DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 21st October, 2014

The House met at 1430 hours 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM 

PRAYER

__________

STATEMENT BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS 

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, preparations for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations have now been concluded. Numerous activities have, to date, been undertaken and this week, we will see the climax of the events which have been lined up for this occasion.

Mr Speaker, throughout the year, various activities have been undertaken by ministries, provinces and districts as guided by the National Steering Committee of Permanent Secretaries chaired by the Secretary to the Cabinet. The implementation process was undertaken through a series of sub-committees including:

(a)    protocol and very very important person (VVIP) accommodation;

(b)    publicity;

(c)    defence and security; 

(d)    transport, logistics and infrastructure;

(e)    religious and entertainment;

(f)    honours and awards;

(g)    health;

(h)    agriculture and livestock;

(i)    youth and sport;

(j)    gender and justice;

(k)    commerce, trade and industry; and

(l)    finance.

Sir, to ensure that we incorporated the international community in our celebrations, we engaged the diplomatic corps as early as February, 2014, in a briefing meeting held in Lusaka. The aim of the meeting was to update the Diplomatic Corps of the year-long activities that had been planned for Zambia’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations. 

Mr Speaker, in the month of March, an inter-ministerial team of officials travelled to China and Korea for two weeks. The objective of this visit was to pursue the request by Zambia for technical and material support particularly regarding the gymnastic performances, procurement of fireworks and training of officers from the Zambia National Service in martial arts and calisthenic drills. This material is for the final grand finale at the National Heroes Stadium. 

Sir, the outcome of this visit to China will be seen in the display of arts at the National Heroes Stadium on the eve of Independence Day. Just for clarity, there will be an evening session on the eve of Independence Day, Thursday, 23rd October, 2014, when the flag will be raised at midnight. There will also be another session the following day which will be more of an adult and military nature. There will be two events in the same stadium.

Mr Speaker, I wish to outline a few of the events that we have already conducted. I will make this presentation brief because I do not think the hon. Members want to listen to a lengthy presentation. I will, however, answer questions that will come up. 

Sir, the Zambia International Travel Export Fair was held in Lusaka in April, 2014. The Zambia-UK Zambezi Moon Rowing Expedition was held from 12th to 18th August, 2014. This was an interesting activity in which a combined team of twelve Zambian and United Kingdom (UK) participants, from the Zambia Amateur Rowing and Canoeing Squad and Great Britain’s Rowing Squad, rowed the length of Lake Kariba nonstop through the day and night. The event raised money for the Village Water and Conservation of Lower Zambez Charity.

Mr Speaker, the Miss Zambia Golden Jubilee Independence Pageant involving all of the ten provinces that held provincial selections will hold the grand finale at Mika Convention Centre on 25th October, 2014. I have insisted that I will host that gathering.

Sir, as part of the Press Freedom Lecture Tours, the country hosted two high profile personalities from the United States of America and Mozambique. These personalities were Professor Clayborne Carson and His Excellency Dr Joachim Chissano, former President of Mozambique.

Mr Speaker, there was a jubilee football friendly match between Zambia and Sudan. There will also be another friendly match on Saturday between Zambia and Côte d'Ivoire. An American acappella concert was held in Lusaka in August and September. The Japan Drum Taiko Concert which was organised by the Government of Japan was held in September, 2014.

Mr Speaker, as indicated earlier, the engagement of the diplomatic corps saw a number of activities carried out by various countries. The Japan Week Lusaka was held from 16th to 18th September, 2014, at Arcades Shopping Mall. The exhibition showed what has been achieved through the Japan/Zambia relations.

Sir, the Zambia@50 Essay Writing Competition was sponsored by the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) and the winners received their rewards at a ceremony on 5th September, 2014, from the Secretary to the Cabinet. The Zambia@50 International Food and Beverage Fair which was highly successful and commended by many people was held in September, 2014.

Mr Speaker, the Lusaka Jazz Festival was held in September, 2014 through a partnership between the National Arts Council and Zambian business houses. The prominent performers at the festival included famous musicians such as Oliver Mutukudzi of Zimbabwe, Hugh Masekela of South Africa and other local musicians.

Sir, a church service was held in honour of freedom fighters in September, 2014 at which the First Republican President was invited. The National Choral Competition Event, which was a competition for all choirs, took place on 27th September, 2014. The winning choirs will sing at the main event on 24th October, 2014.

Mr Speaker, the World Tourism Day has also been part of the celebrations as the Ministry of Tourism and Arts held an event at Kabwata Cultural Centre on Saturday, 27th September, 2014.

Sir, the Vice-President’s 50th Anniversary Independence Ball was held on Saturday, 4th October, 2014, to appreciate the contributions made by individuals, families and companies in the area of commerce, trade and industry in Zambia over the past fifty years. The Zambia Fashion Week was also held in October, 2014 and was attended by guest designers from Angola, Tanzania and Egypt who showcased designs from across Africa.

Mr Speaker, a multi-disciplinary arts festival, organised by the Lusaka Bare Feet organisation, was held on 19th October, 2014. The event was graced by the First Lady and was a combination of theatre, music, puppetry and visual arts. This event was sponsored by Stanbic Bank and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Sir, Zambia@50 training mass performances in gymnastics, calisthenics and martial arts in readiness for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations commenced on 28th July, 2014. Participants have been selected from schools, defence forces and groups for artists. The Chinese experts have been conducting the training. 

Mr Speaker, the Chinese Government has since transported the donated training kits and costumes together with all the required props which will be used by the performing groups on 23rd and 24th October, 2014, to Zambia. The estimated cost of the training kits is over US$500,000. The morale amongst the children especially those who are picked from the different townships in Lusaka has been terrific. Sometimes, when the buses have been late or failed to come, the children have happily walked from home and back for training. 

Mr Speaker, from 18th to 21st June, 2014, the Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China visited Zambia to commemorate the 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries. He was hosted by the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia. From 28th June to 2nd July, 2014, the Japanese Imperial Highnesses visited Zambia. This visit was also in commemoration of the Zambia/Japan bilateral relations. 

Sir, their Royal Highnesses also visited Livingstone.  In commemoration of the Zambia/Russia relations, the Russian Week was held. During this week, a documentary film crew visited Zambia with particular interest in cultural activities and literature.  On 18th July, 2014, the National Quiz Competition was launched through radio stations.

Mr Speaker, in June, 2014, the National Poetry Competition was launched on social media. A tree planting exercise was again launched in June, 2014 and is an on-going exercise. 

Sir, as you may all be aware, the Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Church Service was held on 19th October, 2014 at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Similarly, other provinces also conducted thanksgiving prayers to commemorate Zambia’s 50th Independence Anniversary. 

Mr Speaker, having listed a few of the numerous activities that took place, I wish to now tell the House about the celebrations which will take place in this final week.

Mr Speaker, on Thursday, 23rd October, 2014, a State Bonquet will be hosted by the Acting President at Intercontinental Hotel to welcome and entertain invited guests including foreign dignitaries ahead of the celebrations on Friday, 24th October, 2014. On the same Thursday, 23rd October, 2014, in the evening, a gala night involving mass performances and the hoisting of the Zambian flag will be held at the National Heroes Stadium from 1900 hours. The Vice-President will officiate at this colourful event where thousands of school children and the military will entertain the crowds with amazing performances. 

Mr Speaker, during the morning of Friday, 24th October, 2014, the Acting President will lead the diplomatic corps in laying of wreaths at the Freedom Statue. This will be followed by a display of the country’s military material. The Acting President will then proceed to the National Heroes Stadium where the main Independence celebrations will be held to celebrate this momentous occasion with thousands of Zambians who will come and witness this event. After the main celebrations, the Vice-President will host a State luncheon at the Intercontinental Hotel. The aim of this occasion is to entertain the invited foreign dignitaries. 

Sir, on 25th October, 2014, the Vice-President will have breakfast with the freedom fighters at Pamodzi Hotel in recognition of their tremendous contribution to the struggle for Independence. On the same day, there will be a friendly football match between the Zambia National Soccer Team and Ivory Coast as well as the finals of the Miss Zambia Golden Jubilee Independence Pageant. As far as I am aware, that is how the 50th Independence Celebrations will be concluded.

Mr Speaker, Cabinet Ministers will officiate at each province’s Independence celebrations. They will represent His Excellency the President in all the other nine provinces than in Lusaka Province. Furthermore, in view of the Jubilee Celebrations taking place across the country, hon. Members of Parliament are encouraged to celebrate with their constituents in their respective constituencies. The hon. Members of Parliament who will find themselves within Lusaka for any reason, are welcome to attend the respective functions including the Golden Jubilee Eve Gala Night in order for them to witness the historical hoisting of the national flag and other performances.

Sir, investiture ceremonies will be conducted in all the provinces across the country on days to be determined by the provincial administrations in order to confer awards on deserving Zambians from all walks of life. The investiture ceremonies will be presided over by Cabinet Ministers or Provincial Ministers at which all those who have received the Order of the Grand Companion of Freedom and Distinguished Service Medals as well as other notable civilians will conferred with the 50th Independence Anniversary Single Class Medal. I wish to also report that a souvenir programme has been prepared. This programme outlines the main activities which will be undertaken during the celebration period.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to inform this House that during the celebrations, the nation will be joined by Heads of State and Government from the African Region and other Government representatives from the rest of the world. The countries which have confirmed their attendance are twenty-six in number. The dignitaries are expected to arrive in the country during the course of the week, but mostly, on Thursday. The dignitaries will range from Vice-Presidents, former Presidents, Speakers, Ambassadors, Heads of Missions and special envoys. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now at liberty to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement which has been delivered by His Honour the Vice-President.

Ms Kalima (Kasenengwa): Mr Speaker, it has taken us 50 years to wait for the Golden Jubilee which is a very important celebration. May His Honour the Vice-President tell this House and the nation as to what was so urgent to make the President go for a routine medical check-up. My understanding is that a medical check-up means that somebody is not sick. Is the President sick? Why did he have to leave at a time as this one?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I have no more information than the one which is available to the lady.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, we have just learnt from the statement which has been delivered by His Honour the Vice-President that the activities to mark the Golden Jubilee started early this year. He also told us about the preparations for what is going to happen on the Independence Day and the day after. We have also been told that there are a lot of things which have been imported into the country for the celebrations including acrobats from China and from other places. What is the cost of all these things? Was this money included in the 2014 Budget?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I do not have added information with regards to the funding for the celebrations. If required to do so, I can provide the information at the earliest possible moment. My understanding is that there has been no problem with the funding for the celebrations.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, the Golden Jubilee celebrations are very important to us Zambians. On 24th October, 1964, the late Dr Peter Matoka was given the task of raising the Zambian Flag near the source of the Zambezi River in Ikeleng’i District. For those who do not know, the name Zambia comes from the great Zambezi River which starts from Ikeleng’i.

Dr Kaingu: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if there are any special arrangements that have been made for the people of Ikeleng’i to celebrate the Golden Jubilee since they have been denied roads, …

Laughter

Mr Muchima: … an airport and other infrastructure development. Has the Government assigned an hon. Minister to be there on Independence Day to raise the flag as Dr Matoka did in 1964?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of anybody who has been specially assigned to go to that area. I hope the hon. Member will himself be there …

Hon. Government Members: Yes.

The Vice-President: … and will improvise the raising of the flag.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Mr Speaker, is it possible for His Honour the Vice-President to mention the twenty-six countries that have confirmed their participation in Zambia’s Golden Jubilee celebrations?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I apologise to hon. Members if it is a bit tedious for them to hear me calling out the names of the countries which have confirmed their participation in the celebrations. The countries include Germany, South Korea, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Egypt, Malawi, China − in fact the Chinese delegate is already here − Japan, Nigeria, Britain (representation for the British Royal Establishment and the British Prime Minister), United States of America, France, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Canada and, obviously a representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, two weeks ago, the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the nation and this House that six Presidents would join us on 24th October, 2014 for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations. I have noticed that His Honour the Vice-President’s  only spoke about former Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Heads of Government in his speech. I would like to find out from him what has led the Presidents of countries that had confirmed to come and visit us on this important day decide not to come and celebrate with us.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, part of the problem is that we are still in speculative mode in certain areas. We have had queries through the normal diplomatic channels, for example, regarding the presence of our President at the celebrations. If the hon. Questioner can keep his cool for another forty eight hours, he will discover all the answers by himself. 

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, I heard the His Honour the Vice-President talk about the various activities that are going to take place in Lusaka such as a football match, dinners, and dances. I would like to find out what they have arranged for rural constituencies such as Liuwa. 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I could very well ask him the same question. We are supposed to be celebrating this day together. The Opposition is not supposed to be using it as yet another opportunity to throw mud at the Government. I think the provincial organising committees have been working for months on how they want to celebrate this day. We are sending individual hon. Ministers from the Front Bench to each of the provinces for the celebrations. What we have not been able to do is to compile a list of the activities which will take place in the nine provinces at the constituency level. I am sure it would be about 300 pages long and not suitable for a ministerial statement.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Sir, I would like to thank His Honour the Vice-President for his statement whose value I only saw when he answered the question from the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central whom he has told to wait for just another forty-eight hours to confirm whether or not six Heads of State will come to Zambia. Can His Honour the Vice-President confirm in no uncertain terms that the confirmations of the six Heads of State depended on the availability of our Head of State at the celebrations.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, no, I cannot confirm that. All we are saying is that there must be, in some capitals, questions about whether there is going to be a normal event or if there was a crisis in Zambia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been busy responding to such questions. I am not an expert on how diplomatic relations are handled. My experience is only in getting on a plane going to other countries …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: … and coming back to Zambia. Now you want me to spell out the obvious.

Ms Kalima: Why are you there?

The Vice-President: Sir, there is nothing apart from the obvious matters.

Ms Kalima: He is lying.

The Vice-President: Sir, anything else is pure speculation. The hon. Member for Mazabuka Central will also have to wait for forty-eight hours in order to get answers to his question.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Kaingu (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, it seems the Golden Jubilee celebrations started a long time ago. The Government has been spending money on these celebrations which will end after 24th October, 2014. We have many unsung freedom fighters in our constituencies. We also have children in the rural areas who enthusiastically want to be part of the celebrations just like those in towns. In line with the principles of equality, what is the Government doing in order to empower hon. Members of Parliament so that they can go and celebrate with the unsung freedom fighters and the children in rural areas who are enthusiastic as those in town about the Golden Jubilee celebrations?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, there are two things here. Cabinet Office has been organising this whole thing from the centre. Then it has sent resources and money, what I might call empowerment, to all the districts to enable them to carry out celebrations in relation to that day.

