Debates- Wednesday, 23rd March, 2011

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DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Wednesday 23rd March, 2011

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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 ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER  

GLOBAL EPILEPSY CAMPAIGN

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, the Epilepsy Association of Zambia is commemorating the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy during the week of 20th to 25th March, 2011.

The objective of the campaign is to make people with epilepsy know that they are not alone, and that other people should understand that they do not have to be afraid if they witness a seizure. The association also aims at making people understand that not all seizures are the same and that a person with epilepsy could lead a normal life.

The campaign against epilepsy is symbolised by the wearing of purple attire. In line with this campaign, the Epilepsy Association of Zambia has been distributing purple ribbons to hon. Members to wear wherever they may so wish, but outside the Chambers of Parliament.

Hon. Members are encouraged to support the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy.

I thank you. 
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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

POSITION OF ZAMTEL AND OTHER INVESTMENTS IN LIGHT OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ON LIBYA

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to issue a statement on the implications of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions No. 1970 of February 26, 2011, and 1973 of March 18, 2011, as they relate to the Republic of Zambia, her citizens, enterprises and, in particular, the activities of Libyan investments in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, the Republic of Zambia has been a member of the United Nations since 1964. During the entire period of her membership, she has complied with her duties and obligations arising therefrom. The Government wishes to express its commitment to UN Security Council Resolutions No. 1970 and 1973. We will, therefore comply with these resolutions.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the Government of the Republic of Zambia further wishes to extend its support to the people of Libya in this extremely difficult time and express its hope for a peaceful solution to the existing situation.

Mr Speaker, there has been a considerable degree of speculation in the past few days regarding the future of the Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited (ZAMTEL) in connection with the recent events in Libya. This issue will be the focus of my statement.

Mr Speaker, 75 per cent of the equity in ZAMTEL is owned by LAP Green N, a Mauritian company whose headquarters are in Uganda. The company is 100 per cent owned by the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio known as LAP. LAP is, in turn, wholly owned by the Libya Investment Authority, which is Libya’s sovereign wealth fund. The remaining 25 per cent of the equity in ZAMTEL is owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

Under Resolution 1973, the UN Security Council resolved, among other things, to extend its earlier resolution on asset freezing applicable to key individuals in the Government of Libya as stipulated in Resolution 1970, of February 26, 2011, to apply to the assets under the control of the authorities of Libya.

There have been concerns expressed by the Zambian public as to the extent to which that freeze on assets could impact on ZAMTEL. Some individuals have even speculated that the freeze order spells deep business problems for ZAMTEL that could threaten its future.

As a Government, we have, as usual, been diligent and have, at all times, closely followed and continuously assessed the evolving situation. Mr Speaker, we have made significant progress in assessing the situation in this very short time.

Mr Speaker, the Government wishes to reassure the people, through this august House, that there is no reason for concern regarding the developments in Libya as they relate to the future of ZAMTEL. The purpose of the resolutions of the UN Security Council is to prevent funds, financial assets or other economic resources from being used to support violence. The purpose of the resolutions is not to prevent or impede the operations of companies in which Libyan entities hold equity. ZAMTEL is not in a unique position.  The Libyan Investment Authority has assets under management of approximately US$70 billion. A significant proportion of these assets are located outside Libya. The Libyan Investment Authority is a sovereign wealth fund managing these assets for the benefit of the people of Libya. The very same people for whose benefit protection is being afforded by the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions are the beneficiaries of the assets. It is, therefore, in the best interest of the people of Zambia and Libya that normal operations at ZAMTEL continue.

Mr Speaker, I further wish to assure this House that when the privatisation of ZAMTEL was completed in July, 2010, a number of transaction documents were agreed and signed between the Government of the Republic of Zambia, ZAMTEL and LAP Green, the new shareholder and investor. The key agreements were the sale and purchase agreement, shareholders’ agreement and Escrow of Funds Agreement.

These documents were negotiated with great care and gave the Government of the Republic of Zambia all the necessary procedural controls with respect to the measures which are the subject matter of the asset freeze provisions of the UN resolutions. This would also be the case for any other similar transaction negotiated and entered into by the Government of the Republic of Zambia in respect of its assets.

Sir, it should further be noted that when the transaction was completed, the full US$257 million consideration was paid. The funds were dispensed in accordance with the transaction documents, with US$64 million going straight into ZAMTEL’s bank account to recapitalise the company. A further US$70 million was secured by ZAMTEL in the form of vendor financing by its suppliers. The business plan for ZAMTEL, as agreed with the Government, is, therefore, fully funded and is not, at all, affected by the UN resolutions.

Furthermore, all funds that were escrowed to sort out ZAMTEL’s pension issues, employees and other liabilities have also been fully disbursed and escrowing concluded.

Mr Speaker, it is important to note that the freezing of assets, as it pertains to ZAMTEL, relates to the shareholder LAP Green N and its holding of shares in ZAMTEL. It does not involve any interruption or impediment to normal operations at ZAMTEL. ZAMTEL will, therefore, continue to operate as normal, and is under no restriction or restraint deriving from the above mentioned UN resolutions.

As a Government, we understand that there is a high likelihood that the shares in ZAMTEL, which are held by LAP Green, are covered by UN Security Council Resolution No.1973 and, therefore, shall be frozen. As a consequence, certain actions such as payment of dividends or registration of transfer of such shares, for which, as a Government, we already have protection in the transaction documents, shall be temporarily suspended, pending further advice or new resolutions from the UN Security Council.

Sir, as a further cautionary measure, as a Government, we will seek final clarification from the Sanctions Committee established under Clause 24 of UN Security Council Resolution No. 1970, whether the LAP Green N holding in ZAMTEL, and any other relevant assets, fall within the definition of assets to be frozen under the foregoing resolutions.

Pending such clarification, the Government will exercise its rights under the transaction documents entered into within the privatisation of ZAMTEL in a manner that is supportive of the implementation of the foregoing UN Security Council Resolutions.

At the same time, as a Government, we plan to adopt formal general administrative measures that should, under the framework provided by the Zambian law, prevent any breach of the foregoing UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 in relation to the freezing of assets. These administrative measures would impact LAP Green as a shareholder in ZAMTEL but not the operations of ZAMTEL.

Mr Speaker, we wish to, again, stress that the objective of the foregoing resolutions is to ensure that no monies are remitted to support individuals and institutions targeted by the sanctions. It is not, however, the purpose of the resolutions to materially damage the interest of other, non-sanctioned shareholders, or to damage the underlying assets or damage the interests of the Libyan people.

Sir, I must reiterate that compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions also relates to any and all other investments in Zambia by listed representatives of the existing Libyan Government or controlled Libyan authorities and other activities listed in the foregoing resolutions. My Government will ensure compliance in the management of the assets to comply with the UN Security Council Resolutions in the same manner as set out in connection with the shareholding in ZAMTEL.

As I conclude, Mr Speaker, it is important to point out that there is no suggestion that LAP Green has any intention to sell its shares in ZAMTEL to raise cash. Rather, the company continues to be committed to ZAMTEL and the Zambian market, and has invested heavily in turning ZAMTEL into a successful, sustainable and profitable operator. As a Government, we are very happy to continue working openly in co-operation with LAP Green N while simultaneously respecting and adhering to the terms of the UN Security Council Resolutions.

