DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TENTH ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 8th November, 2006

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

MEMBERSHIP TO SESSIONAL COMMITTEES

Mr Speaker: I have to announce to the House that in accordance with the Standing Orders Nos. 152, 154, 155, 156 and 157, the Standing Orders Committee has appointed the following Members to serve on the Reforms and Modernisation Committee; the General Purposes Committee and the Portfolio Committee:

1. Reforms and Modernisation Committee:

The hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning:
The hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General;
The hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing;
Mr S. T. Chilembo, MP;
Ms E. M. Imbwae, MP;
Mr D. Matongo, MP;
Mr C. Mulenga, MP;
Mr E. C. Mwansa, MP; 
Mr B.Y. Mwila, MP; and
Mrs J. H. M. N. Phiri, MP

2. General Purposes Committees (3)

Committee on Government Assurances

Mr B.J. Chongo, MP;
Mr S. Chitonge, MP;
Ms E.M. Imbwae, MP;
Mr S. Katuka, MP;
Mr V.M. Mooya, MP;
Mr L.P. Msichili, MP:
Mr R. Muntanga, MP; and
Mr R.S. Mwapela, MP

Committee on Delegated Legislation

Mr C.K. Banda, MP;
Mr B. Chella, MP;
Mr S.T. Chilembo, MP;
Mr C. Kambwili, MP;
Mrs J.M. Limata, MP;
Ms M.M. Masiye, MP;
Mr M.M. Mwangala, MP; and
Mr E.M. Singombe, MP

Committee on Estimates

Mr G.M. Beene, MP;
Mr B. Imenda, MP;
Mrs J.M. Limata, MP;
Mr J.P.L. Mulenga, MP;
Mrs R.M. Musokotwane, MP;
Mr V. Mwale, MP;
Mr A.M. Nyirenda, MP;
Dr G.L. Scott, MP; and
Mr F.R. Tembo, MP.

3. Portfolio Committees (11)

Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs

Mr B.J. Chongo, MP;
Mr K. Kakusa, MP;
Dr K. Kalumba, MP;
Mr C.A. Kanyanyamina, MP;
Mr E. Kasoko, MP;
Mr H.M. Malama, MP;
Mrs R.M. Musokotwane, MP; and 
Mr J.J. Mwiimbu, MP

Committee on Economic Affairs and Labour

Mr E.B. Chimbaka, MP;
Mr E.M. Hachipuka, MP;
Mr G. Nassim-ul-Hamir, MP;
Mr H.H. Hamududu, MP;
Mr G. Lubinda, MP;
Mr M.M. Mabenga, MP;
Ms M.M. Masiye, MP; and
Mr B.M.M. Ntundu, MP

Committee on Communications, Transport, Works and Supply

Mrs E.M. Banda, MP;
Mr M.N. Bonshe, MP;
Mr C.L. Milupi, MP;
Mr R. Muyanda, MP;
Mr M.M. Mwangala, MP;
Mr W. Nsanda, MP;
Mr D.M. Syakalima, MP; and
Mr J.K. Zulu, MP.

Committee on Agriculture and Lands

Mr B.M. Bwalya, MP
Major C.K. Chibamba, MP;
Mr B. Hamusonde, MP;
Mr M.M. Mabenga, MP;
Mr R. Muntanga, MP;
Mrs A.C.K. Mwamba, MP;
Mr H. Mwanza, MP; and
Dr C.A. Njobvu, MP

Committee on Education, Science and Technology

Mr O.C. Chisala, MP;
Dr S. Chishimba, MP;
Mr M.J.C. Misapa, MP;
Mr E.M. Munaile, MP;
Mr G.G. Nkombo, MP:
Mr A. Sejani, MP;
Mr B. Sikazwe, MP; and 
Mrs F.B. Sinyangwe, MP.

Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender Matters

Mr J.C. Kasongo, MP;
Mr A. Mbewe, MP

Mr H. J. C. Mtonga, MP
Mr J. J. Mwiimbu, MP
Mr B. M. M. Ntundu, MP
Rev. V. M. Sampa-Bredt, MP
Mr B. Sikazwe, MP 
Mr E. M. Singombe, MP

Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs

Mr P. P. Chanda, MP
Mr H. L. Chota, MP
Ms J. C. Mumbi, MP
Mr R. Muyanda, MP
Mr V. Mwale, MP
Mr B. K. Mweemba, MP
Mr L. J. Ngoma, MP 
Mr P. Sichamba, MP

Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services

Mr C. W. Kakoma, MP
Mr M. Kapeya, MP
Mrs J. M. Limata, MP
Dr P. D. Machungwa, MP
Mr M. M. Mwangala, MP
Mr H. Mwanza, MP
Mr D. Mwila, MP
Dr C. A. Njobvu, MP

Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs

Mr A. Banda, MP
Mr C. Chimumbwa, MP
Dr B. E. Chishya, MP
Ms E. K. Chitika, MP
Mr C. W. Kakoma, MP
Mr C. L. Milupi, MP
Mr A. Sejani, MP
Mr C. Silavwe, MP

Committee on Health, Community Development and social Welfare

Mr I. Banda, MP
Mr M. Habeenzu, MP
Mr B. Imenda, MP
Mrs J. Kapata, MP
Dr J. Katema, MP
Mr Y. D. Mukanga, MP
Mr M. Ndalamei, MP
Mr E. M. Singombe, MP

Committee on Energy, Environment and Tourism

Mr G. Chanzangwe, MP
Major R. M. Chizyuka, MP
Mr G. Nassim-ul-Hamir, MP
Mr M. C. K. Mushili, MP
Mr S. Sikota, MP
Mr A. Simama, MP
Mrs F. B. Sinyangwe, MP
Mr C. W. Sinyinda, MP

The committees will elect their chairpersons at the meetings they will hold to be presided over by the hon. Madam Deputy Speaker.

If any Hon. Member of the Back Bench has been left out of these appointments, please contact the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly so that corrective measures may be taken.

Thank you.

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MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate Resumed)

Ms Mumbi (Munali): Mr Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament, please allow me to thank the people of Munali Constituency for the honour they have beseeched on me to represent them in this august House.

On 28th September the people of Munali Constituency turned up in huge numbers to vote for me.

Hon. Opposition Member: Not Chewe.

Ms Mumbi: I am thanking them for the confidence and honour that they have bestowed on me. I assure them that I shall represent them well. What makes me very proud is the fact that the people of Munali did not choose money, but chose a woman who shall speak for them …

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mumbi: … and bring their concerns, challenges, issues problems to the public ear.

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to also congratulate all the hon. Members of Parliament representing various constituencies across the country for winning in this year’s tripartite elections. Some of us are here for the first time and some of you have bounced back. In recognising your achievement, I want to particularly single out the woman, Mr Speaker. I have noticed, with sadness, that after each election, very few women Members of Parliament bounce back in Parliament …

Mr Mtonga: Zoona.

Ms Mumbi: … and yet, they are the people who really deserve to be in leadership. It is my sincere hope that through the women parliamentarian caucuses we shall examine this issue and together with other stakeholders find a solution. I also want to recognise the efforts made by my President, Mr Micheal Chilufya Sata, in giving opportunities to four women to contest seats in Lusaka. I commend him.

Hon. Opposition Member: Gender.

Ms Mumbi: Mr Speaker, in my maiden speech I wish to raise some pertinent issues in this august House. I shall also make reference not only to this year’s speech by the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Mr Patrick Levy Mwanawasa, SC., but also to his previous speeches.

Mr Speaker, I represent a constituency that is primarily composed of the under privileged in Kalingalinga, Mtendere, Kalikiliki, Chainda, Kamanga and Kaunda Square. Therefore, for me, implementation of promises is key and that is why I shall make reference to previous speeches.

My constituency, Mr Speaker, has no water, its characterised by poor road network, ill equipped and inadequate health services and poor staffed schools. The youths, Mr Speaker, are on the streets unemployed, have very little access to productive and gainful activities and are therefore engaged in all sorts of vices such as alcohol and drug abuse. Mr Speaker, we are all parents in this august House, which one of us would like to have their children end up on the streets?

This is why, Mr Speaker, having reviewed the various speeches by the President of the Republic of Zambia, I am particularly concerned on some of the issues raised in his speeches because despite them making interesting readings, they end up as empty promises. Let me put what I am saying in context.

Sir, in the Presidential Speech of 2004, under the theme ‘Economy’, the President said and I quote:

‘Our economic policy and programme in 2003 were designed to attain macroeconomic stability, food security, raise economic growth and job creation.’

Mr Speaker, two years later, in the Presidential Speech of 2006, on Page 13, Paragraph 2, the President of the Republic of Zambia said and I quote:

‘For many of our urban people, the lack of jobs, especially, among the hundreds of youths coming out of the education system is a major concern.’

Sir, what happened to the economic policies of 2003, which were going to raise economic growth and create jobs?

Mr Speaker, in 2004, the President of the Republic of Zambia told us that his Government was implementing the Road Sub-Sector Investment Programme (ROADSIP). In order to address the deterioration of the road infrastructure in the country, he said and I quote:

 ‘From 2003 to 2007, all pontoons will be replaced with bridges.”

Sir, three years have passed since 2004. The question is how many pontoons have been replaced with bridges?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear! Tell them!

Ms Mumbi: He informed the House that as a result of ROADSIP, the main road network has improved steadily. We have all just come back from the elections. This gave us opportunity to travel on most roads including feeder roads. The question is where are these improved road networks? I wonder how many people are nursing sore backs due to the bad roads. How many people have died in road accidents because of bad roads?

Mr Speaker, as if this was not enough, the President came back this year and promised that more roads would be rehabilitated. I want to single out here, his reference to Kasama/Luwingu Road. I wonder if he even traveled on this road to Luwingu for the Lupososhi bye-elections. This road has been under construction for the past five years. After a few kilometres were done, it was abandoned. The Kasama/Luwingu Road is a scandal.

Sir, in his Speech of 2004, the President of the Republic of Zambia made reference to the high attribution rates among health care workers, especially doctors and nurses. Two years later, the President informed us that the only solution that his Government had found to that problem is the human resource strategy and the promise of recruiting all graduating health workers. What will happen to those who graduated several years ago, but were not recruited?

Mr Speaker, in my constituency, Munali, there are health professionals who were not recruited at the time they graduated. Others, due to poor conditions of services, decided to take up other challenges. Some of these are critical specialists that any responsible Government cannot afford to lose.

Sir, the President made no reference to any plans on how his Government intends to increase human resource in the health sector through training and attracting those who have left the country. Zambia should learn a leaf from other countries like Ghana, who have resolved this problem.

Mr Speaker, I strongly feel that the present Government has taken the Zambian people for granted. The present Government simply uses this august House to make promises.

Mr Kambwili: Hear, hear! Cosmetic!

Ms Mumbi: It is high time those of us who represent the people, scrutinised the President’s Speech and challenge the Government and make them accountable to the Zambian people.

Mr Kambwili: That is impeaching!

Ms Mumbi: The issues affecting our people revolve around poor infrastructure, poor social services and food security. Every single day when I drive along Alick Nkhata Road, my attention is attracted to poor women and children whose source of livelihood is breaking stones and young people selling sand and blocks or working as lorry boys. When will their lives improve?

Sir, in the recent past, I have noticed the so-called investors constructing petrol stations and shopping complexes in the space that those poor women and youths are using for their livelihood. The question that runs through my mind is what will happen to these poor women, youths and children who have been using this peace of space for their livelihood. Who will ever compensate them? When will Zambians ever enjoy Zambia their country? Is this the independence State House celebrates on 24th October of every year? Is this reality or is what is written in the Bible happening right here in Zambia and being encouraged by our Government and even reflected in the speeches that to the rich, more will be added and from the poor more will be taken?

Mr Speaker, in preference to investors, Zambians are being reduced to beggars and I see this on a daily basis in my constituency.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mumbi: Mr Speaker, I wish to bring to your attention the fact that Zambians are looking forward to a day when they will celebrate the independence of Zambia by enjoying the resources that God has endowed them with. Zambians are ready to work, but the Government continues to deny them this opportunity by taking away what is theirs.

Sir, my constituency has clinics in Kaunda Square, Chelstone, Chainda and Mutendere. However, visits to most of these institutions are characterised by long queues, lack of human resource and lack of basic drugs. These observations are not new. They have been brought to the attention of the Government over the years. If the Government were serious they would have found a solution to this by now.

Mr Speaker, Munali houses three institutions of high learning in the country, namely, the University of Zambia, Chainama College of Sciences and the Natural Resources Development College. These institutions have been going through problems of inadequate funding and lack of infrastructure and facilities to support students’ lives. Hostel space is inadequate and in a state of disrepair. Lecture theatres and laboratories require rehabilitation. The library facilities are inadequate and cannot support the reading culture of students. The staffing levels are poor and generally, the environment is not supportive of university or college education.

Sir, I wish to mention to the Government that they need to stop politicising the high institutions of learning, especially, the University of Zambia.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mumbi: They need to admit that they have not given this institution the attention and support it deserves. If you review the Presidential Speech to Parliament, these institutions were not even a subject matter. Only primary education is talked about.

Sir, in the 2004 Speech, the only reference to the universities was the reference to the fundraising that was done by the Partnership Forum and I quote:

‘Taking a notable lead in community participation is the Partnership Forum which has spearheaded fundraising activities for the two universities.’

Sir, in this year’s speech, there was no mention of either the colleges or universities …

Hon. PF Members: Shame!

Ms Mumbi: … and yet most of the people in this august House are the beneficiaries of the University of Zambia, in particular. Are we saying that Zambians will be denied university and college education?

Mr Speaker, the Government should stop blaming Opposition leaders for some of the activities of university students …

Hon. PF members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mumbi: … but should blame themselves. University or college students are brilliant young men and women full of energy and intellect and obviously feel neglected. The only way we can change things at universities and other institutions of high learning is to invest in these institutions. I am particularly, happy that the new hon. Minister of Education, Prof. Lungwangwa, is a former Deputy Chancellor of the University of Zambia, a renowned academician and someone who has worked for the University of Zambia for many years. I am looking forward to seeing things improve at the university, NRDC and Chainama College of mental health sciences.

Mr Speaker, I feel sad to hear the President mention disasters. Disasters in this country are foreseen. Take for instance, the Pontoon, Chambishi Pilgrim and Kawambwa Disasters.

After the Kawambwa Disaster, we all heard that over thirty children died. Never in the history of Zambia had such a thing happened. Some well-wishers contributed towards this funeral, but the money has not been accounted for. Many times we have spoken about this US$100,000, which Barclays Bank donated towards this funeral. It was a shame to see this Government force people to go and bury their children in Kawambwa and forget about them when we had a national mourning. I plead with the Government to look after the graves of those young boys.

Hon. MMD Member: You do not know what you are talking.

Mrs Mumbi: I know what I am talking about. Some of you do not know how it feels to lose someone until it happens to you. Those children, in fact, died because of negligence. The boy who was driving that truck was 25 years old. By law, nobody is allowed to have a PSV driving license unless you are 30 years old and above. The teachers and police officers should have been locked up. As I stand here today, it is a year and seven months since those children died. In fact, we were promised that the police would investigate, but nothing has come up. I appeal to the Government to find out what happened.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to ask the hon. Minister of Education or the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing to come to this august House with a ministerial statement on the construction works being carried out in front of the University of Zambia bus stop. In a nutshell, Zambia is looking forward to a serious Government that is practical.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Education (Ms Changwe): Mr Speaker, allow me to add my voice to the many voices that have congratulated His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., on his re-election as President of this great Republic. Indeed, it is very clear that the majority of the people of Zambia are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the New Deal Administration has proved to be the only party and Government that can drive this nation to greater heights.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Changwe: Allow me also to further extend congratulations to you, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairman of Committees in this House and indeed all hon. Members for their election to this august House. To the new hon. Members, especially those of us who are youths, I say it was a job well-done.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!
Ms Changwe: Mr Speaker, this is a challenge to all youthful hon. Members to make a difference to the political dispensation of this country. Many a time, the youths in this country have cried that they are not recognised as a sector that can contribute positively to the development of this country. The youths, therefore, have a considerable representation this time around. The onus is, therefore, on the youths in this House to prove to the nation that they are a force that is not here to show that they can contribute to bring antagonism and anarchy in this nation, but that can work diligently and offer a credible reservoir of leadership of tomorrow. As the old saying goes, Imiti iyikula e mpanga meaning the young trees of today are the future forests. In fact, this saying has now changed. It means the young people are the leaders of today.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Changwe: Sir, may I also take this opportunity to applaud the people of Mkushi North Constituency for the massive yes vote they gave to the MMD President, hon. Member and councillor. For the information of this House, Mkushi has no place for opposition parties. They are simply unheard of and that is the more reason why the opposition candidate to me was an independent.

