DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Friday, 9th July, 2010

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

COMMISSIONING OF NEW COMMITTEE ROOMS AND OFFICES 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, as the House is aware, the National Assembly has been implementing a programme of Parliamentary Reforms for almost a decade. One of the goals of these reforms is to make Parliament more accessible to citizens and enable them interact more fully with their representatives. One measure that was put in place to achieve this was opening up committee proceedings to the public.

To accommodate interested members of the public, the National Assembly embarked on a project to construct new committee rooms to supplement the existing ones which had no space to accommodate visitors who wished to attend the proceedings of the committees. The construction of the new committee rooms is complete and was supported by the co-operating or development partners under the Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability (PEMFA) Reform Programme.

I wish to inform the House that the commissioning of the new committee rooms and offices will take place on Wednesday, 14th July, 2010 at 1000 hours in the new office block itself.  Although attendance is voluntary, I invite hon. Members to attend this historic occasion.

Thank you.
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BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Mr Speaker, I wish to acquaint the House with some idea of the business it will consider next week.

Sir, on Tuesday, 13th July, 2010, the business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. After that, there will be presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then consider the Second Report of the Committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism.

On Wednesday, 14th 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. After that, there will be consideration of Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider the Report of the Committee on Estimates.

On Thursday, 15th 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 Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender Matters.

Mr Speaker, on Friday, 16th 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 Report of the Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs. Then, the House will consider any other business that may have been presented to it earlier in the week.

I thank you, Sir.
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HIS HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, the people of Katuba are very much interested in associating themselves with the new constitution. I wonder whether there is going to be an extension of the forty days which was given to the public to review the constitution in the light that the draft constitution copies only arrived in Chibombo District yesterday and I think it is now over two weeks when the forty days started. Now, by the time the people will be getting the draft copies, it might be sometime within the forty days. Is His Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Justice wishing to extend the period from the time our people received the copies to afford them the forty days in which to fully understand the constitution?

Hon. PF Member: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Mr Speaker, one of the functions of this House is to make laws, and the hon. Member of Parliament who has asked the question was party to the enactment of the amendments under which we prescribed forty days for receipt of public comments. 

We made an amendment in this House because of representations from the public that this constitutional review process must come to an end so that we move on. We prescribed 31st August, 2010 as the last day when the National Constitution Conference (NCC) will cease to exist. In that amendment, we prescribed a period of forty days. Therefore, if we have to change the forty days, we have to bring the Bill, again, to this House and there is no time for that. The constitutional review process cannot go on perpetually. 

Mr Speaker, let me also mention that we have been very proactive. We have published the draft constitution in the newspapers well in time and any serious minded citizen who wishes to contribute to the constitutional review process would have made representations or comments on the draft constitution by now. This process has been going on for too long and it is high time we concluded it and moved on with a new constitution. We will decide whether we are going to make substantial amendments to the constitution or whether we are going to take the entire constitution to a referendum at the NCC. So we are going to make that decision before 31st August, 2010. There will be no extension to the forty days because we have been dealing with this exercise for a long time. I urge the hon. Member for Katuba Parliamentary Constituency to go and sensitise the people on the need to make comments on the constitution.

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Mr Speaker, could His Honour the Vice-President make a definitive and authoritative statement on the Central Government’s view of the obligation of householders, property owners, investors and so on and so forth, to pay rates to local councils irrespective of who gets elected to run the council. 

I ask this question because there is a serious problem at the moment of people not paying rates and ground rents citing statements by authorities to this effect.

Mr Speaker, Lusaka, in the last quarter, has received the lowest rates payment in fifteen years. This is a serious matter and I beg an answer from the Vice-President, as a lawyer, on what the obligations of a citizen are.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I know that the issue of obligation to pay rates is prescribed in the Rating Act. The Rating Act prescribes who has to pay rates. That is straightforward. That is the legal position. If property owners are covered in the rating roll, they are required to pay rates. That is the legal position and I cannot depart from that.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, whilst foreign investment and private-public partnerships (PPPs) are welcome in the country, what is the Government doing to help local people access funding and loans when the cartel of bankers continues to give loans at exorbitant interest rates despite the inflation rate falling to a single digit? 

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, that is, indeed, a serious matter. This country can only develop when the business community has access to affordable loans with acceptable interest rates. 

Sir, I understand that the Bank of Zambia is working on this particular issue. The inflation rate is now at 7.8 per cent. Why, therefore, should we continue to have high interest rates? The banking sector should also think about allowing people access to loans.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, during the Mufumbwe by-election, we had a problem of violence and no one has explained to the nation or to Parliament what went wrong. 

I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President what measures the Government has put in place to ensure that the problem of violence does not recur in the forthcoming Luena and Chifubu by-elections.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, what happened in Mufumbwe should not repeat itself in Luena or Chifubu in the forthcoming Parliamentary bye-elections. 

Mr Speaker, we all must also be conscious of the fact that this matter is now in court and I cannot, therefore, go into details in discussing what happened in Mufumbwe, save to say that it is incumbent upon ourselves, as political parties, to preach peace and tranquility in the nation. If we do this as leaders, it will be easy for party cadres not to engage in violence. It is incumbent upon us, as leaders, first and foremost, to encourage peaceful conduct of elections.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, those of us who represent rural communities are aware that year in and year out people complain of inadequate satellite depots for purchasing their produce. Has the Government considered introducing more satellite depots to cater for far-flung places which stand disadvantaged to date? 

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: I know that there are depots all over the country, but I am also aware that the satellite depots set by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) may not be sufficient to cater for remote areas. 

This is a matter which I have personally discussed with the Chief Executive of the FRA, and I will discuss it further. I appeal to hon. Members of Parliament, who have such a problem, to make representations so that we can buy as much maize as possible, especially that we have a bumper harvest which we have achieved because of the good policies of this Government …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Question!

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: It is important that we have more satellite depots.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central): Mr Speaker, since the registration of voters is in top gear, can His Honour the Vice-President speak the truth …

Hon. Member: For the first time.

Mr Kapeya: I would like him to tell the nation the truth on whether the mobile registration for the green cards will be conducted in centres where it was not done, as promised by the former Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Lameck Mangani, in a statement on the Floor of this House in March, 2010 that the same exercise would be conducted by June, this year. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, the same question was asked last Friday. The issuance of national registration cards (NRCs) is a continuous process. We have permanent centres where we issue NRCs from but, of course, there are also budgetary constraints. We have already done an exercise which was budgeted for. It is important that we give NRCs to our people, of course, taking into account the issue of budgetary constraints. 

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Matongo (Pemba): Mr Speaker, I would like to inquire from the Vice-President whether there are any plans to delimit constituencies between 2010 and July, 2011.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I know this particular question keeps coming up. Those who are part of the NCC, including hon. Members, are aware that there is a proposal to increase the number of constituencies. Now, that entails delimitation. I also know that this exercise was done in the past. The statistics and records are there, including proposals on which constituencies should be divided into two. Therefore, that information is there.

Mr Speaker, as you know, this matter will come to the House, but we must also take into account the issue of resources and whether we can accommodate more hon. Members of Parliament. For example, how many hon. Members of Parliament can this Chamber accommodate or should we build another Chamber? Those are some of the questions that need to be considered. Once we come up with a decision at the NCC, we shall come back to this House and decide, within this House, when we are going to enact the necessary legislation, make the constitutional amendments or wait for the enactment of a new Constitution. We shall also decide on the number of constituencies. Personally, I know that my constituency is too big and I would like it divided into two. I am aware about what you are talking about but, as I said, this is a constitutional matter and we also have to look at the resources that we have in the nation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chota (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the National Constitutional Conference Act stipulates that hon. Members of Parliament and other leaders will go to districts to receive submissions from all those who have no internet facilities, but would like the Constitution to be translated into their languages. I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President when this programme will commence.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I wish that question was asked to the Chairperson of the NCC.

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: The NCC operates independently. Of course, we fund it and we have to ensure that its activities are within the budget. The idea behind those provisions is to ensure that we consult as many people as possible. The consultations have been going on since the process started. We have been writing articles and airing radio programmes aimed at sensitising the people. We will continue to do some of these things, resources permitting. 

Mr Speaker, the NCC is doing its best to ensure that the Constitution reaches the most far-flung areas of this country. Yesterday, there was an announcement that several copies of the draft Constitution have now reached the districts. This is an exercise which we would like to accomplish in accordance with the National Constitutional Conference Act. We shall try, as much as possible, to honour the provisions in the Act.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Masebo (Chongwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Vice-President regarding an announcement that the Salaries Service Commission was to be established and Professor Mwanalushi was appointed chairperso. How far have the plans to establish this commission gone?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, that is a very important question. I would like to take this opportunity to announce to the nation that, in the next few days, an announcement will be made and a statutory instrument is being signed, if it has not yet been signed by now, to constitute the Salaries Service Commission. Therefore, the Salaries Service Commission will commence its work any time from now. 

