DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 6th August 2008

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

____

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

FUEL SITUATION OBTAINING IN THE COUNTRY

The Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Konga): Madam Speaker, I feel privileged, once again, to be allowed to address this august House on the fuel situation obtaining in the country. This statement is aimed at providing a brief on the fuel supply situation to the nation through this august House. As I mentioned yesterday, energy is an important input in virtually all productive processes and, as such, its availability in sufficient quantities and quality for this purpose cannot be over-emphasised.

Madam Speaker, you will recall that yesterday I informed the House that, in an effort to improve the energy sector, the Government adopted a new energy policy in November, 2007, in order to make it responsive to the challenges not only facing the energy sector, but the national and global economy as well.

Madam Speaker, allow me now to provide this House with a brief on the current status of the petroleum sub-sector.

As Members of this august House are aware, the petroleum sub-sector provides one of the greatest challenges for the world economy due to the ever increasing price of oil on the international market. The cost of oil on the international market has increased in the last few years as follows:

(i) In 2005 from US$39 to US$58 per barrel;

(ii) in 2006 from US$58 to US$70 per barrel;

(iii) in 2007 from US$70 to US$90 per barrel; and

(iv) just until the middle of this  year, the price of petroleum products has increased from US$90 to over US$147 per barrel up to the end of the month of June.

Madam Speaker, I am aware that the price has reduced now as we speak, to about US$120 a barrel, but it is not known whether this reduction will continue or be sustained. The increase in international prices has definitely had an effect on the price of fuel on the local Zambian market. A 90,000 metric tonne cargo of crude oil feedstock, for example, cost US$71 million in December, 2007 compared to about US$110 million in July 2008, an increase of over 64 per cent over a seven month period.

 Madam Speaker, in order to mitigate the rising prices, the Government provided a subsidy on fuel from October 2007 to the end of June 2008. The value of the subsidy averaged K21 billion per month from the Treasury. From April to June 2008, the value of this subsidy was reduced by 50 per cent. In late June 2008, the Government decided to remove the subsidy totally and instead reduce excise duty on petroleum products as follows:

(i) On diesel excise duty was reduced from 30 per cent to 15 per cent;

(ii) for petrol excise duty was reduced from 60 per cent to 45 per cent; and

(iii) duty on domestic kerosene was completely eliminated from 15 per cent to zero.

The removal of the subsidy, Madam Speaker, was due to the fact that it was not possible to sustain the subsidy in the face of the ever increasing prices of petroleum products on the international market. The Government, therefore, thought that the reduction of taxes was a more sustainable way of dealing with the issue.

Madam Speaker, the Government has undertaken all these measures with a view to cushioning fuel consumers. However, the impact of increasing prices can only be mitigated as no Government in the world has been able to reduce the price of fuel, as the factors leading to these increases are beyond the control of non-oil producing countries like Zambia.

Madam Speaker, members of this august House will also recall that the Government started procuring petroleum feedstock in September, 2007. Prior to that, the country experienced frequent shortages of fuel. Since that time, the fuel supply situation has improved progressively with the Government engaging a supplier for a two year period.

On the other hand, the demand for fuel has continued to increase due to the growth in the economy and thanks to the good policies of the New Deal Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Mr Konga: The demand for diesel, for example, increased by 30 per cent between January and May 2008. The challenge, therefore, has been the need to balance an improving fuel supply situation and this phenomenal growth in fuel demand. For example, from a demand of 1 million litres of diesel daily in 2007, the current demand is about 1,600,000 litres daily. This is expected to rise to 2 million litres daily within the next six months.

Madam Speaker, this situation led to the refinery being short of feedstock during the second week of July, 2008. With this situation obtaining, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were advised, in early June, to import diesel to bridge the supply gap. The Government, therefore, has fully responded to the conditions that led to the sudden increase in the consumption of fuel products and corrective measures have since been taken.

It is actually surprising that right now some stakeholders are demanding that the Government pulls out of oil procurement and leaves it to Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited while a few months ago, the demand was the opposite. You will recall that a few months ago members of the public were asking the Government to take charge of the process. I can confirm that the Government’s stand on this matter is that it will continue to take charge of the procurement process as long as this is beneficial to the fuel supply security of the country.

As members of the public are aware, another 90,000 metric tonnes of crude oil arrived in the country on 2nd August, 2008. As I speak, Indeni is putting in place logistics to start refining the shipment. This consignment will last until early September when the refinery goes on an annual maintenance shutdown from 13th September to 13th October, 2008.

It will be necessary to shut down the refinery in September, 2008, so as to continue to improve its reliability and operational efficiency. To this effect, arrangements have already been put in place for the importation of finished products during the period the refinery will be on a maintenance shutdown. The next shipment has already been ordered to arrive during the first week of October, 2008, in time for the resumption of the refinery’s operations.

With the increasing demand for fuel, the Government will shorten the interval between shipments so as to ensure that the fuel supply on the local market is not interrupted. Another option available is to increase the size of each shipment to 120,000 metric tonnes, which option is provided for in the contract the Government signed with the Independent Petroleum Group (IPG), Zambia’s current supplier.

Madam Speaker, as hon. Members may be aware, the Government and Total, the two shareholders in the Indeni refinery, are implementing a five year US$65 million recapitalisation programme in the refinery. So far, the programme has led to the following positive developments:

(a) Reduction in unplanned shutdowns. Prior to the commencement of this programme, the refinery was very unreliable as it would shut down at any time. This improved reliability of the refinery has helped stabilise the supply of fuel in Zambia as it is now possible to properly plan for oil shipment purchases.

(b) The refinery losses have reduced from highs of up to 16 per cent to less than 10 per cent. Of course, the normal loss rate for this refinery is 7 per cent. However, this is a big improvement brought about by the recapitalisation programme.

(c) As this august House will recall, it took Zambia many years, contrary to international agreements, to phase out leaded petrol by December, 2005. It has been possible to phase out lead in petrol by March, 2008, since the refinery is now able to produce unleaded petrol. As I have said, this ability to produce unleaded petrol is as a result of the Government’s recapitalisation programme in Indeni refinery.

As a way to continue modernising the refinery, the current shareholders have both agreed to offload 30 per cent of their combined shares to a strategic partner in the refinery. Modalities for doing this are being developed so that the partner can be brought on board as soon as possible.

As a long term measure, the Government is also investigating the feasibility of installing additional components at the refinery, including a hydro-cracker as well as a desulphuriser. However, to do this, a comprehensive study for the whole sub-sector is to be carried out this year to ensure that decisions to be taken will not only have short but long-term benefits for the country.

Madam Speaker, hon. Members of the House will recall that the Government has also been working on a programme to have strategic fuel reserves. The main constraints to implementing this programme have been the inadequacy of storage facilities. As a way to improve storage, a 40,000 metric tonnes tank to store diesel is being constructed and will be available by early 2009. Further, the Government will soon start rehabilitating its fuel depots in all the provincial centres as well as the Ndola Fuel Terminal.  As I speak, efforts are underway to transfer the Ndola Fuel Terminal from the liquidator of the Zambia National Oil Company (ZNOC) to the Government. With these measures, it will be possible for the Government to budget for the purchase of strategic fuel stocks in the 2009 Budget.

As hon. Members may recall, it has also been the desire of the Government to implement a national uniform price for fuel. This programme will only be possible when there is sufficient storage in the provinces. The measures I have highlighted above will, therefore, help in this respect.

With the above measures, the Government is confident that a vibrant petroleum sub-sector will continue to be developed in this country for the benefit of the economy.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, Hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement made by the hon. Minister of Energy and Water Development.

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Madam Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. Minister is somersaulting. In the previous sitting, he came with a ministerial statement assuring this House that the shortage of fuel would be a thing of the past.

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Now, I would like to find out whether or not he is the same Minister who gave the statement. I would like him to confirm.

Laughter.

Mr Konga: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for that question. I proudly confirm that I made that statement last sitting. That statement still stands as I speak today.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Konga: I assured the nation that despite Indeni Petroleum Refinery shutting down, there would be fuel on the market …

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Konga: … and fuel is available on the market. So, my statement has not changed at all. Hon. Members of the House must know that Indeni is only a refinery which refines commingled products. It is also possible to import finished products and supply the market. The market cannot notice the difference because at the terminal for fuel, it is the same diesel, petrol and kerosene. So, my statement is still as valid as it was when I last made it.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba (Isoka West): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out how far his ministry has gone with plans to create a reservoir in Mpika in Northern Province so that fuel prices in the remotest part of Northern Province can be reduced. I want to find out when the Government is going to carry out these plans.

Mr Konga: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for that question. I would like, first of all, to dispel the misconception that by putting a depot in Mpika, the cost of petroleum products on the international market will come down. It will not. I think I always request hon. Members to be attentive when I am giving a statement. I did indicate that the Government is working on having a uniform national petroleum price. I just said that in the statement. I hope the hon. Member heard that statement. This will be realised by the measures which the Government is taking of rehabilitating storage facilities in the provincial or nearest provincial centres, where it is feasible, so that the prices of petroleum products will not vary significantly from one part of the country to the other. Once these measures are put in place, we intend to have reduced prices in all parts of the country because the Government will put in place measures to ensure that prices do not fluctuate significantly from one part of the country to the other.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwenzi): Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the erratic supply of fuel has resulted in a lot of street vendors selling fuel which is not checked?

