DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Friday, 16th July, 2010

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______ 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

SEMINAR ON 2010 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I have permitted the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to conduct a sensitisation seminar for all hon. Members of Parliament to discuss issues related to the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. 

This is a very important seminar because hon. Members will be enlightened on the programmes that will be carried out by the CSO prior to, during and after the 2010 National Census of Population and Housing. 

In turn, hon. Members will be expected to pass on the information learnt to their constituents throughout the country. All hon. Members are, therefore, advised not to miss this seminar. 

The seminar will be held on Tuesday, 20th July, 2010, in the auditorium, here at Parliament Buildings, starting at 1000 hours. I urge all of you to attend this important seminar. 
Thank you. 
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BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the Business it will consider next week. 

Sir, on Tuesday, 20th July, 2010, the Business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider the Second Report of the Parliamentary Reforms and Modernisation Committee. 

On Wednesday, 21st July, 2010, the Business of the House will commence with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. After that, there will be consideration of Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider the Second Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs. 

On Thursday, 22nd July, 2010, the Business of the House will start with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider the Third Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Road Development Agency. 

Mr Speaker, on Friday, 23rd July, 2010, the Business of the House will begin with His Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. This will be followed by Questions, if there will be any. After that, there will be presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider the Parliamentary Select Committee Report on the Presidential Appointments of two Supreme Court Judges and nine High Court Judges. Thereafter, the House will consider the Second Report of the Committee on Communications, Transport, Works and Supply. After that, the House will consider any other Business that may have been presented to it earlier in the week. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

ZAMBIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

543. Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central) asked the Minister of Communications and Transport:

(a)    how much money Government ministries and departments owed Zamtel immediately prior to the Libyan LAP Green Network acquisition of 75 per cent shareholding, ministry by ministry;

(b)    how the LAP Green Network intended to recover the debt; and

(c)    what the total value of Zamtel assets was at the time of privatisation. 

The Minister of Defence and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I beg your indulgence. We are still searching for the response. It will come at a later time. 

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. Opposition Member: Awe!

Mr Speaker: Order! 

That word in vernacular is unparliamentary. 

How long will it take to locate the answer? We have to decide whether we will come back to this Question or let it lapse completely. 

Dr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, I think that within the next thirty or sixty minutes, the answer will be made available. 

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: The procedure is that if the answer is located after we have gone over this section of the Order Paper, the question will have lapsed. 

FOOD RESERVE AGENCY

546. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives:

(a)    how much money was allocated to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for the purchase of maize from farmers in the 2009/2010 marketing season countrywide;

(b)    how much maize was purchased by the FRA; and

(c)    how much maize was stored in silos countrywide as of March, 2010? 

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Mr Mbewe): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that K100 billion was allocated to the FRA for the purchase of crops, including maize from farmers in the 2009/10 marketing season countrywide. However, the Government released K150 billion towards the purchase of national strategic food reserves countrywide.

Mr Speaker, the FRA purchased 198,630 metric tonnes of maize from farmers in the 2009/10 marketing season countrywide.

Sir, currently, there are six silos countrywide, namely Lusaka, which contains 15,000 metric tonnes of maize, Monze with 15,000 metric tonnes, Chisamba, 22,500 metric tonnes, Natuseko, 22,500 metric tonnes, Bwana Mkubwa, 22,500 metric tonnes and Kitwe, 15,000 metric tonnes, which have a combined capacity of 112,500 metric tonnes, as part of the national strategic food reserve. 

A total of 700 metric tonnes of maize was stored in the Lusaka silos. The remaining five silos across the country are still not operational and, therefore, could not be used to store maize.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister indicate why the FRA has lamentably failed to pay farmers it buys maize from in good time?

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the FRA has not failed to purchase maize or pay its farmers. There is a process, which is supposed to be followed, before a farmer can get his/her money. When a farmer takes his/her maize to the market, it will take fourteen days before payment is made available because there is a procedure to be followed.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the answer given by the hon. Minister.

Sir, I would like to know when the transporters in last year’s marketing season will be paid because, if they are not paid, this will hamper the transportation of produce to the storage points this year.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, payment of transporters is a continuous process. The compilation of data on transporters who have not been paid has been done and this will be sorted out any time.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when the FRA will start financing itself rather than depending on the Government.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, there are many agencies which depend on the Government. Therefore, the Government will look into this so that the FRA will stand on its own in the near future. Then, it will be weaned off the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Sinyangwe (Matero): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what his ministry is doing to protect farmers who sell maize to briefcase businessmen because the ZRA does not buy  maize quickly.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, as a ministry, we have nothing to do with the ZRA. I hope the hon. Member for Matero was trying to say FRA.

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, this is a liberalised economy and anybody is supposed to do business the way he/she wants. As Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, we consider farming a business and, therefore, farmers are supposed to make a profit at the end of the year. This is the reason camp officers go out to sensitise farmers to make sure that they lobby for a good price for their crop. We are not there to control the price, but encourage farmers to make a profit at the end of the year. We are also encouraging our partners and all those dealing in grain marketing to make sure that they give farmers a good price since, at the end of the year, farmers are supposed to produce and remain in business. 

Mr Speaker, it is not true that the FRA takes a long time to pay farmers.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lumba (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if there are any plans to build silos in the North-Western Province and, if so, when?

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, that is a very good question. 

Sir, we are sensitising farmers in the North-Western Province to grow a lot of maize and other crops. So far, the North-Western Province is doing very well in the sense that we even have a bumper harvest from that province. Therefore, the building of silos will be considered in the near future.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker 

Mr L. J. Mulenga (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how viable the FRA is.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the FRA’s main concern is to have national strategic food reserves. As far as the Government is concerned, the FRA is viable.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Mr Speaker, what is the ministry doing to ensure that the five silos that are not working now are operational because we are supposed to have a bumper harvest this year? Where will we store our maize?

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that good question.

Mr Speaker, the Government would not want the bumper harvest to go to waste. Therefore, as a ministry, through the FRA, we have taken that up as a challenge. We have constructed a number of sheds in most of the districts where some of the hon. Members come from. Apart from that, we have put the Chisamba, Kabwe and Natuseko silos in our programme for rehabilitation. We are also sourcing for funds to rehabilitate the other silos. Therefore, all storage sheds and silos that need rehabilitation are going to be considered in our programme.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chimbaka (Bahati): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister inform this House how much money the FRA is expected to raise out of maize exports this year.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, this is a new question. Therefore, we need to conduct some research.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, in response to the first part of the question, the hon. Minister said that the Government had put aside K100 billion for the purchase of maize and other crops.  The question solicited an answer on the amount of money meant for the purchase, specifically, of maize. 

Could the hon. Minister be kind enough to answer the question on how much of the K100 billion is meant for the purchase of maize. In addition to that, could he indicate whether that amount of money is sufficient to purchase all the maize, given the fact that this year, farmers in Zambia have produced a bumper harvest? If that is not enough, is it not the reason farmers are selling maize to briefcase businessmen? Could he, please, clarify this even though there are some hon. Members who do not want us to ask questions.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives will observe the one question rule. Therefore, you will pick one out of the three questions.

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, this question is related to the maize that is already purchased that is in the sheds and not the maize we are buying at the moment. This House allocated K100 billion for the purchase of maize for this season. The FRA has also sourced about K700 billion for the same activity. The hon. Member is talking about what we have already purchased and not what we intend to purchase.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr C. Mulenga (Chinsali): Mr Speaker, since most of our borders are porous, what is the Government doing to ensure that our maize is not smuggled into neighbouring countries and that proper channels are followed to export this maize?

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the ministry has advised farmers who are interested in exporting maize to visit its offices so that appropriate procedure is followed. However, those who are smuggling maize are committing a crime and the law will visit them soon.   

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ngoma (Sinda): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when the FRA will stop discouraging farmers from producing more by entering the market very late in the name of scientific gymnastics such as the reason of higher moisture content. Does that mean that millers or other traders who enter the market early do not consider the moisture content?

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the FRA buys maize for food strategic reserves. The millers buy maize and grind it for consumption. Now, when we buy maize for storage, it needs to have an amount of moisture content which can enable it be stored for a long period without rotting.

Sir, I also wish to point out that last year’s maize is one of the best yields so far because of the procedures that the FRA instituted. Since the farmers followed the FRA procedures, our maize can be accepted in any part of the world because it is quality maize.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbewe: We are not rushing to buy maize which is going to ferment and lose colour. Such maize cannot be accepted on the foreign market.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Quality!

Mr Imenda (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, in his reply, the hon. Minister mentioned that most silos are not in a good state. I would like to find out how these silos have affected the storage of maize this year when we have a bumper harvest?

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, that problem has been mitigated in areas where silos are not working. We have constructed sheds which have the capacity of 98,000 metric tonnes. All the problems that were faced in the last few years relating to storage of maize have been sorted out by the construction of sheds. As a working Government, we are still constructing more sheds to ensure that the maize does not go to waste.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister mentioned that the FRA is viable. I would like to know when the Government will stop funding it so that it stands on its own.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the FRA is a viable institution which is assisting the Government to purchase crops. Time will come when we will wean it off our support and we shall come back to this House for your support if it will be possible for the Government to stop funding the FRA. However, as far as we are concerned, for now, we need to continue funding the FRA.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, now that we have a bumper harvest, I would like to know whether there are still restrictions on the export of maize.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the restrictions are not there. Those who are interested in exporting maize can visit our office and we are going to assist them do so. We are also encouraging farmers and businessmen who are interested in exporting maize to add value to it by exporting mealie-meal rather than maize.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

LUMWANA COPPER MINES

547. Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

(a)    how many houses were earmarked for construction by Lumwana Copper Mines Plc in Solwezi;

(b)    how much money would be spent on the construction of the houses; and

(c)    whether the houses would be occupied on rental basis.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Namulambe): Mr Speaker, Lumwana Copper Mines is targeting to construct 970 housing units. The development of the town will also include social amenities and educational infrastructure.

The housing development is expected to cost approximately US$70 million when the programme is completed. An additional US$17 million has been spent on infrastructure development such as recreational facilities and temporary accommodation in support of the Lumwana Multi-facility Economic Zone (MFEZ).

Sir, the initial 970 housing units are earmarked for sale to employees under a mortgage scheme developed by the company. These units exclude housing stock which will be developed by other companies since the developers may determine whether to rent such units out or sell them to interested parties.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.{mospagebreak}

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, since privatisation started, it is only Kansanshi Copper Mines that has taken the initiative to build houses like was the case in the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) time. I would like to know what this Government is doing to compel other mining companies to build houses for employees as a way of empowering them.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, in the first place, my answer was referring to Lumwana Copper Mines and not Kansanshi. The other mining companies that took over the mines that existed under the ZCCM were privileged in the sense that they found the houses that were already there and, in most cases, they had engaged the employees who used to work for those mines. So, we have not had experiences of people complaining as regards accommodation.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, Lumwana is a mining company which has developed a mine in the middle of nowhere. It is building houses for the employees because it does not expect them to stay in the bush since they come from all over the country. That is why the company took the initiative of building houses for its employees. The housing scheme is good for people who are going to be employed by Lumwana Copper Mines.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out when this project will be completed because US$70 million is a lot of money.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, the construction of the housing units will be completed as soon as possible because, at the moment, the mine is operational and its focus is to ensure that its employees are adequately accommodated.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lumba: Mr Speaker, I would like to know if the Government will engage a Zambian housing developer to construct more houses in Lumwana and if the houses will be sold at book value.

