Thursday, 19th March, 2026

Thursday, 19^th March, 2026

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER

STUDENTS FROM MUKUBA UNIVERSITY DEBATE SOCIETY

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of students from Mukuba University Debate Society in Kitwe District.

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

I thank you.

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM ELITE EAGLES SCHOOL

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

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

I thank you.

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM SONSHINE SCHOOL

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

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

I thank you.

_______

MOTION

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

The Minister of Defence, and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Lufuma): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that Orders No. 27(2) and 123 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, be suspended to enable the House to complete all business on the Order Paper and all matters arising therefrom, and also to consider more than one stage of a Bill, on Friday, 20^th March, 2026, and on such completion, the House adjourns sine die.

Madam Speaker, Order No. 27(2) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, provides for automatic adjournment at 1300 hours on Friday, while Standing Order No. 123 prohibits the consideration of more than one stage of a Bill at the same Sitting.

Madam Speaker, the House Business Committee, at its meeting held on Thursday, 26^th February, 2026, resolved that the House adjourns sine die, on Friday, 20^th March, 2026. However, the House still has a lot of business under consideration, including Bills, which are at different stages. It is, therefore, necessary that all the outstanding business is concluded before the House adjourns, sine die.

Madam Speaker, it is for this reason that I move this Motion so as to enable the House to complete all business that will be on the Order Paper on Friday, 20^th March, 2026, and thereafter, adjourn, sine die.

Madam Speaker, allow me now to highlight Business of the House, that has been considered during this Legislative Meeting, which commenced on Tuesday, 3^rd February, 2026. At the time of adjourning, sine die, …

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Lufuma: … the House would have sat for a total of twenty-four days and would have considered, among others, five Private Members' Motions and about 120 Questions for Oral Answer and Questions for Written Answer.

In addition, Madam Speaker, the House considered ten Bills, while, five Annual Reports from Government and Quasi-Government ministries and departments were Tabled. So far, twelve Ministerial Statements were issued, in which Government policies on various issues were explained and clarified.

Madam Speaker, some of the highlights of this Meeting, include a Special Address by His Excellency, Mr John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, which was delivered on Thursday, 5^th February, 2026, and subsequently the House placed on record, the Thanks of this Assembly on the Special Address by the President of Ghana. In the same manner, the House was yet honoured to be addressed by the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on Friday, 20^th February, 2026. The address was on the Progress Made in the Application of National Values and Principles. As usual, the House placed on record, the Thanks of the Assembly through the Motion of Thanks, which was only concluded yesterday.

From the foregoing, Madam Speaker, it is clear that the House has transacted a substantial amount of business during this Meeting. This is attributed to the dedication and hard work of all hon. Members. In this regard, allow me to congratulate every hon. Member of this House, individually and collectively, for the job well done.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, allow me, also, to express my sincere gratitude to the Hon. Madam Speaker, the Hon. Madam First Deputy Speaker and the Hon. Mr Second Deputy Speaker for the efficient manner you presided over the Business of the House during this Meeting. I further wish to commend the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the services they continue to render to the House. In the same vein, let me acknowledge, with gratitude, the important role played by officers in the Office of the Vice-President, Parliamentary Business Division, the Parliamentary Liaison Officers in various ministries and the entire Public Service in facilitating the work of the House.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, this is a procedural Motion. So, I will just allow two people to debate it.

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to support the Motion ably moved by the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, who is the hon. Minister of Defence. The Motion is that the House suspends the cited Standing Orders to facilitate the completion of tomorrow’s business and then, adjourn, sine die.

Madam Speaker, I have taken interest to comment on this Motion because this is the very last time …

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Mr Kampyongo: … during this Parliament that we shall be adjourning sine die.

Interruptions

Mr Kampyongo: After that, we shall just come back to get dissolved so that –

Interruptions

Mr Kampyongo: Listen, we are teaching you, but you are saying “no”.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, …

Mr Kampyongo: The problem is that you do not want to learn.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: … you are addressing me and not the hon. Members.

Mr Kampyongo: Thank you, Madam Speaker. These hecklers do not want to learn. So, we shall only come back to briefly transact a bit of business before Parliament is dissolved. Members will have to go back to the owners of the authority we use here, who are the people of Zambia. At that time, everyone here will be assessed, and the people will choose to either return them to the House or retire them from representing them. Whether one jumps from Ship A to Ship B, if one has not performed to the expectation of the people, people will still have to make a decision either to send that person back to Parliament or to the village.

Madam Speaker, I want to request the Government to ensure that as we consider the Bills beyond one stage, we avoid what we witnessed this time around. This is the very first time I have seen Bills that have been passed here and taken for assent by the President being brought back to Parliament for reconsideration. This shows serious gaps in the legislation process, because before a Bill is brought to Parliament, it passes through Cabinet, where the President is the chairperson. Therefore, as hon. Members of Parliament, we must do our job. That entails an indictment on this august House. It shows that we are not paying attention to the contents of the Bills we pass. Therefore, that must be avoided. An effective legislature should be able to do its work and send Bills to the President for assent. Those Bills should not be brought back to the Parliament.

I want to recognise, Madam Speaker, the Special Address by the President of the Republic of Ghana. He came to remind us here that democracy can be anchored only on strengthened institutions, and that we should ensure that the doctrine of separation of powers is properly observed by the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature. It is only this time that we have seen the Legislature being dictated to by the Executive in many ways, including mingalatos.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, can you be focused on the Motion before the House? The Motion talks about what is going to be completed tomorrow before we adjourn sine die. Can we be focused on the Motion?

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I appreciate your guidance. What I am saying is that consideration of Bills is the main function of this institution. So, if we are going to be rushing Bills through different stages in one day, we are not going to do a thorough job.

Hon. Government Members: No.

Mr Kampyongo: This Meeting is dedicated to legislating or making laws. That is what this Meeting is supposed to be about. Why should we wait until the last day to start rushing through Bills? At the end of the day, we will send a Bill for assent by the President, that will be brought back.

Hon. Government Member: Mailo balibwesha.

Mr Kampyongo: That means we have not done a good job. That is what that entails, and it is an indictment on this Executive. The members of the Executive need to take parliamentary work seriously, despite the fact that they will be exiting very soon.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kampyongo: We know that they are going, and people –

Interruptions

Mr Kampyongo: That is why you are not coming back here.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Mr Kampyongo: I can see first-term hon. Members going very soon.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is not in the Motion. This is not about who is coming or who is not coming. That is not in the Motion.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, obviously, we know. Having been here a long time, I can see the faces of the people in who have served the first term who will not return to the House. You can clearly see. They are now panicking. I just want to urge hon. Members to not start panicking at this late hour. If they have performed to the expectation of the people, there is no need to panic. If you ask my senior hon. Member there, Hon. Muchima, who has been here –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: We do not debate ourselves.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: We do not debate ourselves.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, to avoid debating ourselves, it is just important to acknowledge the people who have been trusted by their citizens to be here for a long time. Very soon, these first-term hon. Members of Parliament are going to realise what it takes for Hon. Jack Mwiimbu to say, “unalikuli?”

Laughter

Mr Kampyongo: It is not easy for one to come back here if one has not performed to the expectation of the people, especially if one decides to be a Lumbani Madoda, a praise singer.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Praise singers!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Shiwang’andu, please, resume your seat.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Resume your seat, hon. Member for Shiwang’andu. I have seen that you have no more issues to talk about. You can resume your seat, hon. Member for Shiwang’andu.

Mr Kampyongo resumed his seat.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

You are going off the Motion. So, because of that, I will move on to the next hon. Member. Please, note that this is a procedural Motion. So, let us not bring in other issues.

The hon. Member for Kantanshi may take the Floor.

Mr Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, thank you very much. Indeed, as I support this Procedural Motion, I also want to just quickly comment –

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, I just want to quickly add my voice to the debate and the observations that the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu made in reference to Bills. As you know, we are going towards elections. So, there are some important Bills that will come that relate to elections. It is the desire of us in the Opposition to see Bills come on time to the House, so that we have enough time to research and do a thorough job. We do not want this House to be reduced to a place which people out there imagine that we are trying to do all sorts of wrong things here. Politicians out there are trying to spoil the hard work we are doing here.

Madam Speaker, that said, I also want to add that there are a number of questions that came from the Opposition, which I believe the Executive should pay close attention to. One of the questions that comes to my mind is the issue of the Public Private Partnership (PPPs). I believe the Executive needs to go back to the drawing board on this issue. What I have seen is that an initiative that has been actualised by this Government seems to be taking a different course. We have heard cries from our people and even the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) about the quality of the roads being built under PPPs. They have argued that the quality of roads that have been built under PPPs is questionable. People are now saying that there could be corruption going on in that area. Those are serious concerns, and it is incumbent upon the Executive to correct that impression.

Madam Speaker, the PPP model was a very good way of ensuring that infrastructure continues to be built even in the midst of the debt situation that the country was going through. At least, infrastructure development should have continued. However, what we are seeing today is the EIZ questioning consultants and the role of the Road Development Agency (RDA). It is very important that the Executive goes back to the drawing board before we lose this very good initiative which has been actualised by this Government. From 2009, the issue of PPPs was just on a piece of paper. Today we can see infrastructure built as a result of PPPs. For example, in Kantanshi, we are going to have the first modern border post whose construction will cost US$50 million, and Mukambo Road will be completed. Those are all kudos to the Government. However, it is important for the Executive to pay attention to what is being said out there.

Madam Speaker, I would like to end on a matter that I hope can firmly be addressed by the Government. In the last five years, as a country, we have been plagued with debt, drought, load-shedding and now a war, which we did not plan for as our economy has turned around. The Government should take this opportunity to explain carefully and clearly to the people of Zambia how it will be able to sustain our energy, particularly fuel. If that is not handled well, our economy will be eroded in no time.

