Debates- Friday, 4th December, 2009

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DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Friday, 4th December, 2009

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

COMPLETION OF THE KATIBUNGA/MUKUNGULE PALACE

224. Mr Malama (Mfuwe) asked the Minister of Works and Supply when the construction of Katibunga-Mukungule palace road to Lufila or Changalilo Basic School would be completed.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Dr Kalila): Mr Speaker, the ministry, through the Road Development Agency (RDA), engaged a contractor to carry out works on the 84 kilometres of the Katibunga-Mukungule Road at a contract sum of K20 billion in 2008. The works have been substantially completed.

Sir, however, the section of the road between Mukungule Palace and Lufila will not be worked on until the bridge is rehabilitated. The RDA intends to use the force account to rehabilitate the bridge in view of the limited funding. The RDA will engage a contractor to complete the rehabilitation of the road up to Lufila or Changalilo Basic School once the bridge is rehabilitated.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Malama: Mr Speaker, when will the bridge be worked on?

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, steps are being taken to mobilise some caveats from other parts of the country. We intend to do this after the rains.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, since the bridge will be rehabilitated using the force, may I find out how much has been budgeted for this work because I have not seen the allocation for this work in the 2010 Budget.

The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Ms Namugala): Mr Speaker, indeed, there is no budgetary allocation in the 2010 Budget to complete this particular road, but we do hope that there will be servings made within the budgetary allocation that will be used for this particular work.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Zulu (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, 84 kilometers is just a short distance. Therefore, may I know what the contract period is. 

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the contract period was from October, 2008 to July, 2009.

I thank you, Sir. 

ASSETS OF THE NJANJI COMMUTER SERVICE

225. Mr Mwango (Kanchibiya) asked the Minister of Communications and Transport what the total value of the assets of the Njanji Commuter Service was as of December, 2008. 

The Deputy Minister of Communications and Transport (Mr Mubika): Mr Speaker, there has never been a valuation of the existing assets which have now been vandalised due to the long period of disuse.

Sir, however, the estimated cost of construction of the Njanji Commuter Service is K350 million or US$ 8 million at the time of construction which is K38 billion today.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwango: Mr Speaker, may I know what the future plans are since Njanji Commuter Service has been vandalised. Do they intend to sell it off or what?

The Minister of Communications and Transport (Professor Lungwangwa): Mr Speaker, the Government has been making efforts to look for a private investor. So far, two advertisements have been made to that effect.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister said that the assets have been vandalised. May I find out from him how the Government expects to attract an investor when the assets have been vandalised. What is being privatised?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, there is always the principle of “as-is-basis.” Clearly, if there is an interested investor, he or she will look at the structure or the infrastructure from the, “as- is- basis” perspective and decide.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Mr Speaker, the fact that there is a concession agreement which stipulates that any use of any piece of rail in Zambia shall be sub-contracted by the Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ), how is it that now they are advertising when the concessionaire is not doing so. As per agreement, they are the ones who are supposed to sub-lease for any rail usage.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the Njanji Commuter Rail is not part of the RSZ.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, may I know whether the Government intends to valuate the rail so that we know the actual cost before privatisation.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, valuation is always part of the process, as a matter of procedure.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, since the process of privatisation has started, may I find out whether the Government intends to sell all the 100 per cent shares.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, that is the first part of the negotiation that has to be done with an interested party.

I thank you, Sir.
 
Mr C. K. B. Banda SC.(Chasefu): Mr Speaker, may I know which assets have been vandalised since the Njanji Commuter Railway did not have a lot of assets?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the major part of the vandalism has been the rail itself. If one travelled along the rail from Chilenje to Matero, he or she would be able to see the degree of vandalisation.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka): Mr Speaker, what does the hon. Minister attribute the vandalism that happened to the railway line to? Could it be as result of negligence on the part of the owners of the line or otherwise?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, this observation is very important. It can be attributed to the way we treat public goods. Railway lines, roads or any other public utility have to be respected and treated as such. The vandalism that took place on the railway line is a clear demonstration of how little we respect public goods, which is most unfortunate.

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

MONEY RECEIVED BY LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL

226. Col. Chanda (Kanyama) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing how much money the Lusaka City Council received, as grants in lieu of rates, from 2006 to 2008, year by year. 

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Muteteka): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the Government released grants in lieu of rates to the Lusaka City Council (LCC) as follows: 

Year        Grant in Lieu of Rates (K)        General Grant (K)

2006                           nil    nil

2007                           600million    2.9billion

2008                            nil                                                  400million

2009                           1.2billion    16.8billion

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Col. Chanda: Mr Speaker, in light of the response given by the hon. Minister and the fluctuation in figures, how does the hon. Minister expect the LCC to run its affairs and balance its budget when it depends so heavily on rates?

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Dr Kazonga): Mr Speaker, the Government is, indeed, committed to ensuring that the local authorities, including the LCC, deliver to the community the necessary services. If we look at the grants in lieu of rates, we will notice that in 2008, there was no allocation. However, in 2007, an amount was allocated. For this year, 2009, the amount allocated to the LCC has been doubled. 

Mr Speaker, for the sake of the hon. Member of Parliament, the LCC prepares the budget and priority is given in this budget. Collection of fees and levies is also indicated for the council to deliver. If there is an approved valuation role, that can assist. For the sake of the hon. Member of Parliament and others, grants in lieu of rates compensate for the Government properties that we do not pay rates for. The Government has done its best in ensuring that the LCC is given what it is supposed to be given based on the limited resource envelope. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing aware that it is a statutory obligation on the part of the Government to provide grants in lieu of rates to councils in the country and, in particular, the LCC and that the Government is setting a very bad example to the citizens for failing to pay …

Mr Speaker: Order! You are debating.

