DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 11th August, 2009

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES ON MPIKA/MUKUNGULE/CHISHALA ROAD

442. Mr Malama (Mfuwe) asked the Minister of Works and Supply when bridges would be constructed on the Mpika/Mukungule/Chishala Road.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Ndalamei): Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Works and Supply, through the Road Development Agency (RDA), is committed to the programme of replacing all the crossings that were washed away in the 2007/2008 rainy season. However, it has not been possible for the ministry to do this due to budgetary constraints.

Madam, funds permitting, the ministry, through the RDA, intends to make a provision for the detailed design, including the construction of bridges, on the Mpika/Mukungule/Chishala Road, in the 2010 Annual Work Plan.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

ADDITIONAL TRANSPORT FOR POLICE STATIONS IN NKANA CONSTITUENCY

443. Mr Mwenya (Nkana) asked the Minister of Home Affairs when additional transport would be provided to the following police stations in Nkana Parliamentary Constituency:

(i) Mindolo; and

(ii) Kitwe Central.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Mangani): Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been procuring motor vehicles in phases and once procured, these vehicles are distributed to divisions that did not benefit in previous phases. The programme of procuring motor vehicles is on-going.

Madam, as of now, Mindolo has one unreliable motor vehicle. The station was last issued with a Tata motor vehicle in 2005. In the interim, Mindolo Police Station is being assisted with transport by Kitwe District headquarters.

Madam Speaker, Kitwe Central Police Station has one Nissan motor vehicle which is also unreliable. The station was issued with a vehicle in 2004. Kitwe District headquarters was issued with a motor vehicle in 2006.

When more motor vehicles are procured to meet the demand of police stations countrywide, both Mindolo and Kitwe Central police stations will benefit at some stage.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwenya: Madam Speaker, that factual answer by the ministry indicates the pathetic situation of transport at Mindolo and Kitwe Central police stations. Since it is costly to purchase vehicles, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether they are considering purchasing motor cycles for police stations to ease the transport problem.

Mr Mangani: Madam Speaker, definitely, we may consider buying motor cycles for police stations. However, the real problem is that most police stations need the vehicles for operations such as ferrying criminals from one place to another. Therefore, if they are allocated motor cycles, it might not help much. Therefore, we definitely have to find money to buy more motor vehicles.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, what measures have been instituted to ensure that police vehicles have fuel all the time, especially for emergencies?

Mr Mangani: Madam Speaker, it may be extremely difficult for my ministry to ensure that all motor vehicles in police stations have fuel. However, the ministry allocates funds to police stations which unfortunately are inadequate. In the event that there are such difficulties and there is a serious operation to be carried out, the community can help.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister alluded to the fact that …

Mr Beene: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Is the point of order procedural?

Mr Beene: Yes, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: I hope it is on procedure. Do not bring newspapers here.

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Beene: Madam Speaker, I rarely raise points of order in this House. Is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs in order to keep quiet when the security of police officers in Itezhi-Itezhi and other stations in Southern Province has been compromised because they have not had electricity for the past one month? I need your serious ruling.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, after all the guidance of the Chair, would you say that constitutes a point of order?

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

That issue must be brought properly under the right category. That is not a point of order. There is nothing contained in it that has infringed on the situation in the House.

May the hon. Member of Parliament for Kankoyo continue.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister, in his answer, said that the vehicles at Mindolo and Kitwe Central police stations are not in good condition. Since the Management Service Board (MSB) went under, who repairs these vehicles?

Mr Mangani: Madam Speaker, the current arrangement is that, through the Office of the Provincial Permanent Secretary, police stations identify a garage that can service their vehicles. Once this has been confirmed by the provincial administration, the garage is recognised by the Government.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, how do they intend to curb crime in Kitwe when there is no transport for police officers?

Mr Matongo: On a point of order, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: You may continue hon. Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya.

Mr Matongo: Sorry, Madam, I have a point of order.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Switch off your microphone. You have not been granted the point of order.

Mr Mwango: Madam Speaker, I was saying that arising from the answer that the hon. Minister gave, I wonder how they intend to curb crime …

Mr Matongo: On a point of order, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Order!

Mr Kambwili crossed the Floor.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Kambwili, you were passing between the hon. Member speaking and the Chair.

Laughter{mospagebreak}

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Matongo: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Home Affairs has just asked the community to provide fuel whenever there is an emergency. Madam, around 1030 hours yesterday, at a place called Hamweele between Mapanza and Pemba, two young men who were buying maize and cattle were killed at the roadside by robbers. Their bodies and Hondas were left there and part of the money was found. The robbers took money from one of the gentlemen, but did not realise that the other one had money too. Is the hon. Minister in order not to ensure that police stations have minimum support for emergencies such as this one and not continuously ask the community for assistance? I say so because if I had not been in Pemba, the bodies would have been lying there probably until this morning. Is the Government in order not to ensure that the people in the rural areas are protected?

Madam Deputy Speaker: Serious as it may sound, the Chair does not think that should come as a point of order.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Serious as it may be, the Chair does not think that constitutes a point of order. In fact, it may be so serious that you need to ask it properly. When hon. Members are soliciting information, we expect it to be given properly. How do you expect an answer to come through a point of order?
Mr Matongo: It is in connection with what is on the Floor.

Madam Deputy Speaker: If the hon. Member wanted to ask on what is on the Floor, he should have simply indicated to ask a supplementary question. Will the hon. Member continue, please.

Mr Mwango: Madam Speaker, from the answer the hon. Minister gave earlier, may I find out how they expect to curb crime in Kitwe without transport?

Mr Mangani: Madam Speaker, I did mention that Kitwe District has transport. It is not only the availability of transport that helps deal with the problem of crime. There are several interventions needed to curb crime in the whole city.  For instance, you, as an hon. Member, can educate the public on the dangers of committing crime.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

2002 HEAVILY INDEBTED POOR COUNTRIES MONEY

Mr Mukanga asked the Minister of Lands:

(a) how much Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) money had been received by the ministry in 2002 and its intended use; and

(b) what percentage of the HIPC money received was for land demarcation projects.

The Deputy Minister of Lands (Mr Mabenga): Madam Speaker, K500 million was received by the ministry in 2002 and it was for the following uses:
 
 Purpose       Amount
        (K)

Advocacy and land demarcation      200,390,552

Alienation of land for agricultural use     199,609,448

Survey of Zambia Consolidated Copper   100,000,000
Mines (ZCCM) properties       

Madam Speaker, the percentage of HIPC money received for land demarcation was 100 per cent.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out whether the K100 million was enough for them to properly demarcate the former ZCCM land since the sale of ZCCM houses was a poverty alleviation issue. Was this money enough for this venture? Up to now, those who got the land have not been issued title deeds.

Mr Mabenga: Madam Speaker, the ministry did its part by surveying the land. What remains now, like we mentioned last time, is for Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) to ensure that all the papers are submitted to the ministry for the issuance of title deeds.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out whether the K100 million was also used to survey and demarcate land in the residential areas as I am aware that miners paid individually for this service.

