Tuesday, 17^th February, 2026

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

NKEYEMA RESIDENTS IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of two members of the public from Nkeyema Parliamentary Constituency in the Western Province.

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

I thank you.

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS IN THE AMPHITHEATER

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that approval has been granted to the Catholic Church to hold mass with Catholic hon. Members of Parliament and staff on Wednesday, 18^th February, 2026, in the Amphitheater, here at Parliament Buildings. This is in commemoration of Ash Wednesday, an annual religious activity that signals the commencement of forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, leading up to Easter.

Hon. Members may wish to note that attendance is voluntary and not restricted to members of the Catholic Church. In this regard, all hon. Members and staff are welcome to attend this event, which will take place between 1230 hours and 1355 hours.

I thank you.

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URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR J. CHIBUYE, HON. MEMBER FOR ROAN, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, DR NALUMANGO, ON NOISE AT THE MEMBERS’ MOTEL

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to raise this Urgent Matter without Notice, and I welcome you back.

Madam Speaker, the Urgent Matter without Notice I want to raise was supposed to be directed at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security. However, I can see that he is not yet in the House. I, therefore, direct it at Her Honour the Vice-President, who is the Leader of Government Business in the House.

Madam Speaker, last night, hon. Members, particularly me, had challenges sleeping at the Members’ motel because there was a lot of noise coming from what I may call flares or fire crackers. The noise went up to midnight and it was so loud that one wonders whether it was coming from fire crackers or bombs.

Madam Speaker, my conscience is failing me. Therefore, I want to find out whether the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security or, indeed, Her Honour the Vice-President, is in order to not inform hon. Members when such events are supposed to happen. Are those events going to be happening any time, catching us unaware? As a result, we are failing to sleep or do reading during the night. Yesterday, the area around the Members Motel was under siege with noise.

Madam Speaker, I beg your direction on the matter so that hon. Members can prepare for the particular day when that will happen, or is it something that happens randomly? Some of us are high blood pressure (BP) patients.

I seek your guidance, Madam Speaker.

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

Hon. Members, I live in Makeni and I also heard the noise. So, I was wondering whether it was as a result of bombs exploding, thieves being caught or something else. I do not know what ceremony or celebration caused that noise. However, hon. Member for Roan, I do not think that matter qualifies to be raised as an Urgent Matter without Notice. I suggest that you find a way of engaging the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

My guess is that since we are coming to the end or beginning of the year, our friends or brothers and sisters from China are celebrating their New Year. It is just like when we are celebrating Christmas or New Year. So, I am not sure. We know that the calendar has so many events. However, as I said, the matter does not qualify for this segment and is, therefore, not admitted.

MR MUMBA, HON. MEMBER FOR KANTANSHI, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF MINES AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT, MR KABUSWE, ON ACCIDENTS IN MINING OPERATIONS

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice has been raised.

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, let me also join my hon. Colleague in welcoming you back.

Madam Speaker, I direct the matter to the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, but in the absence of the hon. Minister, I will direct my matter to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, two or three weeks ago, we had two fatal mining accidents in at Mopani Copper Mines in Kantanshi Constituency. The mining accidents led to the Minerals Regulatory Commission to invoke the law. I think it was Section 56 of Act No. 14 of 2024, which basically deals with non-compliance to mining safety regulations.

Madam Speaker, the suspension underground mining operations, obviously, caused some anxiety because miners thought they would lose their jobs. Fortunate enough, yesterday or the day before, the regulatory commission lifted the suspension and the mentioned mine started operating fully.

Madam Speaker, mining is the backbone of our economy and, therefore, we are trying to address fatalities in the sector. So, for the sake of those working in the mines and those who have lost loved ones to have closure, and I must declare interest because I am one them, one would have expected the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to update the nation on the steps being taken to address the situation so that youths who go underground can get relieved. We need to know what the Minerals Regulation Commission discovered and what is being done to address non-compliance to mining safety regulations. As a mining community that has suffered losses because of accidents, the people of Kantanshi need your indulgence to understand what the ministry has discovered and what it will do to ensure that confidence in mining safety is restored, especially for young miners.

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence.

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

Hon. Member, I am not sure whether a similar matter was raised before. I think the same issue was raised by yourself, hon. Member for Kantanshi, concerning accidents happening in the mining sector. If my memory serves me right, I think you raised a similar Urgent Matter without Notice.

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, I did ask a question, and some steps were taken to address the situation. At that time, mining operations were not yet suspended. After there was a suspension, it was identified that the problem was non-compliance to safety regulations. However, some miners thought that they would lose their jobs as a result of that suspension. That suspension has now been lifted. What is important to know is: What is the outcome of that suspension and how do we make sure that miners feel safe, especially the young ones who depend on underground mining?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kantanshi, I suggest that you file in a question addressed to the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development so that he can respond to that issue.

MR KASANDWE, HON. MEMBER FOR BANGWEULU, ON THE MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ENG. MILUPI, ON REHABILITATION OF THE KATAPA/KATANSHA ROAD

Mr Kasandwe (Bangweulu): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kasandwe: Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to raise an Urgent Matter without Notice directed at the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

Madam Speaker, in November, 2024, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, made some assurances on the Floor of this House that the Kapata/Katansha Road in Bangweulu Constituency of Samfya District would be repaired. For one year, I repeatedly or continuously visited the offices of the hon. Minister and the Road development Agency (RDA) in Lusaka and Luapula Province. Last year in December, the hon. Minister, once again, re-affirmed the commitment to work on that road. Unfortunately, nothing has been done on that road for a year. As I am speaking, the road is impassable at two points, which has made it very difficult for school going children to use it and for community members to access health facilities. So, simply put, the road is now in a deplorable state and on the verge of collapse.

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Bangweulu, the issue you have raised started in November, 2024 and you have been making follow ups. As you said, the situation has now worsened and the road has been cut at two points. I, therefore, suggest that you file in a question to the hon. Minister. He will be able to address that matter. I believe that hon. Members know how to make a follow up when a Government assurance has been given to ensure that the assurance is performed or implemented. So, the matter is not admitted.

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT AT KANYAMA LEVEL I HOSPITAL

187. Mr Chinkuli (Kanyama) asked the Minister of Health:

1. when the Government will replace the following faulty equipment at Kanyama Level I Hospital in Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency:

1. blood count machine; and
2. ultrasound machine; and

1. what the cause of the delay in replacing the equipment is.

The Minister of Health (Mr Muchima): Madam Speaker, the blood count machines at Kanyama Level I Hospital remains fully functional. However, service delivery was temporarily affected due to a shortage of re-agents for the ABX Micros 60 machines. In line with its commitment to strengthening health care services, the Government has already procured the required re-agents, which are expected to arrive in the country within two weeks. This timely intervention demonstrates the Government’s proactive approach to ensuring uninterrupted diagnostic services for people.

Madam Speaker, the ultrasound machine at Kanyama Level I Hospital that had developed a fault is already being attended to and a replacement was swiftly provided to ensure continuity of service. Thanks to this timely intervention, the health facility has continued to deliver essential ultrasound services without interruptions, reflecting the Government’s commitment to strengthening health care delivery and prioritising the needs of the community.

Madam Speaker, the delay in replacing the ultrasound machine at Kanyama Level I Hospital was due to initial efforts to repair the equipment. However, I am pleased to report that the matter has since been fully addressed as earlier stated. A replacement machine was promptly provided and the facility has continued to deliver uninterrupted ultrasound services to the community.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chinkuli: Madam Speaker, we thank the Government for giving Kanyama Level I Hospital an ultrasound machine. Now, I did not hear the hon. Minister properly on the point about the blood count machine. Was it repaired? Is it operational?

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I said that it was not unserviced, except that the reagents were in short supply. As such, the Government has already ordered more. Within the next two weeks, the reagents will be available. On top of that, the ministry is making temporary arrangements for courier services so that patients are not disadvantaged. Whatever samples will be taken will be couriered to the next hospital so that the people can be attended to.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has put it clearly that there are no reagents at Kanyama Level I Hospital, and that they will be brought in two weeks’ time. The lack of reagents in our hospitals is part of the reasons Zambians do not have proper health care. In other instances, it is a question, as was raised by my hon. Colleague, of non-functional medical equipment. Here we are, the equipment is working, but there are no reagents. Does that mean that even the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) does not have reagents that the ministry can get a few to give Kanyama Level I Hospital so that our people can also receive care, as they are considered equal patients to those who attend private hospitals?

I seek your clarification, Madam Speaker.

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, the machines are not universal. Reagents are specific to machines. The machine at Kanyama Level I Hospital is different from other machines. That is what I would say. Earlier, I said that the ministry has put measures in place so that the patients are not disadvantaged. A courier system has been put in place. Otherwise, within two weeks' time, the reagents will be in supply.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chinkuli: Madam Speaker, what saddens me is the fact that the blood count machine is used by clinicians to identify and analyse blood cells to diagnose infections. So, looking at the space of time that has passed, how has the ministry diagnosed the number of infections that the people of Kanyama have had, bearing in mind that it is nearly every day that there are funerals in Kanyama? How is the ministry attending to our people, knowing that the hospital is unable to diagnose or identify the diseases that one is suffering from?

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, that is why I put it to my colleague, the hon. Member for Kanyama, that the ministry has put in place alternative measures. Further, due to the growing demand at Kanyama Level I Hospital, the ministry has decided that there should be an extra machine. In the time being, the hospital is utilising the services of a nearby hospital. One good thing is that Kanyama is not very far from other hospitals. So, the courier system that has been put into place will assist. Further to that, the ministry is seriously looking into the issue. I am aware that the demand has overgrown. So, the ministry needs to supplement and to see what it can do for our people in Kanyama.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker, a healthy population is productive. Kanyama being a densely populated constituency, it is quite disheartening that our people there have to go so long without such basic hospital equipment like blood count and ultrasound machines. It is not only in Kanyama. If you go to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and several other health facilities, you will see that this is very common in our health institutions. Now, to avoid this and so that hon. Members do not ask similar questions on the Floor of the House, is the ministry taking stock to ensure that apart from Kanyama, the requirements are readily available?

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, if you have seen the trend since this Government came into power, you will note that there has been a great improvement in the procurement of machines for our health facilities. Not long ago, I provided a list of machines that have been provided. However, of course, they break down. When they break down, they have to be worked on, and that is a continuous situation. The ministry has not stopped procuring machines, it depends on a case-by-case situation. The situation at Kanyama Level I Hospital will be addressed accordingly. Health care has been placed as a priority by this Government. So, there should be no worry. Your Government is very responsible. It will take care where it is necessary.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Shakafuswa (Mandevu): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity you have given me to ask the hon. Minister of Health a supplementary question.

