Tuesday, 7th April, 2026

Tuesday, 7^thApril, 2026

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

No quorum.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, if we have not started the Sitting, and you see that the Presiding Officers have already taken their seats, come in quietly. It is not the time to ask for imbowa and whatever.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Imbowa is a fish from the Northern Province. That is what the hon. Member for Lunte was asking for.

Laughter

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Thank you very much, hon. Member for Kanyama, for standing in the gap.

Mr Chinkuli: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SPEAKER

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM UMBRELLA TRUST SCHOOL IN NDOLA

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence, in the Public Gallery, of pupils and teachers from Umbrella Trust School in Ndola District.

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

PUPILS AND TEACHERS FROM RAINBOW SCHOOL LIMITED IN LUSAKA

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

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

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE SPEAKER

THIRD MEETING OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE THIRTEENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to address the House in line with Order No. 56(1) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, which allows me to deliver a speech on the business to be transacted during the course of this Meeting.

Hon. Members, from the outset, allow me to welcome you all to the third and last Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: I trust that during the recess, you used your time to interact with the people in your constituencies. Despite the short recess, I hope you had an opportunity to inspect various developmental projects in your respective constituencies.

Let me hasten to mention that during the recess, the First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Malungo A. Chisangano, MP, officially opened the Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency Office on Monday, 23^rd March, 2026. This becomes the fourth constituency office to be constructed using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Let me, therefore, take this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Nicholas M. Mukumbi, MP, for this great achievement.

Hon. Members, I also wish to take cognisance of the fact that we are getting closer to the general elections. It is, therefore, my sincere hope that the break from the House business gave an opportunity to those of you who intend to re-contest your seats to reflect on the strategies you want to adopt, in order to help you effectively prepare for the forthcoming polls.

Let me now turn to the business that the House is expected to consider during this Meeting. Hon. Members, for this Meeting, the House is expected to sit for about five weeks, from today, 7^th April, 2026, and is scheduled to adjourn on or before Friday, 8^th May, 2026. As you are aware, this Meeting is dedicated primarily to the consideration and adoption of Committee reports, which may include Sessional Committee reports, Select Committee reports, reports on ratification of Presidential appointments as well as reports on international agreements and international conferences. However, the House is not precluded from transacting other business, such as Ministerial Statements, Questions for Oral Answer and Questions for Written Answers, Private Members Motions and Bills. To this effect, let me remind you that we already have Bills that are at various stages of consideration on the Floor of the House.

In addition, the Executive has submitted more Bills, which are being presented to the House today, while some will be presented in due course. In view of the foregoing, hon. Members, I must mention that even though the meeting period is relatively short, there is a substantial amount of business to be transacted, which will require your attention and commitment. For this reason, hon. Members, I am urging all of you to remain committed and report to the House early, as well as to Committee meetings, to avoid the undesirable perennial issue of not having a quorum, like we witnessed just today.

My expectation is that business will be conducted with utmost adherence to the rules and procedures of the House, while observing decorum and respect for another. I must emphasise that even in the last days, conduct that seeks to go against our rules will not be condoned. I have no doubt in my mind that together we will deliver to the expectations of the good people of Zambia, regardless of the limited time available for us.

Hon. Members, I would like to conclude with an encouragement note that as we begin preparing for the next Parliament, each one of you must take time to self-introspect on your contributions to the work of this august House and your respective constituencies during the Thirteenth National Assembly. I am particularly proud that it is during this Parliament that we have collectively achieved a number of things, including the following:

enactment of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No.13 of 2025, which has introduced major changes to Zambia’s electoral and governance structure, enhancing inclusivity in Parliament through the Mixed Member Proportional Representation System (MMPR), and increased representation;

commencement of the construction of the Nelly Mutti Crèche for parliamentarians and staff with young children and infants with the aim of fostering a family-friendly work atmosphere;

launch of the Institute of Parliamentary Studies and Training (iPST), which will be providing training programmes for hon. Members of Parliament and parliamentary professionals as well as supporting research aimed at strengthening parliamentary work and democratic governance in Zambia;

construction of selected parliamentary constituency offices using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF); and

creation of three new Parliamentary Committees for the Fourteenth National Assembly, namely the Committee on Women Parliamentarians, the Committee on Disasters and Risk Reduction and the Committee on Constituent Development Fund.

The other works will be announced as we launch them. For example, there is the solar system construction taking place outside. Another example is the production of 2 MW in each constituency. So, we as Parliament are leading by example. We will be launching our solar project once it is ready.

Hon. Members, these are notable achievements that will forever remain as part of our parliamentary legacy. Therefore, let us all be proud of ourselves for the work well done. So far, through the five-year journey that we have undertaken as the people’s representatives, the role we have played to contribute to the development of our nation, Zambia, is, indeed, commendable.

Hon. Members, with these few remarks, I wish you all fruitful deliberations throughout this important Meeting.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Does Her Honour the Vice-President wish to comment on the communication I just rendered?

The Vice-President (Dr Nalumango): Yes, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, allow me to join you in welcoming all the hon. Members to the Third Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

Madam Speaker, as we come to the end of this Parliament, I must admit that the challenges were many, but none were insurmountable with the support and patience of the Zambian people. It has not been an easy journey, but every effort to alleviate the challenges our people go through has been worth it and commendable.

In this regard, I want to thank you, Madam Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker for the manner in which you have continued to guide this House. I also wish to acknowledge the individual and collective work of all hon. Members in ensuring that Parliament performs its constitutional mandate more effectively and efficiently. I say, “Job well done to the hon. Members”.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I believe that this Parliament will leave a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.

Rev. Katuta: Question!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, as the Leader of Government Business in the House, I am truly proud of the achievements of this Parliament, including the successful amendment of our Constitution through Act No. 13 of 2025.

Madam Speaker, I can only hope that the next Parliament will build on what has been achieved so far.

Madam Speaker, yes, as you have rightly stated, after this Meeting, our nation will transition into an election period. Let me take this opportunity to assure the House and the nation at large that this Government will ensure that the next general elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: The elections will be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, this Government will ensure that the people of Zambia exercise their right to vote in a peaceful and violence-free environment. In this vein, I wish to urge all political players, hon. Members of Parliament inclusive, to conduct themselves in a manner that builds national unity because what unites us is greater than what divides us. Let us remember that after elections, we have one country for our children and our children’s children. Therefore, as political players, let us remain cognisant of the power of our influence on the people and the need to continue putting the country first before our personal interests.

Madam Speaker, focusing on the business for this Meeting, which is based mainly on the consideration and adoption of Committee reports, allow me to particularly begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the various Parliamentary Committees through which reports are generated. The Government appreciates the practical recommendations from the Committees, which to a large extent, contribute to devising policies and actions for our sustainable national development.

For this reason, the Executive equally takes this Meeting seriously, and will ensure that parliamentary business is given the utmost priority it deserves. It will also take advantage of this Meeting to inform the House and the public about various Government policies and plans through Ministerial Statements, questions and other avenues at its disposal.

All in all, Madam Speaker, I can confirm that the Executive is ready to proceed with the business for this Meeting and looks forward to insightful deliberations.

May God give us wisdom and guidance through this Meeting.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Does the Leader of the Opposition also wish to comment on the communication?

Mr Chabinga (Mafinga): Yes, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr B. Mpundu: Stand up!

Mr Chabinga: Madam Speaker, I am grateful that this afternoon, I am adding a voice, especially for the people of Chilubi, Lunte and Nkana who have to listen carefully when leaders are talking.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chabinga: Madam Speaker, when leaders are talking, people must be quiet and they must listen.

Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to render a few remarks in acknowledging your speech presented to the House on the occasion of the first Sitting of the Third Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to join you and Her Honour the Vice-President and Leader of Government Business in the House in welcoming all hon. Members to this Meeting.

Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge that the recess gave us the opportunity to inspect various developmental projects that are being facilitated by Government programmes and policies, especially the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which has led to unprecedented development in all parts of the country. However, despite the developmental projects in our constituencies, our people throughout the country continue to face numerous challenges, which they shared with us, as their representatives. I am, therefore, delighted to note that Her Honour the Vice-President has highlighted the Government's commitment to attending to the issues that will be presented on the Floor of the House, such as recommendations from the parliamentary Committees. With that said, let me mention that we, in the Opposition, are committed to executing our role of holding the Government to account.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to state that I am proud of the work that this Parliament has done in the five years of its existence, notably, the amendment of the Constitution, which has culminated in the inclusion of more women, youths and people living with disabilities in Parliament. I just want to re-emphasise that even those who did not want to support the Bill and those who boycotted on that particular day, and are here, in this House, are looking forward to the delimitation of their constituencies.

Mr Kafwaya: Just debate!

Mr Chabinga: You must listen. You, and especially the hon. Member for Chilubi, are one of those who boycotted.

Madam Speaker, that is very progressive. I thought they were also part and parcel, as are the first ones to cry the loudest.

Madam Speaker–

Rev. Katuta: Alaba line!

Mr Chabinga: We are think tanks. Takwaba ukulaba line.

Madam Speaker, what I am saying is that I cannot leave out any line. I wanted to put them in order so that what I am saying sinks into their heads.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Chabinga: Madam Speaker, in the same manner, the delimitation of our constituencies is another long-overdue exercise for our country. With the constitutional amendments in place, the exercise is being actualised. That will translate into equitable distribution of resources for developmental purposes among our people, including in Chienge.

Further, Madam Speaker, as you rightly put it, this is the last Meeting of this Parliament, which will lead us into the next general elections. I, therefore, would like to take this opportunity to urge all hon. Members to continue leading by example, bearing in mind that elections come and go, and that people choose who they want to lead them. In this vein, I wish to underscore the fact that there is no need to engage in hate speech, violence and negative propaganda. We should all compete for votes on the basis of the plans that we have for our country.

Madam Speaker, I also want to assure you that, as we commence this Meeting, we will remain focused on representing our people. In so doing, we may hold divergent views at times, but we believe that our views are made in the best interest of our people. Therefore, as we exercise this constitutional duty, I urge all my hon. Colleagues to ensure that we adhere to the parliamentary rules and uphold the dignity of the House, especially my hon. Colleague from Chilubi.

Mr Fube interjected.

Mr Chabinga: Madam Speaker, let me conclude by urging all hon. Members to make this Meeting count so that we can leave a legacy that will engrave us in the annals of history as men and women who stood for the truth and the best interests of our country. I look forward to a very productive Meeting.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Fube interjected.

Mr Chabinga: Iwe, ikala zee.

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

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Let us maintain some order. The mere fact that your constituency has been mentioned does not mean that it is ground for raising a point of order. Let us be serious with the work. We have a lot of work before us, as earlier indicated. We expect hon. Members to co-operate.

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BUSINESS STATEMENT

The Vice-President (Dr Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the House Business Committee met on Wednesday, 1^st April, 2026, to determine and schedule the Business of the House for the period 7^th April, 2026, to 17^th April, 2026.

Madam Speaker, the House Business Committee resolved to lay before the House the following business for consideration in the next two weeks.

Announcements

The Hon. Speaker may make announcements, if there will be any.

Rulings

The Hon. Speaker may render rulings, if there will be any.

Ministerial Statements

Ministerial Statements on topical issues may be rendered, if there will be any.