I thank you, Sir

Mrs Phiri (Munali): Mr Speaker, it is common knowledge that civil servants are facing a challenge in getting their salaries. Up to now, some of them have not been paid. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what the Government is doing to assist the University of Zambia (UNZA) students who face deregistration today, by 1700 hours, because their parents have not been able to pay 75 per cent of their fees? What is the Government going to do to help these students?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has asked about salaries. Perhaps, she is suggesting that it is the cause of the late payment of fees at UNZA. 

Mrs Phiri: Yes.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: The information I have is that, by now, almost all civil servants, …

Dr Musokotwane: All of them.

The Vice-President Minister of Justice: … have been paid. Therefore, that issue does not arise.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) radio signal went off air in September last year. As a result, the people of Chilubi are unable to access information pertaining to the Government’s developmental projects. In this regard, the only radio station they can access is Radio Christian Voice. That being the case, what urgent possible measure is the Government trying to put in place with a view to normalising the situation?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, when we were discussing the report of the Committee on Information and Broadcasting, the hon. Minister of Communications and Transport explained that an order for spare parts for shortwave transmitters had been made. These transmitters may have been received or are in the process of being received so that radio transmission can be accessible throughout the country. Therefore, the Government is working on that.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Mr Speaker, due to the good rains that have been provided by God, we have a bumper harvest.

Laughter

Mrs Musokotwane: What is the Government doing to ensure that all the maize is bought because, in Katombola Constituency, at the moment, the Food Reserve Agency is buying only four bags from each farmer? What will happen to the rest of the maize?

 The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I am amazed by that assertion. The bumper harvest is due to the good policies of this Government …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: … which include the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). Those are some of the programmes which are responsible for the good harvest.

Mr V. Mwale: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: If some of the maize may not have been purchased, it is because of its moisture content but, if there is a specific problem of marketing in your constituency, I will bring it to the attention of the FRA Chief Executive so that we can purchase all the maize. We do not want any of the maize, which we have produced through our good policies, to go to waste.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Imenda: (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the Vice-President the fact that the voters’ registration is being delayed by the failure of generators to charge the batteries for the laptops. Currently, we are depending on the solar panels from the teachers. That is the little that we can do in my constituency. I would also like to talk about the publicity which is currently not going on very well. Very few people know about this whole process of voters’ registration. Therefore, what is the Government doing to ensure that people are aware of what is happening since radio transmission is not available in my constituency at the moment?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I have taken note of that unique problem. Indeed, if there are those logistical problems to do with generators and such matters, I think they need to be worked on. Thank you for bringing that issue to my attention.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: This may sound unusual but, under the circumstances, I want to inform the honourable House that Parliament Radio is available. It is heard in all provincial centres and surrounding areas except, for the time being, the Eastern Province. That sounds like an offer. It is up to anybody to take it up.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, time and time again, hon. Cabinet Ministers refer to us hon. Members of Parliament to get involved in the developmental programmes in our constituencies. In 2008, on the Floor of this House, the Government did away with the Women’s Empowerment Fund and Youth Empowerment Fund which was brought back this year. Of late, hon. Members of Parliament on this side of the House (left), have been dismayed at the Government and its ministers for going round dishing out money to women’s clubs without any of these hon. Members of Parliament being involved.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, can I find out from His Honour the Vice-President how he expects hon. Members of Parliament to be involved in developmental programmes in their constituencies when, on the other hand, his Cabinet Ministers are giving women cheques as though they were giving them masuku as it happened at Woodlands Stadium only a few weeks ago. Can the Vice-President, please, clarify this for the interest of these hon. Members of Parliament here and the public out there.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I think the hon. Member went abroad and he was not here when …

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: … Hon. Kaingu ably explained the procedure for accessing these funds. He mentioned that Hon. Matongo, in fact, went to his office and collected cheques for the women clubs in his area. So you can also take a leaf from that, Hon. Members. That money was voted by yourselves in this House. Therefore, it is available for all Zambians. It is not only available for cadres but also for women’s empowerment. 

Sir, it is not true that those funds were abolished. What has happened is that the Women Empowerment Fund has also been consolidated in the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Fund (CEEF) of which 40 per cent of whatever money is available there is reserved for women and vulnerable groups. So, you can also access that money. The hon. Member can go to the Ministries of Sport, Youth and Child Development, Community Development and Social Services as well as Gender and Women in Development and submit the needs of his constituency and he will be assisted.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, this country has had no national airline from the time Zambia Airways went under. Even the Head of State uses a rented aircraft. Does the Government have plans of bringing back the national airline?

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, our economy is private- sector driven. Therefore, I challenge the hon. Member to come up with an airline. 

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: We had Zambian Airways which went under. The sky is the limit. You should think of ways and means of setting up an airline. Investors are also free to enter this particular industry and set up an airline.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwenya (Nkana): Mr Speaker, my question has been captured in the previous hon. Member of Parliament’s question.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the women will be able to access that money from Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Now I can see why everybody was satisfied.

Laughter
_________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

CONSTRUCTION OF VETERINARY LABORATORY IN CHOMA

498.    Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola) asked the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development:

(a)    when the construction of a new veterinary laboratory in Choma District would commence; and

(b)    what the estimated cost of the project was.

The Deputy Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development (Mr Mulonga): Mr Speaker, the construction of a new veterinary laboratory in Choma District will commence as soon as the funds are made available. In this year’s Budget, there is a provision of K550 million. The estimated cost of the project is K3 billion.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the cost of the project is K3 billion, and yet the ministry budgeted for K500 million only. When do they think they will finish building this laboratory?

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, for this year, we intend to come up with plans for that work, which are actually underway. We intend to use the K550 million for our basics. For next year, we intend to plan for K2.5 billion so that we can complete the project, if this House will allow us to do so.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the Zia Laboratory in Mazabuka has been abandoned to concentrate on constructing the one in Choma.

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, the biggest laboratory in the Southern Province is in Mazabuka. We are simply trying to extend and have more facilities. Whilst concentrating on capacity building in the Mazabuka laboratory, we want to establish another laboratory in Choma so that more services can be given to people who own livestock. People come from as far as Kazungula or Livingstone to Mazabuka for these services. We want to shorten the distance by establishing another laboratory so that people can easily access these services for their livestock. 

Thank you, Sir. 

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, I believe that the hon. Minister is aware that farmers from all over the Southern Province pay veterinary assistants a lot of money to take samples to Lusaka for tests. Is the Government thinking of using this money to bring testing equipment either to Mazabuka or Choma so that the farmers stop paying so much money? 

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, my ministry is trying to establish livestock service centres in all the districts of the country in due course to curtail such costs and make farmers comfortable.

Thank you, Sir. 

Mrs Mwamba (Lukashya): Mr Speaker, corridor diseases in the country have prevented cattle farmers from penetrating the beef export market and the drugs used to prevent cattle diseases are acquired at a cost from Botswana. 

Therefore, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government understands the urgency of a proper budget for the construction of this laboratory. 

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, the Government is fully aware of the urgency of this matter. This is why, before any questions were asked, it commenced the construction of this laboratory. Had this not been the case, it would not have started working on the laboratory before the question came in. So, the Government understands the urgency and that is why it is working at supersonic speed to complete the laboratory. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Laughter

2009/2010 MINE DIVIDENDS AND ROYALTIES

499. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga East) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning:

(a)    how much money the mining companies in the North-Western Province paid to the Government in the form of dividends and royalties in 2009 and 2010; and 

(b)       how the money was utilised by the Government.

The Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning (Ms C.M.Kapwepwe): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that Mineral Royalty payments were made to the Government of the Republic of Zambia as follows: 

Year            Amount 
                    (K’ billion)

2009    38.4

2010    18.4

Mr Speaker, in terms of dividends, nothing was received by the Treasury as any dividends payable are made to the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH).
 
With regard to the utilisation of the moneys, I wish to state that all moneys collected as revenue are used to finance the Government’s operations and developmental programmes through national budgets. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, the North-Western Province is one of the least developed provinces in the country. What deliberate programme has this Government put in place to try and develop the province from the royalties received? 

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, the North-Western Province may, indeed, have been one of the least developed provinces at some point, but it is now one of the fastest developing provinces in the country. As you are aware, two big mines have opened in the province within the last five years. 

Mr Speaker, currently, the Government is encouraging many other prospective companies in the province. They are prospecting for mines and we believe that, in the next few years, the province will certainly be one of the most developed. The most important thing is that the province is developing at very fast rate and, probably, faster than any other province in the country.

The hon. Member also asked about the utilisation of this money. As I have just indicated, the Government is doing a lot in the North-Western Province. In April, I visited the province and, everywhere I went, there was a lot of infrastructure development, including a brand new hospital in Mufumbwe. 

At the moment, there are two contractors on site working on the M8 Road, which was started in 1987. This administration has committed itself to accelerating the process so that within two or three years, that road, up to Chavuma, is complete. This is the commitment of this Government. 

My final comment is that we have to be careful that we do not create the impression that money generated in one province can only be used for that province. We are all aware that, for 100 years, this country has been mining in the Copperbelt Province. For more than fifty years, lead and zinc have been mined in Kabwe. The money generated in these provinces catered for people all over the country and not just for the people in those particular areas. We were able to build schools and hospitals from that money. 

