Debates- Friday, 10th November, 2006

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DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Friday, 10th November, 2006

The House met at 0900 hours

[MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

__________

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (Mr Mwaanga): Madam Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the business it will consider next week.

On Tuesday, 14th November, 2006, the business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

On Wednesday, 15th November, 2006, the business of the House will commence with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. After that, the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. The House will then continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

On Thursday, 16th November, 2006, the business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. After that, the House will continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks.

Madam Speaker, on Friday, 17th November, 2006, the business of the House will begin with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. On this day, business will be concluded with the continuation of the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency, the President’s Address.

I thank you, Madam.

__________

MOTIONS

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr Magande): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the following hon. Members of Parliament do constitute the Public Accounts Committee for the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly:

Mr V. Mwale, MP

Mrs E. M. Banda, MP

Mr E. M. Hachipuka, MP

Mr C. L. Milupi, MP

Mr L. M. Mwenya, MP
Mr B.Y. Mwila, MP

Mr N. Ndalamei, MP

Mr P. Sichamba, MP

Mr D. M. Syakalima, MP

Madam, let me begin by thanking you for giving me another opportunity to move this motion which was deferred yesterday, Thursday, 9th November, 2006. The House will recall that I sought the indulgence of the House to defer the motion following the debate which ensued after I had moved the motion.

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that traditionally, the Minister of Finance and National Planning was a nominal member of the Public Accounts Committee, but actually, did not sit or participate in the deliberations of the Public Accounts Committee.

Madam, hon. Members who have served on the Public Accounts Committee before are, indeed, aware of this convention or practice. However, perception is critical and, as such, it is prudent that this House strictly adheres to the provisions of Standing Order 153 (1) which states:

‘There shall be a Sessional Committee to be designated the Public Accounts Committee consisting of nine members other than the Vice-President, Minister, Deputy Minister or any member appointed or acting in any office prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament appointed by the Assembly at the commencement of every session. The quorum of the Committee shall be four.’

Madam Speaker, I now wish to submit the revised composition of the Public Accounts Committee as outlined in my motion.

Madam, let me reiterate that the Public Accounts Committee is charged with the responsibility of examining accounts, showing the application of monies appropriated by Parliament to meet public expenditure and also scrutinising the reports of the Auditor-General on these accounts.

Madam Speaker, allow me to also emphasise that the previous Public Accounts Committees did a commendable job and laid a firm foundation on which the Committee for the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly, without doubt, will build upon. I am, therefore, confident that the hon. Members I am recommending to constitute this Committee will, indeed, effectively perform the duties of the Public Accounts Committee.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo): Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

In supporting this motion, I wish to state that I am quite impressed with the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning who was quick…

Mr Chimumbwa: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chimumbwa: Madam Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Is it in order for the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development to remain silent when he knows very well that the people of Chingola are drinking contaminated water or being poisoned by the effluent from the mines due to gross recklessness on the part of our wonderful investors?

Madam Deputy Speaker: Indeed, that is a very serious point of order. However, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, who is not in the House at the moment, is in Chingola to ascertain and verify the extent of the pollution. When he comes back, I believe he is going to give us a ministerial statement on the status of the Chingola situation.

Will the hon. Member for Kalomo continue, please.

Mr Muntanga: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I was saying that in supporting this motion, I want to record my appreciation of the hon. Minister’s quick action when he realised that there was an anomaly regarding his inclusion on this Committee. He was able to quickly defer the motion and reorganise the Committee by putting somebody else. This action of responding when you realise that something is wrong is very good.

Madam, since the Government in this First Session of the Tenth National Assembly, has shown quick action in responding to things which are wrong, I want to urge the hon. Minister to use the same speed to respond when the Public Accounts Committee makes certain recommendations on the misuse of funds. This quick response should be shown through and through. I am aware that recently His Excellency the President, withdrew a Minister he had appointed within a week because of what he had heard. If the Government could respond quickly to issues that are amiss, the amount of tension in the country would reduce. At certain times, the Government takes actions that, more or less, test the ground of the feelings of the people. Why dare the population of Zambia? Sometimes, things are just done to dare the people. We know that things are wrong and should be corrected. So, the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning’s action should send a signal to various Ministers here. A number of them want to dare the opposition by not responding to issues quickly. They want to hide wrong things. I think this action is a good signal.

I know that in yesterday’s debate, the issue of the Public Accounts Committee having qualified people arose. However, I am aware that we do not look at the qualifications of hon. Members in this House. I am happy to note that this Public Accounts Committee has qualified members. It has accountants. It has members that have been running businesses their entire lives, for example, Hon. Mwila. He has been in Government before and was the first treasurer of the MMD. He, therefore, already knows what is wrong. Therefore, the Committee contains people that have the requisite knowledge. Our appeal is that this action should send a signal to others. We do not want people to be confrontational even when they know that the action that is being taken is wrong.

Madam Speaker, I know that there is my good friend, Professor Syakalima, but we cannot all be intelligent and gifted in everything. The one who raised this issue, my friend, Hon. Lubinda, said that for five years we sat in here without noticing the wrong. However, I think some people were in line. We can sit here from the time of independence doing wrong things, but one day someone will wake up and tell everyone to follow the line. I am grateful to him for indicating to all of us that something was being done in a wrong manner. It was a wrong precedence.

Madam Speaker, I totally support this motion. I wish to conclude by urging the other hon. Ministers to emulate the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. They should learn from what has happened. They should not dare the opposition because they will not enjoy their work in Parliament.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kasongo (Bangweulu): Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Let me also begin by paying tribute to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for demonstrating to us all that he is a listening hon. Minister. The action that he has taken is commendable.

However, I would like to emphasise that prudent management of our financial resources is a must and not an exception. I sympathise with the hon. Minister because his powers are limited. I wish to urge him that immediately recommendations have been made by the Public Accounts Committee, through this House, and those who may be found wanting have been exposed, it is incumbent upon him to seek audience with the Head of State so that appropriate action is taken as quickly as possible.

Madam, we would not like to see a situation where funds which are meant to improve the lives of our people are misappropriated by a handful of people. This must come to an end. We would also like to see a situation where culprits are dealt with as quickly as possible. For example, in Uganda and Kenya, they have very important models which, in fact, were borrowed from Zambia. In these two countries, the moment the Public Accounts Committee begins sitting, police officers are present so that once a decision is taken by the Committee for a controlling officer to be punished in one way or another, the police apprehend that person and immediately take him/her to court. I think that is what we would like to see in our country. This will send signals to those who take pride in misappropriating our funds.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to urge the Government not to apply double standards, when it comes to implementing the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee. The moment you discriminate and punish officer A on the basis of the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee while other officers are exempted, then you are applying double standards. In my view, that is tantamount to undermining the integrity of the Public Accounts Committee and the House as a whole.

I would like to make reference, as a matter of emphasis, to Nanga Farms. Funds, in dollar terms, were externalised by people who are known by the Government of the day. To date, no action has been taken. Not only that, this House approved a report by the Public Accounts Committee on sums which were alleged to have been misappropriated by some members of the Task Force on Corruption. Up to now, those people are walking freely in the city, and yet we have a situation where a person who failed to retire imprest was apprehended. These are double standards.

Therefore, I would like to urge the Government of the day not to apply double standards.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Madam Speaker, let me start my debate by commending the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for showing a level of magnanimity …

Mr Chimumbwa: On a point of order, Madam.

Mr Lubinda: It is a different debate, iwe!

Madam Speaker, what happened yesterday is a demonstration of the fact that when we, in the Opposition, raise issues, we do it with the interest of the nation at large. We do not raise issues just because we want to derail the operations of the Government. I would like all the other members of the Executive to take a leaf from the stand of the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

No doubt, had the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning been arrogant because of the numbers they have, we would have called for a division and this side (Opposition) of the House would have lost. However, it would not have been this side of the House to lose, but this National Assembly and the people out there. What he did was to demonstrate that he, too, is willing to listen to wise advice from this side of the House.

Madam, what I would like to add and make clear, for the sake of my colleagues who have been appointed to the Public Accounts Committee, is that it is not the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning who has appointed this Committee. I would have liked the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning to say that. Yesterday, I consulted members of the Standing Orders Committee who confirmed to me that the list was presented through them and not by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Therefore, my dear friend, Hon. Hachipuka, the fact that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning read out those names does not mean that he appointed you. You do not owe any allegiance to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. You owe allegiance to the hon. Mr Speaker and, through him, to this House. I would like you, my dear friends on that Committee, to bear that in mind so that you go out and …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, address the Chair!

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, I would like my colleagues to be aware of that so that when they perform their functions, they do it knowing very well that they are not under the umbrella or ambit of the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning. He came to present the names because of the lacuna I identified in the law yesterday which says that the Public Accounts Committee shall be appointed by this Assembly without necessarily describing how that shall be done. I do agree with his presenting the list of members of the Committee because that is the practice. However, I am also glad that the Standing Orders Committee have removed him from that Committee.

Madam Speaker, I want to end my debate by reminding the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning, through you, what I said yesterday which he has reiterated today. The relationship between the Public Accounts Committee and the Auditor-General’s Office vis á vis the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning is one of the implementer and monitor. It is, therefore, prudent for him to ensure that the Public Accounts Committee and the Auditor-General’s Office operate with latitude and without any undue interference. He must also ensure that his reports are provided to the Public Accounts Committee timely.

Like Hon. Muntanga said, he must also respond to the reports of the Public Accounts Committee on a timely basis. It is no use for the ladies and gentlemen on that Committee to present reactions to the Auditor-General’s Report and have the reports go unanswered or, at the least, noted by the hon. Minister.

The Public Accounts Committee has, over the years, made a lot of important observations that have been received by responses, such as, ‘noted’ by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and other controlling officers. That must be a thing of the past.

That Committee is the one that makes it possible for this Parliament to exercise its watchdog function over the Treasury. It is, therefore, important that it is accorded the respect that it deserves, especially by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Through you, Madam, let me ask the Public Accounts Committee to do this country one favour. This is with regard to the Supplementary Estimates that we debated yesterday. Although it was passed yesterday, the truth of the matter is that most of the people in this House do not even understand exactly how those figures came about. The Public Accounts Committee would do us a very big favour if they took it upon themselves in their calendar of work for this year to ensure that they study that document and come back to this House to give us indications on exactly how those figures were arrived at.

To date, all we know are the figures without necessarily being told what necessitated them. They will be doing us a very good favour and great honour if they gave us that information because that is the first financial document that has been presented to this House on a day when that Committee was constituted.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to, again, reiterate my commendations to the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and his colleague, the hon. Minister of Justice, who I saw encouraging him yesterday to withdraw his motion. Well done hon. Minister of Justice and the Chief Whip. That was a level of magnanimity that I think you ought to be associated with, particularly at a time when this nation is pleading for reconciliation. If we do not reconcile here, it will be difficult for us to reconcile out there.

I thank you, Madam.

Dr Chishimba (Kasama): Madam Deputy Speaker, may I also join in congratulating the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for the withdrawal of the motion yesterday, and, of course, the changes that have been made thereto.

Madam Speaker, it is important, indeed, to realise that when we are on the Floor of the House, divisions that arise from our party affiliation must be left outside. When we come here, we are here to debate on matters of national importance.

To me, Madam Speaker, the Public Accounts Committee is a very important Committee of this House in that it offers, as I submitted yesterday, the checks and balances in the way public resources are utilised. It also brings to the limelight whatever anomalies that are detected. I believe that if the Public Accounts Committee does not include Members of the Executive, its autonomy will be guaranteed in that when it is discharging its functions, there will be no undue influence from the Executive.

Madam Speaker, I say so because we would like to see a situation in Zambia where we graduate from having Supplementary Estimates on budget lines that are ambiguous or vague, for instance, Other Emoluments, and yet we are saying that we have embraced an Activity Based Budgeting. What are the Other Emoluments? That way, we leave the system open to abuse and may end up with a situation where public officers pay their spouses allowances because it is not clear.

Therefore, we expect to move in a direction where transparency and accountability are assured. As for me, I look forward to a situation where we begin to move away from having huge Supplementary Estimates for budget lines which do not have a direct impact on poverty.

Madam Speaker, as you are aware, Zambia is implementing a number of measures to reduce poverty. These are the Poverty Reduction Programmes (PRPs). If you look at the Supplementary Estimates, you will find that there is little offered to programmes under PRP 1. For instance, if you look at what was allocated to Water and Sanitation, you will find that it is far below what was allocated to State House. Indeed, we do not want to let our people to continue swimming in poverty even when we have means to end that by offering checks and balances that are comprehensive.

