DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 1st March, 2011

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

The following Member took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance:

Jazzman Chikwakwa

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

NDOLA CENTRAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

237. Mr Kambwili (Roan) asked the Minister of Health:

 (a) when a school of medicine would be opened at Ndola Central Hospital;

 (b) how many students were expected to enroll for the first intake; and

 (c) which university the school would be affiliated to.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Kalila): Mr Speaker, the School of Medicine at the Copperbelt University (CBU) will be opened in April, 2011. It will be called the Copperbelt University School of Medicine (CUSOM).

The initial intake will have fifty students. It will consist of forty medical students and ten dental students. CUSOM will be affiliated to the CBU.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, in view of the brain drain that this country is experiencing, may I find out from the hon. Minister whether there will be any steps taken to prevent the new graduates from leaving the country before they serve the Government of the Republic of Zambia?

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, this is a question that we have addressed on the Floor of this House, particularly last week when we mentioned that the Government is determined to scale-up production of medical professionals. However, to produce graduates is one thing and to retain them is another. In our quest to retain them, the Ministry of Health is engaged in an elaborate incentive scheme which is currently encouraging workers to work in underserved areas. Various incentives such as the Rural Retention Allowance and other monetary incentives, including accommodation and training are offered to these staff. We are mindful of the fact that we need to retain staff. This scheme is already in existence and has helped to retain some of our graduates.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mushili (Ndola Central): Mr Speaker, in view of this university being opened in April this year, what preparations has the Government put in place to ensure that accommodation is available for the fifty students?

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, as we have indicated, we intend to take an initial in-take of fifty students who will be based on the Copperbelt, in Ndola, although the school will be attached to the CBU. Prudent as we are, we are mindful of the fact that these students need to be accommodated and this school will initially be housed within the Biomedical Sciences School which has reduced its intake in order to accommodate the medical students in its hostels.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has just revealed that this particular institution was originally designed for biomedical studies. I would like him to tell me whether or not he no longer sees the need to continue training students in biomedical studies in this country. I would also like him to state when the Government will stop converting institutions and upgrading them to universities the way they have done to institutions such as the Kwame Nkrumah Teachers College. When will they start building institutions for the purpose which they want to achieve?

The Minister of Health (Mr Simbao): Mr Speaker, the Bio-Medical Sciences School will still remain in Ndola. I earlier said that CUSOM will help the Bio-Medical Sciences School because it will consider offering bio-medical sciences at degree level which are not offered at this school at the moment.

Sir, the introduction of CUSOM in Ndola will upgrade the Bio-Medical Sciences School. In fact, the principal is very happy with this development because it will mean that it will have more lecturers than they have at the moment. Therefore, training of bio-medical students at this school will continue.

Mr Speaker, this is a temporary arrangement. The permanent arrangement is an establishment of a Health Sciences Centre for Zambia in Ndola, which is being constructed. Land, therefor, has already been provided by the Ndola Council. Thereafter, all the faculties of sciences in this country will be accommodated at the Health Sciences Centre.

However, we cannot wait for this centre to be constructed before training doctors because we have the facility. The consultant from the World Health Organisation (WHO) was shocked that a hospital such as Ndola was not a university training hospital.

Sir, we are going to do everything possible to train doctors while building the Health Sciences Centre.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, when does the hon. Minister hope to set up the University of Medicine in Ndola rather than having it attached to Copperbelt University?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member, who is very conversant with education, for that question. As he knows, a senate is offered by an established university, but ours are only schools or faculties and not universities in their own right. In fact, we requested that this particular university be attached to the Ministry of Health. However, the request was turned down by the consultant. He said there were few countries in which ministries of health ran schools of medicine. They are supposed to be attached to the Ministry of Education. Therefore, even though the Ministry of Health is in the forefront in having the school built, this programme is under the Ministry of Education.

The consultant said that even when the Ministry of Health builds the Health Sciences Centre, the infrastructure will belong to the Ministry of Education. However, the staff will be from the Ministry of Health.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, the University of Zambia School of Medicine has a serious challenge of inadequate and run-down infrastructure.

Sir, I would like to find out why the Government has embarked on opening another School of Medicine when they are failing to maintain the one in existence to the required standard. What assurance do we have that this problem at the University of Zambia School of Medicine will not be perpetuated at this new School of Medicine?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, the Health Sciences Centre buildings will belong to the Ministry of Health. The Staff will be from the Ministry of Education. There is a difference. The Ridgeway Campus belongs to the Ministry of Education and not the Ministry of Health.

Sir, the hon. Member can do well to appreciate that this Government is trying to make amends in the areas where we are lacking. The Ministry of Education is trying its best to refurbish the Ridgeway Campus.

Mr Speaker, he can also appreciate that when the Ridgeway Campus was initially opened, it used to train medical students. Currently, it is training many other students. For that reason, it has become slightly difficult to manage. However, the Ministry of Education is addressing this problem. I am sure that Ridgeway Campus will be quite modern too in the near future.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out how many lecturers have been assigned to tutor the fifty students and how many of these lecturers are Zambians?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, at the moment, I have not been provided with the figures. We have employed a Zambian Dean of Students who is recruiting lecturers at the moment. However, we are in agreement with the Nebraska University that will be sending lecturers to this university all the time.

Sir, I do not know how many people he has put on his establishment, but he has assured all of us that it will not be a problem to find lecturers for this school. Nebraska University has, so far, taken in four of our people whom it is training so that, by April, they are ready to teach difficult courses such as Anatomy and Physiology where we have had shortages in this country.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

TASK FORCE ON CORRUPTION OPERATIONS

238. Mr Imenda (Lukulu East) asked the Vice-President and Minister of Justice:

(a) how much money the defunct Task Force on Corruption spent on its operations from 2002 to 2009; and

(b) how much money was realised by the Task Force on Corruption from cases of plunder in the same period.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Mr Speaker, the defunct Task Force on Corruption spent the following amounts on its operations from 2002 to 2009:

Source of Funding Amount

Government of the Republic of Zambia 
funding to the Task Force on Corruption K23,381,447,312.81

Donor Support to the Task Force on 
Corruption US$11,891,189.02

Sir, in the same period, the Task Force on Corruption realised the following monies from cases of plunder:

Asset Amount (ZMK)

Real Estates  72,700,000,000.00

Movable assets (Vehicles, boats, plan and equipment) 5,800,000,000.00

Cash at Bank of Zambia 1,600,000,000.00

Cash remitted to the Ministry of Health  12,398,229,250.02
(for onward application in the countrywide Labour
Wards Project)
   
Total Value      92,498,229,259.00 

Contested properties pending civil court cases 20,000,000,000.00 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, how will the Government clear all the pending cases now that the Tax Force on Corruption has been dissolved?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, in this House, we have given comprehensive information before, including what is to be done to pending cases. These cases were all transferred to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Kapata (Mandevu): Mr Speaker, how much money was realised by the Task Force on Corruption and how much was spent?

Mr Speaker: His Honour the Vice-President and Learned Minister of Justice will have to summarise the answer he has already given.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, the money realised from the plunder is as follows:

Asset Amount (ZMK)

Real Estates  72,700,000,000.00

Movable assets (Vehicles, boats, plan and equipment) 5,800,000,000.00

Cash at Bank of Zambia 1,600,000,000.00

Cash remitted to the Ministry of Health … 

Interruptions

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice:  Listen carefully.

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Sir, cash remitted to the Ministry of Health is K12,398,229,250.02. This is the money for onward application in the countrywide labour wards project.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, the Government sent auditors to audit books for the Task Force on Corruption. What is the outcome of that audit?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I think it is public knowledge that the Auditor-General released those findings.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, may I know from which plunderer more money was recovered and from which one the least money was recovered?

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, there were various defendants such as Jaban Properties in Belgium where we recovered some money. There were many …

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: … other miscellaneous defendants.