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Mr Speaker, I realise the concerns that the hon. Member may have, but what we should appreciate is that the company was in a hurry to develop the mine and to ensure that its employees had housing stock. That is a possibility in future as long as the company sees it fit.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the houses being constructed are on single or block title deeds.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, Lumwana Mine is developing its mine and so the houses that are being built are on a block title because they are being built within the mine area.

I thank you, Sir.

CHIBALASHI BRIDGE

548. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a)    when the Government would repair the Chibalashi Bridge on the Munganga/Kawambwa Road;

(b)    how much money would be spent on the repair works; and

(c)    what had caused the delay in repairing the bridge.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Dr Kalila): Mr Speaker, the ministry, through the Road Development Agency (RDA), has immediate plans to carry out the rehabilitation of the Chibalashi Bridge on the Munganga/Kawambwa Road, but due to inadequate funds, the project has not yet been commissioned. The RDA intends to request for authority to vary funds in the 2010 Annual Work Plan and apply a portion of the varied funds to the rehabilitation of the Chibalashi Bridge.

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost for the rehabilitation of the Chibalashi Bridge is K3.1 billion. As stated above, the rehabilitation of the bridge could not be carried out because of lack of funds, taking into account the amount of money required to carry out the project.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, initially, the Government indicated that contractor, ANC, working on the Munganga/Kawambwa Road, would carry out the repairs of the bridge. Why is there a change?

The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Mulongoti): Mr Speaker, our answer clearly indicates that the funds were insufficient. The bridge was not part of the contract. However, if we are granted authority to do a variation of the funds, it would be possible to attend to that bridge because we are mindful of it being needed.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, the damage to a bridge like the one in question is an emergency and we have funds allocated every year …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Ask a question.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, I would like to know why the Government has not used the contingency budget line to repair this bridge rather than waiting for the 2011 Budget.

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, a request was sent to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit for funding but, like all the other Government departments, it is also constrained with funding. This is why we intend to look around in the budget to see if there is any area where we can secure some money. We will do a variation so that we can have the bridge repaired. 

I thank you, Sir.

CATTLE RESTOCKING EXERCISE

549. Ms Limata (Luampa) asked the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development:

(a)    when the cattle restocking exercise in the Western Province would commence; and

(b)    what measures the Government had taken to ensure that farmers had access to veterinary services.

The Deputy Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development (Mr Mulonga): Mr Speaker, the cattle restocking exercise will only commence once major diseases like the contagious bovine pleural pneumonia (CBPP) are eradicated. Restocking cannot be done in an area where diseases are still prevalent.

Mr Speaker, the Government is taking the following measures to ensure that farmers have access to veterinary services:

(a)    recruitment of field staff;

(b)     working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide veterinary services;

(c)    training farmers and staff in livestock management and extension services;

(d)    improving funding to districts and provinces for better service delivery to the farmers since the establishment of the ministry;

(e)    providing transport to veterinary staff to enable them reach farmers; and

(f)    constructing and rehabilitating staff houses so as to motivate staff.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Limata: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister talked about veterinary staff. What is he doing about the rural areas where we do not have them? 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, when we refer to veterinary staff, we are talking about staff from the level of a veterinary assistant to the officer in the office. At the community level, we have veterinary assistants assisting our farmers.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that the restocking exercise would start when the CBPP is eradicated. I would like to know from him, according to the progression rate at the moment, when he anticipates the total eradication of the CBPP in the Western Province.

The Minister of Livestock and fisheries Development (Mr Machila): Mr Speaker, we are not in a position to give an exact time frame within which this scourge would be contained. Suffice to say that there are a lot of interventions being undertaken and that a lot of progress has been made with regard to dealing with the CBPP.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether he is aware that the diseases affecting the Western Province come from the neighbouring countries. 

I would also like to know the measures taken by the Government to control them. Further, could he state, if he is in a position to clearly state where those diseases are currently prevalent.

Mr Machila: Mr Speaker, we have also been speaking with our counterparts in the neighbouring countries to see how they can deal with similar diseases along their border areas and this is an on-going programme.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, there is nothing to hide in this House …

Mr Speaker: Order! Question!

Laughter 

Hon. Opposition Member: Hammer, hammer!

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister tell the House, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Ntundu: … what interventions are being made in the Western Province in order to ensure that this disease is eradicated?

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member will, in future, guard his finger.

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: There is no finger pointing allowed in the House. 

Mr Machila: Mr Speaker, I wish to assure the hon. Member that this is an open and transparent Government and there is nothing that it is concealing.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Machila: Mr Speaker, like I said, we have ordered over 500,000 vaccine doses for this particular programme and I hope that it is to the satisfaction of the hon. Member.

I thank you, Sir.

MOBILE TELEPHONE PROVIDERS

550. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga East) asked the Minister of Communications and Transport when mobile telephone service providers would extend coverage to remote areas of Zambia to enable residents benefit from various network coverage innovations.

The Deputy Minister of Communications and Transport (Mr Mubika): Mr Speaker, as this House is aware, Zambia has three mobile telephone service providers, namely Zain Zambia, MTN and Zamtel.

Zamtel has plans to roll out mobile telephone coverage to all parts of the country. Currently, it has installed a total of 179 Mobile Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) covering all urban cities, towns and provincial headquarters. It is in the process of implementing phase III, which is a project involving the deployment of additional BTSs, as part of the Cell Z mobile network coverage expansion plans. These plans are intended to extend coverage beyond the provincial centres to most of the seventy-three districts in Zambia, except for Shang’ombo, Chavuma, Milenge and Kaputa. The total number of BTSs at the end of these projects will come to 262 and this network is expected to be completed by July, 2010. All the remaining four districts and additional remote rural localities will be included in phase IV which will consist of over 300 BTSs sites.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to know, however, that Zain Zambia has no immediate plans to roll out network services in remote areas. This is, among other factors, due to the current transition the company is undergoing. The roll out outlook will become clearer when the new owners, Bharti Airtel assume full responsibility of operations. It is, however, worth noting that the Zain network already exists in all districts and administrative centres across the country. So, extending the network to outlying areas is, in principle, a feasible exercise, especially that Zain is actively participating in the Universal Access Programme spearheaded by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) in line with the Information and Communications Technology Act, 2009.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that my ministry is verifying information with MTN on the matter. The House may further wish to note that the decision by MTN to extend its services to the remote areas of Zambia is purely an economic one that the service providers, themselves, must take. If these areas are not profitable, then the possibility of extending such services to such areas may not be sustainable.

Mr Speaker, the House may also wish to note that, from the time that we liberalised the international gateway, the service providers have reduced their tariffs to about 70 per cent. I am sure the people now are enjoying using the mobile services at a cheaper rate.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when Phase IV will commence and when it will end.

Mr Mubika: Mr Speaker, Phase IV is supposed to commence in the last quarter of this year and it is not possible for me to state when it will end.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, what feasibility study did the service providers conduct for them to come up with the idea that rural areas are not profitable when we have a lot of people in the rural areas who use cellular phones? 

Mr Mubika: Mr Speaker, it is common knowledge that there are some areas in Zambia where the population is very low. So, to carter for those areas, my ministry, through ZICTA, as I stated earlier, is going to all the remote areas to support the service providers by putting up the BTS sites so that all the rural areas of Zambia can be covered. We are not leaving out the rural areas. All the areas, which are of concern to you, will be covered in the next, maybe, three years.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, is the programme by ZICTA to construct thirty-four towers in rural areas in the country that is supposed to end by December on course?

Mr Mubika: Mr Speaker, yes, I can confirm that, at the moment, ZICTA actually was in the Western Province in Shang’ombo, last week, and is going to Mwinilunga. All the outlying areas will be covered. 

Phase I, which should have started in 2009, will start in September. As such, this will see Phase II starting late this year, 2010, until 2011.

I thank you, Sir.

OPTIC FIBRE CABLE

551. Mr Chisala asked the minister of Communications and Transport:

(a)    how much money the Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) had spent on the laying of the optic fibre cable countrywide; and 

(b)    what the cost of the project was.

Mr Mubika: Mr Speaker, in line with global trends, Zambia has embraced information and communication technology (ICT) as an enabler of accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development. In recognising the importance of ICTs in enabling socio- economic development, the Government of the Republic of Zambia has launched the National ICT Policy and has classified ICT’s as a priority sector in the Fifth National Development Plan.

Mr Speaker, Zamtel has, so far, spent US$31,025,406.33 on the laying of the optic fibre cable countrywide.

Mr Speaker, the project cost is US$34,180,778.75.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, the line of the optic fibre cable has not reached some districts such as Chilubi. Will the hon. Minister confirm whether the Libyan company that has bought the company in question will extend the laying of the optic fibre to districts?

Mr Mubika: Mr Speaker, I cannot confirm that, but can only assure the Hon. Member of Parliament that the new owners of Zamtel will extend the optic fibre to the far-flung areas of Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION 

552. Mr Chisala asked the Minister of Education why the construction of 1x3 classroom blocks had not been completed despite funds being allocated in the 2008 National Budget at the following schools:

(i)    Mofu;

(ii)    Mutimba;

(iii)    Kanshishe;

(iv)    Shitimali;

(v)    Fube;

(vi)    Mayuka; and

(vii)    Chabukasanshya.

The Deputy Minister of Education (Mr Musosha): Mr Speaker, the reason for the delay in completion of the construction of schools at the mentioned places was the change in the initial plan of constructing 1x2 classroom blocks at each site as planned by both the ministry and local communities contrary to which the local communities decided to construct 1x3 classroom blocks. This meant that resources were inadequate to complete the projects.

On the other hand, Fube and Mayuka are located in an area where it is difficult to mobilise construction materials. Therefore, the cost of mobilising these materials became high which increased the construction cost. Nevertheless, Mofu has since been completed. The ministry is still studying the matter and will give a direction on when the issue of the unfinished projects will be addressed as soon as possible.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, there have been serious reports of financial mismanagement …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

What is your question?

Mr Chisala: I would like to find out when the books of accounts will be audited at the appropriate offices.

Mr Musosha: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Chilubi is, in fact, supposed to sit down with the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) in his area and make the necessary arrangements to report to headquarters where the financial irregularities are. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what action has been taken on the officers who changed the initial plan from constructing 1x2 to 1x3 classroom blocks.

The Minister of Education (Ms Siliya): Mr Speaker, the construction of community mode schools is done with the participation of the community. There are two plans that we follow. One is 1x2 classroom blocks and the other is the 1x3 classroom blocks. In the Luapula Province, in particular areas, we have agreed with the community to construct 1x2 classroom blocks. Instead, the community, and I believe hon. Members of Parliament were involved, changed the plans without the knowledge of the ministry to 1x3 classroom blocks, and hence the deficit in the budget. 

