DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Thursday, 7th October, 2010

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER, 2011

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to confirm to the House that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning will tomorrow, Friday, 8th October, 2010 present to this House the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the financial year 1st January to 31st December, 2011.

In accordance with established practice, therefore, the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 2011 will be referred to the Expanded Committee on Estimates for further consideration. The Expanded Committee on Estimates will comprise hon. Members of the Committee on Estimates, itself, Chairpersons of all General Purposes and Portfolio committees and the Chairperson of the Committee on Reforms and Modernisation. While the Expanded Committee is meeting, the House will continue with the general policy debate on the Budget and other business.

The Expanded Committee will be expected to present its report to the House on Wednesday, 27th October, 2010.

I thank you.
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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

ZAPD COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

75. Mr D. Mwila (Chipili) asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Services:

(a) when the Government would sign a new collective agreement with the trade union of the employees under the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD);

(b) what the cause of the delay in signing the new agreement by the two parties had been; and

(c) when ZAPD would harmonise salaries for its employees who worked for the Zambia Council for the Handicapped.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Malwa): Mr Speaker, ZAPD, being a grant-aided institution, has been holding consultative tripartite meetings with the ministry and the national union of Public Service workers. The consultative process has ended, consensus has been reached and the collective agreement will be signed by the end of October, 2010.

Mr Speaker the cause of the delay in signing the new collective agreement by the two parties has been due to financial resources being channelled towards dismantling personal emoluments and other related liabilities that were taken over by ZAPD from the Zambia Council for the Handicapped.

Mr Speaker, harmonising the salaries for employees who worked for the Zambia Council for the Handicapped and transferred to ZAPD is an on-going exercise. The agency is going into a public-private partnership (PPP) to make the farm centres productive and generate the much-needed financial resources to improve conditions of service for the workers, including harmonising salaries and improving service delivery to its clients.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, the excuse has been that the Government has no money, but now that the Government has said that the collective agreement will be signed in October this year, where was the money sourced and how will it be spent after signing the collective agreement?

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, we intend to source some money from the donors for the remaining two months this year. For 2011, we intend to increase the funding to ZAPD to K5.5 billion and we expect the House to support this.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the backlog of payment to retirees at ZAPD has been cleared.

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, in 2009, ZAPD submitted to the Government a request of K5.8 billion for retirement benefits. In July, 2009, the Government released K2.6 billion which enabled ZAPD pay for excess leave days accrued in the Zambia Council for the Handicapped. We still have a balance of K3.3 billion.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kapata (Mandevu): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what the Government is doing to see to it that the ZAPD farms are productive.

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, I have just indicated that the process of harmonising the salaries for former employees of the Zambia Council for the Handicapped who where transferred to ZAPD is an on-going exercise. The agency is going into a PPP to make the farm centre productive.

I thank you, Sir.

POLICE OFFICERS’ ACCOMMODATION

76. Mr Chanda (Kankoyo) asked the Minister of Home Affairs when the Government would construct additional houses for police officers at Kantanshi Police Station.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Lungu): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Home Affairs will construct houses at Kantanshi Police Post when funds are made available in the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP).

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chanda: Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister what the Government’s plans are to avoid further deterioration of the houses in the police camp.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, as I said, in the SNDP, which runs from 2011 to 2015, we have made plans to ensure that houses are built for the police, but the plan does not indicate that this money is specifically for Kantanshi. However, once the funds are made available, we will consider building houses in places like Kantanshi.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when the water reticulation system is going to be rehabilitated as promised when he visited Kantanshi Police Station.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, that is a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Kasongo (Bangweulu): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the hon. Minister of Home Affairs has abandoned the idea of constructing police officers’ houses using the Department of Prisons.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, when the time is right, consideration will be given to prisoners to construct houses for the police.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, is it possible for the hon. Minister to inform this House how many additional houses are required to accommodate police officers who do not have accommodation.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, obviously, that is a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

PUBLIC HOLIDAY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

77. Mr Chanda asked the Minster of Home Affairs:

(a)  how many road traffic accidents were recorded during the following public holidays from 2008 to 2010:

(i) Good Friday and Easter Monday;
(ii) Heroes and Unity days; and 
(iii) Farmer’s Day;

(b)  of the total number recorded, how many were fatal; and

(c)  of the fatal accidents, how many involved women and children.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, a total of 304 road traffic accidents were recorded during Good Friday and Easter Monday holidays from 2008 to 2010. The statistics are broken down as follows:

Year   No. of Accidents

2008     89 
2009     111 
2010     104

Mr Speaker, a total number of 321 road traffic accidents was recorded during Heroes and Unity day holidays from 2008 to 2010. The statistics are broken down as follows:

Year   No. of Accidents

2008     120
2009     125 
2010    76

Mr Speaker, a total of 286 road traffic accidents were recorded during Farmer’s Day holidays from 2008 to 2010. The statistics are broken down as follows:

Year   No. of Accidents

2008     100 
2009     101 
2010        85

Mr Speaker, a total of eighty fatal accidents out of the 911 road traffic accidents recorded during Easter, Good Friday, Heroes, Unity and Farmers Day holidays were recorded from 2008 to 2010.

Mr Speaker, the fatal accidents recorded involved twenty women and eight children.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chanda: Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister what measures the Government has put in place to reduce the rate of accidents because it seems the number is increasing, especially that of fatalities.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I request the hon. Member for Kankoyo to put that question in writing so that we can give him a researched answer.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Phiri (Munali): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minster when the Government is going to extend ERT which is in Lusaka at Chainama because some accident victims die because there is no such response when an accident happens. When is this going to be extended to the rest of the country?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I have failed to understand what ERT means. Can the hon. Member assist me?

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker in view of the large number of fatalities during road accidents, could I find out from the hon. Minister whether his ministry and the Government have any plans of introducing first aid training for all drivers so that they can attend to some victims when accidents occur.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, we will take that into consideration in our planning.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chazangwe (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, most accidents are due to beer drinking by drivers. Has the ministry acquired breathalysers to detect whether someone is driving under the influence of liquor or not?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, obviously, we do not carry out tests, but I would like to appeal to drivers not to drive under the influence of alcohol. As regards acquiring breathalysers for alcohol testing of drivers, I will have to investigate the matter a little further and come back with a more detailed answer for the hon. Member at a later date.

I thank you, Sir.

ZAPD TERMINAL BENEFITS

78. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Services:

(a) how many employees either, retired or declared redundant in various farming blocks countrywide, under the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities, had not been paid their terminal benefits;

(b) how much money was owed in terminal benefits for the above;

(c) when the Government would pay the affected former employees; and

(d) what the delay in paying the money had been.

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, there are no employees who were declared redundant. However, 155 retirees under ZAPD have not been paid their benefits. The 155 retired employees are owed K4.2 billion in retirement benefits.

Mr Speaker, the 155 affected retired employees who still remain unpaid will be paid once the Ministry of Finance and National Planning releases the K4.2 billion balance. The delay in paying the money has been due to many competing needs of the Treasury, but the Government is doing everything in its power to secure the K4.2 billion to pay the affected former employees.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Malwa left his microphone on.

Mr Speaker: Switch off your microphone.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, it is now ten years since ZAPD took over from the Zambia Council for the Blind and Handicapped and it is on record …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Ask your follow-up question.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, when is the Government going to pay former ZAPD employees who retired under the Zambia Council for the Blind and Handicapped? It is on the Floor of this House …

Mr Speaker: Order!

You are debating.

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, all leave day terminal benefits of former Zambia Council for the Blind and Handicapped employees have been paid from the K2.6 billion that was released in July, 2009. The only arrears are the K4.2 billion for employees who retired under ZAPD from 2006 to 2010.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, it is now ten years down the line and people with disabilities have not been paid. These people have children …

Mr Speaker: Order!

You are debating. What is your question?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, is it not the responsibility of the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to see to it that these people are paid their benefits because they have children to take to school? Where does the Government think they will get the finances from to take their children to school?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Kaingu): Mr Speaker, I am failing to understand what the hon. Member for Mandevu is asking because we have clearly stated here that all the arrears of employees who retired under the Zambia Council for the Blind and Handicapped have been paid.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Kaingu: The retirees whose arrears have not been paid are those who retired under ZAPD.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Phiri: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if this Government does not feel that it is contributing to having more blind people on the …

Mr Speaker: Order!

What is your question?

