Tuesday, 6th October, 2015

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

PREVALENCE OF KONZO IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Dr Katema) ( on behalf of the Minister of Health (Dr Kasonde),: Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to brief you and the nation at large regarding a condition called konzo, which has been identified in the Western Province of our country.

Hon. Members: Konzo!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), konzo is a disease of the nervous system that is characterised by permanent, but none progressive partial paralysis of the limbs. It is not infectious although it may occur in families. The lower limbs are most commonly affected, resulting in impaired walking. In some cases, speech and vision may be affected. In mild cases, affected individuals walk without support while the use of clutches or sticks is required in moderate cases. Severe cases may be completely bedridden or require the support of another individual to walk.

Mr Speaker, in July, this year, twenty-three cases of konzo were diagnosed in Lwatembo area of Mongu District, in the Western Province. Twenty of these cases developed symptoms in 2013, two in 2014 and one in 2015. Since then, a further ten cases have been identified. All of them have classical symptoms of konzo which has left them permanently disabled.

Mr Speaker, konzo has been documented exclusively in rural African communities that rely on cassava as their staple food.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Dr Katema: You may be aware that cassava contains cyanide compounds that are potentially poisonous if consumed without proper processing. Inadequate processing of the cassava is believed to result in residual levels of cyanide that, over a long period of time, affect the central nervous system, resulting in the development of konzo. The first cases of konzo were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1936 to 1937. The second documented occurrence was in Mozambique in 1981. Since then, cases have been reported from various other countries, including Tanzania and the Central African Republic. The enhanced surveillance and awareness about this disease has contributed to it being noted and reported about in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, konzo is believed to occur when the accepted procedures for processing of cassava are abandoned and replaced with more expeditious methods often in drought or famine. The specific mechanism of disease development remains the subject of much research.

Mr Speaker, as you are aware, cassava is a predominant staple food in many parts of Zambia, particularly in the Western, North-Western and Luapula provinces. In these parts of Zambia, we commonly process cassava by soaking it in water for seven days or so, depending on the season. Then, this is followed by a similar period of sun drying before pounding it to cassava meal. 

This is an effective method of processing which removes all traces of cyanide from the cassava and renders it safe for consumption. The consistent use of this method of treatment has probably contributed to the non-occurrence of konzo in Zambia previously. This particular practice may have been varied from norm in the affected area.

Mr Speaker, the Government’s response to this emergency has focused on strengthening disease surveillance, improving food security as well as health promotion and community mobilisation in the area. The issue has been discussed extensively by both the Mongu District Epidemic Preparedness Management and Control Committee (MDEPMCC) and the National Epidemic Preparedness Management and Control Committee (NEPMCC). 

Mr Speaker, surveillance for the disease has been heightened. All health care workers in the area have been sensitised on identifying cases of konzo. The Mongu District Community Medical Office (MDCMO) and the Provincial Medical Office (PMO) have embarked on various activities to sensitise the community on konzo and the importance of ensuring that cassava is adequately processed before it is consumed.

Sir, Lwatembo has begun receiving 3,000 bags of relief maize through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). The Scaling-up Nutrition Project is due to start in Lui Ward where most of the cases of konzo are prevailing.

Mr Speaker, recognising that many of the cases require rehabilitation, a physiotherapist from the MDCMO is currently providing physiotherapy services to the patients and walking aids are being sourced for those requiring them. 

Mr Speaker, we acknowledge that in the long-term, cases of konzo can only be prevented by ensuring a diet that is appropriately processed and prepared. Working with our colleagues in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, we are engaging the communities in this area in order to assist them diversify their crop production and improve on optimising the preparation of nutritious foods. 

Mr Speaker, I wish to reiterate that although cassava contains some toxic substances, adequate processing, using the long-established methods we have traditionally used in Zambia for centuries, will ensure that cassava is safe for consumption. When a community resorts to shortened methods of processing cassava, the consequences may be devastating, as observed in Mongu. Cassava is an important food source in our nation. Let us ensure we process it appropriately in order to benefit from it.

Sir, the Ministry of Health and, indeed, the Government as a whole, remain committed to ensuring that Zambia remains a healthy nation and that outbreaks of such a nature do not occur in our country.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement given by the hon. Minister.

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, if I heard the hon. Minister correctly, he said that this disease is caused by bad practices in the treatment of cassava, especially in areas which are prone to hunger where people want to take to short-cuts. I believe that hunger is not restricted to Lwatembo, but the entire Western and North-Western provinces. So, why does the hon. Minister rule out the possibility of a particular species of cassava having been introduced in that area which, perhaps, cannot be treated within the normal period? How does the hon. Minister rule out this possibility and just focus on treating cassava in the manner people normally go about treating species they know about?

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, prevention is better than cure. This is the reason we are encouraging people consuming cassava to treat it maximally so that we do not have occurrences of this kind. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Konga (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, we know that cassava is consumed in many parts of Africa such as the ones that the hon. Minister mentioned in his statement. Have scientists in these countries tried to establish what the cyanide in the cassava affects in the nervous system is so that, in future, there could be a way of treating or stopping this disease. This way, the people consuming cassava can be prevented from contracting the konzo disease.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to inform the House that a team of medical personnel and other scientists have gone into the field to establish if at all there could be some other causes to this effect. Suffice to say that whichever variety which could be causing this, it is safer for our people to treat and process the cassava as it has been treated and processed empirically before. It was safer and, I presume, will continue to be that way.

Mr Speaker, cyanide is a poison which is found in different quantities in different varieties of cassava. This is the reason people have empirically chosen to treat it in the manner that it has been treated by soaking it for seven days and drying it for seven days before it can be pounded and consumed.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
 
Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, konzo disease is about to threaten our lives in Kalabo Central.

Mr Speaker, we live on cassava. Has the ministry or the scientists proved that the long-standing traditional way of treating cassava is the best method? If not, what other methods could help to reduce this chemical found in cassava, apart from soaking the cassava in water for seven days?  

Mr Speaker, maybe, before the hon. Minister answers the question; I want to inform him that there is a critical shortage of water in Kalabo Central. So, this is leading people to soak cassava in drums instead of using the dambos and swamps because, traditionally, we use swamps to treat cassava. So, the hon. Minister has to look at this issue as well. Now, the people have resorted to putting water in containers in which they soak cassava roots. Are these methods safe for us?

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, in my response, I did mention that soaking cassava for seven days drains all the cyanide from it. That is what research has told us. As for other methods to remove cyanide other than just draining it out of the cassava completely, scientists have gone into carrying out further research into varieties of cassava. However, it will suffice to say that soaking cassava in water will drain all the cyanide out of it. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, mine is a combination of a question, request and an appeal. 

Mr Speaker, I have just come from Chembe. I took keen interest immediately I read about the outbreak of that disease in the Western Province. As mentioned, cassava is predominantly consumed in the Western, North-Western and Luapula provinces. I took keen interest in this matter because, in my area, there are patients exhibiting the exact symptoms as the people in the Western Province. I have dealt with many cases. Yesterday, I transferred some people from Milenge to Mansa General Hospital to get treated for this disease. So, I am very much interested in it. Now my question is: Would the hon. Minister of Health take keen interest in the few cases of people in Milenge District who have the same symptoms as those that have been reported in the Western Province?

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, this is one of the reasons my ministry is informing the nation about the existence of this disease so that people can be aware of it. Equally, the ministry has put all medical personnel on alert for signs and symptoms of konzo in the areas where cassava is predominantly consumed as a staple food.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, I do recognise that this is a grave matter, but nonetheless, let us try to be brief in our questions. In short, get to the point. 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, some people are in the habit of consuming fresh cassava that is not treated. Considering that konzo is irreversible, what does the hon. Minister have to say to the Zambian population, as a warning for them to desist from consuming untreated cassava? 

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, cassava must be treated before being eaten and the people do know how to treat it. If they want to eat it raw, they know how to soak it and eat it ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, you are still on the Floor.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, I am waiting for the noise to die down. I will continue.

Mr Speaker, people know how to process the cassava. They know how to eat it raw ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, the problem is that you are being captivated by the reactions from the House. There is no need to stop your presentation. 

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, the cassava which is eaten raw is peeled and the variety that is eaten this way is known. The variety which is consumed as mealie meal is also known and the people know how to process it. They soak it for seven days and dry it for seven days and, then, pound it and make nshima out of it. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mtolo (Chipata Central): Mr Speaker, the issue of processing cassava in Zambia has been a topic of discussion for a very long time. Cassava needs to be milled into a pulp for the cyanide to evaporate into the air. That is a known fact worldwide. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has many experts on this. In Zambia, we have the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), which is promoting the sale of equipment to grind cassava into a pulp. The University of Zambia (UNZA) can also manufacture these things. Is the Government considering taking this equipment to all parts of Zambia, especially areas affected by konzo so that this problem can stop? If people knew how to solve this problem, we would not have this sickness.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, that is one way which has proven to be effective in removing the cyanide poison from the cassava. The Government is working with the university and the consortium of scientists which is looking into other means of stopping this konzo outbreak in the prone areas.

Yes, it is a method which is being tried out and is working in areas where cassava is consumed. It is being piloted with a view to being rolled-out to the rest of the country where cassava is consumed on a large scale. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, Mutanda Research Station in the North-Western Province has been carrying out research on various varieties of cassava. With this latest development in the Western Province where people are suffering from konzo as a result of eating cassava, this might defeat the purpose of trying to move away from crops which wither when there is not enough rain for the purpose of food security.

Mr Speaker, I know that cassava is different. In order to allay the fears of the people, including myself, who just had raw cassava this afternoon, …

Laughter 

Mr Namulambe: … is it possible for scientists to do much more to identify the types of cassava that cause konzo rather than give a general statement on cassava? 

Mr Speaker, the people of Ndola Rural have also been eating cassava, but have never experienced this disease. With this distribution of new varieties, we do not know which variety could be the cause of this disease. Can the Government, working together with experts in research institutes, conduct further studies to identify the particular variety of cassava which is causing this disease so that people do not stop eating cassava and starve? This is because this crop can be a hub of food security in our homes, considering the climatic changes which are affecting the rains.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, a team of scientists from the ministries of Health, and Agriculture and Livestock and the University of Zambia (UNZA) and other institutions are continuously working to improve on the variety of the cassava. Also, we should take into consideration the season that cassava should be harvested.  

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, the World Food Programme, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, embarked on a programme of introducing certain varieties of cassava stems in the Western Province. These stems might not be the ones that the people of the Western Province are used to or are used to treating. 

Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister find out whether the stems of the new varieties contain high cyanide content such that the method of soaking the cassava for seven days, which is used by the people of Western Province, may not be enough to drain it out, thereby, leading to this disease. 

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, I have already mentioned that a team of scientists is on the ground trying to investigate further if there could be other reasons which could have brought about the outbreak of konzo. Suffice to say, empirically, the people have known how to treat this cassava and they have been treating it in the manner that I have described. Moving away from this norm may cause them to be poisoned by cyanide. So, it is safer to process it in the manner that it has always been processed to avoid any occurrences. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Speaker: I know that this is a very vexing issue, but we still have to come to a close. 

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, the answer given by the hon. Minister to the question raised by Hon. Nkombo was not clear. If I walked into Cairo Road now, I would find women peeling cassava and packing it into plastics for consumption by people.  

Hon. Minister, should people stop buying the cassava being sold on the streets? Is it safe for me to buy that cassava and consume it?

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, it is actually the by-product, that is, the meal which is deemed to have a high concentration of cyanide. 

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa): Mr Speaker, thank you very much. 

Mr Miyutu: On a point of order, Sir. 

Mr Chipungu: I think that the people of Rufunsa are now sacred …

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to state that it is the by-product of the cassava which has the high content of cyanide when, in fact, that meal is ground from the cassava root, which should be the source of this cyanide? Is the hon. Minister in order to cause that confusion?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, just clarify that position as you go on. 

Hon. Member for Rufunsa, you may proceed.  

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, as I was saying that the people of Rufunsa are now worried because the best cassava, so far, comes from there. 

Laughter 

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, konzo is yet to become a pandemic and this is how diseases come into a country just like malaria and the human immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV) did.  

Sir, the hon. Minister talked about sensitisation. I want to find out from him whether this sensitisation programme will only be restricted to the Western Province or it will cover other parts of the country, including Rufunsa, which produces so much cassava for consumption in Lusaka.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, all the regions where cassava is grown shall be sensitised. Cyanide is a residual component which is accumulated during the processing of cassava. 

Interruptions

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, it is, therefore, important to soak the cassava for the cyanide to come out so that when you dry and pound this cassava, the cassava meal will not be intoxicated with this poison. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: As you continue responding, hon. Minister, bear in mind that there was an issue raised relating to fresh cassava.

Ms Mulasikwanda (Mulobezi): Mr Speaker, I rise, with concern, over this issue because, I think, the explanation by our dear hon. Minister …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulasikwanda: … is not clear. From the time I was to born to date, I have been feeding on cassava. Can the hon. Minister tell us which type of cassava he is talking about. As far as I am concerned, we eat cooked cassava which is not soaked for seven days. We also eat raw cassava which is right from the ground and it is not soaked for seven days. Can the hon. Minister be specific about what he is talking about so that as we go to our people, we will be able to explain properly on how to take this cassava.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, Cyanide does exist in the cassava. However, the cyanide compound accumulates during the improper processing of cassava. When it is consumed, it attacks the nervous system of the body. As for the cassava which is eaten raw, it is safe because it is mostly taken in smaller quantities and it does not undergo the fermentation process through which cyanide is accumulated. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, there is no harm in eating cooked cassava because there is no fermentation process through which the cyanide compound accumulates. It is, therefore, safe to eat cooked cassava. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, cooking cassava actually stops the process of fermentation. It is in the process of fermentation that cyanide comes up to form a toxic compound which attacks the nervous system of the body.

Mr Speaker, I also want to thank the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, who is working tirelessly to make sure that further research is done so that the subsequent varieties of cassava which shall be produced will have less concentration of substances that can accumulate into cyanide.  

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated, here, that all affected or prone areas will be made aware of this substance soon, and I hope it will be so. 

Mr Speaker, my question …

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

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, precedence has taught us that each time we are performing our oversight functions and the Executive is not fully prepared with answers, especially on a subject such as this one which is bordering on life and death of our people, we could actually request the said officer to research some more so that they can give us an informed position. Clearly, my feeling here is that the hon. Minister is failing to answer the questions.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Nkombo: I am having challenges in coining my point of order, but since it has happened in Committee systems before, Sir, with your indulgence, and I am saying this with greatest respect to you, since there are still researchers out there trying to gather some information on this particular disease, konzo, would it not be prudent for the hon. Minister to give himself time so that he comes back to this House with more definitive answers? This is not just a matter of show, but one that affects people who we represent and who may not even know that we are deliberating on this matter.

Mr Speaker: Order! 

As I understand the statement as well as the ensuing questions and answers, the primary purpose is to raise public awareness. In the process of raising public awareness, of course, questions have been put to the hon. Minister so that he may clarify this particular phenomenon further. I think this is where, perhaps, some challenge has been encountered. However, I have been following the questions and answers very closely. I do not think the problem is that the hon. Minister does not have the information. He has the information. What I would urge him to do is to respond plainly to the plain questions. The concern is, for instance, if you take raw cassava, are you at risk? If you just cook it, are you at risk? These are straightforward questions which require straightforward answers. 

In the process, he has been responding to the questions but, perhaps, not in a very direct fashion. There are still hon. Members who want to ask questions and, I think, in fairness, I would not want to curtail these questions. Maybe, as we progress, there will be more clarity that will be brought to this discourse. However, as I understand it, the point he has emphasised is that this poisonous nature comes about if the product is processed. That seems to be the bottom line. I would want, without assuming his role, to confirm, in due course, and also allay fears because it is important that the public is fully aware. There are further scientific investigations, anyway, which he indicated are underway and will be undertaken independent of this statement. This is meant to raise public awareness. I hope that as we wind down this particular matter, the hon. Minister will give straightforward responses to straight forward questions. It is the assurance and clarification that are being sought.