However, we are trying to address the matter. In the Ministry of Education, no particular officer is responsible for this change in plans because it was done by the community, including hon. Members of Parliament. So, at the moment, we are just trying to address the budget deficit so that these classroom blocks become available for the pupils.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, will the ministry also consider building teachers’ houses at these schools because it is very common in a lot of places, for example, in my constituency, for classroom blocks to be built without teachers’ houses?

Ms Siliya: Mr Speaker, I have said, many times, on the Floor of this House, that the Government is aware of the challenges that are faced by our teachers in the country, particularly as regards accommodation. We have been constructing schools very quickly in the last two or three years without matching this with teachers’ accommodation. However, it does not at all mean that the Government does not consider teachers’ accommodation as an important matter. What the Government is trying to do is deal with many problems at the same time. It had to deal with the issue of children’s access to school and so began the construction of schools. 

However, every year, we, as a Government, have been allocating some resources to the construction of teachers’ houses. Last year, we constructed close to 300 teachers’ houses. This year, our plan is to build 1,000 teachers’ houses. However, there are 80,000 teachers nationwide and, currently, we have just about 30,000 to 35,000 institutional houses for teachers. So, we have a huge deficit. Even the 1,000 houses we are going to construct, this year, will fall short of the required number. 

Nonetheless, what we are trying to do is encourage the private sector, especially financial institutions, to give long-term mortgages to the newly-recruited teachers, who are in the range of twenty to twenty-five years old, so that they can build their own houses.  However, we also have to look at the accommodation of those who have been in service for a long time and, I think, this is beyond the Ministry of Education as it is a national problem. There is a lot of room for the private sector to participate so that we can meet the housing shortfall.

I thank you.

CHAMBISHI MULTIFACILITY ECONOMIC ZONE

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

(a)    when the Chambishi Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) would be implemented;

(b)    what had caused the delay in the implementation of the project; and

(c)    whether companies would maintain the economic investments as earlier pledged.

The Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Dr Puma): Mr Speaker, implementation of the Chambishi MFEZ is already on course and it began in 2007 following the declaration of the area as an MFEZ in the same year. Significant progress has been made in the development of the MFEZ by the China Non-ferrous Metals Corporation of China (CNMC) which is the developer of the zone. The zone has, to date, attracted thirteen enterprises with the anchor company, the Chambishi Copper Smelter, having already been established. Five more enterprises are yet to establish their businesses during the course of this year. The zone is expected to attract, at least, fifty enterprises by 2012.

Mr Speaker, the development of the Chambishi MFEZ is on schedule in line with the developer’s master plan. There are, therefore, no delays in the implementation of the MFEZ. The developers of the MFEZ have maintained their investment commitment of US$900 million. To this end, the developers, in 2008, signed an investment, promotion and protection agreement with the Government where they reaffirmed their commitment to develop the MFEZ.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out the time frame for the development of MFEZs.

Dr Puma: Mr Speaker, as stated, the programme is on course and the MFEZ is expected to attract fifty enterprises by 2012 when it will be relatively developed.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, there was concern that only foreign companies were …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Ask your question.

Mr Simuusa: What is the current status regarding Zambian companies registering or being able to access the Chambishi MFEZ?

Dr Puma: Mr Speaker, MFEZs are being developed for both local and foreign companies and those that are interested should get in touch with my ministry so that they can be advised according to the plans they have and the kind of business they would like to conduct.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to know the value of the pledge that everybody is talking about. Suppose the US$900 million does not come to fruition, for whatever reason, and you only have US$500 million, is the pledge bankable or is it merely some bit of public relations?

Dr Puma: Mr Speaker, this US$900 million is a commitment to this MFEZ. Our duty, as a Government, is to ensure that money committed is put to good use for the MFEZ to become fully operational.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lumba: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister’s answer states that there are five more enterprises which will be there by the end of the year. I would like to find out from him what kind of manufacturing businesses they are.

Dr Puma: Mr Speaker, as I mentioned, MFEZs have, so far, attracted thirteen enterprises and five are expected to be set up this year. These enterprises are mainly in value addition related to the copper that is being produced under the Chambishi Copper Smelter. Most of them are trying to add value to the products that are coming from that area.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Mwamba (Lukashya): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how much progress has been made in constructing the MFEZs and when they will be completed.

Dr Puma: Mr Speaker, as I mentioned in the response and, according to the master plan, no delay has, so far, been recorded. The progress is on schedule and the Chambishi Copper Smelter is fully operational. In addition, five companies are on site and, so far, thirteen companies have shown interest. 

I thank you, Sir.

CLEAN AND SAFE DRINKING WATER

554. Mr Katuka asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the ministry would provide clean and safe drinking water to the people of Mwinilunga District so as to attain Millennium Development Goal No. 7 by 2015.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Muteteka): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that in its quest to improve water supply and sanitation services and attain the millennium development goals (MDGs), the Government, through my ministry, has been implementing the water sector reforms since the 1990s. In this regard, the urban water supply and sanitation services have been commercialised, leading to the establishment of eleven commercial utilities that cover the whole country.

Furthermore, the local authorities have been empowered to effectively manage the provision of rural water supply and sanitation services with the full participation of beneficiary communities.

Mr Speaker, regarding the case of Mwinilunga District, the responsibility for the provision of water supply and sanitation now lies with the North-Western Water and Sewerage Company. Between 2003 and 2005, my ministry facilitated a project to improve water supply and sanitation services in all the districts of the North-Western Province, including Mwinilunga. The work done in Mwinilunga is the complete rehabilitation of the water treatment system and the overhead tank. Furthermore, the project extended the network to areas not previously serviced so that people in such areas would have access to safe drinking water. 

Mr Speaker, the North-Western Water and Sewerage Company has recently built six kiosks to serve the people of Kabanda. Another six will be constructed within the course of this year to ensure that there are sufficient supply points. However, in order to address the national demands for improved services, my ministry is developing the National Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme with the planning horizon of 2030.

As for the rural sector, the national rural water supply and sanitation programme will provide hand-dug wells and boreholes in most of the parts of the country so as to attain the MDGs.

Mr Speaker, according to the national Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, the target number of water points to be provided in Mwinilunga District is twenty-five per annum until 2015. This includes communal hand-dug wells, intermediate options and boreholes with hand pumps. Therefore, 150 water points will have to be constructed in Mwinilunga so that the district can attain MDG No. 7 by 2015.

Mr Speaker, already, twenty-one water points are planned for construction in the 2010 annual work plan.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if he is aware that, out of the six kiosks he has mentioned, only four are working. Apart from that, the water situation in Mwinilunga is so critical that people are drawing water from shallow wells. When does the ministry intend to address this issue of water in Mwinilunga District?

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, as a Government, we appreciate what our people in rural areas are going through. Therefore, the Government remains committed to ensuring that the programme, which we have planned, is completed. As for the two boreholes that are not working, we have just got this information in this House. Therefore, we are going to communicate to the utility company in that district so that we repair the kiosks and attend to the community’s concerns.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

MULTI-FACILITY ECONOMIC ZONES

555. Mr Imenda asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

(a)    when the MFEZs would be fully operational;

(b)    how many jobs were expected to be created; and

(c)    which countries have shown interest in investing in MFEZs.

Dr Puma: Mr Speaker, Zambia began the implementation of MFEZs in 2007, as earlier stated, with Chambishi being the first MFEZ to be declared.

The Chambishi MFEZ is already at the implementation stage and is expected to be fully developed by 2012. It is expected to attract, at least, fifty enterprises and the notable infrastructure already in place includes 18 km of road construction around the zone. Also, a 330/66 KV substation has already been constructed. The water supply line has also been put up from the Kafue River with a daily handling capacity of 10,000 cubic metres. To date, nine enterprises have been licensed with the anchor company, Chambishi Copper Smelter, which is already in operation. The Chambishi MFEZ will also develop its sub-zone in Lusaka, adjacent to the Lusaka International Airport, in line with the master plan. The Lusaka Sub-zone will be developed in three phases, each taking five years to complete. The construction works will commence next year in accordance with the master plan.

Furthermore, the Government has approved the setting up of three private sector-led MFEZs; namely:

(i)    Lumwana to be developed by Lumwana Property Development Company in three phases over a period of fifteen years with each phase taking five years to be implemented;

(ii)    Sub-Sahara Gemstone Exchange Industrial Park in Ndola to be developed over a period of five years; and 

(iii)    Roma Industrial Park in Lusaka to be developed by CPD Properties over a period of eight years.

The Government is also promoting the development of the Lusaka South MFEZ that will be done in five phases, each taking five years to complete. It should be appreciated that the development of MFEZs takes a long time. In countries that have succeeded in developing MFEZs, it took them not less than fifteen years to fully operationalise them. 

The current approved MFEZs in Zambia, once fully developed, will create more than 26,000 jobs as follows:

(i)    Chambishi MFEZ is expected to create 6,000 jobs;

(ii)    Lumwana MFEZ is expected to create 13,000 jobs;

(iii)    Sub-Sahara Gemstone Exchange Industrial Park is expected to create 3,000 jobs; and

(iv)    Roma Industrial Park is expected to create 4,000 jobs.

The investors expressing interest in developing the MFEZs are as follows:

(i)    the Chambishi MFEZ is being developed by a Chinese company. A number of Zambian and Chinese companies have since expressed interest in investing in this zone;

(ii)    Canadians, South Africans, Japanese and Europeans, among others, have shown interest in investing in the Lumwana MFEZ;

(iii)    Sub-Sahara Gemstone Exchange Industrial Park will be developed by Zambians. Some South Africans and Indians have expressed interest in investing in this park;

(iv)    South Africans and Zimbabweans have expressed interest in investing in the Roma Industrial Park; and

(v)    Indians, Malaysians and some Zambians have expressed interest in investing in the Lusaka South MFEZ. 

Sir, it should be pointed out that all investors, local or foreign, have equal opportunities to invest in any of the MFEZs. The law concerning MFEZs does not discriminate between foreign and local investors.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, in the past, passionately talked about ...

Mr Speaker: Order! 

What is your question?

Mr Imenda: ... the airport and ...

Mr Speaker: Order! 

What is your question?

Laughter

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister now in a position to inform the House when construction of the Lusaka South and Lusaka Airport MFEZs will commence?

 The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, the answer clearly stated that we had approved the master plan for the development of the sub-zone around the airport and that work will commence early next year.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the two MFEZs in Lusaka will promote further urbanisation. What is the Government doing to move these MFEZs from Lusaka to provincial headquarters in order to reduce urban migration?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, as a first step, we have taken the development of the MFEZs to the North-Western Province in Lumwana which is defined as a rural area and we will proceed from there.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Scott: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister explain to us what criteria are used to determine what a pioneer industry is, deserving a very massive tax break on profits, in the light of the Chambishi Smelter which is carrying out an absolutely standard mine activity that has been carried out in this country for many decades? Why should it be exempted from paying tax?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the Zambia Development Act under Section 58 defines the priority sectors that will be given incentives and those that can access the incentives under the MFEZs. The Chambishi MFEZ qualifies under the Zambia Development Act.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, how many Zambian companies have shown interest in investing in the MFEZ?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, as the Chambishi MFEZ is being developed, the main contractor for infrastructure is Gomes Haulage. This is a local company undertaking this work and many more Zambian companies are going to be part of the MFEZ.

