DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Friday, 2nd October, 2009

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Minister of Defence (Dr Mwansa): Mr Speaker, I rise to acquaint the House with some idea of the business it will consider next week.

Sir, on Tuesday, 6th October, 2009 the Business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency, the President’s Address.

On Wednesday, 7th October, 2009, the Business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. After that, the House will continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency, the President’s Address.

Sir, on Thursday, 8th October, 2009, the Business of the House will commence with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then conclude the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency, the President’s Address. On this day, I intend to move a Motion to suspend Standing Orders No. 19 and 20, to enable the House meet at 1415 hours on Friday, 9th October, 2009, to allow the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to deliver his Budget Address for 2010.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

STATUS OF MAAMBA COAL MINE OPERATIONS

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to address the House on the status of Maamba Coal Mine operations following a point of order raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Sinazongwe, Hon. Raphael Muyanda, on Tuesday 29th September, 2009 over the withdrawal of labour at Maamba Mine. I would also like to take advantage of this opportunity to correct the wrong impression created by the hon. Member of Parliament for Sinazongwe that US $5 million meant for resuscitation of operations at Maamba Mine had disappeared as reported in The Sunday Post newspaper of 27th September, 2009.

Sir, in order for me to logically inform the House, I wish to give a brief background of Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL). This company has been in existence as a mining entity for over forty years. Before the take-over by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) Plc, the mine had produced approximately 15.2 million tonnes of Run of Mine (ROM) coal.

Mr Speaker, from inception, in 1969, up to 1991, MCL operated a profitable mine venture. However, from 1991 to date the mine has faced enormous financial and operational problems that have significantly affected its profitability and its going concern status. Since 1991, the mining operations have been on and off and with insignificant production output and high cost structure. This prompted the Government to sale 100 per cent shares to ZCCM-IH Plc in 2007 with a view to resuscitating the operations at Maamba.

Mr Speaker, it must be noted that the major consumers of Maamba coal had been traditionally the copper smelters on the Copperbelt and Chilanga Cement Company now Lafarge Cement Zambia Plc. You will note that the start of problems at Maamba coincided with the operational difficulties of the Zambia copper mining industry in the period prior to privatisation. It was during this period that ZCCM was operating unprofitably owing to the low copper prices on the international market, high production costs, liquidity problems requiring frequent bail-out from the Government, lack of recapitalisation and subsequent fall in our copper production.

Sir, Maamba Mine was not producing significant coal to cover its operating cost, including the payment of staff salaries prior to the Government’s decision to sale the mine to ZCCM-IH Plc in order for it to recapitalise the mine and make it a profitable mining venture once again. To resume sustainable and profitable mining operations at Maamba, ZCCM-IH Plc and MCL management considered two options:

(a) procuring new mining equipment to replace the old and obsolete equipment in order to facilitate improved mining operations by MCL; or

(b) engaging a contract miner who would bring in all the required mining equipment as an interim measure before finding an equity strategic partner to develop the mine

Mr Speaker, the preferred option by management was to engage a mining contractor. In the initial bid for contract mining, Keren Mining Limited was picked as the mining contractor. However, because Keren Mining Limited failed to mobilise the required mining equipment and commence the operations as per contractual agreement, the contract was terminated in December, 2008. Replacing Keren Mining Limited, Scirocco Enterprises Limited was selected among the other three bidders. Scirocco Enterprises Limited started mining operations in January, 2009. In the period during which ZCCM-IH Plc was sourcing for a contract miner, a loan of US $5.3 million was provided by ZCCM-IH Plc to Maamba Mine management to facilitate the resumption of operations. The Maamba Mine Board of Directors in March, 2008 approved the operation business plan that required the refinancing of mining operations at US $7,336,254. However, ZCCM-IH Plc was only able to secure US$5.3 million which was utilised towards the stated objective.

Mr Speaker, the loan provided by ZCCM-IH Plc to Maamba mine management was utilised as follows:

Use Amount (US$)

Mobilisation fee to contractor   500,000

Fuels for operations     71,883

Salaries and wages from August, 2008 to April, 2009 1,872,000

Coal washing plant repairs and maintenance    583,547

Ropeway repairs    148,974

Weighbridge procurement      72,067

Pit electrification      26,138

Protective clothing      66,331

Vehicles for operations    627,247

Laboratory equipment     66,220

Electricity from August, 2008 to April, 2009   274,929

Operating expenses from August, 2008 to April, 2009   663,016

Total 5,300,000

Coal production started in the last week of April, 2009 and continued uninterrupted for three months leading to Run of Mine coal production total of 88,955 metric tonnes coal. During this period, overburden removal continued which included excavation of soft overburden, hard overburden and re-handling of previous operation in-pit dumped material.

Maamba coal mine has currently, on site, 40,000 tonnes of washed coal equivalent, in value, to K16 billion ready for marketing and 8,000 tonnes raw coal equivalent, in value, to K2 billion at the washing plant stock pile.

Mr Speaker, from the foregoing, it is clear that US $5.3 million was used to recommence coal mine operations at Maamba, as opposed to the allegations made by the hon. Member for Sinazongwe. You may wish to know that the hon. Member for Sinazongwe was fully briefed on the US $5.3 million expenditure before he even raised that allegation in the House.

Mr Speaker, currently, Maamba Collieries Limited has 446 permanent employees and 105 on contract. This constitutes 551 employees directly engaged with coal mine operations which is termed as core business. The other seventy-five permanent employees and forty-five on contract constitute 120 employees engaged in the running of the private school, Izuma Lodge, training centre and township services.

Prior to 2009, Maamba Collieries Limited has relied on borrowed funds from the ZCCM-IH for staff salaries. It was envisaged that with the resumption of operations, Maamba Mine would manage to meet its own obligations. In this initial production phase, Maamba Collieries Limited has experienced difficulties in marketing the coal produced from its operations in time, giving rise to severe financial constraints leading to Maamba Collieries Limited’s failure to meet staff salaries and payment to the contract miner. Maamba Collieries Limited lost its traditional local market due to its unreliable coal production which led its customers to source for coal from outside coal producers.

Mr Speaker, it should be noted that Maamba Collieries Limited has stepped up its efforts to market its coal to raise revenue in order to quickly resolve the issue of salary arrears as well as normalise operations. To this effect, management has signed coal sales contracts with Lafarge for 10,000 metric tonnes worth K10 billion for delivery up to December, 2009 and Zambezi Portland Cement for 4,000 metric tonnes per month worth K1.2 billion every month among other orders. Maamba Management has also clinched orders from the Democratic Republic of Congo of about 4,000 metric tonnes worth K1.2 billion and Malawi for 3,000 metric tonnes worth K900 million. Apart from marketing the coal which is on site, Maamba Collieries Limited is actively looking for other forms of finance in the interim and is committed to paying the salary arrears as soon as possible.

Mr Speaker, it should be pointed out that during the period June to September, 2009, Maamba Coal Mine has, at least, managed, from its constrained cash flow, to pay salary advances to its employees. The advances that have been paid were applied uniformly to all employees including senior managers. The House may wish to know on 25th September, 2009, the employees were paid at a rate of 70 per cent of their September salaries. Unfortunately, employees decided to withdraw labour on 29th September, 2009.

Mr Speaker, currently, the Maamba Collieries Management is negotiating with the employees to resume work as management and the union are working at addressing the issue of paying the salary arrears.

Mr Speaker, as alluded to earlier, the major consumers of coal were the smelters on the Copperbelt. However, with the change in smelting technologies, the smelters on the Copperbelt are not consuming huge quantities of coal as before. For example, the Nkana Smelter which used to consume huge quantities of coal for its smelting operations is on care and maintenance, having been replaced by a more modern plant at Nchanga which does not use coal. Therefore, ZCCM-IH plc has been vigorously looking for a strategic equity partner for the development of Maamba Mine and a thermal power plant at Maamba to create a ready market for Maamba Coal. The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Negotiating Team, in line with the ZDA Act, is carrying out negotiations with the preferred bidders to partner with ZCCM-IH plc in the development of Maamba Mine and thermal power plant. The negotiations have reached an advanced stage and, once concluded, will be submitted to the Committee of Ministers prior to presentation to Cabinet and before any announcement of the results of these negotiations can be made public.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement which has been made by the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development.

Mr Muyanda (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to know why the Government has failed to privatise Maamba Collieries from 1991 when other mines were privatised and when will you  precisely pay the workers of Maamba Collieries the arrears that they have accumulated arising from the inefficiency of the prevailing management?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I am a bit surprised that the hon. Member for Sinazongwe does not seem to have followed my statement which is very clear on the matter. It is not due to the inefficiency of Maamba Mine Management, but that we lost the local market which is our traditional market for coal. As outlined in my statement, Maamba Collieries has made headways in finding a market for the coal. In the interim, as clearly put in my statement, management contacted a contract miner who could mine the coal and keep our people in employment rather than out of employment.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, US $5 million is a lot of money. As we are talking now, workers have not been paid for four months and as for the coal on the ground, one of the customers, the largest customers, has refused to get it because it is poor grade and the contractor who was on site, as of yesterday, has pulled his equipment out of Maamba Collieries. Would the hon. Minister tell me what the way forward is in the short term because we are sitting on a time bomb?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I would like to state that it is statements like that, coming from the hon. Member for Nchanga, which cause problems in our country. There is no time bomb and if you followed the statement which has been issued in this House, I stated that management of Maamba Collieries is doing everything possible to source funds.

I have clearly stated in my statement that management is doing everything to ensure that the employees are paid their salary arrears. May I restate that the employees were being paid salary advances and, as of September, 2009, they were paid 70 per cent of their salaries, which is not the same as not being paid anything.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has failed to run Maamba Collieries Limited and that is the reason it wants to bring in a new investor. From 2000…

Mr Speaker: Order! Can you ask your question, please?

You may continue.

Mr D. Mwila: It is now nine years down the line and the ZCCM-IH has failed to find a new investor.

Mr Speaker: Order! What is your question?

You may continue.

Mr D. Mwila: Will the hon. Minister inform the House the time frame within which a new investor will be found because we have been waiting and employees are suffering?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, first of all, allow me to correct the wrong impression created by the hon. Member for Chipili. The ZCCM-IH was not given the mandate to operate the mine, but to find an equity partner. To this effect, I would like to put it on record that it has made a lot of progress in finding an equity partner. At the moment, I would like to say that the Zambia Development Agency, as I have indicated in my statement, is negotiating with the possible equity partner to resume the operations of Maamba Collieries Limited. May I also correct the hon. Member that ZCCM-IH only took over the operations in 2007 and not 2000 as he put it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister, in his statement, stated that the ministry has spent about US $500,000 on the rehabilitation of the screening plant. I am aware that the two companies that undertook the job, Poweflex and AB Award (1973) Limited, which belongs to Hon. Mutati, have not been paid. Where has the US $500,000 gone to?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, according to the information we have at the ministry, the contractors were paid. An amount of US $583,547 for the coal washing plant repairs and maintenance was paid out.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, arising from the ministerial statement made by the hon. Minister pertaining to the negotiations over the ownership of Maamba Collieries Limited, why did the Government decide to terminate the negotiations with the previous preferred bidder whom it considered not to be politically correct, but had the resources?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has not stated who that preferred bidder was and so I am unable to comment on it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kakoma (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that the Government wanted a contract miner who could mobilise resources, including equipment. In his statement, it appears that the ZCCM-IH has provided the resources. May I know what the contract miner provided to Maamba Collieries Limited in terms of finances and equipment.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, my statement was very clear. The contract miner had supplied the equipment. I read out the list of where the other expenditure was utilised. The equipment which was on site was for the contract miner.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Zulu (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, Maamba Collieries is only selling six tonnes against 30 tonnes per month to break even because they owe different companies over K60 billion. How is the Government going to pay this K60 billion so that Maamba Collieries Limited can start operating profitably?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, one of the considerations of finding an equity partner is that out of the proceeds, we will be able to liquidate the liabilities and even keep some change which will go to the treasury.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Mr Speaker, the Zimbabweans, for instance, would never allow a situation in which their own productive capacity is unutilised because importers were bringing products from outside. How do we, in Zambia, allow free trade to undermine and destroy our productive capacity and create unemployment?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I am not surprised to hear that comment from the hon. Member because in this modern age, considering that he belongs to that age…

Hon. Opposition Members: Ah!

Mr M. B. Mwale: … there is what we call switch-off areas. May I put it very clearly, now, that there is what we call creative destruction. If you would like to belong to the age where we used to protect our own industries, we will not go anywhere. As it is now, even Russia and China, which believed in a communist economy, have moved away from that.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, looking at the Maamba Collieries Limited financial statement, it is easy for the company to return to profitability and productivity. Would the hon. Minister confirm that there is no political will whatsoever by the MMD Government and that is why we have this problem?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Kantanshi for his follow-up question. I would like to confirm that the mandate of the MMD Government is to look after the welfare of the people and create jobs. In this regard…

Interruptions

Mr M. B. Mwale: … we have demonstrated that ability…

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr M. B. Mwale: … and even the hon. Members that are saying ‘question’, realise that Luanshya Copper Mines Limited is operating just as Mufulira and Nkana mines have not been closed.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Msichili (Kabushi): Mr Speaker, there is so much deforestation in this country. Has the Government any intention to ensure that we start using coal as a domestic fuel?