Mr Konga: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. First of all, I would like to say that I do not understand the phrase, “erratic supply” because when hon. Members go to filling stations, there is fuel. I do not know what this “erratic supply” means.

Secondly, if the hon. Member is aware of people who are supplying or selling sub-standard petroleum products, I would encourage him to give me the location of these vendors and or report them to the Energy Regulation Board which is the regulator of all petroleum products.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Phiri (Munali): Madam Speaker, I am sure the New Deal Government is aware that the fluctuating price of fuel is adversely affecting everybody in this country. I would like to find out if they are thinking of increasing salaries across the board for workers and students because everyone has been affected by the resultant increase in the price of food.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Konga: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for that question from the hon. Member for Munali. I said in my statement that Zambia is a non-oil producing country. All the petroleum products that Zambia uses are imported. Zambia, as a country, has no control over the price of fuel on the international market and, therefore, if food production is affected, it is all sectors of the economy that are affected. The Government, if you listened carefully, had put in place measures to mitigate the rising cost of fuel by subsidising the cost of this product. Considering that subsidies are not tenable, the Government has decided to reduce taxes. By reducing taxes, the cost of fuel should come down and members of the public should benefit from that.

We intend, as a Government, to stimulate economic growth so that people can have more disposable income and are able to manage their lives better. We have put in place all the necessary measures, like the reduction of taxes, for members of the public to take advantage of. They should not just be driving around, but use the fuel for productive purposes.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sejani (Mapatizya): Madam Speaker, on average, the hon. Minister makes statements on fuel twice every two months. The blinding frequency with which you deliver these statements on fuel is an indication that things are not well. Will you concede that, in fact, the fuel sector is in trouble, hon. Minister?

Hon. Opposition Member: Yah!

Mr Konga: Thank you Madam Speaker. Hon. Members of the House, please, pay attention to my statements.

Interruptions

Mr Konga:  I have presented this statement to tell you how fuel prices on the international market have changed from 2005 to date and you have gathered nothing from this information. As a responsible Minister, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear! Hear!

Mr Konga: … I must inform the citizens about these constant fluctuations.

Hon. Government Members: Hear!

Mr Konga: I must constantly inform the public about what is obtaining because some of them might not know. It is my responsibility to inform the public about these constant changes. The change from US$39 dollars to US$147 dollars a barrel is not a small change as this is over 100 per cent. Would you like to be kept in the dark about these changes, hon. Members?

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Thank you very much Madam Speaker. In his statement, the hon. Minister put a condition that the Government must first create storage facilities before it can implement uniform petroleum prices across the country. Now, his predecessor and others before have stood on the Floor of this House over the last five years and talked about how quickly the Government would make the prices in the urban and rural areas uniform. Considering the huge increases in the price of fuel, the people in the rural areas are suffering greatly because it costs much more there. Is coming up with new conditions, in each ministerial statement, that must be met before the people in the rural areas can get some relief an attempt by this Government to try to delay the assurance that they would move with haste to make the prices of fuel in the rural and urban areas uniform?

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Konga: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Luapula for that observation. First of all, I want to categorically state that the Government does not want to misinform the public or put new conditions at all. Even previously, I think we have talked about improving the storage facilities to facilitate the attainment of a uniform price. Since we are the people’s representatives in this august House, I am going to request all of us to assume the responsibility of, first and foremost, being factual in that all the activities we intend to undertake have a cost. It will be very difficult for me to assure the House that I shall take fuel to a filling station in Chipata from the refinery at Ndola at the same cost because the refinery is in Ndola and there is a cost of transportation to Chipata.

What I am trying to undertake is the rehabilitation of the storage facilities in Chipata, for instance, so that I can find means of bulk supplying so that the filling stations in Chipata can have a short distance to travel to access the fuel. That way, it will be easy to effect uniform prices. If I assure the House that I will take fuel from Ndola and disregard the cost of transportation, I think I would be doing this country a disservice.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwansa (Chifunabuli): Madam Speaker, it is common knowledge that Zambia is not the only country which is landlocked in the region. It is also common knowledge that the fuel prices in Zambia are the highest in the region. Can the hon. Minister concede that the reason for the high prices is the huge tax on petroleum products in this country.

Mr Munaile: That is true. That is a fact. Mwikana nokukana.

Mr Konga: Madam Speaker, it could be true that the cost of fuel in Zambia is higher than in neighbouring countries. There are various factors that contribute to this with transportation being one of them. Some of the countries in the region are closer to the sources of these petroleum products whereas for Zambia you have to pump the products close to 2000 km inland.

 The issue of tax could be another factor, but as you have just heard from my statement, the tax on kerosene is zero, the tax on diesel is 15 percent and petrol …

Dr Machungwa: There are other taxes. Excise duty!

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Konga: I have mentioned the Excise duty on diesel and petrol. At the last sitting, hon. Members of the House approved the revenue measures which should go towards helping address the challenges this country is facing. How do we hope to develop and perform the various activities in the country if we do not have the resources from tax? We need to balance our receipts with our expenditure. 
The issue of tax should also be looked at with regard to the question that was asked yesterday; the gini-coefficient. This is because our productivity as a country and, therefore, our touch base is far less than many other countries in the region. However, at the end of the day, this country still needs resources to develop and work on the hospitals and roads in the constituencies.

Hon. Oppositions Members: Ahh!

Mr Konga: This money must come from somewhere. Therefore, for the Government to totally remove taxes will mean that we will not undertake development.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr C. K. Banda, SC (Chasefu): Madam Speaker, a simple question for the hon. Minister this time around. May he kindly tell the House which supplier the Government has engaged to supply fuel on a two year contract and the cost of this to the country.

Mr Konga: Madam Speaker, I will repeat my earlier statement that, please, listen when I am speaking. This is because I said that the Government has engaged the Independent Petroleum Group of Kuwait to supply fuel on a two year contract. The total cost for this at that time was supposed to be US$1.4 billion, but we expect this figure to go up due to the increase in prices on the international market.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Madam Speaker, what incentives have been put in place to attract investors to invest in filling stations in rural areas.

Mr Konga: Madam Speaker, fuel supply or oil marketing in rural areas is like any other business obtaining in the country. If there are any special incentives, those could be derived from the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) at the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. Therefore, I would like to encourage the hon. Member to visit the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry for specific incentives if there any that they require.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_________{mospagebreak}

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

COMPOSITION OF ZCCM-INVESTMENT HOLDINGS BOARD

234. Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

(a) what the composition of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings Board (ZCCM-IH) was;

(b) when the Board was constituted; and

(c) what the Board’s tenure of office was.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the House as follows:

The Composition of the ZCCM-IH Board is as follows:

Name Position on the Institution Date of 
 Board  Appointment

Mr A. J. Lungu Chairman Private Sector 20th April, 2007

Mr C. E. Chibiliti Member Ministry of Finance 
  And National Planning 28th April, 2006

Mr L. Nkhata Member Ministry of Mines and 
  Minerals Development 28th February, 2006

Mr P. Mumba Member Ministry of Energy and 
  Water Development 20th December, 2007

Dr D. H. Kalyalya Member Bank of Zambia 11th November, 2002

Mrs L. I. Ng’andu Member Zambia Revenue 
  Authority 30th August, 2004

Mr O. B. 
Munyenyembe Member Recommended by Mines 
  Workers Union of Zambia
  And National Union of 
  Miners and Allied Workers 8th August, 2006

Madam Speaker, with regard to part (b) of the question, the ZCCM-IH Board was constituted in 2000 by the Government upon completion of the privatisation programme. Membership of the Board has been drawn from the following institutions. Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Ministry of Energy and Water Development, Bank of Zambia, Zambia Revenue Authority and Mine Workers Union of Zambia. Vacancies on this board are filled as they are created.

In response to part (c) of the question, the tenure of office is not specified in the company’s Articles of Association as members are drawn from their substantive positions in specific ministries or organisations. Their tenure on the ZCCM-IH Board lasts for the duration that they continue to hold their respective offices.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Speaker, you will notice that only two board members are from the private sector. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether they have any intentions of increasing the number of Board Members from the private sector.

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Dr Mwansa): Madam Speaker, the Articles of Association specify that there shall be not more than eight and not less than seven members of the board. Currently, there are seven members of the board. We believe that this number is adequate, but if need arises in future to increase the number of board members, we can do that. However, for the time being, we think that the number eight is adequate.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to explain what tenure is related to the company’s Articles and to performance. What would be the responsibility of the major stakeholder in dealing with specific performance so that our investment is protected?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Mwansa: Madam Speaker, it is difficult to understand the question, but …

Laughter

Dr Mwansa: … if the hon. Member wanted to know whether the members of the board are competent to secure national interests, we can categorically say, yes, they are very competent and experienced individuals from very important institutions of our country. The chairman is from the private sector. There are three permanent secretaries, one member from the labour union and another one from the Bank of Zambia. Therefore, we think that they are very credible individuals from very important institutions.

I thank you, Madam.