Parliamentary Committee Reports

The following Committee reports will be considered during the period:

Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism. The subject will be on human-wildlife conflict, and the date for consideration is 8^th April, 2026;

Committee on Cabinet Affairs. The subject will be a review of the operations of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and the date for consideration is 9^th April, 2026;

(d) The Report of the Committee on Legislation and International Agreements on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Employment and Labour. This will be considered on 14^th April, 2026;

(e) The Report of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs on Operations and Management of Police Permanent Security Checkpoints and Mounted Patrols. This will be considered on 14^th April, 2026;

(f) The Report of the Committee on Media Information and Communication Technologies on Child Online Protection Measures in Zambia. This will be considered on 15^th April, 2026;

(g) The Report of the Committee on Youth sport and Child Matters on the State of Sports in Schools. This will be considered on 16^th April, 2026; and

(h) The Report on the Planning and Budgeting on the Effectiveness of the Iinternational Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme Extended Credit Facility. This will be considered on 17^th April, 2026.

Bills

The following Bill will be considered during the period:

The Tobacco Control Bill, No. 40 of 2025, Second Reading, to be considered on 7^th April, 2026;

Madam Speaker, I must say that more Bills are likely to be presented on the Floor of the House during this period.

Reports on International Conferences

Reports on international conferences will be considered, if there will be any.

Private Members' Motions

The following Private Members' Motions are proposed for consideration:

Mr M. Fube, MP, will move a Motion entitled, “Enable Local Authorities to Retain a Percentage of Toll Revenue Collected Within their Jurisdiction”. This will be considered on 8^th April, 2026; and

Mr S. Chanda, MP, will move a Motion entitled, “Reserve 30 per cent of Government Procurement for Women and Youth-led Enterprises”. This will be considered on 15^th April 2026.

Madam Speaker, additional Private Members' Motions might be considered.

Questions

Hon. Ministers will be expected to respond to thirty-seven Questions for Oral Answer and Questions for Written Answer. The questions are contained in Appendix I of this statement, which will be circulated to all hon. Members. Further, the details of the qquestions are contained in the Notices of Questions of 28^th November, 2025, 4^th February, 2026 and 17^th March, 2026, which have already been circulated to all hon. Members.

Questions on Standby

The Questions on Standby to replace questions that may not be placed on the Order Paper on the designated day due to unforeseen circumstances are contained in Appendix II, which will be circulated to all hon. Members.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Business Committee, and in accordance with Order No. 44 of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, I have the pleasure to present the business for the next two weeks to this august House.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much.

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URGENT MATTERS WITHOUT NOTICE

HON. KAPYANGA, MEMBER FOR MPIKA, ON THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT, HON. KABUSWE, ON THE PRESENCE OF ALLEGED CADRES IN GOLD MINING AREAS IN MPIKA

Mr Kapyanga (Mpika): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kapyanga: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity g iven to me to raise an Urgent Matter without Notice directed at the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development.

Madam Speaker, in Mpika, there are areas where gold mining is taking place, and the Government has gone a step further to issue artisanal mining licences for our citizens to legally mine gold. However, even after that, there has been so much chaos. People calling themselves cadres have gone there, causing a lot of trouble for those who are mining. They are beating them and introducing their own laws. They are committing all manner of bad acts against our citizens. Some of them are reported to be armed. There is no order, and people have started leaving some of the sites.

Madam Speaker, I, therefore, direct this matter to the hon. Minister of Mines and Mineral Development to intervene and ensure that everyone who is found in those mining areas is protected and conducts mining activities peacefully.

Madam Speaker, I, therefore, seek your indulgence.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much, hon. Member for Mpika. Clearly, the matter you have raised does not meet the criteria for admission of an Urgent Matter without Notice. You are advised to find other means to bring that issue to the Floor of the House.

The matter is not admitted.

I thank you.

MR MTAYACHALO, HON. MEMBER FOR CHAMA NORTH, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, DR NALUMANGO, ON THE FLOOD VICTIMS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE IN CHAMA DISTRICT.

Mr Mtayachalo (Chama North): On an Urgent Matter without Notice, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Mtayachalo: Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to raise an Urgent Matter without Notice. I would like to welcome you and all hon. Members to this last meeting of the House.

Madam Speaker, my Urgent Matter without Notice is directed to Her Honour the Vice President, who is the Leader of Government Business in the House.

Madam Speaker, Chama District has continuously received heavy rainy downpour, which has continued to cause devastating floods. Many homes have been washed away, and the crops have been destroyed. The most affected wards are Mwalala, Mpalalusenga, Kalingo and Chisunga. In Mwalala Ward, the Government has not provided any tents to the seventy-six households whose houses collapsed. Only thirty-three households have been given 50 kg bags of rice. To date, forty-three households have not been given. In Chisunga Ward, more than 500 houses collapsed, but no assistance has been extended to the people because the area is inaccessible during this period of the year, unless by air.

Madam Speaker, before the House went on recess, I was in touch with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU)-National Coordinator but people have not been assisted up to now. Last week, Her Honour the Vice-President was in my constituency. Strangely enough, I was not even officially notified. She was in my constituency on her mission to visit flood victims but she did not visit any flood victims. Instead, she went to receive twelve defectors, to the displeasure of the people of Chama.

Laughter

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, during her visit to Chama, two helicopters were used but she decided to go elsewhere rather than to Chisunga Ward, which needed a helicopter for DMMU to conduct an assessment. To date, people have no –

The hon. Member’s time expired.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, your time is up. Wind up.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, to date, more than 500 households have not been helped. The people in Chisunga are crying. They have received no help whatsoever, from the Government.

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious indulgence in this matter.

Interruptions

Mr Mtayachalo: What I am talking about is true,

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Chama North!

I think what you have raised is more than an Urgent Matter without Notice. Clearly, what you have said about the people affected by the heavy rainy downpour is that some of them have been assisted, while others have not yet been. It appears the Government is aware. From your own statement –

Mr Mtayachalo conversed with another hon. Member.

Madam Speaker: You are not even listening.

Hon. Member, from your own statement, the Government is aware of the situation in your area. All you need to do is to make a follow-up. The other issue that you mentioned is that Her Honour the Vice-President was in your area, but instead of visiting the people who were affected, she did something else. I think that is not a fair comment to make, especially that you knew that she had a mission there. Maybe, to be fair to Her Honour the Vice-President, withdraw the part where you said she went there to receive defectors.

Hon. Opposition Members: Why?

Madam Speaker: Because it is not true. That is all.

Hon. Member, can you withdraw that statement.

Hon. PF Member: But, is it not the truth?

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, what I said is the truth and can be verified. She did not visit the flood victims, and people are displeased.

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Chama North, you have been guided. This is the point where you raise Urgent Matters without Notice, not accuse other hon. Members of something, whether it is true or not. What you are saying is not factual. Her Honour the Vice-President had her own mission there. You are not the one who assigned the mission. So, please, you have been guided. Withdraw the statement.

Mr Mtayachalo: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the statement.

Madam Speaker: Thank you very much. So, the Urgent Matter without Notice is not admitted.

MR KAFWAYA, HON. MEMBER FOR LUNTE, ON HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, DR NALUMANGO, ON HOLDING OF ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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

Madam Speaker: An Urgent Matter without Notice is raised.

Mr Kafwaya: Madam Speaker, I direct my Urgent Matter without Notice to Her Honour the Vice-President. It relates to the United Party for National Development (UPND) being our governing party.

Madam Speaker, the example that the UPND sets for democratic development is important to the Opposition as well as to other stakeholders like the international community. Currently, the UPND is undertaking intraparty elections. Hon. Mwaliteta was re-elected as the Provincial Chairman for Lusaka, and I wish to congratulate him.

Madam Speaker, the structures of the UPND, from wards to constituencies and districts have had no elections, meaning that …

Interruptions

Mr Kafwaya: … those structures do not have the mandate to elect a higher structure.

Madam Speaker, the other issue is that the mandate of the office bearers in the UPND, who should sanction those particular elections, expired. Therefore, the UPND was taken over by a Mr Tembo.

Given these issues within the UPND and the example it is setting for the Patriotic Front (PF) and others, including the international community, do you not think it is necessary for Her Honour the Vice-President, who is the leader of the UPND in the House, to explain …

Hon. Government Members: To whom!

Mr Kafwaya: … what standards it is setting for democratic development to we, Members of Parliament, and to the general public?

Madam Speaker, I seek your consideration of this matter.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Hon. Member for Lunte, we are dealing with Urgent Matters without Notice. Our role as Parliament is to legislate, provide oversight, approve the Budget and involve ourselves in parliamentary diplomacy. The issue of party politics or party administration does not fall within our mandate. If you are concerned about what is happening in the United Party for National Development (UPND), go there and find out on your own, or find another avenue to inquire about what is happening in the UPND. As the people’s representatives in this House, we have no mandate to inquire on the activities of any political party. So, that Urgent Matter without Notice is not admissible.

That concludes Urgent Matters without Notice.

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BILLS

FIRST READINGS

THE EDUCATION (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Education (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of the Bill are to:

provide for the right to free education for a child enrolled in a public educational institution from early childhood care, development and education to secondary school education;

revise the system of school education; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Education, Science and Technology. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of works of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (Amendment) Bill, 2026

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Public-Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of the Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Public-Private Partnership Council; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Minister, let us start with the Pension Scheme Regulation (Amendment) Bill No. 7. You read the Public-Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill No. 10.

THE PENSION SCHEME REGULATION (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Pension Scheme Regulation (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2026. The objects of the Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Board of the Pensions and Insurance Authority; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE PUBLIC ROADS (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Minister of Lands Natural and Resources (Mrs Masebo) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Public Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of this Bill are:

to revise the composition of the Board of the Road Development Agency; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Government Assurances. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (Amendment) BILL, 2026

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Public-Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of the Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Public-Private Partnership Council; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE HIGHER EDUCATION (Amendment) BILL, 2026

Mr Syakalima: Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Higher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of the Bill are:

to revise the composition of the Board of the Higher Education Authority; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Education, Science and Technology. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE LAND SURVEY (Amendment) BILL, 2026

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Land Survey (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of this Bill are:

to revise the composition of the Survey Control Board; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE LEGAL AID (Amendment) BILL, 2026

Mr Syakalima (on behalf of the Minister of Justice (Ms Kasune)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Legal Aid (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of this Bill are:

to revise the composition of the Board of the Legal Aid Board; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights and Governance. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE METROLOGY (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Chipoka Mulenga): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Metrology (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of the Bill are:

to revise the composition of the Board of the Zambia Metrology Agency; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE (Amendment) Bill, 2026

The Minister of Health (Mr Katakwe): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the National Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of the Bill are:

to revise the composition of the Board of the National Health Insurance Management Authority; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE TOBACCO (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Tobacco (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of this Bill are to:

to revise the composition of the Board of the Tobacco Board of Zambia; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Thank you.

THE ANTI-GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Vice-President (Dr Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Anti-Gender-Based Violence (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The objects of this Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Committee; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Guidance and Gender Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Guidance and Gender Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course.

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE BUSINESS REGULATORY (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Chipoka Mulenga): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Business Regulatory Amendment Bill, No.19 of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the objects of the Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Board of the Business Regulatory Review Agency: and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course.