I thank you, Sir.

CONSTRUCTION OF MARKETS

556. Mr Malama (Mfuwe) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a)    when the Government would officially open the modern Nakadoli Market in Kitwe;

(b)    when the construction of the Chelston Market in Lusaka would be completed;

(c)    how much money had, so far, been spent on the construction of the above markets;

(d)    what the source of funding for the construction of the markets had been; and

(e)    whether the Government would continue funding the construction of markets in the country.

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that Nakadoli Market is one of the three markets in Kitwe, apart from Buchi, Kamitondo and Ndeke constructed under the Urban Market Development Programme Phase II whose official opening awaits the completion of allocation of stalls by the Kitwe City Council. All the three markets have been handed over to the Kitwe City Council for management. The council is currently working on the process of allocating stalls and shops after which the markets will be opened officially.

As for the Chelston Market, the practical completion of the construction of the market was achieved on 27th April, 2010. The market has since been handed over to the Lusaka City Council for the allocation of stalls. The cost of constructing the Chelston Market was K9,242,416,654.00.

The total cost for the construction of the Nakadoli Market is embedded under one contract value for the three markets. These are Nakadoli, Buchi, Kamitondo and Ndeke whose contract value is K19,857,810,378.00.

The markets mentioned in part (a) and part (b) of the question were constructed under the Urban Market Development Programme financed by the European Union (EU) and the Government of the Republic of Zambia. 

Finally, even though the funding from the European Union has come to an end, the Government will continue to fund the construction of markets and other developmental projects in the country based on the available local resources. In addition, the Government is engaging other co-operating partners to continue supporting the markets and bus stations development programmes so that all districts will have modern infrastructure in the long run.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Malama: Mr Speaker, construction of the Chelston Market is not finished. Can I find out how much money is required to complete it?

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, construction was done according to the money allocated by the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Zambia. We have the evaluation report indicating that the market has been completed and is now in the process of allocating the shops. This task has been given to the Lusaka City Council.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the Government has any intentions to intervene in the allocation of the stalls at Nakadoli Market because it is now one year and some months since the project was completed.

Mr Muteteka: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has always adhered to the Act, which regulates the management of bus stations and market infrastructure, and has mandated the city councils with the management of this infrastructure. In cases of reports such as abuse of infrastructure or conflicting statements from concerned Zambians, the ministry is mandated, by law, to intervene and ensure sanity. Therefore, if the hon. Member of Parliament has a viable complaint, I advise him to forward it to the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing for redress.

Thank you, Sir.
CIVIC EDUCATION

557. Ms Limata asked the Minister of Education:

(a)    how many schools had civic education in their curriculum, countrywide; and

    (b)    if none, when the subject would be introduced.

Mr Musosha: Mr Speaker, there are 225 high schools that teach civic education. The teaching of civic education started as a pilot project in 2004, covering Lusaka, Central and the Northern provinces. Five schools from each province were involved in the pilot project, bringing the total to fifteen. It has now been scaled up to 225 schools, but the Ministry of Education has engaged Irish Aid to see how it can be extended to all high schools.

Funding from Irish Aid was used for material development and training of teachers. Civic education is now taught at the University of Zambia and Nkrumah College of Education.

Mr Speaker, no special funds from the Government were released for the programme.

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Ms Limata: Mr Speaker, some high schools do not teach civic education. When will they start?

Ms Siliya: Mr Speaker, as stated in the answer by the hon. Deputy Minister, we are aware that civic education is not taught in some high schools. We have over 400 high schools, but only 225 schools teach civic education. It is important to note that the ministry realises that it is not enough to teach the alphabet and numbers. It is important that people come out of our education system not just educated, but truly learned so that they can be productive members of society. The Ministry of Education is carrying out a comprehensive curriculum review so that what we teach in class prepares pupils not only for the world of work, but also as citizens.

The fact that, at the moment, it seems normal for people to insult others is a reflection of a breakdown either in the homes or the education system. We have to address this matter completely so that when people graduate from our education system, they are responsible citizens who cannot only perform in the office, but also be responsible citizens of Zambia and the world at large.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether there is a special programme for lecturers in colleges and universities to teach this course, considering that it is a new programme in secondary schools. 

Ms Siliya: Mr Speaker, obviously, if we are going to introduce civic education in schools, as we are already doing in 225, we must have people to teach it. However, like I stated, we are still reviewing the curriculum both in the teacher-training processes and what we teach in schools so that we can extend this programme to all the high schools and even to the university and college levels.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, is it possible for the ministry to introduce civic education from primary up to university as the curriculum is reviewed? 

Ms Siliya: Mr Speaker, the English pride themselves in their very well-known public schools such as Eton, Cambridge and Oxford in making sure that they produce responsible citizens in both their lives and contribution to the nation. I think, from this, we can learn that we cannot begin to teach people simple things such as manners at the high school or university level. They have to learn manners first from their homes and in Grade 1 so that they will know how to respect adults and relate with one another in society.

I think that this country is in dire need of such an education system. The Government is taking that responsibility so that our curriculum should produce responsible adults, hon. Members of Parliament, ministers, presidents and, subsequently, a responsible nation.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The hon. House returns to the first question on the order paper which was asked by the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central.

Dr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, we seek your kind indulgence on this question that it may not be asked today because we want to make a ministerial statement on the matter on Tuesday. 

Sir, the statement will be extremely comprehensive and cover all aspects of the sale of Zamtel assets, including the indebtedness of Zamtel to Government departments and ministries as well as how the new owner intends to recover the debt and value of Zamtel prior to the sale. 

I thank you Sir.

Mr Speaker: This question is, therefore, deferred with the understanding that it will be incorporated in the ministerial statement, as undertaken, on Tuesday next week.

____________{mospagebreak}

MOTIONS

SECOND REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPORT, YOUTH AND CHILD AFFAIRS

Mr Ngoma (Sinda): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Second Report of the Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs for the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 14th July, 2010.

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr V. Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

Mr Ngoma: Mr Speaker, during the session, your Committee undertook a study of the management and development of football. This arose from the concern on the declining standards of the game of football in the country. 

Sir, in line with the subject, your Committee also undertook local tours of Lusaka, Central and Northern provinces and a foreign tour of the Republic of Ghana.

Mr Speaker, I will only point out some of the salient issues, trusting that hon. Members have read your Committee’s report.

Sir, your Committee observes that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development is facing major challenges in the management and development of football. Poor infrastructure in the country, absence of structures for the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development at the district level and limited funding are some of the challenges the management and development of football faces.

Your Committee recommends that the Government provides more funding to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development for building and rehabilitating sports infrastructure.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngoma: The ministry should also continue to lobby for stronger partnerships with other ministries. These partnerships would allow for access to a variety of resources that can buttress the ministry’s efforts in the development of football. Partnerships with the private sector, especially at the community level, would lead to sustainable development of football.

Sir, your Committee recommends that private organisations that support sport in general and football, in particular, should be recognised and encouraged by granting them tax rebates. However, these rebates should be thoroughly studied and only applied to the money spent on sports support.

Mr Speaker, your Committee has observed, with concern, that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development has weakened the oversight role of the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ). The ministry has, in most cases, opted to deal directly with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). This has resulted in the NSCZ, which is the mother body to all sports associations, becoming ignorant of FAZ agreements with the ministry. Therefore, the NSCZ is weak and finds it difficult to discipline erring members of FAZ. 

Sir, your Committee recommends that the Government adequately funds the NSCZ and recognise its role in all the issues concerning the management of football in the country. It is sad to learn that, for the past three years, the NSCZ has been operating under an acting general secretary seconded from the Zambia National Service (ZNS). Your Committee urges the Government to ensure that the NSCZ employs, on a full-time basis, a competent and qualified general secretary.

Mr Speaker, your Committee further observes that the current FAZ league structure has neglected the needs of community football affiliates. Talent is no longer being tapped from this level. It is a fact that the league structure also includes far-flung clubs. The long distances travelled to play league games has made it very expensive and demoralising for most clubs that are struggling financially.

Sir, your Committee notes that some FAZ affiliates are not happy with the management style of the current FAZ Executive. The affiliates stated that their concerns were not being given the attention they deserved. Affiliates are the basis for FAZ’s existence. Therefore, FAZ should seriously and promptly address their concerns.

Mr Speaker, your Committee emphasises that community football clubs are the backbone of national football. Therefore, in order to strengthen these clubs, your Committee recommends that FAZ be supported to reorganise the league structure and modernise its management. FAZ should evolve from the old structure to a modern management one where professionalism will be highly emphasised. This will allow for high levels of accountability and service delivery to become clearer and more result oriented.

Sir, to further support the development of football clubs, your Committee recommends that the clubs be recognised and supported under the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Fund and the newly re-introduced Youth Empowerment Fund. Football clubs that qualify for international competitions should also get support from the Government because, at that stage, what is at stake is not only the club’s name, but also that of the nation, Zambia.

Mr Speaker, it was worrying for your Committee to observe that football clubs in some districts of the Northern Province were handled by untrained coaches and referees. Your Committee strongly urges FAZ to seriously invest in the training of coaches, referees and sports medical personnel. The usage of untrained match officials should not be allowed in this era.

Sir, your Committee also noted that women’s football is not taken as a priority. Women’s football clubs were few and, in some districts, non existent. Women’s participation in the game should be encouraged and supported at all levels.

Mr Speaker, football is no longer a mere leisure activity, but serious business. Therefore, investment in youth football is one sure way of success in football development. Schools and institutions of higher learning are the nurseries where talent in the youth can be tapped and groomed to international level. However, your Committee is sad to note that sport in general, and football in particular, has been relegated to the lowest level in the learning institutions.

Sir, the broken down and rudimentary sports infrastructure in learning institutions paints a very sad picture.

Mr Speaker, your Committee recommends that the Ministry of Education re-establishes specific funding for sports in schools. Zambian football thrived in the 1970s and 1980s because football programmes in schools were adequately supported and funded. The demise of direct funding to sports programmes by the Ministry of Education has had a negative effect on the development of football in the country.

Sir, your Committee recommends that the Government re-examines its support to sport in learning institutions. Structures for football talent identification in learning institutions should be well co-ordinated by the Ministries of Sport, Youth and Child Development and Education, in co-operation with FAZ. The two ministries mentioned above and FAZ should further play a vital role in the establishment of football academies.

Mr Speaker, public and private football academies should only be allowed to operate with the sanction of the Ministries of Sport, Youth and Child Development and Education and FAZ. The three should continue to monitor the academies to ensure that the youths are receiving a well-balanced academic and football education in an atmosphere conducive for youths.

Sir, your Committee also urges the Government to support FAZ in holding a national indaba where all stakeholders in football development and management will meet to chart a way forward in returning Zambia to its days of glory in football.

Mr Speaker, let me conclude by paying tribute to you for the guidance you gave to your Committee during the year. Special recognition goes to all the members of your Committee for their unity and hard work throughout the deliberations. Appreciation also goes to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the advice and services rendered to your Committee throughout the year.

Sir, I urge this august House to support your Committee’s report.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Mr Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

Mr V. Mwale: Now, Mr Speaker.