Mr Mabenga: Madam Speaker, in our reply, we indicated that the land was surveyed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

REHABILITATION OF SCHOOLS IN KABUSHI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

445. Mr Msichili (Kabushi) asked the Minister of Education when the following schools in Kabushi Parliamentary Constituency would be rehabilitated:

(i) Lyuni Basic;

(ii) Main Basic; and

(iii) Kabushi A Basic.

The Deputy Minister of Education (Sinyinda):  Madam Speaker, for Lyuni Basic School, three out of eight classrooms were rehabilitated completely at a cost of K14,500,000 released in 2008. For Main Basic, a 1 x 8 roof which had been blown off was completely rehabilitated at a total cost of K140 million released in 2008. At Kabushi A Basic School, four out of eight classrooms were rehabilitated and the whole school was electrified at a cost of K14,500,000.

Madam Speaker, rehabilitation is an on-going process and will be continued as and when funds are made available. In the 2009 infrastructure operational plan, the ministry has not included the rehabilitation of the schools due to budgetary constraints.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Msichili: Madam Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. Minister has said that Lyuni Basic School has been rehabilitated. This school …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Ask your question.

Mr Msichili: Madam Speaker, I wanted to give the background first.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Msichili: Madam Speaker, I was there last week and this school has not been rehabilitated and I am surprised that the hon. Minister is talking about having spent about K14 million on it. I would like to find out where the rehabilitation was done.

Mr Sinyinda: Madam Speaker, according to the information we have, this school has been rehabilitated.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, I do not know what criterion has been used to rehabilitate schools because Kabushi A Basic is one of the oldest schools in Ndola. Why was it not rehabilitated first?

Mr Sinyinda: Madam Speaker, ours is a working Government and …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sinyinda: … because we have a decentralised system in the ministry, the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) are responsible for planning and we fund what has been planned for by the officers on the ground.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Madam Speaker, in light of the follow-up question by the hon. Member for Kabushi who said that he was at Lyuni Basic School last week and no rehabilitations were done there, could the hon. Minister consider sending his officers to ascertain if that information is correct?

Mr Sinyinda: Madam Speaker, our officers are on the ground and we talk to them before we come here.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

COMPLETION OF KATIBUNGA/MUKUNGULE ROAD

446. Mr Malama asked the Minister of Works and Supply when construction of the Katibunga/Mukungule Road from the palace to Lufila Primary School in Mfuwe Parliamentary Constituency would be completed.

Mr Ndalamei: Madam Speaker, the construction of the Mpika/Katibungu/Mukungule Road was substantially completed in June, 2009. It is the intention of the ministry to include the construction of the section between the palace and Lufila Primary School to the existing contract as a variation order.

The proposed additional works will be carried out in 2010 subject to the availability of funds.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Malama: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that if the Government does not work on this stretch quickly, then the K20.7 billion which was spent to construct the stretch between Mpika Boma and Mukungule Palace will go to waste because no traveller will use this road to move from point A to B.

The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Mulongoti): Madam Speaker, I do not believe we can spend so much money on a road only to be told that it is useless because of the small stretch remaining. I am sure there are sufficient people who use the other part of the road and, like we have said, we intend to complete the remaining stretch. I do not agree that the stretch we have done is not useful to the people of that area.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is contradicting himself. He said they want to complete the remaining stretch of the road by engaging the same contractor and, at the same time, said that it would depend on the availability of funds. Could the hon. Minister clearly state whether they will fund this road in 2010.

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, variation is much quicker than re-tendering for the stretch that is left. Therefore, we are trying to be pragmatic. If the hon. Member does not understand what variation is, he should come to the ministry so that we explain it to him.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

NANGULA HOSPITAL INLUENA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

447. Mr Milupi (Luena) asked the Minister of Health:

(a) when construction of the Nangula Hospital in Luena Parliamentary Constituency would be completed;

(b) when the full complement of qualified staff, including medical doctors, nurses and clinical officers would be posted to the hospital;
(c) when a fully functioning medical laboratory would be made available; and 
(d) when staff houses would be constructed at the hospital above.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! The consultations are getting too loud for anybody to follow the debate.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Akakandelwa): Madam Speaker, the construction of Nangula Rural Health Centre in Luena Parliamentary Constituency was completed in August, 2008. The centre was handed over to the Ministry of Health by the Africa Development Bank (ADB) in the same month.

Madam Speaker, Nangula Rural Health Centre has been upgraded from a rural health centre to a zonal health centre. The ministry has, therefore, made submissions to the Treasury seeking authority to fund the expanded staff establishment at the health centre from the current four to twenty-seven. Therefore, posting of staff awaits Treasury authority.

Madam Speaker, the centre has a complete medical laboratory which is fully equipped. The laboratory will be operational once qualified staff is posted there.

Madam Speaker, three new houses were constructed while two existing ones were renovated. This was done with the support of ADB under the Health Sector Support Programme (HSSP).

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Milupi: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that this is a zonal hospital which covers much of the upper land in Luena Constituency and it was completed in August 2008, but is still not operational. Can the hon. Minister indicate when he thinks all these consultations that are being done will be completed so that this hospital can be opened?

Mr Akakandelwa: Madam Speaker, it is our wish that this zonal centre or hospital is operational. I will ask the hon. Member to be patient while we await Treasury authority to employ the necessary cadre of staff for the centre. We will relook into the issue.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Kapata (Mandevu): Madam Speaker, I just want to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government is thinking of taking mobile laboratories where there are no laboratories.

Madam Deputy Speaker: The centre being discussed in this particular question has a laboratory. Therefore, that it is outside the question.

Dr Kalumba (Chienge): Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister clarify whether Nangula is being considered as a zonal health centre or hospital? We are not quite clear.

Mr Akakandelwa: Madam Speaker, in our answer, we referred to it as a zonal health centre, but the hon. Member who asked the question called it a hospital. That is the difference.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Madam Speaker, the Government and hon. Members of Parliament have done a lot to try to renovate many health posts. When will the Government come up with a complete programme to make sure that all the health posts are staffed with trained personnel instead of the situation which is obtaining currently?

Madam Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister may move away from Nangula and give a bonus answer for the entire nation.
Mr Akakandelwa: Madam Speaker, we have indicated, on the Floor of this House, our numbers and the shortfall in the entire ministry. Our numbers are at about 50 per cent of our requirements and it is our wish to get to the required 100 per cent. However, it is not easy to train and retain all the members of staff that we require in the Ministry of Health. We train doctors, nurses and midwives, but we also see them leave. The Government is putting in place retention measures to try and address this. I think that is all I can say.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. (Chasefu): Madam Speaker, may the hon. Minister assure the people around Nangula Zonal Health Centre in Luena Parliament Constituency that when the centre becomes operational, a qualified medical practitioner will be posted there to service them?

Mr Akakandelwa: Madam Speaker, we cannot give guarantees, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aaah!