Madam Speaker, the lack of reagents at Kanyama First Level Hospital is concerning because it is not only happening in Kanyama. This issue is familiar to Chipata First Level Hospital and Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital. Further, last week, I was at the National Heart Hospital. The doctors are too demotivated to treat patients because there are no reagents in these big hospitals to undertake tests and thereafter , treat patients. The ministry is critical because it deals with the lives of our people and ours. Will the hon. Minister visit the hospitals to ascertain the stock levels of reagents so that a quick solution can be found? Our people are being referred to other laboratories around the big hospitals, and the charges are sometimes exorbitant. We appreciate that the Government has bought those machines, but they are not working because of lack of reagents. So, when will the hon. Minister undertake a visit to ascertain stock levels so that the Government can procure reagents to enable those machines to do their job?

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, yes, we are dealing with a very critical issue. The reagents are supposed to be available at all times. However, the question of the procurement bureaucracy at times puts us in an awkward situation. The hon. Member should note that the shelf life of all the medicines that we order is supposed to be at 80 per cent and above. Therefore, certain commodities cannot be ordered in advance because they will expire.  So, they need to be within that period. With the contractual arrangements, it is difficult to stock reagents for a long period. When we follow procurement procedures, it becomes a bit difficult. The only answer is to have the reagents manufactured within the country. We are asking companies to start manufacturing the reagents so that they are within reach.  The President is preaching that we need commodities or products to be manufactured within the country. They will be within reach. Some of the reagents have to be ordered from Germany. They are so costly to be transported by air, and they take time to reach.  The quality has to be checked by the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA). All these are delays caused by the procurement process. 

Madam Speaker, we do visit the places mentioned but the only challenge is the attitude that we get. The reorder levels are ignored and the Government procurement processes are quite bureaucratic. It is therefore, very difficult at times to make a quick decision because by doing so, we would be going against the laid-down procedures. These are the issues that are giving us a bit of a headache. Otherwise, we hear the hon. Member and we want to be on top of things.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, thank you so much and welcome back from your tour of duty.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I am sitting here following the proceedings and listening to how the hon. Minister is responding.  I have heard everything that he has said. However, what is very painful is that the issue of lack of reagents at Kanyama Level I Hospital seems to be receiving very little attention. This issue has exposed the fact that the hon. Minister is running a collapsed health system.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, if this is happening in Lusaka, how about rural areas?

Mr B. Mpundu: Hammer, hammer!

Mr Kapyanga: What could be happening in Kaputa, Nabwalya and Chiombo in Mpika, and Lunga, for instance. Our people have to travel long distances to find a hospital that has reagents.

Mr B. Mpundu: Balifilwa aba.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, they are running a collapsed health system. The question is: When will they ensure that the health sector has a functional healthy system? For now, it is a collapsed one and no rhetoric will change that fact.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, let us listen to the answers. When we ask questions, they should be factual and verifiable. Let us remember that.

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I thank Hon. Kapyanga for that question. This is his fifth year in Parliament. If he follows the trend, he should thank this Government for what it has done. When we took over power, what were the stock levels of medicines in hospitals compared to today?

Hon. Member: 12 per cent!

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

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, today, you can go to any health facility in this country, and you will find essential commodities, which are above 75 per cent. What was the percentage of essential commodities when they (PF) left power?

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, reagents are health commodities. Since the United Party for National Development (UPND) came into power, the available essential commodities are from 75 to 90 per cent across the country. Despite the challenges of the drought and the limited budget, the President has stood tall to ensure that the health care system is above normal. We can talk about the recruitment of health workers and infrastructure development. In every constituency, health care has improved tremendously compared to the past ten years, when there was no medicine in the hospitals.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Muchima: There were no ambulances. Today, we have ambulances in all the constituencies.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, we must be proud of this Government. Hon. Kapyanga should thank this Government, as it is very inclusive. What we used to see when we were in the Opposition, where certain facilities had more medicines than others is no longer there. This Government is doing everything possible on the health care system in the country. No health care system has collapsed. What could have collapsed is the realism of certain people who cannot see what is happening. They are always looking in the opposite direction.  Zambians have realised and seen where we are going.

Madam Speaker, the trajectory is very clear. We are doing very well, and Zambia has become very attractive. Many investors are coming to manufacture commodities, including medicines. They are promising to come to Zambia. We were at the Inter-Continental Hotel today, with many investors who are interested in Zambia. Why? Because of the policies that we have.

Mr Nkandu: Hammer!

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, Zambia has become very attractive as compared to the time when the country had gone into the negative. Today, Zambia is strong and admired by most countries around Africa and the world at large.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, they should be reading to see how Zambia is being compared to other countries. Zambia is doing very well.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

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

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

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, there is an indication for a point of order.

Hon. Member for Mkushi South, first of all, you came in late. So, the point of order that I will take is from the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu. If you want to raise a point of order, come early.

Laughter

  Mr Nkandu: Hear, hear!

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, let me raise it.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I reluctantly rise on this very important point of order because the hon. Minister, I am raising a point of order on, is someone I have always respected in this august House.  I hold him in that very high esteem. However, it is also said that responses from the Executive must also be factual and verifiable.

 Madam Speaker, it is in this august House where you, yourself, got tired of hon. Members lamenting when we lost sixty containers of medicine. I understand the hon. Minister went there late. We lost donor funds from the United States of America (USA) Government through theft of drugs, which has never been heard of in the history of this country. So, someone referred to the report we had here, and I am pointing to the fact that the health system and the drug supply chain has basically collapsed. It would appear that what we are dealing with now are symptoms of that failed system, as reported by your own Committee here, in the House. Is my older brother, whom I hold in the highest esteem, in order to say that for the past five years …

Hon. Member: The one who knows how to dance.

 

Laughter

 Mr Kampyongo: … the health sector has had functional systems?

Madam Speaker, with this background I have given, based on factual and verifiable data available at this institution, I seek your serious ruling.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

You know, if we ask political questions, there will be political responses. Let us be factual, hon. Members. Let us be compliant and observe our Standing Orders.

Mr Kasandwe interjected.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Bangweulu!

That report was done four years ago, and there has not been any other report done again on the status of medicines in hospitals. So, there is no verifiable information that the medical system in Zambia has collapsed. Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, what you are saying is that the system has continued to collapse, but you have rendered no verifiable information before this honourable House, so that we can agree with you that indeed the health situation has deteriorated.

 Let us stick to what we are doing, hon. Members, and the questions being asked. That way, we will make progress. So, we will make progress. In other words, the point of order is not admitted; it is dismissed.

CONSTRUCTION OF AN AIRPORT IN CHINSALI DISTRICT

188. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Transport and Logistics:

1. when construction of the airport in Chinsali District will commence;

1. what the cause of the delay in commencing the project is; 

1. what the estimated cost of the project is; and

1. what the timeframe for the completion of the project is.

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati) (on behalf of the Minister of Transport and Logistics (Mr Tayali)): Madam Speaker, the construction of Chinsali Airport will commence once the Government completes the construction of the selected provincial and strategic airports under Phase I of the project.

 

Madam Speaker, the delay in commencing the works at Chinsali Airport is attributed to the Government’s current commitment to completing the prioritised projects under Phase 1 of the programme. This includes Nakonde, Mfuwe, Kasaba Bay, Mansa, Solwezi and Mongu airports.

Madam Speaker, the construction of Chinsali Airport will be considered under Phase II of the project, following the successful completion of Phase I.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the project will be determined at the feasibility study stage.

Madam Speaker, the Government will only be in a position to determine the timeframe for the completion of Chinsali Airport project upon successful completion of the identified projects under Phase 1.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the answers he has provided.

Madam Speaker, when the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning presented the 2024 National Budget in this House, he informed this House, the people of Chinsali and the people of Zambia that the construction of Chinsali Airport was going to be financed and construction would start in 2024. This matter was also talked about by His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema. The people of Chinsali have been waiting for this project. Does the Government plan to inform the people of Chinsali that what was promised on this Floor has changed?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, nothing has changed. All we have said is that we shall commence the construction in Phase II.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, listening to the hon. Minister say there is no change is surprising. The hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali has reminded the House that a pronouncement was made and funds appropriated. This was further confirmed during the exposition in Muchinga. What happened to the funds that were allocated to this project in 2024?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, as you may recall, in 2024, we experienced a drought. So, most of the funds were used to finance issues related to the drought.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

It appears that some hon. Members have answers.

 Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, it is shocking to listen to the answers being provided by the Acting hon. Minister, because I think that those answers are not factual; he is just making them up now.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that there was no change. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning announced here in 2023 that Chinsali Airport was going to be constructed in 2024. Now, the hon. Minister is saying that there is no change regarding the matter. The other thing is that the airport that the Government was supposed to construct in Chinsali will be constructed in Nakonde. Now, the hon. Minister is saying that there was a drought. What is the connection between the issues? Where is he getting this propensity to lie …

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Mukosa: … on the Floor of the House?

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the words “to lie.”

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

First, let me make a ruling.

Hon. Members, I know we like using big words to express that we know the English language, or that we are the masters of the language. Let us be courteous to one another and use language which is parliamentary.

Hon. Member for Chinsali, may you withdraw the statement that your made.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the words “propensity to lie” and replace them with “propensity to mislead this House and the nation.” I apologise unreservedly for having used that term on my senior hon. Member, but –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Now you can ask your question.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

I can see that there are so many Presiding Officers today.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, my question is: Why was Chinsali removed from the first phase of the programme? It was supposed to be in the first phase and not in the second phase.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, now that the hon. Member has asked a decent question, which should have been asked initially, I will provide him with an answer. I think it is important to have decency when asking questions.

Madam Speaker, we have a criterion for enhancing connectivity. Firstly, this criterion is based on national connectivity and secondly, on the state of preparedness of a particular project. In 2024 and 2025, those two factors indicated that from a connectivity perspective, Nakonde was a higher priority because of the economic activities in that particular town of Muchinga Province. So, having two airports in one province would have been overkill. That is why we spread the airports in various places, including Mongu. It is out of the principle of equity and ensuring that we enhance national connectivity.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Thank you, Madam Speaker, and welcome back. We missed you.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Laughter

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the –

Mr Nkandu: Normacity!