As a significant minority shareholder in ZAMTEL, the Government is confident that the company remains on course with its turnaround. The Government remains confident that when the turnaround is complete, it will exercise its right to list some or all of its holding in ZAMTEL on the Lusaka Stock Exchange so that Zambian citizens can participate in the ownership of the company.

Mr Speaker, I wish to urge that we exercise caution and avoid issuing unnecessary statements that are aimed at creating panic amongst our citizens. As a Government, we have stated that we should be judged by the results on what we deliver. In the case of ZAMTEL, I remain true to my earlier commitment that we should be judged by how the company performs. To date, the company remains on course, recording a successful transition to becoming a complete telecom solution provider.

Sir, as I conclude, I would like to say that it is the Government’s sincere hope that the deeply unpleasant situation in Libya is brought to a rapid close, to the satisfaction of the people of Libya.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Boma ya nzelu!

Ms Lundwe: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members may now ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, I wish to begin by congratulating the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning on a very comprehensive statement on ZAMTEL.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hachipuka: Nevertheless, in his statement, the hon. Minister mentioned that the Government is seeking clarification from the Sanctions Committee on the UN Security Council Resolutions. May I find out how soon it will take the UN Security Council to react and provide advice as to whether this particular investment in Zambia is within or outside the UN Security Council’s resolutions?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already contacted the UN for the necessary clarifications, but we are unable to give the timeframe within which it will get back to us. We shall continue giving relevant information to the public as and when necessary. The key task for us is to ensure that ZAMTEL continues to operate and meet its obligations to the people of Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lumba (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what specific measures the Government has put in place to ensure that funds are not externalised from Zambia to Libya to finance the activities of the regime in power in that country.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, we have been in touch with the Bank of Zambia (BOZ), which is the supervisory authority for the banks in Zambia, to monitor the transactions of ZAMTEL. I must emphasise that, as that is done, we must also ensure that normal trade transactions continue taking place because, if we do not do that, we risk crippling the company. Whenever there is a normal transaction which, we believe, is for paying for goods and services connected to the business of ZAMTEL, we shall allow it to take place. BOZ, working together with the commercial banks, will have to seek clarification on a proposed payment when there is suspicion that the transaction is not a normal one.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, I want to understand clearly what the Government’s stance is from the hon. Minister on the issue which I am going to raise and, if necessary, he should repeat certain points which he brought out in his ministerial statement. In the event that the UN confirms that the assets of Lap Green are part of those which have been frozen, what is the Government going to do?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, if that confirmation does take place, the assets would, indeed, be frozen. What would this mean? Freezing of the assets would mean that any attempts by Lap Green to sell those assets would have to be prevented by us.

In the transaction documents we put together with Lap Green when it was buying the company, there is already a provision which states that it cannot sell shares to any third party without agreeing with the Zambian Government as regards the transaction because we are significant shareholders at 25 per cent. The agreement was signed in such a manner because ZAMTEL is an important asset to the country. We need to give consent for it to be sold. The agreement obviously is providing similar elements to the sanctions in that Lap Green cannot sell its shares without our consent.

Mr Speaker, if, hypothetically, because it is not possible, the shares were to be sold, such a move cannot impact negatively on ZAMTEL. The reason for this is that, again, we would have to be satisfied with the profile of the entity which the shares would be sold to. We can only be comfortable with an entity which is going to continue with the process of modernising ZAMTEL which includes rolling out to the rural areas and so on and so forth. I believe that ZAMTEL is safe.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for having vindicated my stance by what he has said.

Mr Speaker, I want to find out whether the Government will apply the due diligence process of its 25 per cent by making sure that there is no ransacking or asset stripping because some of the shareholders in Lap Green are actually relatives of Colonel Gaddafi who, at the moment, is at war with the rest of the world.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I do not believe there can be asset stripping at ZAMTEL because the only way it can happen is as we indicated earlier. Shares can only be sold with our consent. The Board of ZAMTEL would obviously have to approve the selling of any physical assets. We are on that board by virtue of holding 25 per cent shares in the company.  More importantly, we still believe that Lap Green is a major investor since it has a capital of more than US$5 billion which makes it a significant player on the international market.

Mr Speaker, we also know, as we explained last year, that Lap Green does not just operate in Zambia, but is also active in Uganda as well as Niger where it has a telephone company. It also has operations in Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Togo and Southern Sudan. I do not see the scenario being portrayed by Hon. Muyanda happening because Lap Green, as I have shown, is a reputable company. 

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, the views given by the hon. Minister to this House are coming from the Government, which only owns 25 per cent in ZAMTEL, leaving 75 per cent to the other company. Is the hon. Minister going to assure this House and the country that his response to this House will be given to Lap Green so that it can agree to the terms he has stipulated in his response?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, what we said in the statement is that any attempt to sell the shares of ZAMTEL or, indeed, to take any money out of the company, has already been prohibited by the UN sanctions. The Government of Libya has no say in this and so, whether it holds 75 per cent or 8 per cent is immaterial because the force that is in operation at the moment                                                                                                                                                                                                     is that provided by the UN Security Council.

Mr Speaker, I also explained that when we sold this company, we went into certain agreements with Lap Green. Those agreements stipulated clearly that, should Lap Green ever wish to disinvest, it could only do so with our consent. In other words, Lap Green cannot engage in any asset stripping or sell the company to any investor which we are not comfortable with. Thus, the fears of Hon. Beene are unfounded.

Mr Speaker, let me just emphasise that, as Zambians, we should desist from issuing inflammatory statements because the outside world respects the performance of this Government.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: This is why institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and African Development Bank (ADB) keep on giving us accolades. Private credit raters are now also giving us good credit ratings. So, why should we now shoot ourselves in the foot by imagining all sorts of impossibilities about calamities awaiting us? There are no calamities awaiting us in future. This is why those who understand these issues are praising the performance of this Government.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mpombo (Kafulafuta): Mr Speaker, the ministerial statement by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, to me, amounts to snooping.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member for Kafulafuta will use current English …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … and not that from the King James Version.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, there is incontrovertible evidence that the company that bought Lap Green, …

Hon Members: ZAMTEL!

Mr Mpombo: … ZAMTEL rather, is a parastatal organisation whose board is chaired by the Prime Minister of Libya and that is Saddam Hussein, …

Interruptions

Mr Mpombo: … sorry, Gaddafi’s son, Seif Al-Islam, who is the founder of this business organisation. Therefore, this company falls clearly within the ambit of the UN resolutions to freeze the Libyan regime’s foreign assets. Now, considering the influence that the Gaddafi family has internationally, can the hon. Minister tell us whether the sale of ZAMTEL was on a country-to-country basis, rather than through an international tendering system.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question that appears to be intellectually bankrupt.

Laughter

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, it is not even possible to understand what the hon. Member is …

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Minister will withdraw the word ‘bankrupt’.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I withdraw that word. However, it is not possible to answer the hon. Member’s question because it is difficult to understand what he is saying.

