Wednesday, 4th March, 2026

Wednesday, 4^th March, 2026

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I have received communication to the effect that in the absence of Her Honour the Vice-President, who is attending to other Government Business, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, has been appointed Acting Leader of Government Business in the House from today, Wednesday, 4^th March, 2026, until further notice.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

TEACHERS AND PUPILS FROM AFRICAN VISION OF HOPE CHRISTIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence in the Public Gallery of pupils and teachers from African Vision of Hope Christian Secondary School of Chongwe District.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

STUDENTS FROM EDEN UNIVERSITY

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

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

DELEGATES FROM THE SWEDISH EMBASSY

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence in the Diplomatic Gallery of delegates from the Swedish Embassy led by His Excellency the Ambassador, Mr Johan Hallenborg.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

TEACHERS AND PUPILS FROM MONIQUE’S PRE AND PRIMARY SCHOOL

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

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

LAUNCH OF THE INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY STUDIES AND TRAINING

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, as the House may be aware, in 2023, the National Assembly of Zambia embarked on a process of establishing a parliamentary training institute. Subsequently, the Institute for Parliamentary Studies and Training (iPST) was born. The mandate of the institute is to provide training and capacity-building programmes for parliamentarians, staff and other interested stakeholders. In this vein, I wish to inform the House that the IPST will be officially launched on Monday, 16^th March, 2026. The event will take place in the auditorium here, at the Main Parliament Buildings, starting at 0900 hours. All hon. Members are urged to attend this significant milestone in parliamentary reforms.

I thank you.

_______

URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

Madam Speaker: Clear the console. The people appearing there indicated even before we sang the National Anthem. I thought they were points of order. It is not fair on the people who did not indicate. Information and communication technology (ICT) technicians, please, clear the console.

MS MULENGA, HON. MEMBER FOR KALULUSHI, ON MR MWIIMBU S.C, HON. MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND INTERNAL SECURITY, ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN CHAMBESHI

Ms Mulenga (Kalulushi): Madam Speaker, on an Urgent Matter without Notice.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Ms Mulenga: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity, on behalf of the good people of Kalulushi, to raise an Urgent Matter without Notice particularly for the people of Chambeshi. The matter is directed at the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Madam Speaker, in the last few days, Chambeshi residents have experienced what I would term ‘proper terrorism’. Our residents are living in fear because there are now what we are calling robbers, who attack people, especially teachers, randomly around 1800 hours, stealing their cellular phones and beating them up. Just yesterday, I got a report that five of our residents were badly beaten in different areas of Chambeshi, and this is due to the fact that police officers in the area are deployed to guard mining entities owned by the Chinese. So, the community is left without patrolling officers. Therefore, I would like to ask the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security if more officers can be deployed to the township, or if the officers in the township can be stopped from manning mining areas, and let the Chinese entities deploy their own security, before lives are lost.

I seek your indulgence, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kalulushi, you are making a serious allegation to the effect that police officers who are employed in the police service are guarding private properties, as in Chinese-owned mines. Do you have any evidence to support what you are saying?

Ms Mulenga: Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I did not bring any evidence, but it is within the framework of the law to guard those mines once a request is made and the Zambia Police Service is paid.

Madam Speaker: From what you said, I thought that, maybe, police officers are doing private jobs by guarding mines. If what is happening is within the law, then, we cannot question that.

As for the attacks, I would advise you to report what is happening to the police. Raise the issue with the police. You are saying that an incident happened yesterday, and that there are robbers and so on. You bringing the matter to the Floor of the House and waiting for the hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to present a Ministerial Statement will not sort out the problem. So, I would advise you to immediately engage the police, including the hon. Minister, to see how the matter can be addressed. That way, you take solutions to the people you represent, rather than waiting for a Ministerial Statement. If that fails, then, we can take it up.

I know that there is a very able commanding officer on the Copperbelt Province. So, please, get in touch with him. He will find a way to assist you.

So, that matter is not admitted.

MR KANG’OMBE, HON. MEMBER FOR KAMFINSA, ON MR SYAKALIMA, HON. MINISTER OF EDUCATION, ON THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ZAMBIA QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I wish to direct an Urgent Matter without Notice at the hon. Minister of Education.

Madam Speaker, the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) is one of the most critical institutions in this country, whose responsibility is to verify academic qualifications and ensure that people present the correct academic qualifications. People use academic qualifications to either get employment or seek entry into institutions of higher learning. I believe in that process, but I also believe in the process of running efficient Government institutions. The public outcry from citizens is that when they attempt to have their qualifications verified, they are not managing because of the lengthy process. Apart from the high cost attached to verifying the results, there is also the inefficiency on ZAQA’s end, resulting in people losing out on job opportunities. When one applies for a job, one is told to go to ZAQA and have his/her results verified. Unfortunately, the level of inefficiency in that institution has raised public concern, and today, on behalf of the many people who have requested me to present this matter to the hon. Minister, I thought that this was a matter that required assurance from the Government. The assurance should be that steps are being taken to transform ZAQA into a very efficient organisation that will not deny people opportunities, either to go to university or seek job opportunities.

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Education in order to not assure the nation that steps are being taken to transform ZAQA into an efficient public institution?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, I do not know whether what you have raised is a point of order or an Urgent Matter without Notice, because you said, “Is the hon. Minister of Education in order …”. Clearly, that issue does not qualify to be raised as an Urgent Matter without Notice. The criterion is very clear. The issue that you have raised might be very important, but the serious allegations that you have made; that there is inefficiency and other issues – I think, you can file in a question and then the hon. Minister can come and shed some light on what you are saying. So, the matter is not admitted.

MR B. MPUNDU, HON. MEMBER FOR NKANA, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF EDUCATION, MR SYAKALIMA, ON STUDENT ALLOWANCES NOT BEING PAID AT THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, the Urgent Matter without Notice that I wish to raise is directed at the hon. Minister of Education.

Madam Speaker, trouble is looming in Kitwe. Our young people at the Copperbelt University (CBU) are on the verge of running amok. Since December, last year, our students at the CBU have not been paid their allowances.

Madam Speaker, you may be aware that when the President visited the CBU, students were very anxious and anticipated that this matter would be addressed. I have been bombarded with a number of lamentations because I am a Member of Parliament from Kitwe, and through me, students are seeking the Government’s quick intervention, as they have run out of options.

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Education in order to sit here quietly and not address the students on the Government’s position regarding the allowances they are entitled to? The Government missed an opportunity to address this problem when the President travelled to the Copperbelt to meet the students.

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence before we have trouble.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister of Education, is it true that the students from the Copperbelt University (CBU) have not been paid their allowances? Maybe, you can just clear the air because the hon. Member has made some allegations, if you are able to do that.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, thank you.

Madam Speaker, before the President went to the Copperbelt, there was a rumour, according to what the hon. Members said. However, when I consulted the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB), I was told that that was not true.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, do you have evidence of what you have said? The hon. Minister of Education,

Mr B. Mpundu: I have evidence.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

says that the assertion is not true. Hon. Member for Nkana, do you have evidence, which you can lay on the Table to show that students at the CBU have not been paid their allowances?

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I have personally spoken to students at the CBU.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, the question is: Do you have evidence?

Interruptions

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, if you go to social platforms –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Do you have evidence which you can lay on the Table?

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I do have evidence. I can bring you all the messages I have received from the students. In fact, I can show you that social media is awash with statements from the CBU.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

I always advise against using social media as a source of our information. If you are really concerned about the welfare of the students at the CBU, you could have approached the authorities there. They would have written a letter to you. As an hon. Member representing them, you should have taken that step, at least, so that when you come here with evidence, and the hon. Minister is saying one thing while you are saying another, you would have a document to support your claim. It would be easy to know who is telling the correct story.

Mr B. Mpundu: I have evidence.

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I was just checking the response from the HELSB to me.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Let us listen, hon. Members.

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, the letter dated 21^st February, 2026, on the CBU HELSB payments stated as follows:

“Hon. Minister, I write to provide an update on the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) payment for the Copperbelt University (CBU) students. The CBU currently has 13,167 students who are beneficiaries of HELSB support. Each student is entitled to a meal allowance of K25 per day, payable for the number of days they are on campus, in accordance with the approved academic calendar. Payment is effected after the completion of registration, and HELSB processes have now been automated and are conducted online. The screening process commenced with first-year students and was subsequently extended to returning students. This process was successfully concluded in February 2026.

The meal allowance payment was initially pending March 2026 funding. However, management engaged the student union, and through savings realised from the January funding, an agreement was reached to settle the February meal allowances within the available funds.

Please, note that the CBU closed on Friday, 20^thFebruary, 2026, and students were accordingly paid for twenty days for the month of February. This resulted in each student receiving K500, that is, twenty days multiplied by K25. The total amount disbursed for meal allowances to all beneficiaries in February, was K6.6 million. Attached herewith, is the instruction issued to the bank for the said transfer. Students are expected to return to campus in two-weeks’ time, which falls in March. There is a balance from the January meal allowance, which will be paid together with the book allowances of K14 million in March. Please, advise, should any further clarification be required.”

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, you see. First of all, the students are not even on campus. They have closed, and they have been paid. So, please, when you come to the Floor of the House, give information which is factual and verifiable.

Mr B. Mpundu rose.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Nkana, can you withdraw your Urgent Matter without Notice and apologise for giving wrong information on the Floor of the House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, the information provided by the hon. Minister is not verifiable. It is a letter he is reading from WhatsApp.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Nkana, you have been guided. Can you withdraw your Urgent Matter without Notice and apologise.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, in this segment, we raise matters so that you can rule. It is not for me to withdraw.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, you know the rules of the House. Matters that are presented before this honourable House must be factual and verifiable. I gave an opportunity to the hon. Member for Nkana to confirm whether or not he had facts which can be verified and documented evidence that can be laid on the Table of the House. However, he has failed to do so.

The hon. Minister of Education is the one who is responsible –

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

The hon. Minister of Education has the responsibility to know the affairs of the Ministry of Education, particularly the Copperbelt University (CBU). The information he was reading was from the person in charge at the CBU. The person in charge at the CBU updated the hon. Minister on what the status is currently. So, hon. Member for Nkana, the information you have is either outdated or not truthful. So, I am asking you to withdraw your statement because it is wrong. Withdraw it so that it can be expunged from the Hansard, and then apologise.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, you have asked me to apologise based on unverified information –

Madam Speaker: Order, hon Member for Nkana!

Mr B. Mpundu: Let me apologise.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, you have been guided. Please, do not water down the guidance that has been given to you. Do not challenge the guidance that I have given you. Please, for the last time, I am asking you to withdraw the matter and apologise.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the matter I raised, on which you have guided that based on the information from the hon. Minister, I should apologise. I apologise.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Just withdraw and apologise. Do not explain.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, just to meet your needs, I apologise and I withdraw.

Hon. Members: Question!

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana!

Hon. Member for Nkana, can you leave the House now. Go and reflect on your conduct, and then come back tomorrow after you have reflected. So, today will be deemed as a no-sitting day for all purposes.

Mr B. Mpundu left the Assembly Chamber.

Interruptions

Hon. UPND Members: Ichabaicheso sure?

Madam Speaker: You risk being named.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

Madam Speaker: I have permitted the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation to present a Ministerial Statement.

First, before we proceed, the information that the hon. Member for Nkana stated should be expunged from the record.

_______

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION INTERVENTIONS IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE

The Minister of Water Development and Sanitation (Eng. Nzovu): Madam Speaker, I rise today to update this House and indeed, the people of Zambia, on the tangible and transformative progress the Government has made in expanding access to safe water and improved sanitation services across the Southern Province. These are not promises on paper, but concrete projects delivered, communities transformed and lives improved under the bold and visionary leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.

Madam Speaker, water is dignity. Water is development, and water is opportunity. It is for this reason that the Government has acted with determination to ensure that no district and no community is left behind. Our interventions are deliberate, inclusive and equitable, reaching urban centres, rural communities, border towns and growth centres, alike.

Allow me, Madam Speaker, to take this House through the Government's interventions district by district, so that hon. Members may fully appreciate the scale and impact of our work in the Southern Province. In Livingstone, the Zambezi Raw Water Intake Project has been completed, and this will guarantee reliable water supply to cover over 200,000 residents, even in times of low water flows from the Zambezi River, thus answering the need for climate-resilient water infrastructure.

The Sustainable Access to Clean Water Project in Ngwenya Compound has also been completed and is benefiting over 14,000 residents, while the Manjelende Water Supply Project in Kabila Ward is also benefiting 1,400 residents. Further, the Government has constructed forty-four boreholes, rehabilitated twenty-four boreholes, completed eight piped-water schemes and certified three villages as open defecation free in the past one year. Looking ahead, two new piped-water schemes will be constructed in 2026, which will benefit an additional 500 residents. In addition, the Maramba Sewer Network Rehabilitation Project is currently at the procurement stage, and once completed, will benefit over 21,000 residents.