Mrs Phiri: When is the Government going to pay former ZAPD employees to lessen the number of blind people begging on the streets?

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, we are clearing the arrears for ZAPD retirees. On the other hand, the arrears for those who retired under the Zambia Council for the Blind and Handicapped have been paid. As for the people begging on the streets, I want to make an appeal to hon. Members not to give them alms. The Government is doing its best to assist them. Yesterday, I said we had the best interventions with regard to social security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Other than paying those in need their benefits, there are other interventions like the social cash transfer and food security packs and a lot of other social security programmes.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Sir, the hon. Deputy Minister said that the remaining affected employees would be paid after the Ministry of Finance and National Planning releases the K4.2 billion to ZAPD. Given that this is one Government, can the hon. Minister be categorical and state on behalf of the Government, not only his ministry, when ZAPD will be given the K4.2 billion for it to pay the retired officers.

Mr D. Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I am not privy to the information as to when the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning will release the resources to us.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: One Boma?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, since ZAPD takes long to pay its retirees, especially for leave days and other benefits, the agency intended to provide food relief to them in the interim so that they can feed their children?

Mr D. Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, that is a proposal that I will take into consideration. However, I want to repeat that the Government has many interventions. We give food security packs to those who are vulnerable, but are able to grow their own food. We have other interventions like the empowerment funds. So, whenever we discover that some of the retirees are in dire need, we assist them. In fact, we have been assisting them for a long time.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Since it is evident that programmes such as the social cash transfer and those which deal with women’s empowerment funding are actually benefiting some retirees, would it not be prudent for the Government to pay them their own money so that other deserving people can benefit from such services?

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I totally agree with you. It is our intention to pay retirees as soon as resources are found.

I thank you, Sir.

NARCOTIC DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES

79. Colonel Chanda (Kanyama) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many residents of Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency were arrested and prosecuted for narcotic drug-related offences from 2008 to 2010; and

(b) of the arrested and prosecutions made, how many were juveniles.

Lungu: Mr Speaker, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) arrested a total of 401 residents of Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency for narcotic drug-related offences from 2008 to date. 351 people were prosecuted during the period in question. Of the 401 arrested, twenty-five were juveniles.

I thank you, Sir.

Colonel Chanda: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister comfortable with this scourge occurring in Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency when we have an operational police post in the area? Is he considering, if anything, to transfer all the officers from the police post in Kanyama to other places?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I am, of course, concerned with the current state of affairs. However, what must be stated is that it is not the number of police officers at the police post in Kanyama which has caused these drug-related offences. It is the attitude of our people. I would like to appeal to the hon. Member for Kanyama to assist us in appealing to the people who traffic in drugs to stop doing so. Asking me to transfer all the police officers at the police post in Kanyama is not a solution to the problem. Maybe, I will ask that he be transferred also from Kanyama.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mrs Phiri: Mr Speaker, we have heard reports that police officers fear to go into Chibolya Compound which is part of Kanyama Constituency. Through you, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what other measures the Government is putting in place to arrest the drug abusers in Chibolya.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, in the first place, it is not correct that the police and people from other security wings fear to get into Chibolya. Two weeks ago, we carried out an operation in Chibolya and we arrested a number of people. Some of the people we arrested are already appearing in court. I cannot be telling people everyday how the police carry out their operations. I can only appeal to hon. Members to assist us by reporting any drug related cases to the police who will then take appropriate action.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, out of the twenty-five juveniles who were arrested, how many are still serving their sentences and how many have been released?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, there is a difference between arresting and prosecuting. These juveniles were arrested and handed over to the Social Welfare Department for them to be counseled.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, of the 351 prosecutions, would the hon. Minister inform the House, how many ended up in convictions. I would also like the hon. Minister to relate the figures he has given us to the national ones during that same period of 2008 to 2010.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, the question was very specific in terms of the numbers of people who were prosecuted in a particular area, but the hon. Member wants more details which would require further research.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chanda: Mr Speaker, out of the total number, I would like to know how many were women?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I did not give a break down of the sexes in the figures which I gave in my response. However, if the hon. Member wants to know how many women were involved in the drug-related offenses, I can give him the information after I have found out from those concerned.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chimbaka (Bahati): Mr Speaker, what does the Ministry of Home Affairs attribute the increase of drug-related offences in Kanyama and other townships in Zambia to?

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, although that question is not relevant to the principal question, I can indicate that there could be various reasons that give rise to people trafficking in drugs. I think one of them is the fact that our people are made to believe that if they take that stuff, they become stronger persons.

I thank you, Sir.

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MOTIONS

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 19 AND 20

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 19 and 20 be suspended to enable the House sit from 1415 hours until Business has been concluded on Friday, 8th October, 2010.

The House is aware that, in accordance with its tradition, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning presents the National Budget on a Friday afternoon. However, Standing Orders 19 and 20 provide that the House shall sit from 0900 hours to 1300 hours on Fridays. Mr Speaker, it is in this regard that I move this Motion to suspend Standing Orders 19 and 20 so that the House sits in the afternoon on Friday, 8th October, 2010 from 1415 hours to enable the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning present the 2011 National Budget.

Sir, this is a straightforward Motion and I, therefore, urge all hon. Members of this august House to support it.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Mr Speaker: Any further debate?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank this august House for the overwhelming support.

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

The Minister of Defence (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for according me an opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of the House.

With your leave, Sir, let me begin by congratulating and welcoming to the House the two new Members of Parliament, Hon. Milupi for Luena Constituency ...

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Mwansa: ... and Hon. Kawandami for Chifubu Constituency. I warmly congratulate both of them on their victory and wish them the very best as they discharge their responsibilities to the constituents and country.

Mr Speaker, this year’s speech for the Official Opening of the Fifth Session of the Tenth Assembly was inspirational and delivered with decorum and dignity of a statesman that His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, is.

In my short debate, I will restrict myself to issues raised by His Excellency and Commander-in-Chief in relation to defence and confine myself to peace-building in the context of civil and military relations. Civil and military relations may be described as interaction between the civil society and political society on one hand and military establishment on the other. This interface may also connote issues of accountability and control.

The Zambia Defence Force, Mr Speaker, has always played a significant role during peace time as part of its obligation under the auspices of military aid to civilian authorities. In the recent past, the Zambia Army has participated in bridge construction in the Luapula, Southern and Western provinces at Kefulwa and Sinazeze rivers and along the Senanga/Shang’ombo Road, respectively.

Mr Speaker, in May this year, the Commando Unit based in Ndola was called upon to retrieve bodies of people who drowned on Lake Bangweulu and Kafue River and also retrieve the property involved. Only yesterday, the Zambia Army was, again, called upon to retrieve the body of a twenty-four year old man who drowned in a river in Solwezi.

Mr Speaker, in the case of the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), in conjunction with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), under the Office of the Vice-President, it has launched numerous operations to respond to disasters. In 2010 alone, ZAF has, so far, participated in eight operations nationwide. These operations have involved assisting the DMMU to ferry relief supplies, assessment teams and equipment, including conveying high ranking Government officials to affected areas. These operations were conducted in the Western, Eastern, Central, Northern and North-Western provinces which are more prone to floods.

In addition, ZAF has carried out many rescue missions during accidents, fires and other man-made calamities through the provision of air transport, medical personnel and various equipment such as fire tenders and earth moving equipment.

 As regards the Zambia National Service (ZNS), it has always put its earth moving equipment, road and dam construction equipment at the disposal of the Zambian people. In the recent past, excavators and bull dozers for flood mitigation were deployed in Kamwala, Makeni, Kanyama and Kabwata. Currently, the equipment is deployed for Kafue road works, dam construction in Lundazi, haulage of maize from depots nationwide and land clearance in readiness for construction of a centre for infectious diseases in Lusaka.

Mr Speaker, the policy of the Government is that officers, men and women, who have dedicated their services to the country, must also enjoy dedicated medical facilities for themselves and their families. Medical services are provided at sixty centres, camp hospitals and station sick quarters scattered all over the country at the Zambia Army, ZAF and ZNS contonments, including Maina Soko Hospital here in Lusaka.

In order to foster civil and military relations and in accordance with the Government’s policy, these medical facilities, in addition to defence personnel and their families, are also available to the civilian population free of charge. The civilian catchment population receiving treatment from military cantonments nationwide ranges from 2,000 to 25,000 per military health centre, far outnumbering cantonment population.

