DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 10th December, 2014

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

__________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

DELEGATION FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF UGANDA

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to acquaint the House with the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the following visitors from the Republic of Uganda:

      Mr Justin Kasule Lumumba, MP, Government Chief Whip and Leader of the Delegation;

         Mr Stephen Mayende, MP;

Mr Ahmed Awongo, MP;

Mr James Mbahimba, MP;

Mr Patrick Mulindwa, MP; and

Mr Paul Musumali, Policy Analyst.

    Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: On behalf of the National Assembly of Zambia, I would like to receive our distinguished guests and warmly welcome them into our midst.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

___________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

CONSTRUCTION OF HEALTH POSTS IN NCHELENGE

271. Mr Mpundu (Nchelenge) asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health when the Government would construct health posts at the following places in Nchelenge Parliamentary Constituency:

(a)     Mukwakwa;

(b)    Ntoto;

(c)    Kanaya;

(d)    Lunde; and

(e)    Lupili.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Ms Kazunga): Mr Speaker, these health posts are among the 650 to be constructed countrywide.

As you may be aware, Sir, the contract was divided into three parts with a contractor to a number of provinces, to try to speed up the completion of the project which we expect to be finished by 2016.

Sir, the contractor given to Muchinga, Northern and Luapula provinces is Angelique Construction. The contractor is already in the provinces and has started the works. For Luapula Province, the contractor started with Mansa District, where the first stages of the construction works of laying of the slabs are almost complete.

Mr Speaker, according to the schedule put in place by the contractor, the construction of health posts in Nchelenge Parliamentary Constituency will start in January, 2015.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mpundu: Mr Speaker, allow me to differ with the hon. Minister by stating that none of 650 health posts will be located in the five areas I have mentioned in my question. Has the ministry carried out any research to confirm what the hon. Minister has said?

The Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Ms Kabanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the hon. Member that all the 650 health posts have been designated to the sites where they are supposed to be constructed. I think what the hon. Member needs to do is to go back to the district and consult more. Our officers at district level have all the information which could be of interest to the hon. Member.

I thank you, Sir.

DRILLING OF BOREHOLES IN LUANO VALLEY

272. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a)    whether the Government had any plans to drill boreholes in the Luano Valley in Mkushi South Parliamentary Constituency;

(b)    if so, when the drilling works would commence; and

(c)    how many boreholes were earmarked for drilling in the area.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tembo): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that in 2015, under the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, the Government targets to drill 2,000 boreholes across the country which will include Luano District. However, in the spirit of decentralisation, the Government will allow the council and stakeholders in Luano to identify priority programmes which should be submitted to Government for funding.

Sir, the drilling of boreholes will commence as soon as the project has been identified and prioritised. Afterwards, the contractor will be engaged. The number of boreholes will only be known after the identification process has been completed.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister whether he had visited the area because as far as I know …

Mr Chisopa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chisopa: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to raise this point of order. Is the hon. Member of Parliament for Nangoma in order to ask about boreholes in Luano Valley where I am Member of Parliament and I know that some of the areas have already got boreholes. 

I need your serious ruling.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: My ruling is that there are no territorial limits.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I am sure there must be something motivating that question.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I will allow him to continue.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, I do not understand how the rig machine will reach Luano Valley because there is no road there. So, how is the Government going to get there?

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member for that follow-up question. It has already been confirmed that there are boreholes in Mkushi South, and Luano in particular. I am sure that even at the time that those boreholes were being drilled, the road was already in existence. So, we will use the same road which was used before.

I thank you, Sir.

ELECTRICITY GENERATION STATIONS

273. Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi) asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development:

(a)    how many electricity generation stations were constructed from January, 2011 to December, 2013, countrywide, by name; and

(b)    how many stations were upgraded during the same period, by name.

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Zulu): Mr Speaker, electricity generation stations constructed from January 2011, to December, 2013 were as follows:

(a)    Shiwang’andu (1MW) mini hydro Power Station in Chinsali, Muchinga Province; and

(b)    Ndola Heavy Fuel (50 MW) Power Station in Ndola, Copperbelt Province. 

Sir, the following electricity generating stations were under construction countrywide during the period January, 2011 to December, 2013:

(a)    360 MW Kariba North Bank Extension Power Station;

(b)    120 MW Itezhi-tezhi Power Station whose construction started in December, 2011 and is expected to be completed and commissioned in October, 2015; and 

(c)    14.8 MW Lunzua Power Station whose construction started in June, 2012 and is expected to be completed in September, 2014. Commissioning tests for this station are already in progress.

Sir, the stations upgraded during the same period are as follows:

(a)    Kafue Gorge Power Stations upgraded from 900 MW to 990 MW; and

(b)    Kariba North Bank Power Station upgraded from 600 MW to 720 MW.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out why the construction and upgrading of electricity generating stations has been so slow to a point where we have still continued to experience load shedding in urban areas. Most importantly, I want to know why the Government has been so slow in providing electricity to our people in the peri-urban areas, which is a very critical input into economic growth and poverty reduction. This is a Government that prides itself in responding to the needs of the poor and yet it cannot even provide electricity.

The Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, firstly, I do not think that the Government has been slow in executing electricity generation projects. As the Government, we have met all the target dates of completing these projects. So, we are right on schedule. 

Sir, as regards to the load shedding which has been reasonably minimised, we feel that as Government, we have beaten the demand by ensuring that the supply surpasses the demand. What we are experiencing right now, in most cases, is not load shedding but faults. The faults occur due to some problems on the network. So, we are cognisant of the fact that the network, as it is now, must be upgraded so that it can take the load which it is intended to carry arising from the increased generation.

Mr Speaker, on access, I think we are all aware of how much we have excelled in taking power to the people through our rural electrification programmes. I can stand here and brag about the fact that nearly every two months, we are commissioning a village being connected to the national grid. It is also common knowledge that we have finally entered the north-west zone where we did not have power supply to the people. Right now, we are extending the grid to the North-Western Province and part of the Western Province. So, I think we need to be patted on the back for the job well done.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, …

Dr Kaingu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I have been entertaining this point of order for a long time now. I reluctantly rise to put this point of order across. It is now common knowledge that the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) has a candidate in the name of Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda. Is it, therefore, in order for a Member of Parliament, whose name I will withhold, who belongs to one political party, which sponsored him to this House, to openly or secretly endorse a candidate for another political party without crossing the Floor?

Sir, I need your serious ruling.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: My ruling is that such politicking, strategising, aligning and re-aligning does not fall under my remit. I have no control over those matters. As far as I am concerned every Member here is a Member of Parliament. They are either on the left or the right. One can also be an Independent Member. How the political parties relate to each other is outside my remit. I am also watching with curiosity.

Hon. Dr Musokotwane, you can continue. 

Dr Musokotwane: Sir, the hon. Minister said that the Government has created sufficient capacity to supply power to the different parts of the country. He went further to say that each time we see power outages, it is not due to load shedding, but electrical faults. 

Sir, almost the whole of last week for every single night, we had power failures. The only goodness is that these days the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) uses the short message service (SMS) to inform consumers that there will be a power failure in a given area. In the majority of these cases, we are told that this is due to load shedding. 

Sir, can the hon. Minister reconcile what ZESCO tells us that power failures are due to load shedding with what he has just said that there is sufficient power and that, therefore, load shedding is unwarranted.

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I would like to just put the record straight. In the season we are in right now, we utilise a lot of power for various needs like air conditioning and cooking. If you compare the peak load as it is right now to any other time in the year, you will see how much our utilisation pattern goes up during this season in relation to other parts of the year. 

Sir, when I talk about load shedding being reduced, I meant exactly that. We have data to prove this. We monitor how many times we keep people off the grid because of the demand rising too close to supply so that we prevent any damage to the equipment. The data we have shows us that we are doing pretty well in safeguarding this equipment. Of course, there are some isolated incidences where load shedding takes place. We only load shed to avoid any catastrophic damage to our equipment. This damage can even cascade back to the source. 

Sir, for now, I am fairly convinced with the data which I have at hand that we have reduced load shedding. The problem, like I have already said, has more to do with the condition of the network which transports the power. It has not been upgraded for a long time. So, we need to match the growth in the demand load with the transfer capacity of the wires.

I thank you very much, Sir.

Mr Konga (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the power blackouts, which are frequent nowadays, are as a result of faults on the transmission network as opposed to load shedding. Therefore, does the Government have any plans to rehabilitate the transmission network to reduce these faults?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I am pleased to be asked that question by my colleague, the former hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development. I was, however, hoping that he would help me explain some of these issues. Some of the projects we are currently undertaking were started when he was in office and I give him credit in that regard.

Mr Speaker, we are currently rehabilitating the entire Lusaka power network. We have gone almost past 70 per cent just to address what the hon. Member of Parliament for Chavuma is talking about. At the same time, we are rehabilitating and upgrading other networks such as the one for Kitwe. We intend to spread this rehabilitation exercise across the country. We, therefore, ask hon. Members to bear with us as we address this matter. 

Sir, we have carried out studies on the networks and identified the problems. We have prioritised the areas of interest we should tackle first. We started with Lusaka just because it is the capital city and most events take place here, be it industrial, domestic or commercial activities.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, I hope the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development is not like that hon. Cabinet Minister who went to a place and did not know what the price of a commodity under his ministry was. The hon. Minister has said that there is no load shedding. However, in the Lilayi Small Holdings area where I live, power goes off every Tuesday at exactly 0615 hours. Yesterday, this happened and I can assure you that every Thursday at 0615 hours, it goes off. My children even know that there is no watching of football because every Saturday at 1400 hours, electricity goes off. This is three days in a week. This has been happening for the past two-and-a-half years. 

Sir, if this problem is not as a result of load shedding, what should I do to avoid it because it seems other people are benefitting from the service provided by ZESCO while we are not

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, first of all, I would like to correct the impression which I may have created that there is no load shedding. I said that there are some isolated incidences as regards to load shedding. However, the majority of the outages we are experiencing are not due to load shedding, but as a result of faults on our network. Sometimes, even ZESCO does not know that there is a fault somewhere. In such situations, it relies on members of the public to inform it that there is a fault somewhere so that it can correct the situation. 

Sir, now, I said that during peak hour, which is around the 0600 hours that the hon. Member referred to, there is a high utilisation of power because everybody is cooking, using air conditioning and so on and so forth. Therefore, when we see that the safety of the network is being threatened, ZESCO cuts off some areas from the network. We have been running awareness adverts on television, advising people that when they see certain warning signs, they should turn off certain appliances in the House. So, people can help us to give them reliable supply if they comply with what appears on television during the peak hours of power utilisation. If they do not help us, switches at sub-stations will trip because of overloads. When this happens, we cannot reconnect the affected areas unless a few loads are knocked off. We can only sustain continuous power supply if the network is not threatened through overloading. Lilayi only has one supply line. When there is an overload, everybody in that area is affected. So I appeal to the public to, please, pay attention to the adverts on TV and respond accordingly.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister in his earlier submission was soliciting for us to give him a pat on his back for what he thinks is a job well done. I am a bit skeptical about giving him a pat on the back because it may hurt as some of us who are very frustrated. 

Sir, the hon. Minister did not answer the question which was raised by the hon. Member for Liuwa. The spokesperson for the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), a few days ago, indicated that demand outstrips supply only at night when we export power. In terms of actual figures, what is the total power generated and what quantity is required by the people of this country?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I know the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central is the shadow Minister of energy …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Yaluma: … and he is looking forward to 20th January, 2015.

Mr Sikazwe: Question!

Mr Yaluma: Sir, the issues which Hon. Dr Musokotwane referred to are different to the ones which have been raised by Hon. Nkombo. We cannot export power at night because that is part of our peak times. The peak times are in the morning and at night from 0500 hrs. We export power during the day when …

Mr Nkombo: But you said it yourself.

Mr Yaluma: No, you said that …

Mr Speaker: You should not engage directly. You can only do so through the Speaker.

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, we only export when we have got surplus power available during the day. When we come towards peak hours, we do not export power. So, from 0500 to 0800 hours and from 1800 to 2100 hours, we do not export power. During these periods, there is a sharp rise in power utilisation. 

Sir, the figure for the total amount of power which is utilised in the country is not constant because the utilisation pattern keeps changing frequently. So, today, it could be 100 Mw. Then tomorrow it could be 250 mW. 

  Sir, since we now have a lot of people applying to be connected to the power grid for both commercial and domestic uses, we have seen it prudent to add more generation capacity onto the system. 

Sir, what is causing load shedding is not our generation capacity. As a result of faults, sometimes our network is not capable of carrying a certain load. Without proper maintenance, your vehicle might fail to start even with a new battery. So, what I am saying is that we need to match the generation capacity with the transfer capacity of our network. We are upgrading the network in Lusaka, Kitwe and a few other places.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, I have a series of questions, …

Mr Speaker: You are only entitled to one.

Laughter

Mr Hamudulu: … but considering that I can only ask one, I will ride on Hon. Mbulakulima’s question more, …

Mr Mbulakulima: Very good.

Mr Hamudulu: … especially that the question was triggered by the answer that was given by the hon. Minister. If the situation is as good as the hon. Minister has put it, what is the rationale behind consistently load shedding specific areas while other areas always have power? 

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I think I am repeating myself here. We have excess power supply. The bottleneck is the state of our transmission and distribution network. It is not in a good shape to transmit power continuously. 

Sir, we depend on the people to give us feedback by calling the call centre and reporting faults. When Hon. Mbulakulima experiences a power outage in the middle of listening to news, he should not assume that his neighbours have reported the problem to ZESCO. He should help us by reporting the matter so that it can be attended to. 

Sir, load shedding simply helps us to equitably distribute the little power we have at a given time. If you are switched off from power, you should be reconnected after two hours. The principle is that the burden should be shared. If you are being disconnected from power for long hours on end, then you must bring your problem to the attention of ZESCO management immediately.

I thank you, Sir.

OFFICIALY OPENING OF NEW SCHOOLS IN KAPIRI MPOSHI 

274. Mr Musonda (Kapiri Mposhi) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)    when the Government would officially open the following schools in Kapiri Mposhi Parliamentary Constituency:

(i)    Kapiri Day Secondary School;

    (ii)    Chipepo Secondary School;

    (iii)    Kapiri Girls Technical High School; and

(b)    whether the Government had any plans to relocate the poorly located sewerage ponds at Kapiri Girls Technical High School.

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, the Government will officially open the schools when contractors have completed all the works and have handed over the projects to the Government.

Sir, Kapiri Day Secondary School has been operational since 2013. The contractor is finalising the external works which include the construction of sports facilities. Chipepo Boarding Secondary School is scheduled to be operational in the year 2015. The contractor is currently working on the sewer lines, water and electrical reticulation systems to facilitate the opening of the school. As for Kapiri Mposhi Girls Technical School, the school has been operational since 2013. The contractor is finalising external works which includes the construction of sports facilities and the improvement of the water supply system.