Madam Speaker, when you are talking about enhancing these checks and balances by ensuring that we implement the principles or attempt to adhere to the doctrine of the separation of powers, it does not mean that there is an absolute separation of powers. That is in not practically possible. We are saying that we should adhere to what we commit ourselves to because the people of Zambia are not going to accept anything less. We have to, indeed, liberate our people and this will begin from the way we are going to remain open to changes. We should not be scared of change.

From its evolution, which dates back to the Northern Rhodesia Legislative Council, in 1924, this House has been associated with dynamism. It is not static. Therefore, what we expect, as the Public Accounts Committee continues to function, is, indeed, for it to operate without fear or favour. It should ensure that whatever issues or anomalies are detected are brought to the limelight so that the people of Zambia can receive what they actually deserve.

Once again, I congratulate the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning for, indeed, showing professionalism and, most importantly, listening to what a few of us in this House had to contribute.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Magande: Madam Speaker, thank you again for giving me the opportunity to wind up the debate on my motion to appoint a new Public Accounts Committee. Perhaps, let me just indicate to the colleagues that have made presentations that we, indeed, will have a lot of time to discuss other issues. I would like to correct Hon. Dr Chishimba that ‘other emoluments’ is not a commonly used phrase in the private sector. This is a very well known term in Government and it has a specific definition of what it includes. Therefore, as we go through this session, he will be able to understand what we mean by ‘other emoluments’ in Government.

Hon. Lubinda dwelt on issues of procedure. As Hon. Muntanga said, I think the time for any human being to show magnanimity is when you realise you made a mistake. Hon. Lubinda is one of the hon. Members who have been in this House for a long time. He has clearly brought to our attention that something was not done according to the rules. If every evening as you go home from your drinking place you drive at 120km/hr and you suddenly realise that the speed limit for that zone is 60km/hr, you will start following the road rules. That is quite normal.

Laughter

Mr Magande: That is quite normal.

Madam Speaker, let me also make a comment on Hon. Kasongo’s presentation that we should not have double standards in handling offences. I do agree that, indeed, it might appear like double standards. However, we must remember that there are rules to any game. Therefore, what happens to one offender does not necessarily have to happen to another. This is so because the rules might be applied in a certain way so that each offender is given fair treatment. I do appreciate that he is very concerned about the Nanga Farms issue. We did go into details on that issue. However, we found some legal provisions which prevented us from arresting people wholesomely.

Madam Speaker, I am extremely indebted to Hon. Muntanga for what he said. He said that the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning had taken very quick action and that is how we should move.

Madam, I also heard the point of order raised by Hon. Chimumbwa on the mines. Indeed, listening to the news on what is happening in Chingola when you are very far away makes you concerned about what is happening or the catastrophe that can befall Chingola. That is why the Government decided not to send junior officers. They sent the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development and his technical people to go and see, on the spot, what the problem is. At the end of the day, this is a quick response to issues, as Hon. Muntanga says.

Madam Speaker, the Government that we have now is the Government which the Zambians, including my colleagues on your left, have entrusted to run this country for the next five years. There is no petition against President Levy Mwanawasa in the courts. Therefore, you have accepted that he has to lead this country for now.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Magande: To me, this is extremely important. That is why we intend to listen to the people on your left when they want to bring issues of development. Whether it is on the Public Accounts Committee or other development issues, we are going to react because they have told us that they are prepared to work with us for the development of mother Zambia.

Madam Speaker, this is why I say thank you to the colleagues on your left who have encouraged us to continue to be very active on issues that they bring before the House. It is magnanimous of them, especially the parties which were told to oppose the Government on anything discussed in this House. They have shown that they are not here to oppose the Government on anything. They are here to make sure that they work with the Government and we are most grateful.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.{mospagebreak}

MOTIONS OF THANKS
(Debate resumed)

Mr Chitonge (Mwansabombwe): Madam Speaker, when business was suspended yesterday, I was saying that our people are watching and seeing how we represent them for we owe our jobs to them and we must strive to tell the truth and nothing, but the truth at all times. John Knox once said:

  ‘One man plus the truth makes the majority.’

Madam Speaker, we must avoid bringing half truths to the King for self preservation. As Francois Rene said:

  ‘You must not be more of a royalist than the King.’

Madam Speaker, I shall, therefore, on my part, strive to tell the truth as only in it lies our people’s success and satisfaction.

Madam, we must be free to consider and debate all issues pertaining to the three arms of Government, the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature.

Madam Speaker, finally, let me profoundly express my special thanks to the almighty God and the electorate in Mwansabombwe Parliamentary Constituency for the honour bestowed on me and the privilege to represent them.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Tetamashimba): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for allowing me to contribute to the debate on the Floor. I wish to congratulate Mr Speaker, Madam Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on your election without a vote on the Floor of the House. I am aware that some political parties wanted to bring confusion which has not been in this House since 1948.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, the fact that the hon. Members of Parliament who were elected by all the 150 constituencies gave you this mandate, shows that the person who proposed you, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, and his party, the MMD, did a wonderful job to propose that you be given the positions that you are holding.

Madam Speaker, I know that the President has scored successes in a lot of fields. For example, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). When the Chairperson was appointed, some people tried to dispute the appointment, but now, many people give her credit for having brought integrity to the elections.

Madam, I want to thank the President for the deserved victory.

Hon Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, in the past five years, we heard, on the Floor of the House, certain quarters say that without them, we were not going to win. The President has shown that he is his own man …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: ... and that he can win because the Zambian people have confidence in him.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President got over 50 per cent of the votes in terms of provinces. The President won more votes in North-Western, Central, Southern, Eastern and Northern provinces. His Excellency the President had more votes in Northern Province than any presidential candidate.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Bwekeshapo.

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, that shows that we have a President who has won in five of the nine provinces. The PF leader only won in three provinces.

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: The UPND leader only won in one, Southern Province.

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, in addition, in Northern Province, His Excellency the President got more hon. Members of Parliament than any other party.

Mr Sichilima: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: We are, therefore, grateful to the people of Northern Province for giving us so many seats in Northern Province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Kokolapo apo!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, while I congratulate His Excellency the President and the MMD, I want to congratulate some hon. Members of Parliament who have been in this House for a long time. I notice my National Secretary, who is not in the House, as one of the longest serving hon. Members of Parliament elected by the people. Those are the ones I am talking about. The National Secretary is one and my hon. Colleague across the Floor, Dr Machungwa, has been here longer than most of us. He has been elected three times and I congratulate him for that.

Dr Machungwa: Four times!

Mr Tetamashimba: That is what I mean. You have been elected more than any other person apart from the National Secretary. Of course, I come next.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: I have been coming here through elections and I have won four times, like yourself, although I have only been here for three terms. I must congratulate myself, thank you very much.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, I want to say something about politics. Obviously, my Minister will ably touch the issue of roads in Zambia. I was on one of his roads in the Eastern Province where everybody was excited.

Madam Speaker, this country should continue recognising China as one country.
Mr Sichilima: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, this country should never allow any political leader to divide China by trying to recognise a province within China like was the case before the elections where some candidates, including presidential candidates, talked about Taiwan being a separate State from China. We condemn that and are not going to allow it as Zambian people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, even in Zambia, all the provinces must remain as part of one Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Even North-Western Province, which is the richest province now, should never want to be out of Zambia. Therefore, no outsider in any country should want that province because it is rich to be taken away from Zambia. Therefore, we condemn any person who, in future, wants to divide China. I know that the people who wanted to do this wanted to do it in 1991 and got funding. They then tried to do it again, in 2006. We condemn people who want to divide China.

Madam Speaker, I am very grateful to His Excellency the President for going to China last week. What has come out is what we did not expect. While political parties wanted to be funded, the Chinese have forgiven us our debt.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: US $211!

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, US $211 million debt for the Tazara Railway Line was written off. The railway line runs from Mpika to Kasama and Tanzania. Unfortunately, the beneficiaries of that railway line are the same people who wanted to divide China.

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, the Chinese have decided that since Zambia has failed to construct a modern sports complex, they will assist us. The Dag Hammerskjoeld Stadium was razed by the UNIP Government when Hon. Hachipuka was Minister of Sport, if I am not mistaken.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: I mean when Hon. Hapunda was Minister of Sport. I am sorry about that.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, the Chinese have come to our assistance us because Zambia is near South Africa. The other thing is that we need a good stadium from which we may benefit. They have come to our aid and we are grateful to the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development for having identified Ndola and the Copperbelt. I thing it is a good decision that the hon. Minister has made. Again, we are benefiting as a country and not a political party. We are benefiting as a country and that is what is important.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the Constitution, I have heard some of my colleagues on your left talk about the Constitution. Even presidents of clubs are saying that they want a new Constitution or white paper.

Laughter
Mr Tetamashimba: Madam, the Zambian people have told us that they no longer want a white paper but would like to go to a constituent assembly and make the decisions themselves. Once that is done, that document will come to Parliament for us to accept it without making any changes. That is what the people want. It is, therefore, wrong for a political leader to say, ‘I would have produced a white paper.’ We are not going to produce a white paper. We are going to follow what the people have said.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Tetamashimba: The people have said that before we go to a constituent assembly, every district must elect two people to represent it at the constituent assembly. What that means is another general election. The money that is going to be spent is almost like what we would spend on a general election. For this reason, we will not agree to have ten people form a constituent assembly without following what the people want. That is why President Mwanawasa was elected. When you wanted to make shortcuts with regard to the constituent assembly, we stood firm and said we would follow what the people wanted and the people want the programme that we have in place.

Therefore, it is not correct for somebody to say that they want a Constitution now. You were saying that before the elections and even organised demonstrations to try and have the MMD punished through the vote, but the Zambians rejected you.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: They rejected you and said they wanted the programme of President Mwanawasa. Therefore, leave this programme to us. It is only the Government that has understood what the people want in terms of the constitution making programme.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: First and foremost, we are going to ensure that people are elected. If you go to page 805 of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) Report you will get what I am saying. We are not going to make shortcuts. Because of this programme, the President said that the Constitution may come as late as 2009 or 2010. We want to solve the people’s problems. This Government must be given credit.

When we were campaigning during the elections, you will recall, Madam Speaker, that our colleagues at the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) increased the price of fuel. If we were a bad Government, we would have suppressed that. However, elections are over and they are now reducing the price of fuel because the economy is picking. It is only this Government that can make the economy what it is.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: With regard to the mines you are talking about in North-Western Province, who says that the stones were not there? They were there except that the leaders did not want to help the people of North-Western Province.

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Mr Tetamashimba: They failed to field candidates in this province because they do not want us to be recognised in the manner we are being recognised by the Government of President Mwanawasa.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Lastly, …

Hon. Government Members: Continue!

Laughter
Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, I want to say two things. Firstly, I would like to thank the people of North-Western Province. When I stated that there would be no opposition in North-Western Province, many of my colleagues did not agree with me.

Interruptions

Mr Tetamashimba: I am sure they now agree that the province is a no go area for the opposition. However, I must congratulate Hon. Kakoma who is the only survivor. Our net failed to go across the Zambezi River.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: He ended up surviving because His Honour the Vice-President took a lot of relief food there. He claimed credit for that and that is why he was given the vote. We do not care about that because it would not have been the best thing for the province to throw away everybody from the last Parliament. I can state that Hon. Kakoma is definitely going to represent the people of North-Western Province well, just like the very energetic newcomers from North-Western Province will.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Tetamashimba: As a province, we are going to support the MMD Government because whilst the previous governments were telling us that the M8 was not economic, President Mwanawasa has said there is oil and gas. Therefore, it is an economic road. We have oil and fertile land.

Mr Hachipuka: What oil!

Mr Tetamashimba: I am sure Hon. Hachipuka will agree that there is more fertile land in North-Western Province than in any other province in this country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: That is part of the economic status of our province. That is why we always say that we are a rich province.

Madam, to the people of Solwezi, both Solwezi West, where I was Member of Parliament before and where I have always been voted for with a very large margin, and Solwezi Central I want to thank you very much for having shown the confidence you have in me. As a result, I am the only survivor from this province to be here for more than two terms.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Tetamashimba: Some people claimed that the MMD needed K10 billion to be defeated, but we put in less than K5 million for Hon. Kalenga to do the job. I congratulate the hon. Deputy Minister of Agriculture …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Tetamashimba: … for having defeated the big elephant of North-Western Province.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: This victory is as a result of what President Mwanawasa has put in place in our province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr Tetamashimba: I have no doubt that if the President did not take development to North-Western Province, none of these Members of Parliament on your right, Madam Speaker, would have come, including myself. Because the President took everything that we needed, …

Mrs Masebo: There was no rigging!