The same is true in the case of education. There are schools in all military cantonments which are open to both children of defence personnel and civilians in surrounding areas. In some cases, the cantonment schools are the only ones available.

Mr Speaker, under our defence policy and in accordance with our desire to strengthen civil/military relations, one of the important roles of the Defence Force is to participate in the United Nations (UN) peace support operations. Zambia first participated in the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Peace Keeping Operation in 1982 in Chad, while the UN Operations started in 1988 when our country was called upon to participate in collective efforts to bring to an end the war between Iran and Iraq. From that time, Zambia has participated and is still participating in several peace-keeping operations.

Mr Speaker, between 1982 and 2007, Zambia has participated in sixteen African Union (AU) and UN peace-keeping operations. Our officers have participated in such countries as Iraq, Kuwait, Mozambique, Rwanda, Angola, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Eritrea and others. Currently, the Defence Force personnel are participating in peace-keeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Côte D voire, Sudan and Nepal.

At the regional level, Zambia, within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), ensures, with other member States, that there is peace and security in the region. Together with other member States, we participate in peace-building through the established regional peace centre in Zimbabwe and the SADC Brigade Stand-by Force which was launched on 11th August, 2007, in Lusaka.

Mr Speaker, our officers always exhibit high levels of professionalism in peace missions abroad. They have won accolades wherever they have served and brought honour to our country. We commend our men and women and urge them to maintain this record.

Mr Speaker, we are a firm believer in a democracy in which civil/military relations are at their peak in terms of strength and quality and are improving.

Mr Speaker, colleagues who have debated before me have ably outlined our various achievements in education, health, road infrastructure, mining and other areas and I salute them. It is certain that we have delivered on most of our promises in accordance with our manifesto.

We, as a Government, have turned a page and, as always, are the most believable, credible, trusted and electable party. We will, by our action, continue to win the trust of our people because, as always, we mean what we say and say what we mean.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Pande): Mr Speaker, I stand to contribute to the debate on the speech made by His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, to the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, in doing so, I wish to point out, from the outset, that the speech which covered salient issues pertaining to the country’s political, economic, social and international relations, among others, was not only comprehensive, incisive and inspiring, but also a reflection of how the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is practically translating its manifesto into tangible and concrete programmes that ordinary people are able to identify with.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, the speech displayed a catalogue of practical projects that this Government has implemented, continues to implement and intends to implement in making Zambia a better place to live in.

Mr Speaker, listening to the President’s Speech was like being taken on a conducted tour to physically see and appreciate the great length to which the Government had gone in the implementation of development projects and programmes that are key to growing our economy, the improvement of the livelihood of people, the predisposition of the nation to advance towards the attainment of the millennium development goals (MDGs) and the fulfillment of the Vision 2030 of Zambia becoming a middle-income nation.

Mr Speaker, the development that this Government has flooded the nation with has spread to all constituencies. This includes areas like Kasempa which has seen an increase in the number of schools, clinics, new nursing hostels, all-weather roads between Kasempa and Mumbwa and between Kasempa and Kaoma. The face of Kasempa will continue to change as long as this Government continues to rule.

Mr Speaker, Kasempa continues to lead in maize production in the North-Western Province. The current bumper harvest has resulted in not less than K10 billion in the pockets of Kasempa farmers.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: What else can a normal person look for if not to continue supporting the MMD under the leadership of President Rupiah Bwezani Banda who is focused on the needs of the people?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, I can safely say that the economy of Kasempa has grown.

Mr Speaker: Order!

What is so special about Kasempa?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Is that your constituency? If it is, it is improper for a Cabinet Minister to debate issues of his or her constituency.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

You should debate nationally.

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, only a person who is impervious to the good things and inclined to malice will have difficulty noticing the good things that this Government has initiated and continues to implement for the well-being of the nation.

Sir, with President Rupiah Banda’s leadership, Zambia has continued to be the envy of many countries, both regionally and globally.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, it is against the background of a stable political disposition that Zambia has won the hearts of many as a haven of peace and continues to play a key role in peace initiatives in other regions.

Coupled with a Foreign Policy that is forward looking, Zambia has, under the leadership of President Banda, translated economic diplomacy into reality to the extent that we are now witnessing a flow of value-adding foreign investors who are helping to stimulate economic growth in the country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, Zambia will be poised to become an economic paradise in the not so distant future. It is only proper that the catalyst that is key to making Zambia the paradise we envisage is not disturbed. This catalyst is the peace we enjoy which should not be taken for granted.

There is a great danger of losing this peace if some Opposition leaders continue to thrive on lies and incite hate in the nation. They use phrases such as ‘there is tension in the nation’. Which tension?

Mr Speaker, they have provocatively insulted the President and, as much as possible, deliberately tried to mislead the nation. A good example is on the issue of foreign trips by the President.

Mrs Phiri: Aah!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, let me, once again, explain the foreign trips by His Excellency the President because our foreign relations, either bilaterally or multilaterally, are at their apex. This is so because of the untiring effort by the President and the Government to bring more investment to the country for the benefit of all Zambians.

Mrs Phiri: Question!

Mr Pande: Zambia has been rated among the best countries to invest in.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: It is, therefore, unbelievable to learn of the unwarranted attacks on the President’s travels abroad.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has observed, with increasing concern, the continuing attacks, through the media, by certain segments of the political leadership regarding presidential trips abroad. This is an issue other Government leaders and I have addressed in the media on many occasions.

Mr Speaker, I wish to remind the nation and, in particular, a certain leader of an Opposition Political Party that the Republican President is, first and foremost, the chief diplomat of the country and may carry out any number …

Interruptions

Mr Pande: … of trips abroad for the promotion of the country’s Foreign Policy and national interest as opposed to his own personal benefit or interest.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, the benefits that are derived from these foreign trips, through socio-economic co-operation, trade and investments coming to Zambia are for the collective enjoyment of every Zambian citizen, including my colleagues on your left.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Sir, as hon. Members of the House are very well aware, international relations involve different levels of engagement. The President, therefore, has an obligation to represent Zambia at his level, whenever a visit to another country or attendance at international meeting so requires. He cannot, and must not, be expected to delegate his responsibilities all the time, as doing so will erode the status of the country in the eyes of the world.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Sir, Zambia, as a young developing country, is operating in a world of competing demands and should be visible in the international arena at the highest level, as well as be aggressive in the promotion of her economic agenda and other national interests.

Mr Speaker, all leaders of the world, including prosperous ones, understand that diplomacy may be an expensive undertaking, but are also aware that a country cannot reap where it does not sow. In this regard, they continuously undertake several international engagements to further their national interests.

Sir, I wish to further inform the nation that it is standard courtesy and good international etiquette to grace occasions such as jubilee independence celebrations of friendly countries, especially those that have played a critical role in the political and economic affairs of the continent or region.

Mr Speaker, the recent visit to Nigeria, for instance, by President Rupiah Banda was also coupled with an investment forum which involved a number of business houses for promotion of investment and trade between the two countries.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Pande: Sir, I wish to humbly request all Zambians, including the hon. Members who are saying, “Question” to accord respect to the presidency and the person of Head of State, even when they feel they need to exercise their democratic right to comment on national affairs.

Mr Speaker, we need to respect the President and his Government and appreciate the efforts being made to bring development to our country through, among others, important international interactions.

Sir, I also wish to commend Zambians at large for ignoring the unwarranted, misleading and provocative criticism of the President.

Mr Speaker, the sustenance of many developmental projects, respect of rule of law and the incomparable peace we continue to enjoy, can only be guaranteed if President Banda is retained for another term in office.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Sir, continued enjoyment of peace goes with concerted effort and support for the Government and making right political choices. This is why for our peace to continue, the economy to remain on track and the country to prosper further, the party in the saddle, the MMD, through President Banda, deserves another mandate next year.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: It is only fair, hon. Members, through you, Mr Speaker, that given the leadership clout, vision and tenacious spirit of determination President Rupiah Bwezani Banda has demonstrated in making the economy tick, he is rewarded by being voted back into office in next year’s general elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Sir, it is the duty of every Zambian, therefore, who expects to be served better, to realise that quality leadership, as the one inherent in President Banda, is key to the attainment of any development you may care to imagine.

Mr Speaker, in this regard, it is only proper that President Banda is given another opportunity to take Zambia to higher echelons of development.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of the House.