Interruptions

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, –

Madam Speaker: Let us allow the hon. Member for Mkushi South –

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, I need your protection. You can see that they already know that they are going. They are speaking for themselves.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

It is only that when one is in the habit of saying certain things, immediately he or she stands up, people will start speaking on their behalf.

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, they will believe it on 13^th August this year.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Laughter

Madam Speaker: You may proceed, hon. Member.

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that his ministry will prepare the estimated cost for the construction of the airport in Chinsali this year. Bearing in mind that the Zambian people will vote the current Government out in eight months, how long will it take to prepare the cost estimates for the airport that the Government intends to build for the people of Chinsali?

Laughter

 

Mr Kasandwe: Kanshi nabene nabeshiba ayi?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, I am not aware of where else we are going, except forward.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

It is very easy to acquire a middle name.

Laughter

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Uncle Felix, I know that –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

Just a polite reminder that when we are in this House, hon. Members are addressed by the Ministry in which they discharge their functions or the constituency they hold. There are no uncles here. We are not on first name terms either. So, hon. Member for Nkana, ask your question.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, my apologies. He is my uncle, but I take your guidance.

Mr Mabeta: Ifya buyama ku ng’anda:

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I sympathise with the Acting hon. Minister. I know that the substantive hon. Minister, the one with the US$120,000 watch, would have clarified this matter much better.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, from the submissions, we can clearly see that this an issue of budgeting. We, in this House, approve the Budget or any variation thereof. Should it not have been prudent for the hon. Minister to inform the House if changes were made to the Budget and therefore, we are now in a position in which we can clearly say that the construction of the facility in question has been changed? Should it not have been a situation whereby we are informed of budgetary changes, as opposed to him informing the House that there was a drought, which led to changes to occur?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, it is a fact that we had a drought recently. The second fact is that the project was not fully prepared.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

PUPILS IN MBABALA BEING STOPPED FROM ATTENDING CLASSES

189. Mr Mweene (Mangango) (on behalf of Mr Munsanje (Mbabala)) asked the Minister of Education:

1. whether the Government is aware that some schools in Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency stop pupils from attending classes for failure to provide requirements such as toilet paper, reams of paper and other related materials;

1. whether the action above is not against the Government’s Free Education Policy; and

1. if so, what measures the Government will take to ensure that the policy is implemented in its entirety.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, I wish to clarify and inform the House that the Government is not aware of any schools in Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency that have stopped pupils from attending classes on account of failure to provide items such as toilet paper, reams of paper or other related materials. The Ministry of Education has not received any formal report to that effect. However, should such practises be occurring, the ministry will institute immediate investigations to establish the facts.

Madam Speaker, I wish to state categorically that any action by a school to deny access to education on the basis of failure to provide the aforementioned materials is contrary to the Government’s Free Education Policy. The policy expressly prohibits the imposition of mandatory payments or material contributions that hinder learners from attending school.

Madam Speaker, in order to ensure full, consistent implementation of the Free Education Policy, the Government has issued clear policy guidelines and circulars to all Provincial Education Officers (PEOs), District Education Board Secretaries (DEBSs) and school authorities reiterating that no learner should be excluded from school for non-payment of fees or failure to provide supplementary materials. Further, the ministry continues to monitor compliance through provincial and district education offices, and disciplinary action is taken against any school authority found to be contravening established policy. The Government remains firmly committed to safeguarding equitable access to education for all learners in line with its policy objectives.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Madam Speaker, as much as it is a constituency-based question, I want to take advantage of it to draw the attention of the hon. Minister to his response to part (b) of the question.

Madam Speaker, we appreciate the Free Education Policy. However, as Members of Parliament, particularly speaking for myself, I have noted a few challenges, and I am concerned that the ministry is not aware of some of the challenges that have been mentioned by my hon. Colleague from Mbabala. I also want to go a step further. When Grade 12s write their examinations, because this is under the Free Education Policy, they do not pay anything. However, there is a gap year between the year one goes to the next level of school and the year the results are released in January. There are also what are called General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations. There are various reasons people sit for these examinations. It could be that somebody got pregnant or did not pass the other examinations or things like that. The whole idea of the Free Education Policy is to ensure that there is optimal advantage for people to get educated. I am looking at the cost that is incurred to write GCE examinations, and I have raised this before. Registration for a paper costs K200, and one also has to pay centre fees of about K350 and tuition fees. There are all manner of expenses.

Madam Speaker, as I said, I am taking advantage of this question, as I wanted to move a Private Members’ Motion, because the hon. Minister said that his ministry is not aware. Could it be that the costs are currently hindering people, especially the girl child, from writing a mathematics examination that they failed, for example because, maybe, during the gap year, they can pass it and get better results to even get a bursary. What is the ministry doing about that? This is one area that is affecting pupils when they get their Grade 12 results. I will not speak on the issues under the Grade 9 system, and the combination of two papers when somebody who failed the previous year passes, as the curriculum has changed. Now, we have this problem. What is the ministry doing? Is the hon. Minister able to provide a response outside what has been asked?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister, I do not know whether you have a response to that long question.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, obviously, the question is new. The Free Education Policy is from early childhood education (ECE) through to secondary school. The General Certificate of Education (GCE) is a different issue. So, we give you an opportunity to write the Grade 12 examinations for free and the Government pays for that. If you fail, you are on your own. The Government helps you from ECE up to Grade 12. The burden is not on the parents, it is squarely on the Government to pay for those examinations. So, the pupils should work very hard so that they pass mathematics and science in the first instance. That is the policy. I guess the hon. Member understands what I am talking about, which I will present to be passed as a law here, in this House, encompassing ECE up to Form V or Grade 12, if you like.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member for Kantanshi looks like he has not got it. It is better to engage on the sidelines.

Mr Mwene: Madam Speaker, I am happy to be informed that the Government is carrying out investigations on the happenings. I would like to know what kind of stern measures will be taken against such teachers, who are working against the Government of the day by charging or telling learners to go with toilet paper and the like to school, because our learners are not attending classes as a result of that.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, that is why initially, I said that the ministry was not aware of that. If that is happening, then, the ministry will deal with the culprits. Schools are not allowed to charge all that.

Madam Speaker, maybe, for the sake of the hon. Member who asked the supplementary question, the Provincial Education Office (PEO) and the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) asked the Member of Parliament who filed in the question, which is on the Floor, as to who had indicated to him that certain schools were doing that, and the hon. Member said that he had met a woman on the way. We do not deal with people on the way. When the hon. Member was asked what the ward was, he said that he had forgotten. So, I was answering the question in case it is happening somewhere. Otherwise, in this particular case, the hon. Member failed to give us the details. If you know some who are doing that, you should report them.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to ask the hon. Minister a supplementary question.

Madam Speaker, this issue is not peculiar to Mbabala Constituency. It is quite common in a number of schools. Pupils are asked to take various items to supplement, maybe, the running of the school environment. Pupils come from various homes, and I believe that parents have a platform under the ministry called the Parents Teachers Association (PTA). Whilst these things are happening, and the parents are aware, my question is: How much collaboration is there between the PTA and the office of the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), the Provincial Education Office (PEO) or any other department in the ministry to ensure that such practices are curbed?

 

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, the parents are allowed to complain. The problem is that Zambians just write on social media, and I tell some of them to report the issues to the police. Somebody reported to me that if you are to get a place at some school, you have to pay. So, I said that that is theft, and why not report that issue to the police. Sometimes, the parents are the ones who do not report. They only say it somewhere else because they want the child to be in school, and they pay when they are not supposed to. We encourage everybody to report whenever such things occur because we do not want to be taxing the same parents whom we said we would pay on their behalves for. That is the relief that we gave to them.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chinkuli: Madam Speaker, I want to believe that the Ministry of Health oversees issues of health in the country, be it private or public, of which I want to align the same to the Ministry of Education, which I believe should regulate both industries; private and public schools. If that is the case, does the policy that the hon. Minister has mentioned, that no child can be sent away from school because he or she has not provided toilet paper and the like, also affect the private sector?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I hope I got the hon. Member right. He asked whether the, “No child should be sent back home” policy if that child does not meet certain school requirements applies to private schools as well. No, this is strictly for public schools. Private is private. People should just take their children to public schools. I was told that about 2.5 million children who could not afford to go to school are now back in school. So, people should take their children to public schools where they pass nicely.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

POOR ZAMTEL NETWORK CONNECTIVITY IN MWALALA WARD OF CHAMA NORTH

190. Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North) asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

1. whether the Government is aware that Mwalala Ward in Chama North Parliamentary Constituency has been experiencing poor Zamtel network connectivity;

1. if so, what the cause of the poor network connectivity, is;

1. what urgent measures are being taken to resolve the problem;

1. whether the Government has any plans to upgrade the network tower at Katangalika from 3G to 5G network; and

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

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati): Madam Speaker, the Government is aware that Mwalala Ward in Chama North Parliamentary Constituency has been experiencing poor Zamtel network connectivity.

Madam Speaker, the poor network being experienced at Katangalika Day Secondary School in Mwalala Ward is attributed to the old and obsolete batteries that can no longer power the communication tower for twenty-four hours.

Madam Speaker, Infratel Zambia, a State-owned infrastructure company which is responsible for the maintenance of Zamtel towers and associated power systems, is in the process of upgrading all power solutions with similar challenges, including the tower at Katangalika. Installation of the equipment involving solar panels, lithium batteries, and inverters is expected to commence in June 2026, and this will enable the tower to operate for twenty-four hours.

Madam Speaker, the Government has no plans to upgrade Katangalika site to fifth generation (5G) network. This follows our assessment, which revealed that the Katangalika site would be adequately covered by a fourth generation (4G) network.

Madam Speaker, the site will be upgraded from third generation (3G) to 4G in the last quarter of 2026.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his responses.

Madam Speaker, the Katangalika Communication Tower has been causing a lot of challenges, especially for Katangalika Day Secondary. Teachers cannot access the internet. With the teaching of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), internet connectivity is a huge challenge. I have been in touch with Zamtel staff, and I was told that they have an issue with the batteries. The hon. Minister has indicated that the Government has intentions to upgrade from third generation (3G) to fourth generation (4G) network in the second quarter of this year. As an interim measure, what is the ministry doing between now and the time the network will be upgraded? Currently, the situation is very bad. When it is about 1600 hours or 1700 hours, one cannot communicate due to a poor network. So, that is the situation there.

No quorum

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I have been informed that the quorum has collapsed. Can we ensure that all the hon. Members are in the House. Even the hon. Member for Mkushi South, after asking one or two questions, he is gone.