Continue, hon. Member for Siavonga.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, as the ministry researches further on this issue, has it considered obtaining indigenous knowledge that is readily available from the local people who have been consuming cassava for generations now?

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, allow me to, hereby, inform the nation that cassava is safe to eat, especially if it is properly processed. Empirically, the people of Zambia know that when preparing cassava meal, cassava has to be soaked for seven days, dried and pounded for it to be safe for consumption. It is safe to consume it in its raw form and when cooked. The indigenous knowledge also indicates that there are varieties of cassava which can be eaten raw and processed into cassava mealie meal. Also, a consortium of scientists will proceed with investigations into this matter.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to tell me how many cassava varieties we have in Zambia.

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, I wish I was the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Speaker: That is the prerogative of His Excellency the President.

Laughter

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, that question could have been directed to the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. However, of course, there are a lot of varieties of cassava in this country.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister explain why this disease was called ‘konzo’ and, maybe, he could also give me a bonus answer on whether ‘matamba’, which are cassava leaves, which I enjoy eating, are also poisonous.

Dr Katema: Mr Speaker, it is safe to eat cassava leaves. 

Laughter

Dr Katema: It is also safe to eat boiled and raw cassava. Eating them bears no risk. It is the process of fermenting cassava which is the problem.

Laughter

Dr Katema: It is through the fermentation process that poisonous cyanide which attacks the nervous system is formed. So, the processing of cassava, which is done by most Zambians, is also safe.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: I am sure we are now getting to the summary.

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that cassava has to be soaked for seven days, but it is not automatically like that. It depends on whether the cassava is soaked during the cold or hot season. 

Mr Speaker: What is your question? You seem to be educating the hon. Minister. 

Mr Mutelo: Indigenous knowledge, Sir, …

Mr Speaker: Do you have a question or not?

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, the Government sent relief maize to the people in Lwatembo Area. Will it continue doing so …

Mr Sianga: So that they can stop eating cassava.

Mr Mutelo: … so that they can stop eating cassava?

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Luena.

Laughter

Ms Imenda(Luena): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by events.

ENCROACHMENTS IN NATIONAL PARKS AND GAME MANAGEMENT AREAS

The Minister of Tourism and Arts (Ms Kapata): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this opportunity to issue a ministerial statement on the encroachments in the national parks and game management areas (GMAs) in Zambia. I, therefore, wish to shed more light on this subject.

Sir, hon. Members of this august House may wish to note that wildlife still remains the mainstay of leisure tourism in this country and has the potential to significantly contribute to wealth creation, poverty reduction and employment creation. It is saddening to note that our citizens have continued not only to encroach in these wildlife protected areas, …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order on the right!

Ms Kapata: … but have also depleted the available wildlife. As a consequence, some of these areas have become unattractive to both local and foreign direct investment (FDI). 

Mr Speaker, hon. Members of this august House and the public at large may wish to note that settlement in our national parks is prohibited under Section 15 of the Zambia Wildlife Authority Act Number 12 of 1998. As a country, we have twenty national parks and thirty-six GMAs.

Mr Speaker, whereas human settlement is not allowed in the national parks, it is allowed in the GMAs, in conformity with the existing general management plans. Some management areas are, by design, buffer zones for wildlife and this is the area where hunting takes place.

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that a number of wildlife habitats have continued to be encroached by both citizens of this country and foreigners. Illegal settlements in protected areas need to be immediately stopped because it is inimical to the growth of the wildlife sub-sector in Zambia. Therefore, there is a need to stop the destructive trend.

Sir, in order to curb the situation, the Government, through the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), has devised a plan, in consultation with key stakeholders, to evict illegal settlers in national parks and the GMAs in order to improve the conservation of bio-diversity and tourism development. These stakeholders include the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), under the Office of the Vice-President, the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the traditional leadership, under the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, and Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

Mr Speaker, it is my ministry’s hope that the removal of the people who have encroached on these protected areas will result in boosting of animal populations that have dwindled as a result of people settling along animal corridors.

Sir, allow me, at this juncture, to inform hon. Members of this august House that the process of evicting illegal settlers from the protected areas will continue in order to protect our national parks and the GMAs. In this I regard, my ministry, together with other relevant Government wings, commenced the eviction of illegal settlers from Mumbwa Management Area where more than 1,000 households were evicted. The illegal settlements had caused serious destruction of the wildlife habitat, as can be evidenced from Sichifulo and Mumbwa East Game Management Areas where wild animals have disappeared. As a Government, we do not want this to extend to other areas.

 Mr Speaker, it is important to note that the Government has, time and again, engaged affected communities to vacate illegally-occupied land in protected areas to avoid unnecessary inconveniences. While some law abiding citizens have complied with this directive, others have continued to stay in these protected areas. When the Government moves in to evict those who are resisting, it is accused of being inhumane.

Sir, I wish to emphasise that the programme to remove illegal settlers from protected areas will continue. My ministry is committed to ensuring that all protected areas are free of from human settlement. My ministry is currently targeting Lukusuzi National Park in Lundazi, Mweru wa Ntipa National Park in Kaputa, Lower Zambezi National Park in Chirundu and the Lavushi Manda National Park in Mpika, including the Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar National parks in the Kafue Flats and Musolo in Lupande Game Management Area. Should foreigners be found in any GMA or national parks as illegal settlers, they shall be handed over to relevant Government wings for deportation.

Mr Speaker, allow me to take this opportunity to remind all people who have illegally settled in wildlife protected areas to voluntarily leave the areas before the combined team of Government security wings, that is, the Zambia Army, Zambia Police Force, the National Service, and the Drug Enforcement Commission move in to remove them. Let us all encourage them to relocate these people to other areas voluntarily so as to avoid conflict with the law enforcement agencies.

 Mr Speaker, in the same vein, I wish to implore our traditional leaders to sensitise their subjects against settling in protected areas. In addition, I wish to appeal to our traditional leaders to desist from allocating land in protected areas for settlement purposes and unplanned settlements.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members of this august House should know that the Government of the Republic of Zambia has a heart for its people and does not want to inconvenience them. I am earnestly appealing to our fellow citizens to respect and obey the law passed by this august House in order to safeguard the wildlife sector which is the cornerstone of our tourism development. With the Government’s resolve to diversify our economy, it is, therefore, imperative that my ministry protects Zambia’s wildlife estate by preventing encroachment of its wildlife protected areas.

Sir, I wish to take this opportunity to inform this august House that some of our Members of Parliament, that is, Hon. Imenda, Member of Parliament for Luena Parliamentary Constituency, and Hon. Kampyongo, Member of Parliament for Shiwang’andu Parliamentary Constituency, among others, have been very supportive in the protection of the environment and wildlife. For instance, these hon. Members of Parliament have become members of the Zambia Parliamentary Conservation Caucus (ZPCC), which is a non-partisan voluntary body of Zambian Parliamentarians with a shared vision to influence policy directions and implementations in the quest for environmental sustainability in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, the ZPCC is an initiative for hon. Members of Parliament inspired by the belief that conservation is a fundamental component of sustainable development, poverty reduction, conflict prevention, good governance and regional security so as to promote sound and long-term policies of sustainable land, forest and water and bio-diversity management. In this regard, I wish to thank the hon. Members of Parliament for choosing to partner with the Government to conserve our nature and wildlife in a non-partisan manner. In the same vein, I wish to lay the ZPCC Strategic Plan for 2015-2020 on the Table for the perusal of our hon. Members of Parliament.

Sir, it is my sincere hope that members of the public will now understand that unplanned settlement in protected areas is illegal and is punishable by law. Further, it should be noted that eviction of illegal settlers from national parks and GMAs is well-informed and intended as it is meant to enhance the conservation of wildlife and improve the economic well-being of local communities.

Mr Speaker, finally, I wish to appeal to all hon. Members of Parliament and the public at large to support these measures that the Government has put in place to improve the wildlife sub-sector. Further, I wish to appeal to hon. Members of Parliament to join hands with the Government in sensitising our citizens against illegal settlement in protected areas. 

Sir, I am also going to lay the Mumbwa Game Management Area General Management Plan as well as Sichifulo Game Management Area.   

 Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Ms Kapata laid the papers on the Table

 Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement given by the hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, as the hon. Minister will agree, protected areas such as national forests are also a habitat for wildlife. I would like to find out what collaborative arrangements there are between the ministry that is now in charge of forests and the Ministry of Tourism and Arts to ensure that the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection does not give title deeds in protected areas.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, indeed, we are speaking with the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection regarding the issuance of title deeds. Title deeds will not be given to anyone who has settled in a protected area such as a national park. We have also engaged the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to sensitise the chiefs on this matter. The allocation of land to people in the national parks is being done by our traditional leaders. So, we want to ensure that none of it is given out illegally. We will only allow the allocation of land to people who can put up facilities like a hotel or a lodge, which will benefit us in the Ministry of Tourism and Art as well as help conserve the national parks.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kapeya (Mpika): Mr Speaker, it is a known fact that these illegal settlers do not move into the game management areas (GMAs), ...

Mr Namulambe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, I am sorry to disturb the flow of thought of the hon. Member of Parliament for Mpika Parliamentary Constituency. The statement by the hon. Minister has reminded me of one serious issue that our country is facing, hence, my raising of this point of order.

Sir, this country has a lot of pieces of land, especially in the urban districts. Most of this land has been lying idle for some time without being developed. As such, some councillors have taken advantage of this situation and are now selling such pieces of land illegally. The Government has not come out clearly to address the issues surrounding these undeveloped pieces of land as well as the issue involving councillors who sell or corruptly give out land. I have in mind the recent situation where the Mayor of Livingstone was impeached as a result of allocating land illegally. This may not be the only case, as there could be many others countrywide.

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing in order not spell out how pieces of land should be administered and how the councillors should handle matters related to these pieces of land? Is he in order to remain quiet and not come out clearly on this issue so that some people are protected from getting involved in illegal land allocations?

Sir, I need your serious ruling.

Mr Speaker: First of all, it goes without saying that this point of order is not procedural. Secondly, it cannot be admitted under the general rule of urgency, which we have repeatedly stated, it is not of a compelling nature and thirdly, there is always an available facility to ask a question, whether ordinary or urgent. I am not very sure whether it is urgent or ordinary, but I will leave that to you to decide. Fourthly, the law is quite settled on the procedures for land allocation. If you visit the Lands Act, you will see that it clearly spells out the procedure on how land is to be alienated. That is also buttressed by circulars to that effect. However, if there are any specific short-comings in the administration of the law or any area or locality, ask the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing to account. In short, ask a specific question and we will invite the hon. Minister to respond to whatever concern you have.

The hon. Member for Mpika may continue.

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, before the point of order was raised, I was just reminding the hon. Minister that in the initial stage, these illegal settlers do not move in large numbers. They move in slowly and in small numbers. Where are the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officers when these illegal settlers move into the game management areas (GMAs)?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, like I have said before, the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) operates at almost half the human resource that is required. At the moment, we have about 1,500 ZAWA officers when the required number of officers is 3,500. So, in most cases, the ZAWA officers are not close by when people are moving in and settling in the GMAs, and so, this becomes a problem.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Sianga (Sesheke): Mr Speaker, the Committee for Zambia Parliamentary Conservation Caucus (ZPCC), this week, had the privilege of visiting the Kafue Flats, specifically the Blue Lagoon National Park, and witnessed what is really happening there. What action, Mr Minister, ....

Laughter

Hon. Members: Madam!

Mr Sianga: ... Madam Minister, are you taking to remove the so-called farmers or fishermen who have encroached on this land and are killing our animals?

Mr Speaker: I am not sure if I have followed the question, but hon. Minister, you may respond.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I heard the hon. Member and I thank him for that question. We are aware that there are a lot of people that have encroached in these national parks. However, we cannot just go in and start telling people to move out. So, we have given them an ultimatum to move out. Most of them gave excuses that they were waiting to harvest their crops before they could leave the national parks. Others cried foul and said they could only move after the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had bought their maize. This is an on-going exercise, which we hope to conclude by the end of the year. All the people living in all the national parks will have to move to other places.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, some encroachment matters are before the courts of law. Therefore, will the ministry ignore the court proceedings and evict those that have encroached in game parks?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, in my statement, I mentioned that settling in game parks is prohibited under Section No. 15 of the Zambia Wildlife Authority Act No. 12 of 1998. So, the issue of taking the Government to court over such matters does not arise. The illegal settlers will just have to move because there is a law already in place that protects national parks.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, the question, as I understood it, is in reference to pending court cases. The hon. Member is trying to find out whether you will ignore those proceedings and whatever is happening in court and go ahead and evict the settlers. 

Ms Kapata: Sir, we will wait for the determination of the court cases. After the courts have ruled, we will, then, move in and take action.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I heard the hon. Minister say that people residing in national parks will be evicted by the end of this year. I would like to get assurance from the hon. Minister that this does not include Liuwa. This is because when the boundary for the park was established in the 1970s, it arbitrarily forced all of us to be inside the game park. Therefore, I want an assurance from the hon. Minister that Liuwa is not included, before people start panicking. Alternatively, is the boundary going to be redefined so that the human beings, with our dogs, cattle and so forth, are outside the game park?

Laughter 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, in fact, a declaration order has been issued to allow human settlement in Liuwa National Park. This means that people can co-exist with animals in that area.

Laughter 

Kapata: This has also been allowed in Sioma and Ngwezi national parks. So, the people in Liuwa are safe.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, I would like to thank the flamboyantly dressed hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts for the statement.

Mr Livune: Question!

Laughter 

Mr Hamudulu: She can easily be spotted from a distance and that is befitting of an hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts.

Laughter 

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, the protection of animals from human beings, through game management areas (GMAs), is appreciated. I cannot avoid, but to marvel at the swiftness with which the ministry moves whenever there are illegal settlers identified somewhere. However, I am more concerned with the other side of the coin. In Luangwa, Chirundu, Siavonga, Gwembe, Sinazongwe and Kazungula, legal settlers like me are at risk of being attacked by animals. When a human life is lost as a result of human-animal conflict, the ministry drags its feet to swing into action. Does this mean that animals are more important than human beings, who have restricted themselves to legal settlements or villages? We also need protection from the ministry as expeditiously as the animals are protected.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, of course, human beings are more important to us than animals. This is why whenever we receive any distress call from any village about lions or elephants killing people, ZAWA officers quickly move in to see to it that people are protected. We have even gunned down some lions in some villages. We have also killed crocodiles, especially in Siavonga, where the hon. Member comes from, to make sure that people are not eaten. So, we act promptly.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo: Sir, the exercise that the ministry has embarked on may be a bit tedious, especially that at the time when the ministry’s ultimatum elapses, which is in a year, certain court proceedings may not have been completed. If such a situation arises, what will the ministry do? Seeing as certain people in the game management areas (GMAs) believe that the land they have settled on is their heritage, as some of them were actually born there, has the ministry provided for alternative settlement areas for such people or they will just be evicted and left on the roadside to fend for themselves?

Ms Kapata: Sir, the issues that are in court will have to be concluded in court. I think, last week, we had a question on illegal settlers and I said I would come to give a ministerial statement. However, it should be noted that most of the people who have settled in national parks are not even indigenous people from these areas. A good example is in Mumbwa. Three quarters of the people who have settled in the Mumbwa GMA have come from afar. Most of them are from the Southern Province. They are there in the name of farming, but are instead engaged in poaching. So, we are aware about these tricks they have up their sleeves.