Sir, the speech that His Excellency the President delivered to this House was undoubtedly excellent.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: The President outlined numerous successes of his Government and the way forward regarding the outstanding challenges the nation still faces.

Mr Speaker, the successes scored by the Government have been recognised and praised by the most credible international and professional institutions on earth such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the African Development Bank (ADB). In addition to this, the successes have been praised locally by the business community and trade unions.

Mr Speaker, let me quote a few statements of praise recently made about the economic performance of our country.

Sir, on 15th September, 2010, a visiting team from the IMF made the following statement:

“The Zambian economy has been performing well. Real GDP growth is projected at 6.6 per cent in 2010, boosted by the record maize harvest, a rebound in tourism, and a continued increase in copper output and construction. This year’s bumper harvest has helped bring inflation down to 8.2 per cent by end-August. Macroeconomic policy implementation has continued to be strong and contribute to good performance in 2010.”

Mr Speaker, the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has made the following statement about the good performance of the Zambian economy on their website:

“Zambia’s economy has experienced strong growth in the recent years, with a real GDP growth between 2005 and 2008, giving about 6 per cent per year.”

Sir, the CIA has also ranked Zambia’s real GDP growth of 6.4 per cent recorded in 2009 as number nine compared to the performance of other countries in the world.

Mr Speaker, some debates in the House on the President’s Speech have been good, while others have been very poor. For example, to suggest that this administration is swimming in the glory of projects started by former presidents is being shallow.

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

Dr Musokotwane: Indeed, it is with great pride that this President, who belongs to the same MMD as his predecessors, even as he initiates new projects, is strongly completing the good projects left behind by his predecessors.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, in any case, many colleagues from the Opposition wanted projects initiated by former presidents to be completed as soon as possible. An example is Hon. Kakoma who has told this House, over the past two years, that if the Government accelerated the construction of the Mutanda/Chavuma Road, he would have nothing else to complain to the Government about development in the province.

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I am very surprised that although this Government of President Banda has taken the unprecedented action of putting four contractors to work on this twenty-seven-year old project so as to complete it within two years, Hon. Kakoma, in his debate, chose to be silent on this positive development for his people. Instead, he chose to invent new complaints.

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane: Be that as it may be, the people of the North-Western Province are observing the developments with keen eyes and I know that these great people, at an appropriate time, will say thank you very much to the Government.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Sir, equally disappointing were speeches with long lists of complaints about pending development challenges. According to the debaters who presented them, this was proof of poor performance by this Government. Mr Speaker, what a poor approach!

Mr Speaker, to illustrate my point, early, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government invested heavily in education, mostly through the building of a secondary school in each district of the country. Previously, most districts did not have secondary schools. The UNIP intervention at the time was, therefore, a massive improvement in the provision of secondary schools, but even with this strong intervention, access to secondary school education remained poor.

Sir, by the reasoning of the debaters we have heard here, UNIP’s performance, after the intervention, was bad because access to education remained low. What has eluded the imagination of our critics is the need for them to pay attention to the incremental improvements made by each successive Government of the situation that they found on the ground. Had the debaters taken this approach, they would have appreciated the impressive achievements of the MMD Government. Let me outline some of these achievements in addition to those already mentioned by the President.

Mr Speaker, at the time of independence, Zambia’s economic status was similar to and on certain instances, better than those of present-day Asian economic giants. Then, Zambia was ranked as one of the medium-income countries, in the same league as the present day Botswana, Mauritius, South Africa and other countries with an income per head of over US$1,000.

Mr Speaker, the advent of State control of the economy saw a steady decline in the economic status of Zambians. By the 1990s, Zambia became relegated to the league of very poor nations. Income per head fell by two-thirds to just over US$300 from US$1,000. This historical impoverishment was caused principally by two factors. Firstly, the nationalisation of the nation’s principal industry, copper mining, and the subsequent fall in investment that led to a drop in copper production from more than 700,000 metric tonnes in the 1970s to just about 250,000 metric tonnes in 2000. Under State control, money was sucked from the mining industry, leaving little or nothing for re-investment, hence the decline in the industry.

Mr Speaker, in this regard, I am glad that the hon. Minister for Luapula Province warned us, in his debate, about the dangers of history repeating itself if we destroyed the mining industry through the temptation to introduce the punitive windfall taxes on mining revenue.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, secondly, an unconducive investment climate discouraged the establishment of non-copper industries to replace the declining copper industry. Since the coming into power by the MMD, the many years of economic decline have not just been arrested, but also strongly reversed. The economy has turned round dramatically, prompting the praises that I quoted earlier on. Income per head has risen from just the over US$300 dollars I mentioned earlier to just below US$1,000 presently. In a year or two, Zambia will return to the medium-income status. This is an economic miracle-in-the-making.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, this progress is not just manifested in statistics. It is also visible for all honest seekers of the truth to see. Let me mention a few high level examples. From being dependent on food imports, Zambia, today, is a food exporter. From a State where citizens queued for months to have a chance to buy foreign exchange, today, Zambia has official foreign reserves in excess of US$2 billion.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, from a situation of rampant shortage of basic consumer items such as bread, today, Zambia offers First World shopping facilities. From a situation of decaying industrial sites, today, industrial sites are overflowing and new offices, factory warehouses and shopping complexes are springing up every week, offering jobs to thousands of builders. From decaying towns, now we see vibrancy in them. From hopeless villages, we now see light ahead as villagers acquire canter trucks and taxies. These and many other developments are the practical signs of an economic miracle-in-the-making.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I now wish to address the issue of windfall tax on copper mining. I am encouraged by the fact that those calling for the re-introduction of this tax have become fewer in numbers as they realise that they had made a mistake.

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: This comes as no surprise because it follows the patterns seen before where the Government gets severely criticised for taking positive steps only to be praised later. In the 1990s, when the country had only a few days of import cover of foreign exchange, the MMD Government liberalised the sale and purchase of foreign exchange. Contrary to the fears then that all the foreign currency would be bought and taken out of the country, today, the country has more reserves than ever.

Sir, another example is the privatisation of the mines which raised much opposition. Today, this industry is, once again, as in the early days of the 1970s, the locomotive of growth in our economy.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

The House will pay attention. At least, I want to hear what the hon. Minister is talking about.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the privatisation of the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) attracted widespread condemnation and even attracted political rallies organised by the Patriotic Front (PF) at the bank’s headquarters. Today, contrary to the fears spread by the PF, this bank is serving Zambian clients and looking after its employees better since inception.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, we also saw massive opposition and incitation of workers with the privatisation of the Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL) but, already, the positive vibrations of that decision such as the massive cuts in telephone tariffs due to competition is there for everyone to see.

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that in most of the major decisions this MMD Government has taken and to which the Opposition had raised objections, the Government has turned out to be vindicated. In other words, the MMD has a good track record in decision making while the Opposition has none.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the same is happening on windfall tax in copper mining, hence the declining numbers of Opposition Members raising the issue. For the sake of those few Members who still call for the re-introduction of windfall taxes, let me reinstate the Government’s position as follows.

Sir, firstly, it is a rare practice to impose corporate taxes on sales revenue in the manner the windfall tax in the mining did here in Zambia. The normal practice the world over is to impose corporate tax on profit.

Secondly, if the economic policy reasoning for doing away with windfall tax is hard to comprehend, then there is yet a simpler avenue to explore. This is done by asking the question, which other countries in the world has windfall taxes? From our findings, there is not a single mining country today with such a tax.

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, in other words, none of the major mining countries such as Angola, Australia, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Canada, Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe has a windfall tax.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, with all the available and clear information on why it was necessary to withdraw the windfall tax on copper, I find it hard to understand why certain Members of this House, many of whom claim to be experts, still clamour for the introduction of the windfall taxes. Some even claim the IMF recommended the tax. This is not true and I challenge those who insist on this claim to provide evidence.

Mr Speaker, my only explanation for their insistence is my suspicion that their past failure in the mining industry haunts their subconscious. Some of the loudest proponents of windfall tax were senior officers in the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM). When they joined this company as young people, they found it viable and strong, acting as the anchor to our economy. It was this industry that supported the railway companies by providing cargo. It supported manufacturing companies, trading companies, local councils, football clubs and many other entities. Sadly, these colleagues ran the ZCCM to the ground, seeing production fall from 700,000 to less than 300,000 metric tonnes. This is why the Copperbelt was becoming a ghost province. The railway companies deteriorated because there was little cargo to carry. The football clubs declined because there was no one to support them. This is why mining towns were declining. All this happened through the mismanagement and recklessness of some people who were in the ZCCM.