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Dr Musokotwane: Of course, all we know is that Lap Green is owned by the Libyan Government. It could be owned by Gaddafi, but we do not know that. If there is anyone who knows this, they should provide the evidence. However, what is more important is that if it is, then the answer is very clear. This means that Lap Green is subject to the UN sanctions. So, where is the excitement in all of this?

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane: It is subject to sanctions, simple and straightforward. Now, if it is subject to sanctions, what are the implications for ZAMTEL? I have already explained this by stating that there are no implications in terms of adverse effects on the operations of the company. So, the matter is as simple as all that.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, following the implementation of UN resolutions 1973 and 1970, there has been a lot of uncertainty on how long it may take and what will be the eventual outcome of the Libyan problem.  This has, in turn, created uncertainty on the future operations of ZAMTEL in terms of how the company will deal with suppliers, buyers and so on and so forth. Is the Government beginning to think of contingency plans in the event that this situation is prolonged and the solution to the Libyan problem takes a very long time to find?

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, in my statement, I indicated very clearly that when the company was sold, all the money pertaining to this transaction was received in the country, including the US$64 million that was meant to recapitalise the company and expand it. I think Hon. Machungwa will, perhaps, appreciate that, at the moment, there is a very ambitious programme by the new shareholders to recapitalise the company.

A few years ago, before the advent of cell phones, if one had a breakdown, say in Serenje or Kaoma, and went to a ZAMTEL station to make a call, it was only possible for seven people to make a telephone call at any given time, especially in small towns. However, what has now happened is that the old analog stations are being replaced and, currently, there is a programme in motion to expand the network coverage of ZAMTEL. Therefore, I think, by the end of next year, ZAMTEL is going to cover 80 per cent of the population of Zambia.

This is a rapid expansion programme being financed, first of all, with the money that the new shareholders brought in which is already in our banks. Secondly, finances are also being raised through the vendor contracts that were signed with companies to provide this improvement. Thirdly, because ZAMTEL is now very viable, it has fewer staff and is very aggressive, it has access to funds from local financing institutions. In other words, the company can now borrow money locally.

Now, if, for one reason or another, the shares of Lap Green were to be sold, and I want to repeat this, they can only be sold to entities that we are comfortable with. Since there has been this rapid improvement in ZAMTEL, I believe that many other international companies would be running to come and buy these shares. This is because all the problem areas like obsolete equipment are being addressed. The issues of redundancies and unfunded pensions have all been addressed. So, even if we were to sell the company today, it stands a much better chance than it did one year ago in terms of marketability.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mushili (Ndola Central): Mr Speaker, Zambia is a minority shareholder in ZAMTEL with 25 per cent. In view of the freezing of assets of the Gaddafi regime under UN resolutions that have just been mentioned, would the hon. Minister explain to the country what the Government would do as an equity partner in ZAMTEL when the company runs into problems of shortage of materials which are not available locally since our equity partners’ shares will be frozen, meaning they will not have access to the funds they invested in ZAMTEL.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, first of all, I think I should explain very clearly that if there were assets to be frozen, this would not include the freezing of transactions related to the business of ZAMTEL. The reason is very simple. ZAMTEL, firstly, is not just owned by our Libyan counterparts because Zambia also owns 25 per cent shares in the company. Zambia is not under sanctions from the UN.

If the UN was to freeze financial resources relating to the operations of ZAMTEL, it means that those sufferers affected by the sanctions would not just be the Libyans but Zambians also, when we are not facing any sanctions. It is not, therefore, possible to freeze the transaction accounts for ZAMTEL because, in the process, this will end up hurting Zambia which is not a target for the sanctions. Furthermore, and very importantly so, the resolutions of the UN say that the assets of the Libyans which are to be frozen under these sanctions must be kept carefully for the eventual handover of the assets to the Libyan people.

So, we cannot ransack these assets because they must be maintained very well for the benefit of the ordinary Libyan people who are not under sanctions. Therefore, from the point of view of not wishing to punish Zambia and the ordinary Libyans, you cannot freeze the ordinary transaction accounts because, in the process, you will punish both the Zambians and ordinary Libyans.

I thank you, Sir.

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

SPORTING DISCIPLINES

378. Mr Chazangwe (Choma Central) asked the Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development what measures the Government had taken to identify and tap talent in various sporting disciplines in rural areas.

The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Mr Sikazwe): Mr Speaker, …

Laughter

Mr Kambwili: Ba Misapa naimwe muleyasuka.

Laughter

Mr Sikazwe: … to tap and identify talent in various sporting disciplines in the rural areas, the Government, through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, lined up the following programmes:

(i) Focus on Youth Sport which aimed at providing quality sporting opportunities to boys and girls in and out of school in three rural provinces, namely Eastern ─ Chipata, Petauke and Katete; Western – Mongu, Senanga and Kaoma; and Luapula – Samfya, Mwense and Kawambwa. It targeted young people below the age of twelve to increase school attendance and recruit out-of-school youth back into the main education system through sport training programmes such as football, netball and athletics. In addition, the project used sport to mitigate the negative impact of HIV/AIDS, crime and drug abuse and enhance awareness levels among young people. The project was established in 2005 by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. In each province, the project was operating at three schools in each district.

Mr Speaker, the project was well received in all the three provinces and was able to draw back to school boys and girls who had abandoned it. For example, in Samfya, more than twenty sports teams were formed as a result of the Focus on Youth Sport Programme. However, the programme could not be rolled out due to budgetary constraints;

(ii) Sport for All was a community sport activity aimed at encouraging everybody in the community to participate in sport and physical activity of their choice. This programme assisted in the identification and selection of talent among the youth, especially in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. The Sport for All Programme is still in existence in some parts of Lusaka such as Chilenje, Chawama and Bauleni; and

(iii) National Youth Sports Festival which was introduced as a result of the discontinuation of the above programmes and the falling standards of sport in the country and the awareness of the challenges that sports associations are faced with to identify and tap talent in the rural areas. The National Youth Sports Festival, which will be launched this year, will involve sports competitions beginning with the sectors, zones, district and inter-district culminating in the National Youth Sports Festival to be held in Lusaka. The zonal sports competitions will be held in April, 2011 followed by the inter-district in June, 2011 and the national competitions in August, 2011.

These games are the first of their kind to be facilitated by the ministry and were budgeted for in 2011. The National Youth Sports Festivals will provide a platform for talented youths from around the country to be identified and selected in the national youth’s development teams across a number of sports disciplines.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chazangwe: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out how the ministry is trying to work with other line ministries like the ministries of Health and Education so that enough sports equipment is taken to the rural areas as a way of assisting them.

The Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Mr Chipungu): Mr Speaker, I am sure that we all know that issues pertaining to youths are cross-cutting. For instance, we, in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, are working in partnership with the Ministry of Education who are also providing equipment for sports such as footballs and other logistics.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central): Mr Speaker, may I learn from the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development when the next round of distribution of footballs will be done as was the case in 2009.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, firstly, the National Youth Sports Festival has a provision for sports equipment like footballs. We may consider distributing some footballs from that angle. However, let me say that it is the intention of this Government, through my ministry, using the Youth Empowerment Fund, to procure a number of sports equipment this year. These will include footballs and jerseys which will be distributed …

Hon. Opposition Member: To the MMD.