 Sir, in fact, my committee, which advises His Excellency the President on awards, has been open to recommendations with regard to the people who deserve to be honoured from all the parts of Zambia for what they have done in the last three years. We harvested the best possible list from the recommendations. It is very strange that three days before the celebration, some people have started talking about the unsung heroes. Where were the unsung heroes when we were asking people to come and tell us what they did during the freedom struggle? I think we have done as much as can humanly be expected to empower and recognise the people in the rural areas.

 I thank you, Sir.

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha (Kembe): Mr Speaker, I am an unsung hero. 

Laughter

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: Sir, at the age of 14, I was left for dead by the colonialist police in Chimanimani in Kabwe to be specific. I am now 67 years.

 Mr Speaker, I have been sitting in front of His Honour the Vice-President all this time they have been putting together a list of those who deserve to be honoured. His Honour the Vice-President has said that they have managed to invite the freedom fighters to the functions which they have organised to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. I am one of the freedom fighters who has not been invited to any of the celebrations. Is it for a political reason? There are many unsung heroes in our constituencies who need to take part in the celebrations.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the hon. Reverend and General should show me the letter that he wrote to the Advisory Committee on Honours bringing to their attention his case. Actually, his case is quite interesting …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 The Vice-President: … because, mostly, the people who have been asking to be recognised are the ones who turned up to shout at Mr Iain Macleod when he came to Zambia with a defective Constitution. I do not remember the story of a young boy of 14 years left for dead by the colonial police in any of the meetings with the committee I referred to earlier.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, the Golden Jubilee celebration is a very important event. I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President whether the Barotseland activists who are serving their sentences in Kaoma Prison are going to be released.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the pardoning of prisoners is the prerogative of His Excellency the President. I can only provide him with advice. I cannot tell the hon. Member what has been decided until the President takes the action.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, I am disappointed by the answer which was given by His Honour the Vice-President to the question which was raised by the hon. Member for Luena.

Sir,...

 Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Chadiza, sit down. Your task is simple. Just seek your point of clarification. Nothing more or less.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the Zambians are supposed to know the cost of these very important celebrations. Who is footing the bill? Is it the donors or the Zambians who are providing the funds to make the celebrations a success?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, we have had some help from some well-wishers in the private sector. I do not think it would be wise to ask our bilateral donors who have their own independence celebrations to help fund our celebrations. The Chinese have provided us with some support, but all in all, it is us who will meet most of the costs for our own Independence celebrations because this is our birthday party.

 I thank you, Sir.

 Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, I would like His Honour the Vice-President to categorically tell the nation whether President Sata has gone out of the country for treatment or a medical check-up. 

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I have read exactly what the questioner has read. I, therefore, have exactly the same information as he has.

 I thank you, Sir.

 Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Mr Speaker, I believe there are areas in this country which are trouble spots. For example, I have in mind the Barotseland.

 Mr Ndalamei: Hear, hear!

 Mr Simbao: Sir, is there any special message for such areas?

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the message is clear. We have enjoyed 50 years of peace which we need to cerebrate. Does that message need to be spelt out when it is so clear? We are celebrating our own birthday.

 I thank you, Sir.

 Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, since the pardoning of prisoners is the prerogative of the President who is not around, is this part of the programme going to be rescheduled? We are anxiously waiting for the Barotseland activists to be pardoned.

 The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am told that the gazette notice is already there. So, that is all I am aware of.  I am sure they can take that news to all the parts of Zambia.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.    

Laughter

 Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa): Mr Speaker, is it possible for His Honour the Vice-President to kindly repeat the part of his statement in which he talked about the celebrations which will take place in the Lusaka Province because I did not get him properly? We now have eight districts in Lusaka Province. In the past, we used to have celebrations in all the areas from Chongwe to Kafue. What is the position now? Are the other people in Lusaka Province going to be disadvantaged with regard to the celebrations?

 The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament are free to make their own decisions whether to come and attend the fireworks display at the stadium or to go to the local district cerebrations. All the districts have been given a go ahead to hold their celebrations. I do not understand why the questioner is so baffled by what I said.

I thank you, Sir.

  Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Sir, wherever the Golden Jubilee has been celebrated, like in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana, there have not been less than fifteen heads of State visiting. So, in an event that we celebrate our Golden Jubilee without a single head of State, do you not think that this event would have been diluted because it will be as if we are playing the B-side?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I have been to all the countries’ celebrations that the hon. questioner mentioned, including two in Tanzania. None of those celebrations have been attended by fifteen heads of State. I have seen, maybe, five or eight heads of State attend the celebrations. So, the question about whether it will be demeaning or not if nobody turns up in Zambia, is just speculative. So, let us wait for forty-eight hours. Why can you not wait for forty-eight hours more when you have been waiting for fifty years?

I thank you, Sir.

______

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

UNREST AT UNZA

192. Ms Kalima (Kasenengwa) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)    what the cause of student unrest at the University of Zambia on 14th October, 2014, was; and

(b)    what measures the Government had taken to resolve the problem and ensure that similar protests did not recur.

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, the student unrest at the University of Zambia (UNZA) on 14th October, 2014, was caused by misunderstandings, within the University community, about the current status of the Commonwealth Youth Development Centre (CYDC) situated within the campus.

Sir, the CYDC is a regional training centre which has been run by the Commonwealth Secretariat since 1975. However, there are discussions on changing the modality of training, which could lead to the restructuring of the centre. These discussions are on-going because they involve all regions of the Commonwealth, including the African Regional Centre located at UNZA.

Mr Speaker, the CYDC is still a regional centre and, therefore, these discussions are co-ordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new format of the CYDC will be determined by all the regional governments, eighteen to be specific, with the involvement of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Sir, I must pay tribute to the UNZA students for heeding our advice to restrain themselves. Since then, the Secretary to the Cabinet has established a Committee of Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, Youth and Sport, Foreign Affairs and Justice to work towards resolving misunderstandings, if there are any, on this matter.

Mr Speaker, since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the custodian of all international and regional agreements and obligations, it will provide guidance on this matter under the leadership of the Secretary to the Cabinet and the involvement of all concerned ministries.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister educate this House and the nation on where he was when all this was happening. Why did the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport have a confrontation with the students and utter the words that he did?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I am very reluctant to answer that question because we do not discuss ourselves, particularly at Cabinet level.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, by his answer, the hon. Minister is basically saying that he is bound by …

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Let us ask follow-up questions.

Mr Nkombo: … collective responsibility. In the contract that the hon. Minister referred to, which was signed by Hon. Pande in New York, when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs, is an exit clause which relates to the Commonwealth Youth Development Centre (CYDC). I would like to know what that exit clause states and whether it would be the reason the students were agitated.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, in my reply to the question, I did indicate that the students demonstrated against what they perceived as an unauthorised intrusion. However, I was quick to state that the CYDC is still a regional centre, and therefore, all the discussions about it are co-ordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the custodian of all international and regional agreements and obligations. It would be folly for me to comment on issues that are best commented on by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, my question is partly related to what Hon. Garry Nkombo asked, but, …

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Imenda: Could the hon. Minister, …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, this point of order borders on national interest. Is the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, who I cannot see in this House, but I can only see the Minister of Finance, … 

Mr Speaker: Order! 

The ministry is still there, and so is the hon. Minister. You may continue.

Mr Mbewe: Sir, I can only see the hon. Minister of Finance. Is the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in order, to be waiting for questions from hon. Opposition Members when he is supposed to bring some issues to the attention of this House for the nation to know? Is he in order to keep quiet and wait for our questions about the Zambia College of Agriculture (ZCA) in Mpika, which was closed on 3rd October, 2014, leaving the students on the streets as they do not know when the institution will re-open? The nation also does not know what happened and when the institution will be re-opened.

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, there are many and varied events that take place in a country. If you want your colleagues to account for those events, it is so simple to make them do so. I have repeatedly advised you, all, to ask questions in such instances. It is as simple as that. Last week, a question was asked about the disturbance at UNZA, and I gave the same counsel, and that question has been answered. Why should we have these difficulties? That is why you are there, as a representative. You do not have to wait for them to come with a statement. If there is a matter that concerns you, then ask a question. If you do not do that, they cannot guess. My office is wide open. So, in conclusion, you should file a question.

Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to categorically answer my question. In the contract that was signed concerning this centre, there was an exit clause. The simple question is: What does this clause say? The nation and this House would like to know.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the Secretary to the Cabinet, has put together four Permanent Secretaries (PSs) to discuss, amongst other things, the clauses in the contract and direction which the CYDC will take. We are awaiting guidance to be given to all the ministries concerned when the discussions are over.

Interruptions

Dr Phiri: Sir, the Secretary to the Cabinet has met the PSs once and is meeting them again tomorrow at 1430 hours. They will meet at the CYDC to see the prevailing situation for themselves and then we will be advised. I hope that is comforting.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Nkombo interjected.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, that is not the way we transact business in here.

Dr Kaingu (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, it looks like hon. Ministers in this Government do not dialogue. It is clear that the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education did not listen to what his colleague, the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport, said on The Sunday Interview programme on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television. It is also very clear that he does not know that the hon. Minister Youth and Sport was the one acting in his place when he was away.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport was very clear that the centre that we are discussing belongs to his ministry and, therefore, there is no problem. So, the hon. Minister should tell us what the exit clause concerning this centre says. That is all.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, I think as you respond, let us deal with this issue. You have made your point that this matter is under consideration. I think that point has been taken and is not being pursued. However, what is being sought to be confirmed from the questions is the same controversial clause.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, all the clauses …

Hon. Opposition Members: No, no!

Laughter 

Dr Phiri: … whether they are from 1975 …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Let us have …

Dr Phiri: … or…

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Hon. Minister, just take a seat. I think this issue is very easy to resolve if we are focused. Therefore, let these questions be answered. Otherwise, we will be here harping on the same issue unduly long. There is a lot of business to transact here.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the 1975 agreement between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of the Republic of Zambia is very clear. So, too, is the 2010 review of the same clause which, I think Hon. Gary Nkombo referred to. It states that upon ceasing its activities, the Secretariat of the Commonwealth will give the CYDC to UNZA.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Phiri: Sir, after the Commonwealth Secretariat ceased its activities at the said centre, there have been a lot of …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Let him finish.

Dr Phiri: … discussions about the same institution.

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Continue hon. Minister. 

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, it is precisely because the students got wind of that, that they decided to seize the property without ascertaining whether the Commonwealth Secretariat activities had ceased for good. This is why, now, the Secretary to the Cabinet is establishing whether the said activities have truly ceased for good and what modalities are in place.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Mr Speaker, public unrests are very embarrassing, especially in this country. The hon. Minister is a product of this university. For that matter, he is a former University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) president. How much effort did he put forward to forestall this unnecessary unrest?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I wish I had powers to prophesy. There have been discussions over a long period of time. We are waiting for the Commonwealth Secretariat to state its agenda for its centres. It should be noted that the Commonwealth Secretariat does not just have the centre in Lusaka. It has centres in several different locations. Up to now, the discussions are still on with regard to what should be done to the centres. 

Sir, let me take advantage of Hon. Simbao’s question and say that we are equally concerned as the Government with regard to what will happen to the centres. We would not want anarchy to reign. There are procedural guidelines which need to be followed. This is why I thanked the university students for accepting to cease their protests and wait for the competent authorities to give us an indication of which direction to take.

I thank you, Sir.

FISTULA

193. Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa) asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health:

(a)    what the prevalence rate of fistula condition in Zambia was;

(b)    what measures the Government had taken to help women with fistula condition; and

(c)    how women in Kaputa District and other rural parts of the country can access assistance when afflicted with this condition.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Ms Kazunga): Mr Speaker, currently, there are no figures for the prevalence rate for fistula in Zambia. However, the Government of the Republic of Zambia with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working to conduct a survey on the prevalence rate of fistula in Zambia. So far, 1,600 women have received fistula treatment and we are working on a register that will help us trace all fistula survivors that have received treatment. 

  Sir, the Government has initiated a three-pronged approach to fistula namely:

(i)    Prevention

            The Government has put in place programmes to help prevent women developing fistula. These include emergency obstetric and new-born care (EmONC), focused ante-natal care, family planning and adolescents’ health services to ensure that health facilities and health care workers are prepared to attend to all women of a child-bearing age. At community level, strategies such as safe motherhood action groups (SMAGs) and the engagement of traditional and community leaders as change champions ensures the creation of the demand for health care services. These strategies also ensure that communities are sensitised about the dangers of harmful myths and misconceptions, early marriages, child spacing and home deliveries.

(ii)    Treatment

            Surgical camps are held periodically in order to reach patients in rural Zambia. However, there are continuous fistula repairs being done in some sites in Zambia. These sites are University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Monze Mission, Chilonga Mission, Chitokoloki Mission and Katete Mission hospitals. SMAGs are used to help identify patients in the communities and disseminate information on when and where the next surgical camp will be held. Also, doctors have been sponsored by the Government to train in fistula repair so that the repairs can be done at provincial and district levels.

(iii)    Re-integration

            Fistula is a very difficult condition and most of the patients with this condition are usually segregated by their families and communities. After, treatment the patient needs to be reviewed several times before she can be considered healed. In order to achieve this, family and community support is very important. SMAGs, therefore, play a key role in sensitising communities to accept the patient as a member of the community 

  Sir, community radio stations are used to sensitise communities about fistula. They are also used to pass on information about when the next surgical camp will be and where. SMAGs also help with door to door sensitisations to reach those that have no access to radios. If a patient is identified and there is no surgical camp, the patients are referred to permanent fistula sites where they can receive treatment any time. This applies to all patients who are in rural areas including Kaputa.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for her elaborate answer. Does the ministry have a special fund especially for women in rural areas to access treatment for fistula because there are patients there who live far away from clinics?

The Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Ms Kabanshi): Mr Speaker, I think the Government is doing its best because it is training the midwives and clinical officers in emergency obstetric and new-born care (EmONC). Our doctors are also being trained in fistula repair. So, I think the Government is putting everything in place to make sure that we deal with this condition. The sensitisation campaigns with the help of the safe motherhood action groups (SMAGs) are making a big impact in our society.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, may I know if the ministry is satisfied with the number of centres which are involved in fistula repair.

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, we are not satisfied with the number of centres which are involved in fistula repairs. That is why we are training doctors at district and provincial levels so that they can deal with this condition.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga): Mr Speaker, my question has been prompted by the answer from the hon. Minister which has made fistula sound like a complicated condition. What is fistula?