Mr Speaker, people react differently to failure. Some people take failure positively and try to learn lessons from it so that they can do better in future while others take it badly and, out of shame, try to cover their past failures by looking for faults in institutions they mismanaged.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I fear that some of my colleagues agitating for windfall tax may be doing so because, subconsciously, they feel miserable that others are doing well where they failed. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, what amazes me profoundly from the debate on mining and windfall tax is the hypocritical approach of some hon. Members of the Patriotic Front (PF).

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: While they speak passionately in favour of re-introducing windfall tax, their president, through a letter he wrote to my predecessor in 2008, condemned the same tax harshly.

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the PF president re-affirmed his opposition to windfall tax in a letter that he recently wrote in August, 2010 which I will lay on the Table. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: In that letter, the PF president, in fact, indicated that he is even against the windfall tax on profits commonly known as the variable income tax which still sits on our books. 

Hon. Government Member: Hypocrites!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the PF is a party in deep trouble …

Mrs Phiri: Question!

Dr Musokotwane:  … because it does not seem to have direction.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: One cannot even trust that what their president says is party policy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: The party is not trustworthy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, this is typical of the PF. One day, they will say thank you and the next day they will say the opposite.

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane: One day, they will promise to free an accused person if they get into power and the next day they will accuse the same person of wrongdoing.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: One day, they will pretend to be in a political alliance and the next day they pounce on and devour their allies.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, a PF government would, therefore, be dysfunctional since policies would be changing every hour and every minute.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane:  It is this inconsistency and total lack of predictability …

Mrs Phiri: Question!

Dr Musokotwane: … that has made the intellectual cream of the party to decide that they do not want it any more.

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: It is the same unbecoming behaviour that has led some investors to fear that should the PF gain power, many investors will likely withdraw from Zambia in large numbers, crippling the economy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, with this total lack of trustworthiness and reliability by the PF, …

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane: … I find it astonishing that some members of the UPND wish to bury their heads in the sand and believe that they have an alliance with the PF …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: … more so that the PF has, in no uncertain terms, made it clear to them that they are junior partners who can be dismissed any time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, yet more so that half of PF Members have already concluded that the party is extremely poorly run and unworthy to serve.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: This fantasy by the UPND reminds me of a story I was told by a friend a long time ago about a man who was sadly involved in an accident. His head was decapitated from the rest of his body at the neck.

Mr Kambwili: Abantu nga bakula balapena.

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane: As a sympathiser came near the head to see what he could do to help, the decapitated head which still had some life in it said in ci Bemba “Kwena na pusuka ee.”

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

I would like to hear the translation of that phrase.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, it means “I have survived”.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, this is the same big illusion that my colleagues in the UPND suffer from by hoping to form a Government with the PF next year.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, through you, I would like to urge the UPND to wake up from this illusion.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

I would like to guide the House. Those who have been in this House long enough will know that debating can be a pleasant or painful experience.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: It is pleasant when you are attacking the other side and it is painful when you are on the receiving end.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I am still on the Floor.

As such, since I have listened to both sides of the House and I know when points of order are due and when they are not, I have been extremely reluctant to allow points of order now that the hon. Members on my right are replying to the attacks that you enjoyed inflicting on them earlier.

Laughter

Mr Speaker:  Order!

In any case, I am the custodian of the rules of debate and if I hear that anyone is out of line, I would be the first to intervene.

Mrs Phiri: Ummmn.

Mr Speaker: I will start with you. Be careful.

The hon. Minister of Works and Supply may debate.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili and Mrs Phiri left the Assembly Chamber.

Interruptions

The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Mulongoti): Mr Speaker, I wish to begin my speech to this august House by thanking you for allowing me to contribute to the epoch-making speech delivered to this august House by His Excellency, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of Zambia, on 21st September, 2010.

Mr Speaker, I would also be uncharitable by not paying tribute to you and the illustrious team at Parliament. You are a worthy asset to the Republic.

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

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, during the Tenth Session, we lost Hon. Benson Mwamba Bwalya, MP for Chifubu Constituency, Hon. Chibombamilimo, MP for Mpulungu Constituency, Hon. Chisanga Banda, MP for Milanzi Constituency, …

Mr Kasongo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Is it on procedure?

Mr Kasongo: Yes, sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kasongo: Mr Speaker, in his contribution, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning promised the House that after his debate, he would lay a letter written by someone on the Table. He has not done so.

Mr Speaker: I am indebted to that point of order. May the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning lay the letter on the Table?

Dr Musokotwane laid the paper on the Table.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Minister of Works and Supply may continue.

Mr Mulongoti: … Hon. Bonshe, MP for Mufumbwe Constituency and hon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Hon. Ng’andu Magande, MP for Chilanga, who left by default. I sincerely pay tribute to their contributions to the nation.

Mr Speaker, I would like to welcome Hon. Kawandami, MP for Chifubu Constituency, who is already out of the House and Hon. Milupi, MP for Luena Constituency for his political tenacity leading nowhere.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: We shall join him in eternity.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, it is almost fifteen years since I ran for political office. I was forty-four years old at the time, feeling young then and generally impatient with winning a seat in the National Assembly which was glamorous and had opened up more opportunities and, of course, many new friends too. I also had people asking me questions as to why I was leaving the world of business for the world of cynicism in politics. I was going in a world that had been nourished by question of broken promises, but I was confident that there was another solution to politics, the solution based on the simple idea that we have a stake in one another and that what binds us together is greater than what drives apart and that if enough people believe in the truth on this proposition and act on it, though we might not solve every problem, we can get something meaningful done for our people and our country.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear. Hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, at the time the MMD had just taken over from UNIP, grappling with issues of democracy and a run-down economy.  Of course, there were young men and women with elderly politicians in Government who had seen many days in politics. Scared I was, but still carrying the enthusiasm and impatience of youth. It was the same restlessness of youth that led me to question the way the country was being governed by the UNIP regime. I had won the seat in Parliament so, I had to bite the bullet.

Mr Speaker, the first thing was to learn the rules of the game. Parliament offers challenges and opportunities. The pleasures of politics, the adrenaline of debate, the legislative work and the combative attitude of other legislators and the cynicism of the public began to weigh heavily on me and, at times, I began to wonder whether I had made the correct decision. I began to harbour doubts about the path I had taken.

Mr Speaker, I have given this preamble because I listened to an hon. Member of Parliament giving advice to Hon. Susan Kawandami, MP of Chifubu Constituency on who to emulate in this House as an MP, and this was Hon. Kambwili, MP.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Her dream will not happen unless she can take time to scan her environment and learn from the best that is available in the House. This is timely advice as she does not have much time, but only one year. I have spent the last fifteen years learning and it is evident from my conduct and demeanor in the House and outside that I have learnt very well.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, I am a politician and have watched alliances come and go.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Let me give an analogy. There was one union that was constituted not long ago. It is like a relationship between an old man like me and a young lady, but both of us went into this relationship for different purposes. For the old man, …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Minister will stick to his text.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Then, you will not run into some difficulties.

Laughter

 Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for that guidance.

Sir, I was just making an analogy to emphasise a point as I go to my text.

Mr Speaker, between the two, the old man is looking for company because he is either bored or his wife died. Meanwhile, the young lady is looking for comfort and status. The two go into a relationship in the hope that the young lady was thinking that if the old man died she would inherit the wealth …

 Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: …and the old man thought he would have fun with the young lady, but she is saying and claiming that she is the wife. The difficulties are there because we can see them.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, please allow me to tender my explanation to a detail that came in the Presidential Speech. The mandate of the Road Development Agency (RDA) is to work on 40,000 kilometres of road and we hope that by the end of next year, we will have achieved that. So far, we have covered 28,000 kilometres. Therefore, let me just correct that for Hon. Mooya, an engineer who is very passionate about roads and Hon. Muntanga who, by accident, came across the details as well.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, let me quote from the Bible because we have been accused …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

The Bible is one of the two documents which should not be quoted here - the Bible and the Constitution and I have given the reasons for this before. If you quote out of context, other people who know the other part of he Bible will say otherwise.

May you move on.

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for your guidance.