Laughter

Mr Chipungu: … to all constituencies.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, most hon. Members of Parliament, particularly those from rural constituencies, have taken the initiative of building infrastructure such as youth development centres to tap talent among other things. I would, therefore, like to find out whether the hon. Minister is going to consider completing the initiatives of these hon. Members of Parliament so that this infrastructure can be developed.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, let me begin by commending the hon. Member and others who, like him, have taken it upon themselves to do something about the infrastructure in their constituencies. I think, when we buy sports equipment such as footballs and jerseys, just to mention a few, it is another way of complementing the efforts of hon. Members. I wish to urge them to channel some of the money from the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to this kind of programme. If we did so, it would be another way of supplementing what the hon. Members of Parliament have already started.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, lawn tennis is a very rewarding sport and, I think, Hon. Mwaanga can attest to that. What is the ministry doing to ensure that this sport is encouraged in schools, especially those in rural areas?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, we have ably highlighted what we, as a Government, intend to do as regards sport development. Thus, tennis will be one of the sports disciplines that will be captured by the National Youth Sports Festivals. We also have international federations to which tennis is affiliated. As such, we also have the local tennis federation which receives equipment from the international one and later redistributes it to individuals or sports disciplines across the country.

Therefore, it is up to the hon. Member of Parliament who has asked this question to come forward to the ministry or the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) so that he can get in touch with the federation that runs tennis in this country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that the talent identification project has only been restricted to a few provinces, which are the Eastern, Luapula and Western. I would like to know why this project has only been restricted to these provinces.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, the reason is simply that of budget constraints. I remember mentioning, on the Floor of this House, that it is very expensive to run sports as this requires a lot of money. Therefore, with the limited resources allocated to my ministry, it is very difficult to run sports in this country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwenya (Nkana): Mr Speaker, identification and tapping of talent is not the only way that we can develop sports in this country. We need to nurture and develop …

Mr Speaker: Order!

You are now debating.

Mr Mwenya: I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the steps that the Government has taken to develop sports academies from primary up to university level across the country.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I do not really understand what the hon. Member is asking about. However, let me say that for us to improve sports in this country, we require sports infrastructure. Now, with the limited resources, we have started with the construction of the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC). We are also in the process of renovating all the provincial sports centres. I must state that these provincial stadia do not only cater for football, but also various types of sports disciplines.

Mr Speaker, it is also on record that this Government is undertaking the construction of the national stadia in Ndola, Lusaka and, hopefully, Livingstone. I am sure that these are all measures that are aimed at developing sports like the hon. Member asked in his question.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Munaile (Malole): Mr Speaker, despite the many positive initiatives the Government has taken in promoting sport, the biggest challenge still remains the cost of sports equipment. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development the initiative being taken to ensure that the cost of sports equipment is reduced so that the boys and girls in the rural parts of our country, who would like to get involved in any sports discipline, can easily access it at reasonable prices.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, associations that are affiliated to the NSCZ are assisted, in one way or the other, so that the cost of bringing in sports equipment is on the lower side.

Mr Speaker, I would, therefore, encourage most of the sports associations or federations to be affiliated to the NSCZ.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lumba (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, would the hon. Minister clarify the criteria which were used in picking the three provinces, leaving out the North-Western Province, which was providing most of the talent at the peak of Zambia’s football.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, they were just picked at random and, if there were some adequate funds, this exercise would have been rolled out to other provinces, including the North-Western Province.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Mr Speaker, we are always talking about inadequate funds. Is it possible for the Government to have some legislation that will tax cigarettes and beer so that a per centage of the money raised from the sale of a bottle of Mosi or any brand of beer and cigarette is set aside for sports so that we have the funds that we are always crying for? Furthermore, this will also discourage youths from smoking and drinking beer.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I am not too sure whether that could be done or not. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, who is in the House, has heard for himself.

Mr Speaker, the ministry has new ideas on how funds can be generated to run sports in this country. Obviously, I have said before, on the Floor of this House, that resources are mobilised from our co-operating partners. Secondly, we intend to form a trust fund or lottery that will generate funds in order to run sports in this country. In addition, I will come to the House and present a comprehensive ministerial statement on how the ministry intends to develop sports in this country.

I thank you, Sir.

MODERN MARKET IN CHOMA

379. Mr Chazangwe asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when a modern market would be constructed in Choma.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Muteteka): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the Government has developed a programme to construct modern markets in all provincial centres, municipalities and districts. The Urban Market Development Programme, with the support from the European Union (EU), constructed markets in the cities of Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe. The intention was to extend the programme to other towns but, unfortunately, the European Union Financing Agreement came to an end in March, 2010.

In view of the above, the Government will only construct a modern market in Choma when funds will be made available by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning or any other co-operating partner.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chazangwe: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the people of Choma, especially women, are squatting on land that belongs to the former Zambia Railways Limited? In fact, the management of the former Zambia Railways Limited has put up stiff rules not to put up any toilets. Consequently, the women use plastic bags as toilets.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Look at the question you asked and judge yourself.

We may go to the next question.

Laughter{mospagebreak}

STATE LOTTERIES BOARD OF ZAMBIA

380. Mr D. Mwila (Chipili) asked the Minister of Finance and National planning:

(a) what the financial status of the State Lotteries Board of Zambia was as of September, 2010;

(b) how much profit the State Lotteries Board made from 2008 to 2010; and

(c) how much money was invested in the company from 2008 to 2010.

The Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr Phiri): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the financial status of the State Lotteries Board of Zambia as of September, 2010 shows that the company made a loss of K1.54 billion due to the higher expenditures over the turnover.

From 2008 to 2010, the turnover of the State Lotteries Board of Zambia has been declining while the expenditure has almost been the same, hence the company recorded deficits during the period under review.

Mr Speaker, the Government released monthly operating grants amounting to K700 million to the State Lotteries Board of Zambia in 2008. Further, the Government released K600 million in 2010 towards the operations of the company.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, what business plans have been put in place to revive the company because it has even stopped paying salaries?

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, it is not true that the company has stopped paying salaries because it is still paying salaries from the grants that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning gives the company. In terms of the business plans, the company is, indeed, making losses because of the market having been infiltrated with better resourced mobile telecommunications companies such as Airtel, Zambia Telecommunications (ZAMTEL) and Zambian Lotto, which is a direct competitor. In fact, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning is really looking at the possibility of closing this company.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, revenue for running a state lottery, normally, is referred to as windfall revenue. In countries where this is the case ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

You are debating. Can you ask the question?

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, can this loss that has been mentioned by the hon. Deputy Minister be attributed to poor management of the institution?

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I cannot rule out the fact that management is poor, but the point to note is that we have a very good functioning board which is, in fact, chaired by the Commissioner-General of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). So, in terms of management capabilities, the company is well managed. However, there are problems at this company which cannot be capitalised obviously for the reason that I have already given because it is failing to withstand the competition that we are currently seeing in the business.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister indicate when this company will be closed because public resources are directed to this company?

