Debates- Tuesday, 30th January, 2007

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DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 30th January, 2007

The House met at 1430 hours
 
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER
________

ANNOUNCEMENT

ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

Mr Speaker: I have been informed that in the absence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, who is abroad on national duties, His Honour the Vice President will be unable to attend sittings of the House on Tuesday, 30th and Wednesday, 31st January, 2007. In his absence, the hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Government Chief Whip, Hon. V. J. Mwaanga, MP, has been appointed as Acting Leader of Government Business in the House.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_______

QUESTIONS

PROCESSING OF ANIMAL SKIN PRODUCTS

129. Mr Imenda (Lukulu East) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry when the ministry would commence processing animal skin products in Western, Southern and Eastern Province.

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Konga): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government is not in the business of running businesses. However, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry does facilitate the opening up of tanneries by the private sector in various provinces for processing animal skin products.

The Government, through the rural industrialisation programme, as contained in the Fifth National Development Plan, has earmarked the facilitation of rural industrial development. One of the many objectives that this programme has is to assist in value addition to raw hides and the establishment of linkages between animal skin processing tanneries and farming schemes in order to establish industries close to the raw material resources.

You may wish to know that, currently, there are four major tanneries in operation, namely:

(a) Malar Tannery Limited in Kabwe;

(b) Keembe Tannery in Lusaka;

(c) Zamleather Tannery in Lusaka; and

(d) Bata Tannery located in Kafue.

Under another Government programme called the Triangle of Hope Initiative, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry is working towards facilitating the setting up of, at least, a tannery in each province by the private sector to enable the establishment of industries close to the raw hide sources. Priority will be given to provinces such as Central, Western, Southern and Eastern which have a high population of cattle, goats and other animals.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry has not alluded to the funds that will facilitate the need for those that may wish to embark on the tannery business. Could he inform this House whether there will be a fund which will facilitate that process.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, as I mentioned, the Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, will facilitate policies and legislation so that the private sector can set up tanneries. I also mentioned that the Government has embarked on an initiative called the Triangle of Hope that will enable the private sector set up tanneries. This initiative is supposed to be financed by the Japanese Government through Malaysian partners. Once it has been established, Zambian nationals who wish to venture into the tannery business can be availed with funds. However, the initiative is supposed to be private sector driven.
I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister inform this House what the Triangle of Hope Initiative is and who is behind it. May he also share with us what study they have conducted to determine that there is sufficient hide around for them to encourage the setting up of a tannery in every province.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, the Triangle of Hope is a Government initiative which will be financed with the support of the Japanese Government. The Government of the Republic of Zambia wants to set up multi-facility economic zones in this country, similar to what has been established in the tiger economies of the Far East, like Malaysia. Therefore, through the Triangle of Hope Initiative, multi-facility economic zones will be established in Zambia and support will be given to micro, small and medium- enterprises throughout the country.

Sir, as a Government, we are aware that most of the people who would like to deal in hide and leather tanning are in the micro, small and medium-scale enterprises. That is why we would like them to be given support through the Triangle of Hope Initiative. The quantities of raw hides available will be determined by the Zambians themselves. The people who will be targeted by this initiative are those in micro, small and medium-scale enterprises. It will be scattered throughout the country. By virtue of it being small, it will be given support.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr E. C. Mwansa (Chifunabuli): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the co-operating partners funding this project. However, I would like to know the Government’s financial commitment to this programme.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, as regards the Government’s commitment to the programme, of course, it is a hundred per cent committed. That is why it is taking such a leading role in facilitating it. However, the actual programme will be undertaken by the private sector.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Sikota (Livingstone): Sir, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister, with regard to the Triangle of Hope Initiative which is being backed by the Japanese, what measures have been put in place to prevent the abuses that happened regarding the Japanese Non-Grant Aid a few years ago where relatives of the rich and powerful were the ones accessing the aid.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, the Government will take all the necessary measures to exclude the privileged because this programme is targeted at the medium, small …

Mr Matongo: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Matongo: Mr Speaker, thank you for granting me this point of order. The business community in general, including the cross border traders commonly known as tamangas, is very concerned that the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry has not endeavoured to explain an important matter to them. At the opening of the Tenth National Assembly, His Excellency the President indicated that a choice would be made by this Government on whether to belong to the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) or the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). I need to know when the hon. Minister shall come with a clear pronouncement on where this country will belong in light of the very important world trade driven economic partnership agreements being negotiated right now. If that decision is not taken, this country will not be provided with an opportunity to accede to trade partnerships that will help the Zambian people. Can the hon. Minister indicate when a Ministerial Statement on this issue will be brought to the House.

Mr Speaker: Order! 
I shall allow the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, who by coincidence was on the Floor answering a supplementary question, to continue only so that he can clarify the issues raised in the point of order by the hon. Member of Parliament for Pemba. Otherwise, I would not have allowed him to continue with that reply.

The hon. Minister may continue.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, it is true that at present, Zambia is a member of both the COMESA and SADC economic groupings. In his speech, His Excellency the President alluded to that fact. I shall come with a Ministerial Statement on the matter needless to say that a study is being undertaken at present and once the outcome of that study is known, we shall inform this august House.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

LOAN FACILITY FOR HONEY FARMING AND MARKETING

130. Mr Imenda asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry when the ministry would consider introducing a loan facility for honey farming and marketing.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, the Government is not in the business of running business such as providing loan facilities for honey farming and marketing. The Government is, however, working towards putting up a fund for the development of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises including honey processing. This is under the Zambia Development Agency and within the framework of the Fifth National Development Plan.

In the past, the ministry has worked closely with business associations in strengthening linkages between them and the ministry towards enhancing and financing MSMEs. In addition, the ministry has collaborated with business associations in undertaking specialised training for MSMEs, including honey processing, taking into consideration that training enhances their ability to produce high quality products which are well packaged and branded for the domestic and export markets.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the hon. Minister has areas in mind for this programme.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, as I have said, this programme targets MSMEs throughout the country, especially those in areas where honey is currently being harvested.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, we pose questions to the hon. Minister so that he can inform us about the Government’s policy. In response to the question, the hon. Minister said the Government is not in the business of giving loans for purposes such as honey processing. I would like to find out from him how his ministry can say it is not Government policy to give loans for such purposes when other line ministries are actually doing so. Under what policy are they doing it? I want to give an example of the Tourism Promotion Fund, Forestry Development Fund and Fertiliser Support Programme. All these are loan facilities. How come the Government has the business of giving these loans, and yet it has no business giving loans for honey processing? Can the hon. Minister, please, reconcile this position.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, whereas other ministries give loans, I think it is a sector policy that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry does not give loans.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

QUALIFICATIONS OF DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

131. Mr Lubinda asked the Vice-President:

(a) how many District commissioners in Zambia had the following academic qualifications as of June, 2006:

(i) university degrees;

(ii) diplomas;

(iii) grade 12 school certificates; and

(iv) lower than Grade 12 school certificates; and

(b) how many of the above underwent job interviews for appointment to the position of District Commissioner and how the positions were advertised. 

The Deputy Minister in the Vice-Presidents’ Office (Ms Lundwe): Mr Speaker, the position of District Commissioner is treated like any other position in the Public Service. A policy on the recruitment of District Commissioners is that they should hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree as a minimum qualification. The mode of appointment to this position is the same as the case is for the other positions in the Public Service which is as follows:

(a) direct appointment;

(b) regrading of staff within the Public Service; and

(c) promotion.

Currently, not all District Commissioners’ positions are held by degree holders for the following reasons:

(a) some District Commissioners holding diplomas were serving as District Administrative Officers and because of their wide experience were elevated to the higher position prior to the decision on the minimum academic requirement;

(b) when the minimum academic requirement of a degree was introduced for the position of District Commissioner, some District Commissioners with lower qualifications were maintained in order for their contracts not to be disrupted. However, on the expiry of these contracts, efforts are made to fill these positions with officers holding relevant qualifications.

Academic Qualifications for District commissioners

Sir, the academic qualification for the current District Commissioners in Zambia are as follows:

(i) University Degree – 13
(ii) Diploma – 13
(iii) College Certificate – 29
(iv) Grade 12 Certificates – 02
(v) Vacancies – 15

Job Interviews for the Position of District Commissioners

Sir, a few District Commissioners were interviewed for the position of District Commissioner while the majority of District commissioners have risen through the ranks in the Public Service. When positions fall vacant, suitable candidates are usually identified from within the Public Service. This is done in order to motivate serving employees who aspire for higher positions. In some instances, where the Government is unable to find an immediate replacement from within the Public Service, other candidates who apply for positions in the Public Service are also considered.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, in 2002, there was a call by the Government for members of the public to make submissions on the position of District Commissioner. At the end of it, an Executive pronouncement was made that the position of District Commissioner would be a Civil Service position and all contracts that would fall through would be replaced through the Civil Service Commission appointing people with university degrees. I would like to find out when that position was changed and how it was announced so that all Zambians should have participated in applying for the positions of District Commissioners.

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (Mr Mwaanga): Mr Speaker, Hon. Lubinda seems to have made it a habit to bring this question every year.

Laughter

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, I wish to state, as I stated last to the same question, that the policy regarding the recruitment and retention of District Commissioner has been progressively revised over the years. This was done internally using Civil Service structures. There have been times when it has been necessary to appoint District Commissioners on account of their experience because the only alternative to experience is experience.

I thank you, M Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Banda (Chililabombwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President why District Commissioners are only recruited from the MMD. If that is the case, should we consider District Commissioners as cadres of the MMD?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, it s not true that all District Commissioners are appointed from the MMD. There are a number of non-MMD District Commissioners who have been appointed and that will continue. The only qualification is that they have to be Zambians. Therefore, it is not right for the hon. Member to allege that they should be considered as cadres because that is not the position.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if this Government is aware that the District Commissioners who were appointed recently in Mufulira and Mpongwe have qualifications below Grade 12. Could the hon. Minister confirm if that is a special case.

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, I do not have that privileged information which the hon. Member has.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Imenda (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Leader of Government Business in the House if he recalls that in 2003 the President addressed this House and assured the nation that to maintain good standards at district level, non-degree holders will never be made district commissioners. However, we still see people’s contracts being renewed. May he clarify why this is the case.

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, I have already answered that question.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Opposition Members: You have not answered it!

