Debates- Tuesday, 5th October, 2010

DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 5th October, 2010

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MR SPEAKER

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SAFETY AND SECURITY - PROVINCE OF EASTERN CAPE LIGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to acquaint the House with the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery, of the following guests from the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security from the Province of the Eastern Cape Legislative Assembly in the Republic of South Africa:

(i) Mr M. Nyusile, MP – Chairperson and Leader of the Delegation;

(ii) Mr H. Maxegwana, MP;

(iii) Ms F. Nkomonye, MP;

(iv) Ms Z. Thabaneng, MP;

(v) Ms N. Ponco, MP;

(vi) Mr J. P. Korkie, MP;

(vii) Mr M. Hewu – Committee Co-ordinator; and

(viii) Mr P. Tyabazayo – Researcher.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: I wish, on behalf of the National Assembly, to receive our guests and warmly welcome them in our midst.

I thank you.

REFORMS AND CONSTITUENCY OFFICES

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that there will be a workshop for all hon. Members of Parliament on the reforms and constituency offices. This workshop will be held to share the current status on Parliamentary Reforms, construction and operation of constituency offices.

The workshop will be held on Monday, 11th October, 2010 in the auditorium starting at 0930 hours.

All hon. Members of Parliament are invited to attend.

Thank you.

__________

REPRIMAND BEFORE THE BAR OF THE HOUSE OF MR GEORGE MPOMBO, MP

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, the House will recall that on Friday, 6th August, 2010, the hon. Madam Deputy Speaker made a ruling on a point of order raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwense Parliamentary Constituency, Mr J. Chongo, MP, on the hon. Member of Parliament for Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency, Mr George Mpombo, MP, regarding the statements attributed to him in an article entitled “ Kunda is the most stupid Vice-President – Mpombo,” published in The Post newspaper of Monday 5th July, 2010.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: The House will further recall that, after studying the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker referred it to the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services for its consideration and recommendation to the House.

After considering the matter, the committee established that Mr Mpombo’s conduct amounted to attacking His Honour the Vice-President’s debate outside the House.

Accordingly, the committee found Mr Mpombo, MP, guilty of breaching parliamentary privileges and etiquette and in contempt of the House. Accordingly, the committee recommended that the hon. Member be suspended from the service of the House for a period of two months in accordance with the provisions of Section 28 (1) of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. 12 of the Laws of Zambia.

However, as Parliament was to stand prorogued after adjourning sine die on the day that the ruling was delivered, Mr Mpombo, MP, could only be suspended for a period of one week in accordance with the proviso to the said Section 28 of Cap. 12. Mr Mpombo, MP, was also to give an apology in the House behind the Bar for his contempt of the House.

In accordance with Parliamentary Practice and Procedure, the ruling was endorsed by the House accordingly.

Furthermore, the House will recall that, at the time of the ruling, the hon. Madam Deputy Speaker had informed the House that the hon. Member for Kafulafuta was not in the House because he had been given permission to be absent from the House to enable him attend to a court case in the Ndola Magistrate’s Court.

Accordingly, the hon. Madam Deputy Speaker had instructed that the hon. Member should, at an appropriate time, make an apology at the Bar of the House for the disrespectful statements he had made. This is the appropriate time.

I, therefore, order you, Mr George Mpombo, hon. Member of Parliament for Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency, to stand behind the Bar of the House.

Mr George Mpombo, MP, was escorted to the Bar by the Sergeant-At-Arms.

Mr Speaker: I also instruct the Sergeant-At-Arms to take the Speaker’s Mace and go and stand behind the hon. Member.

I now instruct you to make your apology before you resume your seat.

APOLOGY BY THE HON. MEMBER FOR KAFULAFUTA (MR GEORGE W. MPOMBO)

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, I wish to unreservedly apologise for the remarks that I made.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Member: Aah!

Mr Speaker: Order!

You shall apologise before the House in accordance with the standard apology.

Mr Mpombo: Sir, I had a few difficulties. I have not got a written apology.

Mr Mpombo was handed the written apology.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, I will read the prepared apology with a pinch of salt.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

I rule you out of order. The phrase ‘with a pinch of salt’ means that you are not apologising. You shall withdraw that.

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the phrase ‘with a pinch of salt’.

Mr Speaker: Now, the apology.

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, in accordance with the decision of the House, through the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services, I, George Mpombo, in my personal capacity as hon. Member of Parliament for Kafulafuta Constituency, do unreservedly apologise to this august House for the derogatory remarks I made against His Honour the Vice-President in The Post newspaper of Monday, 4th July, 2010.

Sir, I deeply regret that the remarks I made against His Honour the Vice-President and Leader of Government Business in the House amounted to breach of parliamentary privileges and etiquette and was in contempt of the House.

Mr Speaker, I have taken time to reflect on my utterances and have found my conduct to be below the expected conduct of an hon. Member of Parliament.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: In this regard, I take this opportunity to apologise, most sincerely, to His Honour the Vice-President for the unfortunate remarks I made against him in the press on Monday, 5th July, 2010. The extremely disrespectful remarks are deeply regretted and I wish to assure this august House, through you, Sir, that I will do everything possible to refrain from such undesirable conduct in future. I shall endeavour henceforth, to conduct myself in a manner expected of an hon. Member of Parliament.

Bo Speaker, I thank you.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: You may now resume your seat.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Hon. Member: Uli mwaume!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Let me remind hon. Members that you are all collectively responsible for the proper conduct and etiquette befitting each one of you in and outside the House. Breaching what I have just said, does not amount to what I hear “umwaume” or a man. It does not amount to that. You are simply inciting innocent hon. Members of Parliament to run into trouble with the rules and even the laws of this country. Do not do so.

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

65. Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central) asked the Minister of Health:

(a) whether the ministry was aware that the Tuberculosis (TB) drug known as the Four Fixed Dose Combination (4FDC) had run out at the Mazabuka District Hospital;

(b) what had caused the shortage of the drug;

(d) what measures had been taken to redress the shortage of the drug at the above mentioned hospital.

The Minister of Health (Mr Simbao): Mr Speaker, the Government is aware of the shortage of the 4FDCs (Rifampcin, Isoniazid Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol) anti-TB drug in some districts in the country and not only Mazabuka District Hospital.

Sir, the shortage of the 4FDCs drug has been caused by the late delivery of all the anti- TB drugs from the Global Drug Facility (GDF) that should have delivered the national requirements for the next three years, 2010 to 2012, by April, 2010. This full consignment is expected in the country in the next two weeks.

Mr Speaker, the dangers patients may face with the non-availability of the anti-TB drugs of irregular treatment is the issue of Multi-drug Resistant TB. However, there is no need for panic as the country has enough stocks of 3FDCs (RHE) and single formulation of Pyrazinamide (Z). The single formulation of Pyrazinamide (Z) can be added to the Three Dose Fixed Combination (3FDCs) to create 4FDCs to treat our TB patients successfully without any problems. This information has been passed on to all provincial and district health offices to cushion the shortage of the 4FDCs.

Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Health, has since taken other measures to ensure that all anti-TB drugs are made available to all patients requiring treatment in all the districts in the country. To this effect, the Ministry of Health has procured, with its own resources, emergency supplies of all anti-TB drugs, including second line drugs to treat multi-drug resistance TB, 3FDCs and 4FDCs. These drugs have since been dispatched to all provincial medical offices through the Medical Stores Limited for immediate distribution to districts and all health institutions in the country inclusive of Mazabuka District Hospital.

To this effect, Mazabuka District has been supplied a total number of 13,380 tablets of the 4FDCs to treat a total of 209 patients. The total number of tablets supplied is a full course to treat these patients. The Government has spent K1,360,755,000 for the procurement of the emergency 4FDCs drug for the TB patients throughout the country. The procured drugs are for a period of three months, September to November, 2010.

The GDF supplied stock which has already been paid for in full would have arrived in the country by the end of October, 2010, as expected.

Mr Speaker, currently, we have one-month stock of the 4FDCs drug in the country. The Government is in the process of procuring six months stock of 4FDCs drug. The order has already been placed with the supplier, Alliance Pharmaceutical Limited and delivery is expected two weeks from today.

This is a measure that the Government is putting in place to ensure that there are no further shortages in case the GDF moves the supply date beyond November, 2010.

Further, on the distribution of these emergency supplies, the Ministry of Health has put in stringent monitoring measures to ensure that the situation is closely monitored and stabilised at the earliest opportune time.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Health forgot to turn off his microphone, probably, showing that what he has told us is not true.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

What is your follow-up question?

Mr Nkombo: Considering that not much of what he has said is true about the situation in Mazabuka as the officers at Mazabuka District Hospital and Kafue Gorge are lining up for this drug, I would like to know through you, Sir, who is going to be responsible for the deaths of the people as a result of this stoppage of the intake of these drugs. Is it this Government or the GDF?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, as a result of that accusation, it is necessary for me and the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central (Mr Nkombo) to travel to Mazabuka tomorrow so that I can prove that what I have said here is what is obtaining on the ground.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikota, SC. (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, I am seeing that the efficacy of these drugs is greatly diminished if people go off them and then recommence. Is the hon. Minister going to assure this House that whoever is responsible for having led to this situation where certain people have not been adhering to the drug regime, thereby causing this potential of us having drug resistance TB disciplined? I would also like to know in which way this will be done or is the hon. Minister going to be the one to fall on the sword?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I do not know how to explain this. We have the drug in the country except that it is not a single-dose tablet. We are saying one should take a single combination 3FDCs with the pyrazinamide to come to 4FDCs which is required and this is available in the country. People used to take separate tablets to make the combination and these were about twelve, at one time, which is no longer the case. Today, you are required to take only two tablets to make a complete combination. What we are saying now is that we are missing one component, but we have three in a combination form and so we have these single doses which make the 4FDCs which is available.

Mr Speaker, while we have run short of single dose tablets, we still have the drugs to make that combination.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kapata (Mandevu): Mr Speaker, one of the millennium development goals (MDGs), Number 6, talks about the human immuno-deficiency virus/ acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), TB and malaria. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether we are going to achieve this MDG considering the shortage of the anti- TB drugs.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, it may be too early for me to state whether we are meeting the MDGs, but I would like to assure the hon. Member that the recent survey in the region put Zambia first in the treatment and progress of TB treatment. We have done very well and this was made public at the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is good that it has been recognised that Zambia has done very well in TB treatment.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chimbaka (Bahati): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to tell us how his ministry is strengthening the preventive aspect of TB administration in order to reduce the cost of the curative aspect.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, to prevent this disease, we have programmes to vaccinate against TB. The hon. Member needs to know that the upsurge of TB has been due to HIV. TB infection had really gone down, but with the advent of HIV, there has been an upswing of the disease. Nonetheless, we have continued to vaccinate the children against the disease.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, I would like to know the country from which the drug in question was supposed to come from.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, the drugs are bought by the GDF. Therefore, I would not know where they buy them from.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, bearing in mind that the question raised by the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central is of interest to both Parliament all hon. Members of Parliament, will the hon. Minister also extend the offer of the visit to Mazabuka Central to conduct an on-the-spot check, to the Chairperson of the Committee responsible for Health and that upon return, a report be presented to this House for the information of all hon. Members of Parliament and the nation at large.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, that is welcome. In fact, any hon. Member available can come over. We are trying to solve a problem here. Let us not start finger pointing. I said the drugs are there, but the hon. Member for Mazabuka said they were not there. That is why I said we should go there and see if that is really the case so that we solve the problem. So, there is nothing to hide here. If there is anyone who is available, …

Hon. Opposition Member: The Chair.

Mr Simbao: … not just the Chair. … he or she can come with me.

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

CHIEFS’ PALACES ELECTRIFICATION

66. Mr D. Mwila (Chipili) asked the Minister of Energy and Water Development:

(a) when the Government would electrify the following chiefs’ palaces n Mwense District:

(i) Mwenda;

(ii) Mutipula; and

(iii) Katuta Kampemba;

(b) how much money would be spent on the electrification of the palaces; and

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Imasiku): Mr Speaker, the chief’s palaces belonging to Chief Mutipula and Chief Katuta Kampemba were electrified through solar systems on 21st December, 2005 and 20th December, 2005, respectively.

Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), will as soon as possible, undertake an exercise to monitor the electrification of these palaces. REA will also travel to Mwense to check on the status of Chief Mwenda’s palace and determine the way forward.

Mr Speaker, I wish to state that the solar home systems installed at the two chief’s palaces cost about K7 million each. The cost of connecting to the national grid will only be estimated when officers make a physical inspection of the respective places.

Mr Speaker, there has been no delay in the electrification of the palaces. The rural electrification programme is an on-going exercise and its pace is guided by the Rural Electrification Master Plan (REMP) which has outlined the projects to be undertaken. Solar systems were installed at Chiefs’ Mutipula and Katuta in December, 2005. The exercise will continue until all identified rural areas in the plan are electrified.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, since the timeframe when the electrification of these palaces will be undertaken has not been given, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the mentioned palaces will continue using a solar system.

Mr Imasiku: Mr Speaker, we replied by saying that actually our ministry will, very soon, send officers to check on the system. So, if it will merit being connected to the grid, then it will be done.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when he is going to make available the REMP so that we stop asking questions thereon because we will be reading for ourselves.

Mr Imasiku: Mr Speaker, I want to assure the hon. Member who has asked the question that, very soon − actually, in two weeks time − we are likely to deliver these booklets.

I thank you, Sir.

THE ZAMBIA STATE INSURANCE CORPORATIONI

67. Mr Kambwili (Roan) asked the Minster of Finance and National Planning:

(a) what major investments the Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) had both within and outside the country;

(b) what the net asset value of the corporation currently was;

(d) who the current board members were.

The Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr D. Phiri): Mr Speaker, the investment portfolio mix of ZSIC as at 31st December, 2009 was as follows:

Investments Amount
(K’billion)

Investment Properties 82.2

Held to maturity investments 29.2

Available for sale Investments, which is shares in various companies 21.5

Mr Speaker, the held to maturity investments comprise the following:

Investments Amount
(K’)

Government Bonds 20.723 billion

Bank fixed term deposits 6 billion

Treasury bills 2.217 billion

COMESA yellow Card Re-Insurance 257 million

Total 29.2 billion

Mr Speaker, the investments available for sale, which are shares in various companies, amount to K21.5 billion. All these investments are within Zambia.

Mr Speaker, the net asset value that is the total assets minus liabilities or shareholders’ equity as at 31st December, 2009 was K2.1 billion.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that the board meets at least six times in each financial year.

Mr Speaker, the current members of the ZSIC Limited Board of Directors, comprise the following:

Hon. Judge Anderson Ray Zikonda Board Chairperson

Mr Anthony Undi Ministry of Finance and National Planning

Mr Bornwell Siankanomba Businessman

Mrs Joyce Nonde Simukoko Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers

Dr Winnie Sithole Mwenda Ministry of Labour and Social Security

Mr Geofrey Julu Simuule Zambia Insurance Business College Trust (ZIBCT)

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what has happened with the programme by ZISC that saw it construct a lot of buildings across the country which it does not any more. What has gone wrong with that wonderful programme?

