Thursday, 05th March, 2026

Thursday, 5^th March, 2026

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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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 Minister of Defence, Hon. Ambrose L. Lufuma, MP, has been appointed Acting Leader of Government Business in the House from today, Thursday, 5^th March, 2026, until further notice.

I thank you.

WOMEN ASPIRING TO BE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of another group of women who are aspiring candidates for Member of Parliament roles in the forthcoming general elections.

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

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Charles Mulenga: They are Councillors!

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Kwacha, they are candidates who want to stand as Members of Parliament, not Councillors.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order!

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members, do not be worried. This is what democracy entails. We should encourage them.

Laughter

VILLAGE HEADMEN FROM HANJALIKA ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of village headmen from the Hanjalika Royal Establishment of Mazabuka District.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM RHODES PARK SCHOOL

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

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM WATERFALLS GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL

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

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR KASANDWE, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR BANGWEULU, ON MR LUFUMA, THE HON. MINISTER OF DEFENCE, AND ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, ON THE ONGOING VOTER VERIFICATION EXERCISE

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kasandwe: Madam Speaker, thank you for granting me this opportunity to raise an Urgent Matter without Notice, which is directed at the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

Madam Speaker, the matter is in relation to the ongoing voter verification exercise. I have just discovered that there is only one verification kit per ward, at least, in my constituency. That is what has come to my attention. So, the voters who want to change their polling stations can only move to the place that has that one kit in the ward. Travelling long distances is proving to be very difficult for our people. Now, I bring this to the attention of the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House to ensure that something is done before the exercise comes to an end on Sunday, because most of our people will not have the opportunity to change their polling stations.

Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance.

Madam Speaker: The verification of voters’ details, I think, is an important issue. It would be prudent for the Government to present a statement on what is happening so that the House and, through the House, members of the public can be updated. So, we can say Tuesday, next week. Would that be –

Hon. Members: We are not sitting next week!

Madam Speaker: I am sorry. That is the problem with these Urgent Matters without Notice. We are not sitting next week and tomorrow is not possible because it is short notice, and if the statement is presented after next week, it would have been overtaken by events.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Tomorrow?

Maybe the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House can indicate.

The Minister of Defence, and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Lufuma): Madam Speaker, as important, definitely, as the exercise is, I think, we will expedite to see if something can be done tomorrow.

So, the operatives on the ground listening to me now should get to work.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, for that assurance.

So, a Ministerial Statement will be rendered tomorrow on the matter raised by the hon. Member for Bangweulu.

We move to the next indication.

Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, you may proceed.

MR KANG’OMBE, HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KAMFINSA, ON MR SYAKALIMA, THE HON. MINISTER OF EDUCATION, ON RECRUITED TEACHERS NOT BEING ON PAYROLL

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank your office, once again, for giving me this opportunity to direct an Urgent Matter without Notice at the hon. Minister of Education.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Education is one of the most important in terms of the provision of education, as well as creating job opportunities for the young men and women who are trained as teachers. Last year, the ministry undertook the recruitment of teachers under the replacement programme to replace those who had not taken up their positions. That was exactly seven months ago. This is the month of March. I have information to the effect that those who were employed under the replacement programme have not been placed on payroll up to now so that they can start earning income as they offer that important work of teaching the young boys and girls who are in school.

Madam Speaker, this matter has been exercising the minds of the teachers who were recruited. For seven months, they have been reporting for work on the understanding that they would be put on the payroll. I am sure that the hon. Minister is aware that those young men and women have not been placed on the payroll.

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence to accord an opportunity to the hon. Minister of Education, through this platform, to assure teachers that they will be placed on the payroll as soon as possible so that they can be highly motivated, as they deliver work across the 116 districts. I think, one cannot report for work without drawing a salary.

Madam Speaker, I seek your indulgence on this very important issue.

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

The recruitment and replacement of teachers has been an ongoing exercise. For a matter to be raised as an Urgent Matter without Notice, there is a criterion that has to be complied with. The matter that you have raised does not meet that criterion. So, it is not admitted as an Urgent Matter without Notice. I suggest that you file in an urgent question directed at the hon. Minister of Education, and he will be able to come and address your concern.

MR MUTELO, HON. MEMBER FOR MITETE, ON THE HON. MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, MR LUFUMA, ON TWO GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ON THE LUTEMBWE RIVER

Mr Mutelo: On an Urgent Matter without Notice.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Madam Speaker, I raise this matter with a heavy heart, although the hon. Minister of Defence has already indicated that they have taken quick action, and we commend him, his team and the Government of the United Party for National Development (UPND), under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.

Madam Speaker, between the areas of Nyachikai and Washishi, we lost two male Government workers, a teacher and a clinical officer. These are heroes. Nyachikai and Washishi are far-flung places bordering Angola. The two sacrificed to go and work in those places. We lost them as they were trying to cross the Lutembwe River on their way to submit monthly reports.

Madam Speaker, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those two gallant officers. Since the hon. Minister already said that measures have been taken, it then remains for me to appreciate the Government's efforts in helping our people, the beloved ones. The body of one has been taken to Mwange, while the other is lying in the Zambezi Mortuary awaiting burial. I thank the hon. Minister for that effort.

Madam Speaker: I now have to scratch my head and think about how that matter comes in. I pass my condolences to you, hon. Member. I am sorry for what happened. I think the hon. Member just wanted to raise that matter. Although it is not an Urgent Matter without Notice, it may be an urgent concern without notice. I am sure the hon. Minister has taken note of that.

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL SERVICE VOLUNTARY TRAINING PROGRAMME IN CHINSALI

240. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Defence:

how many candidates from Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency were selected to undergo the Zambia National Service Voluntary Training Programme, for the September 2025 intake; and
what criteria were used to ensure a fair selection process.

The Minister of Defence (Mr Lufuma): Madam Speaker, a total of five candidates were selected from Chinsali Constituency to undergo Voluntary National Service Training (VNST) after passing medical tests. The following are the names of candidates from Chinsali Constituency:

Name NRC No. Centre

Shinondo Mwape 350470/45/1 Katete

Gillard Mulenga 273105/45/1 Katete

Savior Chimanga 278856/46/1 Katete

Ricky Mweemba 266195/10/1 Katete

Wigan Kampamba 303459/56/1 Kitwe

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that Katete and Kitwe are male-designated training centres. So, those selected to go there are males.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali that to ensure a fair selection process in the selection of candidates, the following guidelines were given:

selection guidelines for the VNST programme were given to the Provincial Permanent Secretaries;
selection was carried out at the provincial level by respective Provincial Permanent Secretaries in liaison with the Office of the District Commissioners (DCs);
seven names of selected candidates from each constituency were to be submitted and were submitted that is three females and four males, to make a total of seven for each constituency;
training programme is on a voluntary basis, and the duration is six months. So, anytime from now, there should be a pass-out parade; and
eligibility criteria for a person to volunteer. This includes the selection criteria for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) bursary guidelines on education. A candidate must:

definitely be a Zambian and holder of a green National Registration Card (NRC);

have a Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent;

be between eighteen and thirty-five years of age, which means a youth;

be physically and mentally fit, with a medical report;

have no criminal record;

be ready to undergo basic military training;

submit an active contact telephone number and address;

carry along a photocopy of the green NRC; and

be a resident of the constituency from which one is applying, and must have lived there for at least six months. So, one cannot just go in and claim to be a resident of that constituency.

Madam Speaker, identification of volunteers was done through the Office of the DC in line with the guidelines as stated already; and the Office of the DC was tasked to submit the names of eligible volunteers to the provincial administration.

Madam Speaker, that is how the selection was made.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the response, and for indicating that five candidates from Chinsali were selected to undergo the Zambia National Service (ZNS) Voluntary National Service Training Programme for the September 2025 intake. I would like to know what the total number of candidates who were selected to undergo this very important programme countrywide was.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali for that question.

Madam Speaker, the number was seven in each of the 156 constituencies. That means the total came to 1,092.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chala (Chipili): Madam Speaker, what programme does the Government have for the soon-to-graduate youths when they finish the training?

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that very important question.

Madam Speaker, this is a voluntary programme. As the Government, we are trying to upgrade life skills of the majority of our unemployed youths so that we empower them. When they settle in their respective communities, they will be able to apply their skills in order to secure a stream of income for themselves. Primarily, that is what we are trying to do. We are training them in skills, such as carpentry, welding, agriculture and auto mechanics, which are hands-on. We are also preparing them for industry. They are craftsmen, so they can enter industry. They are trained, so they can also be employed. The other benefit is that the youths trained at the Zambia National Service (ZNS) become reserves for any employment in the public sector or parastatals and the private sector. Those are some of the benefits that accrue. Apart from that, we emphasise nationalism, patriotism and discipline. That is why there is an element of military training. We believe that in everything one does, discipline is paramount. So, those are some of the benefits that this programme comes with.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to seek clarification. If the hon. Minister addressed the issue I am about to raise, then I did not hear it so he should bear with me.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that seven candidates were selected from each constituency to undergo voluntary training at the ZNS. However, from Chinsali Constituency, only five people were selected. Is it that nobody came forth for the other two slots? Why did Chinsali not have seven candidates? Could there be a specific reason for that? May the hon. Minister enlighten me.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, yes, seven candidates were targeted for each and every constituency. Unfortunately, not all the constituencies had the seven candidates. In the case of Chinsali Constituency, one did not undergo the medicals and a replacement was not forthcoming. So, the slot was lost. For the other slot, the volunteer went away without official leave (AWOL). Those who have attended the ZNS youth training know what I mean. The candidates were not replaced and the chance was lost. Please, next time the programme will be on, hon. Members of Parliament should get involved so that constituencies get the seven slots allocated for them.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

Hon. Members, we have a lot of business on the Order Paper. I am sure that the question has been exhaustively dealt with. So, we can make progress.