Mr Akakandelwa: … but we will try our level best to equip the centre with the necessary cadre of staff. We may post a medical licentiate who can carry out minor surgeries at such a facility.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

PROVISION OF VILLAGE REGISTERS TO HEADPERSONS

448. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the ministry would resume the provision of village registers for village headpersons countrywide.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Musosha): Madam Speaker, the provision of village registers is an ongoing activity in the ministry. It is carried out as and when funds are made available.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, some local authorities do not provide village registers to village headpersons citing the financial constraints that the Government is currently going through. Would it not be wise for the Government to reintroduce the system of village regrouping to help lessen the problems which our village headpersons are currently experiencing?

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, we cannot force anybody to settle where they do not want to. Every Zambian is free to settle wherever they want.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: Madam Speaker, bearing in mind the fact that the law prescribing the keeping of village registers was passed in 1972 and provides for the formation of ward development committees and productivity committees …

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Order in the House! The Chair cannot hear anything because there are too many loud consultations.

You may continue, please.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: This law for village registers was passed as a result of a socialist orientated programme by the United National Independence Party (UNIP). When will this Government ensure that this Act is amended because we do not need ward development committees and productivity committees which are moribund?

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chasefu for bringing that to the attention of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. We shall take into account his proposal. He will be informed on what course of action we take on this matter.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

UPGRADING OF MAMBILIMA HEALTH CENTRE

449. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Health:

(a) when Mambilima Health Centre in Mambilima Parliamentary Constituency would be upgraded to hospital level;

(b) how much the exercise would cost;

(c) when another medical doctor would be sent to the health centre; and

(d) how much money in grants the Government spent on the clinic in 2008.

Mr Akakandelwa: Madam Speaker, my ministry is considering upgrading Mambilima Health Centre to a first level hospital. To this effect, an assessment was done in March, 2009, and a report has been submitted to the Medical Council of Zambia. The ministry awaits a response from the council to determine the way forward.

It is estimated that upgrading the health centre to a first level hospital would cost about K13 billion. This would include the improvement of infrastructure and the provision of equipment befitting a hospital.

Madam Speaker, currently the health centre has one medical doctor who is sufficient considering the available workload. The ministry will only send additional medical doctors when the health centre is upgraded.

Madam Speaker, in 2008, Mambilima Health Centre received a total of K134 million in grants from the Zambian Government.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister indicate to this House whether the Government has changed its plans to construct a district hospital since it wants to upgrade Mambilima Health Centre.

The Minister of Health (Mr Simbao): Madam Speaker, I am thankful for that question. I would like to tell the hon. Member of Parliament that a first level clinic is what is known as a district hospital.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Aah!

Laughter

Mr Chongo forgot to switch on his microphone on.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Switch on your microphone.

ENROLMENT CAPACITY OF FIBALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN MWENSE CONSTITUENCY

450. Mr Chongo (Mwense) asked the Minister of Education:

(a) what the enrolment capacity of Fibale Community School in  Mwense Parliamentary Constituency was;

(b) what the total number of classrooms at the school above was;

(c) whether any Government assistance had ever been rendered to the school since its inception in 2004; and

(d) what plans the ministry had for the school for the year 2009.

Mr Sinyinda: Madam Speaker, the estimated enrolment capacity for Fibale Community School is about 120 pupils. There are two temporary grass thatched classrooms at the school. Like any other community school, the school receives assistance from the Government through grants and learning and teaching materials such as free basic exercise books, textbooks, pens, pencils and rulers. In the 2009 Budget, there is no allocation for the construction of any classrooms at the school. Planning for any infrastructure is dependent on the district. Therefore, I ask the hon. Member to consult the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) in the area so that this can be planned for in future budgets.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chongo: Madam Speaker, as the hon. Minister has indicated, the infrastructure at this school is temporary. In view of the fact that the community has provided bricks and all that is required except roofing sheets, when is the ministry going to assist in the construction of permanent structures at this school?

Mr Sinyinda: Madam Speaker, the ministry has no problem assisting in the construction of permanent structures at the school as long as our officers on the ground include this in the district’s budget.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

EXTENSION OF GRANTS TO VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN KANYAMA CONSTITUENCY

451. Colonel Chanda (Kanyama) asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Services whether the ministry had any plans to extend grants to vulnerable people in Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency in the following compounds:

(i) Linda;

(ii) John Laing;

(iii) Chibolya;

(iv) Kanyama; and

(v) Chinika.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Muteteka): Madam Speaker, while the ministry may have the desire to provide grants to all the vulnerable people in society, the available resources are not enough to reach everyone. However, the ministry, at the moment, is providing grants to Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency through children’s homes located in areas like Linda Compound, where we support the Zambia Children’s New Life Centre, Care for Kids Centre, Messiahs Ministries and City of Hope. In Kanyama Compound, we provide support to Emmanuel’s Home.
Further, under the Lusaka Social Welfare Office, so far, 112 persons have received support in form of mealie-meal, school fees and health care. Between 2008 and 2009, a total of K62,100,000 was spent on this programme in Kanyama alone.

I thank you, Madam.{mospagebreak}

SUPPLY OF DRUGS TO AND PROCUREMENT OF AMBULANCES FOR LUSAKA CLINICS

452. Ms Kapata asked the Minister of Health:

(a) how often clinics in Lusaka were supplied with drugs; and

(b) when ambulances would be procured for each constituency.

Mr Akakandelwa: Madam Speaker, clinics in Lusaka are supplied with drugs on a weekly basis through the Lusaka District Health Office which obtains the health centre kits from Medical Stores Limited on behalf of the clinics. Supplementary provisions are made in the second and fourth weeks to include drugs which are not part of the health centre kits.

Madam Speaker, it is not the policy of the ministry to supply ambulances to constituencies. Ambulances are attached to health institutions which may be servicing one or more constituencies.

I thank you, Madam.

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the ambulances in constituencies like Mandevu are not enough and people are still being transported on wheelbarrows? What is your ministry doing to make sure that proper transport is used to transport people from one point to the other?

Mr Simbao: Madam Speaker, we are aware of that and we have in place an ambulance system which is centrally co-ordinated. We are trying to improve upon it. Probably, in the next one month, we will improve on it. At the moment, clinics do call for the ambulance to assist the sick if there is need. It is not possible, for example, for a clinic to know that there is a sick person at home if they are not told. When they are told, they will definitely send an ambulance to pick them up.

I thank you, Madam

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Madam Speaker, I wonder whether when a new minister takes office in a ministry, things change. The former Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Chituwo – where is he? He is not in the House …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: We are not talking to individuals here. Just put your finger down and speak.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: On the Floor of this House, he stated that the Government had procured ambulances that would go to every constituency. Today, I am surprised that the new hon. Minister is somersaulting from what the former Minister of Health said. Where are the ambulances which the former minister talked about?

Mr Simbao: Madam Speaker, I need to remind the hon. Member that if we have to answer in the manner he is asking, it will sound very bad.

Madam Speaker, twenty-one vehicles were procured per province and were sent to various health facilities.

Mr Ntundu: Ambulances!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Simbao: There were no ambulances sent to each constituency. If you have one, I do not.

Mr Ntundu: Why?

Mr Simbao: The ambulances that were bought were sent to hospitals and training institutions and not to each constituency.

