DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Thursday, 16th November, 2006

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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QUESTIONS

2. Mr Lubinda (Kabwata) asked the Minister of Education:

(a) how many schools in Zambia participated in the Taonga School of the Air; and

(b) how much it cost to air one programme on a monthly basis, including designing and recording.

The Minister of Education (Prof. Lungwangwa): Mr Speaker, there are 857 centres in Zambia are participating in the Taonga School of the Air. The cost of transmitting one Interactive Radio Instruction Programme (IRIP) is K280,000.00. The ministry broadcasts five programmes for each grade in a week, that is, from Grade 1 to 5. The programmes are repeated in the afternoon due to demand and in order to allow learners who might have missed the first broadcasts access the programmes in the afternoon. The Grade 6 programmes are not repeated. Therefore, the ministry broadcasts forty series of instructions for one grade in a month. In terms of cost, K280,000.00 by forty programmes amounts to K,11,200,000.000. As for designing and recording, at the moment, there are no such costs incurred, since the ministry has its own recording equipment and personnel to design and produce programmes. The hired artists to act on radio are each paid K50,000 per programme.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lubinda: Sir, could the hon. Minister state whether the ministry has any intentions of reintroducing radio literature lessons for high schools in view of the fact that this Taonga School of the Air seems to be working successfully.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, there are no such plans, at the moment, because of the cost of the programme. We have in place other alternative education programmes to address the needs of high schools.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Sinyangwe (Matero): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister apprise the House of what happens to the children learning through the Taonga School of the Air after they reach Grade 7, if there are no intentions of seeing them through high school?

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I have already stated that we have alternative distance basic education programmes which are offered. The programmes cater for learners beyond Grade 7. The hon. Member of Parliament who just asked the question is well aware of this because she was one of the architects of the IRI Programme.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Musokotwane (Katombola): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how many of such schools are in Katombola Constituency and if there are none, when they will be introduced.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, that is a very specific statistical question. I would not have the correct statistics at the moment. If the hon. Member of Parliament can give me time, I can get the specific statistics later.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that because of poor radio reception in some parts of the country, schools, like in my Constituency, are not able to benefit from this programme? If he is aware of this, what plans are there to ensure that all children in the Republic, especially, those in rural areas, are able to benefit from this programme?

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, most of our Interactive Radio Instruction Programmes are broadcast through community radio stations which cover a radius that is accessible to most of our learners.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chota (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, are there any plans to use the community radio stations for education purposes?

Mr Speaker: Order! The hon. Member was not listening. That question has already been answered.

Mr Matongo (Pemba): Sir, the hon. Minister stated that the Taonga School of the Air may be more expensive than other Interactive Radio Instruction Programmes. Could he, therefore, give us a comparative analysis with the other programmes which he has not mentioned?

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, it is very clear that, in the past, the ministry conducted awareness programmes on broadcast education programmes on Radio Zambia since independence. Over the years, it has proved to be extremely expensive to continue with such programmes. At the moment, the Taonga School of the Air is slightly cheaper than what used to be in place on Radio Zambia.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Imenda (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the ministry has conducted some impact assessment on whether pupils benefit from this programme.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, yes, the ministry has evaluated the IRI Programme and the programme has continued because of the education benefits that accrue from the programme.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Masiye (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister of Education to tell us what criteria are used in the distribution of these community radio stations and whether the peri-urban population of my constituency has been considered at all.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the IRI Programme is directed at addressing the learning needs of the most vulnerable children, in particular, in areas where such children have very little access opportunities to schools.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

COUNCIL AND GOVERNEMNT OPERATED PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Mr Lubinda asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing how many council and Government operated public libraries were operating in Zambia by the end of 2005 and which these are.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Kazonga): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that there are seven councils which were operating councils libraries by the end of 2005. These are:

(a) Lusaka;
(b) Ndola;
(c) Kitwe;
(d) Chingola;
(e) Mufulira;
(f) Luanshya; and
(g) Kalulushi.

Mr Speaker, in addition, the Zambia Library Service operated nine Government libraries in nine municipal councils. These are:

 (a) Choma;
(b) Chipata;
(c) Livingstone;
(d) Solwezi;
(e) Mazabuka;
(f) Kabwe;
(g) Mongu;
(h) Mansa; and
(i) Kasama.

Mr Speaker, the House may also wish to know that all secondary schools, colleges and universities operate Government libraries in Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, secondary, primary and basic school libraries are not accessed by the general public. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister given that there are only fifteen districts out of the seventy-two that offer libraries, what plans the ministry has to give incentives to local authorities for them to establish libraries to increase the reading culture of the Zambians.

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mrs Masebo): Mr Speaker, we do not have to give incentives to local authorities to operate libraries because Section 61 of the Local Government Act empowers councils to operate libraries within their municipality or areas of jurisdiction. Each local authority is supposed to understand what its function are and, within their budget, organise themselves and come up with a public library in each of their localities.

However, the Government tries, in an effort to enable local authorities deliver their functions, as provided for in the Act, to assist them with grants for social service delivery and library establishment is one such function.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how a private college can operate a Government library.

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I think it is a point of correction. The hon. Member did not understand. He missed the point.

Sir, the point the hon. Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing made was that, apart from the Government-run libraries, there are libraries that are run in the country by the secondary schools, including the private sector and private schools.

I thank you, Sir.

RAMPANT LIVESTOCK RUSTLING IN NALOLO CONSTITUENCY

Mr Mwangla (Nalolo) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) what measures the ministry had taken to stop the rampant livestock thefts by armed cattle rustlers in the Nalolo Parliamentary Constituency; and

(b) whether the Government had any intentions to compensate farmers who lost their cattle due to inadequate patrols by the law enforcement agents in the areas

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Musosha): Mr Speaker, I would like to inform this House that the following are the measures that the ministry has taken to stop livestock rustling in the constituency:

(a) intensified police patrols;

(b) introduction of brand marks – cattle owners are being sensitised and encouraged to brand and mark their animals for easy identification;

(b) introduction of a Printed Standard Anti-Stock Theft Movement Permit which is computerised and bears the Zambia Police Force Emblem, name, rank and number of issuing officer. The brand mark of the livestock is indicated on the form. These permits are checked at both police stations and road blocks.

(c) sensitising the community to buy and sell livestock in the presence of traditional leaders such as village headmen;

(d) introduction of community policing programmes such as formulation of Crime Prevention Units; and

(e) encouragement of members of the public to appreciate the Arms Amnesty and surrender illicit firearms in exchange for money i.e. K200,000 per firearm surrendered.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to know that these measures are also being applied countrywide. Adequate police patrols have always been in place to contain the situation. What has been lacking is the full participation of members of the public in the necessary initiatives introduced by the police to combat the thefts.

Mr Speaker, on the issue of compensation due to inadequate patrols, the House may wish to know that the Government has no such intentions as there is no such provision.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: Does the hon. Member for Nalolo wish to ask a follow up question?

Mr Mwangala: Mr Speaker, are there any permanent preventive measures in place to curb the defilement and rape cases in the Southern Province, Mazabuka, in particular, where Tonga Bulls are harassing women from the Western Province?

Laughter

Mr Speaker: The Chair is not certain whether that is a proper follow up question to Question No. 4.

Laughter

INSTALLATION OF RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AT SINUNGU POLICE POST

5. Mr Mwangala asked the Minister of Home Affairs when a radio communication system would be installed at Sinungu Police Post in Nalolo Parliamentary Constituency.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Mushosha): Mr Speaker, provision of radio communication equipment to all police stations and posts countrywide is dependant on availability of funds.

A budget line for acquisition of communication equipment throughout the country has been created and requires an amount of K16.7 billion.

Sir, the Western Province alone, where Sinungu Police Post is located, requires an amount of K1.1 billion for the purchase and installation of the system. Therefore, once these funds are made available, a communication system will be installed at Sinungu Police Post.

I thank you, Sir.

FREE MEDICAL SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS

6. Mr Kasongo (Bangweulu) asked the Minister of Health how far the Government had gone in implementing the policy on free medical services in the rural areas.

The Minister of Health (Ms Cifire): Mr Speaker, following the President’s decree, the Government abolished user fees by 1st April, 2006. This means that user fees in rural health centres were abolished to allow the rural population to access health facilities at no cost. So far, this has been implemented in fifty-four districts leaving out the eighteen municipalities.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kasongo: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Health aware that the concept of free medical services has been rendered futile by virtue of there being no drugs in clinics? If she is aware, what measures has she put in place to ensure that our rural population accesses this facility?

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, following the abolition of user fees, the people were overwhelmed with the fact that they did not have to pay for facilities in the hospitals. As a result, the number of people to access the health facilities trebled. Therefore, it is not the question of drugs not being available, but of the increased number of people accessing the facility. We are now trying to make drugs available to all the people despite the increased numbers. Hon. Members should not worry that there are no drugs, as the problem has been created due to the increased number of patients over a very short period of time.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the Government had studied the issues pertaining to free medical services before implementing the policy.

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, studies were carried out and, consequently, by September, 2006, a total of K3.5 billion was given as compensation to all the fifty-four districts for the loss in the user fees. The user fees had allowed most of these rural health centres to make available some money for any eventualities that would arise. Therefore, when the study was conducted, it was considered that the number of patients accessing the health facility would go up, hence the K3.5 billion which was given by September, 2006.

Part of the study was carried out by the Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID) where part of the K3.5 billion came from. DFID was an important partner in the abolition of user fees because they wanted us to give increased access to health services to the rural population.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Munaile (Malole): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Health aware that, in the rural parts of the country, particularly in Malole, patients still pay K500.00 to get a card? Is that offering free medical services?

Interruptions

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, the Government’s intention is to provide free access to rural health services. Therefore, if these centres are asking people to pay, they are doing it illegally.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: The Zambian Government made that pronouncement and there should not be anyone charging user fees.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngoma (Sinda): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that among the important partners in the implementation of this programme was DFID. I would like to find out what plans the Government has put in place to ensure that the programme continues should these donors pull out.

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, a number of Government programmes run in partnership with the co-operating partners and free health services is one such programme. Unless we are being informed today that we should not go into partnership with our co-operating partners, we are making these programmes and budgeting for them. We budget on the basis that the Zambian Government will make resources available. However, we get into partnerships to allow us have the necessary revenue to implement the programme. Therefore, the fact that we may lose one partner does not mean that the programme grinds to a halt. The programme of delivering health services, especially to rural areas, will continue, and the Government will continue planning for it.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said the withdrawal of user fees has led to an increase of people going to hospitals. I would like to find out whether, before the introduction of user fees, the Government bought drugs to ensure that people were treated in their area. I have asked this because, in creating any hospital, studies to find out the number of people to be treated in that given area are conducted. Why is this Government not making proper budgetary allocations to supply drugs to hospitals?

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, in a months time, the national budget will be presented to the House and I hope that hon. Members will support the health budget. From the time we started sitting here, every hon. Member’s priority has been to see health services improved in his/her constituency. At the time user fees were introduced, the poorest in our societies were unable to get to these centres because there was always the question of money. Immediately the user fees were abolished, even the poorest of the poor knew that whether they went or took somebody to the clinic, they would access the health facilities.

Mr Speaker, it is not a question of not budgeting, but of the people getting to the clinics. In the past, they used to stay away, but now they go to clinics for medical attention. This means that the Zambian people are happy because they are now able to access medical treatment.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Scott (Lusaka Central): Mr Speaker, I wonder whether the hon. Minister was, perhaps, old enough to remember that it was donor pressure which originally compelled the MMD Government to introduce user fees in both urban and rural areas and now that the pendulum has swung in donor fashion, they are willing to support free health services. How long does she estimate it will be before the pendulum swings, yet again, and she or her successor has to re-introduce user fees?

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, I may have been young, yes, but I know that other hon. Members may be the ones who introduced the user fees …

Hon. Government Members: Sata, Sata!

Ms Cifire: … which prohibited the poorest of the poor in our society from accessing medical facilities.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: However, the Zambian people needed a relief and that is what the Government has given them. They have said no to discrimination.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, health is a right.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hachipuka (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, when the hon. Minister settles down, she will discover that only a percentage of the budgeted for amount is released by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. This means that the health boards will always have insufficient money to run the hospitals. Is the hon. Minister aware that the user fees were contributing to reducing the small gap between the budgeted for and the released amount and hence the reason for some district hospital boards’ non adherence to the directive of the implementation of free medical services? Is she aware that they have continued to charge user fees in order to meet the need to pay salaries of guards and other small expenditures?