Madam Speaker, we are heading towards the elections. It is important that the communication from the Government is clear. All of us want to have a good economy, whether in the Opposition or in the Government. We are all Zambians. Further, we might lose the sacrifices we have made in this House, especially us from the Opposition, of making sure our colleagues are on their toes, if the Government does not take steps to carefully explain to the people how we are going to weather ourselves through this very difficult time.

Madam Speaker, otherwise, I stand before you, a proud Member of Parliament. The Opposition has contributed to the success stories that the Government can talk about today because of our collective wisdom here. Therefore, we do not want to lose what has already been achieved. We want to see a strong mining sector, which was dead in 2021, and is now alive. We want to see a robust agricultural sector, which had suffered because of the drought, but today we can talk about the metric tonnes. Yesterday, my hon. Colleague from Kamfinsa talked about how the Government should enhance the production of maize. That is what we want to see. We want to make sure that this success story is not lost, but it is up to the Government to maintain this.

Madam Speaker, the Government should communicate properly because in the past, it did not do that. We saw what it did on load-shedding. It was on the Floor of this House where I asked the then Minister of Energy, Hon. Kapala, about load-shedding and he said, we were only going to have a deficit of 120 MW. For two years, our economy went into doldrums because of making statements so light. However, that caused our economy to turn around, and the impression from the people in terms of the performance of the Government and that of hon. Members of Parliament was questioned. In view of the war that is going on, the supply of fuel and the exchange rate are at risk. Everything in our economy is at risk but it is all about how the Government is going to communicate to the people.

Madam Speaker, I wish my hon. Colleagues all the best as they go back home.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, again, thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, as you have indicated, this is a procedural Motion. As such, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two hon. Members who have contributed in support of the same.

Madam Speaker, it is very strange that each and every one of us as Members of Parliament think we are coming back and the other is not coming back. So, the baton is always being passed. “We shall see if you are coming back. You are not coming back.” Who are you to determine whether a Member of Parliament is coming back or not? Are you the voter? Let us leave that power to determine who comes back and who packs and goes back to the village to the voter. The voters have the power, and I am sure they are very much conversant as to whom they will trust to be Members of Parliament or legislatures on 13^th August, 2026, and will come back to this House. So, let us leave it to them and not individual hon. Members of Parliament.

Madam Speaker, all the Bills presented were executed as per Standing Orders. We did not go outside the rules. We stuck to the rules and did everything according to the book. So, I wonder where the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu finds the authority to say we did not follow the procedures or that certain Bills were shortcutting. Everything was done according to the book and no Bill was rushed at all.

Madam Speaker, even when we are talking about Friday, it is a procedural thing. It has been done before and it will continue to be done as long as the programme of the National Assembly or this House allows that such Bills be considered on Friday or whichever day that Parliament chooses to do so.

Madam Speaker, I heard the comments of the hon. Member on the public-private partnership (PPP). That is very important. This is a listening Government and, I think, we are on top of things because that is a flagship programme that is definitely going to assist this country move forward. In accordance with our social and economic agenda, we are on top of things and things are moving. When we meet any challenges, we face them head-on, just like we met the challenges of load-shedding, drought, hunger and various other challenges. This is a Government that faces challenges head-on, and we solve them together with the private sector and all the citizens who are key to ameliorating some of the challenges that we face.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Members for supporting the Motion.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Question put and agreed to.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Let us make progress. Although we are adjourning tomorrow, there are Urgent Matters without Notice.

_______

URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR KANG’OMBE, HON. MEMBER FOR KAMFINSA, ON MR LUFUMA, THE HON. MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, ON A ROAD THAT CONNECTS ZAMTAN TO KAKOLO FARM BLOCK

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to direct an Urgent Matter without Notice to the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, and I am happy that he is also the hon. Minister of Defence.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You can proceed.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I raised an Urgent Matter without Notice exactly from where I am standing regarding a road that connects Zamtan to Kakolo Farm Block. You advised that I engage the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to ensure that we provide access to the residents who are staying in Kakolo Farm Block.

Madam Speaker, when I raised the issue, I stated on the Floor of the House that I had engaged the Zambia National Service (ZNS) in Kitwe and the Office of the District Commissioner (DC) because the local authority has no capacity to connect Zamtan to Kakolo Farm Block.

Madam Speaker, it has been almost three weeks now. I consistently made phone calls to various Government departments to provide access to the people because they need access to their farm block. The Acting Leader of Government Business in the House is also our hon. Minister of Defence. So, I am curious to enquire about why the Government has responded in other areas that have had problems of a similar nature. Is it that there is no willingness to help the people of Kamfinsa because of the Member of Parliament in that constituency? Is the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House in order to not provide a solution for our people when we have seen the Zambia National Service (ZNS) respond effectively in other parts of our country, even where there is no connectivity?

Madam Speaker, this is a serious complaint coming from the people of that farm block, where they have no access.

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious indulgence.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Kamfinsa, that matter does not qualify to be raised as an Urgent Matter without Notice. From what I have heard, that is an old matter. You mentioned that you contacted various ministries three weeks ago. So, it is an old matter. I would advise you to find time, before you go back to your constituency, to have a discussion with the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, since you mentioned him, so that you can, at least, have something to tell your people. So, please, visit his office and have a short discussion with him. You can even move to where he is seated. Maybe, you can have the discussion whilst in the House.

MR JAMBA, HON. MEMBER FOR MWEMBEZHI, ON MR KATAKWE, THE HON. MINISTER OF HEALTH, ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN MWEMBEZHI

Mr Jamba (Mwembezhi): Madam Speaker, on an Urgent Matter without Notice.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, my matter is very serious, and it is directed at the hon. Minister of Health.

Madam Speaker, the youths in Mwembezhi are ganging up to ensure that the leaders in the area are walloped. There were replacements or employment of medical personnel in various clinics, but to the youths’ surprise, the health workers who had been volunteering all this time saw new people, who had not been volunteering in the district, reporting last week and this week. The youths are up in arms, and they are saying that that will not happen in their district. This is a matter of life and death. If someone is beaten or attacked, then, we will start crying, saying that something has happened. We want to know what is happening. Why did the Ministry of Health not indicate the names of those who had been recruited under replacement and where they came from?

Madam Speaker, let us look at the transparency in how the President appoints hon. Ministers. He appoints people from all the provinces to strike a balance, even when he knows that some provinces are ‘clogged’. Why is it that when it comes to recruitment, we see people from outside the constituency in constituencies like mine, yet our people have been volunteering?

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious attention to this matter.

Mr Kafwaya: You are not coming back!

Mr Jamba: (pointed at Mr Kafwaya) Iwe, kale nabwela, ine. Nalibwela kale. Uleikalafye. You should join the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mwembezhi, is what you are saying part of the Urgent Matter without Notice you have raised?

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mwembezhi, like I advised the hon. Member for Kamfinsa, please, find time to visit the hon. Minister of Health so that he can advise.

Mr Chisopa: He is here!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Yes, he is here, in this House, but, I think, he needs time. These issues are supposed to be responded to within twenty-four hours or so.

Hon. Member for Mwembezhi, please, visit the hon. Minister of Health so that you can, at least, have something to tell the angry youths in Mwembezhi.

MR KAFWAYA, HON. MEMBER FOR LUNTE, ON THE UNFINISHED TOILETS IN KWACHA CONSTITUENCY

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, when the Zambian people complain about the performance of the Government, it is justifiable. However, when the Government complains about its own performance, then, you should be concerned. I will quote what the President said:

“SLOW ACTIONS PISS ME OFF- HH

We’re too slow in getting things done”

Madam Speaker, not too long ago, the country was surprised when the President commissioned unfinished toilets in Kitwe.

Mr B. Mpundu: In Nkana and Kwacha!

Laughter

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, it was in Kwacha and Nkana.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, repeat what you have just said. I did not get you.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, I said that not too long ago, the people in this country were alarmed when the President commissioned unfinished toilets in Kitwe.

Mr Nkandu: Question!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Lunte, where did that take place?

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the statement I am referring to is in today’s –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No, I mean, about the toilets, because you have brought the issue up.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, it was in Kwacha Constituency, where Hon. Charles Mulenga is the Member of Parliament.

Mr B. Mpundu: Takwaba!

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, the unfinished toilets are in Hon. Charles Mulenga’s constituency, that is, Kwacha Constituency.

Ms Mulenga: Where I live!

Mr Kafwaya: Where Hon. Kampamba Mulenga lives.

Madam Speaker, the Zambian people, of course, complained.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is that true information?

Hon. PF Members: Yes!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Are the toilets uncompleted?

Mr Kafwaya: Are you not aware, Madam Speaker?

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, we want facts.

Mr B. Mpundu: Takwaba!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development is not in the House to verify the information. I will make use of the hon. Member for Kwacha Constituency.

Hon. Member for Kwacha, please, verify the information so that we do not waste time on the matter.

Mr Charles Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to clarify the matter that Hon. Kafwaya has presented on the Floor of the House.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Charles Mulenga: Madam Speaker, I am the Member of Parliament for Kwacha, the constituency the hon. Member has referred to in the matter he has raised about toilets not having been completed.

Madam Speaker, when the President visited Kitwe, in particular Kwacha, he commissioned the toilets in question, and most of them, I think, about 80 percent, were functional. So, when the hon. Member mentions that the toilets are not functional, he is not telling the truth. That is my constituency, and I actually go around inspecting the progress that has been made.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr B. Mpundu interjected.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, order!

Mr Charles Mulenga: Madam Speaker, I can confirm that most of the toilets are functional. Of course, there are issues concerning a few because of resources, which the ministry is looking around for so that it can give to the company responsible, which is the Nkana Water and Sanitation Company (NWSC). As soon as –

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members on my left, order!

Mr Charles Mulenga: Madam Speaker, the number for the incomplete toilets may be about 1 or 2 per cent. Most of the toilets have been completed. So, the number is negligible.

Interruptions

Mr Charles Mulenga: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is not telling the truth when he says that the toilets have not been completed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Kwacha, when did the commissioning take place?