Madam Speaker, I bought an ambulance for my constituency using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Hon. Masebo, if she is here, will bear me witness. She made me write to her ministry, then, for permission since the Ministry of Health could not give me an ambulance. I had to write to Hon. Masebo to permit me to use the CDF to buy an ambulance. She permitted me and I bought one ambulance. Therefore, there is no time when Hon. Dr Chituwo promised anyone an ambulance.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, the issue of ambulances is very important to all constituencies. The hon. Minster said that within the next one month, we will see an improvement in Lusaka. Could he be kind enough to tell us what fundamental improvements we should expect so that as we go to our constituencies, we are able to explain to our electorates the improvements that will come?

Mr Simbao: Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the hon. Member for Kabwata that we have put together nine vehicles which will be converted into ambulances. If you went to the ministry today, you would find nine Hardtop vehicles parked there. We have had help from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and have agreed to convert them into ambulances. We are going to attach these to nine clinics in Lusaka.

The reason for this is that we have discovered that we have 240 bed spaces in clinics which are never used. Most people want to go to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) instead of being hospitalised in their respective clinics. We want to stop this and the only way we can stop it is if when a sick person goes to a clinic where the health personnel are unable to attend to him, an ambulance is used to transport him to the UTH where he can be seen by a consultant who will determine whether to hospitalise him or not. If he requires hospitalisation, he will be sent back to the clinic he came from and be hospitalised there. A team of consultants will be going round everyday to review these patients. We have already identified rooms where all the minor surgeries will be carried out. We want to decongest the UTH and we think this will work.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that they sought permission from UNICEF to convert some vehicles from ordinary vehicles to ambulances, which is a good idea. However, do you not find any decency in speaking to UNICEF to authorise you to convert the black hearses that you bought into ambulances for every constituency?

Mr Simbao: Madam Speaker, I have very little to do with hearses.
I thank you, Madam.

Mr Beene: Madam Speaker, why is it that if you are referred to UTH, you will be given a prescription to buy drugs which you buy from the UTH Pharmacy. Is the medicine sold there not the same medicine which the hospital is supposed to give patients free of charge? Who owns that pharmacy?

Mr Simbao: Madam Speaker, at the moment, we have most of the drugs. I would like to take this opportunity to invite hon. Members of Parliament, who can find time, to come to the Ministry of Health on Friday at 0800 hours. This is the time we review the drug situation at Medical Stores Limited, the bulk store in Chilenje and at all the clinics, including the UTH. Therefore, it can be worthwhile for some of the hon. Members of Parliament who really have interest in this issue to come and see how we are running the drug situation in the country.

Hon. Opposition Members: We are all interested.

Mr Simbao: Last time, I did invite hon. Members to go with me to Medical Stores Limited and see the stocks, but no one came. Please, when we invite you, if you have time, come so that we discuss these issues constructively for the good of the country. I am inviting you to the Ministry of Health on Friday at 0800 hours if you have time. This is when we review the drug situation at Medical Stores Limited, the bulk store in Chilenje, the UTH and all the clinics. It can be worthwhile for the hon. Members who really have interest in this issue to come and see how we are running the drug situation in the country.

Hon. Opposition Member: NEC meeting.

Mr Simbao: Ah! All the same, come at 0800 hours …

Laughter

Mr Simbao: … because I do attend that session. Please, come if you are interested in this issue. You can come and see the drug stocks in the country.  You can come and see what has been ordered and when it is coming. We did not have amoxicillin syrup for two months or so, for example, but we have it now. In this particular case, hospitals and clinics will not give prescriptions, but this is the only medicine that we have had problems with.

Now, with regard to the person who owns that drug store, I do not have the details. It is a private company and I do not know who owns it.

I thank you, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: While appreciating that invitation for this Friday, I think the House will be sitting. Parliamentary Business takes precedence.

Mr Kambwili: Madam, the hon. Minister mentioned that there was a centralised ambulance system in Lusaka. What is the total fleet and how effective is this system?

Mr Simbao: Madam Speaker, the total fleet is five. It is quite effective. They run about, but obviously we can do with more. We want nine ambulances altogether so that we can give them to clinics with in-patients.

Thank you, Madam.

KONKOLA COPPER MINES CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS

454. Mr Kambwili asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

(a) how much money Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) owed contractors and suppliers as of February, 2009;

(b) of the contractors and suppliers above, how many were paid as of 20th February, 2009; and

(c) why KCM was not paying the contractors and suppliers.
The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Nkhata): Madam Speaker, Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) owed contractors and suppliers a total of US$89.93 million as follows:

Contractors and Suppliers    Amount owed 
(US$ in million)

Local suppliers     57.61

Overseas suppliers    32.32

Total      89.93

Madam, a total of 543 suppliers were paid as of 20th February, 2009 as follows:

 Contractors and Suppliers    Amounts paid 
(US$ in million)

 Local suppliers     38.99

 Overseas suppliers    10.88

 Total      49.87

Madam Speaker, as can be seen from the answers given at (a) and (b), KCM has been paying both contractors and suppliers.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Kambwili: Madam, first and foremost, let me declare interest. I own one of the companies that are owed money by KCM. Why is the Government allowing KCM to pay suppliers after 120 days? Is KCM not using the money for suppliers and contractors to run the mines because it takes ninety days to mine and sell the copper? Do you not think that KCM is using the money from the suppliers and contractors to run its operations?

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Roan for truly declaring his interest, today, in this question.

Madam, KCM is a business. The Government can only assist where there is a problem. As it is, we have the assurance that KCM will pay within ninety days. However, some cases which border on ethical issues have been brought to the attention of the ministry and such cases have taken more than 120 days.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Madam, the main reason many companies, including KCM, gave for not paying suppliers was that the copper price was low. The copper price, at the moment, is above US $6,000, and yet KCM still maintains that it will only pay after ninety days. Is the Government going to allow this when the copper price is no longer low?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam, if you are a supplier, you are in business and there are contractual obligations. As far as I know, KCM is very categorical to all the suppliers. They pay on first supply first served basis within ninety days. That is from day one to ninety.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, it is surprising that KCM pays after ninety days whereas companies like Mopani Copper Mines Plc (MCM) pay after thirty days. Is there anything the hon. Minister can do to try and standardise the period of payment in the mining industry?

Interruptions

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam, unfortunately, I was not able to follow his question clearly.

Thank you, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Yes, because there are a lot of loud consultations.

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Madam, this is an august House. I expect honourable questions and answers. If the price of copper is US$6,000 per tonne, as of now, and I once said this, it means this price can only be advantageous to Zambia after three months. I thought the hon. Minister should clarify this point.

Madam Deputy Speaker: This is for the information of the hon. Minister. Do you acknowledge or not?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Madam, I am grateful to the hon. Member for that information. It should be emphasised that KCM has even given an opportunity to Hon. Kambwili to be empowered.

I thank you, Madam.

Laughter

REHABILITATION OF SCHOOLS IN MFUWE PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

455. Mr Malama asked the Minister of Education when the Government would rehabilitate the following schools in Mfuwe Parliamentary Constituency:

(i) Mpamazi;

(ii) Chito; and

(iii) Mabonga.