CARBON TAX

235. Mr Lubinda (Kabwata) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning:

(a) when the Carbon Tax on foreign registered vehicles entering Zambia was introduced;

(b) what the chargeable tax rate at the introduction of the Carbon Tax was and how it had progressed since then; and

(c) what the total collection or potential collection from Carbon Tax had been since its introduction, year by year.

The Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr Shakafuswa): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for asking this question because he is being consistent. I know that it is out of the kuli bonesha ta attitude that he has asked this question. This is because he gave up smoking recently and when we were in the House, he insisted that we put a Carbon Tax on cigarettes so that we can protect our environment. Therefore, I would like to thank him and give him credit for that.

Mr Sichilima: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that Carbon Tax was introduced in the 2006 Budget. Of course, Hon. Lubinda wants me to say …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Through the Chair!

Mr Shakafuswa: … that he was part and parcel of the introduction of this tax and that is why he has asked this question.

Laughter

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, the chargeable rates at the introduction of the Carbon Tax were as follows:

Motor Vehicle Price

Motor Cycles K50,000

Motor Vehicles with engine capacity below 1500cc K50,000

Motor Vehicles with engine capacity between 1501cc to 2000cc K100,000

Motor Vehicles with engine capacity between 2001cc to 3000 K150,000
Motor Vehicles with engine capacity above 3000cc  K200,000.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the progression, no changes have been made to the chargeable rates since the introduction of the tax.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the total collection or potential collection from Carbon Tax since its introduction, I wish to inform the House that in 2006, K7.2 billion was collected, while K9.7 billion was collected in 2007. The estimated collection for this year, 2008, is K10.8 billion.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

REFUGEES INVESTIGATED, PROSECUTED AND SENTENCED FOR AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AND MURDER IN 2007

236. Mr Lubinda (Kabwata) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many refugees were investigated for aggravated robbery and murder in Zambia in 2007; and

(b) how many of the refugees at (a) above were prosecuted and how many were sentenced.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Ms Njapau): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that six refugees were investigated for murder. However, nobody was investigated for aggravated robbery. Of the six refugees investigated, four were sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour, while the other two are still being prosecuted and have continued to appear in the courts of law.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

FOOD SUPPLIERS TO THE POLICE FORCE NOT PAID FROM 2003 TO 2008

237. Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many food suppliers had not been paid for the food they supplied to the Zambia Police Force from 2003 to-date; and

(b) how many of the suppliers at (a) above had been paid for the food they supplied from January, 2006 to-date.

Ms Njapau: Madam Speaker, I wish to state that 505 suppliers were not paid during this period due to incomplete supporting documents. However, following proper verification of documents, 273 suppliers have been paid for the food supplied from January 2006 to-date.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Kapeya: Madam Speaker, could the hon. Deputy Minister inform this House why some suppliers for 2006 have not yet been paid while some suppliers for this year, 2008, have been paid.

Ms Njapau: Madam Speaker, as I answered earlier, we cannot pay the suppliers without carrying out a verification of documents. Once we complete verification, we will pay them.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, could the hon. Deputy Minister indicate the reasons for the delayed payments to the suppliers.

Ms Njapau: Madam Speaker, I wonder if the hon. Member was listening because I think I have answered that question.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

ZAMBIAN AND NON-ZAMBIAN RUN SAFARI LODGES

238. Mr Kapeya (Mpika Central) asked the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources:

(a) how many safari lodges were run by the following people in both national parks and game management areas country-wide:

(i) Zambians; and

(ii) Non-Zambians; and 
 
(b) how much revenue the Government earned annually from the lodges at (a) above.  

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Ms Tembo): Madam Speaker, the number of safari lodges run by Zambians in national parks and game management areas country-wide is twenty-seven. The number of safari lodges run by non-Zambians in national parks and game management areas country-wide is 128.

Madam Speaker, the Government earns annually a total of US$ 2,389,457.00 from lodges, which translates into K9,199,409,450.00 at the current exchange rate of K3, 850.00. The breakdown of this amount is US$ 217,470.00 or K837,259,500.00 earned from Zambians while US$ 2,171,987.00 or K8,362,149,950.00 is earned from non-Zambians.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapeya: Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the hon. Deputy Minister’s response. However, I would like the hon. Deputy Minister to be specific in informing this House why her ministry has failed to encourage more Zambians to venture into safari operations in this country. I am sure that hon. Members will agree with me that the number of foreigners is alarming.

The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Mr Kaingu): Madam Speaker, I am glad that the hon. Member is very happy with the answer that we have supplied.

The MMD Government is encouraging Zambians to participate in all areas of tourism. In fact, for your information, Hon. Kapeya, we have gone even further to ask for the participation of the private sector in running our national parks. Therefore, we are encouraging Zambians and, at the moment, we are asking the Zambian people to come forward and work with us in managing our parks. The reason we have so many safari lodges run by foreigners is because at the time we were advertising these lodges, Zambians were either not ready to participate because of lack of resources or they were not interested.  However, now our policy …

Interruptions

Mr Kaingu: Please, listen.

Laughter
 
Mr Kaingu: … is to deliberately bring in Zambians to run these lodges. Any lodge that will be vacant in either the national parks or the game management areas will be given to Zambians who will have the resources to run it.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Madam Speaker, some of the people who own lodges, particularly in the game management areas, have been failing to fulfill their contractual obligation of giving back to the communities. What is the Government doing to make sure that these people give back to the community they are operating in?

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, that is not to our knowledge. As far as we are concerned, they are performing very well. Therefore, if the hon. Member has problems with the people operating in his area, he is free to come to our office and we will discuss the matter with him.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister alluded to the fact that Zambians that have the resources are going to be encouraged to take up these ventures.

Madam Speaker, technical know-how is a very important resource. What is the ministry doing to encourage those that have the intellectual resource, but do not have the money to go into these ventures?

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for that question.

Madam Speaker, human resource is very important in running business. Therefore, just having money is not enough. In fact, when we talk about citizens’ empowerment, we mean that people must first of all train so that they learn how to run businesses and manage money.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Therefore, when we advertise and you happen to apply we will, first of all, not look at the amount of money that you will present on the paper, but your ability to run the lodge. This is because it is not good for us to give you the lodge and in a short period of time, you fail to run it. It is, therefore, important that when you apply, you should have the capacity to do so.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sikota (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has touched on citizens’ empowerment. I would like to find out form him whether they have engaged the tourism sector, in view of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Registration, with regard to what the minimum participation for Zambian citizens will be and how soon this will be done if it has not yet been embarked on.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Livingstone, who is himself an operator, should know that …

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: … the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has distributed K10 billion to each province and it will be up to him and the rest of the people in his province to sit down and work out the modalities of disbursing that money.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister confirm to this House that there are more foreigners running lodges than Zambians because the conditions, such as experience in running lodges, tend to favour foreigners.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, I have said that we have a deliberate policy to try and bring on board Zambians. Therefore, we are ready to work with Zambians. I do not want to comment on what the hon. Member has said. All I can say is that we want to help Zambians who are willing to come into the tourism business.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Phiri: (Munali): Madam Speaker, at one time, the New Deal Government realised that there was a lot of human resource in the tourism industry doing nothing, hence, it gave out loans to these people. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how much money has been paid back to this Government so that it can circulate to other people.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, I would like to correct the hon. Member. We do not have human resource in the tourism and hospitality sector. In fact, we are worried, especially those of us who are in this sector, because with the coming of the Football World Cup in South Africa, a lot of people are being recruited to go and work in South Africa.

As to the second part of the hon. Member’s question as to how much money has been paid back, I am afraid …

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: … I am not able to give the figure offhand. If she wants, I will be able to supply that answer at a later date.

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

UNNATURAL DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE BETWEEN 2001 AND 2006

239. Mr Lubinda (Kabwata) asked the Minister of Lands how many incidents of unnatural displacement of people occurred in Zambia between 2001 and 2006 and under what circumstances.

The Deputy Minister of Lands (Mr Hamir): Madam Speaker, I would like to inform this House that there were eight cases of unnatural displacement and these involved people who had illegally settled on titled land as follows:

Case  Circumstance & Location  Solution
  (Area)

1. Ngombe Settlers illegally settled on  Resettled along Great North road near SOS
Remaining  Catholic (ZEC) Land
Extent of 
F/610

2. ULIMI  Settlers illegally settled on  Farm found in Mumbwa and allocated to them 
Community NRDC Land – Lusaka 
(NRDC
Maposa
Paddock)

3. Palabana Settlers illegally settled   Farms repossessed within the same area,
Settlers on several private farms  sub-divided and allocated to the people
F/2021 in Chongwe

4.Triple Settlers illegally settled   On-going negotiations. Ministry still negotiating 
S/Farm on titled land.   for a settlement
L/542/M
(Mufulira
Turn off)

5. Mwambula  Traditional land not In the process of sub-dividing all farms to
Settlers  having clear  accommodate all affected people
L/14543/M  boundary with 
to L/14669/M  state land leading 
   to double allocation
   by both authorities –
Lusaka East

6. Lukolongo  Settled illegally  Social economic survey carried out and 
   on privately owned recommendation made to move and legalise
   land – Kafue  people within the same land

7. Kabanje  Settlers illegally  Negotiations on-going
F/1343  settled on Zambia
   Sugar land – Mazabuka

8. Mazyopa  Settlers illegally  To be reallocated on farm number 2885     settled on privately Chongwe
F/441a  owned land –
Roma   Lusaka

Madam Speaker, I thank you

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Thank you, Madam Speaker. In all of these cases, before settlers are thrown off the land, the owners of the land invariably inform the Ministry of Lands about their land having been invaded. In many cases, these matters end up in court, where the courts rule in favour of the holders of title. Hence, these people are forcibly removed from the land that they occupy, thereby affecting their lives by more than five to ten years because of their eventual displacement.