Mr Tetamashimba: … we are here.

There was no rigging. Some political parties are petitioning literally everybody.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: I know they cannot petition me. They are petitioning literally everybody, including the UDA.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: It is really sad. Even where they did not have candidates, they want to petition.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: Madam Speaker, before I sit down, let me say that the reconciliation mentioned by the President, as stated by Hon. Lubinda and another Member of Parliament, is genuine from our side. However, what is surprising the MMD is that when the owner of Lusaka, Senior Chieftainess Mukamambo …

Mrs Masebo: Nkomesha!

Mr Tetamashimba: … Nkomesha, decided to invite political leaders to her ceremony and the genuine political leaders attended and because they are presidents, and any president of a political party can become republican president in future, they hugged, some presidents began saying that they were planning to merge.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: It is not like that.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer! Shame!

Mr Tetamashimba: It is part of reconciliation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tetamashimba: Why should it be bad for genuine people to hug each other, but good for plunderers to discuss and find out how they can fund themselves.

Laughter

Mr Tetamashimba: We are not going to agree to that. We need reconciliation and unity. We want the president of the second biggest political party, the Patriotic Front, to discuss issues with the person who is in the number one political party. That is when we can have unity. We even wish to advise the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) not to have internal differences. I want to advise you that when you were went to the Electoral Commission of Zambia, your letter was supported by the three political parties and that grouping is strong because of the United Party for National Development (UPND). In fact, you made a mistake by not going it alone as UPND. If you had, you would have had more seats in the House. However, you thought that some people who did not even win a seat in their area would make you win.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Major Chizhyuka (Namwala): Madam Speaker, I greet you and offer my most profound congratulations to you, the Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on your unanimous election unopposed. I thank Madam Clerk and her staff for conducting an efficient and successful orientation programme for the new hon. Members of Parliament. I found it very educative and appropriate.

Madam Speaker, allow me to commend Mr Anderson Kambela Mazoka posthumously for his vision for a better Zambia for all. In the UPND, Mr Mazoka had built such a formidable institution for this country. May the living spirit of my late loving and adored President of the United Party for National Development, Mr Anderson Kambela Mazoka mwana mubotu forever rest in serene eternal peace.

Madam Speaker, in the same vein, I would like to congratulate the UDA President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, for a breath taking presidential campaign in forty-four days. The multitudes, the euphoria and, indeed, the sheer density of numbers at his rallies across the country were unprecedented in the political history of our country for a 44-year-old young and accomplished gentleman. That he came out of that election a respectable third with close to 800,000 votes is a feat too difficult to surmount. A record in the history of Zambian politics.

In my view, Hakainde Hichilema and the UDA offered a superior programme with clear strategies for the economic, social and political development of this country. It is most unfortunate that our ‘governance system’ failed to recognise merit. Congratulations president Hichilema.

Madam Speaker, I stand today on the Floor of this National Assembly of my country on Manda Hill courtesy of a landslide electoral mandate of the people of Namwala. A special thank you goes to all the four great chiefs of Namwala – Mungaila; Mukobela; Muchila and Nalubamba for adopting a non-partisan posture and for allowing their people the freedom to exercise their democratic right to sift and choose a candidate of their choice.

Madam Speaker, to all the people of Namwala, our crack team of campaigners, all members of my extended family, all owners of trucks and buses which were used in the thirty-three day campaign, business people, the Church and all other institutions, I bow to you to say thank you and to promise you that I shall, in my usual style, endeavour to equal myself to the task of representing such a humble, proud and hard working people.

Madam Speaker, on road infrastructure, in debating the speech of His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, at the Official Opening of the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly, it is quite clear in my mind that the people of Namwala are not on the development agenda of this Government.

Madam Speaker, on page 18 of His Excellency the President’s Speech, roads of priority and concern to this Government were outlined:

‘Lusaka/Chirundu; Chingola/Kasumbalesa; Mongu/Kalabo; Kasama/Luwingu; Luanshya/Kafulafuta; Mwinilunga/Jimbe; Chipata/Lundazi; Lundazi/Chama; Chipata/Mfuwe; Mansa/Chembe and Chingola/Solwezi.’

No reference, not even remotely, was made to the Choma/Namwala; and Monze/Namwala roads which have been topical for the last forty-three years.

Madam Speaker, these are important roads of immense economic potential meandering through the heart and chest of Southern Province. These roads are critical to market access and, therefore, development for the people of Namwala and Southern Province as a whole. Thousands of tonnes of beef, maize, fish and high quality cotton are transported on these roads on a daily basis. However, I am not really surprised by the attitude of the Third Republican President Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. He is just fulfilling a legacy of his predecessors.

Interruptions

Major Chizhyuka: Madam Speaker, the Second Republican President, Mr Fredrick Titus Jacob Chiluba, ruled for ten years with an electoral mandate from Southern Province higher than anywhere else in the country. We gave everything it took to give a republican president including a 100 per cent parliamentary representation for the MMD. To Mr Chiluba, that landslide electoral mandate was too insignificant that he had to tar only 80 kilometers of the total 235 kilometers.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the First Republican President, Dr Kenneth David Kaunda ruled this country for twenty-seven years. We gave President Kaunda a peace dossier through the 1973 Accord at Choma. We embraced his leadership and gave him our support. The Choma/Monze/Namwala roads were never priority agenda items for the entire twenty-seven years the former head of State ruled this country.

Madam Speaker, how can a people ever continue to stand in perpetuity between a hard surface and a rock? How do we now, as a people, decipher this puzzle where all solutions are spurious?

Madam Speaker, the contribution of the people of Namwala and Southern Province to the Independence of this country is well documented and, therefore, well known. The Monze and Choma/Namwala roads are a set of worthy priority investment for any Zambian Government which is staffed with men and women who have a sense of history, value and gratitude. The people of Namwala do not owe any Government anything. Not even a thank you. However, on the basis of the equalisation principle, subsequent governments of Zambia should have had a duty to treat the people of Namwala and Southern Province fairly and kindly.

Madam Speaker, apart from this major trunk road several feeder roads in Namwala have never been graded by Government in the last forty years. The Muchila areas of Ndema, Moobola, Namakube and Itapa compete only with Chief Chikanta’s area in Kalomo as the highest producers of maize and cotton in the entire province. This assertion means invariably that the Muchila areas of Namwala exist at the very top of Zambia’s most productive agricultural areas. Dunavant collects some of the finest cotton for the foreign market from Muchila areas of Namwala.

Madam Speaker, the people of Muchila area in Namwala are not lazy. They love to work. They do not like to beg. They are proud people. Their poverty is linked directly to the poor road infrastructure orchestrated by this insensitive Government. Come rainy season, the people of Muchila will be cut off from civilisation and from access to markets for their produce until May or June next year. This area I am talking about is less than 300Km from Lusaka.

Madam Speaker, this neglected, dilapidated and forgotten Muchila area of Namwalais now swimming in social degradation, squalor, misery and disease, together with the rest of Bweengwa, Ithezi-Thezi and even some of the areas in Southern Province from which our people sacrificed their own personal family assets and contributed thousands of cattle for the benefit of the freedom struggle and independence of this country, Zambia.

Madam Speaker, President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, has, in this newly won last five year term of office, a rare historical opportunity to break this obnoxious legacy of ingratitude, indifference and insensitivity of past heads of state …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Major Chizyuka: … to the plight of the people of Southern Province by upgrading the priority placed on the Monze/Namwala, Choma/Namwala and Bottom roads by putting high density tarmac due to the heavy duty high tonnage trucks carrying agricultural produce and beef to the line of rail.

Land

Madam Speaker, land is an issue that is close to my chest as you may know. Land is what defines us as Zambians. It is our land which gives us the identity as Zambians. Both the living and dead share a common ownership of land. It gives life to the living and guarantees safety and security to the dead in its bowels. Over land there is little to compromise or negotiate.

Madam Speaker, I am on record as a free citizen of Zambia, as having clearly stated that the land in Shiwang’andu should be left to the indigenous people there. I am on record as having clearly stated that the land in the Kafue Flats, where our indigenous people have for centauries lived and grazed their cattle, should be left under their custody. Foreign companies and, indeed, foreigners masquerading as investors conservationists, redemptionists and so on should be told in clear terms that the land lying astride Kafue Flats, as beautiful as it appears, is land of milk and honey, yes, for the exclusive use of the indigenous people. It is not available to foreigners.

The land on the Nyika Plateau is for the Nyika people and the indigenous Lamba people in Mpongwe should be left alone by those investors who own countries of hectares.

Laughter

Major Chizhyuka: Madam Speaker, the benevolence of the almighty God our creator, and creator of Heaven and earth …

Mr Sichilima: Amen.

Major Chizhyuka: … has reached its upper infinite limit and there shall be no more land that God will ever create for Zambia and mankind.

Madam Speaker, I welcome the limiting of land in customary areas to 250 hectares, but I want to remind this Government that the reason the struggle for the independence of Zambia was so intense in Southern Province was primarily a land issue.

Madam Speaker, in 1926 Chief Mwanachingwala complained of the land pressure in Mazabuka and Southern Province. Agitation for land continued through out the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s culminating in the appointment by President Kaunda of the Sakala Commission of Enquiry into land matters in the Southern Province on 13th October, 1980. The Commission of Enquiry was in response to representation for more land by the people of Bweengwa at Chief Chongo’s palace on the 1st November, 1979.

Madam Speaker, the current population of Mazabuka at 203,219 is ten times the population of Mazabuka in 1926 when Chief Mwanachingwala the Second complained of land pressure to the colonial administration. The current population of Southern Province at 1,212,124 is probably twenty times the population in the 1920s. Internal displacement is getting more and more painful by the day. Hanjalika’s people deposited in the hills at Kankola see the sun setting at 1600 hours.

Mr Muntanga: Shame!

Major Chizhyuka: Poverty for our people is assured.

Interruptions

Major Chizhyuka: Madam Speaker, South Africa is on a programme of giving back land to Africans on a willing buyer willing seller basis. Namibia too is on a similar fast track footing to give land back to black people. In Angola, no foreigner is allowed to own land except in joint venture partnerships with indigenous Angolans. These countries I have mentioned are all countries that have passed through a period of liberation war. They, therefore, have a deeper appreciation of the value of land than Zambia.
Madam Speaker, I have said that the land pressure issue in Southern Province is a simmering time bomb. I can see causes of unrest manifest themselves on the horizon. This house which was placed on Manda Hill by the collective wisdom of the people of Zambia in 1964 has the people’s mandate, today, to make laws which will protect and return more and more land to the indigenous people of Zambia in order to forestall the eminence of that catastrophe and return more and more land to the indigenous people of Zambia.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hanjika.

Major Chizhyuka: Economic and Social Development

Beef Cattle Development

Madam Speaker, the economic and social development of Namwala Constituency is anchored around cattle and beef cattle development. Cattle rearing is the central cultural preoccupation of the Ila people. The constituency needs more public dip tanks and extension services to reduce the prevalence of animal diseases which frustrate high productivity of beef for the domestic, regional and overseas markets.

Access to Markets

Madam Speaker, even as I debate in Parliament, today, maize worth K2.1 billion from the 2005/06 season has not been purchased by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). This sad state of affairs has adversely affected the procurement of inputs such as seed, fertilisers and implements for the 2006/07 season. We need an approved access to markets for all surplus agricultural products in the constituency.

Casualisation of Labour

Madam Speaker, Chapter 268 of the Laws of Zambia clearly defines casual employ as any employ the terms of whose employment provide for his payment at the end of each day and who is engaged for a period of not more than six months.

Madam Speaker, the Zambian situation provides very strange phenomenon. Most employees working for private companies neither receive their payment at the end of each day, as approved by the law, nor do they work for a period of six month. They often receive their slave salaries at the end of the month and are engaged in employment beyond the period that the law provides. The companies that fragrantly flout our laws are not only Lebanese or Chinese. They include foreign countries with which Zambia has signed protocols under regional groupings such as the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Madam Speaker, the cry of the Zambian worker has been very loud. That cry has gone on for far too long. The tears in his face have dried. Pain, anguish and servitude are written in black all over his face. The weak labour movement has bemoaned the cry of the worker. Parliamentarians have echoed the cry on the Floor of this House for the President to hear.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hammer

Major Chizhyuka: Madam Speaker, at page 38 of his speech the President, like the worker, the unionist and the Parliamentarians has also bemoaned the rampant violation and transgression of the workers’ rights.