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

Madam Speaker: There is an indication for a point of order.

Hon. Member for Nkana, what is the point of order?

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, my point of order is premised on Standing Order No. 70. I wish to seek your guidance.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, you have just come into the House. We have just started deliberating. We are on Questions for Oral Answer. Why are you asking for a personal explanation? Is it about what happened today, or what happened in the past?

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I wish to explain myself on what happened yesterday.

Madam Speaker: That is water under the bridge, hon. Member. We have already dealt with that issue. If you have any concerns, come to my office so that we find out exactly what you want to explain. When I understand and appreciate your concern, I will be able to guide accordingly.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, before I ask a question, allow me to appreciate the reaction of the Office of the Vice-President to the flood victims in Chilubi.

CASH-FOR-WORK PROGRAMME BENEFICIARIES IN CHILUBI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

241. Mr Fube asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:

whether Chilubi Parliamentary Constituency benefited from the Cash-for-Work Programme as of August 2025;
if so, how many residents benefited from the programme as of the date above; and
what kind of activities were performed under the programme.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Sialubalo): Madam Speaker, Phase I of the Cash-for-Work Programme was implemented in only eight provinces that had experienced drought in the 2023/2024 Farming Season. Luapula Province and the Northern Province were not included in the programme under Phase I, because they were not affected by drought during the period earlier mentioned. The decision to not include the two provinces was informed by the vulnerability assessment exercise that was undertaken by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) at that time. Therefore, Chilubi Parliamentary Constituency, being in the Northern Province, did not benefit from the programme in the first phase.

Madam Speaker, I must be quick to indicate to this august House that in the subsequent 2024/2025 Farming Season, the Government realised that there were households whose crops did not perform well and, as such, undertook another exercise to identify levels of vulnerability across the ten provinces. This exercise gave birth to phase II of the Cash-for-Work Programme, whose implementation will cover all the ten provinces. Under phase II, local authorities have identified and registered the vulnerable households in readiness for the implementation of the programme once funds are released. Chilubi is under phase II.

Madam Speaker, under phase I, there were no beneficiaries because Chilubi District was not yet part of the programme. However, under phase II, the district has 1,994 beneficiaries already registered under the programme by the local authority.

Madam Speaker, as indicated in response to parts (a) and (b) of the question, no works were undertaken under phase I in the district, as it was not yet part of the programme.

Madam Speaker, under phase II of the programme, the following works will be done:

maintenance and rehabilitation of community infrastructure, such as roads;
rehabilitation of crossing points;
solid waste management;
moulding of bricks for community projects;
vegetation control and tree stamping; and
culvert unblocking.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, firstly, I would like to agree with the hon. Minister that under phase I of the programme, a climate-driven selection criterion was used, and it involved about eighty-four districts. Given that background, I would like to ask the hon. Minister whether he knows that whereas Chilubi Constituency was not affected by the drought, part of the wetlands and part of the island were affected by floods. So, the people of Chilubi were affected in a manner equivalent to those who experienced a drought. As a result of floods, why was Chilubi not considered under the climate-driven criterion?

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Fube: Ba Nkandu, napapata.

Mr Sialubalo: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my dear hon. Colleague for the follow-up question and in response, let me read my earlier statement on how the identification of beneficiaries was done.

Madam Speaker, the decision not to include the two provinces was informed by the vulnerability assessment exercise that was undertaken by the DMMU at the time. So, since my ministry was not given information on Chilubi being part of the exercise, we could not go ahead to include the district under phase I of the programme.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that it is not every disaster that happens that is considered under the Cash-for-Work Programme. There are a lot of intervention measures through the DMMU and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to address various situations or disasters. Maybe, those who were identifying various disasters considered Chilubi under the programmes of the DMMU or the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. Maybe, that is the reason it did not fall under our programme.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to get clarification from the hon. Minister on the vulnerability assessment exercise that was conducted by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). How perfect was it in terms of identifying areas to consider for the Cash-for-Work Programme, since some areas were not given the programme? The case of flooding in Chilubi is a serious matter, I do not understand how the district was left out because it was even seen on social media how the people in Chilubi were affected during that time.

Madam Speaker, Chinsali was also left out and never benefitted from phase I of the Cash-for-Work Programme. It cannot be said that Chinsali was not affected by the drought in the 2024/2025 Rainy Season because it was. Chinsali and Shiwang’andu share the same climatic conditions, but Shiwang’andu was given the programme while Chinsali was not. In Muchinga Province, there were only two places that benefitted from the Cash-for-Work Programme, despite the district having the same climatic conditions. Is the hon. Minister able to confirm that the vulnerability assessment exercise that was conducted by the DMMU was not perfect?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, this is a constituency-specific question. If you want to ask questions about your own constituencies, file them in. I do not know whether the hon. Minister has an answer to that question.

Mr Sialubalo: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali for asking a constituency-specific question, although he wants us to attend to many constituencies. However, being a responsible Government, we have responses for every situation because we work for twenty-four hours and seven days a week.

Madam Speaker, everyone is aware of the disaster that happened in Lundazi not too long ago. There was a call by the hon. Member of Parliament for Lundazi to the Government for an intervention and the Government acted promptly.

Madam Speaker, when a disaster happens, hon. Members of Parliament must reach out to the Government at the right time. If Chilubi District was left out of a programme in 2025, where was the hon. Member of Parliament then? He should have made a follow up to the Government so that the district was immediately placed on either the Cash-for-Work programme or any other social intervention programme. The Government would have taken Chilubi on board. Sometimes, a situation is left unattended and an hon. Member wants to come and ask a question later. The people of Chilubi suffered at that particular time. However, the hon. Member wants to get a response in 2026 over a disaster that happened in 2023 or 2024. We are not being fair to our people.

Madam Speaker, hon. Ministers’ offices are open. Immediately a situation happens, let us engage one another so that we help the people in our constituents. A situation such as the one that happens in Chilubi may not have needed the Cash-for-Work Programme, but other social interventions. I mentioned the DMMU because it has done exceptionally well. Whatever situation the unit picks up, it promptly acts on it. I cannot question its work because it has done a lot and is still doing a lot. Recently, there was a disaster in Chililabombwe, where part of a road was washed away, but it took only forty-eight hours for that road to be repaired. Another example is Rufunsa District, where a road was also damaged and the DMMU moved in within forty-eight hours. So, it would be unfair to start questioning the work of an institution whose men and women are so committed to duty.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I take great exception to the hon. Minister portraying me as a Member of Parliament who is not responsible.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Fube: Maybe, the hon. Minister would like to learn that when we had the problems I referred to earlier, I visited Her Honour the Vice-President’s Office, she can attest to that, and I even asked about the eighty-four districts. Her Honour the Vice-President explained to me. When I rose to ask this question, I appreciated Her Honour the Vice-President’s Office for what the hon. Minister has referred to. So, to say that I cannot ask a question in 2026 about something that happened in 2025 is misplaced.

Madam Speaker, I want to know the criterion that was used to cater for all ten provinces, as we had a drought then, and it was used as a guide to select the provinces and to lock out the other two. Which criteria has the Government used now, as there is no drought, though there may be more rainfall than expected, to include all provinces in Phase II, which was not feasible then? When was the assessment done to enable the inclusion of the ten provinces?

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Sialubalo: Madam Speaker, I never questioned the hon. Member of Parliament’s commitment to duty. All I said was that when a calamity happens, we should move with time so that such situations are addressed at the right time. That is what I meant. I never questioned his commitment, because if he were not committed, he would not have raised the question. The fact that he raised the question shows commitment, but timing is also important.

Madam Speaker, let me repeat the response I gave earlier. I said that in the subsequent farming season, which is 2024/2025, the Government realised that there were households whose crops performed well and, as such, undertook another exercise to identify the levels of vulnerability.

Mr Nkandu: Very clear!

Mr Sialubalo: It is very clear. So, that is what led to Phase II.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, let us make progress.

Hon. Opposition Members: Ah!

GROUPED QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE ACROSS PAMBASHE RIVER

242. Mr Kapema (Pambashe) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

whether the Government has any plans to construct a bridge across Pambashe River to connect Senior Chief Mushota’s area to Chief Chama’s area in Pambashe Parliamentary Constituency;
if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
if there are no such plans, why.

DELAY OF COMPLETION OF MBESUMA BRIDGE IN CHINSALI

243. Mr Mukosa asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

what the cause of the delay in completing the construction of Mbesuma Bridge, which connects Chinsali and Malole parliamentary constituencies, is;
at what percentage of completion the project was as of September 2025;
what the estimated cost of the outstanding works is; and
when the project will be completed.

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES ACROSS LUBU RIVER IN CHINSALI

244. Mr Mukosa asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

whether the Government has any plans to construct bridges across Lubu River in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency to connect:

Cheswa Village to Sula Village; and

Kapululu Village to Malalo Village;

if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi): Madam Speaker, in responding to Question No. 242, the Government has plans to construct and repair selected bridges in Pambashe Parliamentary Constituency using a phased approach.

