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Debates - Friday, 29th April, 2016
Friday, 29th April, 2016
The House met at 0900 hours
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
NATIONAL ANTHEM
PRAYER
____
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the business it will consider next week.
Sir, on Tuesday, 3rd May, 2016, the Business of the House will commence with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then debate the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Provision of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in Maternal Health.
Thereafter, the House will consider the Second Reading Stage of the following Bills:
(i) The Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2016; and
(ii) The Immigration and Deportation (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
On Wednesday, 4th May, 2016, the Business of the House will begin with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. After that, the House will debate the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee of Economic Affairs, Energy and Labour on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Management of Occupational Health and Safety.
The House will then consider the Second Reading Stage of the following Bills:
(i) The Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, and Expressions of Folklore Bill, 2016;
(ii) The Supreme Court of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, 2016; and
(iii) The Ministers (Prescribed Number and Responsibilities) Bill, 2016.
Sir, on Thursday, 5th May, 2016, the Business of the House will start with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by the presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then debate the Motion to adopt the Report the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Accounts of Parastatal Bodies and Other Statutory Institutions for the Financial Year Ended 31st December, 2014. Thereafter, the House will consider the Second Reading Stage of the State Audit Commission Bill, 2016.
Mr Speaker, on Friday, 6th May, 2016, the Business of the House will commence with Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. This will be followed by Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. After that, the House will deal with Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then debate the Motion to adopt the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Accounts of the Republic for the Financial Year Ended 31st December, 2014.
After that, the House will consider the Second Reading Stage of the following Bills:
(i) The Police-Public Complaints Commission Bill, 2016; and
(ii) The Industrial Designs Bill, 2016.
The House will then deal with any business that may be outstanding.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
___
HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME
Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, I would just like to show my appreciation for the long- awaited bridge across the Zambezi River.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: For me, it is a dream come true. I dreamt about this when I was young ...
Ms Kapata: Ooh!
Ms Imenda: …and still reading geography.
Sir, at one point, the longest bridge in the world was on the Yang Tse Kiang River, which is the same length as the Zambezi River.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Give her space.
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning if this Government would consider taking a pontoon to the Libonda Crossing Point, which separates Luena and Liuwa, because it is still very far for the people of the area who want to go to Kalabo. They have to go back all the way to Mongu then cross over to Kalabo.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, indeed, the road from Mongu to Kalabo is a dream come true.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: This is an initiative that was started in 2002 or there about. Some contractors were given that assignment, but did not work on it. In 2011, a new team of contractors was given the job and now, the Mongu/Kalabo Road is one of the best roads I have seen in Zambia.
Sir, the Government is giving an assurance in the House today that the pontoon will be put at Libonda.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Apart from that, the Government intends to construct 100 bridges across some of our water bodies. Libonda will benefit from this development in terms of infrastructure such as bridges. The lack of pontoons causes a hindrance to the transportation of goods and services. We are thinking of building bridges on some of the major rivers. This is the way to go for this country.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Musonda (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, it is with a very heavy heart that I ask Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning to comment on what I am going to talk about.
Sir, the country was gratified to hear that church leaders met with political party presidents and cordially resolved to maintain peace in this country before, during and after the elections.
Mr Chisopa: Hear, hear!
Mr Musonda: Sir, in yesterday’s edition of The Post, one senior citizen, ...
Ms Kapata: Dead man.
Mr Musonda: ... the hon. Member for Lusaka Central, Dr Guy Scott ...
Ms Kapata: Dead man!
Dr Scott indicated dissent.
Mr Musonda: ... was quoted as saying that they would cause havoc in this country.
Ms Kapata: Nkamwuipaya.
Mr Musonda: I would like Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning to comment on that newspaper article.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the rules of the House prohibit us from debating ourselves.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: However, if the words that were published in The Post are true, then it is very unfortunate because we all take the views of our leaders very seriously.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, when the Patriotic Front (PF) was campaigning ahead of the 2011 elections, they promised more money in people’s pockets and more jobs. However, the longer the PF has stayed in power, the more people have lost jobs and money in their pockets. There is a rise in ritual killings and crime in our communities. Just last night, criminals in my neighbourhood attacked two of my neighbours. What would you attribute this rise in crime in our communities to? As the sitting Government, what are you proposing to do to curb this rise in crime because the citizens are living in fear?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the Government has created quite a lot of jobs. Look around the country and you will notice the construction of buildings, houses, roads and dams. Surely, there are people working everywhere. Apart from that, …
Mr Kambwili: Schools, nurses and teachers.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... we have created twenty-three districts which have engaged civil servants as well as ordinary workers. This means that there is a creation of jobs. I am surprised that the hon. Member for Choma Central can say that the PF has not created any jobs.