Mr Charles Mulenga: Madam Speaker, the toilets were commissioned almost a year ago, and they are functional.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

Hon. Members, please, let us have order in the House. I have understood the matter based on what the hon. Member for Kwacha has said. The most important thing about Urgent Matters without Notice is that they are supposed to be on issues that have happened within twenty-four hours and need the Government’s attention.

Hon. Kafwaya, you brought up an issue that happened a while back. So, it does not qualify.

Mr Kafwaya interjected.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Why did you bring it up?

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, you do not know what it is.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Lunte!

Urgent Matters without Notice are supposed to be raised within two minutes. However, you went round and brought an issue that happened years ago. I do not know whether it happened last year. So, already –

Hon. Opposition Members: He did not finish.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No, the matter that you brought up about the toilets –

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

I think, we make progress.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Madam Speaker, before I ask my question, allow me to commend the hon. Member for Kwacha. He is an honest man who has confirmed the impotence of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government.

Laughter

CHARGES IMPOSED ON MOTHERS WHO DELIVER ON THEIR WAY TO HEALTH FACILITIES

258. Mr Mukosa asked the Minister of Health:

whether the Government is aware that pregnant mothers who give birth on their way to the health facilites in Chinsali District are charged K300 upon arrival; and
if so, what the rationale for the charge, is.

The Minister of Health (Mr Katakwe): Madam Speaker, yes, the Government is aware of the reported charges imposed on mothers who deliver on their way to health facilities in Chinsali District.

Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the Ministry of Health does not charge for home deliveries, as the Government policy promotes the provision of free maternal services and facility-based deliveries. Investigations revealed that the said charges were informal community-driven penalties imposed by the local leadership to discourage home deliveries and were not paid to health facilities.

Madam Speaker, I wish to further indicate that the Ministry of Health, through the Muchinga Provincial Health Office, has since engaged traditional leaders and other stakeholders on alternative deterrent measures. Additionally, efforts are ongoing to improve access to maternity services through the construction of health facilities under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and the deployment of community-based volunteers to encourage and support facility-based deliveries.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister of Health for the answer provided.

Madam Speaker, I think that all of us here in Parliament, especially those of us from rural areas, can agree that health facilities in rural areas are far from villages. So, for our mothers to deliver at the clinics or health facilities, they have to cover long distances. The hon. Minister of Health indicated that the K300 charged to pregnant mothers who deliver before reaching the hospital is community-driven. I would like to find out from him why the Government has allowed this situation to happen, in which pregnant mothers who deliver before they reach the hospitals or rural clinics are charged K300, yet we know that they have to cover long distances to reach the health facility.

I would like to get an answer to that question, Madam Speaker.

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, I stated that the Ministry of Health does not encourage that trend. Why? This is because we have free delivery for expectant mothers. So, that programme is community-driven by local leaders in order to discourage home deliveries because there is a tendency for women to deliver at home, which is unsafe. So, the local leadership made their own arrangements to ensure that mothers who deliver at home, or who take a long time to reach the hospital, are penalised. That is their arrangement.

Madam Speaker, additionally, what has been done so far to address the situation, is that the Ministry of Health, through the Muchinga Provincial Health Office, has engaged the Chinsali District Health Team and its key stakeholders, including the Royal Highness, for example, Chief Nkweto, village head persons and committees, who actually impose those informal penalties on pregnant women with the aim of trying to stop them, as I indicated. They have been ordered to stop that trend immediately. So, the Government is not condoning it, and those involved have been ordered to stop through engagement.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to further add that the Provincial Health Office has continued to engage Chinsali Town Council through the CDF Committee to include construction and operationalisation of the following maternity annexes and health centres: Nkweto, Kampemba, Shimuyinda, Nashinga, Chungulo, and Choshi in Chinsali Constituency, under the 2023/2025 CDF funding. This enhances access to free maternity care for expecting mothers in remote areas, such as the vast Chinsali Constituency, where, in some instances, they walk kilometres to reach health facilities.

To crown it all, Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Health has recruited many community health-based volunteers, such as the Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs) and Polyvalent Community-Based Volunteers, with some posted to Muchinga and to eight districts, including Chinsali. These are actually encouraging the mothers and escorting them up to the health facilities where safe delivery is done. So, I encourage my colleague, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali, to ensure that he works with the local leadership and also the local authority to expedite the construction of health posts and the maternity annexes, which have been done by the goodwill and good policies of this Government, and the visionary Leader, our President of the Republic of Zambia, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Thank you so much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, Hon. Kalalwe Mukosa talked about the impotence of this Government. Does he know that impotent people like salt too much?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mpika, are you addressing me or the hon. Member for Chinsali?

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali talked about the impotence of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government. I was reminding him that, actually, impotent people like too much salt.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is that a question?

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, my question is to the hon. Minister of Health, whom I should take this opportunity to congratulate on his appointment as Minister of Health.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Chinsali asked a very pertinent question. However, the response from the hon. Minister does not address the real issues on the ground.

Hon. UPND Members: Just sit down.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, I need your protection.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You are protected, but please, go straight to your question.

Mr Kapyanga: Madam Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister of Health is: Apart from relying on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), what is the ministry about this issue? The Government sends directives every day about the CDF and they gobble the whole amount. We have a problem not only in Chinsali but in the entire province. Our people are walking long distances to find health facilities. That is the problem.

Mr Nkandu: What did you do as the Patriotic Front (PF)?

Mr Kapyanga: You think you have anything compared to the Patriotic Front (PF)? Are you not even ashamed? You have done literally nothing!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Mpika!

Interruptions

Mr Kapyanga: You have done literally nothing. What have you even built? Toilets? Ah!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You may resume your seat, hon. Member for Mpika.

Mr Kapyanga resumed his seat.

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mkushi South, what is your point of order?

Mr Chisopa: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Before I raise my point of order, I want to congratulate the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government and the party for realising that, in fact, the Patriotic Front (PF) had good hon. Members of Parliament. That is why the UPND is poaching and endorsing some of them.

Ms Sefulo: Yes!

Mr Chisopa: We have plenty of them. We will give them more, so that …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order?

Mr Chisopa: … they can continue endorsing them.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order, hon. Member for Mkushi South?

Mr Chisopa: However, that will not help them.

Madam Speaker, my point of order is on the hon. Minister of Education.

Mr Nkandu: We cannot poach people like you. You won by seven votes!

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts!

Hon. Member for Mpika, resume your seat.

Hon. Member for Mkushi South, please, proceed with your point of order.

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, we respect marketeers, but the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Arts should not spoil the name of marketeers. We know he is coming from a market –

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Mkushi South, resume your seat.

Resume your seat, please. You are not ready for your point of order.

Mr Chisopa resumed his seat.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, the continuum of care for maternal health includes prenatal, antenatal and postnatal. The question that the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali asked the hon. Minister –

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Consultations are too loud.

Hon. Member, you may continue.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, the question that the hon. Member of Parliament asked the hon. Minister is about justice, equity and many other things. It also includes the national values in Article 8 of the Constitution. Expectant mothers are being charged K300 at health facilities. Expectant mothers are supposed to receive antenatal, prenatal, and postnatal care services. Before they give birth, they are expected to undergo continuous checks. Most of them go at a time when they are in a panic zone, or when they have to deliver, and because they are vulnerable they really have nothing to do but go to the hospital. They ration money and transport because of distances to clinics. The hon. Minister confirmed that mothers are charged at health facilities, but the money is not receipted in the Government system. Is that true?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is your question, hon. Member?

Mr Fube: I want the hon. Minister to confirm.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No, what is your question?

Mr Fube: Since that money is not receipted in the Government system, and expectant mothers seek urgent care out of vulnerability, what is the Government doing to reduce the distance that mothers travel to access maternal services, apart from relying on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)? The CDF can be used to build buildings but it cannot furnish maternity annexes properly.

An hon. Member interjected.

Mr Fube: I have asked my question. Are you the Speaker?

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

Madam Speaker, if my hon. Colleague had been following events, he would have known that just about two days ago, I was handing over equipment to Lusaka College of Nursing and Midwifery donated by our partners, the Society for International Development (SID). We have a number of partners more than willing to help. They have all the monies required to help us. Some have come on board and committed to helping communities. I implore my hon. Colleague from Chinsali, and the hon. Member for Chilubi, who is not listening, to collaborate. As hon. Members, we can always collaborate as we market our own districts and provinces. I have done that. I have been to Kansanshi Mine, where I lobbied for the construction of a clinic in my constituency. The clinic was built, and right now it is being equipped through my efforts. So, any hon. Member of Parliament is not limited from engaging co-operating partners to do something like that.

Madam Speaker, we know that distances to rural health centres cannot be reduced. However, through the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), we encourage hon. Members of Parliament to work with local authorities to prioritise construction of the necessary maternity annexes, health posts and clinics in far-flung areas. To add on to that, we have some partners in the process of procuring tricycle ambulances, which will be distributed to rural health centres in areas like Chinsali and Chilubi to help our expectant mothers.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The last hon. Member to ask a supplementary question is the hon. Member for Chinsali.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, the community-driven approach, which encourages mothers to deliver at clinics but charges them K300 if they delay reaching clinics, has resulted in members of the community who are pregnant not going to hospitals to deliver from there when they realise that they are late, because they are afraid of being charged K300. So, my question to the hon. Minister of Health is: Why is it that the Government has delayed to come up with the measure that the hon. Minister has indicated, which is informing community leaders and traditional leadership that they need to stop charging pregnant mothers when they fail to reach hospitals in good time when they go to deliver?