Madam Speaker, in Choma District, the Government, with the valued support of the German Government, has launched the Management of Water Resources and Sanitation in Medium-Sized Cities Project in Choma and Livingstone, with a primary focus on Choma. This landmark investment, valued at over €32 million, is aimed at rehabilitating critical water infrastructure, expanding sanitation services and strengthening climate resilience. The project is expected to directly benefit over 300,000 residents across the two cities.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report that significant progress has been recorded. The contract for the supply of standby pumps was signed on 23^rd February, 2026 while the evaluation process for the rehabilitation of the eight commercial boreholes is nearing completion. By 6^th May, 2026, tenders for the rehabilitation of 18 km of the Muzuma Rising Main and 5.7 km of the Choma Dam Rising Main will be advertised in the national print media. Towards the end of the third quarter, works will commence on the rehabilitation of water treatment plants and the construction of a climate-resilient water intake in Livingstone. Furthermore, the project will substantially enhance sanitation services through the construction of a 40 m³ per day faecal sludge treatment plant and 1,700 improved pit latrines in Choma. Five additional commercial boreholes will also be drilled by May 2026, alongside comprehensive groundwater monitoring activities to ensure sustainable and responsible water resource management.

Madam Speaker, the Munyike Large Dam Project is at its feasibility stage and, once completed, will benefit communities around Mapanza Growth Centre in Mapanza Constituency. The Government has also rehabilitated Mauka Dam, which supports livestock and irrigation. Further, Mochipapa and Muzuma dams are under rehabilitation.

Madam Speaker, in Kazungula District, the Government completed the Kazungula Water Supply and Sanitation Project Phase 1, which is currently benefiting about 16,000 residents. To increase water storage capacity, Chileya Dam has been completed and is benefiting over 6,300 people and over 9,000 cattle across twenty villages. The Government is also implementing a groundwater mapping and development project, under which three solar-powered production boreholes and a distribution network have been constructed to supply water to Sihumbwa Primary School, the rural health centre and surrounding villages. This project is currently at 80 per cent. Last year alone, 100 boreholes were constructed. In 2026, the Government plans to construct about ten new boreholes, rehabilitate about fifteen boreholes and complete three piped-water schemes to further expand water access.

In Monze District, Madam Speaker, between 2024 and 2025, the Government constructed twenty-two boreholes, rehabilitated forty-seven boreholes, completed fourteen piped-water schemes, rehabilitated twenty-one piped-water schemes and reached over 1,000 people with sanitation and hygiene promotion. As part of the ongoing plans, the K30 million Monze Water Improvement Project will be implemented in 2026 to further extend access to water. Additionally, the Government rehabilitated Luyaba Dam, which is now providing water for livestock, aquaculture and irrigation.

In Chirundu District, the Lusitu Water Recreation Rehabilitation Project has been completed and is currently benefiting about 1,400 residents. Construction of the Mulolobela Dam is ongoing, and once completed, it will benefit over 1,600 people and over 23,000 cattle. In 2026, the Government will construct ten new boreholes, rehabilitate fifteen boreholes and complete three piped-water schemes to further expand water access.

Madam Speaker, in Zimba District, the Government has made significant progress in expanding water and sanitation coverage. Chuundwe Dam has been completed and commissioned, and is currently benefiting over 3,000 people and over 14,000 livestock across nine villages. Siambelele Dam is at 80 per cent, and once completed, it will benefit 1,200 people and over 6,000 cattle across seven villages. Tambana Dam is at 93 per cent, and it will benefit over 4,500 people and over 8,000 cattle in fourteen villages. Further, the Treasure Compound Water Project in Mapatizya has advanced to the procurement stage and once completed, it will address existing supply gaps and strengthen water service delivery in fast-growing settlements.

Madam Speaker, in Pemba District, the Government has drilled forty boreholes and completed five piped water schemes, which are currently benefiting residents. Hajamba Dam has been completed and is benefiting over 2,000 people and over 3,000 livestock across ten villages. Chibwetolo Dam is at 30 per cent, and once completed, it will benefit over 3,000 cattle.

Madam Speaker, in Chikankata District, the Government drilled twelve boreholes, rehabilitated nineteen boreholes and completed eight piped water schemes while fifteen villages have been certified open defecation-free areas. Chisuta Dam is now at 40 per cent and once completed, it will benefit over 9,000 people and over 4,000 cattle.

Madam Speaker, in Siavonga District, the Government has drilled thirty-one boreholes, rehabilitated sixty-eight boreholes, completed seventeen piped water schemes and certified thirty-two villages as open defecation-free areas. Siakalinda Dam is currently at 60 per cent, and once completed, it will benefit over 10,000 people and 6,000 livestock across fourteen villages. In Kalomo District, Jongolo Dam has been completed and is awaiting commissioning. It will benefit twelve villages with over 5,000 people and 3,000 cattle.

Madam Speaker, in Namwala District, Chitongo Dam has been completed and commissioned and it is benefiting over 4,000 people and 15,000 livestock. In Gwembe District, Bondo Dam is under construction and is at 10 per cent and once completed, it will benefit over 9,000 people.

Madam Speaker, in summary, the Government has delivered the following in the Southern Province:

constructed 800 boreholes;

rehabilitated 400 boreholes;

completed 234 piped water schemes;

reached over 440,000 people through the promotion of sanitation and hygiene;

certified 600 villages open defecation-free areas;

constructed five dams;

rehabilitated two dams while two others are still undergoing rehabilitation; and

constructing eight dams.

Madam Speaker, these are not mere words, but clear and measurable evidence that the Government is working, building and transforming communities across the Southern Province, district by district and community by community in line with the National Development Agenda. As we move forward, the Government remains resolute that clean water, safe sanitation and water security are not privileges, but fundamental rights. This Administration will, therefore, continue to mobilise resources, strengthen partnerships and prioritise investments to ensure that every Zambian, regardless of location, has access to reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, hon. Minister of Water, Development and Sanitation.

Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement presented by the hon. Minister of Water, Development and Sanitation.

Dr Andeleki (Katombola): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for according the voice of Katombola Constituency the opportunity to ask the hon. Minister a supplementary question. I thank the hon. Minister for presenting the Ministerial Statement.

Madam Speaker, the people of Katombola Constituency are predominantly farmers and dams are very essential in our constituency. What criteria is the ministry using to allocate dams because Katombola Constituency is lagging behind in terms of dams?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola for that very important question.

Madam Speaker, in answering his question, let me be very clear. Before allocating dams, the Ministry of Water, Development and Sanitation, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment come together so that the sites they choose cater for agricultural and energy potential and, obviously, provide water for domestic and industrial use. In fact, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock also comes on board.

Madam Speaker, further, the House will recall that two years ago, President Hakainde Hichilema declared the drought as an emergency and the ministry undertook a research to establish the suitable locations for the dams and where the impact of the drought would be the highest. So, I have explained the criterion we use. However, I am also aware that Katombola is, indeed, one place where the Government will construct a dam very soon. So, the ministry is constructing the dams in phases.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Madam Speaker, as you can see, most of the hon. Members who have indicated are from the Southern Province. You sometimes say that some questions are constituency-specific but in this case, the question is province-specific. However, as the hon. Minister was explaining, I got interested because there is no way the Southern Province can have such a glamorous report on water availability. When will the hon. Minister give us information about the Copperbelt and other districts that are affected by water problems particularly, Mufulira District? When will the hon. Minister give an outlook of what the New Dawn Government is doing regarding this issue?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Kantanshi for that question.

Madam Speaker, indeed, the report for the Southern Province is glamourous just like other reports are because a lot is happening across all the provinces. Maybe, for the information of the hon. Member for Kantanshi, I came to the House and updated the hon. Members of Parliament from the Copperbelt on what the Government is doing on the Copperbelt. The biggest pressure on the Copperbelt is not really the dams, but the piped water schemes because most of the areas are urban. Last time, I talked about what the Government is doing in Nkana, Mufulira and the hon. Member of Parliament’s area. Since I already issued a statement on that, I invite the hon. Member to the office so that I can inform him what the Government is doing on the Copperbelt.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the statement.

Madam Speaker, just like the hon. Member for Kantanshi has said, it is clear that the Government has done a lot in the Southern Province. However, I want the hon. Minister to correct the impression that might be created by those who are listening that the Government has only worked in the Southern Province. Is he in a position to come back to this House and tell the people of Zambia what the Government has done in every province so that they appreciate that the Government is doing work in every province?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me be very clear. Obviously, for now, we are talking about the Southern Province. We are not talking about the Eastern Province, Central Province or, indeed, Copperbelt Province. The dams or water reticulation points we are talking about are in the Southern Province. When I came here to update the nation on the other provinces, it was stated that the report was glamorous, and the concentration was only on those provinces. The Government has built dams in various chiefdoms in the Eastern Province, just like it has built many dams in the North-Western Province, Central Province and other provinces. So, to correct the hon. Member for Chitambo’s impression, water and sanitation interventions are not only being undertaken in the Southern Province, but all provinces across the country. This Government is working well in terms of equitable distribution of resources for dams across the length and breadth of the country. So, no one should create the impression that the interventions are only being undertaken in the Southern Province. At this moment, the update is on the Southern Province.

Madam Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to encourage hon. Members of Parliament to pay attention when we talk about a particular province, because I can tell you, again, that if there is a province where one big investment worth billions of Kwacha has been made, it is the Copperbelt Province. For example, the commissioned Kafulafuta Dam was constructed at a cost of US$400 million, and almost US$100 million will be spent on the Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Project. So, if the totals are aggregated, we would say that the largest amount of money has been invested on the Copperbelt Province. Let us follow one another as Ministerial Statements are presented.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the hon. Minister for presenting the Ministerial Statement.

Madam Speaker, I remember quite well that about two years ago, I asked the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation if some of the dams in my constituency could be rehabilitated, for example, the Kanundwa, Halwakamba, Chibuyu, Nakaulwe, Moonzwe, Ntandabale and Luyaba Dams in Choongo West, as well as the Hinguluma and Keemba Dams in Keemba Ward. I would like to thank the hon. Minister because the ministry, in collaboration with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), managed to rehabilitate one out of nine dams, which had spilt over. The situation in Bweengwa Constituency is very bad. The people depend entirely on livestock. I want to know whether there are any funds allocated under the ministry for the maintenance or rehabilitation of those dams. I think that is where we are failing. Most of the dams are on the verge of collapse. Some dams have actually collapsed. Is funding set aside for maintenance when dams are constructed?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, the questions that hon. Members are asking are very important.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member has brought out two important issues. One is the need for frequent maintenance. Most of the dams in the country are earth dams. They are like roads, and they need maintenance through vegetation control, repairs on the spillways and the earth dam itself.

Madam Speaker, the answer to the first question is that funds are allocated every year for the rehabilitation of dams. Last year, I reported to the House the progress on the rehabilitation of over 700 dams. This year, again, funds have been allocated. Most of the dams that were not rehabilitated last year will be maintained this year.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Bweengwa has talked about something very important, which is the need for all hon. Members of Parliament to place water as an important item on the expenditure of the CDF. So, I would like to encourage them to use some of the CDF allocation so as to adequately supply water to the people. Before I was appointed Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, I led by example by constructing a very good dam in Nangoma Constituency. It is worth noting that Hon. Kasauta Michelo’s constituency has used some of the CDF allocation to rehabilitate dams. As the saying goes, “Water is life”. So, we need to ensure that it is given to our residents.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutinta (Itezhi-Tezhi): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Itezhi-Tezhi, to ask a question on a point of clarification.

Madam Speaker, Itezhi-Tezhi has a population of over 135,000 people, and the urban community has a population of over 30,000 people. There is also a population of animals that is more than the people. I did not hear the hon. Minister say anything about Itezhi-Tezhi in the Ministerial Statement. So, I am wondering whether Itezhi-Tezhi is part of the Southern Province or not. If it is, what interventions has the ministry put in place to deal with the water reticulation system in the district? It is the only district in the province that does not have a water plant to service its people. It is also the only district that has not had a functional dam since time immemorial. The people of Itezhi-Tezhi want to know how the ministry is prioritising the district.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me start by apologising for not talking about Itezhi-Tezhi, despite having done a lot of work there. Just for the record, the ministry is currently helping the people of Itezhi-Tezhi to improve water supply by working with the local council and the hon. Member to request ZESCO Limited to not only increase the capacity for obstruction and treatment, but also expand the distribution network. Further, working with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and recognising that most cattle comes from that area, the ministry is working on a project to channel water from the Kafue River, as well as ponds across the flats to points where the cattle is. So, there is an ongoing project between the two ministries to ensure that water is provided to the people of Itezhi-Tezhi.

Madam Speaker, I am also aware that a number of boreholes and piped-water schemes have been worked on in Itezhi-Tezhi, as the hon. Member would attest. So, it is regrettable that the projects were not mentioned. The people of Itezhi-Tezhi must be assured that they are part of Zambia, they are part of the Southern Province, and they will be taken care of.

Madam Speaker, let me confirm that a dam will be constructed in Itezhi-Tezhi. It is hoped that the feasibility studies and designs will be completed this year.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Hamwaata (Pemba): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to ask a question on a point of clarification, on behalf of the good people of Pemba Constituency.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the hon. Minister for the completion of Hajamba Dam and other works.

