DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 13th October, 2009

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

___________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER

Madam Deputy Speaker: In the absence of His Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Justice who is attending to other national duties, Hon. Dr Kalombo T. Mwansa, MP, Minister of Defence will act as Leader of Government Business in the House from Tuesday, 13th  October, 2009 to Wednesday, 14th October, 2009.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
___________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

RELOCATION OF LUSAKA RAILWAY STATION

122. Mr Chazangwe (Choma Central) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing whether the ministry had any plans to relocate the Lusaka Railway Station which was currently an impediment to the orderly development of the City of Lusaka.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Musosha): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the Government has no plans to re-locate the Lusaka Railway Station to some other place.

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, the Government does not agree with the notion that suggests that the railway station is an impediment to the orderly development of the City of Lusaka because the design of the station was meant to be on the surface and not underground.

Madam Speaker, the railway line from Livingstone to Kasumbalesa has one title deed which indicates that 50 metres either side of the line belongs to Zambia Railways and that no buildings should be erected within this radius. Therefore, this means that councils can decide on how to develop the areas outside the mentioned radius; and that the station cannot be an impediment to development as it only holds a small fraction of the land.

However, over the years and due to the political and economic changes that have taken place in the country, it was found prudent to concession the Zambia Railways to Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ). Therefore, the re-locating of the railway station from its present site cannot be done by the Government because the station is now privately run. The Government will, however, present this matter, through Lusaka City Council, to Railway Systems of Zambia to see how the station can be put underground so that the flow of traffic which seems to be the main problem now can be eased.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chazangwe: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister…

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

Madam Deputy Speaker: On which procedural matter?

Mr Muyanda: It is a matter of national importance, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muyanda: Madam Speaker, I am sorry that I had to disturb my brother, the hon. Member of Parliament for Choma Central, who was pursuing a very constructive question. I rise on a very serious point of order. Is the Government in order to remain silent when queues and queues of motor vehicles are desperately lining up in search for petrol…

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: … while others are totally lost as to where to find diesel at the peak of the farming season? Farming implements are being transported from various parts of the country and from shops to the farms. The economy is grinding to halt.

Madam Speaker, I need your serious ruling.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Indeed, the point of order is of national importance. The serious ruling of the Chair to is that the Government is expected, indeed, to come, at an appropriate time, with a ministerial statement to give the nation the position on this very serious matter. The hon. Member for Choma Central may continue.

Mr Chazangwe: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the southern part of the railway line that passes through the city has been turned into a second Soweto Market?

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, what the hon. Member has talked about is an illegal trading centre. We have designated places for marketing purposes where all traders are supposed to go and, as such, that is an illegal trading centre.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out what measures the Government has put in place to ensure that there is increased safety for the people who are crossing the railway line. Currently, people are crossing the railway line at any point and, as you are aware, the railway line passes through a residential area.

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. Just like roads, all railway crossing points are usually given the zebra painting. At the same time, there are sign posts that are planted at all such crossing points. Any other crossing points are at owners’ risk.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out why the Government thinks that they are protecting that railway station when, in actual fact, they approved the construction of a road running parallel to the railway line only two metres away. They have allowed this road to cross the railway line to National Milling at a degree less than 35 degrees against the regulations of Zambia. Why did the Government allow this if it is not their intention to relocate the station?

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, it was not the Government’s intention to allow anybody to construct such a road and it is not even to the best of our knowledge that such a thing has been done.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. (Chasefu): Madam Speaker, I would like to know the steps that this Government will take, bearing in mind that there is a clear breach of the covenants relating to the title deeds given to Zambia Railways in respect of the railway reserve from Livingstone up to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). What is the ministry going to do to ensure that there is observance with the terms and covenants relating to the title deeds that were given to Zambia Railways Limited?

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, like I said in my answer, this is now private property.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Musosha: Therefore, as a Government, we do not have any rights to start interfering with private property. It is the law and, by law, and it is on title.

I thank you, Madam.

Laughter

Mr Chisanga (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the railway line occupies a big area from Kamwala to Rothmans? If you happen to relocate the railway line, do you not think that it can help to decongest Cairo Road?

The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development (Mr Machila): Madam Speaker, the relocation of the station, as stated by the hon. Member, is not feasible or practical when we take into consideration the expenses that will be incurred in undertaking such an exercise. Therefore, there are no immediate plans to undertake such an exercise.

I thank you, Madam.{mospagebreak}

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Madam Speaker, the Government, under the Public Health Act, has the power to close down dirty places. This place, including the station and the toilet, is filthy and stinks like hell. Why has this Government failed to implement the provisions of the Public Health Act?

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

We do not know ‘hell’ in this place. The hon. Member may choose to use another word. Please, withdraw that.

Mr Kambwili: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘hell’. It stinks badly.

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, the issue that has been raised is a serious one taking into consideration Public Health Act matters. We shall contact the Lusaka City Council and ensure that they enforce regulations.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central): Madam Speaker, I would like to learn from the hon. Minister when the Lusaka Commuter Railway Services will be brought to life as per the directive of this House in 2007?

