DEBATES OF THE THIRD SESSION FOR THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Thursday, 29th January, 2009

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

________

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

SECRET CIA PRISONS IN ZAMBIA

The Minister of Defence (Mr Mpombo): Mr Speaker, Zambia has not hosted any of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secret prisons. Zambia was not one of the countries with secret United States bases. Therefore, what the article in The Guardian Weekly newspaper of Friday, 23rd January, 2009, stated is not true. The Government’s position has remained the same. The then President, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, had opposed plans to set up such a base and assured the nation that the Government would not accept that. This position has not changed in any way.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement which has just been given by the hon. Minister of Defence.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Mr Speaker, now that the statement by the hon. Minister of Defence indicates that there are no foreign military bases in this country, how is the Government going to ensure that the misleading information which was published in a newspaper article is corrected?

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, that article was a product of gutter journalism.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: By issuing this ministerial statement, Zambia is clearly distancing itself from such a misleading story.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Milupi (Luena): Mr Speaker, the statement from the hon. Minister of Defence is quite categorical and we thank him for that. However, would he state whether there was ever a request from the American Government to establish such prisons and also assure this House that in future, there will be no foreign bases on Zambian soil.

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, I will answer that question in two parts. First, there has been no official approach to the Zambian Government except that the United States has set up a military wing called African Command (Africom).When Africom presented that idea, our late President issued a categorical statement that Zambia would not entertain such a venture.

As regards the second part, I have indicated that the position of the Government remains solid and unequivocal. We will not entertain military bases on our soil that could compromise our national sovereignty.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Mr Speaker, The Guardian Weekly newspaper is read worldwide. What is the Government going to do to ensure that the same newspaper publishes another story stating that Zambia has refuted the allegations in the earlier article? By publishing the correct side of the story in the same newspaper, we may be able to catch those that read the earlier story which is false.

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, we have a very effective press in Zambia and like I said earlier, the press will take up this issue and send it to various news agencies like Reuters and others. We have no powers to tell the newspapers what to write. However, what is important is that our position is very firm and unequivocal that as a country, we will not entertain military bases on our soil. This will be communicated to the public and the ministerial statement will also be posted on Government’s website.

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Mr Speaker, I just want to look at the hon. Minister’s denial that there has never been a request the American Government to set up such a base in Zambia. The Washington Post newspaper in 2005, which is a newspaper that is not known for ‘gutter journalism’ or whatever term he used, stated that the CIA had considered putting up a secret base or prison on an island on Lake Kariba but had decided against it on two grounds. One was the malaria risk, presumably for the interrogators, and the other was that the Americans were not sure the Zambians would keep it secret. I will cut out that article and lay it on the Table in due course. Can he repeat for emphasis that there has never been discussion along these lines between the George Bush administration, CIA and our Government.

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, I want to state firstly that these statements amount to some tasteless concoction.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: I remember meeting the Commander of Africom when he came to pay a courtesy call on our Government. That matter was not mentioned and the Americans respect our position over the matter. Those that have been keeping abreast with international news will recall that when President Bush was visiting Tanzania, he was asked about the intention of the United States to set up military bases in Africa and his answer was that such statements amounted to cheap barony. In short, what I am saying is that there is no grain of truth in these allegations, not even in the story concerning an island on Lake Kariba. I want to restate our position that as a country, we do not intend to facilitate the setting up of military bases on our land because we believe that could compromise our national soverignity.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

EMMANUEL MAYUKA’S TRANSFER TO MACCABI TEL AVIV OF ISREAL FROM KABWE WARRIORS FOOTBALL CLUB

The Minister of Sports, Youth and Child Development (Mr Chipungu): Mr Speaker, I thank you for affording me an opportunity to present to this House my ministerial statement on the transfer of Emmanuel Mayuka’s to Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel from Kabwe Warriors of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, as you may be aware, the transfer of Emmanuel Mayuka, a Kabwe Warrior player to Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel raised a lot of concern and interest from the public. Conflicting reports on the matter led my predecessor, Hon. Gabriel Namulambe, MP to instruct the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) to fully undertake an independent investigation into the way the transfer was handled by the various actors.

Mr Speaker, you may further wish to know that a five-man ad hoc committee headed by Elliot Mhende, board member of NSCZ was constituted in November, 2008 to deal with this matter. The report was prepared and submitted to me on Friday, 2nd January, 2009.

Mr Speaker, having read through the report and recommendations made, I wish to state that the report has brought out irregularities in the manner the transfer was handled by the Football Association of Zambia, (FAZ) especially that the case at hand involved a minor below the age of 18.

Mr Speaker, the major irregularities highlighted in the report are as follows:

(a) FAZ erred in procedure by issuing the international transfer certificate(ITC) without the consent of Kabwe Warriors Football Club;

(b) The contract between Mayuka and the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club is not valid because Mayuka signed it at a time he was a minor;

(c) FAZ contradicted its own regulations of not interfering in contract negotiations and signing by issuing the ITC before Maccabi Tel Aviv and Kabwe Warriors had reached consensus;

(d) FAZ did not verify that all the documents required for them to issue an ITC, especially a copy of the contract between Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and Emmanuel Mayuka, but instead relied on a telephone report for information that Emmanuel Mayuka had signed the contract.

Mr Speaker, in view of what had transpired, it is my considered view that NSCZ takes the necessary action to ensure that the appropriate procedures are followed in order to regularise the transfer. Therefore, I have also directed that NSCZ should also institute some disciplinary measures on those that have been found wanting in executing this transfer.

Mr Speaker, this is in line with the National Sports Council of Zambia Act no. 15 of 1977 sub section 2 and 3 which reads:

“Subsection 2: Where the council has reason to believe that a national sports association or any club or other body affiliated thereto is acting in a manner prejudicial to interests of sports or to the public interest generally, the council may order the suspension to the activities of such association, club or body.

Subsection 3: Where the Council has reason to believe that any office bearer or member of the national sports association and any club or body affiliated thereto is or has been acting in a manner or his further continuance as such office bearer or member would be prejudicial to the interest of the sports or the public interest generally, the council may order the suspension of such office bearer for or member.”

Mr Speaker, I have further directed that NSCZ, FAZ or any other sports association wishing to sell a player or athlete outside the country must ensure that appropriate procedures are followed so as to protect the athletes as well as their interests.

Mr Speaker, NSCZ and FAZ have been directed to put in place a mechanism for monitoring and regulating transactions relating to football or any other sports agents in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I lastly wish to thank all those who contributed in one way or the other to the realisation of this report.

I thank you, Sir, and I wish to take this opportunity lay the report on the Table.

Mr Chipungu laid the paper on the Table.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification.

Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, if the Federation International of Football Association (FIFA) rules in favour of FAZ …

Mr Beene: On a point of order, Sir!

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Beene: Mr Speaker is the hon. Minister of Works and Supply in order to be quiet and seated in this House for the past six months knowing very well that the lift of this building has been down thus giving a lot of difficulties for hon. Members who have broken legs like hon. …

Mr Speaker: Order! The hon. Member knows where to refer such issues.

The hon. Member for Moomba may continue.

Mr Mooya: … may I know what will happen if FIFA intervenes in favour of FAZ?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I will suggest that for now, we leave it until such a time and besides, I cannot speak on behalf of FIFA.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, may I find out what the total value of the transfer was and how much each party was supposed to get?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I think this is where the problem was. Like I said in my statement, before Kabwe Warriors could reach an agreement with the team in Israel, the boy was gone. Kabwe Warriors wanted initially US$50,000, but they later changed their mind and demanded for US$80,000. In short they had not agreed on this transfer, but that was the kind of money that Kabwe Warriors Football Club wanted.
I thank you, Sir.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, from the ministerial statement, it is clear that a contract had been entered into which you now seem to be considering null and void. Is your Ministry going to recall this minor to Zambia and force him to play for Kabwe Warriors Football Club when, in fact, he is playing for a club in Israel?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I think I was very clear in my statement. What we are looking for as a Ministry is to regularise the transfer. It will be very unfortunate and unfair to bring the young man back to Zambia, to play for Kabwe Warriors Football Club. However, it would be better to regularise the transfer so that all parties concerned are happy.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Phiri (Munali): Mr Speaker, what measures is the Ministry putting in place to stop the re-occurrence of such scandalous transfers because the same happened with Mr Mbesuma?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I think the issue here is very clear. All the parties involved in the transfer have to follow the laid down procedures as contained in the Act. It is very simple. The flouting of rules attracts certain consequences which are clearly outlined in the law. We have rules in place to be followed which should not be contravened.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, FAZ is clearly an organised group of criminals…

Mr Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Can you withdraw that remark.

You may continue, please.

Mr Muyanda: I thank you, Sir. I withdraw the word, “criminal”. May I know what the hon. Minister intends to do if FAZ, which is bent on bending, twisting and defrauding the laws of this country…

Mr Speaker: Order! Withdraw the word, “defrauding”.

Mr Muyanda: I thank you, Sir. I withdraw the word, “defrauding” and substitute it by misleading the nation with intent.

Laughter

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, my ministry does not punish erring associations that fall under it because we have in place NSCZ that deals directly with sports association. The decision to punish any erring association squarely lies on the NSCZ.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chimbaka (Bahati): Mr Speaker, the FAZ has for a long time now been embroiled in football politics where stakeholders have been assassinating each others character at the expense of bringing pride to Zambia. Can the hon. Minister assure this House and the nation that this controversy is not as a result of the culture of political assassinations at the Football House?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, following my directive, NSCZ has been meeting to find out what could be done to correct the situation and what punishment can be given to the erring parties, including FAZ. It is really the responsibility of the sports council. I suppose we need to wait and see for now, what action will be taken.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, it is a well known fact in this country that football falls under the administration of FAZ. May I know the best methods that the hon. Minister had employed to let NSCZ carry out the investigations when the actual investigations were supposed to be carried out in the first place by FAZ.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, thank you very much indeed for that follow up question. The Ministry has about forty-three sporting disciplines in the country which include FAZ. In order for all these associations to run properly and efficiently, they are coordinated by the NSCZ. They do not fall directly under my Ministry.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Mr Speaker, there has been a tendency in this country where erring sporting associations want to blackmail the people of Zambia by running to their mother organisations, such as the FIFA in this case. What is the hon. Minister doing to ensure that FIFA does not interfere in the action that is going to be taken by NCSZ, which I believe will be in the interest of Zambia?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, my Ministry cannot stop anybody or any association from going to their mother bodies if they wish to. However, we encourage them, first of all, to sit down and discuss the issue at hand with NSCZ. Now, if for one reason or the other those associations do not regard the presence of the NSCZ, it is then very unfortunate. 
 
I wish to bring to the attention of the House that even when investigations were conducted, a number of institutions, which were invited to present their findings about the transfer of Mayuka did not come. FAZ was one of those institutions that did not come forward.

Hon. Member: Why?

Mr Chipungu: For whatever reasons. Maybe, they do not recognise the jurisdiction of the NSCZ. I do not know.

I thank you, Sir.

 Mr Chota (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, a contract was signed between Mayuka and the Israeli team. I would like to know what the hon. Minister means by “regularisation of the contract”. I would also like to know which individuals or organisations were involved instead of speculations.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, it is very clear that FAZ was involved in the transfer of Mayuka.

Hon. Members: We want names!

Mr Chipungu:  I cannot talk about individuals. That would be up to NSCZ.

Mr Speaker, there is an Act in place to protect the interests of players, particularly, those who are under age. In this particular case, the contract was not even signed in Zambia, but in Israel.

 Furthermore, looking at the signatures, what was purported to have been signed by Emmanuel Mayuka whilst in Israel is completely different from the signatures that we were shown from the documents we obtained from Kabwe Warriors. These are the issues that are contained in the report. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to read the report if they wish to get to the bottom of this matter.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milupi (Luena): Mr Speaker, this Mayuka Saga and Report has been extensively reported on and quoted in the national press and elsewhere. The rules of natural justice demand that where there is an accused person or persons, they should get an opportunity to defend themselves. Would the hon. Minister assure the House, that in laying this report on the Table of the House, FAZ was given adequate opportunity to comment and defend itself?

Mr Chipungu:  Mr Speaker, FAZ still has a chance to discuss with NSCZ. Additionally, when the enquiries were conducted, FAZ was invited by NSCZ to give their side of the story, but nobody from the institution appeared.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwenya (Nkana): Mr Speaker, Mayuka is currently playing active football where he has been contracted. I believe that an amount of money must have been paid at the signing of the contract. I would like the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to categorically state how much was paid out. Subsequently, who received the money which should have gone to Kabwe Warriors, having been the contracted player’s club?

Mr Chipungu:  Mr Speaker, we do not know who received the money because Kabwe Warriors Football Club has not received any money.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister what is the connection between NSCZ and football clubs? However, we were told yesterday that the Government is spending billions of tax payers’ money on football. Is it government’s responsibility to fund football clubs? Why are we paying so much money to people who we are not responsible for? What is the connection between the tax payers and the football clubs?

Laughter

Mrs Musokotwane: We have been told that we are not responsible for them and yet they are using our money. Could the hon. Minister, please, explain?

Mr Chipungu:  Mr Speaker, not only does the Government support football, but all sporting disciplines in the nation. We give them grants to run their offices. In addition, we give them financial support when they go to represent the nation at international tournaments.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members will agree with me that currently, football has the largest following. This sport is also engaged in many international tournaments. If we did not support them, the hon. Members in this House will be the ones to complain about the Government’s lack of support to the national football team. It becomes very difficult for the Government because hon. Members on one hand accuse the Government of giving too much support to the sport and on the other, blame the Government for not supporting it enough.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Zulu (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the contract was signed by people from FAZ. He knows the people who signed the contract and should, therefore, tell the House and the nation at large.

Mr Chipungu:  Mr Speaker, from the signatures obtaining in that report, it is very difficult for one to know who signed the contract. Again, I would like to urge hon. Members to read the full report because I have just given the major highlights on the Floor to the House.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kakoma (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the signature that is on the contract between Mayuka and the club in Israel is a forged one. As an hon. Minister who has come across a criminal case of forgery, what action has he taken to ensure that the culprits are prosecuted?

Hon. Members: Yes!

Mr Chipungu:  Mr Speaker, I would advise that we await the action of NSCZ. From there, we shall then find the way forward.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sichamba (Isoka West): Mr Speaker, I have heard about the contract which was signed in Israel. However, I would like the hon. Minister to confirm whether Mayuka, a minor, had a contract with the local club, Kabwe Warriors. If he had a contract, what were the terms of reference?

Mr Chipungu:  Mr Speaker, it is not possible to sign a contract with a minor. There was no contract between Kabwe Warriors and Mayuka. However, he was a registered player.

I thank you, Sir.

_______{mospagebreak}

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

PLANS TO OPERATIONALISE YOUTH PROGRAMMES IN BAHATI

48. Mr Chimbaka (Bahati) asked the Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development whether there were any plans to operationalise programmes at the Chibalashi, Mbaso and Lukangaba youth projects in Bahati Parliamentary Constituency.

The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Ms Cifire): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development has no direct role to play in the affairs of community youth projects so far referred to.

The plans to operationalise programmes at Chibalashi, Mabaso and Lukangaba youth projects currently fall under the Mansa Municipal Council. In this regard, Bahati Parliamentary Constituency, like any other constituency, received K400 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which the council is using to operationalise various projects in the constituency. The Provincial Youth Development Coordinator, however, provides technical advice to the council in the running of youth development programmes for effective implementation.