Interruptions

Mr Kapata: Mr Speaker, when the time comes, every illegal settler has to move so that we can have sanity in the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and protect our animals.

I thank you, Sir.

REVITALISATION OF COMMUNITY SPORTS PROGRAMME

The Minister of Youth and Sport (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to make a statement to this august House and, through this House, inform the nation on the programme of revitalization of grassroots sports through the community sports programme.

Mr Speaker, the Government, through my ministry, attaches great value to sports as a tool for social, economic and political development. In this regard, we shall continue creating an enabling policy environment to encourage the citizenry and co-operating partners to effectively engage in and support sports development at grassroot level.

Mr Speaker, the Government recognises the critical role sports play in enhancing community cohesion and combating life threatening communicable and non-communicable diseases such as the human-immuno deficiency virus/ acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), high blood pressure and diabetes. The Government, through the National Sports Policy, has provided guidance to revitalise community sports which envisions mass participation in sports by all citizens, regardless of age, race or religion by 2030. This can be achieved by encouraging citizenry participation in physical activity and engaging in sport of their choice using simple locally developed sports equipment.

Mr Speaker, it is through such platforms that talent will be identified and nurtured, following the progression process as athletes are being prepared for both local and international engagements. I am sure hon. Members of Parliament will agree with me that, in their respective constituencies, there are young men and women who are talented in various sport disciplines such as boxing, football, netball, athletics as well as swimming, in regions with abundant water bodies like the Western and Luapula provinces.  

Mr Speaker, unfortunately, there has been no framework under which such talent can be identified and harnessed to achieve full potential for the glory of the country. It is in this regard that I will be launching the Community Sports Programme tomorrow.

Mr Speaker, the National Sports Policy advocates for physically fit citizenry through participation in sport and physical fitness activities. Unfortunately, in our country, most of us do not either participate in any sport or physical fitness on a regular basis. This has resulted in most of us being susceptible to opportunistic diseases. The trend has exacerbated the prevalence of none communicable preventable diseases. According to the 2013 Annual Health Statistics Bulletin, hypertension increased from 37.7 per cent, in 2012, to 41.6 per cent, in 2013. Similarly, cases of diabetes increased from 6.1 per cent, in 2012, to 7.6 per cent, in 2013. Participation in physical fitness activities and sport can tremendously reduce these incidences and, consequently, reduce on the national health budget and enhance productivity in the country. In addition, the programme will provide a conducive environment for women and children to participate in sporting activities.

Mr Speaker, we plan to implement this programme using existing playing grounds or open spaces in communities that are currently used for sporting activities by the communities. Where such open spaces do not exist, the ministry shall establish structures in collaboration with the local leadership. In this case, we will recognise the existing administrative structures such as the provincial and district sports advisory committees, constituencies and wards. In addition, my ministry will work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Edusport, Sport-In-Action, Grassroot Soccer Academy and Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia, among others. I also want to point out that the development of these open spaces will not only be done by the Government alone, but also in collaboration with the communities in areas such as establishment of appropriate facilities, provision of equipment and management. The facilities will include, among others, the following:

(i)    multi-purpose courts to cater for basketball, netball, volleyball, handball and tennis;

(ii)    a pitch to cater for football and rugby with a basic running track;

(iii)    male and female change rooms with sanitary facilities; and

(iv)    a fence and basic sitting terraces.

Mr Speaker, I am aware that hon. Members of Parliament are facing high demand for sports equipment in their respective constituencies. 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: In this regard, we will not wait for this programme to unfold for us to distribute footballs, jerseys and other sporting necessities.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Instead, my ministry will use these existing structures and ensure that distribution of such equipment is equitably done.

Mr Ntundu: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: However, this is subject to the availability of funds.

Mr Livune: Question!

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Mr Mwale: Therefore, Mr Speaker, I am appealing to hon. Members of Parliament to support this programme …

Interruptions

Mr Mwale … as its full and successful implementation depends on our partnership with the communities we serve. As I launch this programme tomorrow, my ministry, for a start, will distribute ten footballs to each constituency.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Can I hear, a “hear, hear”, to that.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Ntundu: You are doing that tomorrow?

Mr Mwale: As I launch this programme tomorrow, my ministry, for a start, will distribute ten footballs to each constituency.

Mr Nkombo: Do that through the hon. Members of Parliament!

Mr Mwale: Yes, through hon. Members of Parliament.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: As the programme unfolds, with matching resources, my ministry will endeavour to provide more support to communities. A monitoring and evaluation framework has been put in place to track implementation of this programme to ensure that the desired results are achieved. I would like to announce, here, that the launch of this programme will take place tomorrow, 7th October, 2015, at Kalingalinga School Grounds near Kalingalinga Clinic …

Prof. Luo: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: … in Kalingalinga Compound at 0930 hours.

Mr Shakafuswa: Are we invited?

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, through you, I would like to extend an invitation to hon. Members of Parliament …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: … to join me at this momentous occasion.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: The footballs can be collected from my ministry at the new Government Complex on the eleventh floor in room 6.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Wait, you have not finished!

Mr Speaker: Order!

He has finished.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether those footballs that will be distributed to each hon. Member of Parliament for the various constituencies will be accompanied with sets of jerseys.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, like I said, it is our intention to procure these things and distribute them to communities through hon. Members, but we need a budget line for that. The first thing we had to do was come up with a framework through which we will be able to do this. In the past, I think, we were able to receive footballs and jerseys, but without a proper framework and that raised a lot of audit queries. Our ministry was queried on how we managed to buy these things without a budget line, but with the launch of this programme, I can now assure you that we will be able to budget for these things, buy and distribute them. For now, what we are able to provide are ten footballs for each constituency.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, I would like to commend the hon. Minister that ten footballs is the best way to go. May I find out from him what the cost of the ten footballs is.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, speaking from experience, I have been able to buy footballs for my constituency, I think, they cost up to K 200 per ball. However, these particular footballs are a donation from the Republic of China.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Shakafuswa: Ni ma gong’a ayo!

Mr Mwale: I travelled to China two months ago where I asked for footballs to support community sports. I got 1, 500 footballs as a donation and we thought we could start distributing these before we budget and buy our footballs.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mutale (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport whether his ministry intends to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education in enhancing sports development. As we are aware of the saying, “catch them young,” is it possible that these ministries can collaborate so that if the youth are caught young, we can have a nation of sportsmen and women?

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, that is the position. We, as a ministry, are working with the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education. In fact, we have an inter-ministerial committee on matters of sports. There is a lot that is happening in the background on which, at some point, we will inform the nation through this House.

Mr Mbulakulima: I have been skipped!

Mr Speaker: I will come back to you later.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister how much the private sector is helping in running sports in the country at the moment.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, we are not satisfied. We would like to see increased participation by the private sector in the running of sports in this country. At the moment, we are seeing good support at some decent level to football teams in the premier league from mining companies and some banks. However, we are not seeing much support to sporting disciplines such as basketball, hockey, rugby and many others. Therefore, I cannot say that we are satisfied. 

Mr Speaker, it is for this reason that we, as a ministry, keep engaging the private sector players through various meetings to see how we can get support from them. We have since opened a Sports Development Account and, so far, have been lucky to have received support from Zambezi Portland and Ndola Lime, which have deposited some money into this account. We have engaged many more private sector companies to try to assist the Government in developing sport in this country. We are not happy with the situation at the moment.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chishimba (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, …

Mr Mbulakulima: Aah!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Chembe, I have taken note of you.

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, there is a circular with reference NAS/9/13 to all hon. Members of Parliament in commemoration of the World Egg Day. This circular states that there is a donation of a tray of eggs to each hon. Member of Parliament. 

Sir, I want to thank the hon. Minister of Sport and Youth Development for this statement. However, I would like to request that he brings the ten footballs to Parliament Buildings so that hon. Members can collect them, through the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, as they collect their trays of eggs on 13th October, 2015.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I do not think that we are asking for too much from the hon. Members when we request that they collect the footballs on behalf of their communities from the Government Complex. However, if it is a strong feeling shared by every hon. Member of Parliament that we bring them here, …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: … we could, then, assign one of our officers to do this from here because we want the issuance of the footballs to be recorded. We could work it out that way. Any simplest method that can work out for you will be alright.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I listened, with great interest, to the hon. Minister as he outlined the support programme for communities in sport.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Dr Musokotwane: Sir, support can be in form of equipment like the footballs that he is promising to all of us or it can be in other ways. Noting that communities that keep cattle such as those of the Western and Southern provinces and Kenya have normally produced very good distance runners, a typical example being the late Yotam Muleya and many others, I would like to hear from the hon. Minister what support programme he is creating for these people who are potentially very good runners and could give us gold medals in the future like the people of Liuwa. 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, we have taken this into account. To this effect, I stated that some regions, such as the Western and Luapula provinces may have good swimmers because of the water bodies that they have. So, we want to tailor this programme to harness sports disciplines that could be well done in certain areas. The Western Province, for sure, should be able to give us good runners who should be able to compete against those in Ethiopia and Kenya. So, we will tailor this programme to deal with special cases like that.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the issue of supporting sport is a huge burden for hon. Members of Parliament, many of whom have had to sponsor tournaments year in and out. The hon. Minister is telling us that he will launch community sport tomorrow, a move that has only been prompted by the donation of 1,500 footballs by the Chinese. 

Interruptions

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister concerned that there is no commitment from his Government and that all the footballs he will give out have been donated by the Chinese? If he is, can he show his concern by committing to giving an additional ten footballs so that we each go home with twenty footballs?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, let me first clear the misconception that this programme is coming about because of the donation of footballs from China, which we only received a few weeks ago. The ministry started designing this programme a long time ago. In fact, we had even gone to Chawama to visit one of the spaces that we thought we could use to demonstrate how this programme was going to work out. This was way back when His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, was hon. Member of Parliament for Chawama. Therefore, there is no relationship between the footballs from China and the design of this programme. 

Mr Speaker, we want to give support to communities through this programme. We want to use this programme as a vehicle to give all the support that we can to hon. Members of Parliament. However, since we are not going to roll out this programme to all constituencies in the next few months, as we have to wait and source for funding to put up structures in all communities, we can do with the little donation that we have that came to us a few weeks ago.

Mr Speaker, I said earlier that it was difficult for us to budget for footballs, jerseys and anything else because this programme did not exist and there was no budget line for it. Now that we have concluded developing the Community Sports Programme, which will be launched tomorrow, it will be in order for me to come to this House to present the budget estimates for the ministry with a provision for community sports. Thereafter, we will purchase things under this programme. As it is now, there is no budget provision and we have nothing that we can add on to the ten footballs that we have.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I found a lot of gaps in the hon. Minister’s statement. First of all, his statement was about sport, but he gave statistics on diabetes and high blood pressure. I expected him to indicate to the House, statistics on how sport performance has fallen in the past few years and where we are today. In his statement, the hon. Minister also indicated that ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

What is your question, hon. Member? 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, my question is on infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that construction of infrastructure will be done in partnership with other co-operating partners. Now, ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Order, on the right!

Mr Mbulakulima: ... this is the commitment on which Hon. Namugala and I want to find out more about. In the rural areas, there are no non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and or co-operating partners that the Government can collaborate with. So, can the hon. Minister come out clearly on how infrastructure will be built in places like Milenge ...

Dr Musokotwane: ... and Liuwa.

Mr Mbulakulima: ... and Ikeleng’i. What these places have been lacking is the infrastructure. So, where are we, as the Government, with this programme with regard to the infrastructure that will uplift the standards of sport to motivate the young people of Zambia? 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, again, that is a question of which comes first between the egg and the chicken. I emphasised that it will be in order for us to budget for everything that will be provided under this programme, now that the programme has been launched. 

Mr Speaker, we will deal with infrastructure. I am sure that most of the hon. Members here have travelled. They have gone to Europe, Asia, and so on and so forth. They have seen that most communities in Europe have sports infrastructure like football pitches, tennis courts and basketball courts. This is exactly what we want to do here. However, the Ministry of Finance could not provide resources for this programme before launching it. Now that we have launched it, we will work together to estimate budget provisions which will be debated in this House to make sure that we realise our dream of having infrastructure in Milenge, Liuwa, Chipangali and elsewhere. Now that we have launched the programme, we will be able to source for funding. 

Mr Speaker, funding will not just come from the Government. The NGOs will come in to help us. There are a lot of NGOs that have got funds to support us but, maybe, they did not know how to direct such funds to us for building infrastructure for sports. Now that we have put in place this programme, they will be able to come forward. For instance, some of them will say, “We are ready to work with you to provide certain infrastructure in Kabwata Parliamentary Constituency. Give us land to develop basic infrastructure for sports in this area.” Another NGO will take up another area. The Government will provide infrastructure where NGOs will not provide. We have already started talking to companies to ask them to direct some of their corporate-social responsibility funds to this programme. So, we will have, for example, the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) say that it will go to Choma to provide a certain facility. However, we must have standard drawings for the sports infrastructure we are going to have in all these areas. We will not allow companies and NGOs to come up with their own plans. They will have to come to the ministry and partner with us. We have proposed to have this programme imbedded in our budget so that, next year, the Government can fund it. 

Mr Speaker, the other question was about the statistics I gave. I think that it is important for us to realise that we will not just provide this programme for those that want to use sports as a career, but also for women who are not able to find somewhere to exercise. We have all these health problems such as diabetes and I highlighted the statistics about them. Women do not have anywhere to exercise. So, we want these places to be a conducive environment for women and children to exercise. All the play parks in this country are gone. Most of the land meant for play parks has been converted to commercial use. We want these facilities to allow children and women to use them, just as sportsmen will use them to nurture their talent.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport spoke with vigour and apparent audacity about the possible success of this programme, almost in a similar manner as the hon. Minister of Commerce Trade, and Industry spoke about the clusters here. Before he gives us any hope to believe that this noble idea will succeed, I want to find out what plans the Government has to improve the already-established sports facilities such as those in institutions of learning? 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, sports facilities in schools and institutions of higher learning are primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education. However, we are stakeholders and we would like to see them in good shape and well-utilised by students. We are working with the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to always keep them in good shape. The Community Sports Programme intends to provide similar facilities for those communities that do not have sports facilities. However, these facilities will be meant for everyone, even people in school. You may have seen from the statement that I said that we will launch this programme in Kalingalinga at a school ground. So, it means that the school ground will be upgraded. It will have some terraces and a well-maintained football pitch. Under this programme, the school ground premises will be taken care of because the communities also make use of these school facilities. In some cases, we will go to school facilities and upgrade them to our standard. However, those that you have talked about are a responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education and we hope that the ministry will do all it can to make sure that they are in good shape all the time.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mutati (Lunte): Mr Speaker, Independence Day is around the corner and, in celebration, sport in the rural areas is one of the activities that takes place on that day. In the past, footballs have been procured without a budget line. Therefore, what present is the Government going to give to the rural communities to celebrate independence? 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the National Sports Council, which is an agency that implements sports policy on behalf of the Government and runs sports in this country on behalf of the Government, has already provided trophies to all provincial administration offices for the independence cup. That is one form of support coming from the Government. I think that the reason we have had to give these footballs now and not later is because we realise that the pressure is high on hon. Members of Parliament to support the Independence Tournament.

Sir, I will insist that the Community Sports Programme will be a vehicle that we will use to give more support, in future, to hon. Members of Parliament on occasions like Independence Day, Easter, and so on and so forth. At least, we now have a framework that we can use to give you support, which we did not have in the past. We will use this framework to budget for all those things. So, give us support, as a ministry, as we present our estimates here and, then, we will make sure that these things happen in future.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, in answering the question by Hon. Chipungu, the hon. Minister indicated that his ministry has very little or no support from private companies. Are there any incentives that are being given to these organisations so that they can come in to support sports? 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, we are looking at what kind of incentives we can provide to private companies that give support to sports. I know that, in the past, people have talked about giving tax breaks to companies that support sports. However, we have to be careful with such things because someone who simply sponsors a football team will expect a tax break. This would be taking away from the Government which could use that money to develop sports and even remain with a bit to use on other needs. So, we have to be very careful what sort of incentives we give to these companies. 