Interruptions

Ms Cifire: Mr Speaker, like I said before, if they are doing that, it is illegal. The Government has made a provision to cover for the shortfall that has been created by the abolition of user fees. The reason we have been budgeting for 2007 is to ensure that there is continuity in this service. We are a listening Government and, with the growing poverty levels, we cannot allow our people to die because they cannot access health services.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

HIGH FUEL PRICES IN ZAMBIA

7. Mr Kasongo asked the Minister of Energy and Water Development why fuel prices in Zambia were higher than those prevailing in most neighbouring countries.

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Sichilima): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the major determinants in the final fuel price in any country are the product basic and transportation cost, Government duties and levies, and margins by the oil marketing companies. These components differ from one country to another, hence the differences in the final fuel prices amongst the countries in the region.

Admittedly, the price of petroleum products in Zambia is generally higher than in neighbouring countries due to the earlier mentioned factors. One of the measures that the Government is undertaking concerns the factor of product basic cost which is related to matters pertaining to the operations of the INDENI Refinery.

As you may be aware, the INDENI Refinery is currently being recapitalised in order to rehabilitate the old inefficient infrastructure. It is expected that once this process is completed, the refinery’s operational efficiency will improve, thereby making its operations more cost effective and efficient. These measures, it is anticipated, will assist in lowering the price of fuels in Zambia. The nation, through this House, will be informed on the progress being made in this regard.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kasongo: Mr Speaker, we have been informed in this House that Iran has been identified as a cheapest source of our petroleum products. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government is still pursuing that window of opportunity.

The Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, the Government is not pursuing the Iran route.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nsanda (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister where the 15 per cent fuel levy goes since the roads throughout the country are not maintained, and yet that money is supposed to be expended on the rehabilitation of roads.

Secondly, there is VAT paid when you buy fuel from INDENI of 17.5 per cent and that money is lying in a redundant account. Since I used a little bit of money for Chimwemwe Constituency, what has happened to the rest of those millions of kwacha?

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister of Energy and Water Development may volunteer an answer to that question, if he so wishes.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, fuel levy is one of the taxes in Zambia. It is collected by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and is part of the pool funds for development in the country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sejani (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, periodic fuel shortages contribute to price instability in Zambia. How far has the Government gone in establishing Strategic Fuel Reserves?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, it is true that continuity of supply has an impact on the product cost. With regard to the Strategic Fuel Reserves, we had INDENI shut down to allow the fuel tanks that were to be used for strategic reserves to be used for importation of fuel so that we can sustain the stability of supply. Now that INDENI has started production, we believe, before the end of this month, we shall have set up the Strategic Fuel Reserves.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether fuel levy is intended for the development of the country in other sectors or specifically for road development. If it is intended for road development, is the Government considering decentralising it so that councils can manage the fuel levies collected in their respective towns?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the principle purpose of fuel levy is road maintenance and the creation of infrastructure in the road sector. The levy is centrally collected and the Government, every year, has a plan on which roads will be worked on in any particular budget year.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Milupi (Luena): Mr Speaker, fuel is a strategic commodity, but, the marketing distribution policies result in the poorest areas paying most for fuel. Is the hon. Minister going to take measures to ensure that the distribution marketing policies allow for standardisation of fuel prices across the country?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, we are studying uniform pricing of fuel. Once this work has been completed, we shall report to Parliament.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamir (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether (TAZAMA) in Mpika is operational?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the mode of transportation of fuel from Dar-es-Salaam to Ndola is by pipeline. The fact that crude oil is received in Ndola means that all the infrastructure to support its transportation through the pipeline are in order.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe (Chimbamilonga): Mr Speaker, realising that fuel is centered on road rehabilitation, I would like to find out whether there is any consideration of water transport as facilitated by the fuel levy.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the Government has a variety of taxes that they put in place in order to attend to the development agenda.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Matongo (Pemba): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister earlier on said the prices are determined and I quote: ‘taxes, levies and transportation’. I understand that is short term pricing, but I would like the hon. Minister to confirm that the cocktail used by Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi is exactly the same. If so, why should Jet A1 fuel be more expensive in Zambia, and yet, in fact, the cocktail used is the same as the one other countries use, as he stated.

Secondly, Mr Speaker, there is no justification for fuel to be any more expensive in this country than in neighbouring countries simply because we have higher taxes. A few days ago, the hon. Minister on this Floor admitted that we had problems of production. Are you compensating high prices for incompetence at INDENI?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, last week, we said part of the challenges that we had at INDENI was that the refinery was old and we needed to attend to it. We said we were going to recapitalise the refinery via a Capital Reinvestment Programme of $65 million, and in year I, which is 2006, we have pumped in US$20.7 million into the refinery. The effects of this process are:

(a) that the losses suffered at INDENI, which currently is at 11 per cent, will be brought down to 7 per cent; and

(b) the efficiency levels currently at 40 per cent will migrate and elevate to 80 per cent. This process will impact on the prices to reduce them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, I wonder whether the hon. Minister is aware that the fact that the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) licensing and all associated fees, as well as the demand by the Government that oil marketing companies must pay for fifteen working days stock, which they do not use at all. They do not hold it to their pump stations, but is kept at INDENI, increases the cost of capital for the oil marketing companies and has an effect on the pump price of fuel. If he is aware of that and is also agreeing that the prices of fuel in Zambia is too high compared to the prices in neighbouring countries, is he considering doing away with the requirements which are not backed by any law?

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, I think we need to put the record straight. The requirement for fifteen days working stock is backed by law. It is a condition of licensing, just like we have conditions of licensing in the banking sector. We need to maintain a minimum level of capital and that is a business imperative. In business, you have to abide by the business imperatives. Product cost has no impact, whatsoever, on the pump price.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Mr Speaker, it is clear that the oil marketing companies are supposed to stock fifteen days stock in their own storage facilities. The Government is charging customers, up to now, around K152 per litre for strategic reserves. The hon. Minister has said they had done away with the reserves at the closure of INDENI. I would like to know why the strategic fuel reserves are not maintained as per the arrangement where there is K152 levied on every litre bought by Zambians.

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, there are basically two components. The first component is the fifteen working days stock that is maintained by the Oil Marketing Company. The second component is for the strategic fuel reserve. Now, the facilities for the strategic reserves are located in Ndola at the Zambia National Oil Company (ZNOC). These are the pumps that are going to contain the strategic fuel reserves. I mentioned on this Floor that because we were closing INDENI, we needed to use these pumps for the purpose of assuring supply to this nation. Now that INDENI is back on stream, these tanks will be used for storing strategic fuel reserves.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Machungwa (Luapula): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that there would be uniform prices of fuel. Can he be unequivocal and state that by uniform pricing, he means that the price of fuel in the country, be it in the rural or urban areas, will be the same? If this is what he means, when is this going to be implemented?

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, we have said that once we completed all the work and elements regarding uniform pricing are in place, hopefully, by the next sitting, we shall make a statement to the House on this matter.

I thank you, Sir.

__________{mospagebreak}

MOTION

REPORT TO SCRUTINISE THE APPOINTMENT OF MR MUMBA MALILA TO SERVE AS ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

Mr Chifumu K B Banda (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adopt the Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee to Scrutinise the President’s appointment of Mr Mumba Malila as Attorney-General of the Republic of Zambia, for the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 15th November, 2006.

Mr Speaker: Is the motion seconded?

Ms Chitika (Kawambwa): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the motion.

Mr Chifumu C K Banda: Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to present the Report of your Committee to Scrutinise the Appointment of Mr Mumba Malila to Serve as Attorney-General of the Republic of Zambia.

Sir, the terms of reference of your Committee were to scrutinise the appointment of Mr Mumba Malila as Attorney-General, pursuant to Article 54(1) of the Constitution of Zambia which states:

‘There shall be an Attorney-General of the Republic who shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President and shall be:

(a) an ex-officio member of the Cabinet

(b) the principal legal advisor to the Government.’

Mr Speaker, in order for your Committee to be certain that the appointee did not have any adverse security, criminal or drug-related record, your Committee requested submissions from the State investigative agencies, namely: the Zambia Police Force, Anti-Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission. All the investigative wings consulted cleared the appointee of any adverse activities.

Sri, your Committee also consulted relevant stakeholders on the suitability of the appointee to serve as Attorney-General. These were:

(a) State House, as appointing authority;

(b) Zambia Police Force;

(c) the Anti-Corruption Commission;

(d) Transparency International Zambia;

(e) the Law Association of Zambia;

(f) the University of Zambia School of Law;

(g) Judicial Service Commission; and

(h) the nominee himself.

Sir, all the stakeholders consulted gave a favourable recommendation on the appointee to serve as Attorney-General of the Republic.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, appearing on behalf of the appointing authority, also briefed your Committee on the suitability of the appointee to serve as Attorney-General of the Republic. In his submission, the hon. Minister stated that the appointee had seventeen years at the Bar, and, therefore, possessed more than the minimum qualifications required, according to the Constitution, for a person to hold the office of Attorney-General. He further stated that the appointee had extensive experience in private practice and had handled a reasonable number of cases, both in the High Court and Supreme Court.

Sir, the appointee, therefore, had sufficient practical experience to effectively discharge the functions of Attorney-General. Your Committee after due and thorough evaluation of the evidence presented to them by the witnesses and the appointee, found the appointee suitably qualified to hold the Office of Attorney-General.

Mr Speaker, the importance of the Office of the Attorney-General in the Government and society as a whole cannot be overemphasised. It is with this in mind that your Committee welcome the appointment of a highly qualified and competent person to serve the nation as Attorney-General.

Sir, before I conclude my speech, allow me to make an observation on a matter that was noticed and considered by your Committee. Your Committee observed that the appointee holds the position of Commissioner on the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. Your Committee appreciate the need for Zambia to be represented on international organisations. Your Committee are, therefore, concerned that if the appointee relinquished the position, he may not necessarily be replaced by another Zambian.

It is against this background that your Committee wish to urge the Government to consider allowing the appointee to continue as Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights while holding the Office of Attorney-General. This, however, should only be done upon Government satisfaction that the two responsibilities will not give rise to a conflict of interests.

Sir, in view of the foregoing, I wish to submit to the House your Committee’s recommendation to ratify the appointment of Mr Mumba Malila to serve as Attorney-General of the Republic and request their unanimous support.

In conclusion, I wish to extend my gratitude to all the witnesses who appeared before your Committee and provided valuable information which assisted your Committee in arriving at their recommendation.

Mr Speaker, allow me to extend your Committee’s thanks to the Office of the Clerk for the advice and services rendered during your Committee’s deliberations. Above all, your Committee wish to express their gratitude to you for appointing them to serve on this important Select Committee.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The question is that this House do adopt the Report of the Select Committee for the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House ...

Mr Matongo crossed the Floor.

Hon. Members: Order! Order!

Mr Speaker: Does the Seconder wish to speak now or later?

Ms Chitika: Now, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I wish to second the motion on the Report of the Select Committee to Scrutinise the Appointment of Mr Mumba Malila as Attorney-General of the Republic of Zambia.

Sir, in seconding the motion, I wish to commend the Chairperson of your Committee for ably moving this motion and for having presided over the Committee’s meetings in a professional and mature manner.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: Sir, the Office of the Attorney-General is very important in the governance structure of our country. The Attorney-General is the chief legal advisor to the Government and, therefore, has a lot of responsibilities. The Office of Attorney-General is very demanding and this was alluded to by the current Attorney-General, the hon. Minister of Justice, when he appeared before your Committee. It is, therefore, gratifying that a brilliant, hard working and committed person in the name of Mr Mumba Malila was floated for this position. Mr Mumba Malila is ably qualified, runs his own law firm and is also currently undertaking studies for a PhD.

In addition, Mr Malila has a wealth of experience due to his exposure to both local and international organisations, such as, the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights. He was also Honorary Secretary for the Law Association of Zambia for a long time.