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that supplementary question.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member needs to note that that was a community-driven initiative, not a Government policy. Therefore, there was no need for a Government receipt. Another hon. Member asked about a Government receipt. There has been no delay because the ministry responds based on the information it receives. The message about mothers being charged penalties came at a time when the ministry had no information about what was going on in the constituency that the hon. Member represents. When the ministry received the information, investigations started immediately because we use a co-ordinated approach with our provincial health directors and district health directors. That information was fed back to the local authority and the health directors at the facility to make sure that the community-driven arrangement of charging penalties immediately comes to an end. That is the message we are passing. So, there was no delay. It was just feedback depending on the timeframe.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

FUEL FILLING STATION IN LUMEZI DISTRICT

259. Mr Ngoma (Lumezi) asked the Minister of Energy:

whether the Government has any plans to faciliate the opening of a fuel filling station in Lumezi District;
if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Chikote): Madam Speaker, the Government has already facilitated the construction of the first-ever fuel filling station in Lumezi District in line with the New Dawn Administration’s reforms to promote private sector participation in the development of energy infrastructure. To this effect, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) approved a site for construction of a fuel filling station by Oasis Oil Zambia in October, 2025. The approved fuel filling station is currently under construction and is expected to be operationalised by the end of the second quarter of 2026.

Madam Speaker, as indicated in part (a) of the question, there are plans to facilitate the opening of a fuel filling station in Lumezi District.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Ngoma: Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank the hon. Minister of Energy.

Madam Speaker, the people of Lumezi were contemplating having a fuel filling station, but they did not know that it had already been approved. The station will serve many people in Lumezi and it will be the only station between Chipata and Lundazi, because there is no fuel filling station on that stretch. So, on behalf of the people of Lumezi, I thank the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) for approving the construction of the filling station. This is how a responsible Government operates. We are very grateful and we hope that many other investors will come on board because of the peace and tranquility that we are experiencing in this nation.

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for that information.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister of Energy, do you have anything to say?

Mr Chikote: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Lumezi for acknowledging the good policies of the New Dawn Administration under the able leadership of Mr Hakainde Hichilema, and we will continue implementing those policies. Ever since Zambia got Independence, the people of Lumezi have never seen such kind of infrastructure, but because of the good leadership and policies of Mr Hakainde Hichilema under the New Dawn Administration, the people of Lumezi will have a fuel filling station in their district this year.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

PROVISION OF SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND ATTIRE TO INSTITUTIONS

260. Mr Fube (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts:

whether the Government has any plans to provide the following institutions in Chilubi District with sports equipment and attire:

Chilubi Mainland Boarding School;
Chaba Secondary School;
St. Charles Lwanga Secondary School;
Mayuka Secondary School;
Muchinshi Secondary School; and
Chilubi Nursing School.

if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts (Mr Nkandu): Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) for approving the construction of a fuel filling station in Kaputa, for the people of Kaputa, for the first time in the history of this nation. We have seen a fuel filling station in Kaputa during this Government.

Madam Speaker, allow me to introduce myself. I am a very proud marketeer from Chisokone Market.

Laughter

Mr Nkandu: I want to thank the marketeers from Chisokone Market and all marketeers in Zambia for making me who I am today. I thought I should clear the air. I was not only a marketeer, but the President of the Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA).

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, I was also the President of the Alliance for Informal Economy Association and the international secretary for StreetNet International, a global organisation for street and market vendors in the world.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, some of the hon. Members on your left were my members at Chisokone Market. I will not mention them, but I know them. So, I thought I should say that.

Madam Speaker, we can be first termers, but we understand the process of enacting laws. After a Bill passes through the National Assembly, it goes to the President for assent. So, when His Excellency the President brings a Bill back here, that is a procedure.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister of Sports, Youth and Arts!

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, it is important for us to respond to what was said. This is the only opportunity that we have.

Madam Speaker, the President understands that when one has ten children and one of them complains, one needs to listen to that child so that one does the right thing, and that is what the President did. In fact, I am happy that for the first time, we have a President who listens. Whenever there are concerns, he brings some Bills back to the National Assembly. What else do we want? So, I am happy that somebody talked about that.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, may you now proceed and respond to the question.

Mr Nkandu: Yes, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, what makes our hon. Colleagues on your left think that they are the only ones who interact with the citizens? We also interact with the people of Zambia. We know who may come back and who may not. There are first termers who are deep rooted in their constituencies. There are also so-called senior hon. Members like the one from Shiwang’andu, who may not come back.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister!

Mr Nkandu: It is our time to respond.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister and hon. Members!

Hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, you were supposed to respond to Question No. 260, but there has been a long debate. May you, please, respond to Question No. 260.

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me an opportunity to respond to Question No. 260. We need to be responding to these –

Hon. Government Member: To the misleading leaders.

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, let me respond to the question asked by Hon. Fube Mulenga of Chifubu Constituency –

Hon. Government Members: Chilubi!

Mr Nkandu: Chilubi Island!

Laughter

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member may wish to note that the Government does not have plans to specifically, and underline the word ‘specifically’, provide sports equipment and attires to the institutions mentioned above. Nonetheless, the Government through the recently launched, Rural Sports Development Programme, has plans to provide sports equipment and attires to communities, faith-based organisations, schools, sports academies, colleges and universities.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that institutions, as well as hon. Members of Parliament, can request support for sports equipment and attire, which the ministry may consider. In addition, the ministry has devolved the community sports programme to the local authorities, where hon. Members of Parliament, communities and institutions can request support for equipment and attire. Nyimba Secondary School, for example, requested for sports equipment, and the equipment was given through the Provincial Minister and the hon. Member of Parliament for Nyimba. So, upon making a request, that can be considered.

Madam Speaker, there is no specific time as to when the plans will be implemented. Hon. Members of Parliament may wish to note that implementation will be done when the ministry launches the Rural Sports Development Programme in Chilubi District.

Madam Speaker, the response to part (c) of the question is as stated above.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the response. The last time equipment was provided to various schools by the Government was in 2019. The question on the Floor was motivated by the fact that that equipment has become obsolete, and some of it is no longer there. In that regard, the hon. Minister has talked about a grant and the launch of a rural sports something in Chilubi, which has no specific timeframe, yet I have seen him going around launching various programmes. Since he is launching those programmes, I am sure he has personnel in his ministry who have a schedule of when the programme will be launched in Chilubi or, maybe, the Northern Province. He launched the programme in his constituency, if I am not mistaken. There should be a distribution of such details. So, given that scenario, I want the hon. Minister to indicate a definite period when the programme will be launched in Chilubi, since it is an ongoing project. As it has already been started, it means there is a calendar for it. So, when will Chilubi benefit, because it is part of Zambia?

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member wants me to launch something that he does not understand, going by what he has said. When he says that I am launching “something like”, it means he does not understand the thing that he would want me to launch in his constituency. The best he can do is visit the office so that he can understand what I am about to launch, instead of me just going to the constituency to launch something that he does not understand.

Madam Speaker, we launched the Rural Sports Development Programme to bridge the gap that we have seen, especially in our rural areas. Just as it has been stated; the Rural Sports Development Programme. It is because there is a gap in access to sports equipment. Hon. Fube’s Government came up with the initiative to launch such a programme so that institutions in our communities, such as boarding secondary schools and nursing schools, could also have access to what we are doing. I would like to urge the hon. Member, as I said in my earlier response, to not wait for that launch. If he has a request, he can submit it, and it can be considered.

Madam Speaker, as Members of Parliament, we should be progressive. I like those coming from the hon. Member’s side who would like to stand on the United Party for National Development (UPND) ticket because they have seen what we are doing; the initiatives we have implemented and interventions we are putting in place. So, they see that ours is a progressive political party, and they have no option but to want to stand on its ticket. I would like to thank them for that decision.

Madam Speaker, when the hon. Member for Chilubi has an issue of that kind, he should make a request, and he will be considered. I have said that the ministry gave Nyimba Secondary School sets of jerseys because the school made a request. So, the hon. Member should help his people by requesting through the well-intentioned initiatives.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, let me declare that I am a very honest human being. I have engaged the hon. Minister before and he responded, although not to the scale that we expected. We need to understand that specifics are very important. When the hon. Minister talks about engagement, I listed the schools in question. I want an assurance from the hon. Minister on the fact that if, today, I, as a Member of Parliament, makes a request for Chilubi Boarding School, St Charles, the nursing school and the like, the request will be given, as it may be. Of course, I do not expect heaven and earth, as his ministry is catering to many people.

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, this is a Government that would not want to give many assurances on the Floor of the House, like what his political party did previously. Our hon. Colleagues made more than 100 assurances, which they could not even fulfil.

Mrs Mulyata: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkandu: So, we do not want to be like them.

I am on record, Madam Speaker, saying that every credible leadership is measured by its capacity to fulfil promises. This Government is credible because out of all the promises we made, such as free education, we have fulfilled almost everything. Sometimes, I even wonder why people say, “They are going”. Yes, going into the second term. We agree with that.

Madam Speaker, in answering the hon. Member’s question, I will not give him that assurance. The assurance that he can get is that when he requests – I know he has requested about two times, and the ministry has responded positively, though he has also said that the response was not what he expected, but he should not expect to be given everything. Muletasha. That means, you need to be thankful. That is what I am saying. So, he should request. Zambia is big and there are 116 districts. The programme has been launched in about four or five districts, including where I come from, Kaputa. The programme was also launched in Mongu and Solwezi. So, it has been launched in many districts. By the time we get to Chipili – Obviously, I may not give the hon. Member an exact time when that will be launched. I believe that even the people in Rufunsa want the ministry to launch the programme there. So, we will give him the schedule when we know that we have the resources.

Madam Speaker, again, I want to tell the hon. Member that he should make a request. He may be lucky and be helped. So, there will be no assurance that will be made on the Floor of the House, apart from saying that your Government will ensure that it touches every corner of the country.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Anakoka (Luena): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank the hon. Minister for reminding the nation that the country has moved from a time when the President would proudly announce to the nation that he was signing laws without reading them and with his eyes closed. Now that we have a President who reads and understands, and refers laws back to this House sometimes, the nation should be happy about that.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Anakoka: Madam Speaker, we know that the hon. Minister has been going around the nation empowering youths through many forms, including the supply of sports attire. Can he assure the House, and through the House the nation, that the empowerment programme that the ministry has embarked on, which has been well-received throughout the country, especially in the provinces where it has already been launched, will continue into the future, even after this Government bounces back in bigger and stronger numbers after 13^th August this year? Can the hon. Minister give that commitment to the nation?