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF ZAMBIA (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Minister of Education (Mr Syakalima) (on behalf of the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts (Mr Nkandu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the National Arts Council of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, No. 20 of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the objects of this Bill are to:

revise the composition of the National Arts Council of Zambia: and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Youth, Sport and Child Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course.

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CONSTRUCTION (Amendment) BILL, 2026

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: We are still on the Bills, hon. Minister. You are presenting as the Acting Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

Mrs Masebo: I am sorry, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the National Council for Construction (Amendment) Bill, No. 21 of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the objects of this Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Board of the National Council for Construction; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Government Assurances. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course.

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS (Amendment) BILL, 2026

The Minister of Health (Mr Katakwe): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Health Professions (Amendment) Bill, No. 23 of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the objects of the Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Board of the Health Professions Council of Zambia; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, let us follow the proceedings.

The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course.

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (Amendment) BILL, 2026

Mr Syakalima (on behalf of Mr Nkandu): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the National Youth Development Council (Amendment|) Bill, No. 24 of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the objects of this Bill are to:

revise the composition of the National Youth Development Council; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Youth, Sport and Child Matters.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Youth, Sport and Child Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House in due course.

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

THE NURSES AND MIDWIVES (Amendment) BILL, 2026

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Nurses and Midwives (Amendment) Bill, No. 25 of 2026.

Madam Speaker, the objects of this Bill are to:

revise the composition of the Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

NUMBER OF MEDICAL DOCTORS EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT FROM 2023 TO 2025

277. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Health:

how many medical doctors the Government employed countrywide from 2023 to 2025, year by year;

what category of doctors there were;

how many specialist doctors there were;

what fields of specialisation were covered;

whether the Government has any plans to employ additional doctors for rural areas; and

if so, when the plans will be implemented.

The Minister of Health (Mr Katakwe): Madam Speaker, between 2023 and 2024, the Government successfully employed 727 medical doctors. In addition, under the ongoing 2025 recruitment process, which is now nearing conclusion, at least, 210 more doctors are expected to be recruited.

Madam Speaker, the year by year breakdown is as follows:

Year Number of Doctors Recruited

2023 277

2024 450

2025 At least 210 doctors are expected to be recruited upon completion

of the ongoing recruitment process.

Madam Speaker, the category of doctors recruited during this period was primarily junior resident medical officers.

Madam Speaker, I wish to emphasise that the development of specialist doctors in Zambia is achieved primarily through in-service training of medical practitioners already serving within the Republic and in the health system. This approach ensures that the country builds advanced medical expertise while retaining experienced professionals in the service of our citizens.

Madam Speaker, medical doctors are sponsored by the Government or themselves to pursue postgraduate training in diverse fields of specialisation. Upon successful completion of their training, they are appointed to specialist positions subject to the availability of established posts within the health sector. This structured pathway ensures both professional advancement and the continued strengthening of our national health workforce.

Madam Speaker, the Government does have plans to employ additional medical doctors, including deployment to rural and underserved areas. This is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen the health workforce and improve equitable access to health services across the country.

Madam Speaker, these plans will be implemented through the completion of the ongoing 2025 recruitment process, as well as the planned recruitment exercise for 2026.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister indicated that upon recruitment, there is no consideration of specialisation. Now, recruitment without specialisation – It is good that the hon. Minister has the experience. So, regarding the issue of specialisation vis-à-vis rural areas, how does the ministry or the Government take care of certain diseases, for example, heart and kidney diseases? How does the Government care for such patients if recruitment does not consider a speciality?

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, indeed, specialisation does not mean someone having a skill. It comes with experience and time. Currently, we have a referral system in rural areas, as the hon. Member alluded to. For example, one cannot perform a kidney or heart surgery in rural areas because such surgeries require specialisation. In that case, we have provisions within the Ministry of Health to make referrals from such areas to either the National Heart Hospital or the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to direct a question to the hon. Minister of Health.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that I am on record in this Parliament for having raised concerns around the number of doctors who have the qualifications to undertake the work that they are supposed to do on behalf of the people of Zambia, and how, on many occasions, they complain that they are not being employed.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has told us that there will be recruitment in each of the coming financial years. I want to find out from him if the ministry has planned to resolve the unemployment of skilled doctors who are ready to save the country? The doctors have been complaining that we are not giving them job opportunities, yet we have available vacancies. Is there a plan to take on board literally all qualified doctors?

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, first and foremost, we need to understand that recruitment is a process that depends on fiscal space. There are also other factors that prevent many doctors from being recruited, even though they have the skills.

Madam Speaker, the patient-to-doctor ratio also needs to be considered. Yes, in as much as we may need to employ many doctors to reduce the patient-to-doctor ratio, what informs the recruitment of the workforce is the fiscal space.

Madam Speaker, we do recall that the Government’s desire is to recruit as many doctors or health professionals as possible, hence the many interventions. To that effect, we are currently seeking the Treasury authority to have the numbers I have stated recruited in the 2026 Budget or fiscal year, although we also have those who applied in 2025, whose names will soon be published as we near completion. That is what informs how many doctors we need to recruit. It is all based on fiscal space, which is why a number of them have ended up in the private sector. Of course, it is the desire of the Government that the private sector also participates in healthcare delivery.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, the deployment of doctors to rural areas is a big concern. I will give an example of Kalabo. We have lived there for some time. In 1972, the hospital in Kalabo was opened, and that was when I was in Grade 3. It started with two doctors.

Today, despite the increase in the population, the number of doctors deployed has not been increased. So, if specialisation is not a factor that is considered, does the hon. Minister not see the danger that population growth could probably lead to increase in diseases? How can he handle this challenge?

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the question, and I hear his call for specialisation.

Madam Speaker, if you look at the current patient-doctor ratio in Zambia, you will see that one doctor looks after about 12,000 patients. We have trained many doctors but, as I indicated, specialisation is a factor that is highly treasured. Currently, with the state-of-the-art equipment we are installing in various health facilities, we need specialisation. It is the mandate of the Ministry of Health to recruit biomedical scientists and other skilled personnel. So, in the recruitment that will be done, we have factored in training more specialist doctors, so that they are able to handle cases.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to state here that we need to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to build clinics and health posts in our constituencies. I do recall that in my constituency, we had only one medical doctor for the whole constituency. Now, we have two. Why? It is because we have constructed more health posts, clinics and staff houses. Just about two days ago, I commissioned a staff house at one of the clinics in my constituency. When we have such kind of facilities or interventions, we are able to attract more skilled personnel to rural areas.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chinkuli (Kanyama): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his responses.

Madam Speaker, we are talking about specialisation. This country has been burdened with a number of diseases, especially cancer, which is said to be on the increase. That will be my main focus. That increase is attributed to a lack of specialist doctors to look into the issue. As the ministry is employing health workers, is the hon. Minister, taking into account issues related to cancer? Oncologists and pathologists are specialised in cancer. Is the ministry including them in the recruitment?

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, let me just correct my hon. Colleague. The increase in cancer diseases that we have noted is not due to a lack of specialist medical doctors. There are many other factors that have led to that; for example, tobacco.

Hon. Members: Kanyama!

Mr Katakwe: That is one risk factor.

Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleague has mentioned the staff involved in treating various cancers. Those whom we recruit have not yet developed the skills or specialisation in certain areas. So, when we recruit them, they are still raw; they are not fully baked. They have to go for internship. Like I stated, they will have to undergo specialisation. Afterwards, they will be able to treat specific diseases or infections.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has highlighted many issues, and among them the patient-doctor ratio, which is 1:12,000, according to what he said. The Government has got Treasury authority to employ 2,000 health workers, if I am not mistaken. Given that background, we know that in the continuum of care, a doctor is very central in diagnosing diseases and many other factors. The 2,000 personnel to be recruited, whom the hon. Minister has talked about, are supporting personnel. Does the Government intend to recruit some doctors in that number to beef up the number of doctors, especially in rural areas? There has been a rise in the number of people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in rural areas.

Mr Katakwe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that supplementary question. I know that he really wants more specialist doctors in Chilubi to treat specific infections.

Madam Speaker, that is an option that can be considered depending on demand. However, for now, as I said, only those doctors who have completed their training and are not yet employed will be considered. Let me just correct the figures. The hon. Member said that 2,000, people will be recruited. I said that 2,000 is the number of people who will be recruited for 2025. In 2026, depending on the fiscal space, we need to recruit about 2,500 people. Of this number, if we have to recruit specialist doctors, we will have to look at those who have already been trained. If they have not been absorbed in the health sector, there is a possibility of re-engaging them. For various reasons, some may have chosen to not work in the Government; they have gone to work for private institutions, and so on and so forth. If we have such doctors, the door is always open. They can always be employed by the Ministry of Health.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: I think, we have exhausted the question. We can make progress.

TONNES OF COBALT PRODUCED COUNTRYWIDE

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

how many tonnes of cobalt were produced countrywide from 2019 to 2024 year by year;

what the monetary value of the cobalt produced was in the period above, year by year; and

how many tonnes were exported in the period at (a), year by year?

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Kabuswe): Madam Speaker, the amount of cobalt produced countrywide from 2019 to 2024 year by year was as follows:

Year Tonnes

2019 367

2020 221

2021 240

2022 251

2023 226

2024 96

Madam Speaker, the monetary value of the cobalt produced, year by year, is as follows:

Year US Dollars

2019 10,651,120

2020 7,730,000

2021 10,300,000

2022 15,200,000

2023 7,141,000

2024 2,350,000

Madam Speaker, the quantities of cobalt exported, year by year, is as follows:

Year Tonnes

2019 44

2020 204

2021 508

2022 507

2023 517.4

2024 96.3

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I want to learn from the hon. Minister what has contributed to the downward trend from 2019 to 2024. If I got him right, the cobalt production trends have been going down, ending up with 96 tonnes from 360 tonnes. What could have contributed to that? Does it mean cobalt is depleting or what could be the other factors?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the question.

Madam Speaker, Zambia does not have a standalone cobalt mine. All the cobalt produced in Zambia comes as a by-product. It then follows that if copper mining is affected, which is also supposed to produce cobalt, then the cobalt production figures will go down.

Madam Speaker, when mining is affected by bad policies, production goes down. Most of the cobalt produced comes from Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), and as the House may be aware, that company was compulsorily acquired by the previous Government. Some cobalt comes from Mopani Copper Mines, which also had problems, and the Chambeshi Copper Smelter, which has been shut down for some time now. Since the mines that are supposed to give us cobalt were not producing, we will only start seeing an upward trend when KCM goes into full production. As copper is produced, cobalt will start coming out as a by-product. So, that is the reason we had that downward trend.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, in the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development’s response to the hon. Member for Chilubi, he referred to the monetary value the country earned from cobalt exports. He also indicated how much cobalt was produced.

Madam Speaker, I note that the country had more exports than the actual production. According to the numbers the hon. Minister gave, more tonnes of cobalt were exported than what was produced. Is he able to indicate to this august House how the country exported over 500 tonnes of cobalt, yet only less than 200 tonnes were produced in the country?

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

Madam Speaker, in mining, there is what is called toll treatment. This is a process whereby material is obtained from another country and toll treated. However, when exporting, it will still be reported that Zambia has exported the product despite the raw material being obtained from another country. Most of the raw material was from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially the one processed at the Chambeshi Copper Smelter.