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, fistula is a condition that arises when a woman has had difficulties when giving birth. The birth canal opens up and destroys, I think, the urinary canal.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: She has answered.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: You wanted an answer.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, maybe, the answer he wanted was when the birth canal …

Mr Speaker: Now, that is a problem for me. Ask your question.

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, I wanted to find out whether there has been any training or sensitisation in communities where fistula is prevalent, like in Chibombo District. Incidences of early marriages and teenage pregnancies are a contributing factor to fistula conditions.

Mrs Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, there is a lot being done in the communities. We are scaling up family planning so that people can space their children. We are campaigning against early marriages so that we make sure girls mature before they enter marriage life so that they are able to bear children properly. We are also training nurses, clinical officers and doctors so that they can deal with fistula. This problem is everywhere in our communities. We are telling the people to come forward so that they can be cured. The SMAGs are moving door to door, sensitising the communities.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, fistula patients, especially that most of the time they are very young, are stigmatised in rural areas. What is the ministry doing to sensitise the communities so that they understand that this is a treatable condition?

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, I think that question has already been answered. The ministry is working through the SMAGs which are going door to door making sure that they make people aware about this condition and that it is a curable condition.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

REHABILITATION OF THE CHONGOLA/SOLWEZI ROAD

194. Mr Katuka asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a)    whether the Government was satisfied with the rehabilitation works on the    
            Chingola-Solwezi Road;

(b)    when the works would be completed; and

(c)    if the works would not be completed early, what measures would be taken to improve the road especially in the rainy season.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Mwimba H. Malama): Mr Speaker, the periodic maintenance intervention that was proposed initially, taking into account the available resource envelope, was appropriate. However, with the increase in the number of trucks traversing the Chingola/Solwezi Road, this intervention proved to be inadequate. As a result, the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the contractor engaged to carry out the periodic maintenance works, Messer’s Roads and Paving, agreed to mutually terminate the contract to pave way for a change of scope from periodic maintenance to full rehabilitation.

Mr Speaker, the full rehabilitation works have been divided into three sections, namely;

(a)    Lot 1     Chingola to km 60 (60 km);
    
(b)    Lot 2     km 60 to km 100 (40 km); and 
 
(c)    Lot 3     km 100 to km 175 (75 km).

Sir, currently, the RDA is in the process of engaging contractors to carry out the full rehabilitation works. It is expected that works contracts on all the three sections will be signed in the first quarter of 2015. The expected duration of the rehabilitation works on each lot is expected to be eighteen months.

Mr Speaker, the new scope of full rehabilitation on the Chingola/Solwezi Road is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2016. The RDA will monitor the condition of the road and provide for emergency maintenance until the new contracts commence.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister confirmed that the contract for the Chingola/Solwezi Road has been terminated and that new contracts will be signed next year. May I know what the scope of the new contracts will be as I am aware that this road was constructed to bituminous standard in the 1970s meaning that it has outlived its usefulness. What works will be carried out through the new contracts? 

Mr Mwimba H. Malama: Mr Speaker, I stated that it would be full rehabilitation. We are going to put asphalt as we carry out a full rehabilitation as opposed to maintenance.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, this road is a source of great concern. As earlier mentioned, there is increased traffic and, therefore, an increase in the rate of accidents is being recorded nearly everyday. Could the hon. Minister tell us how this contract is going to be signed when the Government has, just recently, through the Secretary to the Treasury, stated that there will be no contract signed by the RDA. Are they telling us that this will be a special arrangement?

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister answered that question. He said that the information that was supplied was hearsay and that he would update the House.

Mr Konga (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that there is increased traffic on the Chingola/Solwezi Road. This is because there are three big mines that are operating in Solwezi and they include Lumwana, Kansanshi and Kalumbila. This road has very bulky goods pounding on it. Will the new contractors, therefore, take into consideration the loads which are carried on this road so that it is not destroyed within a year of rebuilding it?

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Mukanga): Mr Speaker, the new design will take into account the amount of stress that the road takes. We also intend to put up a toll gate to raise funds which will enable us expand the road from a double lane to a dual carriageway.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) failed to rehabilitate the Chingola/Solwezi Road despite having been in power for ten years.

Hon. Government Members: Twenty years.

Mr Mushanga: Ulelaba shani?

Mr Mwila: Sir, can the hon. Minister inform this House how much money has been budgeted for that project.
    
Laughter

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, procurement is in progress. Initially, there was a contract worth K217 million, but after adjustments, works were done at K41 million. Therefore, I wish to state that we have the money and will give the people of Solwezi a decent road in order for them to have a share of the national cake. The new road will be wider.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I wish to correct the assertion by the hon. Member for Chipili that the MMD failed to rehabilitate the Chingola/Solwezi Road. The road was perfect and only started to deteriorate when traffic increased. 

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, we have always been told that the Chingola/Solwezi Road will be a dual carriageway. Is this the direction which the rehabilitation will take?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I thought I had answered that question when I said that we are trying to work on a double lane for now, and will make a dual carriageway when we get fees from the toll gates that we will put up on the road.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, I want to find out whether the investment into infrastructure is political or economical. If it is not political, we must realise then that Solwezi is a growth centre whose contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) for the next ten to fifteen years will be felt. Why are we not working on such a road, but concentrating on ‘political’ roads?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has plans for its road works. We have looked at the viability of the roads and have made economic evaluations. We are not talking about politics, but issues. 

Mr Speaker, on the Copperbelt, we are working on the dual carriageway from Ndola to Kitwe then Kitwe to Chingola which leads into Solwezi. We have evaluated all these things and know that Solwezi is where we are going to be getting a lot of mineral wealth. The PF is not about politics, but development. The people in the outskirts are seeing this development except those who have decided to wear spectacles and not see.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: No, I am wearing spectacles ...

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … and can see.

Laughter

JOBS

195. Mr Mushanga (Bwacha) asked the Minister of Labour and Social Security:

(a)    how many jobs were created in Kabwe District between 30th September, 2011, and 30th June, 2014;
    
    (b)    what the categories of the jobs created were; and 

(c)    what plans the Government had to create more employment opportunities for the young people countrywide.

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Mbulu): Mr Speaker, 2,873 jobs were created in Kabwe District between 30th September, 2011, and 30th June, 2014.

Mr Speaker, the categories of the jobs created are as follows:

Job category    Jobs created    Percentage

Administrative and Managerial          4            0.14

Professional, Technical and Related        67            2.33

Skilled (Craft & Trade)    1,130        39.33

Unskilled    1,620        56.39

Sales and Services        52                1.81

Total jobs created     2,873                100        

Mr Speaker, out of the 2,873 jobs created in Kabwe District between 30th September, 2011, and 30th June, 2014, 56.4 per cent, which is 1,620 jobs are unskilled jobs, and the majority of these are under road construction. Further, 39.3 per cent, which is 1,130 jobs are skilled, craft and trade jobs, and 2.3 per cent, which is sixty-seven jobs, are professional, technical and related jobs, while 2 per cent, which is fifty-two jobs are sales and services jobs, and 0.14 per cent, which is four jobs, are managerial jobs.

Mr Speaker, the Government has put in place a number of measures which are aimed at youth employment and empowerment in the country. At policy level, the Government is currently revising the National Youth Policy and the National Employment and Labour Market Policy to align them with the realities and aspirations of the youths in the country. In line with the Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto, the Government has adopted the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) and the Industrialisation and Job Creation Strategy, whose focus is to create 1 million decent jobs by the end of 2015. Arising from these policy measures, the following are some of the interventions:

(a)    establishment of the Youth Development Fund (YDF), which is a catalyst for employment and wealth creation for the youths who wish to take up entrepreneurship to create employment for themselves and others. The Government has so far disbursed over K34 million to 808 youth groups and created over 100,000 jobs countrywide between 2012 and 2014. This is a clear testimony that the Government is committed to the integration of the youth in national development;

(b)    the Government is implementing a four-year programme with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)  and the Swedish Government to support the creation of decent jobs for young people and improve food security for low income communities in rural areas. The programme will create 6,000 jobs for rural youths and facilitate the creation of 1,000 youth-led rural enterprises;

(c)    provision of various skills and entrepreneurship training in youth resource centres spread across the country. Currently, the Government has twenty-three youth resource centres and the construction of four new resource centres is underway. Some of the courses offered in these youth training centres include tailoring and designing, carpentry and joinery, bricklaying and plastering, welding and metal fabrication, information communication technologies (ICTs), general agriculture and catering;

(d)    the conducting of labour force surveys to provide information upon which to make sound and informed decisions with regard to tackling youth unemployment;

(e)    re-establishment of the public employment exchange services in all our ten provincial centres aimed at matching job seekers to prospective employers. These services are offered through labour offices in a bid to improve access to employment opportunities for the youth; and

(f)    the conducting of labour law reforms, which are aimed at, among other things, making labour law reforms more responsive to youth unemployment and development.

Mr Speaker, the current PF Government is committed to ensuring that all youths, regardless of their political or religious affiliation, benefit from Government powered initiatives for the improvement of their lives, wherever they are found.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, youths in the Central and Eastern provinces, if I am not mistaken, have not been provided with the Youth Development Fund (YDF) …

Mr Mushanga: … for 2013 and 2014. When will this fund be made available to them?

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the disbursement of this fund is a preserve of the Ministry of Youth and Sport. Perhaps, the hon. Member can target that question to the relevant ministry.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, our colleagues on your left have said on the Floor of this House, that the Patriotic Front (PF) is doing nothing with regard to job creation. Compared to the time of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and now, are we making any progress in the area of job creation? 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, on the Floor of this House, we have on a number of occasions, given quantitative information in terms of how many jobs we have created. I may not give that information now, but to help the hon. Member who asked the question, and the others who are on my side here, I can say that the writing is already on the wall. 

Mr Speaker, when you look at the kind of construction work that is taking place in Zambia, you will find that it is attracting jobs. The roads being constructed are being constructed by Zambians. My colleagues must appreciate that those power-generating stations that we see in this country are being manned by Zambians. The industrialisation programme that I just alluded to in my answer which is being implemented by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, is creating a lot of jobs. The industrial clusters that are being unleashed in our country …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulu: … are also creating jobs.

Mr Speaker, universities, schools and hospitals under construction, and which were not there before, are also being staffed, resulting in the creation of a lot of jobs.  Last but not least, we have created thirty-one districts and on average one district is attracting 300 jobs. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulu: Sir, by simple calculation, 300 people by 31 districts translates into 9,300 jobs. 

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon, Member for Lukulu East, you may ask your follow-up question.

Mr Mwale: Ma jobs ya two months yamene mukamba.

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, given the fact that we still have difficulties with our statistics in this country, and considering the fact that I am not too sure whether the labour surveys  are already in operation or not,  ….

Mr Mwale interjected

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order on my right!

Dr Kalila: … I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the source of his statistics. 

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, for this specific Question posed by Hon. Mushanga, the Member of Parliament for Bwacha, I can comfortably inform Hon. Dr Kalila that the source is the Provincial Administration for Central Province. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mutati (Lunte): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister referred to the Industrialisation and Job Creation Strategy …

Mr Mbewe: Hammer now, hammer!

Mr Mutati: … contained in the Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto, which indicates that within five years, a million jobs would be created. 

Mr Mbewe: Hammer!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Chadiza, Order!

Laughter 

Mr Mutati: Sir, during the presentation of the Budget, the hon. Minister of Finance indicated that last year, only 120,000 jobs were created. Is the goal that they have set for themselves, of a million jobs, in five years going to be achieved given what they are accomplishing at the moment? Is there a level of confidence that they are going to deliver on this particular policy?

Mr Mushanga: Yes!

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, I can comfortably assure the hon. Member of Parliament for Lunte, Hon. Mutati, that we shall deliver …

Mr Mbewe: Ah!

Mr Mbulu: … because we are focused and have targets, …

Mr Mbewe: Question!

Mr Mbulu: … which we measure at regular intervals. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Hon. Government members: Hear, hear!

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister indicated that 56 per cent of the jobs created in the road construction sector are from the unskilled labour force. We are all aware that jobs in the road construction sector are not sustainable because after a set period, works are completed. Hon. Minister, what will this 56 per cent of the workforce do after the roads are done?

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, Hon. Konga must admit one very crude fact. Every project has a lifespan and what happens afterwards is a question of crossing the bridge when we get there. 

Laughter 

Mr Mbulu: Sir, for now, it must be appreciated that we have a programme to develop infrastructure in the country. Once this infrastructure is properly developed, this Government will not sleep because other plans will fall in place.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, based on the statistics which the hon. Minister gave, how many decent jobs have been created for the youth?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, just to help the hon. Member understand one rudimentary point, a decent job, as per the understanding of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is one which guarantees a future to employment. This means that it has to pay well and offer social protection, among other things. This is just for your information, hon. Member.  

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mbulu: Sir, at the moment, we have a number of jobs that have been properly categorised. By category, one is able to tell which job falls under the definition of a decent job and one which does not. Hon. Members need to bear in mind that depending on the longevity of a contract, some employees may also exercise the right to form or belong to labour unions and be able to decide their own terms and conditions, as negotiated between the parties involved, where one party is the employer and the other employee. So as far as the ministry is concerned, the best has been done for the Zambian people and the best continues to be done. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order on my right!

Mr Kunda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, it is very clear that this Government has failed to create employment for the people. 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kunda: Sir, I would like to find out why this Government is segregating. Why is it not creating jobs in the Central Province? 

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, it is quite regrettable because I expected a lot of wisdom, for lack of a better term, from my young person here. 

Laughter 

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, all the responses I have been giving concern the Central Province. Kabwe is based in the Central Province. I said 1,873 jobs had been created in Kabwe in barely two years. I, therefore, wonder where the hon. Member’s question is coming from. It is a very unfair question. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Katuba, you may ask your follow-up question. 

Dr Kalila: On a point of order, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: On whom?

Mr Shakafuswa: I thank you, Mr Speaker. 

Mr Speaker, of late the gross domestic product (GDP) figures and the reports from the Ministry of Finance …

Dr Kalila: On a point of order, Sir. 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised. 

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, you have guided many times on the need for hon. Members of Parliament to use parliamentary language and not derogatory terms, especially against fellow Members because all of us here enjoy the freedom to speak and are elected to this House on the understanding, by our electorate, that we are the best to represent them. 

Sir, is the hon. Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, therefore, in order to utter a derogatory term by insinuating that the hon. Member for Muchinga is not wise? I seek your serious ruling. 