To this effect, you may wish to know that Mansa Municipal Council has formed a project management committee under the chairmanship of the Mansa District Youth Chairperson. The council has employed a female projects manager, who is an agriculturist by profession trained at Mansa Trades Institute, to spearhead the project.

Mr Speaker, as a Ministry in charge of youth affairs, it is also our sincere appeal to all hon. Members of Parliament to ensure that a considerable amount of money they receive in the constituencies be apportioned to youth development projects in order to enhance youth empowerment at grass root level.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chimbaka: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development who is an educationist, a former headmaster of a school and I know how passionate he is about …

Mr Speaker: Order! What is your question?

Mr Chimbaka: Mr Speaker, since the ministry is aware that the hon. Member of Parliament for Bahati, through the Constituency Development Committee, has contributed K40 million towards the operationalisation of this youth development fund, as a ministry directly charged with responsibility to develop youth projects, what contribution are you going to make to ensure that this project becomes fully operational?

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, we already have a programme in place in relation to the youth development skills. In Luapula, we have a youth skills centre at Samfya where the youths from the province go and it is our vision that we too have, at least, a centre in every district.

I thank you, Sir.

MAKE-SHIFT BUS STATION NEAR INDEPENDENCE STADIUM IN LUSAKA

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

(a) whether the ministry had any plans to construct a modern bus station at the make-shift bus station near the Independence Stadium in Lusaka in order to decongest the Lusaka Inter City Bus Terminus and to cater for the routes to Central, Copperbelt, Luapula and Northern provinces;

(b) how much revenue the Lusaka City Council had collected from the bus station at (a) above from 2005 to 2008; and

(c) whether the make-shift bus station at (a) above was authorised by the Lusaka City Council.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Musosha): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that:

(a) there are no plans to construct a modern bus station at the said premises as there is no land available to accommodate such a structure. It is a standard practice that when a trunk road is built, there should be a road reserve of 12 metres on either side of the road. If you go and measure, you will not find land in excess of 12 metres on either side. Therefore, there is no piece of land that can accommodate the kind of infrastructure the hon. Member is talking about;

(b) the Lusaka City Council has not collected any revenue from the said make-shift bus station because it is illegal; and

(c) the make-shift bus station above is not legally authorised by the Lusaka City Council, hence it is operating illegally.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Malama: Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister whether the ministry will move in to stop those people who are operating from the make-shift station since they are illegally there.

Mr Musosha: Mr Speaker, we shall tell the council to move in and do what is required.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has said that there are no plans to construct another bus stop. What is his ministry doing about the congestion at the Inter City Bus Terminal? The station is getting so congested that in the near future, it will be taking about two hours for one to get out of the Inter City Bus Terminal to join the main trunk roads to get out of Lusaka. What plans does his  ministry have to sort out this problem?

Mr Musosha: Mr Speaker, like I have said, there are no plans because there is no space. However, regarding the issue of congestion which is being experienced at the Lusaka Inter City Bus Terminal, I wish to inform the House that our ministry together with the local authority in Lusaka is going to plan what to do.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Phiri (Munali): Mr Speaker, we have several situations, as stated in this question, in Lusaka and cadres have been collecting revenue from these illegal stations. When we report to the police, we are not being helped. Can the hon. Minister tell me what we should do, together with the Government, so that this is stopped?

Mr Musosha: Mr Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. Member who has raised that issue is a member of the Lusaka Municipal Council. She is supposed to come up with solutions on how to combat that kind of problem.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Phiri: I will come to your office.

NUMBER OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN CHILILABOMBWE

50. Mrs Banda (Chililabombwe) asked the Minister of Education:

(a) how many community schools were in Chililabombwe Parliamentary Constituency;

(b) whether the schools at (a) above received any assistance from the Government and, if so, what assistance had they received from 2006 to 2008, school by school.

Mr Speaker, there are six community schools in Chililabombwe Parliamentary and they are as follows:

Name of School   Grade  Total No. of Pupils

Canani Community   1-4  353
 
Golden Eagles Community School 1-4  486
 
Lubengele Community School 1-4  738
 
Samaritan Community School 1-4  374
 
Dorcas Community School  1-4  429
 
P.P. Zambia Community School 1-4  416
 
Total       2,596

Sir, some of the schools do receive assistance from the Government in form of grants, materials and teacher training.

Grants

School  2006  2007  2008  Total
K  K  K

Lubengele         10,104,560 12,778,297 8,652,506 31,535,363
 
Golden Eagle       5,668,199 5,438,850 7,640,390 18,747,359
 
Samaritan            6,623,017 6,540,994 7,466,445 20,630,456
 
Total                  22,395,696 24,758,141 23,759,341 70,913,178

Mr Speaker, in addition, they do receive learning materials such as books, chalk, pencils and manila paper. Their teachers receive continuous training through the district resource centre.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Banda: Mr Speaker, how effective are these schools since the help which is being given to them is very little and most of the time they just struggle in their operations.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member is asking a question that has to do with the inspection of schools. I wish she included that question in her initial question so that we could have made an assessment of how effective the teaching and learning has become in community schools as a result of the injection of resources. In the absence of a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the teaching and learning, I cannot clearly give her a comprehensive response because the initial question was only on resources and inputs.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Mwamba (Lukashya): Mr Speaker, from the information given by the hon. Minister, it is quite clear that community schools in urban areas are given assistance. Does he realise that community schools in rural areas also need that assistance from Government?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I have said it several times that we do not discriminate in the materials that we provide to urban and rural schools. There are quiet a number of community schools in rural areas that are accessing the various grants that we give to schools. If the hon. Member cares to find out what is taking place in the community schools in her constituency, she will find that they also get assistance from the ministry.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwenya (Nkana): Mr Speaker, what effort is the ministry putting in place to try and motivate the teachers who are sacrificing so much to teach in these community schools? I am aware that such teachers do not receive any form of payment.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, at the moment, we are extending the Ministry’s training programmes to some of the teachers in the community schools.

REPAIR OF LUANO AND KAMUCHANGA BRIDGES IN CHINGOLA

51. Mr Simuusa (Nchanga) asked the Minister of Works and Supply when the Government would repair the Luano and Kamuchanga Bridges in Kapisha Ward in Chingola.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Ndalamei): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Works and Supply has drawn up a list of all bridges and culverts that are almost collapsing and those that have been washed away. This information is being passed on to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) for funding.

Sir, the repair of Luano and Kamuchanga Bridges in Kapisha Ward in Chingola will be carried out immediately the funds are made available to the ministry by the DMMU.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, these bridges were damaged in the 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons and were included in the DMMU report that the hon. Minister has referred to and their repairing was classified as critical and emergency in nature. Since these cases were classified as emergency in nature, could the hon. Minister tell me why more than a year has passed without these bridges being repaired when the amount involved is less than K40 million? Can the hon. Minister also give a personal assurance to the people in the peri-urban part of my constituency that he will personally get in involved in ensuring that these bridges are repaired.

The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Mulongoti): Mr Speaker, these bridges fall under Chingola Municipal Council. The hon. Member’s constituency also receives the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Now, if this case was an emergency as he puts it, I think it would have been solved by now by the council. The council has been receiving revenue from the residents, grants from the Government and the CDF. Why is it failing to spend K40 million on those bridges? Why should you wait for the DMMU from Lusaka to go and undertake that project? Surely this attitude will not take us anywhere. We expect the local authorities to show interest in infrastructure within their boundaries. Mr Speaker, to wait for the DMMU to release money in the tune of K40 million to repair two small bridges when the local authorities can do it, is not right. I can assure you that you will wait for two more rainy seasons before the unit can find the money. The grants given to local authorities are intended for such purposes and not allowances.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

TRACTORS BOUGHT AND DISTRIBUTED TO DISTRICTS FROM 2006 TO 2008

52. Mr Chazangwe (Choma Central) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives:

(a) how many tractors were bought and distributed to districts from 2006 to 2008 in order to ensure food security in view of the looming climatic changes; and

(b) whether the Government had any plans to buy more tractors for the above programme.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Mr Kalenga): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives did not procure tractors for distribution to farmers between 2006 and 2008.

Mr Speaker, the Government however has plans to procure tractors and farm implements for use by the farmers. We are currently negotiating with bilateral and private partners for support in providing farm machinery to farmers in the country.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chazangwe: Mr Speaker, the issue of climate change is big. In the absence of tractors for small scale farmers, who actually produce a lot of food for this country, how does the hon. Minister expect this country to have enough food without importing from other countries?

Mr Kalenga: Mr Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the Government has plans to procure tractors and farm implements for use by the farmers.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kalenga: By so doing, we will increase production.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

PROVISION OF FURNITURE TO SCHOOLS IN CHILUBI

53. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Education when the Ministry would provide furniture for both teachers and pupils at the following upper basic schools in Chilubi Parliamentary Constituency:

(a) Mwanambulu;

(b) Kawena;

(c) Mayuka;

(d) Chabu;

(e) Kasansha;

(f) Muchinshi;

(g) Chilubi; and

(h) Kabesha.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the schools will be beneficiaries of the 171,428 double seater and 17,000 single seater desks that will be procured by the Ministry of Education this year, 2009. However, we do not provide furniture for our teachers.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, it is a well known fact that schools in the country side have been receiving a raw deal in terms of furniture distribution. Is there any urgent plan by the Ministry to start awarding contracts to make furniture to people from the local community were the schools are located who understand the local situation better?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, it is not true that we do not have a plan for the procurement and distribution of desks to our schools. As a matter of fact, two days ago, I made a ministerial statement in this House, where I indicated that we have money which we are using at the moment to buy furniture for schools. This is something we have been doing every year.

I have reported from time to time, that a certain number of desks, both double and single seater, were being distributed to various institutions. We are going to procure a number of desks this year, which to a large extent, will go towards easing the difficulties that children are experiencing in schools.

Mr Speaker, as far as contracting local carpenters is concerned, procurement of furniture is done through the Government Tender Process which of course requires that the procurement be advertised so that those that have the capacity can apply for it. That tendering process is transparent and is made known in the papers. Therefore, if there are local carpenters or companies that have the capacity to engage in the supply of school desks, they are free to tender for those bids.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, in the 1970s and the early 1980s, teachers had a chairs, tables and filing cabinets in classrooms for use in carrying out their work. The hon. Minister has stated that the Government does not provide furniture to the teachers. How then does he expect the teachers to prepare teaching materials adequately?

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I am not sure whether Hon. Kambwili was in school in the 1970s.

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa: If Hon. Kambwili cared to find out what was going on in our classrooms, he would definitely discover that we do have furniture for our classrooms. The question was about the provision of furniture to teachers. We do not provide furniture to teachers personally, but to their classrooms.

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa: Those are simple semantics …

Laughter

Professor Lungwangwa: …which I am sure Hon. Kambwili understands.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

__________ {mospagebreak}

MOTIONS

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 19 AND 20

The Vice-President (Mr Kunda, SC): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 19 and 20 be suspended to enable the House sit from 1415 hours to 1800 hours on Friday, 30th January, 2009, if Business is not concluded before that hour.

Mr Speaker, this Motion is straightforward and non-controversial. In accordance with the tradition of this House, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning presents the National Budget on a Friday afternoon. Hon. Members are aware that Standing Orders 19 and 20 provide that the House shall sit from 0900 hours to 1300 hours on Fridays. It is in this regard, therefore, that I move the Motion to suspend the above Standing Orders so that the House sits in the afternoon on Friday, 30th January, 2009, starting from 1415 hours, so as to enable the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning present the Budget for 2009.

Mr Speaker, this is a procedural motion which is necessary at this stage. I, therefore, request all hon. Members of this august House to support it.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank all hon. Members for the overwhelmingly supporting the Motion.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Question put and agreed to.

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, I would like to refer to page 8 of the President’s Address to this House. He said, and I quote:

“Mr Speaker, let me start with an observation. Since 1991, each MMD Administration has entered its first year faced with a crisis of one type or another. The First Administration had to deal with severe food shortages largely due to drought in 1991/92 Season.”

Mr Speaker, each time the MMD Administration changes guard at the top, they are given a clear warning to be prepared to deal with issues in the long term.

Mr Speaker, the MMD Government has been in power for eighteen years. The first warning was given in 1991/92. That time, we experienced unfavourable weather conditions. This Government has not learnt anything from God’s provident warning in the first year it got into power. To date, the MMD Government has failed even to embark on a serious dam construction programme in this country. This Government is failing the Zambian people.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, the second MMD Administration suffered a sudden investment withdrawal by the Anglo American Corporation from Konkola Copper Mines that threatened about 10,000 jobs in 2002.

Mr Speaker, this second warning to the MMD Administration should have made those in key leadership position of the fact that not all years are rosy. Economies worldwide experience their cyclical movements. Therefore, during the fat years, we must prepare for the thin years. This Government has not learnt anything from this. They only realise in the last minutes. That is the time they bring in the new tax regimes, when the fat years are over, thereby leaving Zambians desperate. The fate of this administration is not different from all the others because it takes over at a time of a global financial crisis when nations, rich or poor, have been affected.

Mr Speaker, I want to borrow the words of the former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Koffi Annan. He says, and I quote:

“The current crisis we have is not just a financial crisis, but a crisis of governance.”

 Mr Speaker, we must not jump to the financial crisis before we know its genesis. The genesis is the crisis of governance. Zambia has suffered these adverse effects because we have a crisis of governance.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, this is a Government that does not learn from the past; a Government that has no plans, a Government that is not ambitious; a Government that does not change the course of the nation. This country lacks an inspiring leadership to move us from where we are to a better situation.

 Mr Speaker, the President of the United States of America, Mr Barrack Hussein Obama, says, and I quote:

“We cannot afford inaction on the economy. We cannot just sit there and continue defending ourselves without taking serious action on the economy. It is high time we took serious action on our economy, lest we continue recycling this poverty.”

Mr Hamududu: We have been caught up in a vicious cycle of poverty, and yet this Government is not providing leadership for us to break the vicious cycle of poverty.

Mr Speaker, the problem we are facing in our country is extra ordinary. Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures.

 Mr Muntanga: Yes!

Mr Hamududu: Therefore, we need extraordinary men in leadership.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Therefore, it is high time we are judged by our characters and not by where we come from or our tribe.

 Hon. Major Chizhyuka: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, when we cross that line, only then shall we experience proper development.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: If you check the election map of the last Presidential By-election, you will see the colour codes of the regions. This is because we do not recognise the strength of our character. We consider tribe and where we come from as a basis for voting. This is the reason we have been caught up in this vicious cycle of poverty.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, President Barrack Obama said, and I quote:

 “We must keep politics to the minimum.”

Mr Speaker, sometimes I get disappointed with people in Government. We in the Opposition have no problem with you and we are not going to contest the election results whether you won or not. Therefore, there is no need for people in Government to begin politicking. You should begin to deliver your on your promises. Do not stand up there and make noise without any programme.

Mr Speaker, I see a lot ministers standing on the Floor of this House to tell stories of how the country can benefit from fisheries and so on and so forth, but you should tell us what you are doing with those resources.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: What are you doing? Do not talk as if you are in the back bench.