Therefore, when it is our turn to contribute to the National Treasury, let us not say that this money can only come to us and nobody else. In the spirit of national unity, we should pool this money and develop the country together. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

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

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, the mining companies in the North-Western province have been making profits for the past two years. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning what mechanisms have been put in place by the Government to ensure that the companies pay the correct figures in the form of dividends. 

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I would like to start by correcting the hon. Member who said that the companies have been making profits for the past two years. Lumwana Mine only started operating last year. Therefore, it must be excluded from the statistics that have been indicated. Kansanshi Mine has been making profits and I believe that we all recall that it was just recently when it paid the dividends that we indicated earlier in our response. 

Mr Speaker, regarding the correctness of the dividends, the standard practice all over the world is that audits are made by certified public accountants to certify the correct amount of profits. However, on top of that, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), independently from the auditors, also does the auditing to ascertain the correct amount. 

Finally, the Government is even doing more than that by engaging special auditors who do not just look at the finances, but also the entire process of the mineral process to determine whether the correct amounts are being paid or not.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out when the Government is going to give a portion of the mineral royalty to the local authorities as stipulated in the Act so that they will be in a position to provide necessary services to the residents.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, this issue was debated at length. The Government remains committed to the Act this House passed. Therefore, when it is ready to implement it, after taking care of those procedural issues, it will inform the public through this House.

Mr Speaker, finally, I would like to inform my colleagues, especially those from councils on the Copperbelt, where the Patriotic Front (PF) is in control, that we have received information that, indeed, some of the mines pay reasonable amounts for rentals and other taxes. Unfortunately, the complaint of the people and the miners in general is that, normally, this money is mostly utilised on personal emoluments to the disadvantage of infrastructure and other development issues. Therefore, I would like to urge the hon. Members to speak to their councils so that this anomaly is corrected in the interest of the public living in those areas.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, I would have expected the hon. Minister to have gone further to explain the dividends …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

What is your question?

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, how much money in the form of other taxes such as value added tax (VAT) and income tax did the Government receive from the dividends that the hon. Minister has mentioned? 

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, you do not get VAT from …

Sir, let me just retract that and say that the question was very specific. It was about Mineral Royalty Tax. If the hon. Member now wishes to ask an extended question on VAT and other taxes, he is free to do so and we will provide the answer.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

CHIZUNI AND NAZIBBULA BRIDGES

500. Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi) asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a)    when Chizuni Bridge across Munyeke River in Dundumwezi Parliamentary Constituency would be reconstructed; and

(b)    when a bridge would be constructed across Dongo River at Nazibbula Basic School.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Dr Kalila): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Kalomo District Council has been appointed by the Ministry of Works and Supply as the road authority for feeder …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

May the hon. Minister, please, speak a bit louder?

 Dr Kalila: … and urban roads in the district. The maintenance of Chizuni Bridge is the responsibility of the Kalomo District Council. The Road Development Agency (RDA) will only include the maintenance of the Chizuni Bridge in its annual work plan when the Kalomo District Council prioritises the bridge and submits it to the RDA for its possible inclusion in the annual work plan.

Mr Speaker, as stated above, the Kalomo District Council has been appointed road authority for urban and feeder roads, including bridges in Kalomo District. The inclusion of the construction of a bridge across the Dongo River at Nazibbula Basic School, in the annual work plan of the RDA, awaits the submission of priority roads and bridges by the Kalomo District Council to the RDA.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, pupils are normally cut-off from Nazibbula during the rainy season. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when his ministry will see the urgency in constructing a bridge across Dongo River because I have been to the district and even the RDA over the same issue.

The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Mulongoti): Mr Speaker, I have always known Kalomo District Council as a very efficient council. At one point, it was one of the top three in the country alongside Chipata and Mporokoso.

 I only wish that the hon. Member, who is a councillor, could quickly take this matter before the council so that recommendations are made through the district development co-ordinating committee (DDCC) or other means, to be included as part of the annual work plan for the RDA. In the absence of those recommendations, the RDA cannot come in because, in any case, there is a specific instruction from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing that all roads that are under councils are the responsibility of councils and the RDA must keep off. Therefore, unless it is brought as a recommendation, it will not be included.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that in spite of those particular bridges being prioritised by the Kalomo District Council, funding has not been made available to enable the undertaking of those works? Is the hon. Minister going to consider extending the funding so that the Kalomo District Council can efficiently give the service to its people?

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, I have difficulties in answering that question because the Kalomo District Council falls under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. We have had no indications at all from the ministry that it is unable to fund this council. The hon. Minister made an indication to this House that all councils got their full grants from the ministry. Therefore, until we have been told what was done with that money, we cannot be asked to start looking for more money.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what guarantee the Kalomo District Council has that works will be done if it prioritises all the roads and bridges and hands them over to the RDA because, at one time, we were asked, as hon. Members of Parliament, to do just that, and yet nothing was done.

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, I explained, just a few minutes ago, that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has said that all roads that fall under councils are their responsibility through the ministry. Only when the hon. Minister has made an indication that the RDA must move in, will we participate. So the question of where money should come from must, first of all, be directed to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. When submissions have been made to the RDA for funding, please, understand that when it becomes part of the annual work plan, it will come to this House for funding.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.   

Mrs Masebo (Chongwe): Mr Speaker, before I ask my question, I would like to say that the answers given by the hon. Minister are not very helpful to this House.

Mr Magande: Hear, hear!

Mrs Masebo: Last time, the hon. Minister told us that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and his ministry had come up with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Could he help us by giving us the information on the MoU that was signed by the two ministries since it relates to funding of roads within the council boundaries?

Mrs Magande: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, I am grateful for that question coming from the former Minister of Local Government and Housing.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: I have difficulties with some of the reasons given. There have been problems of harmonisation in that the hon. Member had insisted that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing be in control of all councils roads, even after the councils were appointed road authorities. We were instructed that we could only come in when we were invited and not directly. This is what the MoU she is referring to is all about. It specified at what point that the RDA could come into the whole issue. Therefore, after signing that MoU, it is not possible for us to go in willy-nilly. We must get an invitation and instructions that we can come in.

Sir, at the moment, the two bridges we are talking about are strictly under the control of the council. So far, if the council has not made an attempt to build or repair bridges, the problem cannot be with us. The problem must, first of all, go to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and only when they have said that they have no capacity are we expected to move in. It looks like now she wants us, after insisting on the Masebo Autonomy, to ignore that request that was made. We will respect that. We are not saying that we cannot work with the councils, but that we are a disciplined ministry that follows orders. Therefore, we can only come in when we are invited. At the moment, the council is in charge and the ministry is only in charge as per her wish.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, before we leave this question, let me guide the House. A word “priority or prioritise” was used in one of the replies. That word comes from a Latin root which means first. When you prioritise, it means you make something come first. However, that is not how it is used here in Zambia. In Zambia there can be many priorities, ...

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … meaning, many firsts. 

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Then you will have a problem in deciding which one is first of the firsts.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: The option for you, as hon. Member of Parliament, is to rank your priorities. That is what the hon. Minister was referring to and I understood him correctly that you must rank your priorities. If you make everything first, you confuse everybody.
MINE NUMBERS 

501. Mrs Banda (Chililabombwe) asked the Minister of Labour and Social Security:

(a)    why Konkola Copper Mines had changed mine numbers for its employees; and

(b)    what the implications of this change were with regard to terminal benefits for the employees.

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Kachimba): Mr Speaker, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has embarked on a number of initiatives to realise its vision of becoming a 500,000 tonne copper producer by 2012. On the data management front, KCM has decided to replace the existing Eclipse Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) with another ERP system called Systems Applications and Planning (SAP). The introduction of SAP will led to an improvement in the company’s business efficiency and also put it in line with other group companies within Vedanta and other global mining companies currently using the system.

One of the modules being implemented under SAP is the human resource module. The human resource module implementation process will require changes to be made to suit the SAP environment and best practice. One of the changes effected has been the change of mine numbers from alphanumeric to a numeric format. This change has been necessitated by the fact that current alphanumeric mine numbers cannot be accommodated in SAP. For example, the current system accommodates alphanumeric mine numbers such as KL6788, NP9800 and NC3046 while SAP accommodates only eight-digit numbers such as 01999999 and 02345678.

In short, the current mine number system is not compatible with the new system.

The employees’ terminal benefits will not be affected in any way by the change in mine numbers. Calculations of terminal benefits will continue to be based on employees’ service according to the collective agreement negotiated between the unions and KCM.

Sir, a database containing both old and new mine numbers is being maintained with relevant employees’ history details. Individual letters containing both old and new mine numbers have been sent to all employees and stakeholders such as the pension funds, financial institutions, schools and hospitals, informing them of the change in order to mitigate any disruptions that may arise.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Banda: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the change of mine numbers was communicated to all miners because some miners are very bitter about it.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Liato): Mr Speaker, these are purely administrative changes. In his answer, the hon. Deputy Minister has ably explained the reasons for the changes. These changes will not affect miners in any negative way. Therefore, I do not understand why they are bitter. Hon. Member, you have done well to inform us about their bitterness whose reason I do not see at all.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister agree that the reason given that the change was necessitated by a change from one computer programme to another, which is merely a database, is not valid? Is it a valid reason that a computer programme cannot accept an alphanumeric format, and yet any computer programme can accept it? Can he agree that the reasons advanced are inadequate and not correct and, therefore, can he give the correct reasons this was done?