Madam Speaker, the plans will be implemented once the crossing points have been assessed and funds have been made available for the project.

Madam Speaker, I will give further information for the sake of time. The Government has a consolidated plan to construct and repair selected bridges in Pambashe Constituency using a phased approach, as I said. Currently, the Government is constructing a bridge on the Luongo River with 6.5 km of access roads at a total cost of K141,481,417.64. The bridge is almost complete at 90 per cent.

Madam Speaker, the Government will proceed to construct other bridges, including the one on the Pambashe River, which will reduce travel distance from 70 km to 12 km, subject to the availability of resources.

Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance. should I proceed to answer the other questions?

Madam Speaker indicated assent.

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, in response to Question 243, the delay in completing the construction of Mbesuma Bridge is due to fiscal constraints.

Madam Speaker, as at September 2025, the percentage of completion was 28 per cent.

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the outstanding works is K200 million.

Madam Speaker, the project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027.

Madam Speaker, additional information for the hon. Member. The construction contract for Mbesuma Bridge was awarded to China Railway Seventh Group at a contract sum of K84,185,816.99 on 2^nd May, 2018, for a period of eighteen months. Due to fiscal constraints, the contract lapsed on 14^th September, 2022, and was, thus, terminated. As at September 2025, the physical progress of the works was at 28 per cent. The outstanding works are estimated at K200 million. The Government has since secured K30 million for the project in the 2026 Road Sector Annual Work Plan. The Road Development Agency (RDA) is currently finalising the bidding document for the project and will commence the tendering process before the end of March 2026. The outstanding works are expected to be completed within a period of eighteen months.

Madam Speaker, in response to Question 244, the Government has plans to construct bridges across Lubu River in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency to connect:

Cheswa Village to Sula Village; and
Kapulu Village to Malalo Village.

Madam Speaker, the plans will be implemented once the crossing points have been assessed and funds have been made available for the project.

Madam Speaker, as stated in the response to part (a) of the question above, the Government has plans to construct bridges across those points.

Madam Speaker, extra information. The Government plans to construct bridges across those crossing points, but it is worth noting that the highlighted crossing points are not on gazetted roads, and they require capital expenditure. The RDA regional office, in collaboration with the Chinsali Municipal Council, is currently conducting assessments to determine appropriate interventions. Once the assessments are completed, proposals for long-term interventions will be made to arrest the current crossing challenges at those sections of the river.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kapema: Madam Speaker, I thank you, and I also thank the hon. Minister for his good responses to the people of Pambashe.

Madam Speaker, the distance from Senior Chief Mushota to Chief Chama is about 90 km. If there were a bridge across the Pambashe River, that distance would be approximately 1.8 km. Can the hon. Minister shed more light on when the Government will commence construction of that bridge?

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, indeed, if the bridge is constructed at the crossing point, it tends to shorten the distance covered when moving from point A to point B. The example I gave about the Luongo Bridge, which we are currently constructing in his constituency, has reduced the distance from 70 km to 12 km. So, even the point that the hon. Member raised will, indeed, reduce the distance. Wherever we go to construct bridges, we have similar stories.

Madam Speaker, the question about when the construction will commence, I think my answer was very explicit. Firstly, it is a question of the allocation of resources. Secondly, when we are using the phased-approach, it means that we are dealing with phases that are ahead of others. The crossing point, the hon. Member referred to will also be attended to. However, there are some crossing points that are ahead in terms of the phased-approach. The hon. Member is free to come to our offices and discuss some of these matters so that we can show him what is happening.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his response.

Madam Speaker, if I heard the hon. Minister correctly, he indicated that the value of outstanding works on this very important bridge connecting Muchinga Province and the Northern Province, called the Mbesuma Bridge, has an outstanding balance of K200 million for it to be completed. He further indicated that in the 2016 Work Plan, the Government allocated K10 million. In case I did not hear him correctly, he will clarify. I would like to know the urgency or importance that the Government has attached to the project, as it has been indicated that it is expected to be completed next year in the fourth quarter, which is the last quarter of 2027, and that the outstanding balance is K200 million. This year, we have allocated K10 million, meaning that next year, what has to be allocated is K190 million. I am now trying to look at the ratios. It means that this year we have allocated 5 per cent –

Eng. Milupi interjected.

Mr Mukosa: No, I am just seeking clarification, and that is why I said, “If I did not hear you correctly.” Please, bear with me.

Madam Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to help me with a response to my question.

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the hon. Member for Chinsali for that question.

Madam Speaker, first of all, I would like to clarify that I did not say K10 million, but K30 million.

However, I think the main point is the timeframe that we have given. It means that we have assessed what needs to be done. When we say eighteen months up to the fourth quarter of 2027, that is the Government assurance that we should be held to.

Madam Speaker, let me give a bit of information to Hon. Mukosa. The reason we need people who have experience in this House and elsewhere is that they have a history. For his information, I visited the site at the Mbesuma Bridge in 2007, ...

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Eng. Milupi: … during the rule of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), when I was the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee in this House. At that time, 75 per cent of the total project cost had been paid by the Government of the day. When we visited the site, there was absolutely nothing. There were only two small piles of sand on the Chinsali side of the Chambeshi River. That 75 percent of the total project cost went to waste. That was not under the Patriotic Front (PF) but the MMD Government. So, we are aware of how long the people in the areas, who are connected by that bridge, have waited. This New Dawn Government is undertaking the work to ensure that that which was not done under the MMD, or under the PF will be done under the UPND.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Nakaponda (Isoka): Madam Speaker, the Mbesuma Bridge is a very important economic bridge. The people of Isoka Constituency pass through that bridge. It also connects Mafinga, Chitipa Town in Malawi, and part of Chama North. What assurance will the hon. Minister give to the people of Isoka, Chinsali, and the other towns I have mentioned?

Hon. Government Members: Quality

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, as early as 2007, we knew that the mentioned bridge was an economic bridge. That was why we took the time to go and visit. Subsequent Governments have done nothing on that bridge. The New Dawn Government is saying, “this must be done.” That is why we have taken the trouble to allocate some resources and, by the way, I have paddled in a canoe myself across the river at the same spot. So, I know it very well. We shall work on it more than the other Governments did, including the previous one.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the hon. Minister’s attention the bridges that we would like him to construct across the Lubu River, to connect Cheswa Village with Sula Village, along with connecting Kapululu Village to Malalo Village. The hon. Minister indicated that the Government has plans and that the Road Development Agency (RDA), in collaboration with the Chinsali Local Council, is about to undertake preliminary works that cover an evaluation of the work that has to be done.

Madam Speaker, when is Chinsali Town Council and the Road Development Agency (RDA) going to start the preliminary works to understand the works that have to be done? I do understand that a journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step. The hon. Minister has indicated what the Government is going to do, and that is very welcome. We, the people of Chinsali, welcome the idea of the RDA and Chinsali Town Council starting the preliminary study.

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, first of all, as I indicated, the roads across that crossing point are not gazetted, but the bridges must be worked on. The hon. Member’s supplementary question is –

Interruptions

Eng. Milupi: Are you paying attention?

Laughter

Eng. Milupi: Madam Speaker, the supplementary question is: When is the RDA and the local council going to carry out the assessment? The answer, as I indicated, is that they are already doing it. That is why we wanted the Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 7 to be passed. We wanted it to be passed so that hon. Members of Parliament could go back to councils to push works. I hope the hon. Member supported us.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

GROUPED QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNICATION TOWERS IN MOOMBA CHIEFDOM

245. Dr Andeleki (Katombola) asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

when the Government will construct communication towers in Moomba Chiefdom in Kazungula District; and
what the estimated cost of the project is.

CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNICATION TOWERS IN MULOBEZI

246. Eng. Mabenga (Mulobezi) asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

how many communication towers have been allocated for construction in Mulobezi District under the Gap Analysis Programme;
how many communication towers are earmarked for construction in the following years, ward by ward in 2025, 2026; and 2027;
when the existing communication towers will be upgraded from 2G, 4G and 5G in order to enhance Internet connectivity;
whether the upgrading of the communication towers will also increase the radius of the catchment areas; and
what measures are being taken to enhance Internet connectivity in Mulobezi to ensure that the local people start using their mobile phones for cash transactions.

COMMUNICATION TOWERS IN CHINSALI

247. Mr Mukosa asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

whether the Government has any plans to construct communication towers in the following areas in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency;

Kaluka in Chunga Ward; and
Shimuyinda;

if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati): Madam Speaker, the Government will commence the construction of communication towers in Moomba Chiefdom of Kazungula District in the second quarter of 2026. Given the limited resource envelope, the Government will commence the construction of one communication tower under the Smart Village Project, to be located at Moomba Primary School in Moomba Ward. The House may wish to note that the tender for the construction of ten Smart Village Projects, which include the site in question, has been uploaded on the electronic-Government Procurement (e-GP) website and is expected to close on 16^th March, 2026.

Madam Speaker, the cost of constructing one communication tower is approximately US$170,000.

Madam Speaker, following a gap analysis survey undertaken in 2022, the Government identified eighteen sites in Mulobezi District. However, only one site at Kasopa Primary School has been earmarked in 2026.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that the Government did not construct communication towers in Mulobezi District in 2025. In 2026, the Government plans to construct one communication tower at Kasopa Primary School in Mulobezi, and the procurement process has since commenced. In 2027, under the World Bank Digital Project, two sites have been earmarked for construction.