 Madam, I would like to find out whether this Government is considering putting in place measures that will mitigate against people being forcibly removed from land, such that when a person reports an incidence of illegal settlement, the Government moves in to relocate people comfortably without having to forcibly remove them when they know …

Mr Sichilima: On a point of order!

Mr Lubinda: … that they are occupying land illegally.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! There is no point of order.

The Minister of Lands (Mr Machila): Madam Speaker, I know that this question has been pre-empted by an issue the hon. Member has in his constituency in the Mazyopa area.

The issue of people settling on land that is already on title and the courts ordering that they be evicted is not an issue that is, strictly speaking, the responsibility of the Ministry of Lands. Title holders are entitled to secure their land as they see fit.

Our main concern are instances where land is already occupied and people subsequently obtain title to that land and then proceed to evict those who were settled before the title was issued. It is important to look at these issues in that light because the circumstances are completely different.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.{mospagebreak}

Mrs Mwamba (Lukashya): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister why the ministry is reluctant to re-enter land that has not been developed to avoid cases of illegal settlement.

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, it is not correct to say we are reluctant to re-enter this land. We have, on an on-going basis, officers in the Estates and Evaluation Department, making recommendations for land that has not been developed to be re-entered. That is happening on an on-going basis. However, there are instances where title holders have consequently challenged the re-entry and taken the matter to court. This is an issue that we expect to be dealing with for some time to come.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Sinyangwe (Matero): Madam Speaker, while I appreciate that it is not the Government’s role to see to it that people do not build on other people’s land, I would like to find out why the owners of the land wait until people have built villages and stayed there for ten years before they report the matter or remove them. Why do they not remove them when they see one or two people building?

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, it would be a bit difficult for me to speak for the owners of land that allow people to encroach on their land and build villages before deciding to evict them.

However, that said, Madam Speaker, I think all of us, in this House, have an on-going responsibility to sensitise the people in our respective constituencies not to encroach on land that is already titled to avoid such instances.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL PEACE-KEEPING MISSIONS

240. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Defence:

(a) how many international and regional peace-keeping missions Zambian soldiers had been engaged in since 1964, with particular reference to those under the United Nations and the African Union; and

(b) on average, how many Zambian officers had been involved in each of these missions.

Major Chizhyuka: Hear, hear! Maiden answer!

Laughter

The Deputy Minister of Defence (Mr Muchima): Madam Speaker, there were fifteen in Nepal…

Hon. Opposition Members: Where?

Mr Muchima: Sorry?

Laughter

Interruptions

Hon. Government Members: Go ahead!

Laughter

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, there are two questions (a) and (b). There were fifteen …

Hon. Opposition Members: Where?

Mr Sichilima: In Nepal!

Major Chizhyuka: Where?

Ms Changwe: In Nepal!

Mr Muchima: There were fifteen that is; Chad …

Interruptions

Mr Muchima: I can call them by name.

SER COUNTRY OFFICERS SOLDIERS PERIOD

01 Chad 01 Nil 1982
02 Iraq/Iran 10 Nil 1988-1989
03 Mozambique 164 2,325 1993-1995
04 Rwanda 151 2,325 1994-1995
05 Angola 185 2,755 1996-1998
06 Ethiopia/Eritrea 100 Nil 2001 to date
07 DRC 96 04 1999 to date
08 Kosovo 06 2,000 to date
09 Sierra Leone 436 5,371 2003-2005
10 Liberia 13 Nil 2003 to date
11 Ivory Coast 08 Nil 2004 to date
12 Burundi 04 Nil 2004 to date
13 Sudan (AU) 41 04 2005
14 Sudan (UN) 190 1,244 2004 to date
15 Nepal 07 Nil 2007 to date

 Total 1,412 16,028

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Bwalya (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what the interest of the Government is in the peace-keeping missions abroad. Are there any gains for the Government from the UN?

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member must remember that Zambia cannot live in isolation because Zambia is in a global village.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Chimbaka (Bahati): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government is going to reconsider getting a certain percentage of the emoluments that go to soldiers who go on peace-keeping missions,

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member must be aware that this issue is in the courts of law and we cannot comment on it at the moment.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister state why it takes long for the Government to pay serving soldiers when they return from peace-keeping missions.

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is misinformed because soldiers and officers are paid immediately they return.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

INSPECTION OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN LUSAKA

241. Mrs Kapata (Mandevu) asked the Minister of Education how often community schools in Lusaka were inspected.

The Minister of Education (Professor Lungwangwa): Madam Speaker, community schools in Lusaka are expected to be inspected once or twice every term. In 2007, a total of fifty-three community schools were inspected in Lusaka.

I thank you, Madam.

Mrs Kapata: Madam Speaker, community schools are built by communities in the quest to partner with the Government because the Government cannot provide them with more schools. When is the ministry going to fully support these schools because some of them are running without proper water and sanitation?

Professor Lungwangwa: Madam Speaker, in the last session, we did circulate to all hon. Members a document on operational guidelines for community schools and this document, if the hon. Member has cared to read it in detail and understand it, shows that, as a ministry, we are concerned about the operations of community schools.  We use the guidelines to partner with the various community schools. I would urge her to read and understand this document.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, I would like to learn from the hon. Minister whether he has any intentions of sending qualified teachers to community schools which are extremely understaffed.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, again, I would like to advise the hon. Member to read this document because it states very clearly what we are doing in that area.
I thank you, Madam.

Mr Lubinda: I would like to state to the hon. Minister that I have read the guidelines he is referring to and I have also gone to community schools, not only in Lusaka but elsewhere which do not meet the minimum standards that are provided for in the guidelines. Could the hon. Minister state how many schools, which do not meet those standards, he has closed in the past one year for want of those standards.

Professor Lungwangwa: Madam Speaker, the policy guidelines are not there to close the schools, but to assist in the efficient and effective operations of the schools under guided quality control measures.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

BOREHOLES SUNK IN MANDEVU CONSTITUENCY

242. Mrs Kapata asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing how many boreholes had been sunk in Mandevu Parliamentary Constituency, ward by ward, and in which year.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tetamashimba): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that seventeen boreholes have been sunk in Mandevu Constituency between 1998 to 2006. The distribution ward by ward is as follows and I will be very slow for her to pick the numbers:

Ward Boreholes Location Year Status

Roma 4 Mazyopa 2006 working
Mulungushi 2 Parliament unknown working
Ngwerere 2 Garden 1998 working
Chaisa Nil
Justin Kabwe 4 Chipata/C 1993/94 working
R Chota 1 Kabanana 2007 working
Mpulungu 2 Chazanga unknown working
SOS V 2 SOS V  No power
Total  17

Madam Speaker, out of the seventeen boreholes, only fifteen are functioning because the two at SOS Village have not yet been commissioned due to the non-availability of electricity at the point where these boreholes have been sunk.

Additionally, Madam Speaker, the geological formation of Mandevu Constituency is that of schist which means that the material soil type has very low water permeability. This accounts for the low number of boreholes sunk in the constituency. To this effect, most of the water supplied to Mandevu Constituency is from the Kafue River through the Matero reservoirs.

I thank you, Madam.

Mrs Kapata: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the information given to me this afternoon. However, I would like to find out from the hon. Minster whether he is aware that the people of Mazyopa do not have water. There are four boreholes which were given to Roma Ward 20, but the water supply goes to Ng’ombe and not Mazyopa.

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mrs Masebo): Madam Speaker, we are aware, as a ministry, that the issue of water supply and sanitation in the urban and peri-urban areas needs to be addressed in a much more serious and not haphazard way. As a result, the ministry is coming up with a programme, such as the one which was launched last year or early this year relating to the rural areas. We are developing a programme specifically for urban and per-urban areas in terms of water and sanitation. We hope this will be launched before the end of this year so that we can begin to address this problem in a much more focussed manner.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing, when the 200 boreholes for Luapula Province will be drilled. It is now one year and the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has not gone on site yet.

Mrs Masebo: Sorry, Madam Speaker, I do not have an answer. Maybe, the hon. Member of Parliament can assist by coming to the office tomorrow so that I get an update on when or whether they have even moved on site. This is because I think that some work is being done. I do not want to mislead the House and, therefore, I would like your indulgence that, tomorrow, outside Parliament, give me this information.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Milupi: Quality.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Next question, the hon. Member for Kabwata.

Mr Lubinda stood.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, Hon. Teta is laughing at me because he thought I was going to ask a supplementary question. He is very happy.