Interruptions

Ms Mumbi (Munali): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out the job description of a district commissioner. In addition, who is superior between a District Commissioner and Member of Parliament because, at the moment, we have to report to a district commissioner to access the Constituency Development Fund (CDF)?

Interruptions

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament have got different functions. They are elected by the people to represent their respective constituencies. There are certain districts which have more than two or three parliamentary constituencies. District commissioners are there to represent Government. They are the heads of government functions in the district. Their functions are completely separate and they should not be mixed up. I do not think that we should get involved in a debate as to whether the district commissioner is more important than a Member of Parliament. Members of Parliament are elected by the people while District Commissioners are appointed by the office of the Public Service Commission acting in the name of the President.

I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtonga (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, I am sure that Hon. V. J. Mwaanga agrees that justice has to be seen to be done and not just spoken about. Having been assured, in this House, that the appointment of District Commissioners would be through the Public Service Commission, I have not seen a single gazette inviting Zambians to apply for that post. Why is the Government not living up to that promise of appointment through announcement in the Government gazette so that all Zambians compete for the positions and get them on merit?

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, when the Deputy Minister read an answer to the substantive question which was asked, she pointed out that there are fifteen vacancies. Most of these vacancies have been caused by District Commissioners who have opted to become Members of Parliament. I am sure that when the time comes for recruitment, the Public Service Commission will do the needful.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sikota: Mr Speaker, we have been told that only thirteen out of seventy-two districts have District Commissioners who have got degrees. We have also been told that the minimum qualification for the position is a degree. Seeing that this minimum requirement for a degree is breached more than it is observed, can the Government come out honestly and tell us that they have abandoned it?

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, it remains part of our objective, but an objective is an objective until it has been attained.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matongo: Mr Speaker, Choma District has had no district commissioner for over ninety days. Hon. Hachipuka, Hon. Chazangwe and I have been waiting for the appointment of a District Commissioner. The one who was there was a university graduate and we worked very well with him for five years, but he has been promoted to the position of Permanent Secretary in Solwezi in North-Western Province. Since we are very good trainers of District Commissioners, …

Laughter

Mr Matongo: … when are you appointing a graduate District Commissioner in our district?
Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, I am aware that the former district commissioner for Choma, which is where I also come from, has been promoted not to Permanent Secretary, but to Deputy Permanent Secretary and sent to Solwezi in North-Western Province. There is a District Administrative Officer (DAO) who is acting. That is one of the fifteen positions which the Deputy Minister referred to. The District Commissioner for Choma will be appointed as soon as suitable selections have been made.
I thank you, Sir.

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

1996 AND 2001 ELECTION PETITIONS

132. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Justice how many election petitions were recorded after the 1996 and 2001 General Elections and what the common basis of the petitions was.

The Deputy Minister of Justice (Mr Machila): Mr Speaker, after the 2001 General Elections, a total of forty-seven election petitions were filed in the courts. Out of those, three were presidential, but they were later consolidated into one. There were forty-two parliamentary and two local government election petitions.

The common basis for petitions was alleged corruption and bribery by winning candidates and mismanagement of the elections by the Electoral Commission of Zambia. The Presidential Election  Petition was dismissed and four parliamentary and two local government petitions succeeded in court.

Records of parliamentary and local government election petitions filed after the 1996 General Elections cannot be traced at the High Court. Therefore, it is difficult to ascertain how many were filed. At that time, the High Court was the only source of records since the Electoral Commission of Zambia had just been established. However, some parliamentary and local government election petitions were filed in the High Court. There was one presidential petition of Akashambatwa Lewanika and others Vs Fredrick Jacob Chiluba and the Attorney-General.

I thank you, Sir.

I lay a report on the 2001 election petitions on the Table for the benefit of the House.

Mr Machila laid the paper on the Table.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, the extra information provided by the hon. Minister, particularly when attempting to answer the question on the 1996 petitions, makes me move away from the issue that I raised to find out what his ministry is doing about the fact that the Judiciary is not capable of managing information that is barely ten years old. What is happening to the justice system if they cannot trace information that is barely ten years old? Can the hon. Minister please enlighten us on what they are doing to ensure that next time, they are able to give us information that is older than ten years.

The Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda): Mr Speaker, the procedure for accessing records in the High Court is for parties who are interested in gathering information to conduct searches. In this case, a person is required is to pay a search fee before he gets access to the record. In this case, these are closed files which are in the archives. I was perusing Erskine May and normally there are restrictions on asking for information relating to history. Perhaps, if you want to write a book on history, you can go to the archives in the High Court and you will get the information.

Mr Speaker, what we are saying, as a ministry, is that we have been to the High Court, and have made reasonable endeavours to access these records. Cases are filed every year and there is a back log in the High Court. For that reason, we were unable to get those records.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sikota: Mr Speaker, I seek clarification on whether or not he is saying that Erskine May says that we are not entitled to ask for the information which was in Hon. Lubinda’s question.

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, I was perusing Erskine May, I think last week. There is a chapter on questions. If you read through it, you will find a restriction on asking questions which relate to historical factors.

Laughter

Mr Kunda: Sir, this is because if records are in the archives, it is not easy to access them. However, if you are writing a book on history, for example, you can easily go and do the research.
I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

MODERN FOOTBALL STADIUM IN LIVINGSTONE

133. Mr Sikota asked the Vice-President why the Government had not secured funding for the construction of a modern football stadium in Livingstone.

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, the Government’s policy on sports includes the provision of appropriate sports infrastructure across the country. In this regard, Cabinet in 2004 approved the construction of three ultra modern stadiums in Lusaka, Livingstone and Ndola through the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) concept. However, due to a poor response from would be investors, this project could not commence.

Mr Speaker, the government had to consider other viable options because of its commitment to the development of sports in the country. One of them was through bilateral arrangements. As the House may be aware, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has agreed to construct one ultra-modern stadium in Zambia. The sixty thousand multi-sports complex will be built in Ndola.

Mr Speaker, as for Livingstone, the Government’s plan is to construct an ultra-modern sports complex at Villa Park Grounds. However, the Government’s current commitments cannot sustain simultaneous multi-billion kwacha projects. At the moment, the Government is asking all our co-operating partners to come to our aid and help us build the Livingstone Sports Complex.

Mr Speaker, from the foregoing, it is not correct to say that the Government has failed to raise money for the construction of a sports complex in Livingstone. What is correct is that the Government is intensively engaged with co-operating partners in sourcing funds for the construction of the complex in Livingstone and we would appreciate partnerships with the business community to build this complex quickly.

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of the Livingstone Sports Complex is K109 billion. The complex will include a thirty thousand capacity stadium, volleyball, netball, cricket and tennis courts, a swimming pool and rugby stadium.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sikota: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out which co-operating partners the Government is engaged with in trying to negotiate for the Livingstone Stadium.

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, there are a number of co-operating partners who include members from the European Union, the Koreans to mention but some.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out how much it will cost the Government to build the stadium in Ndola because the hon. Deputy Minister mentioned Ndola.

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, the answer to that question was provided in the written statement of the Deputy Minister when she answered the question a few minutes ago and I hope the hon. Member was paying attention.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, could His Honour the Vice-President indicate to this House, how much of the K109 billion that is going to be used to construct the stadium in Ndola the Government is contributing.

Mr Mwaanga: Mr Speaker, the Ndola Stadium is being built under a grant aided scheme. Therefore, there will be no Government contribution. As of now, US$6.5 million has already been released to enable engineers design a new stadium so that the project is not unduly delayed.

I thank you, Sir.

WORKS ON THE MONGU/KALABO ROAD

134. Mr Sikota asked the Minister of Works and Supply:

(a) how many kilometres of the Mongu/Kalabo road had been completed and when the project began;

(b) how much money had been spent on the construction of the road so far;

(c) who would bear the extra cost of reconstructing the Mongu/Kalabo Road after parts of it were washed away; and

(d) when Zambia was due to start the repayments for the construction of the road.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Tetamashimba): Mr Speaker, a total of 41 Km of the road between Tapo Village and Kalabo Town was finally completed to tarmac level with all road furniture installed representing 61 per cent of the total project. The project began on 6th August 2002. A total of K137,583,875,583 has been spent on the project. The contractor will pay the extra costs of reconstructing the washed away portions of the Mongu/Kalabo Road.

Sir, the construction of the Mongu-Kalabo Road Project was co-financed by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Kuwait Fund, OPEC Fund and the Zambian Government. The financial agreement signed between the Zambian Government and the individual financing institutions differed from institution to institution. An example, Mr Speaker, is the loan from the Kuwait Fund and Arab Bank from Economic Development in Africa. They gave the Zambian Government loans of 2.5 per cent interest rates with a grace period of five years before the Government starts repayments. The OPEC fund loan, on the other hand, provided a 1 per cent interest rate with a grace period of five years before the start of repayment. This means that Zambia will start repaying all the loans from 2011. As of now, the Government has not yet started repaying schedules on all the above loans. The repayment period is 20 years for all the loans.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sikota (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the shoulders of the forty-one kilometre stretch which has been tarred on that road have already started getting eaten away. In addition, potholes are beginning to appear on it. In view of this, is the Government going to ensure that the contractor goes back to make sure that the road lasts for, at least, up to the time we start repaying the loan. This is so that we do not start repaying for a road which has potholes.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, the Mongu/Kalabo Road is very important to the country. It is a pity to hear what the hon. Member of Parliament for Livingstone has said because any constructed road has an area of stress. An area of stress can just be a small root that was left at the time they were laying the base of that road. This is because the base and not the dressing that we see is the road. Therefore, when they are laying the base, if even a small route is left, it will rot and create an area of stress at that point. Therefore, bad roads, good as they are made, are expected to show certain areas of stress. It is in that time that they should take a look and eliminate those areas of stress.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shoulders.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, if what the hon. Member of Parliament has said is true, certainly, the shoulders have to be worked on. Maybe, they were not stabilised. I cannot say that right now because I do not know to what standard they were constructed. However, if they are already wearing out, it means they were not stabilised. We will then have to look at what the contract says. Definitely, the shoulders are important to any road that is tarred and that is what we have to look at.
I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sinyinda (Senanga): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Works and Supply when the construction of the twenty-seven bridges between Mongu and Tapo will begin. This is because this road has been there for a long time.