Madam Speaker, the Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited (Zamtel) has upgraded six out of the eight existing communication towers from 2G to 4G in 2025 to enable Internet connectivity.

Madam Speaker, there are no plans to put 5G network technology.

Madam Speaker, the catchment area of the existing communication towers will remain the same.

Madam Speaker, the six upgraded communication towers will enable our citizens to access the Internet in the area. Therefore, as stated in the response, the upgrading of the existing 2G communication towers to 4G sites is being undertaken as a measure in order to provide Internet connectivity.

Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to optimise network availability in Kaluka area of Chunga Ward. The Government has also earmarked the construction of a tower at the Shimuyinda area located at Shimuyinda Primary School in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency to be financed under the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project.

Madam Speaker, the construction of the said communication tower is expected to commence in 2026. The Government has also prioritised the optimisation of existing infrastructure in Kaluka of Chunga Ward and the construction of a communication tower in the Shimuyinda area.

Madam Speaker, in view of the response given to part (b) of the question, part (c) of the question falls away.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Eng. Mabenga: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for that response.

Madam Speaker, I would like to make an appeal regarding the number of communication towers that the ministry is going to allocate to Mulobezi. The impression that I was given each time I went to the hon. Minister’s office was that a minimum of three communication towers would be allocated. Now, I am being told that only one communication tower is going to be constructed in Mulobezi, which is totally unfair to us. Mulobezi has been underdeveloped since successive Governments, and the only hope now is this Government developing that place. I appeal to the hon. Minister to increase the number from one to maybe five communication towers because there is no communication whatsoever. People on Government social programmes are told that they will be paid only through cell phones, but we have no communication system.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, in our earlier answer, we said that in 2026, we are going to construct one communication tower in that area. Further, we said that we are going to construct two communication towers in Mulobezi Constituency in 2027.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Andeleki: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the answers.

Madam Speaker, just like our colleagues in Mulobezi, we are also lagging behind in terms of network coverage in Katombola Constituency. Is the hon. Minister saying that the one tower being constructed in Moomba is part of the eighteen towers that he promised would be delivered to places like Katombola, or it is just a separate project to give the people of Moomba one tower?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, let me just read the components of that particular investment of the smart village programme to be implemented in places like Katombola Constituency. There will be:

one mobile communication tower;
a smart education platform for both primary and secondary schools;
smart renewable energy solutions;
connectivity to e-commerce and online transactions; and
health solutions for rural areas.

Madam Speaker, we already said that the limitation that we have is the availability of resources. As for 2027, we shall have to wait for the Budget to be presented to see whether we will be able to construct additional towers in that year.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the responses.

Madam Speaker, I just want to seek clarification. The hon. Minister indicated that the construction of a network tower at Shimuinda will be completed in 2026. I would like to know when exactly the construction will commence in 2026. Is it in the second quarter, third quarter or fourth quarter?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, we expect that it will probably start in the fourth quarter because the project has just been advertised now. Thereafter, the procurement process will take place. So, I think that it will start by the end of the year.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the responses.

Madam Speaker, I can remember quite well that last year, or the year before, all hon. Members of Parliament were asked to submit location points of where towers would be installed. The challenges the hon. Member for Katombola is facing are common problems in many constituencies.

Madam Speaker, I want to find out when the hon. Minister will come to the House to update us on where towers will be constructed in all the 156 constituencies so that we stop burdening him with a lot of questions.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member that, perhaps, giving a comprehensive statement on the construction of towers countrywide would be very useful. However, I would like to inform the House that last year, we worked very hard and one of the things that we did was to negotiate for US$100 million to support the construction of towers. That money was only approved this year. That is why we are now beginning to construct towers.

Madam Speaker, secondly, we undertook some reforms in the communication sector this year. For the first time, the private sector is also planting several towers because of those reforms. So, we expect 407 towers from the private sector. A statement on that will be given. So, the reforms are beginning to pay dividends.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Eng. Mabenga: Madam Speaker, the network in Mulobezi comes only from 1000 hours to 1700 hours. Thereafter, there is no communication whatsoever. Even patients cannot communicate with the hospital or anyone. The communication comes to a standstill during that time. Can the hon. Minister do something about that?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, one of the limitations that we have had, particularly for rural areas, is the design of the energy solutions that are associated with communication towers. They were supplied energy using a combination of diesel generators and solar power. With that combination, they could not operate for twenty-four hours, seven days a week. However, we now have a new solution. Towers are supplied with only solar power using batteries, which enables them to operate for twenty-four hours, seven days a week. This programme is being implemented in a phased manner.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, my question is basically on the timeline for the network in Kaluka. The optimisation of the nearest tower was expected to cover Kaluka in terms of providing it with phone network. When are we expecting this optimisation exercise to be undertaken?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, fortunately, as we speak, the engineers are in his constituency. They are the ones who are briefing us on the work involved in that optimisation. So, I would only urge the hon. Member of Parliament to come and see us so that we can connect him to the engineers, and he will be able to monitor what is happening on the ground.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, I used to be so excited when hon. Minister talked about towers, but I am no longer excited.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister commissioned the tower at Misangwa in my constituency more than two years ago, but up to now, nothing has been done. The tenders were cancelled because it was a local contractor who was undertaking the works. What assurance is the hon. Minister giving the people of Katombola, Moomba and Mulobezi that once the construction of towers starts, there will be nothing like what has happened in Mushindamo?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, one of the challenges that we have faced, particularly in the construction of towers in rural areas, is that we thought we could use local contractors as part of the empowerment process and they were awarded several towers to be constructed countrywide. However, it is sad to note that we have had very poor performance in the delivery of towers by local contractors. As we speak here, over forty towers remain at various stages of construction.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Andeleki: Madam Speaker, there is poor Airtel and MTN network in the Republic of Zambia, not only in Katombola, where the ministry is installing towers here and there. The only good quality cellular network system is the Government-run Zamtel network. My hard-working hon. Minister of Energy was accused in the past to the effect that the network was poor because there was no electricity, and other excuses. Now there is electricity twenty-four-hours a day, seven days a week. Even when you are calling someone next door, or you are with the person, the service will indicate that the cellular phone is off. What is really happening? Is it the quality of the ministry’s towers, like the tower being taken to Katombola, or what?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, I have already said that the ministry undertook aggressive reforms last year, particularly for the private sector to invest. Airtel Zambia will work on 407 towers to address the issue that the hon. Member has raised. If the ministry had not formulated the reforms, we would still be grappling with that problem. So, part of the solution is the investment being made by Airtel Zambia. Secondly, part of the solution is to have independent power generation by using 100 per cent solar. So, there will be no issue in terms of whether ZESCO Limited power is off. Those are the improvements that the ministry is making to ensure connectivity is available twenty-four-hours a day, seven days a week.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I was almost winding up. The last person to indicate was the hon. Member for Mbabala, and I was going to move on to the next question.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the good responses he has given to our grouped questions.

Madam Speaker, a programme was started, and the hon. Minister commissioned towers in Itezhi-Tezhi, and we were told that the ministry would move on to Namwala. Towers were commissioned in Muchila, and the programme is moving to Mbabala next. Mbabala has a problem in Semunzele, Chazangwe and many other areas that need cellular network urgently. Where are we on the programme of commissioning towers in all needy rural constituencies so that we can all be communicating and doing well in terms of using cash-based mobile money-related items?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, that programme is on. The ministry is already commissioning towers in various parts of Zambia. The ministry was in Central Province and the Copperbelt Province. Indeed, towers will be commissioned in the Southern Province. So, Mbabala will be one of them.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I appreciate you very much.

Madam Speaker, at some point, the Government built almost 1,009 towers across the country, and most of them are Zamtel-operated. Now, the batteries in the towers have become low, and most of them do not have Internet connectivity. The problem is that allowances for programmes like the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) and Cash-for-Work are paid using cellular phones. You can imagine that in rural areas, people have worked, but they have not been paid because there is no Internet connectivity. How will the ministry ensure that the credibility and customer base are restored, especially for Zamtel Limited, as people will lose interest in the network service provider? What will the ministry do to work on the towers, especially those in rural areas?

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, Zamtel Limited has been born again digitally. The network service provider is undertaking an aggressive upgrade programme, much bigger than what the private sector is doing. The service provider will upgrade 1,200 towers from second and third generation (2G/3G) to fourth-generation (4G) cellular network technology. As of the end of December, 600 towers had been worked on, and the rest will be worked on this year. So, Zamtel Limited is no longer the same as it was in the past.

Madam Speaker, let me also add that as of the end of 2025, for the first time in a long time, Zamtel Limited returned a profit of over K8.5 million, and I am sure, going forward, it will continue to return a profit. So, Zamtel Limited is digitally born again.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mubika (Shangombo): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, listening to the hon. Minister of Technology and Science speak, you might think all is well. However, speaking for Shangombo, there is a tower that was left by the previous Government, the Patriotic Front (PF), which has been standing for the past six or seven years. I have been going to the ministry for the past four years, and I have been promised that, in a month, for example, the tower will be activated. However, nothing has happened in the past four years. There are areas, like the hon. Member of Parliament for Chitambo stated, where people who are under the Cash-for-Work and Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programmes have to receive their money on cellular phones, but there is no network. Even all the labourers in Government schools under the World Bank are told to have cellular phones, but they cannot access their money because of a lack of network. When will the hon. Minister walk the talk so that whatever he says here, in this House, is done on the ground? Also, can the hon. Minister avail the list of the 400 Airtel network towers, which he has mentioned, so that I can check if, maybe, Shangombo is also included.