Mr Mwiimbu: …the rates. 

Dr Kazonga: Mr Speaker, we are aware about the provisions in the Rating Act just as the hon. Member is. However, if we do not have resources, what can we do? When resources are available, we will disburse according to the provisions that are there. As was illustrated in 2007, there was K600million released. Last year, there was nothing because of limitations in resources. In the 2009 budget, it has been possible to even double the money allocated in 2007. This indicates the serious commitment that this Government has to ensure that it follows these provisions and assist the council to provide the necessary services to our community. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

_____ 

BILLS

FIRST READING

THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT BILL, 2009

The Minister of Defence (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Disaster Management Bill, 2009. The objects of the Bill are:

(a)    to establish and provide for the maintenance and operation of a system
for the anticipation, preparedness, prevention, co-ordination, mitigation and management of disaster situations and the organisation of relief and recovery from disasters;

(b)    establish the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit and 
    provide for its powers and function;

(c)    provide for the declaration of disasters;

    
(d)    establish the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund;

(e)    provide for the responsibilities and involvement of the members of the 
    public in disaster management; and 

(f)     provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Welfare and the Committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism. The Committees are required to submit their report on the Bill to the House when they complete their deliberations. 

Hon. Members who wish to make submissions or amendments to the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committees. 

Thank you. 

____

        MOTION        

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 20 AND 21 (1) AND STANDING ORDER 101

The Minister of Defence (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 20 and 21 (1), if necessary, and Standing Order 101 be suspended to enable the House to complete all business on the Order Paper and all matters arising therefrom and that, on such completion, the House do adjourn sine die. 
Mr Speaker, this is a procedural Motion which is non-controversial. It is designed to enable the House conclude its business today. Hon. Members will recall that on Friday, last week, I indicated to the House that, all things being equal, it might be necessary to move this Motion, today, so that the House could go on recess. 

Sir, during the current meeting of the House which began on Friday, 18th September, 2009, the House has sat for a total of forty-five days. During the this period, the House extensively debated the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency, the President’s Address to the House and examined  various Government policy  issues contained in the President’s Speech. The House also debated the Motion of Supply on next year’s Budget and considered the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year, 2010. The House also dealt with Supplementary Number 1 of 2009.

Mr Speaker, a total of 226 Questions for Oral Answer were placed on the Order Paper and adequately answered by the Executive. The House also noted twenty-six Questions for Written Answer. During this period, the House considered nineteen Sessional and Select Committee reports. In addition, twelve Ministerial Statements clarifying Government policies were delivered and forty-six annual reports from the Government and Quasi-Government institutions were received and laid on the Table of the House. The House also considered five Government Bills which were namely; money Bills to support the 2010 Budget.

Mr Speaker, form the business which was before the House, it is evident that hon. Members disposed of a heavy workload in a short time as a result of team work and commitment to duty. This has enabled the House make many important decisions which will accelerate development in our country and uplift the living standards of the people of Zambia. In this regard, let me take this opportunity to thank all hon. Members of this august House for a job well done.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 Dr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, the House has accomplished its programme of work and fulfilled the purpose for which it was summoned by His Excellency the President. It is therefore, appropriate for the House to go on recess so that hon. Members may attend to other equally challenging assignments outside this Chamber.

Mr Speaker, the House is adjourning at a time when the rainy season has just begun and we are hopeful that we will be blessed with good rains. We will, therefore, have an opportunity to demonstrate our hard work outside this House by participating in agriculture, especially that the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, has introduced the Farmer Input Support Programme which will be in charge of input distribution for the 2009/2010 farming season. As the planting season has already started, I wish to urge hon. Members of Parliament to use this break to encourage and supervise the distribution of these inputs so that our people throughout the country can grow sufficient maize and other food crops.

Mr Speaker, this meeting of the House will be best remembered as a learning phase, particularly with adjustments of the process relating to the Budget Cycle following the Constitutional Amendment. Despite the hectic schedule in that the House has been conducting business for most of the year, it is gratifying to note that we have gone through this process with diligence and enthusiasm.

Mr Speaker, at a press conference held by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda 24th June 2009, he said, among other things, and I quote:

“I want to inform the nation that the Government is considering re-aligning the Budget Cycle to the calendar year which will entail that the Government Financial Year will be commencing in January each year. This will help speed up the implementation of the programmes.” 

Mr Speaker, this has been achieved. In this regard, I would like to pay tribute to our hard working hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane indicated assent.

Dr Mwansa: … and his civil servants who had only two and half months to create new structures and systems and allow for conditions to convert from the old to the new Budget Cycle. The translation has been extremely smooth and our civil servants and the hon. Minister must be highly commended for achieving this. 

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to assure the House and the nation that the Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit under the Office of the Vice-President has sufficiently prepared to handle the 2009/2010 floods emergency situations in the country.

Sir, the House and the nation need to be assured that although the resources required to implement this contingency plan have been difficult to come by, there are enough preparedness measures that the Government, through my office, has put in place in order to respond to the 2009/2010 floods emergency situations should they occur. These measures include the pre-positioning of the relief food supplies in the districts that get cut off at the onset of the rainy season. They include stockpiling of emergency stocks such as tents, boats, blankets, water purification equipment, industrial water pumps, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils and other items.

Mr Speaker, in addition to these measures, the men and women in uniform from the Zambia Army, the Zambia Air Force and the Zambia National Service are on a 24 hour alert to support the national humanitarian effort as they have done before.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members of this House may also wish to know that all Provincial Permanent Secretaries and District Commissioners have been put on high alert to monitor the situation and report to the central co-ordinating agency which is the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit for immediate action.