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, the corporation makes investments, from time to time, as it sees fit and depending on market conditions. That is the explanation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I just would like to find out from the hon. Minister when the last Board Members were appointed.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I do not have that detail here with me. The only advice I can give is that Mr Anthony Undi was appointed in the last two weeks because he replaced the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Mr Berlin Msiska, who has since left the ministry.

Mr Msichili (Kabushi): Mr Speaker, ZSIC’s investment in real estate is huge. However, I am wondering what programme the company has in place to ensure that the properties are properly maintained.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, we are, obviously, coming from regimes where properties were dilapidated for some time because of the economic difficulties of the 1980s and 1990s. At the moment, I think it is clear that most of these properties are reasonably maintained and the corporation will continue to maintain them.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Sir, I seek further clarification on the answer given by the hon. Minister that ZSIC’s total investment is K132 billion, bearing in mind the response that was given to Question 63 on the Order Paper that was raised last week, which stated that the net profit as at 31st December, 2009, amounted to K1.1 billion. Would the hon. Minister indicate how the total net assets less the net profit of K1.1 billion, would only be K1 billion with an asset holding of more than K132 billion. Could he, please, reconcile this because it does not make any sense at all to me.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, we can arrange for a meeting between the finance manager and auditors of ZSIC to explain these technical details to the hon. Member of Parliament because, obviously, we cannot turn this into a classroom where we can go through the numbers piece by piece.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr L. J. Mulenga (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what the rate of return is on ZSIC’s total investments.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, clearly, that is a new question. I cannot be expected to have details of that nature off the cuff. Nonetheless, I will be very happy to discuss with the hon. Member policy issues related to public corporations and what kind of role they play in developing the country. That question requires a detailed response and, therefore, I regret that I am unable to answer it.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, according to the hon. Minister, the net asset value of ZSIC is K2.1 billion. I would like to find out what this Government is doing to ensure that this value is correlated with the assets that are at ZSIC.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, it would not be correct for somebody to look at the value of assets and automatically deduce the profitability of a company. There are usually two ways to determine the value of a company. One method is to look at the number of shares and multiply them by the price prevailing on the stock exchange. The other way is to find the difference between the asset base and the value of liabilities. The difference is what gives you the net value of the company. However, it may happen that while there may be a lot of assets, liabilities may also be many.

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane: Nonetheless, the difference determines the value of the company.

Now, in this particular case, ZSIC is not insolvent because we have been told very clearly that the value of assets exceeds the value of liabilities.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: This is why I advised colleagues who do not understand these issues properly to come to our offices so that we can take them before the experts who can thoroughly explain these issues to them.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lumba (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I want to find out if ZSIC has shares in Zain Zambia Limited.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, ZSIC has shares in Zain Zambia which are market valued at just over K1 billion.

I thank you.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, considering the interest the investments of K132 billion, profits and assets of only K2.1 billion have drawn in the House, would the hon. Minister consider coming back at a later date to give us a little more information rather than sending one hon. Member to the experts. I think all hon. Members of Parliament would benefit from such an explanation because it is difficult for those who are not experts to appreciate this.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Member’s advice, but I also invite hon. Members in their individual capacities to come with me and sit with the management of ZSIC so that these issues can be explained. I understand that since this is a public corporation, hon. Members have every right to be concerned, but we can explain the details on the operation of the company.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, should the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning not worry about the relationship between the level of liabilities versus K2.1 billion net asset value. Would anybody insure with ZSIC in a fair competitive world?

Mr Lubinda: He must also come to the ministry for the answer?

Mr Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: You asked your question so, please, let others also speak.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, as far as I know, ZSIC is one of the biggest insurance companies in Zambia and, therefore, has no pressure at all. Zambia has a very competitive market as far as insurance is concerned. Customers willingly go to ZSIC because they have confidence in the company. When claims are made, ZSIC is one of the companies that are able to meet these claims immediate they fall due.

With regard to the situation that we are seeing here where the difference between the assets and liabilities appears to be small given the level of assets, I would say that this is something that happens as companies trade. Sometimes, this difference can rise depending on circumstances if the company has been making huge profits and the liabilities have gone down. At other times, it can also be narrow. This is a normal thing in business.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Let me guide the House. ZSIC is, indeed, a State corporation and, as such, like any public business enterprise, is under obligation to produce and submit an up-to-date annual report and audited accounts. I have no off hand information as to when ZSIC last submitted its annual report, but I am assuming it is current. I would, therefore, encourage hon. Members of Parliament when they receive copies of reports of State enterprises through their pigeon halls to study them very carefully for their information and further action. In fact, there is a committee which analyses these annual reports.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DISABLED

68. Mr Mukanga asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Services:

(a) how many persons with disabilities had been awarded scholarships to study at institutions of higher learning in the period 2006 to 2010; and

(b) how many had graduated and had been employed in Government ministries.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Malwa): Mr Speaker, the number of persons with disabilities who were awarded scholarships to higher learning institutions is as follows:

Year No. of Persons Institutions
with Disabilities

2006 06 Mansa Trades Training Institute

2007 06 Mansa Trades Training Institute

2008 63 University of Zambia (UNZA)

/National Institute for Public Administration/ Copperbelt University/ National Vocational
Rehabilitation Centre (NVRC)

2009 38 UNZA/ Copperbel/University/Evelyn Hone College/Mansa Trades Training Institute

2010 79 Kitwe Community College/NVRC/Mansa Trades Institute

Total 192

Mr Speaker, out of 192 students who were given scholarships, most of them have graduated except those who are still studying. However, eleven are working in Government ministries whilst others are in various self-employment sectors.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out the legal framework which exists to support the training of people with disabilities.

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, we use our district officers to recruit people with disabilities. There are various reasons and considerations that we make to find out why the family members or parents are unable to sponsor them. For example, if the applicant is a single or double orphan and the guardians are unable to sponsor him, we send our district social welfare officers to investigate fully and ascertain whether the applicant’s guardian is unable to sponsor this person to higher learning institutions. Once we receive that information, we write letters of recommendation to various sponsoring ministries, including the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training which will take up the responsibility of sponsoring that applicant.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Phiri (Munali): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if the new hostels that have been constructed at UNZA are disability friendly.

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, very recently, when His Excellency the Republican President delivered a speech in this House, he touched on the issue of people living with disabilities. He said that councils should help to ensure that as they approve plans, they also take into account people living with disabilities so that they also have access to the infrastructure. Therefore, if that infrastructure is not accessible to people living with disabilities, we will ensure that we speak to …

Mr Lubinda: Ukamba so na balendo baliko!

Mr Malwa: … the management of that institution to provide accessibility for people with disabilities.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how much sensitisation has been done to ensure that persons with disabilities benefit from the scholarships.

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, scholarships are publicised in the press, radio and other media, so people with disabilities also get to know about the scholarships so that they start looking for people or institutions to sponsor them.

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to state that there are people with disabilities in our respective constituencies and, as such, we should not leave this responsibility to the Government. As Members of Parliament, we should also be responsible and ensure that we help the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in sensitising them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, from the hon. Minister’s response, the number of students who have been trained seems to be very small, considering the population of this country. What mechanism does the Government have to capture all the people born with disabilities and those who become disabled later in life so that a bigger number is sponsored for training?

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, the President signed a document of ratification on people living with disabilities according to the United Nations Convention which will capture all that information. This document is still in the process of domestication.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to explain how the bursary system for the disabled operates. Is it automatic or funded by wellwishers who are interested in sponsoring people with disabilities? Has the Government got a policy for this type of bursary?

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, the people living with disabilities are the same as we, able-bodied persons. So, when they are in class, they have to pass their examinations just like any other person so that they can be accepted at UNZA or other higher learning institutions. After they are accepted to any institution of higher learning, they come to the ministry to seek sponsorship just like everybody else.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Mr Speaker, are there any intentions by the ministry to sponsor or employ proxies to help the disabled people because most of them leave school because of the difficulties that they encounter such as accessing toilets?

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, this House approved the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) Act 1996 which looks into the affairs of the people living with disabilities.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Sir, what is the ratio of the 192 disabled persons to the total number of people who applied to be accorded scholarships over the last five years?

Mr Malwa: Sir, the question asked by the hon. Member for Kabwata is new, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Malwa: ... but if he wants an answer, he is welcome to come to the ministry so that he is given all the data since he is an hon. Member of Parliament based here in Lusaka. I urge the hon. Member not to wait until he comes to this House to ask such questions.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: No.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L. J. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, out of the total number that has so far been sponsored, what has been the gender balance amongst these disabled persons?

Mr Malwa: Mr Speaker, the total number for both men and women is 192. However, the ministry always gives priority to women with regard to sponsorship. The breakdown for the total number of both men and women will be given at a later date.

I thank you, Sir.

DEFORESTATION

69. Mr Mukanga asked the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources what the average national rate of deforestation was as of June, 2010.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Ms Tembo): Mr Speaker, the annual rate of deforestation is between 250,000 and 300,000 hectares per year according to the latest figures generated through a nationwide land use assessment exercise conducted between 2006 and 2007. However, the House may wish to note that the ministry has no financial capacity to determine the rate of deforestation on a monthly basis because of the huge financial requirements.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Sir, what is the Government doing to ensure that it reverses that trend?

The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Ms Namugala): Mr Speaker, the Government is working on the revision of the Forestry Act to ensure that the Department of Forestry is strengthened so as to provide better oversight of the forestry reserves.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Lumba: Mr Speaker, most of the deforestation is caused by charcoal burning. Is the ministry considering encouraging people to use other alternative energy sources so as to discourage charcoal burning?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, apart from creating awareness about the negative effects of deforestation, as a country, we have qualified to be a pilot country for the United Nations Reduction of Emissions through Deforestation and Degradation (UNREDD). One of the projects under UNREDD seeks to provide alternative energy for forestry dependant communities and we hope, through this project, to reduce deforestation that emanates from charcoal burning.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, obviously, the global trend ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member for Kwacha should only ask his question.

You may continue.

Mr L. J. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, what measures are being put in place to replace the number of trees that are being cut down on a daily basis?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member may wish to know that the ministry will continue to create awareness about the need to plant trees as a country. In addition, I encouraged hon. Members of Parliament, last week, to visit their district forestry officers to access seedlings. We are also encouraging people to practise shifting cultivation through which a person normally moves away from a piece of land after cultivating it for some time. This type of farming promotes the regeneration process. We hope that this practice will continue. However, the best way of addressing this issue is to make people aware of the negative impact of deforestation as well as to create alternative livelihoods for them.

Thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, considering the historical data that is in the ministry, is this deforestation rate of 250,000 to 300,000 hectares per year increasing or is it more or less the same? Are we losing more trees at a faster rate now than we have been doing in the past?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, this assessment was only up to 2007. Therefore, it is difficult for me to indicate whether there has been an increase from 2007 to date. However, from our experience and assessment, there was an increase in 2007 when compared to the years before that. All the same, with the increasing population, there is more pressure on our forests.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Zulu (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what has happened to the forest warders who used to conduct roadblocks and arrest charcoal burners?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member is referring to the forest guards. I have, in the past, explained that we are amending the Forestry Act. We will reintroduce the office of the forest guards so that they can protect our forests and ensure that deforestation is reversed.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what the Government is doing with regard to engaging the mines that use wood in their mining operations.

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, when we talk about deforestation, we largely refer to illegal harvesting. However, there is legal harvesting which is licensed. All the mines use legally harvested wood.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that timber merchants are the ones involved in the wanton cutting down of trees without replacing them?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, we are aware that some and not all of the licensed timber merchants tend to abuse their licences. Having said that, I wish to inform the House that we have decided to dissolve all provincial licensing committees so that all licences are issued from Lusaka.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chimbaka: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that shifting cultivation allows for regeneration. Can she confirm that the Chitemene system of cultivation, which has been a practice amongst the people of the Northern, Luapula and part of the Central provinces, does not contribute to deforestation?

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, deforestation by definition is the removal of vegetation and, therefore, shifting cultivation contributes to deforestation. My point was that after cultivation ceases, the forests tend to regenerate.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the cutting down of trees in the forest areas, particularly by the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) on the Copperbelt, qualifies to be classified as deforestation. I ask so because …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, I said that deforestation is the opening up of an area and stripping it of its vegetation. ZAFFICO is in the business of growing and harvesting trees for sale. It harvests in a sustainable manner. There is sustainable utilisation of the resources in the ZAFFICO Forest Reserves.

I thank you, Sir.

____________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Deputy Chief Whip (Mr Mwanza): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to resume my debate. I will be very brief this time round. I will dwell on three issues namely:

(i) Solwezi West Constituency;

(ii) the achievements of the New Deal Government in Solwezi West Constituency with regard to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF); and

(iii) the future.

Mr Speaker, Solwezi West Constituency is the largest Constituency in Solwezi District. It has ten wards and is home to four chiefs who are very supportive of the Government in power. This is as it should be.

Mr Speaker, we are also blessed with two large mines which include the Lumwana Mine and another developing mine known as the Kalumbila Mine which is a subsidiary of First Quantum Kansanshi Mines.

Mr Speaker, in 2006, during the election period, my slogan was ‘Changing Solwezi West for the Better Forever.’ After my debate this afternoon, this House will know where the constituency is today.

Mr Speaker, in terms of development, we have Lumwana Mine in Solwezi. As a result of the operations at this mine, the Government developed what is known as the Lumwana Integrated Development Plan (LIDP). The idea was to develop the mine in a fashionable manner so as to ensure that it met international standards. Unfortunately, there has been some delay in ensuring that the LIDP comes out.

Sir, I am appealing to my Government to expedite this issue so that we can start the planning of Lumwana Mine. We are also suggesting that we develop a new district called Mumbeji and the mine will, therefore, be called Lumwana Mine like the case is on the Copperbelt where we have Nchanga Mine in Chingola and Nkana Mine in Kitwe. Very soon, the Ministry of Lands will be considering this matter and it is our hope that Mumbeji will be given district status.

Mr Speaker, as regards agriculture, the constituency has done very well. In fact, three weeks ago, I was in the constituency and saw large stacks of maize in Chozwe, Lwamafwa and Kankonji just to mention, but a few. At the time of my visit, I found 15,000 x 50 kg bags of maize. This is no mean achievement for a rural and small town like that.

Mr Speaker, in terms of education, the Government has constructed five 1 x 3 classroom blocks in my constituency and we thank the Ministry of Education for a job well done. To be specific, this school has been constructed in Nyansobe. Nyansobe is a beautiful school. It is electrified and has ten teachers’ houses which makes it the envy of Solwezi West Constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: Many teachers would like to be transferred to this school and this is attributed to the good policies of the Government.

Sir, working alongside this school is the Lumwana Development Trust which is supplementing the Government’s effort in the provision of quality education in the area.