Sir, Mkushi North Constituency is a farming area. The merits scored by this Government in this area of agriculture made our campaign relatively easy. Many of us in this House do remember the era of pre-packed mealie meal commonly known as Pamelas. Today, the people of Mkushi North Constituency, like many Zambians, are owners of stacks of maize. It is for this reason that we had more people to cast their votes than ever before because our people had enough strength to walk to the polling stations due to the availability of food in their homes.

Mr Speaker, allow me to make an earnest appeal to all hon. Members present in this House, especially those representing urban constituencies to take this message to our people living in towns who are doing nothing that better things are happening now in rural areas. Let them go back to the land and participate in developing our country by contributing to the food basket. Our people engaged in farming in rural areas are now living decent lives. They are able to buy solar panels and satellite dishes and they have no problem with monthly subscriptions to Multi-Choice. They are enjoying free education, medical services and other services provided by the New Deal Government. Things will even be better with the fertiliser subsidy, which has been raised to 60 per cent.

Allow me, also, to proudly say that this is the first time Mkushi North Constituency is being represented by a female Member of Parliament. I will try to do everything that is humanly possible to mitigate the suffering of the women of Mkushi North Constituency and other vulnerable groups. Empowerment and support of women is the major strength of the New Deal Government. The election of a female Deputy Speaker, a lady of substance, and the creation of the Ministry of Gender, underscores this point. It shows how determined this Government is in breaking all barriers impeding the advancement of women in our country.

I also wish to extend this appeal to all those organisations and individuals that were active in encouraging female candidates to stand for elections that this is the time we need your support most. We need to continue adding to the number of female Members of Parliament whenever we have elections if we are to attain the 30 per cent women representation.

Mr Speaker, the presidential speech is not only inspiring, but also responds to the wishes and desires of the Zambian people. The speech touched on most of the issues that are very close to the hearts of the Zambian people. It articulates our agenda for the country beyond 2006.

Sir, I have followed with keen interest the developmental efforts embarked upon by this Government to fight poverty and restore the dignity of our people. This crusade to better the lives of the Zambian people prompted some of us young people to join the winning team and put our heads together with our brothers and sisters to defeat poverty.

Mr Speaker, the economic successes recorded by the New Deal Government have brought hope to the Zambian people. These positive performance indicators are visible in all the spheres of our economy and they are there for every one to see. In Mkushi, the New Deal Government has sunk 400 boreholes. The Government has improved some feeder roads while others are still being worked on. The construction of a new hospital in the area is receiving serious attention. In the area of education, middle basic schools are in the process of being upgraded to full basic schools.

As regards health posts, this Government is in the process of bringing more health posts to Mkushi North Constituency. The women and vulnerable groups are also being given serious attention.

Sir, major achievements have been made in commerce and industry, tourism, mining and agriculture just to mention a few. These achievements did not happen by accident, but due to prudent management of national resources, good governance and fiscal discipline on the part of this Government. National planning which had disappeared from our vocabulary has now taken root in all Government ministries leading to equitable distribution of financial and other national resources.

Mr Speaker, this good record of achievement has placed our country in the right path of sustainable, economic growth and development. Today, Zambia has once again, become a pace setter with every civilised nation wanting to associate itself with her.

Mr Speaker, the President and the New Deal Government is committed to continue building on these successes by putting in place effective policies and strategies to ensure prompt delivery of services to the Zambian people, especially after attaining the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), which has seen Zambia’s most debts counselled.

Mr Speaker, allow me at this time, to debate issues related to my ministry, the Ministry of Education. Education is the key to prosperity and it is for this reason that my ministry will truthfully, diligently and dutifully instill the objectives outlined in the Presidential Speech on education.

Mr Speaker, the New Deal Government has given priority and will continue supporting and investing in this very vital ministry, as it is a foundation of all human development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Changwe: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education has designed systems to promote a culture and attitude of productivity to enhance democratic values, civic rights and responsibility in our nation.

Mr Speaker, the majority of early childhood care, education and development facilities were in the hands of the private sector. The ministry has recently been engaging in the development of guidelines for the provision of education at this level, a move, which will ensure that young children get a sound foundation.

 Unfortunately, one hon. Member of Parliament was trying to mislead the House by saying that the Government is not in charge of early childhood education. I am now here to correct that assertion.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Changwe: The Ministry of Education has further incorporated early childhood education and development programmes into the basic education subsector investment initiatives. The centred learning and research activities have also been incorporated to enable young children develop research skills at an early age.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Changwe: The free education policy at basic education level has and will continue to have positive impact. Many pupils can now access school without problems.

The parents’ only role now is to simply wake up the child up to go to school without worrying about uniform and other requisites.

The ministry is in the process of providing infrastructure and other teaching and learning materials including deployment of teachers in order to achieve quality education in accordance with the Fifth National Development Plan. Quality education at this level will be achieved among others, through elimination of double and triple shifts by 2010, and improved access participation and retention at basic education level among girls has been given priority.

Mr Speaker, this Government through the Ministry of Education has localised the curriculum from Grade 1 to 4. It is unfortunate the hon. Member here, was trying to mislead the House yesterday. The programme under the localised curriculum includes the Primary Reading Programme (PRP), New Break Through to Literacy (BTL) and Step Into English (SITE). It is at this level that the child is exposed to English instruction, let alone the English language. To say that these children are given instructions in English from grade one is not correct.

Mr Speaker, I am proud to mention to this House that this Government has scored success at this level. In the same vein, the growth enrolment ratio has increased from 75.1 per cent in 2000 to 105.69 per cent in 2005. The curriculum at Basic School level has also been reconceptualised to make it more relevant to the need of the learners and society at large.

The Ministry has and will continue to strengthen the capacity of school inspectors to monitor standards and quality performance in all the institutions of learning including private and community schools.

The following are some of the measures that the ministry has been implementing in order to address some of the challenges in the education sector. This Government through the Ministry of Education has:

(a) Strengthened the school health and nutrition programme, a move that has helped to retain pupils in school at Basic School level;

(b) It has also implemented a new curriculum framework;

(c) This Government has put up strategies for addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic among learners and has continued to provide Anti-Retro-Viro drugs to our teachers living with HIV/AIDS

(d) The Government has improved mobility of inspectors at district and zone levels to ensure that inspections of teachers’ performance and education managers are effectively conducted;

(e) This Government has provided support to community schools as partners in ensuring access to education by the children who are not in conventional schools. The ministry has also been funding, providing guidelines and materials for smooth operations of community schools;

(f) This Government has also shifted emphasis from Basic School to rehabilitation of High Schools thereby increasing access and enhancing quality at this level.

(g) This Government initiated deliberate programmes to promote school sport to improve the image and practice of physical education in schools, a move which has enhanced physical and mental health among our learners; and

(h) This Government has improved funding and increased access to University education. The ministry is in the process of establishing a third university in Kabwe, and has so far, facilitated the opening of seven other private universities in this country. These are:

(i) The Seventh Day Adventist University,

(ii) The Catholic University

(iii) Zambia Open University;

(iv) Northrise University,

(v) Cavandish University;

(vi) Global Open University; and

(vii) Victory University of Technology.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Changwe: Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate and I emphasis that most of the hon. Members here are only aware of the two public universities yet we have so many universities in this country.

Interruptions

Ms Changwe: Mr Speaker, this Government through the Ministry of Education will continue to encourage the establishment of more universities to increase access to this level of education. This includes access to education by vulnerable groups.

Mr Speaker, Government has also encouraged …

Mr Speaker: Order! I want to remind you all that you are still making your maiden speeches. These are not subject to rude running commentaries. You will make those at a later date. The usual phrase ‘hear, hear’ is welcome to encourage all maiden speakers. I would like to listen to the hon. Deputy Minister of Education.

May she continue, please.

Ms Changwe: Mr Speaker, this Government has also encouraged the use of practical and vocational subject tool kits to make skills acquisition more meaningful to the learners and to provide practical classrooms for subjects such as Home Economics and Industrial Arts.

Mr Kambwili interjected

Ms Changwe: The Government has also continued laying emphasis on the girl child …

Mr Speaker: Order! There is a Member in the back there who is likely to be the first to be ejected out of this Chamber. Please be cautious and very careful. This is a disciplined House. If you feel that you do not belong in this House, go elsewhere.

May the Deputy Minister of Education, please continue.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Changwe: Mr Speaker, this Government has continued laying emphasis on the girl child education and initiated programmes aimed at promoting girl child education and retaining girls in schools such as Programme for the Advancement of Girls Education (PAGE) and the Re-entry Policy.

In my constituency, 420 girls have been readmitted to school after delivery as a result of this policy.

Mr Speaker, this Government has also implemented the policy of compulsory education up to Grade 9, this is universal basic education.

Initiatives to increase teacher out put such as the Zambia Teacher Education Course (ZATEC) Programme in order to meet teacher demand have been running. Under the New Deal Administration from 2001 to 2005, teacher out put has doubled. In June this year, 3,074 teachers were employed. The recent deployment last week of about 4070 teachers targeted the 2002 – 2005 graduates and the distribution was as follows:

 Province No. Of Teachers
 Central   112
 Copperbelt  263
 Eastern   829
 Lusaka   303
 North Western  334
 Northern  688
 Southern  525
 Western  289

These have drastically reduced the number of teachers who were not employed as a result of the HIPC conditionalities. Measures to retain teachers already serving include access to loan facilities and reintroduction of rural hardship allowance, which will be disbursed through provincial officers. This will improve the status and morale of our teachers. To bring the teacher/pupil ratio to acceptable levels, the most hit areas were identified such as Kaputa, Mungwi, Mpulungu to mention but a few and these have been targeted for accelerated teacher deployment.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry will continue to increase teacher output so that all schools have trained teachers. It will further support review of the curriculum to make it more empowering and relevant to the needs of employment, self-employment, marketing and investment. It will also diversify high school curriculum in order to make learning more competitive, feasible, accessible and affordable to the majority of individual learners.

Mr Speaker, this Government, through the colleges of education will also start running primary diploma and secondary diploma programmes for two-year duration. This is in the quest to uplift the standards and quality of education that teachers are receiving. It will also introduce degree programmes in early childhood education, industrial arts and post-graduate diplomas.

Mr Speaker, this Government, through the Ministry of Education, will also review the Teacher Training Policy to make it more relevant to the strategic development needs of the country. It will also affiliate all colleges of education to the University of Zambia School of Education so that they can become colleges of education able to offer a variety of courses for Grade 1 to 12 teachers.

Mr Speaker, this Government, through the Ministry of Education will also introduce a fully pledged degree programme for in-service teachers by information communications technology and open distance learning at the University of Zambia.

Sir, to sum it all, this Government has also harmonised human resource development programmes with the National Development Planning.

Mr Speaker, the ministry has embarked on construction of additional classrooms to enhance the upgrading of middle basic schools to upper basic schools. It has also constructed and is in the process of constructing day high schools, technical schools especially for girls in Ndola and Eastern Province.

Mr Speaker, if I had to articulate the issues that this Government has scored in the Ministry of Education, it will take me the whole day or two.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mushili (Ndola Central): Mr Speaker, I am heartily humbled by the opportunity that you have accorded me to contribute to the debate arising from His Excellency the President’s Speech.

Sir, before I proceed in that direction, I wish you God’s abundant blessings as you discharge your great responsibility of presiding over the business of this august House in the next five years. Through you, Sir, I wish Madam Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of Committees success in their respective positions.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, allow me to sincerely thank the people of Ndola Central Constituency, the heart of the Copperbelt Province, for overwhelmingly voting for me in the just ended September 28, Tripartite Elections. In appreciation, I commit myself to be their effective representative in this august House.

Mr Speaker, in my deliberations, I will bring to the limelight national issues as well as problems that affect the people of Ndola. I will begin with the general situation in the country from the economic and social stand points.

Mr Speaker, it is common knowledge that during the immediate post independence period, Zambia’s economy was among the most stable in Africa. In fact, our country was even richer than most of the Asian countries that have tremendously managed to get industrialised today. The case of Malaysia, among other countries, is a typical example of a country that was once poorer than we were forty-two years ago, but today, is one of the richest countries in the world.

Sir, Malaysia’s prosperity is solely dependent on one major export product, which is palm oil. The Government has empowered indigenous people to grow palm trees on small, medium and large scales. The market for the people’s product is granted. This has motivated the people to work very hard and today, Malaysia is on the road to greater heights.

Sir, it is against this background that as an industrialist, I usually get drowned in thought on what has gone wrong to our mother Zambian. Where is the problem? What are the most probable solutions and what can I do at personal level to contribute to my country? These are some of the questions that linger on in my mind. For the latter question I can easily answer because I have attempted in my personal capacity, as a manufacturer, transporter, trader and miner.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: I therefore believe that the people of Zambia can also do it once economically empowered by the Government facilitating borrowing.

Mr Speaker, the economic mismanagement of the 70s and 80s has resurfaced in a new style influenced by few economists who use draconian means to tamper with the normal functioning of markets in order to create an impression that the economy is doing well when in the actual fact, the economy is going several steps backwards. The appreciation of the kwacha is a typical example because it is only the New Deal Government, which apparently sees that the appreciation of the kwacha has benefited the people of Zambia.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Sir, it is this current rhetoric and inaction by the MMD Government that is responsible for the transformation of Ndola from the status of a sprawling industrial hub to a ghost town or an empty shell of dead factories.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Mushili: Embarrassingly and shamefully, Ndola, which has produced two Presidents and a very successful former Deputy Minister in charge of Presidential Affairs, is now among the least developed in this country. Is it the production of these high profile leaders the crime that the people of Ndola have committed?

Mr Speaker, the nose-diving of Ndola began with the Economic Reform Programme that the MMD embarked on in the 1990s. While the intention was good, the manner in which privatisation had been implemented is nothing short of a crisis and borders on criminality. I call for forensic audits in the whole privatisation exercise.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: All individuals or companies that played a role in the privatisation of Zambia’s public enterprises must be investigated. Whoever betrayed Zambians by selling the state enterprises cheaply should not aspire to high leadership.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Mushili: Sir, indeed, allowing anyone who is guilty of getting a bad deal for Zambia to aspire to leadership is like jumping from a hot cooking oil filled pan into the fire.

I therefore, appeal to the Task Force to investigate the sale of not only the mines, but also enterprises like Intercontinental Hotel and many other public entities.

Mr Speaker, Zambia is not for people whose wealth is questionable. People who plundered national resources in the name of consultancy for privatisation which they used in negotiating for lower prices so that they could get shares at the expense of the poor majority, must urgently be probed.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, let me repeat here that there is an urgent need for the Task Force to commission forensic audits in the privatisation programme in its entirety. This must be extended to the current sale of public enterprises.

Sir, it is sad that while the wounds inflicted by the haste sale of the mines are still fresh, the Government’s inaction to restore sanity in the supply business to the mines has been the salt added to the wounds.