Mr Speaker, let me conclude by paying tribute to you, Sir, the hon. Madam Speaker, and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House for the impartial and non-partisan manner in which you guided the proceedings and business of this august House. 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Mwansa: My gratitude is extended to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the efficient services rendered during the course of the business of the House.

In the same vein, let me acknowledge the important workload generated by the staff in Government ministries and departments which collectively contributed to the success of the sitting of the Legislature.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order! I wish to remind you, yet again and again, that there is no room for returning to cross-country debating on this Motion. As clearly stipulated by the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, the Motion simply requests you to approve it so that you may return to the agenda of the House for you to complete business so that you may go home and attend to other matters.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order! No cross-country debate will be allowed.

Mrs Masebo (Chongwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity.

Sir, in supporting the Motion, I am taking your guidance.

Mr Speaker, I just wanted to say that, indeed, it is important that we get back to our constituencies because there have been a number of outstanding issues there that need to be addressed.

Mr Speaker, I have two issues regarding the Chongwe Constituency that I have to address and I would like the Government to take note of them and hope that during this break, it assist me to resolve these problems. I have a compound around the airport area called Mabloko Compound.

Recently, the Government, through the relevant ministry, directed that the 250 families that have lived there for over thirty-five years must be shifted to the Mwanawasa Resettlement Scheme that the Government found for them. The hon. Minister directed that within two weeks, these people were to be moved to that site, and yet this site is not yet ready.

Mr Speaker, through you, I wish to appeal to the Government, through the relevant ministry, to ensure that this directive is not implemented during the rainy season.

Sir, the people of Mabloko are not illegal settlers because those were the families that built the Lusaka International Airport. In those days, that was the site allocated to the workers who were building the Lusaka International Airport. They have stayed at that place since that time.

As an hon. Member of Parliament, I do appreciate the Government’s decision to relocate these people. However, in supporting that decision, it is important that it puts a human face to that decision. For the past two to three years, the Government, through the various ministries, has been working to ensure that the area where these people are supposed to be relocated to has basic provisions such as a road network, water and sanitation.

Mr Speaker, two years ago, some money was released to the Chongwe District Council and I am aware that the National Airports Corporation also tried to sink some boreholes at the site, but these works have not been completed yet and the boreholes are not enough. Therefore, it will be inhumane for the Government to relocate these people during the rainy season.

Professor Lungwangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for granting me this opportunity to raise a point of order. Is the hon. Member in order to bring out this matter which we had discussed extensively and assured her that the people of Mabloko would not be shifted?

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

Professor Lungwangwa: She is well aware of the position of the Government on this matter as discussed with her. Is she in order? I need your ruling.

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister of Communications and Transport has raised a pertinent point of order. If this matter has been discussed and promises or undertakings were made on it in this House, I guide the hon. Member for Chongwe to raise another point, if she has any.

May you continue, please.

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, this matter was never discussed in this House, but I will take the response from the hon. Minister as being official and I am satisfied. Therefore, since that is a Government assurance, I will move onto another point.

Sir, the other issue I wish to bring to your attention is the issue of National In-Service Training College (NISTCOL) in Chalimbana. At the moment, we have over a thousand teachers who were training at the College and who have been shifted to various colleges in the country, hence, making the situation at the training institution tense.

Again, I would like to appeal to Government, through the relevant ministry, to look at this issue seriously. There was a promise that was made to the students at NISTCOL that they would not be transferred until they had finished the courses they were doing which are two-year and three-year courses.

Mr Speaker, at the moment, the situation at NISTCOL is that the Government has made a decision to revert the college to its original arrangement where there was only in-service training. Firstly, the problem that is there is that NISTCOL has such massive infrastructure that will go to waste if this decision is carried. Secondly, because of the number of teachers who were being trained there, which are over 1,000,000, NISTCOL created employment for the people of Chalimbana. However, with the new decision that the Government has put in place, the economic situation in that area with regard to the workers there is bleak.

As the area hon. Member of Parliament, I would like to bring this matter to the attention of the Government to study the situation in detail and appreciate what the lecturers at NISTCOL are saying. If they do not do that, Mr Speaker, I want to say this, again, the Government is going to regret it.

At the moment, the situation is that there are students at that college who should have completed their two-year course, but now that the two-year course has been discontinued and they have been shifted to other training institutions, after they have done one year at NISTCOL in Chalimbana. However, the training colleges where they have been transferred to such as Kabwe, Nkurumah and Livingstone, does not have the combination of courses which is exactly the same as the one that they were doing at the NISTCOL. For example, a teacher may have had a combination of two subjects, for example, history and mathematics, but that combination is not there where he/she has been sent. The Government has told them that they now have a choice to drop one of the subjects in order to specialise only in one.

Now, you can imagine, Mr Speaker, you have enrolled at a college for a two-year course and then mid-stream, your course is curtailed and you are forced to take only one subject. The teachers are asking why they are being treated in such a manner by this Government.

As a Member of this Government, I am appealing to it to realise that this issue is very sensitive because we are dealing with teachers from all over Zambia, who train at NISTCOL in Chalimbana. It is unfortunate that  have curtailed their course after you promised that you will allow that stream to finish the two-year course then reconsider the decision that you have made at a later stage.

Mr Speaker, the other point I wanted to mention in relation to this college is that the Government invested a lot of money in the infrastructure. The science laboratory is better than the one at the University of Zambia.

As I am speaking now, there are only seventy-six students that are in college. So far, a number of teachers have been transferred to other colleges in the country whilst others have remained there. For this reason, a number of teachers are just idling around because they have no work to do. They report in the morning and knock off at 1700 hours waiting to be paid at the end of the month, and yet teaching is not going on.