Hon. Government Members interjected.

Mr Speaker: Order!

You are Members of the Executive. How can you interrupt a statement of this magnitude like that?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the House that there was even an attempt during the First Republic to start making coal bricks from Maamba Washing Plant so that our people could use them to build their homes. However, I will take it up to see how far we can go. However, the programme has been on going and it has received very poor response from the public.

Thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, does the hon. Minister not think that the situation at Maamba merits the setting up of a commission to further investigate the operations so that a lasting solution is found before the mine sinks?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I have stated that the Government has engaged the ZDA which is negotiating with an equity partner and when that is finalised, we will see to it that Maamba Mine gets back to life. Additionally, the equity partner will have to set up a thermal power plant which will be a ready market for the coal produced at Maamba.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Mwape (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, I am made to understand that there will be no direct or indirect protection given to the industries in Zambia. Direct protectionism is where an industry is protected against competition while indirect protectionism is given in form of subsidies where an industry cannot be protected, but needs to be exposed to competition. Is the hon. Minister saying that this Government will not give any form of protection to its local industries, direct or indirect? Going by his answers, is it the Government’s policy that there will be no protection for local industries in any form because China and other countries are not protecting their industries? Is he telling this House and the nation at large that our industries in Zambia will not be protected at all because it is the in thing?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I would like to state that the trend in the world is for common markets and free trade areas. Zambia is part of the Global Village. We cannot live in isolation. The desire of this Government is to see that it promotes efficiency and productivity in these industries as opposed to reliance on the Government.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, if the world is moving towards a free market system, why is it that the European markets are giving quotas to developing countries like those in Africa to enter their markets if their trade is free?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member should be fully aware that there are regional groupings. If you do not belong to the European Union (EU), you will be given a quota. This is why we are talking about the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and anybody who would want to export into COMESA will be given a quota. Those who belong to the grouping will trade freely. That is the policy of free trade areas as opposed to trading anyhow.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Magande (Chilanga): Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm that the ZCCM-IH is a shareholder in Maamba and in most of the mining operations on the Copperbelt? Any shareholder would like to make sure that all his operations are profitable by influencing decisions, for example, of the mine companies on where to buy the coal instead of letting them bring expensive coal in the country and leave the coal at Maamba.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I would like to confirm that the ZCCM-IH is a shareholder in Maamba Collieries and also in the mines. However, if the hon. Member for Chilanga was following my statement, I stated that the new smelting technologies on the Copperbelt do not require the usage of coal. I have alluded to the issue of the closed Nkana Smelter which was a big market for Maamba coal. This is why there has been a reduction in the consumption of coal in our mines.

I thank you, Mr Speaker,

Mr Mushili (Ndola Central): Mr Speaker, with the diminishing of the market size in Zambia, is coal mining still viable for the Government and management of Maamba to continue funding?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, this is why, instead of being a domestic company, you have to think of becoming a multi-national company. I have alluded to Maamba Mine finding international markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi. Not only that, we have power shortages in the country. Therefore, the issue of setting up a thermal power plant at Maamba is more than welcome.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has made it clear that there are a number of orders that are outstanding which can be fulfilled by the company to return to profitability. What is the hon. Minister, together with the management, doing to get the workers to understand that they should produce to meet those orders and return the company to profitability?

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, it is that kind of thinking that is required in our politics so that we, as a country, can move ahead.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. B. Mwale: I would like to appeal, particularly, to the hon. Member of Parliament for Sinazongwe that he has to impress upon the employees to return to work rather than portraying an image that these employees were not being paid anything when, in actual fact, they were being paid something across the board. Last month, they were paid 70 per cent of their salaries as opposed to the impression created in this House that the employees were not paid anything.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Muyanda: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: You cannot raise a point of order because you raised a point of order in the first place. That is why we have the minister’s statement. How can you raise another point of order on your own previous point of order?

Laughter

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister indicated that they are seeking strategic partners to help with the resuscitation of Maamba Collieries. I am aware that in line with the citizenship economic empowerment and affirmative action, a consortium of indigenous Zambians calling itself “Maamba Katuya” put in a bid to buy shares in Maamba Collieries. Can the hon. Minister indicate what was fundamentally wrong with this bid?

Mr M. B. Mwale:  Mr Speaker, I would like to state that the Government re-advertised for bidders and Maamba Katuya was not amongst those that bade.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr L. J. Mulenga (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, it is clear that the net worth of the company is in the negative. Assuming an equity partner is found, I would like to find out what level of investment would be required and what level of productivity should be achieved in order to turn the company around to profitability. I would also like to know how long it would take to achieve this.

Mr M. B. Mwale: Mr Speaker, the bid price of the company that ZCCM-IH is negotiating with will liquidate all the liabilities and, as I stated, we will even have some change for the Government Treasury.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: I am waiting. Any further supplementary question?

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Boma!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: None!

Laughter

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

TARRING OF CHIPATA/LUNDAZI ROAD

86. Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. (Chasefu) asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a) when the tarring of the Chipata/Lundazi Road would be completed;

(b) how many kilometres would be tarred on completion of the road;

(c) what the estimated date of completion of tarring the entire road up to Lundazi Boma was; and

(d) which contractor would complete the works on the road.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Ndalamei): Mr Speaker, the rehabilitation of the 180-kilometre Chipata/Lundazi Road is being implemented in phases. The first phase covers the rehabilitation of the 100 kilometres of the project road from Chipata. The rehabilitation of the first 100 kilometres of the project road has been awarded to Messrs Raubex Construction Limited at a cost of K79,680,838,118.00. The revised intended completion date for the contract is 31st October, 2009.

Mr Speaker, 180 kilometres will be tarred on completion of the road.

Sir, the date for completion of the rehabilitation of the entire 180 kilometre road between Chipata and Lundazi will be determined when the works for the remaining eighty kilometres are awarded to a road contractor. It is the intention of the ministry to include the rehabilitation of the last eighty kilometres of the project road in the 2010 Annual Work Plan.

Mr Speaker, as indicated above, the works for the first 100 kilometres of the project road are being carried out by Messrs Raubex Construction Limited. The works for the last eighty kilometres of the project road will be procured in 2010 subject to availability of funds.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: With the evident erratic funding from the treasury to the contractor, can the hon. Minister confirm that come 31st October, 2009, tarring of the 100 kilometres from Chipata to Champoyo will be completed?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, from the information we have and the funding which we have been given by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, we are assured that the contractor will finish the 100 kilometres.

I thank you, Sir.

 Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Deputy Minister why it has taken this Government thirty-two years to complete this road. Is there any seriousness in handling projects if it can take them thirty-two years to work on a 180-kilometre road?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, it has not taken us thirty-two years to work on that road. Works on that road only started last year and we will complete a 100-kilometre stretch this year. This is one of the priority roads for 2010 and we should be completing the remaining eighty kilometres by the end of next year.

I thank you, Sir.

WOMEN BENEFICIARIES OF THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME FROM 2008 TO 2009

87. Mr Mooya (Moomba) (on behalf of Ms Limata (Luampa) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry how many women benefited from the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Programme in the rural areas countrywide in 2008 and 2009.

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, from September, 2008 to 31st August, 2009, the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has, in total, approved 215 projects. Forty-six of the 215 approved projects valued at K9.6 billion are promoted by women nationwide. Out of forty-six approved women projects, twenty-three of these projects are in the rural areas. Mr Speaker, I shall lay the details of this document on the Table.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutati laid the paper on the Table.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, does the hon. Minister intend to make the form user friendly in order to enable most women access these funds because, currently, they have been accessing it using professional assistance which they have been paying for?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, we have continued to receive representation about the form and will continue to improve it so that it can be as user friendly as possible. Currently, the form has three sections. The first section asks for business details and the name. The second section asks for information regarding the nature of business that you want to undertake and the third section requests for financial information. Therefore, there are now only three sections to be completed.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kapata (Mandevu): Mr Speaker, forty-six out of 215 is not good enough. Is there a possibility of revising the application form to meet the 50 per cent quota for both gender?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, indeed, we are encouraging both gender to apply as much as possible. We have, also, found out that in the other category which is not specific to gender, a number of applicants, who are husband and wife, are undertaking businesses together. Truly, the number could be greater than forty-six when you consider this category.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Mwamba (Lukashya): Mr Speaker, I would like to find from the hon. Minister what the major constraints have been regarding rural women accessing these funds.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, one of the challenges that we have, obviously, is the processing time which, at the moment, is at the provincial headquarters. Secondly, it is the quality of proposals that are being submitted. Thirdly, it is about the issue of collateral. These are the challenges that are being faced.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, amongst the women who have applied to access these funds from CEEC, were there spouses for hon. Ministers?

Hon. Opposition Members: Tell them!

Mr Ntundu:  I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether money was given to their ‘sposes’.

Hon. Opposition Members: It is not ‘sposes’. It is spouses.

Mr Ntundu: Whatever you call it.

Laughter

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the basic objective of the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Fund is to provide funds for a business idea, regardless of where that business idea is emanating from.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Msichili (Kabushi): Mr Speaker, there are more women in the informal sector who are doing business than ever before. Therefore, does the Government have any plans to ensure that more information is disseminated to these people to make it easier for them to access these funds?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, what we have learnt across the various sectors is that the majority of the people who are accessing funds, be it from CEEC or the banking sector, are, indeed, women. The reason this is so is that they have reasonable access to information.

I thank you, Sir.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE MBESUMA BRIDGE

88. Mr C. Mulenga (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a) when the construction of Mbesuma Bridge across the Chambeshi River in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency would commence;

(b) what the estimated cost of constructing the bridge was; and

(c) who the contractors were.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the construction of the Mbesuma Bridge has been awarded to a contractor, but the contract has not yet been signed due to the inadequate provision in the 2009 Annual Work Plan for the construction of the bridge. The works will start when sufficient funds are secured.

Sir, the estimated cost for constructing the bridge is about K50 billion. The recommended contractor is Sable Transport.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, does the hon. Minister fully understand the economic value of this bridge and, if he does, why is the Government taking so long to construct this bridge?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, we fully understand the economic value of the bridge. In this regard, we have already secured a contractor and are just waiting for funding for us to start the construction of the bridge.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba (Isoka West): Mr Speaker, what has the Government done about the contractor who was paid K4.7 billion without doing any works on the Mbesuma Bridge?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the contractor failed to complete the work because there was no funding from the Government.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, is the Government going to retrieve the money which was paid to the contractor?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the amount which was paid is for the initial works which the contractor did.

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, you have always advised and it is in our Standing Orders that we should be very factual when making presentations to this House. This hon. Minister who is answering these questions is aware that …

Mr Speaker: Order! What is your question?

Mr Hachipuka: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that K4.7 billion was actually paid and nothing was done. Can this hon. Minister refute that K4.7 billion was paid? I want his response to be recorded.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, we are not denying that K4.7 billion was paid. We are saying that it was paid for the construction of staff houses and a consultant valued the stones and sand which were on the site.

Interruptions

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the consultant was reported to National Construction Council for certifying things which were not there. Therefore, this issue is still being considered to see how we can recover the money that was paid.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, quite clearly, the hon. Minister is giving us two different answers. Could he kindly be categorical on what it is that the contractor did using the K4.7 billion of tax payers’ money and can he explain how houses come into the issue of construction of a bridge?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Education (Ms Siliya) on behalf of The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Mulongoti): Mr Speaker, this transaction took place about seven years ago and I wish to suggest that we come back to the House with a proper answer to that question.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES IN NANGOMA CONSTITUENCY

89. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Works and Supply whether there were any plans to construct bridges between:

(a) Kasalu and Nachibila School in Nangoma Parliamentary Constituency; and

(b) Nachibila and Myooye in Nangoma Parliamentary Constituency.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr ‘Spuka’, …

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, Mumbwa District Council, the appointed local road authority for feeder roads in the district …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order! I am listening.

Mr Ndalamei: … has prioritised the full rehabilitation of the Kasalu-Nachibila-Myooye Road for inclusion in the 2010 Annual Work Plan of the Road Development Agency (RDA). The rehabilitation of the road will include the construction of the drains and drainage structures (bridges) along the road.

The project road is in poor condition and requires rehabilitation besides the need to improve the drains and drainage structures along the road.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mubika: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwansa (Chifunabuli): Mr Speaker, is the ministry considering a systematic programme to handle the problem of bridges in our rural areas to ensure that travelling is simplified for our rural people?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, we have a programme to replace all the washed away bridges and culverts but due to financial difficulties, we are doing our best with the finances we have.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

BOOK VALUE FOR GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES

90. Mr D. Mwila (Chipili) (on behalf of Mr Kambwili) (Roan) asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a) what the book value of each of the following Government properties was:

(i) Government Complex in Kamwala, Lusaka;

(ii) State House;

(iii) State Lodge;

(iv) Parliament Buildings; and

(v) Government House;

(b) how much each of the buildings above was insured for and with which insurance company; and

(c) when each building was constructed.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the following Government properties have not been valued in the recent past, and it is, therefore, not possible to give their book value:

(i) Government Complex (not complete);
(ii) State House;
(iii) State Lodge;
(iv) Parliament Buildings; and 
(v) Government House.