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, as far as we are aware, the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is attending to the concession of this particular railway system. I am sure that the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry will be in a better position to shed some light.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Ngoma (Sinda): Madam Speaker, following the hon. Minister’s response that within fifty metres of the railway line there are erections and buildings. Is the Government not entitled to do away with such developments even if they are on private land? If your answer is yes, when will the Government move in to demolish these settlements and have the people relocated?

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, although it is a matter of fact that there are structures that have been put up within the fifty-metre limitation, it is also a fact that some of these structures were put up following approval by other bodies such as the Environmental Council of Zambia and so on. Therefore, it will be impossible to extract all these structures.

I thank you, Madam.

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Madam, earlier the Deputy Minister said the road feeding National Milling Company across the railway line was irregular or illegal. As I recall, that road was given as the reason for the hon. Minister to overturn the Environmental Council of Zambia’s refusal to allow National Milling Company to build a silo in the middle of Cairo Road because the ….

Madam Deputy Speaker: You are debating now.

Dr Scott: Could the hon. Minister explain, please, how the left and right hands of his administration communicate with each other?

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, the sanctioning of the road leading to National Milling Company, as has been stated, was done in order to assist in decongesting traffic in that particular side of town. I am sure that the hon. Member appreciates that the traffic has since subsided on that side of town.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, twice, the hon. Minister referred to Lusaka City Council. I would like to find out whether he is aware of the fact that the construction of the road running adjacent to the railway line and leading to a named milling company was objected to by the Lusaka City Council and that the Government …

Madam Deputy Speaker: What is your question? I think we know the style.

Mr Lubinda: My question is: Is the hon. Minister aware of the fact that the council that he is referring to objected to the construction of that road and that the Government overruled the position of the council and went ahead to permit the construction of that road? Therefore, he should not make reference to Lusaka City Council.

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, I have made no reference to Lusaka City Council with respect to the road leading to National Milling Company. The reference I made to Lusaka City Council was with regard to public health issues at the railway station’s toilet facilities.

I thank you, Madam.

 

ELECTRIFICATION OF BASIC SCHOOLS

123. Mrs Chitika-Molobeka (Kawambwa) asked the Minister of Energy and Water Development when the following basic schools would be electrified through the Rural Electrification Project:

(a) Kalamba;

(b) Lusambo;

(c) Ntulo; and

(d) Chisulo.

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Mbewe): Mr Speaker, the mentioned basic schools will not be electrified under the Rural Electrification Project since all these schools are located in close proximity to the existing electricity supply lines.

The actual connection to power that is within easy reach is the responsibility of the concerned institutions working with the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), the service provider. The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) will concentrate on using the little available financial resources on bringing electricity infrastructure near to where it can be easily accessed.

I thank you, Madam.

Mrs Chitika-Molobeka: Madam Speaker, some of these schools were in the master plan for rural electrification for 2007. I would like to find out when the Government realised that they were very close to the national grid.

Mr Mbewe: Madam Speaker, the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) only electrifies infrastructure close to the people. Now, in this case, electricity is close to the schools and so it is the responsibility of the community where the hon. Member belongs to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to connect electricity to the buildings. It is not the duty of the REA to electrify houses and pay bills for the schools. The residents of a particular area should pay the bills themselves.

Thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milupi (Luena): Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that electrifying a basic school costs a lot more than K600 million which is the CDF, taking into account that the infrastructure, as put, is usually at 11 or 66 KV and, therefore, requires a very big transformer to step it down?

Mr Mbewe: Madam Speaker, I do not know what the hon. Member is talking about.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Mbewe: What I know is that it is very expensive to take power to a certain locality, but cheaper to take transformers there. Hon. Members should also know that it is the responsibility of each ministry to make sure that power is taken to the various infrastructure that belong to them. For example, if a school needs to be electrified, it becomes the responsibility of the Ministry of Education to see to it that this is done.

Thank you, Madam.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, the REA Work Plan for 2007 indicates that these schools would be electrified through the REA and not that power would be brought close to the schools. Can he explain when there was a change of plan by the REA? When did the Government decide that the REA would no longer electrify, but bring power close to these schools? That is the question that he should address.

Mr Mbewe: Madam Speaker, it is true that the REA is responsible for taking power close to the people, but it is not responsible for the electrification of schools. It is the responsibility of a particular ministry and the area hon. Member of Parliament to use the CDF and electrify those schools.

Thank you, Madam.

Interruptions

REHABILITATION OF SENIOR CHIEF NKULA’S PALACE AND RECEIPT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

124. Mr C. Mulenga (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) when Senior Chief Nkula’s Palace was last rehabilitated;

(b) when the palace would be rehabilitated; and

(c) when Senior Chief Nkula would receive a motor vehicle under the Chiefs’ Car Loan Scheme.

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the august House that the palace for Senior Chief Nkula was last rehabilitated by the Government during the period 1998/99 when the Government embarked on a programme to rehabilitate some chiefs’ palaces.

Madam Speaker, at the moment, the Government has no budget provisions for the rehabilitation of Senior Chief Nkula’s Palace or, indeed, any other chiefs’ palaces in the country.