Maam Speaker, as additional information for hon. Members, part of the reason the Chambeshi Copper Smelter was closed is that the Government then banned the importing of raw materials from DRC. That is the raw material that would have been toll treated at the cobalt plant in Chambeshi. So, that plant had no feedstock and cobalt was only produced as a by-product by the mines mentioned earlier. So, that is the reason the hon. Member has seen a disparity in the figures between what is produced locally and what is exported. More was exported because of the issue of contractual toll treatment.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that cobalt is a by-product of copper production. So, there is cobalt that comes about as a result of copper mining as well as the one that comes from outside the country. However, I would like to know whether cobalt is part of the mining tax regime in Zambia when it comes to mineral royalties and other factors. Is cobalt also captured in the tax system?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the question.

Madam Speaker, the answer is that that is actually a no brainer. That is so because whatever is produced in a particular country cannot go without being taxed. Anything that is produced on the Zambian soil in the mining sector, or any other sector, must be taxed. It cannot be exported for free.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chala (Chipili): Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Minister’s answers, but I would like to find out what kind of monitoring mechanism the Government has put in place to ensure that proper figures are obtained from copper production.

Mr Kang’ombe: Namupya imwe!

Madam Speaker: I do not know whether the discussion is on copper or cobalt.

Mr Chala: It is cobalt, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: It is on cobalt.

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

Madam Speaker, that is why we now have a regulator in place. The Government established the Minerals Regulation Commission. One of the reasons was to get the real production figures. When copper mining companies produce a certain quantity of copper, our officers on the ground record the ratios. However, we need to strengthen the mechanism because it is easy for people to under-declare the cobalt that is being produced. So, we now have a regulator in place, thanks to this Parliament. One of the great works that have come out of this Parliament in the last five years was approval and establishment of the Minerals Regulation Commission. That commission will help the Government strengthen regulation and ensure that there is no under-declaration of production figures, not only of cobalt, but also other minerals.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Her Honour the Vice-President for visiting Chama.

Hon, Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mung’andu: The people of Chama are very grateful. Maybe, the nation would like to know that when Her Honour the Vice-President visited Chama, she was supposed to flag off the distribution of assorted foodstuffs to families affected by floods. Unfortunately, a very big Interlink truck was stuck somewhere. So, it had not reached Chama when she arrived. As a result, she decided to simply conduct an aerial survey. However, I would like to inform her that the truck has since reached Chama. As I speak, people will be receiving cooking oil and other foodstuffs for the first time. In addition, all counsellors, even those who did not make it, are now behind President Hakainde Hichilema and Her Honour the Vice-President.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker, coming to the question, cobalt is one of the components used in the production of batteries, and our Republican President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has always placed emphasis on value addition in this country, as a way of creating employment for our people. Have measures been put in place to ensure that, instead of exporting the cobalt in raw form, some of it is processed locally to produce batteries?

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Hon. Mung’andu for that important question.

Madam Speaker, one of the reasons Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed that agreement is that the two will control 70 per cent of cobalt production in the world. It was President Hakainde Hichilema’s strategy that we entered into that agreement, and set up a battery manufacturing plant. I do not know whether the hon. Member for Chama South has ever bought a battery from Chibombo. Zambian-made batteries are now being produced in Chibombo. I think, the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry commissioned that plant. So, that is part of value addition. We, as an Administration, understand that the green energy transition and the electric cars that are coming into place will require many batteries. So, putting up battery manufacturing plants is forward-thinking, because we need to ensure that the cobalt that we produce undergoes value-addition. That is one of the four key pillars that President Hakainde Hichilema has given, and they include affordable capital, joint ventures, embracing new technologies and investment downstream; value addition.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Although you indicated late hon. Member for Lubansenshi, and I wanted to make progress, you may proceed.

Mr Chewe (Lubansenshi): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for your kindness.

Madam Speaker, I would like to welcome all hon. Members, including Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, the people of Lubansenshi, and I am sure other constituencies, wish to know which mines in Zambia produce cobalt. I ask this so that as people celebrate economic growth in terms of taxes, they also know where the cobalt that is adding value to this economy comes from.

Mr Kabuswe: Madam Speaker, currently, Zambia’s cobalt is mostly mined at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Plc. A bit of it comes from Mopani Copper Mines Plc and some mines in the North-Western Province. I am sure that with the mapping exercise that has been put in place by the United Party for National Development (UPND) Administration, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, there will even be more. We would like to have a stand-alone cobalt mine. I think, those things can be established with the accelerated mapping being undertaken.

Madam Speaker, as I sit down, I would be failing in my duties if I did not congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on being conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for how he has managed the mining sector; resuscitated it and brought it back to life. The academicians have recognised him for ensuring that the mining sector, which was part of the economy that was growing at a rate of negative 2.8 per cent, has been able to attract in excess of US$12 billion worth of investment in three years. That is commendable. The President was conferred with that PhD because of his leadership. Congratulations to him on his leadership and on how he has resuscitated the mining sector.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

ESTABLISHMENT OF FARMING BLOCK DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

279. Mr Chinkuli (Kanyama) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

whether the Government has any plans to establish a farming block development authority to regulate and oversee the creation and management of farming blocks across the country;

if so, when the plans will be implemented;

if there are no such plans, why;

what factors impede the creation of farming blocks in Mushindano and other districts; and

what measures are being taken to address the impediments in (d).

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Madam Speaker, the Government has plans to establish a farming block development authority, and the process to introduce a Bill in Parliament to provide for the establishment of the authority is at an advanced stage.

Madam Speaker, as in the response to part (a) of the question above, plans are already underway, and the Bill for the introduction in Parliament has been drafted.

Madam Speaker, currently, the Government is working on developing the existing farming blocks in the ten provinces, including the North-Western Province that houses Mushindano Farming Block.

Madam Speaker, as in the response to part (d) of the question above, the Government is currently working on developing the existing farming blocks before venturing to bring on board more districts.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chinkuli: Madam Speaker, it is gratifying to hear that an agency will be brought on board to co-ordinate the affairs of farming blocks, unlike the way things have been done, that is, in a fragmented manner, whereby, organs do not collaborate to plan, and do not have a one-stop regulator that looks into those matters.

Madam Speaker, I think, I am satisfied.

Madam Speaker: If the owner of the question is satisfied, we can make progress, as we need to catch up.

COMPLETION OF MUCHINGA PROVINCE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE BLOCK

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

when construction of the four-storey Muchinga Province Administration Office Block in Chinsali District will be completed;

at what percentage of completion the project was as of September 2025;

what the cost of the outstanding works was as of the date in (b);

what the cause of the delay is; and

who the contractor is.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (Mrs Masebo) (on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Eng. Milupi)): Madam Speaker, construction of the four-storey Muchinga Province administration office block in Chinsali District will be completed when funds for the project are secured.

Madam Speaker, as at September 2025, the project stood at eighty-five per cent towards completion. The cost of outstanding works is K15 million.

Madam Speaker, the cause of the delay in completion is due to the previous contractor’s poor performance and failure to meet the timeline, resulting in the termination of the contract. The contractor was Matty Construction Limited.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, is there an indication of when funds will be available for the completion of this important project? The civil servants who are supposed to be operating in that building have no office space.

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, it is the Government’s desire to ensure that important works such as the Muchinga Provincial Administration Office Block are completed, but, as I indicated in my response, we have to wait until funds are secured. We are hopeful that with the economy doing well in the near future, funds will be secured.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, based on what the hon. Minister has said, it appears the contractor is no longer there, and the facility is not protected. The hon. Minister said that 85 per cent of the work has been done, which means a lot has been put into this structure, increasing the risk of vandalism, which will then take us backwards. So, what is the Government doing to ensure that the structure that has been built is protected from vandalism, to avoid the Government losing money that has already been invested in this very important infrastructure project in Muchinga Province, Chinsali to be specific?

Mrs Masebo: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that very important point that has been raised, basically informing us that the property is at the risk of vandalism. We have taken note, and I hope that the ministry officials in the province, and of course, the hon. Provincial Minister, who is in this House, have taken note to ensure that we secure such properties.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: We need to catch up. So, we will go to the next question.

Mr Miyutu: Madam Speaker, in relation to my question, I feel it has been overtaken by events. I therefore seek leave to withdraw it.

Madam Speaker: In accordance with the request from the hon. Member, the question has been overtaken by events. So, it is withdrawn.

ILLICIT FINANCIAL FLOWS RECORDED IN ZAMBIA

282. Mr Kafwaya (Lunte) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning how much money, in illicit financial flows, was recorded in Zambia, expressed in both Zambian Kwacha and United States Dollars, for the following periods, year by year:

January 2016 to August 2021; and

September 2021 to January 2026.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Speaker, prior to 2022, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) did not include estimated values for illicit financial flows in its disseminations. This is because disseminations were primarily valued based on identified underlying offences without financial estimates reflecting the value of those offences rather than the associated illicit financial flows.

Madam Speaker, beginning in 2022, FIC expanded its analytical approach to include specific assessments of illicit financial flows in addition to predicate offences. The methodological change undertaken by the centre in 2022, enabled the centre to begin providing statistical estimates of the value of illicit financial flows for periods 2022 to present.

Madam Speaker, the estimated values of the illicit financial flow recorded from 2022 to 2025 on year-by-year basis are as follows:

2022: K9.93 billion (approximately US$556 million);

2023: K51.25 billion (approximately US$2,500 million);

2024: K85 billion (approximately US$3,500 million); and

2025: FIC is in the process of compiling the information.

Madam Speaker, for the period 2022 to 2024, the majority of illicit financial flows recorded by the centre were mainly from commercial activities, with tax evasion being the dominant underlying offence.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Speaker: Any supplementary questions, hon. Member for Lunte?

Mr Kafwaya indicated dissent.

Madam Speaker: You have none? Oh, thank you.

We make progress then.

MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE EXPANDED PROGRAMME ON IMMUNISATION

283. Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa) asked the Minister of Health:

what measures the Government is taking to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), considering its progression from six antigens at its inception in 1975, to fourteen antigens, as of 2025; and

when the measures will be implemented.

The Minister of Health (Mr Katakwe): Madam Speaker, the Government is reinforcing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) through policy alignment, antigen expansion, digital monitoring, supply-chain strengthening, community engagement and sustainable financing. This holistic approach aims to maintain high coverage rates and protect children and communities against vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunisation activities fall within the broader goal to reduce under-five mortality from sixty-one per 1000 live births to twenty-five per 1000 live births by ensuring that 95 per cent of children under the age of one year are fully vaccinated by 2026. Children under-one are the primary target, but we have immunisation programmes for various age groups.