Mr Speaker, the Government buildings at (a) are not insured due to lack of budgetary allocations. The following are the years of construction of the buildings at (a) above:

 Building      Year of Construction

Government Complex (First building)   2004
State House      1934
State Lodge      1910
Parliament Buildings     1965
Government House     1979

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, the Government has a Valuation Department which evaluates all its properties. I would like to find from the hon. Minister whether it is by design for the Government not to evaluate the properties.

Mr Speaker: As the hon. Minister of Works and Supply answers, may he clarify when the building at (iii), State Lodge, was built.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, State Lodge was built in 1910.

Hon. Members: Aah!

Mr Ndalamei: This is the answer in the response.

Mr Speaker, regarding insurance, the Government intends to insure the buildings. However, due to budgetary problems, we are not able to find funds to insure them. When funds become available, the buildings will be insured.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mooya: Mr Speaker, the construction of the complex has taken over thirty years. I would like to know when construction of the entire complex will be completed.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, I did not get the hon. Member clearly. Is he talking about the Government complex?

Mr Mooya: Yes.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the Chinese contractor is already in the country and has started the works. We hope that by year next, we will complete construction of the building.

Mr Chota (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister telling us that all these buildings have not been insured? If they have been insured before, can he tell us when the insurance expired?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the information we have is that the buildings have not been insured before.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, councils survive on ground rates which come from properties, including Government properties. According to the Valuation Act, those rates ought to be valued every ten years. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether, indeed, his Government is relaxed with the issue of it abrogating the provisions of the Valuation Act by not valuing its properties so that local authorities may attract the rightful quantities of grants in lieu of rates on these Government properties.

Ms Siliya on behalf of Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, obviously, there has been a lapse. I am, however, aware that, recently, the ministry initiated an evaluation of these properties.

Mr Speaker, indeed, we receive reminders from the local authorities to pay the rates. I am sure that we will actually take up this challenge and ensure that we rectify this lapse in the process.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

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

CONSTRUCTION OF THE MWENDA/KASHIBA ROAD

91. Mr D. Mwila asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a) when work would commence on the Mwenda/Kashiba Road in Chipili Parliamentary Constituency;

(b) how much money was required for this project; and

(c) what caused the delay in working on the above road.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the tender for the rehabilitation of Mwenda/Kashiba Road is under evaluation, leading to the award of the contract. It is expected that the tender will be awarded by the end of October, 2009. The works are expected to start in November, 2009.

Mr Speaker, the expected cost of carrying out the maintenance of the Mwenda/Kashiba Road is K10 billion. The implementation of the project has been delayed due to insufficient funding over the previous years.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, the procurement process on this road started in January and ...

Dr Machungwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, when hon. Members ask questions, they expect that truthful and correct answers will be presented to the House. Is the hon. Deputy Minister of Works and Supply really in order to state that State Lodge was built in 1910, when we know that it was built by the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM), which did not exist in 1910? Is he in order to give us answers that are, obviously, not correct?

Hon. Government Member: Come to the office.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Luapula, through his point of order, is, in fact, referring to an item that I previously sought clarification upon for the benefit of the record. Now, if the hon. Minister does not have a correct answer, I guide him to provide this answer to the Clerk of the National Assembly, and also circulate it among all hon. Members of Parliament for correct information.

The hon. Member for Chipili was asking a follow-up question.

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Sir, earlier, I said that the procurement process on the Mwenda/Kashiba Road started in January and it has been ten months since then. When, exactly, will the Government award the contract to the would-be contractor?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, we have a procurement procedure which we have to follow. The hon. Member has already been told that we hope that the contractor will be on site to start works on the road in November.

I thank you, Sir.

EXPLORATION OF MINERALS IN MAPATIZYA CONSTITUENCY

92. Mr Sejani (Mapatizya) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development whether there was any firm prospecting for minerals in the Zimba Hills and Simwami Area in Mapatizya Parliamentary Constituency and, if so, what the names of the firms were and for what mineral they were prospecting.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Nkhata): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Zimba Hills and Simwami areas of Mapatizya Parliamentary Constituency are under a Large-Scale Prospecting Licence Number 13444-HQ-LPL belonging to Albidon Zambia Limited. The licence, which is valid from 1st April, 2009 to March, 2011 is for base metals, coal and diamond.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

CONSTRUCTION OF A HEALTH CENTE AT CHIEF MWEWA’S PALACE IN CHIFUNABULI

93. Mr Mwansa asked the Minister of health when a health centre would be constructed at Senior Chief Mwewa’s palace in Chifunabuli Parliamentary Constituency.

The Minister Health (Mr Simbao) on behalf of Mr Mulongoti: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the ministry has no immediate plans to construct a health centre at Senior Chief Mwewa’s Palace in Chifunabuli Parliamentary Constituency. Senior Chief Mwewa’s palace is located seven kilometres within the Shikamushile Rural Health Centre catchment area. Shikamushile Rural Health Centre is a standard prototype health centre which was extended by the Ministry of Health in 2001 which was extended by the Ministry of Health in 2001.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwansa: Mr Speaker, my understanding of the policy of the Ministry of Health is that in considering provision of a facility such as a rural health centre, issues of population and distance are primary. Seven kilometres on foot is not a short distance. Therefore, the population of Senior Chief Mwewa qualifies it for a health centre. Why is the ministry not considering that place?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that follow-up question. The hon. Member is right by his understanding of the requirements. I do not know exactly the numbers he is talking about in terms of population.

Mr Speaker, I did not say that we have no plans. I said that we have no immediate plans because there are other areas that are equally in need.

I thank you, Sir.

REHABILITATION OF THE KAWAMBWA/LUWINGU ROAD

94. Dr Chishya (Pambashe) asked the Minister of Works and Supply when the Kawambwa/Luwingu Road would be rehabilitated in accordance with the Government’s policy on roads connecting adjacent districts.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the ministry has no immediate plans to reconstruct the old Kawambwa/Luwingu Road. The ministry will only consider new major projects when most of the on-going major projects, including the Mansa/Luwingu Road have been completed. At the moment, Luwingu is connected to Kawambwa via Munganga. The ministry is carrying out the maintenance of Kawambwa/Munganga Road. It is also the intention of the ministry to immediately upgrade the Mansa/Luwingu Road to bitumen standard.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has mentioned that the contractor was a awarded a contract a year ago to work on the Munganga/Kawambwa Road, and only started work three months ago. What has the Government been doing to let the contractor come on site after a year?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, we are happy that the hon. Member is now admitting that we are working on the roads in Luapula.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, Hear!

Mr Ndalamei: Last Friday, the hon. Member for Chipili said that we had not worked on any road in Luapula. I would like to assure him that the contractor is doing the work and we hope that he will finish working on the road in time.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES IN CHINSALI

95. Mr C. Mulenga asked the Minister of Works and Supply when the ministry would construct bridges at the following places in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency:

(a) Fonkofonko across Lubu Road;

(b) Chimbuka across Lubu River; and

(c) Chilenga across Chunga Stream.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Chinsali District Council is the road authority for feeder roads in the district which works in liaison with the Road Development Agency (RDA) and has plans to include the construction of bridges in the 2010 Annual Work Plan in the following places subject to the availability fund:

 (a)  Fonkofonko across the Lubu River;
  
(b) Chimbuka across the Lubu River and;
 
(c ) Chilenga across the Chunga River.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker

Mr C. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, first of al, I would like to correct Question Number 95 (c). This bridge is supposed to be Chunga across Kalungu Stream not the way it is appearing on the Order Paper.

Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the hon. Minister is aware that lives of school-going children are threatened because they fail to cross the rivers during the rainy season. Last year, two children drowned. What measures is the Government putting in place to ensure that we secure the lives of the children on these three crossings?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, we have stated, in our answer, that the Chinsali District Council has already submitted their work plan in which the three bridges have been included.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: Order!

I would like to guide the House that with regard to the example of Question Number 95 (c), hon. Members have noticed that questions such as this one are normally released in a blue coloured format. Among other things, that notifies hon. Members as well as the Executive, of the sort of questions which are forthcoming and will eventually be rendered in green as you see them here. When hon. Members and the Executive find a mistake, it is at the blue format stage that corrections must be submitted to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly. Do not wait until today. As a result, it looks like the answer to Question Number 95 (c) may not have been correctly provided because of the mistake. 

DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT COUNTRYWIDE

96. Mr Chazangwe (Choma Central) asked the Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development whether there were any plans to work with the Ministry of Education in the following:

(a) the development of sport in general and football in particular;

(b) training of coaches in all sports disciplines at all levels; and

(c) securing funding for sports organisations and schools in all provinces.

The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Dr Kalila): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development has been working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to promote and develop youth sports in schools under a programme called Focus on Youth Sport (FYS). The programme is currently being implemented in three provinces namely; Western, Luapula and Eastern provinces. A total of twenty-seven basic schools (in nine districts) of the selected provinces run the project. The FYS targets girls and boys below the age of twelve. These are in and out-of-school children. The girls and boys participate in football and netball. The programme started in 2004. Thirty-six basic school teachers and community leaders in each of the provinces mentioned above were equipped with basic coaching skills in netball and football. Pilot schools were also given sports equipment. From evaluation reports, the project has served as a bridge for out-of-school children to return to school.

Sir, through the re-establishment of compulsory physical education in schools, most schools are able to participate in sports activities. Universities and colleges, under the Ministry of Education, do undertake various sports activities ranging from participation in sports tournaments, training of athletes, sports administrators and coaches. Most of these activities are supported by sports associations such as the National Olympics Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) and the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ).

Mr Speaker, my ministry has always wanted to put in place a coach education system in order to enhance and supervise the coach delivery services. You may wish to know that the NSCZ, in 1996, created the National Coach Education Scheme involving football, netball, volleyball, athletics and basketball. However, this was short-lived due to budget constraints and the change of administration at the council in 1998. I am, however, happy to indicate that my ministry is in the process of revising the Coaches Education Programme working in conjunction with the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa Zone VI and UK Sport.

Sir, you may wish to know that under FYS, about 108 basic school teachers have been trained in coaching skills for football and netball. This is in three rural provinces as already been indicated; Western, Eastern and Luapula provinces.

Besides, the University of Zambia and Nkrumah University, under the Ministry of Education, now offer courses in Physical Education at degree and diploma level. Furthermore, a new diploma course in sports administration has just been launched at the University of Zambia and officers from my ministry are actively involved in the programme.

Mr Speaker, the issue of funding has always been critical in sports development. As you may be aware, for sport to develop to its full potential, the country needs to invest in sports infrastructure, coaching, administration, player/coach development programmes, sports equipment and policy guidance. Much as I appreciate the fact that school sport and physical Education has a great bearing on future sportsmen and women, I also recognise that physical education and school sports are an integrated part of the curriculum in schools and, as such, school authorities should take full responsibility for these activities.

Sir, just as school authorities take care of the Agricultural Science subject without the help of the Ministry of Agriculture, they should not mount their responsibility of promoting and developing physical education and school sports in school children on the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development.

Mr Speaker, my ministry always tries to secure funding from the private sector. However, this has proved difficult as the private sector will only support the sport they feel will sell their business and reap profits. I believe the best way to bring on board sustainable private sector support is by creating incentives that will attract the private sector to support all forms of sport. This is through the introduction of tax rebates on institutions that will support sport.

Sir, I wish to report that my ministry receives an annual budget allocation of less than K27 billion. This amount is shared among four departments. The Department of Sports Development receives an annual budget allocation of less than K7 billion. This money is used for, among other things, procuring sports equipment, rehabilitation of sports infrastructure, international engagements and human resource/administration needs. With a budget of less than K7 billion a year for the Department of Sports Development, it is impossible to expect the needs of the seventy-two districts in terms of sport to be met. I wish to report that my ministry has always been anxious to develop sport, but the biggest challenge has been the inadequate finances.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chazangwe: Mr Speaker, there is a great deal of sports potential in our high and basic schools which needs to be exploited. When will a programme begin to train the coaches in order to improve all sports disciplines that we have in the country?

The Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Mr Chipungu): Mr Speaker, I will give two answers to that question. Firstly, I wish to inform the House that we have now put in place a board for the NSCZ which is headed by Hon. Chifumu Banda, SC.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Phiri: Sichilima!

Mr Chipungu: This board has the mandate to look at the possibilities of reintroducing this programme.

Secondly, it is also a question of funds. The answer has been very categorical that the budget allocation to the Department of Sports Development is insufficient. We are hoping that this year, there will be an improvement.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, the development of sports in schools needs the collaboration of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. Admittedly, the Ministry of Education should take the lead.

During the International Year for Physical Education, I stand to be corrected, in 2007, the President then, directed that physical education should be a compulsory subject in all schools. However, I wonder how this has been implemented when there are many schools that have been built since then, which go without any playing fields. They are devoid of space for any form of sport. How can physical education and sports be developed under such circumstances in such schools?