Sir, the sewerage ponds at Kapiri Girls Technical Boarding School will be relocated when enough land is found outside the school premises so that the area where they are found can be used for sporting activities. The ponds were located where they are because of inadequate space.

Sir, the Ministry of Finance has released K124,752,730,24 to my ministry for payment to contractors for outstanding civil works certificates. With this amount which is currently being disbursed, a number of school projects will be completed and handed over by contractors to the Government. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, in appreciating the answer that the hon. Minister has given as regards the schools in Kapiri Mposhi, I am wondering whether the ministry has any influence on the period within which the contractors must finish their work and hand over school projects. Why is the hon. Minister not able to clearly indicate how soon the contractors will be able to finish their work? Is he saying that the contractors are the ones who determine the time frame in which the projects are finished and handed over to the Government? Why is it becoming a trend …
    
Mr Speaker: I think that you have made your point.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, we have been singing the song for three years now as regards the predicament in which we found ourselves regarding the number of projects and the allocations in the Budget. If the budget allocations were sufficient each year, a contractor would take between two-and-a-half to three years to finish a project. However, this is not the case because the funding has not been adequate. 

Sir, the ministry is apologising for the delay in the completion of the projects because it has not been able to meet the funding demands of the contractors. However, we are slowly coming to the end of this saga. The disbursement which I referred to earlier will make it possible for us to pay contractors for fifty-nine outstanding projects. The projects will then be handed over to the Government.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the school authorities and other stakeholders agreed to locate the sewerage ponds where they are because of inadequate space. Why did the authorities and stakeholders want to compromise the health of the children because of the lack of land? Why could they not have found alternative land earlier and safeguarded the health of the pupils?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the points which have been raised by Hon. Konga are valid. All I can say is that there was an oversight when this school was being planned for. The problem will be redressed soon.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, yesterday, we listened to hon. Members of Parliament on your right hand-side telling us how many high schools have been completed in the last three years. Some of them were started under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and others were started by the Patriotic Front. 

Sir, it appears that only high schools and technical schools in the areas where the Government has hon. Members of Parliament have been completed in the last three years and those in areas where the PF does not have many hon. Members of Parliament such as Libonda, Nakanya in Nalikwanda, Chavuma and Lukulu have not been completed. Why is it that those that have been completed are from areas such as Muchinga and Luapula provinces? 

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I least expected a question of this nature from Hon. Dr Musokotwane. However, since he has asked it, let me categorically state that the ministry does not operate on the basis of political expediency or affiliation. Neither my hon. Deputy Ministers and I have submitted any report to this House as to which schools have been finished on which Hon. Dr Musokotwane could have based his question. It is better for him to file in a question so that we are able to give him an overall picture of the situation in the nation rather than surmise it. This talk is dangerous. These schools are for the children of Zambia and not for us, politicians. We need to desist from looking at education matters through political glasses. We are here to service the children of Zambia and not the United Party for National Development (UPND), Patriotic Front (PF) or Movement for Multi-party Democracy.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, so far, I know of four secondary schools called Chipepo.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Hamusonde: Sir, what is so special about this name, Chipepo?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I notice from the tone of your voice that you almost said do not answer the question.

Laughter

Dr Phiri: Sir, let me still attempt to answer the question. I have not counted the number of secondary schools which are called Chipepo. However, what I would say, as hon. Minister in charge of this sector, is that the ministry does not name institutions. The hon. Minister, his hon. Deputy Ministers and the ministry as a whole only facilitate the construction of schools. The sight and the name come from the communities where these institutions are located. Maybe, we need to do a bit of research to see why Chipepo is such a favourite name. I wish it could be Phiri.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN SIKONGO DISTRICT

275. Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the construction of the following infrastructure in Sikongo District would commence:

(a)    council offices;

(b)    market;

(c)    council guest house; and

(d)    staff houses.
    
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr N. Banda): Mr Speaker, the Government’s priority is to complete the on-going infrastructure projects and construct new infrastructure in newly-created districts countrywide. The Government established a Local Government Equalisation Fund (LGSF) which will allow councils to use not less than 20 per cent of the grants they receive to construct infrastructure such as council offices, markets, council guest houses and staff houses.

Mr Speaker, although the responsibility of providing the infrastructure lies with the councils, the Government will supplement their efforts by providing additional resources to ensure that development is attained.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, in this year’s Budget, the Ministry of Finance allocated K500 million for the construction of infrastructure in the new districts. Why has Sikongo not benefited from the K500 million?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the newly created districts posed demands to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing at different levels, depending on which time the districts were created. Therefore, Sikongo was left out of the planning because of the time it was declared a district. 

I thank you, Sir.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, can I know whether the creation of these districts was a planned process as per Provincial and District Boundaries Act?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the creation of districts is a prerogative of the President. We have no control over that as a ministry. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the officers for the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for Sikongo are operating from Kalabo? This is very expensive for the Government. Does the Government have any immediate measures such as putting up tents so that the officers can reside and work in Sikongo?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, in the first place, the ministry is aware that the staff for some of the newly-created districts is still operating from other district councils. As for the question on when officers for Sikongo District will shift to the area, it can only be answered based on information from the local provincial administrative office. As a ministry, we expect the officers to begin to take their positions in the newly-created districts they have been assigned to soon.

I thank you, Sir. 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing is the parent ministry of the councils. It is very clear from the response that the hon. Minister has evaded the question which has been asked by Hon. Mbewe. Is the hon. Minister able to tell the people of Sikongo when the construction of the offices will start?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, as a ministry, we have budgeted for the construction of the offices through the LGEF for 2015. We expect the construction works to start as soon as the money is released to that district. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the situation which is obtaining in Sikongo District is similar to the one in Mitete, Limulunga, and Nkeyema. There are no offices being built in any of the districts which I have mentioned. If the Government was busy establishing the districts without planning for the necessary financial resources for putting up offices, can the hon. Minster not agree with me that this was an example of very poor planning?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, I do not agree with the hon. Member’s assertion. In my response, I indicated that, as the Government, we have made the funds available for the construction of offices for the councils through the LGEF. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, one of the debaters yesterday bragged that the people of the Western Province do not have to complain because they have been given a greater number of new districts when compared to other provinces. However, it is evident from the questions to the hon. Minister, and his answers that none of those districts have had any buildings constructed. Not even a stone has been laid anywhere. Why is that the case?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the implementation of infrastructure development projects in some of the newly-created districts has started.  There is a tender process for each construction project before it can start. I think that we are on course in implementing infrastructure development projects in the newly-created districts, considering the time frame necessary for the procurement processes to be completed.

I thank you, Sir. 

WORKS ON THE GULLY IN NAMUKOLO WARD

276. Mr Mucheleka asked the Vice-President:

(a)    when the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) would disburse funds for purposes of working on the gully in Namukolo Ward in Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency; and 

(b)    what the estimated cost of the exercise was.

The Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Mr Mwango): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that my office, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), is in receipt of a report from Luwingu District Council, including cost estimates on the proposed repairs on the gully in Namukolo Ward in Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency. 

Mr Speaker, the recommendations in the report received by my office are short-term in nature. The House may wish to know that in the spirit of cost saving and holistically handling the furrow issue in Luwingu, the DMMU has since requested the Luwingu District Council to provide medium and long-term plans. This is important, considering the fact that the project is developmental in nature.

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of the exercise will depend on the outcome of the consultations with the local authorities in Luwingu District.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, this is a disaster. For over two years, I have been writing to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), but there has been no action so far. Are the people from the DMMU waiting until people start dying in Luwingu before responding to this disaster? This is a serious disaster that has been brought to the attention of the …

Mr Speaker: Order!

You have made your point already. 

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, Chief Whip, and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Mukanga): Mr Speaker, the Government is not interested in seeing any people dying in this country. In the last two years, no one has died as a result of works having not been carried out on the gully in question. We will try to do all we can now to ensure that we make good of the situation. We have taken time to work on the project because it is a capital-intensive one. 

I thank you, Sir. 

COPPER MINE IN MKUSHI

277. Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South) asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development:

(a)    who the owners of the copper mine situated in Mkushi South Parliamentary Constituency were;

(b)    whether the mine was operational;

(c)    if so, when operations commenced; 

(d)    what the total capital investment in the mine was; and 

(e)    what the production levels of the mine were.

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Musukwa): Mr Speaker, the copper mine situated in Mkushi South Parliamentary is currently owned by Elephant Mining. The mine is not operational. Operations have not yet commenced because there is no capital investment yet. Further, since the mine is not operational, there is no production. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to add that on 23rd May, 2014, the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development, through its directorate, granted a default notice to the mine as a result of not commencing operations. 

I thank you, Sir. 

DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF TO MUSAMANI CLINIC

278. Mr Kunda (Muchinga) asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health:

(a)    when the deployment of medical staff to Musamani Clinic in Muchinga Parliamentary Constituency would commence;

(b)    what had caused the delay in deploying staff to the clinic; and

(c)    how long it took for the Government to deploy medical staff upon completion of construction of a health facility. 

Ms Kazunga: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the staff for Musamani Clinic have been identified and are awaiting deployment. A number of challenges have contributed to the delays in deploying staff to Musamani Clinic, including non-electrification of both the health facility and staff house; non-availability of water due to the defective borehole which was sunk under the Rural Water and Sanitation Programme by the council; and lastly because the health facility was not on the Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PEMC) System. The foregoing factors made it difficult to place staff at Musamani Clinic. 

Mr Speaker, the deployment of medical staff to newly-constructed health facilities is supposed to be immediate. The planning for human resource for health facilities under construction is undertaken during the course of construction. In cases where there is no funding to support the recruitment, the District Medical Office redeploys officers from other health facilities within the districts to ensure that the new facility is operational. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, the people near the Musamani Clinic walk long distances to access medical attention. Can the hon. Minister categorically state when exactly this clinic would be opened.

Ms Kazunga: Mr Speaker, the ministry is now in the process of opening the establishment because already some money, about K150,000 has been provided under PEMC for the staff who are expected to work for the clinic. Furthermore, the council has sourced funds for the sinking of a new borehole. 

I thank you, Sir. 

NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL

279. Mr Kapyanga (Kabwe Central) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing: 

(a)    what measures the Government was taking to improve the operations and training programmes at the National Fire Service Training School in Kabwe;

(b)    whether the Government had any plans to procure a new firetender for the Kabwe Municipal Council; and

(c)    if so, when the firetender would be procured.

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that in an effort to improve the operations and training at the National Fire Service Training School, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has acquired land in Kafulamase in Kabwe in order to construct a modern training school that will have modern facilities. The Procurement and Supply Unit in the ministry is currently studying the terms of reference for consultancy services for the development of construction designs for the modern training school. 

In addition, Sir, the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) has reviewed, improved and consolidated the courses into a three-year fire and rescue training programme. The ministry is studying how the new programme will be implemented effectively. On the other hand, before the modern school is constructed, TEVETA has already assessed the facilities at the current school with a view to having it accredited to improve the standards of training. 

Mr Speaker, it is also important to mention that training schools in developed countries have already been approached with a view of entering into partnerships so that we can groom capable firefighters and instructors who will provide quality services to the community. 

Mr Speaker, Kabwe Municipal Council is included under the 2015 budget for allocation of a firetender. Through the ministry’s 2015 budget, all the provincial headquarters will be provided with firetenders. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Kapyanga: Mr Speaker, the location for the construction of the training school was identified some time back. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what challenges have led to the delay of the construction of the school. 

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the delay in beginning the project was merely due to the fact that it has not been budgeted for ever since the location was identified. The Procurement and Supply Unit in the ministry is currently studying the terms of reference for consultancy services for the development of construction designs for the modern training school. The project will commence as soon as the consultants have completed their work

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the Local Government Service Commission has employed a lot of firefighters most of whom have been deployed to various councils. The firefighters are working without any training. What immediate measures will the ministry undertake to ensure that these firefighters operate effectively in the areas where they have been deployed?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, those who have been employed as firefighters have been given basic training through the current training school. Though helpful, the training is still not consumerate with the required standard.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: There was some injury to the Queen’s language.

Laughter 

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, I apologise for the injury.

Laughter 

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: Sir, how many firetenders are in Kabwe? What is the plan for Kabwe knowing that it requires a lot of firefighting equipment considering it is a district which is linked to a lot of districts by road?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, I am sorry for injuring the Queen’s language.

Laughter 

Mr N. Banda: Sir, there are two firetenders in Kabwe. One is based at the training school and the other at the Kabwe Municipal Council. The two firetenders have been able to handle all the fire-related pressure from the Kabwe District adequately.

I thank You, Sir.

PLANS TO BUILD BOARDING SCHOOL IN NKEYAMA DISTRICT 

280.    Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)    whether the Government had any plans to build a boarding school in Nkeyema District; and 

(b)    if so, when the plans would be implemented.

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, Nkeyema and Luampa districts were part of Kaoma District. The creation of the two and many other districts across the country necessitated that the ministry realigned its plans to deal with this reality. 

Sir, the Government has plans to build a boarding school in Nkeyema District. If all goes well, the 2016 Infrastructure Plan will have the funds for the school and other schools in the districts that need them the most.

I thank you, Sir. 

______

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the 
Chair]

VOTE 88 – (Muchinga Province – K59,680,767), VOTE 90 – (Lusaka Province – K78,223,842), VOTE 91 – (Copperbelt Province – K89,346,969),  – VOTE 92 – (Central Province – K82,583,724, VOTE 93 – (Northern Province – K88,892,707), VOTE 94 – (Western Province – K85,478,130), VOTE 95 – (Eastern Province – K81,925,248), VOTE 96 – (Luapula Province – K79,732,554), VOTE 97 – (North-Western Province – K 78,353,309), and VOTE 98 – (Southern Province – K101,815,912).

(Consideration resumed)

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Chairperson, if you go to a grave site in a certain area, you will come across the words “We were like you and you will be like us.” These words instil fear in many individuals who visit that grave site. Likewise, those who are part of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government will be like us after 20th January, 2015.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Ng’onga: RB.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, …

Mr Pande: They will be like what? 

Mr Ndalamei: In the graveyard.

Interruptions 

Mr Mbewe: Sir, we were like those who in the PF Government when we were in power. After 20th January, 2015, they will be like we are today …

Laughter 

Mr Mbewe: … and we will be like they are currently.

Laughter 

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, …

Ms Kalima: One more month!

Interruptions 

The Chairperson: Order!

Mr Mbewe: … the Eastern Province is a place where a lot of agricultural activities are engaged in. Most of the people in the Eastern Province survive by engaging in agricultural activities. There are neither mines nor numerous jobs which the people of the Eastern Province can benefit from. They can only survive by farming. If agriculture is not taken seriously, which is what the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is doing, then the people of the Eastern Province will suffer. 

Sir, right now, most of the farmers in the Eastern Province have not been paid for they maize they sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mucheleka: Shuwa?

Ms Kalima: Shame.