Mr Sinyinda: Madam Speaker, …

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order, in the House. You may continue, please.

Mr Sinyinda: Madam Speaker, the ministry has not included the rehabilitation of Mpamazi, Chito and Mabonga basic schools in Mfuwe Parliamentary Constituency in the 2009 Infrastructure Development Plan. Following the decentralisation of planning by the ministry, it will be up to the DEBS to plan for infrastructure development as and when funds are available.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Malama: Madam Speaker, these are some of the oldest schools in Chief Mpumba’s area. Is the hon. Minister aware that, last year, the community at Chito had no choice, but to fetch elephant grass to construct classrooms? If the hon. Minister is saying that these schools have not been included in this year’s budget, what is the ministry doing to ensure that the people at Chito avoid using elephant grass to construct classes?

The Minister of Education (Ms Siliya): Madam Speaker, in the first instance, the Ministry of Education distributed the 2009 Infrastructure Development Plan and it is the schools that are in the plan that are going to be constructed or refurbished.

Madam Speaker, the ministry works from lower levels with the DEBS offices and the provincial centres, but sometimes we have communication problems when getting information on the status of various schools. I wish to encourage the hon. Members of Parliament to always work closely, dialogue, interact and engage with the DEBS so that they are able to put this information in the system for the ministry, at headquarters, to be able to respond urgently. Sometimes, we do not get this information on time and it does not come into our budgeting process. Therefore, when you bring that concern to Parliament, we are not able to act on it immediately. I suggest that you engage the DEBS as much as I wish to concede that the DEBS also need to become quite active in providing this information so that it can become part of our planning process.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisala: Madam Speaker, last year, the rehabilitation works in some schools in Northern Province came to a stand still despite the Government allocating funds and to date, the works have not resumed. Could the hon. Minister state the root cause of the problem?

Madam Deputy Speaker: The question was on Mpamazi, Chito and Mabonga, but the hon. Minister may offer information if she has any.

Ms Siliya: Madam Speaker, there are a number of reasons for this. One of them is what has prompted the change in the Budget cycle so that the various spending institutions are able to expend this money on time. Sometimes, it is due to tender procedures and the uptake in terms of the districts and the community. These are the issues that we are trying to refine using a multi-approach system.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that a number of her ministry officials rarely stay in their offices because most of the time, their offices are empty. This could be the reason that even when reports are sent to the headquarters they are not acted upon.

Ms Siliya: Madam Speaker, in the last two months, the ministry has been trying to review its processes to see where there are huge bottlenecks so that we can respond to the needs of the citizens and various communities as quickly as possible. We also have to appreciate that the ministry officials, particularly in the Infrastructure Development Department, have to be in the field to inspect the various infrastructure projects that we have. However, for those that are supposed to be in the offices, we are trying to see how we can make sure that our systems are efficient. We are also trying to see how we can use information and communications technology (ICT) as quickly as possible so that the system can receive information on time and have it included in our budgeting process.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

________

BILLS
HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the 
Chair]

THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS BILL, 2009

Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
The Deputy Chairperson: Order! We seem not to be listening. The people out there will not know who is saying what. If you have to consult, do so quietly while you allow me to proceed.

Clauses 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedules, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to. 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BILL, 2009

Clauses 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

First and Second Schedules, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

_______

HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

The following Bill was reported to the House as having passed through Committee without amendment:

The Health Professions Bill, 2009

Third Reading on Wednesday, 12th August, 2009.

The following Bill was reported to the House as having passed through Committee with amendment:

The Public-Private Partnership Bill, 2009

Report Stage on Wednesday, 12th August, 2009.

REPORT STAGE

THE CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA (Amendment) BILL, 2009

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda, SC.): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Report of the Committee be adopted.

Madam Deputy Speaker: A further amendment to the Bill has been received.

CLAUSE 2 – (Amendment of Article 117)

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, I propose an amendment to the Bill in Clause 2 on page 3:

(a) in lines 8 to 13 by the deletion of Cause (1) and the substitution therefor of the following:

(1) the Minister responsible for finance shall, subject to Clause (2), cause to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly, not later than the second Friday of October, before commencement of the next financial year, estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Government for that financial year;

(b) in line 20 by the deletion of the words ‘in the period’ and the substitution therefor of the word ‘as’; and

(c) in line 23 by the deletion of the words ‘by the first day of October but not later than the second Friday of October’ after the word ‘Assembly’, and the substitution therefor of the words ‘within ninety days’.

The Vice-President and Minister of Justice: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member for moving this very progressive amendment which we support. I must thank him most profusely for his magnanimity.

I thank you, Madam.

Laughter

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Report adopted.

Third Reading on Wednesday, 12th August, 2009.

THIRD READING

The following Bills were read the third time and passed:

The Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill, 2009

The Information and Communication Technologies Bill, 2009

The Postal Services Bill, 2009

The Notaries Public and Notarial Functions (Amendment) Bill, 2009

______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_____

The House adjourned at 1601 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 12th August, 2009.

_____

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COUNTRYWIDE

W16. Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi) asked the Minister of Education:

(a) how many community schools there were countrywide, province by province;

(b) how many pupils left Government schools to enroll in community schools from January, 2008 to January, 2009; and

(c) what the reasons for leaving Government schools in preference for community schools were.

The Minister of Education (Ms Siliya):  Madam Speaker, there are 2,994 community schools as shown below:

Province   Number of Schools

Central    448

Copperbelt   354

Eastern    386

Luapula    243

Lusaka    350

North-Western   172

Northern   431

Southern   405

Western    205

National    2,994

Madam Speaker, according to the Ministry of Education EMIS Preliminary Data for 2008, there were 495,563 pupils in community schools from grades 1-9 and the enrolments increased to 565,221 in 2008. 

For the GRZ Schools, the enrolments in 2007 were 2,435,662 and increased to 2,500,508 in 2008.  Thus, we cannot give the number of pupils that left GRZ schools to go to community schools.  However, it is possible that some pupils could have left community schools to go to GRZ schools, especially that 1,527 new classrooms blocks were built which motivated pupils to move from the usually grass thatched community schools to the new classroom blocks.  Otherwise, mobility is possible either way.

Currently, the ministry has no statistics indicating that pupils are leaving Government schools to go to community schools.

Madam Speaker, the reasons for pupils moving from one school to another are usually associated with distance to the school, near to their locality and school facilitates.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS KILLED BETWEEN KAFUE ROUNDABOUT AND MAKENI ROAD FROM 1994 TO 2008

W17. Dr Machungwa (Luapula) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many pedestrians and cyclists had been killed by motor vehicles on Kafue Road between Kafue roundabout and Makeni turnoff from 1994 to 2008, year by year; and

(b) how the Government intended to reduce the fatalities at (a) above.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Mangani): Madam Speaker, the number of pedestrians and cyclists that were killed by motor vehicles on Kafue road between Kafue Roundabout and Makeni turnoff from 1994 to 2008, year by year was as follows:

Year   Pedestrians Killed Cyclists Killed

1994   13   2
1995   16   1
1996   11   0
1997   15   3
1998   13   1
1999   12   4
2000   17   2
2001   20   1
2002   21   2
2003   16   1
2004   29   1
2005   25   1
2006   25   1
2007   33   0
2008   40   0

Total   306   20

Madam Speaker, the Government intends to reduce the fatalities by taking the following measures:

(i) the police are in the process of acquiring new speed trap machines that can capture two cars at a time.  The speed trap machines that are being used currently can only capture one vehicle at a time.  Speed trap operations by traffic police officers will continue to regulate the speed;

(ii) the Lusaka City Council plans to construct a footbridge at Misisi Compound;

(iii) the Lusaka City Council has also plans to put up traffic lights at Metropolitan School.  Once these lights are constructed, it will reduce over speeding; and

(iv) the other intention is to erect barriers by the side of the road like has been done at UNZA so that pedestrians can cross at specific points.