Mr Nkandu: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I also thank the hon. Member for that question.

I thank him for acknowledging that, indeed, we have a President to whom you cannot just take something to sign, and he does so without reading it. He always interrogates everything. Where he feels there is a need for polishing, he polishes. That is the President we have.

Madam Speaker, I am excited to be reminded that the Northern Province, in particular, Chilubi, has not yet received the empowerment funds for sports equipment. We have given Kaputa and Nsama, and then we will be proceeding to Mporokoso up to Mpulungu, and then back to Chilubi. So, the hon. Member for Chilubi has been helped. That is why he needs to follow such developments. When we get to Chilubi, as we distribute the empowerment funds, we will give out motorbikes. There is also a component that provides for twenty sets of sports equipment. The hon. Member of Parliament is also part of the empowerment programme. So, if this is very urgent to him, he must also include the schools that he mentioned so that as we give those twenty sets of sports equipment, those schools can also be included. That is why it is important, especially those in the Opposition, to interact with us.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Chilubi knows that he has just been helped by the hon. Member for Luena. So, maybe, he can also go and talk to other institutions and tell them that as the Minister goes to Chilubi, and that will be before the dissolution of Parliament, he will be there to ensure that they also benefit from all those empowerment initiatives. This is the only Government that has reached out to the young people. The hon. Minister has interacted with the young people in Chilubi, Kaputa and Shangombo and empowered them without segregation. Hon. Members of Parliament from the Opposition are able to participate in the empowerment programmes that have been provided.

Madam Speaker, I remember when I was in Muchinga, I interacted with Hon. Sunday Chanda. I also reached out to Hon. Kampyongo to be part of the ceremony as we were empowering the young people. I was very excited that, indeed, this is a Government that is very inclusive, it does not segregate. That is why Hon. Kampyongo should thank us for always interacting with him. I know it was very difficult then, but it is now very simple and straightforward. I congratulate Hon Kampyongo for working with us.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam First Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order pursuant to Standing Order No. 71.

Madam Speaker, I am seated here quietly, listening to the hon. Minister lament, only to hear him congratulate me on something I do not know. He is insinuating that I am a recipient of whatever he has been distributing, which I do not know. Is he in order to mislead this august House and the people of Shiwang’andu? They were waiting for him, but he disappeared. We do not know where he took whatever he brought for the people of Shiwang’andu.

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to put me in this very awkward position where he is congratulating me on receiving nothing from his office?

I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I am sure this is on a lighter note, and on the new cousinship that has developed. Maybe, it was in those lines.

We make progress.

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi asked a very important question regarding the distribution of soccer equipment in selected schools. This is where the nurturing of talent in the discipline of soccer starts. Early identification of talent is very important in as far as building a national soccer team is concerned.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Mpika, it is not soccer equipment but sports equipment.

Mr Kapyanga: Yes, sports equipment, Madam Speaker, I appreciate.

Madam Speaker, why does the ministry not have a deliberate policy of compulsory distribution of sports equipment in schools to promote talent and early talent identification?

Mr Nkandu: Madam Speaker, that is a nice one. I thank the hon. Member for that very sober question.

Madam Speaker, indeed, if we have to have a brighter future for sport in the country, we need to invest very much in what we call developmental sport. This is very important. This is why we have made interventions. At the moment, we have what we call youth games. For the youth games, we are drawing athletes from different districts. They form a district team, which then competes at the provincial level, and we then form a provincial team in all disciplines. I am sure that in April, we will be holding youth games at Levy Mwanawansa Stadium in about fourteen different disciplines. So, that tells the hon. Member that, indeed, we want to build momentum and also develop sports at a tender age of our children. This will help us achieve excellence at the end of the day.

Madam Speaker, you have done well to help me clarify, so that people understand the difference between football and sport, because whenever we talk about sport, what comes to many people's minds is football. However, you might be aware that this country minted 250 medals last year. This is a jump from the forty medals that our colleagues in the Patriotic Front (PF) used to mint. They could not go beyond forty. When we came into office, we even reached 300 medals in 2022. So, we have been moving. Last year, we had 250 medals minted across different disciplines. Only four of those medals came from football. So, all the 246 medals came from other disciplines. I want to appeal to the citizens, through his question, to understand that sport is not only football. There are other sports like volleyball, basketball, chess and even draughts and pool. So, we have so many. Therefore, when we are talking about sport, we are not only talking about football.

Madam Speaker, this time around, sport has really grown in this country, looking at the medals that we are minting, at the local, regional, and international levels. I thought I should mention that point.

Madam Speaker, coming to what the hon. Member said, indeed, it is important. That is why as we will be launching the Rural Sports Development Programme in Mpika, we will incorporate schools. Hon. Kapyanga is lucky that I gave some football jerseys to a school in the famous village in Chitulika. So, we have started doing that. I want to inform hon. Members of Parliament that they can only receive sports equipment on request. I know hon. Members of Parliament who have made requests will bear witness to what I am saying regarding sports equipment.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

DELAY IN FUNDING THE KANG’ONGA PRODUCTION CENTRE

261. Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa) asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Services:

when the Government will fund the Kang’onga Production Centre in Kavu Ward in Bwana Mkubwa Parliamentary Constituency;
what the cause of the delay in funding the Centre, is; and
what plans the Government has for the development of the Centre.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Ms Tambatamba) (on behalf of the Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Ms D. Mwamba)): Madam Speaker, the Government funds Kang’onga Production Centre through the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD). However, the centre is currently non-operational due to its deplorable state, and it requires substantial resources to rehabilitate it. Efforts to revamp the centre are ongoing, and this will be done in a phased manner, using funds from the income-generating activities being undertaken by ZAPD in the initial stages.

Madam Speaker, the delay is due to inadequate funding for ZAPD, as the grant they receive from the Government is insufficient to cover the procurement of modern equipment and the rehabilitation of infrastructure necessary to revamp this very important centre.

Madam Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, plans to support the development of the centre through resource mobilisation under the presidential irrigation initiative. This initiative is expected to generate funds to revamp the facilities under ZAPD, including Kang’onga Production Centre. Additionally, the ministry is in the process of engaging the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to explore ways of utilising the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to revamp the centre as well.

Madam Speaker, specific plans for the centre include utilising existing infrastructure, particularly warehouses for poultry production. This venture has been assessed as a viable and suitable option for persons with disabilities, as it provides manageable tasks, sustainable skills development and income-generating opportunities.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwambazi: Madam Speaker, I thank the Acting hon. Minister for the response.

Madam Speaker, I wanted the hon. Minister to clarify this issue. Not too long ago, last year, when Hon. Elvis Nkandu was the Acting hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Services, on the Floor of this House, he made an assurance that K6 million would be funded to the aforementioned Kang'gonga Production Centre, and that K600,000 would be for metre separation while the remaining amount would be for starting production.

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that follow-up question.

Madam Speaker, without getting to the matter that was mentioned or could have been mentioned on the Floor of the House, I just want to clarify that the funds that the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) receives supports all its activities including emoluments, administrative expenses and the many projects that it runs, such as Kang’onga Production Centre. The money is limited. That detail of the K6 million could have been mentioned as a separate amount. That information will be made available to the hon. Member. That is outside what ZAPD receives.

Madam Speaker, let me just mention that this year, ZAPD received a grant amounting to K23,961,640, of which in excess of K19 million is specifically for emoluments. The balance, which is, K4.7 million, is reserved for covering all the other administrative expenses, even though it is not adequate. This is the money that was provided for this year. The hon. Member would appreciate that even the money in the pot for administrative expenses is not adequate. We all understand the current financial or fiscal constraints that the Government has in funding different sectors. We will not get what we wish for now, but in a phased manner. We know that we are moving and improving year by year.

Madam Speaker, I want to assure the hon. Member. When we were at the Youth Day celebrations, one of the young people, Chile One, sang a song entitled “Eagle One.” An eagle looks at all places. The name Eagle One is assigned to our President. So we know that he has an eye on every sector. This particular sector, community development, has received a lot of attention. We have seen this by the number of beneficiaries on the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme. The number of beneficiaries has gone up because the programme has been expanded extensively. Salt sana, salt sana in there.

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!

Ms Tambatamba: That in itself tells us that “Eagle One” is looking at how we can revolutionise the productive systems in the country, and Kang’onga Production Centre is one of the productive systems that our people living with disabilities could benefit from. So, measures are being undertaken beyond what could have been mentioned earlier. In good time, the hon. Member will know about this issue. We will take care of this productive system that we cannot relegate, because we know that it means a lot to people living with disability in Kang’onga and other locations in the country where we have similar facilities.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwambazi: Madam Speaker, it is disheartening that we ask questions on the Floor of the House and assurances are given. In this case, an assurance was made. If there was no budget line for it, the Government should not have made the assurance. Now, it looks like we are looking at the budget for the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD). A similar question was asked, and an assurance was made. The people of Kang’onga were assured that the facility would be funded and that the meter separation would be done. I think that it is not correct for the Government to give a different submission on the same issue. If an assurance is made, the Government should come back and say what transpired or why the issue was not funded. It should not come up with a different answer to the same question.

Madam Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to clarify because K6 million was announced on the Floor of the House for Kang’onga Production Centre. We were informed that K600,000 was going to be spent on meter separation while the rest of the money was going to be used to start production. We told the people of Kang’onga about this. The facilities are not in a deplorable condition. I come from that area, so I understand what I am talking about. Could the hon. Minister clarify the issue of the K6 million?

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, I understand the importance of Kang’onga Production Centre to the people in that area who are serviced by this facility. A commitment may already have been put across on the Floor of the House. Definitely, the ministry will not look away. Like I said, we will investigate and get to understand where it has been delayed and I will revert to the hon. Member. However, I would like to inform the hon. Member that this Government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema would never leave people living with disabilities behind, and it will treat them like every other Zambian.