 Senior Chief Nkula is expected to receive a motor vehicle in the last consignment which is scheduled to arrive in the country before the end of this year.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr C. Mulenga: Madam Speaker, what other measures has the Government put in place to ensure that chiefs countrywide are taken care of by the Government instead of allowing them to get involved in politics because of poverty?

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, the Government has no plans, at the moment, to put in the budget as to how much should be spent on caring for chiefs.

I thank you, Madam.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister give a little more information on when the vehicles meant for some chiefs, which arrived in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania and seem to have been marooned there for several months now, are going to brought into the country because the chiefs are waiting?

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Luapula for that follow-up question. It is an on-going process and some vehicles arrived in the country about two or three days ago and we will continue distributing them to our chiefs.

I thank you, Madam

Mr Kambwili: Madam Speaker, if my memory serves me right, during the 2008 Presidential election campaigns, when the President was paying a courtesy call on most of the chiefs in Zambia, he clearly stated that the Government was going to make sure that the chiefs’ palaces were rehabilitated and electrified. The hon. Deputy Minister has just said that there is no plan for rehabilitation of chiefs’ palaces. Was the statement made by the President for political expediency? Who is telling the truth between the President and the hon. Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing?

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, it is always the Government’s desire to assist the chiefs and our people as a whole when we can. However, taking into consideration the constraints we have in the budget, it might not be possible for us to undertake all the programmes we ideally would like to undertake for the chiefs.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, since most of the chiefs’ palaces are in a deplorable state, whose responsibility is it to rehabilitate chiefs’ palaces?

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, the responsibility should ideally lie with the subjects of the chief taking pride in their chiefdom…

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Machila: … and the intervention of the Government is on account of the challenges that the chiefs’ subjects may be having across the country.

I thank you, Sir.

IMPROVEMENT OF DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN KANYAMA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

125. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) how much money was spent on improving the drainage system in Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency during the 2008/2009 floods; and

(b) whether the measures taken were temporary or permanent.

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the august House that the improvement of the  drainage system in Kanyama is still going on and the total amount of money to be spent on the project is about between K715 million and K10 billion. The works will constitute permanent structures …

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Musosha: … as provided for the in the contract document.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing whether it is the policy of the Government to only provide services in areas where there are by-elections. I am aware that the last time they improved the drainage …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! You have asked your question.

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, I reported, in this House, that I recently visited Kanyama Constituency with the area hon. Member of Parliament. It was spelt out that some amount of work concerning correction of the drainage infrastructure would be undertaken this year. We are all aware that, this year, there are no by-elections in Kanyama Constituency. Therefore, it is not true to say that we only carry out rehabilitation works when there are by-elections.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Madam Speaker, may I know how practical the drainage works will be when, in the next two to three weeks, the rains will be pouring?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muyanda: How will this project be undertaken if it is being said in good faith?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, the works I am talking about were advertised about a month ago. The procurement stage has already passed. I am very sure that the contractor has since been identified. With a serious contractor, given the fact that the types of works that are to be undertaken are masonry, the works will be very successful.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Colonel Chanda (Kanyama): Madam Speaker, in addressing the question at hand, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister which contractors were contracted to do the works in Kanyama in 2008.

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, I would like to request the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanyama to find time and visit our offices because, as for now, I do not have an answer.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, the question at (a) was how much money was spent on improving the drainage system in Kanyama Parliamentary Constituency during the 2008/2009 floods.

Madam Speaker, as the House and the hon. Minister are aware, and as the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanyama will testify, there were some works conducted in …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! You are debating.

Mr Lubinda: …Kanyama in 2008 and 2009. Can the hon. Minister kindly …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!
 
It is not time for you to give explanations when asking follow-up questions. Ask the question for the hon. Minister to respond because the main answer has already been given. Can you ask the follow-up question, please?

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister answer the question regarding how much was spent on improving the drainage system in Kanyama in 2008/2009 floods because that work has already been undertaken.

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, like I stated earlier, a sum of K715,228,392 was spent in 2008 and 2009. We are still in 2009. I have just stated, here, that I recently toured Kanyama with the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanyama for the purpose of identifying the many other problems that the people of Kanyama are faced with, among which, is the lack of a drainage system. So far, an amount of money to the tune of K10 billion has been put aside to undertake this programme.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Ministers should not withhold answers. That answer should have been given in the first place.

Mr Milupi: Madam Speaker, the issue of flooding and the lack of drainage system in Kanyama has been with us for many years. It happens year in and year out. Would the Government, through the hon. Minister, consider procuring a targeted loan so that they can undertake a major project to, once and for all, sort out drainage problems in many other places but, most especially, in Kanyama?

  Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, it is true that the issue of lack of a drainage system in Kanyama is becoming perpetual and there is a need to have a long-term solution to this particular problem. The House will be interested to know that the ministry is undertaking an exercise to look into what long-term solutions can be reached with regard to Kanyama.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Scott: Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm that it is his ministry that is responsible for sourcing funds and for allocating contracts in respect of drainage in Kanyama because this seems to be what he has just said?