Mr Liato: Mr Speaker, I do not understand why administrative changes should become controversial. The company management has explained that they want to do something that is compatible with their Vedanta group of companies and other international mining organisations. Why should the issue become so controversial? I do not see the reason.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, previously, permanently employed employees had mine numbers that were distinct from employees on contract. Why is it that KCM has come up with the same mine number for full-time employees and those on contract?

Mr Liato: Mr Speaker, the question is different from the one on the Order Paper, but what is important with regard to the question on the Order Paper is that the company is maintaining a data base where both old and new numbers are being maintained for records in case certain issues such as benefits arise.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, a mine number in ZCCM was time based and we were able to tell what period somebody got employed. I would like to find out what mechanism has been put in place to ensure that, once the miners leave office, they will be helped to follow up on their past service with the company. Now that the mine numbers have changed, how will they achieve this?

Mr Liato: Mr Speaker, I hope the hon. Member does realise that ZCCM and KCM are two different companies. The benefits that have a chain from ZCCM to KCM are being tracked and on record and, therefore, should not bring any problems at all.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, considering that there appears to be suspicions by employees of KCM regarding the change of numbers, is the hon. Minister willing to consider advising KCM to explain this change to the workers and assure them that there is nothing sinister about it?

Mr Liato: Mr Speaker, I can say it is true that this has to do more with public relations and flow of information. We will encourage KCM management to interact more with the workers, through the representatives, so that this information is clearly relayed to them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Mr Speaker, a mine number is what I can describe as … 

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Ask a question.

Mr Chanda: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the change has been harmonised with institutions such as the Pneumoconiosis Bureau, the Mines Safety Department, the Workman’s Compensation Fund and National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA).

Mr Liato: Mr Speaker, this is what I said at the beginning and so I can only tell the hon. Member that the question has already been answered. I said that anything to be harmonised concerning benefits of employees had been already taken into account. What remains now is for management to explain to the workers what the changes mean and how secure their benefits are.

I thank you, Sir.

FEMALE CONVICTS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN

502. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a)    how many women of foreign origin were prosecuted and convicted in Zambia between January, 2007 and March, 2010; and 

(b)    what offences they committed.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Taima): Mr Speaker, Hon. Chisala seems to be very interested in matters of home affairs.

Laughter

Mr Taima: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that eight women of foreign origin were prosecuted and convicted in Zambia between January, 2007 and March, 2010.

One woman committed an offence of attempted murder while the seven committed the offence of leaving a refugee camp without a permit.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, the number eight is likely to swell any time …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Ask your question.

Laughter

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I would like to know what stop-gap measures the Government has put in place to reduce the number of offenders in the country.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Lungu): Mr Speaker, the number eight is considerably small.  However, should there be an increase, the ministry will take appropriate measures and we always encourage foreigners living in this country to abide by our laws and that is the way we want to proceed.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, I would like to know how many of the eight were married to Zambians and how many were deported.

Mr Lungu: Mr Speaker, that is a new question although I will attempt to answer it.  On the question of how many were married, I will have to check the details and provide an answer at an appropriate time. This also applies to the one in relation to how many were deported.

I thank you, Sir.
___________

BILLS

FIRST READING

THE COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled Competition and Consumer Protection. The object of this Bill is to continue the existence of the Zambia Competition Commission and re-name it as the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; safeguard and promote competition; protect consumers against unfair trade practices; provide for the establishment of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal; repeal and replace the Competition and Fair Trading Act, 1994; and provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Labour. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 27th July, 2010. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions or amendments to the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

I thank you.

___________{mospagebreak}

MOTIONS

SECOND REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Second Report of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, for the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on 29th June, 2010.

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded? 

Mr Sikazwe (Chimbamilonga): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, your Committee is guided by the terms of reference as set out in the National Assembly Standing Orders. 

Mr Speaker, going by its terms of reference, your Committee considered five topical issues and the Action-Taken Report on your previous Committee’s report for 2009.  It also undertook local tours.  

Your Committee’s report is, therefore, in four parts.  The first part deals with topical issues while the second part is on the Action-Taken Report of your previous Committee’s report for 2009.  The third part is on the local tours and the fourth part is the conclusion.

Mr Speaker, it is my belief that hon. Members have had the opportunity to read the report.  As such, I will only highlight the salient issues that caught the attention of your Committee during its deliberations and local tours.

Mr Speaker, let me begin by giving a brief analysis of Zambia’s Gun Amnesty Programme vis-a-vis karavina activity in the Western and North-Western provinces.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: Yah! It is just that karavinas are criminals.

Dr Machungwa: Following various submissions by witnesses who appeared before your Committee and the tour to Kaoma and Lukulu districts of Western Province, your Committee notes that karavina is a criminal activity which involves hiring assassins to eliminate individuals using illegal firearms.  The victims are people suspected of using witchcraft or allegedly owe money to those who hire the assassins.  For this and other reasons, the Government of Zambia, in 2000, introduced the Gun Amnesty Programme whose main aim was to reduce the number of illegal firearms which were in the hands of members of the public by offering monetary incentives to those who surrendered the illegal weapons and that such people were not to be prosecuted.  This way, it was hoped that the karavina activity would be curbed.  However, your Committee observes that the karavina activities are highly secretive and require a multifaceted approach to have them curbed.  

While noting that karavina activities have been decreasing because of the Gun Amnesty Programme, your Committee is concerned that a large number of firearms are still in the wrong hands and this situation can culminate into criminal activities such as banditry in various parts of the country.

Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the affected districts and border posts be allocated with 4 x 4 vehicles or boats equipped with VHF radios and other logistics to enable them undertake patrols in the areas and sensitise communities effectively.  

Your Committee also urges the Government to ensure that there is consistent and timely funding for cash payment for surrendered firearms so as to capture the ones that are still in the wrong hands. It implores the Government to increase the funding for the Western and North-Western provinces to enable security personnel follow and investigate karavina cases.  

The Government should deploy adequate security personnel in the affected areas and involve local leaders in setting up village or community security committees.   

Mr Speaker, from the tour findings, your Committee recommends that the Government increases the budgetary allocation for the Gun Amnesty Programme and ensures that it is decentralised so as to enable district joint operations committees (DJOCs) make payments on the spot for surrendered guns. Currently, it may take a long time before those who surrender guns receive the money. 

Sensitisation of the communities through the use of traditional and church leaders on the Gun Amnesty Programme and karavina activities should be intensified.  

Further, your Committee urges the Government to establish police posts in areas affected by karavina activities.  

Mr Speaker, your Committee also urges the Government to consider introducing other user friendly institutions such as traditional leaders’ committees rather than the police to pay on the spot and collect the guns surrendered to avoid allegations that the police subject those surrendering firearms to harsh interrogations.  

Your Committee also urges the Government to quickly investigate and take action on the allegations that the police command in Lukulu District are involved in corrupt practices and are working in collaboration with the people involved in karavina activities. 

Following submissions by witnesses and the subsequent tour of the Kamfinsa School of Public Order Maintenance, your Committee notes, with concern, that erratic and inadequate funding to the school has greatly affected its operations.  This has led to the dilapidation of infrastructure at the school.

Mr Speaker, your Committee, therefore, very strongly recommends that some funds be sourced urgently for some rehabilitation works at the Kamfinsa School of Public Order Maintenance.  

Mr Speaker, your Committee urges the Government to consider re-introducing the payment of subsistence allowances to officers on operations.  It also urges the Government to purchase adequate modern communication equipment and construct permanent structures in some urban areas in order to reduce the requirement for tents for the Police Mobile Unit.

Mr Speaker, your Committee, concerned with public statements attributed to various Government ministers on the transformation of the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Samora Machel Airport in Mbala into a commercial airport, decided to study in detail the proposals made.  

Your Committee is aware of the impact the commercialisation of the airport would have on the development of tourism in the Northern Circuit.  However, your Committee observes that no actual financial and economic feasibility studies have been carried out to determine the socio-economic potential of the airport.  

Your Committee also observes that some developmental works are taking place at the Kasama Airport, which is the provincial headquarters of the Northern Province and at Kasaba Bay Airport.

Mr Speaker, your Committee, while appreciating the importance of opening up the Northern Circuit to tourism through the use of the ZAF Samora Machel Base Airport and the Government’s decision to first develop the Kasaba Bay Airport, recommends that the airport be maintained for the sole purpose it was established and that adequate budgetary allocations be made to ZAF for the maintenance of the airport.  Commercialising that airport would, in the view of your Committee, jeopardise its function of training and also compromise national security.  

Your Committee is also of the view that, instead of commercialising this airport, the Government should develop Kasaba Bay and Kasama into international airports.  

Your Committee notes with pleasure that the two airports already have basic infrastructure and some works have already begun to improve and upgrade the airports.

Mr Speaker, let me now briefly turn to the Action-Taken Report on your Committee’s report for 2009.  Your previous Committee had urged the Government to allocate funds towards the construction of an army barracks at Kawambwa.