Mr Speaker: Is the hon. Minister able to give a bonus answer to that stray question?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I am obliged to give a bonus answer. In this year’s budget, we have provided K20 billion for the purchase of bridges and their installation. So, immediately after the approval of budget by this House, we hope to get this money so that we can purchase the bridges for installation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, I remember that the contractor wanted to run away, but was stopped in Senanga by the police.

Laughter

Mr Mooya: Later on, the Government secretly arranged with the contractor and the contractor went to Namibia. I would like to know if the contractor is now back in Zambia.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, what I know is that the contractor is going to reconstruct the portions that were washed away. When the time comes for this to be done, he will be there to do it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has admitted that there are portions of weaknesses on the shoulders of that road. In addition, there are serious stresses all along the road. This shows that the contractor who constructed this road did not do a good job. What will the Government do to correct this situation because the road will wear out soon?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, on the 10th and 11th January 2007, a meeting was held between the Government and all the co-financiers of this project. This was to discuss the progress on the road. We got a recommitment from everyone that they were going to see to it that we found enough funds to finish the road. This will extend via Sikongo up to the Angola border. I am getting reports that there are already potholes on this road and this will be looked at at the time this is done.
I thank you, Sir.

Mr Milupi (Luena): Mr Speaker, quite clearly, the Mongu/Kalabo Road is a disaster. So much money has been spent and if we continue at current pace, it is unlikely that we will ever have the Mongu/Kalabo Road. Could the hon. Minister inform this House whether in view of the wrong method that was used to construct the road, they have considered rerouting it from its current position where they are attempting to cross a 30 kilometre river during the flood season with twenty-seven bridges.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member for the question because it gives me an opportunity to speak to the country as a whole.

Sir, when we are carrying out projects of this nature, it is important that all views are taken into account. In this particular case, the locals in that area objected to what was being done with regard to the road, but for one reason or the other the consultants thought they knew better and prevailed. Obviously, what has happened is that the opposite has proved to be true. For this reason it has been realised that the initial approach was not right and that is why we have now gone to bridges. We are going to erect steel bridges on that stretch and not the initial approach that was used. This is the right approach. However, with regard to the hon. Member’s suggestion of creating another route, I do not know. I do not understand or know why they thought that was the correct path.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Mr Speaker, the Barotse Flood Plains are the sight of many engineering disasters to do with roads, canals and ships. It is a very treacherous place from an engineer’s point of view as I am sure the hon. Minister is aware. The soils have very strange mechanical properties and the sub-soils are very unstable. Is he sure that this road is actually viable or are we just going to spin it out with more hundreds of billions of kwacha and more steel bridges until eventually somebody says it was the fault of the New Deal Government?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, again, I am grateful for that question. As I just said a few minutes ago, this road connects Zambia to Angola. It will be another very viable road for exporting goods to Angola. So, when the hon. Member talks about the viability of this road, I must say with confidence that it is viable and we must, as a country, complete it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, has the hon. Minster made an effort to quantify the ecological damage caused to the flora and fauna of the Barotse Flood Plains from the destruction caused by the failed road.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, that place is always flooded. The construction of the road did not add to anything. In fact, the initial construction failed because they tried to block the natural path of the river that is generated due to the flooding. So, the flooding has always been there and was not created by the construction of this road.

I thank you, Sir.

MOTOR VEHICLE TAX CONCESSIONS FOR RETIREES

135. Mr Hamir (Chitambo) asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning whether tax concessions were offered to retirees when importing vehicles which were used for their livelihood.

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr Shakafuswa): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that there are no tax concessions offered to retirees when importing vehicles which are used for the livelihood. However, it is important to note that retirees enjoy relief on their pension packages. When they are in pensionable employment, their pension contribution, as well as the contribution from their employers, is exempt from income tax. On retirement, the first K10 million of the lump sum payment is exempt from taxation and the balance is taxed at a rate of 10 per cent.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamir: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the ministry has any plans to fund the construction of houses for ministers, deputy ministers and permanent secretaries to avoid spending too much on rented accommodation.

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning is free to give a bonus answer to that question.

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, I am one person who does not shy away from such questions. It would be ideal to go that route because at the moment, the Government is spending colossal sums of money renting houses for ministers, permanent secretaries and deputy ministers as a result of the Housing Empowerment Scheme which was brought about by the previous administration.

We are going to think about that. Finances permitting, we might consider it at a later stage. However, in the meantime, we have budgetary constraints because of the demand on the Treasury.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, I know that retirees would also mean the returning of our people that went to work outside this country. A year ago, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning said that the people coming back home would be allowed to bring one vehicle free from taxation into the country. Why has the Government not put this directive into effect? A number of people coming are still having difficulties bringing in an extra or one tax free vehicle each.

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, the current policy for every returning citizen is one vehicle free of taxation. With regard to extra vehicles, maybe, that will be looked at in future.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze): Mr Speaker, it would appear that the Government is favouring those who have been working outside the country. Why can the Government not also consider giving a rebate to Zambians who buy a vehicle for the first time?

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, the issue of rebates and supply is agreed upon by this august House. However, we should look at the implications that such an action is going to have on the total revenues. The bottom line is how much money are we, as a nation, raising in relation to the demand, which is what the people want us to spend that money on. If, in the wisdom of the people of this House, the Government can concede to such a concession at the expense of ensuring that a school or hospital in Monze does not run out of medicine, it is the decision of this House to enter into such a compromise.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Matongo: Mr Speaker, retirees are really facing a lot of difficulties. When it comes to purchases, they pay VAT. As a way of reducing the suffering of the many retirees, is the hon. Minister considering reducing VAT from 17.5 per cent to the 12.5 per cent prevalent in the SADC region?

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, this issue should be addressed nationally. I wish to suggest to those who are here and those in pensionable employment to start planning for their future before they retire.  We should start planning for our retirement when we still have the energy and are still in employment.

Sir, we might suggest that VAT and other taxes should be reduced, which is very good, but what demands on the Government shall we reduce on? When you come up with such a good idea, instead of going to the press, come to the ministry and say, ‘If we did this, we could get money from that.’ We can also see whether the cost benefit implications and can allow us to take such measures. A lot of people talk, but when you carry out a cost benefit analysis, it may not be worth it. For example, we were told to employ people to collect tax and at the end of day, all that money went towards ensuring that the tax was adhered to.

Therefore, those who have suggestions on how we can improve the lives of the people of Zambia and how the people of Zambia can enjoy the benefits of being Zambian are most welcome to bring suggestions and sit down with us so that we can discuss them instead of rushing to the press.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sichimba (Isoka West): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether he knows how much money hon. Deputy Ministers are paying for hotel accommodation.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

That question is inadmissible in this House.

Can we go to the next question, please.

SENSITISATION OF PEASANT FARMERS

136. Mr Hamir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives what measures the ministry had taken to sensitise peasant farmers on the need to save money to enable them expand their businesses or farming activities after they had sold their products.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Mr Mulonga): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, through the Department of Co-operatives and Agri-business and Marketing, has been spearheading co-operative development and entrepreneurship skills training which includes saving mobilisation among farmers, particularly, small-scale farmers. Extension messages have also been developed for use during farmer training countrywide. Further, the Government and the Zambia Co-operative Federation have been making frantic efforts to reopen the Co-operative Bank for promotion of saving mobilisation and access to credit by the farmers.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamir: Mr Speaker, I am not sure whether the system is working because the new policy in agriculture was started about five years ago, but the livelihood of the people is not changing. Maybe, your officers are not going round. Are you sure they are going round?

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, the system is currently working. It is an on-going programme that is progressing well. What we need to do, as hon. Members, is help the Government by sensitising the peasant farmers who at one time were not given inputs for farming. The agricultural sector was somehow neglected in the previous Government. So, we are just building this sector and trying to improve the lives of the peasant farmers among other things. Hence, the decision by the Government and the discussion with the co-operators to reopen the bank so that new inputs could be accessed and the livelihood of farmers improved.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Silavwe (Nakonde): Mr Speaker, the arrangement by the Government to introduce the Fertiliser Support Programme is very important. Unfortunately, the same farmers access this facility every year. The reason is that the officers in the districts do not have transport. When will the ministry buy vehicles for the officers in the districts so that they are able to go around and identify the farmers who have not yet benefited from this facility?

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question.

Mr Speaker, input distribution is not in accordance with who has transport at the district level. Input distribution of the FASP is in accordance with provisions which the districts provide to the ministry and this information emanates from the grassroots. The transport sector just comes in to spearhead and help the distribution of inputs at that level. Otherwise, the determination of who is going to get the inputs is purely dependant on the co-operators themselves.

Thank you, Sir.
Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka): Mr Speaker, I would like the Government’s honest position regarding the enhancement of peasant farmers and their businesses as per question asked by the hon. Member for Chitambo. Currently, the Government is refunding peasant farmers the money that they had asked them to contribute through the societies to benefit from the fertiliser on the FASP. Could the Government give us their honest position regarding the enhancement of these farmers because I am not satisfied. As of yesterday, peasant farmers in Mazabuka were being refunded and are expected to go and look for fertiliser to apply in their fields at a non-subsidised rate.

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, first and foremost, the Government is not aware of the refunds being given to some of the farmers in Mazabuka.

Interruptions.

Mr Mulonga: Secondly, whereas the hon. Members are supposed to help our farmers in their respective constituencies, the Government, through the FASP, is only supposed to help up to 10 per cent of the total farmers. What happens unfortunately is that even us who are not eligible as hon. Members of Parliament get this fertiliser. As a result, we deny the ones the fertiliser is intended for. So, since it is our mistake, it is our responsibility to correct it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chimbaka (Bahati): Mr Speaker, last week, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives informed this House that they had done all they could to ensure that fertiliser reached all the desired places. Unfortunately, I got a telephone call this afternoon from one of the hon. Deputy Ministers who is currently in Luapula Province confirming that farmers in Mansa were demonstrating over the non-availability of urea fertiliser. When did the hon. Minister dispatch trucks to deliver top dressing to Mansa and which transporters were used?

Mr Speaker: I have to disallow that question because it is totally unrelated to question No. 136. It is irrelevant.

I shall try one more.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, in answer to the supplementary question, the hon. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives stated that hon. Members of Parliament are getting fertiliser instead of giving it to the peasant farmers since it is a Government support programme to assist peasant farmers. This is a very serious statement. Would the hon. Deputy Minister be in a position to give us evidence on the hon. Members of Parliament taking the fertiliser intended for peasant farmers.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives, do you have that evidence?