Madam Speaker, the Republican President is the fountain of arbitration in this country. If he too is going to cry ...

Laughter

Major Chizhyuka: … about the plight of the worker, then what is in store for our country, if I may ask.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.
Major Chizhyuka: If the elected President of the Republic of Zambia will not stand up to save the worker, then who will save us. Madam Speaker, there is absolutely no need of setting up another stakeholders committee because there are sufficient laws with which to address casualisation. Why is there so much timidity to enforce these labour laws? Where is the problem in reading the Riot Act to Lamise and showing him the exit door? This is our country and those workers are the country and Zambians.

Madam, in conclusion, having dealt with the issue of roads, particularly, in Southern Province, I hope that hon. Members like Mr Mwaanga, who have been in power since 1964, will leave a legacy of a tarmac road in Southern Province when he goes to Macha, instead of giving tarmac roads to other people. At least, for once.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Major Chizhyuka: I thank you, Madam.

Mr Misapa (Mporokoso): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to deliver my second maiden speech in the good year, 2006.

Madam Speaker, let me add my voice to all the hon. Members of Parliament who have spoken before me by offering my congratulations on your election to the Office of Deputy Speaker. Likewise, I also congratulate the Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on their election to the presiding bench. I wish you all every success, as you preside over the business of this House.

In the same vein, I also extend my congratulations to all hon. Members of Parliament for being elected or nominated in order to work for the people of Zambia.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: Madam Speaker, I also want to offer my congratulations to His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, on his re-election to the Office of President of the Republic of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: His re-election is a clear demonstration of the confidence that the people of Zambia have in his leadership.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: Madam, I would be failing in my duties if I did not thank the people of Mporokoso Constituency for re-electing me on the MMD ticket to continue representing them in this House. I pledge to work with all the people of Mporokoso in seeking solutions to some of their problems in the coming five years.

Madam Speaker, allow me to commend the President for delivering to this House an inspiring speech. The President mentioned some of the achievements of the New Deal Administration in the last five years and also made proposals on the way forward. These achievements did not come by accident, but by prudent planning, management and determination. The President and his New Deal Government, indeed, have done a commendable job, hence, the retention of MMD into Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: Madam Speaker, against this success story, there are still areas of concern that I am going to highlight.

Education

Madam, education is a prerequisite to development. Without a proper education foundation, it will not be possible to develop our country. The President, in his speech, stated that the Government was committed to the provision of quality education services. This can only be achieved by paying attention to the problems currently faced by our education sector.

Mr D Mwila: Nomusebo Mudala!

Mr Misapa: Madam Speaker, one of the problems facing boarding schools is unavailability of food. To meet the cost of food, boarding schools have been charging high boarding fees, resulting in some of our children stopping school on account of the fees. To alleviate this problem, I am of the view that schools should be engaged in farming and the production unit as was the case before. District Councils should provide enough land in schools for production unit activities.

Mr D. Mwila: Bebe mudala!

Mr Misapa: The schools can join co-operatives to have access to subsidised inputs such as seed and fertiliser, and grow enough food, especially maize, rice and vegetables to meet their own consumption needs. Our schools can also venture into poultry farming, which is relatively easy, in order to have a source of proteins. This will greatly reduce on the cost of boarding fees which most people in rural areas cannot afford.

Mr D. Mwila: Hammer!

Mr Misapa: Madam Speaker, the revamping of production units in schools, especially in rural areas, will result not only in schools becoming self-sufficient, but will also enable pupils acquire practical knowledge in food production which they can use for income generation later in life when they leave school.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: Madam, I would like to urge the hon. Minister of Education to seriously look into this matter.

Health

Madam Speaker, I believe that the majority of Zambians are happy that the MMD Government scrapped medical user fees in rural areas. In saying so, I wish to urge the Government not to relent, but to continue paying attention to the people’s needs.

Madam, the health facilities in Mporokoso need uplifting. The hospital is under-staffed, hence, we need more doctors, nurses and paramedics. In addition, we need ambulances to ferry the patients either to Mporokoso District Hospital or Kasama General Hospital.

Madam Speaker, in the next five years, we are looking at a situation where each ward will have a rural health centre and outreach health posts for big villages in order to lessen distances people walk to health facilities.

Road Infrastructure

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mwila: Mporokoso Road!

Mr Misapa: Madam, the road infrastructure in the district is bad, especially the road from Mporokoso to Kasama.

Mr D Mwila: Hammer!

Mr Misapa: This road needs to be tarred and this has always been the cry of the people in Mporokoso District …

Mr D Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: … since this is the road that connects the districts to the provincial headquarters, Kasama.

Madam, at the moment, this road is being graded. The people of Mporokoso are very grateful to the Government for this gesture. However, this is a short term solution to the problem. What we need is an all-weather tarred road.

In this regard, I wish to appeal to the Government to include the tarring of the Kasama/Mporokoso Road in the 2007 Budget.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: Water

Madam Speaker, water supply is another big issue in Mporokoso. The water system is so poor that even the privileged few who use piped water do not receive it constantly. This leaves people vulnerable to all sorts of diseases. People in villages that are near the boma, including those within the township and pupils at Mporokoso High School, do have water problem. There is need for Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company to work with the council and improve water reticulation. They should also extend piped water to villages that are within the boma.

At Mporokoso High School, pupils and teachers spend most of the time drawing water from Shili Stream which is about 1.5 kilometres from the school, thereby exposing pupils and teachers to all sorts of diseases and also taking away valuable time for studies.

Hon. PF Member: Shame.

Mr Misapa: Outside the township, villages need boreholes, hence, a request is being made to the ministry concerned to continue assisting the district with the provision of clean water.

Tourism

Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of this House that Mporokoso District has many natural tourism features, such as, Lumangwe and Kabweluma water falls and historical sites, such as, Kashinda Mission and many others. We also have the advantage of being near the Nsumbu National Park and Kasaba Bay in Kaputa District. In spite of this potential, the district has no tourism business activities in place. This is mainly due to the poor road infrastructure I earlier alluded to.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Misapa: My humble request is that the ministry responsible should take up this challenge so that Mporokoso District could also be considered as a tourist destination and generate income to benefit not only the people of Mporokoso, but the nation as a whole.

Agriculture

Madam Speaker, allow me to commend the New Deal Government on the good agricultural policy of revamping the co-operative movement. This move has encouraged a lot of Zambians to venture seriously into agriculture through co-operatives. The people of Mporokoso have appreciated the Government’s support through subsidised inputs and are working with the Government of the day in terms of developing the agricultural sector. I commend Government for increasing the subsidy from 50 to 60 per cent as announced by His Excellency the President in his speech to this House. This gesture will no doubt result into increased food production in the coming farming season.

I wish to mention that Mporokoso District is blessed with abundant rainfall, perennial rivers and streams and with plains and dambos. The district can do well in terms of plantation crops, such as, coffee, tea, sugar cane and bananas. Animal rearing as well as fish farming can also be done on a large scale. In this regard, I am of the view that we should now start thinking about crop diversification. With specific reference to Mporokoso, I wish to call upon the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives to assist our farming community venture into cultivation of new crops apart from maize which we traditionally grow. Preparations can begin now for the next farming season for farmers to start growing rice, sugar cane and bananas in plains and dambos. I also request any local or foreign investor to come and invest in sugar cane growing and production of sugar. The local farmers could, in the long run, become out grower scheme farmers. Other areas of diversification include:

Cattle Keeping

The small-scale farmers in Mporokoso District need loans for cattle. It would be better for some farmers to be encouraged to have dairy co-operatives. This could be done on a pilot basis.

Fish Farming

The number of fish in lakes and rivers has reduced. This is an indicator that soon fish will not be enough at the markets. Therefore, we need to encourage the local farmers and the youths to venture into fish farming.

Coffee Growing

Coffee does fine in Mporokoso District. People need to be educated on how to grow it since it is a good source of income. Zambian coffee is said to be of high quality on the international market.

Tree Planting

Communities in Mporokoso Constituency have to be trained by the Forestry Department on how to grow plants for timber and fuel. Growing pines and eucalyptus would be ideal.

Energy

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President, in his address to this House, expressed the Government’s commitment to pay attention to the energy sector. The President further warned that there was a power deficit looming by the year 2008. In this regard, I want to inform this House and, through this House, the nation that in Mporokoso there is a young man who knows how to make real turbines and produce hydro-electric power. He is Charles Mumba. He has managed to produce about 370kw power. This person needs private individuals, the Government or companies to sponsor him so that he can provide high voltage to the district. This would speed up rural electrification. He can make many turbines. One can be at Lumangwe Falls to enable the communities in Lumangwe Ward have hydro-electric power. The second one can be at Lupupa Falls to supply hydro-electric power to people in Chisha Mwamba and Njalamimba villages. The third one could be at Mumbuluma Falls and supply power to people in Mumbuluma, Chikulu and Chimpolonge wards. The fourth is already made at Kapumo Falls which is 4 kilometres from Mporokoso Post Office. This is the one which produces about 370kw power. This can just be amplified to start producing more kilowatts and supply hydro-power to Kapumo, Mukanga, Timothy, Mulangwa, Mulama and Mutamba villages.

Investment Potential

Madam Speaker, allow me to appeal to investors, both local and foreign, to come to Mporokoso and invest in areas, such as mining. We have minerals, such as, copper and iron.

Finally, Madam Speaker, allow me, once again, to thank you for allowing me to deliver my maiden speech. May the almighty God bless us all as we actively shape the future of this great nation.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development (Mr Sichilima): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

It is a great honour and privilege to address this august House and contribute to the motion of thanks to the presidential speech made by His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, during the ceremonial state opening of the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly.

Madam Speaker, I want to add the voice of Mbala to those that have spoken before me in congratulating the Speaker, you and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on being elected to those serious positions. I am a beneficiary of the good leadership of the Speaker. He has helped me develop into a good speaker, very mature minister and quiet Member of this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Madam Speaker, I want to thank my party, through his Excellency, the President, the MMD and the people of Mbala for giving me a second chance. I want to put it on record that, for a long time now, I am almost the first one to retain a seat in Mbala Central.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: This shows the confidence the people of Mbala and the general public have in the MMD leadership.

Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon. Members of Parliament that have been elected to this House, especially from the MMD and, indeed, hon. Members on your left, especially those who came carrying MMD cards in their pockets and joined other parties that have no cards. I congratulate them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Madam Speaker, I want to put it on record that the MMD is controlling Northern Province and I am privileged to be the Vice-Chair. We are in control.

Madam Speaker, allow me to say a few words to correct some misinformation that we have received from those that have spoken before, especially the former trade unionists who have found themselves in this House. With regard to the mines, I want to remind them that mining is not a simple business to venture into.

Some of them, as we sit here, are running businesses as scrap metal dealers. These people have contributed to the stripping of some of the essential machinery in the mining towns ...

Interruptions

Mr Sichilima: … namely, Luanshya and Chingola.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Kambwili!

Mr Sichilima: Madam Speaker, I must put it on record that I have worked in all the divisions, including Maamba and Nampundwe. The mines had pump stations. It is true that we had some technical faults that resulted in some mines flooding. However, the former miners, for example, those that were fired, some of whom are here, could have taken advantage of the situation by forming companies to pump out the water instead of it being wasted. They could then have sold the water to the local authority. One such example is Luanshya. The Makoma Dam in Luanshya is not a river. A pump station was designed to pump water from underground into that dam, hence, creating a canal flowing into as far as the Kafue River.

Therefore, they could have taken advantage of that opportunity which would have been one way of creating employment for the Zambian people.

Madam Speaker, I want to commend the MMD Government, through the former and current Local Government and Housing ministers and the able leadership of our President, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for finding money to pay the miners and, indeed, the local authority officers that were retrenched.

It was this Government that took the initiative to pay our brothers and sisters in Luanshya, which is a commendable job.

Interruptions

Mr Sichilima: Madam Speaker, I would like to share with the House some of the achievements that have been made in the energy sector in the recent past. The hon. Members may recall that the energy sector, particularly the Petroleum sub-sector, underwent …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.