Mr Speaker, in the area of Health, I am a very proud hon. Member of Parliament to report to this august House that a district hospital with fourteen new staff houses has been constructed in Lumwana at a total cost of K14.5 billion. This is a very good development strategy.

Mr Speaker, as regards the road network, the feeder roads in my constituency require some attention. I have four chiefdoms with five important roads which, to date, have not been worked on because the Chinese equipment …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwanza: … is stuck on the Mwinilunga/Jimbe Road. I feel that since the Mwinilunga/Jimbe Road is a trunk road, it requires a lot of money so that it is effectively rehabilitated. Therefore, I am appealing to the Government to withdraw this equipment and, at the same time, request the hon. Minister of Works and Supply to consider funding this project during the course of next year so that some of these feeder roads that are now wearing an ugly face such as Kisasa and Ifumba can be worked on.

Mr Speaker, to my knowledge, the Ifumba area in Solwezi West Constituency has never been visited by any Government official, including hon. Ministers, because of its remote nature. However, I am constructing a 1 x 3 classroom block in the area. Currently, the block of classrooms is being roofed and I hope that by January, 2011, it will be operational. I am appealing to the hon. Minister of Works and Supply to move this equipment to my constituency so that the road to Ifumba is graded in order to attract more agricultural investment.

Mr Speaker, I am also appealing to the Government to consider tarring the Mumbwa/Kasempa Road. This is a very profitable road because it can connect the Central and North-Western provinces through the Kafue National Park. I have used this road several times and have noted that there is a lot of fun passing through this road. Part of this road is in a good condition, especially after the Kafue River, but the area before the river is in a deplorable state and needs attention. I am, therefore, appealing to the Government to consider rehabilitating it.

Sir, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has been a success story in Solwezi West Constituency. The constituency projects whose total is close to thirty all have billboards and they can be seen as one travels on the M8 and the T5 roads. Each school or teacher’s house bears a billboard that indicates that it has been constructed with the help of the CDF. This billboard also shows that these projects were commissioned by myself because we, as a constituency, are proud of these projects.

Mr Speaker, there are seven community schools that have been built in several places. We have constructed one clinic in Mwajimwambe Ward at Kambaji. We have constructed teachers’ houses at Chawantaka and Shiinda. We have also constructed two teachers’ houses at Mukumbi Turn Off. A market has also been constructed at the Mwinilunga/Solwezi Turn Off. We have also constructed and rehabilitated wall fences at some of the chiefs’ palaces. Two very good houses for chiefs’ retainers at Chief Mukumbi’s Capital have also been constructed.

Mr Speaker, my appeal to the Government is for it to publicise all Government projects, including the CDF funded ones, because this will help in the monitoring of what it is doing countrywide.

Mr Speaker, I was very happy when I saw the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources tour the Northern Circuit. The development that I saw at the border town was shocking. The housing and investment at the border is unimaginable. Therefore, it is important for the Government to publicise all these achievements attributed to the efforts made by the New Deal Government, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD).

Mr Speaker, with regard to the future outlook, I would like to echo what Chibamba Kanyama …

Mr Speaker: Order! The word “echo” is unparliamentary.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance.

Sir, I would like to quote Chimba Kanyama’s words …

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member’s time has elapsed.

The hon. Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (Ms Cifire): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this Motion.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: You are wearing a nice suit.

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, you were in my dream last night.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: The Chair has always said, “Leave the Chair out of your debates.”

Laughter

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, in my dream, I was granted permission to ask my colleagues on that side of the House (left) to show, by way of raising their hands, if they had an equivalent of the word ‘achievement’ in their languages.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Hear, hear! Balibe.

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, it was very amazing that there were very few hands. As I was thinking aloud, today, I thought that, perhaps, this is the reason we are not able to understand the word, ‘achievement’.

Mr Speaker, what has happened, this year, is that we, as a Government, have outlined our achievements. We have outlined what our manifesto is saying. For the first time, we have put everything very clearly and lived up to the manifesto. Due to this language barrier, it has been very difficult for people to try and understand that what they have been striving to achieve is what has happened.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, when you introduced the broadcast of Parliament on television and also the initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services to call upon ministries to outline what has been achieved, what was very prominent was that most of the hon. Members of Parliament, especially on the other side (left), were almost killing each other to appear on either Muvi Television or Mobi Television. Some hon. Members of Parliament were crying out to be on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television because they wanted to show the people in their constituencies what they had achieved.

Mr Speaker, I wish to mention that I undertook a trip to the Southern Province. I went to Mazabuka, Monze, Choma, Kalomo and Livingstone. When I came back, I remember that Hon. Request Muntanga almost put me on his head because I had left him behind. I was in Kalomo showing people the schools that had been built and the maize that was harvested. On the other side, my colleagues as well,…

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

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Kalomo Central is being praised. Why should he raise a point of order?

A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, I know that the hon. Minister is still dreaming about you.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

I have already ruled, many times, here that as you debate, leave the presiding officers alone. I have done so already this afternoon. The hon. Member for Kalomo Central is rubbing it in unnecessarily.

The hon. Minister may continue.

Laughter

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, when the hon. Members of Parliament have an opportunity to either be aired or having their stories published by different media houses, they always sing a song about how many schools they have in their constituencies, how many health posts have been constructed in their constituencies, how the roads are being worked on and how they have had boreholes sank in their constituencies. These, they say, are their achievements and this is the basis on which they hope to come back to this House.

Mr Speaker, a few minutes ago, you saw Hon. Given Lubinda on this side of the House. When the hon. Members of Parliament cross the Floor to come to the right side of the House, they lobby for roads, hospitals and all other things to be attended to. If this is not achievement, then what other achievement are they talking about which will allow them to come back to this House?

However, as I was still reflecting on the same, I also noticed that when it came to the Presidential Speech delivered to the House, there has been natural division in this House. The ones that are directly opposite me, the United Party for National Development (UPND), have chosen to ignore the fact that they have achieved. Therefore, I will take it that their achievement is our own. We have assisted them and they do not know what opportunity is.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, on the other side, the Patriotic Front (PF), want to acknowledge that they have achieved, but say that they have done it on their own. However, I am glad that there is Hon. Mumbi who is acknowledging loudly that, indeed, what has made their achievement possible is the CDF the Government gives them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Therefore, I wondered why I was belabouring the point.

Mr Speaker, among the hon. Members of Parliament seated directly opposite me, we have had hon. Members who have, in this House, coined a number of words that have made the understanding of why we have divergent views in this house easy.

Madam Speaker, one of these words is the chilingalinga, which my dear birthday mate, Hon. Chizhyuka, gave us in the last session. This points to the fact that there are differences in the way we understand issues. This difference in understanding allows one part of the House to understand some form of achievement. Therefore, they can agree that the Government has done something while the others can refuse to do that. Naturally, with such kind of arrangement, we seem to understand the difficulties that we see them undergoing at the moment.

Mr Speaker, we had a few hon. Members of Parliament claim that the classroom spaces that the Government had managed to create did not amount to school construction. However, what is space? What we have been talking about has been the need to see an increase in the number of children able to access education and we have done it. Whether it is by way of constructing a new school or by increasing classroom space, it has been done.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Sir, if we, as a Government, have been able to give you the dams that you have been talking about, Hon. Muntanga, whether it is one or two, we have given you something compared to where you were at the time that you were forming the UPND. Is it not true?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, the hon. Members of the said side of this House have helped us understand that there is a mark for self-destruction and they have made it very easy by localising that. Again, I do not know whether it was Hon. Chizhyuka or Hon. Muntanga who gave us the local term of self-destruction, which is referred to as cihunya in the Southern Province. I am sure that in local terms, they will understand it better. You achieve and then you want to swallow the achievement that you have. They are short of destroying those schools which we have laboured to give them. I want to be very brief so that the points are not lost.

Mr Speaker, my conclusion is that in everything that we have managed to make them achieve so that they can proudly walk and say that, as hon. Members of Parliament, they have done something in their constituencies, again, it was an hon. Member of the same side of the House, Hon. Musokotwane, …

Hon. Government Member: Regina!

Ms Cifire: Regina, yes … who gave us another localised word …

Mrs Musokotwane: Aavula mabi!

Ms Cifire: …Aha, Aavula mabi. She explained that when you have nothing or little to say, you keep quiet. In my view, I would like to mention that if you are convinced and you want to argue for the sake of wanting the people in your constituencies to hear you debate in Parliament, since there is Parliament Radio, it is better you keep quiet.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, due to brevity of time, I will be very brief and to the point.

Sir, I wish to sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to make a very brief contribution to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Speech during the opening of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, time and again, you have kindly guided us in this august House to respect each other and, indeed, our leaders. When the President comes to this House, he deserves the respect due to him. You have guided us further that it does not matter whether a leader belongs to the Opposition, he or she must be respected. As a senior hon. Member of Parliament, I would like to urge this House to uphold standards of respect based on quid pro quo.

Mr Speaker, allow me to briefly praise a son of Zambia who, unfortunately, is not in the House. I would like to praise my colleague the hon. Member of Parliament for Malole, Mr Emmanuel Munaile, who has diligently taken a manly decision by resigning from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, during his address, I expected His Excellency the President to make direct reference to why Zambia did not perform well at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. I expected a clear direction telling us how the country …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

The Chair wants to hear what the hon. Member is saying.

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, we needed presidential guidance to re-organise all sports facilities.

During the Report of your Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs, last session− please kindly allow me to use the term ‘I’− I advised this Government to dissolve all sports associations because they had brought shame upon this country. I am glad that, today, I have been vindicated because some associations are dissolving themselves.

Mr Speaker, I expected the President to take a leading role in shaping the future of sport in this country. The Budget must be able to support the sporting industry, which is huge, creating employment for young men and women who can hardly be absorbed in the informal and formal sectors. The Executive may disagree with me, but it is my prayer and wish that it takes diligent interest to scrap some of these associations that are only being used to promote personal images of their presidents.

Mr Speaker, I am a sportsman and my colleagues, Hon. Mwaanga and Hon D. Phiri, who were keen golfers, will agree with me. We cherish and respect the golfing fraternity. We are not joking. We are serious.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: These are former prominent sports administrators. When I was captain, Hon. D. Phiri was my vice.

Laughter

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, organisations such as the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) and the Zambia Golf Union must be dissolved. The hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development should take a keen interest in redeeming Zambia from public shame. This is not an insult, but a passionate appeal. When sports are well-organised, we all get the credit. We need this credit because …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the Chair]

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was stressing the fact that associations that are only being used to promote personal images of their presidents should be dissolved.

I paid special tribute to my colleague, Hon. Munaile, who has salvaged this country …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: …by resigning from FAZ. He has shown true leadership in sports administration. I hope that others will emulate his brilliant example. I am sure that FAZ will self-dissolve very soon.

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

Mr Muyanda: I would also like to urge the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development to dissolve the ZAAA whose performance is in the doldrums.

Mr Speaker, I would like to urge this Government, because the President forgot to tell the nation that ZAAA is generating money to show us how it is expending it. Mr Matete came all the way from the United States of America to condemn how ZAAA has failed to deliver to the people of the Republic of Zambia.

Mr Speaker as I move to another area, I also would like to say something on the Zambia Golf Union because it has become a personalised institution instead of spreading and going as far as the rural areas so that other communities and provinces can also benefit.

Mr Speaker, before I move to the economy, I would like to have this question answered by the Executive. I, therefore, expect the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to take note of this important question.

Mr Speaker, where is the K3.5 billion which was realised from the proceeds of plunderers? Where has this money gone to? The people of Zambia are asking because this money has disappeared. It is for this reason that we would like to know whether the money has been included in the budget. How many years ago did the late President, Dr Mwanawasa, SC., inform this nation that there was a realisation of K3.5 billion. It is not a secret that this money has disappeared. If this money is still with the Government, it should tell us how it is being expended. Sinazongwe needs bridges to be repaired. One of those billions can be used to repair the bridges which were washed away by the heavy rains.

Mr Speaker, it is witch hunting, but on public record that The Post Newspaper has done an excellent job to dig deeper. Therefore, once in while, let us praise and give credit where it is due by disclosing and informing the nation that the money has been swallowed at the National Housing Authority (NHA). Where has the K3.5 billion gone to?

Mr Lubinda: Exactly!

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, it is not known how it has been expended like the way the assets were disposed of and the money realised from the sale of mines. Which bank account is keeping the money? The people of Zambia would like to know. We would like to know if the money went to the construction of hospitals and, if so, which hospitals were constructed arising from the proceeds of the sale of mines.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, the money recovered from the plunderers was publicly announced as K3.5 billion, but now, the nation has been told that the money has vanished at the NHA into thin air.

Mr Speaker, I would to thank the Committee on Public Accounts. The rule of law has to be applied on the public bodies. The NHA was created by your Parliament and is answerable to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. Where is the K3.5 billion? First and foremost, this House is supposed to be told and all hon. Members ought to know what the NHA has done. The money must be paid to the public.

Mr Speaker, there are remedies such as seeking judicial reviews and the doctrine of mandamus. All these are available remedies which we can apply. Do we have to go to that level in order to know where the money went? You should tell us where the K3.5 billion went because the people of Zambia want to know where it is. They would like to know whether clinics have been constructed or the money has vanished at the NHA.

Sir, we want the same decisive natural justice which was applied against the Road Development Agency (RDA) to be applied at the NHA. The management in charge of the K3.5 billion realised from the disposal of assets from plunderers must be immediately suspended. You are not going to wait, but handle this case in the way that you did with the RDA. As soon as the public report came out, this Government swung into constructive action to deal with the RDA Chief Executive.

Mr D. Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Why can we not do the same with the NHA? The money has disappeared. We shall emphasise that because the people of Zambia want the money because no house has been utilised.

Mr Speaker, I promised this august House that I would be very brief. Therefore, I would now like to move to politics. Again, I will be very brief.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank one of my colleagues who was on the Floor of this House educating us in Tonga that Utalumbi, mubwa.

Mr D. Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, let me define this concept of “utalumbi mubwa” since it is Tonga and my own language. The Tonga society is big. There is one dog called munkala. Munkala is an off-shoot of the dog close to a mongrel. If you are buying a dog, please, check what is in the mouth. Some dogs have no teeth. When they have no teeth, they may appear to bark loudly against a tree for support.

Laughter

Mr Muyanda: In Tonga, such a dog is called munkala. This means a dog that may not even thank a colleague, a person or a friend who has helped it, for example, to come to this august House and express views towards issues.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: In that case, that person should not be called utalumbi mubwa, but instead, utalumbi, munkala. Munkala is a dog of the worst order and he is followed by another plump puppy. When the one without teeth is barking, there is always another one who is a bit hefty tagging along to show that in case the one without teeth does not bite, he will bite.

Mr Speaker, with these few words of advice,…

Mr D. Mwila: No! Go on!

Mr Muyanda: Sir, I am encouraged to talk more by colleagues.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Sir, utalumbi, munkala!