Mr Speaker, I think that before we talk about incentives for these organisations, we should talk about their responsibility to the communities that they serve or the people who buy their goods. We must talk about their corporate social responsibility before we talk about incentives for supporting sports. It is a matter that we are studying to see the best way in which to proceed. 

Sir, we are also looking at starting a sports lottery in this country. We know that the United Kingdom (UK) has a sports lottery which helps to fund sports. South Africa also has one which is doing very well. We are thinking in those lines and, maybe, we should start a kwacha mania or fwenya fwenya sports lottery for the purpose of funding sports. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, indeed, sport is appreciated in rural areas. Hon. Minister, I thank you for being transparent. That is exactly how the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) used to do it. 

Interruptions

Mr Muchima: Hon. Minister, the task ahead of you, which we need to support, is quite great. Do you have enough manpower to represent your office in all districts and have you budgeted for this? 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the Chairperson for the Committee on Youth and Sport raises a very important question regarding the operations of my ministry. The Cabinet gave approval to my ministry to decentralise so that it can have presence in all the districts in the country. My ministry is one of the few whose representation only ends at provincial centres, and so, it has challenges when it comes to getting down to the ground to do our work effectively, be it for youth empowerment or sports. 

Mr Speaker, the Cabinet approved a new structure for the ministry that should take officers to all districts. We are just waiting for the Treasury approval. As you know, our wage bill is already high and so the Treasury has to be careful that we do not bloat our payroll or wage bill further. If, however, there is fiscal space to do this, I am sure we will be given permission. We are praying that this happens next year because we really want to get down to all the districts and have offices there. 

I thank you, Sir. 

_____

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

IMPORTATION OF MILK FROM POLAND

81. Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock: 

(a)    whether the Government was aware that Shoprite Checkers was importing milk from Poland and, if so, why; and 

(b)    what measures the Government had taken to protect the dairy industry.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Monde): Mr Speaker, as of last week, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock was made aware of the existence of ultra-heat treated milk from Poland. This milk is labelled Crystal Valley and is produced in Poland for Shoprite Checkers, South Africa. 

Import permits to import ultra-heat treated milk from South Africa by Shoprite Checkers was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Zambia has been a net importer of milk and milk powder from as far back as 1972. Zambia has a deficit in milk and milk products, hence the imports. It is in view of this that the Government allowed Shoprite Checkers to import 40,000 L of milk from South Africa per month. 

This matter of ultra-heat treated milk coming from Poland is being followed up with Shoprite Checkers to ascertain how the ultra-heat treated milk from Poland was imported to Zambia. To this effect, a letter was written, last week, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to Shoprite Checkers and we are awaiting a response. In the meantime, we have instructed Shoprite Checkers to withdraw the milk until such a time when the matter on standards and procedure will be resolved. 

Mr Speaker, the ministry has taken several measures to safeguard and foster the growth of the dairy industry. These include: 

(i)    limiting the amount of milk being imported into the country;

(ii)    construction of milk collection centres;

(iii)    training of small-holder dairy farmers in good dairy management practices; and

(iv)    improving the genetics of the national dairy herd through artificial insemination and importation of quality dairy animals.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for his candid response. It is as it ought to be. 

Withdrawing the importation of milk from Warsaw, Poland, by Shoprite Checkers, is not sufficient. Notwithstanding the claim that we have insufficient milk products in the country, have you considered completely banning this milk from the shelves of Shoprite Checkers because for as long as it remains there, it implies to us, who provide checks and balances, that you have continued promoting jobs in Poland and depriving your own citizens in Mazabuka, which is just across the Kafue River, jobs? Sir, there are many examples I can give. For instance, we were told that there was insufficient production of textiles in this country and that is why importation of fabrics, which killed the infant textile industry in Zambia, was allowed. 

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Lubinda): Mr Speaker, let me clarify that the hon. Deputy Minister, in his response, indicated that we have asked Shoprite Checkers to withdraw all the milk imported, through South Africa, from Poland in order to give us time to ascertain whether the standards of that milk meet Zambian standards. This will also give us time to ascertain the procedure that was followed in importing that milk. Like the hon. Deputy Minister indicated, Shoprite Checkers was given import permits to import 40,000 L of milk from South Africa. For us to find the milk imported from Poland raised questions and that is the reason we asked Shoprite Checkers to withdraw it. 

Mr Speaker, regarding the issue of banning the importation of milk, I would like to inform the House and the nation at large that we have a thriving dairy industry which is, I will bet, in its infancy. Zambia is producing a total of 300 million L of milk per year. Of the 300 million litres, only 92 million litres to 95 million litres goes through the formal milk processing chain. The rest is consumed in its primary raw form. With the 300 million litres per year, for a population of 15 million, we are talking about a consumption per capita of 20 L per year. That, hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, translates to less than 2 L/month/capita, when the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recommends no less than 1 L per day. That shows you that there is a huge gap. If we were to totally ban the importation of milk on the basis that we have an industry to protect, we should also be mindful of the fact that his may be hurting our consumers. That is the reason we allow a limited quantity to be imported just in an effort to make sure that there is increased availability of milk for our consumers and, particularly, for infants. We are, therefore, aware of the growing industry, but also want to protect our consumers.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocols, goods that are coming from countries such as South Africa are not supposed to pay duty. Now that it has been revealed that this milk is coming from Poland, will Shoprite Checkers be made to pay duty for the importation of this milk?

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, this is what we are investigating. I do not think that we will only aim at making sure that Shoprite Checkers pay duty for the milk imported from Poland if it was not paid because we are not sure yet whether it was paid or not. I think it goes beyond that. We have to take sanctions. We have to sanction Shoprite Checkers in accordance with the regulations on rules of origin. When we gave the import permits to Shoprite Checkers, it was under the rule of origin that it ought to originate from South Africa or from the the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region. If it was to come from anywhere else, it ought to have come back to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to inform us on its intention to import milk from a non-SADC region.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, ultra-heat treated milk is another word for long-life milk. Has the Government double-checked with Parmalat, Finta Farms Limited or, indeed, other companies that are producing long-life milk in this country whether they are unable to meet the deficit that is being used as an excuse for allowing long-life milk from South Africa? Rules of origin, as the hon. Minister has mentioned, require that the goods are inspected at the point of entry before they are admitted into the country. It is not the duty of Shoprite Checkers to declare the origin of the goods, but the Government and the inspectors at the border. Who is the culprit that committed this economic crime and what action will be taken to make sure that they do not do it again?

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, Parmalat and other milk processing companies in Zambia are producing ultra-heat treated milk. As a ministry, we are encouraging them to increase their uptake of fresh milk. This is the reason the Government has spent a lot of money and it has continued to spend a lot of money in establishing milk collection centres in rural areas. We are providing refrigeration facilities to increase the value of the milk from our small producers because the complaint has always been that the small producers do not have the capacity to deliver their milk in fresh form to processing companies. However, the milk processers still continue to reconstitute milk using powdered milk from the SADC region. It is not correct to insinuate that the importer is not obliged to declare the origin of the product they are importing. Any importer is obliged to do so. Even at the time of applying for an import permit, they are obliged to indicate the origin of the commodity they want to bring into the country. If there is any suspicion that that product may have traces of genetically modified organisms GMOs), they also ought to inform the Government before they get the import permit.

Mr Speaker, with regard to who it is that committed the crime, as far as we are concerned, the milk was found in Shoprite Checkers. We have, therefore, written to Shoprite Checkers for it to explain to us how this milk manufactured or processed in Poland found its way on the shelves of Shoprite Checkers in Zambia. Only after we have been given that information can we go to the point of starting to establish who imported it. Just by seeing the product, I could not claim it was imported by Shoprite Checkers because it may also point at some other people. We will wait until Shoprite Checkers gives us those details. 

Sir, like I said in the response to the question that was asked by Hon. Pande, it is not only the issue of payment of duty, but also the issue of breaching the rules of origin and we shall take measurers accordingly.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, …

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

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, I stand on a very serious point of order. The Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST) is a company that was created by Parliament. However, is the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication in order to deny this House and the nation information pertaining to the sad development happening there? ZAMPOST is retrenching people. It has retrenched over a hundred people and this is happening right now. ZAMPOST is on record as having built post offices across the country, and yet, today, it is retrenching people. I wonder who is expected to work in those post offices that are being built. Is the hon. Minister, therefore, in order not to come to this House to tell us the reason our own company is retrenching Zambians with impunity?

 I need your serous ruling, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: My ruling is short. You ask the hon. Minister a question.

Laughter

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, probably, without the keen eye of Hon. Nkombo, the nation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock would not have known about this anomaly of the abrogation of the rules of origin. Given this situation, I would like to find out what monitoring mechanisms the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has put in place to ensure that anomalies like this do not happen. This is just one example, and I am sure that there are a lot more breaches committed by companies like Shoprite Checkers.

Mr Lubinda: Sir, without taking away anything from anyone, let me put it on record that this Government knew about the existence of the milk from Poland even before the sachet was brought to the Floor of the House. The matter was actually a subject of discussion between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Dairy Association of Zambia even before the point of order was raised. So, please, do not create an impression that this Government is not watchful of the market. It is actually extremely alert. The only difference is that it does not play to the gallery. 

Sir, we, as a Government, want to make sure that when we see that there is something wrong on the market, we do not raise unnecessary panic. We follow laid-down procedures and want to get to the bottom of the matter before we raise alarm. We are not alarmists …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: … and we shall not be forced to be alarmists.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: I want to assure the nation that in so far as importation of food is concerned, the ministries of Agriculture and Livestock and Health, and Food and Drugs Authority are all extremely alert. Yes, there may be products that come into the country without having been seen, but the volumes that are brought in will certainly attract the attention of the Government.

Sir, let me also appeal to all citizens that, in the event that they see a commodity on the market which they know is not supposed to be there, they are obliged to inform authorities without dramatising the matter. There is no need to create any drama about it because these matters are serious. All they can simply do is inform the relevant authorities about the commodity which they suspect is not supposed to be on the shelves.

Mr Speaker, let me rest the matter by assuring the nation that their food and safety is in capable hands.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister assure this House and the nation that in his capacity as hon. Minister, he has completely ruled out corruption in this matter of allowing commodities to enter the country when they should not.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, in response to the question by my honourable Colleague who asked who the criminal in this matter was, I said that, at this stage, I could not establish who it was. Once we finish the investigations, I am sure we will get to the bottom of it and that is to indicate that I cannot rule out corruption.

Sir, a case in point is the importation of refined edible oil. The whole nation knows that I committed the Government to a statement that I made that we will not allow the importation of refined edible oil for as long as the locally-produced edible oil is sufficient to meet our demand and the refineries do not take advantage and start increasing prices unnecessarily. This is because we want to protect the local industry. However, when I went to one of the shops, I was shocked to find imported edible oil littered on some shelves. When I asked how the imported oils came onto the shelves, I did not get satisfactory answers. This is a matter that I have discussed with the hon. Ministers of Finance, and Commerce, Trade and Industry. There is a lot of reason to suspect that there are people who are cashing in …

Ms Namugala: Of course!

Mr Lubinda: … and, indeed, we are following up this matter. I was honoured to officially open Supreme Chicken Abattoir and indicated that these oils are not carried in handbags. They are carried on heavy trucks and, certainly, they come through the formal borders. It means that, somebody, somewhere, is allowing them in and what is their benefit to allow in a commodity which they know is not supposed to come in? I am sure that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other relevant authorities will take heed and check the illegal importation of commodities. So, I cannot rule out corruption totally. I am dead sure that there are some people in the system who are cashing in.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chenda (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, most of the concerns that have been raised in this question …

Mr Mtolo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mtolo: Sir, I sincerely apologise to Hon. Chenda for disturbing him as he was about to raise a question.

Mr Speaker, I am compelled to rise on this point of order which, as you are aware, I rarely do. However, I have been compelled to do so because of the statements that have been made by the hon. Minister of Health. I commend him because, not long ago, he educated us on elephantiasis and, today, we were being educated on the issue of cassava.

Sir, on the stretch between Chinyunyu and Petauke, it is actually impossible for one to stop at any point without having to go through a very tormenting experience. This is because there is a small fly which nobody seems to know about which stings people very badly. Those that have been stung by this fly look like they have scabies and open wounds. I am not so sure if this fly is only found on the stretch to the Eastern Province. Minor investigations reveal that, probably, it moves with cotton.

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Health considering coming up with another educative statement? When a menace like that is pronounced in our country, residue spraying should be done to wipe out this insect which is tormenting the people that use the Great East Road? I need your serious ruling.

Mr Speaker: Another of those points of order where it would do well to put in a question so that we give sufficient time to the hon. Minister of Health to investigate and come up with an informed response. Please, treat it as an urgent matter and file an urgent question.

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, I had just begun saying that most of the concerns that have been raised on this question relate to the market side of the dairy products. I want to draw the attention of the hon. Minister towards the production side. This is because I know that he is aware that most small-scale dairy farmers struggle to find feed for their animals, especially during the dry season. During this season, these farmers depend on maize, wheat and bran which they purchase from the millers. It is also known that during the dry season, most millers prefer to export their wheat and maize bran, making it very difficult for the small-scale farmers to access this product which helps to enhance their productivity. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what his ministry and the Government, in general, are doing to enable the small-scale dairy farmers access wheat and maize bran.

 Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I am indebted to the hon. Member for asking that question particularly that, not too long ago, the hon. Member was in this position where I am. This gives me an opportunity to remind him that the industry he has referred to is self-regulatory.

Sir, the challenge that we have is that the millers buy their maize, mill it and produce maize bran. During the rainy season, there is not much demand for maize bran, therefore, the demand is low. This forces the millers to incur heavy storage costs during the whole period when there pasture such that during the dry season when the small-scale farmer has no access to pasture and need supplements, they, then, go to the millers to buy maize bran. At that stage, the miller also wants to recover the cost of storage, therefore, the prices of maize bran increase. When the millers realise that there is a better price to be fetched across the boarders than there is locally, they ask the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to allow them to export.

Mr Speaker, this is not something that the ministry is encouraging because what we are looking into are measures to try to protect the small-scale farmer by ensuring that we can have storage capacity away from millers to which small-scale farmers may have access, that is, what we working on. Otherwise, there is much more we can do because the prices are dependent on the forces of supply and demand, but we are aware of this. Like the hon. Deputy Minister read in his answer, the issue of access to feed is a matter that concerns us and we are looking for ways of improving it.

 I thank you, Sir.

 Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, any cargo which is imported into the country …    

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order with a heavy heart on the Leader of Government Business in the House, Her Honour the Vice-President in the absence of both, the hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Ms Ngimbu) and the hon. Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Mwila).

Sir, a year ago, I raised a similar point of order on the Floor of this House and you made a very clear ruling. In Lusaka West, the Patriotic Front Cadres (PF) were sharing land and when the police confronted them, there was a running battle between the PF regiment and the police which resulted into the breakage of Investrust Bank. I am sure many of you who were in this House can remember this.

Mr Speaker, yesterday, there was a funeral of a Mr Simfukwe, who was battered by the PF cadres who were, once again, sharing land. The victim was admitted in hospital on Friday and, unfortunately, lost his life in the hospital. The cause of death was wounding by the PF cadres and he was buried was yesterday.

Sir, is the Leader of Government Business in order to remain silent on a matter that seems to be so persistent or are the people in the Government waiting for one of their relatives to be a victim of PF cadres for them to understand how painful it is to lose a life at the hands of the cadres from the Ruling Party.