Laughter

Business was suspended from 1545 hours until 1546 hours.

Madam Speaker: We can continue with our business.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, we indicated that the first problem to be solved is the battery issue and that it will be resolved by June 2026. This will make the tower operational twenty-four hours a day. Regarding the upgrade to 4G network, we indicated that it will be done at the end of this year.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that the battery issue will be resolved in June this year. We hope it will be resolved.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister also indicated that they will upgrade that tower from 3G to 4G network. I want to know whether the upgrade will take care of other networks like Airtel and Mobile Telephone Network (MTN)? I know that people are more inclined to Airtel. Will that upgrade take on board other networks?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, we now have a policy that allows network operators to co-locate on any tower. For example, the Zamtel tower, which is in that ward, allows network operators such as Airtel and Mobile Telephone Network (MTN), to co-locate on that same tower. So, we encourage them to use that passive tower; all they need is to activate their equipment. That policy is very clear.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Madam Speaker, I am worried about the response given by the hon. Minister. He is confidently saying that issues to do with the battery will be solved by June 2026. Practically, we are in February, and June is three or four months away. Materially and physically, the calculated space is four months. The tower, which the hon. Member for Chama North is talking about is similar to the towers we have in Kalabo, which are giving us the same problem.

Now, I want the hon. Minister to be objective. What will make the next four months comfortable for the people in that area and other related areas, so that they will be able to contain the problem for four months? Let us be humane. The people in that area are going to feel pain for four months because there will be no communication. Immediately it is 1630 hours or 1700 hours, phone calls stop going through. Now, the hon. Minister is very sure that for four months the situation will be like that. Surely, in 2026, it is not possible to have an alternative that will enable these people to communicate, while they wait for a long-lasting solution. In 2026, there is no concrete answer. I am not satisfied. This is 2026. The technology that the hon. Minister is talking about has improved. Why should our people wait for four months while facing problems before they get a solution?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalabo Central wants to cry. I will give him a handkerchief.

Madam Speaker, the communication towers –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, there are several communication towers across the country that have obsolete batteries that were fixed many years ago. Now, Infratel has ordered the batteries in bulk to replace the obsolete batteries in various communication towers, including those in Chama North and other parts of the country. The batteries are on the way. According to the work schedule of Infratel, the earliest date for the work to start is end of June. Unfortunately, the work cannot be done earlier than June 2026.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Chama North, you came into the House and started chatting. So, I do not know whether you were following. We will skip you for now.

May I also take this opportunity to welcome back into the House, the hon. Member for Mkushi South. He has come back.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Let us make progress. 

CONSTRUCTION OF LEVEL I HOSPITAL IN NABWALYA CHIEFDOM

191. Mr Kapyanga asked the Minister of Health:

(a)     whether the Government has any plans to construct a Level I Hospital in Nabwalya Chiefdom in Mpika Parliamentary Constituency;

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

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

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

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, the Government does not have any immediate plans to construct a Level 1 Hospital in Nabwalya Chiefdom. However, the Government has allocated funds for the construction of a mini-hospital for the area.

Madam Speaker, the contractor has been awarded the contract and a site has been identified. Construction is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the mini-hospital is K32 million, inclusive of equipment and an ambulance.

Madam Speaker, the Government remains committed to expanding healthcare and infrastructure, and has plans to progressively enhance service delivery in Nabwalya Chiefdom.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I just want to appreciate the answer from the hon. Minister because it is very practical. The contractor will actually be on site. The contactor is not yet on site because of the terrain. On behalf of the people, I sincerely appreciate the answer from the hon. Minister. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: I did not hear the question.

Hon. Member: He is appreciating.

Madam Speaker: He has no question. He is appreciating. Okay.

Hon. Member: Let him appreciate.

Madam Speaker: I thought – okay, I will not say anything.

The previous question was something else. Now, there is appreciation, which is good for the hon. Minister of Health.

CONSTRUCTION OF A YOUTH RESOURCE CENTER IN MILENGE DISTRICT

192. Mr Chonde (Milenge) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts:

(a)     whether the Government has any plans to construct a youth resource center in Milenge District;

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

(c)     if there are no such plans, why?

The Minister of Youth Sports and Arts (Mr Nkandu): Madam Speaker, let me also join those who have welcomed you back in doing the same. I also want to appreciate your effective representation and your team.

Madam Speaker, the Government is desirous to construct youth resource centers not only in Milenge but in all the 116 districts, in order to facilitate access to skills training for youths. However, we do not have immediate plans to implement that. Maybe, I should underline the word “immediate.” Plans may be there, but we do not have immediate plans to construct a youth resource center in Milenge District.

Madam Speaker, as I have just emphasised in the answer to part (b) of the question, we do not have immediate plans to construct a youth resource center in Milenge District. The ministry is encouraging the hon. Member and other hon. Members of Parliament in areas where there are no youth resource centers to consider funding the establishment of those centres using alternative sources of funding.

Hon. Government Member: 2027 CDF!

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, the answer to part (c) of the question is the same as the answer to part (a) and (b) of the question.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Chonde: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is being very clever by providing that response to me. However, he said “alternative funding” and that caught my attention. Milenge is part of the country. I appreciate the statement that he said earlier, which is that the Government does not have immediate plans to construct a youth resource centre in Milenge. The people in remote areas look forward to the Government providing such facilities for them, because the facilities cater for many things and bridge the gap between rural and urban areas. Is the hon. Minister in a position to suggest what other sources of funding we, in Milenge, can use outside the Government to construct this facility?

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that important follow-up question.

Madam Speaker, the alternative sources of funding I was talking about – Firstly, before I can even make a suggestion to him, I wish to point out that I have been informing hon. Members of Parliament in this House on how the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security have benefitted from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I think, it is high time that the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts also benefitted from the CDF. I want to see resource centres, sports facilities and arts galleries built using the CDF. That is the first part I want to see. 

Madam Speaker, I can give so many examples. There are number of hon. Members of Parliament whom I have seen utilising the CDF for such projects. The first one I can point out is the hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi. As I speak, a resource centre has been completed in Itezhi-Tezhi using the CDF. Congratulations to the hon. Member of Parliament for Itezhi-Tezhi, Hon. Mutinta, who is not in the House.

Madam Speaker, another example is the construction of a resource centre in Luangwa District. The community in Luangwa was helped by the Luangwa Child Development Agency and that resource centre is expected to be opened this year. Another very good example is the Nkulumazhiba Youth Resource Centre in Mumbwa. The area hon. Member has just walked out of the Assembly Chamber, but he would have confirmed that the community in Mumbwa was helped with funds from the Zambia Accountability Programme (ZAP). In Serenje, another resource centre was constructed with help from the Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP).

Madam Speaker, those are some of the alternative sources of funding I was talking about. Someone mentioned the constituency that I come from, which is Kaputa. We are also using the CDF in Kaputa in various ways just to reduce the burden on the central Government. So, whether the money is either from the local authority or the central Government, it is all public funds. So, maybe, the hon. Member can also try to use the CDF in his constituency for similar purposes. There are also co-operating partners that he can talk to just to get help.

Madam Speaker, with that said, I want to thank you most sincerely for the opportunity.

I thank you, Madam Speaker. 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, with that response, should we keep on asking the same questions?

Hon. PF. Members: No!

Ms Chonya rose.

Madam Speaker: Hon.  Member for Kafue, you may proceed.

Ms Chonya (Kafue): Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.

Madam Speaker, I rise to, indeed, confirm the Government’s commitment towards creation of youth facilities.  In my constituency, there is a very big upcoming – (Inaudible).

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has talked about alternative sources of funding to complement the Government’s efforts. Can something be found to complete the youth resource centre in Kafue, which would also benefit youths in Milenge and elsewhere, where such a facility is not available? The project in Kafue is a very big undertaking that would, in fact, accommodate youths from across the entire country.

Madam Speaker: The question on the Floor is constituency-specific. So, I suggest that the hon. Member files in another question about Kafue. As regards the issue of alternative funding, I wanted to make a comment, but I am not going to. That is relation to someone asking whether this is about a male or female dog. The answer is the same. I believe the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is there for everyone. So, I think we have exhausted this question.

Let us make progress.

BUILDING POWER INTER-CONNECTORS

193. Mr Mukosa asked the Minister of Energy:

1. whether the Government has any plans to build power inter-connectors to strengthen cross-border energy trade;

1. if so, how many power inter-connectors the Government plans to build;

1. what the estimated cost of the project, is; and

1. if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote): Madam Speaker, I thank you, and welcome back home.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government has plans to build power interconnectors to strengthen cross-border energy trade.

Madam Speaker, the Government intends to build the following seven interconnector projects:

1. Malawi/Zambia Interconnector;

1. Mozambique/Zambia Interconnector;

1. Kolwezi/Solwezi Interconnector;

1. Angola/Zambia Interconnector;

1. Zimbabwe/Zambia/Botswana/Namibia Interconnector;

1. Botswana/Zambia Interconnector; and

1. Tanzania/Zambia Interconnector.

Madam Speaker, estimates for six power interconnectors have been finalised with a total cost of US$5.5 billion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

Hon. Members who have just walked in, I do not know what supplementary questions you will be able to ask.

Hon. Member for Chinsali, you may proceed.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, when do we expect the Tanzania/Zambia Interconnector to be completed so that we can take advantage of the excess power supply in East Africa?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the Zambia/Tanzania Interconnector Project is well advanced and we expect it to be completed in 2028.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I am very grateful for the opportunity.

Madam Speaker, I want to urge hon. Members of Parliament who represent and reside in rural areas that they should remember that the rightful person to take development to the rural areas is President Hakainde Hichilema.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkandu: Quality!

Mr Simumba: Question!

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, I know that the people of Nakonde will vote for President Hakainde Hichilema in August this year.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, announced that each district will have a 2 MW solar energy plant. We know that some districts, like Nyimba, Mwandi and many others, need just 1 MW.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has announced that there are many interconnectors, including the one from East Africa, which connect mini grids, allowing the local economy to benefit from a great initiative by the President of this Republic who is developing rural communities. You can imagine that in the next five years, each constituency will get more than K50 million, probably, from K40 million. Where will the rural areas be? That is why we need President Hakainde Hichilema. Is the ministry planning to connect the solar plants to the interconnectors so that the citizens of this country can benefit from the foreign exchange earned from those solar plants?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, as you may be aware, we have a visionary President. When we, as a country, were going through difficulties, people thought we would remain in that, but our country is moving to another level today because of the President’s good policies.