Laughter

NUMBER OF SCHOOL-GOING CHILDREN REPORTED MURDERED USING FIRE ARMS IN ZAMBIA

243. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many school-going children were reported murdered using fire arms in Zambia in 2007;

(b) how many of the murderers at (a) above were arrested and convicted; and

(c) how many of the cases above were not investigated conclusively and what the obstacles in the investigations were.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Bonshe): Madam Speaker, one school going child was murdered using a firearm in 2007. The child was a grade twelve pupil at Kamwala High School.

So far, three suspects have been arrested and are awaiting trial in court. One is on the run and the police are still looking for him.

There is no case pending investigations.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Quality.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, I am grateful to the hon. Minister for the answer. He did mention that three suspects were arrested, but he did not mention whether they have been prosecuted and convicted. He also mentioned that there is one suspect still on the run. Could he, therefore, confirm that the three who have been arrested have not yet been convicted and, therefore, the police are still investigating the matter. If he may also be kind enough to relate this question to the question asked earlier on refugees who have been involved in murder cases and state whether these three include refugees.

Madam Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister may answer the first part of the question. It is not our practice to go back to what has already been dealt with.

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, if the hon. Member of Parliament listened carefully, …

Mr Lubinda: Aah!

Mr Bonshe: … we said the three suspects have been arrested and are awaiting trial in court so that the police can complete their investigations.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Phiri: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out how many foreigners were amongst the people who were arrested.

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, that is a new question.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aaah!

Mr Bonshe: Yes, that is a new question. You only asked how many school-going children were reported murdered using fire arms and we have given the correct answer. If you want to know the nationalities involved, you are free to come and see us and we shall help you get that information.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPE MACHINES IN ZAMBIA

244. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Health:

(a) how many endoscope machines were in a functional condition in Zambia as of 31st December, 2007;

(b) how many of the endoscope machines above were in Government health institutions and how many were in private hospitals; and

(c) how the number of the machines at (a) above compared with the total requirement of the country.

The Minister of Health (Dr Chituwo): Madam Speaker, there are currently two endoscope machines at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). UTH provides endoscopy services which are run by the Department of Internal Medicine and Surgery. The unit can and does perform gastroscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and bronchoscopy. A total of 721 patients were attended to between January and December, 2007. Generally, the equipment is functional although there is need to replace a number of pieces.

Endoscope is a specialised diagnostic and therapeutic area which currently is available only at UTH. As already mentioned in (a) above, there are only two of these machines in Government institutions. However, there are some private clinics and mine hospitals that offer similar services. This highlights the importance of public/private partnership.

There is a growing demand for this service. The Ministry of Health has, in the 2008 Budget, made a provision to procure medical equipment for hospitals. Consideration may be made to procure more machines.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, I wonder whether the hon. Minister is aware that for the larger part of 2007, the UTH was not able to undertake the investigations the hon. Minister is referring to and that the patients who required those testes were actually being referred to private clinics at a very high cost. If he is aware, can he can state when he brought these two endoscope machines into working condition.

Dr Chituwo: Madam Speaker, I am not aware that during most part of 2007 both machines were not working. What I know is that they are functioning well because only three weeks ago these services were being offered. As for the machines not working in 2007, that information did not reach my ministry and, therefore, I cannot offer an answer to the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwata’s question.

I thank you, Madam.{mospagebreak}

INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO REMOVE INEQUALITIES IN WOMEN EDUCATION

245. Mrs Kapata asked the Minister of Gender and Women in Development when legislation to remove gender gaps and inequalities in women education will be introduced for enactment by Parliament.

The Minister of Gender and Women in Development (Ms Mulasikwanda): Madam Speaker, while the Government is aware of the factors that hinder women from progressing in the area of education, there are no immediate plans to introduce specific legislation to remove gender gaps and inequalities. However, the Government has put in place several policies and programmes to address such gender gaps and inequalities. These include:

(a) development of the National Gender Policy that sets out measures to redress gender imbalances and inadequacies in the provision of education;

(b) development of the Fifth National Development Plan which includes a specific sector on education and training;

(c) implementing of the Re-entry Policy which allows pregnant girls to return to school after giving birth;

(d) awarding of scholarships to vulnerable students with a ratio of 60 per cent for girls and 40 per cent for boys;

(e) integration of gender in the development curriculum at all levels in order to remove gender biases and the stereotype roles assigned to a particular sex;

(f) construction of technical high schools for girls only to encourage girls taking up technical subjects such as mathematics and science; and

(g) allocation of 30 per cent of the university places to female students while 70 per cent of the places are competed for by both male and female students.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Kapata: Madam Speaker, I just want to find out from the hon. Minister what measures have been put in place to achieve the 30 per cent Southern African Development Community (SADC) declaration for women in decision-making positions which has now been raised to 50 per cent. In Zambia, I think we have not even achieved the 30 per cent …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

Madam Deputy Speaker: I want to, once again, remind the House that time keeping for our institution is very important and we should not develop a trend of staying away when the bell has rung because we can deteriorate slowly into what would be unacceptable. We have just come back from recess and we have a lot of business to go through. Any time that we waste cannot be regained and we may not be forgiven because we are sent here for very serious business.

Mrs Kapata: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was just telling the hon. Minister that the SADC declaration for women in decision-making positions was at 30 per cent and it has now gone up to 50 per cent. What is the Ministry of Gender and Women in Development putting in place to make sure that we achieve the 50 per cent considering that in Zambia, we never even achieved the 30 per cent and now the hon. Minister is telling us that there is no legislation to remove gender gaps and inequalities?

Madam Deputy Speaker: That is a comment and not a question.

Ms Musokotwane (Katombola): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister read out some interventions that the Government is making to bridge the gender gap. Most of those interventions are for urban areas. What interventions are being made for the rural women because in the rural areas, girls as young as eighteen are getting married because they cannot proceed to upper primary school? Most of them only go as far as Grade 4. The lucky ones go up to grade 7 and then get married. What plans have been made for the rural areas?

Ms Mulasikwanda: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member who has raised this question seems to have a lot of interest in the mainstreaming of gender. First of all, let me inform the House that it is not only Zambia that has not yet achieved the 30 per cent, but the whole region. The progress, as we all know, has been slow. However, we are upgrading the SADC Declaration into a protocol. The protocol will be legally binding on member states. Once signed, it is hoped that there will be an acceleration of the current efforts.

Now, coming to the question raised by the hon. Member for Katombola, the Ministry of Education has been looking at this issue. There was a Cabinet memorandum which was passed to try and come up with a law that can make education compulsory. For example, if this law comes into effect, those girls who were withdrawn from schools by their parents will be charged. This law is to protect both the girl-children and the women, in particular.

Madam Speaker, I want to commend the Ministry of Education for its efforts to try and mainstream gender because there are so many high schools for girls which are now being built. When the ministry completes building them, there will be progress.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Machungwa: Madam Speaker, I put it to the hon. Minister that the measures that the Government has put in place and the ones you have elaborated have not been adequate to enable Zambia reach the 30 per cent women in decision-making positions. Now, that SADC has made a new declaration talking about 50 per cent, what is the Government going to do to ensure that we attain the 50 per cent because we were having difficulties attaining even the 30 per cent?

Ms Mulasikwanda: Madam Speaker, I am sure the hon. Member came in a bit late. I tried to answer this question. It has already been covered. 
Dr Machungwa: Aah, no.

Ms Mulasikwanda: Yes, it has been covered.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

ZAMBIA’S TOTAL INTERNAL/EXTERNAL DEBT STOCK

246. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning what Zambia’s total internal and external debt stock was at the following times:

(i) December, 2006;

(ii) June, 2007; and

(iii) December, 2007.

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, the total internal and external debt stock, including the interest component, of Government securities for end of December, 2006, end of June, 2007 and end of December, 2007 amounted to K6,706.43 billion, K8,126.68 billion and K8,279.05 billion respectively. During the period December, 2006, to December, 2007, the total stock of internal debt increased by 7.5 per cent mainly on account of an increase in the nominal stock of Government securities.

GOVERNMENT INTERNAL DEBT STOCK (ZK’billion) 2006 – 2007

Debt Category  End-December End-June End-December
     2006      2007  2007

Government Securities     6,706.43  7,234.18    7,595.28
Domestic Arrears        515.30     465.00       223.06
Pension Arrears        386.50     335.00       302.70
Awards and           92.50       92.50       158.01
Compensations

Total Internal Debt     7,700.73   8,126.68    8,279.05

Government External Debt Stock

Madam Speaker, the total stock of Government external debt for end of December, 2006, end of June, 2007 and end of December, 2007 amounted to US$1,019.0 million, US$961.20 million and US$1,054.50 million respectively. The total stock increased by 3.5 per cent between end of December, 2006 and end of December, 2007 mainly on account of an increase in export credits.

EXTERNAL DEBT STOCK (US$’million) 2006 – 2007

Creditor   End-December  End-June End-December
          2006      2007         2007

Multilateral Debt  562.4   619.9     656.10
Bilateral Debt          395.0   282.2     287.00
Suppliers Credit  61.6       59.1     111.40

Total Government    1,019.00  961.2   1,054.50
External Debt 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister confirm that of the total of US$1.54 billion which was the total external debt as at end of December, 2007, was an amount of US$140.2 million arising from six loans that were contracted between 
April 2007 and August 2007 of which only US$40 million from Exim Bank of China was disbursed, thereby, leaving more than US$100 million not being disbursed to the Treasury of Zambia, and yet being recorded as external debt for Zambia. If that be the case, when will the Government normalise the figures so that the figures they give to us are those of the loans that have actually been disbursed and not only commitments.