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Mr Misapa): Mr Speaker, I would like to appreciate the President’s commitment and support to sport as confirmed in the 2010 President’s Address to Parliament.

Mr Lubinda: Uko!

Mr Misapa: As the House may be aware, the President, through his able Government, facilitated the establishment of the first of its kind Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Misapa: Mr Speaker, the House may further wish to know that the President has ensured the continued support and flow of funds to Zambia’s first ever Ultra Modern Sports Stadium being constructed in Ndola.

Furthermore, the President has continued to ensure that provincial stadia are rehabilitated with Kaole Stadium being the first to receive K100 million.

Mr Speaker, I would now like to go to the issue of the bumper harvest that we have had this year.

Sir, geographical revolutions usually determine the activities of certain communities all over the world. Those who lived near rivers, lakes and seas, fishing happened to be their major occupations. Those who lived in areas with plenty of game animals, hunting happened to be their day-to-day activities.

Mr Speaker, today, in Zambia, the fish and game animal population have dropped, forcing the communities that depended on them to enter into the agricultural sector with less farming skills. Those are some of the people who were getting eight bags of fertiliser and producing less than the expected number of 50 kg bags of maize per hectare.

The question is: what did the Government do after seeing that farmers were failing to produce the right number of 50 kg bags of maize per hectare?

The answer is that the MMD Government visited the researchers and consultants over the issue of low maize production. It was advised that the only remedy to the problem was to do the following:

(i) educate, sensitise and expose the rural farmers to good farming methods through workshops and tours;

(ii) provide well-tested seed that is disease resistant. The Government also sent well-trained agriculture camp officers to advise farmers at the right time in camps; and

(iii) request the small-scale farmers to accept to reduce the hectarage of maize from one hectare (four limas), which demanded eight bags of 50 kg fertiliser to half hectare which is two limas, that just needed four bags of 50 kg fertiliser.

Mr Speaker, the reduction of a hectare of maize to half a hectare meant the following:

(i) the farmer was able to plough half an hectare and sow seed at the right time;

(ii) the farmer could manage weeding and earthing crops two or three times during the rainy season;

(iii) if the soil has a lot of acid that is, very low “Ph”, a farmer can manage to buy a small number of bags of agricultural lime to raise the “Ph” for the soil;

(iv) the farmers have been able to produce maize with very big cobs which resulted in a bumper harvest; and

(v) many farmers concentrated on a two lima or half hectare land and managed to harvest their maize at the right time, some as early as May, even before the Government could prepare payments for maize.

Sir, this is a success.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Aah, what about sport?

The Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Mufalali): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this rare opportunity to debate the wonderful speech delivered by His Excellency, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, to this august House on the official opening of the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Assembly on 17th September, 2010.

Sir, this speech is a guiding factor towards the development of our nation. If development has to succeed in any nation, there should be some plans or guiding factors towards it.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: How can we develop without guidelines? The MMD Government has formulated guidelines to its developmental programmes and these are; presidential speeches, national development plans and, of course, its manifesto that was adopted at the convention. Some doubting Thomases have no manifestos and will never hold conventions. The term ‘convention’ is never heard in their vocabulary.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Again!

Mr Mufalali: Therefore, it is shameful to describe our guidelines as baseless.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, let me remind and assure hon. Members of Parliament who talked about the 1991/2001 programmes that, we, in the MMD, believe in continuity. We have not changed our manifesto because we still use the same guidelines for our developmental projects.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: We brought democracy to the country and that is why people have gone astray to abuse it.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: Sir, let me take this opportunity to thank Hon. Muntanga, who commended this Government for building the Kalomo District Hospital in his constituency. I would like to urge him to continue to appreciate what he is given.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: I also wish to assure him that the MMD Government is ready to take medical staff to Kalomo and other health institutions countrywide.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank him for this, because even in his language there is a saying that goes, “Utalumbi mubwa”.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: This means, “He that does not say thank you is likened to a dog.”

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: Sir, we have had a lot of difficulties in this Tenth National Assembly which is about to end. Hon. Members of Parliament had a lot of ups and downs, which made operations very difficult, especially the demise of our beloved President Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., may is soul rest in peace, …

Mr Lubinda: You will be fired!

Mr Mufalali: … climate change, world economic crisis and the consecutive sittings of the National Assembly and National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

Sir, our beloved President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, deserves commendation because he steered the vessel to victory. We are now on the right track and the economy is stable.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mubika: Tell them, tell them!

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, the empowerment of women in Zambia, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social services, cannot go unmentioned.

Hon. Member: Hon. Kaingu!

Mr Mufalali: K5 billion has been provided for entrepreneurship training to help women generate income. This has seen about 4,000 women benefiting.

Sir, we, in the MMD, would like to see our women rise economically. I really praise the President for adhering to this call for women empowerment. Recently, he appointed nine Judges of which five were women.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: This is an achievement and we are still moving ahead and the hour is at work.

Mr Speaker, for the first time in the history of Zambia, we have had a bumper harvest of maize. For the first time in the history of Imusho area, this year, the people in that area have sold maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Mr Mubika: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: I wish to say that for the first time, the people of my constituency, especially in Imusho area, have realised that they are also a part of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: The people in my constituency are grateful to this Government and urge it to continue with the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Sir, the MMD Government has also done a commendable job in infrastructure development in the education sector in my constituency. The construction of Lumbe, Mutemwa and Ililonga basic schools is another milestone to be proud of. The additional 1 x 3 classrooms at Makanda, Kaale, Nakatindi, Imusho and Chivula basic schools, to mention but a few is an achievement.

Mr Speaker, the MMD Government has also done a commendable job in the health sector. My constituency appreciates the building of Ngweze Rural Health Post and, currently, through the CDF, we are building Maondo, Luampungu and Kaale rural health posts. We also appreciate the building of a staff house at Zambezi Sawmills Rural Health Post. Boreholes have been sunk in my constituency in Imusho and other areas. These are real issues which people must consider when voting next year.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, in the past, the people of Imusho and Sinjembela found it difficult to visit relatives and friends in Namibia because the border post at Katima Mulilo was very far away, but now this working MMD Government is completing the construction of a border post and a staff house there. The MMD Government is seriously tackling developmental programmes in this country such as the roads being constructed throughout the country.

Mr Speaker, these developmental programmes will be the MMD’s weapon in the 2011 campaigns and I have no doubt that we, in the MMD, will carry the day in the general elections and all of us, MMD Members, will be back in the House.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Health (Mr Simbao): Mr Speaker, I am grateful for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks.

Mr Speaker, as usual, some Members are supporting the speech while others are not. This approach to the President’s Speech has deliberately stagnated debate and does not seem to add value.

We all know what it takes to write a speech of this kind. It takes months, especially for those of us who are requested to contribute by bringing out what the ministry has achieved. It takes a lot of energy to do this and when you hear a lot of criticism, one wonders what people really want the President to talk about.

Mr Speaker, I will try and convince those who find it difficult to agree with the President’s Speech that this is serious business and the President always means well. I have followed the debate of the hon. Member for Kwacha, who said the major problem is that of implementation, very well. I would like to state that the hon. Member was not far from the truth because when the President stands in this House, he means what he says. However, the problem is the realisation of his vision by the hon. Ministers and the technocrats.

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like to remind those who always want to punch holes in the President’s Speech that people like them are from very olden days. They have been there since the world came into existence and these are people who do not see anything good in another person’s work except theirs and theirs only.

Mr Speaker, in the olden days, people laughed at Columbus when he said the world was round. Archimedes was almost burnt alive for the same claim. In the end, who had the last laugh? People laughed at the Wright brothers when they said man could fly but, in the end, who had the last laugh? People laughed at the Rockefeller Foundation, but later they fought to get in. People also laughed at Edison when he recorded sound but, today, who has the last laugh? In this House, at the opening of the Ninth Session of the National Assembly, people laughed at Mr Rupiah Banda when he said he was going to construct the Lusaka General Hospital. Some hon. Members even confronted me and asked me why we were making the President mislead the nation. I told those who approached me that, like the President had promised, it would happen. Maybe, some people have forgotten this, but I would like to remind them that the President kept his promise and the Lusaka General Hospital is nearing completion and the President has sent a message to the hon. Member for … that the day he will be commissioning the hospital, he would like you to be there so that you can touch it because, probably, you do not see it.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: So that you make sure it is not an illusion, but the truth.

Mr Speaker, people laughed at President Rupiah Banda when he said he was going to upgrade five clinics in Lusaka to first level hospitals and also Lubuto Clinic in Ndola. The five clinics in Lusaka have been completed and Chawama has since been commissioned. I must state here that the hospital still lacks a lot of facilities.

Mr Mubika: The Under Five Clinic!

Laughter

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Chawama, who is not here, was generous by donating K300 million for the construction of a bigger maternity wing. This will serve the people of Chawama very well. As a Government, we will put up more wards, a kitchen and laundry facilities so that, about two years from now, Chawama will be a fully- fledged hospital.

Mr Speaker, we want to help the people in the compounds who have to trek to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) at visiting hours to take food to their sick relatives to start taking the food to their relatives at Chawama, Kanyama, Matero, Chipata and Chilenje clinics because there will be no need for anyone living in these areas to go to UTH anymore. For the benefit of my friend, Given, I would like to say that these will be hospitals.

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr V. Mwale: Ndiwe Given weka?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the people of Zambia that the way President Banda is working is unparalleled. This is the way the President would like to serve the people of Zambia. He understands that he is their biggest servant and that if he does not serve them, there will be no one else to do so.

Mr Speaker, none of us should fool himself/herself by thinking that he/she can do things by himself/herself because we do things we are directed to do. In the area of health, the President has shown desire to alleviate the problems of the people of Zambia and we are trying to live by his vision. We are glad to announce that we are going to add two more hospitals in Kitwe and Ndola. We want to upgrade Kabushi Clinic to a children’s hospital and we have been given money to that effect.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: We also want to upgrade Ndeke Clinic to hospital status.

Mr Nsanda: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, we have opened Chawama Clinic and the one next to be opened is Kanyama Clinic. We have the required equipment for a theatre which is an important component for upgrading a clinic.

Mr Speaker, after we have opened the upgraded Kanyama Clinic, we shall then proceed to open the hospitals in the other places. The reason this exercise has taken time is that we want to study how we are going to manage Chawama. The problem which we are faced with is not a lack of instruments as most people think. We just do not have enough personnel. Therefore, we first want to briefly monitor how we are going to run Chawama as regards personnel and then quickly move to Kanyama.

Mr Speaker, people laughed at the President when he said that he wanted to see all civil servants properly housed. In the Ministry of Health, we have started this very long journey in a small way. However, what matters is that we have started the journey. We are talking about housing 56,000 workers if we are to carter for the entire establishment. This, therefore, means that we have to build 56,000 houses. This target may not be met in our time, but what matters is that we have started the journey so that whoever comes can add onto our efforts.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: This year, we have built sixty-four houses for nurses here in Lusaka.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, we have also built forty houses for doctors. We are building houses in Ndola, both at Ndola Central and Authur Davison hospitals. We are also building houses in Kitwe, Solwezi and Chipata. Once we have finished building in these towns, then we shall move to other places such as Mbala. I hope that when this is done no one is going to accuse me of being whatever it is that they always think about me because we have already built houses in these other areas. Maybe, it will be possible for us to build houses in Chimwemwe …

Mr Nsanda: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: … so that we make some people happy.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, the construction of this entire infrastructure has reached an advanced stage except for Chipata and Solwezi. Here in Lusaka, those who pass by the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) should look out for a green roof to the flats being built there. Please, if you will have time, stop there and admire the flats. Again, I want to tell you that we shall invite you on the day of commissioning those flats.

Mr Speaker, we have also arranged a loan facility for all health workers and other civil servants. The Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) came up with a loan facility worth K300 billion through which health workers and civil servants can access a maximum loan of K100 million at once. Once you pay back the loan, you can go back to the bank and get another K100 million. As I speak now, a lot of health workers have accessed these loans. Our hope has been that they should start building houses from this money because that is the main reason we went into this arrangement.

Again, we are trying to live the vision of President Banda. Since we started this loan facility, we have been also approached by other banks who want to engage us in a similar manner. However, we have asked them to improve upon their conditions to match those ZANACO has given our people.

Mr Speaker, people laughed at President Banda when he said he wanted to continue from where the late President had left with regard to the building of district hospitals. President Banda has taken the number of district hospitals to thirty-three from nineteen. This year alone, we are going to start building eight district hospitals …

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: … and we have already awarded these tenders to the contractors.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: We are building in Milenge, Namwala, Mwense, Lundazi, Mkushi, Masaiti, Chavuma, and Serenje.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, these hospitals are going to be of great benefit to the people of Zambia. Contrary to allegations by some people, we are already building in many places that are not MMD strongholds. Currently, we are building in places which do not have district hospitals as we want to be in all the seventy-three districts.

Mr Speaker, people laughed at the President when he said he wanted to reduce referrals to hospitals outside Zambia. We have managed to do this by buying one of the most advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners which has strength of about 1.5 tesla. It is one of the strongest machines you can find on the market. It is said that if Hon. Mukanga was to use the machine with his cellular phone in his pocket, it would fly out. It is for this reason that the President and his men were stopped from using it. This is because it was thought it could have embarrassed him by throwing things out of his pockets. The keys and rings that I see on Hon. Mukanga can come off him upon using this machine because it is a very strong machine and the biggest reason we used to send patients outside the country.

Mr Speaker, in most cases, the first thing a patient sent out of the country goes through is the MRI. So, for us, when a doctor was confronted with a problem after examining a patient using the computerised tomography CT scanner, we had no option, but to send the patient to South Africa to access the MRI. However, that is no longer the case since we now have it here in Zambia.

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

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, now, if we send a patient out of the country, it does not mean that we do not know the problem, but it is because, maybe, we do not have the means to treat that disease or our doctors are not trained to handle that particular condition. People should bear in mind that there are so many conditions that exist. However, those people who are already accessing their treatment outside the country might continue with their reviews from the same countries because, in most cases, doctors demand that they see their patients.

Mr Speaker, at the moment, the only machine that we really need in this country is an angiography machine. Once you are diagnosed with a specific heart problem that requires this kind of equipment, we are very sorry that, for now, we have to send you out of the country. At the moment, that is the only important machine which we do not have in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, the President requested us to devise a means of how we could handle the shortage of staff. We have advanced greatly in trying to find other means of training doctors. It is very possible that, come April 2011, we will open the School of Medicine in Ndola. It will be under the Copperbelt University Senate. This school, if we start it in April 2011, will start with forty medical doctors and ten dentists. This school will add fifty more graduates, every year, to our current figure. Obviously, with time, we shall expand the school. Clearly, you can see that even in the area of training more personnel we have worked very hard to realise the President’s vision.