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, our party President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema has even suggested to this Government what must be done because we do not just politick. We want to engage you. That kind of a leader is proactive and progressive.

Let us engage ourselves. Do not just react. Therefore, do not call us arrogant. We want the country to be better and, we are not going to compromise on that. If you call us arrogant, then let it be because we will not compromise on that. We want the best for this country. Call us proud, we do not care. What we want is the best for this country.

Mr Speaker, I expected His Excellency, the President to announce that we are going to embark on an ambitious infrastructure development programme. Like what my party President says:

“Where a good road goes, good development also goes.”

Sir, for example, in Bweengwa, there is the Monze/Niko Road which is being worked on. Already, we have a problem. Last weekend, I travelled on that road …

Mr Speaker: Order! When you include political leaders in your debate who are not in the House, you therefore, expect the other side of the House to respond and debate leaders who are not in this House. Then, you will say they should not do that because the other leaders are not in the House to defend themselves. Therefore, be cautious on this matter.

You may continue, please.

Mr Hamududu: Thank you for your guidance, Mr Speaker.

The road infrastructure in question is being worked on quite alright, but it lacks maintenance. We need to be ambitious and give each district a grader and other equipment to maintain the roads. There is no logic in making a nice road, and after two or three years, it is washed away. The roads need grading every year. The Monze/Niko Road needs grading in April. This is a simple maintenance mechanism. How do you make such a big road in a district and spend K22 billion on it, and yet there is no grader to maintain it. It is tantamount to wasting money. We want each district to have a grader rather than have equipment that is gallivanting all over. In addition, the CDF must be increased to K1 billion …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: … to assist the districts buy fuel for the graders and maintain the roads in the districts. At the moment, my colleague from Namwala and I would like to grade the Monze/Nico Road but there is no grader.

Major Chizhyuka: Tarring!

Mr Hamududu: Eventually, this road should be tarred. This is because there is tremendous wealth in that area. Therefore, the Monze/Niko Road needs to be tarred.

Sir, I request the hon. Minister of Works and Supply to travel on that road and see the economic activities going on in that area.

Major Chizhyuka: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: This road must be included in the programme for tarring in the foreseeable future.

Mr Speaker, let me end by talking about agriculture. This country and the MMD Government have failed to realise where our advantage lies. Our advantage lies in agriculture. The minerals we have in this country are a launch-pad to developing agriculture. However, the successive MMD Governments have failed to address this issue.

Sir, I would like to borrow the words of Dr Moses Banda in one magazine that I found in my pigeon hole. He said perhaps, we need to categorise household food security and national food security. The MMD Government is actually tackling the household food security. I would suggest that the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) is maintained for household food security. However, small-scale farmers cannot guarantee us national food security. We need to identify twenty farmers, for example, of Mr Costine Chilala’s calibre to ensure national food security. I would like to say that this Government is failing to define poverty and what its attributes are. The biggest element of poverty that you keep talking about is lack of food. It is an embarrassment to see people go to bed without eating. Resolving this issue is very simple. We can deliver on that issue.

Mr Muyanda: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: We must put our act together so that we are not embarrassed as a country by starving some of our people.

Mr Speaker, the  other year, I was happy because we donated food to other countries. This year, we should have donated food to Zimbabwe. While people are fighting, innocent children want to eat. This country must continue to show leadership in this region.

The issue of lack of food security in our country must be dealt with. This Government must show its seriousness against food insecurity before we demonstrate against it.

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker …

Mr Speaker: Order! No political leader demonstrates against anybody. You solve problems right here.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: You may continue, please.

Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, I would like to appeal to the Government to maintain the FSP and improve its administration. There are agents dealing with the marketing side under the FRA, but there are no agents dealing with the input side. Then there is something wrong. You should create an agency to deal with inputs. You cannot use Omnia and Miombo to distribute fertiliser because these are just simple traders that do not know the nitty-gritty of the distribution of fertiliser. They have no mechanism and capacity to do this and that is why there is this crisis. It is beginning with these traders. The traders just bring fertiliser into Zambia, but we need a dedicated statutory body to deal with input distribution and other dynamics.

For example, we want civil servants to get involved in farming through a different facility.

Major Chizhyuka: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: We can create loans for civil servants and leave the FSP for the small-scale farmers. Every Zambian must have a shamba or a small piece of land to grow food instead of talking a lot here in town, and yet the only thing they know how to grow is kapinga.

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: During this rainy season, some people who keep talking too much in town, only know how to grow kapinga.

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: Every Zambian must grow food. Therefore, the Government must encourage workers in town and civil servants to acquire land as small holders and give them facilities to grow food. We must address and conquer the issue of food insecurity. You are embarrassing us.

God has given us everything. If you drive from Monze to Lusaka, the only thing you see along the road is elephant grass. What does it tell you? It tells you that the land is fertile. Go to Mongu, Copperbelt, Northern or Eastern provinces, along the way there is elephant grass. What do you want from the Almighty God?

Mr Muntanga: Aah, amen!

Mr Hamududu: This Government must measure up to the challenges of a government. This country has a very serious governance crisis. This is what the MMD Government has done to this country.

Mr Chazangwe: MMD!

Mr Hamududu: You are just like that watch at the airport that is not working. It has been stuck at 13:00 hours since 1991.

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: That is what you show the visitors when they come here.

Laughter

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Finally, Mr Speaker, allow me to repeat that extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. Also, as a progressive person, I would like to wish His Excellency the President good health, wisdom and God’s favour. We need to address these issues.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!

The Minister of North-Western Province (Mr Mulyata): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this chance to debate and give thanks to the President for delivering one of the best speeches I have ever heard.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Mulyata: Sir, I will be very brief, because you have always advised us that though we are given twenty minutes to speak, it is better to use part of that time to give a chance to others to debate. I will abide by that advice.

Mr Speaker, for a long time now, I have observed that we debate issues in this House like we have come here to point fingers at one another, forgetting that we are in this House to represent the people of this country. The people seated around this House make up Zambia. However, I am disappointed in the manner in which we debate.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: This is because there is regional representation from most of us in this House.

Sir, before I go in details, I would like to thank the late President, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., for appointing me as Minister of Southern Province that time. It is not easy to be appointed amongst others to lead a province and I worked very well …

Mrs Phiri: Aah!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: … with Members of Parliament from the Southern Province. The problems I had in the Southern Province had nothing to do with the Members of Parliament from that region.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: That should be very clear.

Mr Speaker, I also want to thank the current President, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, who, after I was acquitted in the courts of law in Livingstone, …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear

Mr Mulyata: … gave me another chance …

Mrs Masebo: Do not make another mistake!

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: …to come and lead or to be a Provincial Minister in North Western Province. I would like to inform everyone that the people and the hon. Members in North Western Province have received and accepted me very well. I am grateful to them for that.

Mr Speaker, I get disappointed when good things are said to be bad by certain people. For anyone to stand in this House and say the speech by the President was hollow is questionable. Those who are keep shouting, ‘question’ as I speak should actually question their actions.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, this speech shows the direction in which the President will take this country, thus, you do not need to have all the tiny details in it. I have two speeches in front of me, the first one was delivered by the late President Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC and the other one is by His Excellency the President Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda. You will find that the strength of the two speeches is actually more or less the same because they inspire intelligent and genuine people.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, if you are not inspired by President Banda’s speech, then there is something wrong with you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, I now want the House to know what this speech is talking about. This speech is talking about empowerment, poverty reduction, skills development, agriculture, land, tourism, environment and natural resources, water resources, mines and minerals development and almost every sector which is important to the country’s development. All we need is to amplify and put more details in other documents that will be generated from it. What is your problem? Today you stand up and say, this speech is hollow, when you want us to develop this country with you.

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, I would like to call that a lack of respect for authority.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, if the President is supposed to get respect from anybody, it is the hon. Members of Parliament but they opt to disrespect him. This disrespect is due to the anger that they developed after the candidates of their political parties lost the presidential elections. It is a sign of immaturity.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Member: And indiscipline!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, the death of the late President died was a blow to the entire nation, sadly some people were not touched but were just pretending to weep. In the Budget there was no money provided for a funeral, but when that trauma befell us, we expected all of us to know that it was a disaster that required national resources to be spent it.

Mr Speaker, after the burial, we had to make a decision on who assumed the presidency. I want to commend the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Hon. Dr Katele Kalumba for going on record as having said that key stakeholders in Zambian politics should have just sat down and found ways of replacing the late President without going for elections.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, the Opposition parties refused and insisted on going for elections.

Mr Kambwili: Yes!

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, you know very well that this country had no budget …

Mr Speaker: Order! The Government is now replying may the House listen.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, we all know that the government had problems finding money for the elections in 2008 but other members, especially members of the Patriotic Front (PF)…

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: … even though they knew about the problem, all they wanted was to go for elections. This meant that we had to look for money or divert some money from other developmental projects to use for the elections and something close to K700 billion was used for those elections.

Interruptions

Hon. Member: Is that your money?

Mr Mulyata: It is national money.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order! The hon. Minister will address the Chair and ignore the hecklers.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, you know very well that at the expense of development, this country has lost almost K700 billion plus. Sir, when I look at it, it is like getting all that money and just flashing it in the toilet.

Mr Kambwili: On a point of order!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, how many roads and schools were we going to build out of that amount?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, there is a provision in the Constitution of this country under Article 36 which is talks about removal of a President by inter-costation. Article 37 is talks about the removal of a President by impeachment, Article 38 talks about removal of a President by death or resignation and Article 88 of the Constitution talks about the removal of president by a resolution of this House. Mr Speaker, in Article 34, there is a provision that if at that point, we all agreed to forgo the elections because of the magnitude of the tragedy, we could have replaced the late President without having spent a lot of money.

Mr Speaker, the first President of a political party to be realistic was Hon. Sakwiba Sikota who saw no need for those elections.

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker that is how you can tell that he is a person who would like this country to develop.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, what did Hon. Sikota mean by saying that he could not contest the elections? Hon. Sikota saw no need to do so because he respected the fact that the mandate had been given to the MMD Government in 2006 to rule the country for five years. Surely, if within this period a tragedy happens, why can’t you reason with us?

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, refusing to reason with us is criminal.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, …

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, before I move to the next point, I would like to commend the President of this country for appointing a very serious hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

This is international material.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Listen to what this man has done in his life and compare it with those in the opposition.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: He was the Head of Department for Economics at UNZA. He was the Head of Department and Financial Markets at Bank of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: He was Deputy Bank of Zambia Governor. He was International Monetary Fund (IMF) Inspector and Advisor to the Bank of Switzerland …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: … not anywhere near to many Zambians.

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: He had been Advisor to the Minister of Finance and National Planning for some time. He was Secretary to the Treasury. He was Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Economic Advisor to the President.

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: Now, what material do you want to drive this country economy forward apart from Dr Musokotwane?

Hon. Opposition Members: How about you?

Mr Mulyata: I am highly qualified than most of you.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: If you do not know my qualifications, come to me in person and I will tell you.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order! The Chair is also interested in this debate, I want to hear.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, secondly, I want now to come to what one hon. Member said. He said the talk about North/Western Rhodesia has resurfaced again. What are you talking about? You must know and take it into account the history of this country whenever you are discussing important national issues. The Minister of Works and Supply not too long ago stated in this House that the Presidency must move from province to province. Is that wrong?

Hon. Members: No.

Mr Mulyata: Where did the presidency begin from? The first President came from Northern Province then came someone from Luapula Province who was succeeded by a person from Central Province. Our current President is from Eastern Province. I want to tell you that Southern, Western and North/Western provinces are also waiting for the same seat of presidency.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: What are you talking about? You mean we are going to be electing people from one province?

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: We cannot afford that kind of a thing.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! The House will calm down.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: There is too much excitement in this House this afternoon. May the hon. Deputy Minister for North/Western Province now address the Motion.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I hope you have finished with the background, now address the Motion.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, this is part of the Motion because the President talked about elections. Therefore, I am simply saying, this presidential seat is the only one in this country and it must rotate.

Mr Kambwili: Takwaba ifyo.

Mr Mulyata: If you think we are going to be electing people from one region, forget.
Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: It does not matter what you call me. Do you understand?

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Speaker: Order! Hon. Deputy Minister you would do yourself a great favour by addressing the Chair. The Chair will understand you but not all of them.

You may continue, please.

Hon. Government Member: Hanjika mudala.

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, can I now talk about Mongu Central which is my constituency.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: No, you may not talk about your constituency, you are a Minister of Government you speak nationally.

Interruptions

Mr Mulyata: May I talk about North/Western Province. Mr Speaker, there are a lot of developments in North/Western Province. The entire country was actually neglecting North/Western Province and now everyone wants to associate with it  …

Hon. Opposition Member: Because of Rupiah Banda.

Mr Mulyata: ..because of development that has been brought to the province by President Rupiah Banda and the late President Mwanawasa.

Mr Kaingu: Well done, Minister.

Mr Mulyata: In agriculture, revising the terms in …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

Mr Speaker: The House will recall that it benefited a great deal from the debate of the hon. Deputy Minister for Luapula Province. That was because he followed the guidance of the Chair. As for Cabinet and Deputy Ministers, they are the only ones who should debate from prepared texts. They are the only ones who are allowed to read their speeches in the House. I hope that most hon. Ministers will read their debates from prepared texts.

Hon. Deputy Minister of North/Western Province may continue.

Hon. Opposition Members: Read.

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, the key to reducing the high poverty levels in North/Western Province among our people lies in agriculture.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulyata: Mr Speaker, the province in terms of agriculture has the lowest yield in the country, though it has both good soils and sufficient rainfall. The province can fight poverty through an agricultural revolution. About 96 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture activities in the province. This calls for promotion of low input agricultural production, such as the growing of cassava, sweet potatoes and beans. There is also need to exploit cross border trade in small livestock, cereals and legumes in Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo. Value adding to agricultural products is also an area that calls for expansion.

The province has abundant potential in both forest tree species and those of a commercial grade. However, this potential remains untapped in most of the districts, since most of the people in the province are involved in honey and beeswax processing.

Laughter

Mr Mulyata: I thank you, Sir.

The Minister for Eastern Province (Mr I. Banda): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the many voices that have already spoken on the President’s Speech on the occasion of the Official Opening of Parliament this year.

I would like to start by thanking the President for appointing me as the hon. Minister for Eastern Province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: I would also like to commend the President for his good and inspiring speech that highlights many issues that affect this nation. I will start with the issue of reconciliation and national unity that the President talked about on page 7, paragraph 2, beginning with line 7 in his speech. He said, and I quote:

“Mr Speaker, hon. Members will recall that during my inaugural speech on 2nd November, 2008, I called for reconciliation and national unity.

“I would like to reiterate that this Government, under the MMD leadership, is a Government for all Zambians and not only for members of the Ruling Party.

“Therefore, I wish to assure the nation that the concerns and issues raised by various political stakeholders, irrespective of their party will be addressed equally.”

Mr Speaker, here is the basis of love that the President has shown. This means that we should reconcile and love each other in order to work together and bring meaningful development to mother Zambia. Despite this call for reconciliation, other people on your left side do not seem to know the essence of democracy.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: To them, someone who has defeated them in an election has committed an offence and becomes their public enemy number one.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: They start calling the victor all sorts of degrading names and disregard all of his or her constructive ideas. What a shame.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, some of the people on your left, including some of their leaders, should learn that an election results in a winner and loser.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: The loser needs to follow and contribute constructively to the leadership of the winner. After all, we are all here for the common reason of serving our nation.