Mr Mulonga: Mr Speaker, it is appears the hon. Member did not pay much attention. That was just an example.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter{mospagebreak}

MANAGEMENT OF LIUWA NATIONAL PART BY AFRICAN PARKS

137. Mr Imenda asked the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources what progress had been made by the management of African Parks ever since they took over the running of Liuwa National Park in the following areas:

(i) animal population;

(ii) number of tourists visiting the park compared to the period from 2005

(iii) to 2006;

(iv) poaching incidents; and

(v) social sector support to the local people.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Mr Kaingu): Mr Speaker, the wildebeest population has increased to about 46,000 from 15,000 since the African Parks took over the running of the park. There is also a 30 per cent increase in other animal species, among them Zebra, Cheetah, Reedbuck, Oribi, Lion and Sitatunga.

Mr Speaker, in 2005, about 509 local and international tourists visited the parks. In 2006, only about 396 tourists visited the park. The reduction in the number of visitors in 2006 may be attributed to the increase in the park entry fee per person from US $20 in 2005 to US $40 in 2006 and that was the same year we had our Tripartite Elections.
Mr Speaker, there has been a reduction in the poaching incidences in the park. In 2005, twenty-five arrests were made. This number decreased in 2006 from 25 to 18 arrests.

Mr Speaker, this House may wish to know that support has since been extended to the local communities as follows:

(a) eighty-nine people from local communities have been employed as village scouts and are working in the park;

(b) eight grinding mills have been allocated to the surrounding communities;

(c) two classroom blocks have been constructed at Lukoko School;

(d) women’s clubs have been formed for the purpose of imparting various skills;

(e) three tourist camp sites have been constructed and these are managed by the communities;

(f) four boats have been donated for use at crossing points;

(g) the Kalabo Magistrate Court has been renovated at the cost of K20 million; and

(h) a land cruiser has been donated to the Zambia Police Service in Kalabo.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, the investors pledged among other things to construct a good road and a clinic. However, in his explanation, I have not heard him mention this.

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, the investors have already done a couple of road construction works around the park and are in the process of bringing other investments. I am sure they will put up the clinic.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Scott: Mr Speaker, I wonder if the hon. Minister would care to give us an estimate of the relative values of benefits flowing to the following three categories of stakeholders in Liuwa National Park.

The first is the community. He has itemised them, but he has not given us an overall picture of how much they might be worth in managing terms.

The second is the central Government in which I would include the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and the third is the Barotse Royal Establishment. How much is everybody relatively benefiting from this?

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, in terms of the community, there are what we call the Community Resource Boards (CRBs). They get benefits from African Parks when they do their hunting. In fact, they share the resources with ZAWA which gets 50 per cent while the community gets 50 per cent.

The park has also employed eighty-nine scouts who are getting K300,000 each as a salary. You can also see that the park is imparting entrepreneurship skills to benefit the community.

The agreement between the Government and park was that the African Parks would look after the animals and pay the fifteen ZAWA scouts who are employed there.

As for the Barotse Royal Establishment, I am not privileged to have that information.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, it is very good that the number of animals have increased since the African Parks took over the Liuwa National Park. I would like the hon. Minister to clearly state how much meat the villagers are allowed to eat because scouts have harassed them ever since they started living with them in the villages.

Mr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I do not know where the hon. Member of Parliament has got that information from because it has not come to our attention. However, what happens is that when African Parks hunts, the meat is given to the communities.

Mr Mtonga interjected.

Mr Kaingu: Actually, …

Mr Speaker: Order!

The Chair is required to guide the House and not to engage in debate. You have passed a law here, The Wildlife Act, which says, ‘No hunting is allowed in any national park.’ This is the law you passed in this House. It applies to all the nineteen or more national parks in Zambia.

CATTLE RESTOCKING IN WESTERN PROVINCE

138. Mr Imenda asked the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives when cattle restocking in Western Province would commence.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives (Mr Kalenga): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives has included the cattle restocking programme in the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP). However, there are still active cases of fatal Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia (CBPP) in Western Province. As such, no restocking exercise can commence in the province until the disease incidence is brought under control. Efforts aimed at reducing and eventually eradicating the disease in the province are underway through the construction of the cordon line among other things.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Imenda: Mr Speaker, districts like Kaoma and Lukulu which do not have incidences of the disease were not supported, and yet districts in Southern Province were supported. Why is the support not being extended to Western Province?

Mr Kalenga: Mr Speaker, in Southern and Lusaka provinces, the project is under way. However, for Western Province it is under the Fifth National Development Plan and we are waiting for the Budget.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister says the restocking will only happen when they have constructed the cordon line. As the situation is now, there is CBPP in Kazungula which is very far away from where the cordon line is supposed to be constructed. Are they going to make several other cordon lines to protect the Southern Province?
Mr Kalenga: Mr Speaker, the prime factor now is to put a cordon line in Western Province, but we will look at that because it is a good suggestion.

I thank you.

Mr Sinyinda: Mr Speaker, I come from that part of Zambia and to the best of my knowledge, at the moment, CBPP is under control. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister which districts in Western Province have such a disease at the moment.

Mr Kalenga: Mr Speaker, although it is a new question, I think all the districts in Western Province are affected, especially those where the hon. Member comes from like Shang’ombo, …

Laughter

Mr Kalenga: … Senanga and Sesheke

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

CONSTRUCTION OF SENANGA/LUMBE ROAD AND A BRIDGE AT LUI RIVER

139. Sinyinda asked the Minister of Works and Supply whether the Government had any plans to construct a road between Senanga and Lumbe and a bridge at Lui River.

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Tetamashimba): Mr Speaker, there are no immediate plans in 2007 to construct a road between Senanga and Lumbe. However, the construction of the road between Senanga and Lumbe shall be considered in the 2008 and 2009 Annual Work Plan.
Mr Speaker, as regards the bridge on Lui River, in the 2007 Annual Work Plan under DANIDA Mixed Credit, there is a provision of K18 billion to rehabilitate the Senanga-Mbeta/Nangweshi Road and for the construction of a number of bridges along the same road. It is under this DANIDA Mixed Credit that the bridge at Lui River will be constructed.

I thank you, Sir.

MARKETING OF WESTERN PROVINCE AS A TOURISM DESTINATION

140. Mr Sinyinda asked the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources whether the Government had any plans to deliberately market Western Province as a tourist destination.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Mr Kaingu): Mr Speaker, the Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB), which is charged with the responsibility of marketing the country’s tourism, markets Zambia as a destination. By conducting generic marketing, all products found in Zambia, including those in Western Province, are promoted. Some of the products from Western Province that are actively promoted include the wildlife in the protected areas of the Liuwa Plains and Sioma Ngwezi National Parks and their surrounding game management areas and the famous Kuomboka Ceremony.

I thank you, Sir.

EXTENTION OF ZNBC TELEVISION COVERAGE TO ALL CONSTITUENCIES IN KAPUTA

141. Mr Sikazwe (Chimbamilonga) asked the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services when Zambia National Broadcasting (ZNBC) television coverage would be extended from the Kaputa District Centre to all the constituencies in the district.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (Mr D. Phiri): Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the installed television capacity at Kaputa is currently 50 watts and covers an area of approximately 8 to10 kilo metres in radius.

It is, however, recognised like in many other districts that this coverage is limited to the centre of town and does not cover all the constituencies in Kaputa.

The project to improve television reception in the country is on going and the intention of the Government is for total territorial coverage of the country with quality television signals.

My ministry, in conjunction with ZNBC, is currently doing the following:

(a) re-evaluating the existing facilities to ascertain the extent of coverage with a view to upgrading or install additional facilities to increase coverage area; and

(b) subject to (a) above, recommend to Government areas to be included in the next project for funding.

Mr Speaker, it should be noted that the Government has incorporated in the Fifth National Development Plan ending in 2010, the development of the electronic media infrastructure to cover all the seventy-two districts in Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

COMPLETION OF MUKUBWE BRIDGE

142. Mr Sikazwe asked the Vice-President:

(a) when the construction of the Mukubwe Bridge would be completed following the failure by Tomorrow Investments to complete the project; and

(b) when tenders for the project would be floated.

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that following the failure by Tomorrow Investments to complete the project the Government terminated the contract on 15th January, 2005. This decision has paved way for a new tender. The tendering process is expected to take ninety days and the actual awarding and signing of the contract is, therefore, expected by the end of June, 2007. The works on the bridge will start soon after the contract has been finalised.

Hon. Members may wish to know that the completion of this bridge is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Works and Supply 2007 Budget to be presented in this House soon.

I thank you, Sir.

WORK PERMITS FOR EXPATRIATES ON THE MINES FOR 2004 AND 2006

143. Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many expatriates were granted work permits to work on the mines in Zambia from 2004 to 2006; and

(b) how many of these expatriates had special skills not found among Zambians

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Ms Njapau): Mr Speaker, 850 expatriates were granted work permits to work on the mines in Zambia from 2004 to 2006.

Mr Speaker, all the expatriates mentioned above had either experience, special skills and qualifications or the special skills required to run the just brought in machinery or new technology and to train Zambians for eventual take over.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out how Government finds out that the expatriates who are coming in have special skills and that these skills are not found amongst the Zambians when these jobs are not advertised.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha): Mr Speaker, the Government works in liaison with the labour office as well as the mining companies. We look at the qualifications of those that they want to bring in and in certain cases, the mines do advertise. When we talk about mines, these include Solwezi and not just the Copperbelt.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr D. Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that there are some expatriates working in the mining industry without work permits. If he is aware, what are they doing about it?

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, I would like to urge the hon. Member of Parliament for Chipili to tell us those who are working without work permits because it is illegal for anybody to do that in Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chongo (Mwense): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that there are expatriates with inferior skills and qualifications holding very senior positions in the mines while well qualified Zambians are holding very inferior positions.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, my ministry, in liaison with many other agencies, carries out investigations to find out whether they have inferior qualifications. Once the contracts of those that we find do not qualify expire, we allow Zambianisation to take place.

I thank you, Sir.

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

Dr Machungwa: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that there are 850 expatriates who have been brought into the country on the mines. Considering that this country has been engaged in mining for a very long time and has developed a highly trained and skilled cadre of miners and engineers, is it necessary to give 850 work permits to specialists? We have so many trained people and we have been able to run these mines for a very long time. Would a smaller number of expatriates not be more preferable in this situation?
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Madam Speaker, in the year 2004, there were only 203 permits issued. In the year 2005, there were 158 permits only issued. In 2006, there was an increase and we issued 489 permits. This is because at that time, new machinery was being brought in by the owners of the mines in Solwezi as well as on the Copperbelt.