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, the exercise is undertaken by the Government and my ministry is part of the Government.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

________ {mospagebreak}

MOTIONS

BUDGET 2010

(Debate resumed)

Mr R. C. Banda: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity to move a Motion in support of the Budget Speech by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, delivered to the nation, through this august House, on Friday, 9th October, 2009.

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, we have always been advised by your office that parliamentary business takes precedence in this House. I am aware that the Hon. Mr Speaker, last week, advised hon. Members of Parliament, including the Cabinet, that they must always be present in the House. Is it in order that most of the Cabinet Ministers, who are supposed to be present in this House and defending Government policies, are absent and campaigning in Kasama to the detriment of the needs of the people of Zambia?

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Indeed, the House was advised. You will realise that the point of order raised, important as it is, even at the beginning of the meeting, the hon. Member speaking knew exactly where he was.

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: I would say that the point of order raised is important in that hon. Ministers should be present to listen to debates so that they can respond accordingly. To start with, the Chair is mindful of the quorum and a quorum is formed.

 Hon. Government Members: Here, hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: The Leader of Government Business is in the House and should take responsibility. However, this is not to say that the Chair will not encourage hon. Ministers to be physically present. I see hon. Deputy Ministers take notes, probably, for their Cabinet Ministers, but it is the encouragement of the Chair that hon. Ministers should try as much as possible to be found in the House during meetings. That is the response for now.

May the hon. Member for Milanzi continue, please?

Mr R. C. Banda: Madam Speaker, in his speech, the hon. Minister delivered a well thought-out and visionary policy statement on how this Government intends to utilise our national financial resources for a better tomorrow.

Madam Speaker, the theme for the 2010 Budget is the same as that of this year. It makes economic sense to get back to some unfinished work so that the Government realises the full benefits of its policies in the diversification process. It also re-emphasises my Government’s undoubted commitment to ensuring that our economy is diversified and not be highly dependant on copper.

Madam Speaker, the MMD Government will not rest until the diversification process is complete and the Government revenues are realised from a robust multi-sector-driven economy. It is, indeed, saddening that forty-five years after independence, this has not yet been achieved. We need to promote non-traditional exports and ensure that they become the backbone of our economy so as to reduce the external economic shocks such as the ones we experienced because of the global economic melt-down.

Madam Speaker, before I debate the 2010 Budget proposals, allow me to underscore some of the positive achievements by this Government…

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: … following the 2009 Budget and subsequent economic policies as ably pointed out by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, the Government was faced with a number of challenges due to the global economic melt down and this exerted significant expenditure pressure on the Central Treasury. Consequently, this has had a negative effect on our fiscal operations. The Government has had to realign its expenditures to protect key programmes in our two important social sectors of health and education as well as in road construction and rehabilitation. This has been done at the expense of operational expenditures across all Government departments and agencies.

Madam Speaker, the challenges posed by the global economic crisis have not deterred the Government’s focus on poverty reduction and economic development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: Although the 2009 Budget is expected to under perform in some of its macroeconomic targets such as the annual economic growth rate, domestic borrowing as a percentage of GDP and end of the year inflation, hon. Members of this august House will agree with the hon. Minister’s explanations for this underperformance which include the global economic crisis and the spill-over effects from the domestic market, especially the mining sector.

The Government has remained focused in the foreign exchange market and the exchange rate continues to be determined by market fundamentals. In the face of the global economic crisis, it is easy for a Government to put in place market correction measures such as currency depreciation to prevent a balance of payment crisis. Currency depreciation and controls have their own negative effects which hon. Members of this House are aware of in view of the balance of payment crisis of the mid-1970s which lasted until the 1990s and was characterised by shortages of foreign exchange and queues for essential commodities.

Madam, allow me to reiterate the hon. Minister’s statement that the MMD Government will not allow such a thing to happen, again, and we shall remain committed to an open and vibrant Zambian economy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: Madam Speaker, despite the negative effect that our economy has had due to the global economic crisis, especially in the manufacturing and tourism sectors, it is gratifying to note that the good policies put in place by the MMD Government in the mining, agriculture and construction sectors will mitigate the slowdown in the said affected sectors. As stated by the hon. Minister, the mining sector is projected to grow by 13.1 per cent against the 2.4 per cent attained in 2008 while the agriculture sector is expected to grow by 5.2 per cent compared to 1.9 per cent in 2008, and the construction sector is projected to grow by 10 per cent. These are significant growth rates and this House should join the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning in commending the investors in these sectors who have worked tirelessly to achieve this.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: Madam Speaker, let me now briefly make comments on some issues raised by the hon. Minister in the 2010 Budget, sector by sector. Being a Member of Parliament for a rural constituency, I will concentrate on the sectors that have a direct impact on rural development.

Hon. Members:  Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda:

Agriculture

Madam Speaker, through the Farm Input Support Programme to small-scale farmers by the Government, the agriculture sector is poised for even higher productivity in the years to come.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr R. C. Banda: The MMD Government realises the direct impact the agriculture sector has on poverty reduction and the well-being of the people. This is why it is more than pleasant to us to, once again, this year, witness a bumper maize harvest largely due to the enabling environment created by the Government and favourable weather patterns experienced during the last farming season.