The Government has been taking several measures to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), especially as it has grown from six antigens in 1975 to fourteen in 2025. This expansion demonstrates Zambia’s proactive approach to immunisation, ensuring protection against a wider range of diseases, aligning with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Gavi-supported initiatives. These initiatives include the following:

prioritising universal access to immunisation and integration of the EPI into the health system and strengthening and alignment with global health goals. The EPI is key in the National Health Strategic Plan 2022 to 2026. The routine immunisation schedule has expanded from six antigens in 1975 to fourteen antigens by the end of 2025, including newer vaccines against diseases such as rotavirus, HPV and the Coronavirus Disease - 2019 (COVID-19). I wish to report that Zambia has achieved a milestone in the elimination of wild poliovirus since 2005 and elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus since 2007;

upgrading and expanding cold chain infrastructure and vaccine storage facilities nationwide to ensure vaccine potency by the Government and its partners. The Government, with support from developmental partners, has increased the national capacity for vaccine cold chain storage and management from 256,000 litres in 2021 to 356,000 litres in 2025, with a total of 1,286 primary health facilities equipped with vaccine refrigerators during the same period;

training of a total of 126 provincial and district cold chain technicians in advanced refrigeration and cold chain management and maintenance with support from partners and in collaboration with the Northern Technical College (NORTEC) in Ndola;

expanding the role of community health workers in delivering vaccines and ensuring outreach to rural and hard-to-reach populations. I need to state here that in order to support the community health strategy, the ministry has procured bicycles and quite a number of motorbikes, which are being assembled at the ministry. Of course, in the future, we hope to enhance drone capacity and use the Zambia Flying Doctor Service to reach hard-to-reach populations;

adoption of the use of DHIS2, which is a digital platform, as part of the health management information system to improve immunisation data capture, analysis and decision-making. This is strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track coverage and identify gaps. This also includes strengthening linkages with disease surveillance and intelligence through the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) to inform prioritisation and response to the immunisation programme within the local context;

strengthening system interventions, such as health facility solar electrification projects targeting more than 250 facilities and the Direct delivery of Routine Immunisation Vaccines for Equity (DRIVE) Initiative targeting forty-one districts across all the ten provinces to support cold chain infrastructure, vaccine supply chain and last mile delivery, through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Gavi;

advancing advocacy and community engagement through partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations to strengthen demand creation and reduce vaccine hesitance. For example, this afternoon, we were at the University of Zambia (UNZA), where we rolled out the cholera vaccine programme to students. That is just an example of commitment from our partners. In addition, we launched the 2025 African Vaccination Week, with the theme “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible, Celebrating Fifty Years of the EPI” to raise awareness and mobilise communities. In addition, the Government recognises the work of the Parliamentary caucus on immunisation, which is an important initiative designed to strengthen political commitment and oversight for the EPI; and

increasing core financing obligations and accelerating efforts towards full financing of the EPI beyond 2030 to ensure the sustainability of immunisation services. In this regard, the Government has progressively increased the allocation for vaccines and cold chain in the National Budget, from K168 million in 2022 to K206 million in 2025. This is a working Government that needs to be supported even beyond 2026.

Madam Speaker, the Government is already implementing measures to strengthen the EPI in Zambia. These measures ensure that every child, adolescent and adult, regardless of where they are or where they live, access life-saving vaccines equitably.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kang’ombe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the response to the questions that were raised.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that funding from our partners globally has obviously been affected. He is also aware that as we move into the future, we need to improve on how much money we allocate towards immunisation programmes for our children. I think, when we were growing up, all of us were immunised at some stage. From a monetary point of view, how much money is available this financial year and next financial year for immunisation programmes, as Gavi will reduce its financial support to this programme.

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

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, may the hon. Member for Kamfinsa repeat the question.

Mr Kang’ombe: Mr Speaker, I was asking a very important question.

Mr Speaker, obviously, the hon. Minister is aware that in terms of health financing, we are not getting the same level of financial support from our partners who have been supporting our immunisation agenda due to changes in financial support towards health globally. Therefore, I was pointing out to the hon. Minister that given the fact that we may not have the same level of assurance in terms of how much money will come from partners and countries are doing co-financing, we are expected to scale up our health funding to avoid depending on donor support for the immunisation programme. How much money has his ministry allocated towards that very important expanded programme on immunisation? That is my first follow-up question.

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the follow-up question. Indeed, we do recognise that there has been a shrinking of funds from our partners, but that does not put us in an awkward position because we are a thinking Government and we have a thinking leader, who is a calculator.

Mr Speaker, at the moment, the actual figure that the Ministry of Health, or the Government, has put in place in the 2026 Budget for the immunisation programme is K270,900,645. So, that is in the National Budget. It is expected that in the 2027 Budget, the Government is expected to increase the allocation by 15 per cent. So, there should not be any worry because we are now looking at domestic resource mobilisation towards that intervention.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, the ministry’s strategies include rolling out vaccination to affected areas, where vaccines can be helpful. The hon. Member for Kamfinsa asked about vaccines for children from five years old to fourteen years old and the hon. Minister said that among the six antigens, there is R21, which deals with malaria, and the oral cholera vaccines (OCVs).

Mr Speaker, my interest is on the R21 vaccine. The hon. Minister has stated that part of the strategy is to roll out that vaccine to affected areas. I come from a malaria-prone area, but I have not seen the R21 vaccine being dispensed in the area. Vaccination and immunisation are the same thing. It is just semantics being used. As part of the strategies the hon. Minister mentioned, when is the ministry likely to starting rolling out the immunisation exercise, considering that he gave quite a detailed statement?

Mr Speaker, Chilubi is a malaria-prone area, but we have not received the R21 vaccine at the expected level, including the one which targets children, yet the R21 vaccine was launched on 25^th October, 2025.

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member is actually asking when we can roll out the programme to Chilubi. The programme is actually being rolled out countrywide, but, of course, we do recognise the challenges of reaching Chilubi Island. The Hon. Member would recall that we have been discussing about the Ministry of Health providing him or Chilubi Constituency with a water ambulance. So, that is one of the facilities that we would be able to use to reach Chilubi Island. In addition, we have the flying doctor services. It is just a matter of us engaging our colleagues running that service, then, we will be able to fly in the vaccines that are required in Chilubi Island. I want to assure the hon. Member that we have enough strategies to get the vaccines in that area.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kang’ombe (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, according to our partners, to achieve cold chain management and all the targets under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), about forty-eight new workers are needed under the Ministry of Health, dedicated to the programme. My second follow-up question is: Can the hon. Minister confirm to the people gathered here, in this House, and those following this important conversation, whether the forty-eight, which our partners requested for deployment to the health facilities dedicated to immunisation, will be recruited as part of the 2,000 health workers who will be employed. If the recruitment exercise has already been undertaken, is it possible to squeeze in the forty-eight who are needed for this important agenda?

Mr Speaker, I declare an interest in this matter because I am the chairperson for the Caucus on Immunisation.

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, the recruitment that we are talking about is specifically for those who have already been trained. In my statement, I indicated that there are specialised people whom the ministry is training at the Northern Technical College (Nortec), for example. Of course, what the hon. Member has said is something that the ministry can look at. However, it needs to be noted that the EPI has increased from six to eleven antigens at the national level. So, these are the kind of interventions that are being put in place. The ministry is also upgrading cold chain management, which the hon. Member has talked about, that is, 126 of them in all ten provinces. What I am saying is that for the ministry to have cold chain management, that goes with personnel. Obviously, our co-operating partners have a programme for training, because the ministry has already taken the cold chain facilities to all the provinces, and they are not going without personnel. Personnel are being trained to undertake the targeted immunisation programme. So, that is not an issue, per se. So, the recruitment of health workers that the hon. Member has talked about; under 2026 or the 2,500 recruits, are specifically for other health services.

Mr Speaker, you may recall that in my earlier submission, I stated that the ministry is rolling out education, awareness training and logistics, in terms of transportation, as I alluded to the fact that there are motorcycles and bicycles. So, the health workers who have been trained will be utilising that kind of transport to take the vaccines and components to undertake immunisation. More health workers are yet to be trained because we are just talking about 126 facilitators. The Government has, through the intervention of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), built more facilities, and they have to be manned by experienced or trained health personnel who will be able to administer the immunisation programme.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

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

Mr Speaker, I am glad to hear the hon. Minister talk about the co-financing aspect, which the ministry has committed to, especially since there is a May deadline to meet co-financing requirements. I hope that the funds will be paid out before then.

Mr Speaker, utilising my knowledge from the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services, vaccines and cold chain resources were provided for in the Budget for this year. The issue is: Why has the ministry not provided for running costs, technical support, behavioural change interventions, monitoring and evaluation, vaccine surveillance, and other interventions that are critical to ensuring an effective immunisation programme, as outlined in the national immunisation strategy?

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, the allocated funds are a block figure, and have not been broken down into specifics. However, the information that the hon. Member wishes to have can be made available when we look at the breakdown of the allocated funds.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNICATION TOWERS IN SERENJE

284. Mr Kandafula (Serenje) asked the Minister of Technology and Science:

whether the Government has any plans to construct communication towers in the following areas in Serenje Parliamentary Constituency:

Teta in Kabamba Ward;
Mutale in Lupiya Ward; and
Mpemba in Muchinda Ward;

if so, when the plans will be implemented; and

if there are no such plans, why.

The Minister of Technology and Science (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government has plans to construct four communication towers in Serenje Parliamentary Constituency at Teta Primary School in Kabamba a Ward, Mutale Primary School in Lupiya Ward, Mpemba Primary School in Muchinda Ward and Mailo Secondary School in Mailo Ward.

Mr Speaker, the Government has secured funds for the construction of a communication tower at Mailo Secondary School, and construction works are currently underway, with site preparation completed. The works are scheduled to be completed before the end of the second quarter of 2026. The Government is in the process of procuring towers for Teta Primary School in Kabamba Ward, Mpemba Primary School in Muchinda Ward and Mutale Primary School in Lupiya Ward. The installation is being financed through the US$100 million secured from the World Bank. Once the procurement process is completed, the towers will be constructed.

Mr Speaker, as alluded to above, the Government has plans to construct towers in all three areas mentioned. In addition, the Government, through Zamtel Limited, has upgraded the construction network from a second-generation (2G) cellular network to a fourth-generation (4G) cellular network in the following areas Masangashi, Chisangwa, Kabamba and Lupiya. Further, Airtel Zambia is currently constructing a tower at Serenje District Hospital to improve network quality of service and increase internet capacity.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kandafula: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for those good answers.

Mr Speaker, my plea and prayer are that the works are completed before the end of the year, taking into account the fact that three network towers were relocated from Serenje to some other parts of Zambia. We do not know where they were taken. So, we would really appreciate it.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr E. Banda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, I thank you, and I also thank the hon. Minister of Technology and Science for his responses.

Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister mentioned that the contractor to install the tower in Mailo, Muchinga Province, Serenje District, is on site. I want to make him aware that, as I speak, there is no contractor on site. Of course, I have been engaging the contractor and he keeps saying, “I will come tomorrow”, but he has not yet gone on site. So, if the hon. Minister has been informed that the contractor is on site, he should learn from me, as the hon. Member of Parliament for that area that the contractor is not on site. I therefore, want him to make a follow up on the matter.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, I said that preparation of the site is underway, and not that the contractor is on site.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, in underserved areas such as Serenje and Chama, there are a few towers. The point of reference is an area called Pondo, which is only accessible around October each year. If it is not accessed in October, it cannot be accessed any other time. What measures is the Government putting in place to ensure that contractors mobilise? At least, if materials cannot be taken to the site, their workers must be present there so that local people know that the Government is installing towers, unlike a situation where there is no one on site. People understand the challenges of accessibility, but the workers should at least be on site.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, I think that is a very sound intervention. I do not have an answer on my fingertips, but I will make a follow up and get back to the hon. Member for Chama South.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

PROCUREMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE FISHERIES AND LIVESTOCK OFFICE IN CHINSALI DISTRICT

285. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock:

when the Government will procure a motor vehicle for the Fisheries and Livestock Office in Chinsali District; and

what the cause of the delay in procuring the vehicle, is.