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, we contract debts for programmes such as the Luapula Province Water and Sanitation Project, which Hon. Mwila was talking about. We sign the agreements, but it takes time before the tender process is done and the actual works start. The debts will enter our books as soon as we sign the contract, but the disbursement of the funds will only take place when the actual works begin. Therefore, the debts remain in our books because we would have signed the contracts. We contract some of these debts over, maybe, a period of five years while disbursement is done on a yearly basis. Such debts will remain in our books for the record so that Hon. Lubinda is also made aware of them. This is because if he is not made aware of them, he will ask why we are not making him aware.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON THE MUNALI HILLS STRETCH OF THE KAFUE/MAZABUKA HIGHWAY BETWEEN 2001 AND 2007

247. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many road traffic accidents occurred on the Munali Hills stretch of the Kafue /Mazabuka Highway from 2001 to 2007;

(b) how many of the accidents at (a) above were fatal and how many lives were lost;

(c) when a feasibility study was last carried out to make the stretch of the road at (a) above safer for road users; and

(d) what the estimated cost of the study was.

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, I would like to state that 427 road traffic accidents occurred on the Munali Hills stretch of the Kafue /Mazabuka Highway from 2001 to 2007and were reported to the police.

Madam, seventy-seven of the accidents were fatal and ninety-three lives were lost.  In these accidents, 137 motor vehicles were damaged.

There has been no specific study on road safety carried out on the Munali Hills stretch. However, safety is part of the criteria that is considered during rehabilitation, design and construction. With increased traffic and heavy goods vehicles, it is important to provide climber/crawler lanes in future rehabilitation works on this stretch.

Madam, there is no estimated cost for any safety studies on the Munali Hills stretch of the Kafue /Mazabuka Highway.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, the statistics given by the hon. Minister indicate that there were, on average, seventy accidents per year between 2001 and 2007. This was before the opening up of the mines very close to the Munali path. That was before there was so much work and development taking place in the Southern Province. With these new developments, certainly, the number of accidents at the Munali path shall increase. With the death of seventy-seven people on that stretch, does the Government have any plans, whatsoever, to ensure that the Munali path is made safe for motorists so that we avoid these accidents? If so, when is the Government going to start implementing those measures?

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, this is an issue between the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Ministry of Works and Supply. We are going to sit down and see how we can harmonise the situation and the House will be informed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

TRANSPORT FOR CHIPILI POLICE POST

248. Mr D. Mwila asked the hon. Minister of Home Affairs when Chipili Police Post, in Chipili Parliamentary Constituency would be provided with transport.

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, once resources allow, Chipili Police Post will be provided with a motor vehicle.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr D. Mwila: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that Mwense, as a district, has three police posts and one police station and none of these has transport. Can he make a commitment on when they will buy a vehicle for any of the three police posts?

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, as already said, when resources are available, Mwense Police Post will be considered. In the meantime, the mother police station will continue to assist.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Madam Speaker, Hon. Mwila’s question indicated that all the police posts and stations in Mwense District do not have a single vehicle. How does the ministry expect Mwense District to operate effectively because even the mother police station does not have transport?

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, it is not true that even the mother police station has no vehicle. All police stations were provided with vehicles. If they are saying that the vehicle has broken down, then that can be looked into.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Bonshe: I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister state before this House why police stations in the remote areas of this country are marginalised with regard to transport.

Mr Bonshe: Madam Speaker, we do not marginalise any police station. It is our responsibility to ensure that all police stations in Zambia are catered for. As I have already said, all police stations were given at least two vehicles. If the vehicles have broken down, then this should be reported and replacements will be considered.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

_____

BILL

FIRST READING

SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2006

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr Magande): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Supplementary Appropriations Bill, 2006, to confirm the supplementary expenditure of moneys aggregating 331,143,234,891 required for the services of the Republic during the financial year ending on 31st December, 2006.

I thank you, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Estimates. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 19th August, 2008. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions or amendments to the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

Thank you.

_______

MOTIONS

DEATH OF DR CHOSANI ALICK NJOBVU, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR MILANZI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

The Minister of Defence (Mr Mpombo): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House do place on record its deepest regret at the sudden death of the late Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu, Member of Parliament for Milanzi Parliamentary Constituency, together with its appreciation of his distinguished and patriotic service to this country and to the people of Zambia and that the deepest sympathies and condolences of the National Assembly be conveyed to his family.

Madam Speaker, in moving this Motion, I wish to record our regret and anguish over the sudden death of the late Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu, Member of Parliament for Milanzi Parliamentary Constituency, who passed away in Slovenia, in Europe, on Wednesday, 19th March, 2008, while on Parliamentary duty.

Madam, allow me to use this very sad moment to say a few words about our late beloved colleague whose demise is a terrible loss to the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the Government and the entire people of the Republic of Zambia.

The late Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu, Member of Parliament for Milanzi Parliamentary Constituency, was born on 4th August, 1948, in Cikoti Village, Katete District in the Eastern Province. He did his secondary education at Katete Secondary School from 1966 to 1970 where he obtained a school certificate. He then proceeded to the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) in 1971 where he graduated with a diploma in Agriculture in 1973.

The late Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu, MP, won a scholarship and went to Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in Moscow in the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), now Russia, where he obtained a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from 1976 to 1982. The late hon. Member believed in furthering his education and it was this ambition which made him secure a second scholarship which enabled him pursue doctorate studies at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in India from 1986 to 1988. He graduated with a PHD in agricultural science and returned to work for his country Zambia.

Madam Speaker, in terms of employment history, the late Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu first rendered his services to the Republic of Zambia in 1974. Upon graduating from the NRDC, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture as a dairy technician. He remained in this position until 1982 when he become a Farming Systems Research Economist, a position he held until 1992 when he left the ministry to join the University of Zambia as a research fellow. He retired from the University of Zambia in 2004, after a distinguished career service of thirty years in the Public Service.

As regards his political and parliamentary career, the late hon. Member joined politics as an ordinary Member of UNIP in 1974. He served as a UNIP Branch Chairman from 1976 to 1991 and rose to the position of Deputy Secretary General of the party from 2004 to 2006. Throughout his political career, the hon. Member remained loyal to his party, UNIP.

In 2006, he was elected Member of Parliament for Milanzi Parliamentary Constituency on the UNIP ticket. As a parliamentarian, he served on the Committee on Agriculture and Lands and the Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services. He was also a representative of the National Assembly of Zambia at the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. At the time of his untimely death, he was attending a meeting of the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Slovenia, Europe.

During his brief but distinguished political career, Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu contributed to the development of parliamentary democracy by his contributions during debates in the House and on the Committees where he served. He accepted criticism as one of the pillars of democracy. He was humble, simple and approachable and dedicated his life to the service of the people of Zambia. The late hon. Member is survived by a wife and seven children.

Madam Speaker, as hon. Members are already aware, the body of the late hon. Member of Parliament for Milanzi arrived in the country on 24th March, 2008, and was put to rest on 26th March, 2008. As per established Parliamentary Practice, the House was represented at his burial by eight hon. Members of Parliament and one member of staff. May his soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Madam Speaker, I would like to place on record my deepest sympathy on the demise of my dear friend, who was only six days older than me. I would also like to place on record my wonderful relationship with him, which I shall forever miss.

Madam Speaker, I feel that this Government must come up with very good legislation to regulate funerals and party affairs. We are aware of some people using funerals to fundraise and sometimes failing to account for those resources.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Hachipuka: Madam Speaker, I also think that the there should be development in legislation relating to party affairs because Dr Chosani Njobvu was a very senior member of UNIP. I would like to remind all of you who are senior citizens that up until this country turned into a democratic country, most of us who were above the age of eighteen were automatically members of UNIP. Most of us who were parastatal chiefs or working for the Government contributed monthly to the coffers of UNIP. What has happened to the assets of UNIP? Would I be wrong to claim ownership of those assets?

Mr Musokotwane: No!

Mr Hachipuka: Madam Speaker, it is from that perspective that I think when democracy came in, assets for parties such as UNIP, which grew to become a One Party State, should have been accounted for. In this particular case, why should my friend, Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu’s family not benefit? Progressively, we do not have any UNIP Member of Parliament in the House ….
Interruptions

Mr Hachipuka: …and, therefore, very few people continue, …

Interruptions

 Mr Hachipuka: …other than my colleague there, …

Laughter

Mr Hachipuka: … to be in UNIP because the assets of the party are owned by very few people. It is from that perspective that I think that the Government should come up with good legislation because it is possible for a party, even under a democracy, to have serious assets.  We have seen that in Zambia parties come and go and one can actually become rich by staying in a party that is off the shelf …

Laughter

Mr Hachipuka: … because all the assets belong to you. 

Madam Speaker, it is from that perspective that we should bring legislation to this House so that if parties amass wealth, that wealth must be decided upon in terms of ownership afterwards. In this particular case, I would like to appeal to UNIP to assist Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu’s family with its assets.

I thank you, Madam.