Madam Speaker, we have as a nation, trained quite a number of persons, but the equipment that we were using in the whole ZCCM is not the same as the one they are bringing in the mines now.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

REHABILITATION OF TARRED ROADS ON THE COPPERBELT FROM 2002-2006

144. Mr Mukanga asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how many tarred roads were rehabilitated or resurfaced on the Copperbelt from 2002 to 2006, district by district; and

(b) what the cost of rehabilitation or resurfacing, road by road was.

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, the two questions are similar. We will show the costs and the kilometers, but the rest of the details are the same. Since it is a long list, I will save time and combine the answer by including the figures that the hon. Member wants in the second question.

Madam Speaker, the roads that were rehabilitated or resurfaced on the Copperbelt Province from 2002 to 2006 district by district are as follows and I will be very slow for the benefit of the hon. Member of Parliament.

Item District Road Name   Km  Cost

 1. Luanshya T3 Luanshya/Kafulafuta 45  K32.9 billion

2. Luanshya  Townships   2.8  K1.4 billion

3. Chingola T3 Lima-ZCCM underpass 4.8   K11.23 billion

4. Chingola T5 Chingola/Solwezi  40  K11 billion
5. Chingola T5 Chingola/Solwezi  36  K27.2 billion

5.1 Chingola T5 Chingola/Solwezi  168  K30.8 billion

5.2 Chingola T3 Chingola/Chililabombwe/
   Kasumbalesa Road  45  K53.9 billion

6. Kitwe  Wusakile/Ndola  5.5  K2.2 billion

7. Kitwe  Freedom way & Zambezi 4  2.5 Billion

   Lunda via KTTC/Mindolo 5.5  K2.23 billion

8. Kitwe  Luangwa-Maternity Clinic 3.2  K2.71 billion
9. Mufulira  Buteko/Butondo  8.7  K4.3 billion.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, I would like o find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government has a comprehensive road rehabilitation programme for township roads. This is because most of the township roads are not rehabilitated. I wonder whether we have a comprehensive programme for the rehabilitation of township roads to enable them to be maintained and rehabilitated at the right time.

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, first of all, may I take this opportunity to inform the House that as at now, the ministry has signed contracts to rehabilitate urban roads in all the townships, including provincial headquarters throughout the country.

Mr Sichilima: Including Mbala.

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, under the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the new structure, there are regional engineers and senior engineers in the province. The senior engineer is the officer who is going to be responsible for combining the roads which are outside the townships and those that are within the townships. I can assure the House that our counterparts in road development in the districts under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing are doing a commendable job in trying to ensure that township roads are repaired. In the olden days, the mines were in the forefront of helping in terms of road rehabilitation. The hon. Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Simbao) has had discussions with some owners of the mines to see how they can participate in repairing the roads in the townships where they are making billions and billions of kwacha in profits. Therefore, the Government is on course in trying to see that what happened in the past does not occur in the next five years of this Government.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kasongo (Bangweulu): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the safety measures that have been put in place to ensure that the contracts are not awarded to briefcase contractors.

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, I must say that there has been a lot of shoddy work in the past. Of course, it is not a secret that companies like Nanshinga and Tomorrow Investment have failed to deliver what they had agreed with the Government.

Mr Sichilima: Arrest them!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam, some of the delays in carrying out some of the contracts have been caused by the fact that when you sign the contract, it is supposed to start running and if the Government does not make the advance payment, it starts accruing interest. I can assure the House that the leadership at the ministry and in Government has decided to only sign contracts when money is available. Last week, we informed this House that if hon. Members participated in this exercise, we were going to be transparent. When it is time to do roads, we shall make sure that hon. Members of Parliament know what is happening in terms of contractors because we have heard many hon. Members complain about contractors such as Tomorrow Investment and Nanshinga.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chanda (Kankoyo): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the Buteko/Butondo Road has been completed and whether the contractor has been paid in full.

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, I know that the issue of roads is at the heart of hon. Members of Parliament. However, this sounds like a new question. I would, therefore, advise the hon. Member of Parliament to attend the seminar which will take place in the next one week or so. At that seminar, the ministry will be able to at least give something to every constituency within our country. Therefore, you can reserve that question for the seminar because it sounds like a new question.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr Nsanda (Chimwemwe): Madam Speaker, looking at the figures that the hon. Minister has given us, the Solwezi Road was done recently and they are going to spend another K30.8 billion. What life span do the contractors give when making a road because that road is barely three years old? If it has not reached the life span that was given, what are you going to do to the Chinese contractor that worked on the road which after two years is damaged and you have to K30 billion again?

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, it sounds like a lot of money has been spent on this road which is going to be the future economic giant of this country. However, I want to say this and the hon. Member of Parliament is my witness. When he was Deputy Minister for Local Government and Housing …

Mr Nsanda: For transport!

Mr Tetamashimba: … and I was on the left side of the House, I found him on that road inspecting the road works between Chingola and Solwezi. At one of the points, even if you put tarmac, due to the dambo on the sides, the tar does not last. That, again, is due to the agreement in the contract. When contractors put up the jobs they are going to do, they do not put in their contracts that certain places will need more bitumen or cement than the parts where it is always dry. As a result, we have such problems. However, I can assure the hon. Member of Parliament who has been to Solwezi of late that since the New Deal Government came into power, in the past three to four years, the road has been very good. The hon. Member of Parliament will agree with me that he has been on that road several times with his wife because of the construction which was done by the Chinese.

I thank you, Madam.

COMPLETION OF ISOKA DISTRICT HOSPITAL

145. Mr Sichimba asked the Minister of Health what measures the Ministry had taken to complete the hospital in Isoka District.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Puma): Madam Speaker, it is the plan of the ministry to have a district hospital in each district of this country. As of now, the ministry has continued to construct five district hospitals in Kapiri Mposhi, Chadiza, Samfya, Mumbwa and Isoka. To this effect, the ministry has disbursed K1 billion for the final works at Isoka District Hospital.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Sichimba: Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister of Health what disaster means. Why should it take our listening Government five to six years to complete a hospital that was declared as unfit by the District Disaster Management Unit? Why should a vulnerable population of 100,000 be subjected to such torture?

The Minister of Health (Ms Cifire): Madam Speaker, the hon. Member’s question is not clear. He had asked about Isoka District Hospital, but now he is asking us to find a dictionary which we cannot find in here.

I thank you, Madam.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

COUNCILLORS’ ALLOWANCES

Mr Sichimba asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the allowances for councillors were last increased.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Kazonga): Madam Speaker, the last time allowances for councillors were increased was in 2006 through Statutory Instrument No. 14 of 2006.
Let me shed a bit more light in as far as this increment is concerned by giving an example. A mayor of a city council is entitled to an annual allowance of K4,400,000. A mayor of a municipal council is entitled to K3,600,000 and a chairman of a district council is entitled to an annual allowance of K2,700,000.

In terms of subsistence allowance, a mayor of a city council is entitled to K150,000 per night. A mayor of a municipal council is entitled to K135,000 per night. In terms of sitting allowances, a mayor of a city council is entitled to K112,000 per day, a mayor of a municipal council K90,000 per day and a chairman of a district council K70,500 per day.

In terms of transport allowance, a mayor of a city council or municipal council is not entitled to transport allowance, but a chairman of a district council is entitled to K50,000.

Madam, the table of these allowances is quite long. Therefore, I will lay the Statutory Instrument on the Table of the House so that Members can read in detail the contents of the said document.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Kazonga laid the paper on the Table.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AT NKANA HOSPITAL

147. Mr Mwenya (Nkana) asked the Minister of Health:

(a) what measures the Government had taken to improve the poor standards and medical facilities at Nkana Hospital; and

(b) what measures the Government had taken to ensure that the poor were not disadvantaged when accessing quality health care at the hospital.

Dr Puma: Madam Speaker, Sinozam Hospital, formerly Nkana Mine Hospital, was transferred through purchase from the mines to the Chinese. The hospital became a private hospital in the year 2000 under Non-Ferrous China. Non Ferrous China runs a mine in Chambeshi and has management running the hospital in Kitwe.

A number of inspections have been undertaken and recommendations made both by the Medical Council of Zambia (MECOZ), in the years 2003 and 2005, and the local administration through the office of the District Commissioner in 2003. Compliance is being monitored by the MECOZ through its inspectors.

The hon. Member also wanted to know what measures the Government had taken to ensure that the poor are not disadvantaged when accessing quality health care at the hospital.

Madam Speaker, this is a fee-paying private institution where patients or clients pay for the service rendered. Emergencies may be attended to, but subsequently those who are unable to pay are referred to government institutions.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Mwenya: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government is considering renegotiating …

Mr Chilembo: On a point of order, Madam.

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chilembo: Madam Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Is the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing in order to keep quiet over the issue of Chiefs Chipepo and Sikongo of Gweembe and Siavonga Districts considering that the lives of the people are being threatened? I demand a ministerial statement over this serious issue.

Madam Deputy Speaker: That point of order which is not very clear is referring to the differences between chiefs. The hon. Member can ask this through a question in the House rather than a point of order. I think we have had guidance here. It is not a question of an emergency, but something that has been going on and, therefore, the hon. Member is advised to ask a substantive question on the Order Paper.

Will the hon. Member for Nkana continue, please.

Mr Mwenya: Madam Speaker, before I was interrupted, I was asking the hon. Minister of Health whether there was any consideration to renegotiate or reclaim this hospital since the investors have failed to run it which has affected the people of Nkana East, West, and Cha cha cha who have nowhere to go since that was the only health institution catering for them.

Secondly, are there any plans of constructing a new hospital in Kitwe to supplement the existing one which is over-stretched and failing to cope with demand? If so, when and where?

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, Government policy as of now is that we run government institutions and also allow private partnership in terms of running the institutions. Maybe the hon. Member has more information that the owners of these institutions have failed. If they have failed, they will make the necessary communication and it will be at that point that we will get into discussions with them.

Madam Speaker, on the issue of constructing another facility within the area, we are in a continuous process of bringing the health service delivery as near to the family as possible. There are regulations in place on how this is going to be done and at an appropriate time and if it will be necessary, that will be done.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, has the hon. Minister found out how many people die in the Nkana Mine Hospital run by the Chinese compared to how many people were dying before?