Madam, because of the positive contribution to development, the Government remains committed to the agriculture sector. This is why in the 2010 Budget, the Government has improved the efficiency of distributing fertiliser and seed to small-scale farmers through the usage of institutions at the agricultural camp levels rather than at the district as was the case before.

Madam Speaker, I know that most of the hon. Members on your left would want to argue that the reduction of the Government’s expenditure on the FSP, now called Farm Input Support Programme from K435 billion this year to K430 billion in the 2010 Budget is an indication of my Government’s reduced commitment.

Madam Speaker, through you, allow me to inform them that higher productivity is not only increased through increased expenditure. You can increase expenditure to astronomical levels, but without efficient utilisation of these funds, there would be no meaningful yields to talk about.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: In this regard, the MMD Government has seen the need to increase efficiency in the distribution of fertiliser and seed and to increase participation of community organisations in the exercise. Furthermore, and as was rightly put by the hon. Minister, farmers will be targeted for fertiliser support by agricultural extension workers in order to ensure that their fertiliser is applied correctly and efficiently. With these measures in place, the Government expects an improved crop yield in the next farming season which would, in turn, improve the food security of our country.

Madam Speaker, still on agriculture, allow me to commend His Excellency, the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda , for creating the specialised Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development to provide closer policy interventions to the livestock industry.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: This is one measure that is consistent with the Government’s policy on economic diversification because, through specialised attention to livestock and fisheries, there will be increased productivity in this sector and, subsequently, more contribution to the GDP of the country from the sector.

Madam, in the 2010 Budget, the Government has promised to continue with the creation of disease-free zones in Central, Lusaka and some parts of the Copperbelt provinces and to also establish extension services in the livestock disease-prone areas of the Western, Southern and Eastern provinces. These, indeed, are progressive policies which make me confident and agree with the hon. Minister that beef will soon become our next copper.

Mr Kambwili: Questions!

Mr R. C. Banda: Therefore, I urge all hon. Members of this august House to help, support or even increase, if possible, the K12.5 billion allocated to disease-free zone programmes and the K95.2 billion allocated to the establishment of extension services in livestock disease-prone areas.

Tourism

Madam Speaker, consistent with the theme of the 2010 Budget, which is “Enhancing Growth Through Competitiveness and Diversification”, my Government has committed itself to continuing its focus on the construction of vital infrastructure in tourism areas.

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: Madam, in our continued efforts to open up more tourism centres and to ensure that the nation benefits fully from the rich endowment of our God-given natural resources spread throughout the country, the Government will continue to transform the Northern Tourism Circuit into a high quality tourism destination.

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

 Mr R. C. Banda: In this regard, the hon. Minister has proposed an allocation of K95 billion towards the development of that circuit in 2010. Compared to this year’s allocation of K50.7 billion, which has already been released in full, the 2010 Budget allocation denotes an 88.6 per cent increment. This is a remarkable commitment, considering that the allocation for this year has already been released in full three months before the end of the year. Therefore, there is no reason to doubt this Government’s commitment in the coming year, especially that we will even have more time for budget implementation.

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

Mr R. C. Banda: Madam, allow me to state that a well-packaged service in tourism, especially that which blends with a traditional touch, is a huge foreign exchange earner. Our colleagues in the neighbouring countries are well ahead in this regard, and I must say it is time Zambia opened up and developed tourist attractions in the rural parts of this country.

Mr V. Mwale: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: In 2010, we will concentrate on the Northern Circuit, but my Government will not end there. We will make sure that the same is done for all the areas in the other provinces that have a high tourism potential.

Energy

Madam Speaker, the Government recognises the need for public-private partnership (PPP) in development. This partnership is expected in many areas of our economy, including the energy sector which requires enormous financial resources to build lengthy distribution networks. This is why the hon. Minister indicated the Budget Address to this House that the Government will actively seek private sector participation through the PPP framework. With private sector participation in place, the public resources for 2010 will be focused on stepping up rural electrification programmes. In this regard, the hon. Minister has allocated K234.7 billion in the 2010 Budget in order to ensure improved supply of electricity in the farthest areas of our country.

I need not emphasise the importance of rural electrification because the benefits speak for themselves. Who, amongst us in this august House, does not want to see our relatives in rural areas enjoy the benefits of electricity? In addition to home use such as cooking and charging cell phones, there is great business potential for small-scale entrepreneurs situated in rural areas, including food processing, hammer mills and extracting of cooking oil.

Transportation

Madam Speaker, allow me to make a few remarks on my Government’s commitment to development in the transportation sector. As stated by the hon. Minister in his Budget Address, the MMD Government is very committed to reducing the cost of doing business and improving accessibility to rural areas. An improved road network in rural areas is critical to the marketing of farm produce by small-scale farmers in the remote parts of our country. It is unusual for the whole country to receive favourable weather conditions in one given farming season. As a result of this, there are times when some parts of the country have a surplus of food while others have a deficit. With a poor road network, it is almost impossible for those with surplus to sell to the ones experiencing a deficit.