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: I know the person you are referring to, but nothing was recovered from him.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, in view of the fact that the principal suspect for the Task Force on Corruption was recently acquitted, can His Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Justice indicate how much money was returned after that acquittal?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, if a person is acquitted, he is innocent and very clean. Therefore, no money is recoverable from such a person.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether it is true that the Task Force on Corruption was created by the late President Mwanawasa, SC. to fight President Chiluba and his colleagues, considering what His Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Justice has told us.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, of course, that was not the purpose of the Task Force on Corruption. Recoveries were made from various individuals in the fight against corruption.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

FRA GRAIN STORAGE SHEDS CONSTRUCTION

239. Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives:

(a) how much money the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) spent on the construction of grain storage sheds countrywide from 2006 to date;

(b) in which areas of the country the storage sheds were constructed; and

(c) whether the Government was satisfied with storage arrangements for the 2009/2010 crops.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Mr Mbewe): Mr Speaker, the amount of money spent by the FRA on the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of grain storage sheds countrywide from 2006 to date is K75 billion.

Sir, the following are the areas in which storage sheds have been constructed since 2006.

District Depot Capacity Year

Kasempa Kasempa  3,500 2007

Kalulushi Chambishi 35,230 2010

Chibombo Chisamba 12,083 2010

Kalomo Kalomo    19,890 2010

Kapiri-Mposhi Kapiri-Mposhi  9,733 2010

Mbala Mbala  5,290 2010

Mufumbwe Mufumbwe  5,290 2010

Serenje Serenje  5,290 2010

Petauke Petauke  5,290 2010

Total  101,596

Mr Speaker, the Government is not satisfied with the storage arrangements for the 2009/2010 crops. The current usable storage capacity of 1.3 million metric tonnes, out of the total capacity of 2 million metric tonnes, is insufficient to meet the growing national requirements for agricultural storage.

In order to secure the current bumper harvest of 2.8 million metric tonnes of maize, the Government, through the  FRA, has leased storage facilities from private organisations, erected timber log platforms and used tarpaulins to cover stocks lying on hard standings.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwango: Mr Speaker, the Government is not satisfied with the usage of maize, this year, from last year’s harvest. Does the Government not intend to donate the maize, which is just lying idle in these areas, to schools and hospitals that need it?

The Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Dr Kazonga): Mr Speaker, when the Government realised the challenge that was faced in the last agriculture season, a number of activities were carried out. One of them was the construction of storage facilities and rehabilitation of those that were already in existence. As for the surplus crop, the Government is doing a number of things about it. One of them is exporting it.

Secondly, I am sure you are aware that, over a month ago, my ministry donated 15,000 metric tonnes of the surplus maize to the School Feeding Programme under the Ministry of Education. This is in an effort to ensure that more people benefit from the bumper harvest.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, since the Government is not satisfied with the number of storage sheds constructed so far, …

Mr D. Mwila: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise a point of order.

Mr Speaker is the Government in order to remain quiet and not inform the people of Zambia and Parliament on the future of Finance Bank Plc.? You will recall that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Bank of Zambia (BoZ), announced the take-over of Finance Bank Plc. not long ago. The Government also announced that it intended to sell the bank, raising a lot of concern from shareholders, depositors and the general public.

Since Parliament started sitting last week, no one from the Government has informed this august House and the general public about the future of Finance Bank Plc. Is the Government in order to keep quiet on this matter? I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

My serious ruling on the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Chipili is as follows:

Finance Bank Plc is a private enterprise. Therefore, it can do anything it wants or things can be done for it as required. There is no obligation on the part of the Government to come to this House and make any public announcement.

Secondly, the issue of Finance Bank Plc is in the news almost everyday. It is up to the hon. Member for Chipili to decide for himself whether what he is reading in the newspapers, watching on television or listening to on radio is accurate or not. The information is made available to him. Therefore, the Government is in order not to interfere in private affairs. 
 
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member for Dundumwezi was raising a follow-up question.

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, since the Government is not satisfied with the number of sheds around the country, I would like to find out in which districts the Government intends to construct more storage sheds to cater for the deficit. 

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, as I indicated earlier, because of limited storage facilities in the country for use by the FRA, the Government was able to source for funds amounting to US$11.6 million. This is how the extra capacity that the hon. Deputy Minister mentioned, particularly in 2010, was initiated. As a result of the construction that we had under Phase I, we have extra storage capacity of 98,000 metric tonnes.
 
Looking at the trend in maize production, the sheds are still not enough. As a result, the Government would like to go into Phase II of construction and rehabilitation of storage facilities. It is our plan to construct six extra silos in the country and also rehabilitate the existing five in Kabwe, Ndola, Kitwe, Monze and Chisamba. 

We are rehabilitating the existing ones and constructing new ones. We plan to construct ninety-nine extra storage sheds throughout the country. Some of the areas we are considering are those with increased maize production and consumption. We need to have our strategic food reserve near the people who are consuming the maize.

Mr Speaker, I wish to state that the Government is committed to ensuring that we continue with the construction and rehabilitation of storage facilities. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when the silos in Monze will be rehabilitated.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, three weeks ago, I was in Monze and saw the condition of the silos. Monze has already been captured under the rehabilitation programme. Immediately we are through with the mobilisation of resources for Phase II, rehabilitation of the silos in Monze will begin.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Munaile (Malole): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives the criterion used to build storage facilities. Mungwi District has no storage facilities, and yet it is one district in the Northern Province that produces quite a lot of maize.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, one criterion used to identify an area where a particular storage facility is supposed to be constructed is the level of production of that particular crop and, in this case, maize. We also consider the issue of consumption. Some areas are big consumers of this product. Therefore, to reduce the cost of distances, we want to have strategic reserves nearby.

For Mungwi District, we have taken into consideration some of the issues surrounding production. We know that the people of Mungwi produce quite a lot of maize but, at the same time, a lot of rice. Therefore, in Phase II of construction of storage facilities, there is a possibility of Mungwi being considered.
 
I thank you, Sir.

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Mr Speaker, what level of food storage should the country have for the hon. Minister to sleep soundly in his bed? We cannot just continue building a mountain of maize forever. What total quantity is he looking at?

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives may repeat what he said earlier.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, in our response, we indicated that the Government is not satisfied with the current storage facilities. The current storage capacity is 1.3 million metric tonnes instead of 2 million metric tonnes. The target that has been identified for us to sleep soundly is 2 million metric tonnes.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, I heard the hon. Minister emphasise the storage of maize, and yet this country produces groundnuts from the Eastern Province, cassava in the Northern Province as well as rice in the Western Province, particularly in Luena. What plans does the Government have to build storage facilities for the crops in these provinces?

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, when we talk about storage facilities, it means other crops such as rice are also considered as part of the crops that need to be secured. However, the emphasis on the storage of maize has been for the obvious reason that it is our staple food. Nevertheless, it does not mean that other crops, as designated by the FRA, such as paddy rice, have no storage facilities. We have taken such crops into consideration in our plan to construct storage facilities.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, this Government envisages that the storage capacity should be about 2 million metric tonnes. Could the hon. Minister tell us whether this Government has any plans to extend the storage capacity based on the assumption that the bumper harvest will be more than 2.3 metric tonnes.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, let me take advantage of that supplementary question to inform this House that, to every challenge, there is always a business opportunity. In this particular case, we have a challenge of storage facilities. Here is a business opportunity which those with business acumen can exploit. Those who are ready to go into the business of providing storage facilities can do so because there is the necessary legal framework and a conducive environment. The Government has continued to put forth efforts aimed at encouraging those who want to enter into this business. Here is an opportunity which people can make use of.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how much grain has gone to waste due to poor storage facilities this year.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, that is a new question.

Mr Mukanga: Aah!

Dr Kazonga: However, in the interest of saying something that will be very low on the truth meter, I have …

Mr Speaker: Order! If it is very low on that meter, do not say it in the House.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Simply say you have no information on the matter.

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, I do not have the figure which the hon. Member is interested in.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter
INDENI OIL REFINERY SHARES DISPOSAL

240. Mr Mwango asked the Minister of Energy and Water Development what progress the Government had made in the disposal of the 50 per cent shareholding in Indeni Oil Refinery following the pull out of Total Zambia Limited.

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Imasiku): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Water Development, is making consultations on the approach to be followed for disposal of the 50 per cent shareholding acquired from Total Zambia Limited. Once the consultations are completed, the Government will, if found necessary, embark on the disposal of the shares.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwango: Mr Speaker, how long will the consultations take?

The Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Konga): Mr Speaker, the consultations on the mode of supply of fuel are ongoing with various local and international stakeholders. This is a process which Indeni Oil Refinery is a part of. Once the consultations are concluded, the House and the nation will be informed about the way forward.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Mr Speaker, may I find out if Indeni, through the Ministry of Energy and Water Development, is considering listing some of its shares on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE)?

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, as I have already indicated, the consultations are ongoing. The mode of disposal of the 50 per cent shareholding in Indeni Oil Refinery will be determined only after the consultations which will help us to ascertain whether the Government should retain all the shares or sell 50 per cent of them. All in all, the consultations will helps us to determine how many of those 50 per cent shares should be sold to the public on the stock exchange, if need be. The Government will only have a clear position on this matter once the consultations have been concluded.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

MWINILUNGA EAST HEALTH CENTRES CONSTRUCTION

241. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga East) asked the Minister of Health whether the Government had any plans to construct rural health centres in the following areas in Mwinilunga East Parliamentary Constituency:

(i) Kalumbinga in Chief Kakoma;

(ii) Samuteba in Chief Sailunga;

(iii) Nkenyauli; and

(iv) Kankaja ‘B’ in Chief Kakoma.

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to the attainment of its vision in the health sector which is to ensure that there is equity of access to affordable, cost-effective and quality health services as close to the Zambian families as possible. In this regard, the Government has embarked on the construction of health facilities countrywide at schools, including those in Mwinilunga East Parliamentary Constituency. The construction of health facilities countrywide by the Government is being implemented in phases.

  The Government has plans to construct a health facility in Kalumbinga which is in Chief Kakoma’s area. These plans have been included in the 2011 Ministry of Health Infrastructure Operational Plan.

The Government also has plans to construct a health facility in Samuteba which is in Chief Sailunga’s area. These plans have also been included in the 2011 Ministry of Health Infrastructure Operational Plan.

As regards the construction of rural health centres in Nkenyauli and Kankaja ‘B’ in Chief Kakoma’s area, let me repeat my earlier statement that the Government is implementing the construction of health facilities countrywide in a phased approach. The construction of health facilities in Nkenyauli and Kankaja ‘B’ in Chief Kakoma’s area will most likely be considered after the completion of the existing projects and will depend on the availability of resources.

Sir, it is, therefore, important to note that hon. Members of Parliament will be consulted on the schools that are furthest from a health facility when coming up with plans for the construction of a health post or clinic. When health posts in far-flung places are built, those in nearby places, outside a five-kilometre radius of another health facility, will be constructed.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, may I know from the hon. Minister when the 2011 Ministry of Health Infrastructure Operational Plan will be availed to us.

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, the operational plan is at the final draft stage. As soon as the officials in the ministry finish working on it, it will be availed to the House as has been the case in the past.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the ministry has envisaged the total cost of putting up health infrastructure in the country for the small population which is scattered across the breadth and width of this country. I would like to find out if that has been done because it is key to our overcoming the challenges that are coming up as we roll out our infrastructure development plans.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to inform the House why the policy regarding the construction of health posts and clinics has changed. In the past, the policy was that there should be 3,000 people in a location to warrant the construction of a health post and 10,000 people to warrant a health centre. This policy has now changed. I stated in this House that we have been requested by His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, to build the health facilities at schools. The new stance annihilates the other reasons that we used to take into consideration. As long as there is a school in an area, it means that there are people who get a service therefrome and those people deserve a health post or a clinic. That is our criterion at the moment. We do not mind whether it is a private, public or community school.

Mr Speaker, we have counted about 7,000 schools in the country which are outside the five-kilometre radius of a clinic. It is for this reason that, last year, we asked hon. Members to give us names of places where we should build health posts. We are, at the moment, building 125 health posts. We intend to continue with that approach so that we can also cater for schools that are far from clinics.

I thank you, Sir.

MWINILUNGA EAST TEACHERS’ ALLOWANCES

242. Mr Katuka asked the Minister of Education how many teaches were currently not receiving the following allowances in Mwinilunga East Parliamentary Constituency:

(i) settling-in;

(ii) rural hardship; and

(iii) remote hardship.

The Deputy Minister of Education (Dr Kawimbe): Mr Speaker, there are 176 teachers who have not yet received their settling-in allowance in Mwinilunga East Parliamentary Constituency. There are sixty-six teachers who are not receiving rural hardship allowance and fourteen teachers who are not receiving remote hardship allowance.

However, Mr Speaker, the Government is addressing the above issues through the dismantling of outstanding arrears. So far, K10 billion has been released and each province has been allocated, at least, K1 billion.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, may I find out why it has taken so long for these people to receive these allowances.

Dr Kawimbe: Mr Speaker, the reason these teachers have not been receiving these allowances is due to budgetary constraints. However, as you may be aware, in the 2011 Budget, K73 billion has been set aside for dismantling of our indebtedness to our hardworking teachers. Last month, K1 billion was released to each province for this venture.

I thank you, Sir.

COUNTRYWIDE MALNUTRITION AND KWASHIORKOR CASES

243. Mrs Kawandami (Chifubu) asked the Minister of Health how many cases of malnutrition and Kwashiorkor were reported among under-five children as of December, 2009, countrywide.

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, malnutrition is a condition that results from insufficient or excessive intake of nutrients whereas Kwashiorkor is severe malnutrition in children, resulting from a diet excessively high in carbohydrates and low in protein.

Mr Speaker, the number of malnutrition cases inclusive of Kwashiorkor reported among under-five children in December, 2009, countrywide is as follows:

Out-Patient 1st Attendance Severe Malnutrition

January-December 2009 16,340
January-July 2010   9,354

In-Patient Discharge Severe Malnutrition

January-December, 2009 7,198
January-July, 2010 3,848

Death Severe Malnutrition

January-December, 2009 1,286
January-July, 2010 807

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Kawandami: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what effort has been put in place to capture the children who do not get attended to at clinics.

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, the ministry, through some of its programmes such as the Child Health Week, endeavours to engage in a number of initiatives meant to enhance child survival strategies. It is during these Child Health Week programmes that are conducted countrywide that we engage in some of these activities, including the provision of immunisation services which you are all aware of. Alongside these initiatives, we also carry out programmes through which the children are weighed. During this period, those children who are underweight or those whom we think are malnourished are identified. These activities are undertaken countrywide.

Mr Speaker, we feel that the children who do not come to normal clinics are captured during such activities which have been undertaken for the past few years now.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether this problem is caused by the lack of food or a balanced diet since this country engages in mono-cropping which leads to people eating nshima all the time.

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, firstly, I would like to mention to the hon. Members here that the problem of malnutrition is a socio-political problem that goes beyond the Ministry of Health. We all know that the determinant of under nutrition, which is a broad problem, borders on issues such as food security, poverty, gender inequality and ignorance which may border on some people feeding only on one type of food and disregarding the concept of a balanced diet. Therefore, it is a broad concept that can only be addressed by a multi-sectoral approach.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, I know that, as a Government and country, we have social protection exercises such as food packs and handouts of money. I wish to find out whether those efforts of the Government have failed, considering the numbers that the hon. Minister has presented.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, the programmes have not failed. In fact, if you followed, at the moment, the numbers were much less in 2010. The numbers in 2010 are almost half of what they were in the previous year. This means that the mitigation measures have started paying off. One method is the Cash Handout Programme that is targeting the poor of the poor.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, it is important to mention here that one of the causes of malnutrition is poor feeding and not the lack of food. Poor feeding is where a mother feeds a child incorrect food. For instance, a mother feeding a child on chemicals such as sodas and believing that the child has obtained the food nutrients that it requires would be a missed opportunity. Children must be well-fed at all times. They must not be treated like grown ups. Therefore, the food and money handouts have gone a long way in mitigating the problem of malnutrition.

Mr Speaker, further, in the communities, we have put groups of women who are on the lookout for children who exhibit signs of malnourishment. Upon identifying them, these groups of women report to the nearest health centre.

Mr Speaker, all Under-Five clinics also seriously look out for traits of undernourishment. It is for this reason that we would like to encourage all mothers to attend Under-Five clinics because it helps us to identify the needy children.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THE 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

244. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development:

(a) how much money the Government spent on the team of sportspersons who participated in the Commonwealth Games in India, in 2010;

(b) what the size of the contingent was; and

(c) why the contingent performed poorly at the games.

The Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Mr Ndalamei): Mr Speaker, the Government, through my ministry, spent K300 million on sending the Zambian sports contingent to participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

Mr Speaker, the contingent consisted of twenty-two athletes, fourteen officials and three Government representatives, namely, the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development, the Permanent Secretary and the Chief Sports Development Officer.

The contingent performed poorly because of the following reasons:

(i) lack of exposure to international sport events. Most of the athletes were taking part in an international event for the first time and are only exposed to international events during such tournaments. The prohibitive resource envelope does not enable the sports teams to engage other countries for friendly sports events; and

(ii) the funds for talent identification and development are usually not available. The little money available is just to facilitate the team to travel out. For instance, on the Commonwealth Games, the Government spent K300 million not on preparations of the teams, but for air passage, uniforms and sports equipment. Nothing was spent on athletes’ development because of limited resources in my ministry.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, given the answer by the hon. Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development, Hon. Ndalamei, what measures has the Government put in place to ensure that our boys and girls start performing well in these games?

The Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Mr Chipungu): Mr Speaker, obviously, there is very little that could or can be done when the resources are limited. As a ministry, we have a few measures on how to improve the performance of sports men and women. One of them is to work with the private co-operating partners. Only two weeks ago, we had a meeting to discuss the issue of sports development in Zambia and a number of private institutions supported the idea and agreed to support the Government financially and materially.

Mr Speaker, we are also looking at intensifying the national sports festivals, starting this year, and hon. Members will agree with me that there is an amount of money that has been allocated to intensify this programme in the budget.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister agree that the reason we are faring so poorly in the Commonwealth Games, in addition to the reasons that have been advanced such as lack of funding, is that, as a country, we have only concentrated on football at the expense of other sports? Can the hon. Minister agree to that?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I totally disagree.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chipungu: We have not concentrated on football only. Maybe, it is a privilege for me to inform the hon. Members, here, that we have about fifty sports disciplines in this country and this Government supports all of them. Where the Government cannot meet their requirements, as I have indicated, is when the private partners come on board. In fact, I think, this concept is not new as it is how is done all over the world.

Mr Speaker, also, we have what we call international associations that are supporting various sports disciplines and, as a Government, we are very comfortable with such international associations.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, may the hon. Minister justify the number of officials that accompanied the contingency in relation to the number of the athletes.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, it is a requirement that the team is accompanied. For instance, here, we had seven coaches, one chef de mission, two medical personnel and one administrator. I think there is justification that these accompanied the team.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, being the least funded ministry in the Budget, compounded by this Government not complementing sports activities in mining areas and not tapping talent at the grassroots, are some of the reasons for failure by this country to have good sports results. What is the hon. Minister doing to convince his Cabinet to allocate this ministry enough money, next time, instead of giving us stories here?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I am sure my able Cabinet is doing everything possible to ensure that my ministry is adequately funded. However, I would like to emphasise the point of the participation by the private sector in sports. At the meeting we held, two weeks ago, it was unanimously agreed that, to develop sport in this country, the private sector must come on board. In fact, the private sector is the one to benefit by advertising through sport. Those who followed the World Cup in South Africa are aware that the majority of the financiers of the hosting of this event were from the private sector. I think this is the line that, as a ministry or as a Government, we would like to follow.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Nkombo: Sir, in his response to Hon. Simuusa’s question, the Member of Parliament for Nchanga, the hon. Minister said that football was not the sporting discipline that got the bulk of attention from the Government and that there were fifty disciplines of sport in this country. Therefore, I would like him to tell me, in one word, which discipline receives the highest attention in budgetary terms among those fifty.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, obviously, it is football, but let me say that the bulk of the expense in this sport relates to airfares each time players go to play outside. However, this does not mean that football takes centre stage in our ministry. I would like to emphasise the point that, as a ministry, we support all the fifty sports disciplines without segregation or preference.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

MINING SECTOR TRADE UNIONS

245. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

(a) how many unions represented workers in the mining industry as of September, 2010;

(b) why a contractors’ union had been registered to operate in the mining industry; and

(c) whether the Government was satisfied with the operations of trade unions in the sector.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Nkhata): Mr Speaker, a total of four unions represented workers in the mining industry as of September, 2010, namely, the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ), National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW), the Mine Contractors and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (MCAWUZ) and the Gemstone Allied Workers of Zambia (GAWZ).

Mr Speaker, the registration of a contractors’ union to operate in the mining industry was necessitated by the need to accord freedom of association and representation to the employees of the companies contracted to do jobs for the mining companies that were not represented either by MUZ or NUMAW.

Mr Speaker, the Government is satisfied with the operations of the trade unions in the sector and has a cordial working relationship with them.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from him whether he can confirm that the Government actually had a hand in the formation of two unions which are in Mufulira and Solwezi.

Mr Nkhata: Mr Speaker, unions are formed by the members, who are the people working in particular organisations. In this case, the Government had no hand in the formation of these two unions.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, following the statement by the hon. Minister that there is a cordial relationship between the Government and unions, I would like to find out whether, in the Government’s tripartite interface with unions and workers, it promotes the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) decent work agenda in the mining sector.

Mr Nkhata: Mr Speaker, as earlier stated, people have the freedom to join any association they want. Therefore, we do not promote any agenda, but simply mediate in the negotiations of demands of the workers in the mining sector.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, in his answer, the hon. Minister said that the relationship between the Government and unions was cordial. Therefore, I wish to find out from him why, in the recent past, the Government has been antagonistic in its relations with MUZ to the extent that it is even engineering the removal of the union’s president, Mr Rayford Mbulu.

Mr Nkhata: Mr Speaker, that is totally wrong in the sense that the choosing of leaders in the unions depends on the members themselves. The Government does not come in because it is the members who choose who should lead them in every union.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

UPGRADING TRAINING INSTITUTIONS INTO UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES

246. Dr Chishya (Pambashe) asked the Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training whether there were any plans to upgrade some of the training institutions falling under the ministry into corresponding universities or polytechnic colleges.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training (Mr Daka): Mr Speaker, I wish to state that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training intends to merge three Luanshya-based colleges into one polytechnic. The institutions earmarked for the merger are Luanshya Technical and Business College, (LBTC), the Technical and Vocational Teachers’ Training College (TVTC) and In-Service Training and Education Centre (ISTEC). The establishment of this polytechnic will provide a progression in skills training to advanced levels in courses where, currently, no institution offers training beyond craft level. The courses earmarked for upgrading at the polytechnic include:

(i) Brick laying and Plastering,

(ii) Plumbing and Sheet Metal;

(iii) Welding; and

(iv) Painting, Decorating and Sign Writing.

The three institutions are situated in the same location and share facilities such as infrastructure, water and electrical utilities, making the merger feasible.

The ministry is also in the process of up-grading Kabwe Trades Training Institute into an institute of technology to offer courses at advanced levels such as diploma and degree level. The ministry is currently developing a statutory instrument to change the name of the institution from Kabwe Trades Training Institute to Kabwe Institute of Technology and has initiated an upgrading programme which includes lecture training, infrastructure development and others which are scheduled for completion by 2012.

Further, the ministry has initiated a programme to upgrade a number of courses at Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering Studies (LIBES) to certificate and diploma levels. In this regard, the ministry has introduced an Advanced Electrical Technician’s course and is in the process of upgrading other courses.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Chishya: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister clarify whether it is a Government policy to put up, at least, one skills training institution in each district of the Republic?

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, it is the intention of this Government and the ministry to ensure that all the districts have institutions of learning to ensure that there is zero entropy and those who drop out from their training institutions in the Ministry of Education are catered for in all the districts of Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Mulenga (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister’s statement is welcome. Therefore, I would like to find out whether the Government intends to increase the levels of lecturers to man these institutions of learning.

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker as we have stated in our earlier statement, in Luanshya, there are three colleges merged into one and it is not possible for a diploma graduate to lecture a degree graduate. This is why this Government is upgrading institutions in places such as Livingstone, Kabwe and Luanshya. In essence, that is the aim of this Government.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Mr Speaker, since the cost of education for children coming from rural areas who enroll in the centralised schools such as Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce is high, whilst the ministry is thinking of building more schools in the rural areas, is the ministry considering allowing those children to stay for free because they are already spending a lot of money by virtue of their coming from rural areas?