Mr Speaker: I think that in all fairness, the hon. Deputy Minister could have elected a more apt description of the point he wanted to make, namely that looking at the information he had supplied, it was clear that some jobs had been created in the Central Province. I think that this is more of a question of discernment than wisdom. 

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: To that extent, I urge hon. Members, again, that it is important we avoid aspersions. We constantly run into a lot of difficulties because we lace our question and answers with aspersions, sarcasm, and so forth and so on, hence these points of order. If we ask plain questions and supply plain answers we will avoid this kind of situation. I think that reference was unnecessary on the part of the hon. Deputy Minister. 

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, the statistics from the Ministry of Finance concerning the growth in the Zambian economy show that the leading causes of growth have been agriculture, mining and infrastructure. 

Sir, would the hon. Deputy Minister attribute the contribution of the Central Province to the 32 per cent growth in agriculture to Government’s policies or to the initiative of the people? Since there are no mining activities in Kabwe, that sector has not contributed anything …

Mr Ng’onga: Question!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Shakafuswa: That is the question.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Katuba, do not engage them.

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, the construction of infrastructure is highly mechanised and depends on casual labourers, who are engaged for periods of three to six months, to operate the machines. Should that be categorised as real employment? I ask this because after the six months are done the people working in Kabwe will not be taken to work to Kapiri Mposhi because the contractor will employ people from there.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Shamenda): Mr Speaker, there is mobility even in jobs. You can be a carpenter here today and then move to another place tomorrow. Building one house does not end the lifespan of the carpenter …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Shamenda: … because such people are required all over the place. We have carpenters working in this country who come from Zimbabwe and bricklayers who come from other countries.

Hon. Government Member: Tanzania.

Mr Shamenda: Sir, sometimes our jobs demand us to be mobile. Getting a job in Kalabo does not mean that you will die in Kalabo doing that same job. This is reason we are differentiating between casual – I hope you will support the amendment that we are bringing - workers and casual jobs. The word ‘casual’ should refer to a job and not a person. A job that is supposed to be done on a temporary basis or within a short period is a casual job. However, if it is a job which is running for a period of six months to one year then the person who had a contract for one year would have the chance to save and gain skills during the period when they are in employment. 

Sir, some people are saying that the road construction sector only creates jobs for people who are working on the roads without acknowledging the fact that new roads will open up those areas for business activities.

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Mr Shamenda: Sir, the job of the person constructing the road may end, but then the person who is selling cabbages or constructing a factory there will create more jobs and employ more people.  

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shamenda: Sir, if you drive from here to Kabwe, you will be amazed to see the amount of development which is taking place along that route. A lot of people are going in that direction because they know that the Patriotic Front (PF) believes in infrastructure development. 

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Mr Shamenda: Sir, the people who are going to Kabwe were not there before. They are going there because of the jobs which we are creating. 

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

STREET LIGHTING IN SESHEKE 

Mr Sianga (Sesheke) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a)    how much money was released to Sesheke District for street lighting;

(b)    whether the funds were sufficient; and 

(c)    if not, when additional funds would be released. 

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours 1630 until hours. 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

The Deputy Minister Local Government and Housing (Mr Kufuna): Mr Speaker, the Government released K200,000 to Sesheke District Council for street lighting. The funds were not sufficient to provide for street lighting for the entire district. The Government did not budget for street lighting projects this year. Priority was given to other projects like the construction of roads. 

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Sianga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister stated that the street lighting project was supposed to cover the whole district, but they have only done only 1.5 km. What was the intended length of this street lighting project in Sesheke District?

Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, Sesheke was given K200,000 from the money that was disbursed to districts at that time. The council was responsible for planning the distance which it was going to cover within that K200,000. That money was sufficient for that time, but if the council in Sesheke wants to increase the length of kilometres which the street lights are supposed to cover then it can use the funds which it raises from its own initiatives.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Belemu (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, why does the hon. Deputy Minister feel that it was wiser to just release a specific amount of money as opposed to planning for the project by taking into account the length of the street which needed to be ‘lighted’ …

Mr Speaker: To be lit.

Mr Belemu: … in the district centre? 

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Chenda): Mr Speaker, these programmes were undertaken by the respective councils. In the spirit of the devolution of power, the Government provided the money and allowed the councils to procure resources, plan and supervise the execution of the projects. What has been covered in Sesheke is what the council considered to be prudent for them within the resources that were given by the Government. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing is now surprising us. Just last week, we were talking about street lighting in some districts and the Government assured us that it was increasing the monies for the programme, but now it seems that the amount will not increase. Why is the Government so inconsistent? 

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, our wish is to do much more than we are doing right now. Everybody in this House must understand that we are restricted by the resources that are available. In our response, we have stated that there was K200,000 that was available for the project in Sesheke. That is how far we could go. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, in the response, the hon. Minister stated that the K200,000 was not enough and later on, he stated that it was actually enough.  May he clarify his statement.  

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, the K200,000 was only enough for the particular project that was designed by the council and not for lighting up the streets in the whole district. 

I thank you, Sir.

REHABILITATION OF FEEDER ROADS IN MKAIKA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

197. Mr Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication when the following feeder roads in Mkaika Parliamentary Constituency would be rehabilitated:

(a)    Chimtende/Chingwaba;

(b)    Vulamkoko/Mnyamanzi; and

(c)    Chikhombe/Zinaka.

Mr Mwimba H. Malama: Mr Speaker, in the Eastern Province, the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) has received resources to work on the Chimtende/Chingwaba Road. The works are expected to commence by the first week of November, 2014.

Mr Speaker, the Vulamukoko/Mnyamanzi Road and Chikhombe/Zinaka Road will be included in the 2016 Budget by the relevant local authority. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

EXTENSION OF HYDRO-POWER LINES FROM LUKONA TO OTHER AREAS IN KALABO

198. Mr Miyutu asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development whether the Government had plans to extend the hydro-power lines from Lukona to other surrounding areas of Kalabo District. 

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Zulu): Mr Speaker, yes, the Government has plans to connect surrounding areas of Kalabo District to the hydro-power lines.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has said that the Government has plans to extend the hydro-power lines to areas which are surrounding Lukona. The hon. Minister knows that the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) has put up a power line which passes through a plain where there are no people. What indication can he give to assure me that the power lines will be extended to other parts of Kalabo District where people live?

 Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the hon. Member that we have already conducted feasibility studies in that area. That is an indication that we are serious. 

I thank you, Sir. 

________

MOTION

BUDGET 2015

(Debate resumed)

Mr Mtolo (Chipata Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to contribute to the debate. Allow me to thank the hon. Minister of Finance for the able manner in which he presented the Budget for next year.

Mr Chikwanda indicated assent.

Mr Mbulakulima: Hear, hear! He can see you! 

Mr Mtolo: Thank you, Hon. Chikwanda.

Mr Speaker, allow me to also take this opportunity to congratulate the six new hon. Members of Parliament who joined us this sitting. They are most welcome and a job well done to them.

Sir, I would like to give special thanks, however, to Hon. Kalima. I single her out because she is different from the other hon. Members. I am saying so because she came back on the same party ticket on which she left the House. That is not a small matter. I wish to give her special mention for a job well done. 

Mr Speaker, I wish to also pay tribute to our colleagues, the victims of the injustice of the unnecessary by-elections. I would like to pay special tribute to Dr Kazonga, Mr Lucky Mulusa, Mr Sydney Chisanga and Mr Kakoma. It will be difficult to replace these members, especially Dr Kazonga and Mr Lucky Mulusa. These men had very special attributes. Dr Kazonga, a statistician, was very useful at Budget time. I will also definitely miss the contribution of my very good friend, Mr Lucky Mulusa, for his admirable understanding of the world of economics. I will definitely miss his debates. 

Sir, as I say this, I also want to join in condemning the unprecedented injustice that has been lumped on the people of Petauke, Malambo and Mulobezi. It is most unfortunate that up to now, we still do not have those areas represented by hon. Members. I, therefore, wish to tell Hon. Dora Siliya, Hon. Maxwell Mwale and Hon. Sililo that I have no doubt in my mind that they will come back to this House.  It is just a question of time.

Hon. MMD. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I would, therefore, like to encourage the people of these constituencies that they should have confidence. This injustice cannot last forever. Justice is just being delayed. Our friends will soon join us here. 

Mr Mbulakulima: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I would like to urge the people of Zambia to realise that there is no separation of powers among the three arms of Government under the Patriotic Front (PF).  Since the by-elections were engineered by the PF which is headed by our current President, it is the Executive which has been overbearing on the other arms of the Government. That is most unfortunate. 

Mr Mwale: Tonse tiziba!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, for political expedience, the PF wants to have more hon. Members in the House. This is most unfortunate.

Hon. MMD Members: Shame!

Mr Mwale: Mulungu azabalanga!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, I have opened my debate on a very sober and sad position.

Mr Mbulakulima: Solemnly!

Mr Mtolo: Solemnly, indeed.

Sir, let me now go straight into the debate on the Budget. For me to understand this Budget, I needed to know the persona of the author of the Budget. At least, the Budget was presented by one person who is the hon. Minister of Finance. I needed to understand his thinking as he was presenting the Budget.

Sir, I will not start from page 1 of the Budget Speech. I will focus my debate on the conclusion because that is the only part of the Budget which allows the hon. Minister of Finance and the ministry to give its views. Therefore, one can literally pick out the views of the individual who is presenting the Budget by looking at the conclusion because it is the only part which provides for personal interaction. What do I see? I see a very good man in the person who presented the Budget.

Dr Kaingu: Yes.

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, there is a big weakness which was talked about in the last part of the Budget Speech which I shall now talk about.

Sir, the hon. Minister of Finance, in his conclusion, stated that to eradicate the insidious incidences of poverty which are a slur on our collective conscience, we will need double digit growth rates. That is a very powerful statement because in the first part of the Budget, he actually said that 60 per cent of the population of Zambia is living in poverty. Six out of ten people in our country are living in poverty. I will urge hon. Members to read and reflect on that statement because it is so powerful. On one hand, it is so sad because whoever will read this document will actually take time to reflect on it and question what the Government is doing with our country, where six out of ten people are living in poverty.

Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Members from the urban population of Zambia understand what poverty is. For us who come from the rural areas, we know how sad the poverty situation is. If six out of ten people live in poverty then, we in this House, must be very sober and mature in our analysis of the Budget which is being presented to our country.

Sir, it is unfortunate that there is poverty in a country that is able to produce 3 million metric tonnes of maize which, at a simple cost of US$ 300 per tonne, gives us almost US$ 1billion. How can 60 per cent of the people in such a country be living in poverty? 
Mr Speaker, let me also talk about one of our major activities which is mining. At a modest figure of 700,000 metric tonnes production per year and at a modest price of US$7,500 per tonne, the country earns more than US$ 5 billion. How can it be that six people out of ten are living in poverty in a country which has that type of potential? There is definitely something  wrong somewhere.

Sir, again, the hon. Minister of Finance in his conclusion stated that Zambia needs to double its growth digit. The hon. Minister presented this Budget to us, but lamented that he is unable to grow the economy in the two digits range.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, what does that mean?

Mr Livune: He must resign.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance presented the Budget with a one digit figure, but yet again he realised that he had the capacity to give us a two digit position. What is the hon. Minister of Finance telling us? I think we need to sober up and stop being …

Mr Shakafuswa: Kamba mu chinyanja.

Mr Mtolo: I wish I could use Nyanja, but the Speaker will not allow me.

Mr Speaker: Of course.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I wish hon. Members of Parliament could be a bit more serious as they debate the Budget.

Sir, the hon. Minister of Finance put the economy’s growth projection at 7 per cent. Why should the hon. Minister of Finance who appreciates that the country definitely deserves a double digit figure present a Budget with a 7 per cent growth projection? Why are we doing this to ourselves? What I have stated clearly shows that the hon. Minister of Finance has given us a troubled Budget. Even as the hon. Minister of Finance was presenting the Budget, you could tell that he was not talking with conviction because he knew that he could do better. Are we as hon. Members assisting the hon. Minister to achieve his dream of a double digit growth rate? The answer is no. That is why he is a troubled man.

Mr Speaker, further, the hon. Minister of Finance, in his conclusion, stated that we need to change our mindset in order to grow the economy. It is not me saying that. It is contained in paragraph 151 of the Budget Speech. This means that the hon. Minister has realised that his Cabinet and Civil Service has a poor mindset which is the opposite of what he wants and that is why he is talking about it. If I was a Cabinet Minister, I was going to be a very worried man …

Mr Livune: Resign.

Mr Mtolo: … because this has been written in a book which has been presented to the world on behalf of Zambia. The hon. Minister also stated that we need radical improvement in our work culture, sense of duty and responsibility. When a person talks about these things, it means they are absent.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr Mtolo: Sir, I think the PF Government needs to reflect on what is contained in this Budget. Whoever printed this Budget Speech (lifting the Budget Speech booklet) has a wrong mindset.

Hon. Opposite Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, in this Golden Jubilee year, how can we have only photos of President Sata, who is the current President, and President Kaunda, the first President of Zambia on the cover of the Budget Speech booklet? We have another person who is alive who has ruled this country.

Dr Kaingu: Correct.

Mr Mtolo: Sir, where is the picture of President Banda? That is the mindset that the hon. Minister of Finance is mourning about.

Mr Mbulakulima: Okay, yeah.

Mr Mbewe: Mwaona manje.

Mr Mtolo: Sir, it might look simple, but …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Can we avoid these running commentaries. I know those who are making the commentaries because I can see and hear them.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, President Banda is still alive.

Mr Mbewe: Yes.

Mr Mtolo: Sir, President Sata is still alive just like President Kaunda. All the three individuals should have been in the picture especially that we are celebrating fifty years of our Independence. This mindset which is very poor, mediocre and unwarranted should change.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, these are not my words. It is the hon. Minister of Finance who is telling that to the Cabinet he belongs to in the Budget Speech.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Mtolo: Sir, it is written in paragraph 151 that we will only grow our economy if we change our mindset particularly as it relates to the radical improvement in our work culture, sense of duty and responsibility.

Mr Mbewe: You see.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Sir, in paragraph 152, the hon. Minister of Finance stated that our modest achievements so far are a product of our collective wisdom of unflinching unity in diversity. Why should such a rich country like ours record modest achievements? Again, that should be a source of concern for the Cabinet of PF to rethink and analyse what it is doing.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance stated that there is need for unity in diversity which means that he recognises that there is need for democracy in this country. Now if there is need for democracy, why is he financing wrong things such by-elections?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, why are we wasting money on useless things which are not benefiting the people of Zambia? Hon. Kalima and I were taken out of Parliament, but we are back. Why is the Government wasting people’s money like that?