Madam Speaker, I keenly followed the construction of two dams, that is Hajamba and Chibwentolo, on which the hon. Minister informed this august House that they were at 30 per cent completion. The hon. Minister may be aware that the Chibwentolo Dam had its wall washed away, and that affected our farmers downstream because of the silting of the weir dams. I want to know the status of the contract. The community is not happy with the work that was done by the contractor. Will the contractor continue because, as it is now, works are not happening on the site, completely nothing? The percentage I have talked about has been the same for more than one year.

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

Madam Speaker, I can understand his frustrations. We are with him since we have discussed the non-performance of this contractor. There are illegal issues surrounding the contract and we are trying to see what we are able to salvage. If we are unable to salvage anything, we will see if we can cancel this contract and restart the process. We want to reassure the people of Pemba that the Government is doing everything possible to ensure that the works are completed.

Madam Speaker, I am glad to report to this House that the ministry, working with the hon. Member of Parliament, averted a catastrophe one of the years when the water supply system in the area dried up. So, I want to commend him for taking good care of his people. I think that he is a very pushy hon. Member of Parliament, and we were able to do many things because of his leadership.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mrs Sabao (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, thank you and I also thank the hon. Minister for his comprehensive statement.

Madam Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister mentioned that the Chisuta Dam is 40 per cent complete, but that the contractor left the site towards the end of 2024. To date, the contractor has not gone back on site. When will the contractor go back on site to complete the remaining 60 per cent of the works so that the people of Chikankata can have access to the source of water?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank Hon. Sabao for that very important question.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member has raised an issue that is similar to the one raised by the hon. Member for Pemba. We also have issues with the same contractor. However, I want to assure the people of Chikankata that the ministry, working together with the hon. Member of Parliament, is doing everything possible to ensure that the works are restarted as quickly as possible. There are issues of performance surrounding the contract and I think that we are almost finding a solution so that we can complete the dam. From the people of Chikankata, we can only ask for their patience as we resolve the issues so that we can complete the dam.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for that very good statement.

Madam Speaker, we want to commend the ministry for working with us very well on Mauka Dam, which is now complete, as well as on other smaller projects. The Mapanza Dam, which is the main comprehensive dam that is supposed to be constructed behind St. Marks on the confluence of Munyeke and Ngonge rivers is supposed to be a game changer to the agricultural situation of the entire constituency. When does the hon. Minister think this dam will start being constructed so that we can harvest from the heavy waters flowing through Mbabala Constituency?

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Mbabala for that question. Yes, indeed, the good people of Mbabala are celebrating because the construction of the mentioned dam is a project that was successfully completed.

Madam Speaker, the dam we envisage to construct across the Ngonge River in Mapanza is what we classify as a large dam. Currently, we are conducting feasibility studies and detailed designs so that we can estimate the cost and obviously, budget for them. So, I am not able to give a time period in which we will start the works, except to say that we have already started the feasibility studies and designs. Hopefully, in the next year or two, we should be able to advance in procuring a contractor to construct the works.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mulunda (Siavonga): Madam Speaker, I want to appreciate the Government through the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation for the construction of the Siakalinda Dam, which is 60 per cent complete. Aside from the dam which the Government has constructed in Siakalinda, are there plans to build dams in other areas that are hard-hit with water shortages, such as Kawila, Simamba, Kabuyu, Mutuba and other places?

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

Madam Speaker, indeed, Siakalinda Dam is 60 per cent complete. What is gratifying is that we classify this dam as a medium to large-sized dam. Let me take this opportunity to request hon. Members of Parliament in areas where dams have been constructed or where there are old dams to start adding value to those reservoirs. It has been observed that activities around both the newly-constructed dams and the old ones are very low. Using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), we can stock those reservoirs with fish. We can also develop small gardens, use the same water for irrigation and keep livestock around those areas. The purpose of constructing dams is to ensure that we add value. So, I would like to request my fellow hon. Members of Parliament, especially those in areas with abundant water, like Luena, to invest in water abstraction systems. They can collect the water and use it for irrigation, like what the current Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Dr Musokotwane is doing. I thank him for that.

Madam Speaker –

Ms Mulenga: Leader of the Opposition?

Eng. Nzovu: Oh! Leader of Government Business in the House.

Laughter

Eng. Nzovu: Question!

Oh sorry.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: I was getting confused.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I meant the Leader of Government Business in the House, who is Hon. Dr Musokotwane, currently.

Madam Speaker: Yes.

Eng. Nzovu: Apologies.

Madam Speaker, I want to confirm that, yes, indeed, we have plans. The need for water harvesting infrastructure is huge. I can only encourage my fellow hon. Members of Parliament to invest more. I would also like to request the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to allocate more funding to this ministry. Water is an economic enabler; it is life, supports irrigation, it supports hydropower generation and it supports livestock. If we are going to be food secure, energy secure and water secure, we need water harvesting infrastructure. Our people are crying for dams and boreholes every day. Due to climate change, some water sources are drying up. So, the ladies, women or girls who fetch water have to travel long distances. So, let us work together to ensure that we provide water to our people.

In short, Madam Speaker, yes, we have plans to construct more dams when funds allow.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Madam Speaker: A point of order israised.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise a point of order reluctantly so, but obviously, clarity must be given.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation engages the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning on the Floor of the House and asks him to allocate more funds to his ministry. This is an undertaking that he can carry out during Cabinet meetings. Is he in order to engage his fellow Cabinet hon. Minister on the Floor of the House, like a BackBencher would do, when he always has an opportunity during Cabinet meetings to table such matters concerning his ministry?

Madam Speaker: So, what is the breach? What rule or Standing Order has been breached?

Hon. UPND Members: Waona manje!

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, it is Standing Order No. 71, coupled with the procedure of the House and precedents.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Madam Speaker: No, Standing Order No. 71 does not apply, hon. Member. I will not even take the time to read it to remind you.

So, I think, there is no rule against one hon. Minister urging or requesting another hon. Minister to do a particular thing. It is for the benefit of the people to show that the hon. Minister is making a request. He is not sitting idly. Whatever follows will be done in the Cabinet. There is no breach that has been occasioned. So, the hon. Minister is in order. It is actually the hon. Member for Mpika who is out of order.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Nakaponda (Isoka): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for according me an opportunity to ask a supplementary question, on behalf of the people of Isoka. I also thank the hon. Minister for his Ministerial Statement.

Madam Speaker, water is life. I say so because in Isoka, we have a very big problem, where water is concerned. Last time, I asked the hon. Minister about constructing a dam in Isoka. We have a very big river called Kasimbi which has plenty of water but to date, nothing has been done. I have heard that the Government has constructed many dams in the Southern Province. I know that the statement is about the Southern Province but even the people of Isoka want water because water is life. Now, when is the ministry going to construct a dam in Isoka? We have no dam in Isoka, not even one. When is the Government going to construct a dam on Kasimbi River in Isoka Constituency?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. I know, when I was being asked the question, I remembered the N’cwala Ceremony we attended. Inkosi yama nkosi, Mpezeni, had very good advice for my fellow hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika and his President.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear! I like it.

Eng. Nzovu: You know, when you have never been a Minister, you may not understand certain things. Let me answer the question, since I am the one seated in this chair.

Madam Speaker, indeed, water is life. Since we are discussing the Southern Province today, I do not have an answer for the hon. Member, but I can invite her to the office. I can tell her that we have constructed a number of dams in the province she comes from. Let the public know that today, we are discussing the Southern Province. So, obviously, the dams we are discussing are in the Southern Province. We discussed dams on the Copperbelt Province, the Central Province and other provinces. When one compares the total number of dams in the Southern Province with the number in your constituency, obviously, one will see that the number in her constituency is smaller. We are talking about the Southern Province. We will come and talk about the other provinces as well.

Madam Speaker, please, it is very important that we follow the debates so that we do not mislead the public. Today, we are discussing the Southern Province; that is why all the dams obviously are from there. Again, I must say, look at the figures, hon. Member. This Government has spent in excess of US$1 billion from our National Budget on the Copperbelt Province. So, we are still going to Isoka. The people of Isoka must be patient. Through their hon. Member of Parliament, we can update them. Come to the office tomorrow, hon. Member for Isoka so that we update the people of Isoka.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

The hon. Member for Mkushi South, you wanted to raise a point of order? What was the point of order? Has it been overtaken by events?

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, I will ask a question instead of a point of order.

Then, let me ask the hon. Member for Moomba to take the Floor, since he indicated earlier.

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Madam Speaker, let me join my hon. Colleagues in thanking the hon. Minister for the efforts his ministry is making to ensure that our people and animals have safe and clean drinking water.

Madam Speaker, in response to the question by the hon. Members for Pemba and the hon. Member for Chikankata, the hon. Minister said that some contractors are abandoning projects and others are taking more than one year to complete projects. This does not happen only in his ministry; I can give an example of contractors constructing communication towers. They also leave and do not complete projects. We are struggling to fix the problem of contractors abandoning work, and we are forever engaging them. Does the ministry not have a certain timeframe, say six months, for completing work? If a contractor abandons a project within that six months, for example, automatically, another contractor should be found immediately, so that our people are given the services they need. Do we not have a standard timeframe to give to contractors?

Madam Speaker, I thank you very much.

Eng. Nzovu: Madam Speaker, let me thank the hon. Member of Parliament for that very important and thought-provoking question. Maybe, I should start with the good news. The good news is that more and more local contractors are performing better now. I think, what used to happen was that contractors would sign contracts with the ministry and would be paid advance payments. Afterwards, they would abandon works, but nothing would happen to them. I will state very clearly here that at the time this Government came into power, the failure rate for local contractors, particularly, on sanitation projects in the ministry, was in excess of 60 per cent. Projects used to be abandoned. What we did was to ensure that the rule of law was followed. Any contractor who signed a contract with Government was required to perform. Obviously, for those who did not perform, we cashed their bonds as securities. Some were taken to court. We have recovered monies from local contractors. So, our no-nonsense approach to poor performance has helped. The hon. Member of Parliament who talked about Siakalinda Dam will be my witness. When we threatened local contractors with legal action and told them that we would cash their bonds, many of them went back to their sites, hence some projects have been successfully completed. Some projects have been successfully completed because we were hard on the contractors. The other good news is that we rewarded the contractors who performed well with more work.

Madam Speaker, to answer the question why works have taken so long, again, a contract is a legal document. What has basically happened is that, it has also taken long to wind up issues in court and recover the money. Some contractors have gone to court. So, most of the works have taken long to be completed because of the legal system. We involved the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice in most of the contracts to help us, so that the Government does not lose money. This is the reason some contracts have taken long.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: We have exhausted the time, so we make progress.

Mr Chisopa interjected.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Mkushi South, we have run out of time. So, you cannot ask your question.

MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD ZAMBIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation (Mr Haimbe, SC.): Madam Speaker, I rise to update this honourable House and the nation on the evolving security situation in the Middle East and the measures being taken by the Government to safeguard the welfare of our citizens residing in or transiting through the affected region.

Overview of the Situation

Madam Speaker, in recent days, we have witnessed an escalation in military activity in parts of the Middle East, including aerial and missile exchanges affecting several countries within the Middle East and in the Gulf region. These developments have resulted in civilian injuries, infrastructure damage, temporary closure of airspace in certain areas and heightened security tension in the region. The situation remains fluid and subject to rapid change. Therefore, the Government is closely monitoring the security developments in the regions through its diplomatic missions and multilateral channels.

Government Co-ordination and Preparedness

Madam Speaker, in light of the evolving security situation mentioned above, the Government has activated an intensified inter-ministerial co-ordination mechanism to comprehensively assess the situation and to review, refine and strengthen contingency preparedness measures. This has brought together relevant ministries and agencies responsible for foreign affairs, defence, disaster management and security co-ordination as well as heads of mission accredited to countries in the affected regions. The objectives are to:

receive real-time updates from our missions;

assess potential risk to Zambian nationals;

review and refine contingency evacuation frameworks; and

strengthen inter-agency co-ordination mechanisms.

Therefore, all missions in the affected regions have been directed to:

update and confirm registers of Zambian nationals;

maintain constant communication with Zambian communities;

submit scenario-based costed evacuation plans and co-ordinate with relevant partners; and

host authorities to ensure preparedness should circumstances deteriorate further.

Status of Zambian Nationals

Madam Speaker, Zambian nationals are resident across several countries within the affected regions. This includes our nationals in academic study, professional practise, private sector employment and service within the diplomatic corps.

Madam Speaker, allow me to state clearly that as of this moment, the Government has not received any reports, verified or otherwise, of injury or loss of life involving any Zambian national as a result of the ongoing hostilities in the regions. This position is based on confirmed updates from our missions based in Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, as I mentioned earlier, we are alive that the situation remains fluid.

Madam Speaker, some of our nationals have encountered temporary travel disruptions arising from precautionary airspace closures and heightened security measures. In response, our missions have remained fully engaged on the ground, providing timely guidance, facilitating consular support and co-ordinating necessary assistance to ensure the safety and welfare of Zambian nationals where required.