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, we are currently in discussion with regard to when we intend to close this company. Currently, the company has a workforce of thirty-five. So, when it comes to winding up, I do not think that there will be problems because it has few assets, that is the building that is along Cairo Road in Lusaka, Lotti House, and another building in Kitwe. So, we are currently looking at how best we can approach the closure of this company.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Mulenga (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has indicated that the company is facing market stagnation and, in view of the fact that it will be winding up, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what will be left of the company in terms of its future operations.

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the company is not doing any business at all. Nothing much is really happening. So, in terms of future operations, this company is limping.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that this company is making losses and has personnel to pay. Where is it getting the money from if it is true that it is making losses? Who is subsidising it? Is it your ministry that is subsidising it?

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Gwembe, that is the kind of question that I disallow. The hon. Minister has already provided the answer, but you were not listening. Just to prove me right, may the hon. Minister say it again.

Mr Phiri: I thank you, Mr Speaker, for supporting me.

Mr Muntanga: How can the Speaker support you?

Mr Phiri: The answer that I provided was that this company is given grants on a monthly basis by the Government through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

I thank you, Sir.

PATENTS AND COMPANIES REGISTRATION AGENCY

381. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

 (a) what the total number of companies deregistered by the Patents and      Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) in 2009 and 2010 was      countrywide; and

 (b) what the main reasons for the deregistration of the companies were. 

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, the total number of companies deregistered by PACRA in 2009 was fifty-four. In 2010, 122 companies were deregistered.

Mr Speaker, all the fifty-four companies deregistered in 2009 were due to voluntary winding up. Of the 122 companies deregistered in 2010, thirty-eight were due to voluntary winding up whilst eighty-four were struck off the register for failure to file annual returns.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, apart from voluntary wind up, what other reasons are attributed to deregistration?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, we gave two circumstances under which companies were deregistered. These are voluntary winding up and failure to file annual returns. In some instances, it could be as a result of a court order to wind up.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Mwamba (Lukashya): Mr Speaker, would the hon. Minister not consider deregistering companies such as the Zambia State Lotteries, which are not performing, but swallowing Government money for nothing?

Laughter

Mr Speaker: The House has already considered that subject.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, failure to file annual returns is quite a prevalent problem, especially with small-scale companies. I wish to find out what PACRA is doing to assist small companies that are finding it quite a challenge to file annual returns because a lot more will be deregistered.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, to minimise the inconvenience and cost for filing returns, we are working with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to decentralise the filing of returns.

I thank you, Sir.

NJANJI COMMUTER TRAIN SERVICE

382. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Communications and Transport what progress had been made on the resuscitation of the Njanji Commuter Train service between Chilenje and Matero townships.

The Deputy Minister of Communications and Transport (Mr Mubika): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), invited the expression of interest from the private sector to develop and operate the Njanji Commuter Train services in Lusaka. None of the bidders were responsive, thus stalling the entire project.

Mr Speaker, the ministry is working with the ZDA and has, therefore, re-advertised the Njanji Commuter Train services so that a quality concessionaire is chosen to manage and operate the urban train service. The ministry is doing everything possible to secure the commuter train service.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

KANYAMA DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

383. Mr Hamusonde asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing what measures the Government had taken to ensure that Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency has sufficient drainage systems during the 2010/2011 rainy season.

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Lusaka City Council (LCC), has embarked on the excavation of major outfall drainages in Kanyama, Los Angeles Road up to Lusaka West. Kanyama area needs to be worked on immediately because this is where most of the water flows to. Whatever is done in Kanyama Compound, the drainage improvement project leads water to this same outfall drain.

A survey of the area revealed a lot of blockages of the drainage system by developers who have constructed houses, boundary walls and piggeries across existing drainage channels. These developments will require demolishing in order to re-establish the original sizes of the drainage channels.

 The Kamwala and other main outfall drains require de-silting, as they have accumulated a lot of garbage and silt during the dry season. Once the main outfall drainages are opened, storm water will flow smoothly when heavy rains come.

Mr Speaker, the LCC recently procured culvert pipes and boxes using a grant of K1.8 billion from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for installation at various locations in the drainage network so as to complete the drainage system. The council has also identified areas where the drainage system has been disturbed by developments that will need to be demolished. The council intends to demolish these developments and rebuild the boundary walls to save on time rather than if the same was to be done by the developers.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, the sides of the drainages being constructed in Kanyama are collapsing. What is the problem?

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, to start with, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing just released money to the LCC who sourced a contractor who is on site. The LCC is managed by a very good team of engineers and hon. Members of Parliament who are councilors in that area. Therefore, if the identification and sourcing of this contractor is questionable, it has to be revisited. We regret that the newly-constructed drainage is collapsing as a result of poor workmanship and, this, we will have to revisit.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Kanyama, you mean a question to follow up and not a point of order? Ask a question.

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to inform this august House whether he is aware that this House appropriated K10 billion for the construction of a drainage system in Kanyama and, at the stroke of a pen, this same ministry withdrew that appropriation. Can he inform the House and this nation where that money has been taken?

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, let me inform this august House that when we had given this money to the LCC, I personally travelled to Kanyama and picked up the hon. Member in my vehicle and we drove following the line where we said we were going to construct the drainage.

I informed him about all the plans that we had in the ministry and how much we wanted the drainage system to be worked on. That was before the rainy season. I encouraged him to associate himself with the works on the ground as an hon. Member of Parliament, and to inform us if at all there was anything that was not being done the right way. Therefore, he should have reported the problem he has just talked about, sometime back, to the ministry.

Interruptions

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, the fact that I paid a courtesy call on the hon. Member of Parliament means that we are serious in our efforts to sort out the problems affecting the people in his constituency. We want to work with him.

Sir, as regards the money for the project in question, it has been given to the LCC where he is a councillor. It is the fault of the members of the council that the money was not used to carry out the required works.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out why the hon. Minister has informed this august House that drainages were constructed when what transpired was just drilling and blasting. As a result of the drilling and blasting, there is no water flowing …

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member is debating. Has the hon. Minister picked up something from that debate?

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, for the benefit of the hon. Member of Parliament, I mentioned earlier that the LCC sourced for a contractor to carry out the works on the drainage system in Kanyama. All the necessary specifications and conditions were included in the contract which the LCC signed with the contractor.

In a nutshell, all I can say is that construction works of the drainage system in Kanyama Compound have been taking place. If the hon. Member wishes to follow up any issues regarding these works, he can get their details from the LCC.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, the problem of drainage system in Kanyama is a perennial one. Year in and year out, we have been talking about it. I wish to find out when a lasting solution known by this Government will be implemented so that we stop talking about this problem in Kanyama.

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, we, not only have a plan to work on the drainage system in Kanyama, but also those of other compounds such as Chipata, Chawama, Kalikiliki and other townships that experience floods during the rainy season. Thus, with the availability of resources, we will implement these plans so that problems that are caused by flooding can come to an end.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Sinyangwe (Matero): Mr Speaker, does the hon. Minister know that efforts to try and solve the problem in Kanyama have led to all the water from that area coming to my constituency and there is a big problem there?