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Kapala): Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that the motor vehicle which was assigned to Chinsali District, Fisheries and Livestock Office, was allocated to the district in 2010, and is currently in a dilapidated condition and has exceeded its optimal service life thereby, necessitating replacement. The Government will undertake the replacement of the same motor vehicle once the requisite funds are available. In addressing this challenge, the district has four motorcycles.

Mr Speaker, regarding the delay in procuring a motor vehicle for the Fisheries and Livestock Office in Chinsali District, the House may wish to note that, as previously explained, the delay has been occasioned by the non-availability of the necessary financial resources required to replace the ageing and unserviceable motor vehicle currently assigned to the district.

Mr Speaker, further, in the 2026 National Budget, the Government has prioritised the procurement of motorcycles rather than motor vehicles to strengthen operational mobility for frontline extension officers across the country. This approach allows for broader coverage and improved access in areas where motor vehicles may not easily reach. The ministry has allocated six motorcycles this year to Muchinga Province, of which two will be allocated to Chinsali District.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

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

Mr Speaker, as the hon. Minister has indicated, the vehicle for the Fisheries and Livestock Office in Chinsali District is sixteen years old and is barely functional. I do appreciate that the ministry is prioritising the purchasing and allocation of motorcycles to Chinsali to support the staff there. However, some members of staff do not ride motorcycles. They need a vehicle. Further, the hon. Minister indicated that the vehicle will be purchased when funds are available. Is he able to indicate when money will be available? He indicated that in 2026, only motorcycles will be procured. When will the ministry secure money to buy a motor vehicle for the Fisheries and Livestock Office in Chinsali District?

Mr Kapala: Mr Speaker, I can only speculate that my ministry might provide funds in next year's budget so that we could procure a motor vehicle for Chinsali.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

_______

BILL

SECOND READING

THE TOBACCO CONTROL BILL, 2025

The Minister of Health (Mr Katakwe): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, may I begin by thanking you for giving me this opportunity to present the Second Reading of the Tobacco Control Bill, No. 40 of 2025, before this august House.

Mr Speaker, the Tobacco Control Bill underscores the Government's strong commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all Zambians, particularly our children, adolescents, and young people. One of the major threats to public health in our country arises from tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, which remains inadequately regulated under the current legal framework.

Mr Speaker, the Government has in the past taken measures to address tobacco use through the Public Health Tobacco Regulation Statutory Instrument No.163 of 1992, and later through the Local Government Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Regulation, Statutory Instrument No. 39 of 2008. While these measures were progressive at the time, they are limited in scope and do not meet the comprehensive standards required under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

Mr Speaker, tobacco use or exposure to tobacco smoke is one of the leading causes of preventable diseases and death globally. Tobacco is responsible for a range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancers, heart diseases, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. It is also a major risk factor for communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB). Tobacco has no nutritional or health benefits for users. There is no safe level of tobacco use or exposure. All forms and quantities of tobacco are harmful to health, whether packaged as conventional cigarettes or emerging products, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, shisha, including snuff. Tobacco products contain more than 7,000 toxic chemicals and damage nearly every organ in the human body. Sixty-nine of the toxic chemicals contained in tobacco cause cancers.

Mr Speaker, tobacco is the only product that kills up to half of its users when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Globally, more than 8 million people die each year from tobacco-related diseases, including approximately 1.6 million deaths caused by exposure to second-hand smoke. Alarmingly, about eighty-five per cent of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, which include Zambia. In Zambia alone, tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke are responsible for over 7,000 deaths annually, including approximately 800 deaths due to second-hand smoke. Evidence further shows that more than 90 per cent of smokers begin using tobacco during adolescence. The 2021 Global Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that a significant proportion, that is, 40 per cent of young people aged thirteen to fifteen, had already experimented with tobacco, with some initiating smoking as early as the age of seven.

Mr Speaker, in response to the growing global tobacco epidemic, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted the WHO FCTC in 2003. This is an evidence-based international treaty designed to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. Zambia ratified the WHO FCTC on 14^th May, 2008, thereby, committing to implementing legislative and administrative measures to reduce tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction and exposure to tobacco smoke. However, despite this commitment, the convention has not yet been fully domesticated through comprehensive legislation. Globally, 183 parties have ratified the WHO FCTC, making it one of the most widely supported public health treaties in history. In the WHO Africa Region, over forty countries have ratified the convention, and many have enacted national tobacco control laws to implement its provisions. Zambia is among the few African countries that have not yet domesticated the WHO FCTC through comprehensive legislation. By ratifying this treaty, parties undertake to adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative and other measures, and to co-operate, as appropriate, with other parties in developing and implementing policies aimed at preventing and reducing tobacco consumption, nicotine dependence and exposure to tobacco smoke. The enactment of the Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025 is, therefore, long overdue in Zambia, if we have to fulfil its international obligations and protect public health.

Mr Speaker, allow me to also clarify a matter that has been widely misunderstood. The Tobacco Control Bill does not ban the farming, production, manufacturing, export or sale of tobacco. I repeat: to clarify a matter that has been widely misunderstood, the Tobacco Control Bill does not ban the farming, production, manufacturing, export or sale of tobacco. As a caring and responsible Government, we recognise that some of our citizens depend on tobacco farming and related activities for their livelihoods. The Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025 does not ban the farming, production, manufacturing, export or sale of tobacco, but is aimed at controlling tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke for the betterment of both smokers and the public exposed to tobacco smoke, particularly among young people, while protecting the public from its harmful effects. The Bill focuses on public health protection while ensuring that economic considerations are responsibly managed.

Mr Speaker, the objects of the Bill are to:

provide for the protection of present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco use, nicotine addiction, and exposure to the harmful emissions of tobacco products, tobacco devices, nicotine products or nicotine devices;

constitute the Tobacco Control Committee and provide for its functions;

regulate the manufacture, distribution, sale, import of a tobacco product, tobacco device, nicotine, nicotine product and nicotine device;

provide for the packaging and labelling of a tobacco product, tobacco device, nicotine, nicotine product or nicotine device;

regulate the advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of a tobacco product or tobacco device, nicotine, nicotine product and nicotine device;

domesticate the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and

provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Mr Speaker, the proposed provisions of the Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025 are aligned with the Articles of the WHO FCTC and have the following parts:

Part I

Preliminary Provisions

Part II

The Tobacco Control Committee

Part III

Protection of Tobacco Control Policies from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry

Part IV

Information, education and communication

Part V

Smoke free environments

Part VI

Application for a licence or permit

Part VII

Packaging and labelling

Part VIII

Product and device sales

Part IX

Advertising, promotion and sponsorship

Part X

Enforcement

Part XI

General provisions

Mr Speaker, failure to enact this law will mean the continued loss of thousands of lives each year, continued exposure of the public to tobacco smoke, and the continued initiation of children and young people into lifelong tobacco addiction. According to the 2019 Investment Case for Tobacco Control, Zambia loses over K2.8 billion annually due to the health and economic consequences associated with tobacco use. Equally concerning is the rapid emergence of novel tobacco and nicotine products, including shisha, e-cigarettes, vaping products, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products, which are increasingly becoming available on the Zambian market. These products are often deliberately marketed in ways that appeal to young people, posing a serious threat to public health.

Mr Speaker, the development of this Bill has followed a long, consultative and transparent process. Since 2009, the Ministry of Health has conducted extensive stakeholder consultation involving Government ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), academia, research institutions, law enforcement agencies, representatives of the private sector and the tobacco industry. In addition, a regulatory impact assessment was undertaken through the Business Regulatory Review Agency (BRRA) to ensure that the proposed legislation carefully balances public health priorities with economic and regulatory considerations.

Mr Speaker, allow me to remind this august House that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through Cabinet, granted approval in principle in January, 2023, for the introduction of the Tobacco Control Bill on the Floor of this House. This decision marked an important milestone in Zambia’s commitment to protecting public health and fulfilling its obligations under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC). This Bill is a culmination of the deliberations and rigorous consultative process, recognising the urgent need to strengthen Zambia’s legislative framework for tobacco control.

Mr Speaker, tobacco control is not merely a health issue, but it is also a development imperative. Effective tobacco control contributes directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal No. 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages, including reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Mr Speaker, in this regard, strengthening tobacco control measures also supports the implementation of the WHO-FCTC in line with SDG Target 3(a), which calls on countries to strengthen the implementation of the WHO-FCTC as appropriate. Further, SDG Target No. 3.4 aims to reduce one third premature mortality from non-communicable niseases (NCDs) by 2030, through prevention and treatment while also promoting mental health and wellbeing. This is particularly important given that tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable risk factors contributing to the global burden on NCDs.

Mr Speaker, allow me to sincerely thank the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services, hon. Members of Parliament, Government ministries and agencies, the private sector, CSOs, academia, the tobacco industry and all other stakeholders who have contributed to the development and refinement of this Bill through consultation and constructive engagement over the years.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, may I point to the fact that tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke is beyond partisan politics, as all of us are affected directly or indirectly. Therefore, I wish to appeal to all hon. Members of this House to support the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025. By supporting this Bill, we will take a decisive and progressive step towards protecting the health of our people, preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people, reducing preventable deaths and securing a healthier future for our nation, which will culminate in the attainment of a healthy and productive nation and contribute effectively to the attainment of the Vision 2030.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Munsanje (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of your Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services on the Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025 in the Fifth Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order No. 113(1) and 207(j) of the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2024, the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services was tasked to consider and report to the House on the Tobacco Control Bill No. 40 of 2025.

Mr Speaker, in considering the Bill, the Committee broadly consulted stakeholders from Government institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), industry representatives and public health advocates. The stakeholders generally supported the principle of regulating tobacco products, although their views were spread between public health priorities, commercial interests and environmental concerns.

Mr Speaker, the Committee acknowledges that the tobacco sector remains economically significant given that approximately 95 per cent to 97 per cent of tobacco produced in Zambia is exported, while only about 3 per cent to 5 per cent is consumed locally. In 2025, production reached approximately 72 million kg valued at about US$200 million, accounting for roughly 22 per cent of agricultural export earnings in this country. In 2026, production is projected to rise to 80 million kg, potentially generating around US$230 million.

Mr Speaker, while the tobacco industry continues to generate notable commercial benefits, these gains must be carefully balanced against grave and far-reaching public health consequences associated with tobacco consumption. For instance, tobacco use contributes to more than 7,100 preventable deaths every year in Zambia. The economic burden is equally alarming, with loses estimated at approximately K2.8 billion annually, out of which K154 million is lost in direct heath care costs. Further, tobacco consumption contributes about 0.4 per cent to Zambia’s gross domestic product (GDP), while tobacco related loses are estimated at about 1.2 per cent of our GDP. These figures clearly demonstrate that the economic costs of tobacco related harm significantly outweigh the commercial contribution of the tobacco industry to the national economy.