 Mr Speaker: Order!

 My rulings on these subjects are so predictable that I get surprised how and why these points of order persist. It is a very difficult facility as presiding officers to manage, but in order to make progress and as the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central would predict, I will request him to file a question. Secondly, for today, this is the last point of order because the progress that we are making on the order proceedings is painfully slow. We have barely dealt with one question on Questions for Oral Answer. So, no more points of order. If there is any disorder of any nature, I will take responsibility for restoration of order.  

May the hon. Member for Mwembeshi continue.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted, I was saying that any cargo which is imported into the country is supposed to be inspected at the point of entry. I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether this milk was inspected at the point of entry and, if it was, why it was not stopped from entering the country. Further, is the hon. Minister able to tell us the description of this cargo on the entry form so that we can know exactly what type of milk entered this country.

 Mr Lubinda: I would like to thank the hon. Member for raising that question because it gives me an opportunity to explain in detail so that nobody misunderstands the answer that we gave earlier. Although you do not allow us to repeat what has been said on the Floor of the House, with your permission, Sir, I would like to read one paragraph in the answer that was read my colleague, the hon. Deputy Minister:

“In the meantime, we have instructed Shoprite Checkers to withdraw the milk until such a time when the matter on standards and procedure has been resolved.”

Sir, among the procedures, it includes how the milk entered Zambia, whether or not it was checked, who checked and who acquitted the entry forms. We have to obtain all that information. Therefore, at this stage, I do not have the information whatsoever because the matter is still subject to our investigation.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that there is a shortfall of milk throughout the country. In the meantime, it is very difficult for us to import the dairy cows from South Africa. I would like to know what measures the Government is putting in place to help farmers import dairy cows from South Africa.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for that important question. I do acknowledge the fact that a lot of our dairy farmers have raised a concern with regard to the time it takes to get authority to import dairy or any animals for that matter. I sympathise with all of us who are livestock farmers or potential livestock farmers because this is hindering the growth of the industry. However, we also need to maintain international best practices when importing live animals for fear of introducing diseases or breeds that may not perform the best or introducing breeds that are not of genetic superiority above the animals that are locally available.

Sir, this is the reason the process takes longer. It also includes a period of quarantining so that we can ascertain that the animals we are bringing in are not going to cause any disease burden in our country. So, while sympathising with the farmers, I would also like to make them aware that this is not only just being bureaucratic, but also for the sake of protecting the industry and the livestock market in Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

PATIENT TRANSFERS FROM LUNGO MUKUTA CENTRE TO MANSA GENERAL HOSPITAL

82. Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe) asked the Minister of Health what measures had been taken to facilitate the transfer of patients from Lungo Mukuta Health Centre to Mansa General Hospital, especially in emergency cases.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health allocated one basic life support ambulance for Milenge District, in 2014, in which Lungo Mukuta Rural Health Centre falls. This is the ambulance that is used to refer emergency cases to Mansa General Hospital.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I find it very easy to make a follow-up question because the hon. Deputy Minister answering is from Luapula Province. He is also a medical doctor who understands Lungo Mukuta.

Sir, the ambulance will only be used to ferry patients on land. This is because there is no road leading to Lungo Mukuta. So, for one to access the ambulance, they have to travel to Chembe using the Luapula River and that distance is about 100 km. The only engine for a boat which was operating broke down about two years ago. So, how can we use the ambulance when there is no road? You are very conversant with this situation. What effort is the Government making to alleviate the problems that the people of Lungo Mukuta are experiencing? 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, Lungo Mukuta is accessible in two ways. You can go to Lungo Mukuta through Changwe Lungo. During the rainy season, you can drive up to Changwe Lungo and, then, drive all the way up to Lungo Mukuta. The distance is about 79 km and a journey there will take you two hours. However, the area may be inaccessible during the rainy season, and so, there are other methods that are used in accessing the area. The people who are on the west of Lwela River access Lungo Mukuta through Chembe on a boat. Right now, there is a boat that is stationed at Chembe. It belongs to Samfya, but that is the one being used at the moment. For the boat that belongs to Milenge, I have been informed that the district has placed a tender to procure an engine. This engine is expected to be procured this month. We, therefore, expect that boat to be functional so that it can complement the boat that is stationed at Chembe and is used by other districts as well.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, I developed interest in knowing where Lungo Mukuta is through the famous comedy, Chintelelwe. So, I went on a motor bike with the hon. Member for, ...

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, what is your question?

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, what means of communication do the people of Lungo Mukuta use to communicate with Milenge for an ambulance to be sent to pick a patient in an emergency?

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, we did install radios in these remote facilities and Lungo Mukuta equally benefitted from that programme. So, the people of Lungo Mukuta radio Milenge and, then, the ambulance will go from Milenge to Changwe Lungo. In the dry season, it will drive all the way to Lungo Mukuta. For the people on the west of Lwela River, Chembe District assists in ferrying them through the Luapula River to Mansa General Hospital.

I thank you, Sir.

BLOWN-OFF ROOF AT LUKWETA PRIMARY SCHOOL

83. Mr Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when the Government would rehabilitate the classroom block, whose roof was blown off, at Lukweta Primary School in Mkaika Parliamentary Constituency.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, Lukweta Primary School’s 1x4 classroom block had its roof blown off at the start of the 2014/2015 Rainy Season. Shortly after this happened, the office of the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) carried out an assessment to determine the cost of replacing the roof.

Sir, the rehabilitation works were included in the 2015 Budget, under the replacement of blown-off roofs. The ministry allocated K200,000 to this project. The ministry is awaiting the availability of funds before rehabilitation works can commence.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, thank you for that answer. Since 2015 has almost ended, when will those funds going to be released?

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I have to admit that the Ministry of Finance has started releasing the funds. For example, just last week, the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education received some funds and some contractors were being paid. I want to tell the hon. Member that I will cross-check on how far we have gone in terms of allocating funds for that project.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

UNIVERSITY CONSTRUCTION IN GWEMBE DISTRICT

84. Mr Ntundu (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)    when the construction of a university in Gwembe District, as promised by the late President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, would commence;

(b)    what the cost of the project was; and

(c)    who the contractor of the project was.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mushanga): Mr Speaker, I can see Hon. Ntundu smiling as his question is being responded to on the Floor of the House. I want to inform the House that the construction of a university in Gwembe District, as promised by the late President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, can only commence once key stakeholders have been consulted and have agreed that the university earmarked for construction in the Southern Province be located in Gwembe District or elsewhere. We are all aware that each provincial headquarters is supposed to have one university. So, I would ask the hon. Member to start lobbying, if possible, the people of the Southern Province for the university to be constructed in Gwembe District. You may wish to note that the construction of a university is also a capital project that requires extensive consultation among the key stakeholders.

Mr Speaker, the cost of the project will only be determined when the Government of the Republic of Zambia has exhausted consultations and decided on the location where the university will be constructed. Therefore, part (c) of the question is not applicable at the moment.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ntundu: Sir, I do not know whether the hon. Minister was answering the question that I asked or a different one.

Mr Speaker: What is your follow-up question?

Mr Ntundu: Sir, the construction of a university in Gwembe is a special case.

Laughter 

Mr Ntundu: The late President, His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace, loved the people of Gwembe so much. This is why, while seated where you are, he promised the people of Gwembe a university because his vision was to see that the people of Gwembe start Grade 1 and go to university within Gwembe.

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: Your follow-up question, please.

Mr Ntundu: Sir, have we diverted from the vision of Mr Sata, since the hon. Minister is now talking about the whole Southern Province and not about the special case of a university which was promised in Gwembe District?

Laughter 

Mr Ntundu: Sir, in case the hon. Minister did not get the question properly …

Mr Speaker: I think you are through.

Mr Ntundu: The question is on Gwembe District.

Mr Speaker: I think you are through.

Laughter 

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, under the able leadership of the Republican President, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has actually not departed from the vision of President Michael Chilufya Sata.

Mr Ntundu: Yes, now you are talking.

Mr Mushanga: Our vision is very clear and straightforward. The Government will set up universities in each and every provincial headquarters, and Gwembe is part of the Southern Province.

Interruptions

Mr Mushanga: That is why I indicated that we will consult various stakeholders. Once we consult, the people of the Southern Province will decide where the university will be located. Even if the pronouncement by the late President Michael Chilufya Sata mentioned Gwembe, we are looking at setting up a university in the Southern Province.

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, as mentioned by Hon. Ntundu, this was a special offer. I think that at the time this offer was made, the late President was mindful of stakeholders, which he did not bring into his message. Further, we are also aware that there is no limit as to how many universities can be built in a province. Since the vision and legacy of the late President still lives on, why should we bring in other stakeholders who were not mentioned in that offer which was given on the Floor of this House?

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Kaingu): Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the National Secretary of my party.

Laughter 

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, the policy of this good Government is that we shall build a university in each province, and not necessarily in the provincial headquarters. The first answer that the hon. Deputy Minister gave was very clear. The hon. Member of Parliament should engage other stakeholders in the province. When we are ready to construct the university in the Southern Province, we will approach the stakeholders in the province. If the hon. Member of Parliament for Gwembe would have lobbied enough, we will take …

Mr Ntundu: I do not need to lobby!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Kaingu: We will take the university to Gwembe.

Mr Ntundu: There is no need for lobbying!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Dr Kaingu: I want to clearly state here that we still enjoy the vision of the late President. Some of us are beneficiaries of the new district centres being constructed. At the time they were created, we did not see that it was necessary but, today, we are enjoying the benefits. I also want to state, here, that, probably, the late President was cracking a joke with his best friend. The hon. Member had a special relationship with the late President and, probably, that could have been a joke. Now he is taking a joke too far …

Laughter 

Dr Kaingu: So if it was joke, it can only now be left with him alone because his colleague, I am afraid, and may his soul rest in peace, is no more. However, we want to emphasise the fact that if the hon. Member for Gwembe really wants the university that we will construct in the Southern Province to be in Gwembe, he should continue lobbying.

I thank you, Sir.

MARKET AND BUS STATION CONSTRUCTION AT LWELA

85. Mr Mbulakulima asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when a market and bus station would be constructed at Lwela in Chembe Parliamentary Constituency.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr N. Banda): Mr Speaker, construction of markets and bus stations is an on-going programme by the Government. However, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has not received any request from Chembe District Council for consideration of construction of a market and bus station at Lwela in Chembe Parliamentary Constituency. Chembe District Council is, therefore, advised to plan for a modern market and bus station and submit a request containing designs and priced bill of quantities to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for consideration.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, as you heard, the hon. Deputy Minister’s answer was on Chembe District, but Chembe Constituency is in Milenge District. I want to put it to him that, actually, the submissions were made a long time ago. Taking into account that a wrong answer has been given to the right question, would the hon. Minister prefer to be given an opportunity to recheck the records at the office?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, Chembe Constituency is in Chembe District, the district has not submitted the request to the ministry. According to the records at the ministry, we do not have the request. It would be wise for us to advise the hon. Member of Parliament to follow it up. We have checked in our system, but we do not have the request for a market at Lwela from Chembe.

I thank you, Mr Speaker: 

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament from Chembe has insisted that the request was made and we all know that Chembe Constituency is in Milenge and not in Chembe District. If the hon. Minister went back to check and found out that Milenge District had actually submitted its request, is he assuring the hon. Member of Parliament and the people of Chembe Constituency that a market will be constructed.

Mr Speaker: There is a supposition there.

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, we will follow it up and check whether a submission was made from that particular district.

I thank you, Sir.

TOURISM PROMOTION OF THE VICTORIA FALLS IN COUTRIES ASIDE ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE

86. Mr Namulambe asked of Tourism and Art:

(a)    why the Government had allowed other countries, apart from Zimbabwe, to use the Victoria Falls in the promotion of tourism in their countries;

(b)    whether the Government derives any benefits from such promotions; and

(c)    if not, what measures have been taken to ensure that Zambia benefits from promotions.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Art (Mr P. Ngoma): Mr Speaker, I wish to state that the two governments, the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, have not given any permission to any country with regards to the marketing of the Victoria Falls as part of its tourism production base. The two governments have also not allowed the use of natural heritage of the two countries by any third party. However, the behaviour has persisted, despite protestations by the two countries because the country involved is deriving benefits from the practice.

Mr Speaker, there are no benefits to be derived by Zambia from this unfortunate conduct because the tourists who come to the Victoria Falls area in this manner do so on package tours. In this scheme of things, the tourists spend very little money in Zambia when they visit the Victoria Falls. Furthermore, package tours make it difficult to grow the local operator industry.

Mr Speaker, may I inform this august House that Zambia and Zimbabwe have embarked on a UNIVISA pilot project which will run up to December, this year, 2015, after its extension in May, 2015. Under the UNIVISA, tourists from Zambia and Zimbabwe are able to visit the Victoria Falls under one visa for a maximum period of thirty days. This is increasing tourists’ arrivals to the Victoria Falls.

Mr Speaker, the two countries have plans to increase direct international flights to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone and Victoria Falls International Airport in Victoria Falls Town. The direct flights will enhance the visibility of the Victoria Falls as a regional tourism hub.

Mr Speaker, may I also state that Zambia has plans to establish a national airline which will also boost our efforts to market Victoria Falls as a tourist destination of choice.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, I have travelled on certain airlines and the Victoria Falls is advertised. I have slept at certain hotels outside Zambia which advertise the Victoria Falls in their tourist packages to be in one of the countries within the southern region and I am certain that the Ministry of Tourism and Arts is aware. Is it not possible to engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop that country from advertising our Victoria Falls for it does not belong to them?

Mr Mwimba H. Malama: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Tourism and Art (Ms Kapata): Mr Speaker, I am sure the hon. Member is asking that question because he has been Minister of Foreign Affairs before and knows how far the Government has gone with this issue.

Mr Speaker, we have tried to consult our colleagues through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) in-services meeting agreed that no country should claim ownership of a tourism site in another country. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mtolo (Chipata Central): Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister said that one of the issues is to increase tourist arrivals for the Victoria Falls and to enhance visibility of the Victoria Falls. 

Sir, in the past two weeks I have tried to surf the internet to check how many tourists have been to the Victoria Falls. I can challenge anyone in the House to try to find out, but you will never ever know how many tourists have been to the Victoria Falls. My question is: Why are we allowing a situation where when you type in Victoria Falls in a computer, it is actually information from Zimbabwe not Zambia meanwhile we have four fifth of the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side? Why is that situation allowed where we do not have information on the Victoria Falls? You cannot find that information on websites for the Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) and the Ministry of Tourism and Art. Why should we allow such a situation in the modern world?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, marketing is done by the Zambia Tourist Board. 

Mr Speaker, I am also learning for the first time that the Victoria Falls has not been advertised online. This is an issue that I can follow up and bring the answer to the House at a later date.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwewa:  Ema Ministers, aya!

Mr Mutati (Lunte): Mr Speaker, have Zambia and Zimbabwe considered registering the Victoria Falls as a trademark under international law?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, it is a known fact that the Victoria Falls is a trademark for the two countries. I think that it is registered because it is the seventh wonder of the world.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, the answers from the hon. Deputy Minister of Tourism and Arts were very well elaborated. He referred to the coming of a national airline as one of the measures that the Government is taking in order to benefit from the promotions of the Victoria Falls. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister, who I expect will give an equally clear answer as the hon. Deputy Minister, what the status of this national airline is. This is because as a primary beneficiary ministry, I am sure that it is interested to know. How far have we gone, at the moment, in establishing the national airline? Where are we today?

Mr Speaker: The difficulty I have with this question albeit being related to tourism generally is that it is certainly not arising from this question. This is the first point. The second one is that there is another line ministry whose portfolio is responsible for that function. Therefore, as much as it is generally connected to tourism, I will not allow it under this question.