Mr Speaker, I was talking on the issue because we have been accused of claiming to have succeeded in delivering on projects that were started by others. This is why I was trying to run to a quote which I have captured very well, but I will leave it out

Mr Speaker, however, to those of us who are Christians, we are taught one thing in the teachings that when one plants the seed and the other one waters the seed, no one can be said to be greater than the other.

Sir, Dr Kaunda started projects which were watered by Dr Chiluba. Dr Chiluba started projects which were watered by the late President, Dr Mwanawasa, and Dr Mwanawasa started projects that have been watered by Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: It would be extremely unfortunate to begin to take away the glory of those who started and the glory of those who watered. The Government does not start and end as if it is a 100-metre race. Governments are long term and, in the long term, you start projects in the hope that other people will continue. It is extremely unfortunate that the expectations are that when you take over Government, things should change. I hear our colleagues from the other side of the House continuously say they will change things. You do not change, but improve on what you found.

 Hon. Government Members: hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Anyway, I should forgive them because, sometimes, when we say people must spend more time in school, they think we are being unfair …

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: … but that is where you learn management and how to do things properly.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, let me also refer to one quote. When Prince Charles went to America and was asked which country was greater than the other between Britain and America, he also said the same thing. One plants and the other waters. Therefore, there is no difference at all. Therefore, I want to assure our colleagues on your left that when they take over, if ever, knowing that they will not, but if ever, they must not destroy what we have planted.

 Mr Speaker, we have many challenges as a country, but without the same, there would be no basis for our endeavours. We are constantly reminded by both our competitors and the general public of our limitations and, sometimes, by callous machinations exaggerated as failures. We acknowledge these with grace.  We are in leadership because we accepted the task ahead and also the thankless task at times. However, we are convinced that we shall make contributions and progress. We have not accepted to be paralysed by the many assaults on our integrity and, sometimes, apparent lapses in our delivery or lack of delivery due to institutional or human failures.

Sir, Hon. Lubinda thinks that each time he talks about the RDA I am uncomfortable. He seems to have amnesia because what he does not understand is that the period they talk about the RDA, I was not in that ministry. I only went there in 2009 and the issue relates to the period up to 2008. Therefore, why should I have any difficulties? I only behave like a responsible minister. When you take over, you take over everything. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, I am proud to be associated with that ministry and the RDA. Whatever difficulties are there will be resolved.

 I am grateful to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) who gave direction and advice on how we should proceed and that is precisely what we are doing.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, in his speech, the President alluded to the fact that we should not ascribe guilt to people before they are proven guilty. We have law makers who must be in the forefront of promoting justice and ensuring that the people of Zambia can benefit from these institutions we created for our governance.

Ms Siliya: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: It will be unfortunate for us to use institutions of governance as items of persecution. We must, instead, strengthen them so that all of us can get justice from them. It is sad that whenever we bring well-meaning legislation here, some people see something wrong in it because all they want to see are people getting prosecuted. They want institutions that are seen merely actively persecuting citizens. On this side of the House, I do not think we want that. What we want is to strengthen these institutions so that at the end of the day, all of us can feel safe and comfortable that we can be protected by the law until a ruling is passed in the courts of law.

Mr Speaker, I was making that emphasis because Hon. Lubinda thinks that we have fear, on this side of the House,  to bring certain types of legislation to this House. We are on firm ground. I would like to assure Hon. Lubinda that we are terra firma.

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Sir, let me confess that in my ministry we are doing our best to deliver what is expected of us. However, we are also conscious of the fact that our best could be at variance with the expectations of our masters who are the public. We wish to beg for their understanding because we are limited by the size of the task and the resource envelope. Our resources are made available to us by this same august House. The criticism we receive at times is unfair. We, however, continue to listen as well as share the anger and frustrations. We also may, at times, listen to well-developed theories about how to develop our country. With hindsight and having no blinding insights as to the vision and mission ahead of us, we are determined to do that which is possible for our country.

Ms Siliya: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: We know that even though our critics are sometimes right, the Government cannot manage to solve all their problems at once. However, with a slight change in priorities, we could possibly make a difference.

Mr Speaker, suffice to state that as Zambians, we have a set of ideals and values embedded in peace, security and love for one another that continue to stir our collective conscience. We also have a common set of values that bind us together despite our differences, be it from UNIP, UPND, PF, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD). These values remain alive in our hearts and minds. They inspire us to take pride in duty and sacrifice.

Sir, the Presidential Speech was such an inspiring document.

Ms Siliya: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: The President was so charitable that he said on page 3 of his speech that:

“Finally, may I commend all the Members of Parliament for their dedication towards the business of the House in the last session.”

Is it true that all hon. Members of Parliament in here were dedicated? I could have mentioned a few names of those whom I thought were not dedicated but, I will not do that. The President was very charitable. Some of you were not dedicated because you never came here at times. When you came here, you did not do the right thing as hon. Members of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency also said that Parliament had delivered the coverage for Parliament Radio to the whole country. Unfortunately, some of our hon. Members do not say a word here. So, that radio means nothing to them. The reforms to take Parliament as close to the people as possible is intended for the benefit of all us. All of us must speak so that all the people in our constituencies can hear us. To those of you who say nothing, the Parliamentary Reforms will not mean anything to you.

Sir, somebody questioned what the President said when he talked about the exchange rate having remained stable. I do not know of a country where the exchange rate has remained stable for a long period of time. It is difficult for the exchange rate to remain stable because it is supposed to fluctuate according to the pressure on the market. I was surprised that I could hear in this House people challenging what the President had said regarding the stability of the exchange rate of this country. I think any Zambian who knows business can see that the exchange rate has been quite stable.

Mr Speaker, somebody was also questioning what the President said regarding the revision of the tax policy and administration. Surely, that is what is expected of us. Any dynamic hon. Minister of Finance must …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 until 1630 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended I was about to w talk about decentralisation.

Sir, I was saddened that Hon. Sejani, who was at one time hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing, stood up on the Floor of this House and lamented what has not been done by that ministry. Has Hon. Sejani told this House what he did when he was hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing?

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Nothing!

Mr Mulongoti: That kind of attitude is not good at all. We will not build Zambia by being turncoats who, when they are in office, say good things about the Government but, when they leave it, they start claiming that the Government is not doing anything at all. It is unfortunate that Hon. Sejani says certain unexpected things about the Ministry of Local Government and Housing which he once headed.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Sir, on this side of the House, we have men and women of integrity who respect commitment to public service.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: We do hope that those who are aspiring to come into power, if ever they will make it one day, must also show their commitment to serve the public. I saw that there was an outcry when we tried to enhance the leadership capacity of this country by introducing the degree clause for those aspiring for presidency. We became so unpopular. Surely, we must add value to the leadership capacity of this country. We must add a premium to the leadership of this country. I know that during that period many people went into colleges to enrol for various courses. It was a good thing.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: That is what we expect from those who aspire to occupy leadership positions in this country. We expect them to continue with their education because, at the end of the day, we are looking for not just the number of people who are able to occupy leadership positions, but their quality.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I am conscious of the fact that many of us use flying words so as to service our political cynicism. I am also aware of how noble sentiments can be subverted in the name of power, experience, greed or intolerance. It is downright dangerous for people to attempt to gloss over serious differences in policy and performance or race and use that as a means to waffle or complain when they feel ill served by our current institutional arrangements.

Zambia is bigger than any of us. We must all strive to be shining beacons who will provide the direction of hope and promise for our people. No matter how angry or disillusioned we feel, we should not let the future of Zambia be sacrificed at the altar of our expedience. Our ambitions and personal dreams should not take centre stage. We must learn lessons from the past and be mindful of the fact that the future is the only window that can deliver more opportunities for development. If we do not act now, there will be no future for us and our future generation.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Ms Namugala): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to debate on the Motion of Thanks on the speech presented to this House by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Sir, let me start by commending His Excellency for a very inspiring speech.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: In fact, it was so inspiring that even most of the President’s critics have acknowledged that this is a good piece of work.

In his usual style, the President was humble, fatherly and visionary. He exhibited real statesmanship. This President is so humble that even the hon. Members of the Opposition know that in this quality lies his strength to unite the nation and move the country towards achieving its aspirations. Mr Speaker, we are proud of our President.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the President is aware of the high poverty levels and he acknowledges this on page 5 of his speech. As a Government, we are aware of the difficulties our people are going through and the need for us to do more work than we are currently doing. We are doing a lot to try and reduce the poverty levels in the country. We, as a team, are working hard to ensure that we grow the economy so as to reduce the poverty levels. When the poverty levels are reduced, we shall help the people to regain their dignity.