Madam Speaker, this Government is not a Government of promises that will not be pursued to the end of delivering to its people. I know that the hon. Member is aware that when we propose something, and there is a delay, we ensure that we get back on track. This is why at the end of the day, we have different instruments and tools for sharpening productive systems, including Kang’onga Production Centre, which is a productive system for business development. Different institutions such as the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, the Public Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee, offer solutions to every problem that comes through because President Hakainde Hichilema is in a hurry to develop the country, and that is why we see him in different parts of the country. Today, he is in Nakonde, and he was in the North-Western Province and Livingstone. He makes pronouncements which cover –

Mr Nkandu: Eagle One, alebomba.

Ms Tambatamba: Yes, Eagle One. One musician sang a song entitled; ‘Alebomba.’ The President will never look away and he will provide support through the ministries, including the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

Madam Speaker, I can only assure the hon. Member that this issue is being attended to and when resources are mobilised, we will be able to reform. However, we are looking in many pots including the sustainability plan for programmes, installations or, indeed, facilities such as the Kang’onga Production Centre so that we get them to deliver. So, all of them are operational and delivering to the optimum level.

Madam Speaker, I want to inform the hon. Member that the facility will not be left behind. The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services is looking at different options, which include what I have just stated to ensure that we attend to that. I know this project is at the heart of the hon. Member. He is very passionate about it and we are walking with him. He will not walk alone.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The last question will be from the hon. Member for Kasama Central.

Ms D. Mwamba (Kasama Central): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the response even though it is actually sad to hear about the limited resources that are given to the Zambia Agency for Persons with Living with Disabilities (ZAPD), which actually has a lot of work to do countrywide. As Members of Parliament, we need to look into the funds that are allocated to ZAPD so that more can be done.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that not all hope is lost, and that works to revamp Kang’onga Production Centre will be done in a phased manner. What is the estimated cost of the project and how has it been broken down? How have the works been phased until completion?

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Kasama Central for the supplementary question.

Madam Speaker, the projected figure is K7,634,412.96. In summary, the breakdown is as follows:

human resource component;
water reticulation;
four-tier cages for chicken layers;
bullet at the point of lay;
vaccines;
disinfectants;
feed costs;
layer mash;
renovation of infrastructure; and
metre separation by ZESCO Limited.

Therefore, there are elements in a particular budget line and this is why it comes to approximately K7.5 million.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

AMOUNT OF GOLD PRODUCED COUNTRYWIDE

262. Mr Fube asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

how many kilogrammes of gold were produced countrywide, from January, 2019 to August, 2025, year by year;
what quantity of the gold above was procured and added to the Bank of Zambia Gold Reserves from 2020 to 2024, year by year; and
what contributions were made to gold mining by the Zambia Gold Company Limited from January, 2022 to August, 2025, year by year.

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the amount of gold produced countrywide from January, 2019 to August, 2025, year by year is as follows:

Year Gold Production (kg)

2019 2,123.05

2020 3,672

2021 3,641

2022 2,683

2023 1,962

2024 3,161

January- August, 2025 2,377

Madam Speaker, the quantity of gold procured and added to the Bank of Zambia’s Gold Reserves from 2020 to 2024, year by year, is as follows:

Year Gold Production (kg)

2020 47.8

2021 811

2022 861

2023 704

2024 450

Madam Speaker, the Zambia Gold Company Limited made the following contributions to gold mining from January, 2022 to August, 2025, year by year:

Year Gold Production (kg)

2022 19.8

2023 28.44

2024 16.30

January - August, 2025 8.63

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I hope I got the hon. Minister right, and that the figures that he has mentioned, starting with 47.8 for 2020, are in kilograms and not grams. If that is right, then, I will go ahead and ask my question.

Madam Speaker, I have noticed a trend from 2020 onwards and I will demonstrate. The hon. Minister has talked about 3,000 kg being produced in 2021. Later on, the quantity decreased. The same applies to the contributions of the Zambia Gold Company Limited (ZGCL) to gold production. I think, the hon. Minister ended with about 8 kg. This is during a period when the country is discovering more gold. What has contributed to the downward trend? When there is more gold in the country, the gold procured is decreasing. Maybe, the hon. Minister can answer in that line.

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, first and foremost, the hon. Member needs to realise that a larger part of the figures are for Kansanshi Copper-Gold Mine. Between 2020 and 2021, the company almost exited Zambia. As a result of that situation, coupled with low grades, its production decreased. This resulted from the animosity between the Government then and Kansanshi Copper-Gold Mine management, which is under First Quantum Minerals (FQM). Now, when you look at the 2024 figures, you will realise that production increased. The FQM management said that the company would not go anywhere because of the confidence it had in the economy.

Madam Speaker, furthermore, the formalisation process has begun, but we have not yet hit the peak in terms of results from the formalised gold miners. This is when systems are being put in place. What has been seen is mostly Kansanshi Copper-Gold Mine’s contributions. Of course, you will realise that this Government decided to shut down Kasenseli Gold Mine during the same period because there was confusion and no proper mining. Kasenseli Gold Mine was contributing a bit, but not to the scale we would have liked. All those were factors. In mining, usually, the consequences of any production, whether negative or positive, are seen after a period of time. So, what you are seeing in decline is not because it happened in that year, but that certain wrong things happened, which became a consequence. It is like today, if you affect the production of any big mine, like Mopani Copper Mines Plc, you may not see the results this year, but, maybe, a year or even two years later, because you would have made wrong choices and not developed. So, those are the consequences of certain wrong things that were done in the previous years.

Mr Sikumba: Failed leadership!

Mr Kabuswe: Exactly.

So, that is why you are seeing what you are seeing today.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has talked about different portions, starting with 47.8 kg in 2020, if I got him right, and 811 kg for the reserves at the Bank of Zambia (BoZ). It was declared that gold should be part of the reserves. How much gold is currently at BoZ, as part of the reserves, in total for all the years that the hon. Minister has talked about?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, that is now a question for BoZ. I came to give details on what the hon. Member asked in the substantive question. If he wants to know the reserves at BoZ, the institution should be able to provide those figures. If a question was brought to the Floor of the House, we could ask the institution. We, as a ministry, would not know what BoZ has today.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, as you ask, please, refer to the question on the Floor of the House, which is about figures, like the number of kilograms or quantity of gold, and the contributions made year by year, which have been stated by the hon. Minister. So, as you ask questions, stick to the question on the Floor.

Mr Fube rose.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is that a second follow-up question?

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I have asked two follow-up questions so far.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has stipulated the figures year by year, but I gave the period for which I want to know the quantities. I think, it is not complicated for the hon. Minister to give me the information on the quantities at BoZ up to August, 2025. That is all I want.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister will take that into consideration as he answers the next question.

Mr Chala (Chipili): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I have noted the statistics that the hon. Minister has given this august House. I want to find out something. When the Ghanaian President addressed this nation through the National Assembly, he gave a good address on the way his country is managing gold. What can we, as a state, learn from that address to improve gold management in Zambia?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is also a misplaced question because we are not talking about management. The hon. Member who asked the substantive question wanted to know the quantities, year by year, or the figures, and nothing about management.

Anyway, hon. Minister, you may proceed.

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, indeed, the speech delivered by the Ghanaian President was good. The address delivered by President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) to this House on the Progress Made in the Application of National Values and Principles was also good. President Hakainde Hichilema talked about how the country is dealing with artisanal miners. I want to tell the hon. Member that for the first time in this country, there is a properly formalised gold subsector, and we are moving in that direction. There was a lot of confusion where we came from, and I wonder how one can compare what was and what is, to the extent of calling a Government impotent, when the opposite is true. Who is potent and impotent between the one who grows an economy to negative 2.8 per cent and the one who grows the economy to over 5 per cent in four years? So, one can say that if there are two women, the one who is throwing in the negative has failed to make the woman a mother. When –

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

Mr Kabuswe: No, allow us to speak. You had your field day.

Madam Speaker, I need to speak.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, for the sake of respecting women, please, use another example.

Mr Kabuswe: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, which person is impotent or potent? Is it the one who grows the economy in reverse or in the negative, or the one who grows it in the positive? The one who grows it positively is potent.

When hon. Members on the left raise certain matters, they should not ask us that, “Muleke ukulanda pafyakale”. They cause us to speak about them because they raise issues here and call us “impotent”. We, on the right, will also call them names because during their tenure, the economic growth declined to negative 2.8 per cent. Numbers do not lie. The economy had a python called “debt”. For the first time, the Zambian economy defaulted on debt servicing, and the country became a basket case.

Mr Nkandu: Because of your leadership! (pointed at the Patriotic Front (PF) hon. Members)

Mr Kabuswe: Because of the leadership’s impotence.

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

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabuswe: Today, the country has a potent, strong, visionary and methodical Government led by one President Hakainde Hichilema. Here we are. The economy is growing positively, and 2.5 million children are back in school. That is the way to go.

An hon. Government Member: And they are being fed!

Mr Kabuswe: The 2.5 million children were going to end up like the Tokota Boys. The Government has introduced the School Feeding Programme. Abana balelya. Imwe bali ne nsala.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What does that mean, hon. Minister?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, it means they are eating.

Mr Nkandu: Students receive meal allowance!

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, let me answer him. The Governments of Ghana and Zambia sat together and exchanged ideas. There are things that Ghana learnt from us, and we also learnt from them. That is why very soon, a Bill will be introduced to provide for the formation of an agency similar to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). Meanwhile, the ministry is training artisans. So far, 500 co-operatives have been trained. Not 500 human beings, but co-operatives. A co-operative has a minimum of fifty to 100 people multiplied by 500. In the North-Western Province, for instance, 500 co-operatives have been trained. The same has been done in Mpika. The process is also underway in Lusangazi and Vubwi. Next week, the ministry will move to the Southern Province. All areas of our country will be touched, including Mapatizya.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabuswe: The Government is rolling out the programme. In fact, yesterday, my Permanent Secretary (PS) launched a manual for training artisanal miners. Tamwatalabapo mu Zambia. That has never happened before.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Meaning?