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that the Victoria Falls is a registered trade mark. I am aware that certain companies such as the Zambian Breweries use the Victoria Falls image as a trademark to sell some of its products. If it is, indeed, registered, are the two countries getting any royalties from the use of this trademark?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I think that this is a question that is worth researching so that I come with a correct answer.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: I appreciate this response. I must say that it is a very technical area. I think that this is the most appropriate way to proceed for the benefit of the House. 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I also thank the hon. Minister for being forthright. However, I am still on the issue of the trademark. The trademark denotes identification of a product or a service with a particular source. Now, Hon. Mutati wanted to find out whether there is a trademark protection by the two nations and that they benefit from the value that is accrued from the Victoria Falls as a feature.

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that South African tour companies have been including the Victoria Falls under their tour packages? If she is, does she know whether there are some royalties that accrue to our country?

Mr Speaker: I really do not know whether the hon. Minister still wants to carry this matter beyond the statement that she made earlier on, namely that it requires some research and an informed position. This question of trademark touches on Intellectual Property Law. It is a very complex area altogether and there is a risk that if we persist in this discourse, we could easily mislead ourselves. So, I think that the position taken by the hon. Minister is most appropriate. Let us give her time to come back with an informed position on this subject before we interrogate it further.

___________ 

MOTION

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

The Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President (Mr Bwalya): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to continue with my debate on the Motion of Thanks on the speech delivered to the House by His Excellency the President on Friday, 18th October, 2015. 

Sir, before the House adjourned, I was saying that, in 2006, the African Union (AU) endorsed a new target for African countries to spend about 1 per cent of their national budgets on research and development. Four years later, the organisation reported that only Malawi, Uganda and South Africa had managed to hit that target. We have a lot to learn from this and I want to presume that the reason His Excellency the President came up with the Ministry of National Planning and Development is so that we can utilise the results of research.

Mr Speaker, the only worry that I have is that criticism of good intentions seems to be taking centre stage. People are criticising the good intentions that this Government has. I would like to borrow from what His Holiness Pope Francis said when he addressed the United Nations (UN) recently. In his condemnation of the boundless thirst for wealth and power, he pointed out that greed is destroying the earth’s resources and aggravating poverty.

Mr Speaker, we have seen in various by-elections how certain politicians have changed the landscape of politics by using the wealth that they have in order to get power by all means. This seems to be an issue especially in rural areas where people tend to think that …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Conversations on the right are rather loud. I can hardly hear the hon. Minister. 

Continue hon. Minister.

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, I was saying that this country is changing the political landscape because of the love of money and that people are using money to try to get wealth and power by all means. This is worrying, especially in the rural areas. It is as a result of this that His Excellency is calling for prayer, fasting and repentance so that we can have a clear political landscape and take this country to another level of development and, indeed, serve the Zambian people and deliver on the promises that we make, as political parties.

Mr Speaker, we have seen that the people of Zambia have said no to those that seem to be using money as a way of getting power. It is clear from some of the recent by-elections where the people spoke out so loudly that you can dish out money, but they will still vote for that which they need. People are looking for development and change in their lives.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President spoke and brought out salient issues which he wants this country to tackle in order to develop. We have been told by several circles in society that His Excellency the President has no vision. Today, the country is quiet. His Excellency the President has shown that the vision that he has to move this country to a different level is very clear. 

Mr Speaker, it is also unfortunate that certain individuals condemned the issue of co-operatives when they stood up to debate the speech. We all know that co-operatives brought about a lot of wealth and created a lot of employment in this country, but at some point, they were mismanaged. All they needed was re-engineering and re-direction so that they could move in the right direction. We are hopeful that co-operatives will be treated as businesses now that they have been moved to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. The co-operatives will be expected to make profit and grow the wealth of their members and most importantly, create the much needed jobs for the youth who will, in turn, be able to support their families in their day-to- day living. 

Mr Speaker, I want to end on the topic of smart cities. His Excellency the President talked about creating a smart Zambia. I think we need to be weary of climate change. This is a very serious issue and we need to put in place mitigating measures to cope with climate change. This issue does not just affect Zambia, but also the global village as a whole. We need to sit down, as a nation, to come up with measures that can be put in place so that we are prepared in an event of serious climate change that we may experience. We had a taste of the effects of climate change, last year, when we experienced low rainfall which resulted in the load shedding that we are experiencing.

Mr Speaker, I just want to thank you for giving me an opportunity to debate this very important and inspiring speech.

I thank you, Sir. 

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Kapyanga): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity that you have given me to contribute to the debate on the President’s Official Opening Speech to the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. 

Mr Speaker, in his speech to the august House, His Excellency the President referred to the fact that infrastructure is a catalyst to the enhancement of social and economic development of our country. 

Mr Speaker, before I proceed, let me take this opportunity to pay my heartfelt condolences to the families of the late Hon. Chifita Matafwali, Member of Parliament for Bangweulu, and late Hon. Humphrey Idol Mwanza, Member of Parliament for Solwezi West constituencies respectively. 

Mr Speaker, may I also congratulate the new hon. Members of Parliament who were elected in the recent by-elections. These are, Hon. Lawrence Sichalwe from Chawama Parliamentary Constituency, Hon. G. Mwamba from Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency, Hon. Teddy Kasonso from Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency, and Hon. Anthony Kasandwe from Bangweulu Parliamentary Constituency. 

Mr Speaker, the hon. Members of this House have been called to represent and preserve the interest of those who have given them the mandate. Therefore, they must work hard for the good of the society and sustain the lives of their people. 

Mr Speaker, politics is our expression of a way of life that avoids injustices. Therefore, we must live as nobly and justly as possible. The yardstick we want to use for others is the one that we should use for ourselves. We must give hope to those people who are poverty stricken around us. There is a need for dialogue to resolve all forms of tension and focus on development that will redeem the Zambian people. 

Mr Speaker, the people of Kabwe Central Parliamentary Constituency recognise His Excellency the President’s Speech as one of the great speeches that will stand the test of time. This can be attested to through the projects that are taking place such as the construction of roads, health posts, trauma centres, schools, student hostels and other infrastructure too numerous to mention. It is important to note that from Page 40 to 47 of his speech, His Excellency the President emphasised that infrastructure development in terms of roads, railways, water ways, buildings and communication systems remain the backbone for the development of all other sectors. 

Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to inform this august House that my ministry will implement the directives given by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on the speedy development of transport infrastructure. We are all aware that the Government is investing heavily in the development of an integrated transport system that will enhance the movement of people and goods. We all know that a good transport system results into reduced transit time and enhances productively of a country. In many instances, we have heard some circles in society ask the Government whether people will eat roads and so on and so forth. Let me put it on record that an improved transport system will have a direct impact on the lives of the Zambian people in many ways such as the following:

(a)    people will spend less time on the road and this will reduce the amount of money that they will spend on food and other necessities. This will result in a saving on their part;

(b)    the transit time for goods and services will be reduced and this means that a saving will be made on the part of business persons. These savings will be translated into reduced costs of transporting goods and services. These savings will be passed on to the Zambian people through reduction in the prices of goods and services; and

(c)    a good transport system will open up markets in rural areas, thereby, contributing to increased income for the rural population. 

Mr Speaker, consequently, the Government will continue implementing the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project, Pave Zambia 2,000 km Road Project, Link Lusaka (L400), and C200 Project. I encourage this House to support the Government in the implementation of these projects in the road sector as they are meant to benefit the Zambian people whom we are employed to serve.

Mr Speaker, in order to ensure that we maintain our road infrastructure, which we have constructed at a great cost, the Government will accelerate the implementation of the National Tolling Programme. Further, the Government will introduce measures to ensure effectiveness in the collection of revenues in order to ensure availability of resources for road rehabilitation and maintenance. 

Mr Speaker, in air transport, the Government will take advantage of Zambia’s geographical location by developing the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport and Mfuwe International Airport in preparation for the operation of the national airline. In addition, the Government has already commenced the rehabilitation of provincial oil drums which will enhance connectivity by air transport to all provincial centres. Let me state here that the operationalisation of the national airline should not be seen in isolation, but with the forward and backward linkages that it will bring to the economy in terms of increased job creation, increased tourism, improved export of flowers to Europe and increased foreign exchange earnings. Hon. Members, imagine how much foreign exchange we are spending on buying tickets from foreign owned airlines ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours. 

[MR SPEAKER in the chair]

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended I was saying imagine how much foreign exchange we are spending on tickets from foreign owned airlines? This money, if spent on our own national airline, would remain within the boundaries of Zambia and contribute to the stabilisation of the kwacha. 

This project will be of great benefit to the Zambian people and, as such, my ministry will do everything necessary to ensure that it takes off, as directed by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, to develop the railway sector, the Government will continue to collaborate with the Republic of Tanzania and the People’s Republic of China. This Government is eager to see a turnaround in TAZARA so that it is competitive again. My ministry is also in the process of reviewing the TAZARA Act in order to ensure that its operations are commercialised and profitable. 

Mr Speaker, in the water transport sector, my ministry will continue to invest in maritime infrastructure. As mentioned by His Excellency, we are already investing in the procurement of passenger and cargo vessels and the development of maritime infrastructure. As such, the development of water transport will remain a priority for the ministry. We will continue to strengthen our collaboration with our neighbouring countries in the development of water transport on our shared water bodies. 

Finally, I would like to thank you, Sir, for the manner you presided over the matters of the House. I would also like to thank the Clerk of the National Assembly for administrating and managing the Business of the House and also the hon. Deputy Speaker and the Chairperson of Committees for the support to this House. 

I thank you, Sir. 

The Deputy Minister for the Eastern Province (Mr Sichone): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this chance to add my voice to this important debate on the address that His Excellency the President made to this House. 

Mr Speaker, I wish to join everyone in congratulating my colleagues that just won the immediate past by-elections. These are the hon. Member of Parliament for Bangweulu, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chawama, the hon. Member of Parliament for Solwezi West and the hon. Member of Parliament for Lubansenshi. 

Mr Speaker, I have been following the debates both in and outside this House. I note that it is very difficult for anybody to oppose or criticise this particular address to the House by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, because of its powerful content. His Excellency the President critically outlined Vision 2030, Vision 2064, and the one which begins to address immediate needs. I will not dwell so much on these things, but quickly move to the power shortage or energy deficit that we are experiencing in the country. 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President showed a lot of compassion and stated that he is very concerned about this power deficit. In fact, he is the one who is suffering more as a result of it.  As His Excellency the President said, when there is such a crisis, we tend to cry as a nation. We start to cry as a people. I strongly feel that we need to compliment His Excellency the President’s efforts in trying to resolve this by turning this calamity into an opportunity. 

Mr Speaker, this shortage has come with new opportunities. We are aware, by now, that the world over, mother earth is being challenged by natural climatic changes which have come to stay. They will be with us forever. If we encounter shortfalls in energy like we are experiencing now, we need to prepare for worse circumstances in future because there might not be a single drop of rain for the entire season. If we see an opportunity from this deficit, then, we will definitely be able to sustain ourselves.
 
Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President absolutely and passionately spoke about the theme of his address which was “Embracing a Transformational Culture for a Smart Zambia Now.” His Excellency the President said: `

“To attain this transformation, we need to change the way we think, behave and do things. Zambians deserve the very best and we are determined to ensure that this is achieved.”

Mr Speaker, one major input in this debate is transformation. Why did His Excellency the President talk about this? After having been exposed to quite a good number of our neighbouring countries, I found that it is only in this country where people die of thirst while standing knee-deep in water. It is only in this country where we have almost 48 per cent of the surface water in Southern Africa, and yet over 60 per cent of the population does not have access to good drinking water. 

Mr Speaker, this has not come as a result of any bad policy at all, but due to the mindset that we have developed with time. As the people of Zambia, we need to be ashamed of participating in vices such as laziness.  

Mr Speaker, in this country, almost 58 per cent of the land mass is arable and fertile, and yet, for so many years, we have had over 60 per cent of people going hungry. These people cannot even grow food to feed themselves. Is it the responsibility of the Government for a particular household to grow a lima of sweet potatoes for their food security? Is it the responsibility of the Government for a particular household to grow vegetables just enough for their consumption? Why are we still going through challenges that are so personalised? This is happening because of the mindset we have taken towards whatever we are doing.

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: Mr Speaker, it is in this country where you will hear of violence even in hospitals. This is where patients or relatives to patients begin to fight with the medical staff. In most of the cases, if not all, you will discover that the misunderstandings arise as a result of the bad attitude of the health service providers. His Excellency the President is telling us to change our mindset and it is time to do that.  

Mr Speaker, in this country, we have areas where we can grow rice. When I talk about mindset change, we, as a country, need to invest so much in it. It is unfortunate to find out that whenever you tune in to any radio station, you will just listen to politics of hatred and unattainable things. Why do we not channel that energy towards transforming even our own members from the Opposition or the entire mother Zambia, for example? 

Mr Mwenya: Hammer!

Mr Sichone: Mr Speaker, I would want to challenge people that believe that it has to take the Government to provide an income for people in form of employment alone. I will cite an example of a farmer who is growing one hectare of sweet potatoes. To start with, sweet potatoes do not require fertiliser. The input that is required for a hectare of sweet potatoes is basically the labour. This implies that the cost of labour per hectare is so low. It takes sixty days, which is approximately two months for your sweet potatoes to be ready. Even if you are getting K100 per day, you are basically talking about K6, 000 for sixty days.  

Mr Speaker, in this country, you will find that a few farmers that grew sweet potatoes are selling a 25 kg bag of sweet potatoes for K25. A hectare has the capacity of giving you an average yield of about ten metric tonnes. That translates to about 400 x 25kg bags of sweet potatoes. So, you are talking about K10, 000 for 400 bags of sweet potatoes.  

Mr Speaker, if you, again, calculate, you will discover that somebody can make more than K30,000 to K40,000 from a hectare of sweet potatoes. A household that is earning that much in a year is sustainable. It can afford to send its children to school and to even do Opposition politics smartly. Such a household can even afford to feed people and contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) of this country. Why are we still wallowing in this kind of poverty? Even if people dreamt of changing Governments, things would be worsened because the challenge is in the mindset. His Excellency the President is telling us to change our mindset for the betterment of this country.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to talk about Zambia as a landlocked country. As a land linked country, surely, why should we allow a situation where we have Zimbabweans passing through Zambia when going to sell their merchandise in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)?  Why should we not be the ones to buy the merchandise from Zimbabwe and sell to the DRC? We should be known as a centre for trade. The saddest part of it is that we are all investing our focus on who will be the next President. This country requires all of us leaders, for example, to change the way we are thinking and doing our things. If Namibia is supposed to export things to the  DRC, it has to be Zambians buying from Namibia and selling to the DRC. We really just have to change our mindset and that does not require the Government to tell the unemployed youths to begin to run around. 

Mr Speaker, I come from a constituency which is near Tanzania and I understand the cultural behaviour of the people there. After all, most of them are my relatives. 

Interruptions

Mr Sichone: Mr Speaker, in that country, you will not find people playing around. People are busy working and generating income. The people there work so hard. They carry things on their bicycles that will need ten men in Zambia to carry. Unless we change our mindset, we are bound to be impoverished and to face a lot of economical challenges.

Mr Speaker, on Page 7 of the speech, bullet No. 6, His Excellency the President talked about putting the nation first. He talked about patriotism. Even in fora where we meet with our colleagues from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), be it in or outside the country, you will find that they talk highly about their countries. It is only in Zambia where, if you go on social media, the first items you will see are negative comments about the economy of this country. Who said that you can win the hearts of people by portraying negativity? You can win the hearts of people by providing a foresight and hope for them. Unfortunately, such politics cannot be understood in that manner by, especially, our colleagues from the Opposition, in particular, the Members of the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Mr Speaker, I also wish to support His Excellency the President when he talks about fighting corruption and there being no sacred cows. Unfortunately, this vice is so serious such that it has ended up in churches. We are, therefore, calling all of us leaders of this country, whether left or right, to rise up to the challenge and to ensure that we can …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order both on the left and right.