Furthermore, Mr Speaker, there are well documented environmental concerns associated with tobacco from production and consumption, including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation from curing processes and improper waste disposal across the tobacco value chain. These factors underscore the need to fully integrate environmental consideration into public health regulatory measures on tobacco control.

Mr Speaker, these concerns align well with the objective of this Bill seeking to protect the health and wellbeing of Zambians, particularly the young people, who are increasingly exposed to aggressive marketing and emerging nicotine products. On the other hand, the export-oriented nature of Zambia’s tobacco industry assures our farmers that their commercial interests remain safeguarded under the Tobacco Act No. 10 of 2022. In view of these concerns, the Committee supports the Bill and believe its enactment will significantly strengthen Zambia’s tobacco control framework. However, the Committee makes several recommendations from which I will highlight a few.

Mr Speaker, firstly, the Committee agrees with stakeholders that the provision requiring a Statutory Instrument (SI) for the commencement of the Bill is unnecessary. Instead, the Bill should come into operation upon presidential assent to avoid delays in its implementation.

Mr Speaker, secondly, the Committee notes the need for an inclusive Government approach to tobacco control rather than limiting responsibility to a single ministry. In this regard, the Committee recommends revising Clause 7 to ensure co-ordinated policy implementation across relevant sectors for trade, finance, education and agriculture. Additionally, the issuance of licences or permits for tobacco and nicotine products should be extended to ministries responsible for industry, health and environment.

Mr Speaker, while the Bill provides for information, education and communication programmes, it does not adequately address cessation services. The Committee, therefore, recommends amending Clause 14(2) to include a provision for tobacco cessation services as well as strengthening Clause 55(2) to empower the Ministry of Health to issue regulations supporting cessation and rehabilitation services.

Mr Speaker, finally, the Committee emphasises harmonisation of existing regulations relating to public health taxation, licensing and environmental protection to address the current fragmented regulatory framework governing tobacco. Further, there is a need for robust enforcement once the Bill is enacted to ensure compliance, as weak enforcement of existing tobacco regulations has undermined public confidence and reduced the effectiveness of control measures.

Mr Speaker, the Committee, therefore, requests the House to give favourable consideration to the recommendations contained in this report to protect the health, environment and future prosperity of our nation, especially ensuring separation between the production side, which is covered by the other agricultural Bill, and consumption, which is regulated under this public health Bill.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity on behalf of the people of Chilubi.

Mr Speaker, in the first place, I want to go on record saying that I support this Bill highly with no reservations. Having said that, I have certain things to present. Under Part 2 of the Tobacco Control Bill, I think, the composition can possibly include one representative from the manufacturing industry. Why? Further in the Bill, some measures are supposed to be taken under which conflict of interest, and the like, has been addressed. So, this particular inclusion would play the role of providing sanity in that industry.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to talk about Part 4 of the Bill, which contains information, education and communication provisions. If you read the content, you will note that the content is more about behavioural change communication. The content is meant to, more like, undo the behaviour of a smoker and also educate, especially teenagers, on smoking so that they may change, then factor in and support this law by behaving well and not going for shisha or other vices.

Mr Speaker, today, tobacco is attractively packaged. If you go to East Park, I am not pointing at any specific shop, I am just saying that you will find that tobacco is more attractive than sweets. Given that, the mind of a teenager is targeted. So, what is it that we are supposed to do in Part 4 of the Bill? The information, education and communication provisions merely inform, and let the person who is benefiting from that information choose. If you have noticed, the prominent ministry is the Ministry of Health, which is placed at the centre in the Bill, and it is the one that will control such issues. If the ministry is to control such issues, I suggest that the tone and wording be behavioural change communication as opposed to information, education and communication. Why? Behavioural change communication takes care of information, education and communication, technically, once it is properly implemented, that means Clauses 12 to 14 have to be in the tone of behavioural change communication.

Mr Speaker, I know that the hon. Minister of Health has underscored many issues. However, I am also concerned about what we will call smoke-free environments. I know that one of the major instances through which we acquire malignant diseases caused by carcinogens in the smoke is second hand smoke. Given that background, that means Part 5, which is talking about the smoke-free environments provisions, also targets curbing second-hand smoke. Therefore, it will also apply to an innocent child. However, this child is exposed to second hand smoke in many areas. Firstly, before the child leaves the home, some fathers are chain smokers. So, I do not know how we will go around that scenario, because only Clause 15(c) stipulates not smoking within a prescribed distance of a child, and it is pointing to care facilities and educational or vocational facilities. That takes away the domain of a home where second-hand smoke, …

Mr Mung’andu interjected.

Mr Fube: Mung’andu, can you, please, behave.

Laughter

Mr Fube: … is prominent. I do not know how the issue concerning children who are born within the homes of smokers will be dealt with, because a home is a closed arrangement, and it is an environment where this predominant patriarchal figure, called the father, puffs cigarettes throughout. So, while the father has a filter on the cigarettes, the second-hand smoke escapes to the children in that homestead. That means this particular father’s habit would not have been curbed and taken away consideration of the children in the homestead venture.

Mr Speaker, I would like to close by saying that, as I support this Bill, I would like to encourage my friends, the hon. Members, to support this Bill, not for the purpose of fulfilling the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s tobacco control framework, but for the purposes of ensuring that some of the diseases that are caused by exposure to tobacco are treated by the Ministry of Health through cancer hospitals that have been set up, as such facilities are already indirectly treating those diseases. We also know that tobacco smoking; first-hand as well as second-hand smoke, has a bearing on other underlying non-communicable diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Therefore, putting this Bill in place, and curbing places where smoke flows freely means that we will reduce the health budget burden, which can be directed to other areas and projects.

Mr Speaker, I want to rest the case, the Chilubi suitcase, by saying that I support this Bill with my hands, my legs and my spine.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Wamunyima (Nalolo): Mr Speaker, I would like to unreservedly support this particular Bill, which is being proposed for enactment.

Mr Speaker, I just want to make a quick comment on one of the recommendations from your Committee, which I feel the Executive must take very seriously. When laws are sponsored to Parliament, they are sponsored to be given the force of enactment. Now, putting the requirement of a commencement order defeats the purpose of bringing that law, and Parliament is composed of the National Assembly and the President. That is what makes Parliament. When the President assents to a law, it must simply come into force. Now, we have a situation, regarding the Green Economy and Climate Act, which we passed in this Parliament in December 2024. We are still waiting for an order of commencement for that law. It is not active. So, what is the purpose of usurping the powers of the President, who, with his final signature, the law must be operational. So, we must consider enacting a law that should come into effect when the hon. Minister issues a specific Statutory Instrument (SI).

Mr Speaker, imagine having a law on climate change enacted in 2024, and we are now in 2026, yet the law is still waiting for an order of commencement. That is an example of what this Committee is raising.

Mr Speaker, let me come to the substantive issues of this Bill. In 2008, the Levy Mwanawasa-led Government committed to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Framework (WHO FCTC). It is almost two decades since the commitment was made done and no Government has been bold enough to bring this Bill to Parliament. I would like to commend the current Government, the President in particular, for raising this issue in his Address to Parliament on national values, specifically the abuse of tobacco and nicotine. So, this is very commendable.

Mr Speaker, we are not just considering a Bill or a law; we are domesticating international commitments we made in 2008, which are long overdue. This report by your Committee, which I would like to commend, has done an excellent job.

Mr Speaker, 7,100 lives are lost annually, and they are tobacco-associated losses. We have lost K2.8 billion because of tobacco. So, this is not only a public health policy issue, but also an economic issue. What is the benefit of talking about production when the cancer machines at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) are sometimes obsolete for six or seven months, and the country is losing money? In addition, we come here to perform this noble job of legislation to ensure that our young people stay away from nicotine abuse.

Mr Speaker, for example, just outside David Kaunda National STEM Secondary School, there are small shops that sell unregulated cigarettes to the pupils. This is the kind of lack of regulation that is escalating tobacco-related deaths. How do we have a situation where we allow the unregulated trading and sale of tobacco when we have an opportunity to protect the young people?

Mr Speaker, your Committee’s Report is very balanced because it does not talk about the extreme. It literally proposes that the ministry responsible for tobacco production be part of the Tobacco Control Committee so that production issues are not hampered. The law, by nature, is designed to regulate human conduct. That is the purpose of the law. Therefore, tobacco control is not specific to Zambia. South Africa, Madagascar, Rwanda, and forty other countries in Africa, are part of the WHO Framework in terms of domesticating tobacco control.

Mr Speaker, I also want to state that I support the increase in age being proposed by the Committee from eighteen to twenty-one. This will be very helpful in terms of tobacco sales because, as you are aware, we have had escalated early initiation of tobacco by young people in this country. This is not speculative; it is factual. When we consider the escalating levels of throat cancer and all cancers associated with abuse of tobacco, we can see from the statistics that the dominating victims are young people. So, this law has nothing to do with affecting the economy in terms of the production of tobacco. It has everything to do with ensuring that we address an emerging public health problem where passive smoking is the order of the day. People just smoke anywhere they want. This needs to be addressed.

Mr Speaker, therefore, I would like to state that I, without reservation, support this Bill. It is long overdue. We do not know why previous Governments, in particular, those that failed to bring this Bill, did so because if one commits, it is very easy to domesticate. So, for me, it is timely, and it is about the future. It is not just about business, but about health. It is protecting our public health space and safeguarding the future of our young people.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr J. Chibuye (Roan): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to add a comment to the debate on the proposed Bill. I equally want to support this Bill, as it is actually overdue, as stated by the previous speaker.

Mr Speaker, I concur with the chairperson of the Committee, who stated that the gains in tobacco production, at 0.4 per cent, are outweighed by the expenditure on tobacco-related diseases, at 1.7 per cent or so.

Mr Speaker, as we are discussing tobacco, we all know that it is a serious health hazard for anyone who uses it. Tobacco can cause many diseases, some of which are outlined here, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. You are aware that, nowadays, many people are affected by strokes. Some of those strokes are related to tobacco consumption. There is also chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is also caused by tobacco, and other cancers such as mouth, throat, and oesophagus cancers.

Mr Speaker, tobacco can actually be super addictive. Many people are actually addicted to nicotine, and it is important to note that nicotine can mess up one’s brain. It becomes very difficult for those who smoke tobacco to quit.

Mr Speaker, I also want to highlight some of the achievements that have been made through the Tobacco Control Programme. It is good to note that its efforts are actually bearing fruit. I have noted that the country has been working to implement the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) since ratifying it in 2008. The Tobacco Control Bill of 2025 actually aims to regulate tobacco products. I want to emphasise that the Tobacco Control Bill of 2025 aims to regulate tobacco products, restrict advertising and promote alternative livelihoods for farmers. Many people might start getting worried that farmers will be put out of business, but it is good that this Bill is actually looking at alternatives that farmers can pursue.

Mr Speaker, some of the key objectives of this Bill are to protect public health and reduce tobacco-related illnesses and deaths, as we have heard, and to regulate the tobacco industry and limit marketing and ensure compliance. The Bill also aims to support alternative livelihoods and help farmers to transition to other crops. However, there are quite some challenges that this Bill might actually cause. We are all aware that tobacco consumption remains high, especially among the youths, and policy gaps actually hinder their progress. There is a need for stronger enforcement and public awareness.