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Madam.

Mr Nsanda: Iwe!

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. I would like to find out whether it is in order for the hon. Minister of Health to keep quiet when there is a very strange disease caused by rats in Sinda which has resulted in the loss of lives.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member has raised a point of order with regard to a strange disease in Eastern Province and is asking the hon. Minister of Health to issue a ministerial statement on the matter. Indeed, this is a serious matter. When the health and lives of the Zambians are affected, then there is need for this House to be concerned. Therefore, I ask the hon. Minister of Health to come up with a ministerial statement to enlighten this House on the situation regarding the plague in the Eastern Province at a later stage.

Will the hon. Member for Chimwemwe continue, please.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, in this hospital, the mortuary has more dead bodies than the patients who go in there. Therefore, can you find out what type of Chinese doctors are working there.

Interruptions

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, from the information being given by the hon. Member, I am sure by now the population of Nkana would have depleted. All the same, we will take the information that you have given to us and follow up the issues that you have raised.

DISPOSED ZNPF PROPERTIES IN KITWE

148. Mr Mwenya asked the Minister of Labour and Social Security:
(a) what criteria were used to dispose of the properties constructed and owned by the Zambia National provident Fund (ZNPF);

(b) how many such buildings have been sold in Kitwe and why; and

(c) how much was raised from the sale of ZNPF buildings in Kitwe and for what purpose the money was used.

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Liato): Madam Speaker, the criteria used for the selection of property for disposal is that the property market value must provide a more attractive value than the asset is worth within the existing portfolio.

The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) engages professional evaluators to conduct a viability appraisal of the property by looking into such factors as location, state of repair of the property and the property markets.

In 1999, NAPSA sold fifteen residential properties to sitting employee tenants and it has since realised a total sum of K452 million. In 2002, NAPSA conducted disposals of the following commercial properties:

(i) Stand No. 277 Amiton House;
(ii) Stand No. 249 Noble House;
(iii) sub-division A on Stand No. 4976;
(iv) sub-division B on Stand No. 4976;
(v) sub-division C on Stand No. 4976;
(vi) sub-division D on Stand No. 4976; and 
(vii) sub-division E on Stand No. 4976.

Madam Speaker, Stand No. 4976 is an area that was 1.1596 hectares and houses what is known as the President House. The National Pensions Scheme Authority has retained the remaining extent of the area comprising offices and shops on Mukata Avenue. The reason NAPSA property was sold is that the real estate portfolio has been under performing. This compelled NAPSA to pass a resolution for the disposal of such non-performing assets so that the money realised from the sale could be invested in high yielding instruments that would contribute to the development of the country.

Madam Speaker, NAPSA has raised about K3.2 billion from the disposal of these commercial buildings in Kitwe. The money has been invested in various instruments and the proceeds are being used for the payment of benefits to the ZNPF members.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Madam Speaker, the ZNPF building is the tallest building in Kitwe and it should be regarded as a pride of the town. The building right now is in a mess in the middle of the city. Does your office, hon. Minister, take into account the importance of some of these properties to the taxpayers and the country as a whole before disposing of them?

Mr Liato: Madam Speaker, NAPSA assumed the administration of all the properties that belonged to ZNPF and its members and they are doing that under the law. All the hon. Member’s concerns have been taken care of.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING STAFF ESTABLISHMENT

149. Dr Katema asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning:

(a) the current staff establishment of the ministry;

(b) how many of the employees were confirmed and on permanent and pensionable conditions;

(c) how many employees were not confirmed and not on permanent and pensionable conditions; and

(d) what the Government was doing about those that were not confirmed.

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, the approved current staff establishment for the Ministry of Finance and National Planning is 1,426, which is broken down as follows: -

(i) Leaders -  3;
(ii) Contractual - 3;
(iii) Civil servants on permanent and pensionable conditions – 1,188; and
(iv) classified employees – 232.

Madam Speaker, there are 751 employees serving on permanent and pensionable conditions. 
There are 248 employees who are currently serving on probation and are yet to be confirmed and admitted to permanent and pensionable establishment.

Madam Speaker, confirmation is an on going process and the Government, as an employer, is encouraging all newly employed officers and unconfirmed civil servants to sit for obligatory Civil Service Examinations. Passing these examinations will enable them to be confirmed and admitted to permanent and pensionable establishment.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Katema: Madam Speaker, 248 are on probation and I assume the hon. Minister means those who are from the Central Statistical Office (CSO). This is because this office has that number of employees who have been employed since 1990, but have not been confirmed to date. How will the Government be in a position to sanction or censure investors flouting labour laws if they themselves are flouting them? From 1990 to date people have not been confirmed.

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for that question. This House has said that we should have quality civil servants. Under the Public Service Commission, we are insisting that those who enter the Civil Service should undergo Civil Service Examinations. If he is concerned about the people at CSO, let him come up with statistics showing the employees who have passed these tests. Since they are under my ministry, we are going to ensure that the Human Resources Department processes their papers so that we send them to the Public Service Commission for confirmation.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Sinyangwe (Matero): Madam Speaker, I am sure I can boast of having been a very long serving civil servant. It is common knowledge that six months after somebody is employed, he should be confirmed. You either confirm that person or you do not. Why should it take fifteen years for people to be confirmed? Is the Civil Service Examination not just a way of covering up for your inefficiency?

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam, the 248 does not refer to the people at the Central Statistical Office alone. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning has got several departments. In most of these departments, we have people who have not been confirmed, but are awaiting confirmation. Suffice to say, if you want quality, we have to follow a way that ensures quality. To be very honest, we do not want to be inefficient, but efficient. To ensure efficiency, we have to make sure that those we employ pass the tests so that we employ quality people to deliver the goods for the people of Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Madam, I am taken aback every time the hon. Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning rises to give answers in this House. How can you emphasise quality in contradiction to the law? There is a provision in the Industrial Relations Act and Labour Act that probation for an employee is sixty days (two months) and that an employee who does not meet the requirements of that employment must be written to and told that he cannot be taken on. Now, are we are being told that people will have to work for fifteen years contrary to the law, under the pretext of not being quality employees? If they are not quality employees, why not fire them? What is the ministry doing to ensure that these people who have been abused by working for fifteen years without being confirmed are confirmed?

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam, maybe he is talking about the Industrial Relations and Labour Act, but we are talking about the Civil Service which has laid down procedures of how people should be confirmed under the Employment Act. As such, I do not think it will be in the best interest for us to just lay people off. It is very easy. You have to pass the test. If you pass the test today, tomorrow you are confirmed. So, if those are your relatives, encourage them to pass the tests.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mtonga (Kanyama): Madam Speaker, I think it is important that Zambians are told the truth. When I get employed, I will be given a probation period. The exams you are referring to are for progression in rank. For retention, I have to await my confirmation within three years. Have you changed the rules? Which rules are you referring to in the Civil Service? For confirmation, you do not need the examinations unless you are talking about medical examinations. What have you changed?

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, I am going to personally look into the issue which is being referred to, which is the issue of the Central Statistical Office. Let me look into that issue and then I will come back to the House because this is a specific issue. I took a general approach to the answer. Let me come back so that we can progress.

I thank you, Sir.

CONNECTION OF CHAMA DISTRICT TO THE MALAWI NATIONAL GRID

150. Mr Chilembo (Chama North) asked the Minister of Energy and Water Development when the plan to connect Chama District to the Malawi National Grid would be implemented.

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Sichilima): Madam Speaker, the implementation of the project started in 2006, both on the Zambian and Malawian sections of the project. The project is being carried out by Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) and the Electricity Supply Company of Malawi (ESCOM). Due to inadequate funds for the project, it is anticipated that once funds are secured, the project could be completed before the end of 2007.

I thank you, Madam

Mr Chilembo: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out whether there are any plans to link Chama to the Zambia National Grid at some later stage or to other alternatives such as the Muchimadzi Hydroelectricity Project in Nyimba.

Mr Sichilima: Madam, currently, this is a project that is being undertaken. In future, as it is recommended by the programme that the Government is undertaking of rural electrification, once it is found that it is implementable, it will be done.

I thank you, Madam.

OIL EXPLORATION IN CHAMA DISTRICT

151. Mr Chilembo asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development whether there was oil in Chama District and, if so, how soon oil exploration would begin.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr M. B. Mwale): Madam Speaker, it has not been ascertained whether there is oil in Chama District. The exploration work that was carried out by Placid Oil Company was not conclusive. However, the Geological Survey Department has plans to extend the Microbial Exploration for oil and gas technique to the area in 2007 to help determine if there is oil and gas there.

Madam, this technique has been used worldwide for prospecting, onshore and offshore, for more than thirty-five years and has proved to be effective and accurate. The technique of Microbial Prospecting is based on the fact that a certain type of bacteria feeds on emissions from gas or oil reserves only. Therefore, if a soil sample collected from the earth’s surface has a significant presence of the bacteria, there is a high likelihood of the presence of gas or oil below the surface.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Chilembo: Madam Speaker, I would like to know whether there are any plans to revisit the site which was abandoned by Placid Oil in the 1980s. Is the Government looking at other methods of prospecting?

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Dr Mwansa): Madam Speaker, certainly, we have plans to go back to the place where Placid Oil did some work in the 1980s using the technology that is being used in North-Western Province. We hope that we can get there within the first half of 2007.

I thank you, Madam

Mr Mtonga: Madam Speaker, I come from that area as well.

While the hon. Minister is giving us that kind answer, I would like to solicit from him a further explanation. Placid Oil left the site in a hurry and there have been so many statements made about the political implications of finding oil in Chama while President Kaunda was in charge. Could the hon. Minister kindly come back to the House with a clear picture on why and how Placid Oil, whose machinery is still in Makeni, abandoned the place? They have not sold it. It is at a farm in Makeni and they are renting that place.

Dr Mwansa: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member for Kanyama is asking us to come back with a clear statement on the matter. Maybe, we should leave the issue now until I have been to Chama. I will respond later.

However, there are no political implications as to why they left. They left because they thought it was not viable to continue. The method they were using was not very good at the time. However, with the new technology that we have, we can go back safely and confirm whether there is oil or not.

Thank you, Sir.