Mr Speaker, let me highlight a few developments that have taken place in our country to show that we care for all, regardless of their political affiliation. I will start with education. The infrastructure of classrooms and teachers’ accommodation that the hon. Minister has constructed in the past two years, on an average of 900 classrooms per year, covers all the 150 constituencies regardless of whether the hon. Member of Parliament for a constituency is in the ruling or opposition party.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: Teachers have been recruited each year. More than 5,000 teachers, from 2006 to date, have been recruited and posted to many schools in all constituencies, according to the demand in each area and this is an on-going programme.

Mr Speaker, many of the people on your left are now even boasting that they will not have any problem with being re-elected in 2011 because this Government has built new schools in their constituencies. This shows that the MMD New Deal Government fosters development beyond party or ethnic boundaries, and this is why the people of Zambia have continuously given a vote to this Government. This is why God will continuously bless this Government with the leadership of this country because we do not insult anyone and God is the one who takes vengeance on our behalf.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, earth moving equipment was to start working immediately after being distributed to all the nine provinces, regardless of being strongholds of the Opposition or the Ruling Party. However, because of the Presidential by-election, this Government with its good and democratic leadership thought of stopping the exercise as the Opposition and other critics would have deemed it a campaign strategy. This means that these machines started working in the month of November, 2008 and this is their third month of operation.

Mr Speaker, many people have expressed concern over the use of these machines, saying that they are usually parked. This may be as a result of the controlling officers and engineers in some provinces who are responsible for these machines not being active. If the fuel allocation runs out and the person responsible does not send the fuel returns to the Ministry of Works and Supply, the machines will definitely be parked. What I know is that the allocation for fuel cannot be sent to the provincial headquarters if the returns of the previous allocation have not reached the ministry headquarters.

Mr Speaker, in my province, we have had about two allocations of fuel within three months of operation. Within these three months, we have been able to grade the Petauke-Nyamphande, Mwanjabantu-Mumbi and Msoro-Mukonda roads. We are now on the road to Minga Mission in the western zone. In the middle zone of the province, we have done the Chipata-Magwero Road and are now on the Chipata-Vubwi and Katete-Msoro roads. In the northern zone, we have done the bush clearing from Chama to where the Chama-Matumbo Bridge will be constructed and after the rains, we shall do the road construction to join Chinsali. On the Emusa-Chikwa Road, we are on site and should start the rehabilitation any time. As a province, we are thankful to the Central Government for this machinery which has been given to us and, also, for engaging private contractors to do some of the roads

Mr Speaker, on health, the President emphasised a point on page 46, paragraph 2, when he said and I quote:

“In an effort to improve the health infrastructure, Government is currently constructing 15 of the 19 earmarked district hospitals.”

 I am glad to report to this House that out of the 15 hospitals that the Government is constructing, two are in my province, and we are busy building the Chama District Hospital in phase one and Chadiza Hospital in phase two.

This caring Government wants to make good health a part of lifestyle of the people of Zambia so that we achieve our targets by 2015. These targets include, among others, completely reducing the mother-child mortality rates, HIV infection rate, malaria infection, death rate and wiping out of cholera from compounds in cities like Lusaka.

Mr Speaker, as regards the FSP, I am glad to report that the Government, this year, doubled the allocation of fertiliser packs to the province compared to last year. However, the number of beneficiaries increased because of the high prices of the commodity in private shops and the inclusion of civil servants in the programme, hence the fertiliser became insufficient and many people did not benefit. The distribution process had its own problems but, overall, it went fairly well. As a Government, we need to take precautionary measures if the distribution process is to improve so that people do not enrich themselves at the expense of the poor whom this fertiliser is meant for.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Defence (Mr Mpombo): Mr Speaker, I beg your indulgence as I have no speaking notes but I will try as much as possible to be within the confines of procedure. I want, from the onset, to say that I will avoid political shoot outs …

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: … and concentrate on the President’s Speech because there has been some allegation that we are not referring to the speech. I will try to draw 90 per cent of my contribution from the speech.

Mr Lubinda interjected.

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, however, before I do that, kindly allow me to briefly comment on the debate by the hon. Member of Parliament for Kasama Central, regarding our performance as a Government. I want to say that Hon. Chishimba debated like a political serial killer.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order! That phrase is not acceptable in this House.

Mr Mpombo: Most grateful, Sir, and I withdraw it.

Mr Speaker, on 23rd September, 2008, Hon. Chishimba dragged the entire Patriotic Front leadership to the Lusaka High Court. In his petition, he said that there was brutal dictatorship and political debauchery in the PF party. This led the party President, Mr Sata, to go gallivanting all over the shore.

Mr Speaker, I want to appeal to him to maintain the relationship we had when he was on our side. Therefore, those disparaging remarks were most uncalled for, and I want to state that this Government is very serious with developing this country.

As regards Hon. Hamududu’s remarks yesterday, his solutions to complex issues are only possible in dreams.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, coming to the main speech, this document is a watershed and blue print to sustainable economic growth.

Mr Speaker, you may wish to know that this document was prepared at a very critical time and if people understand what is unfolding in the country, this speech tried very hard to address serious concerns.

Mr Speaker, as a Member of Parliament, I really got baffled by the amount of ignorance on international issues by a hon. Member of Parliament who misunderstood the President’s Speech. He also talked about the global credit crunch in manner that showed that he did not really understand it. This is leadership made simple. Leaders must be able to understand that the world economy is in deep problems and you cannot compare it to the 1929 depression. As we are saying, the leader of the global economy, the United States of America is struggling. Mortgage rates as well as businesses have collapsed. The American Government has since banned two major bail out programmes which have failed to improve their economy. There most recent one which was worth US $700 billion failed to correct the situation. Today, President Obama is trying to push for another bail out package valued at US $19 billion in order to sustain the economy.

Hon. PF Members: Ebaume!

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, if a big country like America can be in this kind of political scenario, how do you expect us to fare? It is very important that Members of Parliament keep abreast with developments around the world.

In the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown has just released his second major bail out plan because banks in that country have collapsed. In fact, the situation is that countries that were telling us to move away from nationalisation are now forced to do it. In Britain, the Rock and Roll Bank has been nationalised. Therefore, there is a lot of political uncertainty in the world. As we are sitting here today, there is a meeting in Switzerland were global problems are being discussed. If an hon. Member of Parliament is not able to follow these issues, how can he or she fully contribute to the country’s development? You will become a liability and security risk by not telling people the truth on things such as the Presidents Speech. This kind of attitude is destructive.

Hon Members of Parliament must be up to date with information. No Member should stand here saying he does not believe in what is happening world over. Instead, you allege that people have made a lot of money and want to run away. This kind of thinking is mind boggling.

Ms Siliya: Myopic!

Mr Mpombo: How can a Member of Parliament have the temerity to state that he does not believe in what is going on around the country?

Mr Speaker, President Banda talked about measures to attend to problems that will be caused by the worldwide food crisis. This is why President Banda encouraged us to put in more money into agriculture. Due to the crisis, food riots recently happened in Kenya and other parts of the world.

Mr Speaker, the major contributing factor to the worldwide food crisis is that people are investing more in bio fuel. Even big countries are diverting arable land to bio fuel production sites. This is also happening in Zambia.

Dr. Katema: Where?

Mr Mpombo: If you choose to listen, Mpongwe Development Company used to produce a lot of maize, but have sold their land to Tanzanians who are now producing Jatropha. It is important for us as Members of Parliament to clearly understand what is happening around us. This world credit crunch is very real.

Mr Speaker, on page 13 of the President’s Speech, President Banda outlined measures that are intended to mitigate the effects of the world credit crunch on Zambia. Sir, allow me to quote his speech:

“Engaging mining companies to prevent major job losses and encourage other investors to come.”

Mr Speaker, many people do not understand that big companies that come to invest in our mines depend on raising their finances on the stock exchange market. However, the global economic recession has dried up resources on the stock exchange market and, as such, these people can no longer go and borrow money. Kansanshi Mine operates with funds from a consortium of banks which have since collapsed. This means the mine has got nowhere to borrow money from.

Mr Speaker, it is surprising that if there even with this economic melt down, some people in certain circles are too demanding while. At the same time, it is the same people that start blaming those that have agreed to come to invest in our country without realising that they would chase away the investors. By continuously attacking the investors verbally, they are sending a dangerous message that Zambia is not a good investment destination. The economic crisis real. Big companies have come and gone.  Puku has failed to raise money for its operations this year, because it has been affected by the world credit crunch.

If you cross over to the Congolese side in Mokambo, there is a huge mine called Frontier. They have also folded up because they can no longer raise money from the stock exchange market as a result of the world economic recession. When you say that you will not accept anybody from China, you are sending a wrong message. Supposing the Chinese people are the only ones who have got money to invest, what do we do? We must move away from this kamikazi thinking.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mpombo: You do not just wake up and start propounding economic theories which you do not understand.

   Mr Mpombo: As we are talking today, there are about 2 million people in Britain who are on the streets because of companies such as Woolworths, Toyota Motor Corporation and other major companies that have closed down. You must understand. If big countries with huge economic muscle can be in this kind of scenario, what about a country like Zambia?

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President proposed some measures which will diversify the economy such as enhancing resource allocation to irrigation, providing capital to citizens through CEEC and provision of more resources this year for the completion of Nansanga Farm Block. I believe that if a lot of people went into serious farming like Hon. Matongo and Hon. Hachipuka advocated for, this country would see a big turn round in food security. That is why President Banda said that instead of listening to empty rhetoric, he wants to move in a pragmatic manner so that poverty in this country can be reduced. We must understand that these are important issues. We must not politicise or toss around important issues.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President also talked about the number of tourists coming into the country. He said that we need to put in more effort in the development of the tourism industry in the country. I can assure you that the President meant well. The Government will open up the Northern and Luapula circuits for tourism projects. The two provinces are expected to become tourism magnets which will contribute to the development of this country as in the case of Livingstone in Southern Province. A lot of development has taken place in Livingstone because of the thriving tourism industry in that town. We want that replicated in districts in Luapula and Northern provinces.

Mr Speaker, only some one who has a problem with his mental faculty can say that we are not doing anything in the tourism sector.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: Let us not politicise issues all the time. We must ensure that good ideas are taken very seriously.

Mr Speaker, people in Southern Province have been genuinely complaining about perpetual animal diseases. The deaths of the animals caused by preventable diseases have led to most of the Tonga people becoming poverty stricken.

Mr Akakandelwa: Ndekete.

Mr Mpombo:  Now, in order to help the people in Southern Province, a new ministry has been created specifically to handle the issue of animal diseases. Is that not an achievement or a serious move?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mpombo: Surely, we must be able to appreciate some of these things. The President wants to take the bull by its horns. He has created a new ministry. The hon. Minister is on the ground and is very effective.

Hon. Government Member: Obama!

Mr Mpombo: This is how serious the President is towards agriculture.

Mr Speaker, most of the hon. Members have been complaining about the sluggish performance of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). The President has since directed the FRA to increase its efficiency. He has urged management running FRA to pull up their socks. They must put in place good marketing strategies. They must go to the rural areas and ensure that every part of the country is adequately covered. The President made the directive in response to complaints from the general public and hon. Members. Now, your President has issued a directive in response to your complaints. How can you say that his speech was hollow? I must say that it is your thinking that is hollow and not the speech. We must not continue criticising the President for things that he has already worked on very well.

Mr Speaker, in terms of economic empowerment, the President said we must streamline the operations of the CEEC. We must remove the bureaucracy and impediments that are there to access the fund because it was created as a vehicle for economic empowerment for our people.

The President also talked about skills development. In order for our people to fully contribute to the country’s development, we need to empower them with as many skills as possible. The President wants the country to develop and this intention comes out very clearly in his speech. If you read carefully, you will find that the President touched on  core issues affecting the nation’s development.

On Page 7, the President called for reconciliation or dialogue. Even in his inaugural speech, he talked about the same. My appeal to my colleagues in the PF is that they must unclench their fists.

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: The President and the UPND have offered you an olive Branch. The MMD and UPND are in the same boat. Can you unclench your fists?

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: Mr Speaker, in one of the newspaper articles, The Post, His Grace, the Archbishop of Kasama, I think it is Bishop Spaita, appealed to President Rupiah Banda and Mr Michael Sata to discuss the way forward in terms of reconciliation. That request was received with a slap in the face by PF. PF is not ready to entertain plans of a reconciliation process until we do a, b, c and d. You can clearly see the problem is coming from our colleagues in the PF. MMD is ready to discuss issues. Even now MMD is prepared to get into useful dialogue, but our…

Hon. PF Member interjected.

Mr Mpombo: No, the boat was not…

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: We are in a situation were the two main political parties cannot sit and talk because there is too much violence in that boat. They can throw you in the water and so you must be very careful with…

Laughter

Mr Mpombo: Finally, Mr Speaker, I want to urge my colleagues to unite. Politics of personal advancement must no longer have a role here. Some people refer to President Obama, but look at what he stands for. He is above petty politics.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to contribute to the debate on the President’s speech delivered during the opening of the Third Session of the Tenth National Assembly.

I join all Members of the House who have debated the motion before me, in congratulating the President on the excellent and inspiring speech to this august House and the nation at large.

Mr Speaker, I note however, that some hon. Members who debated before me were unnecessarily critical of His Excellency’s speech, all because they are still in a state of denial, after making three failed attempts to assume power.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, they should come to terms with the fact that His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, has got the instruments of power and is firmly in charge of national affairs.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr M. B. Mwale:  Sir, it is important to note that one of the qualities of leadership is humility.

Mr Speaker, the mining sector being commodity export oriented and dependent on credit finance from international stock exchange markets and banks has been adversely affected by the global financial crisis. However, since mining is the anchor of our economy, the Government is committed to reducing the impact of the crisis on the sector and consequently our economy.

Sir, it will be recalled that the performance of the mining sector had improved tremendously in the past few years following the unprecedented rise in copper and cobalt metal prices. Except for short periods in 1990 and 1996, copper prices in excess of US$3,000 per tone had never been attained.

Mr Speaker, evidence of improved performance of the mining industry is as follows:

(a)     Increase in copper and cobalt production;

(b)     Commissioning of green field mine projects which are:

(i) Kansanshi Copper Mine in Solwezi;

(ii) Lumwana in Solwezi;

(iii) Albidon in Mazabuka;

(iv) Sino-Metals Leach Plant in Chambishi;

(v) Chambishi Copper Smelter in Chambishi; and

(vi) Konkola Copper Mine Smelter in Nchanga.

(c) Small Cathode Production Plants

(d) Construction of Acid Plants at:

(i) Bwana Mkubwa;

(ii) Mopani (Nkana and Mufulira Operators);

(iii) Konkola Copper Mine – Nchanga; and

(iv) Sino Metals – Chambishi.

(e) Construction and commissioning of new technologies plants, the leaching solvent-extraction electro winning plants at Nkana and Mufulira.
  
(f) rehabilitation of plant and infrastructure at existing mines such as the Mufulira Smelter.

Mr Speaker, these achievements must be credited to the good policies that this Government adopted to make Zambia, a highly attractive and risk-free mining investment destination.