Consular Intervention in High-Risk Areas

Madam Speaker, the Government is currently managing an urgent consular matter involving a Zambian family of five residing in the Kurdistan region –

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Mkushi South, hon. Member for Mufulira and hon. Member for Matero, please, if you want to consult, you can go out quietly and consult. Do not talk so loudly. We can hear everything that you are saying. So, we are not able to follow what the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation is saying.

May the hon. Minister continue.

Mr Haimbe, SC.: Madam Speaker, I will repeat. The Government is currently managing an urgent consular matter involving a Zambian family of five residing in the Kurdistan Region, an autonomous region of Iraq. In light of the deteriorating security environment, arrangements have been made, initiated through our mission in Cairo, to facilitate their evacuation. Efforts are also ongoing to ascertain the whereabouts and status of a Zambian national reported to reside in Iran. Through co-ordinated engagements with our missions in Cairo, Ankara and Turkey, preparations are underway to facilitate safe transit through the nearest viable corridor subject to prevailing security assessments. I wish to assure this House that the matter is being handled with the utmost urgency and due sensitivity.

Madam Speaker, I further wish to inform the House that the Government of the United Arab Emirates is providing support and temporary accommodation to stranded passengers. This intervention has significantly contributed to the easing of the impact of recent travel disruptions.

Travel and Security Advisory

Madam Speaker, in response to the evolving security environment, the ministry issued a travel and security advisory to all Zambian nationals residing in or visiting the affected regions. Our nationals have been advised to:

remain vigilant and avoid areas near military installations or key Government infrastructure;

stay indoors and utilise designated protected spaces when alerts are issued;

strictly follow instructions issued by local authorities;

avoid non-essential travel to affected areas;

maintain contact with the nearest Zambian mission;

ensure travel documents remain valid and readily accessible; and

confirm flight operations directly with airlines due to temporary partial airspace closures.

Madam Speaker, the travel situation is progressively stabilising with flight operations gradually resuming. Notably, Emirates has commenced the phased restoration of its services, signalling a turn toward normal aviation activity in the regions. Nevertheless, the Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue further guidance to the public should the need arise.

Zambian Foreign Policy Position

Madam Speaker, Zambia is a peace-loving and non-aligned nation. Therefore, we do not take sides in conflicts of this nature. Our consistent position is guided by the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, non-interference in international affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to the United Nations Charter and International Law. We, therefore, call upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint, prioritise dialogue and embrace diplomatic engagement in order to prevent further escalation and safeguard regional and global stability.

Madam Speaker, as the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has consistently reminded us, instability anywhere is instability everywhere. This principle underscores the interconnected nature of our global community. Instability in one region inevitably carries implications for international peace, economic stability and human security beyond its immediate borders. It is for this reason that Zambia continues to advocate for restraint, dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes as the only sustainable path to a lasting peace.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the Government remains fully seized of the evolving situation in the affected regions. Our response continues to be guided by vigilance, co-ordination, preparedness and the well-being of Zambian nationals wherever they may be. Interagency mechanisms remain actively engaged and our diplomatic missions are continuously in contact with Zambian nationals resident in their countries of accreditation and extra-accreditation to ensure timely communication and support. The safety, security and welfare of our citizens abroad remain our foremost priority. We shall continue to monitor developments closely in real time. However, should the security environment require further intervention, the Government will respond in a measured, co-ordinated, but efficacious manner.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the Ministerial Statement presented by the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, I want to appreciate the Ministerial Statement, which is very comprehensive, that the hon. Minister has actually rendered to this House.

Madam Speaker, one of the three factors of production is labour and the hon. Minister has mentioned in the statement what our Republican President has always mentioned; instability in the neighbour is instability in our country. He has also talked about the economic instability that might spill over to other countries as a result of the situation in question.

Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether what is happening in the Middle East will affect the economic stability of our country, which is doing so well at the moment. Are we going to be affected economically in terms of stability?

Mr Haimbe, SC: Madam Speaker, to the extent that I can respond to that question, I will speak to the facts as we know them now. We are aware that as a result of that escalating conflict situation, there is a challenge with the transportation of goods from the affected region. Amongst the goods that are affected is crude oil. So, certainly, there will be an impact on the entire globe with regard to crude oil and other goods that come from the region.

Madam Speaker, in terms of our situation, I am aware that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning always puts in place measures to buffer against instability that can occur from outside. The question that remains is: How long will this conflict situation last and what other global mitigation measures will be put in place? For those issues, we can only wait to see what happens, but suffice to say that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning always puts in place contingency plans.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr C. Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, let me also thank the hon. Minister for giving a brief background on what measures the Government is putting in place regarding the war that is taking place in the Gulf Region, which is a very unfortunate war that is taking place at this particular time, when we are all looking at advancing and developing our nations. As you know, in the Middle East is where our driving engines for economies evolve. We are looking at oil.

Madam Speaker, I would like to find out what happens in an event where that war escalates beyond what we have in mind, which is, maybe, a month. We could be looking at a situation, probably, similar to the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has ravaged and gone on for over a year. What measures is the Government looking at putting in place to try and evacuate our nationals who are trapped in that particular region?

Mr Haimbe, SC: Madam Speaker, thank you, and I thank the hon. Member for Kwacha for that important question, and the observations underlying it.

Madam Speaker, as I indicated in the Ministerial Statement, the contingency plans that are in place are monitored literally on a minute-by-minute or hour-by-hour sort of approach, in real time, in short, and these contingency plans are costed. The hon. Member for Kwacha will note, for instance, that the United Kingdom (UK) decided that it would give effect to its contingency plans, and we saw this morning, or late last evening, an aircraft being chartered from Emirates to ferry UK citizens back to their country. Similarly, the Republic of Zambia does, in fact, put in place mechanisms to ferry Zambian citizens via an arranged transportation mechanism. So, should that eventuality come to pass, we are ready for it.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation for that able answer. I must note that his ministry has had, including his predecessor, diplomats who have been equal to the task of that ministry. It is just unfortunate that the hon. Minister will not be back in the Fourteenth Session of Parliament.

Laughter

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Sampa: Madam Speaker, we will miss him. That said, I want to find out – the hon. Minister has done well with all that is being done with that unfortunate war, and one hopes it does not lead to a third world war.

Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the able hon. Minister whom the Zambians he said he has been in touch are. If at all, he is in touch with one Zambian who plays football in Saudi Arabia, Fashion Sakala? Has he been in touch, and is he well? Is the Government making an effort to help him come back to Zambia safely?

Mr Haimbe, SC: Madam Speaker, thank you, and I must thank the hon. Member for Matero for always making a joke of matters that he brings to the Floor of this House. It keeps us in a lively spirit. For instance, he talked about who shall not return in the Fourteenth Session. Clearly, I can only take that as a joke. However, in the eventuality that the hon. Member does not return, which is likely, we will equally miss him. That was on a lighter note.

Madam Speaker, indeed, we do value every one of our citizens, all of us being equal before the law and equal in our citizenship as a country. We specifically treasure those who have lifted the country’s flag very high, such as Fashion Sakala and other heroes of this country. I can assure the hon. Member that the teams that have been given the duty of tracking every Zambian have equally been in touch with those in Saudi Arabia, and we are keeping a close eye on them. All of them are our national treasures.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Chama North, you may proceed, and you will be followed by the hon. Member for Chama South, who is joining us virtually. Hon. Member for Chama South, please, get ready.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity and I want to thank the hon. Minister for that Ministerial Statement. We do appreciate the steps the Government is taking to ensure that our people are safe in the Middle East.

Madam Speaker, before I ask a question, allow me to also convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who have been killed in the war between Israel, America and Iran, especially those children in Iran, who were more than a hundred and died as a result of a bomb strike.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned that Zambia is part of the non-aligned movement. We are non-aligned. I know that Zambia severed relations with Israel fifty years ago because of the Palestinian cause.

Madam Speaker, when war breaks out in the Middle East, of course, it has serious economic repercussions, including on our country, Zambia, because the oil prices definitely go up, which affects the world economy. So, I want to find out the Government’s position on whether that war is really justified.

Mr Haimbe, SC.: I thank you, Madam Speaker, and I also thank the hon. Member for Chama North for that question. I believe that is a question based on international relations theory.

Madam Speaker, I would like to correct one or two impressions, if you may allow me, from the question raised by the hon. Member for Chama North. Firstly, he speaks about having severed diplomatic relations with Israel fifty years ago on account of the Palestinian question. The hon. Member is not correct. With due respect, relations were severed on account of the war between Israel and Egypt. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) at the material time, decided that all member states should sever ties with Israel in solidarity with Egypt, not because of the Palestinian question. So, let us be absolutely clear when we raise these questions and theories that underline them.

Madam Speaker, in fact, diplomatic relations with Israel were restored by the late President Chiluba in 1991. From then, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government took a step further and re-opened our Embassy in Egypt in 2015. That is the historical context of our relationship with Israel. We do not want the people of Zambia to be misled. In addition, the hon. Member failed to mention that, in fact, we enjoy strong cordial relations with the State of Palestine from time immemorial to date. Therefore, questions around whether this war can be justified, and so on and so forth, are not put forward in the correct theoretical perspective. Our position, as the Government, has been explained over and over with regard to any hostility on the globe. We do not support it. We say that there must be a diplomatic solution, similar to the war in the MiddleEast. As the Government, we further reaffirm and believe that the solution lies in a two-State solution with the two; Palestine and Israel, living side by side in harmony.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

The next to ask a question is the hon. Member for Chawama.

Mr Nundwe (Chawama): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for the opportunity –

Madam Speaker: Sorry, I forgot.

Mr Nundwe: You said Chawama, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Yes, sorry about that. Let us have the hon. Member for Chama South first.

I told him to be ready, and he is now ready.

You may proceed, hon. Member.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, let me begin by thanking the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation for commissioning the state-of-the-art police station in Lubwa Ward 15, in Lusaka Central, where I am. His coming back is guaranteed.

Madam Speaker, let me also thank His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema, for the historic invitation to all councillors across the nation to interact with him as Head of State. We have no doubt that such leadership is above self-interest. We are very grateful to President Hakainde Hichilema for doing that.

Madam Speaker, what preparations has the hon. Minister put in place to educate the Zambian citizens on the impact of this war, particularly on crude oil prices? For the first time, crude oil prices have risen to US$85 per barrel, and Zambia does not produce any crude oil. Therefore, oil prices will be increased. Is the ministry preparing to disseminate this information so that the people of Zambia can understand that their Government has worked so hard to reduce the price of oil? They should understand that the country does not produce oil; it is produced in the Gulf States, where there is a war. So, going forward, oil prices will go up. This will help avoid any propaganda as we head towards elections.

Mr Haimbe, SC.: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I also thank the hon. Member for Chama South for his contribution and for the question that has been asked.

Madam Speaker, I would also say, probably, the hon. Member for Chama South was speaking in jest as well. However, what he says is music to my ears when he talks about me returning, and I receive his kind words.

Madam Speaker, indeed, a lot of effort has been made by this Government, under the leadership His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema, to restore the country to the position it ought to be, to reverse the negative trends that were inherited and which took great effort on the part of the Government, the President and his team, to see the fortunes of the country back on course. It is, indeed, a very daunting prospect that this conflict would possibly cause. Well, it has been seen that there is already a rise in the cost of crude oil. As the hon. Member for Chama South has pointed out, crude oil is an essential ingredient to our economic activities here in Zambia, in terms of the by-products of it, such as petroleum, and so on and so forth.

Madam Speaker, it is important for the people of Zambia to understand that this is a factor outside of our control. Whilst the hon. Minister will, and has put in place contingency measures to avoid a shock to the economy in a way that cannot be properly managed, nonetheless, as the hon. Member for Chama South has pointed out, we need to be vigilant, alive and patriotic as Zambians, that there is this unfortunate incident that can have a negative effect on all the hard work that has been put in place.

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned in the Ministerial Statement, we are currently sitting in inter-ministerial committees, including the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), to forestall some of the possible consequences of this unfortunate situation. So, using this platform, we need to ask our people in Zambia to brace for a potential outcome that would be injurious to us from this unexpected event.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nundwe (Chawama): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the statement from the hon. Minister is very insightful and, of course, resourceful. However, he used a very critical phrase; that the situation is still fluid in that area. The word “fluid” means that the situation is unpredictable, and the circumstances are still unbearable.

Madam Speaker, should we wait, as a nation, for the situation to become more unbearable before we retrieve our nationals? Do we have a special arrangement to not allow our citizens to get into serious doldrums of the unbearable situation in that area?

Mr Haimbe, SC.: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I also thank the hon. Member for Chawama for that important intervention.

Madam Speaker, indeed, the word ‘fluid’ does denote unpredictability to a certain degree, which can be either positive or negative. It could be that the hostilities begin to de-escalate tomorrow, or they could escalate even further. That is why we use the word ‘fluid’. As mentioned, once again, in the Ministerial Statement, the monitoring is literally done day by day, minute by minute, so as to ensure that we are not caught on the back foot. The contingency plans that have been put in place look at various possible scenarios in this fluid situation so that we are ahead of them reaching a point where we can do nothing about it. So, it is not to say that we will wait for the last minute. That is why a contingency plan is in place, for us to be able to take effective measures as and when certain triggers take place. Those triggers have yet to be seen as of now. Those triggers are not at the point of no return, but when we see certain factors falling into place, which can then compel us to move in and take the necessary action pre-emptively rather than correctively, we will do that.