Sir, I know that the Ministry of Education made this decision, and your Committee did study this matter and visited NISTCOL and made recommendations which were adopted by this House. For this reason, I would like to earnestly urge the Ministry of Education to look into this issue and reverse that decision. If they do not want to reverse it, the college has given alternative recommendations which were also adopted in this House. The recommendation was that the new courses that the Ministry of Education wants NISTCOL to be teaching be adopted and continue to be taught side-by-side with the other subjects that the Government has since cancelled at that college.

Mr Speaker, I want to repeat that this matter is very tricky and it has created tension at the college. As I speak now, there is low morale among the teachers. These teachers who are being transferred to all over the country will begin to decampaign us as a Government. Therefore, I wish to urge the Government to look into this matter, study it and understand it and acknowledge that the college has a point.

Interruptions

Mr Msichili: Finally!

Mrs Masebo: Lastly, Mr Speaker, I just wanted to say that it is good that we are adjourning in order to give us time to go back to our constituencies. However, I would like to urge the various sector ministries to look at some of the issues that we have brought to this House during the months we have been sitting and try to address them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members that is an example of the cross-country debate I was guiding you against. On a Motion such as this one, I urge hon. Members to ignore the timer so that it is resolved. Be brief and to the point in support of the Motion and I hope the hon. Member for Livingstone will set the kind of example I am talking about.

Mr Sikota SC. (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for according me this opportunity to debate in support of this Motion. I give a solemn undertaking that I will not be tempted into any cross-country debating. 

Mr Speaker, I stand to support the Motion to allow us to finish any business that may be on the Order Paper. In supporting it, I would like to acknowledge that we have done very well during this sitting by swiftly dealing with the Budget in spite of it coming at a time we did not expect it due to the change in the budget cycle. At the same time, we also dealt with many committee reports. It was quite unprecedented to have the Budget and committee reports concurrently.

Mr Speaker, the manner in which we quickly disposed of all this business shows that all of us in this House are good value for money and we can all be proud of ourselves for the manner in which we dealt with the issues.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikota SC.: Mr Speaker, as the Leader of Government Business in the House has stated, it is necessary for us to go back to our constituents to explain exactly what we have achieved during this sitting and the decisions that have been passed. It is also important for us to get back to our constituencies because during our absence, a lot of rumours have spawned and if we do not go back and address them, they will start to grow legs and have mileage. Some of the rumours may multiply and start making babies unless we deal with them promptly.

Mr Speaker, one equally important issue that we need to deal with as we adjourn is the National Constitutional Conference (NCC). Time has to be made for us to attend to important national issues and I believe that is what the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House was referring to. As we do so, we also need to start getting feedback from our constituents on the various Bills which have reached various stages and are pending before this House such as the one which has just passed first reading, today, so that when we come back, we will be able to truly reflect what our constituents feel about these Bills.

Mr Speaker, on Bills, I, again, wish to remind the Government that there is the Freedom of Information Bill that it needs to conclude its consultations on. Having said this, I wish everybody a happy festive season and a renewal of the Christmas spirit as we adjourn.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matongo (Pemba): Mr Speaker, I rise to support the suspension of the relevant Standing Orders as articulated by the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

Mr Speaker, we have worked for forty-five days and a lot has gone into the Budget. Before our colleagues in the Executive celebrate Christmas and New Year, they must be given time to ensure that these moneys we have approved, through their technocrats, is shared and this should be done in good time. I support the Motion so that the implementation of the Budget, by 1st January, 2010, should hit the ground and start running.

Secondly, I would like to state that there is one situation obtaining in all the agricultural districts. The fertiliser and seed is not disbursed as we all had wished. It is happening in Choma and elsewhere, at the moment, and so I am asking the responsible ministry and hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives to ensure that the seed and fertiliser is distributed to the deserving beneficiaries not later than seven days from today. Otherwise, we will miss the planting season and, next year, we will be talking of shortage of food.

Mr Speaker, food insecurity is an embarrassment to this country and we should do something about it. We have received our Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in our various districts; the districts that have accounted for it. Now is the time for hon. Members to go and sit with the relevant committees to ensure that the plan for the utilisation of the CDF, particularly those from rural areas, because by April, they must implement those projects. Let us prove to this Government that if the CDF is expanded, we shall deliver development to our people and so we should go back and plan these arrangements.

Mr Speaker, we are all heading for the festive season and our GDP is estimated to grow at 6.3 per cent. At the moment, it is at 4.3 per cent subject to the hon. Minister’s correction. 

On inflation, at the end of December, our wish, as a collective Zambian people, is to bring it down to 10 per cent. It is 11.1 per cent at the moment. It is uncontrolled expenditure, both personal and Government, that will spoil this development. I am hoping that as we go for the festive season, the hon. Minister will be warning all of us who like to spend outside proportion that that has an effect on his inflationary control measures.

Mr Speaker, I also want to state that it is the duty of the hon. Minister to ensure that the cost of borrowing is brought down by January 1st, 2010. We need to start investing locally and only cheap money would help us in that regard. It remains for me to thank my colleagues on your left for putting the Executive on their toes by providing them fair criticism. I wish the Executive and my colleagues a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. 

Mr Speaker, through you and the Clerk, I wish to thank all those who have not been thanked by the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House and these are the people who make us tea, keep this place clean, the messengers, secretaries and the very many staff who make our stay here comfortable. 

I wish them a merry Christmas and prosperous New Year and through them bottoms up to every one at Manda Hill.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwenya (Nkana): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor. Indeed, this sitting has been a very hectic and emotional one. For the first time …

Mr Speaker: Could you speak into the microphone, please.

Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker. I was saying that this sitting has, actually, been a very hectic and emotional one and that for the first time, I saw the banging of the table in the House. I also witnessed how dejected our friends on the right were when they lost in the Solwezi Central by-election.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Mwenya: I also witnessed the excitement on our side when, of course, we added another hon. Member of Parliament on the Opposition side. 