Mr Mutati: Madam Speaker, indeed, most rural towers are Zamtel Limited, including the one in Shangombo. As I said, Zamtel Limited went through a very difficult financial condition, and only began to breathe again after undertaking a massive restructuring of the balance sheet and debt swap with the Government. That is what has given the network service provider the space to breathe again. So, the last couple of years have been focused on ensuring that Zamtel Limited has a strong enough balance sheet to access resources from the open market to undertake investment, particularly in towers. That is why, as a consequence, the network service provider planned to install 1,200 towers, which, as of December, 600 upgrades have been delivered, and the balance will be delivered by the end of the year.

Madam Speaker, hon. Members will be given copies to know where all the 407 towers that are being worked on by Airtel Zambia are being installed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: We make progress.

_______

MOTION

REPORT OF THE ZAMBIAN DELEGATION TO THE 58^TH SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PARLIAMENTARY FORUM (SADC-PF) PLENARY SESSION

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Report of the Zambian Delegation to the 58^th Southern African Development Community-Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) Plenary Assembly Session, held in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, Durban, South Africa, from 30^th November to 5^th December 2025, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 4^th March, 2026.

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Ms Kasanda (Chisamba): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, pursuant to Order No. 154 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, 2024, I stand to give a report on the activities of the 58^th Plenary Assembly Session, highlighting the key resolutions made by the Assembly.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that the 58^th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC-PF convened under the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change on Women and Youth in the SADC Region and the Role of Parliaments in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation”. It was officially opened by His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Paul Shipokosa Mashatile.

Madam Speaker, the Deputy President observed that climate change disproportionately affected women and young people in the SADC region by deepening vulnerabilities, disrupting livelihoods and education, and increasing risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and exploitation. He outlined the critical role of SADC parliaments in responding through legislation, oversight, and representation, including aligning laws with regional and international frameworks, promoting gender-responsive and climate-smart policies, facilitating clean energy transitions, ensuring accountability, and allocating adequate resources to protect vulnerable groups. The Deputy President reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to climate action, citing the enactment of the Climate Change Act in 2024 and called on parliaments to work together to take meaningful people-centred action to address climate change and its disproportionate impact on women and youths across the SADC region.

Madam Speaker, it is my belief that hon. Members have read the report of the delegation. I will, therefore, only highlight some of the key resolutions made by the Plenary Assembly.

Madam Speaker, the Plenary Assembly expressed profound concern over the escalating and compounding impacts of climate change across the SADC region, including intensified droughts, devastating floods, tropical cyclones, and rising sea levels. The Plenary Assembly noted with grave concern that these impacts threaten food security, water availability, public health, livelihoods, and socioeconomic stability, thereby, undermining the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and SADC's regional integration agenda. The Plenary Assembly, in this regard, adopted the resolution calling upon member states to treat climate change as an urgent development, security, and governance priority, requiring co-ordinated regional parliamentary action.

Further, Madam Speaker, the Plenary Assembly acknowledged that climate change was neither gender-neutral nor generation-blind, and recognised that women and youth bore a disproportionate burden of climate impacts due to pre-existing socio-economic inequalities, reliance on climate-sensitive livelihoods, and limited access to decision-making, finance, technology, and land. In view of the foregoing, the Plenary Assembly adopted the resolution urging member parliaments to mainstream gender-responsive and youth-sensitive approaches in climate legislation, policies, and programmes.

Madam Speaker, the Plenary Assembly reaffirmed the central role of parliaments in enacting climate-responsive legislation, approving climate-sensitive budgets, and exercising effective oversight over climate governance. The Plenary Assembly also emphasised the urgent need for dedicated funding for climate research, data generation, evidence-based policy making, and adopted the resolution urging member states to adopt and implement gender-responsive and youth-sensitive policies that recognise women and youth as key agents of climate action and resilience.

As I wind up, Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that the Plenary Assembly considered country reports on the implementation of resolutions adopted at the 57^th Plenary Assembly Session, held in Victoria Falls City, Zimbabwe, in June 2025. In addition, the Assembly considered and adopted standing Committee reports, the Report of the Regional Women's Parliamentary Caucus (RWPC), the Report of the Joint Sitting of the Standing Committees, the Executive Committee Report on General SADC Parliamentary Forum Policy …

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Please, tone down the consultations or the chatting.

May the hon. Member continue.

Mr Mukosa: … and Administrative Matters and the Treasurer's Report. Furthermore, the Plenary was also presented with and adopted the Report of the 151^st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and Related Meetings held from 19^th to 23^rd October, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I wish to express profound gratitude on behalf of the SADC-PF delegation to the 58^th Plenary Assembly to you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to it during the undertaking.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

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

Ms Kasanda: Now, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for according me the opportunity to second this important Motion arising from the 58^th SADC Plenary Forum Assembly Session, which was convened under the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change on Women and Youth in the SADC Region and the Role of Parliaments in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.”

Madam Speaker, allow me to also thank or commend Hon. Kalalwe Mukosa, the Member of Parliament for Chinsali, for having ably moved this Motion and for clearly linking it to the broader climate and development challenges facing our region today.

Madam Speaker, the House may also wish to note that another key item on the Plenary Assembly's agenda was the consideration and adoption of reports from Standing Committees, the Regional Women's Parliamentary Caucus (RWPC), and the Joint Sitting of Standing Committees following their statutory meetings that were held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 30^th and 31^st October, 2025.

Madam Speaker, the report highlighted pertinent issues affecting the region and informed several recommendations for parliamentary action. Among the notable recommendations to different Parliaments were parliamentary action to address the regional energy deficit by urging national Parliaments to prioritise the ratification and domestication of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Energy Protocol, strengthen oversight of its implementation and the regional power pool integration and utilise budgetary authority to approve the strategic investments in renewable energy.

Madam Speaker, the Assembly also looked at the critical role of Parliamentarians in election observation, which, I think, has been a topical issue at the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Assembly called for democratic consolidation, predictable funding and increased parliamentary participation in the SADC PF election observation missions.

Madam Speaker, we also looked at the Women’s Caucus. We have the Zambia Women Parliamentary Caucus but, at the SADC level, we looked at how it can help with gender response to climate action and encourage member Parliaments to ensure that climate policies and financing were guided by robust gender analysis, supported by gender-disaggregated data in carbon markets, and reinforced by strengthened oversight to hold implementing agencies accountable.

Madam Speaker, these outcomes demonstrate that the 58^th Plenary Assembly did not merely engage in thematic discussions on climate change. Rather, it addressed the interconnected challenges of energy security, democratic governance, gender equality and social justice, particularly as they affect women and youths across the SADC region. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us, as Parliamentarians, to ensure effective follow-up at national level through legislation, budgetary allocation and rigorous oversight. Our participation in regional forums must translate into tangible action that improves the lives of our citizens.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I would like to add a few words to the debate on the Motion. May I begin by thanking the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali, and the seconder, the hon. Member for Chisamba, for the manner in which they laid out the substance of the Motion on the Floor of the House.

Madam Speaker, I like the sitting that was held and what was deliberated on. The sitting talked about the women and the youth, and the impact climate change has had. Whether we like it or not, climate change is real, and it is affecting many countries. When you read this report, you are going to see that several countries submitted the effects of climate change on women, youths and children and how it is pushing them into poverty. Children are failing to go to school and youths are failing to adapt.

Madam Speaker, what is catchy is that the Assembly passed resolutions that each member state has to implement. Page 29 of the report shows that the Assembly agreed that member states need to integrate climate resilience into national policies on agriculture, water management and energy. It is very important for our country to adhere to what we are told by such kind of assemblies, because it is from there that many lives can be changed in this country. It would be a sheer waste of money to send a group of hon. Members of Parliament to such an important Assembly where such directives are given, and then ignore the directives. One thing that is pleasing is that Zambia is implementing most of the policies that have been recommended. For instance, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation are implementing the policies. New policies are coming up every day, but the question I have is: Are they directed at achieving climate resilience and adaptation? I think, this is what was majorly discussed there.

Madam Speaker, another aspect, which is also catchy, is the need to be responsive to growing threats on food sovereignty, water security and sustainable livelihoods. Member states agreed that food security is very important for our nations. We should go back to our people and inculcate a sense of saving what they grow. When the hon. Minister of Agriculture stands on the Floor, he tells the nation how much maize the ministry buys from farmers, but we do not know how much of the same remains with farmers for food. Two months down the line, we hear the hon. Minister saying that farmers can go and buy maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) sheds. The sense of saving food is no longer there. People want to make money out of their cash crops. So, what I am trying to say here is that, we need to go back to our people and tell them that it is not about just selling but also saving food for themselves that they can survive on the whole year.