Mr Speaker, the appointment of Mr Malila was fully supported by all the stakeholders whom your Committee interacted with during the ratification process. Your Committee are also convinced that Mr Malila deserves the position of Attorney-General. I, therefore, endorse the Chairperson’s speech in urging this House to unanimously support the ratification of Mr Mumba Malila’s appointment as Attorney-General of the Republic of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mabenga (Mulobezi): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to debate on the recommendations that have been made on the ratification of Mr Mumba Malila as Attorney-General.

Sir, let me, in the first instance, take this opportunity to congratulate the Committee on a job well done and for coming up with a very commendable report.

Mr Speaker, I have looked at the report and the curriculum vitae of the candidate and I find it to be quite rich. Owing to its richness, it carries with it the recommendation it deserves. It actually recommends the holder of this curriculum vitae.

Sir, many times in this world, we have said that people holding public offices must be well qualified. Looking at the amount of trouble that the candidate has taken to get educated and also enrich his professional standing, I find that his quest to want to continue to enrich his curriculum vitae educationally by pursuing a PhD must be supported even when he is going to hold this Office of Attorney-General. It is important that we have more people continue to execute their duties with very important standing of educational and professional qualifications behind them.

I also notice that Mr Malila is an independence year born person, 1964. I would have wished that this report should have come last month. Then, we would have been celebrating his appointment or ratification because then he would have been forty two years, as old as this country after its attainment of independence.

Sir, I have also looked at the recommendations from the various investigative agencies and I have found that they are very positive. Your Committee referred to Article 54 which says that:

‘a person shall not be qualified to be appointed to the Office of Attorney-General unless she is qualified to be appointed Judge of the High Court’.

My understanding, though I am not in the legal fraternity, is that when a person holds a high office of the High Court, he/she is able to execute duties that are of advisory nature. My understanding also is that the Attorney-General will be an advisor to the Cabinet because he is an ex-officio member of Cabinet and will be sitting in Cabinet meetings.

Sir, in view of what I have just elaborated, I find that he is a very suitable person. I, therefore, would like to support this recommendation. I do not want to forget to congratulate Hon. Kunda who has held this portfolio very ably since he came to the House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mabenga: I expect Hon. Muntanga to say, ‘hear, hear’ as well.

I support the ratification of Mr Mumba Malila’s appointment as Attorney-General.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sikota (Livingstone): I thank you, Mr Speaker, for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Floor.

I must admit, however, Mr Speaker, that I find myself in a very unfamiliar territory today in the sense that I am going to give quite a lot of praise on the appointing authority for various reasons.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikota: One of them is that the appointing authority has finally heard what we told them four-and-half years ago that they needed to separate the position of Attorney-General from that of Minister of Justice.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikota: I, therefore, congratulate the appointing authority on listening to us, belatedly, as it maybe.

Mr Speaker, I believe that as we have now managed to separate the two offices, Zambia, in general, will benefit in that there will not be the inherent conflict of a person being a principal advisor to the Government on behalf of the people and, at the same time, be in Cabinet. I hope this is the last time we are going to have that kind of situation.

As regards the nominee himself, Mr Speaker, I am privileged to have known Mr Mumba Malila from the time he was called to the bar. I have worked with him on some cases. I have worked with him whilst he has been on the other side in certain cases. As a result, I am aware of his capability and I can vouch that he is somebody who is suitably qualified to hold the position of Attorney-General.

Sir, quite often, when you have a case in court, your preparations will differ depending on who is on the other side. There are certain lawyers whom, if you are going to meet them in court, you know that you can have a cursory look at your case and still be comfortable. As for Mr Mumba Malila, whenever you know that you have a case with him on the other side, you have to go through your brief four or five times in order for you to feel comfortable as you go to court. That is the measure of his ability, and that is going to be something that we, as a people, are going to benefit from.

We can all be rest assured that the advice that he will be giving to the Government will be proper and sound.

Mr Speaker, Mr Mumba Malila is somebody, whom, I am sure, the current Attorney-General and hon. Minister of Justice will also vouch for in that when the hon. Minister of Justice and I were running the Law Association of Zambia, ten years ago, when I was the Chairman and the Minister was my Deputy, ...

Laughter

Mr Sikota: … Mr Mumba Malila was one of the young lawyers we regularly called upon him to give advice even though he was much younger than us in age as well as at the Bar. However, we recognised his capability as far back as then. He was also a bridge between the young and old lawyers in the profession. Therefore, it does not surprise me that, today his name has been put forward for that position of Attorney-General.

Mr Speaker, I would like to commend your Committee for the report that they have presented. The State Council has definitely steered his Committee very well. I would also like to commend the seconder for the comments she has also given on the nominee.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikota: Mr Speaker, on page 3 of the Report, paragraph 2, it states that:

‘Your Committee heard that the nominee had ably distinguished himself in the different roles he had served and had, particularly, remained objective in dealing with Human Rights issues in the country, in some cases, to the disappointment of the appointing authority’.

These were comments made by Transparency International.

Mr Speaker, I would like to call upon the Government and the Executive not to be disappointed whenever they are given advice that may not be complimentary to them. The whole purpose of this is to improve upon what they are doing and correct themselves. This observation by Transparency International that the Government is disappointed with some of the professional advice given does not hold well. I hope that this Government is going to take the advice that the nominee will be giving to them without getting disappointed. They should take it and implement it. Otherwise, there is no point appointing somebody to give you advice.

Mr Speaker, perhaps, one other matter that the Executive should appreciate is that the Attorney-General is somebody who is supposed to be independent. Even though they appoint the Attorney-General, he is not there to be partisan, or do what they would like.

Mr Speaker, in the United Kingdom and Canada, the Attorney-General is said to be somebody who exercises quasi-judicial functions. This means that they must give advice in a totally impartial manner. If the Executive is going to allow Mr Mumba Malila to do this, it will be all the better for our country.

The Attorney-General is not subject to Cabinet decisions. He is quite free, separate and independent of them. That is one of the reasons we so vehemently appealed to the appointing authorities four-and-half years ago to separate the position of Attorney-General from that of Minister of Justice. When they are not, then you cannot comply with the standards which are in the Commonwealth of having the Attorney-General free of Cabinet decisions. He cannot be free of Cabinet decisions if you make him part of the Cabinet whilst wearing his other hat.

That spirit must be maintained and there should be no undue pressure from the Cabinet or the Executive on the Attorney-General. That independence is something that we must guard jealously. This has been accepted in most of the Commonwealth countries, perhaps, with the notable exception of Australia where they look upon him more as somebody who has to toll the Cabinet line.

Mr Speaker, I would like to turn to page 6 of your Committee’s Report where when asked how, as Attorney-General, the nominee would treat some strong decisions made against the Government while serving as Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, he responded that he would advise the Government to act on the decisions made.

I was very happy to see that response from your nominee. This shows that from day one and even before being appointed, he is prepared to stand up and be consistent with the decisions and the advice that he gave to the Government. That only holds well, again, for the Office of Attorney-General. One must assume that the decisions and recommendations that he made as Chairman of the Human Rights Commission were made in good faith and were good decisions. The mere fact that he is going to be appointed Attorney-General does not mean that he should now turn around and disown his previous decisions and advice. Therefore, I commend him for having stood up for his past decisions. Consistency is a hallmark of a good Attorney-General.

Mr Speaker, I hope that this show of independence in answering this question is also a sign that, when faced with difficult situations, he will not buckle. I am thinking of him being an Attorney-General who is as strong willed as Janet Reno in the United States. She was appointed Attorney-General of the United States by Bill Clinton, but within a space of 18 months, she commenced investigations against Bill Clinton with regard to campaign funding. These investigations went on in excess of two years. Granted, at the end of the investigation, she found that there was nothing that had been done wrong. However, the mere fact that she could stand up and commence an investigation against somebody who had appointed her showed her independence. I am hoping that Attorney-General, Mumba Malila, once appointed, is going to take a leaf from Janet Reno and not shy away from investigating any of the appointing authorities, who have appointed him.

Moreover, I use the term appointing authority very widely. I am not talking merely of the President, but the Executive who have appointed him as well as the Legislature who are going to ratify him. He should not feel that he owes any of us anything. He should be able to investigate any of us fearlessly, whether it is on Constituency Development Fund misuse or anything else. He should do so.

Laughter

Mr Sikota: Mr Speaker, there was a recommendation in the report that there should be two candidates per position. On this point, I will differ with my senior colleague and Chairman of the Committee.

I do not think that it would be right to fetter the appointing authority to providing more than one name for a position. If, indeed, the name provided does not meet the standards that we feel it should, we should reject it and the appointing authority can forward another name. I think it would not be proper to state that several names be forwarded. It would be unfair on the two or more names which are rejected in that people would assume that the person who has not been picked is either incompetent or inferior in one way or another. I, therefore, do not think that would be fair on the nominees.

Mr Speaker, on the other recommendations, with regard to the nominee’s position as Commissioner on the African Human and People’s Rights Commission, I fully endorse the recommendations of your Committee that unless it is shown that there will be some interference in the work, he should be allowed to carry on with his appointment to the African Human and People’s Rights Commission.

Sir, with regard to his furtherance of learning, even though education is a virtue and something to be strived for, there are times when you have to put that aside if your load of weight is quite heavy. I do not think it would be fair for the Zambian people for the Attorney-General to be taking time to pursue his personal studies when he has got such a heavy workload on his hands. I hope that even without being asked, Mr Mumba Malila will put aside his immediate wishes of having a PhD to a later date.

Mr Speaker, there have been various Attorney-Generals around the world and I would like to talk about Elliot Spitzer, who was the Attorney-General of New York. Elliot Spitzer investigated conflicts of interests by Investment Banks, illegal trading practices by mutual funds and bid rigging in the insurance industry. He recovered billions of dollars for small investors and other consumers. He was also a catalyst for industrial wide-spread reform in this area. He sued Mid-Western Power Plants and achieved significant reductions in the emissions that were produced and were responsible for acid rain and smog in the North-East.

Our Attorney-General should also have a similar view towards environmental issues. We have heard about the Konkola Copper Mines saga very recently. Sadly, when the hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources was asked whether the Government was going to sue on behalf of the people, he said it would not. Suing is not just for individuals, but also suing the plant to make sure that they do not carry on with polluting the water.

Mr Mtonga: Zoona!

 Mr Sikota: I hope that the new Attorney-General is going to look at issues like Attorney-General Spitzer did.

Sir, in addition, Attorney-General Spitzer acted to stop fraud in the market place, to level the playing field for honest business and help restore confidence in the markets. We have seen that there has been a lot of lamentations about the privatisation process and about how people have gone to enrich themselves in the privatisation saga. We hope that the Attorney-General will investigate the privatisation process in Zambia on behalf of the people of Zambia to ensure that confidence is restored into the market. That is one task I hope the Attorney-General will take on. I hope the hon. Minister of Home Affairs will work hand-in-hand with him in doing so.

Mr Speaker, Attorney-General Spitzer, because of the various things he has done and the way he does things, has been variously described. For example, he was named, ‘Crusader of the Year’ by Time Magazine,‘Sheriff of Wall Street’ by Sixty Minutes, ‘the Enforcer’ by The People’s Magazine and The Readers’ Digest Magazine called him, ‘America’s Best Public Servant’. However, the title that probably most accurately describes him and the role of Attorney-General is that of the ‘People’s Lawyer.’ Spitzer got this name because of what he did in pioneering labour right cases and to ensure that the minimum wage and decent working conditions for low wage workers in the service industry was maintained. This is a challenge for the Attorney-General.

Sir, we have heard about the casualisation of labour and low salaries in Zambia. Let Attorney-General Mumba Malila be known as the People’s Lawyer. Let him take up these cases of casualisation labour and low and minimum wages so that the people of Zambia will say they have an Attorney-General who is the people’s lawyer. That is a challenge I give to the in-coming Attorney-General. He should earn the name of the People’s Lawyer.

Mr Speaker, with these few words …

Laughter

Mr Sikota: … and uncustomary praises, I beg that we all unanimously endorse and ratify the appointment of this great young man, Mumba Malila to the position of Attorney-General.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: There does not seem to be any contrary view on this motion. Is that an indication for a contrary view?

The hon. Deputy Minister of Works and Supply?