ELECTRIFICATION OF LUPUNGU BASIC SCHOOL

152. Mr Misapa (Mporokoso) asked the Minister of Education:

(a) when electric water pumps would be installed in the boreholes at Lupungu Basic School in the Mporokoso Parliamentary Constituency; and

(b) when the completed teachers’ houses at the school would be electrified.
The Deputy Minister of Education (Ms Changwe): Madam Speaker, a submersible water pump installed at Lupungu Basic School in Mporokoso Parliamentary Constituency will be electrified once the school is connected to the national power grid. Currently, the ministry is making efforts to have ZESCO connect the school to the national power grid through the Rural Electrification Programme.

The electrification of teachers’ houses will be done once the school is connected to the national power grid.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.{mospagebreak}

FOOD RESERVE AGENCY PROFITS FOR 2006

153. Mr Ntundu (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives:

(a) how much profit was realised from the export of maize by the Food Reserve Agency in 2006;

(b) how the profits at (a) above were utilised; and

(c) whether the Food Reserve Agency makes profits during its general transactions and, if so, why the Agency constantly depends on funding from the Government for its purchase of maize.

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, the Food Reserve Agency exported 21,739 metric tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe in 2006 at a unit price of US$230 per metric tonne. The export did not realise any profits. There were no profits, but the cash generated from the transaction which was US$5 million was used to pay the farmers who the agency had bought the maize from.

The Agency does not make profit on designated crop trading. The Government provides grants because the agency fulfils its mandate of buying designated crops at a uniform price countrywide. The agency’s crop buying exercise is an empowerment programme for small-scale farmers. By providing market access to the disadvantaged small-scale farmers, the FRA is able to complete the value chain by putting money in the pockets of the farmers. It is, thus, a socio-economic service and not a profit maximising venture. The Food Reserve Agency’s transaction in the market is a public good and, thus, the Government pays for it.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Ntundu: Madam Speaker, the answer from the hon. Deputy Minister puts me at a loss and makes me suspicious that there is a syndicate at the Food Reserve Agency. It is not true to say the Food Reserve Agency is not making profit because FRA is not exporting the maize at the same cost that they bought it. Can the hon. Deputy Minister be specific and tell the House exactly what is going on at FRA.

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for raising that question, though he is very suspicious of the Food Reserve Agency. One of the prime functions of the FRA is to provide grain for the strategic reserves of the nation. When the FRA buys from the farmers, it reserves some maize. However, all the farmers are supposed to be paid. The FRA has to supplement for the reserves which are obtaining in the nation so that all the farmers are paid for their produce.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Machungwa: Madam Speaker, could the hon. Deputy Minister tell the House whether they broke even or at least made a profit to support their operations from the maize that they exported to Zimbabwe or whether they made a loss or the policy was just to sell and not make anything.

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for Bangweulu.

Laughter

Hon. Members: No, for Luapula.

Mr Mulonga: Oh, he moved from Bangweulu? 
Laughter

Mr Mulonga: Madam Speaker, if we take into consideration all the payments, it means we will take into consideration the operational costs because when you are doing business, in this case to cater for the nation, all the costs including losses and paying those we employed must be taken into consideration. Our farmers have to be paid. When the FRA sold the maize, they did not make any profit. When they were selling the maize, the calculations were based on how much they owed the farmers as well as those who helped in the process of selling the maize.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, the question raised by the hon. Member for Gwembe is very clear. The hon. Member wishes to know the profits realised from the exported maize. The question is only on that component of the total quantity that FRA handles. He is not asking the hon. Minister to mix the component that was exported with the total crop that they purchased. 
He would like to know what profit was realised. If that profit was used to finance losses for the local market, that is a different issue. What was the profit realised from the component that was exported? Certainly, there must have been a profit. May the hon. Minister kindly, tell us the profit realised.

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (Mr Mwaanga): Madam Speaker, the answer which the hon. Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Co-operatives has given is essentially correct. What he probably did not say is that the reason the FRA was asked to export maize was so that it could meet its obligations to banks it had borrowed money from. It had borrowed K90 billion from Finance Bank and another K60 billion from Zambia National Commercial Bank. These loans carried interest and in order for them to meet their debt service obligations, it became necessary to export the maize and repay their loans together with the interest. That is the position.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Sikota: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that 21,739 metric tonnes were sold to Zimbabwe. I would like to find out how much the FRA paid to acquire that 21,739 metric tonnes and how much they got when they sold that 21,739 metric tonnes?

Hon. Member: Yes.

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

I thank you, Madam.

Laughter

TAXATION OF E-MAIL AND RADIO RECEIVERS

154. Mr Ntundu asked the Minister of Finance and National Planning:

(a) how much money was collected as tax from the e-mail service and the purchase of air time for mobile phones in 2006; and

(b) whether there were any plans to introduce tax on radio receivers.

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, a total of K2,664,485,132.77 was collected as value added tax on e-mail services while a total of K77,258,858,330.00 was collected as excise duty on air time for mobile phones in 2006.

Madam Speaker, as for plans to introduce tax on radio receivers, currently, radios are taxable. On importation, a radio attracts import value added tax at 17.5 per cent and customs duty at 25 per cent. When sold from shops, the retailers charge value added tax on their sales which they remit to the Zambia Revenue Authority, but also claim input value added tax which they paid at importation. However, the Government has no plans to introduce any other form of tax on radio receivers at the moment or in the near future.

Madam Speaker, let me also commend the hon. Member of Parliament for trying to help the Government raise further revenues. However, we have no immediate plans to introduce such taxation.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Ntundu: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the Government whether the tax that cellular network providers pay to the Government fluctuate as a result of the fluctuation in airtime rates.

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, the mobile phone providers have got cards and tax is charged on the cards that are sold as units. Therefore, when you say that the charges fluctuate, I think it is based on how much airtime we buy. If you buy from their shops, the receipt will show how much goes to tax and how much goes to Celtel. Presently, everything is being captured.
I thank you, Madam.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, the question of Information Communications Technology is technical. I would like to learn from the hon. Minister how his ministry manages to calculate the cost of e-mail services given the fact that no one pays for the e-mail services. However, if he did manage to capture that, could he, therefore, tell us the proportion of the cost of providing internet connection for which every person who has access to e-mail pays.

Mr Shakafuswa: Madam Speaker, our tax is collected from those who pay subscription to internet providers. For those who use other providers and do not pay subscription, we do not charge anything.

I thank you, Madam.

__________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER

INDIAN DELEGATION

Madam Deputy Speaker: I am happy to inform the House that we are privileged, today, to have in the Speaker’s gallery the Hon. Mr K.R Suresh Reddy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Andra Pradesh of India. He is accompanied by His Excellency, the High Commissioner of the Republic of India to Zambia and two other members of his delegation.

We welcome them and we are pleased to have them in our midst.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_________

QUESTIONS

PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL TRADE FAIRS

155. Mr Imenda asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry when the ministry would promote increased participation in regional trade fairs for regional economic co-operation.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that trade fairs are part of the ministry’s regular mandate as a platform for expanding markets and products’ diversification. The participation in regional trade fairs is facilitated through the Export Promotion and International Competitiveness Division of the Zambia Development Agency and the departments of foreign trade and domestic trade of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.

One of the objectives of establishing the Zambia Development Agency is to promote increased and beneficial participation of Zambia in regional trade fairs for regional economic co-operation.

The following are among the regional trade fairs that Zambia participates in:

(i) FAIM – Trade Fair and Agriculture Exhibition of Maputo, Mozambique;

(ii) Tunis International Trade Fair (UFI), Parc des Expositions et Centre Commerce; International de Tunis, Nay;
(iii) Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair of Namibia;

(iv) Windhoek Agriculture and Commercial Show, Windhoek, Namibia;

(v) Trade Fair, Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre, Manzini, Swaziland;

(vi) South African International Trade Fair (RSA) Exhibition;

(vii) Randshow RSA;

(viii) Mozambique International Trade Fair;

(ix) Zimbabwe International Fair, Bulawayo;
(x) Dar-es-salaam Trade Fair; and

(xi) Botswana International Trade Fair;

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Imenda: Madam Speaker, Zambia has become a huge market for South African products. Is the hon. Minister cognisant of the fact that in the absence of a sound manufacturing sector, Zambia will not be able to compete favourably with its neighbours?

Mr Konga: Madam Speaker, the policy of the Government of the Republic of Zambia is to stimulate economic growth through private sector participation. My ministry is encouraging the manufacturing sector to increase the manufacture of goods and service which will be exported to counter the effects of imported products.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

VISIT ZAMBIA CAMPAIGN

156. Mr Imenda asked the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources how many tourists and non-tourists did Zambia attract as a result of the following:

(a) Visit Zambia Campaign; and

(b) up-grading of Livingstone Airport to international status.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, in answering this question, let me start by defining the word ‘tourist’. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a tourist is said to be a person who leaves his or her usual place of work or residence and stays in another place for a period of not less than 24 hours and not more than twelve months.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this House that my ministry does not collect information on non-tourists, but rather on tourists. It is, therefore, difficult to give information on non-tourists attracted to Zambia.

As regards the number of tourists attracted to Zambia as a result of the ‘Visit Zambia Campaign,’ it is very difficult to disaggregate this information since from statistics it is not possible to tell how the tourists got the information on Zambia. However, the tourist arrivals figures show an increase from 515,000 in 2004 to 668,000 in 2005.

Madam Speaker, after Livingstone Airport acquired the status of an international airport, a number of works have been done. Among them are the following:

(i) general rehabilitation of the airport;

(ii) lengthening of the runway from 2.3 to 3 kilometres in order to facilitate long haul flights;

(iii) construction of a new concrete airport parking apron and a new asphalt surfaced taxiway;

(iv) a new water and sewer infrastructure, upgrading of the control tower, new fire station and construction of a new perimeter fence; and

(v) installation and rehabilitation of airfield lighting with reticulation and control panels.

Madam Speaker, with the work done so far, the airport has recorded an increase in the volume of traffic. To illustrate this fact, the statistics for the ‘visitor arrivals’ in the period 2000 to 2005 are as follows:

Year  Arrivals

2000  2,678
2003  25,825
2004  26,379
2005  58,876

Madam Speaker, these statistics show that in the last few years, the number of visitors to Zambia through the Livingstone International Airport has increased by about 123 per cent from 2004 when the ‘Visit Zambia Campaign’ was launched to 2005. It is anticipated that the number of arrivals will be even higher when the works are completed, which is expected to be by the end of March, 2007.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Imenda: Madam Speaker, from the reported increase in the number of tourists that come to Zambia, I would like the hon. Minister to tell the House the product that attracted the most foreign exchange for Zambia as a result of the promotion.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, the number one product is the peace that we enjoy in Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: The next product is the Victoria Falls and, of course, our national parks.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sikota: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out whether it is not true that the influx of tourists in Livingstone was because of the Sun International Hotels which, in this particular year, aggressively marketed Livingstone. Could the hon. Minister, please, enlighten us on the 143,000 extra tourists compared to 2004 and 2005. How much extra income did that mean and did it justify the expenditure on the ‘Visit Zambia Campaign’?