Mr Mbewe: Sir, in my constituency …

Hon. Member: Vubwi.

Mr Mbewe: Sir, I do not come from Vubwi, I come from Chadiza. If the farmers in Vubwi have been paid what is owed to them, then that is nice. The farmers in Chadiza have not been paid what is owed to them.

Mr Mucheleka: Shuwa?

Mr Mwale interjected.

The Chairperson: Order!

Please, behave. 

Mr Mbewe: Sir, I am asking the Government to ensure that the farmers are paid their dues before the end of this month.

Ms Kalima interjected.

Mr Mbewe: Sir, right now, the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) is failing to provide inputs to the farmers. The hon. Minister responsible for agriculture indicated in this House that farmers could use the invoices which they got from the FRA to access inputs. This has not been the case. If the farmers of the Eastern Province are not paid their money soon, there will be a disaster in the Eastern Province.

Mr Pande: What kind?

Mr Mbewe: Sir, the disaster will be that the PF will get no votes in all the polling stations in the Eastern Province.

Ms Kalima: Kasenengwa Formula.

Interruptions 

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, I will respond to the utterances of those who are debating while seated. 

Sir, in terms of maize marketing, the Government promised to curb corruption. I would like those in Government to know that corruption has even reached the villages now. When farmers want to go and sell maize, they need to have their bags weighed at the market. In order for farmers to have their bags of maize weighed, they will have to give chickens or goats to the individuals weighing them. These farmers will not be allowed to weigh their maize until they pay something to those working at the markets.

Mr Mwale: Niku sefa chabe. 

Mr Mbewe: Sir, the PF Government has kept on claiming that most of the farmers have been paid their dues when that is not the case. Most of those who have been paid are those who are briefcase buyers while the real farmers have not been paid their dues. The briefcase buyers are the ones who rush to the markets to sell their crops which they buy from peasant farmers.

Mr Pande: He can see you. 

Mr Mbewe: Sir, the hon. Minister knows what I am talking about. That is why he is looking very miserable.

Laughter

Mr Mwale: A Chikwanda!

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, where are the health posts which they promised us in the Eastern Province? Yesterday, I remember the hon. Members from Luapula Province boasting that they have new health posts. In the Eastern Province, we do not have any new health posts. In my constituency, we were supposed to have five new health posts by now. All the places where these health posts are supposed to be built have already been cleared. We all know that the House is adjourning sine die next week. What are we going to tell the people when we go to our constituencies?

Interruptions

Mr L. Ngoma: We do not even have robots!

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, where we come from, we do not even have robots. 

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: And weighbridges!

Mr Mbewe: Sir, we do not even have enough clinics in the Eastern Province. We thank the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) for building the Chadiza District Hospital. The biggest problem which the hospital faces is a lack of doctors. The only doctor that we had was suspended over trivial issues.

Mr Mwale: Ana votela ndani?

Mr Mbewe: Sir, since some nurses were fired in the Eastern Province, the people of Chadiza are requesting the Government to send medical personnel to the area. Maybe, the Government is hesitating to build health posts because it has no personnel to man them. I am warning those who are in Government since I was once like them. They will be like the way we are soon.

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, we commend the Government for starting to work on the Chipata/Chadiza and Chadiza/Katete roads. I wish to ask the Government to urge the contractors to speed up the works. The contractors are moving at a very slow pace. 

Mr Mwale: Yana eenda naba Sata ma works!

Interruptions

Mr Mbewe: Sir, I am even worried that they will leave office before the works on those roads are completed. Despite the slow place, the works that are being done on the roads are very good. Perhaps, the contractors should increase the manpower carrying out the works. They should assure us that those road works will be completed soon. 

Mr Ndalamei: They will not finish. They are going! 

Mr Mbewe:  Sir, we also have the Mtetezi/Msoro Road. We need this road to be worked on quickly because it is a very important. 

Mr Chairperson, in the Eastern Province, we have the Tafela Nsoni Secondary School. Tafela Nsoni means that we suffer because of our shyness. 

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, Tafela Nsoni Secondary School has been neglected for a long time. I thank the hon. Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education who travelled to see what is happening at Tafela Nsoni Secondary School. At the moment, nothing is taking place there. The community tried to build some classrooms at the school, but due to limited resources, they failed to finish them. We, therefore, are urging the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to take note of that state of affairs.

Sir, we also want to complain that the teachers who are posted to the schools deep in the rural parts of the province do not stay there for a long time. You will find that as soon as a teacher is put on the payroll, he or she is transferred to town. Thus, the schools in the rural parts of the province have no teachers most of the time. These teachers are using us because they dump us after getting what they want. If those who are in Government are not careful, they will be like us soon. 

Mr Chairperson, Chadiza has no police station. We urgently need a police station there. The police station is going to assist us a lot in curbing crime in the area.

Mr Mwale: Bembas are stealing!

Mr Mbewe: Mr Chairperson, there is no way of incarcerating those whom we catch who think they are very clever whenever they want to steal from us. We seriously need a police station in Chadiza.

Sir, let me also talk about dams. I want somebody to challenge me by telling me how many dams have been built in the Eastern Province since the PF came into power. In my constituency, they have not built a single dam and yet there are dams appearing in the Yellow Book for the area. Where does the money go for these dams?

Mr Ndalamei: By-elections!

Mr Mbewe: Sir, I am sure this money is diverted to by-elections. We need dams in the Eastern Province for irrigation. Chipata is one of the oldest towns in Zambia and now, I think it qualifies to be a city. Why is the PF Government delaying in giving Chipata a city status even when it qualifies?  If the issues which I have referred to are not addressed, they will be like us soon.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Lubinda: Tamvela nsoni!

Mr Mutale (Kwacha): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate on the Copperbelt Province Vote. In supporting this Vote, I want to highlight some of the achievements that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has recorded. 

Sir, the medical school which is under the Copperbelt University (CBU) was launched this morning in Ndola. This school will be recruiting about 300 students per intake. This school is going to help our country greatly in terms of training doctors and nurses. This will also reduce the pressure that the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is going through, since it is the only hospital which trains doctors in Zambia. 

Sir, in Ndeke, there is a mini-hospital which has been under construction and very soon, it will be commissioned. This will ease the pressure which the Kitwe Central Hospital faces. Chimwemwe Constituency, which is under Hon. Musenge has also a mini-hospital which is under construction. That will also help reduce the congestion at Kitwe Central Hospital. Besides that, there are works going on at the Kitwe Central Hospital. There is money which has been allocated to the refurbishment and expansion of Kitwe Central Hospital. Not so long ago, His Honour the Vice-President went to officially open an eye clinic at the hospital. That eye clinic is already functional and is one of the best in the region.

Sir, in my constituency, there is a clinic being built in Nkana East. This clinic is going to help decongest the main hospital in the district. Our only problem is that the ambulances which were sent to the district are not enough to cater for all the constituencies. In my constituency, there is a rural part, a stretch of about 30 km which goes up to the Ndola/Mufulira Road. People in that area need an ambulance.  

Mr Chairperson, we also have a problem with maternity services. The maternity wing at Kwacha Clinic in Kwacha Constituency is not functional and the clinic does not operate twenty- four hours. Therefore, I request the hon. Minister to quickly ensure that the maternity wing at Kwacha Clinic becomes functional and that the clinic operates twenty-four hours in order to give quality health services to the people. A number of maternity wings have been opened in some districts on the Copperbelt. A maternity wing in Mulenga Township in Kitwe was recently opened to service the people. This is very commendable. The PF Government should continue with this drive …

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

The Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Chairperson, thank you very much for allowing me to raise a point of order that I regard to be of extreme importance not only to the farmers of this country, but also to the general well being of every citizen of this country.

Sir, my point of order is in relation to the ministerial statement that was delivered by the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Mr Wilbur Simuusa, on 20th November, 2014, and a clip of his interview which I watched this morning on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Television Channel as well as an article that I will quote from The Post newspaper, edition No. 6627 of Wednesday, 10th December, 2014, which is today.

Sir, on 20th November, 2014, Hon. Simuusa gave a statement to this House in which he stated as follows:

“Mr Speaker, I wish to acknowledge the fact that there are some farmers that have not been paid their money for the produce they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) during the 2014 Agricultural Marketing Season. I wish to report that concerted efforts are underway to ensure that all farmers are paid for the maize and rice which they sold to the FRA before the full onset of this year’s farming season. As I speak now, funds are being released in tranches to pay the farmers.”

Sir, one of the headings in today’s The Post newspaper is that: “Chipata farmers protest delayed payment.” By the way, I actually saw the farmers on television exhibiting their anguish and pain as they protested against the failure by the Government to pay them their dues for a period exceeding six months. The article states:

“Eastern Province assistant secretary, Mr Beenzu Chikuba, says there is no money to pay farmers in Chipata District for maize sold to the FRA. And some angry farmers in Chipata District on Monday blocked traffic on the Umodzi Highway as they matched to the Eastern Province Administration Office to protest against the delayed payment by the FRA.”

Mr Speaker, let me quickly bring your attention to Section 16 of Cap. 87 of the Laws of Zambia which states that:

“Any person who, before the assembly or any authorised committee, intentionally gives a false answer to any question or the subject of enquiry which may be put to him during the course of any examination shall be guilty of an offence against Section 104 of the Penal Code.”

Sir, the hon. Minister indicated that he would come with a full report of the status of the payment of the farmers before the onset of the rainy season which has since begun. Is he, therefore, in order not to come and address this nation, through this particular Assembly, on the actual status of the payment of farmers, considering that Mr Beenzu Chikuba has confirmed that there is no money to pay the farmers in Chipata District for the maize sold to the FRA? I seek your ruling.

The Chairperson: That is a very important point of order. However, the problem I have with it is that points of order are supposed to be made on procedure, decorum or must be relevant to the issue under discussion. So, the best I can do in this circumstance is advise the hon. Member to file a question which will prompt the hon. Minister to come up with a statement. I said it was an important point of order because at 1300 hours, there was news on radio that 250 farmers in Lundazi protested at the District Commissioner’s (DC) Office.

Mr Livune: Your constituency. 

The Chairperson: The DC said that the farmers would be paid their dues next week. I think that is an indication that the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock is looking into this matter. I am not making a ruling on the point of order which has been raised by Hon. Nkombo.

Laughter

The Chairperson: He must file in a question.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Chairperson: May the hon. Member continue.

Interruptions

Mr Mutale: Mr Chairperson, before I was interrupted by Hon. Nkombo’s point of order, I was making reference to Mulenga Township which has a maternity wing …

Mr Chishimba: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: … like many other townships in other districts. The PF Government should be commended for these projects.

Mr Chairperson, let me now talk about water and sanitation. I have always stated on the Floor of this House that water is life and that the provision of good sanitation should be a priority when it comes to infrastructure development. In Kitwe, the water utility company is expanding its infrastructure because it has been dormant for years when the demand and supply of water has not been balancing because the population growth of the city has been growing over the years. That is why the PF Government has embarked on the expansion of infrastructure so that people can have access to water. 

Mr Chishimba: Hear, hear! Good.

Mr Mutale: Mr Chairperson, sanitation is also key to development. I note with keen interest that sanitation projects have been included in the Budget for the Copperbelt Province. In Kwacha Township, there have been pit latrines since 1956 when the township came into existence.

Mr Chishimba: Sure!

Mr Mutale: Sir, I am sure with the inclusion of the provision of sanitation in the budget, the Kwacha residents are going to have better toilets. I hope that the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing is listening to what I am saying so that he can quickly implement the projects which I am talking about.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: B. M. ee baume aba!

Mr Mutale: Mr Chairperson, the Copperbelt Province has greatly benefitted from the road infrastructure development projects which are currently being implemented by the Government. If you go to any township on the Copperbelt, you will see the smiles on the faces of the people …

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: … because the potholes which they got used to seeing in those days are no longer on their roads. Those roads were making people park cars away from their homes because by the time they got to their homes, they would lose about two shocks or so. 

Sir, the Pave Zambia Road Project which has a number of projects slated for next year will improve more township roads. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government needs to be commended for uplifting the lives of the people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: Sir, let me quickly talk about some of the major road works which have taken place on the Copperbelt. Works on the Ndola/Kitwe Dual Carriageway are nearing completion. I drove on it last weekend. It is in perfect condition. There are only paint markings that are remaining. Works on the Kitwe/Chingola Road are also progressing well.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: Sir, once this road is in good condition, the accidents which occur on it will be reduced drastically. 

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: Sir, I am sure that the in-coming President, Hon. Edgar Lungu, is going to commission that road.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Bwekeshapo!

Mr Mutale: Sir, the Kalulushi/Sabina Road has also been worked on. Works on the Kitwe/Kalulushi Road were completed on time. The Chibuluma/Lufwanyama to Kasempa Road has been worked on and works on the Ndola/Mufulira Road will start soon. About the famous Mufuchani Bridge …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Bwekeshapo!

Mr Mutale: … in Kwacha Constituency in Kitwe, I wish to inform this House that construction works have started.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: Sir, this is the bridge which is going to open up the new Kitwe. It is going to promote the creation of a lot of industrial clusters which the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry has been talking about. This will make Kitwe bigger than Ndola and, maybe, even Lusaka because we have a lot of land there.

Mr Chairperson, with the state of our roads being improved upon, we are going to attract a lot of investors in our country.

Sir, Copperbelt and Mukuba universities will soon have more bed spaces. I wish to thank the hon. Ministers of Finance, and Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Education for considering the cries of our children. I only wish to urge the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to quickly send more teachers to our community schools. Attaching a few trained teachers to the community schools will greatly improve the quality of education which they offer.

Mr Chairperson, education is key to development. I know we are on the right track in this sector. We are heading in the right direction. The commitment which has been shown to improve the education sector by the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education is commendable.

Sir, all the districts on the Copperbelt have benefited from different projects in the education sector. I do not think any district has been left out. We heard some people from the Opposition complaining that there is no development taking place in certain areas. This is not true. The PF Government has completed several school construction projects which were began by the Movement for Multi-party Democracy when it was in power. A number of these schools are in areas which are represented by the Opposition Members. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: Sir, I do not see the reason the Opposition hon. Members cannot rise up and commend the PF Government for its good work in the education sector. All we hear are complaints from them. Where they are supposed to …

The Chairperson: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the 
Chair]

Mr Mutale: Mr Chairperson, when business was suspended, I was talking about universities such as Mukuba and Copperbelt, which are undergoing considerable expansion with regard to their bed spaces.

Sir, the infrastructure development that is currently taking place in the country is commendable.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order, on the left, please!

Mr Mutale: Mr Chairperson, we have heard some cries from some quarters that this infrastructure development is only taking place in areas which are represented by hon. Members of Parliament from the Ruling Party. I disagree with that. The developments are taking place across the country. This vision of infrastructure development, after 20th January, 2015, will continue under the leadership of Hon. Edgar Lungu.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: Sir, he is there to continue with the vision of the late President Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. May his soul rest in peace.