Madam Speaker, another point, which is very nice, is that we must have some financing dedicated to climate research. This is very important. For any nation to grow new heights, it must have researchers and money kept for research. This is to ensure that things like forecasting and resilience to climate change can be researched to keep the Government well informed. Once researchers are brought on board, they must come up with programmes that can be used by the Ministry of Education, which can then put the programmes into the curriculum for our children. This way, our children will know where we are going and what is coming in the future. Without research, we shall go nowhere and know nothing. All the time, we shall be asking our neighbours so that we know what is coming next. It is very disheartening to see challenges such as those in Shangombo and Chitambo today, where people are living in water. Did we know that floods would come? Yes, we knew. What did we do for our people? Did we tell them to move? The answer is “I do not know.” At the end of the day, the Government spends a lot of money helping the families that are now living in water.

Madam Speaker, all member states were directed to implement these serious resolutions, and when I look at them, I see that they are very progressive. Therefore, we must ensure that we implement them.

Madam Speaker, I also want to thank you for allowing hon. Members of Parliament to go and attend this very important Assembly.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Chisamba for the manner she seconded the Motion. I would also like to thank the hon. Member for Chitambo for his debate and the information that he has shared on a very important report. I also just want to thank the House for the support that has been shown for the report.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL ETHICS COMMITTEE

Mr Katakwe (Solwezi East): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House urges the Government to establish a national ethics committee responsible for ethical, professional practice standards in the professional community in the country.

Madam Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, ethics are moral principles that guide behaviour. Professional ethics are the specific standards of conduct expected within a profession. Professional practice standards are formal rules or codes often set laws or professional bodies governing how professionals conduct their work.

Madam Speaker, a national ethics committee is typically a government-appointed panel of experts and stakeholders tasked with reviewing ethical issues and advising on standards or policy. The professional community in this case refers broadly to all practicing professionals, for example, doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and so on across sectors.

National Ethics Committee at Global Perspective

Madam Speaker, internationally, many governments and organisations have established high level ethical bodies to advise on ethical standards. For example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) observes that national ethics committees of experts can be set up by governments to ensure robust assessment of issues and offer ethically informed solutions and policy recommendations.

Madam Speaker, France is an example of a country that set up the first national ethics committee in 1983 to advise the Government of France on biomedical and life science ethics. Philippines is another example that set up a national ethics committee under its health research council in 1984. It reviews biomedical research to ensure studies conform to international ethics and principles and it issued the first national guidelines on health research ethics in 1985. Kenya is another example that has a government-accredited ethics committee. Its National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation is now accredited to local institutional ethics committees, mandating that research protocols undergo independent ethical review.

Madam Speaker, in the Zambia context, the 1996 Constitution explicitly names morality and ethics among national values and principles that must guide governance. In practice, ethics oversight is handled by various institutions, such as independent ethics and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which enforces integrity in public service. Further, many professions have statutory councils with their own codes. For instance, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) enforces legal code of ethics requiring lawyers to keep client confidentiality and act with integrity. Further, the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) requires doctors and nurses to respect patients’ autonomy, confidentiality, beneficence and non-maleficence.

The National Health Research Authority Act, 2013

Madam Speaker, the National Health Research Ethics Board is mandated to regulate ethical standards in human and animal research and oversee adherence to research ethics guidelines. However, beyond research, Zambia does not have a single multi-professional ethics committee. Instead, ethics’ rules are embedded in sectoral laws. For example, the recent legislation governing social workers, marketers and other professionals mandates adherence to codes of conduct in their fields. While Zambia has many ethics laws in the books, enforcement is uneven.

Gaps in Professional Accountability

Madam Speaker, while existing frameworks successfully manage individual professional discipline and criminal corruption, they do not provide a dedicated mechanism to systematically address conflicts that arise specifically at the intersection of different professions. For example, when an engineer or an accountant allegedly collude to commit fraud in a public infrastructure project, their respective disciplinary committees focus on individual adherence to sector-specific codes, rather than addressing the broader inter-professional ethical breath in a co-ordinated manner.

Madam Speaker, there is no existing mandate to harmonise or mediate the ethical conduct required for such cross-professional interactions. Establishing a national ethics committee could provide a unified forum to harmonise professional standards, advise on emerging ethical issues and reinforce public trust. Further, it would align with Zambia’s anti-corruption and good governance efforts.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

Does the seconder wish to speak now of later?

Mr Kamboni: Now, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for according me the opportunity to second this important Private Member’s Motion.

Madam Speaker, allow me from the outset to thank Mr Alex Katakwe, hon. Member of Parliament for Solwezi East Constituency, for ably moving the Motion.

Madam Speaker, the Constitution of Zambia clearly enshrines morality, ethics, integrity, transparency and accountability as national values and principles of governance. The values are bidding on:

state organs;
state institutions;
public officers; and
all persons when applying or interpreting the Constitution.

Madam Speaker, therefore, the Motion is not introducing a foreign concept, but highlighting a constitutional obligation.

Why a National Ethics Committee is Necessary

Fragmentation of Ethical Oversight

Madam Speaker, currently, Zambia has a sector-based ethical regulation. The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) regulates lawyers, the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) regulates health practitioners, the National Health Research Authority (NHRA) oversees research ethics, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) addresses corruption-related misconduct. While these institutions perform important roles, they operate in silos. There is no co-ordinating national body to:

harmonise professional ethics standards;
address inter-professional ethics conflicts;
provide advisory opinions on emerging ethical dilemmas; and
guide national policy on cross-cutting professional conduct.

Economic and Developmental Rationale

Madam Speaker, ethics is not abstract morality, it is economic infrastructure. According to the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), countries with stronger accountability and integrated systems attract more foreign direct investment (FDI), experience lower procurement losses and achieve better development outcomes. Professional misconduct in infrastructure, health procurement and financial systems has measurable economic costs. An integrated ethics framework strengthens investor confidence, public procurement integrity, self-delivery standards, public trust and social stability. Ethical failures erode public trust in doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and public institutions. Trust is a public good. A national ethics committee would issue advisory opinions, promote ethical literacy, develop national guidelines and strengthen preventive oversight. Prevention is more cost-effective than reactive disciplinary action.

Strategic National Benefits

Madam Speaker, establishing a national ethics committee would:

enhance coherence in professional standards;
strengthen constitutional values;
improve inter-professional accountability;
support economic development;
increase public confidence; and
align Zambia with international best practices.

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, I beg to second.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker, I would like, firstly, to appreciate the mover and the seconder. It is important that even when I do not agree with some ideas, I appreciate them. It takes a lot to develop a Motion. I think, my brother went through a lot to develop the Motion.

Madam Speaker, I would have agreed with this Motion if it targeted a national ethics committee in general, but there are key words in that Motion. The Motion is about a national ethics committee for standards linked to professions. This Motion seems to desire a situation in which different professions can be collapsed under one, and cleared. What is being proposed is a clearing house for all the professions, as it may be. The Motion seems to be swimming against the current because the mover and the seconder acknowledge the existence of ethical committees in different professions. They have talked about lawyers and accountants, for example.

Madam Speaker, linking this Motion to Article 8 of the Constitution is also a misplacement. Article 8(a) starts with ethics and morality, which are within the parameters of the Motion. When someone is trained as a doctor, he or she takes the Hippocratic Oath, and within the oath, there are the ethics related to that oath. When someone is trained as a nurse, he/ she takes the Nightingale Pledge related to nurses.

Interruptions

Mr Fube: Excuse me!

Laughter

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, nurses take the pledge, which is linked to Florence Nightingale. The Hippocratic Oath is taken by doctors. So, within those parameters, when one talks about accountants and lawyers, they have what they believe in. Collapsing those professions for clearance by –

Madam Speaker, I cannot even imagine how a national ethics committee for professions would succeed because that would mean a mammoth task of bringing all those professions under one roof, and the committee would be approving the standards for the different professions.

Madam Speaker, the way the country is seated, should not be disturbed. That is more like disturbing nature when nurses, accountants, doctors, lawyers and engineers are under one entity. That is why there are inter-sectoral interests; engineers approve their own issues and discipline their own engineers. There is a reason there is the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ), and within those parameters, they manage their professions’ standards. A situation in which professional standards are opened to one committee, and that committee becomes a clearing house of different professions, cannot be allowed. When a situation arises, the doctors will say that according to the Hippocratic Oath, that is not how they go about issues. The nurses will equally say that that is not how they go about issues.

Madam Speaker, for one to link this to the national values and principles, one needs to know how the national values and principles are applied, and how they are applied is embedded in Article 9 of the Constitution, which has the interpretation of the law and also the making of the Law, and linking that to this Motion. Further, there are Acts of Parliament that support, for instance, LAZ, and others that have a spill-over effect on the other professional bodies. The mover of the Motion is asking to revise all the Acts of Parliament so that when the professional bodies are collapsed into one, that would be dealing with professional ethics, that would also mean revisiting all the Acts of Parliament that are linked to the professional bodies, so that the one mammoth elephant –

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was trying to underscore that it is very difficult to even implement such a committee. I find such an establishment to be against corporate governance for a number of reasons.

Madam Speaker, I would like to refer the mover of the Motion to Article 19 of the Constitution of Zambia, under the Bill of Rights, which talks about freedom of conscience. This freedom of conscience means that people are free to exercise intellectual freedom. It also conflicts with laws on intellectual property because such laws encourage a subsidiarity approach, in which each profession should be respected within its own confinement. Given that background, I see that my good brother is pushing a brought-in-dead (BID) Motion. I think it should be considered as a stillborn, which should be appreciated within its confinement. I only hope that next time, before such a Motion is introduced, there should be proper consultation. Someone should peruse some of the existing laws because when one pursues a cause, especially the one related to ethics and professional standards, one attempts to collapse different laws into one basket. Doing so may also mean that one is swimming against the currents of corporate governance.