Sir, in seconding the Motion, I would like to firstly congratulate the mover for the able manner in which he has presented the Motion. Allow me, Sir, to point out a few issues.

Mr Speaker, during its local tour, your Committee was sad to note the poor state of football stadia in the country. Your Committee was further greatly alarmed to find serious cases of encroachment on sports facilities in Kabwe and Kasama. In Mkushi, Central Province, and Mpulungu, Northern Province, your Committee found that there were no football stadia. Enthusiastic football players are forced to use rudimentary grounds to play their games and tree shades as places for changing attire.

Sir, sustainable football development can only be achieved with the development of supportive infrastructure. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to urgently intervene and correct the issues pointed out above.

Mr Speaker, in Lusaka, your Committee was privileged to tour the newly-opened Olympic Youth Development Centre. Equipped with ultra-modern sports facilities, it is an excellent example of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the development of sport. Your Committee urges the Government to spread this initiative to the rest of the provinces in the country.

Sir, the rehabilitation of Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka by the Zambia Air Force in partnership with Multichoice-Zambia is another example of PPPs that could be encouraged and spread out to the rest of the country.

Sir, the non-availability of football kits is a major constraint to the development of the game. Sports shops in the country are few and when in stock, the kits are very expensive and beyond the reach of local football clubs.

Mr Speaker, football kits can be imported duty free through the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ). However, the NSCZ needs to do more to sensitise football clubs on the availability of this incentive.

Mr Speaker, your Committee’s foreign tour to Ghana, a country that has made great strides in football development was, indeed, an eye opener. Investment in youth football was identified as a major strategy for the development of the sport in that country. Zambia can adopt the best practices in football management and development from Ghana.

Mr Speaker, your Committee strongly urges the Government to initiate earnest investment in both boys’ and girls’ football at an early age.

With these few words, I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I want to thank the mover and seconder for this report. I support all the recommendations that your Committee has put across for the Executive to look at and see if it can implement them.

Sir, football has a universal nature of uniting people. It is a very emotive game which brings people together and narrows differences in cases where they exist. 

Sir, the Government requires to look at the promotion of inter-school competitions in the game of football. A long time ago, it was part of the Government’s policy to ensure that education institutions, right from the low levels of primary schools to tertiary …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was emphasising the nature of football to bring unity among people. I would also like to state that sports in general and football, in particular, does help a great deal in circumventing the sprouting of bad social habits amongst young citizens. I think it is clear that if children are engaged early enough in some form of sport, chances that they will engage in juvenile delinquent habits are lessened. It then becomes incumbent upon the Government to make sure that it places a budget line for sports requisites such as goal nets and jerseys when giving grants to institutions of learning. I think such initiatives will keep children away from trouble. 

Madam Speaker, you know very well that the country has extremely limited space for conventional education. Therefore, people who are unlucky to be out of the school system can find other ways to realise their potential through what they are able to do physically. Football has the potential to tap talent from young citizens who fail to get into formal schools because of one reason or another. It is clear that, for any structure or institution to last, it must be built on solid ground. The recommendation in the report by your Committee, encouraging the development of football nurseries must be supported. There is a need for the Government to take deliberate strides to make sure that sport in general and football in particular, is promoted in all schools. That way, those who fail to be part of developing the nation in a formal way can contribute in their own special way by representing this country at different competitions, be it Commonwealth, Africa Cup, World Cup or regional cup games. 

Madam Speaker, zeroing in on the constituency that I represent, I want to state here that, according to my record, it has about sixty self-sponsored teams. Some are inside the national league while others are outside. In the report, it is your Committee’s wish that all the privately-sponsored academies for football get licensing certificates from the ministry or the NSCZ. I think the Chairperson of your Committee mentioned one of those two institutions. My argument will be that, considering that the ministry, currently, is overwhelmed with so much work and does not even have a database of the football clubs in this country, it will increase the red tape associated with running the sport. This will be detrimental to the development of football in the country. 

Madam Speaker, I think that it would be more feasible if the registration of these clubs could be recognised at the district level. We should put in place a deliberate plan for the department in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development that is responsible for supervising and ensuring that these teams compete favourably and, in the end, tap talent. 

Madam Speaker, football in the country has been a strain on hon. Members of Parliament because of the public nature of our work. In the past, we would go to the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Child Development and get ten footballs, for instance. I have just told you that there are sixty clubs in Mazabuka that I know of and quite a number that I am not aware of, that require support. What can one do with ten footballs per annum? We need to take a good look at this. Hon. Members should be given, at least, 200 footballs for them to be able to assist the Government in the distribution of the footballs down to the lowest ranks in our society. This will help in the development of the game of football. 

Madam Speaker, I think that there should also be investment in …

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

The House is not paying attention to the hon. Member on the Floor. It is important that we move together. Can the consultations be lowered if not stopped? 

The hon. Member may continue. 

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, I thank you for your protection. I am actually winding up my debate. 

Madam Speaker, I echo the sentiment that there must be money invested in refereeing and coaching. In this country, we are always arguing about whether we should engage a foreign or local coach to train the team that will represent us. Part of the reason is that we lack, as a country, manpower which we can churn out to develop football. 

Madam Speaker, allow me to repeat what General Khama, President of Botswana said, not long ago, when he came to officiate at the Trade Fair, to show that we do have talent in this country that requires enhancement. He indicated, at the opening of Trade Fair, that Botswana had benefited greatly from the human resource from Zambia and cited names like Dick Chama from the Green Buffaloes Football Club (GBFC) and many others from a catalogue of names of Zambian coaches that have helped to develop football in Botswana. One would wonder what we have done as a country to make sure that we derive pride out of the human resource we have and enjoy locally. 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to, once again, congratulate the mover and the seconder of the report. 

Madam, I thank you. 

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the mover and the seconder of the Motion. This report is the most honourable in the lifetime of our Parliament. 

Madam Speaker, page 11 of this document refers to anomalies that have dogged this country in public sports administration for years. 

Hon. MMD Member: Speak English!

Mr Muyanda: I am using perfect English. I know the Queen’s Language. I am properly schooled. 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Laughter 

Mr Muyanda:  Madam Speaker, may I submit that I was once a sports administrator.

Hon. MMD Members: Where?

Hon. MMD Members: Question!

Mr Muyanda:  I was a sports administrator for the Chilanga Golf Club. I was captain of an elite society. 

Hon. MMD Members: Aah!

Mr Muyanda:  One of the former members is an hon. Minister at State House. He knows himself. 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

Speak through the Chair. Face the Chair. 

Mr Muyanda:  Madam Speaker, I thank you for your guidance. 

Madam Speaker, I feel pity for those who want to show their ignorance in this House. I was an outstanding captain of an elite society club which has now produced one of the best golfers, Melissa Nawa, who is in the United States of America. She is actually the daughter of a colleague. If you do not know anything, keep your mouth quiet. 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

Laughter 

Mr Muyanda:  Madam Speaker, …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Member will withdraw the sentence “If you do not know anything, keep your mouth quiet,” because this honourable House is full of knowledgeable people. Can the hon. Member withdraw that sentence and then continue in a sober manner while facing the Chair. 

Mr Muyanda:  Madam Speaker, without reservation, I withdraw the words I uttered. I would like to strictly confine myself to sports administration.

Madam Speaker, in this august House, we have the freedom, if you did not know about the Standing Orders, to praise those who do well. I would like to congratulate a colleague and, at the same time, a prominent golfer, Mr Steve Nawa, for having diligently worked at the Lusaka Golf Club to bring up and teach highly talented young men and women the sport of golf. Most of them are now playing as far as the USA and Mexico. 

Madam Speaker, may I also point out, as a record of fact, that Mr Nawa has done well. This Government has not done anything to support him. This country can only succeed through the identification of talent. It is the optimum utilisation of talent which propels success. Those of you who might have had time to watch the 2010 Federation for International Football Associations (FIFA) World Cup may have seen the talent of Spain, and how well it was utilised.  It boils down to the administrators. 

Madam Speaker, I would like to appeal to this Executive to dissolve all sports associations except FAZ. There is a technical reason I mentioned FAZ. This association needs realignment, reorganisation and readjustment.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda:  It is an organisation that has disgraced this country. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda:  We cannot qualify anywhere because the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development has not addressed the useless group of FAZ officials. 

Laughter 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Member will not use words that are unparliamentary. The word “useless” is not suitable for that particular purpose. 

You may continue, but use the correct words. 

Interruptions 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order in the House!

Mr Muyanda:  Madam Speaker, I withdraw the term “useless”, but …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

No buts. Continue debating.

Laughter 

Mr Muyanda:  Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word, but how come this country has failed in volleyball, swimming and not in golf? I am a golfer who can play at six handicap.

Laughter 

Mr Muyanda:  The lowest I have played is at two handicap which is semi-professional. It is a pity that I do not have a lot of time on my hands. My colleague, who is also an hon. Member of Parliament plays very well. 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Laughter 

Mr Muyanda:  He is a good golfer.

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: I think that the hon. Member wants to debate himself today. Can you leave yourself out of this and debate the report. 

Laughter {mospagebreak}

Mr Muyanda: Madam Speaker, I would like to appeal to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development to put in measures to seek the peaceful and diligent process of resignation of the FAZ officials who have failed us.

The report states that there are poor relations between FAZ and its affiliates, who are referees, just to name a few. That is not my submission, but information obtained from my reading the report. Why should Zambia fail to send even a referee to a World Cup tournament? It is because of the poor management of FAZ owing to the fact that this Government or any other Executive member has no powers to interfere with the association. 

Mr D. Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: The members of FAZ should be quietly and nicely told that, “Gentlemen, pack your bags, because you are a national failure.” They should be out of FAZ. That is the only answer. 

Madam Speaker, I do not support failure because I do not think this country can face what is going on, at the moment, with regard to the disgrace in all spheres of sports administration.

 Madam Speaker, sports are performed practically and based on talent. However, what is going on in all these associations such as the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA), Referees Association of Zambia (RAZ) and many others is that people are just in sports to make money for themselves.  The late President, Dr Mwanawasa, SC., came to this House and promised us a legacy of good sports administration, but nothing has happened to date. What a shame for a country that was once proud of sending sportsmen and women to every part of the world, who brought medals.

Madam Speaker, I would like to remember people like Mr David Phiri and the late Judge Lewanika. These were learned men and women who administered our sports. They had no personal interest, for instance, to transfer a player from the State of Israel to another point to an extent of gunning for money. The past administrators were men who were boldly devoted to the goodness and sweetness of sport.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Do we have them now? Yes, we have them. However, because of corruption, there is bribery in order to get a FAZ position. This is just an example. You cannot run a sport when your motive is that of making money. That is not an area to make money. The enterprising areas to make money are in mining …

Laughter

Mr Muyanda: …farming and not football …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: … nor any other association in order to make a name that Muyanda is a President of such an association. That is not the way it ought to be. It has to be a total commitment. I have given an example of Mr Steve Nawa. At the moment, his daughter is in America. She is studying professional golf. That is purely identification of talent. You can talk of Muthiya. He went through my hands when I was Captain of Chilanga Golf Club. I was one of those who identified him because I was devoted.

Interruptions

 Mr Muyanda: Madam Speaker, I am citing an example. We are compelled to give evidence in this House and not to speak from without.