Mr Kambwili: By taking the Amayenge Band to Nigeria?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, we are doing a lot of work to ensure that our children lead better lives. We are trying as much as possible to ensure that the key economic sectors of agriculture, tourism and manufacturing contribute more to the GDP.

Mr Speaker, tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in this country with great potential to reduce poverty through job and wealth creation. For every tourist entering Zambia, ten jobs are created. As a Government, we are paying attention to this sector which currently employs 25,860 people through direct jobs and earned the country US$212 million in 2009.

Mr Speaker, the tourism sector is poised for growth as a result of the focus given by the Government through the development of key infrastructure in the Northern Circuit, especially in the Kasaba Bay area.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, in this area, the Government is spending K88 billion on the development of the Kasaba Bay Runway, …

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: … K40 billion on the Mbala/Kasaba Bay Road, K84 billion on the construction of the transmission line from Mbala to Kasaba Bay. In addition, the Government intends to invest K185 billion in power generation in order to build the electricity capacity of Mbala, Mpulungu, Kaputa and Nakonde so as to attract significant investment to these areas.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, this hardworking Government intends to spend more than K500 billion on the projects I have referred to in addition to the development of other infrastructure in the Kafue National Park, South Luangwa National Park and the greater Livingstone in order to enhance tourism. As his Excellency the President indicated, we intend to step up our marketing efforts in key markets in order to create awareness of Zambia as a key tourist destination.

Mr Speaker, with all these developments, the people, especially those in the Northern Province, are grateful to this Government and will, therefore, not experiment with leadership because they know that the current leadership is focussed on development.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, high schools and clinics are being built, roads are being tarred and I can simply say a lot of development is taking place. All this is taking place because this Government is focussed.

Mr Speaker, natural resources are the basis of all our developmental activities. It is, therefore, important that we work around the principles of sustainable development in order to utilise our resources properly as well as conserve them for future generations. As we work on improving the management of our natural resources, we are aware that losses in our biodiversity are detrimental to our survival. This is why a lot of work is being done in this area so as to address any threats on our biodiversity.

Mr Speaker, allow me to encourage the hon. Members to develop interest in natural resource management.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, allow me to comment on issues that have been raised by some of our colleagues on the speech of His Excellency the President. I said some hon. Members because I know that not all those on your left are destructive in their criticism of the Government. In fact, some of the hon. Members on your left truly want to make a difference to the lives of those they represent.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, I am, however, aware of a few of those who come to this House to undermine the Government through their destructive debate. I challenge those colleagues to reflect on why they are here. What do their electorate benefit from their continuous destructive criticism of the Government? These are colleagues who do not want to encourage the people to be self reliant to the extent that they want the Government to do everything for the people, and yet we all know that in the olden days, people used to work on, for instance, village roads using basic tools. The village headmen would mobilise their people and works on those parts of the road that concern them would be done. These works did not require heavy equipment. Surprisingly, at present, the hon. Member and the Government must pay the people for them to slash around the village. Hon. Members, we are reducing the capacity of our people to be self reliant.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: All this is happening in the name of politics and this is not leadership. We should help our people to take advantage of the available opportunities. We should not ride on their poverty for political gain by making them believe that the Government is supposed to do everything for them.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, I have heard of some so-called leaders of the Opposition talking about coming to re-nationalise the companies which have been sold to the private sector by the Government in Zambia. I wonder which Zambia they are talking about. Is it the Zambia which even has automated teller machines in different locations? Is it the Zambia in which people can buy anything they want provided they have the money? You just have to drive along the Great East Road to see how Lusaka has been transformed.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, my view is that this political leader who is talking about re-nationalisation is out of touch with the realities of the modern world and belongs to the past.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, in some countries, the Opposition serves as an alternative Government. However, listening to the debate in this House by some of our colleagues leaves one wondering as to what kind of Government they would run. To the many hon. Members on your left who want to make a difference, my appeal to them is that they should take advantage of the goodwill of the President who has asked them to work with those of us who are in Government to make poverty history. Come, and together we will make a difference. After all, we are not at war with each other, but at war with poverty.

Our people need you and they cannot wait until you come into office because that may not happen.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, leadership is doing what is good for those you lead and not doing what is expedient for you at a particular moment. So, my appeal, again, is that, together, we can do so much for our people.

I thank you, Sir.

The Minister of Information Broadcasting Services (Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to debate the speech that His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, delivered on the opening of the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Assembly on 17th September, this year.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank you for the wonderful work that you continue to do to lead this august House for us to deliver for the people of Zambia. I wish to congratulate His Excellency on the industrious and excellent speech that he made to this august House which touched on all aspects of our lives in this country. It is, indeed, a visionary speech which gives a clear light of where we are coming from, where we are going, where we are and how we shall reach our wonderful prosperous destination.

Mr Speaker, the speech shows that the people of Zambia have a great future under the stewardship of President Banda. The President has clearly given us the targets and has shown us the vision for a developing country like Zambia.

The Government places high premium value on the role of the media in national development. In this regard, the Government has put in place policy and legislative reforms which have gained momentum in my ministry to ensure the attainment of a well-informed populace.

Mr Speaker, following the liberalisation of the media industry, the number of community and privately owned radio stations is now approaching fifty with over 100 applications pending to be processed. We now have about seven private stations and twenty applications pending for television stations and a number of private newspapers and many more are applying to see if they could be in partnership with other newspapers.

Mr Speaker, a digital migration taskforce is in place to guide the nation in the transition from analogue to digital mode of broadcasting by 2015. These are landmark developments that, indeed, reflect the Government’s commitment and desire to develop the media industry and give this vital sector the impetus it needs to move into the future. In the same vein, a continuous process of manpower development in the media industry is our top priority. This Government considers the media human resource as a special crop that is continuously in the forefront of bringing out the truth which is the most important ingredient for any nation to prosper. To have peace, there has to be truth.

Mr Speaker, therefore, it is my ministry and this Government’s very exceptional and strong condemnation of many statements that have been made by many hon. Members of Parliament who have gone ahead to speak very ill of the media. Only recently, one hon. Member of Parliament called the public media personnel ‘Shikapwasha’s dogs’. Now, this is a very bad speech made by an hon. Member of Parliament, who knows very well that the media industry is full of people who are honourable. No human being can call another human being a dog because God, who created man and woman, created them in his image and in his likeness. God, therefore, never created man or woman in the image of a dog.

Therefore, my ministry demands a categorical withdrawal and immediate apology from the Member of Parliament of Munali, Hon. Mumbi Phiri, for those very unwarranted and evil remarks she made against the journalists in the public media.

Mr Speaker, what is more disappointing to many people, including my ministry and I, is the silence over these remarks expressed by the most outspoken newspapers such as those that are on the streets and many other radio stations, the Media Liaison Committee and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). What does it show when others are being called dogs by one hon. Member? It means that those that are running the media for self-regulatory mechanisms do not have the capacity to be equal to the task of providing equal representation of all matters. Therefore, it shows the failure of those that are agitating for an involuntary media regulatory mechanism.

Mr Speaker, media development involves ethics development and media professionalism. Media professionalism calls for newspapers to condemn such evil remarks even though they are coming from those that they do evil things with.

Mr Speaker, the achievements scored by the Government under the leadership of His the Excellency President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, is causing sleepless nights for most political leaders and to some of the hon. Members on your left.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, why so much sleepless nights you might ask? It is because the MMD Government has performed under the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda. Zambia is now one of the prime investment destinations worldwide because of the prudent economic policies the Government of President Rupiah Banda has put in place. This is acknowledged, as my colleague the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning indicated, by institutions which have confirmed how Zambia is performing. Among these institutions are the World Bank, IMF and the CIA, which is a very credible agency.

Mr Speaker, this is good for Zambia. This shows that the MMD Government is a Government of the people by the people and for the people. The MMD is a national character party as it embraces people from all walks of life. It is a true Zambian party unlike some of the regional parties. It is a party that has provided peace and stability in the nation and laid a firm foundation for economic growth and a very vibrant and dynamic filled economy which is growing the economy at a fast rate.