Mr Sichilima: Before business was suspended, I was reminding my hon. Colleagues what this Government has done in one sector, particularly the petroleum sub-sector, which underwent turbulent times in the recent past.

Mr Speaker, I wish my colleagues were here because what I am doing is to simply respond to some of the issues they raised, especially in this sector.

These difficulties had a positive side to them in that they opened our eyes to the fact that energy is a strategic resource in our development agenda without which we cannot achieve anything.

My ministry has, therefore, been working tirelessly to ensure that the delivery of all forms of energy services is not only maintained, but improved. In regard to this, my ministry has implemented various programmes aimed at achieving the said goals in the energy sector.

Mr Speaker, allow me now to zero in on the achievements that have been made in the various sub-sectors:

Petroleum Sub-sector

Indeni Petroleum Refinery underwent a planned refinery shut down to allow for routine maintenance and rehabilitation works. It is common practice for refineries to go on planned maintenance shut downs in order to ensure sustainability of refinery operations.

The initial plan for the shut down of the refinery was in August 2006 for a period of two months. The works that were supposed to be carried out included the replacement of the instrumentation, pipes and equipment and regeneration of the catalyst. These works were going to cost U$65 million.

However, due to the delays on the engineering assessment for the instrumentation, the shutdown was rescheduled to early September, 2006, for a period of one month. Due to the holding of the elections in late September, 2006, the shut down was postponed to 2nd October, 2006. The refinery shutdown on 2nd October, 2006 and is expected to be back on stream in the second week of November, 2006.

Sir, the initial rehabilitation works have been successfully embarked on. The works that have been done during the shut down include the regeneration of the catalyst and replacement of pipe work and equipment. The next step in the rehabilitation will include the replacement of the instrumentation, shut down and control system, which is an emergency shut down scheduled for April and May, 2007.

Mitigation Measures for the Refinery Shutdown

Mr Speaker, the shutdown of Indeni Refinery usually results in shortages of fuel and consequently disruption of economic activities. My ministry, therefore, paid particular attention to the proper planning of the shut down during this year to ensure that the fuel shortages that were experienced last year did not happen again.

As a mitigation measure for the refinery shut down period, my ministry through the Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB), invited all registered Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) to tender for the supply of finished petroleum products during the shutdown period. The tender for supply of petroleum products was issued to cover a period of five months in order to mitigate possibilities of the refinery not coming back on stream after the shutdown period. The tender was closed on Friday, June 23rd, 2006. Seven companies submitted bids for the supply of petroleum products.

Mr Speaker, I am saying this to show how transparent this Government is. After the evaluation of bids in July, 2006, BP was awarded a contract to supply petroleum products on the Zambian market. BP has been given a firm order to supply 100 per cent of the market for the months of September and October, 2006 and 50 per cent of the market in November, 2006. BP commenced the supply to the Zambian market in the week starting 25th September, 2006. The market has had adequate supply of petroleum products during the shut down period due to the mitigation measures that were put in place by the Government. We are even enjoying a reduction of fuel costs now.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Just for a short time!

Mr Sichilima: Biofuels

Mr Speaker, in an effort to improve energy security and the lives of the general populace, especially farmers in our country, my ministry has embarked on a programme to promote the production and use of biofuels as a transport and domestic fuel. The ministry has, therefore, in this regard, managed to achieve the following:

(a) development of draft biofuels implementation strategy for Zambia;

(b) development of a draft framework of the biofuel industry; and

(c) a national consultative workshop was held in Lusaka on 17th and 18th August to discuss the above mentioned documents. The stakeholders’ views have been incorporated in the draft document.

Sir, my ministry managed to bring all the players in the biofuel industry together so that an agreement could be reached on the issues that are required to enable the industry strive. It is anticipated that the strategy for the development of biofuels will be put in place before the end of the year.

Renewable Energy

Mr Speaker, in order to uplift the living standards of our chiefs and the learning environment of students in the rural areas, my ministry has managed to electrify 184 chief’s palaces and thirty-four schools in all the provinces of Zambia using solar energy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Sir, to improve the sustainability of this programme, the ministry has come up with a solar user manual. This will be distributed to all the chiefs and schools where the installations have been made. I also want to mention that the other programme is being done by the Ministry of Education. They have also programmed that new schools should have solar system. When you look at the thirty-four schools, you will find that they are not the only ones. I think our colleagues in the Ministry of Education will be able to give us the correct number. I want to mention that the manuals will be distributed to all schools that will be fitted with solar panels.

Development of Power Systems

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Mporokoso should take note that we are aware of our young man, Mr Mumba, who is working on a turbine. I want to tell the hon. Members of Parliament that this is not the only area. In our constituencies, there are intelligent young men and women who come up with such projects.  These people need to be supported by getting correct information from our ministry and seeing how we can help them incorporate it. Some of the information could be quite useful. I think Hon. Muntanga, as a farmer, will agree with me because he needs such turbines installed at his farm.

Sir, the electricity sector is the backbone of our industries based in Zambia. As you already know, the mining and construction sectors are currently booming. This has put a lot of strain on the current generation capacity. The ministry has, therefore, embarked on various projects aimed at increasing the generation capacity in our country. The following are the major projects that are being worked on. The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) is currently negotiating with a private investor on the development of a 120 Mega Watts power plant at Itezhi-tezhi.  The hon. Member who was talking about the indigenous Namwala Area must take interest so that he gets the correct information.

Mr Speaker, the ministry shortlisted two developers who are interested in developing a 163 Mega Watts power plant at Kalungwishi. The ministry is negotiating with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank as a transaction adviser for development of a 750 Mega Watt power plant at Kafue Gorge lower.

Mr Speaker, I want most of our new hon. Members, especially my colleagues from Eastern Province, to know that the current Kafue Gorge is the one running. The one that we are talking about is Kafue Gorge Lower. There are some investors who are interested investors in coming to boost the current production there.

Sir, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with a private company to extend the Kariba North Bank by 360 Mega Watts and the Kafue Gorge Power Station is being upgraded from 900 to 990 Mega Watts. Due to time, I will invite hon. Members of Parliament to come to our offices to get some of this information because it is quite important.

Rural Electrification

Mr Speaker, the importance of electrifying our rural areas cannot be over emphasised. The electrification levels in rural areas are still very low with only about 2 per cent of the population having access to electricity. The ministry, through the Rural Electrification Authority, is working hard to increase the access rate in rural areas. This year alone, we have managed to connect some areas and these are as follows:

Central Province

Muzamane Basic School

Copperbelt Province

 Lubendo Basic School
 
Kankoyo Township

Chibolya Township

Eastern Province

Mphamba Basic School in Lundazi

Southern Province

Mwanachingwala’s Palace

A school and health centre in Mazabuka District

Western Province

The connection of Kaoma District to the national grid was commissioned in September, 2006.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Mr Speaker, in addition to the above mentioned projects, there are several on-going rural electrification projects throughout the country.

Mr Speaker, the current National Energy Policy which was promulgated in 1994 has achieved several objectives for which it was developed. Since the development of this policy, a number of changes and issues have emerged which cannot be dealt with using the 1994 Energy Policy. The Ministry has, therefore, come up with a draft National Energy Policy which, again, I invite hon. Members of Parliament to pick, read and contribute to where necessary.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, with the various programmes that the ministry is implementing, I am confident that the energy sector is not only headed in the right direction, but that it will also contribute much more positively to the economic development of our country

Mr Speaker, therefore, allow me to say hon. Members, especially the new ones that have come in from our colleagues that had a ninety day formula, some of these have been achieved. However, we do not know where they are going to begin from because the current Budget is what we approved in this House and what we are talking about is from the Budget that we discussed in this august House. Therefore, the ninety days falls within what the MMD Government is actually implementing.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Mr Speaker, so far, none of them has come even to our ministry to tell us what they could have done in that ninety days. When they come to knock, they find that we have done some things within thirty days.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichilima: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

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

Dr Katema (Chingola): Mr Speaker, allow me to congratulate the Speaker of this House, the Deputy Speaker and you, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House, for your election to this House.

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

 Use the microphone. I cannot hear.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank the President of the Patriotic Front, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, …

Hon PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: … for affording me this opportunity to stand on the ticket of the Patriotic Front.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the people of Chingola Constituency for the trust that they have put in me by electing me as their Member of Parliament. I also thank them for having voted my President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, as their President.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, this is evidence enough that the people of Chingola Constituency and Chingola District as a whole had seen that the Patriotic Front, with its action-oriented leadership, would help them achieve their aspirations.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, the people of Chingola in the urban, peri-urban and rural areas were smart and quick enough to realise that no matter how big their harvest could be, with the heavily taxed and poorly paid miners and civil servants, they would be stuck with their produce.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Hammer! Tell them!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, the people of Chingola and of Zambia listened to this uninspiring speech by the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, on the opening of this session of Parliament. Thanks for having given Parliament to the people. The people of Chingola heard and were filled with despair and felt helpless.

Mr Speaker, it is in this august House that the Head of the Executive who is the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, said:
‘He had been pleading in vain with the foreign investors to abide by our labour laws.’

Hon. PF Members: Shame!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, I stand to be corrected because I know that in a democratic sovereign State, Parliament enacts laws and the Executive, seated on your right, has to ensure compliance and does not plead with the erring companies or individuals.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, right now, the people of Chingola have had no water for four days.

Hon. PF Members: Shame!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, the whole Kafue River has been polluted by one of the investors, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), and this is not the first time this has happened.

Hon. PF Members: By the MMD!

Mr Kambwili: Hon. Shikapwasha, call the police.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Members are allowed to consult quietly, but those loud running commentaries are not allowed because they disturb the person debating and the Chair wants to listen.

Can the debater continue.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, the people are asking whether they have to wait until the Executive and the Head of State go and plead with the investor before they can drink their water.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, this is a scandal. We move that the Executive go to Chingola, this time, not to plead, but to ensure compliance with the Laws of Zambia. Looking into the matter, as KCM says it is doing, is not enough. This paradox can only be seen in a compromised State. A compromised State which pays slave wages to its employees and employs its citizens on casual basis has deprived itself of its moral right to demand for compliance with labour laws from others.

Mr Kambwili: Hammer!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, it is not news that, right now, a lot of Government employees are not confirmed. They are still casuals. Some are confirmed post humorously.

Hon. PF Members: Shame!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, you will be surprised that in the Central Statistical Office, which is a department in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, apart from the directors, senior statistical officers and statistical officers, all the clerks who collect the data which we analyse here are still casuals. Some of them have even worked for twenty or thirty years.

Hon. PF Members: Shame!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, Chingola Constituency is one area in Zambia which is experiencing urban to rural drift instead of the usual trend of rural to urban drift. This is mainly due to the scarcity of formal employment. The main economic activity is trading and small-scale farming. 
In October, the urban population of Chingola Constituency was robbed of their means of livelihood when a fire gutted Chiwempala Market, the biggest market in town.

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to ask the Office of the Vice-President to deal with this disaster like it deals with all disasters throughout the nation, through its Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit. We are not asking for relief food, but for you to build a modern permanent structure because trading is one of our main sources of income. We request the Office of the Vice-President to act as quickly as it does when floods or drought wipe away the crops in other areas. This is one of our major sources of income.

Hon. PF Member: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: On water and sanitation, I wish to say that diarrhoeal diseases have graduated to number three on the list of the top ten diseases in Chingola. This was not the case before.

Mr Kambwili: That is a doctor speaking!

Dr Katema: Allow me to explain the cardinal cause of this shift, Mr Speaker.

Chiwempala, Chabanyama and other surrounding urban areas, together with their police camps, were built with inbuilt toilets and bathing facilities. With the blockage of pipes which bring water to the households, the people petitioned Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company. However, the company said it had no money to buy and replace the pipes. Instead, people were being asked to buy water in cans from water kiosks run by this company.

Mr D. Mwila: Shame!

Dr Katema: This de-urbanisation of the urban areas is dehumanising.

These are areas which are not unplanned settlements, but planned settlements that are meant to have an inbuilt water supply. To ask them to draw water for cleaning toilets is unheard off. Hence, the shift of diarrhoeal diseases to number three on the list of ten.

Sir, if Sir Roy Welensky was resurrected today and saw what is happening, …

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Dr Katema: … he would think it was a mistake to have given indigenous Zambians homes with such facilities.

Hon. PF Members: Hammer! Shame!

Interruptions

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, since the water utility companies were instituted by an Act of Parliament, let money be sourced to capitalise them. For example, Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company should be recapitalised so that it can rehabilitate the water system, instead of asking already over taxed people to fund this job.