Mr Speaker, allow me to re-emphasise the only three issues that are very close to the hearts of my masters who sent me here. As I go back to my constituency, I know these are the same issues that my masters are going to raise. 

One of the issues relates to roads. I would like to speak on one particular road, which is a bypass to the mine, the Central Street, Mindolo Mine, Chibuluma Road. I have on several occasions spoken about this road. At one time, I had a discussion with the hon. Minister of Works and Supply and he agreed that the road was in a very bad state. On the last visitation the Republican President made to Chambeshi, he passed …

Mr Chipungu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I rarely rise on points of order. Is the hon. Member in order to debate in that manner when you have, in fact, guided this House not to debate across many issues.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The point of order which has been raised by the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development is valid. The Chair has, in the course of the meeting of this House, heard the hon. Member for Nkana debate those very issues before. I do not see what more he would like to be done apart from allowing the Executive to go back and deal with the projects which I hope are part of the budget. If he has nothing new to say, I would like to ask one more hon. Member to debate, then we resolve. 

Do you have anything new to say hon. Member for Nkana briefly?

Mr Mwenya: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I know that these are issues that have been debated before, but as we go back to our constituencies, I thought this would just be a reminder to the Executive …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

You are qualifying the guidance of the Chair. 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka): Thank you, Mr Speaker, I will be very brief. I have only four matters to discuss in support of the Motion. The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and his colleague in the Central Bank have indicated, in the recent past, that they were dealing with issues of inflation and that we were on course. 

Mr Speaker, last week, one commercial farmer in Mazabuka committed suicide at Chisuba Farm. His name was Tick Siddle and the reason for this, apparently, was that his business had sunk into deep debt. 

Mr Speaker, with regard to the issues of interest rates, I would like the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to, please, get into the financial institutions, as a Government, and remind them that it is eating into the fabric of people who make our economy tick. The agricultural sector has been deeply affected by high interest rates and farmers are failing to borrow.

Mr Speaker, coming to the issue of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), I would also like to remind the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives that it has already shown signs of defectiveness and that farmers are complaining. I will not dwell on it too much because one of my colleagues has already spoken about it.

Zeroing in on Mazabuka, Albidon Mine, which has been on care and maintenance, has shown signs of resuscitation and there are many pending matters that I would like to direct the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development through you …

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order! 

The hon. Member for Mazabuka must be listened to. There will be silence in the Chamber.

Mr Nkombo: Much appreciated, Mr Speaker. I was saying that I would like, through you, to give a humble directive to the hon. Minister of the Province, Hon. Munkombwe, and his counterpart, Hon. Mwale, to ensure that as the mine is resuscitated, they consider the issues of the people who were resettled on Lantana Farm with the promise that within three years of the mine’s existence would be given social amenities, a clinic and school. These people have had no clinic for three years now because of the unforeseen circumstances of the mine going under care and maintenance. So, I would like to urge the hon. Minister to, please, put that matter as a priority on the agenda as the mine reopens.

Mr Speaker, I would like to go to the issue of the Bill that was just presented by the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House. It would have been extremely pleasing for me to see that the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chief’s Affairs also took part in looking at this Bill because, in Mazabuka, for example, year in and year out, we suffer from disaster arising from excessive rainfall and this is worsened by the manner in which most towns are planned. There are no drainage systems and, therefore, there are many ponds that are a good recipe for water borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid. 

Mr Speaker, last year, I wrote a letter to the hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Services then, my sister, Hon. Namugala, requesting that the ministry consider releasing some of the land that belongs to the Nakambala Penitentiary Rehabilitation Centre for juvenile delinquents in order to accommodate a much better town and planning arrangement to redesign our unplanned settlements in Mazabuka. It has been a year since and hon. Ministers have changed. However, I know that her counterpart, Hon. Kaingu knows about this matter. I hope that this will be seen to its completion so that in Mazabuka, at least, we stop worrying about disaster management arising from overpopulation in unplanned settlements. 

Mr Speaker, obviously, it is important to thank the Leader of Government Business in the House for his indication that sufficient effort has been made in preparedness, adaptation and resilience of what may be anticipated disaster arising from rainfall.

Mr Speaker I want to thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to debate the Motion.

Dr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for the opportunity to wind up debate on this Motion and I thank the hon. Members who have debated in its support. Many issues have been raised and my colleagues and I have listened very carefully and action will be followed up by respective portfolio holders, who are the hon. Ministers.

Mr Speaker, I, however, want to say that most of the issues raised were extensively debated, first of all, during the Vote of Thanks on His Excellency’s Address to the House. Secondly, it was during the Motion of Supply and Expenditure and the debate on individual ministries as well as during the debate on provincial votes. So, there is really nothing new that has come up. However, I want to say that with regard to Hon. Masebo’s concerns about NISTCOL, in terms of under utilisation of the infrastructure there and management of courses offered, I want to assure her that the Ministry of Education is looking into this and the matter will be dealt with appropriately.

I appreciate Hon. Sikota’s views on the NCC and the Bills that are outstanding before the House. We, as a Government, will endeavour to follow-up the issues that he raised. As for Hon. Matongo’s comments on the implementation of the Budget, we want to follow the constitutional amendment that we presented and passed in this House so that we begin implementing the Budget as early as January, 2010 as indicated both in the Budget Address by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and in the constitutional amendment that we passed.