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, I have to correct the hon. Member that we are not building schools, but colleges. In each province, we have a college. Free things are never appreciated and do not have quality. As compared to Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce, the Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS), which is in the same neighbourhood, charges almost K5 million for accommodation per term. Mind you, the Board of Directors of ZCAS consists of members of this Government. Therefore, that institution is under the Government, but because people pay a little more, have you ever heard of a strike at ZCAS? No.

However, the answer to his question is that in each province, this Government has established a training place and we are going further to ensure that in each district, there is a college and not schools because schools are under the Ministry of Education.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

PARKING AREAS IN LUSAKA

247. Dr Chishya asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing whether there were any plans of:

(a) creating more parking areas for motor vehicles in the city centre of Lusaka; and

(b) replacing unplanned shanty-compounds that have mushroomed countrywide with modern residential townships, in line with the Government policy on housing.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Muteteka): Mr Speaker, I wish to report as follows:

(a) Lusaka City Council resolved to enter into a private-public partnership (PPP) to develop parcades in the central business district. Interest has been received from various stakeholders to partner with the Lusaka City Council in this development. This process will require advertising in the national press (public media) to officially receive applications in order to assess the potential partner. It will also require fulfilling the tender processes because potential land to be developed has already been identified in the central business districts;

Mr Speaker, new developments are required to provide extra parking spaces within premises. For example, these are needed for Protea Hotel on Cairo Road, Kulima Tower Building and Manda Hill; and

(b) the Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, has started a process of upgrading unplanned compounds countrywide. Under this programme, twenty compounds will be upgraded. Examples include Makululu in Kabwe, Kanyelele in Siavonga and Soweto in Luangwa, among others.

The Urban and Regional Planning Bill, which is currently with the Ministry of Justice in readiness for presentation before Parliament, is another effort by the Government to review the Spatial Planning Legislation in Zambia. The Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 283 and the Housing Statutory and Improvement Areas Act, Chapter 194 both of the Laws of Zambia are being merged and revised to make them more responsive to the needs of the people.

The review of the planning legislation related to spatial planning is to address many modern challenges to urban development. Through this, we aim to ensure that there is improvement in the existing urban areas to deal with the problem of unplanned settlements and open up new areas of development in an orderly and co-ordinated manner. This will lead to efficient and effective management of the planning process and achieve improved human habitation in Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Chishya: Mr Speaker, at the City Market, the parking place for the shoppers has been claimed by mini bus operators as their main bus station. Does the Government have plans to relocate the bus station for mini bus operators to another place to reduce the confusion which is currently there?

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, just to answer the follow-up question by the hon. Member of Parliament, let me repeat part of the answer which the ministry has prepared.

Mr Speaker, we said that Lusaka City Council resolved to enter into a PPP to develop parcades in the central business district of Lusaka. Therefore, we are working extra hard to ensure that we get the interested private entities to enter into this partnership and ensure that his and other people’s concerns are attended to.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, considering that the rate of population growth, especially in the unplanned resettlements or shanties, is so high that spaces meant for sanitary health are now being turned into residential areas, what is the programme or plan of the ministry to try to deal with this matter?

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Dr Chituwo): Mr Speaker, the ministry is, indeed, concerned with the population growth in what is termed as unplanned settlements. Therefore, the concept of Urban Renewal will look at not only the population aspect, but also the structures. In addition, the luxury of utilising the horizontal space will not suffice with the increase in the population. In the discussions with the various interested developers, the plan is to utilise vertical space so that accommodation is given to many people and services are provided much more efficiently than is the case at the moment.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Beene: Mr Speaker, the Government policy on housing is so clear that Zambians should have some decent and affordable accommodation. What is obtaining now is that the rentals which are being charged ...

Mr Speaker: Order! You are debating.

You may continue.

Mr Beene: Mr Speaker, when will the Government come to terms with the reality and talk to the people who own properties so that Zambians can afford accommodation which is too expensive in this country, particularly in the urban areas?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, it is very difficult for the ministry to talk to private developers and determine the rentals. However, as far as the ministry is concerned, an environment has been created for the private developers to partner with the ministry so that accommodation is constructed according to the ability of the various socio-economic strata. In fact, this House allowed a budget line for research into materials that will allow the contractors to construct housing units that are affordable. This will be a better and lasting position than accommodation that is privately developed.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has suggested that there is another legislation that will be brought whose purpose is to help address the concerns in the current situation, but is the current legislation not enough to deal with the shanty compounds? Is that going to strengthen the political will to deal with this problem in this country?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that follow-up question. The legislation that has been referred to is meant to strengthen the physical planning aspect. The ministry will set up a body to recognise those who will be involved in physical planning and be accountable to the plans that are implemented by councils. In so doing, the ministry will look at the already existing structures in a more professional way. In fact, professionals and registered institutions will be held accountable for the plans that will be undertaken in the various local authorities.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Zulu (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, what is the ministry doing to make sure that the modern residential townships, plots and structures that are being constructed occupy only two-thirds of the total area unlike the case is now whereby a house occupies the whole plot?

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for raising that important follow-up question. That has been a concern for the Government. One of the reasons this has arisen is that the so-called architects or planners are not accountable to a professional body that checks their work, hence this scenery that occurs in the residential areas. Clearly, those structures have not been built according to the Country and Planning Act, but once this is done, it will address the issue of how the professionals can be held accountable for the plans. This is why the ministry insists on strengthening legislation in order to punish those who mislead the innocent would-be developers in the various parts of the country.

I thank you, Sir.

LUSAKA AND NORTHERN PROVINCES UNLAWFUL DETENTION CASES

249. Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya) (on behalf of Mr Chisala) (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Home Affairs how many cases of unlawful detentions were recorded from courts in the following provinces from 30th June, 2009 to date:

(a) Lusaka; and

(b) Northern.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Taima): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Home Affairs did not record any cases of unlawful detentions in Lusaka and Northern provinces from the courts from 30th June, 2009 to date.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwango: Mr Speaker, how long does it take for anyone detained in police custody to go to court?

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Lungu): Mr Speaker, the follow-up question raised by the hon. Member is not related to the principal question. Therefore, it is clearly a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, what constitutes unlawful detention?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I think the hon. Member is trying to test my ability to know whether this is a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, despite the Government continuing to lose cases such as that of Hon. Lumba who has been acquitted, why has it continued to detain people illegally?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament must know that the person being asked that question has undergone careful tutoring by experts who are presiding officers. I will not mention who it is. Therefore, that is clearly a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

____________

BILLS

FIRST READING

THE TOLLS BILL, 2011

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane) (on behalf of The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Namulambe)): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Tolls Bill, 2011. The object of the Bill is to:

 (i) establish and provide for the operations of toll roads;

 (ii) provide for the charging and collection of tolls;

 (iii) provide for private sector participation in the tolling of roads;

 (iv) repeal and replace the Tolls Act of 1983; and

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

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Communications, Transport, Works and Supply. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House on Wednesday, 16th March, 2011. Hon. Members who wish to make any submissions or amendment to the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2011. The object of the Bill is to amend the Public Procurement Act of 2008 so as to:

 (i) empower the Zambia Public Procurement Authority to recommend    disciplinary measures against approvals authorities that contravene    procurement procedures;

 (ii) extend the tenure of the Central Tender Committee;

 (iii) require approvals authorities to obtain confirmation of the use of bid    solicitation documents before they are issued; and

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

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 until 1630 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Speaker: Before business was suspended, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning had just presented the Public Procurement Bill, 2011.

The Bill stands referred to the Committee in Economic Affairs and Labour. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Friday, 11th March, 2011. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions or amendments to the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

THE REGISTRATION OF BUSINESS NAMES, 2011

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Registration of Business Names Bill, 2011. The object of this Bill is to:

(i) provide for the registration of business names;

(ii)  repeal and replace the Registration of Business Names Act 1931; and

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

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Labour. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 15th March, 2011. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions or amendments to the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

SECOND READING

THE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BILL, 2010

The Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Konga): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, the Government approved the revised Water Policy in February, 2010 which now provides a streamlined and focused guidance to the water sector in Zambia. The policy also provides for the development of a comprehensive framework for management of water resources which takes into account catchment management of water resources, stakeholder consultation and involvement, water resources assessment, monitoring, conservation and preservation of its acceptable quality and quantity, efficient and equitable water allocation to all users, disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation measures.