Madam Speaker, why do we have to wait for the appropriate time and those triggers to come in place? It is because our citizens are playing different roles within the societies in which they currently reside. Any premature action would not only be disruptive to the societies they are in but also to the lives of our citizens. So, one has to take a very careful and calculated step. If it were soccer, the sliding tackle should come at the right time. Otherwise, one gets a red card.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, today, around 1100 hours, I spoke to about four students from Cyprus. As you know, Caprus is one of the countries that have been targeted.

Hon. Members: Cyprus!

Mr Fube: I said Cyprus.

Mr Nkandu: Not surplus?

Laughter

Mr Fube: Yes, I said Cyprus. Anyway, I did not come to Parliament for trivialities. I deal with serious business.

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, when I talked to the students, I noticed that they are experiencing serious psychological trauma. You know that Cyprus, which the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts cannot pronounce, is one of the countries that have been targeted. The bombardment between the warring countries is happening every day at lightning speed. It is a competition of who has more military muscle. I think you know what has happened in the Gulf region. What is the Government doing to reach out to the categories of people whom the hon. Minister talked about? He talked about the diplomatic corps, students and many others. Has the Government made any effort to reach out and identify people? What measures have been put in place to pacify the psychological trauma that people are likely to suffer? People are panicking, clearly.

Mr Haimbe, SC.: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Chilubi for that intervention.

Madam Speaker, I outlined some of the measures that we have undertaken. The Zambian nationals living in Cyprus or studying there are no exception. I think, the hon. Member may also be aware that, in fact, that territory is administered under two separate state entities. On the one hand is the United Kingdom (UK) and on the other hand is Türkiye. We are in touch via our ambassadors with extra accreditation in those two countries to deal with matters relating to our nationals in Cyprus. Indeed, part of the package includes the welfare of our nationals, making sure that matters such as the psychological trauma that has been referred to are addressed and counselling is offered. As the hon. Member has correctly observed, Cyprus has not been excluded from the ongoing escalation in military activity. We will continue to act in the best interest of our people.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sialubalo interjected.

Mr Twasa (Kasenengwa): Madam Speaker, thank you very much. The hon. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development is saying, “Alema Minister, mulekelelenikoni”, meaning that the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation is tired of answering questions.

Nonetheless, Madam Speaker, …

Mr J. Chibuye: Uli wamulomo!

Mr Sialubalo: Wamulomo!

Mr Twasa: … we seem to be asking almost similar questions.

Madam Speaker, at this point, I have noticed that we are dealing with pounds and maybe neglecting pennies. The hon. Minister has explained very well how the Government intends to take care of Zambian nationals who may be stuck in the countries affected by the war which is going on. Is there a specific message for Zambian nationals who are one, stuck in the countries affected by the war, and two, stuck beyond the countries directly affected by war, but their flights are in the countries affected by war? I am saying so because at this time, flights in the Middle East have been cancelled, and the flights for government officials and big organisations are being rerouted at the expense of their sponsors. There are Zambian individuals who could have travelled for business or any other activity, and their visas have expired. They are stuck. They do not know what to do or where to go. How does the Government intend to help them? Does he have a message for the Zambians who are communicating with their relatives? People are stuck at airports because one, their flights were cancelled, and two, their visas expired. They are scared of being picked up by local immigration officers and being locked up because their visas have expired. They have nowhere to run. Does he have a message to give them? Is there any special fund which can be used to help those people’s flights to be rerouted, so that they can travel back to Zambia soon?

Mr Haimbe, SC.: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Kasenengwa for that important question and intervention.

Madam Speaker, at the risk of being repetitive, as the hon. Member recognised, our actions are multisectoral. Of course, we are constantly in touch with the host countries. The situation, being an act of God or a force majeure, is beyond the individuals affected by the change in circumstances, for instance, visas expiring or the leave to remain in the host country lapsing. Individuals who may find themselves in such a situation cannot be held criminally liable, for lack of a better term. Under the rules of immigration, they cannot be held criminally liable for breaching those rules because they did choose to breach the rules. Therefore, there is a basis upon which the individuals affected can engage the host countries, and we are assisting them to engage the host countries, in order to take care of the circumstances they have found themselves in.

Madam Speaker, in terms of the flight plans they may have, as I indicated, for instance, the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), through which most of the air traffic to Zambia is routed, has already put in place contingencies in order to allow those who are stranded to have extended stay, including paying for their accommodation. Finally, with regard to other carriers, it is a contractual obligation for airlines to put alternative measures as individual cannot be blamed for failure to travel. Airlines put alternative measures in place for passengers to reach their destinations. I know that the hon. Member is expecting a response, but I already covered it in my earlier submission.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, the Ministerial Statement appears to deal with the welfare of our citizens caught up in the very unfortunate circumstance. You may have to guide whether the hon. Minister of Energy will come and elaborately deal with the issue, which I want to direct to the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Madam Speaker, according to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), we have fuel for only the next twenty days, which technically means that by the end of March, if the problem in the Middle East continues, we are going to have a lot of panic-buying. We are going to have a lot of demand for the commodity called “fuel”. Obviously, we do not want to start fighting to resolve a problem which we can resolve right now. Is the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in a position to tell us what measures the Government has put in place to ensure that the commodity called “fuel” will be available when the twenty days the ERB announced elapses? I raise this matter because it is linked to the war taking place in the Middle East.

Mr Haimbe, SC.: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Kamfinsa for that important question.

Madam Speaker, I fear that he might be misrepresenting the position as expressed by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) or, indeed, the Ministry of Energy, as the case may be. I say this because his question is premised on the assumption that there is twenty days stock only, and that there is no inflow or outflow in the intervening period. That is a wrong assumption. The hon. Member has not informed the nation through his question as to whether or not he has taken time to find out the extent to which we have inflows and outflows, the extent to which we have stock on the high seas that is pending and the extent to which we have stock in transit through the oil marketing companies (OMCs). The question is presumptive. Perhaps, we should be talking about the twenty days reserve in the ordinary course of business and if there is a deliberate process of increasing the reserve. I am aware that the Ministry of Energy is looking at these parameters.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

PLANS TO PURCHASE CARGO BOAT FOR CHILUBI DISTRICT

238. Mr Fube (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Transport and Logistics:

whether the Government has any plans to purchase a cargo boat for Chilubi District;

if so, when the plans will be implemented;

what the estimated cost of the boat is;

which institution will be responsible for operating the boat; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Transport and Logistics (Mr Tayali): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the Government has no immediate plans to procure a new cargo boat in Chilubi District to service the Samfya/Chilubi route. This august House may wish to note that the Government has devolved the provision of water transport services to the local authorities and Zambia Postal Services (ZamPost). Currently, the route is serviced by the post boat and MV Luchelen’ganga. In addition, plans are underway to repair MV Friendship, and an assessment to determine the scope of repair works for the boat was undertaken by ZamPost. The estimated cost of repairing MV Friendship is K13,640,734.40.

Madam Speaker, as stated in part (a) of the question, the Government has devolved this function to the local authorities and ZamPost. In this regard, I urge the hon. Member of Parliament to engage the relevant local authority on the possibility of supporting ZamPost in repairing MV Friendship or, alternatively, in the procurement of a new cargo vessel.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of procuring a new cargo vessel will depend on its specifications including the required carrying capacity, that is, tonnage, dimensions such as height, and the materials used in its construction, for example, metal or fiberglass.

Madam Speaker, ZamPost will be responsible for operating MV Friendship once it is repaired.

Madam Speaker, as stated in part (a) of the question, the provision of water transport services has been devolved to the local authorities and ZamPost.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the answer that he has provided.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has talked about MV Luchelen’ganga, which is largely a 120-passenger boat capacity and does not qualify to be a cargo boat. I think, the hon. Minister has visited the area before and he knows that that is not a cargo boat per se.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that the estimated cost of repairing MV Friendship is K13,640,734.40 and that the ministry has devolved the function to the local authority and Zambia Postal Services (ZamPost), but the funding structure has not been clarified properly. In this case, which local authority will be responsible for repairing MV Friendship, which is currently grounded and has a rotten base?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the follow-up question, which follow-up question the hon. Member wants to frame as though it were a tricky question.

Madam Speaker, the bottom line is that the water vessels we are talking about will service a number of districts. Therefore, having devolved resources to the local authorities, various districts that are serviced by these particular vessels would have to come together. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is there to help the people. So, if this is an issue that we consider to be of utmost importance, nothing will stop a number of local authorities from coming together in conjunction with ZamPost, and putting resources together to resolve this issue. The other boat is serviceable by the money in the sum of K13,640,734.40, which I referred to. Therefore, the hon. Member of Parliament and the other hon. Members of Parliament in the area must think outside the box and help themselves in such a way.

Madam Speaker, kindly allow me to state what our preoccupation as a ministry is, and this is something that people must appreciate. The Ministry of Transport and Logistics is primarily responsible for transport infrastructure. It builds airports, but does not run the airlines. In a similar vein, we are busy focusing on harbour infrastructure in order to attract the private sector so that it comes in and assists this sector.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me a second opportunity to ask a follow-up question.

Hon. UPND Members: Ah!

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I am not satisfied with the first response because the hon. Minister knows the problems related to the question of which local authority should manage the situation. Currently, there is a problem in terms of which local authority should manage the MV Lucheleng’anga. If I may be given time to explain, I am talking about the fact that the vessels that move from Samfya mainly service Chifunabuli. They do not move on the Lunga route, which is in Luapula District, because of the topography of that area, as they are bigger vessels, and there is not enough channel space and water. For the vessels to move, the water should be above 6 m in depth. Some of the districts that the hon. Minister has put together do not fall within that, and they do not see the responsibility of participating. We have tried that initiative before, which left Chilubi more alone. Currently, even the MV Lucheleng’anga only docks at Mbabala. It cannot move to Chishi because there are many stones, which can destroy the vessel. That is just a background.

Madam Speaker, given that scenario, I want to know whether the hon. Minister and his counterpart at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development can give a directive to the local authorities. Of course, ZAMPOST is an automatic party, and it is an individualistic entity. The problem is getting the local authorities to participate in the programme, because taking K13 million from the CDF, which is the money that can be used, without involving other local authorities will be a problem. So, is the ministry willing to give a directive to the local authorities, which might even benefit from the same arrangement, so that there may be multiple contributions, as opposed to burdening the local authority in Chilubi? Is that consideration being made by the ministry?

Mr Tayali: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is fully aware, as I have stated in my responses, of how it is the Government’s policy to devolve certain functions to the local authorities. The operation of water transport is one such function. Therefore, it means that the ministry has recused itself from such responsibility. There will be absolutely no need to continue getting involved in that particular aspect. This, I guess, is why this Administration, through the reforms to the Constitution that emanated from the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, which is now the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, would like to take our hon. Members of Parliament back to the local authorities. Such a debate that the hon. Member has brought to this House should be one that he must take to the chambers of a particular local authority, and he is absolutely at liberty to take such suggestions to the parent company as well, that being the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. That responsibility must not be borne exclusively by the local authority because there is ZAMPOST, which is an institution under the Ministry of Technology and Science. So, let us learn to think outside the box and to be free to make such suggestions. That is why hon. Members are elected to speak on behalf of their citizens, and to bring such solutions. As far as the Ministry of Transport and Logistics is concerned, that function was given to the local authorities and, therefore, is moving on with its core mandate, which is looking after transport infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, we need to make progress. It was a constituency-specific question and we are behind time. Today is a short day. We move on to the next question.

PROMOTION OF CHIPOMA FALLS IN CHINSALI DISTRICT AS A TOURIST SITE

239. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Tourism what measures the Government is taking to promote Chipoma Falls in Chinsali District as a tourist site.

The Minister of Tourism (Mr Sikumba): Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Tourism prides itself on being private sector-led and, for this reason, the Government continues to work closely with the private sector to develop heritage sites, such as Chipoma Falls, to make them viable. This is done through engagement of both local and international investors. The Government is committed to providing basic amenities and minimal infrastructure when funds are available to promote a conducive investment environment for the private sector.

Madam Speaker, the Government is taking the following measures to promote Chipoma Falls in Chinsali District as a tourist site:

through the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC), gazetting Chipoma Falls as a national monument, providing it with a legal framework for protection, conservation and controlled tourism development. The designation ensures that all development activities at the site are guided by national heritage and environmental standards;

undertaking regular site inspections and monitoring of infrastructure improvements at Chipoma Falls. The interventions include the installation and refurbishment of directional and interpretive signage, and the construction and rehabilitation of a visitor’s shelter;

strengthening accessibility and visibility at the site, with directional signage mounted along the Mpika/Chinsali Road to guide tourists to the site;

actively promoting community participation through the engagement of local communities for routine maintenance at the site; and

working to integrate Chipoma Falls into the wider tourism circuit, which includes the Nachikufu Caves and Lubwa Mission, thereby positioning Chinsali District as a multi-attraction destination, rather than a single site visit. This integrated approach is expected to increase tourist stay duration, visitor expenditure and overall regional tourism growth.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, from the response that the hon. Minister has provided, I appreciate what the ministry is doing. However, I have not heard anything that shows that the ministry is being aggressive about attracting investment to Chinsali, specifically to the area where the Chipoma Falls is located, so that tourists can visit the area. Is it possible for the ministry, working with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the Chinsali Municipal Council –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was about to ask a follow-up question.

Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Tourism for his responses. He has indicated that his ministry is private sector-led. I know that, as the Government, we have been lamenting over domestic resource mobilisation. Since the Government needs those resources, we should be the ones to put more effort into investment so that we can start harnessing the gains from that investment. We can then allocate the money gained to the social sector and other economic programmes. So, I would like the hon. Minister to confirm if there are any infrastructure projects that the Government plans to fund for Chipoma Falls in Chinsali to enhance its visibility, as a tourist attraction site.

Mr Tayali: Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I also thank the hon. Member of Parliament for that follow-up question, which is very timely.

Mr Speaker, in my preamble to answering this question, I specified that tourism under the United Party for National Development (UPND) is private-sector driven and as such, we have embarked on a very deliberate ploy to actually invite as much private-sector participation as possible in the various heritage sites that we have.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament may wish to note that the Ministry of Tourism today, has identified sites, which are investment-ready, and information on them can easily be obtained it is in the public domain on the Ministry of Tourism website. As I stated in my earlier response, I just want to indicate that the ministry is working on minimal infrastructure development vis-a-vis the road to Chipoma, the visitor information centre, which has since been worked on, as well as electricity and water. That, in itself, will create a conduit for private-sector money to flow into Chipoma, including the hon. Member’s money, for investing in that particular area.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, thank you, and I also thank the hon. Minister for his response.

Mr Speaker, in his initial response, the hon. Ministerindicated that the Government is working to integrate Chipoma Falls in Chinsali into wider tourism circuits that include Nachikufu Caves and Lubwa Mission, thereby positioning Chinsali District as a multi-attraction destination centre, rather than a single site. In doing that, is the hon. Minister able to provide the specific details on the expected increase in the number of tourists who will be visiting Chinsali or Chipoma Falls as a result of this integration with Nachikufu Caves and Lubwa Mission?

Mr Tayali: Mr. Speaker, Chipoma Falls is under our wider Northern Circuit that we want to grow. As such, we are already working on the Lubwa Mission, as directed by His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Speaker, allow me to use this opportunity to mention that the exit numbers for 2025 at Chipoma Falls were in excess of 1,532 visitors. We could possibly use that as a benchmark for 2026 exit numbers to actually show that the numbers going to Chipoma Falls would have actually increased along the way. However, the long and short of it is that the Government is, indeed, not sitting idly. We are working towards seeing how best we can create more investment,or rather, draw more investment towards Chipoma so that it can benefit not only us, as the Government, but also the community that resides around that area.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

_______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

DELEGATION OF WOMEN ASPIRING CANDIDATES FOR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN THE FORTH-COMING GENERAL ELECTIONS

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of a group of women who are aspiring Members of Parliament in the forth-coming general elections.

Hon.Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

The women are participants in a high-level Women Leadership Conference taking place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) from 4^th to 5^thMarch, 2026, organised by the Gender Division at the Cabinet Office and partners.

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

I thank you.

_______

MOTION

ALLOCATE A PERCENTAGE OF THE CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND TO SPONSOR VULNERABLE STUDENTS FOR DIPLOMA AND DEGREE COURSES

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House urges the Government to allocate a percentage of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to sponsor vulnerable students for diploma and degree courses.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Mwila (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, I appreciate your Office for giving the people of Chilubi this chance to represent this particular segment, which discusses the vulnerable people.

Mr Speaker, the Motion is non-controversial.

Hon. Members: Question!

Mr Fube: It is heavily supported by the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which talks about human capacity development. I can already hear “Question!”–

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: There are too many movements in the House. Let us minimise on movements.

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, the Motion is not on the Floor of the House for political expediency, and I want to venture into justifying why.

Mr Speaker, three key statistics are very important in the education sector. One is the enrolment rate, another is the retention rate and the last one is the progression rate. Zambia has adopted a two-path approach to education; the vocational path and the academic path. The 20 per cent of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is mainly targeted at the vocational training part. When I say “mainly”, I take into consideration that there is also a component of secondary school bursaries. It is mainly focused on the vocational path, overlooking the academic path. In terms of human development, the Government, being a dream facilitator, is it.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, who has just come into Parliament to say “Question!”, needs to understand that the key words are low-income households and rural communities. I think that this issue is targeted at the age group between fifteen and thirty-five years old. I am talking about young people who are academically qualified, especially those from low-income households, who may not manage the costs associated with tertiary education. I am a responsible citizen who does not want to venture into transferring generational poverty for the young people who may not have the stamina to sponsor themselves.

Mr Speaker, I first want to recognise the existence of the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB), which caters for young people from vulnerable households. Having recognised that, I would like to say that, on average, per year, 21,810 applicants seek loans from the HELSB. Out of that, only 4,279 on average are given loans. That means 57 per cent of applicants are given loans while 43 per cent are left out. The young people with six points who passed with flying colours are condemned to undertaking skills training. This means that we are swimming against the current. What I mean by this is that young people are gifted differently, so we should not put them in one category. Those who want to be footballers should be left to be footballers. Those who are good at psychomotor skills should be put in that category to facilitate their dreams.

Mr Speaker, I also want to underscore that in 2023, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), was underutilised. For instance, only 42 per cent of the approved community projects were implemented. This Motion seeks to address the mismatch between the skills we need in the nation and the number of people acquiring skills. We should take a multisectoral approach to address the issue. Young people should be in a position to choose to be engineers –

Mr Nkandu: Stop shouting!

Mr Fube: Are you the Speaker, really?

Interruptions

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, young people should be in a position to choose to be doctors, engineers and many other professions.

Interruptions

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, I would like to be protected from those charlatans.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, what I am trying to underscore in this Motion is that young people should be given the power to choose who they want to become in life. That is what it means to venture into what is called life opportunities.

Mr Speaker, the legal basis for this particular Motion is in Article 8 of the Constitution of Zambia, which, among other things, addresses the national values. Among them are equity, social justice, and sustainable development. These values are also linked to the issue of human development. Further, the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 2018 talks about prudence, efficiency and accountable expenditure of national resources. The CDF is a national resource. Recently, this House revised the Constituency Development Fund Act, but maintained the main principles, among them, decentralised management. We are talking about equity and local facilitation of development, which is further supported by Article 152 of the Constitution of Zambia, and gives impetus to local authorities to implement such things.

Mr Speaker, today, this Motion is knocking on the door of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP). It identifies among other things, education and skills training as very important and critical to youth empowerment, which leads economic transformation and poverty reduction. The Motion is supposed to improve the rate at which the nation should develop, by making sure that even those who aspire to follow the academic route can realise their dream, and the Government, as a dream facilitator, should bridge the gap.

Mr Speaker, for now, I rest my case on this issue. I therefore, encourage the seconder of the Motion to venture into the rest.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

Mr Mwila: Now, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity. I also want to thank the mover of this Motion, Hon. Fube of Chilubi, for bringing this very important Motion to this House.

Mr Speaker, indeed, this Motion is non-controversial. It is meant to support our many youths with very good results who are languishing on the streets because they lack sponsorship to go to universities. They are busy on the streets. Some of them are involved in social vices with no hope of ever attaining tertiary education.

Mr Speaker, let me just simplify this Motion so that we all understand what it is seeking. This Motion is simply asking the Government to provide sponsorship for tertiary education for those who are vulnerable but eligible, using the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Currently, the education component under the CDF allows sponsorship of only secondary school pupils and vocational training candidates. Those who have been accepted to universities, colleges of education, and nursing colleges are not eligible for sponsorship under the CDF. Therefore, this Motion is requesting the Government to also provide sponsorship under the CDF for those who have a chance to go to university or train as nurses and teachers.

Mr Speaker, the mover of the Motion has given us the history that, from 2022 to 2025, the sponsorship rate under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB) has been 57 per cent of those admitted to university. Only 57 per cent had the chance to be sponsored via HELSB while 43 per cent of individuals with very good results remain on the street. What do we do about that? That is why this Motion has been brought. It is to allow those who may not have a chance to get a loan under HELSB to be sponsored to university through the CDF. There are many benefits to doing this. One economic benefit is that the country will have more skilled manpower.

Mr Speaker, many young people with very good results are just living in their homes or on the streets because they do not have the opportunity to study. This country is looking for skilled manpower. If we do not open this window through the CDF, we are condemning those young people with the potential to contribute to the economic development of this country to the streets. Socially, this is also an advantage. Right now, those who have access to loans through HELSB are in towns. This is because they have access to a lot of social media and have smartphones. Therefore, they are able to see the advertisement for the application for loans under HELSB. They are able to have that information as soon as it is released.

Mr Speaker, sometimes, the youths in rural areas get to know about the windows of opportunities under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB) long after the deadline has passed. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Committee is at the constituency level and, therefore, information is disseminated to the Ward Development Committees (WDCs), hon. Members of Parliament and the Councillors. So, those who may not have the chance to access the information through the scholarship board can access the information through the CDF Committee, thereby, giving them an opportunity to have access to scholarships or sponsorships. By so doing, we would be providing equal access to the people in rural areas so they can also have a chance to attain higher education.

Mr Speaker, what this Motion is seeking is not strange. It is not only intended to benefit this country, but the region as a whole. For example, in Kenya, their CDF model is similar to our model. In fact, the implementation of the CDF in Kenya started in 2003, while the implementation of ours started in 1995. Kenya came on board later on, but it has advanced in terms of implementation. In Kenya, through the CDF, one can have a chance to be sponsored to a university or college. It is not restricted as is our case. As I have said, this Motion is seeking to open windows of opportunities so that boys and girls can be given an opportunity to access sponsorships through the CDF.

Mr Speaker, we have come up with this Motion not just to present the problem, but to also provide an opportunity to offer scholarships. The CDF has many components. We propose that we get a share from the empowerment grants. It is evident that so much money has been directed to empowerment grants in different communities. However, the Auditor-General’s Report has reviewed that the impact of the empowerment grants has been very minimal. Poverty has continued to strike even to those who have a chance to access the empowerment grants. This is why the loan component for this year has been suspended because the impact is not being felt. Why can we not divert some of the funds from the CDF empowerment grants to educate the boys and girls, who do not have the opportunity to access sponsorship through the HESLB? We can vary the component of the CDF, especially the empowerment grants, to enable us offer an opportunity to the vulnerable youths.

Mr Speaker, with these points, I urge all hon. Members to support this Motion. It is non-controversial and very beneficial. Let us help the boys and girls attain higher education. If they do not have that opportunity through HELSB, let us give them another chance through the CDF. I encourage everyone to support this Motion.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Zulu (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.

Mr Speaker, this is a very good Motion, and it seeks to allocate 30 per cent of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to sponsor vulnerable students who apply for diploma and degree programmes.

Mr Speaker, I thought the mover of this Motion is in the CDF Committee and, therefore, he is present whenever they are allocating the money. For instance, in Nyimba, there are students pursuing diploma courses in different fields. So, how can the mover say let us sponsor the boys and girls who wish to pursue diploma courses when we are already sponsoring some of them at Chalimbana University.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, Chalimbana is a university. Some youths at Chalimbana University are being sponsored using the CDF. We need to be factual with the Motions we move on the Floor of the House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, we need to ask ourselves some questions. Currently, the gap between the engineer and the assistant is too wide. There are no people in-between. As a result, there are shoddy works everywhere. Everywhere you go, you will find that there are shoddy works. The reason is that we have trained engineers, but have we trained the technologists, craftsmen or artisans, who are in-between? So, we need to train our children, so they can fill in the gap in the three layers where there are no personnel. Surely, we cannot tamper with the CDF, and start training degree holders, when some youths are already being sponsored through the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB). What we should be talking about is how we can decentralise the loans board. I agree that the ones benefiting from the HELSB are mainly those who live in the cities, but do we need to –

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

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nyimba!

There is a point of order by the hon. Member for Mufulira.

Interruptions

Mr Kapyanga: Mpika.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Yes, Mpika.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence. I am in the second slot to debate the Motion. If you allow me to debate, then, I can hold on.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mpika, resume your seat.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member for Nyimba was debating on the Floor of the House …

Mr Kapyanga: Yes, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: … then, you indicated. I thought it was a point of order because you rose.

Mr Kapyanga: Yes, Mr Speaker,

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: How do you rise when there is already someone on the Floor?

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, it is a point of order.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, you are talking about debating. May you proceed with your point of order.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, I apologise for the mix-up.

Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order pursuant to Standing Order No. 71.

Mr Speaker, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is executed according to the guidelines drafted by the Government of the Republic of Zambia. This must be clearly put on record. Under those guidelines –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, you are debating. State the breach.