Mr Speaker, I also want to emphasise that the Constitution of Zambia is very clear on how different professions should exercise their ethics. For instance, if they are employed by the Government, they should exercise certain ethics. The Constitution sets out ethics for civil servants. If it is meant that ethics should be exercised at the workplace, whether in an industrial or white-collar environment, it simply means that the different professions, through their human resources, will be taken care of. This is because human resource, of course, has certain standards that different professions should meet. If an accountant is employed at a place of work, he/she should be subjected to certain standards, including those of lawyers and other professionals. Therefore, there is no need to venture into this elephant that the hon. Member has brought to this Parliament.

Mr Speaker, I submit that this Motion is a stillborn baby, which should not even be encouraged, especially given that it talks about professional standards.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Lufuma): Mr Speaker, I rise to respond to the Private Member's Motion moved by Hon. Alex Katakwe, Member of Parliament for Solwezi East, and seconded by Hon. Kamboni, and debated upon by hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi, concerning the establishment of the National Ethics Committee.

Mr Speaker, the Government acknowledges the hon. Member's commitment to promoting professional integrity in our country and, indeed, shares the aspirations for the highest ethical standards across all professions. However, for the reasons I am going to outline now, the Government cannot – I will repeat: However, for the reasons I am going to outline now, the Government cannot support the creation of a stand-alone National Ethics Committee at this time. We have a famous saying by the Americans, which goes, “If it ain't broken, don't fix it.” That is exactly what this Government will do. Nothing is broken; we are not going to fix anything, and the reasons are as follows:

Established Ethics Framework for Various Professional Bodies

Mr Speaker, this august House should be aware that Zambia already, has a well-established and legally anchored framework governing professional ethics across all major sectors. Each profession is regulated by a statutory body created by the Act of Parliament with express disciplinary powers. These include the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ), under the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), under Legal Practitioners Act Chapter 30 of the laws of Zambia, the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA), under Accountants Act No. 13 of 2008, the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ), the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) and the National Health Research Authority (NHRA), under the National Health Research Act No. 2 of 2013, among others, of course. The Government also has a code of ethics for the public sector, the Government itself, and the Parliamentary Ministerial Code of Conduct Act. The ethics framework is, therefore, already comprehensive.

Risk of Duplication and Institutional Conflict

Mr Speaker, creating a National Ethics Committee with a broad sector mandate would risk duplicating the disciplinary authority of existing statutory boards and create overlapping jurisdictions. Practitioners would find themselves answerable to two separate ethics structures: their own statutory regulator and the new committee, causing confusion and potentially inconsistent outcomes. Research on Zambia’s own experience has cautioned that a general co-ordinating ethics body should not lead to usurping of the responsibilities of individual institutions. Multiplying bodies does not automatically improve ethical conduct.

Concerns on Harmonisation of Professional Conduct Codes of Ethics

Mr Speaker, it may be practically impossible to harmonise respective professional ethics for various sectors due to the peculiarities of each profession. For instance, the professional ethics for medical professions may not necessarily conform to those of teaching professions, engineers and lawyers. It is, therefore, necessary to allow each profession to clearly define its own ethical codes and prescribe the appropriate enforcement mechanisms. Where there are gaps, it may be necessary to enhance the existing professional code of ethics within each sector.

Fiscal Prudence and Efficiency in Public Administration

Mr Speaker, establishing a new national committee would require enabling legislation, recurrent budgetary allocation, staffing and infrastructure. The Government is committed to efficient use of public resources and cannot justify the creation of new institutions that would largely duplicate functions already formed by existing statutory bodies. It would be far more prudent to channel resources into strengthening and enforcing the capacity of those bodies that already exist.

Leveraging the National Guidance and Religious Affairs Policy

Mr Speaker, this is another area of concern. As a vehicle for mainstreaming national values and ethical standards across all sectors of society, including the professional community, the Department of National Guidance is mandated to promote the inculcation of national values, principles of which the professional code of conduct and ethics are part. The department prepares reports on the Progress Being Made on the Application of National Values and Principles for presentation by the Republican President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, to the House every year. The department will continue to monitor the implementation of this mandate. There are various focal point persons across sectors.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me reiterate that the Government appreciates the spirit and good intentions behind this Motion. Make no mistake, we appreciate the good intentions behind this very important Motion. The promotion of ethical and professional practice standards is an objective that this Government is deeply committed to and has demonstrated through the comprehensive legal, institutional, and policy frameworks already in place. However, the establishment of a stand-alone National Ethics Committee at this time is neither here nor there. It is not necessary, nor is it advisable.

Mr Speaker, given the robust network of existing institutions, regulatory bodies, and mechanisms that already serve this purpose across all sectors and professions, rather than create a new institution that risks duplication and fragmentation, the Government’s approach is to strengthen, empower, and better co-ordinate the existing frameworks to deliver even more effective results for the people of Zambia. I, therefore, urge this august House to take note of the existing mechanisms and to support the Government’s approach of strengthening what we already have, rather than establishing a parallel structure that may divert resources from the very institutions that are already doing this important work. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Therefore, the Government does not support the Motion.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr B. Mpundu: Question!

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Members who have debated. I also thank the hon. Minister for the response and for acknowledging that a national ethics committee plays a crucial role in regulating research, healthcare practices and public policy at the national level.

Mr Speaker, it is also acknowledged that a national ethics committee provides a centralised independent body to ensure that activities involving human subjects, sensitive technologies and public health strategies adhere to high moral and legal standards. Of course, we acknowledge advantages like protection of research participants, centralised standards and harmonisation, independence and unbiased review, public trust and credibility, policy guidance on emerging issues, increased research quality and rigour, legal compliance and accountability as well as expertise and diversity. In essence, a national ethics committee balances the need for scientific progress with the absolute requirements to respect human rights and dignity.

Mr Speaker, having listened to the responses, with leave of this House, I withdraw the Motion for further consideration.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, our rules state that at this stage, you cannot withdraw the Motion.

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: We would rather subject it to a question.

Question this House urges the Government to establish a National Ethics Committee, responsible for ethical professional practice standards in the professional community in the country put and negatived.

_______

REPORT STAGE

(Consideration resumed)

The Zambia Deposit Insurance Corporation Bill, 2025

Report adopted.

Third Reading on 6^th March, 2026.

THIRD READING

The following Bill was read the third time and passed:

The Agriculture Credits and Warehouse Receipts Bill, 2025

_______

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS ON THE PROGRESS

MADE IN THE APPLICATION OF NATIONAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

(Debate resumed)

Ms Chonya (Kafue): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity, which the people of Kafue would not want to miss. They want to express their thanks and appreciation for the President’s Speech, which, as usual, was inspiring and addressed many areas of development where we have made significant progress.

Mr Speaker, in the speech, the President said:

“The reforms that the New Dawn Government is undertaking do not just mean mere support for our communities. They mean provision of more opportunities for women and our youth, and also greater access to resources for some of our most vulnerable members of the community.”

Mr Speaker, indeed, as we are looking forward to celebrate International Women’s Day and Youth Day, we can say that there is something worth celebrating because of the many developmental milestones the Government has scored. We cannot talk about success without reference, of course, to the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF). We received assurance that come the Fourteenth National Assembly, we will approve another budget with a larger CDF than the current K40 million per constituency that we are still celebrating. Kafue, indeed, has a lot to appreciate for the CDF because 461 co-operatives and clubs have received funding. We have a good number of people in Kafue who have also received a lot of project loans. For education alone, we are not talking about no fewer than fifteen projects that we have undertaken.

Mr Speaker, we had a deficit of nearly 13,000 desks in schools in Kafue. As we are talking now, we have closed up that yawning gap by over 80 per cent through the provision of desks in schools in our constituency. As we are talking, desks are being delivered. The last batch from a grant is being delivered to various schools around the constituency.

Mr Speaker, it is exciting for me as an educationist to hear the Government report that about 2.5 million children have gone back to school on account of free education. That is the biggest justice and empowerment we can give to our people. At one time, our critics were saying that classrooms were too congested. It is better to have children congested in a classroom than them not having access to a classroom at all. Moreover, we are progressively addressing the issue of classroom space. I have just talked about the number of projects that we have implemented in Kafue, not only through the CDF, but also through the central Government. We have new schools that have been built, like Soloboni Secondary School. We are also looking forward to the completion of Chikupi Secondary School, which is another good project that will ease the problem of teachers’ accommodation. The project has a complement of twenty staff houses and, once completed, that will certainly give relief to our teachers.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the security wings, yesterday we were reflecting on the issue of an open day for police officers. I was proud to cite some of the projects that we have done, and will continue doing, in the security sector. All this is being made possible because of the enhanced CDF.

Mr Speaker, I want to refer to other programmes that this Government has also implemented, which have improved the dignity of our people, such as the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme. In 2021, when we first took office, we had only 3,300 beneficiaries in Kafue under that programme. As at now, we are talking about 11,000 people being enrolled in the programme. That is nearly quadruple the previous number of beneficiaries. Those are some of the positive developments that people cannot afford to ignore because they are very significant. Of course, we cannot forget to mention the Cash-for-Work Programme, which is the first-ever of its kind. The programme has been introduced to provide some relief through temporary employment of our people, as we consider long-term sustainable solutions to empower our population.