Mr Speaker, it is good, again, to note that the Government is making very steady strides to ensure that the Tobacco Control Programme is implemented. I can only urge my fellow hon. Members to support this very important Bill because the youths, including those who are in school, are being affected, and that is why we are seeing indiscipline among the youths. What I know is that tobacco, through nicotine, can make one high. This situation poses challenges, for example, pupils challenging their teachers.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Roan Constituency, I strongly support this Bill. I also urge other hon. Members to support it.

Mr Speaker, with those few comments, I rest my case.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, clearly you can agree with me that the measures by the Government, in the Tobacco Control Bill, will enable our population to stay healthy. If you go to the east, that is, Chipata, Lundazi or Chama, you will be shocked by the quantity of tobacco fields along the way. I can safely say that if we asked the hon. Minister of Agriculture to quantify, he would say that probably 80 per cent of our peasant farmers are into tobacco production. I have just returned from my constituency. There is even illegal trading of tobacco taking place along the Zambia-Malawi border. Now, how do we holistically control this? Apart from this Bill, I believe that in next year’s Budget, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning – I know that he will still be the Minister of Finance and National Planning …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mung’andu: … because the New Dawn Government is likely to go through unopposed.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning should come and introduce more taxes on tobacco, beginning with tobacco seeds because tobacco outgrower programmes are affecting our people. Can we put probably 1,000 per cent taxes, so that the cost of tobacco in our country should be beyond the reach of many.

Mr Speaker, other hon. Members have talked about the effects of tobacco and ingredients such as nicotine, which is the addictive component of tobacco.

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

Mr Mung’andu: However, the most aggressive component of tobacco is tar. We have a law that prohibits smoking in public, but do we protect children in homes? You can agree with me, as my hon. Colleague hinted, that it is very difficult to control smoking in a home setup. Often, parents who smoke tend to also be into beer drinking. The two are usually inseparable. It is rare to find one who smokes but does not drink alcohol. It is very rare. If there are such people, they are maybe 1 per cent of the population. Tobacco poses a risk not only to children but also to family members.

Mr Speaker, the other effect of tobacco is on our health system. About 60 per cent of lung cancers can be attributed to smoking. The doctor (Pointed at Dr Kalila) can agree with this statistic. This is also a drain on our health system and manpower. In most cases, chain smokers tend to also be very good workers.

Mr Speaker, as I support the Government’s move, let me say that we should go beyond enacting this Bill. Regulations should start at production of tobacco. Probably, we also need to control alcohol. I believe that if we are serious, as a nation, we can control alcohol because it is destroying many of our children and homes. As you go to Community House, you will find people selling alcohol and tobacco along Tokyo Way. The two go hand in hand. So, my submission is that as we look at controlling tobacco, we should also seriously consider controlling alcohol. I support this Bill, but I submit that we should go further.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Mtolo): Mr Speaker, Order No. 71 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, 2024, which is on content of speech, is very clear that a Member who is debating should confine his or her debate to the subject under discussion.

Mr Speaker, the point that we are discussing here is not production. We are talking about the actual tobacco and the selling of cigarettes. It would be very confusing to this House and the general citizenry if we allowed the debate from the previous speaker to progress in the manner it was progressing. It is this House that passed the law on the issue of tobacco production, and the hon. Member voted with us. Therefore, the hon. Member cannot start bringing up other issues and start inciting the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to introduce measures that would disturb the production of tobacco. No! We are talking about the sell of cigarettes. How many adverts should be placed in the newspaper, for instance? Should it be 75 per cent or 25 per cent? What is the danger and other issues? It is not about production because tobacco must be produced in this country.

Further, he mentioned that Chipata and Lundazi have huge production figures between them. The Western Province, Eastern Province, Central Province and Southern Province are major producers of tobacco. The Government intends to upscale production in the Northern Province, Luapula Province and Muchinga Province so that they can start producing more tobacco. This is so because tobacco is a highly valuable product. It is seventeen times more profitable than maize. Therefore, I cannot sit here as the hon. Minister of Agriculture and encourage farmers to stop tobacco production.

Hon. Government Members: Hear. hear!

Mr Mtolo: Let us debate the issue of selling tobacco products and in this case, cigarettes. So, that is the point at hand here. That is the point of contention between the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Health. We should weigh which one is good for the country.

Mr Speaker, I wanted to correct the hon. Member’s impression. I did not want to contribute to the debate, and I know that as a Member of the Executive, I should not contribute to this debate, but I wanted to correct the impression that we are talking about production because the production part was concluded. Now, it is about how to manage loose or processed tobacco. I think that is the point we are debating.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Samakayi: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: I think the hon. Member for Chama South has heard, especially that he comes from the Eastern Province. The Government has attracted many companies from elsewhere to promote agriculture, including tobacco production. Over the past four years, tobacco farming has boomed in the province due to the Government’s policy since 2021. The Government is on record of doing that. The hon. Member may have seen that in the Eastern Province, there are many companies dealing in tobacco business. I hope people in the Eastern Province have heard.

The hon. Member for Chama South was trying to mislead himself a bit. The current Government is encouraging agriculture. That is why the market floor has been opened in Chipata since 2022, 2023 and 2024. It is because the Government is encouraging agriculture. Tobacco is one of the crops that the Government is promoting. I think, the hon. Member has got it right now.

Mr Tayengwa (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for the opportunity given to me to add my voice on behalf of the good people of Kabwata.

Mr Speaker, from the outset, I would like to support the Bill. However, in doing so, I wish to give a brief background on how tobacco growing started in South America. The natives there were using it for smoking or chewing for ritual purposes before it was taken to other continents for profit.

Mr Speaker, the objective of the Bill is very clear. It is to provide for the protection and preserving of the future generations from the devastating health, social and environmental impacts of smoking.

Mr Speaker, I have a challenge with the way tobacco or cigarettes are being advertised. Most children aged between seven or eight years old are being initiated to start smoking cigarettes because of the way the packaging is done. There is a need, therefore, for the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and those who want to control the use of tobacco to harmonise on how best the advertising can be conducted.

Mr Speaker, advertising a harmful product in a way that entices children can easily kill the future generation. At the moment, we are complaining about some of the sicknesses that people are suffering from. The prevailing of high cardiovascular diseases and cancer cases is due to smoking the tobacco leaf. For instance, shisha is being abused in our country. If we went to any eating place, we would, at least, find someone smoking shisha. Our womenfolk are also abusing insunko. That is not the way it is supposed to be. So, this Bill has come at the right time so that we see how best we can start controlling nicotine or tobacco products.

Mr Speaker, however, even as the House desires to pass this law, there are some issues I feel should be looked at. For instance, the definition of ‘smoke’ in your Committee’s report on page 8 should be clear. We really need to get the definition right because I have seen that some submissions from some stakeholders did not agree with the definition of the word ‘smoke’. So, there is an absolutely need for the sponsoring ministry to define what ‘smoke’ means.

Mr Speaker, I strongly feel that the composition of the Tobacco Control Committee on page 9 should have included the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry because we are also trying to preserve the industry. Many schools that have the School Feeding Programme in rural areas were constructed by tobacco producing companies. So, there is a need for the sponsoring ministry to ensure that the Ministry of Agriculture is included on that committee.

Mr Speaker, there is an argument that the Ministry of Health does not appear in the Tobacco Act of 2022. If there is such a thing, the best we can do is to harmonise the law so that the Ministry of Health sits on the Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ). The Ministry of Agriculture should also sit on the Tobacco Control Committee. We want to do this is because we want to preserve the industry. Like the hon. Minister of Agriculture has said, we need to continue growing the industry. However, the regulation and control should be looked at.

Mr Speaker, I have also looked at the recommendations highlighted by your Committee. The recommendations are very cardinal, but we should also look at the concerns raised by the stakeholders. We should not just do away with the recommendations that were given by the Committee or some of the issues raised by stakeholders because some stakeholders raised pertinent issues that I feel should be taken into consideration.

Mr Speaker, at the moment, many people are dying of cancer. The statistics given by the hon. Minister of Health indicated that over 7,000 people die from tobacco-related cases every year. The Government should, therefore, start controlling or putting in place measures to control tobacco smoking. If this is not done, the generation that is supposed to take over from us will be killed. Indeed, there might be a generation that may suffer from some of the cardiovascular diseases and non-communicable diseases that are caused by smoking tobacco.

Mr Speaker, as the saying goes, preventing a sickness is actually cheaper than treating it.

We have heard how much we are losing as a result of treating people who are dying or suffering from tobacco-related illnesses.

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks, I support the report presented by your Committee. Let us look at the critical issues that were raised by other stakeholders.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Katakwe: Mr Speaker, sometimes, it is difficult to make a bold decision when there is misinformation, and I am sure that the discourse in our debate has cleared the air concerning the misunderstanding between production, which was covered in the other Bill that was passed into law, versus the consumption part, which is in this Bill that we are addressing. Hon. Members have presented serious knowledge on the issues surrounding tobacco control. I appreciate the comments that have been raised in this august House, and I have noted the issues that have been brought up as essential to making the Bill stronger.

Mr Speaker, most of the issues that have been brought up today were addressed as recommendations made by the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services in its detailed report. The relevant position will be availed to the Ministry of Justice in compliance with the recommendations in the report.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you and the hon. Members for the overwhelming support for this Bill. I would also like to clarify how the Tobacco Bill is different from the Tobacco Control Bill, which we are trying to enact. Today, the Tobacco Bill was proposed regarding the composition of the Ministry of Agriculture. That does not entail that there is a need for health personnel on the board to protect the interests of the health sector, because of the production aspect, nor is there a need to have a member from the tobacco industry representing the industry’s interests on the Tobacco Control Board, because the two are different entities.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Chilubi for strongly supporting the Bill. Hon. Wamunyima equally supported the Bill, and noted that many Bills that have been enacted here, in this House, have not been actualised, and his call is that the Bill takes effect after it is presented to the President for assent. I also acknowledge Hon. J. Chibuye’s passionate support for the Bill, especially on the fact that the cost on health outweighs the benefits that are lost in treating tobacco smoking health-related issues. The hon. Member for Chama South also passionately debated the Bill. The hon. Minister of Agriculture alluded to the fact that there is a need for balance between agriculture, which is based on production, and consumption, highlighting the fact that the two Bills are also different and do not interfere with each other. I also thank the hon. Member for Kabwata for supporting the Bill.

Mr Speaker, I wish to state that we aspire to inspire before we expire. Each time we passively smoke when we are near people who do, we also get affected. There have been cases in which pregnant mothers who lived near people who smoke ended up giving birth to children who were hyper and almost looked confused, because they were exposed for some time. All that is the effect of smoking. Part of the increase in the number of mental-related cases in our adolescents is because of shisha and vaping, and so on and so forth. So, the hon. Member’s support of the Bill is cardinal in ensuring that the Bill, which is long overdue, that is, more than seventeen years, is enacted. This Government has seen fit to protect the public from the effects of tobacco.

Mr Speaker, with those remarks, I submit. Let this Bill go through.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

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

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Wednesday, 8^th April, 2026.

_______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1837 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 8^th April, 2026.

____________

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