 Mr D. Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Madam Speaker, what is so nice about this is my passionate appeal to this Executive to politely advise FAZ to find a way out. Zambia should be reorganised. Then, you will have powers, from this moment onwards, on all those organisations that fall under your jurisdiction because of this report. Do not go and put it in your shelves and let it gather dust. You should study it again.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, speaker through the Chair. Do not talk directly to the people. Address them through the Chair.

Mr Muyanda: Madam Speaker, much obliged. Do not allow this document to go and gather dust in your offices.

 Laughter

Mr Muyanda: Madam Speaker, I would like to advise this Government to go and dissolve all sports associations to have a brand new set of sports administrators. I can assure this august House that Zambia will, again, be a diamond of sportsmen and women. 

Madam Speaker, if you go into the rural areas …

Interruptions

Mr Muyanda: For the sake of junior hon. Members, at one time, I was Chairperson of this Committee. As a Committee, through your office, Madam Speaker, we toured Senanga and Mongu. We found talent, but who has made use of that talent of young men and women who can run long distances by training in sand? They are found in the Western Province. So far, I have never seen a good runner identified, like the former world star, Edwin Moses, who has since retired.
 
If one is to take part in long distance running, the best training ground is in sand and not on hard turf. The current sport administrators are incompetent. I am speaking with authority.

 Mr D. Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Talent identification should be done in the whole Republic and not picking some few players from Chawama because they have given you K1 million. That is the badness of corruption.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank your Committee for a good report presented to this House.

Madam Speaker, I want to say that if you are a very good driver; better than Hamilton, and you are given a car which is not worth taking part in a competition, your performance will show that you are a bad driver when, in fact, you are not. You have just got bad tools.

 Madam Speaker, without developing sports in the country, you can bring the Inter Milan Coach, Mourinho, to come and coach the Zambia National Soccer Team, but it can achieve nothing. Therefore, the habit of blaming coaches and associations must come to an end because we, as Zambians, tend to be too quick at criticising before analysing what the problem is.

Madam Speaker, if you look at the FAZ League, today, a top scorer scores fifteen goals when, in the past, a top scorer could score109 goals in a season. 

Dr Machungwa: 107 goals in a season!

Mr Shakafuswa: Today, we have top league players scoring fifteen goals. It just shows that sport has failed in this country. Therefore, we should ask ourselves why it has failed.

Madam Speaker, to start with, some of us who could not afford to go kubulaya but, instead, went to public schools, were very lucky. At these schools, sport was one of the subjects which was taken seriously.

Madam Speaker, today, we are saying we do not have talent in this and that. We should go back to the basics. This morning, the hon. Minister of Education was saying that for us to have a society which has manners and anchored on goodness, we have to invest in our children. Similarly, we should come up with a deliberate policy that will encourage sports to be taken at the lowest level of education, primary school.

Madam Speaker, while in primary school, I remember knowing someone in my class by the name of Emmanuel who was in a division one team at that particular time. You can imagine someone at primary school playing for a premier division team. This was possible because there was sports development beginning at the lowest level. 

Today, if you go to schools, you will not find footballs, javelins or sports attire, and yet you want to blame the associations for not providing these things. It is the nation that has failed and has run out of ideas because it has failed its people and their hopes.

Hon. Member: Shame! 

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, people think that we should only invest in education so that people can have white-collar jobs. That is lop-sided thinking. Education should not only enable people to find jobs, but also teach pupils to identify their skills in many sports disciplines.

To achieve this, we should find money to train teachers in physical education. Nowadays, you find teachers teaching sports, but have never engaged in sports themselves and they only do it because of the passion they have for it. What physical skills are they going to impart on the children they are teaching?

I have noticed that there used to be a budget line for sports such as football and people from ministries used to engage in sport activities, but it was cancelled. People have become idle. This is why you find someone walking, today, and, tomorrow, you hear that he or she died. This is because we do not engage in any sports activities.

For example, in this House, we work very hard and, at the end of day, do not take part in any sports activities. There is a gym where we are accommodated, but how many people go there? How many of us are engaged in sports activities? We do a lot of work here, but forget that health and sports are in tandem. If we, at our level, can be interested in sports, we would also be interested in investing in the youth and ensuring that, as we draw the budget, we put money where it is supposed to be.

Madam Speaker, just as we have funds realised from the taxes of the companies’ revenues, medical and fuel levies, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning should also come up with a levy whose resources will be directly channelled to sports.

Madam, look at the Kalusha Bwalya, Charles Musonda era!

Hon. Member: Munaile!

Mr Shakafuswa: Yes, Munaile. The only problem is that when we have people like Munaile among us, we think we are all fit. Indeed, he used to be a great player though I was better than him.

Laughter

Mr Munaile: Aah!

Mr Shakafuswa: We need to find money for schools to invest in sports infrastructure and equipment. Since we give money to FAZ for competitions every year, it is high time it also paid back as a social responsibility. In times when coaches are doing nothing, they can go to primary and secondary schools and teach pupils modern techniques in sports.

Madam Speaker, one day, I had the privilege of inviting Mr Kalusha Bwalya to my constituency to watch the leagues sponsored in the constituency. He said to me, “Jonas, your people can play football, but they do not play it with skill. They just kick the ball. That does not help.” People have the zeal to play football, but because they do not have television sets to watch how modern football has evolved, they are not open to new techniques. We need to assist them. Maybe, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, through this House, should be allocated money to encourage coaches by giving them allowances and other incentives to help tap talent in the rural areas.

Madam, there are children in rural areas who chase after animals when they go astray without getting tired. Such children are usually good at running. For example, if you asked the background of the Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners, you will find that most of them grew up as herd boys. They used to chase cattle without getting tired. That is why they are able to participate in marathons and come back home with honour. 

Madam Speaker, in Ethiopia, big businesses are run by sportsmen. Most of the investments are brought about by sportsmen. However, we, as Zambians, are training our children to become white collar job seekers, but we are forgetting that we can also train them to become great sportsmen.

A sportsman from the Ivory Coast can be getting about 100,000 Euros a week. He can have contracts of up to about US$5 million. If he sends that money to his country, how much employment is he going to create? So, let us not look at sports as a waste of money.

For this reason, I implore people like Hon. Kambwili and I to invest in the Madalas Football for National Assembly so that people like Hon. Shawa, Minister for Lusaka Province, can participate.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Shakafuswa: We hope that the Speaker, as we talk …

Mr Shawa: On a point of order, Madam.

Laughter

Mr Shakafuswa: The beauty of sport is that it brings people together.

In this House, there are times when we are almost at each other’s throats and this is because we do not know each other. There are very few groupings in here, if any, that converse. This is explained in the way we walk down to the tea room down stairs. You find that the Opposition goes in this direction and the hon. Government Ministers in the other direction. Even as you enter the room, you can clearly see that half the room is occupied by the Opposition and the other half by Government hon. Ministers. We have one country called Zambia and one citizenry. I think the Speaker should break this impasse by coming to referee a game between the right and left side of the House. 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Order!

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: You are now debating beyond your jurisdiction.

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: Can you debate the report and leave the Speaker out of this.

Laughter

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam, in debating sport, we should not only talk about young children in school, but also look at adults whose health is failing because of lack of sporting activities. The only sporting activity that most adults engage in is driving and changing gears of their cars as they drive from one place to another.

Mr D. Mwila: Shawa!

Mr Shakafuswa: So, we have to encourage sporting activities, starting with this House and come up with a budget to encourage hon. Members to engage in sports activities. This will make them have interest in sports so that, as they go back to their constituencies, they will ensure that schools there are adequately funded.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Munaile (Malole): Madam Speaker, from the outset, I wish to state that I am in support of your Committee’s report.

Madam, football is my passion. I have played, coached and am, now, administrating it. The goodness about football is that every Zambian citizen can be a coach, referee or administrator.

Madam Speaker, allow me to say that football in Zambia can go miles, but it can only get to the heights that every Zambian desires if all Zambians put their heads together. There are three key ministries in the development of soccer and sports in general in this country. These are the ministries of Education, Sport, Youth and Child Development, Science, Technology and Vocational Training …

Hon. Member: And agriculture.

Laughter

Mr Munaile: Madam, it is saddening to note that the three ministries, especially the Ministry of Education, have no money that is allocated directly to the development of sport in this country.

Gone are the days when this country was able to have pupils playing for the Zambia National Soccer Team. At the time, there was serious involvement of the Ministry of Education in the development of sport.

Today, the ministry only gives money to schools and it is up to individual head teachers to allocate some of it to sport. If your guess is as good as mine, it depends on the kind of head you have at a school. If he/she is not interested in sport, he/she will not pay attention to it.

For this reason, I would like to propose to the Executive that, when it works on its budgets, and if it loves football and sport, please, it should try and set aside money specifically for the development of sport in this country so that the Ministry of Education begins to play a significant role in the development of sports women and men. After all, anyone who is going to be a sports person has to go through school.

Madam Speaker, it is saddening to note that when your Committee was writing the report, the Ministry of Education issued a circular to stop schools from holding tournaments. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education has written to all schools and all the District Education Board secretaries (DEBs), telling them to only hold sports tournaments in August. What that means is that the pupils will have nothing to do until August when a lot of sports activities take place. Pupils are involved in a lot of sport such as football, javelin and many others and so if all sports disciplines are done in a week, how then are they going to move from one sports discipline to the next?

Madam Speaker, the reason given for this is that the performance of students in schools has been affected by sport, and yet there is no sport to talk about in this country. Gone are the days when this country had the National Education Distribution Company of Zambia (NEDCOZ) which used to supply or sell sports equipment. My friend from Mazabuka lamented the fact that we have no sports equipment in the country and wondered whether the Government was considering making sports equipment available to everybody even in the remotest parts of our country so that head teachers can walk into these shops to acquire affordable sports equipment.

Madam Speaker, at present, it is very difficult for any school to buy a football because it costs not less than K300,000. I do not know how many schools can afford that. As a result, because I am a member of FAZ, many times, even some of my colleagues seated in this House, come to me to ask for footballs but, unfortunately, I do not have them.

Madam Speaker, I now come to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training in charge of higher institutions of learning. A week ago, I was saddened when the basketball and football teams were going to Botswana for a tournament. The coach of the football team called me since I have a son who plays in the team and told me to pay for my son’s trip. I told him that if they had no money, my son would not go because I believe that it is the ministry which should give money to the sportsmen and women to allow them to travel and compete in tournaments. 

Madam Speaker, I am, therefore, informing the Government that football or sport, in general, will not develop if it is left in the hands of very few people. At times, it is good to say one thing, but as you do so, you should know what you are talking about. I will give an example of my trip to Ghana. I was privileged to travel there with your Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs. What we discovered there is that the Ghanaian Government funds their sports council in a big way.

Madam Speaker, in Ghana, the National Sports Council has a yearly calendar of all sports tournaments and money is given to the council for all the sports disciplines to access. You do not need to go to the ministry because the sports council has a calendar and when time is due, they give you the money.

Madam Speaker, I am appealing to the hon. Minister to compel the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) to come up with a yearly calendar so that they know who is going where at a particular time, unlike the situation now where sports disciplines will go to the council to ask for money when they are travelling. It will do the country good if a calendar is drawn up because all the necessary travel plans would be made by the council.