As for the farmer input distribution exercise, certainly, it is very important to ensure that we do it within the next seven days. Hon. Nkombo also mentioned this. I hope the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives will follow-up this extremely important matter because it can affect our food security. Hon. Nkombo was also concerned about the Disaster Management Bill which has just been presented to this House. The Bill has gone before the committee as we have heard and, therefore, nothing prevents Mazabuka Council from appearing before the committee to air its views. The committee is open to any stakeholders to come and present their views.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I want to thank my colleagues for their support. I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

___________ 

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON in the 
Chair]

(Consideration resumed)

Vote 91/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/35 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/37 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 91/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/45 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/47 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 91/52 − (Office of the President − Copperbelt Province − District Administration − 4,741,310,584).

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Chairperson, I seek clarification on Programme 8, Activity 01 − PDCC and DDCC meetings. I would like to find out what is being done with the PDCC meetings. I also seek clarification on Programme 8, Activity 02 − Purchase of Motor Vehicles for District Commissioners − K567,686,011. I would like to know how many vehicles will be purchased and for which DCs.

The Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning (Ms C. M. Kapwepwe): Mr Chairperson, Programme 8, Activity 01 − PDCC and DDCC meetings have been put under Activity ─ 03 right up to Activity ─ 22. In other words, they are being itemised individually under each district as opposed to being put as one single item. As regards Programme 8, Activity 02 − Purchase of Motor Vehicles for District Commissioners − K567,686,011. There are no vehicles being purchased because there is no funding.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Chairperson, regarding the first question on DDCC meetings, they are itemized from Activity ─ 03 up to Activity─12, but on PDCC meetings, I do not see any allocation. Under Activity ─ 02, there is an item saying Purchase of Vehicles for District Commissioners and there is a provision of K567,686,011. I would like to find out exactly which DCs these vehicles will be bought for and how many are they?

Ms C. M. Kapwepwe: Mr Chairperson, I note what you are saying, that the DDCC have been provided for and I note that there is no provision for the PDCC in this particular line. However, I know that it is an important activity whose funding would be met from, maybe, savings from other lines. On the purchase of vehicles, it is true there is a provision of K567,686,011, but I do not have the particular details of which particular DCs will receive these vehicles. However, there is a provision in the Budget which means that the vehicles will be purchased. Just to clarify on the PDCC, this activity is covered under the provincial administration.

I thank you, Sir.

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

Vote 91/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/54 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 91/55 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Vote 90/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/08 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 9024 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 9025 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates
.
Vote 90/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 90/55 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: We now move to Head 92 – Office of the President – Central Province.

Vote 92/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! Hon. Members must consult quietly.

Vote 92/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/08 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/35 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/37 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

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Vote 92/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

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Vote 92/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

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Vote 92/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 92/54 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: We now move to Head 93 – Office of the President – Northern Province.

Vote 93/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/08 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/35 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/37 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the
 Chair]

Vote 93/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote -93/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/55 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 93/56 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/07 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 94/09 ─ (Office of the President ─ Western Province ─ Buildings Department ─ K1,362,713,657).

Ms Imbwae (Lukulu West): Madam Chairperson, may I have clarification on Programme 7, Activity 02 ─ Inspection and Monitoring. I notice that there is no allocation on this activity. What will happen to the project this year?

The Minister for Western Province (Mr Mwapela): Madam Chairperson, the non-provision is due to the re-allocation of funds to the general administration programme.  

I thank you, Madam. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Vote 94/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 94/35 ─ (Office of the President ─ Western Province ─ Civil Aviation Department ─ K529,021,036).

Ms Imbwae: Madam Chairperson, may I have clarification on Programme 2, Activity 02 ─ Staff Welfare. Last year, K12 million was allocated, but there is no allocation this year. Is there not going to be staff welfare, this year, or has it also been covered somewhere else?  

Mr Mwapela: Madam Chairperson, the decrease in the allocation on this activity is due to the allocation of funds to other activities.

I thank you, Madam.

Interruptions

The Chairperson: Order!

Vote 94/35 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 94/41 – (Office of the President – Western Province – Youth Development Department – K373,183,535).

Ms Imbwae (Lukulu West): Madam Chairperson, may I have clarification on Programme 2, Activity 02 – Staff Welfare. May I know why there is no allocation for this activity? I need an answer.

The Chairperson: Order! Generally when you see that a policy has shifted and the figures at the bottom balance up or have additions, it is very difficult to keep asking the same question. However, can the hon. Deputy Minister for the Western Province attend to that question?

Mr Mwapela: The provision is for the payment of loans to officers. The decrease in the provision is due to re-allocation of funds to other activities.

 I thank you, Madam Chairperson.  

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Vote 94/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/47 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/ 52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/54 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 94/55 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear

Vote 95/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/35 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/37 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/47 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 95/55 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Vote 96/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/08 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 96/19 – (Office of the President – Luapula Province – Water Affairs Department – K1,560,565,025).

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Chairperson, on Programme 99, Activity 03 – Construction of Boreholes – K318,580,000, I would like to know the areas where this has been done. 

The Deputy Minister for Luapula Province (Dr Kawimbe): Madam Chairperson, I cannot give the specific areas where the boreholes have been provided, but I can say that I was in the constituency of the hon. Member and found two boreholes being sunk.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Chairperson, I am happy that two boreholes were sunk in my constituency and, therefore, as Member of Parliament of that Constituency, I would like to know the areas where these were sunk in.

The Chairperson: Order! 

That is beyond the mandate of this House and the hon. Member will have to go and check or liaise with the hon. Minister.

Vote 96/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 96/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/35 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/37 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 96/40 – (Office of the President - Luapula Province – Community Development Department – K2,154,224,119).

Dr Scott: Madam Chairperson, on Programme 1, Activity 02 – Salaries in Division II – K1,495,691,211, may I know why there is this huge increase.

Dr Kawimbe: Madam Chairperson, this is a reflection of the recent salary increase and most of our staff are in Division II.

I thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Dr Scott: Madam Chairperson, there has been no salary increase of over 100 per cent that I am aware of in any category in the last year. It could be a reflection of a little of that, but something else is at work. Could the hon. Minister tell us what it is?

Dr Kawimbe: Madam Chairperson, this is a reflection of employing more staff. We are recruiting and it is being reflected there because you cannot recruit people and not pay them.

I thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Chairperson, on Programme 1, Activity 05 – Other Emoluments – K15,000,000, if we are recruiting, why is there a reduction in the allocation compared to that of last year?

Dr Kawimbe: Madam Chairperson, on Programme 1, Activity 05 – Other Emoluments – K15,000,000, the first point to take note of is that we are no longer dealing with ghost workers or salary estimates. After conducting a complete audit of our manpower requirements, we are paying the people who are actually there.

I thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Vote 96/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 96/48 – (Office of President – Luapula Province – Sports Department – K382,709,121).

Dr Scott: Madam Chairperson, may I have clarification on Programme 1, Activity  – 01 – Salaries Division 1 – K56,205,264, Activity 02 – Salaries Division II – K26,750,660, Activity 03 – Wages – K15,923,197, Activity 04 – Other Emoluments – K10,000,000, I am concerned that, again, the salaries and wages have gone up, but the other emoluments have come down. Is this a reflection, as the hon. Minister told us several votes back, of the fact that ghost workers have been eliminated in which case, may he confirm that K15,600 was stolen in the form of frauds through ghost workers last year.

Dr Kawimbe: Madam Chairperson, in the past, we were dealing with a system of salary estimates. After an audit dealing with actual numbers, this is why you see under other emoluments those figures have drastically reduced.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Scott: Madam Speaker, when I follow the record, I find that answer incomprehensible. I wonder whether he would care to try again.

Vote 96/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 96/49 – (Office of the President – Luapula Province – Provincial Planning Unit – K928,422,240).

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Chairperson, may I have clarification on Programme 2, Activity 01 – Office Administration – K417,544,000, you will see that in all the departments, it is either they maintain the figure or increase it by 5 to 10 per cent, but in this activity, they have increased by 100 per cent, which is coming to K417,544,000. Will the hon. Minister explain why?

Mr Kawimbe: Madam Chairperson, this is for the establishment of a new planning unit and this will involve the procurement of office equipment and furniture as well as routine work of office administration, budget preparation and hearings.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Vote 96/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 96/55 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 97/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 97/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 97/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 97/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/35 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 97/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/47 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/53 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 97/54 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 98/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 98/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/08 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/16 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/17 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/18 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/19 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/23 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/24 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/25 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/36 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/37 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/40 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/41 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/42 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/43 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/44 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/45 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/46 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/49 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/51 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/52 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 98/54 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 

Vote 98/55 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

VOTE 99 – (Constitutional and Statutory Expenditure – K1,987,495,297,335).

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Madam Chairperson, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning is charged with the responsibility of effective and efficient co-ordination of national planning, sound economic management, cost effective mobilisation and management of public financial and economic resources in a transparent and accountable manner in order to sustain national development and realise our Vision 2030. 

In an effort to realise this realm, the ministry will, in 2010, continue to undertake measures aimed at effectively controlling and utilising expenditures under this Head. This is the Head from which Constitutional and Statutory expenditures are provided for in the National Budget. The total expenditure under this Head includes amounts for foreign and domestic debt servicing at K392.4 billion and K1.188 trillion respectively. The other amounts are meant for contingency and the medium-term peri-reform for Civil Service and contingency to deal with unforeseen events such as natural calamities. 

The Government, Madam Chairperson, domestically borrows through the issuance of treasury bills and bonds. For external borrowing, this is through contractual agreements pursuance to the Loans and Guarantees Authorisation Act. This is in an effort to augment domestic tax, non-tax and donor resources required to realise the national development agenda. In this regard, the Government is committed to efficient settlement of its debt obligation so as to maintain a sound and mutual official business relationship with the lenders.

In order to sustain this relationship, it is important to pay particular attention to the need for maintaining debt sustainability in order to avoid default. It is critical, therefore, that we continually review and adjust debt management taxes in line with the dictates of macro-economic environment. In this regard, the Government will continue to use the tools developed in its debt management strategy to maintain debt at sustainable levels.

As I said in my policy statement during the debate on the head for my ministry, any foreign borrowing would only be undertaken after sound cost benefits and sustainability analysis. The overall objective will continue to ensure that debt is procured, at least, cost and minimum risk. 

Additionally, the ministry is reviewing the legislation relating to the contraction of debt so as to streamline it with the aim of avoiding the accumulation of arrears. Government realises that in order to develop wealth generating capacity, it will be necessary to borrow from commercial windows as concession financing may not be available for most economically viable projects, especially in infrastructure development. 

In this regard, where these are identified, we shall endeavour to seek self-financing, but if this is unavailable, only sufficient commercial sources will be approached while we remain recognisant of the need to maintain debt sustainability.

Madam Chairperson, I thank you.

Vote 99/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 99/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

VOTE 99/04 – (Constitutional and Statutory Expenditure – Contingency – K47,400,835,413).

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment to Vote  99/04, under 1 – Contingency, Programme 8 - Contingency, Activity 01 – Contingency, by the deletion of K47,400,835,413.00 and the substitution therefore of K28,151,785,559.00.

Amendment agreed to. Vote amended accordingly.

Vote 99/04, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

Vote 99/05 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

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HOUSE RESUMED

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

The Estimates of Expenditure, Including Capital and Constitutional and Statutory Expenditure, for the year 1st January, to 31st December, 2010 were reported to the House as having passed through Committee with amendments.