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, the breach is that the hon. Member on the Floor is insinuating that this Motion is talking about what is already happening. To the contrary, only children who pursue Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) affiliated courses access the CDF. However, the hon. Member is busy insinuating that diploma courses, including professional ones, are covered under the CDF. That is misinformation of the highest order of monumental magnitude, and it must be treated as such.

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member in order, therefore, to mislead the nation, this House and himself? He does not understand the guidelines that students cannot pursue professional courses using the CDF.

Mr Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, thank you very much.

The hon. Member for Nyimba was raising his points in tandem with the Motion. He was not precise by stating the courses that are not covered by the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA). So, the hon. Member for Nyimba is not out of order.

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: He was giving a better understanding and he went on to give different examples.

May you proceed, hon. Member for Nyimba.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, in my language, we say tikuti, simvwa ewela namatuvi kusanga because you cannot listen. You need to wait and understand what someone is trying to say. If somebody is raising a point, wait and understand the point.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, that language you have used is unparliamentary. What did you say?

Mr Zulu: I have interpreted, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: What did you say?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, it is a saying, not an insult. Samvwa zanzake anawva nkwanga ilikumutu. That means, if you do not listen to your colleagues, you will only listen when you are disappointed. Like the hon. Member will be disappointed when I finish debating.

Mr Speaker, we need to be truthful. We have a list of courses that should be pursued by vulnerable children in our villages, like agricultural engineering. Which schools are offering these courses? The schools I have mentioned are affiliated to the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), which is why students are given scholarships. Today, there are students at the Northern Technical College (NORTEC), and Lusaka and Chipata trades institutions. We should ask ourselves whether we are training them in the right skills. It is only now that institutions have been revamped in skills training. Some institutions have been turned into business colleges. For one to be a marketer, there must be a producer. To be an accountant, there must be someone producing goods that will be sold by the marketer, and then accounting for the products is undertaken. If I asked anyone which industry is into production, what would they say? In the past, wheelbarrows were manufactured on the Copperbelt Province. Which industry produces wheelbarrows on the Copperbelt today? Zero. This country imports shovels even though it used to manufacture shovels. What kind of people are we? We, again, want to sponsor our youths to pursue business courses? No. We need to close the skills gap. All the hon. Members are currently building. Do they want someone from Zimbabwe to do the jobs on their projects? Why? They should ask themselves why the country is importing the labour of a plumber, for example. One cannot find a qualified plumber or metal fabricator in this country. All there is are welders. What kind of country is this? In this day and age, trailers should be manufactured in this country, as it was in the past. Now, because people want to earn a bit of money, money meant for skills training is being spent on other courses. No. Let us be factual.

Mr Speaker, we will not develop by having the cream only at the top. We need layers in between. We need to have trade-tested personnel; a craftsperson and technologist here and an engineer there. The communication will be simple. We run companies. Can one be a chief executive officer (CEO) and the next in line is an office orderly? No. There are people in between. So, to survive as a country, we need to see to it that our children are sponsored to undertake all the necessary courses. We cannot have a country that only has business and accounting graduates.

Mr Kapyanga interjected.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, it is not possible. Let us promote blue-collar jobs as well. It is for the sake of our country’s development. We, as a nation, need to develop, and we will not do that by venturing into courses that do not have production. Can we promote production courses. My plea to the hon. Minister is that we do not tamper with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, from inception, I would like to say that I support this Motion.

Mr Speaker, before I go further, allow me to welcome the guests in the Public Gallery, and to encourage them by saying that they are welcome to join politics. I am sure most of them will be –

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, concentrate on your debate. Do you have a personal agenda?

Laughter

Mr Mukosa: Yes, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Proceed, hon. Member.

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, this is a non-controversial Motion. There is no need to misinterpret it. The mover of the Motion has stated that 30 per cent of the 20 per cent that is allocated to skills training under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) should be used to support students who would like to undertake diploma or degree programmes that may not necessarily be Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) accredited. Basically, that means those who are being sponsored can continue and, at the same time, introduce sponsorship for candidates who do not want to undertake TEVETA-accredited programmes, but other programmes, such as health sciences.

Mr Speaker, a person may argue that there is no need to introduce such sponsorship because the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) already provides educational loans for candidates who want to enrol at university. The truth is that while HELSB provides those loans, it does not meet the demand in this country. The board does not give to each and every candidate who applies.

Mr Speaker, the other truth is that most of us, as Members of Parliament, have candidates who visit our offices when we are in our constituencies, or even when we are here, at Parliament, they call to ask about sponsorship spaces for universities. We tell them that the guidelines do not allow that. Now, here is a situation in which a candidate who obtained six points in a constituency applies to HELSB but, maybe, because he or she did not meet the requirements or technicalities, the board does not pick that person. So, that person returns to the rural constituency, in this particular case say Chinsali. That person will remain in the village, and will not go anywhere. Then, he or she will undertake a tailoring course. Now, you get the best brains in the constituency and force a programme on them that will not help much. So, it is important to reserve a few spaces for those special cases in the constituencies. There are very intelligent pupils in all the constituencies who fail to get an education loan from the Government. When a person with six points fails to get that education loan, do we want him or her to undertake a tailoring course, honestly?

Mr Munsanje: It is a skill!

Mr Mukosa: It is a skill, yes, but those who are intelligent should be sent to study programmes that can help them and help this country; programmes that can help us all. The hon. Minister of Health explained to this House that we only have four or five radiologists in this country.

Mr E. Tembo: Seven!

Mr Mukosa: There are about seven radiologists, Mr Speaker. As big as this country is, with over 20 million people, it only has seven radiologists. Would it be a bad thing if each constituency sponsored someone to study medicine and specialise in radiology? What would we lose? Nothing. It is a good thing. It would not take away anything from what the President and the Government are trying to do. So, I think this is a non-controversial Motion. It should not be shot down because the person who raised it is a. Member of the Opposition. I can tell you for a fact that I have many pupils in Chinsali who would like to receive the education support they do not get.

Mr Speaker, the ones who are mostly affected by what I am saying are those of us from rural areas. People in urban areas are somewhat advantaged. Sometimes, when scholarships to study in China, Egypt, Indonesia and elsewhere are advertised, those in urban areas are quick to see them. They know where to apply from. They quickly go there. When they are accepted, they quickly access the requirements. However, the people in Chinsali have no access. For instance, if a person lives in Shimuinda, Chinsali, he will not see the scholarship advertisement. First of all, there is no Internet access, and so, he will not see that the Government has advertised scholarships. The only chance they have is when we sit, for example, as the Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC) to consider applications for a study programme. When he is asked why he did not apply to the University of Zambia (UNZA), the response is that, “When it was advertised, I did not see the advertisement,” or “When I sent the application, I was told that the application was not delivered”. Therefore, the underprivileged or disadvantaged, due to many factors, should be considered for sponsorship at a university to study programmes of their choice that are productive for them, the country and all of us. They should not be stopped because such a course is not accredited to the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA).

Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I would like to thank you for having given me the opportunity to say a few words.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Quality!

Mr Kang’ombe: Kalalwe Mukosa!

Ms Halwiindi (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate the Motion, which is on the Floor.

Mr Speaker, at the outset, let me say that I am not in support of the Motion for reasons that I will give. What I heard from the mover of the Motion and the seconder leaves much to be desired. I wonder whether they attend the Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC) meetings. Those of us who sit in the CDFC meetings feel it.

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

Hon. Government Members: Sit down, iwe!

Ms Halwiindi: Mr Speaker, the number of youths who apply for skills training sponsorship is high. Sometimes, 5,000 applications are received, and selection becomes a problem. The New Dawn Government introduced the component of skills training and the bursary for a reason. The first reason is that the Government introduced the Free Education Policy. The policy caters for pupils from primary school through to secondary school, and up to skills training. There was also a gap between those who were unable to enrol in school and were roaming in the compounds. The youths in the compounds just drink beer and take drugs. Why? It is because they have nothing to do. They are out of school, and some of them were not taken to school. However, to close that gap, the Government needed to ensure that youths are trained and equipped with the skills they need to become meaningful contributors to economic development.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Nyimba mentioned that there is a gap in terms of skills in Zambia. Indeed, there is a gap. I can cite an example. I had an experience with a degree holder, an engineer. He was not able to put up a culvert. However, a person who trained with the National Council for Construction (NCC) was able to set up a culvert, meaning that the cadre of people being trained in skills is important. They provide quality work in construction. So, the component of skills training under the CDF should not be disturbed. It is very important.

Mr Speaker, maybe, my hon. Colleagues are supporting the Motion, thinking that we disadvantage those who do not go to school, who were used as tools of violence when they were in the Government. The New Dawn Government wants to empower the youth with livelihoods. So, we need to rake out as many youths as possible from the society where they engage in drugs and alcohol. As a mother, I would not wish to see youths who are not empowered. They need to be empowered. That is very important.

Mr Speaker, I would have been happy if the mover of the Motion had suggested that vulnerable students who wish to undertake diploma courses in nursing and teaching, for instance, should be considered under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB). The suggestion would have been practical. Pushing them to be covered under the CDF would disadvantage the already disadvantaged, who have nothing. They are just in the compounds doing nothing.

Mr Speaker, the New Dawn Government has a policy of inclusivity. It advocates for the equitable distribution of resources, even to those who are disadvantaged. So, if we try to remove the resources, which are supposed to help them, then we are not doing them any justice. They will be left behind.

Mr Speaker, I do not have much to say, but to suggest that 20 per cent of the CDF should be left for skills training. We need to train as many youths as possible. Many of them are doing nothing in the compounds. I know that as the economy improves, the New Dawn Government will consider sponsoring those who wish to undertake diploma courses. The country is improving its economy. Later, the disadvantaged who wish to undertake diploma courses in teaching, nursing and other fields will be considered also. However, as of now, the component should be left to skills training.

Mr Speaker, the mover of the Motion said that there is a need for such consideration in rural areas. However, in urban areas, the needs are different. Constituencies are dynamic. For instance, a constituency may have 5,000 applicants. Where should they be taken if they are thrown away and disadvantaged? What is applicable in rural and urban areas is totally different. So, the 20 per cent should be left as it is. It is for a purpose. I know the New Dawn Government is looking into other disciplines that can be sponsored in the future as the economy improves.

Mr Speaker, I thought I should add a word to the debate on the Motion. As a mother, what is happening in the compounds is concerning. The youths right now are crying. Some have been sponsored, but many have been left behind. If the 20 per cent is disturbed, it will disadvantage many, especially in Kabwe Central Constituency.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Rev. Katuta: Question!

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Chama North Constituency, I wish to thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to debate on this very important Motion.

Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to salute the hard-working Member of Parliament for Chilubi, Hon. Francis Fube, for moving this non-controversial Motion. May I also salute Hon. Golden Mwila, the Member of Parliament for Mufulira.

Mr Speaker, this is a non-controversial Motion. I wish to make an earnest appeal to hon. Colleagues on the other side. They should support this Motion because it is in the interest of the people in their respective constituencies, especially those of us coming from rural areas.

Mr Speaker, I am on record moving a Private Member’s Motion, sometime in 2022, I that was urging the Government to amend the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) guidelines to allow constituencies to sponsor students pursuing diploma and degree courses.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Fube is not suggesting that the Government should get money from somewhere to sponsor deserving students. No, what he is saying is that 30 per cent can be allocated to vulnerable students who perform very well at Grade 12, but are unable to obtain scholarships under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB).

Mr Speaker, the demand for tertiary education has been on the increase. For example, during the 2025/2026 Academic Year, 5,798 applicants applied at the University of Zambia, but only 3,926 were granted loans, leaving a balance of 1,869 applicants. If this number is divided by the number of constituencies, you will find that maybe, only five people per constituency qualified to get loans. People were unable to get loan because of certain conditions. Some applicants could have scored seven or eight points, but they did not get the loans. It is not very easy for a child in a rural area to get six, seven or eight points compared with a student in an urban area. That is what Hon. Fube and Hon. Mwila are urging the Government to consider.

Mr Speaker, a long time ago, during the Government of President Kenneth Kaunda (KK), under the United National Independence Party (UNIP), it was easy even for rural students to access education at the University of Zambia because admittance was automatic. Once a pupil wrote their Grade 12 examination, they had three choices. There were: The School of Natural Sciences, which was the first choice, the School of Law, which was the second choice, and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, which was the third choice. After results were released, universities would admit students automatically by sending letters to various schools. So, students from rural schools were not disadvantaged, unlike today. Students from rural schools are disadvantaged today because of lack of Internet and smartphones. That is why I am saying that if this provision is created, it will help vulnerable students to access tertiary education.

Mr Speaker, I am alive to the fact that currently, there is the Higher Education, Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB). However, you will find that this board gives priority to those who perform very well, for example, those who obtained six or seven points. Sometimes, even people from well-to-do families who obtain six or seven points are able to access loans, disadvantaging those from rural areas.

Mr Speaker, this should not be a controversial Motion. We must be allowed to sponsor those students. Of course, there is going to be criteria. For example, for one to qualify for sponsorship, we have to look at where one comes from and one’s performance. If someone with seven or eight points was left out of university, it would be very good for us to sponsor their education.