Mr Speaker, secondly, the rise in crime should not be attributed to the PF. The rise in crime has happened even before. What we need to question are the type of crimes such as ritual killings, because they are very un-Zambian. We are all very surprised that they are taking place. As I speak, the security wings of the Government are on the ground and the situation is under control. Police are patrolling the streets. I am sure that the criminals will realise that the law is at work and that some of them will be arrested and taken to court.
I thank you, Sir
Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, whilst the dreams of my sister from Luena have come true, my dreams for Ikeleng’i in the North-Western Province seem farfetched.
Sir, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DDMU) falls under the Office of the Vice-President. There are schools like Chinyashi and Nyakaseya which were hit by heavy rains and had their roofs blown off and walls broken about five years ago. Bridges like Kanongesha Miramba were also washed away five years ago. We have been talking about all these issues, but nothing has been done. Buildings that were at foundation level have remained at the same stage.
Mr Speaker, I was happy to hear that Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning would take quick action when she was responding to a question which was asked by the hon. Member for Lumezi. When is the DMMU going to address the plight of people of Ikeleng’i and also to clear the confusion between line ministries and Her Honour the Vice-President’s Office as to who should attend to emergencies?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, there is no confusion between the line ministries and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) because we all know the responsibilities for each sector. As for the blown off roofs, I think this matter has been discussed in the House before. The Government will address those matters once funds are made available. It is not only in Ikeleng’i where roofs of classrooms have been blown off. Wherever this has happened, the DMMU has worked on such buildings when resources have been made available. There cannot be any misunderstanding or confusion between the DMMU and the line ministries. Since we all know our responsibilities, we will take the necessary action when resources are available.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mumba (Mambilima): Mr Speaker, recently, some townships in Lusaka experienced riots. According to certain media houses, the occurrences were attributed to xenophobic attacks. I would like Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning to confirm to this House, through you, Mr Speaker, whether these were really xenophobic attacks and what the Government is doing to avoid their recurrence in future.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, condemned the attacks because they were an expression of behaviour which is not Zambian. The attacks are not an expression of the Zambian hospitality and friendliness. The hon. Minister of Home Affairs delivered a ministerial statement on the same matter. The insinuations that the attacks were xenophobic in nature are not true. The attacks were led by criminals who wanted to use this opportunity to ransack the shops of whatever they wanted. The allegation that Zambians are not friendly to foreigners or refugees is unfounded. We know very well that Zambia has been a host to many foreigners including refugees. Since Independence, this has been the way Zambians have handled foreigners, a move which has been applauded all over the world. The rumours about xenophobia are being spread by Zambians themselves. This is irresponsible on the part of those who use their social media and newspapers to publish negative stories against their country. This should not be allowed to happen. This country has known peace for fifty years. We should continue as a country on that path.
Mr Speaker, Zambia is not new to refugees. We have received people from around Africa for many years. We should not be in a situation where we begin to think that what happened a few weeks ago is because Zambians do not want to accept foreigners in their country.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Lufuma (Kabombo West): Mr Speaker, at the core of any country that calls itself democratic are elections. Elections enable the majority of the people to determine who should be in the leadership of the country. The elections, therefore, can make or break a nation. Zambia, so far, has enjoyed peace and stability on account of free and fair elections. I wonder why this Government wants to break this trend of peace and stability in this country by insisting that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should print the ballot papers in Dubai, …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Lufuma: … which is against the wishes of the majority of the Zambians and other stakeholders.
Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the printing company in Dubai is suspected of wanting to rig the elections even before the electoral process starts.
Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Lufuma: Sir, this company has offered to print the ballot papers at a higher cost when compared to an experienced South African company which has printed ballot papers before, which is even 50 per cent cheaper. The printing company in Dubai is charging US$3 million and the one in South Africa is charging US$1.5 million. Why is this Government insisting on printing the ballot papers in Dubai? Do they really want to rig these elections and bring havoc in Zambia? I would like to urge the Government to seriously reconsider this very wrong course which Zambia wants to take.
Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has not chosen any company yet to print the ballot papers for the elections. I did not realise that we have representatives or agents of South African companies in Parliament.
The Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the ECZ is an independent institution. It is one of the institutions in this region that is highly respected by a lot of people. It is only Zambians who always want to undermine what is theirs. This is what I am getting from this discussion of the ECZ which has not started now. It has been on-going. I am wondering whether some companies have made inroads into influencing or hiring agents in Parliament to champion their cause.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Hon. UPND Members indicated.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Speaker: Take your seats.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, …
Mr Speaker: Your Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning, please, take your seat.
Mr Kambwili: You are being indisciplined, imwe.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Can the House keep quiet. Let us have some order.
During my ruling on the subject at hand, I urged the House to practice calmness in the manner in which it approached it because it is a very emotive subject. That is the reason I was against the matter being dealt with on the Floor of the House. I think that I have now been vindicated. Despite that, I have not stopped Hon. Lufuma from posing a question on the subject. As we progress, both on the left and on the side of Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning, let us avoid casting aspersions and insinuations.
Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!
Mr Speaker: Order!
I have not finished. This question can be dealt with objectively.
I am sure that the House recalls that I did announce in my ruling the institutional and legal frameworks through which the matter can be pursued. Let us, therefore, confine our debate and discussions to those institutional and legal frameworks. Remember, I am addressing both sides. The moment insinuations and aspersions are made by both sides, we run into the kind of situation we are in now. This is a straightforward process because it has avenues through which it can be addressed.
I do not want to answer the question because this is not my show. The show is between the questioner and respondent. Therefore, in a nutshell, let us avoid insinuations and aspersions because being human beings, we are usually emotionally charged when discussing such matters. There can be mayhem over this same issue here, which is a wrong forum, anyway, if the debate is not handled well.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development and Planning: Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for your guidance.
Sir, if the company that tendered to print the ballot papers is aggrieved, there are legal procedures that need to be pursued by it.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, when there is misinformation, people become agitated.
Sir, up to now, the people who participated in Phase III of the voter registration exercise have not been paid by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), which depends on public resources from the Treasury. Now that there is some controversy which has surrounded the picking of an expensive company to print the ballot papers when the people who conducted the voter registration exercise have not been paid their dues, ...
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Namulambe: … what is the position of the Electoral Commission of Zambia which falls under the portfolio of Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning over the matter? What is the way forward? Is the ECZ still going to go ahead to print the ballot papers using the expensive company when the people who participated in the Phase III of the voter registration exercise have not yet been paid their dues?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, I indicated that the selection process for the company which is going to print the ballot papers has not been concluded. I do not see the connection between the non-payment of fees for the enumerators …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development and Planning: … and the company that is supposed to print ballot papers.