Mr Speaker, we are happy that in Kafue, we, at least, have a multi-facility economic zone (MFEZ); the new Baobab MFEZ. This will bring great relief to our people, who have been crying because of many industries collapsing due to privatisation. We have renewed hope now because of many industries coming up. Our very own Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) has risen from the ashes. It is now self-sustaining, able to export and has forged strategic partnerships. We have seen the injection of a lot of life in that industry.

Finally, Mr Speaker, I wish to mention that the President urged us to ensure that we have free and fair elections. I think, we owe it to ourselves to do that because any election that does not come out free and fair has potential for conflict, and we do not want conflict in Zambia. So, we hope that, indeed, the next general elections will be peaceful. We are looking forward to the constitution of the Fourteenth National Assembly, which will see twenty more women come on board, as well as people with disabilities and more youths. It is all because we passed the Bill No. 7 of 2025 in this House. We have a new Act that allows special interest groups to also join this House.

Mr Speaker, I want to use this platform, because it is the only one I have, to dispel the propaganda that has been going around that the Member of Parliament for Kafue, who has been such an ardent advocate for women and delimitation, did not vote for Bill No. 7 of 2025. My vote is actually registered in the records of this House. I think, those people who are wishing that I will be penalised just have wishful thinking because my vote of yes to Bill No. 7 of 2025 is well documented in this House.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Kafue, you did not need to talk about your vote for the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025. This is a digitalised institution. There is a record of whoever voted or did not vote. Everything is documented. There is no need for you to stress if you speak to your conscience.

Ms Chonya interjected.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

_______

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT ON THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE APPLICATION OF NATIONAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, as you may be aware, the debate on the Motion of Thanks, which began on Tuesday, 24^thFebruary, 2026, will end on Wednesday, 18^thMarch, 2026. In this regard, I wish to inform the House that today, Thursday, 5^th March, 2026, and tomorrow, Friday, 6^thMarch, 2026, will serve as the last days for debate by hon. Backbenchers, while the last two days of debate will be reserved for hon. Cabinet Ministers and hon. Provincial Ministers.

Hon. Members, I would like to encourage you to debate early, and to not wait for the last minute, as there will not be enough time on the Floor of the House. In this regard, you are encouraged to debate as soon as possible.

I thank you.

_______

Mr Hamwaata (Pemba): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of the House.

Mr Speaker, on 20^thFebruary, 2026, this august House was privileged to host His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema. The visionary and great leader of this great nation passionately spoke about the progress made in the application of national values and principles.

Mr Speaker, the good people of Pemba Constituency appreciate the good leadership of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government. The enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), whose allocation has been increased from K1.6 million to K40 million, gives relief to the good people of Pemba Constituency in terms of development. When the UPND formed Government in 2021, it found that early childhood education (ECE) to Grade 12 was almost collapsing. There was a challenge with classroom spaces, and our children used to learn under the trees. I am a proud Member of Parliament as I report to this august House and the nation at large that under the UPND Government, the constituency has created over sixty classroom spaces and, at the moment, children no longer learn under the trees. Further, our children used to sit on the floor while attending classes. It is my pleasure and honour to inform this august House that the situation has improved because of the enhanced CDF. We have managed to provide learners with desks.

Mr Speaker, I remember that when I won this parliamentary seat, I visited a school called Jompa in one of my wards, which had over 400 children, and it only had thirty-five desks. You can imagine the situation. Further, on behalf of the good people of Pemba Constituency, I would like to appreciate this Government for the deployment of teachers to the constituency. The Government has employed over 42,000 teachers, and 326 teachers have been deployed to Pemba Constituency. There was a situation in which a school running from Grade 1 to Grade 9 only had three to six teachers. The situation has drastically improved with the deployment of the teachers. To add salt sana, the introduction of the School Feeding Programme and, of course, the improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio, has helped our rural schools improve the pass rate.

Mr Speaker, I appreciate the Government for take higher education closer to the learners. A total of fourteen schools, which were running from Grade 1 to Grade 9, have been upgraded to secondary schools to run from Form 1 to Form 4. The only thing that the good people of Pemba Constituency are looking forward to is the establishment of universities in the provinces that do not have any. I am a happy Member of Parliament because I heard His Excellency the President say that something is cooking towards the same.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, looking at the time, which I do not seem to have, let me quickly comment on child marriages, teenage pregnancies and child defilement. His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema acknowledged that the country still seems to have that scourge. I am speaking on behalf of the girl child. The girl child is asking society why it has glorified defilers who impregnate children. The girl child is asking the fathers why defilers who impregnate girls are considered fathers, brothers and sons-in-law. The girl child is asking the parents and guardians why pregnancy has become a shield to protect defilers from prosecution. In most cases, when a child is defiled, the parents or guardians concentrate on the pregnancy, not the defilement. As a result, that seems to be a cover-up, leaving criminals go scot-free. The only thing families concentrate on is the demand for compensation for damages and the disturbance of the child, who was a learner. As a result, most cases are not taken to court. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the parents, the headmen and society to protect the girl child if we are to end this ugly scourge. We need to concentrate and ensure that even when a girl is impregnated, the suspect is taken to court.

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

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, I would like to start by appreciating the President, whom, on page 2 of his speech, recognised the contribution made by the President of the Republic of Ghana. The Ghanaian President spoke about the ties that we have had on Pan-Africanism, which bring us together as brothers.

Further, Mr Speaker, I also want to appreciate the President’s support for teenage girls who have dropped out of school. They say that good things are supposed to be appreciated, and I acknowledge that. However, I find it a problem, especially when it comes to national values such as constitutionalism, democracy, social justice and ethics, as outlined in Article 8 of the Zambian Constitution. The President does not only come to Parliament for an annual ceremony, but to also qualify the national values that are supposed to be mainstreamed in the implementation of Government programmes.

Interruptions

Mr Fube: The hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts needs to know that I am also part of the Government that I am talking about.

Mr Speaker, we may not qualify to uphold good governance because of the way we have governed this country over the past years. For instance, the cyber laws that were there, which I think were enacted around 2022, our brothers and sisters promised that those laws would not be put in a manner and tone that would conflict with other human rights. Alas, the laws have been used as an instrument to suppress opposing voices.

Mr Speaker, further, we have seen the implementation of a colonial law on sedition, which I think dates back to 1938. This law is being used to weaponise the environment against the Opposition.

Mr Speaker, my other worry is that, when we examine the implementation of national values, we find that the Constitution in Article 9, demands that national values should firstly, be used to interpret the Constitution; secondly, make laws and interpret them; and thirdly, implement state policy. That is what the Constitution demands. If we put the national values on that scale, then we have lamentably failed because it means that we do not have a framework to implement them. We have taken national values as something that can just be talked about when it is brought to Parliament.

Mr Speaker, on page 11 of the speech, the President talked about the Mushabati Technical Committee. The Constitution, in Article 79, talks about the process of amending the Constitution. We all know that the Mushabati Technical Committee Report was just a by the way thing, as it was not implemented anywhere. At the time that the report was supposed to feed into the making of the Constitution, it was not accepted, as it has always been. We saw that the report was meant to be presented to a Committee of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, the watchdog institutions are more concerned about seeing where the Opposition have errored.

Mr Speaker, further, on page 12 of his speech, the President talked about freedom of assembly and freedom of association. We are heading towards national elections that will be held on 13^th August, 2026.

Mr Nkandu interjected.

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, can I be protected from that charlatan there (pointed at Hon. Nkandu). Honestly speaking, I am debating and I am not protected. Am I not a Member of Parliament? I know he is from the market, but this is not a market. It is a House of discipline.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Laughter

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, what I was trying to underscore is that –

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, this market behaviour – Really!

Laughter

Mr Fube: I know he is the chairman of the Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA), but we cannot bring ZANAMA into Parliament. We cannot! This is an hon. Minister behaving like that. Nakadoli Market or pa Chisokone muno? Where? I will continue. He may not understand –

Laughter

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Concentrate on your debate, hon. Member. Your allocated time is moving.

Mr Fube: Yes, but he is eating into my minutes. Anyway, I can tell that this situation has been allowed. All the same, I will forward my points.

Mr Speaker, on page 12 of his speech, the President talked about freedom of association and freedom of assembly. As we speak, the freedom of the Opposition parties is moving in the pocket of one Inspector General (IG) of Police, using a subsidiary law called the Public Order Act, which has submerged the Constitution. Such an environment cannot produce a product called ‘free and fair elections’, because if we are to go for free and fair elections, we should start with the environment we are in. As we speak, we have the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), which has usurped our powers as Parliament. The Commission is flaunting on its website an amendment that is supposed to first of all, pass through Parliament. We have seen the ECZ calling for submissions as if it were a Parliamentary Committee, before the amendment is brought to Parliament.

Mr Nkandu interjected.

Mr Fube: Mr Speaker, of course, hon. Nkandu and I do not share the same values. We are cut from completely different clothes.

Mr Speaker, we are talking about a situation in which we are supposed to be equal players. We cannot have a referee who already favours one team. The assault being done on the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016, of the laws of Zambia, by the ECZ should be stopped forthwith by this House, because that kind of behaviour is actually chaotic, in a democratic institution like this one. We want to intervene that, insofar as the President has never been a councillor or an hon. Member of Parliament, there is no need for anyone to take advantage of him by abusing the law in that manner.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Mwiimbu, SC.): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1749 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 6^th March, 2026.

____________

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