It is the intention of the Government to keep Zambia as a favourable investment destination even during the period of recession. This will ensure a continued flow of investment, thereby maintaining a competitive and thriving mining sector which continues to contribute to social-economic development.

Mr Speaker, in handling all issues in the mining sector which the House has raised, my ministry will continue to implement measures in line with the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Development Act No. 7 of 2008.

This Act has provisions to protect employee welfare and prevent indefinite suspension of operations, thereby reducing the risk of job losses resulting from unnecessary mine closures.

As alluded to by the President in his speech to this House, dialogue with mining companies will continue in order to ensure that a beneficial financial environment exists for both the Government and the investors.

Mr Speaker, there is urgent need for all mine operators to reduce costs and at the same time increase production. This is possible with improved technology and extraction methods. The price of copper, currently at more than US$3000 per tone, is almost twice what was obtaining when the mines were privatised and this was done without any job losses.

Mr Milupi: Hear, hear!

Mr M. B. Mwale:  Sir, this Government has continued to provide an enabling investment climate.  Whilst we appreciate that investors are our socio-economic partners, we will not tolerate any mine closures without exhaustive consultations with the Government and the stakeholders as provided for in the law.

With regard to the closure of Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM), which resulted in the loss of 1700 jobs, the situation arose from the following:

(i) inefficient mining methods;

(ii)  poor utilisation of installed plant capacity;

(iii) unfavourable tolling arrangements between LCM and Chambeshi Metals, despite the two being sister companies; and

(iv) the delay by the investors in the development of Muliashi Deposit and Oxide Caps.

LCM has ore bodies which include Muliashi, Oxide Caps and Baluba Underground Mine. These make LCM a very viable investment destination as demonstrated by the interest expressed by foreign investors who cover Africa, America, Europe, Asia and the Far East.

Mr Speaker, I acknowledge the contribution by Hon. Chanda of Kankoyo over the Nkana Smelter. Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has replaced the old technology at Nkana Smelter with a new environmentally friendly, more energy efficient and high recovery modern technology plant at Nchanga.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. B. Mwale:  This is a welcome development in the light of the energy deficiency and environmental concerns raised by hon. Members of this House. Inevitably, this will result in labour realignment.

Sir, Hon. Simuusa of Nchanga, informed this house that smelters are closing due to the lack of feed and that some mines just prefer importing inputs even when they can be sourced locally.

Mr Speaker, for the information of the hon. Member, the only smelter that has been placed under care and maintenance is Chambishi which is designed to treat copper slugs and not copper concentrates. Treatment of copper concentrates using this smelter is not advisable because it would result in over heating the material.

Mr Speaker, as I speak, Zambia has a smelter capacity of 750,000 tonnes per year and, therefore, we should not expect exports of concentrates.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Mwila of Chipili, informed the House on the submission made by the Chamber of Mines to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning on the current tax regime for the mining sector. The House may wish to recall that when the new fiscal regime was presented to Parliament in 2008, it was intended to improve the benefits accruing to Zambians whilst maintaining the viability of mining investments.

However, we were all shocked at the hon. Member’s party’s change of mind over the matter and their choosing to turn against the good intentions of this Government.

Sir, I wish to emphasise that as the host country, we have an obligation to improve the socio-economic welfare of our citizenry without negatively impacting on investments by foreign firms. Government will continue to pursue fiscal and regulatory regimes which benefit both our people and investment partners.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Chongo of Mwense in contributing to the debate, alluded to the development of the small scale mining sector. In this respect, the House may wish to know that in 2005, the Government introduced a financing facility for small scale miners in the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development. Though this facility has since been transferred to the Citizens’s Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), the ministry continuously urges the beneficiaries to utilise the loan capital prudently and honour their repayment obligations so as to enable a growing number of small scale miners access the same funds. My only fear is that the fund may be affected by the bad credit culture that Zambians are known to have.

Sir, small scale mines have the potential to grow into large scale mines if properly managed. At the same time, they have the potential to significantly contribute to the socio-economic development of our country through job creation and payment of taxes.

Mr Speaker, credit must also be given to large scale mining companies that have invested in Zambia and contributed significantly to the socio-economic welfare of our people. I hope Hon. Mwenya and Katema are listening. Let me cite some of the mines I have in mind who are worthy of credit and support by all Zambians. I will also state some of the notable achievements of these mines.

(i) Equinox Minerals Limited has built a brand new town in the forest of Lumwana even before commencement of production;
 
(ii) First Quantum Minerals, Kansanshi operations have revived the municipality of Solwezi.

(iii) Albidon in Mazabuka, Hon. Nkombo will agree with me, has resettled villagers and empowered them with better and modern houses, clean water and cattle for milk production.
 
Sir, these companies should not be blamed for any natural calamities that befall the benefiting communities. The cracking of houses in Mugoto was a result of excessive rainfall as alluded to by Hon. Nkombo. The hon. Member of Parliament for Nchanga Parliamentary Constituency, Hon Mwenya, and Hon. Nkombo should acknowledge the massive development that is accruing to this country from mining as evidenced by the development in the Copperbelt towns.

Mr Speaker, notwithstanding what I have said, the Government of the Republic of Zambia has come up with stringent environmental protection regulations which no mine operator is allowed to flout.

As regards the investment in oils and gas, I would like to assure the House that my ministry will continue promoting investment in the sector, especially for minerals other than copper and cobalt. As mentioned in the President’s Speech, the petroleum committee will be reconstituted this year to speed up the process of licensing for oil and gas exploration.

We are confident in the methods and techniques being applied in the initial exploration for oil and gas. We are hopeful that the micro-bio exploration technique will help us find areas which have the presence of oil and gas. The determination of commercial deposits, require drilling, which is a special technique, reaching depths of greater than three kilometres.

The hon. Member for Chingola Constituency, Dr Katema, is invited to share the Government’s vision of having oil-wells in Zambia as scientific indicators have made us believe that there are oil deposits in the country.

As I said at the beginning, the mining sector remains an anchor to our economic development. I would like to urge the House to support our efforts in exploiting our mineral resources for the benefit of our people. The current situation in the mining industry gives an opportunity for the Government to re-align its investment shareholding that will ensure a controlling stake with the new mine owners.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Health (Mr Simbao): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate the President His Excellency’s Speech that was delivered to this House on Friday, 16th January, 2009. I will try my best to stick to what should be clarified, having heard most of the hon. Members in this House say that the speech was empty.

Sir, personally, I benefited a lot from this speech and was humbled enough that the President saw the need to try and cure this nation. On page 45, he starts by talking about HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera and tuberculosis. He said these must be combated. Before, I get into the details of the speech, I would like to say that health is the first thing that constitutes life. It does not matter who one is. If his or her health is failing, one can amass wealth, degrees, knowledge and experience, but this will all lead to nothing. Therefore, the President was kind enough to devote quite a big section of his speech to health.

Mr Speaker, I would like to talk about the effects of HIV/AIDS on this country. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, at the moment, is at 14.3 per cent among the fifteen to forty-nine years age group. If you look at our Parliament, I would say that, maybe, a good number of our members are within this group.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: This means that since there are 158 hon. Members of Parliament, about twenty-five members could have this problem.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: Sir, I would like to say that most of us, except eight members, aspired to come here as leaders. We are leaders of 150 constituencies in this country. As leaders, we must give the best example in everything. I would like to inform my fellow hon. Members of Parliament that to show leadership is to take even the harder challenges. We know that testing for HIV/AIDS is a hard thing. However, to show leadership to the people who brought you here, it is import that every hon. Member of Parliament takes an HIV/AIDS test.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, without doing that, we are not leading our people truthfully. This problem is very big. For the information of others, this is my second term of office, this disease has taken some of our best friends. When they started getting sick, they completely disconnected themselves from the rest of us and it was saddening when we found out. I am saying this because there is an argument going on out there, that immediately somebody tests positive, they must not wait, but start taking medication because research has proved that if somebody starts taking medication early, it is possible not to develop the HIV/AIDS symptoms. Therefore, you can live with the virus, but it will not progress into Aids. Some research has proved this fact.

At the last International Conference for Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA), emphasis was placed on the importance of people knowing their status early and starting medication. Most of the medicines that used to bring complications are being phased out. We are now coming to the second line of HIV/AIDS which does not have as many complications as the first line. It is import that every one of us knows their status.

Mr Milupi: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I am saying they must know their status. I am not saying that I must know their status because I am not interested in knowing their status, but they must know theirs.

Mr Milupi: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: It would be gratifying if every one in this House said they knew their status. Then we would be ready to take on the rest of the country.

Sir, there has been fear that we might have a problem of administering medication, but I would like to assure the nation that at the moment, that fear is not there. This Government is ready to attend to everyone who is sick. Therefore, I would like to allay such fears but stating that this Government cannot fail to attend to the sick. I have just toured some clinics in Lusaka where the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) are operating and it is important that hon. Members take time to see some of these clinics. They will be impressed with what CIDRZ is doing for us in this country.

I am appealing to this House, through you, Mr Speaker, take pride in knowing your status.If you have not tested, please, go and test because it is very important.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the House that we have a problem of finding enough blood to go into our blood bank, at the moment. We are barely getting the required quantities. I would like to inform the rest of the country, that people must not shun donating blood because blood is life. 
It does not only serve sick people but also many other cases that require blood transfusion. Therefore, it is important that people are free to donate blood so that we can save people’s lives. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to talk about the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS. In this line, we have done very well, but the statistics being released are frightening. The President wants to see us arrest this problem. In 2007, of all the pregnant women who were screened, 30 per cent were HIV positive. The main cause of these deaths is the “loose” talk by those who do not understand these fully understand these issues. The talking is even causing those that are not sick to fear to breastfeed their children in the first six months. We want to encourage exclusive breast feeding for first six months after birth so that child can survive. As a result, we have seen a very high rate of deaths amongst children.

Sir, we would like to assure the nation that this Government wants all children to live up to five years, because after this age, the chances of survival are higher. The mothers should breastfeed exclusively for six months. I am saying this to hon. Members of Parliament who have constituencies so that when they go to their constituencies, they can tell their constituents that six months exclusive breastfeeding is best for children because breast milk cannot be compared to cow milk or any other substitute. It is not advisable to feed a baby on cow milk. To some extent, yes, cow milk is good but it is not as good as the mother’s milk. We, therefore, want the hon. Members of Parliament to carry this message to their constituencies so that our population in this country can grow.

Mr Speaker, we have also noticed that cases of Tuberculosis (TB) are increasing. We want everyone in Zambia to know that this Government is ready to assist all the patients as long as TB is detected early. TB is a curable disease.

Mr Mubika: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like to come to the issue of condoms.

Laughter

Mr Simbao:  It has been researched that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate for countries that have promoted the use of condoms is lower ...

Mr Kambwili: Lay the condom on the Table.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: … than that for our country. It is important that our people take this practice very seriously. Ten years ago, this used to bring about different thoughts but we have gone over this now. We have been using condoms for over ten years.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: It is important that we take this seriously. Please, let us use condoms because to some people, abstinence is a very difficult thing to do.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: You will lose nothing by using condoms. There are a lot of people with different ideas about condoms. If you use a condom, you will lose nothing. You will still get the same enjoyment that you want.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: Please, let us use condoms.

 Mr Speaker, I would like to come to the issue of malaria. Malaria is still the highest killer disease in this country. We are now using many agencies to assist us in combating this disease. We have embarked on residual spraying of all the houses. We have covered about fifteen districts. We want to move up to thirty-six districts. We want the hon. Members of Parliament to assist us in this by encouraging the people to have their homes sprayed when they go back to their constituencies. We are also distributing mosquito nets. I urge hon. Members of Parliament to encourage their constituents to sleep under mosquito nets if they have some.

Sir, the President talked about mobile clinics in his speech. We are going to introduce mobile clinics in this country. This means that we want to reach the remotest areas of this country. We want everyone to have access to health services. The President’s Speech talked about mobile clinics and we are ready for this. We are going to send the mobile clinics to all the constituencies.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, we are looking at introducing social health insurance. We feel that if we introduced this scheme, we are going to bring on board a lot of people who otherwise would not have access to expensive medical care. We are looking at how we can come up with this scheme and engage almost all our medical employees, including their families. Again, this is a scheme that must not scare anyone at all. It is for the good of the Zambian people.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the issue of infrastructure development, we are going to continue with the rehabilitation and building of new infrastructure this year. We are building some district hospitals and will move on to the second phase of the project. We are also building some health posts all over the country this year. Our biggest problem is that of human resource. We have introduced the retention scheme for health workers in rural areas and it is working very well. For doctors, we have basically gone out of our way in trying to address the problems that they face. We have also managed to address adequately issues that used to make the work of medical personnel such as nurses and paramedics difficult.

Sir, although the other medical personnel have not been given what the doctors got so far, their conditions are still not that bad. At least, we have extended the improvements in the salary scheme to not only target doctors but also other medical personal working in rural areas. We have a crisis in that so far we operating at only 50 per cent of the establishment. We are somewhere in the range of 30,000 when we are supposed to have about 52,000 health workers. I have heard a lot of hon. Members complaining that their health centres are unmanned or manned by untrained personnel, but I can assure  them  that we have employed almost every trained health person available in the country.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to state that we are changing the training programmes. For example, in the case of midwifery, now one can enter directly and be trained as a midwife without having to train as a nurse first. This is all in an effort of trying to increase the number of midwives. This is one area where we have a shortage of personnel. I was humbled by the President’s concern about health and I do not understand why someone should say that this speech is empty. 

I would like to state that this is a loaded speech. There is a story that talks about the tusk of an elephant. If you just touch its tusk, you might think the elephant is just made up of a tusk. If you take a serious look at this speech, you will note that it has given a lot of direction. Therefore, it remains for us, with the assistance of every one here, to make sure that the country moves in the direction that has been outlined by the speech.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Livestock and Veterinary Services (Mr Machila): Mr Speaker, in his address at the opening of Parliament, His Excellency, the President on Page 26 said that there is still a need to improve Zambia’s livestock and fisheries sector. This will be a priority, so much so that the sector will have its own ministerial portfolio. He further went on to state that the first task will be to address the problems facing the livestock sector in the Southern, Western and Eastern Provinces and the fisheries sector in the Western, North-Western, Luapula, Northern Provinces and other areas.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: Mr Speaker, livestock diseases are the biggest challenge facing the agricultural industry in the country. We currently have about 3 million cattle even though the country has a potential of up to 10 million animals. Furthermore, the livestock sector contributes 35 per cent to the agricultural industry in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, in Zambia, we have about 1 million goats, 80,000 sheep, 500,000 pigs, 16 million broilers and 4 million commercial layers for eggs. The Southern, Eastern, Western and Central Provinces account for about 89 per cent of the cattle population in the country, whereas the Northern, North-Western, Lusaka and Luapula Provinces have about 8 per cent. The Eastern and southern Provinces have about 80 per cent of all the goats and about 83 per cent of the pigs in production.

Mr Speaker, the Government has struggled to provide effective services to such a large country which has scattered livestock and human population. The low population density makes service provision in our nation very expensive. The Government is not able to provide the level of services that we would like. Therefore, as Government, we are making strategic use of the private sector and non-government organisations in order to ensure effective delivery in livestock services.