Mr Speaker, the Water Resources Management Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Water Act, 1949, through a comprehensive review, due to the nature and scope of issues that have developed overtime in the water sector. It needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. Further, it seeks to establish the Water Resources Management Authority and defines its functions and powers. This authority will have a board comprising different stakeholders such as the hydro-power sector and the farming community.

Sir, this Bill provides for the constitution, functions and composition of catchment councils, sub-catchment councils and water users associations which will encourage strong stakeholder participation. This will make the decision-making process more relevant as decisions will be made by the stakeholders themselves.

Mr Speaker, the Bill provides for the management, development, conservation, protection and preservation of the water resource and its ecosystem. This will allow for prioritising and allocation of water resources. It will sustain the resource in times of shortages and ensure that lives are saved.

Sir, I wish to emphasise that in line with the revised National Water Policy and current practice, the Water Resources Management Bill has provided that water has a social value. Therefore, all domestic and non-commercial use of water will not be required to pay any form of charge or fee for the use of water.

Consequently, domestic and non-commercial use of water will not be required to obtain water permits, including the use of ground water resources for domestic and non-commercial purposes. This will ensure the right to draw water for domestic and non-commercial purposes, that the poor and vulnerable members of the society are not disadvantaged and that they have an adequate and sustainable source of water free from any charges.

Mr Speaker, the Bill also recognises that water has an economic value. The fees for commercial use of water will be such that they avoid the stifling of businesses unnecessarily. It is the decision of the Government that through this Bill, the fees for commercial use of water will be achieved through the development of a pricing strategy with stakeholder participation. This will ensure that business is encouraged, consumers are protected and unnecessarily high fees are not passed on to them.

Sir, the Bill will create an enabling environment for adaptation to climate change as well as streamlining the process of dealing with issues of pollution in line with broader national environmental approaches. This will be done in collaboration with the established environmental management agencies and all appropriate conservancy authorities.

Mr Speaker, Zambia is a party to many international treaties relating to the environment and natural resources. In dealing with this, the Bill has, therefore, domesticated the relevant international treaties and obligates the Government to ensure that certain factors, which are favourable to Zambia in the utilisation of the water resource, are taken into account in any agreement relating to shared water courses, bearing in mind issues of equitable, reasonable and sustainable utilisation of the water resources.

Sir, the Water Resources Management Bill, 2010 has provided for the registration of all boreholes by catchment councils, sub-catchment councils and water users associations for purposes of data capturing and integrated planning purposes. Existing borehole owners will be required to register their boreholes with the respective catchment councils for purposes of data capturing only. All boreholes used for commercial purposes will be required to obtain water permits.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the enactment of the Water Resources Management Bill, 2010 is expected to have a significant positive impact and will bring the much-needed effectiveness, co-ordination and efficiency in the management of water resources; an area that has been neglected for a long time. Specifically, it will result in wealth creation through improved access and utilisation of water resources (irrigation to promote food security, hydropower generation, particularly for rural areas, pollution control and mitigation management).

Sir, co-ordination and co-operation of key stakeholder institutions such as appropriate authorities and conservancy authorities in implementing water resources legislation is critical. To this end, the Bill has provisions aimed at ensuring consultation and efficacy in resource use among institutions such as the Environmental Management Agency, National Heritage Conservation Commission, Zambia Wildlife Authority, to mention but a few.

Mr Speaker, I wish to take note that the Committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism has produced its report on the Water Resources Management Bill, which has been published and is, therefore, a public document. My Ministry has seen the report and studied it.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Committee for a well written and comprehensive report which articulates the various provisions of the Bill and clearly outlines issues raised by different stakeholders. Without prejudice to the statement to be made by the honourable Chairperson of the Committee, I would like to state that the observations and comments raised in the report will be addressed at the committee stage.

Mr Speaker, I therefore, urge all hon. Members of this august House to overwhelmingly support this Bill.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Mr Speaker, your Committee was informed that the old Water Act of 1949 was a limited piece of legislation which was exclusive in its application, but does not take into account the following:

(i) change in the land tenure in Zambia which led to freehold tenure being abolished, but the Water Act still recognising private water;

(ii) enactment of the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act, Chapter 204 of the Laws of Zambia which deals with water pollution which is also being revised as evidenced by the new Bill on Environmental Pollution before this House;

(iii) Decentralisation Policy of 2005;

(iv) need for stakeholder participation;

(v) international and regional agreements relating to water resources to which Zambia is a party;

(vi) principles of integrated water resources management; and

(vii) disaster preparedness.

Sir, your Committee was informed, further, that the Government is concerned with the current state of managing Zambia’s water resources and has identified, inter alia, the following major issues of concern;

(i) multiplicity of institutions dealing with water resources Management;

(ii) fragmented and inconsistent water resources management policies and strategies; and

(iii) multiplicity of role players as well as, at times, conflicting roles and responsibilities.

Sir, it is for this reason that the Water Resource Management Bill, 2010 is being proposed for consideration. The objects of the Bill are as outlined in your Committee’s Report.

Mr Speaker, twenty stakeholders submitted before your Committee and all of them were in support of the Bill, but raised some concerns which I shall now discuss.

Sir, Clause 11 which looks at the membership of the Water Resource Management Board raised the most concerns with nearly all the stakeholders seeking to be included on the board due to what they perceived as the critical role they played in relation to water use.

Sir, the stakeholders were also concerned with Part IX of the Bill which deals with permits for water use. The concern was that the fees envisaged by the Bill could result in an increase in the cost for entities that used water as the main or one of the main components in their business and that this would translate into increased tariffs for consumers.

Mr Speaker, in this connection, stakeholders in the hydro-power sector were of the opinion that the Bill needs to give general guidance on how water fees would be determined per water use sector. They were of the view that charges for hydro-power generation could be based on the actual power generated per kilowatt hour as opposed to the volume of water used.

Mr Speaker, however, there was a contrary view to the above by a stakeholder who stated that it would not be feasible to charge hydro-power companies based on the actual power generated because there are instances when hydro-power companies were running machines without producing power. In this regard, the regulator of the water in the area incurred expenses to maintain dam walls and stations that monitor water quantities along the river.

In addition, stakeholders in the mining sector were concerned about the requirement that a person who intends to de-water any mine, quarry or water works should apply for a permit and pay such charges for the use of water as may be prescribed. These stakeholders were of the view that more clarity was required in this section as de-watering was an everyday activity in an active mine and that this process was costly to mine owners.

Sir, furthermore, some stakeholders were of the view that the pricing of permits needed to take into account the differentiation in non-consumptive and consumptive use of water resources.

Sir, some stakeholders were of the view that Clause 66 on water wastage would disadvantage water utility companies which accounted for between 34 to 65 per cent leakages on their pipes. In this regard, they felt that there should be special consideration for water utilities or clarification as to the meaning of wastage.

Mr Speaker, your Committee notes and observes that the majority of stakeholders want representation on the Water Resources Management Board.

Sir, your Committee is of the view that the composition of the board should be maintained at the current number or lower to forestall it from becoming a major cost in the water resources management sector as it is not possible to accommodate all the players. In this vein, your Committee recommends that the composition be effectively and efficiently used to cater for all interest groups in the sector.

Sir, your Committee is further cognisant of the fact that hydro-electric power generation is the largest source of electrical energy accounting for approximately 99 per cent of electrical energy in Zambia, and that the water resource is key to the survival of the hydro-power sector. In turn, electrical power is cardinal to the development and growth of our country’s economy. It is your Committee’s view, therefore, that a representative from the hydro-power sector be included on the Water Resources Management Board. This should be done without necessarily increasing the number of the members of the board. This can be done by, for instance, using Clause 11 (E) or any criteria that the ministry responsible may determine.

Mr Speaker, your Committee notes that various stakeholders are requesting for special consideration in the Bill on various issues such as being exempt from paying for de-watering as well as levying of distress or being penalised for water wastage.