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Tetamashimba): Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to debate the ratification of the appointment of an independence child. First and foremost, I would like to commend the Chairperson of your Committee and the Seconder for having put together such a good report.

Mr Speaker, I would like to straight away go to Pages 6 and 7of the report.

Dr Scott: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Scott: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order on the Government. I wonder if the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives is in order to have been coming to this House day-after-day and sitting quietly on the other side of the House in his rented seat, without informing us, and through us, the nation, concerning his marketing arrangements which are causing lack of sleep up and down the length and width of this country, mostly in respect of whether people would be paid this year. If this is what happens in an election year, will the system work next year? I wonder if he is in order not to have made a ministerial statement on this matter to the House.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member for Lusaka Central, through that point of order, is anxious to hear whether the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives will brief the House on the marketing efforts with regard to maize and perhaps other crop purchases that are taking place. May the hon. Minister …

Mr Kapita indicated to stand.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Definitely not now. The House can note that he is anxious to supply the information now, …

Laughter

Mr Speaker:… but we think he should prepare himself adequately and come and brief the nation, through this House, on the efforts he is making as well as the challenges he is facing in purchasing the produce.

I notice that today is Thursday. Therefore, the hon. Minister should come to this House as early as he can and advise the nation, through this House, on what is happening. Certainly, today would be too early.

May the hon. Deputy Minister of Works and Supply continue, please.

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, allow me to read the fifth paragraph on page 6 and the second paragraph on page 7 which reads:

‘Asked on whether he was going to relinquish his positions of Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission and Commissioner on the African Commission of Human Rights and People’s Rights (ACHPR) should his appointment be ratified, Mr Malila informed your Committee that he would relinquish his position as Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission as there existed a clear conflict of interests. The nominee submitted that he would resign from the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in the event that his position as Commissioner adversely affected the discharge of duties as Attorney-General.’

Mr Speaker, on page 7, paragraph 2 reads as follows:

‘Further your Committee took note of the nominee’s position as a Commissioner on the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. They observe that Zambia may not easily have another opportunity of having a Zambian to sit on the (ACHPR) as a replacement for Mr Mumba Malila, if he relinquishes the position. It is for this reason that your Committee feel that if there is no possible conflict of interests, Mr Malila should be allowed to continue as Commissioner on the (ACHPR while holding the Office of Attorney-General of the Republic.’

Mr Speaker, the Attorney-General is the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government. Most of us in the country have been seeing people walk to the Attorney-General’s Office to ask for a lot things, including issues concerning Human Rights i.e. non-payment of something or even just other Human Rights.

Mr Speaker, in my view, in case there was a submission by the Human Rights Commission in this country as a complaint to the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, he would not be independent if he did not relinquish his position as Commissioner. Therefore, I think that both the nominee and the Committee should not have argued that there could be no other Zambian capable of taking this position

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, that is what I read. The other matter is that the nominee himself must know that this appointment and serving the people of Zambia as Attorney-General mean that the Zambian people feel that their own professional and son should first consider serving them without thinking of being a Commissioner on this African Body. I believe that the Attorney-General is going to have a lot of problems on payments.

Sir, some of our colleagues who are lawyers have been claiming that sometimes some cases are paid faster than others. We have heard this on the Floor of this House.

Mr Speaker, therefore, I believe that our independence child, whom we all agree should be Attorney-General, should resign from both the Human Rights Commission of Zambia and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights so that he can perform to the satisfaction of the Zambian people who have all the trust in him by giving him this very important position of Attorney-General.

Of course, I would like to commend the President of ULP for having commended this Government and His Excellency the President for separating the two offices.

Mr Speaker, this is why the Zambia people voted for us. We are a listening Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: Mr Speaker, it is because of being a listening Government and a listening people, as the MMD, that we are going to continue governing beyond 2011.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Therefore, we really want to thank the President of ULP for that compliment on the observation that he has made.

I wish to appeal to the whole House to ratify this appointment, but I would like to appeal to our in-coming Attorney-General not to be like ‘chula afwile intangalale’. This means that there is something sweet this side and something sweet on the other side and one wants to walk to both places. Therefore, I would like to appeal to our young man to relinquish the two positions and concentrate on the Office of Attorney-General.

Mr Speaker, I thought that was a contrary view.

I thank you very much.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: May the hon. Member for Chasefu wind up his motion, please.

Mr C. K. B. Banda: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to thank hon. Member of Parliament for unanimously accepting the recommendations of the Committee. This shows the integrity and the seriousness with which this House handles matters of a serious nature.

Mr Speaker, the Attorney-General is a public officer and he is there to serve everybody irrespective of party affiliation.

With these few words, I would like to record my appreciation to this august House for acting in a responsible manner, as they always do, in ratifying this appointment.

 Mr Speaker, I thank you

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.{mospagebreak}

 

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

The Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training (Dr Chituwo): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to debate the motion ably moved by the hon. Member of Parliament for Nyimba on His Excellency the President’s Address to this august House. Let me, from the outset, add my voice to that of many hon. Members of Parliament in congratulating you, Sir, Madam Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on your unanimous elections. I wish to remind the House that we should not forget that the suggestions for the able presiding officers came from no other than His Excellency the President.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: I wish to pay special tribute and congratulate Madam Deputy Speaker, who I am confident will be more than a catalyst in strengthening the unity of purpose so desperately needed in the House, especially realising that 67 per cent of us are new.

Mr Speaker, let me start by paying tribute to His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for the rare honour and privilege of having nominated me as Member of Parliament and the subsequent appointment to a ministerial position of Health and Education in the previous term. Considering the odds against which we worked at that time, I am extremely pleased to state that His Excellency did very well. The re-election of His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, and the MMD is testimony to this fact. The majority of the people of Zambia have placed their trust and confidence in the New Deal Administration under his able leadership for the next five years.

I wish also, Sir, to congratulate Mr Micheal Chilufya Sata, …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: … Mr Hakainde Hichilema …

Hon. UDA Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: … and other presidential aspirants for trying very hard. I further wish to congratulate all hon. Members of Parliament, elected and nominated to this august House. Mr Speaker, there is no Member of Parliament who is here illegally. I heard some comments from other hon. Members that some are here illegally. We make the laws and the Constitution is clear that a nominated Member of Parliament enjoys the equal status of an elected one.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I have personally experienced the loss of an election. It truly hurts.

Laughter

Dr Chituwo: The loss raises a lot of questions such as, was it because of poor planning or poor selection of team members or could it have been what I said or did not say? Mr Speaker, I wish to urge my colleagues whose parties lost to accept this loss graciously and try again in 2011.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Remember that success is a continuum. At one end, we call it failure; at the opposite end, it is success and satisfaction. Therefore, not all is lost. Success always begins with failure.

Mr Speaker, I wish now to pay tribute to the people of Mumbwa who came out in thousands to give a resounding mandate to His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, the MMD and I, as their area Member of Parliament. They gave me a mandate with over 13,000 votes compared to my next colleague who got 4,900 votes. Surely, this is a clear message that the people of Mumbwa wanted to work and support the MMD. Such mandate is a privilege and an honour because it cements that confidence and trust. I would like to assure the people of Mumbwa Central Constituency that their confidence shall not be betrayed. I wish to pay special tribute to my election agents, Mr John Bright Munengo, Mr Kashonto Kalubwe Kaumbwa, Mrs Munengo and the constituency ward and branch officials and many friends and relatives who contributed in one way or the other …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

Dr Chituwo: Madam Speaker, when business was suspended, I had just started to congratulate and thank friends, relatives, constituency, wards, and branch officials who worked so hard to ensure that the MMD got the Mumbwa Central Constituency Seat.

Madam, there are a number of development projects that have taken place in Mumbwa Central Constituency. On road infrastructure, I wish to say that although admittedly we still have work to do on many feeder roads, there are visible developments in this area. For instance, on the Mumbwa/Namwala Road, my colleagues on your left side of the House, the Hon. Members of Parliament for Itezhi-tezhi and Namwala, will appreciate that our communication will be much easier. We had the Kamilambo/Kaindu, Mumbwa/Naluwi and Mumbwa/Butinti Roads, just to mention a few, worked on. These eased the farmers transportation of their produce to the main depots in Mumbwa.

Just to share with the House that the MMD does work, I wish to comment on the area of water. In this area, under the Local Government Rural Water Reticulation Project, Mumbwa District was allocated 410 boreholes …

Mr Muntanga: Eeh!

Dr Chituwo: … which have been completed, except for eighty-two. The eighty-two have been equally distributed between Mwembeshi, Nangoma and Mumbwa Central Constituencies. Yes, Madam, there are yet more areas that require boreholes.

Mr Simbao: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: In the area of agriculture, Madam Speaker, I bring a message from Mumbwa Central Constituency of gratitude for the Fertiliser Support Programme and timely receipt of inputs for the 2006/2007 season.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: The constituency, in the last season, produced 13,183.52 metric tonnes of maize, which translates into 263,665 by 50kg bags. The cost of this is K9,728,965.

Madam Speaker, to show the commitment by the Government in general and the Food Reserve Agency, in particular,

I wish to report that out of this amount of money, K7,882,868,000 has, so far, been paid out to farmers leaving a balance of, as per two weeks ago, K1,900,000 billion. As I speak, in Mumbwa, farmers are being paid and we are remaining with only K300,000,000 to pay about 350 farmers out of 4,160 farmers who sold their produce to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). Surely this is a sign of commitment.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: In addition to this, Madam Speaker, the farmers in Mumbwa produced 1,080 bags of soya beans at a cost of K35 million and, two weeks ago, K24 million had been paid to these farmers.

Madam Speaker, with regard to health, again, the Mumbwa residents are grateful to the MMD Government for providing significant positive change in access to health services. There are seven health posts, three health posts built at Mpusu, Nakanjoli and Naluvwi and four health posts rehabilited at Kabwanga, Lutale, Lungobe, Mumbwa Urban Clinic. There is also a Kaindu Zone Health Centre being built under the African Development Bank (ADB). In addition, a district hospital is under construction.

I must say that residents appreciate the free health services and drugs that have been availed in Mumbwa Central Constituency and we have noted, due to improved diagnostic tests for Malaria and the new Drug Policy, that the incidence of Malaria has drastically reduced.

Madam Speaker, HIV/AIDS has not spared the residents of Mumbwa. In this regard, 556 are on Anti-Retroviral Therapy from two centers. There are plans to open four more new centers so that this service can be taken to the people.

Madam Speaker, in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training, in creating jobs for out-of-school youths, my ministry developed entrepreneurship and training programmes so that the children can be prepared for formal and informal employment. Our plan, as a Ministry, is that graduates from our skills training centers will be provided the following:

(a) tool kits as they graduate; and

(b) empowered with some funds as we link with Youth Development Funds.

Madam Speaker, the focus of His Excellency the President on infrastructure development is clearly demonstrated by the programmes in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training where ten out of the twenty-three trades training institutions have been rehabilitated. The remainder of the training institutions, under the TEVET Development Program, will continue to receive the required attention. I wish to appeal to hon. Members of Parliament to support these young people as they work in their various districts. When the young people start their own businesses, they will need markets for their goods and services. Please, encourage them to bid for tenders or connect them to various private sector enterprises. For instance, if your respective councils require furniture or the construction of houses, these small enterprises should be encouraged to compete with other suppliers.

Madam Speaker, my ministry has developed a policy on Maintenance and Assets Development to ensure that the gains made, through the on-going rehabilitation and construction, are not reversed through poor management of facilities. We are convinced that the billions of Kwacha spent on developing tertiary education infrastructure will be a worthwhile investment in our country.

Madam Speaker, I would further like to thank His Excellency the President in his visionary address for emphasising the importance of science and technology in creating wealth and improving the quality of life of the people. The National Science and Technology Policy is in place and in this policy, broad objectives, through the following strategies, have been putlined:

(a) Research and Development;
(b) Gender concerns in science and technology;
(c) Technology diffusion;
(d) Transfer innovation and commercialisation; 
(e) Standardisation, quality assurance;
(f)  Environmental protection; and
(g) Gathering and dissemination of information.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague the hon. Member for Bangweulu who ably articulated the need for science and technology investment in the country. As can be seen from the above strategies, it is clear that science and technology is a cross cutting issue that cannot be done away with in agriculture, health, mining, environment, energy and water development, communication and education. We have a wealth of science and technology innovations that are waiting to be transferred and commercialised by the appropriate stakeholders in order to create wealth and employment.