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, sometimes, we should put politics aside and be objective as we look at issues that affect our country. Let us be patriotic when discussing issues to do with the governance of the country. We must ensure that the company which is chosen to print the ballot papers is transparent and will do a good job. We need to rest our case regarding which company will print ballot papers. If we do not do that, it will be an endless story.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, last year, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning launched the Enhanced Rural Road Work Programme in Nalolo Parliamentary Constituency in the Western Province. From the time the programme was launched, we have not seen anything good for us in the rural part of the Western Province. When will the intended enhancement of rural road works in Nalolo, Kalabo and other parts of the country begin? When are we going to see the works taking place?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development and Planning: Mr Speaker, sometimes, I request the hon. Members to visit their provincial administration offices because they can get a lot of information from there. There are four teams of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) mechanical services’ officers in each province. They are working on roads that have been prioritised by area hon. Members of Parliament as well as the provincial administration. Therefore, if the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalabo Central does not work with his provincial administration in Mongu, then, I do not know when he will receive information as to when roads will be worked on in Kalabo.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development and Planning: Sir, the teams have already started work in some parts of the Western Province, Nalolo, inclusive. I understand that in the next few days, the team is moving to Mongu. I have been in constant communication with the teams on the ground and the provincial administration. I would, therefore, like to advise the hon. Member of Parliament to do the same.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, it seems that some dreams will not come true. When will the Barotseland Agreement …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mutelo: … which was entered into between the then President of Zambia and the King of Barotseland which was witnessed by the British colonial governors going to be honoured?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, it is good that some of the witnesses to that treaty are still alive. If the hon. Member watched television yesterday and the day before, he would have realised that the President of the Republic of Zambia said that the Barotseland agreement is not a dead issue. The President said that it is an issue that requires discussion among the stakeholders. The Litunga has also agreed to that proposition. I think we will see some progress in that area. So, politicians should not use the Barotseland Agreement as a trump card to win elections because I do not think that will work.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kazabu (Nkana): Mr Speaker, does the Government have any plans to revert the power of appointing Permanent Secretaries to the Public Service Commission (PSC) as a way of depoliticising the Civil Service and motivating civil servants to aspire for such positions?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, we all need to read the Constitution in more detail …
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: … because some of the provisions may escape us if we just gloss over some of the clauses. The Constitution gives power to the Head of State to appoint Permanent Secretaries. This is not unique to Zambia. It also happens in other countries.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) party promised the people of Zambia that it would honour the Barotseland Agreement. Did it mislead them?
Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the promise which was made needs to be discussed …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: … and interrogated.
Hon. Government Members: Yes!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, there are discussions which took place involving the Northern Rhodesian Government and Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) which were witnessed by some British people. Similarly, discussions will take place between the BRE and the Zambian Government. It is only after the discussions that people should judge whether we have failed to deliver what we promised.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
__________
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
ROAD SIGNAGE BETWEEN CHONGWE AND LUANGWA BRIDGE
417. Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa) asked the Minister of Works and Supply:
(a) why there were inadequate road signs on the Great East Road between Chongwe District Headquarters and Luangwa Bridge; and
(b) when adequate road signs would be constructed.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, there are no adequate signs on the stretch of the Great East Road between Chongwe District and Luangwa Bridge due to vandalism coupled with inadequate maintenance.
Sir, there are plans to put up road signs on this stretch in the second quarter of 2016 through the routine maintenance contracts on the same stretch.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the absence of road signs is one of the causes of the many traffic accidents that occur between Chongwe and the Luangwa Bridge?
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, we are aware that the lack of road signs could be one of the causes of the accidents. Five contractors have been engaged to carry out routine maintenance works on the stretch. One of the contractors has already started putting up the signs. We expect the other four to also commence their works within this quarter.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, the Great East Road is one of the most important roads in Zambia.
Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, my point of order is on the Leader of Government Business in the House and by extension, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Before I raise my point of order, I would like to quote the preamble of the Constitution of Zambia, Act No. 2 of 2016 which states that:
“We, the people of Zambia acknowledge the supremacy of God Almighty; …….
confirm the equal worth of women and men and their right to freely participate in, determine and build a sustainable political, legal, economic and social order.”
Sir, the Constitution further provides for the rights of an individual which include the freedom of conscience, association and assembly.
Mr Speaker, a week ago, I raised a point of order about the divisive statements made by the Minister of Energy and Water Development, Hon. Dora Siliya, when she was addressing a campaign rally. You rightly guided me that you would not want to be dragged into what goes on outside this Chamber.
Sir, yesterday, President Lungu was in the Western Province or Barotseland …
Hon. Members of Western Province: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: … and is quoted in the Times of Zambia Newspaper dated 29th April, 2016 as having said something which is in tune with what Hon. Siliya said that borders on dividing this country on tribal lines. The newspaper article which is on Page 1 reads:
“Mr Lungu said he had evidence that when the first United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Anderson Mazoka died, people rejected a Lozi person to take over power from him, saying the party belonged to Tongas.”
Sir, it should be recorded that the person who said these words is a member of the Patriotic Front (PFF) today. The article further reads:
“He said even when President Michael Sata died, some members in the PF wanted a Bemba person to take over, but they were met with rejection as the majority of the members said that the PF was a national party and not for a certain tribe.
Mr Lungu said such members have since left the party to join their fellow tribalists.