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, that question is misdirected to my ministry. I would suggest that this comes as a question directed to the Ministry of Education.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what talent has been identified since the three pilot projects in the three provinces started and what the ministry is putting in place to ensure that the talent that it has identified is enhanced.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, so much has been done especially in the area of athletics. The Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) has discovered a lot of talent through the same project. Recently, our boys and girls were in Germany where they did very well by bringing glory to the country.

Mr Speaker, let me take advantage of this opportunity to inform my colleagues, here, how sports are run in this country. I want to say that, as a ministry, we have a department of sport, but the running of sports and talent identification is the responsibility of the NSCZ that supervises the forty-three sports disciplines in this country. Let me just give an example:- when we talk about football, it is not the ministry which is supposed to identify talent, but the association responsible for running the sport. What my ministry does is to offer support in terms of finance, but the identification of the actual players is the responsibility of the Football Association of Zambia. If it is talent in boxing, it is the issue of …

Mr Mubika: Abena Mumbi Phiri.

Laughter

Mr Chipungu: …the boxing association itself.

Hon. PF Members: Sichilima!

Laughter

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, all I can say is that the associations, through the NSCZ, are doing everything possible to identify the talent in various sports disciplines.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Phiri (Munali): Mr Speaker, …

Hon. Member: Tyson!

Laughter

Mrs Phiri: … the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development is the least funded. I would like to find out, as we get our new budget, if the ministry is considering rehabilitating the swimming pools in schools which are, at the moment, death traps for our children, and also the tennis courts so that we have different sports disciplines in this country.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I cannot comment on the budget because it has not yet been presented. Talking about the 2009 Budget, I will just emphasise what we have already stated in the answer, that we have no funds. It would be our intention to rehabilitate the sports infrastructure in the country if we had the money, but it is not there and I am sure we have seen this in our Yellow Book. There is no provisions and so the answer is no.

Mr Speaker, if we had co-operating partners, this would be possible. Currently, we are trying to find co-operating partners who can help us rehabilitate sports infrastructure in schools. For instance, in Kabulonga, co-operating partners helped us rehabilitate sports infrastructure at a particular school.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members are free to go out there to lobby for funds to rehabilitate infrastructure in their constituencies. It is not fair to limit that task to the ministry. I would like to urge my colleagues to help out where possible.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Major Chizhyuka (Namwala): Mr Speaker, part (c) of the question is dealing with the funding for schools and, in reply, the Minister has indicated that it is the responsibility of his ministry to deal with funding. The Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Tournament brings together all the high schools in Southern Province at Namwala Secondary School. It is the only …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Your introduction has been too long. Can you ask your question now?

Major Chizhyuka: Mr Speaker, are there plans by your ministry to fund this tournament which brings together all the high schools in the entire province given that, at present, Namwala Secondary School alone and its resources are unable to effectively support the bringing together of all these high schools in one place with respect to football grounds …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, before I answer that question, I would like to indicate to this House that there are a number of hon. Members who arrange sports festivals in their respective constituencies. After they have done so, they write to my ministry for support. The ministry has always supported such festivals by providing material and trophies because this is how it should be. The support to these festivals should not be left to my ministry to organise. In fact, it is those of us looking for votes who should organise these things because we get the votes from the people we interact with.

Mr Speaker, I would like to single out the hon. Member for Nchanga (Mr Simuusa) and the hon. Member for Kamfinsa (Mr Nyirenda) who organised tournaments and requested us to go and officiate. My hon. Deputy Minister has been to the Copperbelt twice to officiate at these tournaments. In answering the question, I would like to say, yes, this is done as long as you indicate when the sports festival will take place. If we are invited, we shall, definitely, indicate what we will offer as a ministry.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa: Mr Speaker, boxing is sports discipline where this country has done very well in the past. What is his ministry doing to ensure that the relevant sports associations are assisted or facilitated in hiring coaches to try and develop this sport which is very popular even among hon. Members of Parliament in the Middle Bench?

Mr V. Mwale: Chitika na Mumbi Phiri.

Laughter

Mr Chipungu: Well, Mr Speaker, I think for the last one year or so, we did not have a board, but I am happy, now, to inform this august House that we have put in place a board for the Zambia Professional Boxing Control Board which is headed by Mr Sapi, a renowned boxing administrator. We have also been holding meetings with the Ambassador or High Commissioner from Cuba, who is accredited to Zambia and he has agreed to support us in boxing. Right now, we are about to sign a Memorandum of Understand with Cuba so that they can help us with coaches or trainers in order to train our boxers in this country.

I thank you, Sir.

CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH SCHOOL AT EMUSA IN CHASEFU

97. Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC. (Chasefu) asked the Minister of Education when a high school would be built at Emusa in Chasefu Parliamentary Constituency.

The Minister of Education (Ms Siliya): Mr Speaker, the ministry has no immediate plans to build a new high school at Emusa in Chasefu Parliamentary Constituency and this is why it does not appear in our Infrastructure Development Plan for 2009. However, Lundazi District has six high schools that were recently built. These are Mpampa, Lundazi Day, Mwase, Lundazi Boarding, Emusa and Lumezi High School. The priority of the ministry, at the moment, is to build high schools in districts and not in constituencies.

However, it is the population of the learners that also determines where schools should be built. Therefore, the learners in Chasefu Parliamentary Constituency are adequately catered for by the six high schools in the district.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, SC.: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm that the plans to build a high school at Emusa have changed in the last two weeks because, last year, a similar question was raised and your answer was that a high school would be constructed, but with the support of the community in the initial stages. Can you clarify that?

Ms Siliya: Mr Speaker, in our ambition to build infrastructure we use two methods. These are namely the contractor method where the Ministry of Education contracts contractors to build and also the community mode. If it is the community mode, indeed, the communities are supposed to come up with the initiative and the ministry supports them, but in terms of the contractor mode which we usually use for high schools, the ministry, itself, has no immediate plans to construct a high school.

I thank you, Sir.

REHABILITATION WORKS FOR LUAMPA/MACHILE ROAD

98. Ms Limata (Luampa) asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a) When the rehabilitation of the Luampa/Machile Road would commence;

(b) who the contractors are; and

(c) how much the project would cost.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the tender for the rehabilitation of Luampa/Machila Road is being evaluated. The contract will, however, not be signed in 2009 due to lack of funds. The works will only commence in 2010 subject to availability of funds.

Mr Speaker, the contractor for the works has not yet been appointed.

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost for rehabilitating the road is K90 billion.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Limata: Mr Speaker, …

Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.

Ms Limata: Mr Speaker, I am so disappointed with the Minister of Works and Supply because this question was asked in 2007 and in his answer he mentioned a contractor and amount of money and he even told this House that they were going to start the work. Now, today, they are twisting the answer. So, when are they going to start the work and I want to know the contractor?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Our mother!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, it is true that last year, we awarded the contract to Rubex who pulled out because they were afraid of sand in the Western Province, but we cannot mention the new contractor because the tender is still being evaluated.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, h ear!

Mr Mooya: Mr Speaker, when a contractor pulls out, are there penalties?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, there is a penalty if you already signed the contract but, in this case, we did not sign the contract.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, why does the Government give contracts to contractors who do not finish the job?

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, Reubex is a big contractor who is doing a lot of roads in the country but, in this case, it was too much for them because that is the time when we had blacklisted about forty-two companies. So, they felt that they were not going to manage to do the work.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Member: Quality!

JOBS CREATED BY FOREIGN INVESTMENT

99. Mr Hamusonde asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry whether the rate of foreign investment in the country had created sufficient jobs for the Zambian labour market.

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, Zambia has, in recent years, experienced an increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in different sectors of the economy, which has contributed to the creation of additional employment in the country, transfer of technology and gross capital formation. Further, the FDI inflows have had a positive and favourable impact on the Government Treasury through taxes.

During the period 2004 to 2008, investment pledges have increased from US $119 million to US $1.7 billion in 2007 and US $2.6 billion in 2008 and their respective employment pledges of 10,347, in 2004, 18,371 in 2007 and 20,823 in 2008. From these pledged investments, 49 per cent have been implemented so far, whilst 69 per cent of the pledged employment opportunities have been actualised.

Sources of major employment opportunities were from the manufacturing sector contributing 30 per cent of the total employment created, agriculture at 23 per cent, mining with 19 per cent and tourism at 10 per cent.

Some specific projects in the manufacturing sector that were undertaken from 2004 to date include:

(a) The expansion of Zambia Sugar Plc at a cost of US $185 million, creating 3,500 jobs;

(b) The expansion of Lafarge Cement Plc at a cost of US $120 million, creating 260 jobs; and

(c) The expansion of Zambeef Products Plc at an investment cost of US $81 million creating 2,500 jobs.

Mr Speaker, the development of the Lumwana Mine has contributed over 1,000 jobs whilst the Kansanshi Mine has contributed 1,142 jobs. Further, Non-ferrous Corporation Africa Mining Plc (NFCA) has created 953 jobs and Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP), with an investment of US$600 million, is expected to create another 3,000 jobs. In addition, the coming of the Chambishi Multi-Facility Economic Zone has already created 3,500 jobs and the Chambishi Copper Smelter, which is to be commissioned soon, has also created over 1,000 jobs. Others are Universal Mining and Chemical Industries Limited which is poised to create 4,500 jobs at full operation.

The employment generated by foreign investment has translated into improved income opportunities for the people that have been employed and impacted positively on poverty reduction. Furthermore, there have been spin-off benefits, including the importation of skills through training of the people employed, improvement in staff welfare through occupational health and medical benefits and contributions to social security schemes such as National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA).

Mr Speaker, in view of the above, foreign direct investment has had a positive impact on the domestic economy in terms of contribution to gross capital formation, employment creation and Government Treasury.

Mr Speaker, however, there are still a number of challenges faced in attracting the much-needed investments for employment creation. The cost of doing business in Zambia, although improving on the World Bank doing business ranking from 99 to 90 out of 183 countries surveyed, is still high. In view of this, my ministry has been working on a number of business reforms to ease the cost of doing business in Zambia. In addition, the Government has placed more emphasis on improving the infrastructure in Zambia particularly the road and rail systems, communication and energy.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Sir, could the hon. Minister kindly give an indication on how the quantity of investments he has just read out relates to the employment ratio in middle income countries, which we aspire to be ourselves?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the investments that we are attracting are directed towards achieving the Vision 2030, which is that of Zambia becoming a middle income country. Let me just give the hon. Member an example. For every tourist that comes in, we are able to create three jobs. So, that is the path we are taking.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.{mospagebreak}

NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS

100. Mr D. Mwila on behalf of Mr Kambwili asked the Minister of Communications and Transport:

(a) what the total number of motor vehicles in the Copperbelt Province was as of 30th June, 2009; and

(b) when traffic lights would be put at all junctions in the central business district of Kitwe.

The Deputy Minister of Communication and Transport (Mr Mubika): Mr Speaker, the total number of motor vehicles registered in the Copperbelt Province as of 30th June, 2009 was 84,095.

In 2008, the Ministry of Communication and Transport, through the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), noted the poor state of most traffic signals in Kitwe. Most of the traffic signals had broken filter panels which were subjecting motorists to misinterpretation and posing a road safety hazard.

In this respect, the Kitwe City Council (KCC), through the Director of Engineering Services, was requested to take stock of all the affected traffic signals and eight signalised intersections were identified. In March, 2009, RTSA engaged a supplier after an open tender to supply the traffic signal spares on behalf of KCC at a total cost of 1,251,768 South African rands, which is equivalent to K751 million. The supplier has since supplied part of the consignment and will be delivering the last batch by October, 2009 after which repairs will commence on the eight intersections.

Further to this, RTSA will carry out assessments of intersections in the central business district of Kitwe in the fourth quarter of 2009 out of which appropriate road safety engineering measures will recommended to the Road Development Agency (RDA) for implementation.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

__________

MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, just before the House adjourned yesterday, I had begun showering ‘presses’ …

Hon. MMD Members: It is ‘praises’.

Mr Chisala: … praises on the former hon. Minister of Education, Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa, for his good performance as the hon. Minister of Education. I would  like to commend him for his works on infrastructure development such as the construction of students’ hostels at the University of Zambia as well as the recruitment of a reasonable number of teachers last year and this year.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: I want to pay tribute to this great man for the simple reason that for the past forty-four years of independence, Chilubi District has never seen a reasonable number of teachers posted there until this year. About sixty-two teachers have been posted to Chilubi District and this is commendable.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, in view of this, I want to make an earnest appeal to the successor of this great man. I wish to urge her to emulate the steps that have been left by this great man. Failure to do so will bring things in the Ministry of Education to a standstill and the Government will become a laughing stock.

Interruptions

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I would also like to talk about non-payment of allowances to the serving teachers in this country. For a long time our teachers in rural areas have not been receiving their rural hardship and double class allowances as well as other allowances. This is very discouraging. In this respect, the Government should, this year, make sure that the teachers who deserve these allowances are given.

Mr Speaker, a good example of teachers who have never received their remote allowances since their introduction are those in my constituency. These are teachers from four schools namely Chaba Upper Basic School, Mukotolo, Chilamba and Chiwele middle basic schools. This is a sad development.