Madam Speaker, in the area of energy, my ministries has been collaborating closely with the Ministry of Energy and Water Development and the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development. We are in the process of operationalising the National Remote Sensing Centre which will assist us facilitate the oil, mineral and water resource development.

Currently, Madam Speaker, the ministry is participating in the petroleum exploration, under the able leadership of the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development. In the area of gemstone, the ministry is, again, critical in that already, in Ndola, there is a Lapidary Training Centre which has been offering training to small-scale miners in cutting and polishing gemstone. This certainly provides a link between gemstone exchange and gemstone processing. I am convinced, Madam Speaker, that with the aforementioned, my ministry will receive the necessary support from all hon. Members.

Madam Speaker, in the past few weeks, I have listened very carefully to hon. Members contributing to this motion. In some instances, I have been astounded by the venom or is it passion of the debates. In others, a pleasure it has been to listen to different view points. I have, but wondered how possible it can be that a certain section of enlightened hon. Members of Parliament can see only stagnation or deterioration in all spheres of human endeavour. Can all these have been brought on by the MMD? How can one without a wink refuse to see a new health post, a new or rehabilitated school, and new desks in a school or community?

Mr Lubinda: Where?

Dr Chituwo: For instance, in Kabwata, it is very clear that a lot has been done.

Laughter

Dr Chituwo: Madam Speaker, this means that the hon. Members of Parliament are talking and we just have to do a little more and I agree. As MMD, we are committed to working hard and doing a bit more.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Madam Speaker, I have listened to debates where everyone of us wants a hundred boreholes, bridges repaired, schools and health posts built all at once. My advice is that, this kind of demand will not take us anywhere. We have to focus and draw our strength from the Fifth National Development Plan as our road map. If we scatter our funds through all the 150 constituencies, I bet, at the end of five years, there will be nothing for each one of us to show. We must agree on major developmental projects on which we shall allocate funds, the projects that will benefit the largest number of our people, knowing that if we are committed to the Fifth National Development Plan, our turn will come. This is my advice.

In conclusion, our focus, as a Ministry, in the next five years, will be to continue developing, rehabilitating and maintaining science and technology infrastructure and working towards having a critical mass of scientists, engineers and technicians of all grades so that there is research and development in the areas of identified national priorities.

I would like to end, Madam Speaker, once again, by congratulating all Members of Parliament and request that, for once, we should work for national development. There is no single Zambian here who is inferior to the other. I note that we all like food and, at break time, we go to consume what is produced by the rural folk who voted in the MMD and President Mwanawasa.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chituwo: Therefore, let us respect them and their opinion for they too are Zambians.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya (Pambashe): Madam Speaker, I thank you for affording me this opportunity to debate the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address delivered on Friday October 27th 2006.

Madam Speaker, before I congratulate others, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to my wife, Seggie Mbuzi Chishya, my sons and my daughters …

Interruptions

Dr Chishya: … for their available advice and inspiration in a congenial spirit during the campaign. May the good Lord shower my family with divine blessings.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: Madam Speaker, allow me to join other hon. Members who have spoken before me to congratulate the Speaker on his re-election to the Chair of authority. I personally do consider him the right person in a right position at the right time. I wish also to extend my congratulations to you, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees on having gone, through the process of democracy, to occupy your positions.

Madam Speaker, I pay tribute to the PF and its President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata for having given me an opportunity to participate in the just ended tripartite elections.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: I commend President Sata for preferring a non-confrontational approach to the verification of the election results.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: My sincere thanks go to the people of Pambashe who, through their overwhelming vote, have given me their mandate to represent them in this august House. I register my promise to speak for them and represent them effectively without fear or favour and do my best to live up to the realisation of their expectations in social and economic development.

Mr Mukanga: Quality.

Dr Chishya: I express gratitude to my colleagues at the University of Zambia for their moral support and encouragement during the election campaign.

I further extend my congratulations to my follow PF Members of Parliament, especially those from the Luapula Province who, I believe, went through thick and thin to win the elections. Special mention goes to Chifunabuli and Mwansabombwe constituencies for the job well done.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: I also congratulate the Members of UDA, NDF and MMD, including the Nominated Members on making it to this august House.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: Lastly, but not the least, I congratulate the Independent Members of this House who, for various reasons known to themselves, managed to sell their individual programmes well enough to have the people of Zambia buy them.

Hon. Opposition Members: Maturity.

Dr Chishya: Madam Speaker, the Member composition of this House from the September 2006 elections is a mixed grill in nature. This picture bears true testimony to the challenges of democracy. The people of Pambashe and elsewhere in the country have spoken and shown that they want to further their vision of development beyond the horizon of the MMD’s vision.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: To this extent, Madam Speaker, I hope the hon. Members of the MMD will live up to their democratic values and not use their political preponderance and positions in the Executive arm of the State to frustrate what would otherwise be a meaningful and progressive debate.

Hon. Opposition Member: Quality, Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: I challenge the MMD, as they claim to be the champions of democracy in this country, to exhibit exemplary political maturity.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: Madam Speaker, what the House witnessed last week when the hon. nominated Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs was delivering his maiden speech was unfortunate. Probably by design, this was followed, yet again, by another speech delivered by the hon. Member for Solwezi Central and Deputy Minister for Works and Supply expressing similar sentiments …

Interruptions

Dr Chishya: … that are unacceptable in a parliamentary democracy such as ours. Madam, our colleagues in the MMD should show commitment to the dictates of democracy by tolerating minority views and thereby refrain from harassing, intimidating and persecuting persons with dissenting views at the various the levels of our society.

Mr Mukanga: Quality.

Dr Chishya: They ought to cease the manipulation of the democratic process that our country Zambia has embarked upon. Let us all remember that we, as Zambians, are all one people, but traditionally, culturally, professionally, in behavioural character and, above all, politically, are in diversity.

Madam Speaker, as you may be aware, my constituency, Pambashe is one of the largest rural constituencies in the country. However, its basic infrastructure upon which any development efforts depend has deteriorated to an extent that no meaningful economic activity beyond the Kawambwa Tea Scheme area may be embarked upon. The people have wailed and are still wailing for the Government to chip in its efforts and augment the people’s initiatives in rebuilding the infrastructure, especially the road network. The people of Pambashe denounce the cosmetic manner in which the Government tackles the repair of roads during the election campaign just to abandon the exercise immediately after the elections. Therefore, I appeal to the Government to ensure that rural areas receive special attention.

Madam Speaker, if the rural areas excelled in development, many people that reside in urban areas would be attracted back to the land, and indeed, the in-flow of people from rural to urban areas would unequivocally dwindle. The consequential spill-over effect would be a drop in unemployment figures in urban areas as well. Some people have termed this idea the “Village Concept”.

Madam Speaker, the area covering Pambashe is extremely fertile and, given a chance, it would be just appropriate for advanced agricultural development. To this extent, allow me to commend the Government for showing interest in introducing, in the area, some of the commercial agricultural activities such as, among others, sugar cane farming for sugar production in the Luena catchments. In relation to this, the people of Pambashe are expecting the introduction of an out grower scheme and not the influx of dubious investors of no fixed abode and unknown origin. Therefore, we, in Pambashe, urge the Government to embark, without delay, upon land allocation for the out-growers’ scheme. We implore the mechanisation division of the ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives to move into Pambashe and facilitate the implementation of the out grower scheme. We further ask that the scheme be administered from Kawambwa and not from Lusaka as is the case at present.

Madam Speaker, I also join my colleagues who have spoken before me in lamenting about the deplorable state in which the schools are in their respective constituencies. The same picture is obtaining in Pambashe. Some school buildings in Pambashe have had their roofs blown off by wind or walls collapsed because of the usual heavy downpour of rain, rendering the operations of the affected schools practically impossible. Some sympathisers, such as the churches, have offered their church buildings for use as classrooms and others have surrendered their houses to support school operations. Despite the damages of the school buildings, there has not been any official from the Ministry of Education who has visited the area.

Madam Speaker, there are twenty five schools that are supported by the Government, and approximately twice this number are community schools. The lesser number of Government-supported schools and lack of trained teachers is a clear indication that the Government has only half-hearted commitment to providing education, thereby, infringing on the Zambian child’s right to education.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: That is why the Government had problems fulfilling the Jomtein Declaration of 1990 on Education For All by the Year 2000. I am certain that come the year 2011 or 2015, Zambia will still fall short of this declaration.

Madam Speaker, in Pambashe Constituency, there is only one secondary school. Lack of electricity in this area renders learning at this school comical. Without electricity, there is no access to computers which, in this modern era, has proven to be the most reliable source of all types of information. Pupils coming out of this school to pursue tertiary education find it difficult to compete effectively, especially in sciences and other technical subjects with those from schools that are well supplied with electricity. These pupils are always at a disadvantage. Schools need electrical power for meaningful operations.

Madam Speaker, electrical power is cardinal for the realisation of any development of industrial or commercial nature. Development of the Luena Sugar Scheme needs electrical power back up. Therefore, I wish to remind the hon. Minister of Energy and Water Development, Mr Mutati, to lay before the people of Zambia, a well-defined programme on rural electrification rather than carry out the exercise in piece meal fashion as well as discriminative in nature. Feasibility studies for the Kalungwishi Hydro Electric Power Station have been conducted. Both environmental and socio-economic impact assessment have been carried out. The results reveal that Pambashe is truly an economic Corridor of Hope for the Luapula Province. What is required now is the immediate implementation of the project. I hope the hon. Minister of Energy and Water Development will expedite the implementation of this project.

Madam Speaker, the delivery of health services in Pambashe is another source of concern. There is a total of eight health centres. Seven are Government supported and one is supported by the Church. These facilities take care of approximately, 50,000 people. Unfortunately, the facilities are handicapped in terms of essential drugs and professionally qualified personnel. The so-called health posts are dehumanising facilities. In most cases, a health post is a four-walled structure with a roof without a rim and has a floor that is undone. It is in these deplorable structures where mothers have to bring forth new Zambian life. Emergency cases are referred to Kawambwa District Hospital, a distance of not less than 50 kilometres or to Luwingu District Hospital, a distance of about 70 kilometres depending on where you reside in the constituency. The absence of an ambulance makes the situation pathetic as people are not able to hire vehicles to ferry their sick to referral hospitals. I hope the Government will give this matter immediate and favourable attention in the form of constructing a hospital in the area and provision of other related facilities.

Madam Speaker, it is disheartening to note that while the hon. Member for Senanga, Mr Sinyinda, and the hon. Member for Mkushi, respectively, have pointed out that they are enjoying the fruits of development given by the Government, others areas fall short of any meaningful development. In fact, these are bearing the consequences of deterioration of infrastructure and non-existence of services as a result of the New Deal’s Government neglect or half-hearted commitment to socio-economic development issues of concern in these areas.

Madam, it may appear as if some constituencies are more equal than others. Mother Zambia is not an Animal Farm. I, therefore, urge the New Deal Government to look equitably into the issues that are besieging our country. If what the hon. Members of Parliament for Senanga and Mkushi said were true, then there is no equitable distribution of the national cake, and yet, we all pay equal tax.

Hon. PF Members: Hammer!

Dr Chishya: Madam Speaker, I now wish to join my colleagues in this august House who have echoed their sentiments in connection with the status of our economy as expressed in the President’s Address. It is not my wish to bore this House by going over issues that have already been eloquently articulated by hon. Members of the House. Suffice it to express my strong views that the last quinquenia has taught us a lot as a nation on how we can effectively fight and win an economic battle. The past is our best teacher, but we should not be complacent with gains that are infinitesimal in nature and that which would make us lose sight of the fact that the future can also bring fresh problems, quite unrelated to the past.

Therefore, it is prudent that, as a nation, we carefully and clearly analyse our strength and weaknesses, opportunities around us and the threats that exist in our country. Such an approach will serve as a barometer of what we should do and what we should not do.