Madam Speaker, indeed, we have a plan to ensure that all the 156 constituencies have a solar plant to be able to generate 2MW of solar power. The reason the interconnectors are being set up is so that Zambia is made a trading hub in the energy sector. The surplus that the country will produce will be traded to our neighbouring countries, and that will grow our economy by bringing in foreign exchange That is how a methodical leader works. Today, everybody in this country is happy, including Hon. B. Mpundu, who has been troubling me very much by calling me Minister of Darkness.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The visiting hon. Member of Parliament for Matero, who  has just come in, you may proceed. He comes and goes as he pleases.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: He is my cousin. So, that is on a light note.

Mr Sampa (Matero): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I join the other hon. Members in welcoming you back from your tour of duty. We, indeed, missed you in the House.

Madam Speaker, I want to ask the able Minister of Energy, Hon. Chikote, a question. Currently able, as he has been unable.

Hon. UPND Member: Question!

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, the cross-border interconnectors are for either importing or exporting power. Nakonde, and the surrounding areas, already has an interconnector, which is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) interconnector network. Currently, there is extra power that comes from there. Now, when power was imported during load shedding times, that power was being given to a private company instead of ZESCO Limited receiving the power, and giving it to the people. So, when that cross-border interconnector is finished, and power is imported using it, will the ministry give the power to a private company, like Kanona Power Company, or will ZESCO Limited distribute that power?

Mr Chikote: I would like to thank the hon. Member for Matero, who rarely sits in the House, for that question.

Madam Speaker, I have explained that as power generation for this country continues, the surplus will be traded to other countries. The interconnectors are not just for importing, but also exporting to generate revenue that will help grow our economy. Also, we, as the Government, have said that our Administration will create conducive environments to allow private sector participation in growing our economy. Kanona Power Company is one of the companies that is part and parcel of the private sector. Even during the time we went through difficulties, the private sector was on board, and helped us import power to stabilise supply in this country. So, Kanona Power Company is just like any other private sector company.

Hon. UPND Members: You can also form one!

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, actually, at one time, the President of this Republic, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, encouraged us to invest in the energy sector. That means private individuals are encouraged, including Hon. B. Mpundu. You can form a company that will help grow the economy.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: I have seen many hon. Members indicating. From the answers I am getting, I think we are going around in circles. We will try the hon. Member for Kankoyo, and see where we are going.

 

Mr Mabeta (Kankoyo): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also welcome you back to this august House. You have been providing quality leadership from 2021. It is my sincere hope and prayer that, as President Hakainde Hichilema wins with a landslide in August, you will be considered again to continue doing this good work.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mabeta: Madam Speaker, many Zambians do not understand why, suddenly, load shedding has come to an end. Is having many interconnectors one of the reasons the country can import power at a time when it is needed the most, and end load shedding without attaching campaigns to it? Many people believe that this is just a political pull, which will, again, after August, lead back to load shedding.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I think, this is the time for people, even those who like criticising, to understand that this Administration put many interventions in place to stabilise power supply. One of the reasons there is a stable supply of power is the power that has been imported to supplement what is being generated. The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) is one area that is used to import power to stabilise supply. I remember mentioning in this august House that the country is importing 511 MW to supplement what is being generated. So, it is not what people are thinking, and relating it to the campaigns that are coming. They are methodical plans that this Administration has put in place. I even mentioned at one time that by December 2025, power supply in the country would change going forward and move to better levels. Indeed, today, Zambia is not experiencing load shedding. Those are initiatives that have been put in place by this Administration. Even after the elections, there will still be twenty-four hours supply of power, because of the interventions that we have put in place and Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s good policies.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, it is encouraging that there is a number of investments in the pipeline to install interconnectors so that the country can trade in electricity in the Eastern African and Southern African power pools. I know that huge sums of money are needed to undertake the installation of interconnectors. Is the Government coming to the aid of ZESCO Limited so that the company can undertake the mammoth task? I am alive to the fact that the power company has financial challenges.

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, the Government is doing everything possible, like creating support for it, to ensure that ZESCO Limited can sustain its operations. Also, the utility company is being encouraged to go into partnerships with private companies to make up the infrastructure that the country intends to have. This Government is giving ZESCO Limited the maximum support to remain sustainable as a utility company, as it used to be in the past. Going forward, ZESCO Limited will not be the same. Everything possible is being done to give the utility company the necessary support it requires.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana):  Madam Speaker, I am glad the hon. Minister for Energy has mentioned that I was pressing him, regarding the construction of an inter-connector between Zambia and Tanzania. If he had heeded the call, the people of Zambia would not have been subjected to untold misery for over four years, only to make it better when exiting. The hon. Minister has mentioned that the project will cost US$5 billion. Will the inter-connectors be worked on at once? I am particularly interested in the Tanzania/Zambia Inter-connector. Who is funding it, and at what level is it?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, firstly, I want to correct the hon. Members who keep saying that the current Government is about to exit.  How? The people of this country have seen what the current Administration has done. Those are the factors, which will allow us to continue. On 13^th August, the people of Zambia would have seen what the current Administration has done to change the economy. The country has bounced back to where it should be. So, those are the factors that will allow the current Administration to continue after August.

Madam Speaker, coming to his question, firstly, I mentioned that the Zambia/Tanzania Inter-connector project has already advanced. The co-operating partners are also supporting the Government on this project. The hon. Member must be aware that the project is moving in the right direction, and the resources he mentioned are already planned, through support from co-operating partners and the private sector coming on board. So, we will undertake the projects with the support from our co-operating partners, the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr B. Mpundu: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Kabwata will be the last one to ask a question.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to ask a question, and welcome back.

Madam Speaker, I will base my question on the one asked by the hon. Member of Parliament for Chama North on the cost and partnership. The hon. Minister mentioned that the Government will create an enabling environment for ZESCO Limited to undertake a public-private partnership (PPP) project with other partners. However, my substantive question is: Has a feasibility study been conducted for the inter-connector between Zambia and Malawi, and Zambia and Angola?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, firstly, I wish to correct one of the sentiments from my dearest friend, Hon. B. Mpundu. He said he pushed us. He did not. What I stated are the plans of the current Administration. Nobody is pushing us. These are the Government’s administrative plans.

Madam Speaker, on whether the feasibility studies for the Malawi/Zambia Inter-connector have been conducted, indeed, they have been completed, and discussions are ongoing with the World Bank.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Before we proceed, there is an indication for a point of order. Hon. Member for Nkana, what is the point of order?

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, by Standing Order No. 71, I thought that there should be clarity to the question I asked, which was not answered or was answered only partially. My question sought to get a direct response from the hon. Minister. I wanted to know the stage at which the inter-connector project between Tanzania and Zambia is, whether construction has started, and who exactly is sponsoring or financing it. Is the hon. Minister, in order to not put this on record so that the Hansard can carry the information correctly?

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence.

Madam Speaker: Question No. 193 on the Order Paper says, “Whether the Government has any plans to build power inter-connectors to strengthen cross-border energy trade”. So, it was more general. You have asked a more specific question. The hon. Minister might not have the numbers or figures at hand. So, it will be difficult for him to go into details of the specific inter-connector you are asking about. If you are not satisfied, hon. Member from Nkana, you may file in a direct question.

_______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

STAFF FROM KAOMA TOWN COUNCIL

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the public gallery, of staff from Kaoma Town Council in Kaoma District, led by the Council Secretary.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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

I thank you.

_______

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

The hon. Member for Kwacha is not in the House, therefore, Question No. 194 lapses in accordance with our Standing Orders.

CONSTRUCTION OF UTILITY FACILITIES AT MUSHILI LEVEL I HOSPITAL IN BWANA MKUBWA CONSTITUENCY

195. Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya) (on behalf of Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa)) asked the Minister of Health:

1. whether the Government has any plans to construct the following facilities at Mushili Level I Hospital in Bwana Mkubwa Parliamentary Constituency:

1. kitchen;
2. laundry room;
3. mortuary; and
4. boundary wall fence;

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

1. if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Health (Mr Muchima): Madam Speaker, the Government has committed to the construction of identified structures at Mushili Level 1 Hospital in Bwana Mkubwa Parliamentary Constituency. This undertaking is part of our broader effort to enhance the performance of the facility following the generous grant received from the Japanese Government.

Madam Speaker, the four planned structures will not be built spontaneously, but will be undertaken in a phased manner. The initial phase will commence with the construction of the boundary wall fence. This measure is prioritised to safeguard the significant investment already made in both infrastructure and medical equipment.

Mr Nkandu: Nyakaseya!

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, the contractor has been duly identified and awarded the project. An advance payment of K1.27 million is being made to initiate the boundary fence construction, and works are expected to begin within this quarter. It is further envisaged that the entire project, in line with the Ministry of Health Infrastructure Operational Plan, will be completed by December 2027.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sampa left the Assembly Chamber.

Madam Speaker: I mentioned that some hon. Members of Parliament come to visit; the hon. Member for Matero has concluded his visitation and has left us.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: We hope to see him tomorrow.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask a question on behalf of the people of Bwana Mkubwa. I also thank the hon. Minister for the assurance he has given.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate that there is a phased approach for the infrastructure that the hon. Member asked about, on behalf of his people. In terms of ranking, from the construction of the boundary wall fence, what set of infrastructure will take precedence, and how long is the phased approach going to take?

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, it depends on the finances released. What is important, first of all, is the wall fence. Then we will look at the mortuary, depending on the priorities set. We are determined to do everything. Also, the Japanese Government wants to hasten the completion of the project so that the facilities can be used fully.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, in more precise terms, what should the hon. Member for Bwana Mkubwa say to his people who are watching this telecast?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kanchibiya, have you concluded your question?

Mr Chanda: I can repeat the question.

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I would like him to repeat the question.

Madam Speaker: Kindly repeat the question.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, the question is on the timeframe and the phased approach for implementing the project. The hon. Minister mentioned 2027. On the construction of the boundary wall fence, I think that he said a contractor has been identified and the contract has been signed. I just want to make sure that is what the hon. Minister said, so that the hon. Member of Parliament knows what to say to the people of Bwana Mkubwa, as they are following these proceedings.

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the follow-up question.

Madam Speaker, it all depends on financing. After the money is utilised and the work is delivered satisfactorily, we will go to the next stage. Everything depends on financing, but what is key is that work will be continuous. The resources are coming from the Japanese Government. It depends on how the work is executed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FINANCING FACILITY BENEFICIARIES IN KALABO DISTRICT

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

1. how many farmers benefitted from the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) Programme in Kalabo District during the 2024/2025 Farming Season:

1. what categories of the beneficiaries there are; and

1. what measures the Government is taking to enhance the viability of the programme.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima) (on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo)): Madam Speaker, a total of fifty-four farmers benefitted from the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) Programme in Kalabo District during the 2024/2025 Farming Season. The loan amount disbursed was K7,446,000.