Mr Speaker, it all started with the Anglo American company which denied Zambian companies to supply to the mines in favour of international companies. Today, it still remains very difficult for a Zambian company to penetrate the mines and conduct business.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: This has frustrated many of us Zambian business people.

Hon. PF Members: Hear! Hear

Mr Mushili: The new Deal Government must learn from South African where the black empowerment policy is not an empty rhetoric as is the case in Zambia.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, the South African Government has a programme to lend money to local entrepreneurs and the mechanism of assessing the fund is not bureaucratised.

Mr Mtonga: Zoona!

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, I have already given an example of Malaysia, which has made it with only one major export product. Like Malaysia, Zambia has also one major export, copper. With only copper, if business was in the hands of the indigenous Zambians today, and if the Government was able to facilitate the borrowing of money and given to the well trained miners in the world, in two and half years, Zambia would be one of the richest countries in the world.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, Malaysia has managed with only its local people’s participation. Zambia can also go forward with the local entrepreneurs and technocrats. This can be established from the fact that currently the foreign investors who are running the mines are doing so with our own university trained people. This is why the Government should be inspired to lend money to serious indigenous Zambian investors to invest in the mines.

Mr Mtonga: Zoona!

Mr Mushili: This must come from the highly talked about Citizen’s Economic Empowerment Fund that the President mentioned in his speech.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: I hope he meant so. This is the only sustainable solution to stop the current trend where the profits from our copper are heavily externalised.

Mr Speaker, I am afraid that if the New Deal Administration does not work to genuinely empower the local business men and women, the purportedly discovered prospects of gas and oil in Chavuma and Zambezi will elude Zambians while they watch helplessly as foreign investors use them as cheap labour. At the end of the day, all the money and profits will be externalised.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, Since the New Deal Administration is not a listening Government, I wish to repeat, in simpler words that there is need for the Government to empower the indegenous Zambians to form equity partnerships with foreign investors who have the expertise in gas and oils. I say so because at the moment Zambia may not have many local technocrats who specialise in gas and oil production. I strongly recommend that the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Fund be accessible to Zambians who opt to form equity partnerships with foreign investors.

Mr Speaker, the fight against corruption must not be seen to characterise vindictiveness. This has plunged many countries in Africa into chaos.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Sir, the fight against corruption is worthy and must be supported by all well meaning Zambians. I am, however, afraid that if the elements of selectivity in the application of the laws related thereto are identified, justice eludes the whole exercise.

Mr Mtonga: Zoona!

Mr Mushili: Mr Speaker, such a situation will throw Zambia onto a merry-go-round such that every successive Government will deal with the outgoing Government in the similar way that the outgoing Government dealt with the one it succeeded. I can clearly foresee this happening in 2001.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili:  Mr Speaker, Zambia is one of the countries in the world where a chain of studies are conducted. The results of such studies are never implemented. I must repeat that Zambia is one of the most over studied countries in the world and yet, all the books and documents are just gathering dust. They talk about workshops day in and day out. What we need are people, men and women of action

We need people like some of the presidents in our parties, our President, Mr Michael Sata

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushili: Let us eliminate bureaucracy in Zambia as the only way to increase efficiency in the service delivery system to the Zambian public.

Mr Speaker, the New Deal Government has not developed adequate systems to run the transport and communication sector. A successful transport sector does not just start and end with availability of public transport. Laws must be strengthened to effectively regulate the sector.

It is shameful that it is only in Zambia where foreign truckers are allowed to operate without question. They come and make quick money without even paying any taxes and the Government says ‘Hear, hear!’

Mr Speaker, this takes me to the empty rhetoric on the re-establishment of a national airline. I must say that this has affected tourism because a national carrier is self-advertising at international level.

Mr Speaker, the telecommunication industry is another sector which needs complete overhaul. Why should we pay more in terms of tariffs than others in the region?

Telecommunication is even cheaper in Congo DR today as compared to Zambia. The same service providers provide services, but the rates are lower. Why do we allow Zambians to be exploited? Why do you take pleasure in exploiting Zambians? Are you genuine? This must be stopped forthwith.

Mr Speaker, the problems that I have just raised at national level have not spared Ndola. The situation in Ndola is characterised by the following, but not limited to:

1. Poor and dilapidated road networks
2. Collapse of the industrial base
3. Massive unemployment due to severe redundancies, retrenchments and privatisation of parastatals; 
4. Massive and unchecked pollution;
5. Poor delivery of services by the council;
6. Lack of high school facilities for densely populated areas such as Twapia and Chipulukusu; and
7. Uncontrollable number of street children.

Mr Speaker, I implore the New Deal Government to listen and heed the call of the people of Ndola by fulfilling the following again, but not limited to:

1. Reactivation of Factories

            In agreeing to what the President said when he opened the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly, there is need for the Government to provide a Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Fund. Conditions of the fund must not be prohibitive and the Government must implement this expeditiously.

 2. Provision of Incentives to Ndola Based Companies

Government must deliberately exempt local companies from paying company tax. This will attract many entrepreneurs to invest in Ndola. A minimum of at least five years could be considered for this initiative. This should only apply to manufacturers.

3. Infrastructure Development

            Government must maintain the Roads, the water reticulation systems and health facilities. This will not only be beneficial to the people of Ndola, but will also entice potential investors.
 
4. Decentralisation

Government must accelerate the operationalisation of the decentralisation policy so that local authorities can tick.

Government must learn from the way the Colonial Government organised local authorities. We need a situation where councils have their own construction equipment and capacity built to undertake most projects. This measure will result in savings on the part of the Government because most contractors inflate the prices for simple works.

Mr Speaker, unless the Government addresses these concerns, people will continue to migrate to other areas from Ndola where the economy is active. This is a very sad scenario because Ndola is the Provincial Headquarters for the Copperbelt which has contributed tremendously to the Zambia’s development.

Mr Speaker, may I end by appealing to all the hon. Member present here to enact laws which will be beneficial to the people of Zambia and not individuals.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

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

Mr V. Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, I would like to join many other people in congratulating you on your re-election as Speaker of this House. There is no doubt that your rich experience and wisdom will be of great benefit to all of the Members of this House and the nation at large. May I also congratulate Hon. Mutale Nalumango, for being elected the first ever, female President …

Laughter

Mr V. Mwale: … female Deputy Speaker in the history of this country and we give compliments to the MMD.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: The Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House, again, I say congratulations on your re-election. You deserve it.

May I also take this opportunity to thank the wise people of Chipangali Constituency for electing me as their new Member of Parliament.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: To the MMD and His Excellency the President, I say thank you very much for identifying the potential in me. I must admit that it is not easy especially when you are below the age of thirty to win the favour of different party organs let alone the electorates in a constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Tembo: Hammer! Hammer!

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, you may also wish to know that contesting an election against the likes of the former Member of Parliament for Chipangali is an uphill battle and winning demonstrates nothing, but the confidence the people of Chipangali have in the New Deal Team.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

Mr V. Mwale: Sir, Chipangali Constituency is the largest constituency in Chipata District. It is divided into nine chiefdoms, and hosts the second palace of the Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi.

Mr Speaker, the biggest economic activity in the constituency is farming. More than 95 per cent of households are involved in farming. Maize, tobacco, cotton and groundnuts are major crops grown in the constituency. Therefore, there is no doubt that the constituency is adding a lot of value to the growing economy of this country.

Sir, at this point, I wish to thank the New Deal Government for subsiding fertilisers by 50 per cent up to the last agricultural season. The announcement by His Excellency the President to increase the subsidies to 60 per cent is more than welcome.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: I encourage the Government to continue increasing these subsidies year by year so that Zambia can be Africa’s food basket.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) established satellite mobile markets for buying maize in the last few months and I thank them for that. It was a job well done. The sites used for buying maize were indeed very strategic in bringing markets closer to farmers. However, I wish to humbly request the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives to consider converting the same mobile markets to be permanent markets by building storage sheds. This will deal with the issue of proper storage for our grain.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Sir, FRA tried hard to buy maize from our hardworking farmers of Chipangali. In some cases, they ran out of cash to pay them. I want to thank the Government for the many times that it came in to assist.

Mr Speaker, my appeal to the FRA is to ensure that the maize they are buying is coming from our farmers and not the vendors who bring maize from Malawi. Some vendors have taken advantage of the good market we have in Zambia and brought in maize from the neighbouring Malawi. Some of our farmers have not yet been paid because of this same reason. On behalf of our farmers in Chipata District, I request that the Government comes in once more, just like it has been doing, to finish off paying our farmers.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives to ensure that our tobacco and cotton farmers are not exploited by the companies that are buying these crops according to the prices they have fixed. Most of our farmers in the constituency have complained about the unfair deals they get from these same companies.

However, I would like to thank His Excellency the President for announcing that there is a strategy which will involve the development of rural markets by the provision of infrastructure, agricultural and financial services which will benefit small-scale farmers. Sir, doing that will help our farmers to reduce dependence on inputs given to them on loan by private buyers. It is the same loans that make it difficult for farmers not to look for their own favourable markets because they are bonded.

Mr Speaker, it has just come to my attention that most of the farmers in Chipangali Constituency have resorted to growing maize this season and not tobacco, because of the raw deal they are getting from their buyers. This will imply that the demand for fertiliser for growing maize will increase. Therefore, I would like to urge the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives to increase the supply of fertiliser this season.

Sir, I want to thank the Government for rehabilitating the Chipata/Lundazi Road and the Chipata/Mfuwe Road.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: The rehabilitation of these two major roads is a step forward towards having good road infrastructure for our farmers to transport their produce. However, I request that as we debate the next budget, the Chipata/Lundazi Road should be allocated some more funds for resurfacing and at least not less than five major feeder roads which have not been attended to in a long time must be worked on.

Sir, in the last twenty-four months, Chipangali Constituency has been blessed with a new rural health centre …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: … which is now serving the population in Chief Munukwa’s area. Again, Sir, I would like to say thanks to the New Deal Government for that.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: However, we would still like to benefit from the forty rural health posts the Government plans to construct as pronounced by His Excellency the President in his Opening Speech to this House. There are so many other areas where we need to reduce the distances our people walk in search of health facilities.

Mr Speaker, people of Chipangali Constituency are eagerly awaiting a time when the Rural Electrification Programme will reach them. As a province we are very happy that Nyimba District which has had no electricity since independence …

Mr Tembo: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: … this time, because of the commitment of the New Deal Government, is now connected to the National Grid.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Similarly, we have seen Mutenguleni and so many other areas also get connected. Now, people and traditional leaders of Chipangali are making an appeal that we too be considered for this programme. Chipangali Central is only fifty kilometres away from the National Grid.

Sir, so much has been done in drilling boreholes for our people through the ended Rural Water Supply Project implemented by our Government and the German Government. As earlier alluded to, Chipangali is a very big constituency hence is still facing a very big challenge where drinking clean water is concerned. I understand that the implementation of Phase 2 of the Rural Water Supply Project is awaiting approval by the Minister of Energy and Water Development. I know that the approval will be done quickly so that the people of my constituency will benefit from the project once again.

Mr Speaker, the constituency has a good number of primary and basic schools. Now, a lot of community schools are mushrooming. There is good commitment from parents to send their children, including girls, to school.

The Free Education Policy has been a good motivation for this, however due to the high demand, Chipangali constituency needs at lest 3 secondary schools. Apparently, the only secondary school the constituency had, belonged to the Reformed Church and was some months ago withdrawn as a secondary school leaving the constituency without any. Nonetheless, I must say that I am not very worried because His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. has pledged that his Government will pay particular attention to the provision of quality education services in the next five years.

Mr Speaker, on the Zambia/Malawi Boundary demarcation, I want to thank the Governments of Zambia and Malawi for resolving to demarcate the Zambia Malawi boundary in a friendly manner. However, I want to mention to you that some people in my constituency are concerned about how much time is being taken to complete the demarcation exercise. The worry is that some of our people fear that they may lose their farmlands to Malawians and this situation is not only causing anxieties amongst our people, but also our farmers in the concerned area who may not do any farming activities until the completion of the exercise. Some people have complained of personal confrontations with our brothers from Malawi over land issues and so it is very important that the Ministry of Lands completes the demarcation in good time.

Mr Speaker, on the fight against corruption, I want to thank our Republican President Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. for waging a war against corruption. In my view, this is very important to all Zambians. Sir, at least our citizens can now go to sleep trusting that we have a Government that is not stealing their money…

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: … A Government that means what it says when it says. When it has no money, it says so. A Government that is spending in the interest of it’s citizens. May I simply say a Government that is transparent and accountable to its’ people. This is a good precedence that the President has set for future governments and young politicians like me.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Indeed, His Excellency the President Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. will be remembered for this.

Hon. Members: Bwekeshapo apo pene!

Mr V. Mwale: Nchilindeisa. No wonder, Sir, God is now blessing us with oil and more copper deposits because we have a proper Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I would like to say that as a youth, I cannot leave the Floor without thanking the Government for establishing the Youth Empowerment Fund as a permanent feature in youth development. This is a welcome move and there is not a better Member of Parliament to thank the Government than the youthful me.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, the President in his inspiring speech touched on an important issue of reviewing the Theatres and Cinematography Act. Sir, this is a very important issue. In view of the current situation on HIV/AIDS, as a person who has implemented a lot of high profile HIV/AIDS programmes before, I know that young people themselves admit that viewing obscene materials has bad influence on their lives. I wish our councils could ensure that bars and nightclubs do not admit people below the age of 18 years. Having notices hanged in bars and nightclubs is not enough. Something more has to be done.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, as a young Parliamentarian, I wish to support the call by the President for national unity, which is attainable. We can be a united Zambia because the President is committed to that. Mr Speaker, allow me to quote from one of the great leaders of this world, who was once President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln and I quote:

‘We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bond of affection. The mystic chords of memory stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the course of the union when again touched as surely they will by the better angels of our nature’.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, I understand that it is very painful to lose an election, especially when you posses in your hands files of unrealistic ninety-day action plans …

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hammer!

Mr V. Mwale: … then people speak and speak loudly against you, like President Lincoln said, that should not break our bonds of affection.

Interruptions

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to divert you a bit. As a district, from Chipangali to Chipata, the Chipata Municipal Council has a vision of upgrading the town to acquire a city status by the year 2007. Through you, I would like to urge the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning; Commerce, Trade and Industry; Local Government and Housing and Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources etc to direct potential investors to invest in the town. The New Deal Government has restarted the Chipata/Mchinji Railway Project, which will connect the town to the Nacara Corridor. We now hear that Malawi is developing a channel through Shire and Zambezi River to the Indian Ocean. Sir, Chipata is, therefore, in a strategic position for future imports and exports. We should all support this cause and Chipata will be significant to the Zambian economy.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika (Kawambwa): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to comment on the Presidential Speech.

Mr Speaker, from the outset, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election as Speaker of this important House. To the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees of the whole House, I say congratulations on your election and re-election. It is my hope that we shall all benefit from the invaluable services you shall be able to offer this House.

Mr Speaker, allow me now to thank the Patriotic Front and its leadership, more especially the Party President Mr M.C. Sata and Dr Scott, the Secretary General for the confidence they had in me by adopting me as their candidate for Kawambwa.

Hon. Patriotic Front Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: Mr Speaker, it is not easy to reclaim a seat that you held and once lost. Many thanks also go to my 79-year-old dad, a fountain of wisdom, knowledge and inspiration, a teacher, indeed, he is. For his and my mum’s unwavering support, these two are great parents. They were with me in 1996, 2001 and during the last elections.

Mr Speaker, to Mr Molobeka, my husband and effective campaign manager, looking back, I realise that I could not have handled it alone without his invaluable help. As a politician, he sacrificed and decided not to stand, but instead willingly traveled with me to Kawambwa and managed the campaigns. His support was timely. To the wonderful people of Kawambwa, with the passing of time, they did one thing – they remembered I was their best representative.