This Government is very mindful of this fact. This is why the development of the transportation sector is one of the pillars of the MMD Government’s development agenda. In order to show this commitment, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has more than doubled the allocation to the rural road development from about K2 billion allocated this year to K5 billion for each Provincial Rural Roads Unit in the 2010 Budget. Madam, allow me to urge hon. Members of Parliament, especially those from rural constituencies, to ensure that they assist the Government to check on rural road projects and ensure that there is real value for money on the works done by private road contractors. Whether they are from the Opposition or Ruling Party, we are all partners in development and we have one shared goal of removing our people from abject poverty.

Education

Madam Speaker, on Friday, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning committed the Government to continue to develop education support infrastructure such as schools and teacher training colleges. In this regard, he has increased the budget allocation meant for the education sector infrastructure from K276.6 billion in 2009 to K553.5 billion in 2010. This denotes a percentage increment of over 100 per cent. Even if you want to doubt the commitment of this Government in this area, where would you begin from? These are remarkable strides which should see our country with enough schools to cater for all children who may not manage to enter the private schools.

Once again, Madam, allow me to urge my colleagues from the rural constituencies to take up the challenge and ensure that those winning contracts to construct schools in their areas do the jobs according to the value of the money disbursed.

Mr V. Mwale: Hear, hear!

Mr R. C. Banda: Let us not forget that it is the value of our children’s school at sake.

Public-Private Partnership

Madam Speaker, having looked at some of the issues raised in the 2010 Budget on Government expenditure, I wish to make a few remarks on the public-private partnership because of its importance to development, especially vis-à-vis infrastructure. For the sake of some of our colleagues on your left who doubt the commitments of this Government to the Public-Private Partnership, allow me to make reference to the developments made in this regard.

Recognising the importance of this partnership, my Government launched the Private-Public Partnership Policy in 2008. At the beginning of this year, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning stated, in the 2009 Budget, that the Government would bring to Parliament a Bill to provide the necessary legal framework, which would guide and support the implementation of this important policy. Madam, true to the hon. Minister’s word, the MMD Government brought the Private-Public Partnership Bill to this House in the last sitting. A legal framework is now in place for the public-private partnership, and the Government has moved swiftly to review and initiate proposals for public-private partnerships in key areas of infrastructure development, such as roads, bridges, and energy projects.

The hon. Minister has further stated that the private sector would be an important partner in the delivery of the much-needed social services in 2010. For instance, he said that in the medium-term, the Government would continue to support the development of community schools, and engage the private sector in establishing education centres within the public-private partnership framework.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Madam, I wish to remind hon. Members that raising revenues for a budget as high as K16.7 trillion is not an easy task. The Government will have to employ, sometimes, not-so-popular measures to ensure that budgeted expenditures are fulfilled. I, therefore, wish to implore this august House to support the tax and non-tax measures proposed by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for the year 2010.

Madam Speaker, I would have loved to go on, but for the fear of reproducing the Budget Speech which was ably delivered by the hon. Minister. Allow me to simply commend him for his well-articulated Budget Policy Statement.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Quality!

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mrs Banda (Chililabombwe): Madam Speaker, I rise to second the Motion of Supply of the Budget Address by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP.

Madam, allow me to congratulate the mover of the Motion, the hon. Member of Parliament for Milanzi Constituency, for the able manner in which he has articulated the Motion before this august House although I disagree with him in certain areas.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: In addition to the points raised by the mover of the Motion, allow me to also raise a few concerns on the Budget Speech as presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Madam Speaker, on Friday, before we adjourned, I indicated that the hon. Members required time to study the Budget Speech so that they could make useful contributions to this debate.

From the outset, let me point out that one major similarity between the 2009 and the 2010 budgets is that they were both presented in this House in the same year. However, the major differences are that; firstly, the 2009 Budget was presented at a time when the country and the world, at large, were experiencing the negative effects of the global financial crunch.

Therefore, its implementation was associated with the passage of important Bills in this House, such as the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act, 2009 which the MMD Government thought would attract investors in the mining sector. On our side, as a PF-UPND Pact, we strongly opposed the removal of windfall tax.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: It is up to the Zambian people to judge whether the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act 2009 has brought any benefits to the Zambian people.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: This Government has taken further measures in the agriculture sector which have brought changes in the policies related to agriculture.

Mr Lubinda: Very good!

Mrs Banda: It is the hope of the Zambian people that the proper disbursements and implementation of the planned projects under the 2009 Budget will see Zambia come out of the global financial crunch by the end of December 2009. We, in the pact, shall be watching them with an eagle’s eye …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: … and shall not spare them if these changes do not bring meaningful and fruitful development to the Zambian people.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: Secondly, Madam Speaker, the 2010 Budget, on the other hand, is a forward-looking economic management system which, if implemented to the letter, can benefit the country and its people. Under the theme “Enhancing Growth through Competitiveness and Diversification”, the 2010 Budget will provide the Ministry of Finance and National Planning an opportunity to begin disbursing funds for planned projects under ministries from 1st January to 31st December, 2010. This will enhance growth in the economy of Zambia as it will be a build up on the recovery measures that the country has taken although achievements are yet to be seen. The planning, presentation and implementation of the 2010 Budget is expected to remove most of the bottlenecks …

Mr Mwenya: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: … associated with the non-implementation of many national projects. Such bottlenecks include the completion of all tender procedures before 31st December, 2009 for projects whose implementation and funding begin on 1st January, 2010.