Madam Speaker, coming back to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, I would like to state that the ministry has a lot of challenges and, I believe that when we talk about youths, we are talking about a child who deserves more money if they are going to play the role that they are supposed to play in the development of sport in the country. Unfortunately, the ministry is among the least funded, and yet we expect them to undertake so many things that touch the hearts of the people.

Madam Speaker, the ministry should try, as much as possible, and have sports officers around the country. Currently, we only have sports officers at the provincial level, but we do not have any at the district level although there are district advisory sports committees which are not sufficiently funded. We need the presence of the NSCZ in the seventy-two districts of our country, if this country is to realise the sports potential which is in most of our boys and girls.

Madam Speaker, having said that, allow me to conclude by saying individuals will never win a battle and so we need to harness what we have, as a country, since the talent is there. The countries that have achieved a lot in sport have done so because they have put their heads together.

Madam Speaker, Ghana has academies run by individuals and the Government. That is how, in the last World Cup Tournament, the entire Africa was cheering Ghana. The Ghana National Soccer Team had a budget of US$16 million to enable them go to the World Cup. This was made possible because people put their heads together without pointing fingers at one another; accusing each other of this and that. That is the culture of Zambians in everything, including politics. Nobody would like to give the other a pat on the back for doing something good. We always want to shift the blame. As a result, we have people who rant all the time and you just wonder what they say.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. (Chasefu): Madam Speaker, I wish to start by supporting the report of your Committee which is basically centred on the operations of FAZ.

Madam Speaker, those who are aware, FAZ is the only recognised body responsible for the promotion of football in this country. This is why, if the Government interferes with the management of football, FIFA comes in to challenge the Government. Having said so, it is absolutely important for us to understand that football clubs operating in Zambia are affiliated to FAZ. I am saddened by the fact that clubs affiliated to FAZ do not know that they can import sports equipment without paying duty, meaning that FAZ has not filtered the information to its affiliates. I am mentioning this because, in the report, your Committee reports as follows: 

“The National Sports Council should sensitise all football clubs on the availability of services to purchase football kit duty free and that most football clubs were not aware of this.”

Madam Speaker, the point I am making here is that FAZ is responsible for supervising the operations of the football clubs affiliated to it. 

Hon. Opposition Member: Correct.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: The NSCZ is the overall body responsible for sports promotion and development in the country. For this reason, FAZ is affiliated to the NSCZ. Football clubs are not NSCZ affiliates. It is, therefore, erroneous for the report to contend that it is the NSCZ that should go down to clubs in Chiwempala, Shang’ombo and Chama to sensitise on this aspect. It is not NSCZ’s responsibility. There is what is called division of labour ...

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Member is speaking as a Member of Parliament and has to remember that.

Can you continue, please.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: Much obliged, Madam Speaker. I am speaking as a Member of Parliament. It is for this reason that I am contributing on the report on FAZ. The thrust of my contribution this morning is that FAZ is the rightful body to organise football in this country. However, it is affiliated to the NSCZ.

Madam Speaker, all of us know that football is a very popular sport in this country, but there is one impediment to the development of football which most of us are not aware of. Firstly, it is funding. FAZ has no luxury of funding. If the national team has to go out for a tournament, they have to go to the Government for funding. If all of us looked at the Yellow Book, we would agree that funding to the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Child Development, in general, is too low and laughable. If this country is serious about developing sport, including football, we have to allocate adequate funding to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. That is the beginning of the problem.

Madam Speaker, money alone without proper sports management and administration, will not lead us to greater heights in sports development and promotion. The other problem we have is that FAZ has a constitution. Does that constitution allow other Zambians to vie for positions on the FAZ Council? No, it does not. One has to belong to a club. Therefore, it is restrictive. Therefore, the way forward in developing sport is to prevail upon certain associations to have provisions that open up to the general public when it comes to vying for positions that have to do with their management. That is the second problem.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: Madam Speaker, the third problem is that yes, you have the NSCZ, but is it adequately funded? The answer is no. For your own information, the NSCZ is run by people who are seconded by the defence forces, for the simple reason that it has no adequate funding to pay salaries for its officers. Be that as it may and on a good note, I wish to submit that, so far, the operations of the NSCZ have been boosted by the attitude the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development has adopted lately. 

Interruptions

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: The ministry has released funds to the NSCZ time and, for that reason, we will soon be advertising the positions of general secretary and accountant of the NSCZ in the national press so that we can employ our own officers. So, on a brighter note, something is being done. 

There is also the question of funding. The NSCZ, normally, is sidelined when it comes to funding because associations such as FAZ deal directly with the Government. I wish to state here and now that there is now a change for the better because the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development funds us directly as a …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

Hon. Member, I think that you are talking from two points. This House is not funded by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development and you are speaking from this House. That is the point that I am trying to guide. Remember who you are as you stand there. You are not submitting to the Committee, but the House.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC: I am much obliged, Madam Speaker. What I am debating here is contained in the report.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

Hon. Member, the issue is, do not speak like you are on the NSCZ Board. That is where you are misleading us. Can you talk to us as hon. Member of Parliament. You can tell us what they do there and not what you do here. 

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: I am submitting as Chairperson of the NSCZ …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

Mrs Masebo: That is why Members of Parliament are not supposed to hold such positions.

Laughter 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

Hon. Member! Please, get the guidance. You are not here as a member of the NSCZ. We do not even see that at all. This is what I have been trying to guide on. If it is the Committee, that is different, here you are 100 per cent Chasefu Member of Parliament.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: The Member of Parliament for Chasefu, ...

Madam Deputy Speaker: Yes.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: … in submitting that according to the research he has carried out as a Member of Parliament, …

Laughter 

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: … who takes pleasure in researching, it has been disclosed that the NSCZ is now funded directly …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear! 

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: … by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Chid Development.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: Therefore, affiliates to the NSCZ, including FAZ, get their funding now through the NSCZ. This submission is being made in order to correct the impression which may be a little misleading if not corrected. This humble Member of Parliament for Chasefu Constituency, also wishes to submit that research has disclosed that, in fact, through interviews, which the hon. Member of Parliament conducted with officers in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Chid Development, the NSCZ is soon going to employ officers to man the …

Laughter 

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: … National Sports Council. This, in my humble view, is evidence that something is being done in the right direction. All is not lost. 

Madam Speaker, finally, may I also submit that without funding, development of sport in this country will be an illusion if we do not take its funding seriously. The research by this hon. Member of Parliament has disclosed that in other countries in the region, institutions such as the National Sports Council have buildings which they own. Alas, in this country, the NSCZ pays rent for the National Sports Complex which houses the NSCZ. Therefore, the little grant that is given to the NSCZ by the Government is swallowed by rentals which it is obliged to pay. How do you expect the NSCZ to develop sport if funding is erratic and inadequate and it does not even have its own accommodation?

Madam Speaker, research has also disclosed that if you want to develop sport, you must have mobility. Other sports organisations in the surrounding countries have sufficient mobility. The same cannot be said of other sports associations in this country.

Madam Speaker, with these few words aimed at correcting the picture, I whole heartedly support the report of your Committee. 

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister for Southern Province (Mr Munkombwe): Madam Speaker, I want to thank you for according me the opportunity to make comments on this good report. I think I will go down in history as one of the sponsors of football in this country.

Mr Shawa: Hear, hear!

Mr Munkombwe: In 1954, we formed what was known as the Eleven Champions of Livingstone. In 1966, I formed a team that was called Kalomo Bombers. In 1967, I formed Choma Tigers and sponsored it. I am still sponsoring Kabebya United and I am a life member of FAZ.

Mr Munaile: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Munkombwe: Madam Speaker, when the Zambian National Football Team beats a weaker team within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), there is a lot of joy and applause; a misconception that we can win any tournament. 

Laughter

Mr Munkombwe: That is wrong. It is also a fallacy to think that our local coaches are qualified to coach the national team when great footballing nations like Britain have imported an Italian, Fabio Capello, to coach the England National Football Team. The Spanish football giants, Real Madrid, now also have a man from Portugal called Jose Mourinho, as their coach. In Ghana, there are many coaches but nobody has been talking about employing a local coach.  There are many great players like Abedi Pele, who has retired, but no one is calling for him to be the national team coach. 

In Zambia, our coaches are not yet qualified to drill the national team. On the other hand, a weakness has developed in the administration and development of football in this country because schools have stopped nurturing football talent among youths.  All the great players like Jani Simulambo, Fanny Hangunyu and Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndlovu were identified from schools. They were nurtured at Butondo Western Tigers, which was the breeding ground for Mufulira Wanderers. Hon. Members must know the history of soccer in this country. 

Interruptions 

Mr Munkombwe: Even Hon. Munaile was spotted at school competitions. At the moment, schools are not offering sports activities, which is such a pity. As an elderly sports administrator, I am qualified to advise FAZ. The association should let the Government put more money in our budget for the development of sport. 

You will be surprised that at seventy-eight years old, I still play football with my grandchildren.

Laugher

Mr Munkombwe: On my farm, there are football teams for married people and unmarried people and I play number five in the married people’s team.

Laughter

Mr Munkombwe: I am dropped a couple of times, as I am no longer very strong, but the fact is that I have been involved in football for quite some time. We will not develop football in this country unless we support foreign coaches who are brought in to assist us. On the other hand, I think we should also be wary of the idea of thinking we can win the World Cup when we fail to win tournaments like the Championship of African Nations (CHAN). This is the same attitude some political parties have towards elections. Before the 2006 elections, they we were claiming that they were going to win. After they lost in 2006, they started saying that they will win in 2011 but they are going to lose.  Similarly, the Zambian National Football Team cannot win the World Cup when it has been failing to perform well at the CHAN level. 

Laughter

Mr Munkombwe: As a life member, I want to caution FAZ to be wary of hiring coaches that run away when we lose.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

FAZ is not here. Speak to the House.

Mr Mubika: Address Hon. Munaile.

Mr Munkombwe: I am sorry I looked at Hon. Munaile, who is struggling to make football better in this country. I think we should start by accepting that we have not reached the level where we can have Zambian coaches for the national team because some of them end up picking the wrong players for the line up. I think Hon. Munaile and other good players were developed by Ante Buselic. Those are some of the …

Mr Munaile interjected.

Mr Munkombwe: Whatever the case. Buselic helped to develop football in this country. He took us to Cameroon and Ghana when Ashious Melu was still playing for Zambia. I was there when Melu broke the neck of Ghana’s number five with a shot.

Laughter

Mr Munkombwe: Yes, the head dropped. 

Madam, I also think that not just anybody should be allowed to be a member of the FAZ executive. Those seeking membership should have the interest to develop football in Zambia. I think part of the reasons for including in the FAZ constitution that officials must be sponsored by clubs was to avoid gambling. Sometimes, people who are not qualified in anything talk beautifully and are overzealous, and hence overshadow those who are qualified to administer, for example, sport. 