Mr Speaker, despite my effort of seeing the Provincial Education Officer and also writing to the hon. Minister of Education regarding the same situation, unfortunately, I have not yet been furnished with even a negative response. Duty should not be executed in that manner. In Bemba, we say, ‘Kalata ni nkongole.’ This means that when you are written to, you are supposed to respond regardless of the response being negative or positive. That is why you are in those positions.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, my colleagues on your right have to know that the Zambian people, including the President, want to see development in this country. Therefore, it is incumbent upon this Government to listen to the people’s outcry because only then will it win praises. The Government has to be action oriented failure to which it cannot be praised. Above all, hon. Members in the Government have to be development-focused because they are in key positions.

Mr Speaker, as regards teachers’ salaries, they are too low. You will find that a teacher gets something like K400,000 or K600,000 per month. When you consider the escalating prices of commodities in this country, you would definitely discover that teachers’ living standards are those of hand-to-mouth when it should not be that way.

Mr Speaker, I am urging the Government of the Republic of Zambia to make sure that, in this year’s Budget, it gives our hardworking teachers a reasonable salary increment of between 25 per cent and 30 per cent. If the Government says that it does not have the financial capacity to do that, then it would be prudent for it to re-introduce the windfall tax which can assist greatly in paying our teachers heftily.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, allow me, also, to make a comment on some statements that were made recently regarding salaries for the University of Zambia (UNZA) lecturers. That statement, in my view, was not well researched.

Mr Speaker, someone purported that UNZA lecturers were getting K15 million as their net salaries. This is a very unfortunate state of affairs because the period that I was at the university, I rubbed shoulders with professors, senior lecturers and we talked about their salaries. They told me that some of their net salaries were in the range of K3 million. However, it is unfortunate to hear someone claiming that they were getting K15 million. Time has come for the hon. Minister who made that very defamatory statement about professors to retract it. It is not too late yet.

Mrs Phiri: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Hon. Minister, you will not lose anything by withdrawing that statement. After all, what you are going to create is good rapport. At the moment, the lecturers at that particular institution are not happy about that statement.

Mr Speaker, let me come to health. On page 45 of the Presidential Speech, the President said and I quote:

“Life threatening diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera and tuberculosis must be combated.”

Mr Speaker, I agree with the President that if we are to achieve positive goals, we must make sure that we provide the people, both in rural and urban areas, with health services beginning with the provision of district hospitals.

Mr Speaker, time and again, on the Floor of this debating Chamber, I have stated that the people of Chilubi played a very instrumental role in fighting for the independence of this country. However, one wonders why the Government of the Republic of Zambia has lamentably failed to construct a district hospital there.

Mr Speaker, Chilubi and Mungwi are the only districts in Northern Province that do not have district hospitals. Therefore, I am appealing to the able hon. Minister of Health, whom I know is capable, to, please, in next year’s Budget, see to it that the construction of district hospitals in both Chilubi and Mungwi begins.

Mr Speaker, again, on the issue of health services, there have been some information from certain quarters that the Government is in the process of procuring mobile hospitals. I reject the idea of bringing mobile hospitals in the country. What the Government must do is move into Chilubi and construct permanent infrastructure. It should begin next year so that, maybe, by 2011 or 2012 the buildings would have been completed. I am making a humble appeal to the hon. Minister to look into my plea. I know that it is your responsibility, as a Government, to provide such services to the electorate of this country.

Mr Speaker, some people have been saying that mobile hospitals and clinics have been working well in other countries …

Mrs Phiri: Ba MMD!

Mr Chisala: … of course, you may say that, but I am speaking from experience. When Buchizya Mutepa Kaunda was President of this country, the Zambia Flying Doctor Service used to operate in Chilubi, but the performance was not to the expectations of the people. In this light, I am urging the Government to shelve the idea of buying mobile hospitals.

Mr Speaker, in some countries, agriculture is a hub of the economy. However, to my dismay, here, in Zambia, the small-scale farmers under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) have not been receiving the support that they deserve. This can be evidenced by the reduction in the number of bags of fertiliser, this year, from eight to four. This is a clear testimony that the production is going to be low next year because of the reduction in fertiliser distribution. In this light, the Government has to find means of increasing the bags of fertiliser to be given to farmers from four to six before the onset of the rain. The Government should also go back and re-register those farmers who were omitted in the first round of registration. That way, we are going to have a reasonable number of farmers.

Mr Speaker, permit me to talk about the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the delimitation of the constituencies in this country. Most of you who were in this debating Chamber, at the beginning of this year, will recall that during the second week of February, 2009, I made a speech and requested the Government to fund the ECZ adequately to enable it conduct an assessment and see how best it could delimit the vast constituencies of this country.

However, despite my plea, there was no response from the Government. I, further, made a request to the Government of the Republic of Zambia to withdraw the money which was allocated towards the construction of the Mchinji/Chipata Railway Line because that money which was…

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member is talking about the delimitation of constituencies. This issue was tabled at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC). In fact, the hon. Member is not a member of the NCC. Is he in order to bring an issue which was already debated at the NCC into this House? I need your serious ruling.

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Chilubi may continue.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I salute you for your protection. People in this country should realise that Zambia has 158 constituencies and some of them are just too vast. Consequently, certain hon. Members fail to go round their constituencies. In this regard, there is need for the Government, this year, to allocate enough funds towards the delimitation of the constituencies. We must have more new constituencies by 2011.

Mr Speaker, allow me to also talk about the Ministry of Communications and Transport with specific reference to the Maritime and Inland Waters Department. This department is cardinal because it helps in terms of water transport, but it is underfunded year in and year out. I humbly urge the hon. Minister to see to it that enough money is provided so that more dredging machines are bought for all areas like the Western, Luapula, Central and Northern provinces. The people of Zambia must enjoy the fruits of their independence.

Lastly, I want to talk about transport in the Office of the President, Zambia Police Service, Zambia Army, Zambia National Service and Zambia Air force as well as the Drug Enforcement and the Anti-Corruption commissions. These wings do not have sufficient transport. We were recently on a tour to some province and it was discovered that the Zambia Army had only one truck and two vehicles at the regional office of that province.

Mrs Phiri: They are loyal.

Mr Chisala: The Anti-Corruption Commission has only two vehicles. Surely, how do you expect the Zambia Army and Anti-Corruption Commission to perform effectively?

Mrs Phiri: That is what they want.

Mr Chisala: I think they can only perform to the expectation of the Zambian people if sufficient transport is provided. Therefore, I request the hon. Minister of Defence to take note and see to it that more money is given towards these wings, this year, so that more vehicles are purchased.

Furthermore, Mr Speaker, the role that the Zambia Security Intelligence Service plays is cardinal. I urge the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to see to it that a reasonable amount of money is set aside for the service to buy an aircraft. Similarly, earlier this year, the Government promised, funds allowing, to buy an aircraft for the Zambia Police Service, but this has just remained a pipe dream. Therefore, the Government should seriously look into this and buy an aircraft for the Zambia Police Service. Once this is done, we shall see the effectiveness of the workers in the Zambia Police Service.

In conclusion, let me say that Chief Munkanta has given some land to the Government for the construction of a barrack in Kawambwa. The Ministry of Defence should look at this seriously.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mrs Phiri: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa (Mporokoso): Mr Speaker, I would also like to add my voice to what my friends have already articulated.

In the first place, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Education. A week ago, I was in my constituency and I paid a courtesy call on the District Education Board Secretary’s office.

Hon. Opposition Member: Come on, stand up.

Laughter

Mr Misapa: His first greeting was to thank me for having honoured the promise over the distribution of school desks, but I advised him to thank the Ministry of Education and the Government for the job well done. In the records, the desks to be received were to be 1,200. However, 1,300 desks have been provided. We thank the Government, through the Ministry of Education, for this gesture. In so doing I will not forget to mention the former hon. Minister of Education, Professor Lungwangwa. We thank you very much for a job well done. You have a vision for this nation and I hope that you will also put things right at the ministry of Communications and Transport.

I also urge the new hon. Minister of Education, Hon. Sylvia…

Hon. Members: Aah!

Mr Misapa: Sorry, sorry.  Dorothy Siliya…

Laughter

Hon. Members: Dora Siliya.

Mr Misapa: … Dora Siliya to emulate how the former hon. Minister of Education executed his duties.

However, we know that all places have a lot of problems. It is at this point that I would like to talk about some of the problems that we encounter in Mporokoso Constituency and District.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: Mr Speaker, when we received the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), because of the emerging camp called the Mwange Refugee Camp, we were privileged that the Government was given a school. This school has been worked on and we are now requesting the Government, through the Ministry of Education, to patch it up in certain places where it needs patching.

Mr Speaker, at Kalabwe Secondary School, we have the problem of lack of dormitories though the school is already in session. We would like the Government to help us with dormitories because, though it is a boarding school, pupils are still sleeping in classrooms and one of the teachers’ houses. At the same time, we do not have beds and mattresses where pupils can sleep. We need assistance.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: Mr Speaker, Mporokoso is a district in the western part of the Northern Province. We have a road that we always sing about year in and year out. Sir, the road that runs from Kasama to Kaputa via Mporokoso passes through seven constituencies namely; Kasama Central, Lukashya, Lunte …

Laughter

Mr Misapa: … Mporokoso, Chimbamilonga, Mpulungu …

Laughter

Mr Misapa: … and Kaputa itself.

Mr Speaker, we know that road infrastructure is cardinal to development. It is in this vein that we humbly request our Government to tar this road. Tourism in the Northern Circuit cannot take off without proper road infrastructure. The Northern Tourism Circuit, if connected, has very important natural features. The area boasts of falls such as the Lumangwe, …

Laughter

Mr Misapa: … Kabwelume …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: … and Kundabwika Falls.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: We also have an important missionary centre called Kashinda Mission, plus some other really important natural features that would attract tourists.

 However, how sure can we be, Mr Speaker, that if tourists land at Kasama Airport, they will have the interest to travel to Mporokoso and use some money there when the road is in such a deplorable state? There is so much dust during the dry season that you would think there is an accident.

Laughter

Mr Misapa: It is, therefore, our humble request to the Ministry of Works and Supply to see how they can start working on these issues. I know that making a road would not take place in a day. There must be some plans. We are, therefore, asking the Government, through the Ministry of Works and Supply, to, at least, make some steps in order to comfort us.

Mr Speaker, in the western part of Mporokoso, …

Laughter

Mr Misapa: … we have a very important ward called Chikulu. This place has a very big population. It has schools and a rural health centre, but it is cut away from the main part of Mporokoso because there is a stream called Luangwa - not Luangwa in the Eastern Province, but Luangwa in the Northern Province.

Mr Speaker, to cross this river, we use a very old pontoon. The area where the pontoon operates is wide and dangerous and the pontoon needs service.

Mr Lubinda: Yes, we can.

Mr Misapa: Mr Speaker, during the rainy season, people in this area are completely cut off from the mainland. We also face problems regarding referral cases from the rural health centre. Pregnant women really face problems. I humbly request, through you, Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Works and Supply, to consider working on this pontoon and the road that connects the Sunkutu Area to the mainland. I do not know when the road was last worked on, but it needs attention. For budgeting purposes, the road is exactly 180 kilometres long and, therefore, we would like to ask for assistance on this road and the pontoon.

Mr Speaker, allow me to also talk about the issue of mining in the Northern Province, particularly in Mporokoso.

Mr Speaker, I would like to report to you that there is a company called Sandrilla which has identified an area with potential in copper, gold and diamonds. It has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a South African company. I, therefore, request the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development to see to it that he speeds up the system so that, probably, this could be the starting point for Mporokoso to be put on the map and begin to generating some income for the nation and the district.

We know that a district without an activity has problems having any developmental projects. We are probably going to be lucky if our able hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development came in to see how he can help us in Mporokoso District.

Mr Speaker, before, I conclude, allow me to advise the House on something which is worrying me. Some hon. Members in this House have debated the issue regarding the President coming from a particular region. That does not worry me much as long as he is passionate …

Hon Opposition Members: Hear, hear and a performer!

Mr Misapa: … and a performer.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: One who has the heart of a mother.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: If we analyse this issue, we may not laugh at hon. Members who are demanding that a president should come from their region. The point that I am emphasing is that we should continue singing the song of One Zambia, One Nation. We should, also, continue singing the song of One Africa, One Nation.

Laughter

Mr Misapa: We know the stage we have reached. We are talking about the unification of Africa, but if we start dividing ourselves now, we will not succeed. Let us unite and work as a team. Therefore, it does not matter where a president comes from, but we need to work together as brothers and sisters or nieces and nephews. What is important is to keep our motto: One Zambia, One Nation.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this important Motion. Firstly, I would like to commend the mover and seconder for ably putting the issues across.

Mr Speaker, allow me to also join the other hon. Members who have passed their condolences to the families of the late Hon. Hamir and Hon. Temashimba.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: In so doing, I would like to quote the former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln’s Gulteysburg Speech of 19th November, 1863.

“The world will little note nor long remember what we say here … but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living to rather be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they, who fought here, have thus far so nobly advanced.”

Mr Speaker, the two hon. Members were gallant men of the soil who, at all times, tried to push for things on issues that they believed in. I am sure the world will remember them for the many things that they did. May their souls rest in peace.  May the words of former President Abraham Lincoln also be true to the departed and we, the living, here today.