Hon. Patriotic Front Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: Mr Speaker, in the last few days, I have listened attentively to the maiden speeches from hon. Members of both the Ruling and Opposition parties concerning the challenges in their various constituencies. These concerns were the same even the last time I was in this House, seven years ago.

What is evident is that the problems in MMD controlled constituencies and those in the Opposition controlled areas are the same.

Hon. Opposition Member: Now you are talking.

Ms Chitika: Mr Speaker, it is not right for hon. Members to come here, year in year out and continue talking about the same problems, and yet, we have been told that the New Deal MMD is a listening Government. What has the Government been doing all these years for me to come back …

Interruptions

Ms Chitika: … here and still talk about the same issues that I raised seven years ago? Former Hon. Chola Nkonda and Hon. Chungu Africa also effectively talked about these serious issues in Kawambwa. In fact, the two hon. Members who came after me were MMD Members of Parliament. The issue of water is so serious that villages are disintegrating and relocating to very far away places in search of water, thereby disadvantaging children who cannot walk back to school which are, sometimes, more than eight kilometres away. The same old song of inadequate teachers, no desks in schools, no health posts and no drugs in clinics is the order of the day in Kawambwa.

Mr Speaker, during my thirty days campaign trail in Kawambwa, I witnessed about six maternal deaths because of the poor road network in the area.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Ms Chitika: Pregnant women die on the way to the nearest clinic they call a district hospital.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: The Kawambwa/Mwenda Road to Mansa is a strategic road, but it has been neglected over the years.

Hon. Opposition Member: Shame!

Ms Chitika: Anthills have even developed on this important plateau road. The road is important because it passes through agricultural farmlands. If this road was tarred, many agricultural products that are never sold can feed the entire Copperbelt and the surplus, Mr Speaker, could be exported to the ready markets in the Congo. The importance of this road cannot therefore be over emphasised. The Kawambwa Tea, Mr Speaker, for tea lovers, would also be cheaper because it would take a shorter route to the markets.

Mr Speaker, the issue of the Kawambwa Tea Plantation is a sorry sight. This was a plantation in the UNIP days that gave economic hope and livelihood to the many women and youths including the men in the district. Today, the investors are only interested in what they can get from this plantation. The workers have gone without salaries for months on end and many of these workers are casuals with very poor conditions of service.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Ms Chitika: Surely, Mr Speaker, this Government can do better than what is happening.

Coming back to the Presidential speech, Mr Speaker, I will call this speech a promissory note, written by the President to the country’s eleven million people. This promissory note is due in one year. Without investment of political will and financial capital today, this promissory note will come back marked “insufficient funds”. Beyond the immediate human costs, a default on the scale in prospects will have implications on the credibility of the President who issued this promissory note to the Zambian people.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: With this said, Mr Speaker, I shall now comment on some individual items in the speech, transparency, accountability and good governance. The President spoke of transparency, accountability and good governance. As long as we continue to pronounce these words without any political will, the corrupt free society that we want to create for ourselves and our children’s children will remain a pipe dream and a paper tiger, Mr Speaker.

First and foremost, we have to be accountable for our actions. As national leaders, we have to be transparent in whatever actions we take. Transparency, accountability and integrity are all ingredients of good governance. While the President, all along, has been preaching the virtues of integrity, transparency and accountability, he has, at the same time closely embraced some elements whose characters have been morally dented.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: Of late, there have been reported cases of abuse or misuse of public resources by some high-ranking officials, and yet, the so called long arm of the law has not extended to those individuals.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Ah! No.

Ms Chitika: If this is not a clear mockery of good governance and fighting corruption, then, we have lost direction as a nation.

On elections, Mr Speaker, I want to pay homage to the Zambians for turning out in large numbers to cast their votes on 28th September, 2006. This indeed was done in the spirit of wanting to exercise their democratic right. Democracy is of course taking root in Zambia, as was evidenced in some parts of the country where voters voted political parties of their choice as opposed to voting for those who enticed them with various forms of gifts and bribes.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: The fact that Zambians refused to be bribed or corrupted during the elections is a clear sign that they have become politically mature. The message that was sent to those candidates, who wanted to use their money or wealth as a means to the end, is that, Zambians have come to attain a level of consciousness to the point where they can no longer be swayed by earthly goods. This is a clear indication that they know what is best for them.

At the same time, they want to send a message to those who want to use unconventional methods of getting into the political arena that their time is over.

From the trend that was observed, Mr Speaker, one can logically conclude that Zambians wanted a change of Government, unfortunately, their wishes, Mr Speaker...

Hon. Government Member: No. Where?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: … and desires, where dampened by what I may term as forces of unnatural injustice.

Interruptions

Ms Chitika: These forces worked in a uniform pattern to put in disequilibrium what the forces of natural justice had put in place. However, it is said that the moral arm of the universe bends towards justice. It is, therefore, for historical process to judge us accordingly in the time to come.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer!

Ms Chitika: Mr Speaker, for a very long time now Zambians have been calling for a new constitution. This call resulted in the assembling of the Mung’omba led Constitution Review Commission (CRC), which worked tirelessly to ensure that a new constitution could be put in place. Since then the Commission has submitted its recommendations, but it is surprising that regardless of the huge sums of money that were spent on the constitutional process, the Mwanawasa led Government has only paid lip-service to the process of enacting a new constitution.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear! Shame!

Ms Chitika: Mr Speaker, improved justice delivery. Why is it that after forty-two years of political independence, this Government has no confidence in its own legal system? This is evidenced by the installation of video cameras at Chikwa Courts just for one plunder case, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Ms Chitika: The money used to install those cameras could have gone into poverty reduction.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Ms Chitika: One wonders whether some highly placed elements within the system are not benefiting from this expensive project.

Mr Speaker, we are all aware that corruption is a cancer to society. However, I am worried in the sense that there is too much concentration and focus on what happened only in the Second Republic. This is a ploy to try and hide the plundering going on at the moment.

Hon. Government Members: Aaah!

Ms Chitika: There is need to come up with policy guidelines to tackle the current form of corruption.
The fight against corruption is somehow deceptive in the sense that we have turned a blind eye to the current situation.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa interrupted

Ms Chitika: Now, listen, Jonas.

Sir, with regard to economic management, the President pointed out that there was an economic growth of 4.9 per cent. Unfortunately, what I know as a student of development is that economic growth is not a reliable and good indicator of development. The problem with economic growth is that normally, it is not equitably shared. In most cases economic growth only affects a minority group at the expense of the majority.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: This is usually the practice in the case of Zambia. What needs to be done is to equitably distribute …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! The Chair would like to listen, please.

Hon. PF Members: Hammer!

Mr Shakafuswa: She is lost!

Ms Chitika: I cannot get lost. This is my speech.

Mr Speaker, in most cases, what happens is that this is done at the expense of the poor people. This is usually the practice in the case of Zambia. What is needed is to equitably distribute the benefits of economic growth. Otherwise, there is no use priding ourselves of an economic growth whose benefits do not affect the majority of the citizenry.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: Sir, the economic growth being referred to has been a consequence of the activities of the mining sector. Unfortunately, we all know that the benefits accruing to the mining sector are not only benefiting the owners of the mines, but at the same time, are being repatriated on a daily basis in form of foreign exchange, thereby denying the country the necessary foreign reserves it deserves to retain.

Mr Speaker, allow me to educate my colleagues in the Government from my humble position. The definition of development as the achievement of economic growth and hence, improved living standards is rather deceptive and utopian. The Gross National Product (GNP) provides the obvious measurement of progress according to this definition. However, this narrow definition offers little to the poor. Decades of experience have shown that economic growth does not, in itself, lead to improved living standards for the majority. In short, what I am trying to say is that development is not a commodity to be weighed or measured by Gross National Development statistics. It is a process of change that enables people to take charge of their own destinies and realise their full potential. It requires building in people, the confidence, skills, assets and freedoms necessary to achieve this goal.

Sir, for sometime now, the inflation rate has been recorded at a low level. When we reached the single digit inflation rate, the New Deal Government argued that it would take sometime for the prices of commodities to go down. However, time has passed and there are no indications that commodity prices will ever slide downwards for the benefit of our people. In any normal economy, inflation rate has a direct bearing on the market forces.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: No wonder some economic commentators have argued that the inflation rate being experienced in this economy is simply a manipulation of economic variables.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Shakafuswa: PF economist!

Ms Chitika: Mr Speaker, on debt relief, the whole idea of qualifying for HIPC was for the purpose of embarking on a Poverty Reduction Process with a view of having debt relief upon attaining the HIPC Completion Point. Indeed, Zambia attained the HIPC Completion Point more than twelve months now. This resulted in a lot of country’s debt being cancelled. The logical conclusion of having debt cancellation is to put the savings of the debt cancellation process into poverty reduction programmes. However, the situation on the ground is that the poor have not yet been affected positively by the debt relief.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: Sir, if this process is to benefit the poor, the New Deal Government should cut down on its exotic consumption patterns. The MMD Government has got an insatiable appetite for luxury …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

Ms Chitika: Madam Speaker, before the House adjourned, I was saying that the MMD Government has got an insatiable appetite for luxuries like helicopters, BMWs, and unnecessary trips abroad. A reduction in the consumption of luxury items and services will make a great saving that can benefit our people. Zambia is not only for the MMD politicians, but for all of us.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chitika: The Zambian people, as the President mentioned, have sacrificed a lot, but what are the benefits of their sacrifice? They have no water, drugs in hospitals, desks, teachers, etc. Why should some other people reap their rewards? It is high time we moved from rhetoric and sophistry to reality. This Government is challenged to immediately deliver and meet the people’s aspirations and expectations.

Madam Speaker, with regard to housing, the New Deal Government has done practically nothing to provide decent housing for the majority of our people. If anything, the only housing facilities that have been put in place can only be accessed by the middle and high-income groups. This is because of the high cost of housing units that have been promoted in the past five years or so. However, we have seen that a lot of people have taken initiative to put up decent homes for themselves. Unfortunately, there are a number of disappointments even in that area.

Madam, upcoming housing schemes are not provided with corresponding infrastructural development. There are no proper roads, water and sanitation, schools, clinics or recreational facilities.

Madam Speaker, this being the case, this Government is challenged to sufficiently empower local councils so that they can provide these facilities to our people. The situation at the moment is such that the New Deal Government is taking pleasure in turning Lusaka into one big shanty township. Let us do away with this archaic planning and start providing a decent environment for our people.

Madam, in conclusion, this Government needs to be reminded that issues related to land are very serious. The revolutions that we know of have all come about because of land. Land is the basis of our independence. People need and depend on land for their livelihood.

Madam, land contains natural resources, which can be turned …

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

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

Mr Sikazwe (Chimbamilonga): Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to present my maiden speech before the House.

Madam Speaker, allow me to congratulate the re-election of the Honourable Mr Speaker as an unopposed candidate. I further congratulate the first female Deputy Speaker ever in the Zambian history. The Parliamentary Reforms are really at work. I also extend my congratulations to the Deputy Chairman of Committees for his re-election too. I congratulate both old and new hon. Members of the toughest battle ever met in their lives. This has been one of the heavily contested elections in which some hopefuls have lost confidence and decided to petition. A Bemba proverb says, Uwawa tabula kabepesho meaning that when you tumble, there is a reason. I also congratulate the nominated hon. Members.

Madam Speaker, I would like to express thanks to the people of Chimbamilonga for a good vote to the MMD presidential candidate and myself. It was a heavily contested with the predecessor standing as an independent. I boast as one of the best hon. Members in this election because my campaign was based on party manifesto and not verbal promises.

Mr Sichilima: Tell them.

Mr Sikazwe: Admittedly, not much development has been done in the past, but the Government will focus on the following:

Since 1982, there has never been any follow up in maintenance and rehabilitation works which led the road to be damaged and little or no attention was paid to the gravelling in between years. Now that the road is fully funded from Mporokoso to Kaputa, there should be a reliable and permanent contractor to repaire the road on an annual basis. However, the pace at which Sable Contractor is rehabilitating the road, it is not expected that the road will be completed in time. The cry of the people in the constituency is to tar the Kasama/Kaputa Road as this is would be a life-time solution. The road is a path to gold and an eye opener and enrichment of constituency, district, province and the nation at large. When this is done, we will develop the area.

Madam Speaker, Mukubwe Bridge on Mupandi Road connects Kaputa Constituency and was funded by the Office of His Honour the Vice-President who awarded the contract to Tomorrow Investments. However, I urge the Government to award the contract to the Road Development Agency because of poor work. It is a sin to retard road development. Contractors must move beyond political affiliation when it comes to development

The Katele Feeder Road in Chubo Ward has dangerous broken bridges needing urgent intervention before the on set of the rains. If bridges are not repaired now, it will affect the delivery of agricultural inputs. The hon. Minister of Works and Supply should send a team of experts to make emergency measures. I, therefore, propose the Engineering Squadron in the Ministry of Defence to be attached to my constituency to take contingency measures. People do not want a supplement of relief food because of the good agricultural policies encompassing every farmer nation wide.

The vision of the people of Chimbamilonga is that the Nsumbu and Kabobole Upper Basic schools should be upgraded to high schools like it has been done to other schools. It is very costly to sponsor children to boarding school as compared to the level of the parents’ income today. The two proposed high schools will reduce high illiteracy percentage in this area and the score will be in line with achievements of the Millennium Development Goals. The above schools have rehabilitated infrastructure.

On the question to curb stigmatisation of teachers to rural areas, I propose that the ministry to gives good incentives to teachers so that we do not have a situation where one teacher is running a school. It is not true that schools have poor infrastructure, it is also the attitude of teachers. In fact, sometimes there are premature transfers of teachers. There are twenty-five thatched community schools and two basic schools in my constituency that need maintenance. Community schools should be taken over by Government to relief parents from paying part time and untrained teachers.

The tourism sector is unbelievably under developed. In 1978, the Nsumbu National Park had a larger number of tourists than Livingstone, hence private partnership started to accommodate patrons by building the Ndole Bay Lodge under the management of Cadbury Schweppes. Today, I pronounce highly the abundance of natural resources in their virgin state in this park. There are various breeds of animals and birds to watch and hunt. I advise the hon. Member for Roan to go and learn safari hunting there.

The great waters of Lake Tanganyika support more than 350 species of fish, such as, buka buka, salmon and the Nile perch. This is the bait of anglers worldwide for local and international fishing competition that attracts a lot of tourists to earn the much needed foreign exchange. Millions of dollars are lying on the beautiful scenes of natural beaches and bays along the shores. This untapped resource needs serious publicity only when the constituency is connected to the entire nation and world through television signal, electrification, good roads and communication. I propose to build a second port in Nsumbu because it has close distances to waters of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. This would increase the volume of exports, boost production and create employment in industries. The ministry and the Zambia National Tourist Board should extend tourism attractions in terms of infrastructure rehabilitation like it has been done in Livingstone. They should uplift Kasaba Bay and its golf course.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I am boosting now that Nsumbu Kapishi Hotspring will be the first geothermal project to be done in Zambia through the good governance of the MMD Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that this morning, I met some people from my constituency and they informed me that ZESCO personnel who are supposed to undertake the project are already in the constituency. If this is done, the fishing industry will boom as well as the tourism sector as this was being hindered by the large overhead of generated power.

Madam Speaker, health is a key to any development. And as such, much has been done on the health reforms. For instance, free more Anti-Retro-Viral drugs; free medicines in rural areas and much more need to be done to avoid people cover long distances. Four clinics must be constructed and be top priority for Chimbamilonga Constituency. Mukubwe and Chubo Wards are more than due for this service.

To their advantage the Mukubwe people have moulded and baked bricks. Only extending the hand to receive the contractor and drawing for the clinic before the rains sweep away the bricks. This contractor must be sincere enough to employ and pay adequately the local people in various technical disciplines.