In conclusion, Sir, we, on the Copperbelt, are happy with the infrastructure development that is currently going on. 

Mrs Banda: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutale: Sir, we, therefore, urge the Government to continue with its development initiatives. With the PF in power, the better days are yet to come with regard to infrastructure development.

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu (Chama South): Mr Chairperson, thank you for giving me a chance to offer my contribution on the provincial Votes. I will, particularly focus on the one for Muchinga Province. Before I continue with my speech, I wish, on behalf of the people of Chama South Constituency, to deliver my heartfelt condolences to the First Family on the loss of our beloved President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. May his soul rest in peace.

Sir, I have sat in this House and listened to my colleagues debate the Votes for the provinces. Some of the contributions have greatly touched me. 

Mr Chairperson, I want to actually state that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, …

Ms Kalmia: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Hon. Government Member: Welcome back.

Ms Kalmia: Welcome? Naile kwi?

Mr Chairperson, thank you for allowing me to raise this point of order. In the Eastern Province, Kasenengwa Constituency and Chiparamba District in particular, there is an outbreak of armyworm. In the past year, the army worms caused a lot of damage to the crops. I want to know if the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is in order not to come to this House and update us on the outbreak of armyworm in the Eastern Province as well as to explain what measures the Government has taken to prevent the outbreak from spreading to other parts of the country? Considering that army worms are a big problem, is the hon. Minister in order to keep quiet and not issue a statement on that matter?

I need your ruling, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock may, at an appropriate time, especially at the time he will be dealing with the point of order that was raised earlier, come up with a statement on that issue.

Dr Lungu: Mr Chairperson, before I was interrupted with the point of order, I was making a statement that the PF should not be seen as a Government which has concentrated on developing the Northern or Muchinga provinces only. This is a Government that has extended development to all parts of Zambia.

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Sir, I can itemise what the PF Government has done, heading by heading. If we looked at the areas of health, education and infrastructure, any genuine person would agree with me that all the provinces have been given something. What do I mean by that? Let us take, for example, the area of infrastructure. In Muchinga Province, in Chama District, for example, we have the feeder roads being tarred. This project is nearing completion. Even though I said that I would focus my debate on Muchinga Province, I will also use examples from other provinces in order to drive my points home. If you go to Monze, in the Southern Province, you will see that the township roads are being tarred. That is not Muchinga. 

Sir, the construction of many secondary schools has been completed. Some of the works were stuck at some point under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy Government. I will give examples of some schools in Muchinga Province. The works on Chibale Boarding School in Chama North are almost complete. Chama South Boarding School was officially opened by the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education in March, this year. There are a lot more schools that have been completed in the Western, Southern and even the Copperbelt Provinces. So, that, on its own, tells us that this is a Government that is all inclusive. It is, therefore, wrong to say that development is only taking place in Muchinga and the Northern provinces.

Mr Chairperson, the PF Government is here to stay and to extend development to all parts of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Sir, many times I have gone to watch football matches and noticed that a team may be 2-0 down. However, at the end of the ninety minutes, the team which was behind will score a winning goal and win by three-two. So, we are only taking a break. We have not completed the fight yet. It has only been three years, and we have been disrupted by a by-election. As we go into 2015, all the outstanding projects will be completed by the caring PF Government. It is not true that the PF has concentrated development only in one region of the country.

Mr Chairperson, in Chama, we have the Matumbo/Chama Road, which is very cardinal, economically, as it will link three regions. It will link Luapula, the Northern as well as the Eastern provinces. That will make doing business very easy because transport costs will be lessened. We have also heard of the works on the Monze/Nico Road. Once the works on this road have been completed, doing business will be made easier. So, the construction of these roads in different parts of the country tells you that we are not only concentrating in one area. I think, that point is very clear.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Mr Chairperson let me now talk about health. We have 650 health posts, which have been earmarked for construction in the different parts of Zambia. Out of these 650 health posts, ninety-nine of them will be located in the Southern Province. In Chama District in Muchinga Province, there are only three health posts which will be constructed. So, you can see from the distribution of the 650 health posts that we are actually concentrating on other areas as opposed to the Muchinga and Northern provinces.

Sir, how many new districts have been created in the Muchinga and Northern provinces? There are only two districts, which are Shiwang’andu and Mafinga. We have nine new districts which have been created in the Western Province. So, that means the power is going to the people and development will soon catch up with them. So, this is the Government that is extending development and success stories being recorded everywhere. I, therefore, do not know how colleagues can say that we are not doing much and that we are only concentrating on areas which are represented by hon. Members from the Ruling Party. We must call a spade a spade. They must commend us when we score.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Dr Lungu: Sir, let me now talk about what the PF Government has done in general in Chama District. The human/animal conflict in Chama has been a challenge in this constituency. A lot of property and lives have been lost due to the human/animal conflict. If we attend to this issue properly, we will be able to move well in 2016. Our people would like to know how best this human/animal conflict can be resolved.

Mr Chairperson, this time around, children in Chama District walk very short distances to school because the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education has opened schools in places as close as 5 km from their homes unlike in the past where a Grade 3 child would walk 15 km to access education.

Mr Chairperson, I think this Government, in the area of education, has scored a lot of success because education facilities have been spread out to different parts of the country. I think many matters in the area of education speak for themselves because the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education has taken the construction of schools to all the parts of this country. 

Sir, every government or institution experiences setbacks. Our planning might be perfect, but along the way, we meet challenges which we cannot ignore. When we meet the challenges, we go back to the drawing board and improve on our plans. I have always said that people should not forget that we have only been in Government for three years. We still have two comfortable years to go as well as beyond 2016. 

Sir, by the time we finish forty years of being in power, Zambia will be heaven on earth because we will have completed all the projects that we have planned for. Our colleagues should bear in mind that we are moving steadily. At some point, I am sure, they will be able to celebrate with us our achievements.

Mr Antonio: Question.

Dr Lungu: Sir, in conclusion, …

Mr Lubinda: No, njowo ya.

Laughter 

Dr Lungu: … I would like to state categorically that the PF Government is not selective in deciding which areas to develop. Infrastructure development has also been spread countrywide.

Mr Chairperson, with these very few, but thought-provoking and straightforward remarks, I wish to conclude that I support the Vote for Muchinga Province. I only wish to add that the money which has been allocated to the Vote is not enough, looking at the challenges that we are facing in Muchinga Province. I wish that this province’s budget would be scaled up.

Mr Chairperson, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Imenda and Ms Kalima stood up.

The Deputy Chairperson: Before I call upon the next hon. Member to debate, let me perhaps remind the House that the allocation for Central Province has been exhausted because three hon. Members of Parliament have spoken. Other provinces on which three hon. Members have spoken are the Northern, Western, Eastern and North-Western. Therefore, I will be looking for hon. Members of Parliament from those provinces that are yet to exhaust their quota.

Ms Kalima rose.

Interruptions

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Sir, let me, on behalf of the people of Lusaka in general and Kabwata Constituency in particular, register my heartfelt condolences to the First Family, this august House, the Patriotic Front (PF) and nation at large on the demise of our dear Head of State, His Excellency the President Michael Chilufya Sata. He, indeed, has left us in shock. Many of us are still struggling to recover from the shock.

Sir, let me also thank the people of Lusaka Province, particularly the people of Lusaka District, for the manner in which they hosted that State Funeral. I wish to also commend all Zambians for the manner in which they laid to rest our Head of State with the dignity that he deserved for the service that he rendered to this country.

Sir, I would also like to join others in paying glowing tribute to the late President Sata for the inspirational leadership that he provided to this country in the short time that he was in office. After ten years of being an Opposition leader, he only superintend over the affairs of the State for a very short period of time of three years. However, these were three years of unparalleled development in the country. He deserves to receive glowing tribute from all of us. 

Sir, in the short time that he was Head of State, President Sata took development to the different parts of the country. My friend, Hon. Dr Effron Lungu, talked about the different developments which are taking place in the different provinces. As for me, I will concentrate on the province that hosts the constituency that I am humbled to represent.

Sir, on behalf of the noble people of Kabwata, I would like to thank the PF Government for finally responding to the clarion calls of the people of Kabwata. These were calls which were made in this House over a period of ten years. All those calls fell on deaf ears until the PF Government came into power.

Sir, before 2011, the people of Kabwata Constituency talked about the need to open up the city so as to avoid the traffic congestions in the central business district. The people who had the mandate to manage the affairs of the State did not seem to listen until only in 2011. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, we have seen the Government at work.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, we have seen state-of-the-art roads being constructed in the City of Lusaka. As the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwata, I keep my head high when I drive along the state-of-the-art roads in my constituency. Credit goes to the PF Government for this.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, how I wish I was a Member of Parliament with the PF Government in place for a long time. If we had been in power earlier, I think Kabwata Constituency would not only have state-of-the-art roads, but also auto-bands.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, the ring road from Kamwala to the Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) is a road that competes with roads anywhere in the world. It is complete with modern road features. My good friend, who I sometimes refer to as Tom and Jerry, but who now only becomes Tom because Jerry is no longer in the House, at least for the time being, needs to be made aware of certain issues. 

Laughter 

Mr Lubinda: Sir, I heard him lamenting that in the place that he presents, there are no traffic lights. Along the ring road in Kabwata Constituency, traffic lights are, to borrow a Bemba phrase, kwati bale fwisa fye.

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: What does that mean?

Mr Lubinda: It means ‘like they just gave them without questions’.

Mr Monde: Fyani.

Mr Lubinda: Yes, fyani, meaning they are like grass. This is because there is a listening Government in power. Of course, this is also because the Kabwata Member of Parliament knows how to speak to the Government. He knows how to lobby and does not just come to make noise here. He asks for things in a compelling manner. I am very happy, Sir, that by March 2015, Kabwata Constituency will be the only constituency in this country to boast of having two dual carriageways, …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: … namely Chilimbulu and Burma.

Mr Shakafuswa laughed.

Mr Lubinda: Sir, I was talking about these roads in this House when my colleagues who are on your left were on the right. They did not seem to understand what I was talking about. Only three years of this PF Government, we have seen my dream come to reality. The people of Kabwata wish to commend the Government for a job well-done.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, the central business district will soon have a reduction of traffic because of the opening up of link roads. Roads that are linking Chilimbulu Road to the Kafue Road, Kasama Road, Waterworks Road, Lilayi/Kamwala Road and St Patrick’s Road, are being worked on by this Government.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, they are being worked on for the enjoyment of the people of Lusaka and all those motorists who drive through the district. 

Sir, I would like to appeal to the Government to quickly create a ring road from Kafue Road to Mumbwa Road so that people that are moving from Mumbwa to the Southern Province do not have to come through the central business district. Let them do the same also and link the Great East Road to the Great North Road exactly as they doing in Kabwata. I am sure that this is not a far-fetched dream. 

Sir, looking at the rate at which this Government has been constructing roads, I have no doubt in my mind that when I go out campaigning for the 2016 elections, I will be pointing at the completed projects. I am talking about campaigning for the 2016 elections because the 2015 election as far as the people of Kabwata are concerned is a foregone conclusion.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, we know that this Government will continue to deliver beyond January 20th 2015.

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, let me appeal to the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, my good friend, who sometimes poses as bishop of some church that I do not know, to …

The Deputy Chairperson: I hope the church is registered.

Laughter

Mr Lubinda: Sir, I will find out and if it is not registered, I will make sure that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs visits him. 

Sir, on a serious note, I would like to appeal to the Road Development Agency (RDA) to extend the Nationalist Road so that we open up Kamwala South and link the road to Chilimbulu through Kamulanga to Chawama. This will help to decongest the central business district.

Sir, I would also like to commend the Minster of Health over the decision to upgrade Chilenje Clinic to a first level hospital. Thank you very much for doing that. However, that will also call for additional investment in Kabwata in terms of health infrastructure. It means that our people require third grade clinics where they will go before they get referred to the hospital. I would like to appeal to the hon. Minister to join hands with us in redeveloping Kamwala South and Chilenje South clinics because if we do not do that, then the whole purpose of coming up with a first level hospital in the area will be defeated as there will still be long queues of people at the hospital who otherwise should be attended to at the clinics.

Sir, the Millennium Challenge Account project worth US$350 million is a project which we have been waiting for, for a long time. The Water and Sanitation and Drainage Systems Project to be financed by the Millennium Challenge Account is a matter of urgency for us. Whatever it is that is blocking that project must be attended to as quickly as possible. 

Sir, I say this because when there are heavy rains, the eastern and western parts of Lusaka become heavily flooded. I say this also on behalf of my colleague, the hon. Minister for Muchinga Province. I know that the people of Kanyama are always complaining about floods in the Kanyama area. This is also the case for the people in Kamwala South. The solution to this is already at hand, the Millennium Challenge Corporation Account’s project. 

Sir, as that project opens up drainage systems, I have a proposal to make to the hon. Minister responsible for water development. A huge volume of water runs off from Lusaka and goes into the Ngwerere Stream, to the Kafue River. This water is pumped 40 km from Kafue back into Lusaka at a huge cost to the water and sewerage company. It may be a huge capital investment, but I think it is worthwhile for us to open up a huge dam along the Ngwerere River so that Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company can pump water from the Ngwerere River back into Lusaka rather than pumping all the water all the way from Kafue into Lusaka. This is something that the Government must think about and must embark on as a matter of urgency because as the population grows in Lusaka, the amount water being channelled from Kafue is becoming less and less. That is the reason a lot of the people in Lusaka are depending on boreholes. As the case is this year, 60 per cent of the boreholes in Lusaka have dried up. We should not wait for a disaster to happen. 

Sir, in the last one minute that I have, I would like to appeal to the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing, to consider the idea of allowing city councils such as the Lusaka City Council to buy refuse trucks. Solid waste management is a business. The Government should allow the Lusaka City Council to enter into an agreement with the private sector for the collection, sorting out and purification of solid waste. 

Sir, the disposal of solid waste could be a source of large amounts of revenue. Some of the organic waste could be turned into organic manure. Some of it could be used as ethanol gas which can produce electricity. All that is required is an investment in such an area. The private sector has already shown willingness to invest in such areas. For the council to be given money by the Government to buy refuse trucks and go and continue collecting waste, in my view, is a waste of tax payer’s money. Let us do it differently. Let us think outside the box. I am sure that my colleagues in the Government and particularly the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing will look into my suggestion.

Sir, if you levied 400,000 housing units in Lusaka one kwacha each, you would make about K400,000 a month. That is enough money to collect and sort out the solid waste that is littering Lusaka.

Sir, with these words, I would like to end by thanking the Government for the good work it is doing in Lusaka and in Kabwata Constituency in particular. I want to assure the Government that the people of Lusaka will turn out in large numbers on the 20th January, 2015, …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Lubinda: … to give its candidate a resounding victory. 

I thank you, Sir.