Mr Speaker, this economy has posted a trade surplus since January, 2010. Inflation is at .0

single digit, foreign reserves have swelled to an all time high of US$2 billion that has never been seen in this country. It is history for a long time to come. Furthermore, the country has produced a bumper harvest while the economy is projected to grow at over 6.7 per cent this year alone.

Mr Speaker, foreign direct investment (FDI) has continued to flow into the economy, resulting in the resurgence of the mining industry providing greater employment including tourism and construction, agriculture and other key social and economic sectors. All these developments are fruits of President Banda’s focused and visionary leadership.

Mr Speaker, competition for investment is high at the global level and Zambia cannot afford to remain behind when nations are meeting in different parts of the world to share resources and opportunities that are available in the world for investment. Zambia must also be there. We must be aggressive in accessing international resources and opportunities for our development.

Mr Speaker, this is why, many times, people have said simple minds talk about what suit, shoe or dress a person is wearing or, indeed, what trips a person is making to other parts of the world.

Mr Speaker, great leaders, with a vision, talk about what benefits a country can get from every corner of the world for people to prosper and President Banda has shown that he is a great leader who can go out and seek investment and bring it to Zambia for the benefit of its people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Sir, you only need to go around the cities to see the traffic congestion that is everywhere. One needs about three to four hours to move from Chelston to town in the morning and the same number of hours to get back in the evening. This is the situation in many other towns around the country and it is a sign that people have money in their pockets and are able to buy cars and fuel to put in them.

Mr Speaker, President Banda has a great mind and vision for Zambia and a tender heart for its people. This President reaches out to babies on the streets and …

Mr Kapeya: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Order!

 I want to find out if that point of order has anything to do with procedure.

Mr Kapeya: Yes, Sir.

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to keep on talking about the growth of the economy without touching an important matter relating to the collapse of a shortwave transmitter owned by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporations (ZNBC) since February, 2010? I need your serious ruling.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Mpika Central is in no way able to tell whether the hon. Minister is going to talk about that or not. He is still debating.

May the hon. Minister, please, continue.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, just to answer the anxiety of the hon. Member for Mpika Central, it is, indeed, this Government’s intention to continue finding ways and means of propagating information to the people of Zambia. At the moment, shortwave is being aligned and put on satellite for both Radio One and Two to reach the people of Zambia so that they can hear and appreciate the developments that President Banda has brought to this country. I, therefore, want to assure the hon. Member of Parliament that both radio and television will soon be made available even in the mountains and valleys of this country, not too long from today, for people to understand what this Government is doing.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, the President makes trips to different countries to ensure that development and investment come to Zambia. The development that is currently taking place in the country is testimony of that. As I said earlier, President Banda has a great mind and vision for Zambia and a tender heart for the people of this country. He reaches out to babies on the streets and their mothers. He does not restrict himself to the ‘under-fives’ only.

Laughter

Interruptions 

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: He bends backwards to accommodate every progressive idea in order to ensure that the people of Zambia benefit from his leadership. He is a compassionate preserver of peace and a great advocate of a united and prosperous Zambia. He is also the leader for a stable and peaceful Zambia. Therefore, he deserves the vote of all those that are listening to me as I speak today. President Banda wants to ensure that when he finally finishes his second term, all those in the Opposition pretending to be leaders shall not be there. Indeed, the man is a great leader.

Mr Speaker, for the sake of comparison with Opposition leaders, the Zambian people should know two things.  The first thing is that each one of these political leaders has only one thing on their mind, a plan of violence. We cannot forget what happened in Chawama between 2001 and 2006 and I am sure Hon. Muntanga will remember that there was a leader who carried a panga to hack people.

Mr Muntanga: Where?

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: This leader now wants to be the President of Zambia. We cannot allow such people to lead this country because they are only going to bring violence.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, I also want to speak about other party leaders. Today, I saw something that was interesting, but since I do not have evidence to lay on the Table, I will not talk about it. However, it is important to note that there is a back-to-back partnership by people who have a great appetite for violence and it is always on their agenda of things to do because other leaders have what they call the Mapatizya Formula.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: This formula is a plan for violence which must never be allowed to be repeated in Zambia. Therefore, every leader who wants to promulgate violence does not deserve a vote from the Zambian people. We, therefore, need leaders like President Banda.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Ulefwayafwe incito.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Of course, there are many things that still need to be done. Some people are saying, “Ulefwayafwe incito”, meaning that I am just looking for a job. I, however, want to tell you that the reason others are on your left and opposing development is because nabena balefwafye incito, meaning they are also looking for jobs.

Interruptions

 Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, God chose President Rupiah Banda to become Vice-President to the late beloved President, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., may his soul rest in eternal peace, for many reasons. He is, therefore, an anointed leader. He was not in politics, but was picked from his farm to become Vice-President because God knew that Zambia would need him at a time like this. There were others whom God would have chosen, but he ignored all of them.

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, His Excellency, President Banda, has a mission and vision to ensure that this nation and its people prosper. Just like the late President Mwanawasa, SC., God has blessed Zambia with a good leader in President Banda. He is a President for all Zambians and he has, therefore, been inviting the Opposition to work with him in developing the country. Alas, the Opposition has been opposing development. We know this because of the debates we have heard in this House from the other side, such as the one by Hon. Sejani who has always been debating against development. At one time, he said people must imagine certain things when they talk about development. However, how can people imagine things when they can see schools, hospitals and roads being constructed? Why imagine something when you can touch it because it is a reality?

Therefore, I cannot understand why an Opposition hon. Member like Hon. Sejani should, for lack of a better word, go astray in his debate. It is important to note that President Rupiah Banda was recently in the Southern Province to commission a road for people to travel safely and wonderfully to and from Namwala. I know that even the ‘under-fives’ will use this road in some way.

Laughter

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, the Landless Corner/Mumbwa Road is now being tarred. There are many other roads being worked on and schools are also being built. Indeed, the country is prospering in a great and mighty way.  We now have schools, hospitals, roads and food security. Jobs in the mines are also being made available.

Mr Speaker, the Opposition on your left is only known for having failed to run councils. Councils have been poverty stricken because money has been totally mismanaged, especially in the Patriotic Front (PF) controlled local authorities …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: … and people are not getting the facilities and services they need. This can be seen in Lusaka, Mufulira, Chingola and everywhere else where there is a PF council because money has gone missing.

Hon. PF Members interjected.

 Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: That is incompetence and we cannot allow it to be in Government. I, therefore, trust that the people of Zambia will give President Banda their votes next year.

Mr Speaker, in ending my debate, I want to say something important. Let me give a timely, without cost, and non-controversial piece of advice especially to the Opposition. My advice to hon. Members on your left is that when they go to their constituencies, they should speak good about President Banda and the MMD and I will tell you why. If you decide, when you go back to your constituencies, to speak ill of President Banda, whereas the people see the schools being built, roads being constructed and many other projects going on in the country, they will think that you have gone somewhere which is not good for you. Indeed, they will not retain you as their Member of Parliament.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: This is a piece of advice that I am giving to the people on your left. You are not capable of being a Member of Parliament if you do not see the good things that the President has done.

Hon. Opposition Members: Keembe!

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: I want to assure those who are shouting “Keembe, Keembe” that tomorrow, the First Lady will be in Keembe to open a hospital which we built together with a non-governmental organisation. There are ten other facilities that have been built in Keembe. Some of those who are shouting “Keembe, Keembe!” have no reason to do so. They have spent money coming to campaign in Keembe and giving K50,000 to village headmen. They have been hiding in houses so that they give K50,000 to the people.

Mr Speaker, I can assure you that the people in Keembe know that their Member of Parliament is a great worker and, indeed, …

Interruptions

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: … President Banda is supporting Keembe Constituency totally.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, let me thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to say a few words on this Motion and also to state that this country is in the capable hands of President Banda.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: This is protocol. Once a Cabinet Minister has spoken, no Deputy Minister speaks.

Mr Chisanga (Mkushi South): Mr Speaker, in winding up debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency, the President’s Address, I would like, from the outset, to pay tribute to hon. Members of this House for the contributions they have made to the debate on the Motion.

Mr Speaker, I am glad to note that this year’s President’s Address has been the most thought-provoking speech which has attracted varied contributions and quite heated debate in some instances.

I am happy that we are in support of the Motion. What is remaining is for the implementers to take note of what has been debated.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______________

The House adjourned at 1709 hours until 1415 hours on Friday, 8th October, 2010.