Dr Kaingu: Hear, hear! 

Mr Mtolo: Sir, that is why we are achieving modest instead of great targets.

Sir, the hon. Minister also talked about the need for good governance. It is very easy to talk about good governance. We see a lot of bad governance in this country. The President has gone out of the country and did not leave his own Vice-President to run the affairs of the country. What type of governance is that? At least, here, at Parliament, when the Speaker goes away, the Deputy Speaker takes his place. When the Deputy Speaker is not there, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House takes charge of the House. That is the way things are supposed to be. That is good governance.  What is wrong with the Executive? It is for this reason that they are making the hon. Minister of Finance feel very uncomfortable.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, the hon. Minister of Finance said that Zambia is an oasis of peace and stability. He also spoke about the need for human fellowship. Human fellowship in this country is being threatened seriously by the Government on your right.

Sir, during the reign of the PF, the issue of tribe has become very much alive. We did not have this type of tribal animosity in this country before the PF came in power. Today, it is the order to the day. It is not me who is saying this. It is the hon. Minister of Finance who is complaining. We have a lot of problems to do with chiefs. Why should it be like that this time around? There is so much unnecessary violence which needs to be stopped. I can go on and on analysing the beautiful position, which the hon. Minister of Finance wants to take us to. It is unfortunate his compatriots are not assisting him take us there. Let me quickly jump to agriculture.

Mr Speaker, 80 per cent of our country is involved in agriculture. This is the area in which this country should be putting effort and not mining. Whether we like it or not, there will be a time when copper will run out in the bowels of this country. That is why we should put our emphasis in a sector which employs the most number of people in this country. Why are we marginalising it? Up to now, farmers have not yet been paid. How do we expect them to buy fertiliser? How can we run a country like that? 

Sir, I arrived this morning from Chipata and the situation there is very bad. People are failing to pay for their fertiliser packs under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) because they have been not been paid by the Government for the maize they sold to it. On the other hand, they are busy making good roads for the mines. They are also providing cheap electricity to the mines and making the investors feel very much wanted in this country and yet, minerals are a wasting asset. Let us invest more in the agriculture sector.

Sir, I would like to propose that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) should only be allowed to buy what is within its budget. The Government should instead support the operations of the Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF) only for one year so that it can become a buyer and seller of maize on behalf of the farmers. Otherwise, we are going to chock the beautiful institution and it will die because of debts.

 Mr Speaker, I want to quickly talk about education. I would like to propose that the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education should seriously start developing a cadre of youths who will take over the reigns in different spheres of our country. Let us select and train hundred Grade 12 school leavers annually in required fields like solar engineering and nuclear physics. 

Sir, it is important that we prepare our youths for the future. This is what other countries have been doing. If you went to Brazil, you would find that about a thousand people from different spheres which are required in the developing country are sent for training in different places annually.  At the rate at which we are going, we will have no cadre to take over the reigns in important fields in the next few years. In the next few years, we shall have no one who will fully understand the advanced economic theories to be able to read the information packaged by the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LUSE) which indicate the investment options on stock exchange. Suffice it to say that there are very few people understand such things. Therefore, it is the duty of the Government to correct the situation in areas like that. We need a specialised cadre to take over and not the political ones we are using for killing people. We need a proper cadre to run our economy in the future.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, I am running out of time especially that Hon. Lubinda is disturbing me.

Mr Lubinda: Ah!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, with those very few words and remarks, I wish to submit that we need to rethink our position as a country. The PF needs to sober up and become calm.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Let us not bring in people in our debates. I did not see the hon. Member for Kabwata disturbing anyone.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, asoba vokamba uyo!

Laughter

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to add the voice of the people of Kaputa to the 2015 Budget that was presented by the able hon. Minister of Finance, Hon. Chikwanda.

 Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, to begin with, I want to relate the budget to the President’s Speech that we were debating just about two weeks ago.

 Sir, to begin with, I want to support this budget as a document that has been has been well thought through and has tried to follow the directives which were given by the President in his Speech.

Mr Speaker, allow me to quote from the third paragraph of the speech. The hon. Minister of Finance said:

“Mr Speaker, on the 24th of October, 2014, Zambia celebrates its Golden Jubilee that marks half a century of political Independence. The nation has achieved much over the past 50 years. We have had an unbroken period of political stability and peaceful co-existence by putting into practice our motto “One Zambia One Nation.”

Mr Speaker, allow me also to look at paragraph 4 which says:

“Sir, one of the Zambia’s many unique attributes has been its unparalleled political and  social stability since Independence in 1964.’

Mr Speaker, this Budget comes at a time when we are about to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. Like many other debaters that have participated in the debate, some of my colleagues have indicated in their own right that they do not see any reason to celebrate any purported achievements in certain areas.

 Sir, one important cardinal point that we all need to understand is that Zambia has a very unique position in our continent. Issues to do with stability politically, socially and economically are extremely important. Everybody, especially those who are in leadership, must ensure that they involve everyone in the Golden Jubilee celebrations. We need to show our youths the Zambia that we found which we want to leave to our future generations.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance has indicated that the unprecedented economic growth which the country has witnessed in the last five to six years has been as a result of the nation’s stability. This stability comes because of how we have existed as a people. We chose to go for multi-partism in 1991. I urge those who are in leadership now and the ones to come in future to continue with the multi-party system so that we can give those that are in the Opposition space to be able to exercise their duties. For sure, we know that even the growth in terms of figures that the hon. Minister is talking about has come about because we have people in place who have been providing checks and balances to the Executive.              

Mr Speaker, allow me to now talk about the theme for the 2015 Budget. The hon. Minister has indicated that the theme for the 2015 Budget is “Celebrating our Golden Jubilee as One Zambia One Nation by Making Economic Independence a Reality for All”. This theme is definitely possible to make a reality if we allow our people, especially those who have entrepreneurial abilities, to participate in the country’s economic activities. If we do that, we will see them becoming economically independent.

Sir, it is not the role or job of the Government to hold people by the hands and lead them to the water. The job of the Government or those in the Executive is to create conducive environments, put policies in place and let the people take advantage of those policies and develop their businesses. By now, we would have been economically independent if not for the over-dependency of the people on the Government. However, people want the Government to hold them by the hand and lead them to drink the water when it should not be like that. The hon. Ministers, working with the President, are doing their best to try and put resources where it matters. They are opening up areas by constructing roads in areas which were otherwise, not accessible. However, a lot of Zambians want to work for others. For example, anybody who wants to remain an employee will basically work for a salary because they are just selling their labour. Any person who wants to generate wealth will create jobs and also invite others to work with him. At the end of the day, it is his wealth and the rest of the people are just working to enhance it. Zambians need to have such a mindset and embrace the Patriotic Front (PF) Government which is creating these conditions. That way, we can take this country forward. 

Mr Speaker, as the other hon. Members were debating, one of the things that crossed my mind is the issue raised by some of my colleagues that the Budget presented to this House, by Hon. Chikwanda is not only unimpressive, but also not appeasing. This is not a one-man’s Budget. It is a process. Even as we speak now, I am sure that the 2016 Budget is in process. There are a lot of Zambians, including technocrats, the civil society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who contribute to coming up with this final product which our hon. Minister presents. Therefore, this is not a Budget for Hon. Chikwanda alone. He is the driver, but it is not his Budget. So, we need to understand that this Budget is a process and culmination of ideas from many brains in this country. That way, our debates will not be rendered irrelevant. You want to say that this Budget is irrelevant and yet you know that people who support you are part of the budgeting process. 

Sir, I just wanted to bring to the attention of my colleagues the fact that this is a national Budget and that it is not for one person alone. Some of you were saying you have not even seen the allocation for your ward. How can you see your ward in a National Budget?

Mr Lubinda: Ba Mtolo!

Laughter

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, this is a National Budget and not one for the local government. So, if we want to see your ward or constituency here, you should go back to our local governments because that is where we have a budget that addresses what we want to do at ward level.

Mr Speaker, let me now look at the economic sector policies. I want to look at agriculture and the resources that have been allocated to it. As I indicated in the beginning, this Budget is a consolidation of what the PF has done in the last three years. It is, therefore, a disaster that some people would want to see the 2015 Budget resemble the 2011 one. The 2011 Budget had specific issues that the hon. Minister and the President wanted to address, coming from an era where there were deficits in certain areas. One of those areas is the deficit on the salary structure in the Civil Service. So, the President wanted to address that immediately and that became the first page. In this particular Budget, the President and the hon. Minister had to consolidate the figures and put them in the existing projects and see which ones should be completed and how they would add value to what we are doing. So the 2015 Budget should definitely not be looked at the same way as the 2011/2012 Budgets.

Mr Speaker, when you look at the agriculture sector, my colleague had actually indicated that we had a bumper harvest of 3.35 million metric tonnes. This sort of harvest is unprecedented and definitely needs resources aimed at securing that harvested crop. This bumper harvest did not come as an accident. It is basically because there were resources that were apportioned to the production side of the sector. One of measures taken to achieve the bumper harvest is the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

Sir, the FISP has its own bottlenecks, but as the hon. Minister stated, they are being addressed so that there is efficiency on how this money is applied in terms of targeting the intended beneficiaries, when it is released and the varieties of seeds which should be included in the package. In this Budget, there is mention that some focus has been put to increase the resources to go towards the extension services. Hon. Minister, this is a welcome move because we know that agriculture cannot thrive without strengthening the extension services, together with the research component. Therefore, allocating resources to increase the number of extension staff, improving their mobility and making them comfortable in the areas where they are serving our people goes a long way in enhancing the productivity or success of this particular sector.

Mr Speaker, in fact, I am envisaging a much higher yield in the coming year because of the sort of programmes that have been put in place in the agriculture sector in order to improve food production. If the e-Voucher system is properly implemented, we can see increased agriculture productivity.

Sir, the other thing I would like to talk about is what has happened to the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ). This plant was a forgotten area. Our colleagues on your left did not even want to touch this issue because as far as they were concerned, the NCZ was obsolete. To them, its operations were not economical and they believed that it would not help the people. I am pretty sure that Hon. Mwaliteta must be a very happy person because he sees much of his population in employment and people are getting salaries and there is a multiplier effect. Now, when you go to Kafue, you will see that there are many businesses there. So, revitalising the NCZ has been well thought out. It is money well spent. How I wish that this Government could go a step further and ensure that the Mulungushi Textiles in Kabwe could also be supported in the same manner. The textile industry also has weaving and ginnery sub-sections. So, there are many components of that industry that will allow the people of Kabwe to be self-dependent.

Mr Speaker, I will very quickly look at the education sector and the funds that have been allocated to it. I can see that the Government wants to improve the education sector. It has not only looked at tertiary education institutions like universities, but has also addressed the completion of secondary schools that have been under construction for some time. We are hoping that by 2015, the construction of all the additional secondary schools will be completed. 

Mr Speaker, the Government has gone further and allocated money to pre-school programmes so that even in rural areas our children can start nursery school in a good environment. Funds have also been allocated towards increasing the manpower which we so badly need both in the education and health sectors. These are critical areas. We have seen that our economy can only move forward if we have adequate human resource that will be able to address various issues on behalf of all of us.

Mr Speaker, before I wind up, I want to look at job …

Mr Lubinda: Go on, mudala.

Mr Ng’onga: … job creation in the manufacturing sector. Again, our hon. Minister of Finance has allocated resources to a number of areas in the manufacturing sector to try and encourage Zambians to focus on this particular sector. We know for sure that manufacturing would definitely add value to increasing our job creation opportunities, especially for our educated youths. However, Mr Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the job of the Executive is to try and create a conducive environment for private businesses to thrive. Therefore, the hon. Minister of Finance has indicated that there will be funds that will be allocated to the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) so that those who have got business plans or are already running businesses can access these funds. 

Sir, there are also monies that are provided to the public under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC). These funds are targeted at empowering business minded youths, women and men. There are also funds that have been allocated towards youth empowerment programmes and those which are run by the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. 

Mr Speaker, all these funds in the Budget are targeted at allowing those with business minds to utilise these resources. This is how the Government is supposed to work. It cannot call citizens and give them money in their hands for whatever they need, but merely facilitates the right environment for them to sustain themselves. I, therefore, challenge people out there to ensure that they access these funds.

Mr Speaker, there are also funds that have been directed, very well, to social safety nets. We know for sure, especially in our communities, that our women want to use these particular funds. This has helped those that are on the Social Cash Transfer Programme and other social inclusive initiatives to have funds to help them sustain their lives and grow whatever little businesses they want to undertake.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support this Motion.

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Floor. Since I did not debate the President’s Speech, allow me, first of all, to welcome new hon. Members of Parliament to this House. I urge them to work hard and represent their people well.

Mr Speaker, before I go into the real issues of this debate, allow me to say this. I have a lot of respect for elderly people. I am a very well-cultured hon. Member of Parliament with a lot of respect. However, as leaders in our communities, especially as hon. Members of Parliament, I think we are supposed to lead by example. If you are given a responsibility as a leader, you should take it up. If you are not able to take it up and perform, the best thing you can do is to resign from that position.

Sir, if I was the hon. Minister of Health and the issue of circumcision arises, I am supposed to perform my duty of encouraging others by setting an example. I am supposed to show leadership … 

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Hon. Member, take a seat for a moment.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I was in the Chair when this issue arose and as far as I am concerned, we resolved it in that particular debate. I know the Budget Address addresses several issues including health but, please, do not take the liberty to re-open an issue which I thought was properly addressed. There is no point of seizing this as an opportunity for you to air those grievances, if any. So we have a Motion here, which is the debate of the Budget Speech which was delivered by the hon. Minister of Finance. I would rather we focus our energies on that.

Mr Livune: But there is health in there.

Mr Speaker: There is health, of course. There is no doubt about that and I am not stopping him from debating health-related issues, but I can see the trajectory of his debate anyway. Continue hon. Member.

Laughter 

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, what I am simply saying is that prevention is better than cure. Scientists and medical personnel the world over have spent a lot of time and billions of United States (US) dollars have been wasted to find a cure for Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndromme (AIDS). However, the simplest method we can use as a country and the world at large to prevent people from getting infected with the AIDS virus …

Mr Shakafuswa: Are you circumcised?

Mr Habeenzu: … is circumcision. It has been proven that circumcision reduces the chances of contracting the virus by 60 per cent. Therefore, let us try and put more money into the circumcision programme rather than wasting money on the issue of finding the cure for AIDS, which has not been found up to now.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, our fathers and other relatives have perished because of AIDS- related infections. This time, it is not a taboo for grandparents, parents and children to sit around a table in the evening and advise children not to be having sex without a condom …

Mr Shakafuswa: They should not just have it.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Katuba.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I have scheduled you for debate.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: You may have a substitute here ...