Hon PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Mr Chairperson, I would also like to add my voice on the Estimates and revenue of the Copperbelt Province. As the people’s representative for Masaiti Constituency, on the Copperbelt, I …

Ms Kalima: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: … would like to extend my sincere condolences to the people of Zambia on the demise of our dear late President Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. 

Mr Chairperson, 80 per cent of Zambians survive by practicing agriculture. People in Masaiti are lamenting and crying every day. When you go to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depots, there is a heavy presence of police men and women because people have not been paid their dues.

Mr Mucheleka: Sure?

Mr Katambo: Mr Chairperson, this is why the people of Masaiti are crying and longing for the return of Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, they can question as many times as they wish without things changing. The people of Masaiti are for RB and will give them a rude shock, come 20th January, 2015.

Ms Kalima: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: Sir, as I speak, the people of Masaiti are listening. They know how they were embraced by the late President Mwanawasa and Mr Rupiah Banda. In fact, let me take advantage of this time to congratulate Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda on winning a court case today.

Ms Kalima: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, as regards roads, the Lamba/Lima Road and the Chankute/Mutaba Road in Masaiti which goes to Kafulafuta, my brother’s constituency, were funded in last year’s Budget, but up to now, they have not been worked on.  

Sir, if you listen to the people of the Copperbelt urban, you would hear them brag about new roads. Hon. Mutale was bragging about newly-tarred roads, those that are being worked on and others that are at bituminous standard level. However, in Masaiti Parliamentary Constituency, no single road has been worked on. It is so sad that there are roads which have been funded, but not worked on. 

Mr Chairperson, Fiwale Road has been allocated K233.200 in this Budget, but I can assure you that if this Government comes back into power, the road will not be worked on. This is why I am emphasising to the people of Masaiti to bring back Mr Rupiah Banda ...

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!
    
Mr Katambo: … who is a President for all Zambians.

Mr Mucheleka: Question!

Mr Katambo: Sir, he is a caring President who will bring unity.

Mr Mucheleka: Question!

Mr Katambo: Sir, he is a very stable and experienced man.

Ms Kalima: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka: Question!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, we were given 650 health posts …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Sichone: On a point of order, Sir.

Ms Kalima: Malozo, sit down.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

If you are enjoying the debate, you do not scream. You say, “Hear, hear!” I have been hearing screams from my left. I hope that we will not scream anymore.

You may continue, Hon. Katambo.

Mr Chitotela interjected.

Mr Katambo: Mr Chairperson, I thank you. Hon. Chitotela, if you day dream, that is your issue. You have been crying to be President, but you will never be.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!
    
Mr Sichone: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Sichone: Mr Chairperson, I reluctantly rise on this point of order. Is the hon. Member debating in order to use the facilities of this honourable House to campaign for Mr Rupiah Banda who actually retired from politics and was brought back in order for them to get some benefits from him? 

I need your ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: No ruling will be made because this has been the order of the day when people on either the right or the left rise to debate. They are all indirectly campaigning.

Ms Kalima: Long live the Chair!

Mr Katambo: Mr Chairperson, people who always lament and complain about fellow hon. Members of Parliament are not good leaders.

Mr Chitotela: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: Not now. You will raise it after some time.

Mr Katambo: Mr Chairperson, we just had an election in Kasenengwa.

Ms Kalima: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: Here is my beloved sister, Hon. Kalima, who won and wacked him like no man’s business …

Ms Kalima: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: … when he was the hon. Deputy Minister for Eastern Province.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: Sir, Hon. Sichone wants to suggest that I am campaigning when I am talking about health posts in this country. Out of the 650 health posts that have been earmarked for construction, the whole of Masaiti has been allocated only two. 

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Katambo: Sites were given, but nothing has been done.

Mr Mucheleka: Sure?

Mr Katambo: Absolutely nothing has been done and people in Masaiti move hundreds of kilometers to seek medical attention at health posts.

Mr Chairperson, going back to issues to do with roads, there is a road called Lamba/Lima Road. This road has been funded for three years running. I would like the hon. Deputy Minister for the province to come and say something on this issue. Why has the Lamba/Lima Road which has been funded for three years running never been worked on?

Mr Chitotela: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise this very serious point of order. I am listening to the hon. Member of Parliament for Masaiti dreaming and mentioning my name in his dreams that I have been aspiring to become President when I have never shown interest in becoming President. Is the hon. Member of Parliament for Masaiti, who is dreaming, in order to mention my name when we have a President of the Patriotic Front (PF) by the name of Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. 

I need your serious ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is that since dreams are not loud, I did not hear the dream of Hon. Katambo.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Katambo may continue.

Mr Katambo: Mr Chairperson, let me now talk about schools. Which school has been built in Masaiti and Kafulafuta constituencies since the PF came to power three years ago? The answer is zero. It had to take me to build community schools in Masaiti Constituency. This is why it is very hard for them to unseat the choice of the people of Masaiti. They will see the results which they are going to get on 20th January, 2015 from Masaiti Constituency.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, fertiliser has come very late in Masaiti Constituency and farmers are complaining. As I stated earlier, 80 per cent of Zambians base their livelihood on farming. How, therefore, can a peasant farmer in Masaiti plan when he has not been paid to date? How will they plan to engage in agriculture activities for this season? 

Ms Kalima: Shame on the PF!

Mr Katambo: Sir, surely, how can the PF boast of having learned hon. Ministers when they fail to do the right things? I am sure that Hon. Chikwanda releases money for projects on time. Hon. Mwila was bragging that he has a lot of health posts in Chipili Constituency, but nothing has been done over the two that were allocated to Masaiti. After 20th January, 2015, Mr Rupiah Banda, who is a President for all Zambians will take development to all the different parts of the country.

Hon. Ng’onga: Question!

Mr Katambo: Mr Chairperson, men of God do not speak too much and are straight to the point. 

Therefore, with these few words, I thank you, Sir.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for the opportunity to debate the Vote for Luapula Province. 

Sir, on behalf of the people of Pambashe, in Kawambwa District and Luapula Province, I would like to express my grief over the loss of the gallant man of Africa and Zambia in particular, His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata. We grieve with the First Family.

Mr Chairperson, at times, I fail to reason with some leaders when they begin to speak. Just less than thirty days ago when we lost His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata, almost everybody that spoke said that they had seen unprecedented development in their areas. Barely two days later, when they came to this House to debate, they started saying other things. In Bemba, we say, “Akanwa kamokene walishako iminsoli waimbamo nolwimbo.”

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Meaning?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, it means that the same mouth can be used so speak praises and insults. That is what the colleagues from the Opposition do. The Zambian people do not know that one candidate who wants to be President only has twenty-seven hon. Members of Parliament here. The other one has thirty-two hon. Members of Parliament. However, the Standing Orders say that a quorum is formed by fifty-two hon. Members of Parliament. How will either of them govern without a quorum?

Ms Imenda: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Ms Imenda: Mr Chairperson, I want to refer to the Bemba saying that the hon. Member who was on the Floor uttered. Is he in order to say that we have been praising the unprecedented development in our areas, when he knows that we have never said that? The unprecedented development was talked about by people from the other side. Is he in order to put words in our mouths, which we never said?

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

The serious ruling is that whatever was said, was said in expression of their right to express themselves. It did not necessarily mean that what was said was correct. Here in Parliament, we exchange different types of information.

You may continue, hon. Member.

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, the people of Luapula Province are still mourning. They are saying that they will not have a better replacement to late President Michael Chilufya Sata other than Hon. Edgar Chabwa Lungu …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: … because he shares the same dream. He is the hon. Minister of Defence and Justice, Secretary-General of the PF and Deputy Chief Whip for the Ruling Party. He has so many positions. We believe that the vision of His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata will be interpreted and implemented best by His Excellency the in-coming President, Hon. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, Luapula Province like any other province, has had a ‘share fair’ …

Hon. Opposition Members: Share Fair?

Mr Chitotela: … of development from the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. It is in this House that …

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Chairperson, the official language in this place is English. Could the hon. Member who was debating care to interpret, as per procedure, what a ‘share fair’ means.

Mr Chairperson, I seek your ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

All I can say is that the Queen’s language was brutalised. 

You may continue, hon. Member. 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, that means that we, the people of Luapula, have benefited equally from the development of this country like any other province. At the beginning of this country called Zambia in 1964, Luapula was the third most developed province in Zambia. However, by the time the person they want to come back in power was leaving office as Republican President, Luapula was the second poorest province in Zambia. It was second from the Western Province. When you mention certain names, they bring some bad feelings to people that were tormented in the Western and Luapula provinces. They were neglected as though they are not part of this country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, I accompanied the Secretary-General, Hon. Edgar Lungu, to one meeting in Mongu, where the Litunga said that the people in Mongu had never seen what they are seeing now. The roads in Mongu have been improved. The roads in the Southern Province have been improved. The roads in Lusaka have been worked on. The roads in the Eastern, Muchinga, Copperbelt and Northern provinces have been improved. All the ten provinces of Zambia have had a good share of development. Therefore, people should not be politicking. The Zambian people have already decided. In Bemba we say, “Umwina ng’oma nga nafwa, upiana mwina ng’oma.” This means that when someone from one clan has died, you cannot bring a foreigner to come and take over, even if you are man enough to do that.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, it is the PF which has lost a President, therefore, how can it give the presidency to the United Party for National Development (UPND) or the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD)? 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, the Zambian people voted for the PF …

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Chitotela: … to rule for a period of five years. We are here approving the PF Budget. How do they want to come and implement our Budget? The Zambian people will not accept that. The Budget we are approving was prepared by the PF Government. 

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir. 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

A point of order is raised, and that will be the last one.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, I would like you to make a very serious ruling as to whether that hon. Member of Parliament is in order to suggest that this Parliament of the Republic of Zambia is sitting this afternoon to approve a Patriotic Front (PF) Budget. Is he in order to say that? If we are approving a PF Budget, we can as well walk out. 

Mr Chairperson, is he in order to suggest that?

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Let us bear in mind that sometimes when hon. Members debate, there are light moments. All of us, as hon. Members of Parliament, know that when the hon. Minister of Finance comes to present the Budget here, he starts by saying, “I am the bearer of a very important message from His Excellency the President.” We also know that Parliament comprises the President and the hon. Members of Parliament or the President and the National Assembly. Therefore, when hon. Members of Parliament refer to the Patriotic Front (PF) Budget, I think that they are merely saying that this is a Budget being presented by a Government that has been put in place by the PF. I do not think that they literally mean that it is not a Government Budget. By the same token, should God favour you on my left, and you come to the right, you will be saying “This is a United Party for National Development (UPND) Budget.” Therefore, these are things we can live with.

You can continue, hon. Member.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, thank you for your wise counsel. That is why the Bible says that wise people came from the east.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Sir, they went to Luapula Province and settled there.

Mr Chairperson, let me get back to the serious business. His Excellency late President Michael Chilufya Sata realised that the only way we can develop Zambia is by taking power to the people through decentralisation. Therefore, he began to create districts. People that were walking 100 km to go and access a national registration card are now able to go to the nearest district to do that. That is empowering people. That is decentralisation. Some people said that we started constructing roads without a vision, but today, the same people are campaigning and saying that they want to come and finish something that they did not believe in. The Zambian people out there must know that the PF Government is still intact, and has capable men and women to drive the economy of this country forward until 2016.

Mr Mtolo: On a point of order, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Iwe, sit down!

The Deputy Chairperson: I have already ruled that the point of order which was raised not so long ago was the last one.  

Mr Mtolo: Yes, Sir.

Mr Chitotela: Sir, we shall go back to the people in 2016 with a fresh manifesto. Our manifesto now runs up to 2016. From 2016 to 2021, we will have a new vision which we will tell the people about. This is why at times, some media houses are saying that the PF leader has no vision. We have a vision in our manifesto that runs up to 2016. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Sir, he cannot, therefore, put forward his personal vision because the PF vision for the development of this country economically, socially and politically runs up to 2016.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, we can only go back to the Zambian people with a new vision in 2016, and this vision will last until 2021.  

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, those that are politicking do not mean well for the people of Zambia. They ought to know better because they know the composition of Parliament. They have the insight so they know how impossible it will be for them to govern without the PF. The people of Luapula Province are merely waiting for 20th January, 2015 because they have already made their decision. The votes from Luapula Province for Hon. Edgar Chagwa Lungu will be 100 per cent, including the ones that we might have lost in 2011 by error. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka interjected. 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, we will not lose them by mistake. We will deliver all the fourteen constituencies in Luapula Province to the PF. We have agreed with my uncle who understands very well that we do not want to get divided. Luapula will move as a united front. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela:  Mr Chairperson, Kawambwa has received a fair share of development. When Kawambwa Tea Estate was closed, the PF Government decided to set up another farm. The second plantation other than those on the line of rail will operate under the Zambia Forestry and Forestry Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO). About 20,000 hectares of land is being cultivated by ZAFFICO. 

Mr Chairperson, in Bemba, we say, “Apabolelaluo neminkumbipo” …

Laughter 

Mr Chitotela:  …, meaning,  we will be where the PF is. We will not abandon the vision. 

Mr Chairperson, those of us who grew up in Nkana Constituency on the Copperbelt know that to move from Kalulushi to Chambeshi or Mufulira, one would have to pass through Kitwe. The story is now different because there is no need to come to Kitwe.  There is a brand new road that goes directly through these areas. All nationalist and township roads such as Buchi and Chimwemwe have been worked on. This is why the people of Zambia have said that they should continue dreaming and bringing people that have already retired to stand ...  

Laughter 

Mr Chitotela: … instead of them being statesmen and giving counsel. 

Sir, we want young fresh blood to drive this economy. If you go and bring someone who has retired, when will you be president? I may want to stand as president in 2026 so, I will not go and dig somebody from the grave and ask him to be president. 

Laughter 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, if they do not have leadership for the Zambian people, they should let us, who have it, provide it. They should sit in the backseat and give us a chance to govern if they have no presidents to represent them. 

Laughter 

Hon. Government Member: Elder!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, for the very first time the people of Pambashe Constituency have seen a tarred road. They had never seen a road since God created this part of the world. Old men and women walked long distances just to see and touch it, calling it “manenekela”, meaning tarred road. Today, they want to stand up and say that the PF has not done anything? 

Mr Chairperson, people talked about the Nico/Monze Road during the time of Nkumbula. Today, Hon. Hamududu, President Sata has given you that road. So, you cannot come here and say that the PF has not performed well. 

Interruptions

Mr Chitotela: Sir, the people of Monze are listening and making comparisons. How many times have the people of the Southern Province talked about the Bottom Road?  

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Sir, in the three years that the PF has been in power, the Bottom Road has been worked on. The PF Government has tarred the Chipata/Vubwi Road. Right now, there is a police post being constructed in Chadiza. Is all this not development?  

Hon. Simuusa said that when we are debating here, we must debate factually and carefully lest we render ourselves irrelevant to the voters outside. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka: But farmers have not been paid. 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, money has been released and farmers have started getting paid their dues. We are calling upon Zambians who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), to go to their banks and get money. 