Madam Speaker, I earnestly appeal to the Ministry of Health, donor agencies, NGOs, companies or individuals to come to the rescue of my people by urgently replacing the ambulance that broke down some four years ago and ease the mobility of patients referred to either Kashikishi or Mporokoso hospitals.

Further, I propose the construction of a hospital in Chimbamilonga Constituency equipped with CD4 count, viral load and laboratory test equipment to effect the administration of the Anti Retro Viral therapy. This is on the right track though being compromised by the Opposition.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Communication is a catalyst of any development due to flow of information. Allow me to borrow the word orphan as the status of my constituency in line with this sector in mobile communication by Celtel. In the east is Mpulungu Constituency, west is Kaputa and north is Mporokoso who are being serviced by Celtel. Unfortunately, my constituency is not covered.

Madam Speaker, the people of Chimbamilonga are not as rural as the Opposition might have thought, they are just like people on the Copperbelt and this is why they picked an MMD candidate.

In my constituency, I can boost that more than 2000 people have handsets, which they use when they go into the connected areas. In this vein, the Ministry of Communication must come in and attend to my constituency urgently.

Madam Speaker, I propose that Zamtel should start with the unentered rural areas to boost developmental projects. In my constituency, investors are discouraged by this service too. It is time to serve rural areas and should be supported by this august House – eastern given.

Laughter

Mr Sikazwe: To the hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, I want the ministry to link the constituency to the entire nation through television signal. People of Chimbamilonga need their eyes open and minds moving together with other Zambians.

Madam Speaker, it is now Moses taking us from the yoke of Pharaoh through his Excellency the President and the parliamentarian due to affirmative actions to be taken. Zampost should re-open Nsama Post Office and also open another post office in Nsumbu.

Madam Speaker, being in the lakeshores of Lake Tanganyika and Mweru-Wantipa, people from other constituencies have come in full responding to the good policy of agriculture in Zambia. The people in Chimbamilonga need no more supplements, the relief food from the Vice-President’s Office, what they want is the Food Reserve Agency to buy their surplus today. When others are responding to this better 60 per cent subsidy by the Government, I propose that the department of co-operatives should implement co-operative formation, education and benefits to reach intended people in time. This agricultural policy is there to stay and not any other time apart from this one.

Besides benefiting from the subsidies, people along the shores of Lake Tanganyika are fishermen. Therefore, there must be a re-introduction of loans and fishing equipment.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Madam Speaker, life is good, good water for good health is a millennium development goal, which needs to be met in the near future and through the project like D-Washe. I have this problem of water which I invite the university experts, line ministries and donor agencies to understand the problem of water in Mwembeshi, Mukubwe and part of Nsumbu. We had contractors to dig boreholes, but they have never had chance to get the best water for the people. So, this time, I propose the best-advanced technology which has been a beneficiary of Kapisha peri urban in Nchanga Constituency through the Chinese technology, hear that Hon. Chimumba. JICA and Iris Aid, I extend my invitation as they have done well in this area.

Madam Speaker, markets support the nation’s populace’s life hence these places must be healthy and environmental friendly all the times. People in Nsumbu are proposing and requesting the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to complete funding the market, which is at slab level now. Madam Speaker, I propose that each ward must be given a central place with a good market to increase the tax revenue base for Kaputa District Council.

Madam Speaker, the revisiting of current tax regime in the next budget is not by chance a proponent of the Opposition, but caring ability, attitude and response to the growing economy by the New Deal Government. This party policy is not a replica, but the originator’s voice.

Madam Speaker, Zambia being declared a Christian Nation, entails that the word of God must reach everyone. I propose to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning that the established churches must be put on tax holiday. Even the work of the parliamentarians, ministers and the work force must be offloaded by the next budget, which is due for everyone.

In conclusion, I propose that for effective development in the constituencies the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) must be increased to K500 million for proper development.

Madam Speaker, I wish to state here that the urban constituencies must sacrifice this time so that rural constituencies benefit on capital projects such as roads and health facilities, which they already have in their constituencies.

Madam, I am appealing to this august House that Chimbamilonga must be given a district status. I also beg this august House to debate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as one all the times – Acts 2 verse 12.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda (Chimwemwe): Madam Speaker, I congratulate you for being elected as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. I also congratulate the Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of Committees for being re-elected to this august House. 

Madam Speaker, I thank the President of the Patriotic Front, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata and the Secretary General of the Patriotic Front for giving me another chance to continue my political career in the Patriotic Front. I also thank all Patriotic Front Members for accepting me as one of them.

Hon. Patriotic Front Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: I thank the MMD National Secretary and the Chairman for tolerating me when I was a hon. Member of Parliament for MMD in this House. I also thank them for allowing me to continue my campaign with the President of Patriotic Front in Northern and Southern Provinces without any disturbances of expulsion.

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: Therefore, I urge them to keep it up.

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, my thanks also go to the Patriotic Front President, whom I found wanting to educate all hon. Members of Patriotic Front in there political careers. This was very difficult in MMD because there was nobody to offer wisdom about politics.

Hon. Patriotic Front Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: I urge my friends (Government Members) who want to learn about politics to cross over and join us.

Hon. Patriotic Front Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: I also thank the people of Chimwemwe Constituency who voted for me as their representative. Once more, I thank them for the confidence they gave to me after having all the pitfalls of other developments, which were not done when I was under MMD Party. I thank them for listening to me when I gave them the manifesto of the Patriotic Front. I promise the people of Chimwemwe that I will represent them without any fear or favour in this Parliament because I only fear God.

The people of Chimwemwe have a lot of problems.

Madam Speaker, I would like to start with health. We lack housing units for health personnel in Chimwemwe Constituency. This Constituency has only got one clinic. I wish the Minister of Health was in the House so that he could learn what is happening there. When pregnant women are due, they are told to go with their own small buckets, linen and bottles of jik at the clinic.  At this clinic, there is only one nurse who attends to all due pregnant women. The other problem is that this clinic has got only two beds for admission.

Hon. Government Members: Have you been there?

Mr Nsanda: Yes, I have been there for five years and that is why I defected…

Laughter

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Can we please listen and the hon. Member address the Chair.

Mr Nsanda: Ba Shikapwasha! (pointing at Hon. General Shikapwasha)

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, we have got no mortuary in Chimwemwe. People in this area keep dead bodies in their homes until the next day. This clinic has also got no single ambulance. If you go there and you need admission, you will be told to go back home and come back the following day. Due to this fact, people are dying in their homes. We have got a small hospital in Twatasha, which was financed by ZAMSIF. The problem is that this hospital was only done half way and ZAMSIF is nolonger there.

Madam Speaker, the standards of education in my constituency are very poor. Schools have more untrained teachers than trained teachers. This makes it very difficult for our students to learn properly.

Madam Speaker, youth training is very important in as far as skills are concerned. I know very well that some of the hon. Members of Parliament are going for night school at the University of Zambia, but we need skilled manpower in various activities such as auto mechanics, carpentry and electronics. To develop a country, you need people at the bottom level as well. If we have got no skilled manpower, we are not going get university graduates to change a burnt bulb. We cannot go straight to the higher levels. Therefore, we need the youth training centres to be revamped in Chimwemwe Constituency. These centres used to be there but now, they have been sold. You will find that these structures are now used as taverns. I do not know who empowered them to sell all those youth training centres.

Madam Speaker, my constituency has got a lot of shanty compounds around it. We have got Kamatipa, Zambia and Intimpi compounds. The plots in the shanty compounds are small. Some of them are five metres square apart. The people in these shanty compounds dig wells and put up toilets next to each other.  You will find that as time goes by, these toilets get full and they move to the next slot. You will find that the water they drink gets is mixed up with urine as over time wells and toilets somehow fuse in the ground.

Interruptions

Mr Nsanda: That is why diarrhoea breaks out every now and then in these compounds. No matter how much they try to disinfect this water, people still get sick because of the contaminated ground water. People die because of shortage of medicines in the hospitals.  The consumption of medicine in the hospitals will only be reduced if this Government worked hard and provided good drinking water.

The other problem is that most people sell water in these compounds. The Government has made what they call water kiosks. In these same compounds, we have retirees who cannot afford to buy water for bathing. They are not like us who get paid.

The problem is that our pension is so bad. Some of the people were retrenchees from the farms. They were not earning anything when they came to stand here.

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, the pension system in Zambia is so bad that there is no person who can say that he has received money from NAPSA and his life is well off. There is nothing at all.

Madam Speaker, let me dwell on communication and transport. Communication is a backbone of any economy in the world. Without communication, development cannot be there. Whatever it takes in developing countries, there must be communication. Agriculture, tourism, mining, trade, industry, education, health or sport, all need communication. Even the way we are talking here, it is communication.

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, communication is in the category of telecommunications, where you use telephones, fax, e-mails, satellite and cell phones and some hon. Members like Mr Daka have ten of them.

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, in communications, there is air transport, land transport, water transport, rail and even Scotch carts like we have in Southern Province. All these things I have mentioned have one common factor, fuel.

The fuel tax system has for a long time subjected Zambians to severe economic hardship and suffering. This country has now become famous for having the highest fuel prices in the SADC and COMESA sub-regions.

Mr Mtonga: Zoona!

Mr Nsanda: Our catalogue tax elements and tariff have no mercy and remorse on the Zambian people.

Madam Speaker, fuel levy is a tariff or a user fee that reflects the uses of road direct and has been deemed by the GRZ as suitable source of funds for the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads in the country. As indicated earlier, the fuel levy is provided for in the second schedule, exercise tariffs on the Customs and Exercise Act Cap.322 as amended and is charged on petrol and diesel at 15 per cent.

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: You should listen carefully. Of all the amounts accessed by the ZRA, there is exercisable value terminal. This is arrived at and after charging customs duty at 25 per cent on the cost, insurance and freight of the value of the consignment of petrol or diesel. In the case of the imported fuel or in the case of ZAMOIL terminal, the exercisable value is the Indeni price of fuel that is arrived at after taking into account the cost of processing the crude oil and profit mark up for Indeni.

Madam, if you look at the taxes which have no mercy for all of us here, bring in fuel worth K100 million and put 25 per cent VDP, which is about K25 million and add it up. The exercisable value comes to K105 million. If you compound this again, …

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: If this is compounded and put exercise duty at 45 per cent…

Interruptions

Mr Nsanda: Ufola fye petrol iwe.

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: … it comes to K47,250,000. If you add again, fuel levy at 15 per cent, you will get K15,750,000. If you compound all these taxes again and put them together…

Laughter

Mr Nsanda: What do you mean?

Hon. PF Members: Hammer!

Mr Nsanda: Then add 17 .5 per cent..

Interruptions

Mr Nsanda: Linsten iwe Mpombo. Twakufumishe pambanga iwe.

Laughter

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: It comes to K29,400,000. Then, if you add up this, the price of that fuel you uplifted is K197,400,000 from K100 million.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, the other day the hon. Minister stood on the Floor of this House and said it is because of the other outside factors. These are taxes charged within Zambia. If these taxes were removed, farmers would usetractors at half the price. These factors have doubled the prices of fuel because these taxes are local. Farmers were going to use those tractors at a cheaper price. Price of food would come down. Transport costs for people going for work would also come down because that is a major component that drives the price of fuel and everything.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, the airline you have been boasting of is being subsidised by local trips. If you want to go to Ndola today, you are going to pay U S $125. Yet, if you are going to Journesburg, you are going to pay U S $135 because of the fuel they are buying from here. They cannot compete with British Airways because it is getting fuel from South Africa which is cheaper. These guys are getting expensive fuel from here. I therefore, do not know how long that airline will subsidise itself.

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order! Order! There are really, no guys in this House. Could the hon. Member withdraw that?

Mr Nsanda: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘guys’.

Madam Speaker, when you look at transport and communications, we have left loopholes in this country where foreign truckers using cheaper fuel are coming here to lift our copper to South African when our truckers cannot do the same because it becomes very expensive. You are also not allowed by Daka to go and carry goods from South Africa whilst those people from South African are allowed to pick up goods from here. Therefore, this policy must be checked.

Madam Speaker, in passenger transport, we have teachers and other people like doctors who came do other things, but are now buying minibuses depriving Zambians from doing that business. People came here to do other things, but they are now taking the money out. What investment are they putting in Zambia? We are instead losing day in day out. If somebody buys a bus, he will take the money to his home country. They will not invest anything here. You will only be left with the shell of a bus. After the bus has run for five years, you will just throw it here. We must make sure that people, who come to do particular jobs, do that. What they came here for should not change.
 
They do not involve themselves in the fast growing transport business where accounting for the money is difficult. They will just change the money at a Bureau de Change and the next day the money is gone. If you go to London or China today, you cannot get a license to run a bus because they will not give you. I do not know why you just give anyhow …

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

Mr Beene (Itezhi-tezhi): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for affording me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech. Madam, I would like to join other hon. Members of Parliament in congratulating the Hon. Mr Speaker, you and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House for having been elected. All I can say is to wish you to have the wisdom and God’s guidance in the next five years in guiding this House.

Madam Speaker, may I also congratulate the newly elected Members of Parliament including myself, as well as the nominated Members of Parliament for a job well done!

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: Madam, I would also like to extend my congratulations to the President of the Republic of Zambia for having emerged victorious in the last Tripartite Elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: May I also thank my President of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Mr Hakainde Hichilema, …

Hon. UDA Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: … for having guided the Alliance and brought great victory.

Madam Speaker, may I also thank the people of Itezhi-tezhi Constituency for having made a formed decision for electing me as their Member of Parliament. I want to assure them that I am going to represent them diligently and with respect. I thank them for a job well done.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: Madam Speaker, coming to the speech by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, I want to make some observations on a few issues including tax.

Madam Speaker, it is extremely disappointing to learn that the small number of 300,000 formal workers in this country are lumped with a 37.5 per cent tax to drive the economy of the country. I think that is too much.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Tell them!

Mr Beene: I feel that it is important that the learned Front Benchers have to do something about the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax for the Zambian people.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: Madam, I would like to offer a suggestion to those that sit and draw the budget that it is important that the Government listens to all the stakeholders that add an input into the budget and these are the labour movements, the employers including the hon. Members of Parliament so that reflection what comes from the budget is a reflection of the people.

Mr Habeenzu: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: In that way, we will fulfill the President’s Speech on unity and reconciliation and that will be more meaningful to the budget.

Mr Habeenzu: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: Madam Speaker, on poverty and hunger, the Government has done very little to the people of Itezhi-tezhi District to eradicate poverty. Itezhi-tezhi has abundant resources of water, land, minerals and so on, but it has not received adequate attention from the Chiluba Government as well as the current Government. Itezhi-tezhi is a sub-boma of Namwala and nothing has been done about this.

Mr A. Banda: You were DC there what were you doing?

Mr Beene: Madam Speaker, however, I want to thank the Danish Government for having instituted a K4 billion project in Itezhi-tezhi in order to reduce poverty. Long live the Danish Government!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: On roads and bridges, I wish to say that it is disappointing to note that from the public policy address by the Head of State, no mention was made on the Namwala/Choma and Monze/Choma Roads. The people in this region deserve a decent and all weather roads. People have spoken that these roads are of social economic importance to the region. The Chiluba Government did not do anything we hope that this New Deal Government will do better this time.

Madam Speaker, the Itezhi-tezhi/Mongu Road is a very important road to Itezhi-tezhi because it has the potential to be more than number one to Livingstone as a tourist town in this country. I bear witness to that. This road was last tarred in 1978. It is a 115 kilometres road and this Government has left it unattended to as a result, we have had a lot of accidents. Since the Head of State mentioned something on roads, we hope that something will be done on this road.

Madam, it is also disappointing to learn that as the President talked about transport, there was no mention of railway transport. It is very unfortunate. I do not know whether the Government is avoiding paying terminal benefits to the people in this sector. It is high time we put back the railway transport because it is of great importance to this country.