Madam Speaker, the implementation of the diversification programme and measures under the MMD Government remains a pipedream as very few programmes, if any, have been implemented.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

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

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chilembo: Madam Speaker, is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to read word for word to the extent that her notes do not appear to be copious? Is she in order to present her debate in that manner …

Interruptions

Mr Chilembo: … when she is not the seconder? I need your serious ruling.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

There are probably a number of issues put in that point of order. The seconding was postponed to the Motion today. Now the hon. Member is debating and, therefore, she may refer to copious notes but may not read.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Let me also remind hon. Members that seconders are not supposed to read, but refer to copious notes. That is the rule that you are all aware of.

The hon. Member may continue, please.

Interruptions

Mrs Banda: Madam Speaker, infrastructure development has been in shambles and leaves much to be desired.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Banda: In the 2010 National Budget, the hon. Minister stated that the allocation to agriculture and livestock has been increased. On the face of it, it is commendable that the Government has increased funding to this sector while a critical analysis shows that this so-called increase is not really significant.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Banda: The allocation has been increased from K1,096.3 billion to K1,139 billion in 2010. This represents an increase of K42.7 billion. Looking at the importance of the sector in the economy and its impact on poverty reduction, this increase is really insignificant to make meaningful change.

Mr Nkhata: On a point of order, Sir.

Interruptions

Mrs Banda: This Government should also make its position clear on the Farmer Input Support Programme formerly known as the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP). For instance, what is this programme really aiming to achieve?

Mr V. Mwale:  You are not a farmer and so you cannot know.

Mrs Banda: It appears the Government has no intention of supporting small-scale farmers …

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

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkhata: Madam Speaker, I need your guidance. Is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to continue reading when you have guided her very well not to?

Interruptions

Mr Nkhata: Is she in order to continue doing that?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: That point of order is, indeed, the same as the one raised earlier. Will the hon. Member take note and speak to the notes she has. You should not read line by line.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Hammer, now!

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Let hon. Members prepare themselves to speak instead of making running commentaries on the hon. Member on the Floor. Let her debate so that all hon. Members can hear what she is saying, but if hon. Members continuously speak, it is not easy to follow what she is saying.

Could the hon. Member, please, continue?

Mrs Banda: Madam Speaker, now that the rainy season is around the corner, I would like to request the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives to explain how the Government will graduate the 534,000 farmers earmarked to benefit from FISP so that others can also benefit in the next farming season.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: Madam Speaker, still on the agriculture sector, the Government’s intention to increase domestic borrowing by 2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will definitely create a big problem in the agriculture sector because, as you are aware, the sector is regarded to be a risky business by financial institutions. This implies that lending institutions will prefer to lend their money to the …

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

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

I hope the point of order is on procedure.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Mr Chota: Madam Speaker, my point of order hinges on the Constitution of this land. Is this Government in order not to disassociate itself from the serious racial remarks made by Paramount Chief Chitimukulu against an innocent hon. Member of this House and a Zambian in the presence of the Republican President in Kasama? I need your serious ruling.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

The point of order may sound very serious, but this House will not continuously debate or make rulings on people who are not members of this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Those remarks were made elsewhere, if at all they were made. Therefore, it becomes very difficult for the Chair to make a ruling on something that occurred outside and was reported in the media unless the hon. Member is a witness and wants to stand here and debate that. Otherwise, we will not debate issues that take place outside this House.

Could the hon. Member for Chililabombwe continue, please?

Hon. PF Members: Hammer!

Mrs Banda: Madam Speaker, the Pay-As-You-Earn exemption threshold, which has been increased from K700,000 to K800,000 per month, is nothing but a joke to an ordinary worker.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: As we say in my party, we should have more money in our pockets.

Mr V. Mwale: Muzazilima kuti, mama?

Mrs Banda: This is because, when there is more money in people’s hands, it will lead to an increase in spending which will, in turn, help grow the economy. An average family of six cannot survive on K800, 000 and with a 25 kilogramme bag of mealie-meal costing K70,000 and above, the Government should have, at least, pegged the exemption threshold at K1,500,000 per month which is closer to the national food basket …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Banda: … which, according to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), is about K1,445,000…

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

Interruptions

Mrs Banda: Madam Speaker, the speech did not come out clearly on the measures that the Government has put in place to cushion the formal sector from paying huge taxes as well as broadening the tax revenue base to include the informal sector.

Interruptions

Mrs Banda: Madam Speaker, you are fully aware that industry is the backbone of this country and …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

I think that you have seen the concern of the House. The hon. Member may summarise her debate rather than read the speech. Can you, please, summarise your points properly without reading?

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

You may continue, hon. Member.

Interruptions

Mr Mwenya: Lufyengo ulu.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order in the House!

Hon. Opposition Member: Mayo akubelenga.

Mrs Banda: Lekeni mpwishe.

Mr Mwenya: Lufyengo ulu.