Sports administration requires specialisation and one has to belong to a club. Even in politics, a hon. Member of Parliament has to be sponsored by a political party, unless one is independent. That is the only way a citizen can be accepted as an hon. Member of this House. We all belong to various parties and are sponsored by these parties. So, the constitution of FAZ was tailored in such a way that a member of FAZ must belong to a club and the club must sponsor whoever seeks membership in the association. I think that is how I qualified to be a life member of the association.

Madam Speaker, I would like to repeat that we should do away with the notion that we can have Zambian coaches for the national team. They can only be assistant coaches. If we make a mistake of appointing a Zambian as head coach, we will be a laughing stock in the world because Spain, Brazil and everybody else are looking for foreign coaches. Coaching requires a lot of confidence, which is lacking in many of our coaches. On the other hand, there is also the development of players. For example, players like Mr Mbesuma, who have gone to play for prestigious leagues have ended up embarrassing us by absenting themselves from training and doing all sorts of things. That is dangerous.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! 

It is not correct to debate an individual, who is not here to defend himself, in that manner.

Mr Munkombwe: Madam Speaker, we know the calibre of people we send to play for foreign teams. I think we should put them to task. We should bring them here and give them lectures because they are embarrassing us before the whole world and we do not want that. We want disciplined people and not people who will tarnish the image of Zambia since they go there as experts. However we have Messers Kalusha Bwalya, Lucky Msiska and Joseph Musonda who have been good ambassadors of this country. People who play football outside this country must return as solid people and not destroyed people. Unfortunately, some of the people who went to play football for foreign teams are now a complete wreck. 

I thank you, Sir.

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, I wish to support the report of your Committee. I am merely making reference to the issues that have been raised on page 20 regarding access to funds to support the enterprise component of sports, particularly in rural areas and the lamentation that this access has been impeded particularly with regard to CEEC funds.

Madam Chairperson, in the 2010 Budget, whilst establishing the Youth Development Fund, we also continue to provide K25 billion under CEEC. Realising that it was difficult, particularly in the rural areas for our youths to access this fund, we relaxed the conditions for access up to K50 million for an enterprise to support sport and that can be accessed without the requirement of collateral. Collateral proved to be an impediment to access. Therefore, I encourage youths running sports clubs and those with business ideas to seek guidance from the CEEC offices and not to worry about the issue of collateral. All they need is a reference from a distinguished member of their community to secure that access.

Madam Speaker, I thought I should clarify this on behalf of your Committee that there is an opportunity that will support the enterprise component of sports in addition to the things that are being done under the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Child Development.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Sports, Youth and Child Development (Mr Chipungu): Madam Speaker, I want to thank you most sincerely for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the debate on this report which I totally support.

Madam Speaker, let me begin by paying tribute to the Republic of South Africa for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which came to its conclusion on Sunday, 11th July, 2010 and was won by Spain.

As a nation and ministry in particular, we learnt a great deal from this tournament and we hope to use some of the lessons in some of the programmes we are yet to undertake.

Madam Speaker, I want to acknowledge the good work of your Committee and wish to congratulate the Chairperson and the entire Committee for a well done job. Indeed, it is a well-articulated report presented to this House.

Madam Speaker, I also want to thank the previous speakers who have spoken so passionately about the affairs of my ministry. In fact, what they have contributed on the Floor of this House are the views that we have as a ministry.

Madam Speaker, you can see that most of their contributions hinge on insufficient funding to my ministry. Indeed, a lot of effort, time and thought were put in to come up with this very excellent report. I believe that this report will contribute towards addressing the problems that affect my ministry.

Madam Speaker, let me request your Committee, in future, that let us see balance in their reporting. They should talk about the way forward and how we can improve other sporting activities because, in this country, we have over forty sports disciplines. I also want to see a report highlighting issues affecting the youths and children in this nation, which is under the mandate of my ministry.

Madam Speaker, I totally agree on issues raised by one hon. Member relating to encroachment on sports fields and stadia in this country. It is worrying to see that, where plans were made to set aside some space for sports grounds, suddenly, our colleagues, especially councillors and their chairpersons, decide to build houses on them. This is not acceptable. Spaces that are designated for sports must be left for sports. However, we are seriously discussing this matter with the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing and I must pay tribute to him for his personal involvement.

Madam Speaker, we all know the importance of sports in that it creates peace in the nation. We have seen in South Africa in the last one month the tremendous reduction of incidences of theft, hooliganism and so on and so forth because of sports. Therefore, in this country, it is also very important that we encourage sports as a medium for creating peace in the nation.

I acknowledge that we have some colleagues who have been instrumental in sports administration and I want to say that my ministry is creating a data base so that we know what people like Hon. Muyanda have done and, indeed, many other people, who are either deceased or alive so that they can be honoured in one way or the other.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chipungu: Madam Speaker, let me also say that, while we condemn FAZ, I think we need to bear in mind that other sporting disciplines such as boxing, swimming, athletics and motor sports have done quite well as they have brought bronze and gold medals to this country. I think we need to give praise to the associations running those sports where it is due. The Chipolopolo boys, of course, have not qualified for certain tournaments but, I think, they have still done very well. I am sure my colleagues in FAZ and the NSCZ, by now, have read the report. I am sure they will find a way forward.

Madam Speaker, I also want to state that the role of my ministry still remains that of policy formulation and guidance. We never interfere at all in the running of the NSCZ which is ably chaired by the hon. Member for Chasefu, Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. and FAZ or, indeed, any sports association in this country. However, of course, we do not hesitate to come in and correct the wrongs when there is a problem.

Mr Speaker, from the meagre funding we receive, we have still continued to support the NSCZ, FAZ and, indeed, all the sports associations as was stated by the hon. Member for Chasefu. I also want to say that there is so much goodwill from the co-operating partners in this country. All these sports associations are free to go and seek for financial support from the co-operating partners. Very shortly, we will look at the possibilities of setting up a sports trust fund. This fund will involve some kind of lottery which will generate money in order to fund sports in this country. 

Having said this, Madam Speaker, I invite my colleagues, especially in FAZ and the NSCZ to, please, go through this report. There are issues that have been highlighted like the holding of an Indaba, which is very important, where the stakeholders will be invited so that they can find the way forward as regards sports development. They need to improve community football, restructure FAZ, work very closely with the Ministry of Education and also look at the prospects of commercialising sports in Zambia. 

Madam Speaker, allow me, also, to highlight some of the programmes my ministry plans to undertake in the next five years within the context of both the 2010 and 2014 Strategic Plan and the Sixth National Development Plan in order to promote sport, youth and child development. The ministry plans to rehabilitate, at least, two provincial stadia each year. Furthermore, the Government, through my ministry, plans to construct a stadium in Lusaka and Livingstone and rehabilitate the National Sports Development Complex. This Government will continue to construct and rehabilitate, at least, eight youth resource centres each year and build reading and recreation centres. It will also continue to rehabilitate the Zambia National Service camps and convert former refugee camps into youth and child skills training centres.

However, in order to achieve these mammoth goals, the ministry will have to realign its structures. Currently, the ministry has its presence only at the provincial level, thus making it very difficult to cover the districts. I think this was made very clear by the hon. Member for Malole, Mr Munaile. In both the ministry’s strategic plan and the Sixth National Development Plan, we plan to address these constraints so as to improve service delivery to our clients who are sports persons. These include youths and children, and lately, like the hon. Member for Katuba, Mr Shakafuswa said, adults as well. My ministry will, therefore, require a lot of financial resources to implement its critical programmes in order to meet the aspirations raised in this report and its subsequent debate.

Madam Speaker, the Government has released the Youth Empowerment Fund which we are all aware of. The empowerment of youths must remain a central feature of our developmental focus. Initiatives designed for sustainable economic growth cannot succeed without the massive participation of the Zambian youths. This participation is not only critical towards the empowerment of young people, but also serves as a bridge between the first and second economies. We need to respond to the fact that youths experience more acute hardships than other sections of the population. This is one of the barriers to mainstreaming economic activity, including lack of access to capital, skills and experience.

As we confront the challenges of unemployment, lack of skills and other social ills, I call on the youths to form partnerships with institutions at the forefront of initiatives aimed at addressing these shortcomings. My ministry will continue to advocate for the emancipation of young people as we press ahead.

I do not intend to come here to make a ministerial statement, but I want hon. Members to pay attention because I will be concluding very soon. We received K5 billion two days ago for youth empowerment. In order to access the funds, the following are the guidelines:

(i)    the youths must belong to a club;

(ii)    the club must be registered with the Registrar of Societies, Registrar of Companies, the district councils where they reside or the National Youth Development Council. I want to emphasise here that we issue these certificates even in places like Chongwe to the youths. It is not only the Registrar of Societies who can register the youth associations. The youths can register with the council and that is enough;

(iii)    the clubs or individuals must have proof of a bank account because the ministry pays by cheque; and

(iv)    the clubs or individuals must fill in the application forms which include a description of the project and its cash flow projections.

Madam Speaker, my ministry will disburse these funds in two lots. The first one will be through a grant. To ensure equitable access by all corners of Zambia, a sum of not less than K20 million will be made available to each constituency.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chipungu: However, certain requirements will have to be met. The youth clubs need to have certificates. I will be launching this programme very shortly. Do not say you were not told. A sum will be set aside for the youth who may have project ideas which require a lot of capital. There may be some projects which might require as much as K50 million. We have set aside money for such projects. Part of the money will be used for capacity building and mentorship.

Mr Chongo: Ebuteko ubo.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chipungu: Madam Speaker, I am giving a very important message to all hon. Members of Parliament and the youth. We have the money to fund them and these are the requirements:
 
    (a)    certificate from the clubs; and

    (b)    a bank account.

Hon. Members of Parliament can give the certificates to me so that we can start the process.

Mr Munaile: Twalaleta.

Mr Chipungu: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Ngoma: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Members from both sides of the House who have contributed to the debate on this report.

Madam Speaker, as we concluded the deliberations, we received a circular issued by the Ministry of Education to the effect that education standards were going down as a result of lack of sporting activities. I implore the Government to take a serious look at this issue because it has the potential to kill sports and football in particular.

Madam Speaker, today, most of the issues were connected to football. I have been in this Committee for a long time. I am probably the longest serving member of the Committee. Over the years, we have looked at various issues relating to child labour and early childhood education but, today, we looked at football, bearing in mind that the standard of the game has gone down in this country. 

It is my hope and prayer that the Government, through the action-taken report will have an in-depth look at this report so that it does not end up as just one of those reports because we need to rejuvenate football in this country.

With those few words, I urge the House to adopt the report.

I thank you, Madam.

Question put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

____________ 

The House adjourned at 1229 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 20th July, 2010.

WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTIONS

COMPUTER LESSONS FOR GRADES 1 TO 12

544. Mr Chazangwe (Choma Central) asked the Minister of Education whether the Government had any plans to introduce computer lessons for Grades 1 to 12.

The Minister of Education (Ms Siliya): Madam Speaker, the ministry has plans to introduce computer lessons in all schools, but this will be done gradually, beginning with the incorporation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the curriculum being reviewed, training of teachers and procurement of equipment. 

KASALU HIGH SCHOOL

545. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Education when Kasalu High School, which is under construction would be operational. 

Ms Siliya: Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Education is constructing a 1x4 classroom block using community mode. It is expected to become operational by January, 2011.