Mr Sichone: … insulate the next generations to come. Usually, in countries where such a vice is perpetrated, you will find that the end product is war. I am not saying that Zambia apparently should pass through that. God forbid. We need to insulate the next generation by doing what is right. Let us join His Excellency the President’s effort in fighting corruption. 

Mr Speaker, the same applies to the issue of tribalism. Zambia is a beautiful country with serious diversity of natural resources. 

In this country, it is so saddening to note that everything is being driven on a tribal basis. I feel sad because my wife is from another tribe and I wonder if my children will be safe in this country if we continue to perpetuate regionalism and tribalism. We need to change and it completely borders on change of mindset. I believe the new Ministry of Development Planning will create a sustainable programme of mindset transformation that should be mainstreamed in all the ministries.

Sir, His Excellency the President declared 18th October, 2015, a day of prayer and reconciliation. It is shocking that the public and even people on the Floor of this House objected to this call. I thank God for giving us a God Fearing President.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has practically demonstrated that in his life, there is no place for the devil. In this country, some Opposition leaders were called freemasons. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mwila: Landa mwaice.

Mr Sichone: Mr Speaker, I wondered whether that was true or not. However, having heard that an Opposition leader …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: … has boycotted being part and parcel of the prayers, I realised that it is only a satanist who cannot participate in prayers.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: This country needs prayers. A country where people step in water, and yet cannot quench their thirst needs prayers. A country in which people fight at every by-election needs prayers.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: If there are more people like some Opposition leaders who will not attend the prayers, my message to them is that Zambians are watching.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: Zambians do not want to associate themselves with a person associated with the devil …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: … because Zambia is a Christian country with a Christian President.

Hon. Government Members: Hammer, hammer!

Mr Sichone: His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has acknowledged that God is above everything and is the source of his wisdom.

Mr Speaker, I appeal to, especially, my colleagues in the Opposition to stop following blindly. If an individual does not believe in God, they should not accept to be led into that direction.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: Leave the freemason to be a freemason. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: Leave a satanist to remain a satanist. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: We are a Christian country. God will continue prevailing and such leaders will never step anywhere near the chair of authority. In this country, we need to change the way we do things. We talk too much, and yet do very little. We should not be comfortable with the hunger situation in the country when people have the ability to grow food. We are a rich nation that requires everyone’s efforts to prosper and maintain the peace that we enjoy.

Mr Speaker, with these remarks, I beg to move.

I thank you, Sir.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the wonderful speech that was delivered by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Sovereign Republic of Zambia.

Sir, I would like to congratulate the three newly-elected hon. Members of Parliament for winning the by-elections in Bangweulu, Lubansenshi and Solwezi West constituencies. I welcome my fellow hon. Members to this august House. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the other political parties which participated in the by-elections and urge them to work with the newly-elected hon. Members of Parliament for the benefit of the people of the three constituencies.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Sovereign Republic of Zambia must be highly commended for ably highlighting the situation of the youth and for offering a policy direction. Therefore, my contribution to the debate on the Motion of Thanks will dwell mostly on youth empowerment and employment.

Sir, I want to quote the words that touched my heart. On Page 3:

“I hear the cry of the welder whose income has dwindled due to the load shedding; that hairdresser, that chicken runner who cannot put up with repeated power disruptions …”

Mr Speaker, he went on to state that:

“I feel the frustrations of those workshop mechanics, barbershop and market stall owners whose income has declined as a result of power shortage.”

Sir, this is a kind of President who feels for the poor and young ones who are frustrated.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

There are too many conversations both on the left and right.

Continue, hon. Minister.

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, allow me to reaffirm that the Government recognises the fact that youths are not a burden to the country, but a very important human resource for the development of our country.

In this regard, the Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sport, has developed the first ever action plan for youth empowerment and employment which His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu launched on 12th August, 2015. This shows the highest level of commitment by the highest office of the land. 

Sir, in his speech, His Excellency the President prioritised the empowerment of citizens, including the youth through various schemes in the Ministries of Gender and Child Development, Commerce, Trade and Industry, and Youth and Sport. I want to commend him for that because the empowerment of the entrepreneurs will lead to increased economic activities and, ultimately, increased competition and productivity; ingredients for economic growth.

Mr Speaker, in order to contribute towards youth empowerment and employment creation and citizen’s empowerment, the ministry will co-ordinate the implementation of the action plan which aims to create more than 500,000 decent jobs by the end of 2016. Of course, people have criticised that and questioned if that is possible, but if we go through the Youth Empowerment and Employment Strategy, there are specific outlined strategies that will assist in terms of creating sustainable jobs for the young ones in Zambia. Also, it is the responsibility of every Government on this earth to give hope to the youths out there by creating an enabling environment for a sustained life because youths are the future generation. This calls for, among other things, a more coherent, mainstreamed and multi-sectoral approach for us to attain the target. Further, as stated by His Excellency the President in his address to this House and nation, the transformational agenda requires a total change of mindset by implementers of youth programmes and the Zambian youth themselves. In that way, we are going to create a smart Zambia with young innovators and entrepreneurs to drive economic growth.

Sir, I, therefore, call upon all hon. Members of Parliament in this august House to acquaint themselves with the action plan and support the Government in the implementation of the youth empowerment and employment programmes in their respective constituencies.

 Mr Speaker, as I earlier stated, His Excellency the President assured the nation that the Government would continue to implement various empowerment programmes, including the Youth Development Fund (YDF) in the Ministry of Youth and Sport. May I take this opportunity to inform this august House that between 2012 and 2014, we disbursed K43 million to over 1,300 youth-led enterprises. This has facilitated the creation of over 3,500 jobs for the youth. The demand for the YDF in the country has been overwhelming. Therefore, its continuation will lead to more youth-led enterprise and contribute to poverty reduction in the long run.

Sir, as I stated earlier, His Excellency the President’s Speech that touched on the re-alignment of some ministries, also affected my ministry. This re-alignment will promote the synergies in the planning and implementation, monitoring, evaluation and co-ordination of national programmes.

Mr Speaker, on Thursday, 1st October, 2015, I noticed one hon. Member of Parliament seemed to have opposed the idea of creating the Ministry of Youth and Sport with Child Development in his debate on the Motion of Thanks. This took me aback.

Sir, if the African Continent, today, is referred to as the young and youthful continent and if 8.2 per cent of Zambia’s population, today, are youths, I wonder if the Opposition will have the courage to tell the Zambian youths that when it forms Government, it will abolish the Ministry of Youth and Sport when this is the ministry which is supposed to take care of the interests of the youths. 

Sir, I am saying this because the leaders that are going to take up leadership tomorrow are the youths of today. Therefore, we need to nurture, train and give them skills. We do not need to demonise them and say, “No, we can do away with the Ministry of Youth and Sport because the interest of the youths can be managed by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.” I wondered and thought to myself whether we really understand what we are supposed to do as a country or Opposition or, maybe, it is just the way of speaking so that we oppose even the positive things that are creating the impact that are going to help even our children that we are planning for here today.

Mr Speaker, to the contrary, the re-alignment of the ministry with child development is a move in the right direction. This will enhance service delivery to the children and the youths who have overlapping challenges and needs. His Excellency the President’s move will also enable the holistic and long-term planning for a child and youth development.

Sir, before I conclude, I have failed the need for us to seek God as I have heard many people speak about prayer. As a Christian, therefore, I failed compelled and agree with His Excellency the President’s need to plan for this country. I could see His Excellency the President visualising Zambia in 2064, and yet other hon. Members were murmuring, then, I said to myself that as a country, we are in this situation because we have been electing leaders that have not been looking to the future. 

Mr Speaker, imagine if leaders that were there in 1995 had planned for this country when the Zambian population was about 5 to 7 or even 10 to 12 million, I do not think we would have been  in the crisis in which we are today.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Chitotela: Sir, if we cannot project our thinking as leaders as one guru said:

“The ability of somebody to manage an affair will not go beyond the thinking capacity of that person.”

Sir, what I am trying to say is that you will not run an institution beyond what you can think. So, if you cannot project and have a vision of what you want to be, I wonder if you can achieve the desired goals. This is a President who thinks for the future, as he said:

“At the stroke of midnight on 24th October, 2064, Zambia should awaken to one undeniable truth and reality: that ours was a generation of achievers, a generation of men and women who, propelled by the energy of patriotism, changed this country forever.”

Mr Speaker, I think that must be a vision of every elected leader and everybody who understands how important it is to plan because such a person will be able to project the Zambian population for 2050 will triple by just looking at the census for 2010. Going by the labour force survey that was conducted in 2012, they had projected that the Zambian population was at 15 million then, by 2050, the population would triple. We would be able to plan for 45 million Zambians.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Chitotela: Sir, I was taken aback when I heard my colleagues questioning whether we will be there in 2064. I said to myself that so if we will not be there, then, we cannot plan. One guru in the Seventh Day Adventist Church by the name of Pardon Mwansa said:

 “Live as though you are dying, but plan as though you will live 100 years from now.”

 I think that is how a human being must be. You must have a vision and a projection of what you want to achieve in life. Do not look where you are. So, maybe, those that opposed His Excellency the President did not understand the importance of planning.

 Mr Speaker, here is our visionary President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, sitting in the chair of authority made of copper and all the precious metals in Zambia saying, I am not worthy, therefore, do not look at me, look at God.

Sir, the President went to say that: 

“Even if I am sitting in this Chair, there is somebody who is sitting in the Chair made of silver and gold, the chair that is made of cherubim.”

Mr Speaker, as if that was not enough, on Page 72, His Excellency the President declared 18th October, 2015 as a day of National Prayer and said:

“… We are above that. I proclaim 18th October, 2015, as a day of national prayer and fasting for reconciliation and forgiveness and generally to encourage the nation to seek the face of God.”

Sir, I would like to tell my brothers in the Opposition that His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, is not inviting you to himself, no. He is inviting you to God.

Hon. Government: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: He is not inviting you to himself. Therefore, I would wonder if a right-thinking Zambian would decline this invitation.

 Interruption

 Mr Speaker: Order!

 Can the hon. Minister address his colleagues as hon. Members.

 Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, is not inviting us to himself. I would like to encourage Zambians out there that His Excellency the President is inviting us to God. He says that he is a human being and, therefore, we should all turn to God and pray.

Sir, there are some quotations which I would like to quote although the law may not allow me to quote from the Bible, but I will quote the words.

Mr Speaker, there are some quotations in the Bible that say that as a Christian, …

Mr Speaker: Order!

 You have just rightly guided yourself.

 Mr Chitotela: Sir, I will not quote the verse from the Bible. I will not quote that.

 Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, as a Christian nation, I am in true support of the Presidential Declaration because there writings that say, “come, let us reason together.” There is also a Japanese writing which says ‘Come, let us hug this matter together.’ Therefore, God is inviting us to Him. So, let us go and listen to Him. There are some writings that say; ‘If my people that are called by name, shall humble themselves before me, those that forsake their sins and seek my face when they pray, I shall hear their prayer and they shall be my people and I shall be their God.’

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Chitotela: This is what His Excellency the President is saying. Therefore, I wonder what kind of people we are who would decline an invitation when somebody says that, “We are all hungry so, let us go and eat,” and do other things and, maybe, say that the invitation is political.
,
Mr Speaker, there are some writings that say, “A man cannot cheat God.” Since the word ‘cheating’ may be unparliamentary, I will substitute it with ‘deceive.’ We need to be honest with ourselves.     

If somebody is directing us to do the right thing, then, let us do that. I want to appeal to the youths of Zambia and remind them that Zambia belongs to them. Do not let the hon. Opposition Members mislead you. Stand up and be counted. Own the future of this country. This is your country. None of us, but you, the youths, will be there in 2064. So, stand up and build the country on the foundation and pillars of God. Let us all turn up in numbers on 18th October, 2015, and seek the presence of God. We must go and reason together. We must find a solution to all our problems because there is no challenge that a human being can fail to solve when they seek the presence of God. Ellen G. White, in one of her books, wrote that; “Human effort plus divine intervention makes things possible.”

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister of Defence (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, I want to join my colleagues, who have debated before me, by stating, right away, that I am in support of this debate or the speech delivered to this House by His Excellency, the President.

First and foremost, allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the well-articulated and inspiring speech made to this august House during the Official Opening of the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the speech that His Excellency the President delivered is not only a good one, but also one of the best I have ever heard since I came to this House.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, in his address to Parliament, touched on a number of operational issues which positively impact on the Zambia Defence Force and Zambia National Service. It is in this regard that I would like to contribute as well.

Sir, the Government has taken serious steps to improve the operational capability of the Zambia Army. Notable among them is the procurement of vehicles and other equipment, which made it possible for the Zambia Army to meet the United Nations Country-Owned Equipment requirements for deployment of a battalion in the United Nations (UN) peace-keeping missions. The equipment deployment will bring the much-needed income to this country. This will, in the long run, enable the procurement of other equipment in a quest to modernise the service. Zambia is currently taking part in the UN Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic. 520 personnel are already in the mission area while 750 personnel are expected to be deployed later. Apart from personnel serving in the Central African Republic, the Government has deployed officers to serve as staff officers and military observers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Dafur, South Sudan, Liberia and Ivory Coast. 

Mr Speaker, to maintain national security, the Government has deployed men and women in uniform throughout the ten provinces in Zambia. To ensure that the men and women in uniform do not stay on these operations for longer periods, my ministry has planned to conduct a massive recruitment exercise beginning next year. It is worth noting that for the first time in fifty years, as an independent State, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency the President, has made efforts to begin modernising the Defence Force in order to be in tandem with the current trends worldwide. A typical example of action taken in the modernisation process is the establishment of the forty-eight marine units in Kawambwa. This step is a clear testimony of the Government’s desire to provide security on our water bodies and consequently, to the people living in and around these areas. The launch of the 48 marine units by His Excellency the President and Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on 26th July, 2015, in Kawambwa, is a sure way of protecting our water bodies, which have remained vulnerable for a long time. This will greatly reduce the harassment of our people on the water bodies, especially in Luapula Province.

Sir, the Government has continued rendering support to the Zambia Army in order for the army to participate in the regional and international training. The Zambia Army has continued to take part in various exercises in the region. Recently, Zambia hosted exercise Southern Accord 12 in August, 2015, with the Americans. The Zambia Army will also take part in the Exercise Mahombekombe, which is Special Forces exercise in October to November, 2015. These exercises are very important as they enhance operational capabilities of the service through the exchange of training techniques and enhancing regional military co-operation, thereby, maintaining peace and security.

Sir, the Government has continued to support training through professional career courses to officers and soldiers, both locally and abroad. This has greatly contributed to improving abilities, experiences and expertise of the men and women in uniform in various fields. The knowledge that the personnel acquires will enable them to operate the modern equipment with relative ease, professionally and effectively. The Government has also continued to support the Zambia Defence Force with operational support infrastructure. For example, the Government put up hangers at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Lusaka and constructed the Computer-Based Training Centre (CBTC) at the Flying Training School at ZAF Livingstone.

Sir, this is aimed at reducing accidents during training. The trainers will now start training by, first of all, using the simulators on the ground before they actually fly. The list of such support infrastructure is long and may require more time before it can be tabled before this House. 

Mr Speaker, the need to thank and upload the positive leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia and the PF Government regarding the continued support to development efforts cannot be overemphasised. In connection to this, the country has witnessed the Government’s procurement of earth-moving equipment from China for the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to open up the rural areas of Zambia and improve accessibility to the market for farms.