Mr Speaker, we rarely rehabilitate static hospitals, but I am very happy to state that Chainama, one of the hospitals which people would think has been neglected, has had both its male and female wards rehabilitated. Two weeks ago, I was there and could not believe the standard of that hospital. Therefore, I would like to urge the hon. Members of Parliament to find time to visit places like Chainama so that they can be in a better position to know what is happening there. Unfortunately, the people that are hospitalised there did not choose to be there. So, because no one chooses to find themselves in such conditions, anyone of us can find ourselves at Chainama Hospital.

Ms Lundwe: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: So, it is important to support institutions like that one. When we make progress regarding rehabilitation works on hospitals such as this one, it is important that we go and see how the people in these hospitals are living so that if our child or relative is sent there, we know exactly how good the place is.

Mr Speaker, this year, we hope to commission 323 health posts. However, maybe because of the numbers, we may have to carry over the commissioning into next year. The health posts I am talking about have already been completed. We are building 125 more health posts which must finish by January or February, next year. So, in the Ministry of Health, we have really tried to live the President’s vision.

Mr Speaker, the money for the construction of new health posts has been sent to all the sites and, therefore, the construction materials required should be in all provinces by mid October. Any contractor that has met the requirements should, therefore, start the construction works this month.

Mr Speaker, I want to state that, this year, we are going to buy new uniforms for all our nurses. This is something that has been on the President’s mind for a long time. By November, this year, all the different types and colours of nurses’ uniforms will be in the country and we will start distributing them as soon as they arrive.

Mr Speaker, who has the last laugh now?

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Msichili (Kabushi): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Speech which was delivered to this House on 17th September, 2010. As you are aware, this was the last Presidential Speech to be delivered to this House during the Tenth Assembly of Parliament. Therefore, this is the last opportunity for some hon. Members to debate a speech by the President in this House. Perhaps, I must take this opportunity to bid farewell to most of my colleagues here who may not come back.

Interruptions

Mr Msichili: The Hon. Mr Speaker has always told us that, from statistics, less than 30 per cent of hon. Members from previous assemblies return to this House. I have a list of hon. Members who are likely to come back to this House after the 2011 General Elections and it only represents 26.672 per cent of the current membership of the House and I am one of them.

Laughter

Mr Msichili: Mr Speaker, I, however, wish to state that it is still not too late for some hon. Members to ensure that they return to this House. One way is for them to change names. For example, if you are BY, you can just turn the name around and come back as YB.

Laughter

Mr Msichili: If you are GBM, you can come back as BMG …

Laughter

Mr Msichili: … or if you are Given Lubinda, you can come back as Taken Gibinga.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Msichili: Mr Speaker, …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! Will the hon. Member, please, stick to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidential Speech.

Mr Msichili: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your …

Mr Lubinda: Tizakuona panja, iwe.

Mr Msichili: I will do a GBM.

Laughter

Mr Msichili: Mr Speaker, as I was saying, it is still not too late. The hon. Member for Sinazongwe was praising Hon. V. J. Mwaanga for being a good golfer. I am sure some hon. Members can still consult him if they want to come back to this House.

Interruptions

Mr Msichili: Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Kabushi, I wish to extend by deepest sympathy to the families of our departed hon. Colleagues, namely Mr Benson Bwalya, Rueben Banda, Misheck Bonshe and Lameck Chibombamilimo. It is sad that we have lost our colleagues and may their souls rest in peace.

Mr Speaker, it is also sad that we lost another hon. Member of this august House, this time not through death, but expulsion. We lost Hon. Magande. May his stay out of Parliament be peaceful, if there is such a thing.

Laughter

Mr Msichili: I would also want to welcome our dear sister, Hon. Kawandami, from Chifubu in Ndola.

Mr Speaker, as regards the Motion on the Floor, it is tradition, whenever the President comes to address this House, to expect his hon. Ministers and hon. Deputy Ministers to implement whatever pronouncements he makes. In last year’s address, the President talked about reducing the number of fertiliser bags in the farmer support packs from eight to four bags per pack so that there would be enough fertiliser for 500, 000 beneficiaries.

I was one of those opposed to this measure, but we now have a bumper harvest. Unfortunately, this Government was ill prepared for this harvest. The Government’s agricultural policy did not adequately address the issues of marketing and storage as well as payments to our hardworking farmers. I would, therefore, urge this Government, in future, to plan for both a drought or bumper harvest.

Mr Lubinda: We will not adopt you. Kamba mushe.

Mr Msichili: It is my strong belief that the men and women on your right are capable of coming up with good policies that can make the FISP work.

Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that, last year, we had floods and the Government spent so much money in trying to move people from flooded areas to the Independence Stadium. However, what is the Government doing to avoid the reoccurrence of that situation, this year, because the rains are just around the corner? Are we doing anything to open up drainages in areas where we had floods? This should be one of the issues that this Government should look at as it would be cheaper than reacting to the situation only after places have been flooded.

Mr Speaker, regarding our bumper harvest of maize, I expected the supply and demand principle to now come into play. Once there is so much supply, prices drastically come down. However, this is not the case at the moment. The price of maize is still high. I wish the Government would address this issue.

Mr Kambwili: That is true. You are a born again rebel.

Mr Msichili: Mr Speaker, in talking about infrastructure, the President acknowledged that this is critical to the development of any country. He also emphasised the need to construct, maintain and repair roads. Works on our roads are very crucial and I, therefore, expected the President to talk about how we are going to reduce the cost of road construction from K6 billion per kilometre. What would stop us from acquiring the same equipment which road contractors use to construct roads in this country? We can even send our own people to the same schools where foreign road engineers go so that we are able to carry out our own works. I believe this would go a long way and would be cheaper.

Mr Speaker, as regards health, I do appreciate the hon. Minister’s statement regarding the children’s clinic. I must confirm here that the construction of the clinic is, indeed, underway and also state that this programme was started using the CDF. We are glad that the Government has now put in about K500 million for the construction of a theatre in Kabushi. However, after consulting, the people of Kabushi are saying that since the constituency already has a theatre within the radius of a kilometre in Lubuto, they think that it would be prudent that a maternity ward be built instead of the intended theatre. The Government is, thus, considering this issue.

Mr Speaker, indeed, on health reforms, the Government is doing a commendable job in as far as acquiring the most expensive equipment is concerned. However, it is quite disappointing to state that most of the time one goes to the hospital they find this equipment, which was purchased using tax payers’ money, not working. We wonder whether people connive with hospital staff to create artificial breakdowns so that they can refer patients to private hospitals, which are three or four times more expensive than the Government hospitals. We, therefore, urge this Government to ensure that it monitors the operation of this equipment so that ordinary Zambians can benefit from it.

Mr Speaker, as regards tourism, I think if this country has to develop, it has to look at the tourism sector. Not so long ago, we celebrated the World Day Tourism …

Mr Chimbaka: World Tourism Day naiwe.

Mr Mschili: …the World Tourism Day, I beg your pardon. I would have expected this Government to come up with incentives which would have encouraged local tourists to visit many tourist centres throughout the country. By so doing, this country would really move ahead.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

The Chief Whip (Mr Mwaanga): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this debate.

Mr Speaker, I would like to begin my contribution by welcoming the two new hon. Members who have joined this House since our last meeting. I am referring here to Hon. Susan Kawandami and Hon. Charles Milupi.

For Hon. Susan Kawandami, I can only say that she was a very loyal councillor of the MMD in Ndola …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: … and we taught her our very good political manners, which I am sure she will be able to bring to bear on her new political party.

As regards Hon. Milupi, the newly re-elected Member of Parliament for Luena Parliamentary Constituency and President of the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), he was a very loyal adopted member of the MMD parliamentary candidate in 2006. I wish him well in his rebirth. It is my hope that he will not sound like old wine in new packages as he makes his contributions to this House.

Mr Speaker, I want to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, for his opening address on Friday, 17th September, 2010, where he outlined many achievements of this hardworking MMD Government in the many areas of human life on our plans, hopes and aspirations for the future of this great country.

The President’s speech gave a clear direction about the areas we shall concentrate on in the months and years to come. It is, therefore, unrealistic to expect the President’s address to contain every detail of what this progressive and immensely popular MMD Government is going to do.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: The President’s speech is not expected to do that because this will be done by hon. Ministers as Hon. Simbao has just done as well as hon. Deputy Ministers and hon. Members of Parliament from both sides of the House are going to do during the course of this debate. This is the way modern governments operate all over the world. If the President were to name all the roads and clinics which are being built everywhere we would go back to the old order when Parliament used to sit on opening day for more than five hours. Even in those five hours not every detail was covered and, I think, that order belongs to the past.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: Those who have had the opportunity of listening to Her Majesty the Queen’s opening speech from the throne to both Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom (UK) and President Barack Obama’s speeches and messages to the joint Houses of the United States Congress in the United States of America (USA) will confirm what I have just said. Details are left to operate below the presidency and that is what this Government has been doing.

Mr Speaker, during the debate on this Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, I have heard some hon. Members refer to the constitution-making process and have given this House and the country at large the misleading impression that this Government has abandoned this important process. This is, obviously, very far from the truth and it is also not only mischievous, but also irresponsible.

Mr Speaker, this Government will, at an appropriate time, outline the way forward in so far as the legislative process of the constitution-making is concerned. Now that the second phase of this process has been successfully completed, I want to pay tribute and congratulate the UPND and the progressive hon. Members of Parliament from the PF, United Liberal Party (ULP), National Democratic Focus (NDF), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), United National Independence Party (UNIP), ADD and the Independents for the immense and indispensable contribution they made to this important process from the beginning to the end. Both the UPND and PF provided Deputy Chairpersons to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) through Hon. Regina Musokotwane, MP, and Hon. Falstina Sinyangwe, MP, who ably assisted the Chairperson of the NCC, Hon. Chifumu Banda, SC., MP.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, the President talked about the many achievements which the people of Zambia can see and touch such as new schools, clinics, hospitals, roads and power stations among many others. Those who have no quarrel with the statistics will agree with me that Zambia as a whole has been turned into a construction site which is proof that the country is making remarkable progress. The growth domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.3 per cent which was registered last year at a time when the whole world was grappling with the effects of the devastating recession is a remarkable achievement and gives us reason to pat ourselves on the back.

Mr Speaker, I know that we can do more. I know that we shall do more. Where mistakes have been made, they will be acknowledged and corrected, but the development momentum will be allowed to move forward all the time. It must be understood that no country in the world has achieved everything in desires for itself and its people. We do not live in aN utopia, but the real world of 2010.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: We can give ourselves credit because this is hugely deserved.

I want to join the President in congratulating the gallant farmers of Zambia for responding positively to the sound policies and programmes of the MMD Government by producing 2.7 million tonnes of maize compared to 1.9 million tonnes of maize during the 2008/2009 farming season. With the newly announced increases in the number of recipients of the FISP from 500,000 to 891,500 in the 2010/2011 farming season, I am confident that our farmers will rise, once again, to the occasion and produce more food for the country and export. On balance, I think it is fair to say that dealing with the problems associated with the bumper harvest are better than dealing with a deficit situation with all the pain and suffering associated with it.

Mr Speaker, we are not blind or deaf and that is why we recognise that this improved economic performance brings with it challenges of managing the trickle down effects to ordinary citizens and also the need to attend to issues such as crop marketing, storage and financing. These are all challenges that we recognise and which are being addressed by this hard working Government and should, therefore, be treated as work in progress.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: As the President stated, this Government remains committed to improving infrastructure, public housing, operations of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), new energy generation and distribution, access to agriculture credit, tourism, climate for doing business in Zambia, manufacturing sector, communication system at rates which are more affordable to our citizens, science and technology, education and health. These are all in the MMD manifestos which were presented to the people in 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2008.

Mr Speaker, I am painfully aware that development is not a one day wonder. It is a process which takes many twists and turns which require meticulous planning and resources and has a long gestation period. I want to agree that the banking sector plays a pivotal role in financing the development of any country. It is, therefore, undeniable that the banking sector played a major role in the growth of the economies of countries like the USA, UK, Germany, France, Japan and China.

As already been observed by some hon. Members, interest rates in our country are still outrageously high ...

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: ...making it very difficult for our businessmen and women to borrow money from the banking system for development projects. It is also evident that the banks are not paying enough interest on savings accounts to encourage the culture of saving among our people. On the contrary, the current situation discourages people to save. All this is not conducive for private sector growth which must continue to act as our engine for economic growth.

Mr Speaker, one just has to look at the balance sheets of commercial banks operating in Zambia to see the huge profits they are making compared to the poor performance of companies and people they lend money to. This is, obviously, unacceptable and must change.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: That is why my colleague, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Musokotwane, has used every opportunity constantly and consistently to appeal to commercial banks and micro-financing institutions to lower their interest rates for those who want to borrow money for agriculture and investment. He did so from the Floor of this House only last week. It is my humble submission that the lenders and borrowers can both make reasonable profits, if the right balance is struck and this, in my opinion, is a more desirable path for Zambia.

Mr Speaker, as I go round this country, today, I see a lot of fundamental changes taking place in many sectors of our economy. The whole country is buzzing with activity as new schools, hospitals, health centres, clinics, new roads, shopping complexes, houses, mines, stadiums, lodges and hotels go up to mention, but only some.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: Those who do not have selective eyes and minds will confirm what I have just said.

Mr Speaker, I sense that there is confusion in the minds of some Opposition politicians in our country who still believe in the old politics of criticising everything the Government does or says. Let me remind them that the 21st Century has arrived and as the President said on pages 37 and 38 of his address, our goal remains that of providing security, stability and posterity for all. This remains our goal and we shall work tirelessly to achieve it.

Mr Speaker, I was heartened, last week on Tuesday, 28th September, 2010, to listen to the newly-elected Labour Party Leader in the UK, Mr Ed Miliband, publicly say that his party would support and work with the Conservative – Lib Dem Coalition Government− when they say and do the right things for Britain. This is, indeed, good political leadership.

Mr Speaker, we want to see new politics in our country. We want to see new politics where members of different parties work together for the benefit of Zambians; where we stop scoring cheap political points against each other; where we praise each other where praise is due and where political parties which may not share the same political ideologies, agree to share a common development agenda. It is not about us, the leaders, but the people we represent out there.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: It does not pay to come to this House and begin to glorify political alliances as I have heard some hon. Members do.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: It is not in this House where they should do that. They should offer their justifications to their members who are increasingly questioning the relevance of some of these alliances that were formed for the wrong reasons.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: It is their members, out there, who are demanding answers and not us. We, on our part, do not suffer from schadenfreude, meaning that we do not suffer from a malicious enjoyment of other political parties’ misfortunes. We shall always continue to rely on our own strengths.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, we recognise that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: There are only permanent interests. To this end, we shall continue to seek to build constructive political partnerships and alliances with other political parties which believe that Zambia, our country, is larger than all of us put together.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: We shall work with progressive political parties, trade unions, churches, women’s groups, youth groups, students and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which put Zambia first so that, together, we can build new politics and a new future which will be fair for all our people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: We owe it to ourselves and to the future generations to do so. This is a time for good judgment and commitment of purpose so that we are ready to meet the enormous challenges that lie ahead. We, on this side of the House, will not be found wanting. We are willing, ready and able to meet the challenges of the future.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Lungu): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the Floor to address this august House.

Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, for the guidance that he gave me when I served under him as Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the whole House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I have been very careful to say Hon. Mwanamwambwa, the Speaker, recognising that you are now in the Chair for this meeting.

Mr Speaker, I congratulate the hon. Members who won by-elections, following the demise of some of our colleagues.

Sir, I congratulate my former immediate boss, Madam Deputy Speaker, on the co-operation she gave me when I served in my former position. I also congratulate you, for your unanimous election to the position of Deputy Chairperson of Committees in the House. I have no doubt that you will improve on my performance.

Mr Speaker, I congratulate the Hon. Mr Speaker for the guidance that he gave me. There were times when I felt tense and would go to him in fury. He would nicely tell me to take it easy and I would do so.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: In my preparation of this speech, I also took it easy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: You are also taking it easy in delivering it.

Laughter

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I also wish to congratulate His Honour the Vice-President, Mr George Kunda, SC., for the manner in which he carried out his duties as Leader of Government Business in the House in the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Assembly.

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

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, in line with my principle of thanking people when they do good things, I now wish to thank, most sincerely, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, for appointing me hon. Minister of Home Affairs on the 18th of May, 2010.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, this is the third time I am thanking him. I thought I should do it on the Floor of this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: I thanked him when he swore me in after he appointed me and I thank him once more now.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, why do I say so? The President invited me to join his team so that, together, we can move this country forward for the good of our people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: I readily accepted the invitation and here I am.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I heard some hon. Members say that UNIP came through the back door.

Laughter

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, what back door are they talking about?

Laughter

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, in 2008, UNIP, along with other Opposition parties, decided to back the then Vice-President, His Honour Rupiah Bwezani Banda, as he stood for the presidency of this country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, we supported him fully and my constituency, Lundazi, gave him 12,000 plus votes.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, this is as it should be and hope that the same can repeat itself in 2011.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, it is clear from what I have said above that UNIP, let alone I, entered through the front door.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, some hon. Members of the House from both your left and your right dwelt a lot on cataloguing the negative aspects of UNIP when it was in Government. This is wrong.

Mr Malama: On a point of order, Sir.

Ms Lundwe: Ikalenifye!

Mr Lungu: It is wrong because it does not build the nation.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Ms Lundwe: Sit down.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Malama: Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to raise this serious point of order. Is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs in order to come here and talk about his appointment and leave out important matters in his debate, such as issues concerning citizens who are fifty years old, but do not have national registration cards? I need your serious ruling.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

The hon. Member has raised a point of order on what he considers a serious matter. Let me begin by saying that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs has not finished debating the President’s Speech. Therefore, there is no way of knowing how he will debate unless the hon. Member has seen the hon. Minister’s notes. I suggest that the hon. Member holds his fires and listens to the hon. Minister’s speech because it is guidance to the country on what his ministry will do in relation to the President’s Speech.

The hon. Minister may continue.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance and I hope that, as I speak, the hon. Member who raised that point of order will not leave the House.

Mr Malama: I will not.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, at the time the hon. Member raised the point of order, I was saying some hon. Members of the House from both your left and right, in their contributions to the President’s Speech, dwelt a lot on cataloguing the negatives of the UNIP Government. This is wrong because it does not build the nation. I commend those hon. Members from both your left and right who spoke positively on what the UNIP Government did when it was in power. There are many hon. Members of Parliament who did so, but I remember vividly what Hon. Vincent Mwale, Member of Parliament for Chipangali, stated on this subject when he addressed this august House.

Mr Lungu turned back to see if Hon. V. Mwale was in the House.

Mr Lungu: Yes, he is there.

Mr V. Mwale: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, this is a good approach because it makes it easier for us in this House and for me to go out there and advise on which direction to take as we approach next year’s elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, the other day, I heard one hon. Member tell this House that, in the 2008 Presidential By-elections, his constituency gave the MMD and its presidential candidate the highest percentage of votes.

Mr Speaker, such information could be misleading because percentages are different from actual figures. For example, 90 per cent of 100 votes, is ninety votes, while 50 per cent of 12,000 votes is 6,000 votes.

Laughter

Mr Lungu: In such an example, it could be argued that the constituencies which gave 90 per cent of 100 votes gave the highest percentage of votes than the 50 per cent of 12,000 votes, and yet in reality, the 50 per cent of 12,000 votes is 6,000 votes which is much higher than the 90 per cent votes. Mr Speaker, let us be realistic in these matters.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Sir, I now join those who have stated that His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s Official Opening Speech to the august House was focused and inspirational. I hope the hon. Member for Mfuwe will now listen.

Mr Malama: I will.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, it was inspirational and focused because it outlined the projects that the Government has carried out so far. It was inspirational because it detailed the projects the Government intends to carry out from now on. There is no need to repeat what His Excellency the president stated because I know that we have all read the speech.

In sum, the Government successfully carried out projects throughout the country. The successful implementation of various projects throughout the country was due, among other reasons, to the internal peace and security the country has enjoyed for many years.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, in this regard, His Excellency the President recognised, in his speech, the important role our men and women in uniform, which include officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs, have played in the maintenance of internal peace and security.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, indeed, credit goes to all our men and women in uniform who worked tirelessly to achieve the objective of ensuring that internal peace and security prevails in our country. Our Government, under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, will continue to do everything possible to motivate our officers so that they can continue to work hard towards achieving the objective. The Government is aware of the difficult conditions under which the officers operate and is doing everything it can to meet the challenges they face.

Mr Speaker, details of the measures that have been taken to motivate our officers have been adequately explained in this august House. As hon. Minister of Home Affairs, I will undertake to work closely with all concerned to ensure that the law is firmly and fairly applied so that Zambians can continue to enjoy peace and security.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, this is in line with the wishes and desires of Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, as stated in his speech to this august House on 17th September, 2010. Peace and security is, indeed, a prerequisite for economic growth and development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, let me delve into the projects that have taken place in my constituency, Lundazi.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, again, I would like to agree with His Excellency the President’s Speech that developments have taken place throughout Zambia. However, I would like to briefly tell the House what projects have been done in my constituency. It is important that I do so for the purposes of emphasis. I hope my constituents in Lundazi are also listening.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, in the education sector, new schools, classroom blocks and teachers’ houses have been built. There are examples of where one or all of the above have been done. I will mention their names because I want you people to understand that, after eight years of being a Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House, I now have the opportunity to say something.

Mr Speaker, these are Nase High School, Chikumbi, Chigambe, Pharaza, Kamilenje, Vuu and Mcheleka schools and schools at Umi, Swiswi, Malabila, Kaithinde, …

Mr Mukanga: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: I rise on a very serious point of order. Is the hon. Minister in order to talk about what is happening in his constituency when, as an hon. Minister, he is supposed to be talking about national …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: … and not constituency issues? Sir, I need your serious ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: The point of order that has been raised has some merit and the hon. Minister, while highlighting what is happening in his constituency, should address this House about what he is going to do for the country in his ministry.

May he continue, please.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance.

I am agreeing with His Excellency the President’s Speech that the Government has projects all over the country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: I am indicating to the House the names of the projects that have been done in one of the areas of this country, Lundazi.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Therefore, it is in line with what we are debating, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: The Government has put up the following schools through out this country and among them in Lundazi. These schools are; Kaithinde, Chipembere, Kavisyeske, Bowe, Bokosi Fyofyo, Kakumba, Molozi, Mapala, Chiwe, Maphamba, Tigone, Nkhazimwene, Mkomba, Champheta and Kasuku, among others.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: These are the schools that have been constructed by the Government. Therefore, we should appreciate the Government’s efforts.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, indeed, there are challenges here such as the need for more schools, classroom blocks, teachers’ houses and desks. I am glad to say that the Government is addressing these challenges.

Now, somebody is saying I am talking about my constituency, …

Laughter

Mr Lungu: … and yet I am talking about what the Government has done.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! The hon. Minister shall debate the Motion.

Laughter

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, in the health sector, as has been said before, the Government has put up a number of projects in various parts of this country. In Lundazi, for example,

Laughter

Mr Lungu: … the Government has built health posts at Likwizizi, Chijemu, Mchereka, Mkomba, Mankahaka and Umi. Another one is under construction at Kamilenje.

Mr Speaker, Houses for nurses have been built except for Kamilenje. I am liaising with my counterpart at the Ministry of Health so that he looks into the issue of a house to be built at Kamilenje Health Post.

Mr Speaker, the Government has put up new hospitals. As you heard from the hon. Minister of Health, the Government is …

Dr Machungwa: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, with due respect, is the hon. Minister who is debating so well in order not to talk about the entire country rather than focus on his constituency in appreciating what the President has done? Is he in order to do that instead of debating more nationally because he represents the President and the Executive rather than an hon. Member of Parliament for a constituency like my colleagues and I. I seek your serious ruling.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

The point of order is requesting the hon. Minister to summarise issues in his constituency and give the House an outline of the programmes that his ministry intends to do in line with the Presidential Speech.

May he continue.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, it appears the hon. Members have difficulty accepting the fact that the Government puts up projects in the whole country. If that is what the hon. Members want me to do, I will endeavour to summerise my points. As hon. Minister of Home Affairs who also has a constituency, I appreciate what the Government is doing throughout the country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, as I conclude, let me first state that all the projects countrywide that are outlined in my speech are funded by the Government. We should, therefore, commend the Government for listening to all those who lobby for development projects in their respective areas to uplift the living standards of the people.

Mr Speaker, I now join those who have commended the Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, for a job well done. We need to support him now and in future. We should thank him for this because if we do not, we will belong to the group of ungrateful people. I do not want to belong to that group.

Mr Speaker, in Tumbuka we say, “Mwana wamunyako pala wadenya makola umulumbe, umuthokoze.”

Laughter

Mr Lungu: This means that when your friend’s child has danced well, praise him or her.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I, once again, congratulate His Excellency, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia for delivering on his promises.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Before I call on the next person to speak, may I just advise that we need to remember certain things in this House. When hon. Ministers are giving their ministerial statements, we should not disturb them because it does disrupt their line of thought and they need to explain to the nation what programmes they have for the country. I gave chance for points of order, but I expect that they will be minimised because I will probably not tolerate them again.

The Deputy Minister of Justice (Mr Chilembo): Mr Speaker, I wish to join the wise men and women in this House who have spoken before me and appreciated the inspiring speech given by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda on Friday, 17th September, 2010. I must say that it is the best speech I have ever listened to since I came to this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Chilembo: The achievements the President has made are so immense that he leaves me with no doubt in terms of further developments that will follow from 2011 to 2016 when he is re-elected …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chilembo: … as President of this country.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: And beyond!

Mr Chilembo: Indeed, and beyond. These achievements, once consolidated in his last term of office, will make it inevitable for the people of Zambia to continue voting for the MMD for the next ninety years.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Hear, hear!

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, our friends in the Opposition should be ready for this long wait.

Interruptions

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, when they argue that the President was merely completing what the late President Mwanawasa, SC., may his soul rest in peace, had started, they are in effect saying he should have abandoned those projects and started new ones. The Opposition are clearly showing the Zambians that to them, politics is about power and not service to the people. To them, politics is not about following the party manifestos, but dancing to the tune of one man who is likely to be a dictator.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, that is where we differ.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Twali mwishiba!

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, we are people-oriented. Our colleagues in the Opposition are self-centered. To them, manifestoes do not matter. They have no programmes for the rural people.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Nothing!

Mr Chilembo: All they can do is talk about copper and it ends there. This Government talks about copper, agriculture and many other things. It is friendlier to people than those in the Opposition. They are exclusive, and yet Zambia is for all of us.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, Zambians, you should watch out for such leaders. Those in rural areas should continue supporting this Government. The Opposition will never come up with any programmes in their favour.

Mr Kapeya: What are you talking about?

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, on governance, the President has clearly stated, as he did in the past, that the fight against corruption is a priority of his Government. Let us all not politicise this issue. Corruption is an international problem. No country has been spared, be it developed or developing. All have fallen short of the glory of God. Why is it that we hear in developed countries that such and such a business empire has collapsed because of corruption? I, therefore, submit that global co-operation in the fight against corruption is a must. You can see that, indeed, this problem is international and, therefore, the behaviour of some of our citizens who want to paint Zambia as the worst country in terms of fighting corruption is clearly unpatriotic.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Hear, hear!

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, the existence of international conventions to fight corruption is evidence that, indeed, this is a global problem. Therefore, I wonder what some of our colleagues in the Opposition want to achieve when they run to our co-operating partners and stand on top of the mountain and say negative things about this country instead of suggesting ways in which, together, we can fight corruption. It is, therefore, important that those who allege that there is corruption should produce evidence. On page 31, the President said:

“The word ‘corruption’ sticks easily, with or without proof and it is hard to dislodge. Those who use the word too readily should be aware that they risk damaging the standing of our nation.”

Mr Speaker, in terms of legislation, Zambia has taken necessary steps to fight corruption. I thank the hon. Members for participating in the process of coming up with the necessary legislation such as the Public Disclosure, Protection of Whistle Blowers Bill, the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Bill, the National Prosecutions Act establishing of the National Prosecutions Authority. Very soon the Anti-Corruption Bill will be tabled before this House. There is also the Financial Intelligence Unit Bill which will also be tabled before this House.

Mr Speaker, the idea behind this legislation is to harmonise with the new Anti-Corruption Policy which is going to fight corruption in a comprehensive manner. Corruption can only be fought through a well-framed legal framework. The Anti-Corruption Policy will not target specific people, but will aim at fighting all crime by whoever, whatsoever and whichever period. I do agree with the President when he said on Page 31 of his speech that:

“…We cannot fashion our laws to suit foreign powers but we can, and will, use Zambian laws to hunt down corrupt individuals.”

Mr Speaker, therefore, my understanding is that Zambia, being a sovereign State, cannot allow a foreign judgment to be registered in Zambia if its judgment in Zambia cannot be registered in that foreign country. Former President Chiluba’s judgment is, indeed, a case in point.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Lubinda misunderstood His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, when he stated that we cannot fashion our laws to suit foreign powers, but we can and, we will, use Zambian laws to hunt down corrupt individuals.

Mr Speaker, at the international level, Zambia, in the fight against corruption has done the following:

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the Chair]

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended I was saying that at the international level, Zambia in its fight against corruption, has done the following:

(i) ratified the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol Against Corruption on 19th January, 2003;

(ii) ratified the African Union (AU) Continuation on Preventing and Combating Corruption on 30th March, 2007; and

(iii) the United Nations (UN) Convention against Corruption was signed on 11th December 2003 and Zambia approved to ratify both the AU and UN conventions on Corruption on 8th January, 2007.