Mr Speaker, countries have developed because of skills development. However, the challenge we have at the moment is that, institutions which are not even accredited by the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) have mushroomed. A certificate course costs K30,000, and training is for three months. In some institutions, diploma courses cost K40,000 to K50,000. Institutions want to reap where they did not sow. I do not think that universities are charging such exorbitant fees. That is why, last time, I appealed to the Government to protect public resources. So, the Government must regulate some of the fees that institutions charge. Definitely, they should not charge K28,000 to train a driver for two months. If we are able to spend all those monies on certificate and diploma courses, surely, why can we not spare K20,000 or K15,000 to sponsor a child who obtained eight or nine points but has not been given a loan by HELSB?

Mr Speaker, this is a non-controversial Motion. I hope that our hon. Colleagues will think twice and support this Motion. Like Hon. Mukosa said, we are always confronted by parents. They come to our offices and say, “My son got eight points but was not given a loan.” So, they have these challenges. Definitely, we cannot sponsor someone who got seven points to study for a certificate course. I think, we would be degrading education standards.

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks, I fully support this Motion.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Sialubalo): Mr Speaker, thank you so much for the opportunity to respond to the debate on the Private Member’s Motion. Allow me to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi, who brought the Motion on the Floor of the House.

Mr Speaker, allow me to also thank the Head of State, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sialubalo: …who, even before he formed Government, said that resources should go to the people. Yet some people, including hon. Members of Parliament, said it was very impossible to raise such funds and take them to constituencies. However, here we are today, talking about a great initiative, a developmental agenda of the New Dawn Administration, which is taking resources closer to the people.

Mr Speaker, when elected, every Government has its own agenda based on its campaign message to the people. Our agenda is to make sure that each and every Zambian, in every corner of the country, gets a fair share of the resources, and this has been demonstrated. Today, each hon. Member of Parliament gets the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This arises from our agenda, as the New Dawn Administration. The CDF has guidelines and components that the Administration deems fit. Among the components are those that were shared by my dear colleague, Hon. Menyani. He elaborated them very well. That is our agenda.

Mr Speaker, there was big gap in skills because they were not counted. A school drop-out was left without any future. The New Dawn Administration said that even a Grade 7 or Grade 9 can have a skill to lean on and survive, and that is on our agenda. Even a Grade 12 drop-out can have a life if he has a skill. What can we do about this? Let us share resources equitably. That is the vision of the New Dawn Administration.

Mr Speaker, as hon. Members of Parliament, one thing we need to do when we stand and talk about the CDF, is thank the Head of State. That is the first thing we should do, instead of trying to bring things behind the back door. Let us accept that the New Dawn Administration, under the able leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, has delivered. The CDF going to all our constituencies is working. We are standing on firm ground.

Mr Speaker, the mover and the seconder of the Motion lamentably failed to tell us how they arrived at the 30 per cent. We really needed to know how they arrived at that number. Since they lamentably failed to tell us, how do we support the Motion?

Mr Nanjuwa: There is no basis.

Mr Sialubalo: Mr Speaker, there is no basis. The mover and seconder of the Motion lamentably failed to tell us how they arrived at 30 per cent. I listened attentively, but I did not hear them say that they arrived at 30 per cent because of such a reason.

Mr Speaker, we are aware, as the New Dawn Administration, that there is a loan component under the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts for our youths to lean on and get the much-needed qualifications. There is also a loan component in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services as well as the Ministry of Technology and Science for the youths. So, the resources for helping our youths are not only available at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, but they are available in several ministries. The drop-outs are also Zambians. They need to have a fair share, and we are not going to look down on them, no. The agenda of the New Dawn Administration is to industrialise and open a lot of mines, and that is what we want to see.

Mr Nkandu: Correct!

Mr Sialubalo: Mr Speaker, some of us know that skills are much needed in the mines because the miners are the ones who drive production in the mines.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

Mr Sialubalo: So, why should we be –

Mr Speaker, the resources at the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and the Ministry of Technology and Science meant to benefit our youths are in quantum compared to the CDF that we are talking about. As Zambians, let us be fair to one another as well as the youths. I assure those who are doing very well and want to go to universities to acquire degrees or colleges, which are not skill related, that there are resources not only at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, but also at the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts and the Ministry of Technology and Science.

Mr Nkandu: Even at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security!

Mr Sialubalo: Even at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the resources are there. The New Dawn Government wants each and every Zambian – No one should be left behind to say because you are a Grade 12, Grade 11 or Grade 7 drop-out, you are not worth living. That is not our wish or desire. Therefore, we do not support this Motion.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Quality!

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, in Bemba we say, ushilwile umutembo wamunankwe, nowakwe bupokwa.

Dr Andeleki: Meaning?

Mr Fube: Literally, it means that those who do not fight for others, even their portion is gone.

Mr Speaker, I am trained to speak by preferential option for the poor. During this lenten period, I will try by all means to restrain myself to not fall in temptation because I am catholic. Otherwise, I would like to state that there have been a lot of temptations, but being the lenten period, I will ignore.

Mr Speaker, I never said that we need to look for more resources to pump in there. I never said that we will drop the Grade 7, Grade 9 and Grade 12 drop-outs. I never said that we should abandon –

Hon. UPND Members: Just wind up!

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, can I be protected?

Hon. UPND Members: We want to vote!

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, I never said that we should not obey the guidelines. I appeal to some hon. Members of Parliament – I know that the CDF is being implemented differently in different places, but since I am a law-abiding citizen, I am going to follow the CDF guidelines religiously. I will not allow a diploma student to benefit from the CDF just because that student belongs to a particular political party when I know that the CDF guidelines forbid that. I will not do that even at gun point.

Mr Zulu: Question!

Mr Speaker, what I was proposing –

Mr Nkandu: As I wind up!

Laughter

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, I am shocked that the Government has reacted in this manner when I was actually supporting its policy. This nature of personalising Government programmes is very dangerous.

Interruptions

Mr Fube: One day, that one, (pointed at Hon. Nkandu) who is saying “can you, please, conclude,” will belong here, and mark my words. He will belong here.

Eng. Nzovu: Tulebwelelapo ifwe!

Mr Fube: Soon, he will belong here.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Fube: Maybe, he will not even have the capacity to move a Motion.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Fube: At least, I have the capacity to move a Motion.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Laughter

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, when it comes to connecting into a template that is talking about this, –

Mr Nkandu: This is your last term!

Laughter

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, what I was saying – If you are God, it will be my last term, but if you are not, I will come back.

Mr Speaker, according to Section 36 and Section 37 of the Local Government Act, the Ward Development Committee (WDC) has the power to identify the youths, and the people in that committee are closer to the poor youths. When members of the WDC identify the poor youths, they can submit their names to the CDF Committee, which will then decide if those youths can go to college or university. That is what I was talking about. I was not talking about what charlatans believe in.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Fube: I was very clear about what I am talking about.

Mr Speaker, I want to emphasise that the 30 per cent was a penetrative approach. When one goes to beg, once does not ask for 50 per cent. That 30 per cent is in line with the 20 per cent that is already allocated to the secondary school bursaries as well as the skills bursaries. In view of that, the people of Chilubi wanted to get a 30 per cent.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I want to state that before the CDF was increased, Chilubi was getting K1.6 million. Out of that amount, we used to give K200,000 to a nursing school for vulnerable children in Chilubi, and those children used to benefit from that particular money.

Mr Speaker, I have done my part as a responsible Member of Parliament and as a citizen. It is up to them (pointed at hon. Government Members). If they are given a penalty but shoot it overboard, that is not my problem.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Fube: I know that there is political grandstanding here. I have done my part.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Fube: I rest my case, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Member for Chilubi.

Question put and negatived.

_______

BILLS

SECOND READING

THE BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES BILL, 2025

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, it is my pleasure to present the policy statement in support of the Banking and Financial Services Bill, No. 36 of 2025. This Bill is a demonstration of this Government’s commitment to cultivating a robust, inclusive and resilient financial sector that protects consumers and supports a sustainable economic growth.

Mr Speaker, in terms of the rationale of the Bill, the current regulatory framework governing the financial sector, namely the Banking and Financial Services Act, was enacted in 2017. Over the years, a significant change in the global financial landscape has been noted. For example, there has been rapid technological innovations, the rise of cyber threats and the increasing speed at which global financial matters can be handled across borders. These developments have naturally revealed weaknesses in the current legal framework. This Bill is, therefore, expected to address the weaknesses observed and improve the financial environment by aligning it to international standards. Further, the Bill strengthens consumer protection and provides a clear resolution framework that provides the process for restructuring or winding up a critically distressed bank or financial institution with minimum disruption to the sector.

Mr Speaker, we are also cognisant of the emerging issues related to money laundering and terrorism financing in the financial sector. Therefore, the Bill also seeks to introduce supervisory oversight for anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing of financial services.

Mr Speaker, the Bill outlines several objectives in the attainment of the reform agenda I have alluded to. I wish to highlight that, as part of the objectives, the Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Banking and Financial Services Act, Chapter 387, and the Money Lenders Act, Chapter 398, of the Laws of Zambia, to resolve legal inconsistencies. Ultimately, the Bill will bring the regulation of money lenders under the Bank of Zambia (BoZ).

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I am confident that the Bill will mark a pivotal step in Zambia’s financial sector reform agenda aimed at modernising the financial sector. This is in line with developments in financial technology, innovation and cybersecurity. Furthermore, the Bill will promote the integration of sound environmental, social and governance practices among financial service providers, thereby enhancing their resilience to internal and external shocks and fostering long-term financial stability.

Mr Speaker, I urge the hon. Members of the House to support this Bill.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Mr Speaker, the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters was tasked to scrutinise the Banking and Financial Services Bill No. 36 of 2025, pursuant to its mandate, as set out in Order No. 207(j) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024.

Mr Speaker, the Committee is in support of the Bill. This notwithstanding, some stakeholders raised concerns, on which the Committee makes the following observations and recommendations.

Mr Speaker, the Committee observes that Clause 80 of the Bill limits how banks and financial institutions may create, grant or permit security interests over their assets. The Committee is of the view that the clause creates a significant challenge and does not adequately safeguard the interest of institutional investors, such as the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF), who are lenders of money to banks and financial institutions. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the clause be recast to remove restrictions on banks or financial institutions to pledge collateral in exchange for deposits placed with them.

Mr Speaker, the Committee observes with concern that Clause 102 of the Bill empowers BoZ to regulate and supervise financial service providers on matters relating to financial consumer protection and market conduct. This is a function that is performed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), as provided in the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010. In view of this, the Committee recommends that the clause be amended to restrict the bank from performing the function, which is a mandate of the CCPC.

Mr Speaker, the Committee observes that while Clause 122 provides for confidentiality of information obtained in the provision of a financial service to a consumer by the financial service provider, the introduction of open finance under Clause 123 of the Bill, which allows the sharing of customer financial data between institutions, contradicts the Data Protection Act No.3 of 2021. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the Bill clearly specify the circumstances under which open financing will require customer information to be shared. The Committee also recommends that consent be sought from customers, except during investigations for cybercrime.

Mr Speaker, the Committee also observes that while Clause 124 provides for enhanced protection of customers as well as mechanisms for channelling consumer complaints, it recommends that in addition to the proposed measures, a digital complaints management system be established as a formal channel for feedback and complaints to empower consumers to hold service providers accountable and ensure a higher standard of public service delivery.

Mr Speaker, the Committee further observes that the provision of Clause 184, which seeks to regulate lending interest rates that a financial service provider will charge consumers, as determined by the bank, is not ideal. The Committee is of the view that banks should be allowed to charge risk-based margins. It is feared that banks might stop lending to certain segments or industries if the rate set by the BoZ is too low to mitigate the risk. The Committee, therefore, recommends that this provision be removed, or further provide for the bank to regulate interest rates by giving a reasonable time to the banks to adjust.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, and on behalf of the Committee members, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia for the guidance and support rendered to the Committee throughout its deliberations. The Committee is further indebted to all the witnesses who appeared before it for their co-operation in providing the necessary briefs.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for the deliberation so far. I would also like to thank the Committee for the various comments that it has made, which have been noted, and we will see whether adjustments can be made.

Mr Speaker, let me just make one comment on the consumer protection issue that the vice-chairperson spoke about. We understand that in these matters, there is no solid or hard boundary between one function and the next. I think that we see this in various areas. For example, in the control of traffic. What is important here, is to mention that the issue has been recognised and the Bank of Zambia (BoZ), together with the Consumer Protection Authority, has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that allows each to do its part without stepping on each other's toes.

Mr Speaker, once again, I wish to thank the House for the support.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

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

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Friday, 6^th March, 2026.

REPORT STAGE

The Agriculture Credits and Warehouse Receipts Bill, 2025

Report adopted.

Third Reading on Thursday, 5^th March, 2026.

The Zambia Deposit Insurance Corporation Bill, 2025

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

_______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Finance and National Planning and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1824 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 5^thMarch, 2026.

____________

Order Paper

parliament.gov.zm

Search form

You are here

Wednesday, 4th March, 2026

Order Paper

parliament.gov.zm