon. Government Member: Where were you?

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I was on the other side of the House and did my best. My hard work while on the other side of the House is what has seen most of the hon. Members of Parliament come back to the House.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: I am praising the Clerk of the National Assembly for the good job that she is doing here. It is because she is a woman.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for the great leader he gave us in the late Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., may his soul rest in peace.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: It took this great leader’s attribute for me to be initiated into politics. When everyone talked about politics being a dirty game, this man made me believe that it was not the case.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: This is the reason I got inspired and immediately developed the passion to resign from my Civil Service career so that I could lead the people of Zambezi East in politics during the 2006 Tripartite Elections.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, though the going during the recent tripartite elections was very rough, particularly for women, …

Mr Chisala: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

My guidance is that let us not debate through points of order. Earlier on, Mr Speaker advised that the three conditions under which we can make points of order are procedure, relevance and decorum.

A point of order is raised.

Mr Chisala: I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to raise a point of order. I have been forced to raise this point  of order because I am sick and tired of watching Hon. Shikapwasha turning that seat into a bed. Is he in order to continue sleeping in the Chamber? I need your serious ruling.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: My serious ruling is that the hon. Member raising that point of order should spend less time watching people who are listening to speeches.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member may continue.

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I was saying that the going during the recent tripartite elections was very rough, particularly for women and, therefore, it was not easy for them to come to this august House.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, despite the many challenges I experienced, I, once again, want to thank the goodness of my Lord Jesus Christ for the fact that I emerged victorious. The people of my constituency have yet again spoken through the ballot box to give me another mandate to serve them. The message of the people of Zambezi East Constituency is very clearly written on the wall. Their message was an emphatic no to the gender imbalance that we have seen in other constituencies. To have only seventeen female hon. Members of Parliament is a shame. The people of Zambezi East Constituency decided to retain their female hon. Member of Parliament and I thank them for that.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: They have given me another historical mandate as the only female hon. Member of Parliament in the entire North-Western Province. This has never happened before. As you know, it is always male dominated where the men get the lion’s share.

Mr Speaker, it is in light of the confidence bestowed upon me by the people of Zambezi East Constituency that I wish to pledge my loyalty to serve them not only with firmness, but also with the diligence that they deserve.  More importantly, it will be my duty to serve them with humility and integrity as their servant because they are my masters. I shall always treasure their guidance and partnership in development.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: I must hasten to mention that my election to this august House was based on merit which was evidenced by the works that I did in Zambezi East Constituency. In collaboration with stake holders, I succeeded in initiating 110 major projects in this constituency.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, a copy of the listing of projects is in the Speaker’s Office.

Hon. Member: Lay it on the Table.

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I could also attest to the fact that the hammer mills that were given to all hon. Members of Parliament in this august House have made my brothers and sisters retain their seats.

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, that is why I would like to support the calls to increase the CDF to K5 billion.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, in my constituency, the CDF has worked wonders. We have built markets in Chingalala, Mushona and Dipalaka. We have built community schools, health posts and other infrastructure in the constituency. It will be good for the Executive to consider increasing the CDF to K5 billion as the Budget is finalised.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, my Maiden speech would be incomplete if I did not take this rare privilege to congratulate you, even though in your absence, wholeheartedly on your well-deserved election as Hon. Speaker to this august House.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: I have no doubt that you are going to excel in your new role of steering this House to greater heights. Given your rich academic and professional background, I am convinced that you will lead this House in an impartial manner.

I do believe that you will ensure that parliamentary decorum is maintained under all given circumstances. We are expecting nothing less than rulings that not only seem to be fair, but also binding on both sides.

Mr Speaker, with the intimidations against this important institution by the Executive, one can only conclude that our cherished democracy, which is an envy of many nations, is under severe threat.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Ms Sayifwanda: Unless we implore the Speaker to be vigilant and strong, these undemocratic tendencies can draw this country backwards.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I am afraid that we cannot sit idly by while watching our democracy being undermined because posterity will judge us harshly.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I wish the great man, the former Speaker, Hon. Mwanamwambwa, the Lord’s blessings and guidance.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Sir, allow me also to congratulate you, the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chaiperson of Committees of the Whole House on your election to your respective positions. The two gentlemen are not strangers to the operations of this august House.

Mr Speaker, may I now come to the most profound objective of my Maiden speech, with direct reference to the Presidential Speech. Here, as the only elected female daughter of that great province, I would like to give my message on behalf of the North-Western Province

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Sir, it is evident …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I advise the hon. Members to give the hon. Member on the Floor an opportunity to be heard.

May the hon. Member continue, please.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hanjika!

Laughter

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, going by the Speech of His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Sata, during the Official Opening of the Eleventh National Assembly, it is evident that the current Government has no development agenda for the North-Western Province.