I can tell you that Tonga tribalism is bad, Bemba tribalism is bad and Ngoni tribalism is bad, said Mr Lungu.”
Mr Speaker, while campaigning in Malambo for the hon. Member of Parliament who is seated in this Parliament, President Lungu was quoted as having said wako ni wako, which is the highest order of tribalism.
Hon. Opposition Members: Wako ni wako!
Mr Speaker: What does that mean? I have lost you up to that point.
Hon. Opposition Members: Wako ni wako!
Mr Nkombo: Sir, when campaigning in Malambo Constituency for Hon. Shuma, President Edgar Lungu is quoted as having told the people of Malambo to vote for the Patriotic Front candidate because he hailed from there. He used the phrase wako ni wako, which means that what is yours is yours, which to me is a translation …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, just wait, please. Take a seat.
Hon. Members, please, there is no need to help him. He rose on his own as the hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central period. This is not a collective point of order.
You may continue, hon. Member for Mazabuka Central.
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, may I just repeat what I said.
Mr Speaker: I have got you, you can continue.
Mr Nkombo: Alright.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: I have followed you very clearly.
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the President of the Republic of Zambia and his hon. Ministers are dividing this country by continuously making outdated draconian statements, yet Zambia is a unitary indivisible sovereign State. What is happening if pursued could even lead to the impeachment of a president.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Is the Government in order to continue on this path of dividing the country by insinuating that certain people when they pursue the highest office in the land must be labelled as tribal?
I seek your ruling.
Mr Speaker: Well, I am glad, indeed, that you recalled my ruling. You have factored my ruling into your preface. I am very pleased about that.
Therefore, I want to reiterate what I said last time and hope that I will not be doing this every week. So, listen carefully.
In my ruling, I said that, I have no constitutional mandate to supervise electioneering. The Constitution has not assigned me with that responsibility. It has assigned it to other bodies, and amongst them, and principally, is the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). There is even an electoral code of conduct in place. You, yourselves, have even sought the aid of a third party, the Church, to assist you moderate the electioneering. I do not even know the content of your declaration. All I know is that the Church is eager to help you so that we transit the next 120 days or so in a very peaceful manner. I cannot regulate these matters.
I have said that the only mandate I have vis-à-vis the Constitution, including the preamble, which you have ably quoted, is in so far as it relates to the functions and Business of the House, and by extension, any other subordinate legislation that impinges on the operations of the House. There, I do have primary mandate. I also pointed out in my ruling that you have a Constitutional Court, which you can run to, if you feel that certain provisions of the Constitution have been violated. This House has decreed that that mandate to handle such matters will rest with the Constitutional Court.
Please, do not bring controversial statements which are made outside this House here because this is a wrong forum altogether. There is the ECZ, Constitutional Court and members of the clergy to offer spiritual guidance.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: I hope that this is the last time I am talking about this. In my next response, I will be very curt in my ruling. Let me stress that the Speaker has no jurisdiction on electioneering.
May the hon. Member of Parliament for Chadiza continue, please.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the Great East Road takes us to the Eastern Province. This road is just as important as any other road in Zambia. It is common knowledge that the metal road signs which are being used are being vandalised by unscrupulous vendors who use them to make hoes and axes, especially on the Great North Road. Do the contractors have any intentions to use concrete road signs other than metal ones which are being vandalised every now and then?
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chadiza is right. Vandalism is a source of the problem that we are facing with regard to road signs. In the meantime, we will continue using metallic materials as we look into permanent solutions that would prevent the further vandalism of the road signs.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has told us that there are routine maintenance works on that road and that the Government will act on the concerns that the hon. Member for Rufunsa Parliamentary Constituency has raised. Therefore, I seek your indulgence to take full advantage of this opportunity to find out why despite its promise, the Government has not worked on roads such as the Kafue/Mazabuka Road, which is in such a deplorable state. The state of the road is becoming extremely bad by the day thus putting the travelling public at risk. That is a major economic road for this country. Why does the Government expect us to sit here and take seriously the assurances that it gives us when it does not act upon them? The Government came to this House and told us that it was going to work on the Kafue Road, but has not done so. Now that the Government is only remaining with two weeks of being in office, why can it not just admit that it has failed?