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … and you will listen to the debates from outside.

Hon. Member for Chikankata, you may continue.

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, what I was saying is that it is not a taboo these days to talk about sexual intercourse. You are just preventing your children from getting infected with AIDS. Our people perish because of lack of knowledge.

Mr Livune: That is right.

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, why can I not, as a leader, stand up and discourage from engaging in harmful practices?

Mr Shakafuswa: Hmm!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, there is nothing wrong for us leaders to advocate for more money to be put in the budget for prevention, other than waiting for the cure which is not found.

Mr Shakafuswa: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, what is wrong in us doing that? We are all still sexually active. Be it the Ministers, hon. Members of Parliament, the President …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Just a moment, hon. Member! 

Laughter

Mr Speaker: We do not debate ourselves. In axis to that, do not be presumptuous.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, you may continue. 

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, what I am trying to say …

Mr Sikazwe: Is that in the budget?

Mr Ntundu: Let us hear.

Mr Habeenzu: … is that if circumcision is the best way to go, …

Mr Sikazwe: Budget.

Mr Habeenzu: … I ask all the leaders …

Mr Shakafuswa: Aah!

Mr Mutelo: Shakafuswa.

Mr Habeenzu: … whether Presidents or whoever is a community leader, to take that route because that is the only way we are going to survive.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Otherwise, Mr Speaker, this whole world will perish …

Mr Sikazwe: Iwe! That is not the budget.

Mr Speaker: Can we have order.

Mr Habeenzu: … and there will be nobody who will …

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, just a point of guidance. One of the rules of debate is to avoid repetition. So far, you have been violating that rule. If that was the only subject you intended to debate, I may have to curtail your debate because you have harped on this point for a long time. If it is the only subject you intend to debate. You will be repeating yourself.

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, I just came back from my constituency where I saw things which made me want to emphasise a certain point because …

Mr Speaker: Which you have.

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, if this Budget will not address the issue of farmers being paid on time, then it is a rotten.

Mr Shakafuswa: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, I am serious about that.

Ms Kawandami: Ala! Kuti walanda so.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, can you withdraw that description. It is unparliamentarly.

Mr Livune: Of rotten.

Interruptions

Mr Habeenzu: I thank you, Mr Speaker for your guidance. I withdraw it. 

Mr Speaker, this is a thorny issue which is troubling farmers.

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, rains have started …

Mr Livune: That is right.

Mr Habeenzu: … without our farmers being paid. This Budget must address the issue of our farmers getting their money on time so that they do not buy fertiliser late.

Mr Speaker, as I earlier said, I have just come back from my constituency. The farmers there do not even know when they will be paid their money for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). What is the hon. Minister of Finance doing about that? We budget for this money every year. To date, our farmers have not yet received their money. When are they going to be paid their money? 

Mr Speaker, rain does not wait because we have no control over it. For a farmer to prepare, he or she has to be paid his/her money in good time in order for him/her to buy a plough and to plan the extent of the field he or she will cultivate. Sadly, up to today, the farmers have not yet been paid their money for the maize which they supplied to the FRA. When is this money going to paid to the farmers? Why do we budget? We sit in here, approve the budget, yet at the end of everything, our farmers are not yet paid their dues on time. Why is all this happening?

Mr Speaker, just like I said, if this budget, does not address the issue of payment to our farmers then I am not supporting it. The implementation of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) has become political. Initially, when the project started, farmers were supposed to be graduating from this programme after a certain period. What is happening is, every year, the same farmers benefit from the programme. When are the new farmers going to enjoy this facility? Every year, we appropriate money for FISP. Why are new farmers also not enjoying this facility?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, when are we going to make some farmers graduate from FISP. The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock should revise the administration of FISP because some of our poor farmers are not benefiting from it. They are being deprived of access to a facility which they have a right to enjoy. 

Mr Speaker, the FRA is in a mess.

Mr Speaker: No.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: That word is not permissible. I think you have been here long enough to know that.

Mr Shakafuswa: Wabagisa

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, the operations of the FRA are in disarray.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, the FRA is supposed to be a profit-making institution which is supposed to guarantee the food security of the country. It is not doing us good as a country, every year to allocate money to an institution which is not making any profits. The FRA has kept on buying maize from the same farmers who can easily be reached. Our poor farmers who are in need, those who grow ten bags, are not able to be reached. We need to realign the operations of the FRA because at the moment it is not doing us any good as a country.

Mr Speaker, I would like to urge the hon. Ministers of Agriculture and Livestock, and Finance that to revisit this programme. In its current form, it is not doing us any good. I do not know why we should continue allocating funds to an institution which is not doing us any good.

 Mr Speaker, if, as a Government, we have failed to run this institution, then let us allow it to be run by private hands. As a private investor, I would not want to let any bags of maize or rice go to waste. We are just coming from a by-election in Zambezi where the FRA bought rice two years ago which is still marooned at the depot. I do not know how it will collect it from there. There is no accountability for the money which is spent by the FRA. We are just wasting money. The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock should sit down with stakeholders and address the operational challenges of the FRA.

Mr Speaker, I will move on to the issue of youth unemployment. The hon. Members of the PF are evil.

Hon. Opposition members: Hear, hear!
 
Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, take your seat. 

The right is made up of hon. Members who also make up the Executive. There is no need to be emotional. You are a national leader. 

You may continue.

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, people are suffering.

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, let me talk about youth unemployment. In the 2014 Budget, they told us that they had created 200 jobs. In the 2015 Budget, they have told us that they will create 120 jobs.  Let them tell me how many decent jobs they have created for the people of Chibolya.

Mr Livune: Zero!

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, how many decent jobs have you created for the people of Chikankata?

Mr Livune: Zero!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Katombola, can you leave.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune left the Assembly Chamber.

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Chikankata may continue.

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, I am asking them to tell me how many jobs they have created for the people of Chikankata and Chibolya. Instead of creating industrial clusters in order for the people of Chibolya to engage in some business activities, they created war and massacred people. 

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

Mr Chilangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, instead of helping the youth of Chibolya, …

Mr Chilangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: I am not allowing points of order for now.

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, instead of helping the people of Chibolya who do not have jobs, they went ahead and massacred them. 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, I think that you have made a record …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … in inviting my interventions. You have broken the record. Maintain your temperament. The diction and choice of your language is provoking the points of order. You must be factual and objective in your debates. You also must be properly prepared. I am not inclined to step in. It is not my disposition but you are compelling me. I want to listen to these debates as well.

You may continue.

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, if the PF is a caring Government, I expect it to honour the promises it made during the campaigns to provide decent jobs to the youth of Chikankata and putting more money in their pockets. The PF has not done that. 
        
Mr Speaker, I was trying to tell you that the people who in the PF are not good people. 

Laughter

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, their only interest is to use the youth in their usual fights. For instance, there was a fight in Livingstone recently. Who was involved? It was the youth and yet the PF will not provide the youths with proper jobs to put more money in their pockets. 

Sir, as time is not with me, I want to make an appeal as regards the Chikankata Road which is in a pathetic and deplorable state. We have talked about this road year in and year out. I am asking the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication and the hon. Minister of Finance to look at this road because transport service providers are refusing to go to Chikankata to ferry fertiliser and maize due to the bad state of the road. It is a situation whereby a transporter will go once and never go back again. This is my appeal.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I am asking the hon. Minister of Finance to consider the issue of the Constitution. I am asking the hon. Minister of Justice to allow the Constitution-making process to continue. Let the people be free to participate in the Constitution-making process. The Constitution is for all of us. It is not for the PF or the hon. Minister of Justice. The Constitution- making process belongs to the people of Zambia.

Mr Mufalali: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, as regards the celebration of our fiftieth Independence anniversary, what will it do to celebrate it when we do not have the freedom as people living in the country?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Sir, what will it do to celebrate the fiftieth Independence anniversary when we are denied the freedom of assembly?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, what will it do to celebrate the fiftieth Independence anniversary if people are dying in hospitals because there are no medicines?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, what will it do to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary if, to date, my farmers in Chikankata are not yet paid?

Mr Mufalali: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, I will end here with those questions.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwewa (Mwansabombwe): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for according me this opportunity to add my voice to this important Motion.

Mr Speaker, the people of Mwansabombwe are very delighted with the 2015 Budget and send their greetings. I salute you, hon. Minister of Finance.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, world over, Governments have a backbone Budget. The PF Government came into power in 2011. We have had Budgets in 2012, 2013, 2014 and, now, the 2015 Budget. We realise that the 2013 Budget was a PF Budget and is our backbone Budget. All these other Budgets are there to help consolidate it. We laid our foundation in the 2013 Budget. The other Budgets are supposed to help build the structure and this is what we are doing now.

Mr Speaker, in the 2013 Budget we brought out very important issues that we are working on. We looked at the key sectors to develop our economy. For the social and economic prosperity of this nation, we looked at key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, manufacturing and construction. We looked at different sectors and, today, are happy to say that we are progressing well.

Mr Speaker, it makes me a sad person when I hear my fellow hon. Members of Parliament criticising the wage freeze when the hon. Minister of Finance announced a two-year wage freeze in this House a long time ago. Are we done with the two-year wage freeze? The answer is no.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister understands the economic equation of this nation. We cannot keep on increasing wages. We had a 150 per cent increment to the wages given to the workers in Zambia.

Ms Imenda: On a point of order.

Mr Speaker: Order!

 I am not allowing points of order.

Call it what you will.

Laughter

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, we saw the innocent workers who used to get K900 get K3,000 after the increment without paying Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) on this amount. Why should we forget that so easily? Do they want us to continue increasing the wages and make this country wallow in inflation? I think that as good hon. Members of Parliament, we are supposed to go out there and explain what is happening right now to our economy. We would not love to see the country have a double digit inflation rate as my friend the hon. Member for Chipata Central said. We would like to see this country have a single digit inflation rate below 7 per cent.

Mr Speaker, let me now narrow my debate down to the health sector. Probably, we have forgotten where we are coming from and what we have done so far. Where I come from, in Mwansabombwe Constituency, there is a place called Katotoma. At one time, I was called at night to go and pick up a lady who was about to give birth. I drove all the way from Mbeleshi to Katotoma. As I was driving on the road to Katotoma, the car lights pierced through the bush and I saw two bicycles. When I drew closer, I stopped, got out of the car and saw people surrounding a woman about to give birth. Unfortunately, that lady passed on because there was no transport to take her from Katotoma to the nearest clinic. This Government announced here that it would give us ambulances. Today, we have got two ambulances in Mwansabombwe Constituency and we have allocated one ambulance to Katotoma. So far, because of that ambulance, I have not heard of any incidence like the one I just described happen. Those kinds of incidences used to happen because the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) could not provide the ambulances to the innocent people in that area. Today, we have the ambulances. Moreover, we are now waiting for clinics to be built in my constituency. We have three clinics that will be built …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: … that will help the innocent people in my constituency. Apart from that, I am alive to the fact that more medical personnel will be trained. Today, we have 5,500 medical personnel. We have been assured that, each year, 10,000 more medical personnel will be trained to fill up all those places where we have vacancies. We will reduce the deficit of medical workers.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Sir, is that not a plus for this Government? It is, indeed, a plus.

Mr Speaker, I will move on to the agriculture sector. We have 500 extension workers that will be employed next year. Apart from that, the agriculture sector on its own cannot employ people without the Government creating an enabling environment. This Government has put in place the road infrastructure and an irrigation scheme. I will dwell on that for a bit. I will talk of what the development of road infrastructure is doing for the agriculture sector. I will give an example of people living in Chienge and Kaputa. Like the other hon. Member of Parliament said, it was very difficult to carry farm products from Chienge and take them to Nchelenge where they are marketed when the road network was bad. It takes about five years for people to see the fruits of capital investments. As the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, we are spending so much money on capital investments. We do not expect to see the results tomorrow. We should be patient. When you go to any developed country in this world, you will be able to tell from the road network that it is a developed country for sure.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, in Zambia today, we are trying to improve the road network, but the hon. Opposition Members of Parliament are asking: twa lalya imisebo? Are we going to eat roads? Then, I sit down and think whether we are together in the same boat.

Interruptions

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, how many tonnes of maize have we lost or burnt because of lack of a proper road network? When you translate that loss into money, you find that it is a lot. We are going to see something positive for the people of Chienge. They will be able to transport their farm products to Nchelenge where they can be sold and they will have money in their pockets …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: … because of a good road network. 

Mr Speaker, we talk about the irrigation scheme so much. Why do we talk about it so much? It is because we want our people to be able to grow different crops on one piece of land three times in a year. Imagine that happening. We would like to see our people have more money in their pockets. Seventeen thousand, five hundred hectares of land will be irrigated before 2016. That is a plus for this Government.

Hon. Government Members:  Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, more farmers will be able to grow their crops through irrigation. We do not have to wait for rainfall. What we are trying to do is to help them. They can grow groundnuts, soya beans, and maize on one piece of land in one year. Zambians today use one piece of land for just growing one crop in one year. That is why they do not graduate from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). We want people to graduate. If we allow them to grow more crops per year, definitely, they will be able to graduate from this programme.

Mr Speaker, I was looking at the national plan for the construction of dams. I saw that each province has been allocated ten dams.

Mr Mtolo: Question!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, each province has been allocated ten dams. What will that do to our innocent elegant farmers? Some of us have been to Swaziland and most of the people there rely on one dam to produce sugar cane, and that is how they live their lives. Now, imagine having ten dams in each province. We will see a jump in our economic and social prosperity for sure when we have that.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Sir, we will see more money is people’s pockets. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, let me now move on to the education sector. This Government is building universities. I look forward to a day when I will go to any province and find a university. I am kindly asking the hon. Minister of Finance to consider a school of art for each university. I would like to go to Mongu University and find Mongu School of Art. We have neglected the arts industry which I feel must be promoted. It takes political will to do such things. I am kindly asking the hon. Minister of Finance to seriously look into my suggestion because this industry can employ more people than the agricultural sector. 

Mr Speaker, there are a number of countries that depend on the arts. Most of the youths in this country can sing, but are not musicians because they cannot even play a guitar. 

Mr Speaker, Zambia is so rich in culture and arts. The people of the Western Province have rich arts which, if enhanced and developed, can see people from all walks of life coming to Zambia to watch. The arts and cultures in Luapula and the North-Western provinces are just as rich. However, what are we doing about them? 