Mr Speaker, the livestock working group identified eight priority areas and came up with proposals on how issues surrounding them can be attended to. The first one was the creation of a separate ministry in order to improve co-ordination. The second proposal was to create an emergency disease control fund which is independent of the annual Budget to the Ministry.

The third proposal was to adhere to a well defined disease control vaccination programme. The fourth proposal was to carry out an animal identification disease audit and zoning exercise. The fifth recommendation was the harmonisation between the Ministries of Health, Local Government and Housing and Agriculture and Co-operatives, with respect to public health matters. The sixth proposal was the updating of existing legislation relating to the sector. The seventh recommendation was to enact legislation to provide for the poultry industry and lastly to advocate for improved animal and food security.

Mr Speaker, in order to deal with the problem of diseases, it is the intention of the Government to make it a priority to ensure that the necessary departments are fully funded all the time. We are, in addition, going to push for compulsory dipping countrywide. If need be, this will be done through legislation.

Mr Speaker, the issue of the lack of veterinary assistants has been stated a number of times by hon. Members on your left side. We shall be looking towards the re-introduction of veterinary assistants who are more pro-active on the ground and are the first point of call for many of our people in rural areas. In addition to this, we shall be looking to increase the number of veterinary officers throughout the country.

Mr Speaker, it our belief that beef in the future could become the “copper” of Zambia when we consider how neighbouring states, such as Botswana and Namibia have been successful in growing these particular industries.

Furthermore, we shall be looking towards importing some livestock to assist in the breeding exercises with a view of diversifying in the breeds that we have in the country. We shall work to help small scale and traditional farmers with the marketing of their livestock. Many a time, people have complained about the low market prices of livestock in the country. One model that we may consider following is that of Malawi where they have cattle marketing days.

Mr Speaker, furthermore, we aim to encourage and facilitate the establishment of abattoirs in the districts in order to reduce the need to move livestock for long distances, which in the past has been subject to restrictions when bans have been imposed.

Mr Speaker, some parts of the country have huge demands in terms of breeding stock. In particular, I cite the Eastern Province. The issue of cattle re-stocking can only be aggressively and diligently addressed at a time when we have made progress in containing animal diseases. It would be unwise of this Government to push for the re-stocking of animals only for them to subsequently succumb to diseases in certain areas.

Mr Speaker, I note that there are many others of my colleagues wanting to speak. Therefore, what remains, Sir, is to thank you for according me this opportunity to debate.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Dr Chituwo): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice onto the President’s address to this House on 16th January, 2009

Mr Speaker, I want to start by paying tribute to our late president, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, may his soul rest in peace, for the manner in which he stirred this country. I must say that having been privileged to have been once a nominated Member of Parliament and appointed to the Cabinet, I got to know this man as fair. I knew him as a man who hated corruption and injustice …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: …and also as a man who, truly, was concerned with the well being of our people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I believe that he left a legacy to be built upon by our current President who repeatedly stated this during the Presidential campaigns in October last year.

Mr Speaker, President Banda’s speech has been hailed by many well meaning Zambians, from diverse walks of life, as visionary, focused and a road map for the overall development of our country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: I would like to persuade some of my colleagues in the opposition who have described the President’s Speech as hollow to carefully go through it again. What may have confused them is merely the style. His Excellency, the President’s Speech was simple and yet analytic. Simple and yet, persuasive. Simple, but directional.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, let me now turn to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives. I want to state that our nation is lucky. Our late President was a practicing farmer. The current is also a farmer.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, agriculture has been placed in our Fifth National Development Plan as one of the priority sectors. If fully exploited, it can significantly contribute to poverty reduction and wealth creation. The President’s main concern in the agriculture sector is the access of small scale farmers to the market.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency touched on many issues in my ministry. One of which was the operations of FRA. As he noticed and directed, the FRA will concentrate its efforts in buying maize and other cash crops from outlying areas of our country. Efforts are under way by the FRA to ensure that it has adequate storage infrastructure to be able to easily buy produce from rural farmers. To this effect, FRA will be given U S $11 million by the Chinese Government for the rehabilitation and construction of storage facilities in a concessional loan.

Mr Speaker, using our own resources, we have started renovating the big silos in Lusaka and work will continue on the remainder of the silos in Monze, Ndola, Chisamba and Kabwe at cost of $2 million 
The actual quantity of produce to be bought by FRA in 2009 will depend on two factors. The first is the actual production levels and the second is the availability of the financial resources.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President directed that the FSP will continue. As I shared with this august House yesterday, in light of the challenges that this programme has faced during its implementation period, there is a realisation that the FSP should go under critical review in order to improve its effectiveness. Further, in his speech, on page 24, the President directed that during our restructuring process, we must also look at improving the agricultural extension services that we offer.

Mr Speaker, a number of strategies will be put in place to enhance agricultural extension service delivery. The main focus is on field extension officers. The ministry plans to procure some transport to ease mobility of extension staff at field level. Further, the ministry will embark on a programme to rehabilitate and construct camp houses and offices for extension and district staff. The ministry has in the recent past recruited an additional 691 extension staff so that they can easily be accessed by farmers.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency, the President went on further to give a directive regarding irrigation. It is very well known that from time to time, Zambia suffers severe droughts resulting in greatly reduced yields and large losses of livestock. The country has abundant water resources. The greatest challenge is to find ways of utilising the water resources more efficiently by promoting irrigation. Under the Fifth National Development Plan, irrigation development is top priority. Therefore, the ministry will try to mobilise resources from both Government and cooperating partners for irrigation development. The emphasis will be to target both small scale and commercial farmers focusing on:

(i) Construction and rehabilitation of earth dams and other water-retaining structures. This will also provide water for domestic use, livestock and fish farming;

(ii) construction and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes and dams; and

(iii) provision of irrigation equipment through financing arrangements.

Mr Speaker, currently, irrigation works are ongoing in Nega-Nega, Buleya Malima in Southern Province, Kanakantapa in Central province and Shimabala in Lusaka Province. Others works are also underway in some parts of Northern and North Western provinces. Within the period 2009 to 2001, the target is to bring an additional 7,100 hectares under irrigation. With improved funding, this target will easily be met.

Mr Speaker, let me now turn to the President’s concern on farm mechanisation. The ministry has embarked on designing a stallholder tractor mechanisation programme in various districts. This is intended to ensure that more land is brought under cultivation so as to assist farmers avoid laborious and manual land preparation. Already, Government has been given some tractors from some cooperating partners. We believe that this will go a long way in assisting farmers in their land preparation and thereby contribute to increased productivity.

Mr Speaker, the other important aspect which the President talked about is commercialisation of land and the issues to do with the development of farm blocks. The ministry has prioritised Nansanga Farm Block in Central Province and Luena in Luapula Province for completion so that would be investors can take up work in these two farm blocks. To this effect, the ministry will closely work with relevant institutions like the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the Ministry of Energy and Water Development to prepare the two farm blocks for occupation. Already in Nansanga, land surveys have been completed. We are almost done with the electrification of the area and a dam has already been built. We need to finish to all the works in this farm block so that it can be utilised this coming season.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, if my Ministry is availed adequate financial resources, the agricultural sector is poised for significant growth. This growth will ensure that food security is attained and income levels of the farmers will significantly improve while poverty levels will decline. A well performing agricultural sector will significantly increase its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current 16 to 18 per cent to higher levels of as much as 25 to 30 per cent per annum as well as increase the foreign exchange earnings from below 10 per cent to around 20 per cent in the next five years.

Mr Speaker, I want now to shed some light on the concerns of Hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa who talked about poverty. What causes poverty? Could the hon. Member for Bweengwa define poverty? Clearly, poverty can be defined as inability to access basic physiological needs.

Hon. Hamududu: That is what I said.

Dr Chituwo: I don not think it is okay for the hon. Member to just spend his entire time talking about the history President Barrack Obama has made at the expense of him focusing on what is going on, in his own country.

Sir, if I heard him correctly, he accused the government of running this country without any proper plans. I am sure Hon. Hamududu is aware of the Fifth National Development Plan and the Vision 2030. Therefore, I am not quite sure what he means when he says, the government does not have specific plans in place to develop this country. 
Mr Speaker, the hon. Member also mentioned a very important point, that of pure capitalism versus socialism. I admit that I did read the article he referred to. It is true that one can choose to engage twenty or 200 farmers who would produce all the maize we require in the country. However, the question is, what would one do for the remainder of 2,000,000 small-scale farmers? Would they be able to purchase or have the ability to access that food? I think the answer would be no. Therefore, in our view, it is a mixture of both. Pure capitalism would be where we have to empower the small-scale farmer, in livestock or conservation methods and assist them to upgrade to higher levels and, at the same time, ensure that the environment for a commercial farmer and the one who graduates from middle to commercial farmer is attracted to do business. In our view, that is the way to go.

Sir, I would like to believe that if each Member of Parliament produced only five metric tonnes of maize, that is, one hectare each, we would have 750 metric tonnes and set up a very good example of what agriculture can do in our various constituencies. I am sure hon. Members will take up this challenge.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Member: Money!

Mr Kambwili: Twafwa!

Laughter

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tetamashimba): Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate on the speech by His Excellency, the fourth President of this country, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Sir, the President’s Speech was thought provoking, inspiring and a lead to the meat that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning will put in his speech tomorrow Friday, 30th January, 2009.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Tetamashimba: His Excellency the President delivered a speech that has never been heard by many people in more than forty-four years.

Hon. PF Members: Eeh!

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: In referring to my ministry, on page 51 of His Excellency the President’s Speech, he stated:

“Effective local government provides access to various developmental assets such as land.”

Mr Speaker, I want to agree with His Excellency the President that what is important in this country is land, and the people deserve to have land. In Lusaka, some people have said that there is no land that the Lusaka City Council or the ministry can give to the people. However, as we were told yesterday by Deputy Minister of Lands, what seems to be on the ground is that there is enough land except that it is in the hands of a few. And these few have now started speculating by selling it in small batches. This is an issue that my ministry, together with my colleague at the Ministry of Lands, would like to look into …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: … so that there is equitable distribution of land for the poor who had no access to land twenty years ago, when it was very easy to access large tracts of land.

His Excellency the President spoke about decentralisation and I am very grateful for his support on this programme. I can assure the Members of Parliament that as he stated, I will bring legislation for the hon. Members to support a Bill on decentralisation. Do not be afraid of a few implications. It is a good thing that we need to do. This is something that is fully supported by the donors.  

Mr Speaker, I also want to thank the President for coming out on the Local Government Service Commission. Sir, many of your Members of Parliament have complained about the quality of staff in councils. Everyday, I get letters from hon. Members stating that their staff are not qualified enough to do this and that. I want to assure the hon. Members that it is the intention of your Government to bring legislation to reintroduce the Local Government Service Commission. This was once there except that in between governments, it was removed. I can assure you that this has excited many Members of Parliament. Staff in the councils must be ready to go if they have no qualifications.

Sir, I also want to say that councils throughout the country deliberated on the tenure of office for mayors and chairmen. I can assure you that after each council deliberated, and met at the annual conference of Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ), they endorsed that they needed mayors to have two and a half years tenure of office. Again, I intend to bring that piece of legislation to the House, I hope that with your support, it shall be passed into law. This is something that has come from the grassroots up to the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ). As a Government, we cannot block something that has come from the people.

Mr Speaker, the President spoke about illegal settlements which are due to the high rate urbanisation. It is a fact that many people want to live in towns for various reasons, maybe, because they think that they will have a better life in Lusaka or the Copperbelt towns than where they stay.

I have also had situations were Hon. Kapata has been trying to convince some people in her constituency to move and  resettle in Chongwe, and the Government has spent a lot of money on this project. The former Minister, Hon. Masebo, and I give her credit , found land for these people but our friends told the area Member of Parliament that they do not want to go and eat mushrooms in Chongwe.

Ms Kapata: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: That was very bad.

I want to mention, here, that in the next twenty years, Lusaka and Chongwe will be one town. Therefore, I appeal to the colleagues to agree with their Member of Parliament because she is trying to help them get empowered by them owning a piece of land. In the next twenty years, if you don’t have a piece of land in Lusaka, you will be a destitute. Every piece of land will be under title.

Mr Kambwili: Tupeniko na ifwe land!

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I want to say that the Government of President Rupiah Banda is not going to send bull dozers to demolish …

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: … these illegal settlements without consideration of upgrading them. In the past, the Minister of Local Government and Housing had to go and supervise the demolitions. We are not going to do that because that was immoral.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Tetamashimba: It is important for the Zambian people to remember the past, come election time. If somebody was just a minister for Local Government like myself, and could demolish a township without considering the poverty of the people, like Hon. Kapata is trying to do, then that person should not be given the mandate to be in State House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I am grateful that His Excellency the President is keen to look after his chiefs and I would like to say that those chiefs who did not get vehicles last year will definitely have the vehicles this year. Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Zambia Episcopal Conference, presidents of political parties, non-governmental organisations and trade unions who have stood up to congratulate His Excellency the President Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda on his good speech to Parliament. We have had situations where we have been told that this speech is hollow …

Mr Mukanga: Skeleton!

Mr Tetamashimba: … or even skeleton by some opposition political leaders.

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I agree that this speech cannot be understood by a Grade 4.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: It cannot be understood by a Grade 4, and so when you give this speech to a Grade 4, that Grade 4 will not know anything and, therefore, say it is hollow.

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I appeal to those who are above Standard 4 to go and explain the contents of this speech to their leaders.

Laughter

Hon. Member: Dr Machungwa ncito yaoneka!

Mr Tetamashimba: I also want to say that…

Mr Kambwili: Apo naba Vera balecita understand.

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I want to say that these political leaders have very qualified hon. Members in this House, but I know that if you are a Grade 4, and even where you claim to have attended school is not traceable by the hon. Minister of Education, then it is difficult to understand a document like this one.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the House that I wish to implement the Markets and Bus Stations Act by appointing boards.

Mr Kambwili: Cadres!

Mr Tetamashimba: Of course, I will be appointing them as per Act that you approved in this House. That is what I am going to do, and I will not do anything outside that Act.

Mr Speaker, when we were campaigning last year, I know that you were not interested in politicking, but in seeing that the elections take place and a new President sworn in. Mr Speaker, when we were going for these elections, we had four Presidential candidates and you saw how many people were following each of those candidates and the reason for doing that is that they all wanted power. Each group was supporting a particular Presidential candidate because they wanted to get power and, after getting that power, use it. That is what happens.

Mr Speaker, after the Zambian people voted for His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda as President of this country …

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Tetamashimba: … the man was given power which he had to distribute amongst his friends, most of whom are now here in the House and we are going to use the power that we have until 2011 and beyond.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, due to jealousy, you will notice that those who do not have this power are annoyed each time they see a minister being driven in a nice car.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: Even when they see the Vice Chairperson of the National Constitutional Conference being bought a ka small vehicle, they start complaining.

Laughter{mospagebreak}

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I can assure you that we do not intend to relinquish this power in the next few years and we are going to make sure …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: … that the good politicians, whether they are in the Opposition or with us in the ruling party, will be together with us to campaign and win like we did last time. I am sure that next time around we shall have another big fish joining us in the campaigns.

 Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I will not answer the hecklers but I can tell them that for one month, I was the agent for the current President and we created a good rapport, which will takes us up to 2011 and beyond. I can assure you that I will be hon. Minister until that time.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, the reason behind appointing these boards is that bus stations are run better under them than under the municipalities, and I will give you an example of Lusaka. The hon. Members from here through the officers they put there, we were made to believe that the Lusaka’s Inter City Terminus was collecting sometimes K8, 000 per day.

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: Yes, that is under the Patriotic Front. Mr Speaker, this time around, after putting a management board in place …

Mr Mukanga: Sylvia is better than you.

Mr Tetamashimba: … they are making about K20 million per day and, as at now, the Lusaka Inter City Terminus has more than K7 billion in their account.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: You are overcharging.

Mr Tetamashimba: So, Mr Speaker, with that in place, I can see a situation where we are going to move forward in making sure that councils, which the PF leader said would run better than the Government, are improved. Currently most of what we have seen are failures and I would like to say that Government has to move in order to ensure that these councils keep running.

Mr Speaker, you can see that we are on track. One party president said he would continue troubling the late President until he gets a disease called …

Mr Nsanda: Kaposis Sarcoma.

Mr Tetamashimba: No, no.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: He said he was going to continue fighting the President until he gets a stroke. That is what your president said. So, he is the one who killed him.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! The hon. Minister will withdraw that remark.

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, I withdraw that remark except to confirm that that is what he said.

Mr Speaker, we want to talk about reconciliation. I thank the President for talking about reconciliation. He is a President of all Zambians in this country whether you are UPND, PF, ULP or you belong to any other political party. You only have one President and we are grateful that our President has been trying, every now and then, to extend an olive branch. I am happy that president Sakwiba Sikota, president B. Y. Mwila and the president of UPND can even submit documents which we read yesterday. That is what an Opposition party should do.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: They must tell the Government where it can do better in running the country. That is what a good leader should do.

Mr Kambwili: Ma allies ayo.

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, those are leaders who should be considered after the year 2015 and beyond ...

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: … not those who are just there to bring confusion and so on. Mr Speaker, I can say that we are ready to work with people who are genuine in making sure that we run this country as a team, but for those who do not want to run this Government even when they are in the Opposition, we shall leave them behind as we proceed.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister for Gender and Women in Development (Ms Sayifwanda): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.
                                  
[THE SPEAKER in the Chair]

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was thanking you for according me the opportunity to contribute to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s speech, delivered at the official opening of the Third Session of the Tenth National Assembly. May I also take this opportunity to wish all hon. Members a successful new year.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, the President’s speech was not only inspiring, but also adequate, as it has given us the guidelines of the important issues which this august House has to focus on. Calling the speech empty by some of the hon. Members of this House has indicated their intentions to demean it without facts. It is our duty as Members of this august House to detail what the President said in his opening speech. This nation requires the concerted efforts of everyone in order to develop. The tendencies of just talking and not walking the talk will not lead us anywhere.

Mr Speaker, When we were promised an egg a day in the first Republic, to some people it meant folding hands and expecting everything to be done for them. This is where we went wrong. I am saying this year should be a year of action. In the speech, His Excellency talked about hard work and commitment. I am saying it should be a successful year simply because we have to embark on activities.

Mr Speaker, it is the role of hon. Members of this august House to go out there and sensitise our people to change their negative attitude. I sat here, listening to the hon. Members who have been debating complaining of poverty and so on. How can we get rid of poverty, if we fold our hands and wait for that egg which was promised? Our forefathers meant well by saying we were going to be getting an egg every day. They meant to fight hard, get independent and work hard for this nation, but now this generation has taken it wrongly. They want this Government to provide everything and put the money in their pockets. How can the Government put money in pockets of individuals without them sweating for it, because even in the scriptures we are told to sweat for it? Therefore, we have to work hard. Hon. Members, when we get back to our constituencies, we have to make sure that we sensitise our people. The so-called famous land being claimed by some people, is just bush. What do you expect to get out of the bush if there are no productive activities being undertaken and if our mindsets are not changed? The bush needs to be developed so that …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: … even when we are pointing to say, “This is our land,” there should be something not just trees and birds singing.

Mr Speaker, my message this evening to this august House is to urge my fellow Members of Parliament to make sure that we go and sensitise our people in our various constituencies to work hard since the President has already given us these guidelines. The Provincial Minister for North/Western Province this afternoon said that in North/Western there is plenty of land and a good rain pattern, but agriculture is poor. What should be done there is for the hon. Members from that province to team up and work together. I know this is not only happening in North/Western, but even in other provinces. Therefore, people should work hard to get the sweet that they are looking for.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, hon. Members should not come to this House and complain about hunger. As I have already said, there is a free solution and that is the blessing of natural resources in this nation. The Executive on your right hand side, Mr Speaker, and the legislatures should lead by example. Like our two leaders, the late Republican President and the current one have led by example. They both have background of having practiced farming and this is what should be done by the hon. Members of this august House.

Mr Speaker, our friends, the Chinese, after the Second World War combined efforts to develop their country. We have seen this happening and somebody has already talked about it, in the United States of America where the republicans and the democrats are co-operating in order to make decisions which are going to grow their economy.

Hon. Opposition Member: Obama.

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, I would like to remind this august House that one finger can never lift a louse as it needs the help of the other fingers to do so.  In the same vein, our nation needs all the parties who are involved to work together to develop it. We also need leaders who will put the interest of the nation at heart as opposed to their political affiliation.

Mr Speaker, allow me now to focus on some issues that should be addressed in the specific sectors with regards to gender mainstreaming.

    My hon. Deputy Minister has already talked about the mandate of my office, which is to coordinate, monitor and evaluate gender related issues.

Mr Speaker, let me also pay tribute to the late President, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, for his concern, care and love for women in this nation. He understood the importance of women in this country and that is why he created the department for Gender and Women in Development. The Bible alludes to a woman who wakes up early in the morning to start planning and this is the picture the late President had in mind when he created this department because if women are involved in planning, this country will definitely develop.

Mr Speaker, subsequently, the current President also has taken up gender mainstreaming. In his speech on page 55, he talked about appointing women to decision making positions on merit. I would like to state that I fully support the President’s stand on this matter. As Zambian women, we should work hard and ensure that we get our dues on merit. We should not just wait to be given what we deserve on a silver platter as this has resulted in Zambian women not being recognised and left behind.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to thank the Ministry of Defence for appointing the first ever female brigadier-general in this country. Wherever Madam Kazembe is, I would like her to know that I am proud of her. Well done and keep up the good work. She should work harder and become a field marshal …

Laughter

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: … and I know that it is going to happen.

Mr Speaker, Madam Kazembe did not get that position on a silver platter or just because she is a woman. She really worked and sweated for that portfolio.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: This should serve as an example to all women in Zambia. We should work hard so that we obtain success and promotion on merit. As regards to promotion, my office is going to work hand in hand with various Government ministries and the private sector to make sure that we identify and recommend deserving women for promotion. My office will start collecting curriculum vitaes (CVs) from the same qualified women for the purpose of coming up with a catalogue which is going to be helpful whenever leaders want to appoint women to decision making positions.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, the President also talked about Zambia being a signatory to various protocols on gender. By signing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development, the Government has shown its great desire to ensure that women and men participate equally in positions of decision making. I wish to urge all political parties to ensure that in the next elections, more women are nominated and supported to participate in the election.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: The idea of leaving politics to men will never help us and as a nation we shall never develop.

Mr V. Mwale: Zoona.

Ms Sayifwanda: In 2011 more women should come on board and participate in politics.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Sayifwanda: Mr Speaker, on the 17th of August, 2008, Zambia added to its list of gender related conventions and agreements to which it is a part by signing the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. I wish to note that during the process or formulation of the protocol, consultations were made with all strategic partners who included my fellow hon. Members of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, in this regard, I wish to commend my fellow hon. Members of Parliament for the guidance given to my office during the process and in the same vein, I hope to receive the same support when finalising and enacting legislation on gender based violence which my hon. Deputy Minister alluded to.

Mr Speaker, I would like to urge Zambians not have a negative attitude towards gender equality and also encourage my women folk out there to work hard. We should not wait as the time is now. Women should add their voice to making decisions in this country.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would urge all hon. Members of Parliament to support this administration by contributing effectively in their individual and collective capacities if we have to move forward as a nation.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Community Development and Social Services (Mr Kaingu): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the speech of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I would like to identify myself with what Hon. Shawa said about our late President. I also want to pay tribute to my predecessor for having left me a very good ministry and therefore, I say, thank you very much to Hon. Namugala.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, let me outline what the Ministry of Community Development and Social Service is. The ministry has five departments, namely: community development, social services, cultural affairs, human resources and general administration and planning and information. I think the hon. Members here will be interested in the first three departments, which are community development, social services and cultural affairs.

The community development department provides assistance to the vulnerable but viable people. What I mean is that there are people who are desperately looking for assistance because they are not able to sustain themselves without Government support. When we assist them through food security packs, they become self reliant.

Mr Speaker, social services are for people who are completely vulnerable. These are the disabled, aged and orphaned children.

Mr Speaker, I give credit to Hon. Namugala for her good work. Before she left office, she managed to get thirty-eight vehicles for child protection and fifty motor cycles for monitoring food security packs. As the new Minister in the Ministry, I have been given the honour of distributing them country wide. Thank you hon. Members for your contribution to debates related to my ministry and I guarantee you a motor cycle for each constituency.

Interruptions

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, my able Deputy Minister debated yesterday very well, therefore, I do not want to waste the House’s time discussing the same issues.

Hon. Member interjected

Mr Kaingu: You delinquents.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, in Lozi we have a saying which says: ‘Wamumona mawoyo kutunda anu walyambwa mwana namukuka.’ Meaning if you see him well behaved, it means he comes from a very good home. These others were born in a tavern, from spinsters.

Mr Speaker: That is unparliamentary language.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, my apology.

Mr Speaker, cultural affairs in my ministry takes care of traditional ceremonies and traditions. Sir, may I be allowed to say something on culture. Culture includes the food that people have been eating. I was surprised recently to see Hon. Mwiimbu getting annoyed when the hon. Member of Parliament for Mbala, Mr Sichilima talked about some indigenous food that people were eating in a particular constituency. For lack of time, I will lay this book on the Table about edible indigenous foods in Zambia. I have also contributed it to the Library.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Liato): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity of making my contribution to the Motion on the Floor.

Mr Speaker, the President’s speech was very inspiring and I think it has set a good tone for us as Members of Parliament to discuss issues in this House that will be helpful to our people.

Mr Speaker, the speech did attract a lot of praise from various quarters, from the Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ), the Catholic Church, business community and workers in general as well as very progressive Opposition parties.

In his speech, the President spoke about love and reconciliation, he spoke about hard work and our renewed fight against corruption. He also spoke about the freedom of the press and his belief as well as the belief of this Government which is that the media should regulate itself. As regards the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, he highlighted one significant and very important issue which is the protection of the rights of every worker. He also talked about government doing all things possible to prevent job loses. If people lose jobs, obviously the levels of poverty will rise and this will have a negative impact on our local communities. It will create pressure for the Government to increase its social support to our local communities.

Mr Speaker, it is in this regard that I, therefore, wish to fully embrace every part of the speech by His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda. I am also glad that the President directed our Ministry of Labour to ensure that tripartite consultative labour council meetings are organised properly in order to seek solutions to the current challenges that Zambia is going through. It is important to note that he has not only spoken to this House about the need for us to find urgent defined solutions to the problems that are facing us, but has also taken efforts to visit the Copperbelt and Luanshya in particular as a way of demonstrating his commitment to resolving workers’ problems. He has also directed relevant ministries, my ministry and the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to constantly go to Luanshya in order to monitor the situation at LCM and come up with ways of solving the problems being faced by the residents of Luanshya.

The effects of the global melt down are real and will affect us in several ways. I expect during this period, a reduction in foreign direct investment, a reduction in exports and possible job losses. However, I am happy that in the midst of all these difficulties, His Excellency the President is leading the country in the right direction. Together with his Government, the President is trying so hard to ensure that even if people lose jobs in a particular industry, they can find employment in another. On page 19 of his speech he said and I quote:

“Zones have been put in place in Lusaka South and Chambeshi for both export and domestic oriented industries. When completed, both facilities are expected to generate more than ten thousand jobs.”

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this House that during my recent visit to the Copperbelt, I found Chambeshi Copper Smelter (CCS) in the process of recruiting up to 1000 people. We have also Lumwana in Solwezi which has just begun production and are also in the process of turning their workers who were on contract into permanent ones. They have promised to recruit about 1000 employees. More jobs are on the way as events unfold in Kafue at the steel factory which is under construction, and when completed, an estimated 6000 jobs will be created.

Mr Speaker, social services are for people who are completely vulnerable. These are the disabled, aged and orphaned children.

Mr Speaker, I give credit to Hon. Namugala for her good work. Before she left office, she managed to get thirty-eight vehicles for child protection and fifty motor cycles for monitoring food security packs. As the new Minister in the Ministry, I have been given the honour of distributing them country wide. Thank you hon. Members for your contribution to debates related to my ministry and I guarantee you a motor cycle for each constituency.

Interruptions

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, my able Deputy Minister debated yesterday very well, therefore, I do not want to waste the House’s time discussing the same issues.

Hon. Member interjected

Mr Kaingu: You delinquents.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, in Lozi we have a saying which says: ‘Wamumona mawoyo kutunda anu walyambwa mwana namukuka.’ Meaning if you see him well behaved, it means he comes from a very good home. These others were born in a tavern, from spinsters.

Mr Speaker: That is unparliamentary language.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, my apology.

Mr Speaker, cultural affairs in my ministry takes care of traditional ceremonies and traditions. Sir, may I be allowed to say something on culture. Culture includes the food that people have been eating. I was surprised recently to see Hon. Mwiimbu getting annoyed when the hon. Member of Parliament for Mbala, Mr Sichilima talked about some indigenous food that people were eating in a particular constituency. For lack of time, I will lay this book on the Table about edible indigenous foods in Zambia. I have also contributed it to the Library.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Liato): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity of making my contribution to the Motion on the Floor.

Mr Speaker, the President’s speech was very inspiring and I think it has set a good tone for us as Members of Parliament to discuss issues in this House that will be helpful to our people.

Mr Speaker, the speech did attract a lot of praise from various quarters, from the Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ), the Catholic Church, business community and workers in general as well as very progressive Opposition parties.

In his speech, the President spoke about love and reconciliation, he spoke about hard work and our renewed fight against corruption. He also spoke about the freedom of the press and his belief as well as the belief of this Government which is that the media should regulate itself. As regards the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, he highlighted one significant and very important issue which is the protection of the rights of every worker. He also talked about government doing all things possible to prevent job loses. If people lose jobs, obviously the levels of poverty will rise and this will have a negative impact on our local communities. It will create pressure for the Government to increase its social support to our local communities.

Mr Speaker, it is in this regard that I, therefore, wish to fully embrace every part of the speech by His Excellency the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda. I am also glad that the President directed our Ministry of Labour to ensure that tripartite consultative labour council meetings are organised properly in order to seek solutions to the current challenges that Zambia is going through. It is important to note that he has not only spoken to this House about the need for us to find urgent defined solutions to the problems that are facing us, but has also taken efforts to visit the Copperbelt and Luanshya in particular as a way of demonstrating his commitment to resolving workers’ problems. He has also directed relevant ministries, my ministry and the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to constantly go to Luanshya in order to monitor the situation at LCM and come up with ways of solving the problems being faced by the residents of Luanshya.