Sir, with regard to the President’s Speech, the authors of the speech ensured that, at all times, the speech had a theme and vision. The President’s Speech should have a vision so that, through it, we may solve the problems which are currently obtaining as well as those that may occur in future. The speech should be clear and definite. It should not leave loose ends because it lays the foundation of what is going to happen during the course of the year. The President is judged by his words and actions. It is for this reason that when I looked at this Presidential Speech, I found it wanting. To me, yes, it should be in the archives of hollowness.

Mr Speaker, as an engineer, I discovered that the speech was like a broken cistern which is used to hold water.

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: Therefore, it cannot hold anything because it is a broken cistern.

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

Mr Mukanga: In engineering terms, if the foundation is weak and porous, it means even the super structure that will be on top will be very weak. You do not need to stress it so much because it can collapse. This speech is not something that we can even argue about because it does not qualify to be considered as a serious Presidential Speech.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to talk about the abolishing of crop levies. This action will have serious consequences on some of the councils in the country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: This is because some councils are heavily dependent on crop levies. We have been talking about most of the recommendations that the Government makes without serious consultation. For instance, most of the houses have been sold on the Copperbelt. This means that the councils cannot collect revenue from rentals. We will put these councils in serious problems if we take away these crop levies. The Government has overloaded the councils by pretending to reduce the tax burden on the consumers. As a result, most councils will be crippled because they will not be able to provide quality public health services to the people in their localities.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Is that what we are looking for?

Mr Speaker, for this reason, this Executive cannot be trusted because the issue of the crop levy was done without much consultation. I also have people with PhDs and professors in agriculture and …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: … I consult them.

The President has many people with those kinds of qualifications whom he could have consulted. They could have advised him properly. I know that the Government has pretended to have abolished the crop levy, but I am sure that other levies, maybe, on education, will be introduced. We should just wait and see.

Mr Speaker, somebody was saying the PF-UPND Pact has been preaching about putting more money in the pockets by abolishing taxes. It is not just about abolishing taxes because there is a formula to use. There is always a problem when you want to implement things you do not understand.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: You need to consult the masters. That is why we are around. We will give you free advice and tutorials.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Maybe, you are abolishing windfall taxes …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: … because you do not know how to go about it. We have the formula. The pact is coming and it is geared to give free advice.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! We have come to stay!

Mr Mukanga: Of course, we have come to stay.

Mr Speaker, it is not just by abolishing every tax that we are going to put more money in people’s pockets, but also by identifying specific taxes.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to comment on the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP). I would like to say that the people who ground the National Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) to a halt will, also, do the same to FSP. They are going to grind it to a halt because they do not know what they are doing. When the MMD Government came to power, it introduced some fertiliser reform programmes, but the problems that occurred at inception are still there eighteen years down the line. It is something that does not take much ado to see what the problems are.

Mr Speaker, when the FSP was introduced, it did not reach the poor people who should have been the recipients of the subsidised commodity. We are still talking about the same thing even now. Presently, the rich people are the ones who are trying to access this subsidised commodity at the expense of the poor. The poor people are striving to access even a single bag of fertiliser. I am wondering why this MMD Government, which has a lot of intelligent people, is still wandering. Maybe, this is a deliberate ploy to have their rich friends access this commodity cheaply.

Mr Speaker, if this is not failure or poor management, then I do not know what you can call such a system because identifying or coming up with a system that will be able to identify proper recipients of a particular commodity is something that is very easy. There are vulnerable households that are failing to go into agriculture. By cutting down the pack from eight to four bags and from twenty of seed to ten kilogrammes of seed, I see it as a problem already. They have been preaching about diversification in agriculture and why did they not introduce even two kilogrammes of additional seed such as groundnuts or something else so that people may see that they are really serious? This Government does not seem to be serious about implementing issues. They are only good at talking. There is lip service but no implementation. They are failures. This is not acceptable and I question the competence of the advisors to the President on agriculture.

Mr Speaker, we do not need to read through the President’s Speech because we can see that instead of increasing funding for the FSP, they have now increased the distribution of poverty across the farmers. You will find that instead of the farmer cultivating one hectare, now he cultivates half a hectare because that is what he is able to manage from what is provided by FSP. Further, I do not understand how issues of quality, with regard to the FSP, are going to be managed because there is a standard amount of fertiliser required per hectare. You cannot reduce the amounts. You cannot do that. If you do that, you will have a poor yield. Therefore, I think there seems to be a problem.

Sir, the other issue which was there at inception was the late delivery of fertiliser which has continued. The MMD Government has not done anything about this because they have capitalised on the late delivery of the commodity to an extent where they use it as a campaign tool. Therefore, they have got no political will to try and change this system because every time there is an election, they will use it. The President was in Kasama, making pronouncements that they were now going to flag off the distribution of fertiliser. On the Copperbelt, there was an instruction to Miombo Investments not to distribute Compound D, but Urea. What type of formula is that? The farmers want this commodity and other people are issuing instructions to the contrary. The pronouncements are not co-ordinated. That is why I am wondering whether the Government really knows what they want to achieve in the final instance. How are they going to deliver these inputs in good time if the road network is so poor? Currently, the road network in Zambia is the worst outside the war zone in Africa.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga:  Mr Speaker, it is so bad that if you go round, you will not be able to achieve what you want. In fact, even if you are talking about tarred roads, for example, on the Copperbelt, it is better for people to walk than to drive because it has become very expensive to drive. The maintenance cost for vehicles has shot up and, also, you will risk being involved in an accident because you have to try to divert from potholes.

Mr Speaker, the late President Mwanawasa had a vision. That is why he decided that they may buy earthmoving equipment. The equipment was bought but what has happened on the Copperbelt is that, after buying the equipment, …

Hon. Government Members interjected.

Mr Mukanga: You are arguing because you are trying to undo what the late President did. You are like the people in the time of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ fed the people, they shouted, “Feed us, feed us” and after feeding them, on the day of crucifixion, the same mouths which said, “Feed us” were saying, “Crucify him.” What type of people are these?

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: President Mwanawasa brought this equipment. When he brought the equipment, he told them to distribute it. In Kantanshi, we were told to go and collect it in May. When we went there, they told us to go there in June. When we went there in June, they told us to go there in September. We went there in September to choose the equipment but there was no fuel. What type of Government is this? We saw, in the budget, that there was K2 billion allocated for this and the people of Kantanshi were eager to see this development. How is this development going to come if you continue to misappropriate funds?

Sir, the Anti-Corruption Commission and Drug Enforcement Commission should not just sit idly. They should visit the central administration in Ndola. There are a lot of funds which are disappearing in thin air and you are saying you are fighting corruption. What type of corruption are you fighting? It is important that you understand what you are talking about. These are issues that affect the lives of the people. If people cannot get access to medical facilities and farming areas, then that is a serious issue. I am not talking about the fighting in Chitambo.

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: I am talking about issues that will change things. The President said, “You know, it is important that you look at how you will spend these resources which are coming from the donors.” I agree with this quite alright. We need to look at these issues seriously because somewhere, there is somebody who sacrifices for you and me, as Zambians. Why should you misappropriate money? This is not acceptable. We need to ensure that this type of money goes where it is intended to. If you just sit here and start saying, “Hear, hear”, you will be wasting your time. People want to see results and not boxers.

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: They want to see results. I do not know whether every time the President speaks about issues, you, as Cabinet Ministers, are able to walk the talk. Why can you not walk the talk? Today, you will say one thing and tomorrow you will do something else. Zambia is a rich country. God gave us this country and if we were able to manage the resources properly, this country could have been transformed from what it is today to a paradise or heaven on earth. Zambia has a lot of resources. Mineral resources and tourist attractions such as waterfalls are there. What else do you need? We have mismanaged this country to an extent where we want to be beggars. Zambia has turned into a very rich man who goes on the street to try and ask for alms. It is not acceptable, especially when we can manage ourselves. Why should we sit on the streets and watch tonnes and tonnes of copper leaving this country everyday? We are seeing copper concentrates leaving this country, and yet we are failing to collect the little tax which we come to discuss in this House.

Sir, we have decided to abolish the windfall tax. It is strange to see people in leadership abolishing things like that. You are giving money to foreigners and their children, leaving your very own. This is not acceptable. We need to change our attitude. These things need to be changed. When you introduced the windfall tax, there was hope in this country because we saw a future. Abolishing windfall tax has killed everything. Now that you have re-introduced valuable tax, which you collect at the end of the year, I am urging this Government to go to the investors, those mine owners, and start negotiating to see whether they are able to pay that money upfront so that we spend it this year.

Sir, while you are doing that, it is important that the Government looks at reducing on what the public says. You should also reduce the Presidential mobility. The President cannot be flying from one country to another, spending money with big entourages. We do not need that.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: We need to reduce that. We do not need to be sending chiefs from the Eastern Province to China using our money. It should not be like that.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: This is just a piece of advice. You need to standardise the type of vehicles that you have in this country. We have all types of makes coming into the country. You should standardise them so that you cut down on costs. You should also right size these vehicles so that you can only use the ones you need.

Mr Speaker, coming to health, the Government has continued to preach about mobile health services. If ‘mobile’ means a hospital on wheels, we are saying no because the roads are bad and there is no human resource. We have a problem already. We do not have drugs in the already-existing clinics. The infrastructure is falling apart. Why should we go in that direction? We need to look at these issues from a more serious angle. The people of Zambia are interested in ambulances and not hearses. Why should we send people to the grave before we can heal them? We do not need that. We need to do first things first. In Zambia, we seem to have mixed up our priorities. What are your priorities? Is it to bury or heal somebody? We need to have a situation as things change. We need to have linen in hospitals such as the Ronald Ross Hospital.

How do you explain the situation at Ronald Ross Hospital where there are no beddings and no BP machines? How do you explain this? This is why, as hon. Members of Parliament, we provided money from the CDF to buy beddings. The reason we are coming in is because you are not working.

Mr Speaker, we need Zambia to have the best hospitals. We need the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) to be transformed into another Morningside Clinic of South Africa. All the people in Zambia want to access proper medical services. They have been seeing people being flown to the Republic of South Africa for treatment, and yet they cannot afford that. I would like to appeal to the Government to ensure that UTH becomes another Morningside Clinic so that everybody is able to access proper health care services. For you to do this, you need to also improve the welfare of the medical staff. The Retention Scheme, in its current form, has failed to perform.

Mr Speaker, I can see that I am behind time. However, I would like to comment that we need ambulances and not hearses. Buying hearses of that kind at US $29, 000 each when it costs US $9,000 in China, is pure corruption and theft. This is why the Government should investigate further and find out where the money went.

You even went further to tell us that maintenance of the hearses should be done in Lusaka. Do you not know that we are spending money on fuel to bring the hearses to Lusaka for maintenance service at every 1,000 kilometres? It is not acceptable. How are the people in Shang’ombo and Kaputa going to manage? There seems to be a problem. You need to ask the person servicing these hearses to be travelling around. It will be cheaper for us as a country. Why are you allowing things which are not done elsewhere to be done here? Why are the wrong things only in Zambia? We even need to reduce the cost of hiring those hearses from what it is to about K20,000, …

Hon. Opposition Member: Or even K10,000.

Mr Mukanga: Yes, even K10,000 so that it is manageable to everyone. People in Kapiri cannot manage to hire a hearse at K300,000.

Mr Lubinda: Even in Kabwata.

Mr Mukanga: Even people in Kabwata cannot manage that amount. We need it at K10,000.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Mukanga: If you do not do this, then you are increasing the burden on the people. Do not pretend. You have no political will to change the living standards of the people and to see what is actually happening and change it. This is why the pact is coming.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: This is why the people want to see the pact in power.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: The so-called chilingalinga is coming.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: One thing about the chilingalinga is that no one can kill this snake because it has two heads.

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: If you try to kill one, the other one strikes.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: No one has ever been known to kill it. It will strike because it has handled every victim on the way and it will handle 2011. It is coming.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development (Ms Cifire): Mr Speaker, I want to look at the speech in terms of maturity and leadership.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, maturity denotes the ability to separate sense from nonsense.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: It separates boys from men and males from women.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, maturity is the ability to analyse problems and find possible solutions to them.

Mr Speaker, for the past few days, I have been listening to the many speakers who have spoken on the speech and I take recognition of Hon. Dr Kalumba’s speech, which he referred to as harmless. This was an intelligent analysis because in its harmlessness, a number of speakers have been able to find sense although they have not been able to find solutions.

Mr Speaker, as a Government, we have consistently exhibited maturity over a number of issues which denotes the type of leadership we have.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, what we have not seen is any alternative from the many speakers on the other side who have instead joined to analyse problems and issues that we are already dealing with.

Mr Speaker, I listened to Hon. Dr Scott’s speech. One has to have some amount of intellect to appreciate what Dr Scott talks about. I have a lot of respect for Dr Scott, but I was expecting some measure of sound reasoning …

Laughter

Ms Cifire: …and I am yet to see that coming through.

Equally, I have heard a lot of protests from the other side, including the speech that came from Hon. Sejani. However, I am still waiting to see the leadership and the solutions that came out of that speech.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, Hon. Munkombwe indicated, in his debate, that leadership is about analysing problems in order to have solutions to them. When this cannot be done, then one is irrelevant. Therefore, from what has come across, and with solutions coming, I see that there is irrelevance that has cropped in.