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, I totally agree with Hon. Sikota that the Sun International Hotels put up a vigorous marketing exercise. In fact, I have been to Livingstone myself to try and encourage the international investors to partner with Zambians so that we can market Zambia a destination together. I think I have to be reminded of the second question.

I thank you, Madam.

Laughter
Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the tourists came to Zambia to enjoy peace. Can he elaborate why the tourists came to enjoy peace only in Livingstone and not on the Copperbelt.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, the question is on the up-grading of Livingstone Airport to international status. However, if the hon. Member of Parliament would like to know the statistics on how many of those tourists went to the Copperbelt, I am available in my office and we will be able to help him.

I thank you, Madam.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, it was this House that supported the Visit Zambia Campaign. Actually, it was the Opposition that pushed for the increase in the allocation to the Visit Zambia Campaign. In view of the event to occur very soon in 2010 in the region, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if his ministry has any plans, whatsoever, to present to hon. Members of Parliament their campaign strategy to ensure that the tourists for 2010 do not over-fly Zambia, but come and increase the numbers of tourists in this country. Would he like to make such an undertaking and could he possibly say to us when we should expect such a strategy.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, after the Budget has been discussed and approved, it is our intention, as a ministry, through the Zambia National Tourist Board, to start marketing Zambia from 2007 to 2010.

I thank you, Madam.

Interruptions

Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, was it good planning for the Government to commence with the Visit Zambia Campaign before cleaning up our towns and working on the roads. I was privileged to come with some tourists from Namibia to Livingstone, but it was very embarrassing to see the dirt and portholes. In fact, I think through this Visit Zambia Campaign, we actually decampaigned future tourists from coming to this country.

Mr Kaingu: Madam Speaker, the unfortunate part is that those tourists have not told us how dirty Namibian cities are.

Laughter

Mr Kaingu: However, as you can see, the Government is working towards cleaning our cities and I am sure the hon. Member of Parliament’s question will be attended to.

I thank you, Madam.

RECRUITMENT OF GRADUATE ZAMBIAN NURSES AND DOCTORS FROM 2001 TO 2006

157. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Health:

(a) how many Zambian nurses and doctors graduated from 2001 to 2006;
(b) how many of the above were recruited by the Government and the private sector; and

(c) how many had not yet been employed.

Dr Puma: Madam Speaker, during the period 2001 to 2006, a total of 215 doctors and 3,525 nurses graduated.

Madam, all the 215 doctors who graduated from the School of Medicine were employed by the Ministry of Health and 1,964 nurses were also employed during the same period by the Government.

Madam, so far, according to our records, 561 nurses have been captured as not employed. However, the Ministry of Health is making efforts to employ them this year. We have plans to employ a total of 1,900 health workers, which includes the 561 that have been captured as unemployed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister account for the difference between 3,525 nurses that were trained between 2001 and 2006, in accordance with his answer and the 1,964 who were employed. Can you account for the difference because it is not only the difference of 561 like he stated. The difference is much more. What happened to the others? Did they pass on? Where are they? Are they the ones that were employed by the private sector?

Madam Speaker, I asked how many of those were employed by the Government and how many were employed by the private sector. That part of my question has not been answered.

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, the question is on the ones that were employed by the Government. Therefore, the numbers we have given you are for the ones that are being employed by the Government. The difference is the ones that may have gone out of the country and those that are employed by the private sector. We have to give you the Government figures.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Chisala (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, in the first place, I wish to thank the hon. Member for Kabwata for having brought such a cardinal question to this august House. Having received the information from the hon. Minister of Health that a total of 215 doctors and 3,525 nurses were recruited, I get the impression that a reasonable number of doctors were recruited. If the Government was committed, it was supposed to extend a hand to the rural communities. Why has the Government been delaying in sending doctors to rural places when people are dying because of having no proper medical attention due to lack of doctors?

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, our cry as the Ministry of Health is that we do not have enough nurses. Health service delivery is labour intensive. The Abuja Declaration requires us to have a nurse to fifteen patients and that is not what we have been able to do as at now. I am sure the hon. Member knows that there are some health posts that have not been able to open because of lack of personnel to man them. What we have said is that right now, the Ministry of Health has 23,000 employees. We need to move from that to 51,000 employees. That will allow us to spread all the medical personnel that we need to these facilities to be able to have them function as they should. It is, therefore, not a question of saying that we have not sent these people. If we did that, we would be trying to spread too thinly and not be able to deliver the minimum that is required.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Kapata (Mandevu): Madam Speaker, I can see from the numbers given by the hon. Minister that in Zambia we are able to train a lot of nurses and doctors, but the problem is that we are unable to retain them. What measures has the Government put in place to stop this serious brain drain of doctors and nurses?

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, currently, we have retention schemes for the doctors and we are hoping that this year we will be able to spread this to the other cadres. This is in an attempt to retain the necessary personnel that we need in the Ministry Health. Apart from that, this year we are going to have another injection …

Ms Cifire’s microphone went off.

Hon. PF Members: Switch it on!

Ms Cifire: Wailowa.

Laughter

Ms Cifire: This year, we are going to have another injection of about 1,900 employees. That will help us push the numbers that we need into the ministry. I hope the hon. Member is also aware that there was a recruitment freeze between 2003 and 2004. Therefore, this year we will try and recruit them. Therefore, it is not necessarily that they have left the country.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Madam Speaker, the Government spends a lot of money training nurses and doctors. Why do they not have a bonding system so that after training, they do not go to other countries after we have spent so much money training them?

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, I am sure it was in this very House that I responded to that question and said that we were looking at the issue of bonding in order to curb the brain drain.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sikota: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Health has said we have a grave shortage of nursing personnel and that we have not opened certain facilities, especially in the rural areas, because of the lack of nurses. I would like to find out why the ministry has let 561 nurses remain unemployed when we have this grave shortage.

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, in my Maiden Speech, during the opening of Parliament and just a few minutes ago, I alluded to the fact that the Ministry of Health is going to employ 1,900 people. Out of this figure, 561 are the nurses that are going to get in. There are procedures that go with recruitment in the Civil Service and that is why we could not recruit them. However, they are being recruited this year.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Dr Njobvu (Milanzi): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Health how many doctors from the 300 who were fired by the then Government have returned and have since rejoined UTH and how many are still outside this country.
Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, that is a new question.

I thank you. Madam Speaker.

Mr Mwenya: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Health why we do not take the employing of health personnel as a matter of urgency when Kitwe Central Hospital has a nurse patient ratio of 1 to 80.

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, it appears I will spend the whole of this evening answering the same questions. I have already answered that one.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Chitonge (Mwansabombwe): Madam Speaker, arising from the answer given by the hon. Minister, why are there are so many specialist doctors doing administrative work instead of being in hospitals?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, if the hon. Member had specified where these specialists were doing administrative work, we would have been in a position to know and, maybe, see if we could redeploy them.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

REGISTERED HOSPICES IN ZAMBIA BY 2005

158. Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Health:

(a) how many registered hospices were in operation in Zambia as of the end of 2005 and what their total bed capacity was; and

(b) what kind of assistance the Government provided to hospices.
Dr Puma: Madam Speaker, hospices are currently registered under the Registrar of Societies Act, 2005. As of 2005, six hospices were registered in Zambia. Three are in Lusaka, one in Choma, one in Kabwe and one in Ndola.

Their bed capacity is as follows:

 Name of Hospice  Bed Capacity

(i) Jon Hospice   24

(ii) Martin Hospice  12

(iii) Ranchold Hospice  20

(iv) Chilanga Hospice  22

(v) Ndola Hospice   25; and

(vi) Our Lady’s Hospice  36.

The hon. Member also wanted to know the kind of assistance the Government provides to hospices.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Health through the District Heath Office provides support to the hospices through the home based care services by providing medical staff, food supplements and also drugs. In addition, mortuary facilities are provided by the Government institutions. In addition, the Church Health Association of Zambia has been assisting hospices.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, the hospices provide quality care and the only decent death bed for Zambians. In view of this dismal figure of six hospices in a country where hospitals cannot keep a person in admission for longer than two weeks, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the ministry has any programme to provide incentives to those kind people who wish to escort our people with respect and dignity by giving them hospice space. What programmes does the ministry have to assist the hospices?

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.

Ms Cifire: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member wanted to find out why we were not giving space to people who want to build hospices.

Mr Lubinda: Aah!

Ms Cifire: Incentives and space, is that not so?

Laughter

Mr Kambwili: Ask him to repeat the question!

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Ms Cifire: Madam, earlier on, I talked about the Government wanting to partner with whoever can come on board to help deliver health services. We give incentives in terms of drug kits and food packs. That is what is being given in recognition of the important part hospices play in health service delivery. At the moment, that is what is made available and that is what we can do for now.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

________

BILLS

FIRST READING

THE NATIONAL PAYMENT SYSTEMS BILL, 2007

The Minister of Justice (Mr Kunda): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the National Payment Systems Bill, 2007. The objects of this Bill are to:

(a) provide for the management, administration, operation, supervision and regulation of payment, clearing and settlement systems;

(b) empower the Bank of Zambia to develop and implement payment, clearing and settlement systems policy so as to promote efficiency, stability and safety of the Zambian financial system; and

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

Madam Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Labour. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 13th February, 2007. 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.

THE PROHIBITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, STOCKPILING AND USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS BILL, 2007

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Dr Mwansa): Madam Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons Bill, 2007.

The object of the Bill is:

(a) to establish the Zambia National Authority on the Chemical Weapons Convention and define its powers and functions;

(b) to prohibit the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons;

(c) to provide for the destruction of chemical weapons;

(d) to give effect to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 13th January, 1993; and

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

Madam Deputy Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 13th February, 2007. 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.

______

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (Mr Mwaanga): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

______

The House adjourned at 1837 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 31st January, 2007.