From the Action Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Luapula Regional Command had submitted the papers concerning the conversion of the customary land where the barracks is to be constructed to State land.  To this effect, the Ministry of Defence was working with the Ministry of Lands to ensure that the process of issuing title deeds for the same was quickened.

Your Committee, while appreciating the response, urges the Government to quicken the process of establishing an army barracks at Kawambwa in Luapula Province in order to address security concerns in that part of the country and wish to be updated on the matter without much delay. 

Lastly, the hon. Members of your Committee are grateful to you, Sir, for the support rendered to them throughout the year. They are indebted to all the stakeholders who appeared before them for their co-operation in providing the necessary memoranda and briefs. Hon. Members of your Committee are also very hopeful that the observations and recommendations contained in their report will receive active attention from the Government.

Finally, Sir, your Committee wishes to express its appreciation to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the invaluable and tireless assistance rendered throughout their deliberations.

Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Sikazwe: Now, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion ably moved by the Chairperson, I wish to commend him and the entire membership of your Committee for the friendly manner in which we worked.  I wish to also take this opportunity to pay tribute to all stakeholders for sparing their time in order to interact with your Committee on matters contained in the report.

Sir, let me start with the operations of Zambia’s missions abroad.  Your Committee notes, with concern, that missions abroad have continued to face operational difficulties in the implementation of their mandate mainly due to the erratic and inadequate funding, resulting in incurring high utility bills and maintenance costs that require regular and steady funding.  

Your Committee is also concerned at the pace of accessing and processing information in missions abroad and other Government ministries due to inbuilt bureaucracy.  However, your Committee wishes to commend the Government in facilitating the connection and use of modern communication equipment to missions abroad.

Your Committee, therefore, recommends that adequate budgetary allocations be provided and released timely to enable missions abroad carry out their mandate and enhance their smooth operations.  These funds must take into account exchange rates and the cost of living in the affected countries.  

Your Committee also urges the Government to address the issue of bureaucracy in Government ministries.  It further urges the Government to consider appointing education attachés in order to look at education and the welfare of students studying abroad.  

In addition, your Committee is of the view that in order to reduce the high cost of establishing new missions, the Government should consider appointing honorary consular officials to represent the country where we have no representation.

Your Committee also notes that in 2008, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a conference for heads of mission in an effort to address challenges facing missions abroad.  Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to implement the resolutions of the conference.

With regard to activities at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), your Committee notes the elections that took place in the PAP and are happy to report that at least one female hon. Member of Parliament from Zambia, Mrs Elizabeth K. Chitika-Molobeka (MP), who is also a hon. Member of your Committee, was elected as the first female chairperson of a regional caucus representing the Southern African Region.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Your Committee also takes note of the recommendations from the PAP Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture and Natural Resources on climate change and are happy to report that your Committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism tackled the issue of climate change in their programme of work for 2010.

On the recommendations from the PAP Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology, your Committee urges the Government to scale up in the provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities in the country, especially in remote areas.  It also urges the Government to ensure that there is no duplication of work in the development of ICT facilities by investors.  This will go a long way in reducing the cost of doing business, and thus economically developing the country.

Mr Speaker, as regards the Action-Taken-Report, your previous Committee had urged the Government to develop a programme to sensitise the public on the formation of the proposed Union Government of Africa. In response to the Action-Taken Report, your Committee heard that efforts to set up a sensitisation team had reached an advanced stage.  The team was to be composed of:

(a)    Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

(b)    Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services;

(c)    Ministry of Finance and National Planning;

(d)    Ministry of Defence; and

(e)    Office of the President.

Your Committee, while appreciating the Government’s efforts in coming up with the sensitisation team, is of the view that the Ministry of Education be included in the team and wishes to be updated on the matter.

Mr Speaker, your previous Committee had urged the Government to consider setting up of a think-tank team to analyse the proposal for the Union Government of Africa. Your Committee heard that the Government was in the process of setting up a think-tank team consisting of:

(a)    Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

(b)    Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services;

(c)    Ministry of Justice;

(d)    Ministry of Defence; 

(e)    Ministry of Home Affairs; and

(f)    academicians.

Mr Speaker, your Committee, while appreciating the Government’s efforts in setting up a think-tank team, is of the view that the Ministries of Finance and National Planning and Commerce, Trade and Industry be included on the team and wishes to be updated on the matter.

Mr Speaker, regarding local tours for 2010, as the Chairperson has already stated, your Committee observes that the Kamfinsa Police Training School infrastructure is in a deplorable state due to erratic and inadequate funding.  

Your Committee is, therefore, appealing to the Executive to source some emergency funds urgently for the rehabilitation works in order to bring the school to some acceptable learning standards.

Finally, Sir, your Committee’s findings in Lukulu District revealed that karavina activities are endangering the lives of members of the communities there.  This situation is made worse by inadequate police posts and also alleged corrupt practices and involvement in the activity by the police command there.  

Your Committee, therefore, urges the government to urgently investigate the matter and take action so as to prevent the looming conflict between the district police command and the community.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Imbwae (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, in supporting the report of your Committee, I want to acknowledge the support that we received from the ministers of Education, Defence and Home Affairs regarding the issue of security in Lukulu West. 

Mr Speaker, when we lost a teacher in Kasenda, I approached the three ministries for support and I am very grateful for what they did. It is unfortunate that, sometimes, things work in reverse, a bad situation helps to bring something good. We have been complaining about the karavina activities in Lukulu West and the vastness of the border that has not been covered by police presence for a very long time. The border is extremely porous and it had to take the demise of a teacher for the three ministries to come together. Unfortunately, we are still in a state where we are waiting for the patrols that have been recommended by your Committee.

Mr Speaker, I appreciate how stretched the budget for the Government is at the moment. Unfortunately, we are losing lives and many of those lives are not recorded because they are not noticed by the people to be recorded. Following the tours, we can actually confirm that there are more than 200 people that have lost their lives because of karavina activities. At the moment, hon. Minister of Education, there are no teachers at Kasenda because teachers are scared to go there. The trauma there is so much that no teacher can agree to stay in Kasenda. We have been saying that there will be patrols, but they have not seen the patrols and so the schools are deserted.

The hon. Minister of Home Affairs promised that this issue would be looked into. Unfortunately, it is not only Kasenda that is affected. Kakunju is equally affected and the teachers there live in great fear. At least, they have not deserted the school, but I am on the phone constantly reassuring them that the Government is doing something about their situation.

Mr Speaker, the collusion between the police command and the karavinas is something that was brought to the attention of the former hon. Ministers of Home Affairs. I think the Government is aware of what we reported. It is good that your Committee, in its independent investigations, has found out more about the issue. Unfortunately, there are many people who cannot even go to cultivate their fields because they are scared of the presence of the karavinas. Unfortunately, as the Chairperson of your Committee indicated, it is like a secret organisation, which people use to hide behind either witchcraft, unsurrendered firearms or whatever it is. The reality is that we do need police presence. If we cannot have a permanent structure, it means that patrols will be the fairest way to help the Government look after the people who are far from the police posts.

Mr Speaker, it is a long way from Kakunju, on foot, to come and report a crime in Lukulu East where we have a police station. I had requested the then Minister of Home Affairs to help us with either boats or a vehicle that would be stationed in Kashizhi Island to look after Kasenda and Chinowe areas and then another one to look after the mainland. Unfortunately, I think the high turnover of ministers in the ministry has meant that we keep starting afresh every time there is a change in that level. 

Mr Speaker, this is not to say that the problem is not there. It is also not to say that the problem is not appreciated because the hon. Ministers who I have talked to have shown that they are committed to helping us deal with the issue of karavinas. However, the time in between what we discuss and its implementation is the problem for the people of Lukulu West.

Mr Speaker, I do not want to take too long except to mention that if, for example, the recommendations of the Committee were adopted …

Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON in the Chair]

Ms Imbwae: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that the recommendations of the Committee with regard to conducting regular patrols in the constituency would help us curb this problem of karavinas. If it is difficult for the Government to immediately build a police post and also provide us with the four vehicles that we requested for, could the Government, at least, provide VHF radios to the head teachers because they are the focal point persons people can run to when there is a problem. 

Otherwise, I support the report of the Committee and I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, I want to support your Committee’s report. I am very grateful that you have given me the Floor for the first time.

This report is very important because it has brought out issues that were silent. The issue of karavinas is becoming a very big problem. I know that this started from the Western Province.

Mr Speaker, our friends in the Western Province have a word which they have been using for years called kunu. This kunu business of the Western Province is getting out of hand. Whenever someone goes missing and you ask his/her whereabouts, they will say, “Wile mwa kunu”. This kunu, Hon. Mwangala, should be put to a stop.

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: This kunu, which has now been renamed karavina has an aspect of witchcraft and people die from its activities. It has now extended to us, poor people, in the Southern Province. For instance, in Dundumwenzi, you heard of Mr Sibulyobulyo being killed. It has also gone to Mapatizya and Sinazongwe. I think this is happening because the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwandi (Mr Kaingu) is in Choma and he has imported this kunu into the Southern Province.