I thank you, Sir.

BENEFITS OF ZAMBIA REACHING THE HEAVILY INDEBTED POOR COUNTRIES COMPLETION POINT

W19. Colonel Chanda (Kanyama) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning:

(a) what the benefits of reaching the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Completion Point by Zambia in relation to the following were:

(i) poverty alleviation;

(ii) job creation;

(iii) health;

(iv) agriculture;

(iv) capital project financing; and

(vi) education; and

(b) what the Government external debt was as of 31st December, 2008.

Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane):  Madam Speaker, Zambia acceded to the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative on 8th April, 2005.  Further, the country received additional debt relief under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative in 2006.

The immediate positive impact of the debt relief was on the Budget, through reduced debt service obligations. During the period 200-2004, debt service payments, including amortisation, as a proportion of domestic revenues amounted to 13.5 per cent per annum.

Since the implementation of the HIPC initiative, debt service payments have reduced and averaged 5.2 per cent of domestic revenues from 2005 to 2008 compared to 13.5 per cent in the pre HIPC five year period between 2000 to 2004.

As a proportion of domestically financed expenditures, debt service payments have fallen to an average 4.7 per cent of the total expenditures in the past HIPC years from 10.7 per cent during the period 2000-2005.

External Debt Service payments as a Proportion of Domestic Revenues and Total Expenditures 2000-2008

Year   2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Domestic Revenues
(K billion)  1953 2509 2909 3679 4740 5642 6618 8522 10221

Domestically financed
Expends (K billion) 2547 3458 3736 4913 5486 6525 7254 9105 11028

External Debt Re-
payments (EDR) 
(K billion)   404  256  294  600  544  584  227  207  472

Gross Domestic
Product (K billion) 10072 13133 16260 20479 25998 32456 39224 45669 53706

EDR % of Domestic
Revenues  20.7 10.2 10.1 16.3 11.5 10.4 3.4 2.4 4.6

EDR % of Domestic
Financed 
Expenditures  15.9 7.4 7.9 12.2 9.9 9.0 3.1 2.3 4.3

EDR % of GDP 4.0 1.9 1.8 2.9 2.1 1.8 0.6 0.5 0.9

Impact on key Sectors of the Economy

The fiscal space had, therefore been created in the Budget as a result of the HIPC debt relief.  This contributed to the Government increasing expenditures in the vital sectors of agriculture, health, education and infrastructure.

(i) Poverty Alleviation

With regard to poverty reduction programmes, funding had also recorded steady increases.  In 2005, they accounted for 21.1 per cent of the budgetary outlay rising to 29.1 per cent and 34.1 per cent in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Most of these poverty reduction programmes are in the education, health, water and sanitation and road sectors, thereby contributing to some improvements in these sectors.  The specific details can be obtained from the respective line ministries.

The fiscal space that arose following debt service payments contributed to increased financing of the health, education, agriculture and, indeed, poverty reduction programmes.  This has helped in the implementation of the country’s strategy to reduce poverty, the Fifth National Development Plan.

Poverty, nonetheless, still remains a challenge.  The 2006 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey estimated that poverty levels were 64 per cent in that year, a decline from 69 per cent in 1996.  Latest data on poverty trends is not yet available to allow for comparison between 2006 and 2008, which are the Post HIPC years.

Suffice to mention, the improved economic performance over the last five years has certainly contributed to some reductions in poverty, although the levels are still high.  The poverty levels would have been worse if the country still suffered from the debt overhang of the pre HIPC years, as investment and economic growth would have remained low.

(ii) Job Creation

The transmission mechanism through which the debt relief provided under the HIPC initiative impacts on Job creation is basically through the effects of what was referred to as a debt overhang.  When a country is faced with a high and unsustainable debt, it suffers from a debt overhang in that the debt prohibits or stifles as investors view the macro-economic policies of such a country to be unsustainable. For example, the Government can increase taxes to service the debt.  The debt overhang, therefore, holds back the growth of the economy.

With a debt of US$7.2 billion pre-HIPC, and all the sustainability ratios pointing towards an unsustainable level of debt, Zambia suffered a significant debt overhang. This, together with other factors, contributed to the poor economic performance and the attendant low job creation.

Following the debt relief, Zambia’s external debt reduced significantly, thereby relieving the country of the high debt overhang and its effects as the debt is now sustainable.  This has contributed to an improvement in the country’s economic performance and investment rating. This improvement has led to increased investment in the sector and forestalled the decline in employment with some marginal increases in jobs being recorded between 2006 and 2008.

(iii) Health

Similar increases in budgetary funding have been recorded in the health sector asshown in the table below.  The health sector budget had risen to 7.9 per cent of the budget in 2008 compared to 4.8 per cent in 2004. Improved funding to the sector was positively impacting on outcomes in the sector such as reduction in infant and maternal mortality rates.  Caution should have been exercised in the sense that a host of factors had contributed to increased funding and not necessarily debt relief, while factors other than financial ones may be contributing to the improvements.

(iv) Agriculture

Together with other factors such as improved macro-economic performance, increased donor aid, and improvements in revenue collections, budgetary releases to the agriculture sector had increased to about 6 per cent of the total national Budget compared to 3 per cent in the years immediately before the HIPC accession.  Most of the budgetary increase went to the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).  The productivity of this programme, however, has been a cause for concern to the Government and a review is being undertaken.

(v) Capital Programmes

For capital Expenditure, budgetary releases had increased to 10.4 per cent of the Budget from 7.2 per cent in 2004.

Budgetary Releases to Select Key Sectors 2004 – 2008

Pre-HIPC     Post-HIPC

Year  2004  % of 2005 % of 2006 % of 2007 % of 2008%     of
Releases Budget Releases  Budget Releases  Budget Releases  Budget Releases  Budget     
(K’Bill)  (K’Bill)  (K’Bill)  (K’Bill)  (K’Bill) 

Agriculture 237.3 2.8 340.8 3.5 465.1 4.5 675.6 5.6 781.6 5.7

Health  398.9 4.8 445.3 4.6 605.4 5.9 772.9 6.4 1,083.1 7.9

Education 787.5 9.5 1,016.1 10.4 1,280.1 12.5 1,705.9 14.2 2,169.1 15.8

Capital
Expenditure 602.9 7.2 777.6 8.0 871.6 8.5 880.1 7.3 1,429.6 10.4

Poverty
Reducing
Programmes 529.1 6.4 2,062.4 21.1 2,355.8 23.1 3,508.6 29.1 4,694.4 34.1

(vi) Education

For the education sector, funding has improved to 15.8 per cent in 2008 from 9.5 per cent in 2004.  A notable increase in overall capital expenditure has also been recorded.  These increases in funding are also contributing to improvements in the important social outcomes such as gross school enrolments.  Caution, again, should be exercised in interpreting the figures in the sense that a host of factors has contributed to increased funding and not necessarily debt relief.