Mr Speaker, the actual position is that Zambia respects all conventions stated above and has not breached any of them as suggested by Hon. Lubinda. He should know that when it comes to application of international law conventions, Zambia has what is called a ‘Dualistic Approach’.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Members, this is not a tavern.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: May you, please, lower your voices if you want to discuss issues with colleagues near you.

The hon. Minister may continue.

Mr Chilembo: Mr Speaker, I would like to repeat what I said earlier.

Mr Kambwili: Awe!

Mr Chilembo: Hon. Lubinda should know that when it comes to application of international law conventions, Zambia has what is called a ‘Dualistic Approach’.

Under this approach, international conventions and treaties are not self-executing. This means that they do not automatically become part of the domestic legislation system unless Parliament enacts appropriate legislation to that effect. Under this approach, if there is any conflict between international law and domestic law on a subject, domestic law will prevail. Zambia is not the only country following this internationally recognised principle of ‘Dualistic Approach’.

According to the Foreign Judgments Reciprocal Enforcement Act, Cap. 76 of the Laws of Zambia, Britain is not included as one of the countries where judgments obtained in that country can be enforced in Zambia pursuant to Part II of the said Act. Thus, following the provisions of the domestic law like the one aforementioned, it is not a breach of any international obligation.

In relation, therefore, to the case of the Second Republican President, Mr Fredrick Chiluba, the Zambian Government has not delegated the principles of the international protocols and conventions on corruption.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Chilembo: The question of appeal cannot be based on mere public outcry or acclaim. It is not like football. Appeals are based on principles of law. From what we have cited, an appeal is not the answer. In as far as the law stands at the moment in the country, this is the position.

Mr Speaker, the problem is that when we are looking at the fight against corruption, we only think in terms of prosecution. We do not take into account other efforts that are made to fight corruption. Statistically, in 2009, the Anti-Corruption Commission authorised 658 of the complaints received for further investigation. Of these, 290 cases were prosecuted in the courts of law.

This low uptake of cases indicates the difficulties encountered in establishing and proving corruption cases. Therefore, efforts to fight corruption should not only be measured in terms of cases reported, investigated and prosecuted, but also through reform efforts that aim at preventing corruption activities by reducing and eventually eliminating opportunities for corruption.

Mr Speaker, this Government has undertaken initiatives to eliminate corruption by setting up Integrity Committees in some Government institutions such as the Ministry of Lands, Passport Office, Lusaka City Council, Livingstone City Council, Road Transport and Safety Agency, Police and Patents and Companies Registration Office. This committee may not be working as well as it should but, admittedly, it is on course. Some institutions have also spelt out standards and quality of service the general public should expect from them. Again, it is acknowledged that these standards may be in document form, but the actual implementation is still in its infancy.

Further, the Management Development Division of Cabinet Office has developed a Genetic Code of Conduct for civil servants. Public Service institutions should adopt this code of conduct and adopt the provisions therein to prepare their own codes of conduct that address specific circumstances and nature of work they deal with. I acknowledge complementary efforts being made by the private sector in this area. The President did welcome this multi-sectoral approach to combat corruption.

Mr Speaker, I wish to acknowledge the wise advice from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, when he encouraged hon. Members of Parliament to consider one another as allies in the common quest of human development. In my understanding, an hon. Member of Parliament in the Opposition is not the enemy of the Executive. This is why I find it difficult to understand some of our colleagues who use unpalatable language to put their cases across.

It is also in bad taste for some hon. Members of Parliament in the Opposition to come to divulge in this House matters affecting their constituencies which we discuss with them in our offices. One would have thought such matters will be treated with confidentiality. What is the point of visiting an hon. Minister in his or her office only to come and debate what you discussed on the Floor of the House? I would like to urge such hon. Members to desist from this practice. Let them try to keep such matters confidential so that they can get what they want for their constituencies.

Mr Speaker, I do not wish to go into further details in my speech as I do not want to pre-empt the comprehensive response that His Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Justice, Mr George Kunda, SC., will be making in due course.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Ema lawyer aya!

The Minister of Science, Technology and Vocation Training (Mr Daka): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the speech made by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Mr Speaker, the speech by His Excellency was not only inspirational, but was also directional.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, allow me to mention some highlights in His Excellency’s Speech. I will start with the energy sector. The energy sector in this country has developed so much in the sense that even in my own constituency, Msanzala, and other constituencies, we have received projects under rural electrification. This shows that this Government, under Mr Rupiah Bwezani Band, is delivering and working.

Mr Speaker, the importance that science and technology plays in the economic development of our country is enormous.

Sir, I briefly want to talk about another sector which is a branch of science. My colleague, Hon. Kapembwa Simbao, spoke a lot regarding this type of science. He talked about the MRI and CT scanner which was developed with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The field of health relies heavily on other sciences and technologies. I, therefore, want to emphasise that in whatever you do in this country, there must be some coloration between a vocation and the field of science and technology.

If you look at the labour force in the mines today, 90 per cent of the artisans have passed through a vocational training institution of some kind. That is why my ministry which deals in science and technology has, on behalf of the Government, ensured that in every district, there is a technical, vocation and skills training college. Therefore, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda and his Government will endevour to deliver such training to all corners of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to my successor in the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, Hon. Dr Kazonga, and wish him well.

Sir, let me now look at some of the issues that were raised by Hon. Regina Musokotwane. She said that we should be able to pay a farmer K150,000 per 50kg bag of maize. Making such payments can make us uncompetitive. At present, we are paying our farmers US$265 per tonne. If you peg your maize at K150,000 per 50 kg, you are talking of a tonne fetching at about US$600. To which country are you going to export this maize because in the surrounding countries, the maize that is on the market is at US$160 per tonne. We have paid our farmers US$265 because we want to encourage them to continue producing more maize. This Government is there to subside production. That is what it is doing.

The factors which have led to the mass production of maize are not only the fertilizer support that we give, but the technology transfer as well. If you look at the rural areas today, at one point, we used to produce one tonne per hectare, but now, we are producing 2.2 tonnes per hectare. Commercial farmers are producing 5 tonnes per hectare because of the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute being involved in the development of a good and pure seed. All this is part of technology transfer.

Sir, ZARI in both Kafue and Chilanga is there to make sure that a good seed is distributed to our farmers. Colleges like the Natural Resources Development College train our extension workers to ensure that they teach our peasant and small-scale farmers good methods of farming. It is sad, today, that a lot of people cannot see all this work being done.

Sir, let me now move to the Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL). As Chairperson of Communication and Transport in my party, …

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

Mr Daka: …I want to say a few things about ZAMTEL. The sale of ZAMTEL was justified. If you look at what LAP-Green Networks has done since it took over, I am sure you shall agree with my viewpoint. ZAMTEL has since erected 162 masts countrywide.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Daka: It has also injected K600 billion into the company. LAP-Green Networks is also going to bring in 300 more masts. Further, LAP-Green Networks will move the 095 numbers to 3-G technology.

Mr Speaker, this is the same development which we have been talking about. When I was hon. Minister of Communications and Transport, we talked about the fiber optic. Today, ZAMTEL has been connected with Botswana Telecommunications Corporation by SECOM because of this Government’s zeal to deliver communication and to make sure that you make a phone call out of this country at the cost of a single digit number. Even the 50 ngwees have come back because of competition.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, a good example of a success story with regard to privatisation is ZANACO. It was not Magande’s idea that ZANACO be privatised. It was the MMD …

Interruptions

The Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Minister, please, avoid mentioning people who cannot defend themselves.

You may continue.

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

Sir, I want to emphasise that the MMD is working and delivering. Today, ZANACO is one of the successful banks and it is found in all the rural areas. If you were a peasant farmer in Chipata and wanted to be paid, you would have to go to ZANACO and you would even be able to use your card. This never used to happen when the bank was under the Government. At one point, ZAMTEL had 2,400 workers and the fixed lines were only 100 lines meaning that there were twenty-four workers depending on one line for their pay. That is not the case today. We must appreciate that the President has delivered with his Government. We must also appreciate the Government’s efforts to bring development …

Interruptions

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, I need your protection.

Laughter

Mr Daka: I need your protection because I am being interrupted.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Minister, please, continue. May hon. Members, please, talk quietly.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Members, if you do not want to listen to what is being discussed, you can leave the House. There must be order in this Chamber.

May the hon. Minister continue.

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, today, Zambia will be a communication hub with ZAMTEL being under LAP-Green Networks because the company’s network is now being connected to an easy cable in Nakonde towards the east coast. This is something that would not have happened if this company had not been privatised.

Sir, I want to emphasise the fact that landlines used to be the lifeline of this country. However, it was absurd for the company to have 2,400 workers and only have 100 lines in the whole country as this meant that twenty-four employees depended on one line.

At the moment, LAP-Green Networks is advertising its vacancies after the former workers left and were paid.

Mr Speaker, as regards the health sector …

Interruptions

Mr Kambwili: Talk about science and technology.

Mr Daka: I am covering the Presidential Speech and touching on all the areas therein.

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Members: Science and technology.

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, today, science and technology is cross-cutting. It is cross-cutting in the sense that it is mentioned in agriculture, health and all sectors of human endeavour.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the President for his inspirational speech which gives a proper direction of economic value to this country.

Mr Kambwili: Rolling stone.

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, experience is the best teacher.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Daka: Yes, I have been all over even if somebody is calling me a rolling stone. I have learnt and gained a lot of experience …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Daka: … which he will never gain.

Interruptions

Mr Daka: Sir, I have gained enough experience and that is why I am able to talk about land issues in Petauke. That is why I wish to urge hon. Members that as they go back to their constituencies, they must talk to the chiefs in their respective areas and tell them that their villages will not develop into municipalities if they do not allow developmental projects to take place. Today, the Ministry of Lands is giving land development funds to be used in making it possible for towns to grow. If our traditional rulers refuse to allow their areas to grow into municipalities because they have a claim on a piece of land, which is supposed to be developed, then these areas will not develop.

I gained some experience when I was at the Ministry of Lands on land issues. I know that the ministry is doing very well.

So, really, experience is the best teacher. I wish to thank the President for giving me an opportunity to serve in several ministerial positions in his Government.

Mr Mukanga: You will be fired.

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, today, there are politicians of doom who want to trade insults and cannot add value to the county’s direction. This Government is delivering.

Interruptions

Mr Daka: It has built a hospital and installed electricity in my constituency.

Mr Mukanga: You will not come back.

Interruptions

Mr Daka: To those of you who are saying that I will not come back, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Daka: … let me tell you that if we talk about percentages, you will discover that I had 83 per cent in the previous elections in my constituency. What does it mean? It means that the Opposition had almost zero votes.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, this Government is delivering and I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity …

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Members, can you concentrate on listening to the debate. My recollection is that we had given the hon. Members on my left time to speak and they did. It is now time for hon. Ministers to respond to the issues which they raised. Therefore, let us let them respond the way they see things. You cannot force them to respond otherwise. You may not be happy with their response, but you have to let it be if that is Government’s position. Please, let us allow the hon. Ministers to respond to what has been said.

May the hon. Minister continue, please.

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, this Government pays serious attention to skills and technical education. That is why it has set up colleges in all the provinces of Zambia.

In conclusion, let me end by saying that the President’s Speech was directional and we must build on it so as to ensure that this Government delivers.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister Agriculture and Co-operatives (Mr Mulonga): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to add a few words to the debate on the speech which was read by His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Sir, most of the things have been said by my colleagues. However, let me add that the speech read in this House was very directive and was rich with ideas of how to run the country and its economy to its best. It was very direct and simple for any person to understand. The reason for this was very simple. When the President was reading his speech, he was sounding like somebody from within Parliament and not from the outside. Why was this the case? It is because he was first the Vice-President before becoming President of this country. He knows how this current Parliament operates very well because he is the immediate past Vice-President. He was part to all the debates which were being held in this House. He was the chief organiser of Government Business in this House.

Mr V. Mwale: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulonga: Therefore, owing to his rich background, he led this House according to the way business was supposed to be run. He has the know-how of running the country and how to align the policies of government so that they can bring development because he was Vice-President before ascending to the presidency. That is what happened.

Mr Muntanga: Aw?

Laughter

Mr Mulonga: That is why each one of us never failed to follow what he was talking about. Of course, we have heard a few misdirected arguments about the speech in this House. That is normal. Such situations will always be there. There are those people who always want to derail the policies of the Government of the day so that, at the end of the day, they will go back to their people and say, this Government has failed to provide policies which have direction.

Sir, I want to briefly talk about the bumper harvest which has been the talk of the House. Some people say that we have had a bumper harvest because of the good rains. Yes, it was due to good rains plus other variables.

Mr Speaker, when one is carrying out an agricultural research project, he or she is supposed to have variables and a constant factor. In this case, the rains are part of the variables while the production of maize is a constant factor. The other variables such as the inputs when increased or reduced, will either increase or reduce the output.

Sir, before I go further, I wish to remind the House that this is my fourth year in the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulonga: First of all, His Excellency the President directed the ministry to increase production. How were we supposed to do this? Sir, apart from 2004/2005 Farming Season, when we had a drought, and in 2007/08 Farming Season, when we had a flood, the rainfall pattern has been around 9,000 cubic centimetres per year in the country. That is why rainfall now, becomes a constant factor which should not be talked about.

Therefore, the first thing we did was to increase the fertiliser support.

Mr Kambwili: Wamba ubufi naiwe!

Mr Mulonga: In the 2006/07 Farming Season, fertiliser was increased to 84,000 metric tonnes, but the output was still 1.3 million metric tonnes.

In the following year, there was a reduction in the fertiliser input to 80,000 metric tonnes, but the output was still at 1.2 million metric tonnes and that is the reason a research was started on whether to increase the other variable which is human input − the beneficiaries. When we increased the beneficiaries from 250,000 in the 2005/2006 farming to 280,000 in the 2007/2008 farming season, the production increased from 1.3 to 1.4 million metric tonnes.

Mr Speaker, in the last farming season, the President suggested that the number of farmers be increased to see the output as other variables had remained constant. Based on this, the number of beneficiaries was increased from 250,000 to 500,000 with the fertiliser being at a constant supply of 80,000 metric tonnes. As a result of this, we had the bumper harvest. That is why we say it is not by the powers of God alone that we achieved the bumper harvest, but also the good policies of this Government.

Interruptions

Mr Mulonda: Mr Speaker, hon. Members should listen when others are speaking just as we do when they are speaking. If the policies were bad, we would have delivered the D-compound in February. Was this going to make sense or was it going to help? Even if the rains were good and we delivered the fertilisers in March, was this going to have an effect? The answer is no. If we had delivered seed which was not properly tested, was it going to geminate properly? The answer is no. That is why we are saying that it is the good policies of the Government that have brought about this bumper harvest.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, much has been said about elections and I will not spend much time on this issue. I just want to say that, come next year, the people will vote for President Rupiah Bwezani Banda and the MMD.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, the question one might ask is why people will do so, but the answer is very simple. They will look around. For example, as the people of Kalomo go to vote, they will be looking at the nice sheds which have been constructed within two years of this Government’s reign and then they will agree that the President has worked.