Chingola Constituency has 24,499 people living in peri-urban and rural areas against 70,625 who in urban areas. This is close to half. When it comes to selecting districts to be considered for sinking boreholes, Chingola being a municipality is left out, and yet half of its population is in need of such a facility.

Mr Speaker, my request is that during our deliberations in this House, Chingola Constituency must be considered as partially rural and urban. Therefore, whatever is being given to the rural districts should also be given to Chingola District.
On education, Sir, in my earlier remarks, I indicated that there is urban and rural drift by the population. I wish to request the hon. Minister of Education, through you, Mr Speaker, to upgrade the basic schools that are in the peri-urban and rural areas, such as, Mutenda and Muchushi bordering Solwezi, because the nearest secondary school from these farming blocks is close to eighty-five kilometres away.

On health, I wish to inform this House that we have a rural health centre at Mutenda constructed with the help of ZAMSIF four years ago which is not yet operational.

Mr D. Mwila: Shame!

Dr Katema: Another one at Ipafu was built by the community with help from the Catholic Diocese of Ndola. This also has not been opened for the last five years. This is because there is no staff to run it. When we asked the Government to give us personnel, we were told to wait until the country reached the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) completion point. After attaining the HIPC completion point, we submitted the request, but, to date, it is collecting dust at the Ministry of Health.

Mr Kambwili: Shame!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, for this reason, I wish to appeal to the hon. Minister of Health to employ and dispatch health workers to these health centres. Not only employ and dispatch them, but also retain them.

Laughter

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, with your guidance, we shall soon present a question for answer to the Hon. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Mulongoti) who, in his maiden speech, said that no development would be taken to places which voted for the Opposition. Thanks for bringing Parliament to the people because some of our people from Chingola were seated and listened to how the Hon. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs deliberated.

Interruptions

Dr Katema: I am at pains to explain to my constituents because they want to hear from the horse’s mouth if this is Government policy. They saw with their own eyes how the hon. Members on your right patted his back after he made that comment.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: So, I am at pains, Mr Speaker, to explain to my people. Therefore, I seek your guidance on how I am going to explain to them if this was his position or he was stating the position of somebody else.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the chance to address this august House in delivering my maiden speech.

Sir, may I join the rest of the Members of this august House in supporting the motion that was moved by the hon. Member of Parliament for Nyimba (Mr F. R. Tembo) in giving thanks to the speech delivered by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia on the Official Opening of the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, I hope His Excellency meant well when he called for national unity and appealed to all hon. Members of Parliament to adopt a non-partisan approach in dealing with issues regarding the welfare of the 11 million Zambians.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: If he meant well, may God bless him because in unity we stand and divided we fall.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: May I also congratulate him on winning the just ended tripartite elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, allow me, at this moment, to pay tribute to our late and beloved president of the (United Party for National Development) UPND, Mr Anderson Kambela Mazoka, the great son of Africa. Mr Mazoka left a legacy of national unity and good governance. He built a very strong institution of democracy in UPND and the nation at large. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Even though Mr Mazoka is dead, his vision lives and we will carry on with it as UPND. Mr Speaker, may I also congratulate the President of the UPND, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on putting up a good performance in the just ended tripartite elections. His performance is a true testimony that come 2011, he is the next President of the Republic of Zambia.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to thank the UPND and its Executive for adopting me to be their candidate in the Chikankata seat. To the Executive, I say, job well done.

Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you and the Deputy Speaker on your election to your esteemed positions. May God give you the wisdom to guide this House throughout its five-year term. Your re-election demonstrates the confidence hon. Members of Parliament have in your ability to conduct the business of the House in a firm, but fair manner. May I also thank Madam Clerk of the National Assembly for conducting the orientation programme very well. As a new Member of this House, I have learnt a lot. Keep it up and job well done.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to congratulate the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on his re-election. It is in the same vein that I wish to congratulate my fellow Members of Parliament who made it to this august House by putting up a spirited fight during the just ended tripartite elections.

Sir, I would be failing in my duties if I did not recognise and thank the people of Chinkankata who despite facing numerous problems, managed to put up a worthwhile fight to conquer the MMD and elect me as their representative to the National Assembly.

Mr Tetamashimba: You started well.

Laughter

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, I promise to serve them to the best of my ability and assure them that I shall never cross over.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: May I emphasise this, I promise to serve the people of Chikankata to the best of my ability and I shall never cross over.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: My allegiance shall always be to the people of Chikankata.
Mr Speaker, Chikankata is a rural constituency which requires a lot of attention in terms of development, therefore, I urge the Government to pay a lot of attention to the many challenges facing my constituency.

I will start with agriculture. Mr Speaker, most of the people in Chikankata depend on agriculture. Unfortunately, agriculture in Zambia is under severe stress due to the following reasons:

(a) There are no grain marketing boards established to assist farmers sell their produce and if a chance comes to sell their produce to organs like the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) it takes a long time to get their money as is the case this year. It is sad to note that as we enter the 2006/2007 farming season, most farmers countrywide have not been paid their money for the last farming season.

(b) Late delivery of farming inputs, that is, fertiliser and seed. Mr Speaker, as I am talking now, no farming inputs have been delivered to our constituency. This failure to act promptly has reduced Chikankata from the grain basket of Zambia to a food deficient constituency.

(c) Some peasant farmers fail to raise the 40 per cent required in order for them to get their fertiliser. This has resulted in reduced income for the people. This simply means that the situation is triggering the growth of poverty levels in the area. Further, because of poor policies in agriculture, treatable and preventable animal diseases have wiped out cattle in the Southern Province and other parts of Zambia. This problem is so serious that most of the people in the affected areas have resorted to using their bare hands to plant their seed instead of ox-drawn ploughs. This has resulted in food production declining by about 90 per cent. I, therefore, urge the Government to learn from neighbouring countries like Botswana which have adequately controlled livestock diseases.

The Government must also, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, consult widely from the experts so that good policies are implemented. In case the Government does not know where to go and consult, we are the experts as UPND. This is because in our policies, we mean well and we have a reservoir of qualified think tanks in the likes of Hon. Muntanga, Hon. Muyanda, Hon. Nkombo, Hon. Syakalima, Hon. Matongo, Hon. Hamududu and myself who can make this industry move to its highest level.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, in as much as we appreciate the efforts by the Government to introduce cattle restocking programmes in Southern Province, it will be a waste of time if …

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Members, let us give the hon. Member on the Floor a hearing. We are making a lot of commentaries that are disturbing the House. Can we give the hon. Member chance to debate.

Will the hon. Member continue, please.

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, in as much as we appreciate the efforts by the Government to introduce cattle restocking programmes in Southern Province, it will be a waste of time if the measures that go with the exercise are not put in place. In order for the exercise to succeed, the following measures, which are provided for by the UPND, must be done by the Government:

(i) revamp the dip tanks which are in a deplorable state;
(ii) renovate the house and offices for the veterinary officers so that the department can be reactivated in the rural areas;

(iii) increase the allocation of cattle to each village in order to reduce conflicts among the people; and

(iv) ensure that there is accountability during and after and also ensure that the poor are considered first.

Mr Speaker, on road infrastructure, the roads in my constituency are in a deplorable state. They are impassable. This has contributed to the under-development of the area. There is need for the Government to pay attention to repairing and grading the feeder roads, for example, the Chinkakata/Mazabuka Road. This road connects Chikankata to the rest of the country. During the 1994 by-elections, the road was tarred for a stretch of 10KM. This makes me very uncomfortable as a member of this constituency because it seems only when there is a by-election, does the Government think of tarring our roads. We appeal to the Government, through the Ministry of Works and Supply, to tar the remaining 20Km stretch with or without by-elections. Once again, once we tar the 20KM stretch, I am confident that the link will lead to growth in agricultural output. I further ask the Government, through Hon. Magande, a former pupil of Chikankata Secondary, to, please, consider …

Laughter

Mr Habeenzu: … this road in the Budget. Only 20KM is remaining. We need this road to be repaired or tarred so that meaningful development can reach our area. I repeat, there is only 20KM remaining, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I know health is a concern of all Zambians, both in rural and urban areas. Health ranks highest in human development. A sick and weak person is a liability to the family and the nation at large. Thus, health is an asset while ill-health is a liability. Health is key to poverty reduction and human development. As is of great concern in my constituency, there are wide spatial variations where more than 50 per cent of the sick members of the households have to walk more than 10Km to access health services. Therefore, there is need for the Government to put more health posts and clinics to reduce the walking distances for the patients. Chikankata Mission hospital is a 249 bed hospital servicing patients from all over the country.

Mr Speaker, it is really disheartening to know that the hospital, which was one of the best hospitals in Zambia, is now one of the worst hospitals in the country. The number of beds in the hospital has been reduced from 249 to 100. This is because the Government cut the grant aid to this hospital. This has further led to the closure of more than four wards, doctors leaving the hospital for greener pastures and patients paying for health facilities. This has been a very big problem because three quarters of the people in our area are poor and cannot afford hospital fees. This has led to, on many occasions, untimely death to our beloved ones who could have easily been saved had a good health policy been in place.

Mr Speaker, since 1991, so many policies on health have been formulated, but very little has been done to implement them except where it benefited a few individuals. I, therefore, urge the Government, through the new Minister of Health, to work extra hard so that the health standards in hospitals may be improved. However, the Government in its effort to improve the whole sector has shown commitment in implementing the health reforms aimed at providing quality health services to all Zambians. Mr Speaker, it sometimes pays to give credit where it belongs.

Mr Speaker, education is another eye sore in Zambia where the Government has not performed very well. Article 26 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) states that education is a human right and that elementary education, in particular, should be free and compulsory. Although Zamia is signatory to this declaration, she has failed to honour it. This has led to an increase in illiteracy levels among Zambians. This is painting a gloomy picture to future generations. The Government should, therefore, take serious measures to address issues of illiteracy. 
Mr Speaker, education provides the critical key necessary for development for any nation. It is education that will unlock the many doors that we must walk through as a nation in order to achieve our goal of sustainable development. The Government must, therefore, address the following issues in order to sort out the problem of illiteracy:

(i) Cost of Education

Many Zambians cannot afford school fees, yet some leaders send their children to expensive schools abroad at the expense of over burdened tax payers.

(ii) Insufficient and Poorly Paid Teachers

Most of the teachers are volunteering their services for salaries below the living wages.

(iii) Poor and lack of teaching materials and space

(iv) Economic Opportunity Cost

Parents have to choose between sending their children to school or engaging them in child labour for the survival of the family. Teachers, especially in rural areas, need housing empowerment like many other Zambians.

I thank you, Sir.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Ms Njapau): Mr Speaker, I rise to give a vote of thanks in appreciation of the inspiring and educative speech which His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, delivered to this House on 27th October, 2006.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: It is my sincere hope that the almighty God will continue giving him good health and wisdom to propel Zambia to greater heights.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: May I take this opportunity to join my colleagues who have spoken before me, in congratulating you on your election as Speaker of the National Assembly. Yours is not an easy task.
Apart from the challenging administrative roles you play outside this Chamber, the control of this Chamber, especially with the numbers the way they are, will prove to be a demanding task.

Hon. Government Member: Quality.

Ms Njapau: I am, however, confident that your experience as Speaker since 2002 will show forth in the performance of your duties. I wish you well in your role as Speaker.

New comers to the House like me will no doubt greatly benefit from your wise counsel and guidance.

Hon. Government Members:  Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: Mr Speaker, I also wish to congratulate the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on their election to the most respectful positions in the land. In particular, I wish to give credit to the House for electing the first woman Deputy Speaker in the history of the Zambian legislature.

Hon. Women Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: As a woman, I feel greatly humbled by the honour the House has bestowed on its national. I wish her well and I appeal to the House and to the nation at large to give the hon. Deputy Speaker all the support so that she succeeds in her endeavour to maintain this Chamber as the constructive and dignified place that it is. Once more, I offer my congratulations.

Mr Speaker, it is now my honour and privilege to pay tribute and thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for nominating me as Member of Parliament and for the subsequent appointment to the portfolio of Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: I shall, forever treasure this nomination and appointment. As an individual, I promise to execute my duties to the best of my ability.