Mr Speaker, I picked two examples of what has been claimed to be Zambia’s alternative and, clearly, I have probed and seen that this is not possible. Therefore, it is proof that as MMD, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Ms Cifire: …we are here to stay.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Opposition Member: Kuya bebele!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, as I continue with the debate, I would like to apologise to Hon. Brian Sikazwe, who is not in the House. On several occasions, Hon. Sikazwe has tried to show leadership on the alternatives that we need in the energy industry.

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

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, on the Floor of this House, the hon. Member has always talked about geo-thermal energy. Many times he stands up, we laugh and heckle him. It is not until I went to a forum in Maputo that I discovered that our friends have gone a long way in trying to find alternatives to the many problems that they have in the energy industry.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of all hon. Members who may agree with me, I offer this apology to Hon. Sikazwe.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, let me go back to the issue of maturity vis-à-vis leadership.

Mr Lubinda: Also, Sakwiba kaili!

Ms Cifire: Thank you, but Hon. Sakwiba withdrew for some reason.

Mr Lubinda: He is a gong’a.

Ms Cifire: Hon. Lubinda, please do not continue disrupting my speech.

Hon. Government Members: Hammer him!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, we have solutions to most of the problems by the measures we have taken in the energy industry where we have allowed other players in both hydro and other forms of energy to participate. This clearly shows that we know what our problems are and we have solutions to them. I think that, at some point, we were protective of the energy industry, but now we have allowed other people to take part as is shown by the Itezhi-tezhi Project, as well as the Kafue Gorge Lower and other smaller hydro and other forms of energy industries that are coming through.

We have allowed other players to participate in the telecommunications industry. We have also allowed other participants in the rail systems and there are many other examples of people that are coming through.

Sir, coming to my portfolio, we have undertaken to take care of the problems that we have in the youth and child development area by constructing more youth skills centres to avail life skills to our youths.

Mr Speaker, finally, I am also happy to report that since I opened my stables up to female boxers, the sport is doing very well. I have so far recruited another boxer following the promotional bout that was staged at Chitambo.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): I would like to thank you for allowing me to contribute to this very important debate.

Sir, let me start by registering the anguish with which the PF-UPND Pact received the news of the unfortunate demise of our colleagues, late Hon. Hamir and Hon. Tetamashimba.

Mr Speaker, as  all hon. Members know, Hon. Tetamashimba put up a very spirited, alas futile, combat to have me removed from Parliament, along with Hon. Mwamba and the late Hon. Mtonga, on the allegation that we had dual party membership. This notwithstanding, late Hon. Tetamashimba still remained a good friend of mine. Hon. Tetamashimba and I shared many light moments. No doubt, it was very painful to hear Hon. Tetamashimba insinuate that I was in Parliament illegally.

However,   the consequence of his actions became an important and decisive factor in my political career. The ruling of the hon. Mr Speaker, that my colleagues and I were in the House as hon. Member of the PF was, indeed, a defining moment in a number of respects.

Sir, it brought me into a team of progressive women and men…

Mrs Phiri: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: … who were resolute in their quest to provide an incumbent alternative leadership in Zambia. This is a team that seeks the best for every one without regard to their personal selfish egos.

Sir, the second is that it saved me the anguish of campaigning for a Presidential candidate who, himself, was a campaign manager for another Presidential candidate in the same race. It brought to the fore those who were going to be amongst those to form Zambia’s only hope, only redemption and Zambia’s team – the PF/UPND Pact.

HON. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: In this respect, I am grateful to the late Hon. Benny Tetamashimba. No doubt, late Hon. Tetamashimba, mwana mulume, as he used to be called, will be remembered for many reasons by many people. However, many will also remember him for being forthright. Late Hon. Tetamashimba will be remembered for saying it as it was.

Sir, it will be recalled that after the 2008 Presidential by-elections, late Hon. Tetamashimba was quick to admit that he had acquired an important and influential position in Zambia because of his closeness   to the President of the Republic of Zambia. Whereas late Hon. Tetamashimba could say this, there are others in this House who did not dare disclose their authority and influence on the President because they had agendas to use their positions for clandestine activities, which they did not want to disclose. That was not the likes of late Hon. Tetamashimba.

Mr Speaker, may I petition the Lord Almighty to keep the souls of our departed colleagues, late Hon. Hamir and my good friend, late Hon. Tetamashimba, in internal peace.

 Hon. PF Members:  Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker, let me join the President in commending you and your team on not only what the President commended you for, because, for me, what he commended you for  is business as usual - things that you have done so very well over the years. I would like to, also, commend you for very successfully hosting the Sixth SADC Conference of Public Accounts Committee (SADCOPAC) which you handled with honour and dignity. Therefore, you and your team deserve commendation for that.

 Major Chizhyuka: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, you also deserve commendation for successfully hosting the Third African Parliamentarians’ Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Conference here in Lusaka. On that score, let me congratulate you, Mr Speaker, this House and Zambia, generally, for producing the Chairperson for SADCOPAC in the name of Hon. Charles Milupi. He brings honour and dignity to this House by occupying that position.

Sir, some people are made of that expensive material which only gets better the more it is hammered. Therefore, Charles Milupi is one such individual. He is more like vintage wine.

 Major Chizhyuka: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to congratulate Zambians for becoming eligible to receive the Millennium Challenge Co-operation (MCC) support, which my dear friend, the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, spoke about last night. The MCC funding is some colossal US $3.3 billion meant for eighteen countries with an average compact of US $350 million, which is about K1.8 trillion.

Sir, there are countries such as Tanzania which have already received as much as US $698 million from the MCC. Zambia qualified for the MCC in December, 2008 when the control of corruption indicator exceeded the medium for the very first time. Surely, to whom should this achievement be attributed?

Hon UPND Members: To the Government.

Mr Lubinda: Yes! Indeed, to the Government. Given that the indicator was only assessed in December, 2008, but was based on figures of December, 2007, I propose the credit is due to those who were there then.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Those who spoke ferociously against corruption such as the late President, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. May his soul rest in peace. This is a man who championed zero-tolerance to corruption.
 
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Masebo: Wakamba bwino apo!

Mr Lubinda: Secondly, credit is also due to my good friend, the departed Hon. Benny Tetamashimba. It will be remembered that the late Hon. Tetamashimba protested on the Floor of the House, against any persons he thought were corrupt and were trying to assume positions of leadership.

Mrs Masebo: Hear, hear! Wakamba bwino apo!

Mr Lubinda: He vowed never to support them. After he issued his vows, we saw some people scampering in all directions.

 Laughter

Mr Lubinda: He surely, deserves credit.

Mr Speaker, late Hon. Tetamashimba told us, on the Floor of the House, that he was going to reveal what happened during the transaction in which the hearses were purchased. Now that my good friend is dead, I wonder whether Zambians will get to the bottom of that matter. I hope that one day, the spirit of late Hon. Benny Tetamashimba shall rise in one of those colleagues of mine so that they can tell the truth about the difference between the US $29,000 and US $9,000 in the purchase of the hearses. Who pocketed the U$ $20 million that the Zambian people need so desperately?

Mr Speaker, another person who deserves commendation is my very good friend, Hon. Mulongoti. It will be remembered that Hon. Mulongoti was very clear when he spoke about corruption.

Sir, Hon. Mulongoti was quoted in the Daily Mail of 30th November, 2007 as having said:

“Dr Chiluba was found liable of theft of public funds by the London Court and was still appearing in other court cases. That was evident of how bad his regime was. Millions of dollars were not only misappropriated by Government officials but were also stolen by some former leaders who are now masquerading as angels.”

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: Sir, surely Hon. Mulongoti deserved to be put on the list of those who fought corruption.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: The challenge is whether Zambia will remain eligible for the MCC support. This entails continuing to score above the median for all indicators in the following broad areas;

(i) control of corruption;

(ii) ruling justly;

(iii) investing in people; and

(iv) economic freedom or, put otherwise, taking greater responsibility for our own development.

The question is: What are our chances of staying on course? What about the mis-score for failing to control corruption? I want to suggest that this is a tall order under the current circumstances. After the demise of Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and Hon. Benny Tetamashimba mwana mulume, Hon. Mulongoti turned around …

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: … as he was quoted in The Post newspaper of 21st September, 2009 saying as follows:

“We consider the general harmony in the country. Even courts are sensitive to the political situation in the country. You cannot just say jail everyone, no, there is forgiveness and reconciliation. Everything is there. So, Chiluba, whether we like it or not, was President of Zambia. Not everyone hates Chiluba. There are wrong things he did and there also good things he did.”

Laughter

Mr Mushili: Dynamism!

Mr Lubinda: All of a sudden, the very dynamic Hon. Mulongoti had turned around and said, “Yes, there are some good things he did and there are also some bad things he did.” He adds that Dr Chiluba must now go scot-free. With such things happening, keeping on track with the control of corruption shall continue to elude us. One wonders whether we shall continue to be eligible for MCC support.

Sir, what about the second issue which is ruling justly? I wish to pose a question and agree with what my dear friend, the hon. Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development, said. We shall give questions and hope that our colleagues, who fly the flag for the sake of the Zambian people, shall provide the answers. Ours is to challenge them and theirs is to govern.

Let me pose questions so that this may be food for thought for them. Will we qualify under ruling justly when we are governing by threats to the Fourth Estate which is the press? We are intimidating them and telling them unless they do a, b and c, we shall regulate them through statutory measures.

Secondly, is intimidating the Church and calling it a gang of genocide people ruling justly? Is intimidating NGOs ruling justly? Is threatening Opposition leaders commensurate with ruling justly? Is intimidating donors, as we read today in the newspapers and accusing them of fanning problems in the country, ruling justly?

Sir, what about the third score, that of investing in people? Is distributing poverty as evidenced by impoverishing 500,000 small-scale farmers and making them perpetual dependants on the Fertiliser Input Support Programme investing in people? Is the decision of taking away revenue from poor councils so that the money is put straight in the pockets of traders investing in people? Is that serving the farmer? Is that serving the people who are receiving services from the councils? Can that qualify as investing in people?

Is amending the Mines and Minerals Development Act to open up the exploitation of quarry dust and gravel to foreign investors investing in the Zambian people? Is the unbundling of the windfall tax investing in the Zambian people when the money from the extraction industry is being shipped away to build universities in cities outside Africa? Is that investing in Zambian people?

Mr Speaker, I wonder whether locating multi-facility economic zones (MFEZs) in the already over populated cities of Zambia is investing in people at the expense of investing in rural areas where people are begging for jobs. Is that investing in people?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: On the score of economic freedom, we ought to demonstrate that we are taking responsibility for our own development.

Is the revelation by President Banda that the idea of mobile hospitals was proposed to us by some Chinese companies consistent with us having control of our own economic development? No! Do we have any economic freedom when China can literally convert what was a grant for building the Ndola Stadium into a loan? Is that having economic freedom?

Mr Mushili: No!

Mr Lubinda: No! Are we in control when, every year, investors force us to enter into negotiations on when they should or not pay taxes? Are we in control?

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Lubinda: No! Sir, all I can do is wish my dear friends good luck because theirs is a tall order. I do not see any chance, whatsoever, for us accessing the MCC support.

Mr Speaker, as I end, let me ask: Is it worthwhile for the President to come here and talk about infrastructure development in 2008 and yet a colossal amount of K8 billion of taxpayers’ money was invested in Kabwata on six roads which are not completed? Now the rain is around the corner and all the gravel that they put on those roads is bound to be washed away. Next year, again, the people of Kabwata will demand that their roads be tarred and, again, another K32 billion will have to be sourced. Will you say that this is an economical Government? Is this a Government of effective men and women?

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Dr Scott: Face them!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, I wish to urge the Zambian people not to lose heart because not all is lost. For in this House sits men and women whose only dream is to give hope to the Zambian people …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: … and to ensure that we give back to the Zambian people that sense of patriotism and joy when they will stand and sing not only ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ but they will sing ‘One Zambia, One Nation and One Law,” a country where criminals shall be treated as such …

Mrs Phiri: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: …irrespective of their history and what they have done for us.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for allowing me to, also, add my voice to this debate regarding the President’s Speech when he opened this Session of Parliament.

Sir, I wish to join you in welcoming back hon. Members of Parliament to this House. I can tell from the way the debates are going - with lots of gusto and exuberance - that the hon. Members are ready and able to deliberate and contribute to the business of the House.

Mr Speaker, I wish to say that the change in the Budget Cycle will be a waste of time if we will still lack in our execution. One weakness I have seen with our Government is in the area of execution and implementation. We are very good at rolling out elaborate plans, spending millions on workshops and coming up with fifth national development plans and now we are going to the sixth one but immediately it is made, it goes in the drawer and implementation is poor and that has been the problem for a long time now.

Mr Speaker, I am sceptical about this Budget Cycle change. We can even change it to start in October so that we have three months with which to start but if the implementation and execution do not change, this will be a sheer waste of time. William Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet, states that a ‘Rose called by any other name will still smell sweet’, meaning that if we give cosmetic attention or just window dress a bad thing, it will still remain the same animal and, so, unless we change the execution and implementation of our plans, this change in the Budget Cycle will just be a waste of time.