Laughter

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, we are aware of that. This is why the Disaster Management Committee of Lusaka is working with the local authorities to open up most of the drainages which are blocked by garbage. The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, Zambia Army and Zambia National Service are on the ground to respond to some of these challenges.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

SIOMA NGWEZI NATIONAL PARK

384. Ms Limata (Luampa) asked the hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources what long-term plans had been put in place for tourism development in the Sioma Ngwezi National Park in the Western Province.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Mr Mwangala): Mr Speaker, the Sioma Ngwezi National Park is part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Areas (KAZA-TFCA) covering five countries, namely Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Therefore, as part of this initiative, an integrated development plan (IDP) for the Zambian component of the area has been developed and was approved by my ministry in 2008. According to the plan, tourism will be developed in and around the Sioma Ngwezi National Park through:

(i) the conservation of key biological resources as well as cultural and archeological resources;

(ii) the provision of business opportunities from the natural resources and cultural environment of the area; 

(iii) the provision of socio-economic benefits to communities surrounding the national park as well as to contribute to the local economy and the effort of conserving the park in a sustainable manner; and

(iv) the formation of functional partnerships between the Government, business and local communities to integrate conservation projects with the regional development plan and other initiatives.

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this House that, as part of implementation of the IDP, the ministry has increased field staff in the Sioma Ngwezi National Park. The procurement of equipment and construction of offices and staff houses are in the process following the release of funds from the KAZA-TFCA Programme. In addition, the construction of the entry points and access roads within the park will be undertaken as part of the implementation of the IDP.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Ms Limata: Mr Speaker, this project started in 2008. I would like to find out when the work will start in the Western Province?

The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Ms Namugala): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has explained, …

Hon. Government Members: Ably!

Ms Namugala: … yes, very ably that the IDP was approved by the Zambian Government in 2008. At the moment, we are implementing the programme. In order to fully implement it, we need resources. We have just accessed 2.2 million Euros for the implementation of the plan.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, has the Government included the donor community in its plan?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, yes, apart from our own national development plan, we are working with the donor community using the KAZA-TFCA Programme which the hon. Deputy Minister has talked about. We are going to take two approaches. The first one is that we are going to use resources from the donor community. As I have already indicated, we have received 2.2 million Euros from the donors for the implementation of the IDP. In addition to that, we are going to use our own national resources to develop the Sioma Ngwezi National Park.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, how much money does the Government intend to contribute to this long-term plan?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the funds, which we are spending at the moment, are resources which we have acquired under the KAZA-TFCA. As I have indicated, with our resources as a Government, we are going to develop infrastructure as and when resources are available.

I thank you, Sir.

DESK DISTRIBUTION IN CHIPILI

385. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Education:

(a) how many desks the ministry distributed to basic schools in Chipili Parliamentary Constituency from 2009 to 2010, year by year; and

(b) when desks would be distributed to the following basic schools in Chipili Parliamentary Constituency;

(i) Mukonshi;

(ii) Chinshinki; and

(iii) Chipili.

The Deputy Minister of Education (Mr Sinyinda): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education distributed 270 desks in Chipili Constituency in 2009. The following schools from the constituency benefited:

               School                       No. of Desks

Chikubi Basic   90

Mulwani Basic       45

Mulundu Basic   90

Kalundu Basic   45

 Total                            270

Sir, the Ministry of Education budgeted for 945 desks for Mwense District at a cost of K222,075,000 in 2010 of which 315 desks have been delivered to Chipili. Mukonshi, Chinshinki and Chipili basic schools have all been given the required desks.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm that Mulundu Basic School is not in Chipili Constituency. I would like the hon. Minister to tell us where the desks meant for my constituency have gone. 

Mr Sinyinda: Mr Speaker, I am not very sure of that matter. What I can assure the hon. Member is that we have distributed desks in his constituency.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION COUNTRYWIDE

386. Mr Chazangwe asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Services what measures the Government had taken to alleviate poverty in the rural areas countrywide.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Malwa): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services is a key Government institution that aims at improving the welfare of the people of Zambia. The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services is mandated with the responsibility to contribute significantly to a reduction in poverty and the improvement of the living standards of the most vulnerable in society. The ministry is charged with responsibilities such as the protection of children as well as the preservation and promotion of Zambia’s cultural heritage and identity.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, in its bid to alleviate poverty in the country, especially in rural areas, has focused its efforts on the following ten key programmes:

(i) Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS);

(ii) Social Cash Transfer Scheme;

(iii) care for the aged;

(iv) support to children’s homes;

(v) empowerment of women;

(vi) Food Security Pack;

(vii) Community Self-Help Initiative;

(viii) food for assets (FFA);

(ix) non-formal community skills training, and

(x) rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

Sir, with your permission, allow me now to outline the objective and approach of each programme mentioned above.

Mr Speaker, PWAS is aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of the socio-economic shocks and other negative effects such as poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. PWAS targets 10 per cent of the population who fall in the lowest decile and these are the poorest of the poor in the country. The overall aim of PWAS is to assist the most vulnerable in society to meet their basic needs, particularly in health, education, food and shelter. The scheme is administered through all the district offices and has structures up to the community level where identification, prioritisation and assistance takes place.

Mr Mubika: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, social cash transfers are regular non-contributory payments of money provided by the Government to individuals or households. The scheme targets 10 per cent of the most destitute and incapacitated households in a given community to meet their basic needs. The minimum monthly transfer to a household is K55,000 and is currently based on the annual average price of a 50 kg bag of mealie meal which allows a family to afford a second meal. The cash transfer scheme is therefore, an alternative form of assistance offered under PWAS and tries to respond to the growing number of vulnerable households. Currently, the scheme is operational in Kalomo, Kazungula, Chipata, Monze, Katete, Kaputa, Shang’ombo and Kalabo districts respectively, supporting a total number of 20,867 beneficiary households.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, care for the aged is support for vulnerable persons aged 60 years and above through community or institutional care. At present, the country has eight homes for aged persons. The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services runs Maramba in Livingstone, Chibolya Old People’s Home in Mufulira while providing support to Divine Providence Home in Lusaka. There is also Mitanda in Ndola, Chibote in Luanshya and Mwandi in Sesheke. The ministry also provides financial support to community and faith-based organisations looking after aged persons. At this time, there are about 200 vulnerable aged persons in institutions of care.

Mr Speaker, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) Government, through supporting both public and private children’s homes in all the districts, facilitates the provision of shelter, care and support to orphans and vulnerable children. The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services provides grants to homes and inspects, monitors and supervises the children’s homes to ensure that they comply with the set standards of care, under the United Nations (UN), through the provision of guidelines in order to ensure that children are well looked after. Currently, the ministry is providing grants and other forms of support to approximately 160 children’s homes in Lusaka and countrywide. 

Mr Speaker, the overall objective of the Women Empowerment Funds Programme is to empower disadvantaged groups in all districts, especially women, through the provision of skills training, including entrepreneurship grants to support income-generating activities and provision of equipment such as hammer mills, ox-ploughs, yenga press machines, ox-carts and sewing machines in an effort to support more women and upgrade their standards of living and, thereby reducing poverty levels. The Government, in 2011, increased the allocation to this programme from K5 billion, in 2010, to K15 billion which this House approved and we thank hon. Members for this. 