Laughter

Mrs Banda: Madam Speaker, let me conclude …

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

Mrs Banda: … my speech by considering the third driver of the economy in 2010 which is the construction sector. It is unfortunate that this sector has not been looked at seriously. A lot of volatility emanating from the unstable price of cement is a source of concern.

Madam Speaker, it is very difficult to plan because of the changes in the price of cement and this has become unpredictable. I am, therefore, urging the Government to take the necessary measures in order to ensure that the price of cement does not drag downwards the rate of economic growth in 2010.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Aba amai akangiwa kukamba vamu mutu sure.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Any further debate? The hon. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Phiri: Bikeni icipepa panshi.

The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Mr Mwangala): I am a Minister.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Mwangala: Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to add my voice among voices in the House in support for this year’s Budget. Firstly, I would like to commend the various institutions, business communities and the Council of Churches for supporting this year’s Budget.

Hon. Opposition Members: Obama!

Mr Mwangala: The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA), speaking at a joint post budget discussion at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, said Zambians must realise that it could not have been possible for the Government to record massive economic progress due to various economic factors such as the global credit crunch.

Madam Speaker, it is the hope of ZICA and every Zambian that the Government will be able to meet its targets in this year’s Budget. ZICA has described this year’s National Budget as progressive and that 2009 has been a difficult year due to the global credit crunch. The discussion also involved the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ), Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ) which said that the global credit crunch affected all the sectors and the with-holding of funds by some donor countries …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: … was a challenge to most Government programmes.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer! Obama!

Mr Mwangala: Madam Speaker, EAZ said there is a need to create conditions for macro-economic stability.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: Madam Speaker, I will move on to tourism now.

Laughter

Mr Mwangala: Madam Speaker, in supporting tourism, I would like to commend the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, for his continued efforts to transform the Northern Tourism Circuit into a high quality tourism destination, …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: … by raising funding for the development of the Northern Circuit, which includes the Northern and Luapula provinces, from K50.7 billion in 2009 to K95 billion in the 2010 National Budget.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: Madam Speaker, I further wish to thank the Government for improving tourism sector infrastructure development in such areas as Mosi-O-tunya, Kasaba Bay, and Kafue National Park. There have also been other developments such as power supply, airports, water and sewerage as well as communication.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: Madam Speaker, …

Mrs Phiri: Obama!

Laughter

Mr Mwangala: … in this regard, I wish to praise the Government for embarking on the development of five key priority areas in addition to Livingstone, home of the mighty Victoria Falls, as the main tourism development opportunity areas. These priority areas include;

(i) Kafue National Park, the second largest national park in the world;

(ii) the Northern Circuit in Northern and Luapula provinces of Zambia;

(iii) North and South Luangwa national parks and the surrounding game management areas; and

(iv) Lower Zambezi National Park in Siavonga and Luangwa districts.

Hon. Members: Obama!

Mr Mwangala: Madam Speaker, our goals are based on the following expectations by the 2010:

We hope to attract an estimated one million tourist arrivals in Zambia by 2010.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: I repeat that we hope to attract an estimated one million tourist arrivals in Zambia by 2010.

Hon. Opposition Members: Obama!

Mr Mwangala: We also hope to Contribute 8 per cent to GDP by 2010 and increase jobs to 30,000 by 2010.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: In conclusion, Madam Speaker, …

Hon. Members:  Hear, hear!

Mr Mwangala: … the House may wish to note that the hotel rooms that are a backbone of the tourism industry are very limited at about 10,000 in the whole country compared to countries such as Egypt where Sharm-el-Sheikh had 46,000 rooms in 2008.

With these few words, Madam Speaker, and the entire House, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear! Obama!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Any further debate?

Hon. Members remained seated.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members had the entire weekend and Monday, yesterday, to go through the Budget Speech so that they could prepare their contributions.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Therefore, today, the nation expects hon. Members to speak and bring out issues regarding the policy of the Budget.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Therefore, our failure to debate today will, once again, send a bad signal to the electorate.

Mr Lubinda: Ma point of order yapaka.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: You will literally shock your electorates by only sitting for one and half hours today.

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: I am, therefore, giving hon. Members chance to debate.

Mr Lubinda interjected.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

You did not prepare and want to use some other excuse.

Mr Lubinda interjected.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order, Hon. Member for Kabwata!

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: You were supposed to have prepared. The rules of the House are very clear and I am giving you an opportunity to debate.

Laughter

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, both from my left and right, have come unprepared and it is not a good signal at all. We are expected to take our sittings and debates extremely seriously within the procedures provided by ourselves and the law. However, seeing that there is no one who is ready to debate – Dr Scott, perhaps?

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Dr Scott expressed dissent.

Madam Deputy Speaker: He is also not prepared. His Honour the Vice-President may move an Adjournment Motion.

Dr Mwansa stood up.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

May the Acting Leader of Government Business in the House just give me a minute?

Dr Mwansa sat down.

Madam Deputy Speaker: I would like to caution hon. Members that in as much as I have said that the nation is listening, you must come fully prepared tomorrow and put up very serious debates instead of just making political statements. You have been sent here to do just that.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

What has just happened today is unacceptable.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Question put and agreed to.

_________

The House adjourned at 1554 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 14th October, 2009.