Dr Chishimba (Kasama Central): Madam Speaker, I would like to say that I am eternally thankful for this opportunity to place on record my deepest sympathy on the loss of one of us, Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu.

Madam Speaker, this debate is a difficult one because, for me, there were moments when I shared some very personal issues with Hon. Njobvu. Therefore, it is heartbreaking to reflect on the life of a hon. Member of Parliament who demonstrated his uniqueness in the sense that during the time he was with us, I do not remember a moment when Hon. Dr Njobvu was in a state where he could not relate with me and, indeed, anyone else well. He was a man who did not get annoyed even when he had justification to do so. He was a man who always shared light moments with some of us and, of course, this is, to the best of my knowledge, since I can remember.

Madam Speaker, the death of Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu may also be looked at as championship. Predominantly because those that do good, even when they die, live in the sense that whatever good they did continues to speak for them and stand as testimony before the Majesty of Heaven.

Madam Speaker, from another perspective, it is championship in the sense that we tend to begin to look at death as something which is real. This is because sometimes, when one of our colleagues is taken by God, we tend to feel, as individuals, and this is actually inherent in every individual, that it should not fall on me. However, as you are aware, death is a reality that we live with because once we are born, we wait for death. Therefore, when you are on this journey here on earth, especially for us as leaders, you ought to remember that a time will come when death shall knock at your door, and you will have to answer that call.

Madam Speaker, I ask myself what we shall say we accomplished to God while we were still alive. To me, that is a question that must begin the process of transformation of our mindset and how we look at issues that concern us and how we look at leadership.

Madam Speaker, as leaders, we are called to provide inspirational leadership to our people. As leaders, we are called to care for the flock and, in this particular case, the people that we are responsible for. Therefore, as we reflect on the death of one of us, we need to start doing what I will call conscious examination. We need to examine ourselves. If it fell on us, what shall we say to God? As my colleagues from the East say, ‘cilipamunzako capita, mawa cili pali iwe’. What this means is that what befalls your friend or neighbour, will also befall you one day. Therefore, we need to begin to come to terms with the fact that, indeed, one day, we shall also die. However, as I said earlier, what shall we say?

Madam Speaker, in a Christian nation like ours, I am strengthened by the fact that those who call upon the name of God will always be justified by the Majesty of Heaven.

Madam Speaker, it is very clear that when those that are called by the name of God pray, God will answer their prayers. Of course, there is a condition that we have to turn away from our wickedness. What is wickedness in this particular case?

Madam Speaker, wickedness is any kind of deviation from what we ought to do; any kind of deviation from what is expected. Deviation may also be vindictiveness. It may also may be turning away or abandoning that which we are called to do.

Madam Speaker, we have seen what happens in our country. During election campaigns, we, as leaders, go to our people with a lot of promises. We even promise them Heaven on earth. Yet, when we are elected, we change our language. When we are appointed to positions, we change our language and when we are removed we, again, change our language. Therefore, we keep asking the question: what kind of people are we?

Madam Speaker, what we need is truthfulness. If truth evades this nation, this nation will continue to experience some of the undesirable situations that we have where we appear not to be listening and doing what the people of Zambia are telling us.

 Madam Speaker, as I have said before, we do not only owe that responsibility to our people, but to God. God watches whatever we do, be it privately or not. Therefore, doing good must just be a part of us. We should always bear in mind that whatever we do, we are not doing it for our own good, but for the good of society and, above all, to please God. This can come about through the fear of God.

Madam Speaker, when I was a little boy, I remember in almost all the speeches that Dr Kaunda made, he used to say, “Love thy neighbour as you love thy self”. Today, I have come to realise that, indeed, there is power in that statement. This is because if I do not love my neighbour as I love myself, then, I will become self-indulgent. I will think about myself without thinking about my neighbour. I believe that principle must hold us together. Before we say anything, we have to, with some respect, look at the consequences of what we are going to say. Before we do anything, we must look at the consequences of our actions on our people and neighbours.

Madam Speaker, I wish to urge UNIP, that, as a party, they have contributed greatly to the development of this nation and the loss of one of their members should not be reason for them to be discouraged. I am normally inspired when I look at some of the elderly, men and women in UNIP. I believe that even though we may belong to different political parties, they represent an oasis of this nation. Therefore, I wish UNIP, as a party, all the best as they continue to contribute to this nation’s development. We, in the Patriotic Front, will continue to …

Laughter

Dr Chishimba: …  promote that co-existence.

Madam Speaker, I end my debate here and I thank you, very much.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalumba (Chienge): Madam Speaker, it is possible that to many of us Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu was almost an unnoticeable hon. Member of Parliament. He rarely spoke and he was not one of those quoted widely in the newspapers, but for those that knew him closely, Hon. Dr Chosani was a principled thinker, a reasonable man, jovial and very understanding. He was also a team player with so many degrees behind his name, but it never showed on his face. Yet, when most of us have one degree, we want to pronounce it to the rest of the world.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Dr Kalumba: Hon. Dr Chosani did not have those airs at all.

Madam Speaker, this a man who joined his party in 1974 and remained with it. He was not a fleet-foot political player jumping from one party to the other. He believed in UNIP.

As a fellow Secretary General …

Laughter

Dr Kalumba: … I sat with him in meetings at the Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID). When the country faced the very important question of reaching a compromise over the Constitution crisis in Zambia, he was one of the team players who made the compromise possible. These are the uncelebrated heroes; quiet, but effective while some of us want to be heard even when we have nothing to say.

Madam Speaker, when the hon. Member of Parliament for Milanzi spoke, he chose his words carefully. Therefore, for those who knew him, he always made sense. He forced you to listen to him because rarely did he speak. Therefore, when he spoke, he commanded your ear to listen.

Madam Speaker, a man like Hon. Dr Chosani stood against candidates like Rosemary Banda, our candidate not too long ago before the last General Elections, and lost. I was there during the election when he lost. The elections were not rigged, he just lost, but he never gave up. He came back fighting like a real political animal in 2006 and beat us in Milanzi Parliamentary Constituency. That is what it takes because politics is not a short-term game. If you want to enter into public life, you must be like Hon. Dr Chosani who, since 1974, stuck to his principles and believed in his party (UNIP) and was with it when it lost or won.

Madam Speaker, these days, it is fashionable when your party has got a small problem, to jump.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalumba: Stand up for your party even when it is down.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalumba: Stand up for your party even when there is confusion because when you run away, no one will clarify the confusion.

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalumba: Madam Speaker, jumping from tree to tree is opportunism.

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kalumba: You want to win where it is green. Try to win even when it is dusty; be a leader. Hon. Dr Chosani was one of them and may his soul rest in peace.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

I thank you, Madam.
Mr Milupi (Luena): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to add my voice in support of the Motion on the Floor. Indeed, this is a sad and solemn occasion for this House because it is rare that this House finds itself in a situation where it remembers one of its own.

Indeed, as others have said, Hon. Dr Njobvu was a humble servant of the people. Yet, his was a face that could be used as an enlightening example of what politics ought to be.

Madam Speaker, for many years, politics was used as a dumping ground for those that could not achieve anything anywhere else. Now we have the shining example of Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu who has shown that even with the highest education possible and the most dedicated national service to this country, it is possible to look to the service of fellow man and woman and, indeed, he became an hon. Member of Parliament. That is what politics should be.

After many years of experience in public life and many years of attaining high qualifications, he was able to look at his experience and education and determine that he had something to contribute to the development of this country. Therefore, he came to this House and provided dedicated service. His humility is a shining example to all of us. When we look at his life and the way he passed on, he died while in active service of this House and the nation. There could be no better way to leave this earth. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us, as a nation and as Parliament, to reflect on what had happened to him and his family and what state they have been left in.

Madam Speaker, it must be stated here that no human being in employment either in the Public Service or the political arena should pass away in the manner that Hon. Dr Njobvu passed away without an insurance policy provided by their employer.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milupi: Madam Speaker, an insurance policy is not expensive, but guarantees the life of the loved ones that remain behind.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milupi: As we lose more and more of our hon. Members, I hope this will provide an example and awaken us to the fact that nobody can do these things for us but ourselves.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milupi: Madam Speaker, let this not happen to anybody else. Let us learn a lesson from the life of our humble Member of Parliament, Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this important Motion on the death of Hon. Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu, Member of Parliament for Milanzi. I will try to be very brief.

Every time we talk about death, a lot of great words are spoken about how great the people who passed away were. In this case, I would like to say that Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu was a great man. He was a great man not because he is not around today, but because of the way he interacted, what he shared with us and the wisdom that he possessed. It is for this reason that when I look at his death, I see and agree with what the other hon. Members of Parliament said in line with legislation on funerals.

Madam Speaker, when you look at funerals for hon. Members of Parliament or other Government officials, it is un-African to provide a coffin and not other provisions like food. Whenever hon. Members of Parliament die, people go to their funerals and find that there is no food.

Mrs Phiri: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: I think it is important that measures are put in place for provisions to be provided for people who come from various places to mourn their dear ones so that they can see that he was a great person and had been well looked after.