Sir, it is also clear, from the appointments so far made, that the North-Western Province would be considered second. It has not been given an opportunity to be part and parcel of the political leadership of this country.

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: This is deliberate exclusion and marginalisation …

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: … of the wonderful people of North-Western Province from the decision-making process.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: If I may ask …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order, order!

We cannot proceed like this. Hon. Members on my right will have the opportunity to respond to what the hon. Member is saying. Once we begin this dialogue, the people out there may not be able to hear what we are saying. So, let us give each other the opportunity to debate.

May the hon. Member continue, please.

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, if I may ask a question, why is it that the current Government is failing to exercise social responsibility to a province which is contributing more than 60 per cent of the Treasury?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, we know that even the few people that have remained in service are on the verge of being fired. However, let me make it clear that the North-Western Province will not be intimated into submission because we know who we are. We also know where we are coming from and we all know where we are going.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Zambia must be for all Zambians regardless of where one comes from. The point I am making is that the people of North-Western Province must be given an equal share of the national cake.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, developing the North-Western Province should not be a matter of debate. Rather, it must be recognised as an issue of people enjoying their social lives.

Sir, I am happy to note that the President has promised to complete the on-going projects. These projects involve the construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and health centres which were started by the former Government under the leadership of his Excellency the late Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and his brother, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I took time to review the proposed road projects that were highlighted in the President’s Speech. I noted, with sadness, that the Mutanda/Chavuma Road was not included on the priority list of infrastructure development.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: Sir, the PF is in Government now and they will understand the Treasury. The money is not enough to complete everything at the same time. In any case, we left that part for the new Government to continue.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Hanjika!

Ms Sayifwanda: You have to continue.

Sir, I wish to appeal to the Executive to ensure that the Mutanda/Chavuma Road is on the list of the priority road projects. The people of my constituency are eagerly waiting for the much-needed completion of this road.

In addition, I know that His Excellency the Republican President is a man of action. I would like to see the promises he made to build the road from Kaoma to Lukulu via Mpidi, Chitokoloki to Zambezi fulfilled. I believe he is going to do it.

Mr Speaker, as regards education, I wish to underscore the importance of Chitokoloki School which has produced prominent persons in this country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: This school not only provided academic education, but also, more importantly, survival skills in carpentry, bricklaying, to mention but a few.

Sir, I am appealing to the Executive to work towards retaining the glory of Chitokoloki School by turning it into a skills training institution.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, with regard to the health sector, Chitokoloki Mission Hospital is not only serving the people of Zambezi, but also handling cases from other districts and provinces such as the Copperbelt and Western, and neighbouring countries such as Angola and the DRC.

Therefore, my appeal to the Executive is to upgrade the status of Chitokoloki Mission Hospital into a general hospital.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Where were you?

Ms Sayifwanda: I did that in the capacity that I was given. I managed to do everything for the people who are now on the Government side. I hope that they will do likewise for me.

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I urge the Executive to continue with the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) initiated by the MMD Government. The programme of linking Zambezi District to the national grid should also be taken on board.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I welcome the President’s decision to create a Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs. I congratulate my sister, Hon. Wina. That office really suits her.

Sir, it is my sincere hope that this ministry will provide guidance to our traditional rulers on the constitutional provisions regarding the non-involvement of chiefs in active politics. This is really a disgrace.

Hon. Government Members: Where were you!
Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, could I state that no two persons could have the same style of administration. There has been blame shifting all the time. Our great founding father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, had his time and, in spite of the “wamuyaya” callings which means “forever and ever”, when the time came, he was removed. Later on, the late Dr Chiluba took over. He equally had his time and style of leadership until he demanded for a third term. There was a division amongst some of the people who are now serving in this House, both on your left and right. They ditched the late President and he went his own way.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, when the late Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. took over, he was given all sorts of names such as cabbage but, later on, this cabbage turned into a very tender and tasty steak. He also performed according to his own style until his demise. He was buried with great dignity. This great man will be remembered by many Zambians. Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda also jumped on the  band wagon in order to complete his brother’s term.

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: He also had his style and time. This time around, it is His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata’s time. I am, therefore, appealing to the Zambian people to give him time. Through you, Mr Speaker, I would like to urge my colleagues on your right, especially those on the Front Bench, to understand, believe and know that they are the President’s disciples. Their colours will definitely …

Dr Kazonga interjected.

Interruptions

Ms Sayifwanda: … be manifested from the top office and it would be very unfortunate for the President to serve this great nation for a very short time.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time has expired.

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Home Affairs and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Sakeni) on behalf of The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_________

The House adjourned at 1923 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 2nd November, 2011.