Mr Speaker, the Food Security Pack (FSP) Programme is agricultural-orientated and is implemented throughout the country. The objective of the FSP is to promote food security at the household level in order to reduce poverty and enhance household nutrition. This is done through the provision of inputs and extension services. The programme has four components, namely crop diversification, conservation farming, promotion of alternative livelihoods such as fish farming, piggery and poultry and the creation of commercial credit banks.

Mr Speaker, the objectives of the Community Self-Help Initiative are to:

(i) mobilise communities to improve their quality of life through undertaking self-help projects; and

(ii) facilitate service delivery at the community level through creation and/or strengthening of community-based organisations and other community structures.

Mr Speaker, the projects initiated and supported a range of construction and rehabilitation works such as community foot bridges, dam expansion, community halls/markets, houses and office block renovations, including agricultural activities such as piggery, bee-keeping and gardening.

Mr Speaker, the overall objective of the Food for Assets Programme is to enhance the creation of assets that promote food security in poor and food insecure communities affected by chronic food insecurity due to natural shocks such as drought and floods. Exceptional areas such as those with high HIV/AIDS prevalence are equally considered. The beneficiaries receive rations of maize meal and cooking oil after completing certain works that range from construction, infrastructure development and agriculture. At present, the programme is being implemented in twelve districts, namely Chadiza, Chama, Katete, Lundazi, Gwembe, Siavonga, Solwezi, Chingola, Kitwe, Luanshya, Mufulira and Ndola.  
 
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services provides non-formal education and skills training as an instrument and strategy to reduce poverty, especially in rural areas. This programme has two components that target the graduates from literacy classes and those who had no chance of going to formal school, but are in need of livelihood skills.

Mr Speaker, last, but not the least is the rehabilitation …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended at 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, when business was suspended, I was about to talk about the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD). This is a programme for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities .

Madam Speaker, Zambia joined the rest of the international community in signing and ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities aimed at promoting as well as protecting and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities. By signing and ratifying the United Nations Convention, the Zambian Government demonstrated its commitment to protecting the interests of persons with disabilities.

Madam Speaker, a deliberate effort has been made by the MMD Government, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, to ensure persons with disabilities have access to quality rehabilitation services in order to attain their full capacity. This is through the various rehabilitation and farm centres dotted around the country that provide employment, rehabilitation and empowerment through farm inputs, skills training, medical and education support to persons with disabilities. These are the Government programmes under our ministry.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chazangwe: Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister indicate if he has any more money for the empowerment of women in rural areas.

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, in my detailed response, I even thanked this august House for increasing the women empowerment funds from K5 billion to K15 billion in this year’s Budget.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kapeya: Madam Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister why his ministry has failed to involve hon. Members of Parliament in the distribution of fertilisers, food and other necessities to vulnerable groups in various constituencies.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, this ministry has not failed to do what the hon. Member is saying. I have just outlined programmes for the hon. Members of this august House to be aware of so that they can get involved. As I said earlier, this is a key ministry which is close to the grassroots where the hon. Members of Parliament serve. Therefore, if there are any matters that hon. Members do not understand or would like us to work together on, I am inviting them to our office so that we can incorporate them in these programmes.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kakoma (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, last year, the hon. Minister, in a ministerial statement, promised that the Social Cash Transfer Scheme would be extended to Zambezi. Why has that not been the case to date?

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, the Social Cash Transfer Programme is on going. These programmes will be scaled up yearly when funds are made available. This is when we will take into account the hon. Member’s question.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Madam Speaker, while I congratulate the hon. Minister on giving the women clubs in Mwense poverty alleviating funds, there have been complaints that the hon. Minister is the one who distributes these funds. Can he clarify the importance of doing that?

The Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Kaingu): Madam Speaker, as hon. Minister in charge of the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, I am in charge of the ministry throughout the country. I can even run it from Mporokoso.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: Just like my President is in charge of the whole Republic.

Madam Speaker, most of the hon. Members of Parliament have approached the ministry to ask for women empowerment funds. As I said earlier, these funds are given to hon. Members who apply for them. Therefore, the programme is, actually, driven by the hon. Members themselves. When the hon. Members’ applications are successful and the cheques are ready, most hon. Members, who know how the hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Services campaigns in their areas, invite him to present the cheques on their behalf.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: What I do, as hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Services, is to first ask hon. Member of Parliament to gather the women. Then, when addressing the women gathered for me, …

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: … I talk about the interventions found in my ministry. The next thing I do is to talk about my President.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: I explain how magnanimous my President has been by moving the empowerment money from the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) back to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. After that, if an hon. Member of Parliament for that particular area has got leadership qualities, I talk about them.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: If he/she has none, I will say something about them anyway.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: The fourth thing I do is to talk about my party, MMD, to the people who have gathered. That is what I do.

The other issue I talk about, which is a clincher, is my President.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: After I have finished talking about him, I am then ready to distribute the cheques to the women.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: That is what I do.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Therefore, I am a person who has been everywhere in Zambia to sensitise the women about empowerment and you cannot deny that fact. I have been to all the provinces to talk about women empowerment. In fact, in some areas I am called ‘Mr Empowerment’.

Mr Mubika: Mr Women!

Mr Kaingu: As I address women, I also encourage them to form more clubs because, as hon. Minister, I provide the vision for the ministry. I do things effectively while my Permanent Secretary (PS) and Directors do things efficiently.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Kaingu: As hon. Minister, I manage things in a manner that you will commend. I travel just like my fellow hon. Ministers do. In the olden days, there was a complaint that ministers were not travelling to see what was happening on the ground. Therefore, hon. Ministers must go out there to articulate issues concerning the Government.

Madam Speaker, I beg your indulgence because I have to propound on this issue.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Madam, I have heard people say that I go to areas where there are by-elections. Yes, as a person who is an advocate for poverty alleviation, I know that the poorest people are found where there are by-elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: Therefore, as a marketer of this programme, this is my opportunity to talk to the gathered women about poverty alleviation programmes and the interventions by my ministry. I also talk to them about the magnanimous President of this Republic.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: Therefore, I go to areas where there are by-elections because that is where politicians gather the people to whom I talk.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Madam Speaker, in the answer that the hon. Deputy Minister gave, it was indicated that the allocation to the programme of women empowerment for 2011 has been increased to K15 billion. May I know when the disbursement of these funds to women clubs will start? Can we just go with the programme to the ministry and get it started or do we have to wait to be told when to start?

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, the disbursement of funds has already started. Like we did, last year, hon. Member of Parliament for Luapula, please, bring the women’s clubs again, this year, and we will empower them.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Machungwa: Hear, hear!