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: We want to appeal to the Ministry of Defence to act decisively for once. If we keep hearing stories and not acting upon them, this country will be engulfed with this kunu business. This kunu business is done secretly using witchcraft and there is no evidence of it. I think it is purely psychological because those involved cannot be seen. So, now that this Committee has brought the truth on the Floor of the House, I want Kakunyu School, which was earlier talked about by the hon. Member for Lukulu West, to be provided with teachers. No teacher will go there until the Government solves this security problem because they are scared. A person like me who does not like the use of guns can run away. I think it is important to protect Zambians. It is high time the hon. Minister of Defence worked hand in hand with the hon. Minister of Home Affairs to look into this issue. 

Sir, I remember, sometime back, the Government used to send soldiers to patrol the affected areas, especially borders, but this has since stopped. Though Zambia is a peaceful nation, it is important for the soldiers to be deployed, again, in the affected areas. The First Republican President used to intensify clean-up exercises by rounding up all illegal immigrants with no proper documents in areas such as Chibolya in Lusaka. When is the Government going to conduct such exercises? We should not wait until the kunus or karavinas move to Lusaka. I think it is important to take steps before they start attacking our homes because the small guns that we have will not help in any way. The karavinas use AK- 47s. Therefore, I urge the Government to take this particular issue seriously because karavinas are spreading fast and have reached as far as Dundumwezi. The Government should stop this bad activity. I know my friend, Hon. Mwangala, is avoiding to comment.

Hon. UPND Members: Hon. Mwangala is there.

Mr Muntanga: There is only Hon. Mufalali.

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: I hope this issue of karavinas will be looked into seriously. Otherwise, Lukulu will not develop. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mrs Mwamba (Lukashya): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to begin by commending your Committee for a well-thought-out report. I would also like to congratulate you, Sir, on a well-deserved elevation.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, I will be brief because I will only comment on one aspect of the report. I would like to talk about the Mbala Airport, which is now called the Samora Machel Airport, and Kasama Airport. In our efforts, as a nation, to develop this country, we must tread very carefully. I say so because the Samora Machel Airport is a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) base. For security reasons, I do not believe that we should open it up to foreigners or tourists. This airport must be guarded jealously so that we do not expose ourselves to outside interference.

 As regards the Kasama Airport, although, the other day, the Vice-President and Minister of Justice alluded to the fact that we have been saying that the Government has done nothing in Kasama, this is not true. We appreciate the works that are going on. I personally have toured the airport and seen the works that have been done. All we are asking is for the Government to quickly complete the works. Kasama is the headquarters of the Northern Province. Let it remain an international airport. I urge the Government to quickly complete the works. The Government should attach importance to this airport because it is in a provincial headquarters. Once Kasama is turned into an international airport, the tourism potential of the area will be enhanced and it will attract more tourists.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): I thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to debate the report that is on the Floor of this House.

In the first instance, Mr Speaker, permit me to congratulate you on going through an election process unopposed. Let me also extend my message of congratulations and welcome to my dear brother, Hon. Elliot Kamondo.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: I congratulate him, Mr Speaker, on putting up a gallant fight. My brother is most welcome. We have shared good experiences and I know he will make a good hon. Member of Parliament in this august House. His business acumen and high profile will ...

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! 

The hon. Member will debate the Motion.

You may continue.

Mr Muyanda: ... propel the United Party for National Development (UPND) forward. 

As I draw to the UPND and Patriotic Front (PF) Pact, since we are together, … 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! 

The hon. Member should debate the Motion.

You may continue.

Mr Muyanda: Thank you. As I support the Motion, I congratulate the Chairperson on moving this Motion, which is founded on the truth, very well. 

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Muyanda: The security of the nation is at risk. Terrorism has reached dangerous levels. In fact, it has already reached the constituency of the Vice-President and Minister of Justice. We have read about reports ...

Mr Muntanga: Terrorism!

Mr Muyanda: ... of people who are attacking …

Hon. Opposition Member: Armed?

Mr Muyanda: Yes, they are. It is a fact and has been reported.

These are not minor issues that we can giggle and whisper about, but matters of internal security. It is a known fact that some people in Chitambo have been attacked by armed people. 

In Sinazongwe, there is a group of people ...

Hon. Member: Thugs.

Laughter

Mr Muyanda: ... called Bakanjani ...

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, I am getting concerned with the manner in which the hon. Member is trying to mislead the public by saying that there is terrorism in my constituency. 

Hon. Opposition Member: Your neighbour’s.

Laughter

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Mr Speaker, is it in order for the hon. Member to mislead the public? I know he was trying to refer to some incident in the Luano Valley, but this is not in my constituency. Is he in order to mislead the public in that manner?

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Member will take into account the point of order and avoid creating situations where other hon. Members interrupt his debate. 

You may continue, please.

Mr Muyanda: Mr Speaker, I thank you. I would like to make it clear that Serenje District is terrorised by gun running criminals.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: Sinazongwe is not an exception. 

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: These criminals are there in Sinazongwe, but they are not called karavinas. They are referred to as bakanjani. Three weeks ago, one was gunned down by the police. The other one escaped via the Zambezi River into a neighbouring country. We hope that the one who was arrested will give details about his colleagues.

Mr Speaker, this has spread from the Southern Province. The bakanjani are serious people. After grabbing a peasant farmer’s cows, they will tell him to climb a tree and ask him to come down, saying, “Kanjani kuseluka”, meaning I am asking for permission to come down now. 

Laughter

Mr Muyanda: This is serious terrorism in an area which once was a war zone.

Mr Speaker, may I deliver a cardinal point on internal security. The police at Maamba Mine have no vehicle. There is no police along the border from Siampondo towards Sinazongwe and that is a stretch of over 150 kilometres. That is quite a distance. Let us provide the police with simple logistics. One pick up vehicle will suffice in an area like Sinazongwe. It will help the police curb crime. This is a living fact and not a story. I am commissioned to tell the truth and I am being truthful about it.

Sir, the bakanjanis, who are grabbing cattle from peasant farmers, and the acts of terrorism now prevailing in Sinazongwe are sponsored by some of the criminals in our midst. 

A few days ago, there was a report from the Mikango farming community that a group of people had assembled in readiness to terrorise farmers. Mikango Barracks is just here in the hills. This is not a joke. It is not a matter we should leave unattended to. Let us mobilise ourselves and organise security within our own country.

Mr Speaker, this report has been competently presented before the House.

With these few words, I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to debate on this important Motion, which has been ably presented by the Chairperson of your Committee and, also, seconded effectively. I also commend the entire Committee for a very good report.

Sir, the issue of karavinas is a very serious one that needs to be resolved because people’s lives are being lost. If not resolved, it has the potential to spread to other places such as the Copperbelt.

Sir, in certain places in my constituency, such as Chiwele, Mupena, Twalubuka and Kamukolwe, people are threatened by a person who has been moving with a gun and they fear for their lives. So far, about four people have been killed.

It is important that we ensure the arrest of people moving with guns. We must arrest them wherever they are, including Serenje.

We are talking about criminals who are threatening the lives of people. People are scared and need the assistance of the Government.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: The Government should set up police posts in these localities to help people. In Kantanshi Constituency, people could not cultivate the land properly for fear of being killed by the so-called serial killers who were killing people all over. Harvest time was equally problematic. After the harvest, we have seen the increase in the number of serial killers. I am asking the Government to look into this issue seriously.

Mr Chongo: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised

Mr Chongo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to raise a point of order. 

Sir, is the debater in order not to mention that, in his constituency, even hon. Members of Parliament are receiving death threats from thugs? Is he in order to keep quiet about that?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Member will not use a point of order to debate. May the hon. Member debating, continue.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Opposition Members: Long live the Chair!

Mr Mukanga: I thank you, Mr Speaker. The bumper harvest we are talking about in Kantanshi would have been even bigger if not for the security concerns which, I believe, the Government can handle. It is important that the Government looks into this issue seriously to stop the trend.

Sir, on the arms amnesty which started in 2000, I think there is a need to make the terms more attractive. People who surrender guns must be given more money than the current K500,000.  

If we do that, criminals who are moving around with guns will surrender them. The guns are in wrong hands. Some people are using them to campaign.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: It is important that guns are surrendered and criminals brought to book.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: If the criminals are not brought to book, they will be moving around with guns. If they do not shoot other people, they might even shoot us.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: It is important that the known criminals are taken to their rightful destination.

Mr Speaker, the known criminals should be arrested. As for those we do not know, let us attract them with the amnesty.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: If we promise to give K500,000 for a gun that is surrendered, and yet do not pay when a gun is surrendered for lack of money, we will be creating a problem. I have seen such situations. Can we make the money available for this exercise and give more than K500,000. That is when more people will be attracted to hand in the guns. The guns must be brought to the State for safekeeping. 

Mr Speaker, licences for guns should be given to genuine people with proper track records and not people with bad temperaments …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: … because they will be killing people. It is important that we look at these issues seriously.

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

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Professor Phiri): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for according me an opportunity to contribute to the debate on this Motion. From the outset, I would like to state that I will confine my debate to the few issues pertaining to foreign affairs.