Mr Speaker, Zambia is like a twenty roomed house constructed with only three doors. It is very difficult to manoeuver to enter other rooms. The realignment of the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) from the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication to the ZNS, in the Ministry of Defence, will improve efficiency and effectiveness in the utilisation of this unit. This move, coupled with the newly-acquired equipment, will enhance the operations of the land development branch. I can simply say that this is the beginning of the end to challenges of rural roads that people have been complaining about for a long time.

Mr Speaker, the Government has also acquired new machinery and implements from China for agricultural production. In this regard, allow me to inform this House that ten centre pivots to boost the production of irrigated crops, under the Irrigation Development Support Programme, which was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, have been allocated to the ZNS. The procurement of centre pivots is intended to increase hectarage under irrigation in order to improve food security in the country.

Mr Speaker, as regards the acquisition of milling plants to promote value addition, allow me to inform this august House that the six milling plants allocated to the ZNS will enable the service to produce affordable mealie meal and bring the market for the sale of maize closer to the farmers.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulenga: The six milling plants will be in Kaoma, Mpika, Solwezi, Monze, Chipata and Kasama. These are strategic places where these millers are going to be stationed in order to distribute to the nation.

Mr Speaker, before I conclude, let me just mention that violence has been cited as one of the major issues that we are struggling with in the country, especially during elections. Like many of my colleagues have stated, we need to start thinking positively and change this culture.

Mr Speaker, this country has enjoyed peace for a long time. For over fifty years, we have lived in harmony, but we cannot take this for granted. The soldiers we see in uniform are only good today because we are not at war. When the situation becomes volatile, we cannot come near them. We will all be running away from our own brothers. 

So, sometimes, when we open our mouths as politicians, we must realise that we are putting our peace at stake. Some of the statements from us leaders promote violence. In fact, the youths that we are always talking about moving with pangas, insulting and attacking people during elections only follow the instructions from their leaders. Like everyone has said, we must come together as leaders and forget our differences. We need to see to it that we protect this rare commodity, the peace we enjoy, and move forward as we continue to strive to develop our country without violence. Then, we will be a very good nation.

Sir, the “One Zambia, One Nation” motto needs to be promoted all the time. When somebody comes up with something good in this country, we always want to oppose. This morning, I was listening to a programme on the University of Zambia (UNZA) Radio. There was one former hon. Member of Parliament on this programme. What was coming out of his debate were just insults to His Excellency the President. He had no respect for His Excellency the President and general citizenry. He was just scandalising everybody. Such kind of attitude is very bad.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President has supporters. Equally, leaders of the Opposition have supporters. So, it is up to us, leaders, to stop various parties from fighting. Unfortunately, leaders are full of bitterness. You can tell when a person is speaking that he/she is extremely bitter. No matter how much you can advise such a person, he/she cannot listen. I think we need to change such kinds of attitude. We need to change the culture of violence. We, on this side, must restrain our people from fighting. The Opposition, on the other side, must also restrain their followers from violence.

What I witnessed in Lubansenshi was actually terrible. I was there physically campaigning and was one of those who were attacked by another group. As I was campaigning, a group of bodybuilders came and attacked me. However, I showed diplomacy because I was just looking at them. So, they failed to do anything to me and I advised them to campaign peacefully. Later on, we went to the police and resolved the issue. So, what I am trying to say is that, as leaders, we need to guide our followers properly so that we can progress.

Mr Speaker, I still have three minutes. Many have talked about prayers. I do not think there is anything better than for a leader calling for prayers in this country. When His Excellency the President was delivering his speech, he did not mention or invite any opposition party to the prayers on 18th October, 2015. He put it generally and said that we need to come together and pray as a nation. However, what is surprising is that one political party has championed the debate on this matter.

Mr Mushanga: Which one?

Mr Mulenga: There is one political party that has championed the debate on this declaration as if it is the only one His Excellency the President invited.

Laughter 

Mr Mulenga: His Excellency the President did not invite this particular political party. If its members do not want …

Mr Mwenya interjected.

Mr Mulenga: It is the United Party for National Development (UPND) in particular.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulenga: I did not want to mention this. I did not want to go this route, but it is true that the UPND has championed the debate on these prayers, and negatively so. It has been trying to discourage people from going to worship on that day. In fact, these national prayers have been declared on a Sunday. Sunday is worshipping day, just as Saturday is. 

Mr Speaker, what I am trying to say is that if our colleagues do not want to come, it is better they keep quiet and allow those that want to come to do so.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulenga: In fact, we are not forcing anyone. They can stay away and we will still worship and God will hear us.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulenga: That is the advice I can give to those that do not want to be part of this event. Perhaps, their absence will even be better. They might come and contaminate the environment at the place of worship.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulenga: When they stay away, we will worship freely. I want to repeat that this is my advice to those who are championing this debate as if His Excellency the President invited them. He did not invite them. His Excellency the President invited the nation and not individuals. So, we will go and worship and those that do not want can stay away.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me reaffirm, once again, that it is the Government’s resolve to increase staffing levels for defence personnel to the required numbers through regular recruitment in various areas of expertise.

Mr Speaker, all the three services will continue recruiting staff or officers in order for us to boost the morale of personnel who are currently overstretched.

Mr Speaker, thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister for Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Mr Chisala): Mr Speaker, it is my singular honour and pleasure to be accorded this rare opportunity to debate the President’s Speech which was delivered to this august House on 18th September, 2015.

Mr Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to congratulate new Members of Parliament namely, Hon. Anthony Kasandwe, Member of Parliament for Bangweulu Parliamentary Constituency in Luapula Province ...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: ... Hon. Mwamba, Member of Parliament for Lubansenshi in the Northern Province ...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: ... lastly, Hon. Teddy Kasonso, Member of Parliament for Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency in the North-Western Province. I urge my three brothers to start working with the Government of the day as their future and the development of their areas lies in them doing so.

Mr Speaker, my speech will focus mainly on issues raised by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia in his keynote address to this House. It will mainly be centred on operations of our ministry and other paramount issues which were either sufficiently or briefly highlighted by Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia.

Mr Kampyongo: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Sir, from the outset, I would like to echo the sentiments of other hon. Members of Parliament who have spoken before me and said that His Excellency the President’s Speech was very inspiring and has provided an opportunity for the people of Zambia to reflect on where we are coming from and plan where we want Zambia to be in the next fifty years. The speech delivered by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia was not only well-articulated, but also inspiring, well measured and, above all, collective in nature.

Dr Kaingu: Hear, hear! 

Mr Chisala: Sir, while we understand that a number of speeches have been presented to this august House before, I want to state that they were analysed in different ways by individual hon. Members of Parliament. However, suffice to say that since I became the people’s representative, in 2006, none of those speeches surpasses this one presented by his Excellency the President, Mr Lungu.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: Even those by Michael Sata!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, let me shade some light on the day of prayer and fasting, for reconciliation and forgiveness. 

Mr Speaker, I want to state that a number of countries are on fire due to envy, bitterness, hate contempt and, above all, selfish motives.

Mr Speaker, the evil vices only point to the destruction of human life. My colleagues in the Opposition, especially those of you who have been harbouring the spirit of bitterness, envy and hate, I urge you to be part of us on 18th October, 2015 as we go for prayer and fasting. For hatred, envy, bitterness ...

Mr Mulenga: Nabakana!

Mr Chisala: ... will only make your future become blunt.

Mr Speaker, we have to remember that God only appoints one person to rule a particular territory at a particular time. This is the time for His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Lungu, and the Patriotic Front (PF).

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, people may have their desire to rule, but if they do not have belief in God, they will keep on rising and falling. Eventually, they shall never rise at all.

Laughter

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, God blessed His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, from the day he reaffirmed the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation, as declared by the late President, Mr Frederick Titus Chiluba, may his soul rest in peace.

Sir, although we are facing hardship, today as a country, the scenario will be totally different for Zambia after February, 2016. Men of God have said this and there is prophesy to this effect.

Laughter

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, my friends should remember that there is no freedom in the world that comes without a struggle. So, if you want to progress, you have to undergo a lot of hardship.

Sir, we are on the path of political and economic emancipation in this country. We should remember that we cannot uproot what God has planted. It is impossible.

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: So, this time around, people should give respect to His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu’s PF Government. Bitter people should understand that their time to rule has not yet come and, if anything, it may not even come.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisala: Sir, I want to advise my colleagues to stop being weak in spirit. They should learn to be strong in spirit and do away with the spirit of bitterness. 

Mr Speaker, let us do away with the spirit of bitterness, hatred, envy and other vices that are not part of the Zambian culture, especially that we are Christians. People who harbour the above-mentioned vices are enemies of progress and never progress in life. 

Mr Speaker, let me talk about child protection. In the area of child protection, His Excellency the President has directed that the ministries that have a role to play in the rehabilitation and empowerment of street children devise a mechanism to address their plight. His Excellency the President is calling for interventions that will not only counsel street children, but also empower them with skills and knowledge. To put it simply, His Excellency the President meant not leaving any child in terms of opportunities for a better life despite that child’s socio-economic background.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, in his speech to Parliament, also indicated that the Government is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of the marginalised in society, especially women, children and persons living with disabilities. To this end, the Government is implementing the Social Cash Transfer Scheme which is being scaled up to an additional twenty-seven districts from the current fifty districts. This means that the total will come to seventy-seven districts. Further, 10,000 households in old districts are planned for the implementation of the scheme whilst, in the new districts, the Government plans to capture twenty-seven households.

The Food Security Pack Programme is being implemented nationwide and the Women Empowerment Programme that provides grants and entrepreneurship training to women’s clubs is also being implemented.

Mr Speaker, in an effort to enhance effectiveness in the delivery of social protection, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, in his speech, indicated to the House that the Government is developing and will implement an integrated management information system and single registry of household beneficiaries. The single registry is a common targeting system used to identify poor households and is the first of its kind in this country of ours. 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, in his address to Parliament, also highlighted the strides that have been made in the area of child and maternal health. This has been demonstrated through the child and maternal health indicators that have improved significantly. This has been realised through the investments that have been put in place, such as recruitment of health personnel, infrastructure development, provision of motorised transport, demand creation among citizens to seek health care, availability of essential medicine, access to information communication technology, to mention but a few.

Mr Speaker, in winding up my contribution, may I state that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has also called on each one of us to promote love among ourselves and embrace the motto of “One Zambia, One Nation”, in order for us to foster and maintain the peace that we have been enjoying all these years. It is high time that we begun to heal as a nation, and put national development above self-interest. 

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister for Copperbelt Province (Mr Mwenya): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this chance to contribute to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of this House, which is the speech for the Official Opening of the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia, delivered on the 18th of September, 2015. 

Mr Speaker, allow me to follow in the footsteps of all those who spoke before me and wholeheartedly appreciated the speech. Allow me to congratulate our colleagues who have joined us from the past two by-elections that were conducted. 

Mr Speaker, the speech by His Excellency the President was quite captivating such that I had difficulties restraining myself to my seat. Each time His Excellency the President touched on very important subjects, I nearly stood up to clap. I could not resist the inner feelings of joy on how focused he was on all the subjects he touched.

Mr Speaker, I am able to proudly and confidently say that, indeed, Zambia has a President who shall lift this country out of its doldrums, after the death of His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, and re-establish the vision and destiny of prosperity. I am proud to stand with my head high and say that I stood by His Excellency the President during that time of reckoning, when prophets of doom fought him from the left, right and centre, day and night.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: We never wavered. We stood firm, knowing very well that this was the leader, anointed not only by the late President, but also by God.  

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Declaring 18th October, 2105, as a day of fasting and prayer just re-affirmed his nobleness, humbleness and submissiveness to God Almighty. These are the attributes of a great leader. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Indeed, batata, ba Kaunda, our First Republican President, has also been a great example. 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President …

Mr Speaker: Interpretation, please. 

Mr Mwenya: Batata literally means “our father”.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President spoke on a number of issues that are very critical. For example, he spoke on energy shortage, influx of street kids, the transformation of culture, the drought that is being experienced in certain parts of the country and the lack of safe drinking water, to mention, but a few. On all these issues that he touched, a prudent solution was provided. I would urge my fellow country men and women to take time to study His Excellency’s Speech to appreciate it more. 

As a country, we are passing through a very turbulent period when you look at the challenges that have hit the nation abruptly. We have experienced poor rainfall, we are experiencing the poor performance of the kwacha, and instability in the mining sector, just to mention a few. I wish to state, here, that Governments are there to face such challenges and be able to resolve them. This is why boat Zambia has a captain, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who is equal to the task.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, small minds will take advantage of such challenges to try to make mileage out of them, not knowing that they are just exposing their ignorance. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Sir, gone are the days when people believed everything that came from the lips of a politician. Our people are now well-informed and access information worldwide. They know what is happening in every corner of the world. When you try to misinform them, all they see is foolishness in your face. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Mr Speaker, our Republican President indicated very clearly that he wants to see a smart Zambia. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Some of our colleagues could not really understand what smart meant. His Excellency the President was simply talking about e-governance in this country. If we go along this route, our country will get better and we will be able to reduce the corruption left by our colleagues that seems to be so rampant to the minimum.

Laughter 

Mr Mwenya: Country men and women, the Patriotic Front (PF) in Government means well and it shall conquer. Whatever we are passing through is just a passing phase. It has happened before. All of us here will recall that we experienced such challenges during the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) era under the late President Mwanawasa, SC. I do remember that he was a Member of Parliament when we had to resolve matters with a mining company in Kitwe which had laid off a number of miners without any packages. We fought them and made sure that we took them to court until the miners were paid.  

Sir, at times, as a nation, we need to think beyond. Certain challenges give us that opportunity to do just that. When you look at the shortage of electricity, it should be taken as an opportunity to learn more and think beyond. Indeed, an opportunity has emerged to look for alternative sources of power which might be very expensive on the onset, but very cost effective in the long run. When, finally, all is well, we will end up with the excess power for export, hence, more revenue for the country. What I am trying to say here is that, indeed, I have observed, with interest, that since the load shedding began, despite so much concern by the people in the country, they have not sat back. They have gone forward to try other sources of energy. Indeed, we have seen that the majority have turned to solar to try and use that as stopgaps. 

Mr Speaker, I want to believe that some of our people, even when things will be normalised might not even revert to hydropower, especially after appreciating the solar energy. Hence, we shall have extra energy that will be now available for export.

Mr Speaker, my conscience tells me that the truth hurts, but it is the truth and the truth that shall always set us free. As a country, for over seventy years, our economy has always centred on mining. Copperbelt, as a province, where I am the Provincial Minister has been the economic engine of our country. Today, as we speak, it is a fact that the mining sector is facing a lot of instability because of numerous factors. Some of the major challenges are the limited copper reserves, copper contents, excessive deep mining which is affecting the cost of production, marketing, transportation and sales. The price of the metal on the London exchange market is also a huge concern. 

Sir, above all, the metal is a wasting asset which will be exhausted one day. However, my question is: Have we ever asked ourselves what shall happen to the province and our country at large if such a situation happened? The scenario we have is of putting all eggs in one basket. Some may argue and say we are moving on into the North-Western Province where we have huge deposits very close to the surface. Yes, you may say so, but have you learnt from the volatility of the metal internationally? Each time the demand falls, our country becomes under heavy pressure. Dangers of mining and job losses become the order of the day. In short, we are indirectly enslaved as a nation. We have seen how the lives of miners change over night when they lose jobs to that of abject poverty. 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, in his speech, did highlight a vision that can move this country in the course of prosperity. Diversification into agriculture will liberate us, as a nation, to invest highly in cattle farming and turn the Southern and Western provinces into major cattle production provinces. We will contribute towards strengthening of our economy.

Mr Speaker: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

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The House adjourned at 1955 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 7th October, 2015