Madam, on agriculture, I wish to say that the restocking programme going on in Southern Province needs a proper design. Giving 120 animals to Itezhi-tezhi District, the second biggest district in Southern Province to Kazungula, is not adequate. It has just become a source of conflict within communities. If animals were bearing ten calves at a time like pigs do, may be this would have made sense.  Giving one animal to a clan of twenty people on sharing basis is completely unacceptable.

The veterinary and agriculture departments have been left out for a long time without transport. As a result, they cannot go round to vaccinate animals. The Government, instead, has deliberately left this programme to the donors to donate vehicles. This is very unfortunate. The Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives has a responsibility to provide transport to all departments if we are going to do a good job in that field.

This takes me to fisheriesThe Fisheries Department does not have boats neither does it have a department for research. We have to do something about this.

Madam Speaker, on dip tanks, I wish to state that there are no dip tanks in Southern Province. The last time the Government constructed dip tanks, particularly in Itezhi-tezhi, was in 1964. Surely, how do you promote a restocking programme without dip tanks? I, therefore, urge the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives to revisit the dip tanks construction in each district.

On infrastructure, I wish to say that Itezhi-tezhi was a sub-boma of Namwala and the infrastructure which houses Itezhi-tezhi are temporal structures to date. The Government calls it a district with old structures that are temporal. May the Government through the Ministry of Works and Supply do something about that?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: Madam, may I also take this opportunity to request the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to sell the houses to its Generation Transmission Department employees who are staying in them and never benefited from the home empowerment initiative, to help them own houses. Considering the fact that the power station, as mentioned by the President in his speech, will be built by the private sectors then those houses must be sold to the sitting tenants.

Madam Speaker, I want to agree with my colleagues that a lot more needs to be done on education. I just want to draw your attention to the community schools in Itezhi-tezhi, particularly in Kabulungwe Ward bordering Mazabuka, Nangoma and Namwala.

Madam Speaker, in this ward which is as big as Lusaka, there is no clinic. Surely after forty-two years of Independence, we can still have a place as big as Lusaka without a clinic? Something has to be done. People have to be put on the boat on the Kafue River to go to Namwala for medical treatment and some people die on the water.

Madam Speaker, this draws me to the problem where ZAWA has failed to do its obligation of dealing with the crocodiles which have been killing people in Itezhi-tezhi. From the time the dam filled up in 1978, no research was done to see how those reptiles which have been killing people day and night and this is also the case in Siavonga. They have over multiplied, therefore, should be cropped to save lives.

Madam Speaker, on energy and water, it is a welcome move that His Excellency the President mentioned that the power station in Itezhi-tezhi is going to be built, but I would like to say that it is unfortunate that the cost to build that power station will be to much because the Government was not doing anything about it for the past fifteen years. Madam, since that power station was designed, the technology has changed. The intake for the power station exists, but because of that lapse of time, it is going to be expensive and I would like to say that the move is most welcome. We are grateful for that and I hope it will be done.

Madam Speaker, on defence and security, a lot has been said, but I also want to pay tribute to the men and women in uniform. Madam, I want to urge this Government through you that we need those men and women in uniform to have decent accommodation outside compounds. We should build barracks. And also the equipment that they use should be checked because some of the equipment is absolute, the gun’s safety catch cannot work and should be replaced to avoid accidents.

Madam Speaker, on health, the situation in Itezhi-tezhi is that when they are serious cases, we need referrals up to Lusaka and the distance from Itezhi-tezhi to Lusaka is almost 400 kilometers. There is no ambulance at Itezhi-tezhi hospital and I am sure even in other constituencies. Zambia is not just about Lusaka and on this one I would like to say that the Ministry of Health should not only leave such requirements to the donors. These things should be reflected in the Budget of 2007.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Beene: Madam Speaker, I want to thank you and in doing that I would like to say that I will always have time to come and knock on the doors of all the ministries responsible for all these functions.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba (Isoka West): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to make my maiden speech.

Madam Speaker, first and foremost allow me to congratulate you on your election as Deputy Speaker of this House. Allow me in the same vein to congratulate the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Mwanamwambwa on his wisdom in leading this august House. In the same way I congratulate Hon Mukondo Lungu on his re-election as Deputy Chairman of Committees of the whole House.

Madam Speaker, may I, also, take this opportunity to congratulate all hon. Members of this august House on their election. Madam Speaker, allow me to specifically congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC on his re-election as Republican President for the second term.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, his re-election is clear demonstrations of the confidence the people of Zambia have in the MMD policies in general and in his leadership in particular.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Thanks to the good party manifesto. Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the Members of the National Executive Committee for labouring to nominate me so that I could win this seat and become one of the Goliath killers. I am David. I call myself David because I saw one a Goliath who was really hammered. I would like to remind my colleagues here that we have come here to render good wisdom. Intellectual future leaders have to be understood, not only that, we should not boast of being good democrats when we are not because some of the parties have not even gone to a convention…

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, the preamble to my deliberations would not be complete if I did not appreciate the valuable contribution of the people of Isoka West Constituency to this House. The people of Isoka have indeed demonstrated great belief in youth empowerment by sending to this august House a youth.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, I am greatly indebted to them and pledge my total commitment to facilitating improved delivery of desired services through this House. Madam Speaker, this year’s election in the Isoka West Constituency has generated one important lesson that I feel is worth mentioning to this august House. The former Member of Parliament for Isoka West (Mr H.K. Sinkala) willingly decided to step aside and create room for a youth to take over from him.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: His unfailing support throughout the election process, which started with the adoption of the MMD candidate, demonstrates improved democratic transition of leadership in a mature party, the MMD. I wish to recognise this noble gesture.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, the President of the Republic of Zambia, in his speech delivered during the Official Opening of the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly raised a lot of important development issues. I wish to contribute to the debate on this speech as follows:

Madam Speaker, I will start with youth programmes. The Government’s determination to addressing the youths’ economic and social needs through the establishment of the youth empowerment fund provides a source of motivation to me as a youthful Member of Parliament. The rich substance of the Presidential speech delivered during the Official Opening of the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly offers a great challenge to youthful Members of Parliament to facilitate effective and efficient utilisation of the youth empowerment funds and ensure equitable access by all deserving industrious youths.

What is more challenging is the fact that youths in our respective constituencies will need to be prepared in order for them to be able to identify viable projects that would contribute to national development. I will endeavour to achieve this in the Isoka West constituency.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, my appeal to this august House is that we need to support this good Government initiative and several others that are aimed at building the capacity of youths in our country. The people of Zambia through this year’s elections have demonstrated their resolve to kick-start the process of youth empowerment by electing a good number of youthful Members of Parliament. This has also been mirrored in the President’s appointment of a number of youthful Members of Parliament to Ministerial positions.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: It is my prayer that youth ministers perform to the satisfaction of both the electorate and the President of the Republic of Zambia for continued confidence in the youths.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, allow me to thank His Excellency, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., for effectively leading the Government of the Republic of Zambia into a successful implementation of agriculture policy during the 2005-2006 season.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: We have seen great improvement in the food security levels at both household and national levels.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: We have a challenge to safeguard against possible future loss of this achievement by ensuring that all Government programmes earmarked as outlined in the Presidential speech for the agricultural season are fully supported.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, Zambia is characterised by great diversity of agricultural potential. For example, some areas have a relatively high potential for livestock development, some have a higher potential for rain fed agriculture, yet others have a great potential for irrigated agriculture. My district Isoka in particular, enjoys all the above potentials. In fact, for the past many years, Isoka district has been known for its status as the grain basket of the Northern Province. The farmers in the district took great advantage of the Government Fertilizer Support Programme and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) marketing interventions to enhance their resource capacity as evidenced by the huge incomes realised through the sale of over 216,000 bags by 50Kg bags of maize. The farmers still have a lot of unsold bags of maize and other crops, but I know that my listening Government MMD will still find time to ensure that they buy them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, my appeal to the Government on behalf of the people of Isoka is that the fertilizer allocation to the district needs to be increased from the current 720 metric tonnes to 1000 metric tonnes to conform to the productive capacity of the district. My further appeal in this regard, is for the Government to continue increasing the resource capacity of the FRA in order to match the increasing productive capacity of our farmers. Our farmers indeed have recorded increased agricultural management skills as a result of improved extension services delivery by both the Ministry of Agriculture and their collaborating private sector organisations, which has to be sustained.

Madam Speaker, there is need for our Government to intervene in the payment modalities, for marketed agricultural produce. Small-scale farmers have had to wait for their payment for a long period. They spent so much time away from their farms to wait for the hard earned money. This situation robs them of their valuable time to effectively plan for and implement activities for the agricultural season. I know that may be they were somewhere somehow the system had failed us because of the urban law that led to other people wanted to have MMD fail. I know in the coming year we will improve on this as MMD Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: Madam Speaker, in order for the agricultural gains made in Isoka district to be sustainable. The district requires good road infrastructure. The terrain of the district is highly mountainous and so it exposes the roads to high erosive potential. This kind of situation requires a clear and regular road maintenance plan, which I think the Ministry of Works and Supply is very capable to do that.

The specific roads, Madam Speaker, that requires maintenance and urgent attention in my constituency are Sansamwenje/Musindano (RD 69) which is 17.3Km, Mpangala/Chaswata (U 32) which is 10.5Km and we have Muyeleka which is 14.3Km. The main intra township road requires tarring and improving the drainage system which is very poor. This will make the town more conducive for conducting various administrative and business operations.

On health, Madam Speaker, I want to thank hon. Dr Brigadier-General Brian Chituwo in trying to really come to the aid of people of Isoka.

Hon. Government member: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: They gave us a modern hospital with significant patient capacity. However, my appeal to the Government through the new hon. Minister of Health is to consider disbursing the remaining balance of funds as soon as possible to complete the outstanding construction. As evidenced in the Presidential speech, I think the President attaches great importance to health.

Madam Speaker, on education, my constituency Isoka West has undergone significant developments in infrastructure improvement, the education sector in the past fifteen years MMD has been in power. This has been achieved a lot of programmes on education such as through Zamsif programmes and micro-project. Of course, this we cannot even say there is nothing that has been done since MMD came into power. Let us just be straight-forward and shame what others are trying to bring forward. We had Zamsif programmes and micro-projects which were doing something good for us, but here we are trying to blame the Government. I see no reason why we can start becoming critics instead of providing solutions. At least, we are there to commend Government where it is due.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichamba: However, the constituency requires more services from the Government to improve the following schools, which were left during the programme and these are, Nalutete, Myeleka, Chaswata and Naschisitu. The two recent upgraded schools namely; Kampumbu and Kapililonga these require more classroom blocks in order to cope with increased pupil enrolment.

On water and supply, Madam Speaker, the D-washe water project has installed about fifteen boreholes in Isoka West Constituency since 2002, but these are not sufficient to cater for the population of 54,000. My appeal to my listening Government is to allocate resources to the Constituency to sink at least thirty boreholes.

With these few, but important issues raised, I thank Madam Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to debate this motion of thanks of the Presidential speech.

Thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Njobvu (Milanzi) Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech in this august House. In the first place, I would like to thank the Speaker of the House for re-election as Speaker. It is a clear indication that Members of this House have great confidence in the Speaker and his work. Those of us who are new to this august House look forward to learn from him. I also wish to thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees for their well-deserved election. I am sure that together you will steer this ship well to the satisfaction of the people of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, I wish to thank my party, UNIP and UDA, for adopting me as their candidate for Milanzi Constituency.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Njobvu: For the people of Milanzi, I salute them for overwhelmingly voting for me and my presidential candidate Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Njobvu: Madam Speaker, allow me to also extend my thanks to the campaign team which worked tirelessly to ensure that I win.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Njobvu: Madam Speaker, the people of Milanzi Constituency abandoned in the middle of the hunger period, at a time when they needed their representative most will never have that experience again. I want to assure them that they now have someone who will never abandon them during bad or good times.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Madam Speaker, the President, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC, called for unity and reconciliation in his opening speech. He further said that his administration was for all Zambians regardless of political affiliations.

Madam, our hope is that the President means well and I would like to appeal to all hon. Members of this august House, especially, those in the Ruling Party, to take this call seriously and act accordingly.

Madam Speaker, allow me to dwell on more specific issues.

Milanzi, like the rest of Eastern Province and indeed, any other rural area in this country is predominantly, agricultural. The majority of people depend on agriculture as it is the main source of income. Since the coming into power of the MMD Government in 1991, agriculture in the province and Milanzi constituency, in particular, has greatly suffered due to poor agricultural policies introduced by this Government. Despite good rains and the hard work by our people, there has been little benefit to our people.

Madam Speaker, production of crops like groundnuts, sunflower, soyabeans and hybrid maize has declined in Milanzi as a result of unfavourable policies.

Madam, the marketing arrangements for inputs and farm produce have been a total disaster since the MMD took over Government. From my research experience, late supply of inputs has been common while the distribution of inputs has been erratic or heavily politicised. The co-operative movement that served farmers collapsed due to politicisation.

Madam Speaker, the current agriculture marketing system is a perfect environment for poverty creation as it has exposed our farmers to the worst form of exploitation. Farmers are literally forced to give away their produce for nothing. It is now a common cite along the Great East Road to see our farmers with tones of farm produce, trying to ferry it to Lusaka and other urban centres because they cannot easily sell their produce.

Madam, the Food Reserve Agency has not performed well. This year’s marketing season has been disastrous. FRA is being used to implement policies that subsidise urban consumers. Farmers are being asked to travel long distances to the Boma to sell their crops, especially this year. To make matters worse, those farmers who are poor cannot even sell one bag of maize. Why is this Government doing this to its citizens? Where is the logic in asking farmers to produce more if the Government cannot provide a better market arrangement? For me, this is a perfect example of a policy which only benefits capitalist exploiters and perpetuates poverty and hunger.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Njobvu: Madam Speaker, I am sure that hon. Members of this august House are happy to note that the current hon. Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives has been in the Zambia National Farmers Union for a long time. He even formed a political party called Lima Party.

Laughter

Mr Njobvu: We can only hope that he will use his back ground and experience to influence the Government to revise and improve the agriculture policies to help Zambian small scale farmers.

Madam, although the President spoke of success in the agriculture sector, it becomes difficult to understand and appreciate that when peasant farmers in Milanzi Constituency are not growing the crops that they used to grow some twenty years ago. The people of Milanzi are keenly watching what this Government is going to do to improve agriculture. His Honour the Vice-President, Mr Banda, not only understands the problems of agriculture marketing very well, but also appreciates the environment in which rural people live. It is our hope that through his experience at Namboard, the marketing system in the country will improve. We would like to see the Crop Marketing Authority Act brought back to this House to be enacted into law because the Food Reserve Agency has failed to meet the needs of our farmers in as far as crop marketing is concerned.

Madam, allow me to talk about co-operative movement and the subsidy system in the country. Zambia had the most vibrant co-operative movement during the UNIP Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Njobvu: These were created, not only to provide efficient marketing arrangement but they also provided employment for people, both n rural and urban areas. The best examples that I can think of include, Southern Province Co-operative Union, Eastern Province Co-operative Union, Central Province Co-operative Union and Northern Province Co-operative Union.

Madam Speaker, all these unions are not functioning well. All we hear now are farmer groups. I do not understand what they mean. I do not know whether they are different from co-operative movement or not. However, these farmer groups are not using the marketing arrangement properly.

Madam, the agriculture subsidy system in this country lives much to be desired. It is important to note that our development partners from the developed world provide subsidies to the farming community in their countries. In some cases, some governments request their farmers not to produce a crop but make arrangements to pay the farmers for not producing. These development partners would like our Government to remove subsidies while they provide subsidies to their farming sectors in their countries. Where is the logic here?