Madam Speaker, all fifty-four beneficiaries were supported under the crop production category.

Madam Speaker, in order to strengthen the viability of the SAFF Programme, the Government is implementing the following measures:

1. improved targeting, thereby, prioritising emerging small-scale farmers to ensure effective support;

1. increasing hedging funds by boosting funding to the Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme to attract private sector financing;

1. early loan access, thus launch cropping product by October to allow timely preparation for planting; and

1. programme expansion to activate additional components like livestock and aquaculture beyond the current focus on crop production, irrigation and mechanisation, and this is currently being implemented.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: We will go to the next question. The hon. Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Urban Development may take the Floor.

Eng. Milupi entered the Assembly Chamber.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mpundu: Ema uncles aba!

Laughter

Madam Speaker: I was about to use the powers vested in me to appoint an Acting hon. Minister.

Welcome, hon. Minister. You have the Floor.

REHABILITATION OF THE GREAT NORTH ROAD FROM SERENJE TO MPIKA

197. Mr Kapyanga (Mpika) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

1. when the contract for the rehabilitation of the Great North Road from Serenje to Mpika will be signed:

1. whether the contract will include upgrading of township roads to bituminous standards in the districts along the project;

1. if so, which districts will benefit from township roads; and

1. if no township roads will be included, why?

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also take this opportunity to welcome you back home. We missed you.

Madam Speaker, the Government intends to sign the contract for the rehabilitation of the Great North Road from Serenje to Mpika in the second quarter of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the current scope of works does not include township roads.

Madam Speaker, as stated in the answer to part (b) of the question above, the upgrading of township roads was not part of the scope of works agreed with the World Bank.

Madam Speaker, as stated in the answer to part (b) above, the rehabilitation of the Serenje to Mpika Road is funded by the World Bank and does not include township roads.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, thank you so much –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

No quorum.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, recently, I filed in a question for the hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. At that time, the hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development was the Acting hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. In his response to the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali’s supplementary question, he said that the Government would consider allocating funds for some urban roads during the construction of the Great North Road from Serenje to Mpika.

Madam Speaker, in the case of Mpika, we have a stretch of about 15 km called the Mpika Dual Carriageway. During the planning for rehabilitation of urban roads, I am sure that part was covered. Since the Mpika Dual Carriageway will now be covered during the construction of the main road, why can the ministry not just spread the money to also cover the works for urban roads?

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, maybe, let me give more information. The information I am going to give out now is similar to what I said last week when a similar question was raised by the hon. Member for Chitambo, who referred to the roads in Lavushimanda and so on.

Madam Speaker, the Government of the Republic of Zambia is implementing a US$270 million World Bank-funded project called Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience (TRACER). The project includes rehabilitation of approximately 238 km of the Great North Road from Serenje to Mpika, including bridges and other structures. The project has been divided in two construction packages as follows:

1. Serenje to Lukulu – 119 km; and

1. Lukulu to Chilonga – 119 km.

Madam Speaker, the works are expected to be undertaken within a period of thirty-six months from the commencement date.

Madam Speaker, already, market sounding, as a way of early market engagement, was undertaken on 18^th December, 2025. I am sure the hon. Member is aware of the purpose of informing potential stakeholders about an upcoming road rehabilitation project.

Madam Speaker, with respect to the point that the hon. Member has raised on township roads, our answer is that the project in question is funded by the World Bank to the tune of US$270 million for the construction of 238 km of road works. That is money from the World Bank and the project does not specifically include township roads. So, it is as straightforward as that. Sometimes, when we bring things into the public domain, it has the potential to spoil the soup.

Madam Speaker, this Government is determined to serve the people of Serenje, Kalonga and all the people in between right up to Mpika. So, it is not just the hon. Member of Parliament who is determined to serve them. Various matters will be attended to in due course. If the hon. Member wants to know whether that particular World Bank project includes township roads, the answer is that it does not. However, the hon. Member is free to engage us to determine what can or cannot be done. For now, I beg that we leave the issue as it is because anymore utterances might cause things not to go as planned.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

COPPER PRODUCTION IN ZAMBIA FROM 2018 TO 2024

198. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

1. how much copper was produced in Zambia from 2018 to 2024, year by year;

1. how much copper was processed within the country in the period above; and

1. what measures the Government has taken to increase local processing of the mineral.

Eng. Milupi (on behalf of the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe)): Madam Speaker, the amount of copper produced in Zambia from 2018 to 2024, year by year, was as follows:

 

Year                             Quantities (Metric Tonnes)

 

2018                            808,370.00

2019                            733,088.88

2020                            848,938.00

2021                            815,812.00

2022                            787,624.00

2023                            786,523.00

2024                            825,271.00

 

Madam Speaker, the quantity of copper processed in 2018 within the period mentioned in part (a) of the question was as follows:

Product	Quantities (Metric Tonnes)
Copper anodes for electrolytic refining (primary quality)	692,150.562
Copper blister (unrefined copper, not anodes for electrolytic refining)	134,955.565
electro-won cathodes of primary quality	17,473.497
electro-won cathodes, off-grade (secondary quality)	10,990.164
electro-won copper cathodes (high purity)	144,655.855
electro-won copper cathodes (low purity)	30,680.029
Grand Total	1,030,905.672

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madam Speaker, I will just read the totals. If someone wants to question, I can always go back. So, the following are the quantities and years in which they were processed:

 

Year                                      Copper Processed (Metric tonnes)

 

2019                                                 821,325.631

2020                                                 931,517.249

2021                                                 890,557.263

2022                                                 876,030.504

2023                                                 749,849.618

2024                                                 787,917.592

 

Madam Speaker, of course, these totals indicate the various grades of final copper produced.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government has implemented several measures to increase local processing of copper and other minerals. These include introducing and maintaining export duties on concentrates to encourage local beneficiation, strengthening policies that promote value addition within the country, attracting investment into smelting and refining facilities, facilitating joint ventures between local and foreign investors to enhance processing capacity, introducing fiscal and regulatory incentives for companies that undertake beneficiation, and supporting research, skills development and technology transfer to improve efficiency in mineral processing. These measures are aimed at ensuring that Zambia derives greater economic benefits from its mineral resources through job creation, industrial growth and increased export value.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

LONG DISTANCES TO SCHOOLS IN CHINSALI CONSTITUENCY

199. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Education:

1. whether the Government is aware that pupils from the following areas in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency cover more than 7 km to the nearest secondary school:

1. Mwalala;
2. Chisonta; and
3. Charles;

 

1. If so, whether the Government has any plans to construct a secondary school in each area to cater for the affected pupils;

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

1. If there are no such plans, why?

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, the Government is aware that some learners from Mwalala, Chisonta and Charles areas in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency have in the past covered distances exceeding 7 km to access the nearest secondary schools.

Madam Speaker, learners from Mwalala and Chisonta primary schools, located in Kankula Ward, previously travelled to Lubwa Day Secondary School and Kenneth Kaunda Secondary School. In order to address this challenge, the Government operationalised Nkula Day Secondary School in Nkakula Ward. This school is now serving as a receiving secondary school for Nkula, Chisonta, Mwalala, Lumpene and Nashinga primary schools. Although the school is operational, additional infrastructure development and teacher deployment are required for it to operate at full capacity.

Madam Speaker, with regards to Charles Primary School, learners had been travelling to Mulilansolo Day Secondary School. To mitigate this challenge, the Government recently operationalised Shimwalule Day Secondary School in Milemba Ward, which has significantly reduced the distance travelled by learners in surrounding areas.

Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to progressively expand and upgrade secondary school infrastructure in the district, particularly at the seven newly-operationalised secondary schools, to further enhance access. Further, the ministry is considering various modalities, including learner population and projected enrolment trends, to upgrade Charles Primary School into a day secondary school for the community. This initiative will, however, be subject to the availability of resources and will be undertaken after priority infrastructure works at the recently operationalised secondary schools have been completed

Madam Speaker, implementation of these plans will be undertaken in a phased manner, subject to the availability of resources under the National Budget. The immediate priority is to strengthen the seven newly operationalised secondary schools by providing adequate infrastructure, and staffing and learning materials before commencing additional upgrade projects.

Madam Speaker, as indicated, plans are in place. However, timelines for implementation will depend on resource mobilisation and budgetary prioritisation within the medium-term expenditure framework. For the record, the following day secondary schools were recently operationalised in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency to reduce long distances travelled by learners:

1. Kalela Day Secondary School in Itapa Ward;

1. Chilunda Day Secondary School in Chilunda Ward;

1. Kaso Day Secondary School in Chilinda Ward;

1. Tongo Tongo Day Secondary School in Chilinda Ward;

1. Shimwalule Day Secondary School in Milemba Ward;

1. Cheswa Day Secondary School in Chambeshi Ward; and

1. Nkula Day Secondary School in Nkakula Ward.

Madam Speaker, the Government continues to work closely with Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and the local authorities to prioritise additional infrastructure development under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to further enhance access to secondary education.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the hon. Minister, that this question came as a result of a Ministerial Statement or some guidance that he provided in this House. He stated that since the Government had removed Grade 8 and Grade 9 from basic schools, it would ensure that no school would have pupils covering a distance of more than 7 km to reach school.

Madam Speaker, Charles, Chisonta and Mwalala are in the same area. The nearby secondary schools are still more than 10 km away. This means that children in those areas still need to cover that distance to reach the nearest secondary school. In his response, the hon. Minister indicated that the pupils at Charles Primary School go to Shimwalule Secondary School. The truth is that the closest secondary schools that can accommodate Grade 8 and Grade 9 from Charles Primary School are Mulilansolo Day Secondary School and Shimwalule Day Secondary School. They are both more than 10 km away from Charles Primary School. However, I take cognisance of the answer that the hon. Minister has provided that the Government has plans to upgrade Charles Primary School to a day secondary school, subject to the availability of funds.  Is there any indication of when funds will be available? I just want to have an idea so that we can comfort their people.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, as soon as the money is found, the project will be prioritised. I hear the population in Charles is not very large.  This is what the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) explained. However, we do not want any child to be traveling long distances to school. So, the hon. Member for Chinsali and I, using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), can start from somewhere, and then the Central Government can finish everything.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I am not averse to the idea of using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). If we can agree to upgrade the primary schools to secondary schools, I would gladly liaise with my colleagues in Chinsali to ensure that, with whatever resources we have, we build secondary schools at those two schools. The distance the students cover is too long. However, is it possible that while we await to do that, we reintroduce Grade 8 and Grade 9, considering secondary schools in the offing, knowing that we have an agreement in inverted commas?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I am sure, the hon. Member does not expect an answer. I think he was just commenting, and I agree with him.  