Mr Speaker, allow me, at this moment, to congratulate His Excellency the President Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, on his re-election as President of Zambia for his second and last term of office.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: The President scored a number of successes during the first term and he will, no doubt, double his achievements during his final term. The election results clearly indicate that the people of Zambia have confidence in the President and the MMD to continue with the programmes as per our manifesto.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: Mr Speaker, let me now touch and put on record some of the achievements and highlight some future activities in the Ministry of Home Affairs. First and foremost, my ministry is mandated to maintain the internal security in Zambia so as to provide a conducive environment where peace, stability and justice prevail in order to promote sustainable development in the country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: Sir, the ministry achieves this through several departments, namely, the Zambia Police Service, Drug Enforcement Commission, Prison Service, Department of Immigration, Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship, National Archives of Zambia, Commission for Refugees, Registrar of Societies, Police Public Complaints Authority and the Research and Planning Department.

Mr Speaker, in the last four years, the ministry managed to legislate the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Prisons Amendment Act, the Passport Act and submitted a draft bill on terrorism to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General.

Sir, with regard to one of the outcries in some of our departments, which is the provision of transport, I am happy to say that the situation has greatly improved. The Zambia Police, Zambia Prison Service, Department of National Registration and several others have now been provided with reasonably adequate transport. In addition, new uniforms have also been made available to our officers in all areas of operation. In the area of accommodation, my ministry has endeavoured to acquire appropriate housing units for our gallant officers.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: Mr Speaker, in the just ended tripartite elections, the Department of National Registration played a pivotal role in the issuance of national registration cards which was a requirement for one to register as a voter. This was done through the usual offices as well as the mobile registration system.

Sir, my Government is also greatly concerned that cannabis cultivation is being done by small-scale farmers at the expense of food production. Let me inform the House that illicit drug abuse and trafficking does not only tarnish the image of our country to the outside, but also erodes the moral values of our society. The Government has strengthened and will continue to support the Drug Enforcement Commission to ensure that such illicit activities are not carried out.

The Immigration Department has continued to regulate the entry and exit from Zambia, the removal of illegal immigrants and deportation of persons inimical to the security of the country.

Mr Speaker, I am delighted that the problem of congestion in our prisons which has been a thorn in the neck is now being addressed with the completion of the Mwembeshi Maximum Prison and the rehabilitation of Kamfinsa Prison.

With regard to the issue of repatriation of refugees, particularly those from Rwanda, the Commission for Refugees is working hard to ensure that these refugees are repatriated to their country as we believe the place is now conducive for their return.

Sir, last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs put in place a workplace HIV/AIDS Policy. One of the aspects of the policy is that the ministry will launch and implement HIV/AIDS education and awareness campaigns among the employees operating in the rural areas. This will include their immediate family members. You may be aware that my ministry, particularly uniformed officers, is found in all districts, including border areas.

Mr Speaker, overall, our focus is to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to make it easier for them to carry out their mandates effectively. We intend to achieve this, for example, by passing laws that will give stiffer jail sentences to offenders of child defilement and human trafficking.

In conclusion, Sir, the people of Zambia deserve to be commended for turning up in large numbers to exercise their right to vote and giving the President and the MMD another five year term in office.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: Mr Speaker, the MMD Government, under the able and wise leadership of President Mwanawasa, managed to turn the wheels of political and economic revolution to the satisfaction of many Zambians in the last five years.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: One of the major achievements of the MMD Government under President Mwanawasa was the emphasis on politics of inclusiveness and the slogan of ‘One Zambia One Nation’ which became more pronounced in the last five years than in any other period of the MMD rule. It was a campaign of a united Zambia that made the President obtain a very good number of votes in almost all the provinces of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I wish to agree with His Excellency the President on the issue of unity. We need unity to motivate our people towards economic and social emancipation. Without unity, this country would not be where it is, particularly this time when we have oil and gas in North-Western Province, we need peace.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: The feeling that Zambians are one and equal regardless of colour and tribe is a prerequisite to our development as a nation. As a people, we should not harbour any illusions that only one province or one tribe in Zambia is designed to provide leaders for the country. Such people or leaders should never be allowed near the corridors of power because they are enemies of democracy, peace and progress.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Njapau: Finally, Mr Speaker, in my capacity as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs, I will ensure that both Zambian citizens and foreigners residing in Zambia follow the laws of this country. If some hon. Members who are here are harbouring foreigners or drug traffickers, the law will visit. As a woman, I think most hon. Members who know me personally know that I am not someone who can be easily pushed around. I will make sure that such people are brought to book.

Interruptions

Ms Njapau: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my Maiden Speech.

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

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwenzi): Mr Speaker, may I join, with joy, other hon. Members of this House in congratulating you, the Deputy Speaker and the Speaker of the House for your election to your positions. Congratulatory messages from all hon. Members of Parliament indicate how capable you and your staff are. I wish to thank the people of Zambia in general, and, in particular, the great and peculiar people of Dundumwenzi Constituency for carefully and lovingly electing and making me the first independent Member of Parliament in Southern Province.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Sir, special thanks go to the leadership of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for adopting the slogan, ‘Let the people Govern’. It is this slogan that made the people of Dundumwenzi elect me. I also wish to thank my late father, Jonathan Simaamba Sing’ombe, posthumously for leaving behind a record of hard work in Dundumwenzi on his reign as Member of Parliament.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, allow me now to debate on the motion for the official opening of the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly by His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC.

Although the just ended tripartite elections appeared peaceful, it was only so because Zambians are peace loving people.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: A number of contentious issues did occur during the election period mostly blamed on the inadequacies of the present Constitution. Certain electoral regulations require change. It is on this premise that I urge the Government to seriously give the Zambian people a new Constitution within two and half years of this Tenth National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the President lamented on the issue of casualisation in Zambia. There is something more serious than casualisation. The Zambian people are denied of employment even as general workers. Investors prefer foreigners to local people. I am happy to note, here, that the hon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs mentioned something to this effect. As a former Immigration Officer, I want to inform this House that most of these hon. Ministers do not understand the role of the Immigration Department.

Interruptions

Mr Sing’ombe: One day, whilst working for the Immigration Department at the International Airport, one of the hon. Ministers came and addressed me as a Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officer. This means that they cannot distinguish between an immigration officer and a ZRA officer. In fact, most of the resources are given to ZRA.

Mr Speaker, when Stanbic Bank was building its branch in Solwezi, they involved foreigners. I want to inform Hon. Tetamashimba that Solwezi Stanbic Branch was built by South Africans. Workers, such as, carpenters, tile fitters and plumbers all came from South Africa. All simple work was done by foreign workers.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame.

Mr Sing’ombe: How can Zambians survive when there is no employment for them? When they are employed, they are casual labourers. I wish to urge this Government to urgently enforce a law that will control this casualisation and the employment of foreigners as general workers. I am ready to assist the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mr Speaker, it is a well known fact that in Zambia, we have favourable climatic conditions and that we have reasonable rainfall of about 800 mm in my constituency. Water flows down in the fast running tracks onwards to the lakes leaving no water for both human and domesticated animals. The whole constituency is known as a dry area requiring boreholes and dams. I appeal to the Government to give Dundumwenzi, at least, 200 boreholes and twelve earth dams. This would help in our agricultural production.

Sir, part of Dundumwenzi lies in the Kafue National Game Park. A lot of development is required to improve tourism in my constituency. We have attractions like the Bbilili Hot Spring with a well stocked game population. All these cannot be developed due to bad road infrastructure. There has been talk of constructing and upgrading the Kalomo/Dundumwenzi Road to Itezhi-tezhi through the national park, but nothing has been done. Funds were released for this project and contracts signed, but no work has been done. When will we see this Government get serious about tourism development in areas with a lot of potential, such as, Dundumwenzi? I invite hon. Ministers to come and view Bbilili Hot Spring which has been abandoned because of the roads which are impassable.

Mr Speaker, I wish to draw the attention of the Government to the education infrastructure. Most of the schools have no desks. Some schools like Nakalombwe, Maila Male and Nabulangu have no classrooms. Siabunkululu, which was built in 1932, has six classrooms instead of twelve. Most of the schools in the constituency are dilapidated causing a serious danger to the pupils and staff. The whole constituency has thirty-five basic schools with no high school. There is an agreement to upgrade Kalemu Basic School into a high school, but development is taking too long to be completed. I urge this Government to hasten the completion of Kalemu Basic School into a high a school.

As regards health, Dundumwenzi Constituency has no big hospital. Kalomo and Choma hospitals are about 60 to 72 kilometres away from my constituency. The nearest hospital is Macha General Hospital which is 30 kilometres away. However, the two bridges which were connecting Dundumwenzi and Macha collapsed. My constituency has nine health centres with no single doctor in any of those. Some health centres are manned by office orderlies.

Sir, HIV/AIDS has not spared my constituency. Imagine with such pathetic health facilities for various serious cases, we have no transport to take patients to the hospital. I implore the hon. Minister to address this problem, especially in Kasukwe Ward which has no health centre.

Mr Speaker, my constituency has 6,324 households with a population of about 44,320 whose basis of survival is tilling the land. The much talked about Fertiliser Support Programme barely assists under 1000 households. I would urge the Government to increase the actual number of farmers being assisted. Marketing of our crop is a big problem in my constituency. As at 6th November, 2006, over 700 farmers had not yet been paid their dues by the FRA.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Sing’ombe: They are sleeping in the cold near a local bank waiting patiently to be paid. Some of these are poor mothers and others are very old people who cannot be subjected to such a life. I ask this Government to totally decentralise and open more marketing points in rural areas so that farmers can access them easily.

Mr Speaker, I wish to ask this Government to also consider allowing farmers in Southern Province to sell their produce to areas of their choice where they think they can get more money.

Mr Speaker, it is an undisputed fact that if you went to Chisokone Market today; you would find a lot of trucks selling Kapenta and other produce to the Democratic Republic of Congo where they think they can get good market. I also wish to ask the Government to allow us sell our maize, probably, to Zimbabwe and Botswana where we feel we can be given a better deal than the FRA.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, Kalomo District is only 120 kilometres from Livingstone where there is an international airport. Therefore, the hosting of the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa would provide our country opportunities to entice some countries to train in Zambia. It is on this premise that I ask this Government to build a stadium in Kalomo.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development should take advantage of the World Cup being held in South Africa so that Zambia can benefit.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: In conclusion, I wish to congratulate my two colleagues, Hon. Milupi and Hon. Munaile and their peculiar people for winning in spite of the many obstacles during their campaign.

May our good Lord bless our President and this House.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear

The Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Ms Lundwe): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to present my maiden speech and contribute to the motion on the Floor of the House.

Allow me, Sir, to start by congratulating you on your resounding and well-deserved election. The overwhelming support that you received from the Members in this House speaks volumes on your able leadership and wisdom.

Today, I rise with anticipation to avail myself of this tested leadership and wisdom even as I learn the ropes of being a parliamentarian. As a youthful Member of this august House, my ambition is to grow and become a formidable Member of Parliament on your right hand side.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: Mr Speaker, I wish to sincerely congratulate his Excellency, the President Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, on his re-election for a second term of office. Judging by his inaugural speech and opening address to this august House, we should be left with no doubt that he means well for this country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: Indeed, his victory in the last polls is victory for all Zambians since he has called for peace in the nation. He has called for reconciliation for all and rekindled hope in our emerging democracy which will lead to economic prosperity.

Mr Speaker, I wish to thank him further for identifying and appointing me to be one of his team players in Government. As a female Deputy Minister, I will use my position, not only to further the interest of the people of Masaiti and the nation as a whole, but also be mindful of the gender perspective that we have all been challenged to advance.

I will also work with my colleagues in Government to address the many challenges that my people are facing. As I thank the people of Masaiti for having put their hopes and aspirations in me, I must also thank our great party with emphasis, the ruling party, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), for adopting me to represent our people in Masaiti. I am sure their trust and investment in me has come to fruition by the people’s resounding deliverance of the constituency to the MMD.

Therefore, I pledge to uphold the trust of the people of Masaiti, my party, the MMD, and his Excellency the President. I will work in close consultation with all the three authorities from which I draw strength.

Mr Speaker, turning specifically to the President’s Address to this august House, I find it inspiring, visionary and all embracing. Not only did the President call for strengthening of the nation’s unity and peace, but he also addressed himself to issues of bread and butter that are of immediate concern to the people of Zambia.

His clear ideas on employment creation, citizen’s empowerment, casualisation of Zambian workers and his directives to strengthen labour laws for the protection of the Zambian worker and the progressive measures he outlined to grow this economy to further prosperity are not only practical and admirable, but certainly address the people’s immediate concerns.