With regard to the rural road network and the status of feeder roads in my constituency, feeder roads and bridges in Milanzi and indeed, in all the other rural areas in Zambia are very critical, not only for the development of the agriculture sector but also for reducing rural poverty and hunger. These facilitate movements of people and marketing of farm produce.

Madam, the state of feeder roads in Milanzi Constituency is deplorable. Most of them are gullies and are impassable. The situation is worse during the rain season. In Milanzi Constituency, feeder roads have not been rehabilitated since 1991, when the MMD came into power.

This Government is only focusing on rehabilitating roads connecting towns and not the roads in rural areas. From my research, it is clear that this Government has no clear policy on how roads should be maintained. As a result, you see a lot of fire-fighting approach to roads infrastructure maintenance. It is either they are reacting to a disaster or they are fighting a by-election. I wish to suggest that this Government should learn to draw up sustainable maintenance programmes to should benefit the people regardless of their political affiliation.

Madam Speaker, I would like to touch on a very important issue critical to the development of the agriculture sector. These are farmer training institutes. The institutes throughout the country have become redundant as they are not being used for the purpose they were established for. As a result, many farmers have fallen back to traditional methods of farming. I appeal to the Government to look seriously at this issue and act quickly to ensure that these institutions are put to good use.

Education facilities in Milanzi have continued to deteriorate. Many schools in the area have been affected. I wish to appeal to this Government to make some efforts and find funds for the rehabilitation of schools and teachers houses.

Madam Speaker, I can not leave this subject without touching on university education. Many Grade 12 school leavers do not have access to university either because there are few university places or because the affected pupils have no money to pay for university education. In addition, educational facilities at the University of Zambia have continued deteriorating including library books and accommodation. Currently, nine or ten students are sharing one small room and take turns sleeping on one bed and yet the land close to the University of Zambia has been taken over by people who have no interest for university education. I wish to appeal to the Government to take seriously the issue of university education by ensuring that more universities are opened up to keep pace with the population growth. I wish to join those who suggested earlier that the former Citizenship College should be turned into a university. In addition, I further suggest that the Natural Resources Development College be turned into a university.

While we acknowledge the important role science and technology plays in social economic development, the country has not been investing adequately in the development of science and technology. Under the UNIP Government, we saw a number of products coming out of the local innovation by science and technology institutions. Unfortunately, the country has not built on this innovation since the MMD came into power. Our co-operating partners have not shown interest in the development of the local science and technology sector. Their focus, as indicated by their contribution in the Draft 5th National Development Plan, is more on social sciences.

The stabilised soil cement building technology being promoted by UNZA is a technology that can enable the country to build more schools and clinics cheaply. However, the Government has shown no interest in this technology while individuals are heaping huge savings in construction costs owing to this same technology.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the problem of street children and orphans is no longer a problem of the urban population. The effects of HIV/AIDS have spread into rural areas whereby it is increasing the population of orphans. Milanzi Constituency has not been spared by this pandemic. The population of orphans has increased in the constituency and they need support for their education.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, allow me to make specific suggestions for improving the lives of people in Milanzi Constituency and indeed in all other constituencies in this country:

(a) The Government should give priority to reducing distances to schools and health care facilities;
(b) The Government should make an effort to rehabilitate feeder roads and must not only focus on urban roads;
(c) The Government should improve access to clean water by digging more boreholes;
(d) The Government should re-examine the agricultural marketing system if rural farmers have to be helped to reduce poverty;
(e) The Government should re-examine its position on the co-operative movement and ensure that they are adequately supported;
(f) The Government should provide adequate subsidies for agriculture; and
(g) The existing health care facilities will need to be upgraded.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Ms Tembo): Madam Speaker, to begin with, allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., on his re-election for a second term as Republican President. This is a sign of how much confidence Zambians have in him as their leader and indeed in the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy.

Madam Speaker, allow me also to thank the President for appointing me as Deputy Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources. I plegde to do my best for the people of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: May I also congratulate you and the Honourable Mr Speaker on your election to your esteemed positions. May I, at this stage, also thank the people of Kasenengwa Constituency for voting for me as their area Member of Parliament. May I also congratulate the Chief Whip, Deputy Chairman of Committees and hon. Members for having been elected to this House.

People of Kasenengwa Constituency have commended President Mwanawasa and the Government for prioritising agriculture. As the President said in his speech at the official opening of the First Session of the 10th National Assembly, farmers who include the people of my constituency performed extremely well in the 2005/2006 season.

This has been due to the good MMD New Deal Government policies in agriculture. Thanks for the improved delivery of fertiliser too, which has stimulated production. I agree with the President that despite achieving hunger yields, we still need to do more to ensure that agriculture booms. To this end, infrastructure development such as road improvement is critical.

As Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa Constituency, I will work hard to ensure that all feeder roads are graded in my area. This will help open up impossible roads and make it easier for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to access and buy produce, and in so doing, motivate farmers to produce even more.

Madam Speaker, we welcome the idea of rural marketing schemes, as this will help FRA to reach all points to collect agriculture produce.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: The FRA has to be capacitated in order to pay farmers on time.

Madam Speaker, let me also highlight farmers’ complaints about the need to revise cotton and tobacco prices. Farmers feel that their produce is under-valued and are now calling for higher prices. It is important that something is done quickly so that the morale by farmers to produce more of these crops is not dampened. I am happy that the Government is adequately addressing this issue.

Madam Speaker, the New Deal Government programmes on education and health are slowly bearing fruit in my constituency. However, there is still need for more schools, hospitals and a secondary school is also needed. If we have to achieve the millennium development goals as a country,

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: …it is important that special attention is given to education.

Madam Speaker, I am aware of water problems in my constituency. People in my constituency need safe drinking water if we are to avoid waterborne diseases, and avoid high costs associated with treating communicable diseases. As Government, we will ensure that a preventive health is promoted to so that our people can be productive because we know that health is wealth.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: Madam Speaker, HIV/AIDS still remains a big challenge among my people. Very few people have access to information on HIV/AIDS. Only a few Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like the World Vision, is in my constituency while many of them prefer to concentrate their activities in urban areas. My challenge is for these NGOs to venture into rural areas and complement Government’s efforts in delivering social services to our people.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: Madam Speaker, I am however, happy to report that people living with HIV/AIDS have access to free Anti-Retro-Viral Drugs (ARV) provided by the New Deal Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: There are 256 people on ARVs in Kasenengwa Constituency. With more information on HIV/AIDS, many people would have decided to know their status.

As a woman Member of Parliament and a person that has been involved in community work for a long time, I promise to improve living standards for vulnerable groups like women and children, by working with all those who offer themselves to lift the living standards of our people.

Madam Speaker, my area is rich in mineral deposits. Unfortunately, women have never benefited from these resources. I recognise the need to provide a micro finance facility to fund women who may wish to venture into mining. In my view, this facility should be exclusively for women.

I would also like to see the creation of a bank for women. Such a bank should address women’s needs and provide them with financing without asking for such things as collateral.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: In conclusion, the New Deal Government deserve a special praise for the bold economic measures taken to reverse the economy.

Dr Machungwa: You started it.

Ms Tembo: The qualifying to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), the coming down of interest rates, reduction of inflation to a single digit, and improvement in copper production, are all positive economic indicators, which are promising to make life better for our people.

In an effort to ensure that Zambians are economically empowered, the Government has introduced various initiatives. One of them is the Tourism Credit Fund and the Forest Credit Fund respectively under my ministry.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: These, Madam Speaker, are opportunities we should, as leaders, bring to the attention of our people and encourage them to take advantage of. This Government has attached a great importance to the promotion of tourism as a second most important mainstay of the economy after agriculture. Let us therefore, ensure that we all work hard, and bring the fruits of good economic policy into our constituencies for the benefit of our people.

To do this, we must, as our President advised, embrace peace, reconciliation and harmony.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Tembo: No development can take place without co-operation of everyone.

We may belong to different parties, but at the end of the day, our mission is mandated to serve the people of Zambia regardless of their political affiliation.

In conclusion, let me congratulate all women in the august House for the job well done for it was not easy – it took the boldness which God put in us to be able to withstand the pressure. I hope and trust that we will work together as women.

With these few words, I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech and also add a voice of Kantanshi to the Presidential Speech.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate you, Mr Speaker, and the Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House on the way you were chosen. Definitely, having been chosen in that manner, it shows the confidence that we all have in you. The onus is on you now and your team to show the 11 million Zambians out there that after all, you were the best choices for your positions.

Madam Speaker, allow me to congratulate all the hon. Members who were legally elected and made it to this House. Those who were …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Madam Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, before we went on break, I was saying, allow me to congratulate all hon. Members who were legally elected and made it to this House, especially our female counter parts who fought a little harder than the male counter parts due to the huddles, traditional barriers and beliefs they faced. To you, I say, “Well done.”

Madam Speaker, it is important to note that unless the Lord builds the House, the builders labour in vain and unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen watch in vain.

I therefore thank the Lord Almighty who allowed me to be here to represent and serve the people of Zambia and Kantanshi.

Madam Speaker, the intelligent electorates of Kantanshi, during the campaign went out shouting, “Ubwato, ubwato” and “Amaka kubantu” meaning “The boat, the boat and power to the people”. Little did I know that this time around, they were more focused and serious than ever before in their choices. So, on the election day, they turned out in numbers and chose the Patriotic Front and My President, Mr M.C. Sata for Zambia and totally rejected the MMD and it’s mediocrity.

Hon. Patriotic Front Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, they gave me more than twelve thousand votes plus with the closest rival from the MMD with a meagre four thousand plus votes. From this result, it was a clear victory in any meaningful democracy.

Hon. Patriotic Front Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: To the lovely people of Kantanshi who pay taxes and know the pain that goes with paying of tax and who understand what it feels to pay tax, I say, thank you once again. My pledge to them is that I will be their voice in this august House. I will be failing in my duties if I do not thank the entire Patriotic Front leadership and membership starting with my President, Mr M. C. Sata for allowing me to represent PF in Kantanshi. Yes, the people had many choices and they would have chosen anybody. Thank you to you, Sir.

I thank my beautiful wife Elizabeth and children, Mukaya, Mapesho, Natasha and Waluse, for their understanding and encouragement through and through.  Without them, this year’s elections campaign and victory would have been impossible to attain.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: You have given me another debt this year, which will be difficult to reimburse.

Madam Speaker, forty-two years, after independence, the poverty levels in our country are still high with about 70 per cent of the people living below the poverty datum line. Definitely the people who fought this independence and even died for it would not have died had they known that forty-two years later, the country would still be struggling with the basics such as shelter, water and unemployment.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: This is because those in power have continued to perpetuate regional and tribal politics of poverty with the hope of using it against the poor majority during elections.

Madam Speaker, on the Copperbelt, we wonder whether the saying, which goes, ‘rules are made by the elite for the fools to follow stewards’ is genuine. I say so because during the election campaign period, our opponents broke nearly every piece of electoral code of conduct but no action was taken against the culprits, despite the complaints. At times, I agree with the saying that, “chawamina mbuzi kugunda galu, ngati galu aluma mbuzi, nimulandu chifukwa abola chigumba gazi yachoka”. This literally translates that, “It is better for a goat to bite a dog if the dog bites the goat, it is a problem because it breaks the skin blood come out.”

Madam Speaker, we have only one Zambia and one nation and God is not in the process of manufacturing other nations. He has stopped doing that. It is for this reason that Zambia will always be for Zambians regardless of their colour, tribe and political affiliation. Our debates in this house will be futile if at the end of the day, we fail to deliver as the Government and meet the aspirations of the Zambians and bring the necessary development in our country.

Madam Speaker, the problems experienced by Kantanshi are as a result of poor Government policies and privatisation. Before privatisation of the mines, life in Kantanshi depended on ZCCM. This to us was like a mother is to a child. We were employed and accommodated by ZCCM. We ate food from the mine farms. We were clothed by mine shops. Our children went to mine schools and recreation clubs. Our wives went to mine hospitals and social clubs. Life around us was ZCCM though and through. When the mine started experiencing problems due to lack of capitalisation, it was clear that there was no option but to privatise the mines.

The Chiluba administration privatised the mines and sold the houses to sitting tenants.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: Those agreements and contracts entered into with the new mine owners needed fine-tuning as time went by. This was to be done by the Mwanawasa administration, but eight years later, nothing tangible has been seen.

To date, the Government claims to be still studying the tax concession arrangements with the new owners, with an aim of reviewing. Meanwhile, Zambians continue to lose revenue. Reviewing this for six years, does not show seriousness and efficiency in the running of Government. The Government boasts of our country trying to take progressive strides to becoming a copper mining giant Zambia used to be. How can we boast of this when we are not benefiting as much as we want and when our own miners working on these mines still continue to be marginalised? How can we boast when their working conditions have been reduced to that the mere labourers in their own country regardless of their qualification and experience? Even their salaries depend on the colour of the skin. The lighter the skin the better. An expatriate continues to get almost ten times the Zambian and Government continues to stand aloof or just offer lip service.

Madam Speaker, the living standards of people on the Copperbelt is so bad. We have more bars than industries because people want to be drinking so that they forget about the problems that they have. The Republican President pronounced that Ndola and Luanshya are tax free zones but nothing has happened. Everything has been lip serviced.

In towns, we have more street kids than shoppers in the morning. This is what this Government has achieved. How can you progress with such an arrangement? The mining industry has been flooded with foreigners in the name of offering expertees to the already knowledgeable Zambians. Even the jobs that can efficiently and effectively be done by locals are now being done by the so-called expatriates and mostly, these are relatives of the foreign managers on the mines.

Hon. Opposition Member: Company drivers!

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, what expertees do you need to dig a trench and stone pitch a drain? At times, I wonder whether there is a department which scruitinises the work permit request. It is important to have this department because it protects the Zambians and approves only permits that are necessary. Forty-two years after independence, this Government still believes that there are jobs on the mines that cannot be done by indigenous Zambians. How can we do this when we have qualified personnel on the streets, who have literally become, for a lack of a better term, street parents?

Madam Speaker, we have heard of late that now miners are being offered a chance to learn the Spanish language so that they can safely communicate with the so called experts from Peru who do not understand English. Definitely, one wonders which language is used when interviewing people like this for the jobs in Zambia. How can a miner be reduced to such a level in his own country and yet the Republican President continues to plead with these investors to better the conditions of service for miners. According to him, he has been pleading for ten months now.

Madam Speaker, what bothers me most is the way it has taken the President to plead as though there is no Minister in charge. Secondly, do we have adequate labour laws in this country these these investors should follow in formulating their labour policies? Why plead with an investor who has compromised the safety of our people let alone cause massive deaths on the mines?

If these investors do not follow the rules of the game, action should be taken. There are no sacred cows. If there are the so-called investors who cannot comply, whether they are at Kamwala or Chambeshi, should be asked to leave. Zambia needs credible investors that will respect the locals and benefit Zambians first.

Madam Speaker, Zambians have been taken for granted for a long time. Why should an artisan rigger or Secoma driver come from Republic of South Africa when a lot our own are jobless and are dying on the streets? Why should a Zambian be out of employment to give way to a foreigner?

The Government needs to resolve these thorny issues urgently. We are tired of Government studying issues and we are tired of seeing workshops and seminars because we have seen this for a long time. It is now time for action. Zambia should act so that we move forward.

Madam Speaker, I also suggest strongly that no job on the mines should be offered to any foreigner outside Zambia before the job is being first advertised in Zambia and that there are should be enough proof that there is no Zambian capable of doing the job, for any job that is to be advertised outside the country.

Madam Speaker, the same applies to the maintenance contracts. No contract should be offered to a foreign company before exhausting our Zambian Market. I know of jobs for stone pitching a drain and concreting a workshop floor, which were given to foreign companies when our very own are able to do those jobs. Madam Speaker, sanity should return to the area.

Madam Speaker, the miners that crossed over to Mopani Copper Mines Plc from ZCCM during privatisation have never received their terminal benefits. They need their terminal benefits. Their money is still kept for them in trust by this Government.