Mr Speaker, I expected the President, in his speech, to talk about an issue he raised in his last speech. He said Zambia was for all Zambians and that all Zambians should be equal and should be treated fairly. On this one, I refer to something I debated in the last speech on equitable distribution of resources in our country. Considering that this has not improved, I expected the President to comment on it because our friends on your right choose the way they distribute resources. When it comes to fixing roads on the Copperbelt, our roads are in a deplorable state and we have been asking for money to fix the roads but we are told that there is no money and that we should use the CDF. Our colleagues on your right do not use the CDF but get resources from the Central Government.

Mr Speaker, I am on record as asking for money to fix two bridges in my constituency but I have been told that there is no money, but our colleagues on the right are able to access funds. My Colleague, Hon. Mulyata, from Western Province has sourced K300 million for a bridge but I only wanted K40 million for bridges, which I was not given but, instead, I was asked to use the CDF. I thank the Government that the roads in my constituency were advertised and after we got a contractor we were told that there is no money. How come there is money for my colleagues to do roads?

Mr Speaker, I will give an example of Chipata which has had all its roads redone at a colossal sum of money. As I am speaking, Chipata has applied for city status. I am not despising Chipata and what it has done but Nchanga, which contributes more than 50 per cent of the foreign exchange earnings in this country, has its roads in a deplorable state.

Mr Speaker, Chingola was, at one time, the cleanest town in Zambia but, as I speak, it is the second dirtiest on the Copperbelt and that makes me sad as a Member of Parliament. When I tell the Government that they are neglecting the richest constituency in this country, I am told there is no money. Is it because we belong to the Opposition? That is the challenge I would like to make to this Government. Just because a certain area of this country belongs to the Opposition should not be the reason for resources to be withheld or Members of Parliament from those areas to appear not to be working. I wished the President had said that again so that our colleagues on your right are reminded to distribute resources equitably.

Mr Speaker, on the Copperbelt, the only place where you find anything happening is in Lufwanyama, Mpongwe and Masaiti because that is where the ruling party is found. I would like to say that we need to look at this critically.

Mr Speaker, I would like to comment on the overview of the speech. I would like to say that the speech by the President did not inspire the confidence, direction or vision that such a speech is supposed to. The President is the commander or the general trying to rally his troops to go in a certain direction to achieve a certain goal. In that sense, I expected the President to come and tell us that this is the direction we are going and what we are trying to achieve.

Mr Speaker, in saying this, I am referring to the vision that this country subscribes to and I am saying that I adopt some of the debates that have gone on in this House as my own. As a country, we are following the Vision 2030, the vision which says that Zambia shall be a middle income status country by the year 2030 and it has recognised that science and technology was the engine us forward to drive to achieve this.

Mr Speaker, on this vision, the late President Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, may his soul rest in peace, said that this country was going to be driven by this vision so that we achieve it. In achieving the vision, all the hon. Ministers and the President should tell me where we are, as a country, with respect to the Vision 2030. Have we achieved it by 20 per cent, 1 per cent or even 50 per cent?

Mr Speaker, in achieving a vision, once it is set, we need, as a country, to define what is meant by a middle income country as our desired state. A middle income country should, for example, have people owning ten vehicles. Since we are talking about science and technology, we should not just think of agriculture and mining as industries recognised to drive this vision. It is science and technology and as a country we should say, middle incomeness equals ten vehicles per person and one scientist per 1,000 people and that people should have two meals a day.

Mr Speaker, I have not heard of anyone giving a definition of what we mean by middle income status and I would like to challenge the hon. Ministers and His Excellency the President to define that. We should also define what is known as a baseline. We should ask where we are now since the Vision 2030 started. We should define the baseline and once that is done, we should look at the expected state and the baseline so that we put a time line and between that, we put what we call some beacons and some places where we can be measuring benchmarks.

Mr Speaker, from the time we talked about this Vision 2030, including the Fifth National Development Plan which the President talked about, we should have referred to benchmarks to see where we are. If we have not achieved it, we should be able to say why this is so. After doing that, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, who is responsible for the resources, should allow the resources to achieve this vision because that is the way we achieve visions. Then, when the commander comes to rally the troops, he should re-align the troops to achieve the vision.

Mr Speaker, I was amazed that the commander of the forces, who is the Head of State, did not even refer to where we are in the vision. I was disappointed and came to one conclusion that the President of the Republic of Zambia does not believe in this Vision 2030 because if he did, he would have spoken about it with passion and he would have rallied this nation to achieve this vision.

Mr Speaker, I propose that we scrap this Vision 2030 and come up with one which we believe in as a nation and which we can follow, align and achieve. What is happening now is that we parrot a Vision 2030 which we do not believe in and when we come to implementation, we go in the direct opposite direction.

Mr Speaker, on the resources, I challenge you that, when the Minister of Finance and National Planning comes to give his budget, you will find that the resources will go in the opposite direction. This nation has been split apart and we are not going forward because we have a misaligned vision which we do not believe in.

Mr Speaker, in that sense, I was very sceptical when the President talked about the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP), that it is coming to an end and now we are going into the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP). As a nation, I am afraid we are not making progress because the FNDP has not even been assessed as to whether it is successful or not. From the research I have done, the FNDP has not achieved its purpose because we are going to spend billions of kwacha and many hours to come up with the SNDP which is equally going to be useless. As a nation, I want us to revise this vision so that we come up with a vision that we can believe in and achieve.

Mr Speaker, I would like to talk about mining. I will only talk about the thing which is in my heart, mining. My debate would not be complete without talking about mining. I am a Member of Parliament from Nchanga Constituency which holds the largest mining shares in this country, contributing over 50 per cent to the foreign exchange earnings in this country and I am the Chairperson of this portfolio in my party, the Patriotic Front, which is in a formidable pact with the UPND.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa: The pact is poised to take over Government in 2011.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, I have been listening to the debate with interest and I have been wondering why my colleagues on your right are so preoccupied with this pact. Why are they so hell bent on having it destroyed or discredited? I realise one thing. It is because they have seen and they have known that the Zambian people have seen a real alternative to the Government of this country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa: They have seen that the Zambian people have recognised that this is a real alternative that can bring the change they so desire. That is what is worrying my colleagues on the other side.

Interruptions

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, I would like to advise them that they should work hard in the short period they have remained with.

Mr Speaker, I am still speaking about mining and I wish to express the sadness that is, indeed, in my heart on this issue. My colleague, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, came to this House and told the people that, as a Government, they are doing fine and the mines are doing fine. What does he mean when he says they are performing well? When you come to the Copperbelt, particularly in my constituency, which is the mine township, you will find that more than three quarters of the people are without employment. For them to have a meal, it is a challenge. When they go to the shops to buy mealie-meal, it is K75,000 a bag. If you go to their houses, most of them have no electricity. Why? It is because they cannot afford to pay ZESCO bills and, so, they were disconnected. If you go to most of the houses, they do not have water. Why? They cannot afford to pay water bills any no longer.

Hon. Opposition Member: Shame!

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, when you look in their eyes, they are full of despair because they do not know where to go next and we are not talking about, maybe, another area, but about the place that houses the largest mining enterprise in this country. In the mining townships, there is despair because there are no jobs for them to get the next income and yet, he says that the Copperbelt is doing fine. What does he mean? In those days, we used to call the miners as ba shimaini. One was proud to be called a shimaini. In those days, on a pay day, you would find a miner going into a bar and buying beer for everybody because he had money as a shimaini. Those days, in Chingola, there are was chilindi in Nchanga where, at the month end, ba namaini, the wives of miners and everyone, would go and buy clothes and everything, but all that is gone. That pride of belonging to and working in the mine is gone and it has been displaced by despair.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister says that the Copperbelt is doing fine. That is the result of reckless implementation of policies which we keep telling the Government to correct. There is no job security even for those who are working. There was a reference made by the Chinese that they have bought the mine in Luanshya. So, those full-time employees have been given six months’ contracts and we were told that, in December, they would become full time contracts.

Mr Speaker, what is the guarantee because, for example, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) had put its employees on contract for two years, and less than six months later, their contracts were terminated without even fulfilling all the conditions. What guarantee does the miner have? Right now, as I am talking, KCM is introducing a system known as ‘hiving out’ certain functions. What it means is that, for example, Chingola COP D and COP F  mining pits has been hived off to a contractor called U and M. Another contractor Moom and Brothers, from South Africa, is coming and they are hiving off another pit to them. Vedanta have advertised in the international media that they want to hive off the concentrator. That is the East Mill and West Mill. They are also going to hive off the mine garage.

Mr Speaker, what this means is that they will come with their own employees and those that they will find will be irrelevant and made redundant. What is happening at the moment is that employees from the Nchanga Open Pit are being redeployed. Those who used to drive tractors have now been taken to go and spray against malaria or to start sweeping around. They are worried because there is no job security. It means that at any time they can lose their jobs although we have been assured that, this year, there will be no job losses. However, I am expecting an announcement that some miners will be redeployed and some will be declared redundant. They will be thrown out on the streets and they will come crying to me as area Member of Parliament. It means that on the Copperbelt, right now, even those who are working are not secure because there is no job security and there is despair. And the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development comes here and tells us that everything is okay on the Copperbelt. That I refuse to accept and I would like the Government to look at it critically.

Mr Speaker, I would like to say that my colleagues on your right always try very hard to paint a rosy picture that everything is okay and that we are doing fine as a nation. However, I would like to tell my colleagues and the Zambians that Zambia can do far much better than we are doing now. This is not the best. Look at the way God has blessed us with mineral resources like emeralds, copper and cobalt which you cannot find anywhere else apart from Zambia. Even if you go round the world you will not find such emeralds apart from Zambia. People pay hundreds and thousands of dollars just to buy those emeralds. You will not find the coal we have in Maamba anywhere else. It is high grade coal at 5 to 6 per cent ash. As far as resources are concerned, you cannot compare Zambia with these other countries, including the United Kingdom, where we all run to when we have problems.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa: Japan, which we are so envious of, cannot be compared to Zambia because that is a hilly island.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear1

Mr Simuusa; Mr Speaker, look at how God has blessed this nation with resources which you cannot find anywhere else in the world except here in Zambia and yet, we are ranked amongst the poorest countries. This country has over 80 per cent poverty and that is a shame. That is why I refuse when this Government tells us that we are doing fine. No, we are not doing fine. Zambia can do better and that is why my colleagues said the pact is coming.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simuusa: Mr Speaker, upon taking over, the people of Zambia will realise that, indeed, it is true that this country, based on the way we are blessed, can do much better. After ninety days, the Zambians will realise that we …

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Simuusa: … would have done better than this.

Interruptions

Mr Simuusa: They are going to sit down and cry over the wasted years and say, “Oh, how foolish we were! Had we realised earlier, we would have made a change.” Enough is enough and I would like my colleagues as well to realise and say enough is enough. Let us not cheat ourselves and let us not paint a picture just to make people happy, that we are doing fine. We are not doing fine.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr V. Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this very important debate and, to start with, I would like to join many other hon. Members of Parliament who have expressed their condolences over the death of our former Chairman of Information and Publicity in the ruling party, the MMD, Hon. Benny Tetamashimba.

Mr Speaker: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

The House adjourned at 1255 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 6th Tuesday, 2009.

 

APPENDIX TO QUESTION NO. 87

Approved projects by Districts and Beneficiaries as at 31st August, 2009

Districts Youths Women HIV/AIDS People Living With Others   
    Disabilities

Chibombo 0 0 0 0    1 1
Kabwe Urban 2 3 0 1    8 14
Kapiri Mposhi 0 0 0 0    1 1
Mkushi 0 1 0 0    1 1
Mumbwa 0 0 0 0    1 1
Chililabombwe 0 1 0 0    0 1
Kalulushi 1 0 0 0    1 2
Kitwe 0 0 0 0    4 4
Luanshya 0 0 0 0    1 1
Ndola Urban 4 1 0 0 6 11
Chipata 3 3 1 0  11 18
Nyimba 0 1 0 0    0 1
Kawambwa 1 0 0 0    0 1
Mansa 0 0 1 0    2 3
Nchelenge 1 1 0 0    1 3
Samfya 0 0 0 0    4 4
Chongwe 0 0 0 0    1 1
Kafue 1 0 0 0    5 6
Lusaka Urban 7 11 1 0  20 39
Chinsali 0 1 0 0    0 1
Kaputa 0 0 0 0    1 1
Kasama 1 2 0 0  10 13
Mbala 0 0 0 0    2 2
Mpika 0 1 0 0    0 1
Nakonde 0 0 0 0    2 2
Mwinilunga 0 0 0 0     1 1
Solwezi 1 7 0 1     5 14
Zambezi 1 0 0 0     0 1
Choma 0 1 0 0     0 1
Kalomo 0 0 0 0     1 1
Kazungula 0 2 0 0     3 5
Livingstone 2 3 0 0     5 10
Mazabuka 0 0 0 0     3 3
Sinazongwe 0 0 0 0     1 1
Kalabo 0 1 0 0     0 1
Kaoma 1 0 0 0     1 2
Mongu 3 2 0 0     6 11
Senanga 0 1 0 0     2 3

Total 29 43 3 2 110 187