In the social sectors of our economy, for instance, his visionary pronouncements of housing, energy and water, education and health are most encouraging and provide hope to the people in my constituency, whose priority needs include:

(a) the construction of two boarding secondary schools. One each for boys and girls;

(b) the upgrading and electrification of basic schools to high schools and the provision of mobile laboratory facilities at the following schools:

(i) Chamuunda;
(ii) Kafulafuta;
(iii) Fiwale;
(iv) Miputu, 
(v) Mishikishi;
(vi) Milofwa; and
(vii) Masaiti;

(c) the construction of district hospitals and ten clinics with maternity facilities;

(d) improvement of all weather roads and small bridges in the area where there is only one bridge, the Chimfumba Bridge;

(e) sinking of 500 boreholes; and

(f) building of ten maize depots in the area.

These are the urgent needs identified by the community to which my listening Government will address itself.

Mr Speaker, the Government, through Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit at my office, has continued to provide relief support wherever disasters have occurred.

Mr Speaker, during the drought period of 2004/5 season, we sent relief maize to all the areas which were badly hit. By so doing, no one died of hunger.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lundwe: When we had floods in Katombola, for example, my office did what it could to help the people in that area. My office is very ready for the disasters that may occur.

Mr Speaker, I will use my position in the Government to work closely with my colleagues in charge of these sectoral programmes in order to undertake these priority community projects.

As you well know, Copperbelt Rural, in general, and Masaiti in particular, is rich in natural resources and fertile agricultural lands are made easily accessible by roads and adjacent lines of communication that service the Copperbelt. The Government will also encourage local people and investors to enter into mutual beneficial investment partnerships through which some of these community projects may be undertaken.

Lastly, but not the least, I wish to call upon hon. Members assembled here, and, through them, the whole nation to embrace the spirit of unity, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence, even as we may hold different views on national issues, for in unity, we stand to achieve much, whereas, if we remain aloof and divided, we shall waste valuable time for development.

Sir, finally, I thank the people of Masaiti, my Great MMD Party and His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, for the opportunity to serve. I am also grateful for catching the eye of Mr Speaker and the attention of the august House during my Maiden Speech.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C. (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to deliver this my Maiden Speech and to contribute to the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Speech.

Mr Speaker, let me join my colleagues to congratulate you, Sir, Madam Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on your election as presiding officers of this House.

To the people of Chasefu, I give my unreserved special thanks for electing me as their representative. I am greatly humbled by the honour and confidence which the people of Chasefu Constituency have bestowed on me.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: I definitely value their support. I can only promise that I will effectively represent them, both in the House and outside.

Mr Speaker, incidentally, this House is located on Manda Hill and for your own information, Manda Hill is in Chasefu Constituency. The importance of Chasefu Constituency is that it provides Manda Hill where this House is located.

Mr Speaker, the people of Chasefu and, indeed, the whole of Zambia have one serious problem; the problem of poverty. There is hardly a constituency in this country which has no poor people. The Central Statistical Department has its own tale to tell. The Government is aware that poverty levels in this country have shot to alarming proportions. The challenge of the Government, therefore, is to work out measures that will reduce, if not, eliminate the poverty levels that are rampant in this country.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Sir, it is not for me to say whether the Address by His Excellency the President has adequately addressed the issue of poverty, but time will tell. In my constituency, structures which are called schools are not fit for learning. The school structures are dilapidated. These schools have no desks, some have no teaching materials and are understaffed. Worse still, they are understaffed by a crop of unmotivated teachers. 

Laughter

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: They are unmotivated because their conditions of service are nothing to write home about. They have terrible conditions of service. Some of these teachers rent houses in villages. Is that the way we are going to run a civilised educational system? Is this the achievement the Government can boast of?

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, we can do better and the time to do better is now. I am not surprised, therefore, that the World Bank, in its report on development indicators for 2006, shows that Zambia is ranked amongst the lowest in learning achievements. With such a poor rating, it is folly for anyone to expect any meaningful development. It is sad that this Government is taking education casually, and yet they expect the country to develop. It is now common for those who can afford to send their children to private schools locally or outside the country.

Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the people in my constituency cannot afford this. I, therefore, wish to urge my Government to invest heavily in education in order to ensure that our children receive high quality education, which will, in any case, benefit them and the nation.

Mr Speaker, the whole of Chasefu Constituency has one hospital. This ‘hospital’ is located at a place called Kanyanga. This hospital was built before independence in 1964. For more than forty-two years now, Chasefu Constituency has had no hospital built. Is this an achievement to boast of? Can you say you have performed and you are looking after the people? We can do better. Nay, we can do better for the country. As I said, this hospital was built in 1954 by the Catholic Church, but has no electricity and faces a lot of problems to get basic essential medicines. I, therefore, humbly urge our Government to live up to its responsibility and do the needful.

Mr Speaker, I wish to put on record, however, my appreciation to a private corporate contributing citizen who has recently donated some solar panels worth more than K26 million to this hospital obviously through the courtesy of this hon. Member of Parliament. This will go a long way in improving the operations of the institution.

Mr Speaker, through you, I wish to request the Ministry of Health to come up with tangible programmes to support not only this hospital, but also other health centres in my constituency which are experiencing similar problems. These health centres lack medicines and clean water. For example, the clinics at Luzi and Munyukwa have no water. The boreholes that were constructed five years ago are not performing. One of these clinics, therefore, runs with water from a stream five kilometres away. Do we really inspect these institutions which we build for ourselves? If we do not, can we say we are delivering? If we are not, when shall we start to deliver? The people of Chasefu are pleading with the people in the Government to do something for them. It is not too late. You can do something.

Mr Speaker, even the district hospital at Lundazi is in dire need of expansion. However, to the credit of the Government, they embarked on an extension programme five years ago. The only development they have put up there is a foundation. Unfortunately, these works have been abandoned and nothing is taking place. Can you boast of development? Five years since the New Deal Administration came into operation, all you have done is put up a foundation. Can you boast of that as an achievement? The people of Chasefu and Lundazi are appealing to you to deliver. You were put in office to deliver. We appeal to you to do the needful because you are not a Government for the MMD only. You are a Government for everybody, including those people who did not vote for you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, Zambia should not be experiencing the levels of poverty that we are seeing today because it is endowed with a lot of resources which, if prudently exploited, can help the country realise a lot of wealth.

Sir, the problem with us as a country is that we have allowed a situation where non-Zambians posing as investors have been given leeway to exploit our resources and make money for themselves leaving Zambians wallowing in abject poverty.

Mr Mtonga: Zoona!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, take the example of how our mines were privatised. These assets were sold cheaply because, at that time, the argument was that the price of copper on the international market was very low. However, for some time now, the price of copper has been very good, and yet the new owners of the mines are paying almost nothing to the Government unless the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning has figures to show that they are reaping something from the mines.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, why is our Government dragging its feet in initiating negotiations on the contracts? We are aware that the contracts had a provision for renegotiating should the price of the commodity increase. There has been an increase in the price of copper for over three to four years now. What has the Government been doing? Why has the Government remained silent? Is it because they get donations to support them in their campaigns?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Let us look beyond party considerations. Zambia is beyond the MMD. Therefore, let us do what is good for this country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B Banda: Mr Speaker, we would like to urge the Government to immediately commence negotiations with the mining companies. Why should this Government take pleasure in over taxing individual Zambians and smile at the mines that are making colossal profits from this country?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

M C. K. Banda: Mr Speaker, the time for this Government to listen is now. We cannot be complaining every day.

Mr Speaker, the inertia shown by the Government to revisit some of the agreements with some investors has given the investors the courage to behave as they wish. The question of casualisation of labour is one such example. In the quest to reap super profits and avoid paying benefits such as pensions and other social obligations to workers, these investors have resorted to employing our local people as casual labour.

Mr Speaker, it is my hope that this Government will urgently come to this House with appropriate proposals for legislation aimed at addressing the problem of the casualisation of labour or, at least, legislation that will counter the effects of casualisation.

Mr Speaker, it will not be sufficient for the Government to merely acknowledge the existence of casualisation. Even in the Government, the days are gone when we used to have Permanent Secretaries who were employed on permanent and pensionable conditions of service.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, the trend in this Government now, is to employ even Permanent Secretaries on contract. Why on contract instead of employing these key officers on permanent and pensionable conditions of service? You should lead by example.

Mr Muntanga: They are casuals.

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, the people in my constituency are predominantly peasant farmers. They are frustrated peasant farmers because the policies of this Government have not helped them. The people are able to produce, but end up stuck with their produce because there is no market for it. It is worse if the produce is not maize. We would, therefore, like to urge the Government to ensure that the FRA ventures into providing a market for other produce as well.

Mr Speaker, the people of Eastern Province depend on agriculture. We do not have the luxury of mines. Maybe, people must be encouraged to start fires in the hope of discovering oil.

Laughter

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, in some cases, they end up selling their produce to Malawi. In a situation like this, who benefits? It is definitely not the Zambians. Why are we, as a government, failing to provide markets to the people of Eastern Province whose livelihood is dependent on farming? Does the Government not realise that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy in Eastern Province? Why are you denying us your services?

If you embark on a trip to the Eastern Province, the immediate thing that greets you is the condition of the Great East Road. This is a road that connects this country to a neighbouring country, and yet the condition of the road is deplorable.

Mr Mtonga: Zoona!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Why are you abandoning us?

Mr Mtonga: Eeh!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, now that we have given you Members of Parliament and you have appointed Ministers from Eastern Province, we hope that you will see the need to develop Eastern Province. We also want to feel that we are part of this country. Why has it taken the New Deal Government more than five years to repair the Great East Road?

Hon. Opposition Member: Shame!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, the problem with road infrastructure does not end with the Great East Road. The road from Chipata through to Chama is in a deplorable condition; and yet, year in year out, we see money allocated for the rehabilitation of the Chipata/Lundazi Road. That road is in a deplorable condition. That road has had piecemeal repairs for the last ten years. Why can the Government not, for a change, realise that we also want the luxury of good roads?

The problem does not end with the Chipata/Lundazi Road, but the road from Lundazi to Chama was only attended to during the election campaigns.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: The people of Eastern Province are not naïve and fail to realise that this was only a gimmick aimed at getting votes from Eastern Province. Sir, we must be treated equally. Why is it that the road linking Lundazi District to Chama cannot be properly maintained? Why is it that the road linking Lundazi to Chama South cannot be repaired? This road has never had any repairs in the last twenty years.

Mr Mtonga: Shame!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Do we not realise that the people of Chama also need road infrastructure? The road from Chitheba, in Chama South, to Chama has never had the luxury of repairs. Is it because you had no Members of Parliament from there? My humble appeal is that we must distribute the national cake equally.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: It is absolutely important. In the spirit of reconciliation, we expect this Government to now take a fresh look at Eastern Province and start delivering what is rightly due to us.

Hon. Eastern Province Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Mr Speaker, as I stated earlier, the people in my constituency, like in many other constituencies in Eastern Province, are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. One of the major problems which we are facing in this area relates to the price of agricultural produce. Those Government ministers who have had the occasion to go to the Eastern Province will no doubt agree with me that the price of the agricultural produce is very low and unattractive. Do you expect, as our Government, to boost agricultural production if you cannot reward the producers adequately?

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: I wish to appeal to the Government to take a fresh look at the pricing of agricultural produce. You will not defeat hunger if you do not pay the farmers adequately for their sweat.

Sir, the President informed this august House that the Government would graciously increase the Fertiliser Support Programme to farmers to a 60 per cent subsidy on inputs. The question I want to pose is: since the majority of our people in the rural areas are poor people who can hardly afford a meal a day, where will they get the 40 per cent contribution in order for them to access this subsidy?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: Are you really being reasonable?

Mr Speaker, I wish to submit that the Government should consider readjusting the Fertiliser Support Programme. My proposal is that the Government should be gracious enough to offer a 100 per cent subsidy to the farmers in the first year.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. K. B. Banda, S.C.: In the second year, I propose that that Government can start working out the percentages. This is because by then, the poor people would have been given a kick start. It is not difficult, but only noble and reasonable. The people need to live decently as hon. Members are doing.

Mr Speaker, we need to put in place a marketing system that will pay farmers adequately. This is not there. Livestock also has to be attended to. 
Finally, Sir, the question of land must be addressed just like the question of the Constitution.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Finance and National Planning (Mr Magande): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

___________

The House adjourned at 1247 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 14th November, 2006.