Report adopted and Mr Speaker appointed the Minister of Finance and National Planning to a committee of one to bring the necessary Bill to give effect to the resolution of the Committee of Supply.

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BILL

FIRST READING

The following Bill was read the first time:

The Appropriation Bill, 2010

Second Reading, now.

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SECOND READING

THE APPROPRIATION BILL, 2010

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Dr Musokotwane): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Sir, the Bill before the House marks the conclusion of the noble and important task we started in the Committee of Supply. I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to you for the judicious guidance in the conduct of Business in the House. My gratitude also goes to the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Supply whose valuable contribution and efforts to this entire process I wish to recognise.

Mr Speaker, let me also mention the contributions made by the Leader of Government Business in the House, His Honour the Vice-President, in the organisation of Business of the House, thereby making the whole process smooth and successful. 

I am also indebted to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the invaluable assistance rendered during the entire process of approving the 2010 Budget.

Finally, may I pay tribute to my hon. Colleagues on both sides of the House, through the various Committees, and individually for their inputs and contributions in the entire process of executing the Motion and their advice on a number of issues that arose during the debate. In fact, let me take this opportunity to commend the entire House for breaking another record in approving the 2010 Budget in less than two months.

Sir, as this House appropriates the 2010 Budget by passing this Bill, I wish to remind my hon. Colleagues that only half of the real work has been achieved and the other half still needs to be done. I am talking about execution of the 2010 Budget and full implementation of a number of key programmes contained therein so that the figures reflected in the Yellow Book can be translated into real things meaningful to the Zambian people whom we serve. 

As a Government and Treasury, we play our role to mobilise resources so that all programmes contained in the 2010 Budget can be implemented and the objectives set by the Government can be successfully attained. 

Mr Speaker, the subsiding of the global financial crisis is giving us great hope that the situation will improve economically in 2010. The macro economic targets will be attained and the projected financial resources will be raised. Given that the Budget Cycle has changed for the better in as far as executing the Budget is concerned, I wish to call upon ministries, provinces and other spending agencies to move quickly in ensuring that resources released to them are prudently and efficiently utilised.

The Ministry of Finance and National Planning is now strengthened the monitoring and evaluation wing and regular reporting in now underway and this is also at Cabinet level. The intention of the Government is to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation capacity to all ministries, provinces and other spending agencies. This will become a common feature in the entire Government system as we endeavour to strengthen our monitoring and evaluation capacity through various development programmes.

Sir, to my hon. Colleagues, I wish to remind them to continue with their involvement in the implementation of the budget and, particularly, the capital projects. They are a vital link to the Government in terms of getting feedback on development matters so that actions can be taken where necessary. 

Mr Speaker, I also wish to call upon stakeholders, including individual Zambians, to get involved in the implementation and execution of national programmes especially capital projects. The successful execution of these programmes is what will change the face of this country and enable us to attain the Vision 2030 goals.

Mr Speaker, in concluding, I wish to reiterate that the Government and, in particular, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has taken note of the various development issues raised in the debate of the Budget Motion and a number of these will be addressed in due course. Development cannot just come about over a short period of time, but takes time. However, we, as a Government, shall not relent in our efforts to develop our country so that the quality of life of the people is improved.

Mr Speaker, lastly, I take note of the complaints by most of us in the House that the Government is not providing sufficient resources to address many development programmes in our constituencies. This is well appreciated because it is, indeed, our responsibility, as hon. Members of Parliament, to promote development in our areas.

Since this is the matter that brings about a lot of frustration, let me once again make a final comment on it. I wish to repeat a point I have made before and this is that our frustrations will only be seriously addressed when we individually and collectively begin to focus on expanding our national cake, which is what expands the taxable base. This will only happen if each of us sees it as part of our very important tasks to support the creation of new enterprises and the expansion of existing ones. Each one of us must demonstrate practical steps in the creation of taxable capacity in our constituencies and not just dwell on complaining about little money coming to us from the Treasury.

Sir, unfortunately, some of us in the Public Service and even in this House act to the contrary. We are quite happy to complain about the lack of resources for development, but resist the very processes that generate the resources.

On our part, as a Government, we shall continue to press hard for the expansion of the national cake as indicated by the growth rate in the growth domestic product (GDP). The prospects are good. When I presented the Budget in October, this year, the projected GDP growth rate for 2009 was 4.3 per cent. The latest projection from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) is now put at 6.3 per cent,…

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane:…exceeding the pre-crisis growth rate and one of the highest in the world.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Sir, it is this momentum that we must maintain in order to continue generating wealth, creating new jobs and new taxable capacity. This is the only viable route I know of for realistically addressing the frustrations caused by limited funding for our development programmes. This is the only winning formula. 

Mr Speaker, once again, let me thank you and other Presiding Officers for guiding us, the Clerk and her staff for serving us, your right hand side and some hon. Members on your left for their support…

Interruptions

Dr Musokotwane:…and encouragement and the rest of the hon. Members of Parliament on the left for keeping the right hand side alert.

I also wish to thank my staff at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning for a job well done as well as the hon. Deputy Minister, Ms Kapwepwe, for her excellent support.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I wish everyone a pleasant festive season.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put and agreed to and the Bill read a second time. 

Committed to the committee of the whole House. 

Committee, today.
________

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the
 Chair]

THE APPROPRIATION BILL, 2010

Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to. 

_________

HOUSE RESUMED

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

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

The Appropriation Bill, 2010

Third reading, today.

THIRD READING

The following Bill was read the third time and passed:

The Appropriation Bill, 2010

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MOTION

ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE SINE DIE

The Minister of Defence (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn sine die.

Question put and agreed to.
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The House adjourned accordingly at 1247 hours on Friday, 4th December, 2009, sine die.
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