Sir, no special consideration or exception should be applied to different players in the water resource sector vis-à-vis payment for water use, levying of distress or penalties for water wastage. This will encourage efficiency by the different players in the water sector.

Your Committee’s only concern is that the Bill should provide for a general outline of the fees structure based on different water uses. Further, the fees should take into account the need to avoid stifling business by unnecessary high fees, which will, in the end, be passed on to the consumers.

Mr Speaker, some grey areas continue to exist in the Bill vis-à-vis other existing pieces of legislation such as the National Heritage Conservation Commission Act, which allows for the commission, under that Act, to issue permits for the utilisation of water for tourism in heritage sites in relation to Clause 9 (A), (B) and (C) of the Bill. Your Committee urges the relevant parties to tidy up the Bill so that it takes into account all the relevant existing pieces of legislation where necessary.

In conclusion, your Committee wishes to pay tribute to all the stakeholders who appeared before it and tendered both oral and written submissions. Your Committee also wishes to thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving it the opportunity to study the Bill. Your Committee is also indebted to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the services provided.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matongo (Pemba): Mr Speaker, I wish to express gratitude, on behalf of the people of Pemba, for the repeal and replacement of the Water Act of 1949. It is archaic and not progressive. It is time it was repealed for two reasons that I shall talk about in my debate.

Firstly, the use of water boundaries between neighbouring countries, particularly on the Zambezi River will now be put to good use by the population of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Water Act of 1949, as His Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Justice acknowledged, has been a problem to Zambia. Ten of our regional colleagues have signed up to share the water boundaries of Okavango and the Zambezi rivers for common use of the citizens of SADC. For this reason, I say well done on behalf of everyone who has been pressing you to repeal this Act.

Secondly, I would like to state that water must have a price. Only then will developing cities such as Lusaka and others along the line of rail put it to good use. Broken pipes wasting away water from Mwinilunga to the Indian Ocean must be a thing of the past. With the repeal of this Act, it is expected that people will be able to exercise responsibility regarding their use of water, particularly in places such as Lusaka which is dependent on ground water because there is no river to draw from. For this reason, I say well done to the members of SADC who brought the attention of this august House to the Water Act of 1949. Though it was archaic, it may have remained in place because the issues it did not tackle may not have been urgent to the previous governments.

I hope that our brothers in Angola will sign the treaty very quickly so that they can access water from Okavango up to Upper Zambezi River which has infrastructure already laid down even though it is run down. I hope that there will be no more excuses for not signing the treaty. 

Mr Speaker, damming has also been a problem. There have been many difficulties in terms of accessing water because of the rules of 1949 which were very restrictive. With the repeal of this Act, people in areas around Lusaka in particular, who want to use water properly for damming purposes, will be able to access water for economic development.

Mr Speaker, having stated that, I hope that the hon. Minister will ensure that water catchment areas such as the one along Leopards Hill Road, which is a catchment area for Chongwe District, is not dammed right through because the downstream of the Chongwe  River will not be able to support any viable activities. I am appealing to this Government to ensure that there is no takataka when it comes to utilising water, whereby anyone who wants to create a dam does so without regulation simply because of this Bill.

I hope that the authority that you will recommend in this Bill will be prudent in allowing people to create dams because we do not want our citizens downstream not to have water. I noticed that hon. Ministers are listening and I hope that they will ensure that some kind of protection is provided.

Mr Speaker, I also would like to state that in Pemba Constituency, there is a water catchment area on the western side just after Muzoka and before Batoka, which is my colleagues’ constituency, which runs through the Luangwa and Mutama rivers and then joins the Kafue River. This is a serious catchment area. If the people on the western side dammed through this catchment area, there will be a problem on the Kafue River, as it flows nearer to Magoye. Magoye will be dry. This would also be the case for Mutama River.

In case the hon. Minister of Energy and Water Development does not know, on the eastern side, there is the madibi okwa Nachibanga …

Laughter

Hon. MMD Members: Aah!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Matongo: That is a catchment area. 

Mr Speaker, that is the name of the catchment area. You can go ahead and interpret it yourself.  

Hon. Muchima interjected.

Mr Matongo: That is the name of the place. You want me to change it to Elijah Muchima or something like that?

Laughter

Matongo: Mr Speaker, this catchment area does not only service the Luangwa and Mutama rivers, but also Toro River which falls into Jomba River as well as the Zambezi River. These catchment areas must be protected, not only for traditional reasons, but also for the purpose of ensuring that people have water.

Finally, Mr Speaker, speaking about Pemba, again, on the eastern part of my constituency, there is a place called Kumayasanino.

Mr Chazangwe: Eeeh that is the name.

Mr Matongo: Kumayasanino …

Laughter

Mr Matongo: … is another catchment area for water that flows …

Interruptions

Mr Matongo: You can say “aah” because you do not know your constituencies and, probably, that is why you will not come back this year after elections.

Laughter{mospagebreak}

Mr Matongo: Kumayasanino is a catchment area for the water that flows into the northern part of the Zambezi River via the rivers that pass through my brother’s constituency. That is how strongly related we are. However, we will have serious problems if some rich farmers or people decide to use this Act to construct dams in the area.

Mr Speaker, I thought that I should remind my colleagues who, after twenty years of being in power, have made the realisation to change this Act to, please, follow what we have advised in as far as the areas of Lusaka, Chongwe, Pemba, Mayasanino, in particular, Mbabala, Sinazongwe, to some extent, and Gwembe are concerned.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Member: Mayasanino!

Laughter

Mrs Masebo (Chongwe): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate the Bill on the Floor of this House.

First and foremost, I wish to support the Committee for the job well done and also to commend the Government for coming up with this Bill which is long overdue. I say this because, for many years, we have had challenges in the water sector that this Bill does, in many ways, try to address.

Sir, I am happy that we are going to have an authority that will have proper functions and be properly funded. Hopefully, it will have enough staff to protect our water.

Mr Speaker, allow me to use Chongwe as an example. As my brother has ably spoken about vulnerable districts, my district, Chongwe, has many water sources which have been abused. People are given licences, but there is nobody to supervise and ensure that they use these resources in an efficient manner, taking into consideration the people living in those communities.

Mr Speaker, you will recall, because I know that you used to go to Chongwe a lot, ...

Laughter

Mrs Masebo: … that Chongwe River was a very big river that even had crocodiles and fish. However, today, it is a sorry sight. People living in that area do not have water any more and have to walk long distances to fetch it. Why? This is because the river has been dammed by unsupervised people. Therefore, the manner in which the water flows is not consistent with the rules. Whilst damming may be good for irrigation and agricultural purposes, if it is not properly managed, the poor are going to suffer.

Farmers who have dammed rivers and streams have a lot of water whilst the people who live down the stream have nothing. People used to eat free fish from the stream, but it is no longer there. As a result, people are now suffering from malnutrition, and yet that was a natural resource that God gave to the people of Chongwe.

Mr Speaker, this is not the only river with this problem. There are several rivers and streams in Chongwe which, if properly managed, could benefit both the people who are damming and the villagers. Therefore, I am hopeful that, with the establishment of this authority and its provision of adequate resources to discharge its functions, the situation will improve.

With these few remarks, Mr Speaker, I wish to commend and thank the hon. Minister for this Bill and urge him to ensure that the implementation of this Act is done as soon as possible as it is long overdue. Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning should release a lot of money so that this problem can be addressed and the problems in Chongwe can be solved.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr L. J. Mulenga (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to support the Bill on the Floor of this House.

Sir, from the outset, I wish to support the report given by the Committee. However, I wish to indicate that water, in this country, is not treated like a natural resource that is God-given. In this country, we focus so much on some resources to the exclusion of water.

Mr Speaker, water is the biggest natural resource that this country has. In fact, it is recorded, in a lot of books that we read, that Zambia holds about 42.5 per cent of water in the Zambezi Water Basin, and yet what do we get out of that? What do we benefit out of that? How is it that our people, at the end of the day, do not have water?

For example, in Kwacha Constituency, my constituency, Kafue River passes through, and yet people in peripheral areas such as Kapoto, Ipusukilo, Mulenga and Chipata compounds, Riverside and Parklands, sometimes, go without water and yet it just passes by. As much as we welcome this Bill, there must be a deliberate policy to harvest this water so that this country can benefit from this resource.