The effects of the global melt down are real and will affect us in several ways. I expect during this period, a reduction in foreign direct investment, a reduction in exports and possible job losses. However, I am happy that in the midst of all these difficulties, His Excellency the President is leading the country in the right direction. Together with his Government, the President is trying so hard to ensure that even if people lose jobs in a particular industry, they can find employment in another. On page 19 of his speech he said and I quote:

“Zones have been put in place in Lusaka South and Chambeshi for both export and domestic oriented industries. When completed, both facilities are expected to generate more than ten thousand jobs.”

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this House that during my recent visit to the Copperbelt, I found Chambeshi Copper Smelter (CCS) in the process of recruiting up to 1000 people. We have also Lumwana in Solwezi which has just begun production and are also in the process of turning their workers who were on contract into permanent ones. They have promised to recruit about 1000 employees. More jobs are on the way as events unfold in Kafue at the steel factory which is under construction, and when completed, an estimated 6000 jobs will be created.

His Excellency the President, in recognising this fact and the potential, has indicated that there will be growth in the tourism sector. The sector is expected to create more jobs and wealth for Zambians. However, the question is how shall we do this?

As a ministry, we will ensure better management of our natural resources because they form the basis of our tourism. We shall ensure sustainable management of our natural resources so as not to violate the integrity of the environment, while at the same time, balance the need for rapid development of the country.

We shall ensure that Zambia is aggressively marketed. We shall restructure the Zambia Tourist Board (ZTB) and sell Zambia’s unique friendly preposition. In other words, we have to analyse whether the motto “Zambia the Real Africa” still sells and whether it is still relevant and valid.

Mr Speaker, I want all Zambians to come along on this drive. All the eleven million Zambians must be ambassadors and marketers of Zambia’s tourism potential.

Mr Speaker, every one of us who goes abroad should be prepared to market Zambia. We shall provide the necessary tools to enable hon. Members of Parliament market Zambia’s tourism potential through DVDs, fliers and other materials that are available whenever they travel for meetings outside the country.

The President put it very well when he said that the front line officers such as immigration and police should truly represent Zambia’s hospitality. Also, as Hon. Chibombamilimo said, taxi drivers can help in effectively marketing Zambia.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the channels of communication must be non traditional. We must move from the usual and market the potential of Zambia as a tourist destination so that we can ensure its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In terms of infrastructure development, we realise that the Government cannot provide this without the involvement of the private sector. In this regard, we are promoting Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) as a ministry.

Mr Speaker, the Government will ensure that we also provide the basic infrastructure so that the private sector can move in and build hotels and lodges as well as other facilities to ensure that visitors are comfortably accommodated.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, let me comment on an issue which is very important to the Government and the general public. This is the issue of media freedom. The President gave timely advice to the media in his speech when he called for self regulation. I wish to encourage the media to ensure that they take this advice seriously.

During the last elections, a certain political party realised that it could not win without the help of a certain newspaper and enlisted its support …

Hon. MMD Member: Post!

Ms Namugala: … and together continued to fabricate stories about how popular their candidate was, when in fact not and we beat them squarely.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Bwekeshapo!

Ms Namugala: Our candidate is now in State House.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: We can only hope that the media will take seriously this timely advice from the President.

Mr Speaker, let me congratulate all Zambians for demonstrating that we are now a mature democracy capable of managing a transition such as the one we just went through. We have demonstrated that Zambia is bigger than anyone of us.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, I wish to comment on some statements to the effect that without certain individuals on either side, there would be no progress.

Sir, such sentiments are not correct because leadership is collective and, therefore, no one individual can take credit for the success of a group.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: We are part of a process.

Mr Sichilima: Bwekeshapo!

Ms Namugala:  Mr Speaker, we know that an hon. Member of Parliament can sit on the front bench, the middle bench or the back bench. I remember when I used to sit at the back, my elder brother Hon. Machungwa and I used to call the back bench as kunakuzingwa where everybody who was taken out of the Government was thrown. We accepted that as part of leadership and part of the process of governance. Therefore, for those who find themselves at the back when they expect to be in front, let them not despair. It is part of the game.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: After all, when anyone of us is moved or indeed departs, there is no eclipse of the sun. The process continues.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala:  Mr Speaker, the point I want to make is that the country and sometimes our political parties are much more important than anyone of us.

Hon. MMD Member: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala: However, members of any process, be it a Government or a party have the right to move on if they disagree with the others. It is also more honourable to leave before one is asked to.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President needs the support of this House in order for him to provide the necessary leadership and development that our people so desperately need.

I thank you, Sir.

The Vice-President (Mr Kunda, SC): Mr Speaker, a lot of points have been covered by the hon. Ministers in their respective portfolios. However, I also wish to add my voice to the inspiring, visionary and unifying speech delivered by our President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that when the leader of Government Business and members of the Executive reply to those who threw missiles from the right side, they are all not in the House. This includes Dr Guy Scott, Hon. Chishimba and several other MPs.

Sir, Parliamentary practice and procedure requires that when you make allegations, you should be present when the Government replies to them. However, it is unfortunate that these Hon. Members have chosen not to be present.

Mr Speaker, the debate that came from the back bench clearly indicates that some of our colleagues have either not understood the speech or are deliberately distorting it to gain some political mileage.

Mr Speaker, the President and the only President of this country means well. He clearly understands the problems this country faces and is passionate about finding solutions.

Let me mention a few basic facts which those who do not mean well are glossing over and deliberately missing in their interpretation.

Mr Speaker, when we were campaigning during the 2008 presidential bye-elections, we campaigned on the ticket of continuity. This was our message throughout the country. Those who voted for our dear President voted for continuity. They were worried about changing the captain in the middle of a voyage. In this case, the MMD was the captain and removing it would have been unwise and perhaps even dangerous, hence their decision to vote for the MMD. 

    As the election result confirmed, many Zambians were content with our President, who was a sitting vice-president, at that time, and had served for two years in this position. That is why they voted for him.

We made it clear that the President would follow the same policies that we had been following which were contained in the Fifth National Development Plan, Vision 2030 and various other sector policy documents prepared by various ministries and Government departments.

Mr Speaker, this is very relevant to this speech which we are discussing. Further, the President had to assure foreign and even Zambian investors that the MMD Government is keen on following the same economic policies which afford protection to their investments. Hon. Members of Parliament will recall that during the illness of our late President, may his soul rest in peace, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, and the campaign period, we experienced turbulence and fluctuations in the value of the kwacha because of uncertainty in the future of the country and its policies. In particular, it was fears that certain erratic politicians would take over the running of the country and change policies overnight, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: … introduce bad governance, chase investors and disrupt the lives of Zambians, in general.

Sir, the other point that I must mention is that, and it is evident in the continuity aspect which our President wants to achieve in his speech, many of the Cabinet Ministers who served under the late President and were privy to the various policy formulation are better placed to implement the MMD Policies. The hon. Ministers I am talking about are still in Government. This is the same Government which served under the late President and brought glory to this country in terms of economic development and good governance.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: The formidable team will ensure that there is continuity in governance. With these basic factors, it would have been suicidal and disruptive for MMD to chart an entirely new course which could have in turn brought confusion and eroded investor confidence. A lot of foreign investors and Zambians have confidence in this Government, the economy and that is why they have invested massively in the country.

The President’s speech was a wonderful speech because it is about continuity. He was assuring the people of Zambia, cooperating partners and investors that the Government will continue with the implementation of its good economic policies, good governance programmes such as the fight against corruption and various cross cutting programmes. The President emphasised the need for Zambians to work together, to unit, support each other and stand as one nation.

Mr Speaker, is there anything hollow in saying that we should unit and work together? Is there anything hollow in saying that we should continue to fight poverty? This is what the President was talking about. Hon. Members of Parliament have to be constructive in their debates. They should play the role of constructively suggesting alternatives to the Government.

Sir, although hon. Machungwa is not in this House, let me mention that I was impressed with his contribution. He was constructive, without emotion and his contribution was well researched.
 Mr Speaker, we must not forget that the world is currently going through an unprecedented world economic crises which the President comprehensively covered in his speech and suggested ways and means of tackling it. Hon. Machungwa, in an excellent manner, analysed the serious implications of this crisis and explained how it is being tackled in developed such as United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan and China. He did allude to the fact that developed countries have experienced massive job loses and the collapse of some industries.

Mr Speaker, I am aware that the interventions and stimulus packages being devised in these developed countries do not seem to be working and the crisis continues to unfold. Zambia cannot be an exception. We are affected and we will continue to be affected by these negative forces.

Mr V. Mwale: Zoona!

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, we need alternatives from hon. Members of Parliament instead of wholesome condemnation. I know that hon. Members of Parliament, especially from the Opposition have been advised by their presidents to read widely. As Leader of Government Business in the House, I would echo this timely advice. If we read widely, we shall avoid in indulging in debates which are unhelpful.

Mr Speaker, the President made some clear assurances which include the following:

1) that we shall continue to pursue prudent fiscal and monitory policies. This is an assurance of continuity; and

2) that the programmes of the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) namely poverty reduction and wealth creation would be safeguarded and enhanced through better monitoring and constant evaluation.

Mr Speaker, the President also talked about the diversification of the economy and also developing the economy through the CEEC, Development of Multi-facility Economic Zones (DMEZ), Infrastructure Development, Development of Tourist Resorts (IDTR)and many more.

Mr Speaker, I have read one of the documents which will be distributed to all the hon. Members prepared by the EAZ. This document has been made available to all of us. It is discusses policy implications for Zambia as a result of the global economic crisis. I must commend Parliament for making this particular document available to us. This document was prepared by some of our cream, in terms of economics, some of the most qualified Zambians who have looked at this particular problem. What they are saying is that the measures which you are suggesting to deal with the economic crisis are already part of existing plans and programmes. They are saying that we already have these plans which should be implemented in order for us to attend to this particular problem. Many of the measures which they are suggesting, including strategies are not different from what is in the President’s speech. We are on the right course and will surmount the various challenges which we are facing.

Mr Speaker, the President also talked about the fight against corruption. Indeed, we should fight corruption. However, as we fight corruption, we shall remain committed to the rule of law. In this regard, Government shall allow the courts to operate independently. We shall not interfere in the administration of justice because all accused persons are entitled to fair trial.
Mr Speaker, accused persons, whether of corruption or any other crime are entitled to justice, dignity and respect. They are entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The function of trying accused persons and reaching conclusions of guilt or innocence shall be left to the courts. In particular, accused persons should not be tried by the press or civil society organisations.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, an unfortunate tendency has developed in this country whereby accused persons are tried in the press and by non-governmental organisations, in an attempt to exert undue pressure on the courts to convict or acquit certain accused persons. To the courts and the general public, our message is that they should safe guard jealously their independence. They should be seen to be independent and impartial. In this way, peoples’ confidence in the courts will be enhanced.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, the President also talked about the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), which is now in top gear. The NCC process is irreversible. Those who are trying to disrupt the conference are wasting their time.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: They will not succeed.

Hon. Government Members: No!

Mr Kunda:  We shall deliver a new Constitution to the people of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, at this stage, I would like to respond to what some of the hon. Members were saying. Even though they are not in the House, I will still talk about some of their contributions, for the record.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Dr Guy Scott in his debate submitted, in a very sarcastic manner, that this was a salaula speech because all the ministries had contributed to the speech. This kind of debate portrays lack of seriousness on his part. I am sure President Banda’s speech was prepared the same way as it was done when Hon. Dr Scott was Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives under former President Chiluba. Each ministry had to contribute to the presidential speech. As I submitted earlier, this speech is about continuity. Therefore, ministries, as implementers of policies played a role in its preparation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: In essence, Hon. Dr Guy Scott’s debate was full of sarcasm rather than substance.

Hon. Government Members: Shame!

Mr Kunda: Hon. Request Muntanga, who is also not here …

Hon. MMD Member: The big brother.

Mr Kunda: … was constructive in his debate. He brought out concerns which are of interest to all hon. Members of Parliament. He among other important things talked about the need to review the FSP.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: This is the kind of debate required in this august House. We shall continue to review the FSP and the issue of agricultural and food subsidies.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Davies Mwila, who comes from a rural constituency, as usual spent most of his time talking about conditions of service and terminal benefits for a variety of employees including public service workers.

Laughter

Mr Kunda: He talked about the retrenchment of workers at Luanshya Copper Mine. One striking thing about Hon. Mwila is that he rarely talks about his constituency.

Laughter

Mr Kunda: My advice to the hon. Member is that he should talk about his constituency often. As regards the payment of terminal benefits to people, whom he alleges sleep at Kamwala, my submission is that this Government has reduced the pension arrears significantly.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: Every year, we have allocated substantial sums of money towards reducing these arrears.

Mr V Mwale: Nizo ona.

Mr Kunda: We are a caring Government.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Sejani, who is also not in the House, passionately debated about government neglecting rural voters. That was constructive. His well researched debate, though emotional has been noted.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: His debate was well researched. He talked about grass-thatched schools and lack of desks. This is constructive and it is noted.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Nsanda who is also not in the House submitted that incentives are only available to foreign investors and not indigenous Zambians. He also said indigenous Zambians are discriminated against. This is far from the truth. Zambians are entitled to apply for empowerment funds under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act. Further, the Zamia Development Agency Act provides for incentives to investors whether they are Zambians or foreigners. Further, there are several statutes which provide for favourable treatment of Zambians and actual empowerment such as the Land act and the Mines, Minerals Act among others.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Dr Chishimba who is also not in the House…

Hon. Government Member: Chameleon!

 Mr Kunda:…entertained us to some radical views which he has started expulsing after his transformation…

Laughter

Mr Kunda:…and reconciliation with some politicians. He has turned around 180 degrees.

Laughter

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, we will not take his debates seriously any more because there is no guarantee that he will not change them tomorrow.

Laughter

Mr Kunda: We can only wish him good luck in his reconciliation and must remind him that the record of all his pronouncements is kept.

Laughter

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, other hon. Members, for example,  Hon. Hachipuka and Hon. Matongo also made constructive contributions to the debate.

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kunda: They are saluted. As usual, some of our hon. Members have continued with their malicious disposition.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I must say that His Excellency, the President’s Speech is a summary of broader policy objectives. It would have been inappropriate for him to present the entire Fifth National Development Plan, Vision 2030 and the 2009 Budget to prove his commitment to continuity. That is not the way things are done. His summarised speech will be given some more meat as others have observed in the 2009 Budget.

Sir, the President’s Speech contained a lot of new things and proposals to address new situations such as the global economic crisis. Indeed, the President has a clear vision on what his Government intends to achieve. We shall continue to move with caution and to review and make changes whenever necessary.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Boma! Boma!

Mr V. Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for giving time for many divergent views during the debate. It is not my intention to reopen the debate. Therefore, I would to thank to all hon. Members that contributed to this Motion.

Sir, hon. Members debated this Motion with a lot of passion. In the spirit of democracy, many hon. Members raised so many issues.

Sir, like I said, I do not want to reopen the debate. I would therefore, like to thank all those that debated and supported the Motion.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

Mr Speaker: Order!

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed.

________

The House adjourned at 1940 hours until 1415 hours, 30th January, 2009