Madam Speaker, Even when there has been an increase in copper prices on the world market, Mopani Copper Mines has reaped abnormal profits, but nothing has been done. If you look at the copper prices on the world market, what actually has happened is that they stand at U S $7,500 per tonne. During privatisation, there were U S $1,800 per tonne. They have definitely reaped abnormal profits. Why can they not pay the miners? I would therefore, like to urge the hon. Minister of Mines to assist in this matter. Miners can no longer send their children to decent school and colleges for lack of money. Miners need money plus interest. This New Deal Government has given the miners a Raw Deal. Once again, the dealers have failed to deliver.

Madam Speaker, issuance of title deeds is another issue. The people who bought ex-ZCCM housing units need title deeds as a sign of ownership. It is their right and not a favour. Again, it has taken this Government eight years. It has failed to generate a mere paper in the name of a title deed. Where is equity in the distribution of services? How can wealth be shared when others are marginalised?

Madam Speaker, coming to hospitals, the Government had done well in transforming those beautiful ex-ZCCM hospitals into special medical museums. I say so because the Government hospital in my areas is currently struggling.

Madam Speaker, Ronald Ross Hospital used to be one of the best, but now does not even have adequate drugs, linen or medical staff.

More people die in this hospital today then ever before due to lack of adequate drugs. Most patients are afraid of going to the hospital because the hospital has nothing to offer other than a decent death.

Madam Speaker, if no one is admitted in this hospital, he or she is expected to take his or her own beddings from home whilst he is admitted in this hospital. After being discharged, one takes this linen back home. In the process, diseases are transferred from the hospital to home and the cycle continues. Where is hospital hygiene?

Madam Speaker, hard working doctors, nurses and paramedics are terribly frustrated. This is even worse for the patients because at times it takes hours to see a medical doctor. And the medical staff work so hard for so little. Even straight-forward things like allowances are difficult to obtain. This depends on the last employer. If you are an ex-ZCCM worker, then, you are not entitled to housing allowances but, instead, you are entitled to housing maintenance allowance. What type of administration is this?

Madam, if the problems faced by this hospital are man made, why not get rid of the culprits? Even general workers work in fear. If one complains about his or her working condition, the next day he would be transferred. At times, abnormal transfers by immediate supervisors are effected. For example, a maintenance supervisor would be transferred from grass cutting to be a mortuary attendant. What management is this?

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: I therefore, request this Government to quickly move in and resolve the Ronald Rose saga and all under hand and corrupt tendencies must come to an end and be exposed. Complaints have been given, but Government has failed to take any action for many years. The workers are tied of being swindled. As for the ratio of doctors to patient, there are abnormal. What can doctors and nurses do if the hospital lacks drugs and equipment? Yet, choruses are being sang in higher hospitals about how much they are going to source so that their problems can be resolved. Choruses are sang by the choir master in the name of dear brother Tetamashimba.

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: If the reason for not having drugs and linen is not inefficiency, but lack of funds, then, the Ministry of Health ought to review its allocation to this hospital. Maintaining a first grade referral hospital in this manner is reducing it to a special walk-in-mortuary where patients just go for a decent death so that when he dies from there it will be said that he died in hospital.

Laughter

Madam Speaker, on the national road network, the problems cannot be over emphasised. This country experiences poor maintenance hence, a lot of works on these roads. The question is that on whose expense are these reworks done? I hope it is not on the taxpayers.

Madam Speaker, at this point let me thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia for the new method of road maintenance introduced by him.  What I am trying to say is that the maintenance of roads is only during election campaigns.

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: The people of Kantanshi are even proposing to have elections every year because they have seen development during election campaigns. They would rather have elections every year so that development can be seen.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: Madam Speaker, When His Excellency the President came to Mufulira to campaign he came with a Chinese Contractor who resurfaced Buteko Road in four hours, but PF is saying ninety days. However, I am disappointed because this exercise was a waste of taxpayers and donor funds because the road resurfaced was in a better state than others in other townships that are still impassable to date.

Secondly, the resurfacing works are still incomplete more than thirty days after the elections. Therefore, we urge the Government to bring back the contractor to finish off the works properly because in its current state, the road is a safety hazard just increased our vehicle maintenance costs.

Madam Speaker, we would also like to urge the Government not to pay this Chinese contractor for the substandard works until he finishes the resurfacing works to the satisfaction of Zambians or else the people of Kantanshi will sue the contractor for substandard works and claim vehicle maintenance costs.

Madam Speaker, the system of pretending to be either grading or resurfacing roads or electrifying selected townships just for elections purposes should be condemned and condemned absolutely. I saw in Lupososhi, Kankoyo and Kantanshi. It is for this reason that I expected His Excellency President to tell the nation during the Official Opening of this House what percentage is complete of the projects he mentioned i.e. the pedicle roads and Chembe Bridge going to be completed?

Muchinji Railway was even omitted. We want to know more about these projects because they started a long time ago. Some started in 1974 hence we need to know exactly what is going on.

When it comes to the Constitution of Zambia, I am disappointed that today we are saying that the people are pushing this Government and yet it is the Government that made a commitment that they will be able to finalise on the constitution by 2005. Madam, the people of Kantashi want a new constitution not in 2015, but now!

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

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

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Mulongoti): Madam Speaker, let me start by thanking you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the speech delivered by the President of the Republic of Zambia on the opening of the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly.

Madam, I would like to take the opportunity to join my colleagues who have already extended their congratulations to the Speaker for being re-elected as Speaker of this Assembly. Personally, I welcome his re-election because he is a symbol of stability and with his experience, the House will benefit quite a lot.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: I would also like to thank him because at the time we were expelled from this House seven years ago, he stood by us. He did not allow us to be expelled from this House. He also defended the Parliamentary Reforms when they were just beginning. There were a lot of apprehensions because some people thought that through those Parliamentary Reforms, there was a possibility that the status quo would be disturbed.

I must also thank him for providing very good nutrition because when we first came here, some of the faces I am seeing were looking quite emaciated.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: However, within these days we have been here, I am seeing changes …

Laughter

Mr Sichilima: Kambwili!

Mr Mulongoti: … that are beginning to worry me because morphologies are beginning to show …

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti … and contours in the appropriate places are coming.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: It may be necessary to find a tailor because I can see that some clothes are beginning to hang inappropriately.

Laughter

Hon. Government Member: Nsanda!

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, I am glad that the Hon. Mr Speaker has been retained because I see a lot of angry debaters on the other side. What they are angry about I do not know.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: It seems that speaking is difficult, but shouting is a norm.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Maybe it is an indication that where they are coming from there is no dialogue, other than shouting sessions.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, let me also congratulate you on your election to this high office. We know you are a team player and we have confidence in your abilities. The fact that you won again in your constituency, is a mark of good leadership.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: We are proud of you.

Let me also congratulate the Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House who is a man of all seasons and we applaud his tenacity.

We would also like to thank the Clerk and the Clerks-At-The-Table of this National Assembly, we pride in your professional approach.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Some of the hon. Members you are seeing want to pretend that they know, but I can assure you that they do not know.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: I heard Hon. Nsanda, I do not know why he has run away, chastise those who are going to school. However, the difficulty is that some of them carry the Standard 6 school certificate acquired many years ago and cockroaches have been playing with them. If you were to request that they come with their certificates…

Laughter

Interruptions

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, I was only responding because the hon. Member was against those who are going to university to study. I say that you do not rely on old qualifications you need to improve.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa: Bushe kukalipa nga niwe Standard 2?

Mr Mulongoti: Madam, this House is the highest House in the land where we must come and debate issues that affect the development of our country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Shakafuswa: Imwe ba Standard 2 why are you annoyed?

Mr Mulongoti: The problem is that when you come into the House believing that your agenda is the only one that must succeed, you will end up having difficulties. Because when time is given for you to speak, we also listen, and we hope that when it is our turn to speak, you too have the decency to listen.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: I would like to thank the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC., for nominating …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: … and appointing me as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. I would also like to congratulate my fellow Members of the MMD who won very clearly.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: We know that the MMD is a democratic party. We won on a force of argument and not a force of violence and cheating.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: We did not promise heaven on earth.

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Cheating is an unparliamentary word. Withdraw it.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: My apologies Madam Speaker. I am making my maiden speech I know that as I speak I will make mistakes. I am thankful for your guidance.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Member: That is a wise man!

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, I have been very reluctant to speak because during the campaign we did a lot of debating. Unfortunately, mourning has still continued in some quarters.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti:  I want to assure them that in a democratic dispensation, mourn for a short period so that you can concentrate on development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Kambwili: Nomba naishiba you are dangerous!

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, Zambia is a democratic country and we have three arms that we must protect. We have the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. However, the trend that we are seeing is that people want to believe that they can sustain democracy without defending these institutions of democracy. The three pillars must be defended at all costs. Why is it that we are witnessing attacks on the Judiciary? We will fight to defend your rights, to be presumed innocent until proved guilty, but we will also fight to ensure that if you are found guilty you go to prison.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: When you begin to put pressure on the Judiciary to intimidate them because you think that by putting pressure you will get away from your plunder, I can assure you, this is a fight that we will not allow you to win because we believe Zambia must be ruled by the rule of law.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: In any country where the impartial arbiters who are the judges of the courts, magistrates and the lot are intimidated, you are calling for the rule of the jungle. We do hope that those of you who have made mistakes, either by accident, or because by nature you are dishonest …

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: … you must be ready to face the music. When you begin to make allegations that there is selective prosecution of plunderers, you should specify. Selective by who? At the end of the day all of us must submit ourselves to be answerable to the people of Zambia.

This is why in court it is you versus the people of Zambia. When we were campaigning, we heard people saying that they will stop the prosecutions.

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: We quickly went to check …

Interruptions

Madam Speaker: Order! Can you allow the Chair to listen? The hon. Member on the Floor should also face the Chair and debate through the Chair.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, I am grateful for that wise counsel. When we went to check the list of those who were contesting elections on some of these political parties, we were frightened because even if they had won, they would have served for very short periods because the law was on their backs. If you want to accuse others of not following the law, you should come to the table with clean hands. How is it possible that you want to form Government, but you bring to the table people who are being prosecuted and in large numbers? One or two, you could say maybe they slipped through your process. But when they are more than ten, what kind of Government are you trying to form?

Madam Speaker, at the end of the day, the people of Zambia said to us in the MMD, ‘we will give you another mandate so that you complete the task of arresting all those who plundered’.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: The people of Zambia have said, ‘ MMD you have good policies, MMD you have not completed your assignments, we have listened to all these, but we are going to settle for you because you show promise’.

Interruptions

Mr Kambwili: Katele Kalumba should also be arrested.

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, is it possible that in this century when the University of Zambia has produced so many graduates excluding those who come from some political parties where they think education is not enough …

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: … how is it possible, Madam Speaker, that in a country which has produced a President who is a graduate from a local University, we can turn the clock and begin to fish in the dark for the nearest available?

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, as a country we must move on. Those of us who had opportunities to sit at meetings and summits where president’s of the sit, the first question you ask yourself is, if the other gentleman was my president, how would I feel being here.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, we do not mean that we have no respect for human beings, but in every situation, there must be positive discrimination. If they say they are looking for engineers and you are a technician, do not go there.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Because if you go there, you will start saying, ‘I have been discriminated’. Did you not read the advertisement? It said engineer.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, the people of Zambia have said we must move on because that is the only way you can understand things that are complex. No wonder you can start to celebrate that you have won before you see the statistics.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: And when we correct you that these are just partial results you become violent.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, this is what it means when you do not understand.

Hon. Government Members: Tell them!

Mr Mulongoti: I saw a letter written by a researcher, Dr Something, to the European Union saying there is rigging. He was saying the results are being whatever. You see, do not give education a bad name.

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: For us in the MMD we respect quality, this is why our President is a lawyer, quality.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Opposition members: Ah!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Interruption

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Deputy Speaker, I have been forced to speak because I have been silent ever since the election results.

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: I wanted to allow my friends time of mourning, but it looks like they have been mourning for too long.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: We want to remind them that the people of Zambia have spoken, and they have said the party of their choice is the MMD.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: Those of you who are aggrieved, you told us during the campaign about casualisation and so on and we heard, now, find new things to tell us.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: You are playing the same song.

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: The record is now not playing correctly.

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: How can you run out of ideas so quickly?

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: We have five years.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Address the Chair, please.

Mr Mulongoti: We want to see this House enjoy the debates. It looks like those who have run out of ideas …

Mr Kambwili: It is the worst speech this year.

Mr Mulongoti: ….just cry babies, cry babies.

Hon. Opposition Member interjected.

Mr Mulongoti: We want you to challenge us intellectually.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: The hon. Mr Speaker, said, if you have nothing to say keep quiet.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: We want you to challenge us so that when you say this is the issue, we say yes they mean well, …

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: … not when they speak we wonder what they are trying to say.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Do not force us into those corners to check on what you are trying to say.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: All those issues you told us during the campaign we have heard. Stop about that, we want new issues.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: If you have no new issues then listen to us …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: …because the challenge of delivery is with us and we know what the people of Zambia want. They want good roads, employment, education, good health and good water. Now, you did not come here for the purpose of reminding us about the same issues.

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: The reason we won is because we listened and we went back to the public and told them that what they were saying …

Interruptions

Mr Mulongoti: … we are able to do …

Hon. Government Members: Yes.

Mr Mulongoti: … and the people of Zambia listened and accepted our commitment.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: The social contract is with us.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Unless you co-operate with us …

Hon. Government Member: Yah!

Mr Mulongoti: … you will have difficulties.

Laughter

Hon. Government Member: Bwekeshapo.

Mr Mulongoti: … because the treasury is in our hands.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: The institutions of governance are with us.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: All you can do is talk, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: … but we have the resources.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulongoti: Without co-operation with us you are in trouble.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Deputy Speaker, ….

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: We will walk out.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Hon. Minister, …

Hon. Opposition Members: We will walk out.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Order! This is a time for maiden speeches and I urge you, hon. Member, to moderate your speech so that the others can listen to what you are saying.

Interruptions

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! You do not speak in this House when the Chair is up standing and guiding the House. So, hon. Minister moderate your speech and please continue.

Mr Mulongoti: Madam Speaker, may I end by …

Hon. Government Members: Ah! Continue! Hammer!

Mr Mulongoti: …. thanking those hon. Members from the Opposition side who are very amenable to us. We will also be very amenable to you. I can also see that there are many of our friends willing to work with us. I only said these things to stimulate you. So, if you get angry, it means you are not ready for debate. When you stand up to speak, I do hope that you can challenge what I have said to you.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L J Mulenga (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, I thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to address the august House. May I follow the line of sending messages of congratulations to the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of Committee, on their election. It is my sincere hope that even as you begin to guide the House, you shall stand firm and guide this House to the best aspirations of the people out there.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L J Mulenga: We are in this House not because we brought ourselves, but because the people out there saw it fit that we should be here.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L J Mulenga: I would also like to congratulate all elected Members of Parliament. I wish you well in this House. At least you have constituencies. In the same vein, I would like to congratulate nominated Members of Parliament because you represent all constituencies in Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa: This man is wise!

Hon. Government Members: Quality!

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr L J Mulenga: Therefore, for the nominated Members of Parliament, it is a very big privilege bestowed on you by the President through the people of Zambia.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L J Mulenga: We expect you to not only be responsible to the MMD, but to the entire people of Zambia.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L J Mulenga: Madam, where as my constituency is small, the constituency for nominated Members of Parliament is large as they must take into consideration the interests of all Zambians.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my President, Mr Michael Sata, …

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L J Mulenga: … for having given me an opportunity to stand as a Member of Parliament for Kwacha Constituency. I am very grateful and excited for that. I am greatly humbled to be in this House …

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

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MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

The House adjourned at 1916 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 9th November, 2006.

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