Mr Speaker, in Choma, as the people go to vote, they will look at the laboratory which has been constructed and they will say, “Yes, he is working.”

Mr Speaker, those in Mazabuka will look at the artificial insemination which has been constructed and they and they will agree that the President is working. Those in Chinsali will look at the Mbesuma Ranch which is improving by having eighty animals, this year, and they will say, “The President and his Government are working.”

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, those in …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very important point of order. In his speech, the hon. Deputy Minister is insinuating that there has been construction of an artificial insemination. Is he in order to say that on the Floor of this House when there is no technology in this world that constructs artificial insemination? I need your serious ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Deputy Minister will continue, but take that point into account.

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, I meant to say that the Government has constructed an artificial insemination centre. It is an infrastructure.

Hon. Opposition Members: Ooho.

Laughter

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, those in Luapula will look at the Chishinga Ranch that has been revamped with the aid of the K200 million released by the Government and they will vote for Rupiah Banda and the MMD Government because they are working.

Mr Speaker, those in the North-Western Province will see the revamping and the improvement at Limulunga Ranch and they will say Rupiah Banda and his Government are working. They will also see the various livestock service centres which are to be constructed. After compiling this list, they will compare it to the work done by the hon. Member for Mapatizya (Mr Sejani). Based on this comparison, they will assess by saying, unlike the other contender who has always been standing, this President has only been in office for two years, and yet he has done so much. This will make him the right person to vote for. This is because if he can achieve so much in two years, how much more can he achieve in five years? As such, the MMD Government will win the elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, I would like to say that from the 1960s, women have been a vital factor in advising us on how to run the country. Mama Kankasa is an example of such a woman. Currently, in this House, we have been advised by hon. female Members on how to run politics in the country. I would like to advise our colleagues to listen to the advice of women. The latest piece of advice was given by the hon. Member for Katombola (Mrs Musokotwane) who advised us on what to do as leaders in politics.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulonga: I hope that since women have been influential, directive and are rarely wrong, we will go by her advice.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Lands (Ms Lundwe): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks.

Mr Speaker, firstly, allow me to state that the speech delivered to this House by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, was excellent and moving as it addressed all important areas of this great nation.

Mr Speaker, the speech can be best described as a basket full of achievements. It is not based on promises, but on what this Government has done and is still dong for its people. All the achievements mentioned in the speech are visible and tangible and this is the reason the people of Zambia need to give this Government another mandate next year.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, this nation needs men and women with a vision, passion and commitment only equivalent to His Excellency’s ability. He has demonstrated this ability and I am certain that the people of Zambia will never forget all these achievements he has brought to the nation and will vote for him in 2011.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, let us look at the multi-facility economic zones (MFEZs) being created in Zambia and the job opportunities they have created and will still create for the Zambian people.

Mr Speaker, Zambia will never be the same although those in the Opposition do not want to appreciate all these good things this Government has brought to the nation. Instead they want to criticise for the sake of gaining political mileage. That is not good leadership at all. They do not also understand or know why most issues and decisions taken by the Executive of this Government are made that way. For example, when the President travels to another country, he has the country of Zambia at heart. Even when he picks on a country to visit, he looks at many factors. A good example is when His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, visited the Republic of Turkey. There were a number of factors that were taken into consideration.

Mr Speaker, allow me just to inform our colleagues on the left that Turkey has a rich history and is economically stable and competes with the best in the world.

Mr Munaile: Tupeniko ama tiketi tuye ukokwine.

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, on agriculture alone, the Republic of Turkey, as of March 2007, was the:

(i) first world largest producer of hazelnut, fig and apricot;

(ii) second largest producer of water melon and cucumbers;

(iii) third largest producer of tomatoes and egg plants;

(iv) fourth largest producer of olive and onion;

(v) the fifth largest producer of sugar beets;

(vi) sixth largest producer of tobacco, cocoa and apple;

(vii) seventh largest producer of cotton;

(viii)   eighth largest producer of almond;
(ix)   ninth largest producer of wheat and grape fruits; and
(x)   tenth largest producer of lemons.

That was as of March 2007 and many more.

Economically

Inflation Single digit

   Employment   Agriculture of Turkey contributes
           27.3 per cent of national employment
       levels

Literacy Levels Men 96 per cent, women 84 per cent, average 88 per cent.

Mr Speaker, going by what I have mentioned above, which country cannot associate with such a productive country like Turkey?

Mr Speaker, in the world of technology, Turkey is one of the largest producers of electronic equipment like televisions in Europe. It is also rated among the best ship building skills in the world. We need to interact with progressive countries in order to improve. Definitely, a country with such a track record is worth learning from. That is part of the reason the President visited Turkey. We, as a nation, need to associate with the best counties in the world in order for us to grow.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about agriculture in Zambia. Due to the good agricultural policies, we have a bumper harvest of 2.7 million metric tonnes of maize. What else do we need? This alone speaks volumes about the hard work of this Government. What do the people on your left want to see for them to accept that we are working?

Mr Speaker, let me talk about fuel. This Government has broken the record by becoming the first Government to have uniform fuel pump prices across the country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: By so doing, there will be a reduction in illegal fuel sellers who are popularly known as Changanyas. These people compromise the fuel specifications by their dubious mixing of fuels in order to maximise their profits. Let me inform the hon. Members of Parliament that buy fuels from these illegal sellers, whose prices are usually cheaper than the pump price that they risk damaging their vehicles.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, let me talk about tourism. This Government has identified tourism opportunities in the Northern, Southern, Eastern and now Lusaka provinces. This will lead to economic development in various parts of the country and people in Lusaka soon will not have to travel to Livingstone to appreciate the natural resource such as wild life. It will be a great achievement to bring a national park at the door step of the people of Lusaka.

Mr Speaker, let me talk about education. I would like to thank His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, for improving infrastructure in the education sector and the status of the girl child by introducing girls’ technical schools and many more schools countrywide. It does not matter where these schools are built. They are being built on the Zambian soil for Zambian children.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: The fact that most of these schools are boarding schools means that they are accessible to all children in Zambia. It is not political as insinuated by some hon. Members of Parliament who have said, in this House, that the schools are being built in MMD strongholds. No, Mr Speaker, to me that is not good leadership.

Hon. Opposition Members: Uuuh!

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, the reason these are built in rural parts of provinces such as the Copperbelt, in particular Masaiti, Mpongwe and Lufwanyama, hon. Members, has nothing to do with party affiliation, but availability of land and many other considerations. Moreover, our children need concentration and the best environment for boarding schools. That is why they are in rural areas. What we do with the education sector, today, need not to be politicised. Our current efforts in improving this sector will be appreciated tomorrow. Definitely, good education is the best for all.

Sustainable Developments in all Areas

Mr Speaker, while the Government has been working hard to construct basic schools and high schools for the able bodied, it has also planned to construct a school for the deaf and dumb. To this effect, some funds will be set aside. This is what it means to have a caring leader like His Excellency Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, let me now talk about land. Land is an important factor in attaining any infrastructure development in the country like ours and, as such, my Government is doing all it can to ensure that land issues are addressed. This Government intends to empower women with land by ensuring that they have greater access to land for both residential and commercial purposes.

Mr Speaker, why is it like this?

Mr Kambwili: Ngaimwe abaume?

Ms Lundwe: Empowering women is the best way of empowering a nation.

Mr V. Mwale: Zoona.

Ms Lundwe: When you empower a woman, then you are empowering a family and when you empower a family, then you are empowering a nation. However, when you empower a man you are empowering an individual.

Hon. Male Members: Aah!

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, let me also talk about title deeds. The hon. Member for Chingola talked about the ex-miners’ title deeds. Let me say that on the issue of title deeds, we are working very well with the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines- Investment Holdings (ZCCM-HI), but as earlier said, for title deeds to be issued, all the documentation must be available. So, we are working very well and my ministry has processed about 20,000 title deeds. I can assure you that our ministry is doing all its level best. We do not have any backlog now. Therefore, I am urging all those people who have not received the title deeds to put their papers in order so that these title deeds can be submitted to our ministry through the ZCCM-HI.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you and urge all the hon. Members of Parliament to encourage the people in their constituencies, especially those hon. Members of Parliament who are in mine areas, to have their documents in order. My ministry does not have any problem with processing them because it is working extremely hard.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, from the outset, I would like to say that I will be quite brief and straight to the point. Before I go into the actual debate, I would like to salute my colleagues who have spoken before me, either in support or against the Presidential Speech.

Mr Munaile: Which side are you on?

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I stand here with a view to contributing to the speech which was delivered to this august sitting by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Banda, on 17th September, 2010. A lot has been said about this speech. However, there are some issues which were not tackled by His Excellency the President in his address. One of the issues that was not addressed in the Presidential Speech and which I would love to bring to the attention of the Government, is the delimitation of constituencies in the country.

Mr Munaile: Landapo apo.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, this issue is very cardinal. I expected the President of the Republic of Zambia, on that material day, to give emphasis and direction on how the Government intends to divide constituencies in this country. Unfortunately, despite the Government having allocated K7.5 billion to this exercise, no mention on this matter was made by His Excellency the President.

Mr Speaker, out of all the 150 constituencies in this country where we have elected hon. Members of Parliament, three quarters of them are too vast to be managed by only one hon. Member of Parliament.

Mr Kapeya: Especially Mpika.

Mr Chisala: The best examples are Chilubi, Chililabombwe and Kasempa, just to mention a few. I am, therefore, making a humble request to the Government of the Republic of Zambia to go flat out and ensure that constituencies are delimited if it wants to win the hearts of the people.

Mr Speaker, the other issue that I want to bring to the attention of the Government, which was, of course, tackled by His Excellency the President in his speech to this august House is that of the so-called mobile hospitals.

Mr Kapeya: Tell them.

Mr Chisala: From the time I came to this august House, I have been saying that the people in Chilubi Constituency have been disadvantaged in the sense that patients have to be referred to either Samfya, Lubwe Mission Hospital, Kasaba or Luwingu. I have been advising the Government, from time to time, to provide medical services to all the people of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, the point I am trying to put across is that buying mobile hospitals is not going to do the Zambian people any good. I say so simply because roads in this country are in a terrible state.

Mr Kapeya: Bwekeshapo apo.

Mr Chisala: I repeat that the roads in this country are in a terrible state. For instance, if a patient is referred to Luwingu from Chilubi, how is the patient going to be transported when the roads there are in a deplorable state?

Mr Speaker, in this regard, I would suggest that the Government should abandon this programme which has been widely rejected by the majority of the Zambian people.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Chisala: If the Government insists on going ahead with this programme, taxpayers’ money will just be wasted.

Mr Speaker, if I were the hon. Minister of Health, I would have advised His Excellency the President to abandon this programme and concentrate on constructing district hospitals because this is what we have been crying for.

Mr Speaker, the people of Chilubi and Mungwi in the Northern Province have been denied an opportunity of having district hospitals. A humble request to you, again, hon. Minister, is that, please, we do not want these mobile hospitals. Instead, let us have district hospitals in the two districts constructed.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, let me now come to the education sector. The issues of education in this country are very cardinal. However, it is unfortunate that as I am trying to bring this point across, the hon. Minister of Education is not even in the House.

Mr Speaker, whenever we formulate the curriculum in this country, it has been discovered that people from the University of Zambia (UNZA), Copperbelt University and Mulungushi University are always marginalised. A country that wants development will always go to those who have vast experience in that particular field. Therefore, I see no reason our colleagues from UNZA, who are supposed to give a hand in the formulation of the curriculum, are sidelined from time to time. This is a sad development. We have professors from both universities who can help us inthe curriculum development.

Mr Speaker, my earnest appeal is that if we have to progress in the education sector, we must ensure that we bring on board people from the foresaid institutions. That way, we are going to progress in the education sector.

In the same vein, I want to register my deep disappointment over what transpired in the months of June and August, this year, when we had the problem of teachers’ salaries. Each teacher lost about 10 per cent of his or her salary. This was very unfortunate.

Interruptions

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, issues of such nature always demoralise teachers. In this regard, what is required of us as people running the Ministry of Education is to advise our colleagues to make sure that teachers are well paid. We do not need to ask the Government for a 10 per cent salary increment and then go to the negotiating table. All we have to do is have a certain percentage annually as an annual increment. That way, teachers will get motivated.

Mr Speaker, I want to appreciate the Government’s efforts in constructing a road from Luwingu to Chilubi. This effort was initiated by Hon. Simbao when he was Minister of Works and Supply. I want to pay tribute to him because if it had not been for his efforts, this time around, the road would have been almost impassable. We would have been delinked from the rest of Zambia. Therefore, I am requesting other Cabinet Ministers to emulate Hon. Simbao.

Further, I would like to urge hon. Ministers to visit the countryside. In 1996, the Second Republican President, Dr Chiluba, issued matching orders to the hon. Ministers to be visiting the different parts of the country in order to identify the problems that people face.

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member for Chilubi in order to inform the House that the Ministry of Works and Supply constructed the Luwingu/Chilubi Road when Chilubi is an island? Is he in order to suggest that there is a road which has passed over water? I seek your ruling, Sir.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Member for Chilubi may continue, but should take into account the point of order which has been raised.

You may continue.

Mr Chisala: Sir, let me clarify what I meant because, maybe, the hon. Member who raised the point of order does not understand the geography of this nation very well.

Hon. Muntanga: Aah!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, Chilubi is made up of three distinct areas. There is the island, main land and swamps.

Mr Speaker, before the point of order was raised, I was praising the former Minister of Works and Supply, Hon. Simbao, for having started the construction of roads in Chilubi. If he had continued in that ministry, the curve along the embankment from the island to the main land would have been completed. However, I am optimistic that the current hon. Minister of Works and Supply and his staff are going to make sure that works continue in this area.

Hon. PF members: Aah!

Mr Chisala: It will be difficult for the people of Chilubi to give even just a single vote to the MMD during the presidential and general elections if nothing is done this year. The people of Chilubi, through me, are appealing to the Government to ensure that money is released for the construction of the embankment and purchase of a vessel to be used on Lake Bangweulu. Once this is done, I think the people of Chilubi, Luwingu, Mpika and Chinsali will be happy because they have never benefited anything from the K2 billion which was released to the provincial administration last year.

Hon. PF Member: Tell them.

Mr Chisala: This is a sad development.

Mr Speaker, the K5 billion which has been allocated in this year’s budget for the construction of roads in twelve districts in the Northern Province is not going to be enough. In fact, the machines to be used in the construction of the roads have not yet reached the area. One wonders what purpose the provincial administration is serving. If certain people are failing to perform, the best thing the Government should do is to transfer them to other ministries or drop them because the people of Zambia should get the benefits they deserve. That is my humble request to the Government.

With these few remarks, I thank you, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

ADJOURNMENT

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

The House adjourned at 1935 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 6th October, 2010.

Search form

You are here

parliament.gov.zm