Mr Nkandu: It has never been there!

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, the Government is teaching the impotent to be potent. That is the way it works.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Chilubi, do you have a point of order?

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order because this is the House of facts. The hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development was asked about gold, but he avoided most of the questions. Instead, he referred to the economic growth of 2.8 per cent versus 4 per cent. Since this is a House where we provide evidence, the hon. Minister can read the foreword of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) written and signed by the President. The President attributed the downward fall of the economy to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). He admitted that COVID-19 led to a decrease in the economy. However, the hon. Minister here today, is telling the House that economic management impotency led to the decline. Is he telling the House that the President, in his foreword of the document that feeds into our budgeting, the 8NDP, was wrong? Is he in order to purport that the President lied when he mentioned, in the foreword of an important document, that the fall in the economy is attributed to COVID-19?

I rest my case, Madam Speaker. I would like to have a ruling on that matter.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Chilubi, this is our final year, and you were a Member of Parliament in the previous Parliament. Surely, how can you raise a point of order in that manner? You are supposed to be very specific about what has been breached.

Mr Nkandu: He is a former DC!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: However, you have debated your point of order such that I was lost in the process as to what the point of order was about. Next time you raise a point of order, be specific. Your point of order is not admissible because you debated it, and it was not specific.

The last hon. Member to ask a question is the hon. Member for Nkana.

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Madam Speaker, I am surprised that hon. Members of Parliament are discussing impotence in this House. You wish to know that impotent people are given enough salt.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana, I think I called on you to ask a supplementary question, not to debate another issue. We are considering supplementary questions for Question No. 262. What is your supplementary question?

Mr B. Mpundu: Yes, Madam Speaker, I was building up to ask a supplementary question, except I wanted to help the hon. Minister who was responding by saying that salt is given to impotent people.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No, hon. Member for Nkana, please, ask your supplementary question.

Interruptions

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I hope at some point, before Parliament is dissolved, it would be –

Mr Wamunyima conversed with Mr Siachisumo.

Mr B. Mpundu: Guys, you are making noise.

Madam Speaker, before Parliament is dissolved, it would be nice for the hon. Minister to render a very comprehensive statement as to where gold is being produced. If I followed him, he said from 2020 into 2024, the country produced in excess of 2 metric tonnes of gold, almost on an annual basis. One of the things I learnt from Ghana, as my other hon. Colleague said, is how they manage gold production. Every gold produced is sold through the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). I would like to find out the position of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government on how the gold resource is being managed. When we look at –

Mr Anakoka: He is also a former DC!

Dr Andeleki: Ah!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The time is up.

Mr B. Mpundu: You need to behave yourself. Naukula iwe.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Nkana.

Mr B. Mpundu: Uyu umwana wandoshi, nakula uyu, he needs to behave.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Nkana! Who is indoshi? Please, translate what you have said.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: For the sake of the House, translate what you have said.

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, honestly speaking, have you heard what these guys are saying?

Mr Nkandu: Which guys?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I heard what you said, but I want the translation so that I can make an informed decision. I do not know what it means. Can you please, translate.

Mr B. Mpundu: Which part, Madam Speaker?

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The part which you mentioned in Bemba.

Mrs Mulyata: The son of a witch.

Mr B. Mpundu: A son of witch.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Who is the son of a witch?

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1641 hours until 1700 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

GRADE 12 PASS RATES IN WESTERN PROVINCE

263. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Education:

why the Western Province has been recording the lowest examination pass rates at Grade 12 level since 2021;
what the major causes of the poor performance are; and
what measures the Government is taking to improve academic performance in the province.

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Mr Speaker, I wish to clarify and inform the House that available records indicate that the Western Province did not consistently record the lowest pass rates since 2021. In fact, the province recorded a pass rate of 73.73 per cent in 2021 and ranked first nationally in the Grade 12 School Certificate Examinations (GCE). However, performance declined in subsequent years. In 2022, the province recorded a pass rate of 47.84 per cent and was ranked ninth out of the ten provinces, meaning it was not the lowest performing province that year. From 2023 to 2025, the province ranked last nationally, recording pass rates of 45.68 per cent in 2023, 44.17 per cent in 2024 and 56.05 per cent in 2025.

Mr Speaker, the low performance recorded during this period has been associated with a number of challenges affecting the delivery of education in the province. The major causes of the comparatively poor performance include the following:

teacher shortages, particularly in critical subject areas such as mathematics, science and technical subjects in some schools;
disruptions to learning due to seasonal flooding, which affects several districts in the province and results in reduced learning time and regular school attendance;
socio-economic challenges in some communities, which negatively affect learner attendance, concentration and preparedness for examinations;

Mr Speaker, the Government is implementing several measures to improve academic performance in the Western Province. These include:

continued recruitment and deployment of teachers, with priority given to rural and under-served areas;
construction and upgrading of school infrastructure, including classrooms, laboratories and staff houses;
provision of teaching and learning materials to schools;
implementation of targeted academic improvement programmes, including learner remediation, teacher capacity building and strengthened supervision of teaching and learning;
strengthening of monitoring and support by provincial and district education offices to improve lesson delivery and syllabus coverage; and
expansion of education infrastructure under ongoing projects, which is helping to reduce overcrowding and improve the learning environment.

Mr Speaker, it is worth noting that the province recorded an improvement from 44.17 per cent in 2024 to 56.05 per cent in 2025, representing an increase of 11.88 percentage points, which shows that the interventions being implemented are beginning to yield positive results.

Mr Speaker, the Government remains committed to improving the quality of education in the Western Province and in all parts of the country.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for his responses.

Mr Speaker, in his last response, the hon. Minister stated that there was an increase in the pass rate, from 44.17 per cent to 56.05 per cent, which is an increase of twelve per cent. The province has been lagging behind. I understand that it is not for four consecutive years but a period of three years. Have the measures that the Government put in place given hope to it that in the near future, 2026 or 2027, the results for Grade 12, which is being phased out, will be good? Or are the measures meant to just keep the record of the learners?

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Kalabo Central for the question.

Mr Speaker, the measures put in place are intended to improve the education system, and that is why we were able to see the improvement that I talked about. Our aim is to ensure that the Western Province also catches up. In 2024, the pass rate in the province was 44 per cent and, in 2025, it was 56 per cent. There is hope to satisfy the people of the Western Province and, slowly, the measures are working. So, there is hope.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Sefulo (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the response provided on the steps that the Government has taken to improve the performance of the learners in the Western Province, bringing the province to the level that other provinces are.

Mr Speaker, I grew up in the Western Province, and there were many boarding schools, for example, Holy Cross Secondary School, but they have since been turned into day schools. Does the Government have any plans of constructing more boarding schools in the Western Province in view of the fact that there are few boarding schools? I suppose this could be a contributing factor to our children not doing well. Does the Government have plans of constructing more boarding schools in the Western Province in order to improve the quality of the learners in the province?

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, in fact, the Government will turn all the schools that were turned into day schools into boarding schools. So, the plan is there and we also intend to build more.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity.

Mr Speaker, we are grateful to the Government for all the positive measures it has put in place such as the employment of teachers. Like the hon. Member for Mulobezi has said, a good number of teachers who are employed in the Western Province get express transfers to go back to urban areas. What measures is the Government going to put in place so that a teacher who is employed and posted to Kalabo, Liuwa, Mitete, Mulobezi, Lukulu …

Ms Sefulo: Mwandi!

Mr Mutelo: … and Mwandi stays there or only changes when there is someone leaving Mwandi or Mitete?

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, the measure is there because we have said that those who are employed must stay at that school or within that area for four years without being transferred, unless it is under medical grounds. Otherwise, the measure is there but if it is not being followed then, we will have to change it. In fact, we have told the teachers that if they run away from an area, they must know that they have fired themselves. Going forward, that is what we are going to be doing so that we get other people.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the interaction between standard officers and schools needs to be enhanced and this calls for sufficient transport. What is the hon. Minister’s comment on the non-availability of transport for standard officers?

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Kalabo Central for the question.

Mr Speaker, indeed, we have had a problem of standards officers not going to hinterlands because of the lack of transport, but we will make sure that we provide adequate transport to all standards officers in the districts. Actually, that is one of the problems that we have had, and we want to ameliorate it.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

CONSTRUCTION OF A COLLEGE OF NURSING IN MILENGE DISTRICT

264. Mr Chonde (Milenge) asked the Minister of Health:

whether the Government has any plans to construct a college of nursing in Milenge District;
if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Health (Mr Katakwe): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to construct a college of nursing in Milenge District.

Mr Speaker, since the Government has no immediate plans to construct the college, as indicated in part (a) of the answer, part (c) of the question falls off.

Mr Speaker, I have to indicate that the Government has no immediate plans to construct a college of nursing in Milenge District because of the fiscal space given the substantial capital investment required to establish a college of nursing. However, the House may wish to note that there are four Government-operated colleges of nursing within the proximity of Milenge. These are:

Mansa College of Nursing and Midwifery;
Mbereshi College of Nursing and Midwifery;
St. Paul’s College of Nursing and Midwifery; and
Bangweulu College of Nursing and Midwifery.

These institutions collectively serve the people of Milenge, Luapula Province and the nation at large.

Mr Speaker, to ensure access to quality training for aspiring nurses and midwives, those intending to train in nursing and midwifery can access the colleges that are within the vicinity.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chonde: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Minister’s answers. Since I forgot to congratulate the new hon. Minister of Health, let me take this opportunity to congratulate him.