In the recent past, we have lost hon. Members of Parliament who have left children. Sometimes, the children they leave are so young that they need a lot of resources. However, if you look at the benefits, they are not there. How are these people going to survive? It is important that Parliament puts something in place to ensure that the children and the widow or widower are looked after.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: I think it is not right to have a situation where when the bread winner dies if he or she has left no house, the children become destitute and street-kids.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: I think it is important that something should be done.

It is for this reason that Parliament should look at how it can assist hon. Members of Parliament obtain house loans. The car loan that hon. Members of Parliament get is to purchase a vehicle for tours in their constituencies. By the time hon. Members leave Parliament, the cars are wrecks. They need houses because unless a provision is made for this, these people will continue to be destitute.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: The vehicles that hon. Members of Parliament get through loans are grabbed during funerals.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: We need something that will remain with the children.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: That is why the issue of insurance is cardinal.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Hon. Members of Parliament trek from their constituency to Parliament twice a week or on a weekly basis and the chances of their being involved in an accident or becoming disabled are very high.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: What form of insurance is there for them? It is important that provisions for this are made and it is only us who can make that provision. It is only this Government that can make that provision. We should not wait for somebody else to make a provision for us.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Everybody is a potential disabled person.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Everybody is a potential deceased.

Hon. Opposition Member: Deceased! Excellent!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Anybody can die at any time. Once we put this provision in place, we will be assured that the children that we leave behind will be well catered for.

With these few words, I thank you very much.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, allow me to express my deep sympathy to the family of the late Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu. I am persuaded to speak during this Motion because Hon. Dr Njobvu was not only my neighbour here in the House, but he also parked near me in the car park and I have felt his absence. Every time I parked, there was no car near my car. So, I really felt his absence.

Madam, during the short period I was with Hon. Dr Njobvu in this House, I shared with him his socialist orientation on issues of the poor in this country. Hon. Dr Njobvu did not stay in UNIP just for the sake of staying there. He stayed there because the party had some principles that he held dearly. I am sure that if UNIP had changed those principles, he would have left. This is because you cannot stick to a party even when it loses its principles.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamududu: Madam Speaker, that is the core principle that calls you to a party. We are called to a party to serve the country and the country is above political parties. Therefore, if a political party loses direction, you leave it because Zambia comes first. I am, therefore, convinced that Hon. Dr Njobvu remained in his party because UNIP has remained true to its core values.

Madam Speaker, I discussed with him, in this House, the fact that we are not doing enough to support the small-scale farmers in this country. This is because I am from that sector and was raised in that sector. During the era of the UNIP Government, the small-scale agricultural sector was viable because the right incentives were provided for the small-scale farmers. We saw our parents graduate from small-scale farmers to improved farmers and some to commercial farmers. The only way we can remember Hon. Dr Njobvu is by thinking twice about the support we are giving to the small-scale farmers in this country. At this time of the loss of this great man, we are faced with a reduction in the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP), from K200 billion to K80 billion. Amidst soaring food prices after the devastating floods, we still sit here with a meagre budgetary allocation to the small-scale farmers.

Madam Speaker, with this kind of arrangement, I am sure if Hon. Dr Njobvu were still around, he would be unhappy. I discussed this issue with him every time we went out or before we left the car park. We used to have discussions before leaving since I admire the UNIP policies because they put fundamentals …

Hon. Opposition Members: Just join UNIP!

Mr Hamududu: I do not think it is as simple as that.

Madam Speaker, the UPND policies have a lot of similarities with those of UNIP.

Laughter

Mr Hamududu: Yes. During the last elections, we campaigned with UNIP because our manifesto was in tune with theirs.

Interruptions

Mr Hamududu: We did that under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and so do not tell me to join UNIP because we have already done that.

Madam Speaker, we must learn something from UNIP. The only way we can remember Hon. Dr Chosani Njobvu is by redressing the support we are giving to the small-scale farmers. Right now, the poverty levels in the rural areas are increasing, but we are reducing the support to small-scale farmers. Therefore, we are making the majority of our people extremely poor. We can learn from UNIP and it is not expensive to do so because they are available. The core UNIP principles are available and some of us are learning. We have a passion for agriculture because UNIP taught us and we have the practical experience from what UNIP did for us. This country can only remember this great man by doing something about the small-scale farmers. Even this year, it is not too late to increase the Fertiliser Support Programme even to K500 billion so that we can have enough food in the country.

Madam Speaker, the global food crisis presents a challenge and opportunity for countries like Zambia which have a lot of arable land and reasonably good rains. We must take advantage of the food crisis because to some, it is a crisis but to us, it is an opportunity. If we do not do that, then we will have missed the point.

Madam Speaker, Hon. Dr Njobvu served with me on the Committee on Economic Affairs and Labour – and that is the next coincidence. Last year, when your Committee raised the issue of getting connected to the ACP/EU issues, Parliament was kind enough to bring Hon. Dr Njobvu to our Committee because our Committee deals with these issues, especially the hot Economic Partnerships Agreements (EPAs), in which Parliament was not so involved in the discussions.

Madam Speaker, the coming of Hon. Dr Njobvu to this Committee enriched the understanding of your Committee of the issues regarding the Economic Partnership Agreements. When he left for Slovenia, the Committee was dealing with a Bill. He said bye to us and when my neighbour here told me that Hon. Dr Njobvu was the late, I looked behind to check because I did not believe he had died. I said to him, how can he have died when he left for Slovenia. However, later it was discovered that it was true.

Madam Speaker, we will miss him and I would like to wish his family God’s favour. When you lose a dear one, the best you can have is God’s favour. I know this because I lost a child and I know the pain of death and only God can heal this family.

With these few words, I thank you.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Madam Speaker, I also wish to contribute to the debate on this solemn Motion and place on record my deep regret and sorrow at the death of the late Hon. Dr Chosani Alick Njobvu and also to convey my condolences to his family.

Hon. Dr Njobvu served in this Parliament as a Member of Parliament, unfortunately, for a very short time; less than two years. Madam Speaker, in that short period, however, he was able to establish a rapport and good working relationship with many of us. I had the opportunity to serve with him on the Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services, where I was Chairperson. We travelled together to different parts of the country on Committee business and I can say that he was very approachable, unassuming, had great humility and a sense of humour.

Madam Speaker, being from the east, I tried to joke with him and push him hard and often, he would take it in style. You do not find that many like that. He was learning to deal with constituency problems very quickly, but, unfortunately, he is no more.

Hon. Dr Njovu died while on Parliamentary business in Slovenia. Madam Speaker, I wish to repeat this issue because where I come from, there is a wise saying that, ‘apakomaila nondo ninshi pali ubulema’. This means that where people are raising and complaining again and again on the same issue, there is a matter that must be attended to.

Our late colleague died in Slovenia and his body was brought back and buried. We have been told and we went to the funeral house and saw for ourselves that he left a widow and seven children, some of whom were quite young. As my colleagues have indicated, there is no insurance for hon. Members who die on duty like that and I do not know what is going to happen to those children. Obviously, hon. Members contribute K100,000 here and there and Parliament, presumably, buys a coffin and, maybe, even a little food.

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Dr Machungwa: Now, even if they did, what happens, thereafter? This has been happening for many years. I have been in this house for more than seventeen years. It …

Hon. Member: You need to retire.

Dr Machungwa: … is said that we do not debate ourselves, but let us hope that the tragic death of our colleague may do something good for his colleagues and for Zambia in future. It will be necessary to begin looking at these arrangements.

Madam, recently, an hon. Member of Parliament was very sick at the motel. We do not have the means to attend to such a situation. I happened to be within the precincts of Parliament and Madam Clerk asked me and a few colleagues of mine to try and persuade our colleague to go to the doctor. We do not have the means and the support services that are necessary to assist in such cases. Admittedly, we do have a clinic here, but we do not even have a laboratory. We do not want what happened to our colleague to continue happening even when we have left.

My colleague the hon. Member of Parliament for Kantanshi has already talked about things like motor vehicle loans. The situation is that if the family of this man who died on duty wants to keep the vehicle, they will have to continue paying off the loan otherwise the amount will be deducted from his gratuity. If even after that there is any amount still owing, then the family will have to come up with it or the vehicle will be grabbed. It is scandalous.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Machungwa: Madam Speaker, this is a solemn Motion and I do not want to talk much about it, but these are issues that must be attended to. I know there is a lot of talk that hon. Members of Parliament have this and that. However, if you are going to perform and we would like you to perform, these are some of the issues that must be looked into. The people of Milanzi wanted our colleague to perform and they would not like to come and find his children on the streets. This is a man who served this institution. So, these issues must be attended to. Why is it that we cannot have a doctor on call at Parliament Motel, for example? This is not the only case. Many hon. Members of Parliament have been sick at the motel. At some point, the late hon. Member of Parliament for Kantanshi was quite sick at the motel.

Hon. Opposition Member: Yes!

Dr Machungwa: The same with the late Hon. Kanyanyamina and many others. These are issues that are real and which must be looked into. It is unfortunate that we have to bring up these issues when we are debating a solemn Motion. Unfortunately, we normally do not debate ourselves. We hope our friend and late colleague’s soul rests in peace. We also hope that the issues that we have raised will be looked into very seriously.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Motion carried nemine contradicente.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr Mpombo: Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

The House adjourned at 1749 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 7th August, 2008.