 Madam Speaker, the Government’s external debt stock as at 31st December, 2008, was US$1,093.5 million representing an increase of 3.7 per cent from US$1,054.5 million recorded at the end of 2007.  The increase was on account of disbursements on existing loans, in particular the export credits, which were utilised for the procurement of earth moving equipment for infrastructure development in the road sector.  The table below indicates the Government’s external debt stock from 2006 to 2008.

External Debt Stock 2006 – 2008 (US$’million)

Creditor   2007  2008  2007/2008
       % Change

Multilateral  656.1  656.3  0

ADB/ADF  94.0  121.2  28.9

World Bank  315.5  352.0  11.6

IMF   34.2  34.2  0

Others   212.4  183.1  13.8

Bilateral   287.0  293.2  2.2

Paris Club  212.9  218.3  2.5

Non-Paris Club  74.1  74.9  1.1

Suppliers Credit  111.4  143.6  28.9

Total   1,054.5  1,093.1  3.7

I thank you, Sir.

VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE FROM 2006 TO 2008

W20. Ms Kapata (Mandevu) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many of the following categories of people were sexually abused from 2006 to 2008:

(i) women;
(ii) men;
(iii) girls; and
(iv) boys; and

(b) what assistance was rendered to the victims.

Mr Mangani:  Madam Speaker, the following categories of people were sexually abused from 2006 to 2008:

Category  Number

Women   977

Men   Nil
Girls   9,284

Boys    43

Madam Speaker, when a case of sexual abuse is reported at a police station, the following procedure is applied:
(i) a medical report form is issued to the victim so that they can be examined by the medical practitioner at any government hospital or clinic;

(ii) at the hospital, they are examined and also tested for HIV/AIDS and if they are negative, they are given Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment to prevent them from getting infected with HIV/AIDS in case they are exposed. In a situation where a victim is already positive, they are counselled and put on Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART); and

(iii) where a female has reached puberty, the doctor gives her birth control pills to prevent pregnancy.

I thank you, Sir.

WOMEN ORGANISATIONS COUNTRYWIDE

W21. Ms Kapata asked the Minster of Gender and Women in Development:

(a) how many women organisations dealt with the following:

(i) youths; and
(ii) widows; and

(b) how many widows were financially empowered through the organisations at (a) above, countrywide, as of 31st January, 2009.

The Minister of Gender and Women in Development (Ms Sayifwanda):  Madam Speaker, I wish to report that there are three categories of organisations.  Firstly, the Government deals with community-based organisations (CBOs) for women in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and during the year, 2008, 6,747 women’s groups were recorded.  These groups, however, are homogenous and do not separate the youth from the widows.

With regard to financial empowerment, between 2008 and January 2009, only a total of 109 women benefited from the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) from a total disbursement of K15,241,511,627.00.  The CEEC, however, has also not segregated the widows from other women as a target group.  During the period under review, the low number of beneficiaries is due to the fact that the transfer of the resources from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to the commission was just intended for loans and not grants.  Madam Speaker, this means that during this period, no grants were given to the women.

Madam Speaker, I am happy to inform the House that, this year, the Government has allocated K700 million to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services for women’s programmes and projects.  In addition to this amount, the Joint Gender Support Programme (JGSP) has put aside K43 million for women empowerment which makes a total of K743 million.

Secondly, the National Youth Council (NYC) has organisations that deal with female youth and in 2008, eighteen were recorded, but none of them were empowered.  However, by 31st January, 2009, the CEEC disbursed a total of K2,355,800,000.00 to twenty-six youths of both gender.

The third category included the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and CBOs that are registered with the Non-Governmental Organisation Co-ordinating Council (NGOCC).  The 2008-2009 NGOCC directory of members indicates seventy-nine organisations that are dealing with women and seven that are dealing with the youth.  In 2007, the NGOCC awarded fifty grants to forty-one member organisations.

Madam Speaker, in total then, twenty-five organisations are dealing with youths and 6,826 are dealing with women (widows).

Madam Speaker, as regards how many widows were financially empowered through the above organisations, may I submit that the information at hand is in terms of groups, CBOs, and NGOs, and not individual widows.

I thank you, Sir.

POLICE OFFICERS WHO GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY FROM 2006 TO 2008

W22. Ms Kapata asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many police officers at the rank of constable attended university to upgrade their qualifications from 2006 to 2008, province by province;

(b) how many police officers at (a) graduated from the University of Zambia; and

(c) how many police officers were promoted after obtaining university qualifications.

Mr Mangani:  Madam Speaker, a total number of thirty-one constables attended university to upgrade their qualifications from 2006 to 2008.  The numbers are as follows according to provinces:

Province   Number

Lusaka    13

Central    4

Northern   5

Copperbelt   6

Southern   3

Madam Speaker, the total number of constables that have since graduated is seventeen.

Madam Speaker, the re-grading of all the officers that graduated in 2008 is underway and their files are with the Police and Prisons Service Commission for approval.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

FINANCIAL STATUS OF ZAMBIA STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION

W23. Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning:

(a) what the financial status of the Zambia State Insurance Corporation Limited (ZSIC) was as of December, 2008;

(b) how much profit the corporation made from 2001 to 2008, year by year; and

(c) how much, in dividends, was declared to the Government in the period at (b) above.
Dr Musokotwane:  Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the audited accounts of Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) for the financial year ending 31st December, 2008, are being finalised and will be ready by April, 2009.  However, the ZSIC Draft Financial Statements for the year ending 31st December, 2008 show that the financial status of ZSIC is sound. ZSIC has investments of K119 billion and total assets of K258 billion.  The corporation is expected to make a profit of about K15 billion.

Madam Speaker, the profit (loss) made by the corporation from 2001 to 2008 is as shown below:

Category  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
   K’m K’m K’m K’m K’m K’m K’m K’m

General Insurance
Profit before Tax 4,772 6,980 8,606 4,813 (1,652) (2,859) 8,305 4,464

Profit after Tax  4,722 6,980 8,606 (7,961) (3,759) 426 6,744 4,464

Individual and 
Group Life

Surplus Income
Over Expenses  10,190 (430) (7,980) (10,217) (8,613) (3,559) 16,354 11,122

Madam Speaker, the corporation recorded losses in 2005 as a result of major parastatals such as the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), Tanzania Zambia Mafuta Company (TAZAMA), INDENI, Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ), Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) and other Government ministries leaving the corporation to join other insurance providers.