Laughter

Mr Syakalima: However, if he checked, he would find that just this week, there was a circular to that effect. We wrote to the Provincial Education Offices (PEOs) and DEBS for them to allow the Grade 8 and Grade 9 to be in those schools. However, I am reliably informed that land has been found for the construction of the seven schools. So, as we phase out those grades, the primary and secondary schools will operate as separate entities.  

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, I need your protection.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mkushi South, you are well protected. You may go ahead.

Mr Chisopa: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that those schools will be considered as soon as funds are available. The 2026 Budget was passed last year. This is the one we are implementing now. Bearing in mind that they will be voted out in August, it means that they are only remaining with six months to go.  Where will they find the money that this House will approve for him to consider the construction of schools in Chinsali constituency?

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I think the hon. Member for Mkushi South is creating castles in Spain. All the time, he thinks people are going. I do practice psychotherapy privately. Maybe, he has a problem …

Laughter

Mr Syakalima: … because the hon. Member for Chinsali does not either agree with him. He knows that we shall be here. Probably in Chinsali, they will vote for him. I am not quite sure about that particular one (pointed at Mr Chisopa). We shall be here. The hon. Member for Chinsali should not worry. We will continue doing all these things. However, not that one (pointed at Mr Chisopa), who is going forever. I have opened my medical centre, and he can come for free screening.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

_______

BILL

SECOND READING

THE AGRICULTURE CREDITS AND WAREHOUSE RECEIPTS BILL, 2025

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima) (on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo)): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources for the well-articulated report, which has brought up important issues from our stakeholders.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Syakalima: I also wish to thank other hon. Members of the House and, indeed, our stakeholders for their valuable inputs to shape this Bill.

Madam Speaker, the agriculture sector is a cornerstone of our nation's economy and food security. A fact that this New Dawn Government fully recognises and actively supports. The current legislative framework, primarily the Agricultural Credits Act, Chapter 224 is outdated and does not adequately address the modern challenges and opportunities facing our farmers and agricultural businesses. This Bill represents a significant step forward in reforming this critical sector and enhancing access to financing for our hard-working farmers.

Madam Speaker, the primary objective of this Bill, as clearly outlined in the Bill, is to modernise the legal and institutional framework for agricultural credits and the warehouse receipt system in Zambia. The legislation will enhance several key objectives, including:

1. continue the existence of the warehouse licensing authority and redefine its functions;

1. reconstitute the board of the warehouse licencing authority and redefine its functions;

1. establish the electronic warehouse receipt system and provide for its management;

1. regulate warehouses that issue warehouse receipts in the Republic;

1. provide for the rights and obligations of warehouse operators, depositors of agricultural commodities, holders of warehouse receipts, holders of agricultural charges and lenders under contracts of advance;

1. regulate contracts of advance and agricultural charges as security for agricultural commodities; and

1. repeal and replace the Agricultural Credits Act Chapter 224.

Madam Speaker, the Agricultural Credits and Warehouse Receipts Bill, 2025, presents an important reform of Zambia’s legal framework for agricultural storage and finance. If effectively implemented and complemented by institutional capacity building and farmer-focused safeguards, it can deepen agricultural credit markets, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance the commercialisation and competitiveness of the agricultural sector. This Bill will motivate private sector participation and opening up of markets in underserved areas.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Madam Speaker, it is with profound gratitude that the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources was tasked to scrutinise the Agricultural Credits and Warehousing Receipts Bill, No. 34 of 2025, referred to it on 26^th November, 2025. In executing the task, the Committee consulted various stakeholders who made both written and oral submissions before it.

Madam Speaker, let me hasten to state that all the witnesses who interacted with the Committee were in support of the Bill. A summary of the stakeholders’ submissions is recorded in the Committee’s report for the consideration of this august House.

Madam Speaker, the Committee is also in support of the Bill, and to this end, allow me to highlight some of the pertinent issues contained in the Committee’s report.

Madam Speaker, as you are aware, the Agricultural Credits Act, Chapter 224 of the Laws of Zambia, regulates houses that issue warehouse receipts. However, the Act does not adequately address the existing gap between agricultural productivity and access to finance, resulting in barriers for investment in the agricultural sector, which has hindered the potential for economic growth. Further, the current warehouse receipt system is limited to the issuance of physical warehouse receipts. This does not align with the international best practices, which provide for electronic warehouse receipts. Therefore, it has become necessary to repeal and replace the Agricultural Credits Act, Chapter 224 of the Laws of Zambia, so as to, among others, establish an electronic warehouse receipt system and comprehensively regulate warehouses that issue warehouse receipts, contracts of advances and agricultural credits, which are used as security for agricultural commodities.

Madam Speaker, the Agricultural Credits and Warehousing Receipts Bill, No. 34 of 2025, creates three distinct financial instruments, namely:

1. warehouse receipts in Clause 34, which allows farmers to store goods and use their receipts as collateral for loans;

1. agricultural charges, which allow farmers to secure loans against farming stock, that is, crops in the field and other assets, as contained in Clause 58. This effectively monetises agricultural inventory, as farmers will no longer engage in district selling when they are forced to sell at harvest, when prices are low. In this regard, farmers can store the commodity, secure a loan for immediate liquidity and sell when prices rise. This will help stabilise farm incomes and reduce seasonality in cash flow; and

1. contracts for advance, provided for in part six, which enables a lender on the security of the warehouse receipt to enter into a contract with their holder and grant him an advance, such as an input for agricultural production. These financial instruments will go a long way in unlocking access to credit for farmers, thereby, bridging the existing gap between agricultural productivity and access to finance, and align the existing warehousing receipt system with global best practices, which provide for electronic warehousing receipts.

Madam Speaker, the Committee observed that while the Bill has made provision for small-scale farmers to access financing using their agricultural commodities, the procedures, fees and formalities may deter the sector from fully participating and accruing anticipated benefits from the legislation. In this regard, the Committee recommends the introduction of a clause mandating simplified procedures and subsidised fees for smallholder farmers’ participation in order to trade on the market.

Madam Speaker, the Committee further observed with concern, the risk of a disconnected system as the Bill creates the Warehouse Licensing Authority for storage and credits, on the one hand. On the other hand, the commodities platform is currently being run by the Zambian Commodities Exchange (ZAMACE). The Committee is of the view that without formal integration, the system risks creating unsecure financeable commodities that lack an efficient and transparent mechanism for price discovery and trade. This undermines the core purpose of warehouse receipts to facilitate market liquidity and fair pricing. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the Government should leverage ZAMACE to establish infrastructure and expertise in trading, clearing and settlement to complement the electronic warehouse receipt system. In the same vein, the Committee recommends that, in the alternative, the transitional period for notification of existing rights, certificates and warehouse receipts should be extended from six months to between eighteen and twenty-four months, to allow other exchanges get licensed and to ensure a smooth transition.

Madam Speaker, let me wind up by urging the House to support the Bill, taking into account the concerns raised in the Committee’s report.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful to the stakeholders who tendered both written and oral submissions, which greatly assisted in the work. The Committee also wishes to thank you for affording us this opportunity to scrutinise the Agricultural Credits and Warehousing Receipts Bill, No. 34 of 2025, and for the support and guidance rendered throughout the Committee’s deliberations through the Office of the Clerk.

 Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker, for this opportunity you have given me to add the voice of the people of Mpika to this very important subject. The people of Mpika are predominantly farmers, so this Bill concerns them.

Madam Speaker, the agricultural sector remains Zambia’s most strategic economic sector both economically and socially, with the capacity to employ up to about 60 per cent of the population. This sector has many challenges today. For what is proposed in the Bill to work, the sector must thrive. That is where we need to start from. How is the agricultural sector performing today? Our agricultural sector is in shambles.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, today’s agriculture policy does not favour the small-scale farmers in rural areas, who predominantly depend on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). When the Government distributes inputs through FISP, farmers share the inputs using cups. How do we expect farmers to grow crops and take to a warehouse when they do not receive sufficient inputs? When they take their little harvest to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), the agency takes their produce on credit and pays them after seven months.

Madam Speaker, currently, no one can even boast that the agricultural sector is performing well.

Mr Mabeta: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mpika, is it possible to base your debate on the Bill? Look at the objects of the Bill and the clauses that have been proposed. Can you centre your debate around the Bill?

 

Mr Kapyanga: Well guided, Madam Speaker. I was giving a background.

Madam Speaker, currently, the Agriculture Credits Act, Chapter 224 of the Laws of Zambia, is in effect. Despite its existence, farmers do not have access to credit using their produce. There are no proper systems to support any law put in place. That is a fact.  

Madam Speaker, this Bill –

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Which thing?

Mr Kapyanga: I said, “This Bill”. That is the Agriculture Credits and Warehouse Receipts Bill, which seek to create a licensing authority, among other things.

Madam Speaker, for the benefit of the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, the existing law provides for farmers to get credit using their crops as collateral. However, that does not happen and it has never happened. The farmers in Mpika who do not have funds to continue farming have no access to financial facilities because systems have not been put in place. However, what are we doing today? We are introducing more laws that may not even help our people.

Madam Speaker, that is the background I was trying to build. Farmers in Kasenga, Chilonga, Mukungule and Chinsali, as well as farmers in Bweengwa, do not have access to credit facilities. Even when they have crops, they cannot take them anywhere to access money, but the FRA goes to farmers and gets their crops on credit. Thereafter, the agency takes seven to ten months to pay them, yet someone is still saying; “We are developing the agricultural sector”. What kind of mockery is that coming from people who must be responsible for growing the sector?

Madam Speaker, I have taken into account the observations of your Committee, as listed on page 9 of the report. Even if those observations were implemented, very little would be achieved. The only thing that will be achieved is the creation of positions under the mentioned authority. Those positions will be given to those who are politically connected.

Mr Nkandu interjected.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, even when we create those positions through this Bill –

Interruptions

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I need your protection. The hon. Member is mentioning Hon. Brian Mundubile, whom he knows that he will soon become the Republican President.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mpika, you are debating through the Speaker, and I was listening attentively –

Mr Nkandu: Iyo, ba PF. Mulelota akasuba!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Can you, please, continue.