First of all, I wish to acknowledge, with many thanks, the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs for producing a very good report.

Sir, on Page 3 of this report, your Committee examined the operations of Zambia’s missions abroad and noted that their mandate was derived from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission and goal statements. The mission reads, and I quote:

“To effectively promote and protect Zambia’s interest and maintain good international relations in order to contribute to sustainable development.”

 Mr Speaker, the goal statement is, and I quote:

“To safeguard Zambia’s interest and promote proactive diplomacy in order to contribute to national prosperity.”

Mr Speaker, clearly, your Committee has noted the vital roles which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays for the benefit of Zambia, in particular. There are two main roles which preoccupy the ministry. These are:

(i)    to foster peace, security and good neighbourliness through political diplomacy; and

(ii)    enhance Zambia’s socio-economic development through economic diplomacy.

Mr Speaker, political diplomacy was particularly visible between 1964 and 1990, the period commonly known as the Kaunda era, which contributed to the liberation struggle of Southern Africa. I am sure that all well-meaning Zambians agree that without peace and security, there could be no meaningful development.

Sir, although political diplomacy is, currently, less pronounced, it is still active. For example, Zambia has played a central role in bringing about relative peace in neighbouring Zimbabwe and the Great Lakes Region. Therefore, political diplomacy will continue to be applied as long as conflicts in the world continue to show their unwelcome heads.

Mr Speaker, the current dominant feature of our foreign policy is economic diplomacy which is intended to contribute to Zambia’s sustainable development. On Page 3, your Committee is correct to state that, and I quote:

“Therefore, diplomatic missions were mandated to translate the good political relations between Zambia and other countries of accreditation into strong and vibrant economic ties and enhanced cultural exchange through economic diplomacy and aggressive interaction and representation throughout the world.”

Sir, thus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its missions abroad, should be seen as Zambia’s partner in development. One of the objectives of the ministry, as stated in your Committees report, clearly articulates this point, and I quote:

“Effective and efficient facilitation and promotion of regional and co-operation activities and facilitation of development co-operation in order to contribute towards Zambia’s socio-economic development through:

(i)    soliciting of investment to Zambia from host countries of mission and other countries of accreditation through Joint Permanent Commissions (JPCs);

(ii)    increasing trade between Zambia and the host countries and other countries of extra accreditation;

(iii)    promoting Zambia as a tourist destination or attraction to other countries; and 

(iv)    soliciting for appropriate technology which is applicable in Zambia.”

Mr Speaker, recently, this highly progressive Government led by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other line ministries, has seen major successes in the area of international trade and investment which we should all be proud of. Therefore, the ministry should not be seen as one which wastes tax payers’ money, but as an income generator for the benefit of the country.

Sir, we appreciate your Committee’s recommendations on Page 4, and I quote:

“Adequate budgetary allocations be provided and released timely to enable Zambia’s missions abroad carry out their mandate and enhance their smooth operations.”

Mr Speaker, it is hoped that the House will support increased funding of the ministry in future since its …

Hon. Opposition Members: Swara!

Laughter

Professor Phiri: … mandate is central to the economic development of the country.

Sir, on Page 4 of the report, your Committee observed that our missions abroad spend a 
lot of money through rentals. In some cases, the rented buildings are in extremely poor condition. To this effect, the House may wish to know that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will, from now on, be allowed to purchase its own property, especially where the mission is allowed by the host country to access loan facilities. 

Mr Speaker, finally, I wish to thank your Committee, once again, for applauding my ministry in facilitating the communication connection and effective use of modern communication equipment to Zambia’s missions abroad and to report that all the remaining seven missions will be fully connected as the modern equipment is, currently, at the Lusaka International Airport awaiting dispatch to Vienna, Moscow, Geneva, Berlin, Rome, Brussels and Kuala Lumpur.

With these few words, …

Laughter

Professor Phiri: … I support your Committee’s report.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Professor Phiri: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Taima): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to briefly contribute to the debate on this very objective report which was well compiled and presented by your Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.

In beginning my brief comments, I would like to start by commenting on the issue of the gun amnesty. The gun amnesty is one out of the several measures that the Government has put in place to combat crime that involves guns. As correctly brought out by your Committee, this programme was introduced a couple of years ago. It is true that from inception, this programme was not well supported for several reasons. Therefore, I agree with the observations made in the report that one of the reasons was that of the amounts that were being offered as a reward for every gun surrendered not competitive. It is true and the Government has accepted this reality. 

This is the reason, over the years, the amount being given in return for any gun that has been surrendered has been revised upwards. I would like to mention, on the Floor of this House that, currently, the amount we are offering for any gun surrendered, as a Government, stands at K1 million and not K500,000 or, indeed, the other amounts mentioned. Further, I want to mention that there are proposals subject to approval to revise this amount upwards. This is so because the Government is very determined to ensure that it combats the crimes that involve guns in the country. This is not the only measure the Government has embarked on to try and ensure that these crimes are reduced. There are several other measures such as the introduction of sensitisation programmes. We do know that this is one issue which requires a lot of sensitisation programmes because the reward can entice people to surrender guns but, coupled with properly conducted sensitisation programmes, more people can volunteer to surrender their arms. 

Mr Speaker, funds permitting, the Ministry of Home Affairs has plans to embark on serious radio and television sensitisation programmes on various stations. In this light, as I end my comments on gun amnesty, I would like to call upon all members of the public to continue coming forth to surrender all guns that could be in their position without fear of being prosecuted or questioned on how they came into possession of those firearms and they will be rewarded. 

Mr Speaker, let me comment further on the Kamfinsa School of Public Order and Maintenance. I would like to begin by mentioning, with emphasis, that the Government, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, attaches a lot of importance to this school. Indeed, the services that are provided by this institution are of great importance to the nation. 

Yes, we are aware that this institution is facing a number of challenges. In fact, there are many, some of which have not been cited in this report. For example, I can mention that this college does not have a dinning hall, and yet officers are trained at this institution. What I would like to mention here is that we have plans to try and ensure that we make things a lot better at this institution. To this effect, specific provisions for Kamfinsa to receive a reasonable facelift are being made for inclusion in the next budget. 

Mr Speaker, with support from this House, if the figures we are proposing are going to be approved, we look forward to addressing some of the challenges and concerns that have been raised by your honourable Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. 

Mr Speaker, may I just make a few comments on the much-talked-about karavinas. I want to mention that we do not intend to underplay any of the observations that are being made by the hon. Members of this House on the seriousness of this matter because it is true that this is a matter of concern to the Government. In this regard, the Government believes that the issue of karavinas requires a wholesome approach. It is not only a matter to be looked at by the Ministry of Home Affairs alone, but also other ministries and members of the local communities in which these activities of killing people are taking place also have to come on board and play a role. 

Sir, I want to mention that we have a joint security team which is currently handling the matter. I will not go into the details of what this joint security team is. Suffice to say that we have a team which is currently looking into this matter. 

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services is also playing a role, especially from the sensitisation angle. Other ministries such as the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education are also playing their roles. 

Mr Speaker, all things being equal, we are going to send a team of paramilitary police officers into these areas, particularly the Western and North-Western provinces. This is intended to ensure that we respond to the concerns of security which are being raised by the hon. Members of this House and members of the local communities in which these activities are taking place. 

Sir, as I conclude, I want to mention that the Government is very thankful to one private company which has donated a machine for firearm true marking to the Zambia Police Force. Funds permitting, this machine is going to enable the ministry and specifically the Zambia Police Force to go round the nation and have all firearms marked. This will make it easy for us to identify which gun has been used in which criminal activity and easily get to know who the owner of such a gun is. Truly, Mr Speaker, I can only urge hon. Members to report all such cases to the police because this is the only way we will move in and try and redress the situation. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to end by thanking your Committee for this very well-drafted report and mention that we have taken note of the recommendations. I would like to give an assurance here that appropriate measures are being taken to redress all the concerns and negative observations.

I thank you, Mr Speaker. {mospagebreak}

The Minister of Health (Mr Simbao): Mr Speaker, I would like to address one issue in the report which has to do with the Mbala Airport. It is very disheartening to hear what your Committee came up with concerning the Mbala Airport. There are issues that must be appreciated in this particular area. Mbala Airport is a military base airport. We must know that before Mbala Airport was established, there was an airport which was used by the International Red Locust Control Service. At the time of establishing Mbala, there were requests to have a commercial airport built, but this never happened for various reasons. I want to state that the purpose the Mbala Airport was built to serve is no longer there. Most of the activities have been moved to the Livingstone Airport. What is there now is not what Mbala Airport was meant for.

Mr Speaker, I do not want to go into those details, but the point I want to raise is that it is surprising to hear that some people want the airport maintained for some security reason to serve purely as a military airport. I do not understand the breach of security the Committee is talking about. If you look at airports such as the Lusaka and Livingstone airports, they serve more than one purpose. Mbala is one area where you can grow this country economically. For those who have not been there, Mbala has the Kalambo Falls with one of the best gorges in the world. You cannot say people should be driving from Kasama to Mbala. They will not manage. Mbala must stand on its own. It has attractive features that make it unique. 