Madam Speaker, the continued losses registered under the Individual and Group Life business from 2002 to 2006 are mainly due to the separation of the pension business and life business.  Minimal losses were made in 2002, being the year when the separation took place. In the subsequent years, all staff that was previously under the pension fund was transferred to the life business. This had a ripple effect on the Life Fund as the expenses immediately shot up. The situation persisted up to 2006.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that from 2001 to 2008, the corporation declared dividends amounting to K1,250 million to the national Treasury.  A total amount of K500 million was declared in 2003 whilst K750 million was declared in the year 2007.

 I thank you, Sir.

EXAMINATION CENTRES IN KANCHIBIYA CONSTITUENCY

W24. Mr Mwango asked the Minster of Education:

(a) how many schools were examination centres in Kanchibiya Parliamentary Constituency, ward by ward; and

(b) when Mulonga Basic School would become an examination centre.

Ms Siliya: Madam Speaker, there are thirty-seven basic schools in Kanchibiya Parliamentary Constituency.  Out of these, fourteen are examination centres.  For a school to be considered as an examination centre, it should have the following:

(i) secure strong room with a concrete roof;

(ii) double grill doors;

(iii) qualified teachers; and

(iv) it must be inspected and verified that it met the stands of an examination centre by the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) and, thereafter, receive approval.

Madam Speaker, Mulonga Basic School became an examination centre in March, 2009, after meeting the requirements for an examination centre.

I thank you, Sir.

BOREHOLES SUNK IN KANCHIBIYA FROM 2001 TO 2008

W25. Mr Mwango asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) how many boreholes were sank in Kanchibiya Parliamentary Constituency from 2001 to 2008, ward by ward; and

(b) which areas were earmarked for additional boreholes in 2009.

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tetamashimba):  Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that twenty-nine boreholes were drilled in five wards in Kanchibiya Parliamentary Constituency in Mpika District from 2001 to 2008 as follows:

 Ward   Number of Boreholes

Chibwa   8

Kabinga   2

Chinama  7

Mumbubu  9

Lulimala  3

Total   29

Madam Speaker, according to the District Water Supply and Sanitation Plan, Mpika District Council has planned to construct and rehabilitate 161 water points.  Thus, 136 new boreholes will be sunk, sixteen hand dug wells constructed and nine traditional water sources improved.  The ministry, through the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NRWSSP), has already sourced funds for this programme. 

Madam Speaker, however, the ministry, in the spirit of decentralisation, will not indicate where these boreholes will be sunk as this activity was left in the hands of the community to decide.  It is, therefore, important that the hon. Member of Parliament for that area helps the communities identify suitable sites for the sinking of boreholes.

I thank you, Sir.

BANKING INSTITUTIONS THAT CLOSED DOWN FROM 1992 TO 2002

W26. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry how many banking institutions closed down as a result of privatisation from 1992 to 2002, by name.

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mutati):  Madam Speaker, a number of banks closed in the period referred to, but the closures cannot be attributed to the privatisation programme.  None of the banks that closed down was privatised.

The following are the details of the closed institutions:

Name of bank   Receivership Date  Liquidation Date

African Commercial Bank Ltd 13th November 1995  21st February 1996

Commerce Bank Ltd  7th December 1997  5th January 2001

Credit Africa Bank  28th November 1997  6th March 1998

First Merchant Bank  2nd February 1998  16th March 1999

Manifold Investment Bank Ltd 4th December 1997  6th March 1998

Meridian BIAO Bank (Z) Ltd 19th May 1995   6th September 1995

Prudence Bank (Z) Ltd  17th  October 1997  2nd February 1998

Union Bank of Zambia  13th February 2001  29th March 2001

United Bank of Zambia  9th July 2002   24th May 2006

Zambia Export & Import Bank Ltd     1998

I thank you, Sir.

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS IN KANCHIBIYA CONSTITUENCY

W27. Mr Mwango asked the Minister of Education:

(a) what criteria the Government used to establish a basic school;

(b) when the following schools in Kanchibiya Parliamentary Constituency would be upgraded to regular schools:

(i) Mansa East;
(ii) Chinkoba;
(iii) Chileshe Mukulu;
(iv) Twatasha; and
(v) Loko Mwila;

(c) how much, in Government grants, was spent on the above community schools from 2006, year by year; and

(d) when more basic schools would be built in the constituency.

Ms Siliya: Madam Speaker, the following criteria is used by the Government to establish a basic school:

(i) catchment area must have a reasonable number of school-going children;

(ii) availability of, at least, 5 hectares of land;

(iii) walking distance from the villages should be minimised to 5km; and

(iv) ownership of land either by Chiefs or the Government.

Madam Speaker, the upgrading of the aforementioned schools is dependent on the application by the community to have the schools up-graded and the availability of the necessary resources by the Government. However, Twatasha was up-graded in 2005 and the process to up-grade the rest of the schools will follow later.

Madam Speaker, the following are the Government grants spent on the named community schools:

Community School  District  2006  2007  2008
     (K)  (K)  (K)

Mansa East  Mpika  1,784,965.00 752,453.00 2,498,700.00

Chinkobo  Mpika  2,029,236.00 720,770.00 5,912,277.00

Lokomwila  Mpika  2,287,960.00 1,400,896.00 4,024,542.00

Chileshe Mukulu  Kasama  2,700,000.00 1,817,302.00 3,782,703.97

Twatasha  Kasama  6,005,144.98 1,542,364.00 3,421,993.98

Ms Siliya: Madam Speaker, the building of a basic school is dependent on the need of the community and the available resources as stated above. At the moment, the ministry has no intentions of building a basic school in the constituency.

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WRITTEN REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

WITHDRAWAL OF FOOTBALL SPONSORSHIP BY MINING COMPANIES

441. Mr Kambwili (Roan) asked the Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development how the Government intended to sustain football on the Copperbelt in view of mining companies withdrawing sponsorship from major football clubs such as Nkana, Roan United and Mufulira Wanderers.

The Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Mr Chipungu): Madam Speaker, my ministry bemoans the withdrawal of sponsorship of football by mining companies on the Copperbelt. However, it is hoped that the Government will engage the new investors to embrace and support football clubs on the Copperbelt such as Nkana, Roan United and Mufulira Wanderers.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

CONSTRUCTION OF POLICE POSTS AT MUWELE

453. Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) when police posts would be constructed at Muwele in Chief Chiundaponde’s area and in Senior Chief Kopa’s area in Kanchibiya Parliamentary Constituency; and

(b) when police officers would be sent to the areas above.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Mangani): Madam Speaker, all constituencies are in dire need of police posts but due to limited resources allocated for construction of police infrastructure, all 150 constituencies cannot benefit at the same time. The construction of police posts and housing units is done in phases.

The House may wish to know that the construction of police posts depends on the following factors:

(i) availability of funds;

(ii) population of the area;

(iii) distance from the main police station; and

(iv) economic activities in the area.

During this fiscal year, the ministry will not start the construction of new police stations and posts, but will continue with old projects.

Madam Speaker, my ministry is encouraging communities to mobilise themselves and work with their area hon. Members of Parliament to use Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to build police posts in strategic areas as has been done in Mandevu.

I thank you, Madam.
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