Mr Mucheleka: Corruption!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Chairperson, I would like to appeal to the Zambian people not to be misled by leaders and politicians who have no vision. The PF is a performing Government. Come 20th January, 2015, do not misplace your voter’s card. Vote for Hon. Chagwa Edgar Lungu. 

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: Before I call upon the next speaker, what did you say? Did you say Edgar Jagwa Lungu or what? 

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: Can you clarify?

Mr Chitotela: Chagwa. 

The Deputy Chairperson: Okay, you are now clear. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Meaning?

Mr Chitotela: It is a name.

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: Any further debate? Moving onto Provincial Ministers, I call upon the hon. Minister for Muchinga Province. 

The Deputy Minister for Muchinga Province (Col. Chanda): Mr Chairperson, I stand here with a very heavy sense of loss, having lost a mentor for the Patriotic Front (PF) and for me personally. It is a loss that is difficult to come to terms with. However, in the wisdom of our creator, it had to be what it is. I wish to join the rest of the Members of this august House, on behalf of the people of …

Interruptions 

The Deputy Chairperson: On my extreme left, can you moderate the consultations. They are rather on the loud side.  

Col.  Chanda: … of Kanyama and Muchinga Province, whom I am privileged to represent in this House, in conveying to the First Family, the entire PF fraternity, the Government and all Zambians my condolences for this very tragic loss. 

Mr Chairperson, it has now become evidently clear that the wisdom by our late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, to raise Muchinga Province to a fully-fledged province can no longer be doubted or contested. I can only pray with a great sense of expectation that our in-coming successor, who is none other than Hon. Edgar Lungu, will adequately fit into the big shoes of the departed great leader, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, …

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Col. Chanda: … and deliver to the Muchinga Province in accordance with the vision of the late President. This is the wish and expectation of the people of Muchinga Province. It is, therefore, my humble plea to this august House that we share this noble vision with the people of Muchinga Province as we consider the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the province for the year 2015. 

Sir, let me be the first to admit that Muchinga, being a new province, is bound to experience problems and challenges associated with growth. Our growth can, therefore, not be an exception to this rule and philosophy. 

Col. Chanda reached down to look for his speech.

The Deputy Chairperson: Has the text dropped?

Laughter 

Mr Sichone: Icho.

Col. Chanda: My apologies. Age can sometimes be a problem.

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: I thought you were on the third page.

Laughter 

Interruptions 

Col. Chanda: Mr Chairperson, it is important for us to bear in mind that some of the challenges, in respect to my province, include those of putting in place infrastructure development to ensure that it is fully operational. The following are some of the things being done to address the challenges being faced by the province:

(a)    the rehabilitation of road infrastructure and construction of bridges in all districts which has been a challenge and a costly exercise;

(b)    the procurement of modern survey equipment;

(c)    the purchase of furniture and office equipment for officers that have reported, especially in the two new districts of Mafinga and Shiwang’andu;

(d)    the drilling of boreholes in strategic institutions by the Water Affairs Department;

(e)    the development of resettlement schemes in order to make them economically productive;

(f)    the procurement of vehicles for the Provincial Deputy Minister and Permanent Secretary in order for them to properly co-ordinate development programmes across the new province;

(g)    supporting vulnerable youth by helping them resettle, especially in resettlement schemes;

(h)    supporting various sporting activities in the province so that the youths are able to compete favorably with youths from other provinces; and

(i)    emphasis will also be placed on strengthening budget execution and implementation by strengthening monitoring and evaluation components of the budget. To this effect, the province has made a budgetary provision for monitoring and evaluation committees both at provincial and district level. This will enable the provincial administration to efficiently supervise the timely implementation of programmes and activities for the benefit of people in the province. 

  Sir, all the programmes and respective activities are in line with the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP).

1.    Infrastructure Development

Sir, since inception, Muchinga Province has seen a number of projects meant to open up the province and bring about the much-needed development closer to the people. The following are some of the key projects that are currently ongoing:

(a)    Road infrastructure 
        
Transport infrastructure plays an important role as a catalyst in the economic development process. Agricultural potential areas cannot be exploited if they are inaccessible. Tourism cannot grow if the roads leading to tourist attractions remain in a poor condition. The growth in these sectors will largely depend on how good the road infrastructure is in the province. A number of key road infrastructure projects meant to link up the province with other provinces are currently under construction. The following are some of the road projects currently ongoing:

(i)    upgrading to bituminous standard from Great North Road at Matumbo to Luangwa River (115 km), including the construction of a bridge at Luangwa River at a cost of K399.2 million. The physical progress stands at 64.7 per cent of the total works;

(ii)    upgrading to bituminous standard from Muyombe to Chama (32 km) and the road from Chama to Luangwa (42 km), including 12 km of urban roads in Chama at a total cost of K371.5 million. The physical progress stands at 88 per cent of the total works;

(iii)    upgrading to bituminous standard of the Isoka/Muyombe/Lundazi Road at a cost of K213.8 million. The physical progress stands at 55 per cent of the total works;

(iv)    upgrading to bituminous standard of 93 km of the Isoka/Muyombe/Lundazi Road at a cost of K396.6 million. This project is at mobilisation stage;

(v)    upgrading to bituminous standard of 90 km of the Isoka/Muyombe/Lundazi Road at a cost of K332.8 million. The contractor is establishing camp for the project;

(vi)    upgrading to bituminous standard of 100 km of the Chinsali/Mulilansolo Road at a cost of K295.9 million. The physical progress of this project stands at 16.2 per cent of the total cost;

(vii)    upgrading to bituminous standard of 94 km of the Safwa/Chinsali Road at a total cost of K264.8 million. The overall physical progress stands at 13 per cent;

(viii)    upgrading of Lot 2 of Mpika/Nabwalya/Mfuwe Road (117 km) at a total cost of K540 million. The site establishment for this project is currently ongoing; and 

(ix)    upgrading to bituminous standard of Lot 2 of Mpika/Nabwalya/Mfuwe Road (118 km) at a total cost of K429.9 million. This project is currently at mobilisation stage.

        Urban Roads

(i)    upgrading to bituminous standard of the Isoka urban roads at a cost of K51 million. The physical progress stands at 50 per cent of the total works; and 

(ii)    upgrading to bituminous standard of the Mpika urban roads at a cost of K49.4 million. The physical progress stands at 42 per cent of the total works.

        Rural Roads

(i)    The province has received K4.6 million of the total of K10.1 million meant for rural roads. With this amount, the province was able to rehabilitate a total of 44 km of feeder road network in Mpika District and 80 km in Chama District. Works will continue in other districts once more funds are made available. 

(b)     Housing Infrastructure

Mr Chairperson, with the increased number of officers being posted to the province, it is necessary that housing infrastructure is provided because the province does not have sufficient accommodation. The following are some of the activities of the housing projects in the province. 

(i)    construction of the initial forty houses in Chinsali at a cost of K28.8 million, which have since been roofed and final touches are currently being undertaken;

(ii)    construction of another thirty houses in Chinsali at a total cost of K17.9 million which have reached roofing stage;

(iii)    construction of an initial ten houses in Mafinga at a cost of K6.3 million which have since been roofed;

(iv)    construction of an initial ten houses in Shiwang’andu at a total cost of K4.7 million which have since been roofed as well;

(v)    construction of Shiwang’andu  District Commissioner’s(DCs) house at a total cost of K926,000 which has since been completed and is already occupied;

(vi)    construction of Mafinga DC’s house at a total cost of K1.2 million which has since been completed and it is also occupied; and 

(vii)    construction of the Permanent Secretarie’s and Provincial Deputy Minister’s official residencies at a combined cost of K4.7 million which have since reached the roof stage.

(c)    Office Infrastructure

Mr Chairperson, a number of office block projects are active across the province in an effort to ensure that Muchinga Province provides a conducive working environment for recruited officers. The following are some of the office block projects currently ongoing:

(i)    construction of a 1 x 6 storey Provincial Administration Office block in Chinsali at a total cost of K48.6 million which has since reached the sixth floor and awaits roofing;

(ii)    construction of a 1 x 4 storey, Provincial Administration Office block in Chinsali at a total cost of K22.5 million which is has reached a first floor level;

(iii)    construction of a District Administration Office Block for Mafinga at a total cost of K4.2 million which has since reached roofing stage;

(iv)    construction of a civic centre for Mafinga which has already been completed; and

(v)    construction of a two-storey District Administration Office Block for Shiwang’andu at a total cost of K7.9 million which has reached first floor level.

2.     Social Sector 

(a)    Education

            Mr Chairperson, in its effort to improve the quality of education for the future leaders, the PF Government’s construction of the Robert Makasa University in Chinsali as well as the Paul Mushindo University at Lubwa Mission through constructors has almost been completed. The PF Government has also given priority to the rehabilitation of the existing education facilities and construction of new ones in the province. All this is being done across all the districts in the province.

(b)    Health

            Mr Chairperson, in its effort to develop the health delivery system in Muchinga Province, the PF Government has embarked on a programme to construct health centres and district hospitals in the province. The construction of district hospitals in Chama, Isoka and Mpika has reached advanced stages while the construction of Nakonde District Hospital has almost been completed.

             Sir, in 2015, the province is earmarked to construct fifty-one health posts to be distributed in all the districts. The general hospital will be constructed in Chinsali.

(c)    Water and Sanitation

            Sir, the overall objective of the Government is to promote sustainable water resource development with a view to facilitating an equitable provision of water for all users at acceptable costs and the security of supply under varying conditions. The rural water supply and sanitation projects have been working in the promotion of integrated development in order to improve the impact of water supply, sanitation and health as well to promote the community management of water facilities so as to ensure sustainability of rural water supply services and maintenance. 

            Sir, the PF Government has also procured two drilling rigs in the province as a way of ensuring that all communities in rural areas are provided with clean and safe drinking water as close to their home as possible. The PF Government has also ensured that the people in the urban areas of the province also have access to clean and safe drinking water to this effect. There are two water projects that are currently ongoing. The construction of a water reticulation system in Nakonde whose dam has already been constructed and the laying of pipes is currently ongoing. The construction of a water and sewerage system in Chinsali is almost complete with a dam and pump house already constructed. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Col. Chanda: Mr Chairperson, the construction of storage tanks and laying of pipes is also currently on-going.

(d)    Sports

             Mr Chairperson, one key to the health of the mind and body is sport. To this effect, the province will soon embark on the construction of a sports complex in Chinsali in order to give an opportunity to the residents, especially the youths to develop their potential in various sporting disciplines. 

3.    Economic Sector 

(a)    Agriculture

Mr Chairperson, my Government has placed agriculture as a key priority in poverty reduction and the growth of the economy. As a result of the policies put in place by the PF Government, Muchinga Province has seen an improvement in terms of crop production, especially in the area of maize. This is as a result of the better management of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) which has been the main emphasis of my Government in this sector.

As a way of diversifying the economy in the province even further, the PF Government has established a cattle breeding ranch at Mbesuma. This breeding centre will benefit farmers from all districts in the province in diversifying their agricultural activities. 

(b)    Tourism

Mr Chairperson, Muchinga Province is endowed with a number of tourist attractions such as the North and South Luangwa National parks, the Bangweulu Wet Lands and a number of waterfalls and national heritage places. The province has embarked on a joint programme with the Northern  and Luapula provinces of promoting tourism in the Northern Circuit which covers the three provinces.

(c)    Forestry

Mr Chairperson, the PF Government is committed to ensuring that there is sustainable management of the environment in the province. To this effect, the province has partnered with the Finnish Government to implement a natural resource management programme. The programme which will cost US$4.5 million is at an advanced stage and will be concluded very soon.

Sir, as I conclude my submission, I would like to pay tribute to Hon. Dr Lungu for the submission that he gave on behalf of my province. As he stated, there has been an erroneous misconception by some hon. Members of this House that there has not been an equitable distribution of the national cake in the nation. This is erroneous because when you look in the Yellow Book, you will notice that Muchinga Province receives the lowest budgetary allocation and the Southern Province receives the highest. This Government has been very consistent in that respect. When you talk about road infrastructure, although there are many roads being constructed in Muchinga Province, in terms of monetary terms, a lot of money is being spent to construct the Mongu/Kalabo Road. The amount of money spent to construct that one project is enough to swallow all the projects that are being done in Muchinga. So, I thought I should put this record straight that this Government is a very responsible Government that wants to equitably distribute resources to all the provinces and to the people of the Republic of Zambia. With these few words, I urge all hon. Members of this august House to support the Vote for  Muchinga Province.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister for Lusaka Province (Mr Kosamu): Mr Chairperson, thank you for allowing me to wind up the debate on the budget expenditure for Lusaka Province.

Mr Chairperson, Lusaka Province is made up of eight districts, namely Lusaka, Chirundu, Kafue, Chilanga, Shibuyunji, Rufunsa, Luangwa and Chongwe. Lusaka Province is committed to delivering efficient and effective service delivery in a transparent, accountable and equitable manner and will continue to work towards eliminating poverty, creating jobs and making economic growth more inclusive in order to achieve its vision of being a socially developed and economically sustainable province by 2030 in line with the Vision 2030.

Mr Mwaliteta: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Mr Chairperson, in 2014, the Lusaka Province scored a number of visible successes which have contributed to the attainment of the national targets of the country’s policies as articulated in the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP). We shall continue to build upon these successful programmes and projects in the 2015 financial year.

Sir, for 2015, the total budget for Lusaka Province is K78,223,842 which represents a slight increment of about 8.29 per cent from the 2014 amount of K71,735,283. This increment is for personal emoluments to cater for the recent recruitment in the newly-created districts of Chirundu, Chilanga, Shibuyunji and Rufunsa.

Mr Chairperson, I wish to state that the provincial budget has aligned its expenditure estimates to meet some key objectives of the R-SNDP which I shall now look at.

Sir, on road infrastructure development, strategically, Lusaka Province has continued to channel more resources towards enhancing growth and poverty reduction programmes through improving mobility and access to goods and services in all the districts of the province.

Mr Mwaliteta: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Sir, in total, 372.4 km of the earmarked 399.4 of road has been worked on by the Rural Roads Unit (RRU). The works included heavy grading, light grading, gravelling, spot gravelling and regravelling. In Chirundu, the programme for heavy grading and gravelling is on-going and a total of 18 km out of the 30 km road works has been done. In Kafue, grading, spot gravelling and gravelling of the D148, Kampyongo/Mungu/Shimabala Road has been completed.

Mr Mwaliteta: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Sir, in Shibuyunji, a total of 58 km was done in the form of grading, regravelling, heavy and light grading. All the grading, regrading, heavy and light grading work has been done as planned, namely on the Nampundwe and Chibotela roads. In Luangwa, grading and gravelling of the planned 22 km of roads has been carried out while 85 km of the 91 km of the D145 Roads has been upgraded to bituminous standard. In Rufunsa, a total of 42 km of grading was completed, including the installation of culverts contrary to one debater who said on the Floor of this House that there is nothing that the PF Government has done in Rufunsa.