Mr L. J. Mulenga: Madam Speaker, the answer given by the hon. Deputy Minister is well articulated, but I want to know how well these programmes are evaluated and their time range to ensure that they impact on the rural people as regards to poverty alleviation.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, once again, that is a very good question but, like the first question, if I have to articulate everything programme by programme, the hon. Members here will ask why I am giving such an elaborate answer. In short, I will say that there is a monitoring team in my ministry.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Speaker, the Government has stopped funding farming blocks for the disabled persons countrywide with regard to crop production. May I find out from the hon. Minister what the future of persons with disabilities is.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, I am glad that you allowed Hon. Mwila to ask his question because he was boiling where he was.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, we do not fund farming blocks per se, but we fund the Zambia Association for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) that has an annual grant of K5.5 billion. When we give it that money and it is entirely up to it to decide whether to take that money to the farming blocks or not.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

CONTAGIOUS BOVINE PLEURO PNEUMONIA

387. Mr Chazangwe asked the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development:

(a) how many animals died of Contagious Bovine Pleuro pneumonia (CBPP) between 2007 and 2010; and

(b) what measures the Government had taken to eradicate the disease.

The Deputy Minister of Livestock and fisheries Development (Mr Mulonga): Madam Speaker, between 2007 and 2010, a total of 854 cattle died of CBPP. Out of this, 460 died in the Western Province, thirty in the North-Western Province and 364 in Kazungula District.

Madam Speaker, the Western and North-Western provinces are endemic areas and the following are the measures that the Government has taken to control the disease:

(i) vaccination of cattle every year;

(ii) branding of vaccinated cattle;

(iii) not permitting live cattle to move out of the Western and North-Western provinces;

(iv) not permitting cattle from neighbouring countries into Zambia and, once introduced, must be destroyed;

(v) subjecting all cattle movements within the provinces to issuance of a livestock movement permit;

(vi) advising the farmer to slaughter all the animals where a disease is diagnosed in a herd. This is an on-going programme;

(vii) conducting surveillance at abattoirs and kraals (herd monitoring);

(viii) conducting in-house training for field and laboratory staff;

(ix) distributing protocols to all staff for response to suspected outbreaks of CBPP;

(x) conducting sero-surveillance and

(xi)  forming CBPP task forces.

Madam Speaker, Kazungula District of Southern Province is non endemic, as it is a new area of outbreak. The following are the measures the Government has taken to control the disease:

(i) forming community CBPP Task Forces to assist in;

(a) Livestock movement control;
(b) Community sensitisation; and
(c) Early reporting of suspected CBPP cases;

(ii) conducting sero-surveillance;

(iii) abattoir surveillance;

(iv) filtering positive herds to the abattoir;

(v) using stock registers; and

(vi) using district brands to identify animals.

Madam Speaker, the Government’s plan of controlling CBPP in the country is bearing fruit with regard to the prevalence of CBPP in Kazungula where it has reduced from 16 per cent in 2006 to less than 1 per cent in 2010.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chazangwe: Madam Speaker, because of the animal diseases we have in the country where the Government is failing to give a long lasting solution, we are not allowed to export meat.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Can you ask a question?

Mr Chazangwe: Madam Speaker, when will the Government find long lasting solutions to the diseases so that we are able to export meat like other countries in the region?

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, this question comes in all forms. Time and again, we have said that we have embarked on the introduction of the livestock service centres, disease-free zones and livestock breeding centres because we have seen that this is the only way we can manage the diseases. As I always say, eradication, in most cases, is not possible but we will control the diseases.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sikota, SC. (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, I want to know when the Government envisages that it shall declare the Western and Southern provinces disease-free zones. If there is no envisaged date, why is that so? On what basis is the Government planning to tackle these diseases?

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, as for the Western Province, which I described as an endemic area, as a Government, we are trying to monitor, at least, for the coming years, if there will be another outbreak of CBPP. Whilst we are doing that, we have also put the provinces under surveillance and vaccinating the animals. With this programme, we vaccinate animals yearly in the Western and Southern provinces. Last year, we vaccinated over 400,000 animals in the Western Province. This year, we have planned to vaccinate about 500,000 in the same province to make sure that we wipe out all the nodules which may be harbouring the disease in the animals. These might be inactive, but may become active if the conditions are conducive.

Madam Speaker, this programme has started in three provinces, namely Lusaka, part of Copperbelt and Central to create disease-free zones. What this means is that when all things are put in place, then we have an international organisation for animals which must come and give a go ahead for us to start exporting the animals. For Western and Southern provinces, where these diseases have already been reported, it has to takes seven years to monitor whether the disease has been controlled correctly. That is the time when the provinces can effectively start exporting the animals. That is why we started with the provinces where the disease is less or not reported so that it does not take us seven years to export the meat and meat products.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Muyanda: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Minister for attempting to control the disease because I am also a farmer. The Southern Province has great potential as a farming province. May I know from the hon. Minister why the Government has decided to sell Simonga, which was a quarantined area for disease control and CBPP was highly detected from this point, to a private investor? The area is in Livingstone as you come from the Western Province. May I have an answer from the hon. Minister who is attempting to solve the problem of CBPP?

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, I would not give a categorical answer to that question because, what I know is that, at the moment, Simonga is one of the areas we are working on as a quarantined place. Some money, though I cannot really mention how much because it is not in my head, has already been allocated in this year’s action plan so that we improve the facilities there. If it has been sold, then, maybe, we need some information from the hon. Member of Parliament so that we can, at least, be moving in tandem.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Madam Speaker, currently, the only place where the vaccination of animals is done in Kazungula is the Kasaya. When is the ministry going to extend this programme to the whole district so that the less than 1 per cent disease prevalence is completely eradicated?

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, firstly, Kasaya is where there is a bit of concentration of the cattle population in Kazungula District. Secondly, that is where CBPP is localised. So, we are concentrating more on that area so that the disease does not spread to other areas. However, as and when need arises, we will still go ahead and vaccinate the whole district when resources are made available.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr L. J. Mulenga: Madam Speaker, as a cattle farmer, I obviously know that this disease is a big problem for farmers. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the 804 animals reported to have died, which was the number he stated in his answer to part (a) of the question, is the total from 2007 to 2010. If it is, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether this number is reducing year by year, taking into account the measures that this Government is putting in place to control CBPP.

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, firstly, I would like to correct the hon. Member that it is not 804 or even 884, but 854 animals that died. That is the correct number. My answer was with regard to the period between 2007 and 2010, as the question requested. As for whether the number is increasing or reducing, it varies from one year to another, depending on, firstly, the consequences and attributes to the outbreak of the disease. Sometimes, you may find that, like in 2007, we had 153 cases whilst in 2008, we had 186 cases. The figures vary. In 2010, we had 239 cases. So, they are not so sequential that we can say, because this year we have 150 cases, then the next year it must be 140 cases. That is not the case.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

____________

BILLS

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the 
Chair]

THE DAY NURSERIES (Repeal) BILL, 2010

Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
__________

HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair}

The following Bill was reported to the House as having passed through Committee without amendment:

The Day Nurseries (Repeal) Bill, 2010

Third Reading on Thursday, 24th March, 2011.

REPORT STAGE

The Liquor Licensing Bill, 2011

Report adopted.

Third Reading on Thursday, 24th March, 2011. 

THIRD READING

The following Bills were read the third time and passed:

The Registration of Business Names Bill, 2011

The Traditional Beer (Repeal) Bill, 2011

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

___________

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

___________

The House adjourned at 1706 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 24th March, 2011.