Sir, Mpulungu is only 40 km from Mbala and it has one of the best natural and longest lakes in this world. I, therefore, do not understand why we should continuously deny Mbala a commercial airport. 

Interruptions

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like to express our displeasure, as people of Mbala, for we cannot continuously be tied down. It is important that your Committee should have looked at what should be done to make Mbala a commercial airport.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Minister of Defence (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of this House. Before I proceed, please, allow me to congratulate the new hon. Members of the House on their victory in the terrorism by-elections.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear! 

Dr Mwansa: Our congratulations go out to Hon. Watson Lumba, Member for Milanzi Constituency, …

Interruptions

Dr Mwansa: I beg your pardon. Hon Watson Banda, Member for Milanzi Constituency and …

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Mwansa: … Hon Elliot Kamondo for Mufumbwe Constituency …

Hon. MMD Members: Aah!    

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Mwansa: I join other hon. Members of Parliament who have welcomed them to this House. In the same vein, I would like to congratulate Hon. Mkhondo Lungu on his appointment as hon. Minister of Home Affairs. I would also like to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Committees of the Whole House. 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, I wish to state that this report is very well written. I commend the Chairperson and the entire Committee for a very good piece of work. I wish to briefly comment on two issues which are Mbala Airport and the welfare of our men and women in uniform. 

Mr Speaker, as your Committee observed, Mbala Airport was handed over to the Ministry of Defence by the then Ministry of Transport and Works in the 1970s. It has since remained a military base and the surrounding area, a prohibited flying zone. It is now a major training centre as well. The decision to transfer the airport to the Ministry of Defence was arrived at after careful assessment of security concerns and threats to our country. 

Mr Speaker, as a ministry, we have taken note of your Committee’s recommendation that even though there may be compelling reasons for commercialising the aerodrome and opening it to civilian use as a way of boosting tourism in the area, the facility should be allowed to maintain the sole purpose for which it was created. Further consultations may be instituted with relevant institutions to ensure that even future economic interests do not compromise security concerns. I, therefore, wish to appreciate the comments by Hon. Mrs Mwamba, who is not in the House, on this matter. The Ministry of Defence and the Zambia Air Force will continue to source funds from the Treasury to maintain the aerodrome as well as improve the facilities available. 

Mr Speaker, the welfare of men and women in uniform in the three services, namely Zambia Army, ZAF and Zambia National Service (ZNS), is a matter of paramount concern to all of us at the ministry headquarters. We have visited cantonments and we have appreciated the scale of challenges we face in the area of welfare in general and the field of accommodation, water and sanitation, in particular. 

Mr Speaker, plans are underway to construct a total of 9,000 units. These units will be constructed on land already identified in existing cantonments as well as land yet to be identified. All the three services will benefit in equal measure in accordance with the level of personnel. Plans to source funding for the construction of the first half of the 9,000 units are very advanced. 

Regarding water and sanitation challenges that the ZNS is facing, I want to state that ZNS units do not entirely depend on council water. They depend mostly on boreholes and treated water from boreholes, rivers and streams. However, the Ministry of Defence, the ZNS and the Ministry of Energy and Water Development are liaising to see how they can put up fifty boreholes in cantonments experiencing lower water yields or where boreholes have dried up or are drying up. These fifty boreholes will be distributed nationwide. 

Mr Speaker, a piece of land has, indeed, been identified in Senior Chief Mushota’s area in Kawambwa District for the construction of an army barracks. I wish to confirm that the Ministry of Defence is working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Lands to conclude the formalities of title issuance, thereafter construction will commence. 

Mr Speaker, a detailed submission will be made on the Action-Taken Report on all matters raised. Once again, I wish to commend your Committee for a good big piece of work and for accordingly supporting the adoption of the report. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you, once again, and I congratulate you on taking the high Chair for the first time. I hope you will stay long. 

Mr Speaker, in winding up debate, I am pleased to note that the Ministry of Home Affairs has indicated that they have increased the amount to be paid to those who surrender guns from K500,000 to K1 million. At the time your Committee was sitting, and according to submissions from the Ministry of Defence and the Police Force, the amount was K500,000. We are pleased to note that it has been increased. This shows that the Government is committed to fighting the karavinas. 

We are also pleased to learn that the Government will do something about the Kamfisa School of Public Order Maintenance.  The hon. Deputy Minister said some issues like that of the dining hall were not covered in the report. This is not true. The matter is on page 17 of the report. We have shown graphic pictures of the deplorable state of the dining hall and other infrastructure. We are pleased that the Government will be taking up this matter. 

We are happy to also learn that the Government is seriously taking up the issue of fighting crime. 

Mr Speaker, the commercialisation of Mbala Airport is a matter that your Committee did not wish to discuss in detail because the base surrounding the airport provides certain training not offered elsewhere in the country. We were not at liberty to discuss this because it is a security matter. We hope that the security of the country will not be compromised for some gain in tourism, especially now that we are building the Kasaba Bay and Kasama airports with the hope that they become international airports. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank all the hon. Members of Parliament, including the two hon. Deputy Ministers and the two Cabinet Ministers who supported the report. 

Thank you, Sir. 

Question put and agreed to.     

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_____

The House adjourned at 1154 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 15th July, 2010.

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

CONTRACTORS AND BUILDING MATERIALS

W52.  Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Education:

(a)    why the suppliers of building materials for classroom blocks in sixteen stations in Chilubi Parliamentary Constituency did not supply the requested quantities within the stipulated time:

(b)    why the ministry awarded the contract to suppliers and contractors from Kasama, and yet Chilubi Parliamentary Constituency had qualified local contractors and suppliers;

(c)    why the contractors at (b) were not subjected to interviews before commencement of works in 2009; and 

(d)    why the contractors at the following basic schools did not pay the causal workers:

(i)    Mwanambulu    
(ii)    Shitimali;
(iii)    Fube; and     
(iv)    Mayuka

The Minister of Education (Ms Siliya): Mr Speaker, the suppliers were not given the orders on time due to the fact that the funds were released late. The district first selected contractors from Chilubi, but the projects were more than the local contractors could handle. Therefore, the contracts were extended to other contractors from Kasama.

The contractors were interviewed by officers from Chilubi District Council and the District Education Board Secretary’s (DEBS) office;

Sir, the contractors engaged casual workers. This meant that the conditions of payment were agreed upon by the contractor and the causal workers themselves because it is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Education to pay causal workers engaged by contractors.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

W53. Mr Malama (Mfuwe) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:
    
(a)     how much foreign direct investment the Government had attracted from 2000 to date, by year and by sector; and

(b)    of the State enterprises at (b), how many had been privatised as of December, 2009. 

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mutati):  Mr Speaker, the positive increase was a result of the improved investment climate characterised by stability in major macro-economic indicators, arising from prudent economic management by the Government. The upsurge in the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) trends is consistent with global FDI trends, as reported in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) World Investment Report of 2009.

There were 171 companies prior to the commencement of the privatisation exercise in 1992. About 265 units and companies have been sold. The number of privatised companies/units is more than the original number of companies because some companies were split into operating units countrywide and the units were privatised individually. For example, the Industrial Development Corporation (INDECO), Zambia Hotel Properties, ZADL Farms Limited, Mulungushi Investments Limited and the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (ZCCM).

I thank you, Sir.

LIQUIDATION OF PRIVATE COMPANIES

W54. Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

(a)    how many private companies were liquidated from 2006 to 2009;

(b)    what the causes of the liquidation of the companies were; and 

(c)    what measures the Government had put in place to sustain private companies.

Mr Mutati: Mr, Speaker, the number of private companies which were liquidated from 2006 to 2009 is 163. 

The majority of liquidations were due to the inability to pay debt and other liabilities as and when they fell due. A few others were wound-up by court order, while others, by voluntarily wound-up. The Government has, through the Private Sector Development Reform Programme, implemented a number of reforms aimed at creating a favourable business environment for businesses to start, develop and grow.

One of the key reform areas implemented is the Business Licensing Reforms. The objective of these reforms is to substantially reduce the number of unnecessary licence and licensing procedures. In the reforms, the business registration process has been significantly reduced and made simpler. These measures have had the impact of saving resources which companies can invest to sustain and grow their business.

Furthermore, the creation of the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission is intended to facilitate the capacity of local business to participate in economic development.  Through the various empowerment programmes, local enterprises are being exposed to new opportunities for their businesses, in particular, access to cheaper capital for their businesses.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

WESTERN PROVINCE OIL DEPOSITS

W55. Ms Limata (Luampa) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development how many places in the Western Province had oil deposits and what their quantities were:

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Mr Speaker, there are no known quantities of oil and gas deposits in the Western Province. However, the microbial analytical results from the Microbiological Laboratory in Germany indicated high potential for petroleum in the following areas in the Western Province:

(i)    Kalabo;
(ii)    Liuwa;
(iii)    Lukulu;
(iv)    Luampa; and
(v)    Senanga.

Sir, the analytical technique is only qualitative and, therefore, indicative. There is a need to carry out detailed petroleum exploration up to drilling stage to determine the quantities of oil.

I thank you, Sir.

_______