Mr Kampyongo: Shame!

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Sir, in Chongwe, all the planned roads for grading and spot-gravelling have been completed and in Lusaka Province District all the planned for 10 km inner roads have been also worked on. It is pleasing that this working Government’s intention in the 2015 Budget is to, again ring-fence the financing and management of the road sector by allocating more money to the RRU. During this year and next year, an amount of K18,800,000 has been allocated for this purpose.

Mr Chairperson, on youth empowerment, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is committed to improving the welfare of the youth who represent more than 60 per cent of the population. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the Government is constructing a modern resource centre in Kafue.

Mr Mwaliteta: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Sir, in order to integrate the youth in national development, the province will continue to empower the vulnerable youth with entrepreneurship skills under the Youth Empowerment Fund, as well as, artisan skills training.

Mr Chairperson, let me now talk about health. The province continues to ensure the improved quality of life for all through enhanced accessibility to health services and reduced morbidity and mortality. It has also worked hard to decongest bigger hospitals by the opening and upgrading of clinics to first level hospital status. Equally, under health, most of the construction works for this sector are almost 85 per cent complete. Notable among these is the Luangwa District Hospital whose first phase of construction comprising the maternity ward, service block and X-ray unit has been completed. Works are progressing well on the second phase of the hospital which comprises of the out-patient department and the administration block which is nearing completion. The construction of the surgical wing at the Kafue District Hospital has been completed.

Mr Mwaliteta: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Sir, the Ministry of Health, through the Provincial Health Office, upgraded five clinics in Lusaka District to level one hospital status. These clinics are Kanyama, Chawama, Matero, Chilenje and Chipata. This was done to decongest the University Teaching Hospital and other bigger health centres. The ministry also provided nine ambulances for the province. With regard to the construction of thirty-nine health posts which were allocated to the province, little progress has been done, mainly due to the difficulty in finding land, especially in Lusaka District. So far, the construction of the foundation walls has commenced for the Nachipete and Chilyabale Health posts in Chongwe.

Mr Chairperson, under education, the Lusaka Province continued to make education accessible to all, through the provision of school infrastructure, requisites and upgrading of basic schools into high schools and the reduction of the teacher-pupil ratio through the deployment of teachers in various parts of the province.

Mr Mwaliteta: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Projects undertaken included the completion of laboratories, classroom blocks, a girls’ dormitory and dining hall at Mukamambo II High School. In Luangwa, the Luangwa Day High School has been opened on a partial handover basis while the completion of the works is ongoing.

Mr Chairperson, let me now talk about agriculture. The province has engaged in various agricultural activities such as fish farming under the Fish Out-Grower Scheme Programme and also livestock production. The Fish Out-Grower Scheme Programme activities have included the rehabilitation and construction of fish ponds, training of fish farmers and enhancing support services to fish farmers. The construction of a dormitory block at Kasaka Fish Training Centre was completed. In terms of livestock development, farmers are being assisted with livestock multiplication skills, especially for quality and improved breeds of goats in all the districts. Further, some by-products from livestock such as dung will now be used for the production of bio-fuel, and we have taken the lead in the process. These important programmes will accelerate the diversification of the economic base of the province and ultimately create employment and reduce poverty.

Sir, on the issue of energy, this Government is still continuing with efforts of connecting rural areas to the National Electricity Grid and also electrifying rural areas through other sources of energy. In Lusaka Province, Rufunsa and Luangwa will soon be connected to the National Grid.

Mr Mwaliteta: Ok!

Mr Kosamu: Mr Chairperson, on the issue of water and sanitation, I wish to state that in order to meet the rising water demand, especially in the rural district areas of Lusaka Province, funds continue to be channelled towards the surveying and designing of new dams and the rehabilitation of the existing boreholes. The construction of the Funzwe Dam in Kafue District is expected to be completed early next year.

Mr Mwaliteta: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Sir, the rehabilitation of Sikongo Dam in Chirundu is also expected to be completed early next year. A total of twenty boreholes will be drilled in 2015.

Sir, on climate change, I wish to inform this House that with the resultant degradation has been a major source of concern to the Government as it threatens the main core of livelihoods of most people, especially in rural communities. Therefore, the Provincial Administration will co-ordinate the pilot programme for climate resilience in the Kafue Sub-basin which covers Kafue and Shibuyunji districts. The objective is to encourage the local communities to engage in productive activities which can adapt to climate change in a sustainable manner.

Mr Chairperson, on the question of social protection, I wish to state that the province will continue assisting vulnerable groups through the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme with food rations, education and medical support. In 2014, a total of 4,187 people received assistance under this scheme, an increase of 277 over the figure of 2013. For the year 2015, this figure is, again, expected to increase marginally despite the fact that the demand for public welfare assistance continues to rise. Further, in order to have a more co-ordinated and effective financial scheme, especially for small and medium enterprises, the Government has continued to facilitate the provision of loans through the provincial office of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), in order to promote businesses for the vulnerable, but viable citizens. Of the total 116 projects that was considered in the province, an amount of K10,579,474 has been disbursed to various entrepreneurs.

Mr Chairperson, this hardworking Government has finally given authority to provinces and districts to receive project funds directly.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: This fiscal decentralisation, which we, as provinces, have been crying for, for a long time, now enables us to expeditiously implement our developmental programmes.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kosamu: Sir, I now request this august House to favourably consider the 2015 budget for Lusaka Province which is my province.

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister for Copperbelt Province (Mr Mwenya): Mr Chairperson, thank you for according me an opportunity to contribute to the debate which is on the Floor. First and foremost, allow me to convey my heartfelt condolences to the First Family, the nation and, indeed, to my constituency Chimwemwe, for the loss of our great leader, His Excellency the late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata.

Sir, may I confess here that I have been heartbroken ever since we lost our President whom I enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with. I wish to mention here that the late President was a great leader who exhibited the qualities which are desired of a leader.

Sir, in less than three years, the projects which we embarked on, such as road works across the country and the establishment of new districts, have been achieved. None of the previous Presidents except for probably our First Republican President, His Excellency Dr Kenneth Kaunda had done such great things.

Col. Kaunda: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: Mr Chairperson, the Copperbelt Province is at a loss because of the massive development that it has enjoyed over the past three years. It is my prayer and belief that we shall continue at the same pace that has been set before us by our departed leader. I am convinced that our in-coming President, Mr Edgar Lungu, will definitely be able to push the agenda of our late President forward.

Mr Livune: Question!

Laughter

Mr Mwenya: Sir, from the time that the Patriotic Front (PF) came into power, the Copperbelt Province has benefited in terms of development in terms of infrastructure, agriculture, education as well as health to mention just a few. The province is aware of the fact that agriculture is still a key driver of economic growth and poverty reduction. In a bid to achieve food security, promote crop diversification and increase productivity as well as value addition, the Government has continued …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 until 1830 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the
Chair]

Mr Mwenya: Mr Chairperson, before we went for our break, I was explaining the projects which are being implemented by the Government on the Copperbelt Province. I had just mentioned that the province puts, as a priority, food security and, therefore, the distribution of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) products is critical. As the Copperbelt Province, we are pleased that we were able to produce 235,416 metric tonnes of maize in the 2013/2014 Farming Season, representing 7 per cent of the total national output.

Sir, four sheds with a 20,000 metric tonnes capacity were constructed in the province, one each in Chingola and Masaiti districts and two in Mpongwe District. It is worth noting here that a few minutes ago, the hon. Member of Parliament for Masaiti was claiming that there has not been any development taking place in Masaiti. We have already constructed a shed with a capacity of about 20,000 metric tonnes in Masaiti.

Ms Lubezhi: Only?

Mr Mwenya: Further, the province has continued to bring some hectares of land under irrigation for both small and medium-scale farmers. In line with this, we are pleased to state that we have commenced the development of 1,743 hectares of the Musakashi Irrigation Scheme located in Mufulira District.

Mr Chairperson, out of the 650 health posts which are under construction countrywide, our province is a beneficiary of about eighty-eight of them. The contractors are currently on the ground and construction work has begun. In addition, we have three district hospitals under construction in the province, namely Chililabombwe, Masaiti and Mufulira District hospitals. 

Mr Chairperson, in line with the modernisation and upgrading programme aimed at improving the quality of health care and reducing referrals abroad, a lot of medical equipment has been procured, installed and commissioned in the province. The equipment includes the renal unit, CT scan, orthopedic, cervical and cancer screening machines as well as ventilators.

Mr Chairperson, under education and skills development, the province has four youth resource centres under construction. These are Kwilimuna in Mpongwe, Luanshya, Chililabombwe and Masaiti Resource centres. So far, I have mentioned about three major projects taking place in Masaiti. It is envisaged that the training of youths through the use of these youth resource centres will help in achieving accelerated national development.

Mr Chairperson, we have continued to record progress in the construction and rehabilitation of all major roads on the Copperbelt. So far, a total of K990,803,711.02 has been spent on 479.4 km of the roads worked on. Further, a total of 1,224 Zambians have been employed out of which 1,030 are male and 194 are female.

Mr Chairperson, the roads that are being worked on under the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project included the Kalulushi/Sabina, Kitwe/Chingola and Chingola/Solwezi raods. There is also the rehabilitation of the Ndola/Kitwe Dual Carriageway as well as the upgrading of the Lufwanyama/Kankolonkolo/Kasempa Road. Apart from that, most districts in the province have benefited from the maintenance of township roads.

Mr Chairperson, the Copperbelt Province has also seen a number of investors coming into  the area in the last three years, proving that the country is, indeed, an attractive investment destination. One of the investors is the Dangote Group. We have also witnessed the construction of shopping malls such as Kafubu, Citygate, Mukuba, Nkana and Copperhill malls. These, in one way, have actually created employment for the people on the Copperbelt.

Mr Chairperson, in a bid to bring service delivery closer to the people, a total of eight medium cost houses are under construction in Lufwanyama District. The district has also been captured as one of the new districts and, so far, the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication has indicated that it will consider it for the construction of the following buildings:

(a)    district administration and council office block;

(b)    two high cost houses;

(c)    ten medium cost houses;

(d)    twenty low cost houses;

(e)    a post office; and

(f)    other associated external works.

Mr Chairperson, allow me to commend two hon. Members from the Copperbelt Province, namely Hon. Chungu and Hon. Bonny Mutale for appreciating the works being done on the Copperbelt Province by the PF Government.

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Mwenya: Sir, I want to appeal to the hon. Member of Parliament for Masaiti, Hon. Katambo, to be realistic and inform the nation of the good works that the PF Government has done in Masaiti. I want to talk about Masaiti because there is a lot of work that has been done there. I do not want to presume that the hon. Member does not visit his constituency or that he has not been following what this Government has been doing in his Constituency. We have the estimates of revenue and expenditure here and it is very important that the hon. Member takes time to read through them so that he is able to know what is happening in his constituency.

Mr Chairperson, we have, in Masaiti, the construction of Luansobe Boarding Secondary School. We have, in Masaiti, the construction of Masaiti Boarding Secondary School. We also have the construction of Masangano Boarding Secondary School. We also have the construction of primary schools at Lisomono, Fiwale, …

Mr Sikazwe: Fyonse ifyo!

Mr Mwenya: … and Kanyenda Chintifu. All these projects are in Masaiti. This Government has strived to make sure that all the districts in the province benefit in terms infrastructure development.

Mr Chairperson, before I conclude, allow me to mention here that we have in place a programme for the construction of 400 km of township roads on the Copperbelt. These works will definitely benefit a number of districts on the Copperbelt. The Government remains committed to ensuring inclusive growth and development in terms of infrastructure, health, education, roads, communication, energy and agriculture. Therefore, on the Copperbelt Province, we shall continue putting our faith and trust in the PF Government.

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Mwenya: Come 20th January, 2015, the people of the Copperbelt have assured us that they shall put their vote on no other person …

Mr Livune: But HH.

Mr Mwenya: … than Hon. Edgar Lungu.

Mr Livune: Question

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwenya: With those few words, Mr Chairperson, I thank you.

The Deputy Minister for Central Province (Mr Mwaliteta): Mr Chairperson, on behalf of the people of Central Province and Kafue, I want to pass my heartfelt condolences to the First Family and the people of Zambia on the passing away of the great leader, His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata who looked after Central Province and Kafue Constituency very well. I am comforted that the one who is coming now, by the name of Hon. Edgar Lungu, …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: … will look after me, the Central Province and my constituency. 

Mr Chairperson, allow me to present my policy statement for the 2015 Central Province Budget and respond to some of the issues that my colleagues from the province have raised.

Mr Chairperson, the mission statement for Central Province is “to attain a sufficient level of social and diversified economic development that promotes human development through equitable and efficient delivery of goods and services by 2030.”

Mr Chairperson, the province aspires to be a focal point for development activities in the country based on its uniqueness, comparative advantages and its central geographical location. During the 2015/2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the development efforts for the province will focus on inclusive growth, job creation and rural development as articulated in the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP).  In this regard, the 2015/2017 MTEF places emphasis on programmes that have a direct impact on job creation and service delivery. As such, the completion of the existing capital projects is a priority for this period.

Mr Chairperson, a review of the performance in 2014 reveals that the province performed fairly well in the implementation of sector by sector development programmes during the 2014 fiscal year. 

Mr Chairperson, as regards agriculture, the Government’s stance is to diversify agriculture production through the promotion of small-scale farming and the exploration of the region’s comparative advantages. This will enhance agriculture production which is the mainstay of the economy in the province. 

Sir, the province recorded a remarkable increase in crop production during the 2013/2014 farming season. The production of maize increased by 52 per cent, sweet potatoes by 17 per cent, groundnuts by 63 per cent, popcorns by 133 per cent and cowpeas by 54 per cent when compared to the previous farming season.

Sir, under the livestock development programme, artificial insemination centres were constructed in Chibombo and Keembe where Hon. Lt-Gen. Rev. Shikapwasha comes from. Other projects completed include dip tanks in Luano and Kabwe districts as well as a livestock breeding centre in Itezhi-tezhi.

Mr Chairperson, under the health sector, Phase II of the construction of the Serenje and Mkushi hospitals was completed. The construction of Phase III of Serenje District Hospital has commenced. The construction of students’ hostels at Mwachisompola in Chibombo in Keembe Constituency was completed while the construction of students’ hostels and classroom blocks at Chitambo School of Nursing is 60 per cent completed. At Kabwe General Hospital, a Trauma Unit is being constructed and will be completed by the end of December, this year. A school for clinical officers in Kabwe has also been established. The first enrolment of students will be in January, 2015.