Madam Speaker, in this connection, a reference to the National Indaba, that took place a few years ago, reveals glaring inadequacies that characterised the manner in which it was conceived in its proceedings and indeed in its outcome. In fact, the Indaba alienated the citizenry from joining the Government in the fight for the reconstruction of the our county’s socio-economy.

Madam, a clear vision of our future in terms of the affirmation analysis is indispensable. Without it, our development goals, particularly, the Millennium ones may not be achieved and the goals will, alas, remain just wishful thinking. We must also remember that managing a vision lets one anticipate what one has to do beforehand, thus, making one become pro-active rather than reactive to issues as the case we have seen obtaining in the MMD Government.

Madam Speaker, the President, in his Address, touched on issues of science and technology. Reading between the lines on Page 30 of the address, the picture that emerges is much regrettable. In Zambia, the scientific and technological capacity that thrived in 1960s, 70s and 80s is now fragmenting and is on its way to being escorted to the new Leopards Hill Cemetery and there, it will remain permanently, in the historical cemetery archive. However, it is consoling to note that President Mwanawasa has recognised the role that science and technology plays in national development.

Madam, development of appropriate technology is an essential prerequisite for increased productivity, economic diversity and quality services delivery warrants extensive research and investments in basic and applied sciences.

Globally, the university plays a key role in the development of industries and general infrastructure and services by way of providing solutions to pertinent problems and even opening up new opportunities for optimum sustainable and environmentally friendly exploitation of available natural resources for production of not only goods and services, but also an address to fundamental needs of the nation such as food , clothing, shelter and health needs. In fact, the difference between the developed and less developed countries is essentially, the science and technology gap.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chishya: Madam Speaker, it was this gap that prompted the then President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, in his Address to the National Assembly in 1966, to call for the establishment of a Science and Technology Council with a view to closing up this gap. The priorities then, among others, included the development of a human resource, establishment of a specialised research and development infrastructure and construction of physical structures that were conducive for research and development activities.

Madam, the consequences of such an undertaking was a promotion of many sectorial research and development activities that were conducted in this country by the Government and the private sector. In fact, goods and services that were based on indigenous scientific and technology capability appeared and competed effectively on the local and international market. Zambia then did not depend on the outside scientific and technological know-how for its socio-economic development.

However, Madam Speaker, allow me to highlight a few shortcomings that have emerged in the area of science and technology since the MMD took over the reigns of Government. In this connection, I take special reference to scientific and technological research that is being carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training. Here, I am specifically referring to the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research.

It is gratifying to note that the President expresses the willingness of the Government to continue developing, rehabilitating and maintaining science and technology infrastructure. As we sit here in this august House debating the current President’s Address, research and development assets are being stripped off at an alarming rate at this institution. Some assets are being stripped off through naiveté of the personnel at the institution. It is through the naiveté that the scientific information dating way back to 1925 …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! The hon. Member’s time has expired.{mospagebreak}

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Kazonga): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech.

May I congratulate you, Madam Speaker, together with the Deputy Chairman of Committees on your election as presiding officers of the House. Special thanks go to the people of Vubwi Constituency for having elected me as their Member of Parliament out of ten candidates who contested the seat. In accordance with the laws of statistics, I am now the representative of the people of Vubwi Constituency regardless of their political affiliations.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kazonga: Madam Speaker, I thank my party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) for having adopted me as its parliamentary candidate. I wish also to thank the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for appointing me Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing. I wish to assure the President and the people of Vubwi Constituency that I will work to the best of my ability.

Having said this, let me talk about the issues that affect Vubwi Constituency. The socio-economic conditions of the people of Vubwi Constituency would greatly be improved if the following problems were tackled.

The first issue is the road infrastructure. There is an urgent need to improve the road infrastructure in the Vubwi Constituency and Chadiza District as a whole in order to support developmental programmes. The Chadiza/Chipata Road, Chadiza/Vubwi Road and Vubwi/Mwami Road require rehabilitation and periodic maintenance. The Mwami Bridge in Vubwi was washed away in the last rainy season and so the Government needs to construct another bridge. I am pleased to note that the Government has noted this as a priority on the agenda in accordance with the President’s Address on page 18, paragraph 1.

Hon. Opposition Members: Ah.

Mr Kazonga: On health, there is an urgent need for an ambulance to be provided so that it caters for Vubwi, east of Chadiza, which has three rural centres. Currently, there is a big transport problem, especially when patients are referred to Mwami or Chipata General hospitals. On page 42, paragraph 2 of the President’s Address, there is a programme of building Chadiza District Hospital. Thanks be to the New Deal Government for listening to the cry of the people in Chadiza District as a whole. It is hoped that Vubwi Constituency will also benefit from the forty health centres the Government intends to construct.

On the issue of water supply, access to clean drinking water is very limited in my constituency. The constituency, therefore, requires, at least, forty boreholes for a start.

As regards education, Vubwi Constituency has only one high school out of twenty-seven schools that are available. The only high school is in the northern part of the constituency and there is nothing in the southern part. People are confident that our listening Government will consider building a second high school in the southern part. The illiteracy level in the constituency is very high. Any efforts to improve the literacy level will be highly appreciated. I wish to report, at this juncture, that the school health and nutrition programme has greatly improved attendance of children in schools.

Let me now talk about the President’s Address in more details. Science and technology are increasingly recognised to be central to the development of the country. Decision makers at all levels need timely, reliable access to the knowledge generated by science and technology to introduce rational policies that reflect a better understanding of complex technical, economic, social, cultural and ethical issues concerning our society. Investing in science and technology is of critical importance to competitiveness, employment and the enhancement of our society. Therefore, this means that public investment in science and technology must be a national priority. This is in line with the President’s Address on page 30 where he said:

‘As a country, we cannot afford to ignore the central role science and technology play in creating wealth and improving the quality of life of our people’.

We need to look at science and technology in terms of their total human effects. Let us look for ways that science and technology are socially mediated in the hope that we can control and shape forces that benefit society, not simply materially, but in terms of the entire quality of life.

As regards technical education and vocational training, Madam Speaker, science and technology are incomplete without the necessary skills development particularly in technical education and vocational training. Improving the knowledge and skills of workers increases an economy’s output of goods and services and contributes to economic development. Education and training are an investment. For every investment, we expect social and economic returns. For the individual, the economic returns on this investment accrue in the form of increased earnings. For companies, the economic returns are realised through gains in productivity and profits. For an economy, the results are found in the expanded output of goods and services and economic growth. Development of human capital not only leads to higher worker productivity, but also facilitates the absorption of workers into the economy and improves their job mobility. Investment in human capital also enhances business and technological innovation by improving the capacity of workers to apply and adapt existing knowledge and processes as well as make new discoveries. Human capital is a critical input in determining the efficiency with which capital investments are utilised and production is carried out. Human capital accumulation is even more important than physical capital accumulation. Weak human capital in the form of generally low levels of education and training attainment can constrain the ability of workers to acquire new skills as markets change and thus, slow both investment and market adjustments to new technology.

Madam Speaker, let me now move on to education. The President made particular reference to the quality of education on page 40, paragraph 1 of his address and I quote:

‘My Government, therefore, will pay particular attention to the provision of quality education services during the next five years’.

The Government should be commended for planning to recruit a total of 19,500 teachers by the end of 2008. This really shows how committed the Government is to improving staffing levels in our schools.

Madam Speaker, let me now move on to my portfolio, Local Government and Housing.

Madam Speaker, in order to improve the quality of life in communities, our New Deal Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing will accelerate the process of promoting democratic local governance, facilitating the efficiency and effective delivery of quality housing, infrastructure and social services by local authorities.

In order to ensure effective execution, the District Integrated Plan will be supplemented by the Local Development Programme (LDP). The LDP is the successor to the Zambia Social Investment Fund (ZAMSIF), which has been positioned in the Decentralisation Secretariat in order to support the implementation of the District Integrated Plans through enhanced development of capacities of our local authorities in terms of planning, financing and co-ordination of service delivery at local levels. The overall objective of the LDP is to contribute to the efficient and effective decentralised delivery of services by the local authorities for sustained economic growth and poverty reduction.

The Government will continue preparing local authorities to receive additional responsibilities, functions, and resources under the devolution process as stipulated in the National Decentralisation Policy.

In this regard, Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute will provide short- medium and long-term In-Service Training in Local Government, Administration and Decentralisation as part of capacity building in local authorities.

Madam Speaker, let me comment on water and sanitation. The New Deal Government has embarked on programmes aimed at improving the quality of service delivery and capital investment in the water supply and sanitation sector. For the future, the Government has adopted a policy of mainstreaming water and sanitation so that a comprehensive approach is adopted towards tackling problems in the sector. In this regard, water and sanitation programmes will include, environmental management, community participation, strengthening financial management in local authorities, capacity building and institutional reforms. Emphasis will be on peri-urban water supply and sanitation where the majority of urban dwellers live.

Our Ministry has already carried out feasibility studies for the entire Eastern Province with a view to rehabilitating and extending the water and sanitation infrastructure.

Thanks be to the New Deal Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kazonga: Madam Speaker, on markets and bus stations, the Government is constructing modern markets in all major urban areas starting with Lusaka, Kitwe and Ndola. A mechanism of improving management of markets and bus stations is being worked out. The concerns raised by hon. Members of Parliament for Livingstone, Roan and Nkana Constituencies shall be addressed through this mechanism. We are committed to improving trading premises and bus stations. Public health and safety shall seriously be taken into consideration in the running of markets and bus stations.

Madam Speaker, on fire and rescue services, in order to safeguard the investment, property and lives of people, the Government will prioritise fire and rescue services. It is our Government’s plan to have adequate fire fighting equipment in all councils. The Government will ensure that businesses and industrial premises are equipped with fire prevention, fighting and escape facilities. Fire hydrants will also be rehabilitated.

Madam Speaker, in its efforts to address the shortage of houses in the country, our New Deal Government has introduced the National Housing Bonds Programme. The programme is aimed at raising affordable long-term finance for construction of houses in district councils.

It is expected that during the course of the Fifth National Development Plan, a peri-urban upgrading strategy will be formulated and implemented.

On traditional matters, a review of traditional institutions will be carried out to ensure that the functions and roles of traditional rulers and their institutions are well defined and articulated to reflect the critical roles that these institutions play in the development of the nation.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, we all need to work together. Zambia is our motherland. Let us join hands together and improve the local government system in our country.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Justice (Mr Machila): Madam Speaker, first and foremost, please, allow me to echo the voices of the many hon. Members who have already spoken in conveying my most sincere congratulations to you, Madam Speaker, and the Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House on your respective successful elections to the stewardship of this august House.

Further, I would like to congratulate all elected and nominated Members of the House. It is my sincere hope that all the Members of the House will discharge their duties and obligations to their respective constituencies and fulfill their promises to the electorate for which they have been elected to serve.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency, the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for delivering victory to the MMD in the recent elections and also allowing me an opportunity to serve in the Government of the ruling party and thereby contributing to the reforms of the law that will follow.

Madam Speaker, you may recall from the Opening Address of the President at the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly that he stated that he wished to live behind a legacy of the rule of law. This implies that the law applies equally to all in society. The Government as well as individuals are subject to the constraints of the law. The exercise of fairness and impartiality in devising laws and the application of these same criteria in applying laws are both features of a just legal system.

It is the duty of the hon. Ministry of Justice to ensure the law of the land prevails, that there is an advancement of the rule of law and justice delivery and Human Rights are observed. In this regard, the President has already set out our areas of work that require our immediate focus. These include:

(a) reforming or reviewing the laws on corruption;
(b) setting a new legal and institutional framework for the media;
(c) a new-built reform or existing land laws and;
(d) a Bill on Water Resource Management.

Madam Speaker, my role as a Deputy Minister of Justice shall be to assist the hon. Minister in the discharge of all the functions as are necessary to implement the forestated targets as well as our obligations, as a nation, under domestic and, indeed, international law.

Madam Speaker, as previously alluded to by the President, significant progress has been made in the area of Parliamentary Reforms, one of which affords our people a channel of direct input into the law making process.

It is therefore, a challenge to the Members of the House to be aware of the gravity and responsibility that these reforms demand.

Madam Speaker, allow me to also commend the House for pushing ahead with the establishment of constituency offices, therefore, allowing Members to be closer to the electorate and understand their concerns better. This innovation will go a long way in connecting us with those who sent us here from the 150 constituencies.