Sir, the works of most people have been shoved away and just gathering dust because there is no one to help them. This is why I am pleading with the hon. Minister of Finance that even before we build these schools of art in the new universities, we make a deliberate policy to have a trust where these innocent Zambian youth can draw money to make music or movies. Are you aware that Nigerians came to Zambia to learn how to act? Where are they today? They are far much better than us. It requires political will to be able to do some of the things which I am suggesting. I know that my Government is a listening one which will look into my suggestions. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate the hon. Minister of Finance for an output-based budget for the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education. An output-based-budget is the way to go. If you go round today, and despite the good remuneration from the Government, most people when asked why they want to join the Government, will say that they want some time to themselves, meaning that in the Government is where one can have free time for himself or herself. You can choose to work a bit then run away from the office. Every human being should be able to account for what he or she does. If you clock in, you should be there until you clock out. I learnt this when I was in the United States of America. 

Mr Hamududu: Yeah, man!

Laughter

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, I never got any money without working for it. I clocked in at 0800 hours and could only come out for thirty minutes to have my lunch then clock in again. If I clocked out and did not clock in again, I would not be paid. The minute I clocked in I was on my toes until clocking out. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Sir, in Zambia, today, how many people do this? People go for work to play computer games and read articles on the Zambian Watchdog website. Almost three quarters of their time is spent chatting or doing other things. How I look forward to the next Budget being an all output-based budget. We should get what we are putting in. When we put in more we should get more and vice-versa. 

Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I thank you. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, Budgets are very contentious issues. The style and presentation is always contentious because it reflects what the one who has the authority is thinking of. 

Mr Speaker, the 2015 Budget, just like the 2014 one was, is ambitious. We set it up to the tune of about 18-25 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) because usually recoverables in an economy are about 18 per cent. However, here we are with an ambitious Budget because we are in a hurry to please our people and to provide services to them. 

Mr Speaker, our friend said that we should support the wage freeze because lack of it would result into higher inflation. The hon. Minister of Finance is telling us that the wage freeze had nothing to do with inflation. Inflation, according to the hon. Minister, was driven by the depreciation of the kwacha, the upward adjustment in the fuel prices and the electricity tariffs. Therefore, when we talk about wages and the wage freeze, we should be very considerate. 

Sir, the wage freeze has affected our workers. Our inflation rate is at 7.8 per cent compared to last year’s which means that the workers have become worse-off. This, compounded with us not increasing the income tax free threshold, means that our workers have become worse-off. However, our workers are used because I remember that when I was Deputy Minister of Finance in the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government, we asked them to tighten their belts and they did. Today, the workers are supposed to be reaping from a growing economy and not tightening their belts again like before.  

Sir, I know the pressure which the hon. Minister is under. We have borrowed money to put into our economy for very ambitious projects. The interest rate for the latest bond which we have to pay and budget for every year is about 8-10 per cent. We should not forget, however, that after ten years when the bond matures we have to pay the principal. Are we preparing ourselves to pay the principal? What are we doing today to ensure that in ten years’ time we pay the US$8 billion principal?  Are we going to borrow another US$2 billion this year, as we heard? Have we prepared to have the resources in ten years to pay this principal or is it going to take us to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point where we will have to ask our people to again tighten their belts?

Mr Speaker, I think it would have been better if the hon. Minister established a sinking fund in the Budget where we would store money for periods when the debt has to be paid back. This is very important for an economy. Today, the so-called achievements that we are talking about will be eroded if not properly harnessed and this country will go back to being a highly indebted poor nation. Despite the infrastructure development and the strides you are talking about, our children will say that we were not thinking straight if we continue on the same path.

Laughter 

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, I am happy that they have invested part of the money which we borrowed into electricity generation. It is a very good investment because increased electricity generation will enable the Government to get revenue. This revenue can be used to pay back the loan because these are borrowed funds which we will have to pay back with interest. 

Sir, investing in infrastructure is not wrong, but it should not be done in an over ambitious manner. It may open up areas, but this will not happen in the short term. Like I have asked on the Floor of this House before, how can you leave out a road like the Solwezi/Chingola Road which can give you immediate value for your money and help you pay back these loans? How can you go, instead, into areas where investors take ten years to put in place meaningful investments? Right now, we have a very ambitious infrastructure development programme which is married to a lot of debt which we have kept contracting.

Mr Speaker, I am happy that we are talking about the increased carriage capacity of the Zambia Railways Limited. However, have we also looked at the capacity of the personnel there and determined whether they will be able to give you the results for the investments we are putting in? What has ruined this economy is cadrerism. How can you put someone who has a doctorate in animal husbandry to run a transport company? How can you put someone who is wrongly qualified to run an economic entity? This is the reason we do not get efficiency out of the system and, as a result, the country does not get the maximum out of its investments.

Sir, the Eurobond should be put into the right investments. A friend of mine once said running a Government is like running a business. If you feel that you are in the Government to please cadres then you have got no right to be in it. You have to look at a Government as a business entity. You need to use efficient managers who, like my colleague was saying, will enable you to measure the inputs and outputs. If they are not putting in quality input then they have no business being in the Government. My colleague was talking about Patriotic Front (PF) cadres who are in the Government and whose interest is seeing what is latest on the Zambian Watchdog website. I think that is a disincentive.

Mr Speaker, I want to commend my very clever uncle, the hon. Minister of Finance, who has found a clever way of introducing windfall tax in the mining industry.

Hon. Opposition Member: Well done.

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, people might complain about the improvements to the Mineral Royalty Tax and the tax regime for the mines. As for me, I say, job well done. Even though the investors complain, they will not find the quality of copper that we have here anywhere else. The mining companies are saying that this move might reduce investment in the mining sector. I do not agree with that. These people started investing in mining copper when it was selling for US$2,000 per tonne. They are just trying to blindfold us. I count this as a plus …

Mr Mwale: The only plus.

Mr Shakafuswa: … because at the end of the day we are going to get what belongs to us. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, the creation of parastatal bodies needs to be legislated in this House. They have created the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). What are its structures? What legislation backs its structures which has made the institution become operational? 

Sir, the operations of the IDC need to be guided by legislation which should be passed by this House. If this is not done, we may end up running an illegal system just like we did with the Constitution-making process which had no backing from this House. If the IDC is to start getting money from the Budget, its existence must be approved by this House. I do not know how this will be done. However, I will be happy if we can look at how we can quickly work on it.

Mr Speaker, what formula is used to administer the Local Government Equalisation Fund? The formula has to be told to all of us who are stakeholders. The hon. Member for Mwansabombwe was saying that you have given him two ambulances when there are no ambulances in Katuba. The Opposition sits here and listens to such bragging when the wealth which is being used to develop constituencies which are led by PF Members of Parliament comes from their areas. 

Sir, they should keep quiet because they are annoying us. 

Professor Luo: Aah!

Mr Shakafuswa: Yes! We need a stake in this country’s wealth because some of our areas contribute a lot to the coffers of this nation.

Mr Speaker: You are sill addressing the Speaker.

Interruptions 

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, we contribute a lot to the coffers of this nation. How can someone come and say ‘what’? No!

Laughter 

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, we need to have our share as well. How does Hon. Mwewa think the people of Katuba feel when he says that his constituency has got two ambulances while they have none? 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, how do they think others feel when they say that they have four universities in their area as if that is where the educated people are? Some people are educated, but do not do the right thing which is helping other people. 

Mr Speaker, all we want is an equal share. Are they sure that the Local Government Equalisation Fund is not going to be a fund which is going to be taken to their areas at the expense of some of our areas? 

Sir, a question was posed today as to why the Chingola/Solwezi Road, which is an economic road, is not being worked on. The response was that the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) did not work on it. When you come into power, you need to plan for the areas that can give you value immediately. The roads that you construct should lead to growth areas. If you are an economic planner, you should plan investments in such a way that they go into growth areas. Electricity should go into growth areas so that it can give you immediate returns.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, growth in an economy comes about when you create jobs. 

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours 1830 until hours. 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, my emphasis was that as we are celebrating 50 years of Independence with the theme, “Commemorating God’s Favour of Zambia’s 50 years of Independence for Continued Peace, Unity, Democracy, and Prosperity”, no single region should feel that they own Zambia. One group should not feel that this country belongs to it. I think that is a wrong way of doing things. I can stand with my head up and say that I served under one great leader of this nation, the late President Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, despite the fact that the late President Levy Mwanawasa, SC., came from Chibombo District, you will find that there is only one good road in that area, which goes up to Chisamba town. If he thought that the country’s wealth belonged to his tribe, he could have put more roads in Chibombo District. He did not do that. I have only got one secondary school in Katuba. If he thought about his area alone in as far as schools were concerned, he could have put more secondary schools in Katuba. When I was at the Ministry of Finance, he emphasised the need for the ministry to find ways of sharing the country’s wealth equitably amongst all the regions of this country. 

Sir, the workplan for the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education indicates that there are eighteen on-going projects in Muchinga. What about our areas? They are going to polarise this country with this kind of development. They will polarise this country to an extent whereby we will start hating each other. Our talk will be bitter. Some of us are the owners of Lusaka. This is where the industries are and a lot of money is made. Where is the money going? The money is going to their areas. Whenever we try to complain, they call us tribalists when they are the ones who are annoying us by not giving us a fair share of the country’s wealth. 

Mr Antonio: Hear, hear!

Mr Shakafuswa: Sir, they do not know that they are sowing seeds of strife and hatred in this country. Let me be honest with you. I am a proud Lenje. If you think you can disadvantage me, then you have got it all wrong.

Mr Antonio: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: You are still addressing the Speaker.

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, I am a very proud Lenje who should not be disadvantaged because I contribute to the growth of the country’s economy. We, the Lenjes, are not scared of their ‘small’ police. When we get annoyed, we are ready to be imprisoned. We, the Lenjes, housed Zimbabwean freedom fighters some of whom died for the cause of their country. Do they not think that we have not learnt lessons from them?  We are not scared of anything. That is why we keep going in and out of prison because we want to emancipate this country.

Mr Miyutu: Basop!

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance has put 30 per cent taxation on roofing sheets. He has also raised tax on domestic oils. Do they not think that South Africans will still find a way of dumping their goods on the Zambian market through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocols that we have signed? Do they not think the South Africans will still disadvantage our economy by using SADC tariffs even if we have put the 30 per cent taxation on roofing sheets? To make matters worse, South Africans actually restrict the entry of our goods into their market. We should also find a way of equally restricting the entry of their goods into our country. We cannot continue to be a dumping ground. This is affecting the development of our industries in the country. 

Mr Speaker, a lot has been said about the Constitution of Zambia. Let me express my views on the issue even if I am not a lawyer. People are saying that it is going to be very expensive to enact a new Constitution because we shall need a referendum in order to change Part III of the Constitution of Zambia, which is the Bill of Rights. That is not the case because we are not changing the Bill of Rights. We are bringing in a new Bill of Rights and as a result, it does not need a referendum. This new Bill of Rights has incorporated other rights which we already enjoy. 

Sir, I want to urge the PF Government to marry the governance of this country with people’s perspectives. Today, it is the PF which is in power and tomorrow it will be another party. The South African Government had to u-turn and become more flexible when that country was enacting its current constitution because their Minister of Justice was in court everyday. As far as I am concerned, they think that they are the only ones who possess wisdom. We will not allow them to destroy this country and make it bankrupt. Right now, we do not have money in this country. They should be open to ideas. Let us run this country together as Zambians. There are a lot of people in the Opposition who are experienced and can help those who are in the Government to run this country. A person who gets to succeed is the one who listens to other people’s ideas. If we share ideas, we will manage this country very well. The five years the PF Government will be in power can never be reversed. If they make mistakes today, they will never recover the lost time. It will be failure on their part. Even as they boast about all sorts of things, they should be aware that the people of Zambia are watching what they are doing.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Mr Speaker, I believe I will be brief.

Dr Kaingu: No!

Laughter

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, from the outset, let me state that this time around, I have had problems to debate on this Motion. Firstly, the opening of Parliament was not very good. It was a very difficult time and I felt so sad because of the President’s condition. Secondly, during the presentation of the Budget Speech, the hon. Minister of Finance, also, did not put so much fire in his presentation. I am sure he was worried that he could out dance the President and be fired. The Budget Speech was quite flat. Thirdly, I want to say that Parliament Radio does not reach my constituency.

Dr Kaingu: Even mine!

Mr Simbao: Sir, no matter what I say in this House, the people in my constituency are unable to listen to my debate. The only people who can listen to my debate are those who are visiting Lusaka or places where Parliament Radio is accessible. So, this is the problem that I am facing. I would be very grateful if Parliament Radio was made to reach my constituency this year. 

Mr Speaker, let me talk about the wage freeze. I really do not understand why so many people are making noise over this issue. If you go to last year’s Budget Speech, it was clearly stated that there would be a salary freeze for two years. We tried to oppose that on this side (left) of the House, but were not supported by the other people. We did not hear any media talk about this issue. Those who are now trying to make noise actually praised the 2014 Budget. So, I do not understand what has changed now. I do not know why they are trying to make the wage freeze  an issue today.

Mr Muchima: We saw it.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, right from the beginning, we warned the people of Zambia that they would not easily have more money in their pockets. Money does not just fall from the sky.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Sir, making colossal amounts of money is not easy. We had warned them, but they did not want to agree with us. Some people believed the statement that they would have more money in their pockets. However, that is not the case at the moment. I am shocked that the hon. Minister of Finance said that workers were given a lot of money in the first two years of the Patriotic Front (PF) being in the Government. Such a statement cannot comfort anyone.

Mr Speaker, the monies that the workers get are not enough. When the PF came into power, one hon. Minister made a very striking statement that they would increase the salaries of nurses by 100 per cent.

Mr Livune: Aah!

Mr Simbao: Sir, that did not happen. When the actual increment came, the nurses only got 23 per cent increment while elsewhere people got 200 per cent increments. The PF Government has been in power for three years now and the nurses have not yet received the 100 per cent salary increment which was promised to them. I really do not know how some people are managing in this country where the cost of living is very high. The prices of commodities obviously increased because of the 200 per cent salary increment for the other Government workers. The poor nurses who only got a 23 per cent salary increment are finding it hard to survive. It is clear that the workers are fed up with the PF’s rule in the three years it has been in power.

Dr Kaingu: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, President Sata, during his campaign, used to say that ichikalika umuntu pansaka musumba wabwali.

Hon. Government Members: Meaning?