Mr Speaker, I have a challenge with the response provided because the Government has to feel for the people of Milenge. All the areas that the hon. Minister has mentioned have a minimum distance of 200 km. This may not necessarily be a comment because, obviously, the answer was clear. It is sad that in this day and age, people have to travel close to 400 km. The economic activities in Milenge are just starting to kick up and most people do not have the capacity to access the colleges. The people of Milenge had hoped that the Government would have taken considerable attention to construct a facility of this nature.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Health will discover that Milenge is so disadvantaged. I want to join my colleague, the hon. Member for Mwembeshi – In Milenge, I do not know how recruitment is done. Let me take advantage of the interface that I have with the hon. Minister and inform him that in the last four years, we have not appreciated the recruitment of health workers, including cleaners, in Milenge. I urge the new hon. Minister to take note of that concern in Milenge. Otherwise, the answer was clear, but we are extremely sad as the people of Milenge.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, would you like to comment?

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, let me just console my brother who likes calling me ba MP bakumushi, meaning we, Members of Parliament, from rural areas.

Mr Speaker, let him understand that the Government’s intention is to leave no one behind and based on equity, the Government has also focused on the people who represent rural areas.

Mr Speaker, the facility we are talking about requires boarding facilities, if we are to train nurses who will be competent and efficient to handle lives. Therefore, the students do not need to be day scholars. However, to console my brother and colleague, on Youth Day when the President was in Solwezi, he talked about the construction of public universities in six provinces including Luapula. We can take advantage of that. When the construction of universities in provinces begins, for example, there can be faculty of medicine at the university in Luapula, which would include a nursing school with all the necessary infrastructure that is needed to train nurses and midwives. That kind of faculty can have boarding facilities, equipment and everything needed to train nurses.

Mr Speaker, other than the President’s pronouncement, which gives us hope for the future of Milenge, we also need to engage co-operating partners. The St. Paul’s College of Nursing and Midwifery, for example, was constructed by a private entity. So, other private entities, even through this House, can be called upon to invest in infrastructure like the Milenge College of Nursing. So, those are other platforms. Not all hope is lost because we have a Government that has a vision to not leave anyone behind.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

COMPLETION OF WORKS AT NAKONDE DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL

265. Mr Simumba (Nakonde) asked the Minister of Education:

when construction of Nakonde Day Secondary School in Nakonde District will be completed;
who the contractor for the project is; and
what the estimated cost for the outstanding works is.

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that completion of the remaining works at Nakonde Day Secondary School is expected within a period of twelve months from the date of commencement. The actual completion timeline is dependent on the finalisation of the re-tendering process and engagement of a contractor. The final account process for the previous contract has been concluded, and the project is currently awaiting procurement process to re-tender the remaining works before construction resumes.

Mr Speaker, the contractor for the remaining works has not yet been identified. The contractor will be known after the re-tendering process is completed and the contract for the outstanding work is awarded, in accordance with the public procurement procedures.

Mr Speaker, at the time the previous contract was closed, the estimated cost of the outstanding works was approximately K10,999,000. However, the prevailing cost of completing the project will be determined during the re-tendering process, as the procurement exercise will establish the current market-based cost for the remaining works.

Mr Speaker, the Government remains committed to ensuring that the project is completed once the procurement process is finalised.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simumba: Mr Speaker, in 2023, in your Committee on Government Assurances, the Government informed us that works at the school would be completed in that year. I want to know if any amount was allocated in 2023 towards works at that school.

Mr Syakalima: Mr Speaker, I cannot answer that off the cuff.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

CONSTRUCTION OF A LEVEL I HOSPITAL IN MPONGWE

266. Mr Ngowani (Mpongwe) asked the Minister of Health:

whether the Government has any plans to construct a Level I hospital in Mpongwe Parliamentary Constituency;
if so, when the plans will be implemented;
what the estimated cost of the project is; and
if there are no such plans, why.

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to construct a Level I hospital in Mpongwe. This has been provided for in the 2026 Infrastructure Operational Plan. The ministry will implement the plan beginning this year, 2026, once funds are made available by the Treasury.

Mr Speaker, allow me to inform the House that traditionally, hospitals have been constructed in a three-phased manner, and the hospital in Mpongwe, as required, will be worked on under that three-phased approach.

Mr Speaker, the cost of all the phases aggregates to K125 million, value-added tax (VAT) inclusive, and is broken down as follows:

Phase I consists of construction of an outpatient department (OPD), an administration block and external works. That covers year one;
Phase II consists of construction of a mortuary, maternity ward, four medium-cost houses, theatre, incinerator and external works; and
Phase III includes construction of an average of six low-cost houses and three wards; male, female and children’s wards.

Mr Speaker, the Government has plans, as stated. Therefore, part (c) of the question falls off.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ngowani: Mr Speaker, Mpongwe is the only district in Copperbelt Province without a Government hospital. There are two mission hospitals, which were constructed way back when the district had a population of less than 20,000 people. The population is now almost 200,000. Before construction starts, are there any immediate plans so that referrals to Roan Antelope General Hospital can reduce? I am talking about immediate plans like buying equipment, as the equipment at Mpongwe Mission Hospital, Ibenga Mission Hospital and St. Theresa’s Mission Hospital has become obsolete. So, there are more referrals from these hospitals than from any other.

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, we understand the challenges. Talking about immediate plans, I recall that there is an aspect under the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation that can be taken advantage of to increase the number of health posts, clinics and mini hospitals. There is more hope because I took up a programme to construct mini hospitals to a tune of about 115 million, I think, from my predecessor. I just need to follow the figures and check if Mpongwe is covered among the sites for that project. If not, what I said earlier is one of the immediate plans we can explore to ensure that aspect is attended to.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

GROUPED QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

REHABILITATION OF THE NAMBULUMA/CHINSALI POST OFFICE ROAD

267. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development:

what the name of the contractor engaged to rehabilitate the Nambuluma/Chinsali Post Office Road in Chinsali District is;
what the cost of the project, is;
when the works will commence; and
what the timeframe for the completion of the project, is.

REHABILITATION OF THE CHINSALI/MULILANSOLO ROAD

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

whether the Government has any plans to rehabilitate the Chinsali/Mulilansolo road in Chinsali District;
if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Mr Speaker, the contract for the rehabilitation of the Nambuluma/Chinsali Post Office Road in Chinsali District has been awarded to Messrs China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Corporation.

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of the project is K238,569,951.59.

Mr Speaker, the rehabilitation works commenced in the third quarter of 2025 and are expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.

Mr Speaker, in response to the second question, the Government plans to rehabilitate the Safwa/Chinsali/Mulilansolo Road in Chinsali District of Muchinga Province of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, the plans will be implemented once the Treasury secures funds for the project.

Mr Speaker, as stated above, the Government has plans to rehabilitate the Safwa/Chinsali/Mulilansolo Road in Chinsali District.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, I have taken note of the hon. Minister's answer, where he has indicated that the project to construct the Chinsali Post Office/Nambuluma Road started in the third quarter of 2025, which is true, and it is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.

Mr Speaker, given that we are now in the first quarter of 2026, and only two quarters remaining before we reach the period when we expect this important road to be completed, what is the percentage of the work that has been done so far? Does the hon. Minister have an idea?

Mr Kabuswe: Mr Speaker, currently, the work done is around 10 per cent.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, I would just like to get an assurance. The hon. Minister has just stated that only 10 per cent of the work has been done in about six months, and we are remaining with another six months. What assurance is the hon. Minister giving the people of Chinsali that this important road, which is Nambuluma Road or Chinsali Access Road, which runs from Nambuluma to Chinsali Post Office, will be completed within the stipulated timeframe of the third quarter of 2026?

Mr Kabuswe: Mr Speaker, first and foremost, when we look at the time that the contract was given, that was about the third quarter of 2025, which is usually the time of the onset of the rainy season. So, the work started, but due to the rainfall, it got disrupted.

Mr Speaker, this is a stretch of about 15 km. So, if the rainfall subsides, I think that the contractor will move more quickly, because he has actually mobilised 100 per cent, and the advance payment has been made. When the rainfall subsides, I think that there will be a lot of progress. If at all the contractor fails to hit the target, it could be because of the rainfall in the third quarter towards the end. So, for the Government's purposes, money has been paid in advance, the contractor is 100 per cent on site, and as the rainfall subsides, we will be able to see a lot of progress.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the Government has plans to work on the Chinsali/Mulilansolo Road when the Treasury authority is given.

Mr Speaker, for the sake of clarity, so that I have clear information that I can give to the people of Chinsali, what kind of road will the Chinsali/Mulilansolo Road be? Is it a tarmac or a standard gravel road?

Mr Kabuswe: Mr Speaker, I want to assure the hon. Member that the Government has already done the costing of this road. It is about 186 km long. It will be constructed to bituminous standard, and the cost is about K2.5 billion.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that this road can only be constructed or will only be constructed after the Government makes the funds available. That is by way of the Treasury authority being given. Do we have an indication of when this is likely to be? I know, obviously, this year, it is not likely to be the case. Looking at the mid-term plans, when are we expecting the works to commence on this important road for the people of Chinsali, which is from the Chinsali Post Office to Mulilansolo?

Mr Kabuswe: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Iwe ufilefya wise mukulabomba ne chipani. Sometimes, you get confused by the other camp.

Interruptions

Mr Kabuswe: Mr Speaker, I was just advising him on the best way to go about his politics.

Interruptions

Mr Kabuswe: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member may wish to note that the Government has even gone to the extent of costing the road. We know the kilometres involved, meaning that immediately, Hon. Dr Musokotwane presses that button of the Treasury authority, as I have said, it is all systems go. I know it is a very important road. It is one of the roads that should be constructed in the Northern Province or in Muchinga Province. So, the assurance I give the hon. Member is that given what has been done so far, in terms of costing and everything else, it is on the back of our minds, as the Government, and we will be able to do it. However, as to exactly when it will be done, this is the Floor of the House, I may not give him the exact time because that will now be a Government assurance.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

______

BILL

THIRD READING

The following Bill was read a third time and passed:

The Banking and Financial Services Bill, 2025

______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Defence, and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Lufuma): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1741 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 20^th March, 2026.

____________

Search form

You are here

Order Paper

parliament.gov.zm