Madam Speaker, the President in his 2003 Special Address to this august House, re-affirmed the policy of Zero-Tolerance On Corruption. The Government has gone a long way in fulfilling the demands of the people. However, the end is not endemic and, as a Government, we still need to strengthen the various arms and institutions to continue to fight this scourge.

Hon. Government Member: Quality!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Justice will work towards implementing the goals of governance namely:

(a) improved justice delivery system;

(b) enhanced access to justice for our people;

(c) promotion and protection of human rights especially for women and children; and

(d) rehabilitation and improvement of reformatory schools and critical re-assessment and looking into the juvenile justice and sentencing alternatives.

Madam Speaker, it is the desire of this Government to have the current on going reviews of the laws on corruption allow this House to pass better and more enforceable laws on corruption.

Madam Speaker, our major and on-going challenge continues to be poverty alleviation and the improvement of the standards of living. Today, as I address this House, a sizeable part of Kafue Town and Estates has inadequate access to clean drinking water, despite its proximity to the Kafue River, which incidentally services Lusaka. Through the Kafue District Council where I am a councillor, I shall play a role to address this situation and find a long term solution.

Madam, in addition to urban Kafue, my goal is to also work towards uplifting the standard of living of the rural constituents of Kafue by facilitating the provision of boreholes and pumps wherever necessary and agitating for the Rural Electrification Programme. During the period of my campaign, I visited every ward in the Kafue Constituency and was shocked to discover that some rural areas lack the basic necessity of life which is water.

The delivery of clean and safe drinking water and an improved water reticulation system is a challenge that I face in Kafue. However, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to say that the Government is already looking into this area by presenting a Bill on Water Resource Management.

In addition to water, health (HIV-Aids Advocacy) and education are the other priorities for Kafue. I believe that there are insufficient clinics and inadequate health facilities in my constituency. It is encouraging to learn from the President’s Address that the Government has a comprehensive programme to address these two issues. I shall endeavour to make concerted efforts to access the development funds for the benefit of my constituency.

Madam Speaker, it is my intention to enhance the Government’s development funds for the projects highlighted above through the engagement of the private sector and NGO assistance. I recognise that there are large demands on the national cake and alternative resources need to be found to supplement funding from the Government.

Madam Speaker, with the current land constraints in Lusaka, inevitably, development will have to extend to outlying regions and areas. With Kafue’s close proximity to Lusaka, it lends itself to providing the most attractive growth potential and reducing the land pressure in the Lusaka area. This development, will turn Kafue into an extension of Lusaka and hence immediate infrastructure development is required to accommodate this anticipated growth.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to state that I believe we should all have the same interest and agenda which is the betterment of the lives of our people, both those who voted for us as well as those who did not. As has already been stated, we must as much as is possible, find occasion to put aside partisan dispositions and remember the interests and concerns of the people of Zambia who are simply demanding a leadership that is worthy of them. At this time and for the foreseeable future, it is the MMD leadership.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends, clients, the MMD Kafue Campaign Team, the tiered structures of the MMD and the people of Kafue Constituency for assisting me during the elections.

Finally and lastly, I would like to congratulate the President on his recent trip to China and the success achieved in negotiating debt relief and enhancing other bilateral trade arrangements.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Musosha): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate.

Firstly, I wish to request all the people in Zambia to praise and thank our great God for the peace that prevailed in Zambia during the elections, which we continue enjoying even today. The peace comes from God’s guidance and protection from the evil forces.

Madam Speaker, allow me to pay tribute to the leadership of former President Chiluba, which brought about the status of Zambia as a Christian nation. I also, would like to thank, in a very special way, the leadership of His Excellency President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for allowing this great nation (Zambia) to continue as a Christian nation and making all the people in Zambia to realise that …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: … the all-powerful God chooses and removes leaders where and when he wants.

Allow me to thank all the people in Zambia in all the constituencies for allowing all these hon. Members of Parliament to come to this House to serve, whether from Opposition UDA, PF or ruling MMD, but under the only chosen able leadership of the Republican President in the name of Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, allow me at this point to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, who emerged victorious out of all the competing Presidential Candidates because he served with a difference the last five years. I must also thank those who did not make it despite their efforts. They can now wait for the next time if they can all manage to wait.

I congratulate the Speaker, for the trust the hon. Members of Parliament have in him to control, guide and protect the honour and dignity of the House. I also thank him and his family for accepting the office.

To my elder sister, the Deputy Speaker, very special congratulations for being, from the creation of this world, the first woman Deputy Speaker in Zambia to join hands with the first woman Clerk of our National Assembly.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: I wish you all God’s blessings.

Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the great people of Mansa Central Constituency whom I have served with a difference in many areas for allowing to come to this Tenth Parliament to serve them as the hon. Member of Parliament to develop our Mansa District and province with President Mwanawasa with a difference. I thank His Excellency for entrusting me with the position of Deputy Minister in his administration.

Madam Speaker, I will continue talking about serving with a difference because when others complain negatively, I will show where we, as MMD and President Mwanawasa, have scored and what the next assignment will be.

Madam Speaker, to promote the spirit of reconciliation, following our President’s footsteps in Mansa, during the Mayoral Elections, we voted for an MMD Councillor as Mayor and UDA Councillor as Deputy Mayor. Therefore, I feel you and all hon. Members of Parliament can see that we are not only talking about things we are not prepared to do. We must accept to co-exist with the other parties which were legally elected by the people of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, when quoting from Page 9 (c), the Republican President talked about protection of our women and children, and you will all agree with me that these cases have no boundaries, both politically and otherwise. It may not be painful if you are not directly affected, but imagine if your own sister or daughter was found a victim. Therefore, it is my humble request that, through you, Madam Speaker, all hon. Members of Parliament support the strengthening of the registration to control all types of abuse of our women, children and everybody from sexual abuse, child labour and human trafficking.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: For example, a woman was caught by our law enforcement agency at Chirundu Boarder Post trafficking children to South Africa, but because of the inadequacies in our laws in Zambia, she was only meted with a minor punishment.

Madam Speaker, the MMD New Deal Administration has been repairing and constructing old and new feeder roads leading to food production areas ensuring timely delivery of farm inputs and collection of produce by the FRA in Mansa District and the Luapula Province as a whole.

Madam Speaker, I wish to gladly inform the House that this Government has bought all the maize and all the farmers have been paid in Mansa.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Musosha: Right now, the FRA is buying cassava and other crops. This means that the Government has turned farming into a proper business venture.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, those of us who have taken purchasing and stores as a career say buy the right quality material from the right source, in the right quantity, at a right price, at a right time and Zambia with the New Deal Government is the right Government with the right President on the right track to continue bringing sanity and development to all Zambian nationals.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Some leaders in here have failed this country. I have evidence of what I am saying. This is why Mansa Central did not vote for people who disappointed them in the area of agriculture.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: We shall not allow them to kill the nation with starvation. When it comes to payments, they pay themselves first instead of starting with the many suffering masses who put them where they are in the hope that they will be helped to come out from their many hard situations.

Madam Speaker, at the right time, we have the right man in the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: … to work with the right President to improve food production in all parts of Zambia. Therefore, I beg this hon. Parliament and all Zambians to co-operate with our leadership and take Zambia to higher heights.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker at the right time, the right President promised a road and bridges to the people of Chief Matanda. This is one area that has not been tackled forty-two years after independence. Sub-Chief Mabo told me to convey these words:

‘Because His Excellency, President Mwanawasa, has brought economic and political independence through road construction and food production, we are no longer troubled by the Congolese soldiers as we go to trade where there was a road to our only markets. President Mwanawasa has recognised this part of Zambia and has built roads to better markets in Mansa and Kitwe. We will never allow anyone to come as our President. Hence, we got 98 per cent vote in this area.’

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, has opened up the area. I, therefore, salute him. President Mwanawasa and the New Deal Government’s agricultural policy is the best because, in my area, farm inputs are being delivered at the right time and at the right price of as low as K48,000 per 50 Kg bag.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha:Farm produce is also being bought, through the Government’s arrangements, at the right time and the farmers are paid right away. Last week, I spoke to Ms Alice Chanda in Chienge who expressed her joy about this Government’s agricultural initiative and she had this to say:

‘Fertiliser is now affordable and available even to a village woman like me. After preparing my produce, I do not need to travel long distances to sell my produce. Just at the door step, the FRA comes to buy my produce and I am paid. Right now, I am with my money happily going shopping and planning how I will handle this year’s agriculture season. This is a good Government. Therefore, with us, it is His Excellency, the President, Mr Patrick Mwanawasa SC, Katele and the MMD.’

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, from the creation of the world, nobody, among the former leaders, has ever thought about the inconveniences we face when we use the Pedicle Road. To those who have not used the Pedicle Road, it is the shortest route to North, East and West Africa. Therefore, tarring the road and building of the Chembe Bridge is not a wastage of resources like some very uncaring Presidential candidates put it. It looked almost impossible, but the people of Mansa Central are saying, ‘hats off and long live President Mwanawasa for this gesture’.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Yes, others may have wanted to do it, but that would be wishful thinking.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, President Mwanawasa has done it with a difference. Today China Henan Construction Company is busy working on the bridge-in-question. They have built permanent residential structures to be surrendered on completion of the project to the Zambian Government. The Chinese company has, so far, employed 250 workers and the our country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, for now, monies mainly collected from all markets are usually spent on huge salaries and allowances for chief officers of councils, leaving grassroots and public workers without much benefit from the collections. We need to improve in this area and we are determined to do so. As our Government focuses on the construction of new markets which we are expected to manage, we must realise that many organisations run by stakeholders themselves are better managed than those run by people who are not interested in managing the affairs of the same. For example, the Engineering Institute of Zambia is run by the engineers themselves, Zambia National Union of Teachers is managed by teachers themselves, the Contractors Association is run by us contractors, UTTA and Bus Drivers Association is run by the operators and drivers themselves. Equally, marketers’ affairs and markets can be better managed by the marketers themselves on the understanding that they will be paying so much to local authorities. This has been proved at the Kitwe and Mansa markets and better returns are being realised as compared to collections made by council employees. I see nothing wrong with allowing the Zambia National Marketers Association (ZANAMA) to manage market affairs.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, having enacted the National Council for Construction Act and the Public Roads Act with subsequent establishment of the statutory bodies to implement the provisions of these Acts, the Government has set the framework for developing and maintaining quality socio-economic infrastructure for sustainable national development.

Madam Speaker, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads countrywide will continue to be high on the agenda of the Government. This will include essential bridge construction, rehabilitation and maintenance. Currently, a number of roads are undergoing rehabilitation and periodic maintenance. This is good and job well done by the MMD Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President said that the capacity of local private contractors to fully participate in the contracts offered is still a source of concern to the Government. A review of the experience gained, so far, shows that there is need to embark on further efforts to empower indigenous companies to fully participate in infrastructure development contracts. This calls for more training for all interested people in construction for anyone to attain the required technical qualification and allow them to apply themselves adequately to construction demands.

Madam Speaker, at this point, allow me to request this House to review the national Council for Construction (NCC) Act which has been abused by the officers who recruit anybody and anyhow without looking at who qualifies to do what. People from all walks of life have been recruited as contractors as long as they pay their subscription fees to NCC, but with fake and to some extent stolen documents. When the same people are awarded contracts on the basis of documents acquired from NCC, they fail to execute given contracts and display shoddy work, but instead the Government is said to be misusing public funds.

Madam Speaker, the NCC should not be interested in how much money they should raise from subscription fees from contractors registration without being mindful of who knows what and has what qualifications and equipment. At all costs, avoid wastage of resources by registering unqualified contractors at the expense of the qualified who do substandard work, while the qualified will use Government resources to specifications all in the name of capacity building.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Secondly, on payment to contractors, the usual practice, all over the world, is that works should be completed by the contractor, certified completed as per specifications and a payment certificate prepared by the qualified inspectors. Then payment is effected. However, this is being abused.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Musosha: On energy, I wish to say that with the implementation of the Rural Electrification Programme, the Government has responded very well by lighting almost all schools along the power line from Musonda Falls to Samfya and Kasaba.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Chiefs’ Palaces and clinics are all lit.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: Those who are off the power lines are lit using solar panels.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: We commend the Government for this effort.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musosha: On the few that are remaining, we are discussing with the Rural Electrification Officers and they have promised to deal with the issue. This is a listening Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Tell them!