Mr Speaker, for instance, I will give you an example of Lusaka where in the rainy season, there are so many floods in the city. How is it that we cannot harvest this water and utilise it to raise revenue for this country? Can we now begin to look at long-term solutions so that water also becomes a major revenue-earning sector in this country?

With these few remarks, Sir, I wish to support the Bill and thank you.

Interruptions

Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, in supporting this Bill, I wish to say that, as hon. Members of Parliament, we generally had concerns, in the past four years and the years before, over the slow pace at which we have been harvesting water in this country.

This country is quite wet and has a good catchment area, and yet, for the bigger part of the year, it is arid because we do not harvest the free gift of clean water from above. If this trend has been owed to the legal constraints, we now have this Bill that has been brought before this House that has ironed out the legal issues. Therefore, we look forward to seeing progress.

As already observed, this year, we are entering a dry spell. If you recall, from the time of the onset of the droughts, there is a cycle. After three years of good rains, we might now be entering another period of erratic rainfall which is showing already. Next year, we anticipate very poor rains. In order for us to help the people and fight poverty in the rural areas, we need to harvest water because, at least, it rains every year even if it is scanty. Water must be harvested so that we continue to engage the people in economic activities throughout the year.

This country is poor because we have not interfaced the issue of water and land. We have a lot of land, but, for seven months, there is no water to deal with the land. As such, the land becomes irrelevant because there is no water for irrigation.

Mr Speaker, I would like to implore the hon. Minister that, in going forward, we should be methodical like the Ministry of Education which is now the most highly celebrated. The ministries of Education and Health have put up very clear infrastructure development plans that they have followed. We would, therefore, like to know how many dams will be constructed.

Sir, taking into account the concerns of the people should not stop us from harvesting water because, at the moment, there is a lot of water flowing away through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean where it becomes salty and cannot be used at all. Now that we have a new legal arrangement, let us take advantage of this opportunity to begin to harvest water.

Mr Speaker, I have just returned from Siavonga and as I watched the Kariba Dam, I thought to myself how visionary the colonial Government was. That dam was built in 1958, but it is disappointing that, ever since, we have not had such an ambitious project. When you go to Siavonga, have a second look at that lake. Look at what Lake Kariba has done to transform this country. There is the hydro power, the fishing of kapenta and the many benefits that have transformed this country. However, as a black Government, we have not been ambitious in the area of dams.

Mr Speaker, even the biggest dams that we have in Monze, Bweengwa Constituency in particular, were built during the colonial times. There are very few dams that have been built by the black Government in the last four decades. We have failed our people in this area, but the colonial Government had a vision.

Mr Speaker, as you drive into Bweengwa, you see the Nteme Dam, which I have repaired using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). It was built in 1945, at the same time as the Lunyenze Dam, using very cheap methods. These are big dams, but the black Government, in the last four decades, has not done anything meaningful to harvest water.

Sir, there is no need for the blame game here because there are many people who have been in and out of the Government. It is only some of us who have not been in the Government who are clean and can, therefore, not be blamed. Those of you who have been and still are in the Government are all guilty because you never raised the issues that are fundamental for the development of our country.

Mr Speaker, I am happy that this being my first time in Parliament, I am forthright and raising issues so that, tomorrow, when people read the Parliamentary Debates, they will say this man raised issues when he was there. It is important that all of us, collectively, begin to leave a mark like the colonial Government did.

Mr Speaker, I would like to implore the hon. Minister to make progress. The rural areas are poor because of lack of water. I would like to give an example of the City of Windhoek which is quite arid because, sometimes, it only rains for two weeks the whole year. However, there has been no time when it has had no water running from its taps. This is because all the water that falls is captured by about ten dams. The City of Windhoek is a role model because of the water which is properly harvested. After good rains, like we have this year, even if it does not rain in Namibia for the next two to three years, they will have enough water running from their taps. This was well planned, but again, of course, by a white Government.

Interruptions

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, I am not being racist, because my reference to the black government includes me. Let us have foresight and begin to plan in a big way. There is really no need for this country to suffer. We need a bumper harvest of water so that the bumper harvest of other crops continues. If we do not do this, we will be imprinting poverty in our country.

Therefore, Mr Speaker, I am asking the Government to put up a clear work plan which will indicate how many dams are to be constructed. Giving Bweengwa as an example, there is no dam that has been put up in the entire constituency in the past ten years.

Mr Speaker, what is the problem with our service delivery? There is a Budget presented here, every year, but I do not know where the money goes. Does it go towards allowances and salaries? Where does the money go when there is no serious infrastructure development? If other ministries can emulate the ministries of Education and Health and set clear work plans, this country can change for the better in the next ten years.

 Sir, I think we lack foresight because even the councils are a let-down. This is because there is no emphasis, at local level, to prioritise development. One of the key issues is water. In Monze District, we have only constructed one dam in ten years and nothing has been done in Bweengwa and Moomba. I would like to tell you that we are basically pastoralists in this area. For example, this year, I did not grow any maize because if I sell one cow, it is worth the labour of growing the maize.

Hon. Member: Always talking about Namibia.

Mr Hamududu: Do not say, “This man always talks about Namibia.” That is where I lived.

Mr Speaker: Order! Address the Chair.

Mr Hamududu: I thank you for your guidance. If you look at the Omahege Region, which is one of the richest in Namibia, the people there basically survive on livestock because there is more value than maize. Therefore, even the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) should target where there is high value.

Interruptions

Mr Hamududu: Sir, I would like to tell those who are saying I am lazy that I am not because two of my cows are worth the whole labour of growing maize and so I know where the value is. I want the hon. Deputy Minister to come to Monze so that I show him my cattle. They are doing well and have value. Today, I can walk out of this place to sell twenty of my animals and I can buy a good vehicle. However, that is something I cannot do from the sale of maize. Therefore, we need to re-orient our farmers. Our farmers are stuck on growing maize and cannot go into cattle rearing because we do not have enough water for the animals to drink. Provinces with beautiful plains such as the Eastern, Western and Southern provinces need to move the livestock way. However, this needs to be supported by abundant clean water.

Mr Speaker, for us to move from the maize syndrome and the issue of storage, there has to be an interface with livestock. A livestock farmer is richer than a maize farmer, if I may teach you. That is why I stopped growing maize. Even keeping goats is better because if you buy goats worth K5 million, I can assure you that, by the end of the year, you will have tripled your money. Production with livestock is throughout the year but, with maize, you work for only three months and then become redundant. Those of us who are rearing cattle are also creating employment by employing cattle herders.

Sir, I can see that the hon. Minister of Energy and Water Development is attentive because he is nodding his head. It is a positive a sign. Let us engage on these issues. However, at the moment, let us ‘walk the talk’. We want to see action. We would also like the hon. Minister to bring to this House a work plan of how many dams we will build around the country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, firstly, I would sincerely like to thank the Chairperson of the Committee and all the hon. Members who have spoken in support of this Bill.

I wish to comment on a few issues which the hon. Members who contributed debated on. Let me say that this Bill provides for the designation of protective areas which Hon. Matongo spoke about at length. The Bill before us will address the issues of protected areas so that our water sources are also protected. This will also involve catchments’ protection which is also a key issue in the Bill and will govern all the areas. What I mean is that the Bill will designate all the six catchment areas from the catchment, sub-catchment to the Water Users Association so that water use in that particular catchment will be agreed by the stakeholders themselves. No one can break the rules because now that is going to be part of the law. Therefore, water catchment is a major issue in the law and, as a result, all downstream users will be protected. The people upstream cannot use water without agreeing with the people who are downstream. Dams cannot be constructed upstream without consideration of the people who are living downstream. This is a concept of the six catchment bases that we have, namely, the Zambezi, Kafue, Luangwa, Chambeshi, …

Hon. Members: Luapula.

Mr Konga: … yes, please and Kabompo. Whether all the users of water are upstream or downstream, we have to agree if it is infrastructure that has to be constructed so that no one is disadvantaged, whichever part of the river they live on.

Mr Speaker, I, once again, thank all hon. Members for supporting this Bill overwhelmingly.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Friday, 4th March, 2011.

____________

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

____________

The House adjourned at 1728 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 2nd March, 2011.