Mr Chairperson, in education, Phase I of the construction works at the Mulungushi and Nkrumah universities has been completed and works for Phase II at Nkrumah University have commenced. A secondary school is being constructed in Kabwe’s Makululu Township, Mkushi South Boarding School in Luano District and Muchinda Boarding School in Serenje District.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Chairperson, under the road sector, the Government continued with efforts to make Zambia a land-linked country. As such, the construction of the long awaited 109 km of Mumbwa Junction to Itezhi-tezhi Road in Central Province has commenced.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Sir, the province is also on course to complete the tarring of 54 km of the 115 km of the Mumbwa/Landless Corner Road. This road connects Keembe and Mumbwa constituencies. In order to safeguard the life span of these roads that are being constructed, the Kapiri Mposhi Electronic Weigh Bridge has been completed and is now operational.

Mr Chairperson, under the Rural Roads Unit (RRU), a total of 213 km rural feeder roads were graded which included 153 km from Kabwe to the new Ngabwe District.

Mr Chairperson, under the Afforestation and Reforestation Programme, a total of 511,000 seedlings were distributed for tree planning and 70 ha in forest reserves were planted.

Mr Chairperson, under the energy and manufacturing sectors, the construction of 120 mW power station in Itezhi-tezhi is expected to be completed by December, 2015. Industrial production at Mulungushi Textiles and Kapiri Glass Factory is also expected to commence shortly, while production at the Kabwe Industrial Fabrics has been enhanced. Once fully operationalised, these developments will have a positive contribution towards economic growth and employment creation in the province. 

2015 Proposed Development Programmes

Mr Chairperson, the 2015 budget for the Central Province amounts to K82,583,716 out of which K20,898,271 is for capital projects, representing 25.3 per cent  of the provincial budget. 

Mr Chairperson, as expressed in the 2015 Budget theme “ Celebrating our Golden Jubilee as one Zambia, one nation by making economic independence a reality for all,” the implementation of development programmes has been prioritised. The strategy of the Government in the province is centered on the implementation of programmes that contribute to inclusive growth, job creation and rural development for the attainment of economic independence. As such, the development of rural roads, agriculture, forestry, resettlement schemes and development of infrastructure in the new districts will be prioritised in the implementation of the 2015 budget for the Central Province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Chairperson, the RRU has been allocated a total of K18 million out of which K4 million is for maintenance of equipment, and K13,841,938 is meant for actual grading of the roads in all the districts in the province including those in Katuba Constituency.

Mr Chairperson, under the resettlement scheme development, a total of K596,000 has been set aside for the construction of infrastructure for the provision of social service such as the Ventilated Improved Pit latrines, drilling of boreholes and construction of staff housing. With regard to building infrastructure for the District and Provincial Administration, a total of K1,492,271 has been allocated, much of which will go towards the completion of the on-going projects with a view to making them operational in 2015. The construction projects will include the completion of the Itezhi-tezhi District Administration Office Block and a relative’s shelter at Mumbwa General Hospital in Mumbwa Constituency. At Serenje Youth Resource Centre, a mechanical workshop will be completed and an administration block will be constructed to make the centre operational. 

Mr Chairperson, under forestry management and protection, the province has been allocated close to K400,000. The province in 2015 plans to scale up the establishment of nurseries for each of the districts, including the newly-created ones. The province will also encourage the establishment of factories to produce by-products of forests such as medicines, exotic furniture, and gun butts so as to enhance job creation and value addition from the forest resources. 

Mr Chairperson, the cattle restocking programme has been allocated a total of K200,000 for the procurement of calves. 

Mr Chairperson, under the education and health sectors, the PF Government plans to complete all the on-going projects in order to bring health services as close to the people as possible. 

Mr Chairperson, under the road sector, the major projects to be undertaken in 2015 and beyond include the construction of the dual carriageway between Lusaka and Ndola, upgrading of Mkushi Farm Block Road, Mumbwa/Kasempa Road, and Mumbwa/Blue Lagoon to Namwala Road. A bridge will also be constructed across the Kafue River on Ngabwe/Kabwe Road to connect the new district to the provincial capital, Kabwe. With the support from the African Development Bank (ADB), the roads from Itezhi-tezhi to Dundumwezi, and Itezhi-tezhi to Namwala, where Hon. Lubezhi comes from, will be upgraded under the Pilot Project for Climate Resilience Phase II.

Mr Chairperson, in conclusion, hon. Members of Parliament, allow me to emphasise and assure this august House that our development efforts during the year 2015 will positively contribute towards the realisation of economic independence as Zambia celebrates its Golden Jubilee. However, for economic independence to be achieved, through our development efforts, there is a need for enhanced stakeholder participation in monitoring development activities at each stage. I, therefore, implore hon. Members of Parliament to take exceptional interest in the development process by ensuring that our efforts are translated into tangible and all-inclusive economic independence for our province. 

Mr Chairperson, I thank you. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister for Northern Province (Mr Sikazwe): Mr Chairperson, I wish to express my sincere thanks to you for giving me this opportune time to say a few words on the 2015 Budget Estimates for the Northern Province.

Mr Chairperson, first and foremost, I wish to deliver my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, and the Zambian people at large, on the loss of our beloved President. 

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir. 

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Livune: Mr Chairperson, I thank you very much for allowing me to raise this very important point of order. As a peaceful nation, and this House being a subset of this peaceful nation, is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to deny us freedom in his kingdom? 

I seek your serious ruling. 

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: You see, it is such points of order that tempt us not to allow further points of order. 

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: There will be no more points of order. 

Continue hon. Minister.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Thank you, Sir.

Mr Chairperson, I was delivering my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, and to the Zambian people and saying that we, the people of Mpulungu will remember him for having changed the face of the area in the three years he led this country.  

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka: Mpulungu nayo bakamipoka!

Mr Sikazwe: Sir, I would like to thank all hon. Members of Parliament from the Northern Province, all Public Service workers, non-governmental organisations and other co-operating partners for contributing to the attainment of the development agenda for the Northern Province. I am hopeful that we shall continue to work together in 2015 and beyond. 

Mr Chairperson, the mission statement for the Northern Province is:

“To promote sustainable development with a view to improving the quality of life of the population and alleviate poverty among the people.”

Sir, in line with the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP), our province’s focus will be based on the development of economic infrastructure, provision of social infrastructure in health, education, water and sanitation, and promotion of tourism. 

In view of the above, Sir, allow me to highlight a few key issues that arose during the implementation of the 2014 Budget as well as the challenges that the province continued to face in its quest to foster development. 

Mr Chairperson, though the province continues to face challenges in the sector of transport and communication, efforts are being made to improve the road network in the province. Notable among key roads being rehabilitated in the province are: Kasama/Mbesuma, Kasama/Mporokoso and Mbala/Nakonde roads. The Government has also continued to work on the township roads in various districts, including Mpulungu and Kasama.

Mr Chairperson, with regard to feeder roads, we have rehabilitated roads in Nsama, Mpulungu, Luwingu and Mbala districts. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Sir, I want to report to you that the project to upgrade Kasama Airport to international standard has advanced. 

Sir, in agriculture, the province in the 2013/2014 Agricultural Season, produced 5,790,000 50 kg bags of maize. In terms of the maize marketing, I want to announce that by the end of September 2014, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) purchased 2,946,729 50 kg bags of maize at a total crop value of K206.4 million. 

Mr Chairperson, in relation to livestock, the Provincial Administration in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock embarked on a programme to revamp the Kalungwishi Ranch in Mporokoso District. The ranch has since been stocked with about 50 heads of cattle and various infrastructure developments are taking place there.

In terms of tourism, Sir, the Northern Province is endowed with abundant tourism resources as well as cultural heritage sites. Tremendous strides have been made in the development of tourism in the province and these include infrastructure development at heritage sites, establishment of tourism and investment websites and the formation of a Provincial Working Committee on Tourism, among other things.

Sir, under health, the Government has already started the construction of the sixty-nine prefabricated health posts in the province. I would like to repeat that. The Government has already started the construction of the sixty-nine prefabricated health posts in the province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Member interjected.

Mr Sikazwe: Sir, other notable projects in the sector include the construction of Mungwi and Chilubi district hospitals, rehabilitation of Lukupa Nursing School and completion of Mpulungu Hospital. Through these projects, our people will easily access the much-needed medical services as close to the communities as possible.

Mr Chairperson, progress has been made in the construction of high schools in Chilubi, Mporokoso, Luingu, Kaputa, Mpulungu and Kasama districts.

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Sir, the provincial rehabilitation team carried out rehabilitation works at selected schools and also procured a number of educational materials. These activities were aimed at supplementing the efforts of the ministry in the provision of quality education to our people.

Sir, in relation to water and sanitation, the Government has continued the drilling of boreholes and rendering help to Chambeshi Water and Sewerage. As a province, major urban water works are being carried out in Kasama, Mpulungu and Kaputa.  

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka interjected. 

Mr Sikazwe: Mr Chairperson, apart from the projects mentioned above, the province carried out the following projects using funds received under the Provincial Administration Unit:

(a)    construction and rehabilitation of various Government buildings at district level;

Mr Mucheleka interjected.

Mr Sikazwe: Ule pange chongo, iwe!

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: There is unsolicited debate from the hon. Member for Lubansenshi. Please, allow the hon. Deputy Minister to deliver his speech.

Laughter 

Mr Sikazwe: Sir, I thank you for your protection. 

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: 

(b)    completion of the Minister’s official residence in Kasama;

(c)    rehabilitation of feeder roads under the Rural Roads Unit (RRU); and 

(d)    drilling of boreholes. 

Mr Chairperson, the budget for the Northern Province is K88.8 million out of which K43.5 million is for non-personnel expenditure that includes capital projects. 

Mr Chairperson, out of the funds that have been allocated to the province, we expect to undertake the following major developmental activities in 2015:

(a)    construction of a new provincial administration block to accommodate all Government departments at the cost of K1.9 million;

(b)    purchase of new road equipment at the cost of  K4 million;

(c)    rehabilitate feeder roads in all districts at the cost of K13 million;

(d)    complete the construction of youth training centres in Mbala, Chilubi and Luwingu at the cost of K1.5 million;

(e)    rehabilitate wells and dams at the cost of K500,000;

(f)    improve the water reticulation system at the cost of K1 million;

(g)    construct markets at the cost of K500,000;

(h)    tourism promotion at the cost of K350,000;

(i)    construct and rehabilitate staff  houses at the cost K700,000; and

(j)    develop small-scale irrigation projects at the cost of K700,000.

Sir, the province has also set aside an amount of K600,000 in the 2015 budget to offset arrears on personnel emoluments such as settling-in allowances, long service bonus and leave days. The development activities outlined above have been proposed based on the provincial priorities. The budget focuses on projects, programmes and activities aimed at reducing poverty levels among our people in line with the PF Manifesto and the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP). As is the tradition, some projects and programmes are reflected in the sector ministries’ Budget.

Sir, I would like to conclude by thanking the late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata and his Government for continuously giving hope to the Zambian people …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Sikazwe: … despite the many challenges we face as a country. I wish to appeal to all hon. Members of this House to be mindful of the needs of the people we represent and challenges and we face so that we all work together and improve the living conditions of our people. I now wish to appeal to the hon. Members of this august House to support the Estimates of Expenditure for the Northern Province.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Minister for Western Province (Mr Siamunene): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to say a few words with regard to the 2015 Budget for the Western Province.

Sir, before I proceed, on behalf of the people of the Western Province, allow me to convey my sincere condolences to the nation on the passing on of the late President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. The country lost a dedicated, determined and diligent leader who is worth emulating by the upcoming politicians.

Mr Sikazwe: I like that!

Mr Siamunene: Mr Chairperson, according to the Monitoring Survey Report of 2007, the Western Province continues to record the poverty level of about 84.3 per cent. This is due to inadequate infrastructure, illiteracy and high unemployment levels that are still very high. The strategic focus for the province is to ensure increased investment in infrastructure development, targeting agriculture, fisheries, livestock development, health and education as well as water and sanitation services.

Mr Chairperson, the 2015 Budget for the Western Province is at K85,478,130 and is broken down as follows:

(a)    personal emoluments - K48.16 million; and

(b)    non-personal ‘emunuments’ - K38.32 million;

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! I think all of us are following and that is just a mother tongue interference.

Continue, hon. Deputy Minister.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Siamunene: The 2015 budget for the province is …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer, hammer!

Mr Siamunene: Mr Chairperson, I need your protection.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order, on my left!

Can you, please, allow the hon. Minister to debate in a conducive environment.

Interruptions

Mr Siamunene: Mr Chairperson, the 2015 budget for the province is 19 per cent higher than the 2014 budget.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Siamunene: Sir, the province will continue to support a combination of spending which is biased towards the alleviation of extreme poverty …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Siamunene: … and broadening economic activities. Several infrastructure developments will be undertaken, especially in the newly-created districts.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Siamunene: Mr Chairperson, out of the thirty-three newly-created districts in the country, nine are in the Western Province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Siamunene: Sir, in these districts, there will be roads, post offices …

Mr Livune: Question!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Siamunene: … and police stations that will be constructed. This means that we are taking services closer to the people that need them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kampyongo: Ubuteko ubu.

Mr Siamunene: Mr Chairperson, contractors, which include local ones, have been identified and are moving on site as we speak. The creation of new districts is a way of enhancing the movement of goods and services, creating new jobs, taking development closer to the people and improving the livelihoods of the people. I have no doubt that the poverty levels in the Western Province will soon be reduced.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Siamunene: Mr Chairperson, …

Ms Lubezhi: Quality!

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Interruptions

Mr Siamunene: … in 2015, the province will focus on key programmes which I shall now look at.

Transport Infrastructure and Development

Sir, the development of the transport sector remains a priority for the Western Province thus a total of K17.5 million is earmarked for grading, gravelling, installation of culverts and rehabilitation of rural roads.

Water Resource Development

Mr Chairperson, in 2015, the province has allocated K700,000 for surveying potential sites for the construction of dams, rehabilitation of the water points and construction of boreholes.

Tourism and Arts

Sir, the province will undertake tourism product identification and investment and the promotion of such activities is pegged at K66,000. The province has a lot of potential sites for tourism.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Siamunene: Sir, we will invest that amount of money so that we can explore these sites for the benefit of the poor people in the Western Province. The province will also aim at promoting and preserving the rich and diverse cultural heritage. Thus an allocation of K250,000 has  been set aside for Phase I of the construction of an ultra modern cultural village.

Agriculture Development

Mr Chairperson, the Government and the World Bank are undertaking the Zambia Strengthening Climate Resilient Project under the pilot programme for climate resilience in thirteen districts in Barotse Sub-basin.

Interruptions

Mr Siamunene: Sir, the project will soon be extended to the remaining three districts. It will cost approximately K242 million.

Sir, we also hope to rehabilitate over 200 km of the canal network. This project will employ more than 3,000 people … 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

________

HOUSE RESUMED

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

(Progress reported)
________

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, Chief Whip, and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Mukanga): Sir, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

________

The House adjourned at 1917 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 11th December, 2014.