Mr Musosha: Madam Speaker, on Home Affairs, I wish to mention here that police and prisons have been facing gross accommodation hardships. This is a Government concern and so, we have worked out an initiative where the two departments are working together in making bricks. And soon, I expect that there will be a line in the budget for building houses for them.

In the history of this country, ferrying of prisoners from one point to the other has always put the Government in problems, especially when prisoners escape. Again, when officers are being transferred, the Government used to incur a lot of costs through hiring of trucks. Generally, officers’ movements were a problem. However, this time around, the New Deal Government has acquired trucks, vans and cars for easy mobility of both inmates and officers to and from various points of need.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Aya ma cadres!

Mr Musosha: The Prison Service has undergone massive changes and the main functions today, are:

(a) Custodial – dealing with safe custody of inmates held in prisons;

(b) Correctional –dealing with the rehabilitation reformation of inmates;

(c) Administration and Human Resource – dealing with management, supervision and control of prisons and prisoners lodged therein; and

(d) Production – supportive function that deals with food production and industrial activities in the service.

The above are just a few of the achievements that the New Deal Government, under the able leadership of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, has made. We promise to do better.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions{mospagebreak}

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Malwa): Madam Speaker, thank you for affording me this rare opportunity to deliver my maiden speech in line with the President’s Address read in this august House by His Excellency the Republican President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. I also wish to thank the Zambian people who spoke through the ballot box.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: First and foremost, I would like to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, on his duly and democratic re-election as President of the Republic of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, I also wish to congratulate His Honour the Vice-President, Mr Rupiah Banda, not only on his appointment as Vice-President, but as Leader of Government Business in this House.

A message of gratitude goes to Hon. Amusa Mwanamwambwa on his unopposed re-election. It is crystal clear to hon. Members of Parliament that you command the highest degree of respect in your vast knowledge and experience in the running of Parliament.

Madam, let me emphasise in congratulating you, once again, on your election as Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mutale Nalumango, MP, on emerging unopposed and ascending to the next highest office of this august House. Indeed, this is a historic attainment not only to the womenfolk, but to the nation as a whole.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: The same message of congratulations goes to the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House, Hon. Mukhondo Lungu on emerging unopposed in the election. Let me also thank and congratulate Hon. Vernon. J. Mwaanga, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services for bouncing back as Chief Whip.

Mr Mwaanga: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: His vast experience will be useful in carrying out his duties as Acting Leader of Government Business in this august House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam, I wish to humbly thank the lovely people of Kapiri Mposhi Constituency for voting wisely by giving me the highest number of votes. On behalf of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, and on my own behalf as their area Member of Parliament, I salute you. Bravo! May Jehovah God the Almighty who gave them the wisdom to vote wisely for me on the MMD ticket which …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: … has formed the Government-of-the-day, bless them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear.

Mr Malwa: The New Deal Government is a listening Government and it will look into developmental programmes in Kapiri Mposhi District by improving the schools, the health sector, feeder roads, infrastructures such as the Muteteshi Bridge, roads such as Mukonchi, Kampumba, Mpunde, Chipepo, Mukubwe, Nkabwe, the construction of Ngabwe Bridge and water and sanitation that has been ongoing and drilling of boreholes that has also been an ongoing programme. Primary and middle basic schools are being transformed into basic schools which is also an ongoing programme.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, Kapiri Mposhi has the best fertile agricultural land and farmers are fully utilising it by maximising the production of the maize crop. Therefore, all sectors of human endeavour will be realigned with the MMD New Deal Government’s vision.

Madam, with improved socio-economic infrastructure, Kapiri Mposhi District will be an economic district to reckon with. I, therefore, appeal to all local and foreign investors to come to Kapiri Mposhi because it is a fast developing district.

I also wish to appeal to the Ministry of Health to quickly fund and complete the ongoing construction of a district hospital in Kapiri Mposhi. So far, the theatre and Radiography Unit was completed.

Madam, let me also take this opportunity to appeal to the Ministries of Labour and Social Security and Transport and Communications to quickly intervene in the TAZARA and workers wrangle which has deepened and may paralyse the transport operations in Kapiri Mposhi. This issue is currently being reported in the print media.

Madam Speaker, let me also thank hon. Members of Parliament in this august House for scooping seats in their respective constituencies. Friends, welcome to this august House, which is a House of wisdom. I also wish to thank His Excellency Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for upholding the Office of District Commissioner. However, it requires more funding.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, haer1

Mr Malwa: Madam, allow me to mention to this august House that about fifteen former District Commissioners were duly elected as hon. Members of Parliament to this august House. For this reason, I ask the hon. Provincial Ministers to join me in thanking His Excellency the President Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for affording us a chance to serve as District Commissioners at the time. I also wish to thank the Republican President for having appointed me District Commissioner for Chibombo and Chibombwe districts respectively during his first term of Presidency and now, Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development. As former District Commissioners, we relinquished our Civil Service portfolios and were allowed to contest as hon. Members of Parliament on parties of our choice hence, acquiring vast knowledge and experience from his leadership and administration.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, I can assure you that District Commissioners’ offices have produced good and quality hon. Members of Parliament. Therefore, as former District Commissioners and now hon. Members of Parliament and even hon. Ministers, we should thank His Excellency, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC to urge this House that this Office of District Commissioner continue to be part of the Government sector to score more successes.

Madam Speaker, the MMD New Deal Administration has scored successes in developmental and practical solutions. Hon. Members, we should embrace each other so that we take a non-partisan approach when debating and voting on issues that affect the welfare of our people. Hunger, ignorance, disease and poverty do not recognise any political affiliation.

Hon. Opposition Members, do not bite the fingers that feed you by just opposing because you are in Opposition.

Interruptions

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, these kind of pre-conceived and pre-meditated ideas of attitudes will not lead us to overcome the vices I alluded to, but only teamwork and hard work will take us somewhere. We should give praise and appreciation where it is due.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, the MMD Government …

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, for sometime now, we have been consulting loudly. I appeal to you that the Chair would like to listen to the debate and we need order in the House even as we consult each other. We should consult each other quietly so that those who want to follow the debate can do so.

Will the hon. Minister continue, please.

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, let us give praise where it is due.  Madam Speaker, the MMD Government bought seventy-two vehicles in all the seventy-two districts throughout the country and this was, through the Ministry of Health, to combat HIV/AIDs. The National Aids Council and the District AIDS Task Force have also assisted. The people in Kapiri Mposhi are, therefore, very thankful to receive their vehicle.

Madam Speaker, in rural areas, the small-scale farmers have benefited from the 60 per cent subsidy of the Fertiliser Support Programme and seed, hence, more maize crops have been bought by the FRA. Kapiri Mposhi has received 20,825,000 D/Compound Fertiliser and 21,740,000 Uria Fertiliser by 50 kilogrammes bags and the total is 42,625,000. They have also received 100 metric tonnes of seed and that comes to 14,000,000 by 10 kilogrammes variety of seeds, namely: MRE, SEEDCO, ZAMSEED and Malawian seeds. This will go up to 2006/2007 farming seasons and farmers have already started depositing money into the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) in Kapiri Mposhi through the Co-operative Union and the DACOs Office.

Madam Speaker, as long as His Excellency, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, remains President of the Republic of Zambia, the rains will continue to fall and there will be more maize in the country.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Those who hate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia will not have rain. Therefore, it is important to respect the Head of State and assist in implementing developmental projects for the betterment of our people and Zambia as a whole.

Madam Speaker, some Opposition Members were Ministers in the previous Government, but failed to deliver and hence, they contributed to the shortcomings the country is faced with.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: I am aware that you are MMD in every aspect despite the fact that you sneaked into the Opposition camps for the purpose of being elected as Members of Parliament, but you are considering returning to the MMD.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, Hon. Mulongoti, Hon. Mwaanga, Hon. Dr Kalumba, …

Mr Kambwili: Plunderer!

Mr Malwa: … and Hon. Mabenga will be very much on hand to receive you.

Laughter

Mr Malwa: If you negotiate nicely with them, you may be adopted on the MMD ticket and end up as a Member of Parliament on the MMD because the people in your respective constituencies will now vote for you wisely …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: … on Pankoloko which means …

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Address the Chair. By addressing hon. Members directly, you risk having them respond loudly to you. Please, address the Chair.

Will the hon. Member continue, please.

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, I now would like to join other hon. Members in thanking His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for a fatherly address he delivered to this House. On page 3 of his address, he states:

‘The tripartite elections were held under a peaceful atmosphere and the people of Zambia spoke through the ballot.’

Madam Speaker, His Excellency Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, was duly declared a winner and was sworn in as Republican President of Zambia with a big P. The word President has been misused in the sense that every Jim and Jack with a small group of people wants to be called ‘president’ instead of being called a group leader. Let us refrain from calling some people presidents and yet they do not qualify.

Laughter

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, even some groups emanating from Tanzania to Zambia are now calling themselves presidents. Some hon. Members from the Opposition should stop saying that the MMD Government has stolen votes. When you lose, through a democratic process, just admit and accept defeat because the Zambian people speak through the ballot. The ballot spoke louder than words.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, we are all Zambians with one agenda of bringing sustainable development that will eradicate hunger and poverty to the people of Zambia. We should work together and respect the views of the people by accepting how they voted. All district councils and civic centers are under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and they run autonomously, but funded and controlled by the New Deal Government and not by any other Opposition political party as claimed by PF.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, I believe it is time for undemocratic Opposition parties to be democratic. This will do by either joining the MMD or holding party conventions and electing party leaders. Democracy is not about leaders imposing themselves as Presidents by keeping Opposition political parties on personal-to-holder basis. Why fear to go to conventions?

Hon. Government Members: One-man convention.

Mr Malwa: For the past five years, some Opposition hon. Members of Parliament have come to this august House on parties which fail to hold conventions …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: … and democratically elect leaders of their choice and not impose themselves as Presidents …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: … because that is dictatorship which is not allowed in Zambia. They should take a leaf from the MMD, which goes to conventions at the end of each tenure of office.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, the President’s in his address informed the House that of the on going 150 construction of constituency offices, forty-five constituency offices had been completed. Therefore, hon. Members of Parliament in these respective constituencies should know that these offices will be used to solve problems of their communities. These new offices, Madam Speaker, are built by the New Deal Government, through National Assembly, which is a Government establishment. This is a gesture coming from the able leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Every Member of Parliament, regardless of their political affiliation, should, therefore, be thankful. In future, do not listen and do not be intimidated by some selfish leaders who say that you will be fired if you work with the MMD. Show them that you are grateful to the MMD for what it is doing. Therefore, for many things that the New Deal Government will do in your respective constituencies, remember that you are Zambians and you live in Zambia and we need to develop Zambia together. We should not allow some selfish leaders to disunite us. We are mature enough to say no to leaders who want to disunite us because democracy prevails in Zambia. If you want to defect to the MMD Party, a party with vision for development of Zambia for the Zambian people, you are free to do so because you know your constitutional rights.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, allow me to request all hon. Members of Parliament in this august House, regardless of their political affiliation, to take a leaf from His Excellency, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, and leave a legacy of team spirit, loving each other, unity, hard work, good accountability, good governance, transparency, zero tolerance to corruption and reconciliation, as the saying goes ‘there is no sweet without sweat’.

Madam Speaker, when we are debating matters of national development, we need to co-operate and work together under the Motto of ‘One Zambia One Nation’.

Hon. Government Members: Hammer!

Interruptions

Mr Malwa: Madam Speaker, as I end my speech, I would like to thank the Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Director General (DG) - Office of the President and Security Wings and personnel for maintaining peace and order during and after the tripartite elections. I would like to thank also the media for dissemination of information. Many thanks go to Electoral Commission of Zambia, all churches in Kapiri-Mposhi and Zambians as a whole, for the prayers conducted for maintaining peace during and after the tripartite elections. Indeed, I thank the Zambian people for maintaining peace and order during and after the tripartite elections.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Madam Speaker: Order

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 1810 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 17th November, 2006.