Mr Kapyanga: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the Agriculture Credits Act, Chapter 224 of the Laws of Zambia, is a progressive law. However, systems must be put in place so that our people can start benefiting from what the law provides because that is lacking. The Government introduced loans under the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF). Farmers, both in rural and urban areas, have applied severally times, but they get literally nothing. The programme is just on paper.

Madam Speaker, policies that are formulated must be implemented for the benefit of the people. The Government cannot come up with a policy –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member from Mpika, did you say that people do not get loans?

Mr Kapyanga: They do not, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker:  Is that just on paper? Are you sure, hon. Member?

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I remember very well that the last time the country experienced a drought, questions were raised to the hon. Minister of Agriculture about how those who were hit by the drought would manage to pay back loans. Therefore, I do not know whether you are sticking to alleging that the programme is just on paper. Are you sure no one is acquiring loans under that facility? If they are there, withdraw and continue with your debate.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, when I am here, I speak for my people. My people informed me that they had applied in thousands, but no one has received a loan. So, this is what I am talking about.

Rev. Katuta interjected.

Mr Kapyanga (pointed at Rev. Katuta): My hon. Colleague nearby is saying even in Chienge no one has received a loan.

Madam Speaker, the pronouncements from the Government, especially in the agriculture sector, should not just be rhetorical, but must change the lives of the people. How can the Government formulate a policy that is rhetorically implemented, yet on the ground, the situation is very different?

Rev. Katuta: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapyanga: Even when what has been proposed is implemented, nothing will happen in the agriculture sector. The Government must admit that it has failed. The Government must admit its failures. Our people cannot continue being treated to rhetorical statements.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

I think, at this point, you are just supposed to either agree with the Bill or not. You are not supposed to ask whether the Government has failed or not. We have a report before us. Do you agree with the Bill or not? That is how you are supposed to conclude.

Mr Nkandu: Ndakumfwila uluse, mwaice!

Mr Kapyanga: You can say that a million times. I will still find you in here, if you are lucky.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I reluctantly support the Bill and I hope that what it seeks to establish will be implemented for the good of our people.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you so much for the opportunity.

Madam Speaker, I would like to debate in support of this very important Bill. This Bill is very important because it will address a significant number of issues that farmers have had in accessing finance or agricultural credit. The first point to note and pay attention to in this particularly Bill is that it facilitates access to agricultural credit. This Bill modernises the framework for agricultural credit. It allows farmers to use warehouse receipts and other agricultural assets as collateral to access loans and advances. That is in Part VI, Sections 49 to 54, as well as Part VII, Sections 57 to 59, of the Bill.

Madam Speaker, through this Bill, farmers will be allowed to obtain financing for inputs, mechanisation and other production needs without having to sell their produce immediately, thereby, supporting liquidity and production planning. Very important.

Madam Speaker, by formalising contracts for advance and agricultural charges, this Bill reduces lender risk and encourages banks and micro-finance institutions to extend credits to rural farmers in Kanchibiya, for example.

Madam Speaker, secondly, the introduction of the electronic warehouse receipt system is very important because it ensures secure, transparent and easily transferable documentation of stored commodities. Farmers can negotiate for warehouse receipts that can be sold, transferred or used as collateral, giving them a greater bargaining power in markets and financial institutions. What that does is, it  reduces fraud and loss risks associated with physical receipts and improve trust between the farmers, warehouses and lenders.

Madam Speaker, the third aspect I would like to address is that the Bill will strengthen storage and market access. When you look at Part III of this Bill, sections 8 to 20, and Part V, sections 34 to 48, you will note that licenced warehouses are required to meet standards for storage, insurance and handling. That ensures that farmers’ commodities are safe from damage, theft and spoilage. Proper storage of commodities, as we know, is very important for marketability, and this is a matter that we must pay particular attention to.

 

Over and beyond, Madam Speaker, this Bill promotes rural agricultural development. When interrogated, you will note that this Bill will enable smallholder farmers to leverage stored produce for loans. It also encourages investment in farming, better usage, in terms of input, as well as potentially higher yields.

Madam Speaker, as a representative of the people of Kanchibiya, and looking at the positive aspects of this particular Bill and also having interacted with the Act that it seeks to amend, I would say that this Bill is a step in the right direction.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisanga (Lukashya): Thank you, Madam Speaker. For a moment, I thought I would not be given an opportunity to debate.

Madam Speaker, let me start by surprising the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Arts by saying that, as an ardent supporter of access to finance, especially for small-scale farmers, I support this Bill. The people of Lukashya support this Bill.

Madam Speaker, I want to share two very important observations. The first one is the fact that we are trying to create a commodities exchange where warehouse receipts can be traded and used as collateral. As observed by the Committee, this feature cannot be introduced into the law without giving the opportunity to the Securities Exchange Commission of Zambia (SEC) to regulate the market. It is, therefore, very important, as observed by the Committee, that the Government considers granting authority to SEC to regulate the market that is intended to be created by this initiative.

Madam Speaker, secondly, and most importantly, there is a cost for small-scale farmers. As observed, again, by the Committee, farmers produce a good quantity for those who supply commodities, and the farmers are supposed to benefit from the initiative. Therefore, it is important that they are also given the opportunity to access the facility at a cheaper price. I think, an observation was made about the introduction of an initiative to make access to the facilities cheaper for them.

Madam Speaker, with those two remarks, I support the Bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the Motion.

Madam Speaker, I have consulted my chairperson, as I am a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources. So, I thought it would be important for me to say a few words, if that is allowed.

Madam Speaker: The few words that have been left out. I will allow you because there were few debaters. Just make it a summary.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, the Agriculture Credits and Warehouse Receipts Bill is very progressive, progressive in the sense that it is long overdue. I am on record having presented a Private Members’ Motion on the Floor of this House, which this Bill resonates with. Our rural farmers, the small-scale farmers, have huge challenges securing, especially lucrative markets. So, through this Bill, that will mean the Zambian commodity exchange will be used as a platform through which our rural farmers can deposit their farming products at a designated area, and get receipts that they can use to obtain farming inputs from agro-dealers, for example. So, this Bill will create a situation, whereby, the Zambia Agriculture Management Information System (ZAMIS) platform gets data, such as prices of agricultural commodities in the sub-region and beyond, so that our farmers can derive maximum economic benefits from their sweat.

Madam Speaker, the Bill will also create employment for the people in rural areas because it will mean the establishment of storage facilities, which are needed for this platform to work better. Even the private sector can come on board to establish storage facilities, and make money. Therefore, this is a very progressive Bill.

Madam Speaker, today, our small-scale farmers have no capacity to secure foreign markets, it is only the big boys, the big people from Lusaka who buy farming products at very cheap prices in rural areas, and sell them at very high prices on the international market, while our local farmers, the small-scale farmers, continue to be poor. So, this is an opportunity for our farmers in the rural areas to derive value for their money. That will reduce pressure on the Government, in this case,  the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). Currently, the situation is that there is a struggle to pay farmers because we rely on the Government to buy all the agricultural products, like maize. This is an opportunity for the Government to have less pressure. This is a progressive Bill that must be supported. With this country targeting to achieve 10 million metric tonnes of maize production, I am sure that many of our farmers will derive value for their money. There will also not be a maize ban. The country loses billions of United States (US) Dollars annually as a result of the maize ban. I can assure you that we will revolutionise the agricultural sector in this country with this system in place.

Madam Speaker, with these few remarks, I would like to appeal to all hon. Members to support this progressive Bill.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, the Bill’s objective is to operationalise the warehouse receipt system and improve smallholder access to finance by using receipts as collateral, with alignment to related market and regulatory frameworks.

Madam Speaker, the recommendations proposed by the Committee are well noted, and all identified concerns will be addressed through regulatory instruments, guidelines and phased implementation, rather than broad legislative amendments. The Bill already reflects the policy direction and the Government's support for harmonisation and practical execution.  I, therefore, call upon hon. Members of this august House and other stakeholders to continue to support the proposed legislation as it will unlock opportunities for millions of our farmers. It will ease access to agricultural financing that will ultimately give our farmers the confidence to invest and our nation the foundation to become a regional breadbasket.

Madam Speaker, turning to the other colleagues who debated, I wish to thank them very much for supporting the Bill. However, sometimes, when you are listening to the hon. Member for Mpika, you may think he comes from another country.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

Mr Syakalima: He does not see anything good.   

Mr Mubika: No!

Mr Syakalima: So, I wish he were here when the hon. Members for Lukashya and Chama North were debating. The hon. Member looks lost. He is in his own world. He has never seen anything good. So, I wonder because …

Laughter

Mr Syakalima: … sometimes, when a speech is written for an hon. Minister, he or she just reads, but for the hon. Member, he argues.

Madam Speaker, this afternoon, when I was responding to a question on the Sustainable Agriculture Finance Facility (SAFF) loans, raised by the hon. Member for …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Kalabo.

Mr Syakalima: … Kalabo Central, I said that yes, the people were getting loans. The hon. Member for Mpika has been here in the House, but he sees nothing. I do not know which lenses he uses.

Mr Mubika: Imagine!

Mr Syakalima: I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Well, there are always people like that.

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

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee Stage, later.

______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

______

The House adjourned at 1802 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 18^th February, 2026.

 

___________________

 

WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTION

 CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND UTILISATION BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES

194. Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha) asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development what measures the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities, countrywide, do not use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for staff allowances and programmes unrelated to CDF.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Sialubalo): Madam Speaker, the ministry issued a circular to all 116 local authorities dated 23^rd July, 2024, which guides the utilisation of the 5 per cent administrative component under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The ministry monitors to ensure that the said circular is strictly adhered to by the local authorities. The circular guided on the breakdown, aiming at preventing misuse of the funds and to ensure that all critical areas under the administrative component, are getting the deserved allocations. The ministry guided that the CDF 5 per cent allocation be utilised as follows:

           

              Component                                                    Percentage

 

            Projects Appraisals                                          45

            and Monitoring

 

             Logistics for Meetings                                    10

 

            Capacity Building                                            20

 

            Support for Ward                                                5

            Development Committees

 

            Office Equipment and                                        5

            Supplies

            Communication and                                         15

            Branding

 

            Total                                                                100

Madam Speaker, local authorities are guided to strictly adhere to the provisions of the circular. The remaining 95 per cent of the CDF allocation is distributed as prescribed in the 2022 CDF Guidelines.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.