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, it means that people can only gather together when they are expecting a plate of nshima. It is time the workers realised that the expected plate of nshima is not there. Therefore, I do not understand …

Mr Ng’onga: Question!

Mr Simbao: … what they should be hanging around for.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I understood the reason for the wage freeze last year. However, I thought that because the PF Government has only two years to be in power, it would lift the wage freeze this year. If it does that next year, it will be too late because the workers will know that they are just being hoodwinked to vote for it. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Simbao: I am just telling you what will happen.

Mr Speaker: Let us have order on the right!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I thought the Government would lift the wage freeze this year.

Ms Kapata interjected.

Mr Simbao: Hon. Kapata, I do not know what wrong I have done.

Laughter

Mr Simbao: Sir, the Government should have increased the workers’ salaries even by a small percentage this year in order for the workers to feel appreciated. If it happens in 2016, it will be too late. The workers may decide to vote otherwise even if they get an increment.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I was very surprised when I heard that all the workers would get a 100 per cent salary increment. The hon. Minister of Finance told me that that was possible because the PF Government had come into power at a time the financial situation was very good and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was not pressuring it to implement certain strategies. I felt that if the PF Government went ahead to give the workers a 100 per cent salary increment, it would run out of money. I am sorry to say that the Government does not seem to have money at the moment. The Government wanted the workers to praise it. However, I felt that if it went ahead and gave the Zambian workers a 100 per cent salary increment, this country would not have money for developmental projects.

Mr Speaker, in the present Budget, it is very clear that the Northern Province has not benefitted from the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. There is nothing new in the Northern Province. There is no new road that the Government can point at that it started constructing.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, my friend, Hon. Peter Phiri, stated that there is some development in the Northern Province when that is not the case. There is no new project in that province. All the projects that are there are the ones that were started by the previous Government.

Mr Hamududu: Sure.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Simbao: Sir, I believe that it is the same in many other areas. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government started the construction of the Kazungula Bridge in the Southern Province and the Mufuchani and Chiawa bridges.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Interruptions

Mr Simbao: Sir, I was once an hon. Minister responsible for works so I know what I am talking about. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, the best thing is that we check the records. I am not speaking for the sake of making fun out of anyone. Hon. Kapata, you will speak …

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, do not address her.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, as I earlier stated, the Northern Province has not benefited from the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. I do not know where the money for road projects has been taken. 

Mr Muchima: By-elections.

Mr Simbao: Sir, I hope our neighbours in Muchinga Province have benefited from this money because the Northern Province has not.

Sir, the money which has been given to the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication is not enough. It has been given K5.6 billion. Out of this K5.6 billion, K2.4 million will come from foreign countries and K3.2 billion from the Government. If this budget will not be increased, most projects will not be completed.

Dr Kaingu: You are right.

Mr Simbao: Sir, the hon. Minister of Finance should have known about this. Maybe, the Cabinet can go and relook at the allocation of this ministry or else the Government will be in trouble when all the projects grind to a halt. This money is not enough to complete the earmarked projects. If the Government wants the Zambians to benefit from the transport and communication infrastructure, it is high time it relooked at its allocation to this sector because it is not enough.

Mr Speaker, I really do not understand why the funding for the Ministry of Health has gone down. We all know that we should be allocating 15 per cent of the total Budget to the Ministry of Health. Last year, the funding was better because it was at 9.9 per cent. This year, it is at 9.6 of the total Budget.

Mr Speaker, the disease burden in this country is not reducing at the rate at which we would like to see it reduce. We need to allocate more money to the Ministry of Health for us to maintain the healthy state of our people. I await to see the actual budget of the Ministry of Health which will show how the money will be apportioned. I will not be surprised if there is less money allocated for drugs because there is so much that is required in the Ministry of Health. I really do not know why the hon. Minister reduced the allocation to the health sector. Our health is very important to all of us. I will be a proud person when I reach the age of the hon. Minister of Finance or other people older than him in this country. If we continue allocating funds like this to the health sector, it will be very difficult for many of our people to reach an old age. Therefore, I would like to ask the hon. Minister of Finance to re-look at the allocation to the Ministry of Health.

Mr Speaker, the foreign finances and grants have greatly gone down. This bothers me because I heard the hon. Minister say that we have been positively graded and given a B+ rating since our economic outlook is bright. If that is the case, I wonder why there is a reduction in the foreign help which we shall receive next year. We are not the only ones receiving foreign help. China is still fighting to be called a developing nation because there are a lot of benefits in being called that. I do not understand why there is a reduction in the donor funding which we shall receive in 2015. What has gone wrong? Why are these foreign countries reducing the money they send to this country? There is a problem somewhere.

Hon. Opposition Member: Poor governance.

Mr Simbao: Sir, somebody believes that it is because of our poor governance record. We need to look at this issue seriously. I know that we can boast that we are using only our own money to run our country. However, we do not have a lot of money as a country. I do not see any new areas which are generating revenue for the country. The population is going up and the wealth being generated for the country is going down. When the donors are refusing to give us money and we cannot come up with new ways of generating funds, then we should know that our future is bleak. We are going towards a dead end. I would like to hear from the hon. Minister why we have this problem under foreign financing. Under general budget support, we have zero funds coming from foreign countries in the 2015 Budget when, last year, we had K1trillion. The allocations to all the other financing categories have gone down. I do not know what the hon. Minister is thinking. What wrong have we done such that these people are refusing to give us money?

Mr Speaker, I would I would like to talk about road infrastructure. I know for sure that most of the road projects were started in the former administration before the elections.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes, yes!

Mr Simbao: Sir, after the elections, it did not matter whether it was going to be the Patriotic Front (PF) or the United Party for National Development (UPND) or the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) which was going to come to power, the road construction projects had to continue.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, whoever came into office was going to continue the creation of the casual jobs because the momentum for building the roads had already peaked.

Hon. Governments Members: No!

Mr Simabao: Sir,  it is a pity that His Honour the Vice-President is not here.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Let us have order!

The hon. Member cannot continue debating like this.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I remember His Honour the Vice President saying that the MMD Government was working on the roads so that it could hoodwink the people into keeping it in power. After we left office, the PF Members asked us why we had started constructing the roads late because it made us look like we were just constructing them for the purpose of getting votes. Therefore, the momentum for constructing roads in this country was ignited by the MMD. I can assure you that there was no one who was going to stop it.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao: Sir, I have already said that the money allocated for road construction is not enough. I want Hon. Mukanga to come and refute what I am saying because he has kept on shaking his head. If the Government is not careful, the road projects are going to stall.

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Mr Simbao: Sir, then the Zambian people will be able to see the type of Government they have in place.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Oppositon Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to add my voice to the Motion which is on the Floor of the House. 

Mr Speaker, I also have a message from the people of Chipili. They have told me to tell the hon. Minister of Finance and President Sata that they are happy with their leadership.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, why do I say so? I say so because of the development which the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has taken to Chipili and Luapula Province.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Simbao left the Assembly Chamber.

Mr Mwila: Hon. Simbao, do not run away. We have to respond to what you said.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Just continue hon. Member.

Laughter

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, I believe that when I am responding to what my colleagues said, they should be in the House so that we can compare notes. Some of our colleagues who were talking were in the Government for twenty years. One of the hon. Members of Parliament from Luapula is the only one who has no electricity in his constituency and yet, his party was in the Government for twenty years. Why is that so? It is because the constituency depended on a party which had no vision.

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Mr Mwila: Sir, is it right for the same hon. Member to stand up and tell us that we are doing nothing. We will not accept that as the PF.

Mr Mwale on a point of order, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Continue, hon. Member.

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance has provided money for rural electrification. Therefore, the hon. Member from Luapula, under the MMD, should co-operate with the PF Government …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: … so that his constituency can be electrified. If he will just be politicking, I can assure him that in 2016, he is not going to come back to this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, let me talk about the creation of districts. When you listen to our colleagues talk about this issue, you will notice that they contradict each other. An hon. Member will stand up and ask when the Government will turn Mumbezhi into a district so that it can move away from Solwezi, then the following day, the same hon. Member of Parliament will say that this programme of creating new districts is not good. So, which is which? On 24th July, 2012, President Sata turned Chipili into a district. I want to tell my colleagues about the benefits of having an area turned into a district. Firstly, there has been job creation and that means money has been put in people’s pockets. The people are able to get salaries every month and, so, their families are benefitting.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, we are going to have new infrastructure in the new districts, including Mwandi District.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, Nalolo, Manyinga and all the other districts will benefit from the development projects that are being carried out. That is the reason I am saying that the PF is interested in bringing about development for all. We are going to develop all the provinces in Zambia, without any segregation.

Sir, on education, I have the 2014 Infrastructure Annual Work Plan. I want to prove to those Members of Parliament from the North-Western and Western provinces who were saying that we are doing nothing that we are actually doing something. I want to show them that we are building eleven secondary schools. In the North-Western Province alone, we are building eight secondary schools. Allow me to mention those secondary schools, by name, so that I prove what I am saying to them is true.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, on page 33 of the 2014 Infrastructure Annual Work Plan, there is Kaoma Secondary School, Mayukwayukwa Secondary School, Lukulu Boarding Secondary School, Nakanyaa Secondary School and Nangweshi Secondary School in Shang’ombo. We also have a secondary school in …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Let us have order!

Mr Mwila: … Sikongo. We have secondary schools in Kalabo, Mulobezi, Mitete, Senanga and Mongu. That brings the total to eleven secondary schools. Colleagues, the Zambian people are listening and realise that you are just misleading the public. We, in the PF, are telling the truth.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about the North-Western Province. They should find time to read some of these documents.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, we have a secondary school in Solwezi and yet the hon. Member of Parliament for the area was telling us that we are not doing anything there. He must know that we are a serious Government and we want to come back in 2016 at all costs.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, it is not the hon. Member of Parliament who will judge us, but the Zambian people. The people have seen that we are serious with development and that is the reason we got the Zambezi West Parliamentary seat which was held by the United Party for National Development (UPND). We won that seat for the first time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, it is because the Zambian people are not interested in politicking, but are rather interested in the development of the country. So, let us tell the truth and, as Members of Parliament, it is only when we take development to our people that we will come back to this House. Those who are misleading the masses will lose their seats in 2016. This is my eighth year in Parliament and, so, I have got the experience. If you think that you will just be standing on the platform, politicking and thinking that you will be voted for, without taking development to the people who put you in those offices, I can assure you that you will not come back to this House. So, let us co-operate with the PF Government, which is serious with development.

Mr Speaker, our colleagues in the Opposition have been complaining. I used to sit where Hon. Chitafu is and I would complain about the shortage of accommodation at the University of Zambia (UNZA). The Government has now provided money for UNZA, the Copperbelt University (CBU) as well as Mulungushi University to construct new hostels. So, what else do people want? You should not just talk anyhow. When you talk, you must challenge us genuinely with facts.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about the roads. The Government has, in the 2015 Budget, provided K9.8 billion to go towards roads. One hon. Member was saying that this project will stall at some point. That is not true because this project has phases. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) had Formula I roads, which were constructed in a hurry just so that it could get votes from people. However, people realised what the MMD was doing and that it just wanted votes. For us in the PF, our programmes such as the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project are well-planned.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, there is Phase I, II and III of this project. Some of us who are good Members of Parliament were in Phase I.

Laughter

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, we engaged the Government on the Kawambwa/Mushota Road, the Mansa/Luwingu Road and we rehabilitated the Chembe/Mansa Road as well as the Mansa/Kashikishi Road. So, who can tell me that the Opposition will get Lupaula Province?

Hon. Government Members: No one.

Mr Mwila: Sir, I can tell you that no one other than the PF can claim Luapula Province. It will be a no-go area.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Let us have order!

Mr Mwila: Sir, when I was the Deputy Minister of Defence, I visited most of these provinces.

Mr Belemu: Why did you resign?

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, I passed through the Sesheke/Senanga Road. Hon. Limata will agree with me when I say that we have done a commendable job on that road. Just look at what we did to the Mongu/Kalabo Road. The MMD began the works, but we modified them and are doing a commendable job.

Mr L. J. Ngoma: On a point of order, Sir.

Hon. Government Members interjected.

Mr Speaker: I will not allow any points of order.

Hon. Government Members: Iwe, sit down. Hammer, hammer!

Mr Speaker: Let us have some silence.

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, there is also the Chama/Matumbo Road, Isoka/Muyombe Road, Chipata/Vubwi Road and the Chiawa Road. On Saturday, I was in Chongwe and saw how the whole of that district has been transformed. It is beautiful.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, Chongwe now has two universities, but the Opposition is saying the universities are only in Muchinga Province. The two universities that I am talking about are in Lusaka Province. So, how many universities do we have now? When we talk, let us be factual. I can tell you that in terms of infrastructure, no one will beat us in the PF. The MMD was not listening and only concentrated on building schools in areas where they were popular or constituencies which were held by Members of the Ruling Party. However, we challenged them and reasoned with them on the importance of sharing national resources equally. We engaged the Government and that is the more reason why we came back. So, colleagues on the left, this House that you are seeing here, somewhere where Mr Speaker sits, there is a cake, which all of us have to share.

Laughter

Mr Mwila: It is there. Somewhere there (pointing at Mr Speaker’s Chair).

Mr Speaker: Anyway, I can confirm that it is not here.

Laughter

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, we have to share that cake equally. I can tell you that if you want your constituency to benefit from this Government, you should ask questions and after that, visit the Government officials in their offices. Do not be shy. The hon. Member of Parliament for Lukulu West has been talking about a road that needs to be worked on in his constituency. I would like to urge him to engage the hon. Minister. We, in the PF, are in a hurry to develop the whole country. So, take advantage of that. I want to tell my colleagues across that we will continue retaining power even in 2016 and 2021. 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, I can tell them that no one will stop us.

Mr Speaker, the advice I would like to give our colleagues is that before we get their seats, they should work with us because we will be grabbing their seats one by one. How many seats have we grabbed from the MMD so far?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, even as we are politicking, let us develop our country together. Let us support President Sata, who has a vision for this country.

With those few words, Mr Speaker …

Interruptions 

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, they want me to continue.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, are you through?

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, what I am saying is that let us support this Budget because it is well intended. As I was saying on roads, we will have to continue where we will end this year up to next year and the years beyond. So, we mean well in this regard.

Mr Speaker, as for education, the hon. Minister of Finance has provided K9.4 billion next year. As hon. Members of Parliament, let us ensure that our constituencies get a share of this allocation. This is just free advice that I am giving.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you very much.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

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 this House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_____________ 

The House adjourned at 1912 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 22nd October, 2014.