Mr Speaker: There is a problem with that question.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: There is a problem with that question which is obvious. That issue that the hon. Member has raised has nothing to do with the question before us. I have noted that he has constantly raised this issue. I wonder why he has not just simplified the question and pursued this matter. That way, he will have an authoritative response instead of sneaking it into another question, which is totally unrelated. We do not conduct our business that way.
Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, there are several humps on the Great East Road which have no reflectors. It is very dangerous to drive on that road because of the absence of things like reflectors on humps. Is the hon. Deputy Minister saying the failure to mark the humps with reflectors is also due to vandalism?
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, the first part of the question is correct. The absence of reflectors on the humps is not due to vandalism. In the answer that I gave earlier, I gave two reasons for the inadequate road signs on the road. I said it was because of vandalism and the lack of routine maintenance. So, to answer Hon. Mufalali’s question, let me say that the road is in that state due to a lack of routine maintenance.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, inadequate road signs along the Great East Road can be attributed to thieves who want to see accidents on the road so they can rob people.
Laughter
Mr Hamusonde: Sir, the hon. Deputy Minister may not be aware of what has been happening. Is there anything, ...
Mr Namulambe: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, I apologise to my elder brother on the Floor for disturbing his debate. However, I need your guidance and serious ruling on this matter.
Sir, I am aware that in the last session of the National Assembly, we passed Acts No 1 and 2, with the latter being the amended Constitution of Zambia. In the Constitution of Zambia, which we are using now, there are two positions of people to serve as ministers. These are ministers and provincial ministers. What this means is that the hon. Deputy Ministers and Provincial Ministers who were appointed before the enactment of the amended Constitution are surviving by way of Act No. 1 of 2016. All the hon. Ministers who are currently serving were appointed before the amended Constitution, except for Lusaka Province Minister, who was appointed after the new Constitution was put in place.
Mr Speaker, is Hon. Mulenga Sata in order to sit where he is sitting without being sworn in as Provincial Minister? Before he was promoted as Lusaka Province Minister, he was Deputy Minister at State House. Is he in order to sit amongst the Provincial Ministers who are in transition?
I need your serious ruling, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Well, you have raised a number of issues, and I am not too sure about the direction you want to take this matter. I am not too sure whether you are raising a question of legality or you are simply raising an administrative issue, assuming you are agreeing with the appointing authority. However, as I have pointed out previously, not only in the context of the amended Constitution, but also prior to it, I avoid converting myself into a court of law because I am not one. So, if your point is to seek constitutional interpretation on the legality or otherwise, of this post-amendment appointment, the right forum is the Constitutional Court. However, if you agree that the appointing authority has acted in accordance with the Constitution and you merely want to know the date of the swearing in, then you can ask a question and I will forward it to Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning who will advise us on that date. That is my ruling.
Let me indicate at this juncture, that we are moving painfully slow. We are barely on the second page and almost half way through our session this morning, yet there are three Bills which I am aiming to have assented to, probably this weekend. So, as you may guess, there will be no further points of order.
Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, before the point of order was raised, I was saying that the road signs are being removed by thieves who are trying to deliberately cause accidents so that they can steal from the victims. Sometimes, the thieves pour diesel on the roads which become slippery to the point that motorists get involved in accidents. Are there any measures that can be put in place to prevent the road signs from being removed?
The Minister of Works and Supply and Chief Whip (Mr Mukanga): Sir, the vandalism of road signs has been a great concern for us. We are trying to come up with measures that will be long lasting and effective in addressing this problem. We are looking at how we can slightly change the designs for the stop and slow down signs so that those who would want to vandalise them will not have any use for them. So, we are looking at the aspect of providing a permanent solution.
I thank you, Sir.
INSTALLATION OF COMMUNICATION TOWERS IN KABOMPO
418. Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West) asked the Minister of Transport and Communication when additional communication towers would be constructed in Kabompo District.
The Minister of Transport and Communication (Mr Simbao): Mr Speaker, the construction of additional communication towers across the country will be done under Phase II of the construction of communication towers project. The towers in Kabompo West will be constructed as soon as the procurement process is finalised and the Ministry of Finance secures funds for implementing the project.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Simbao left his microphone on.
Mr Speaker: Please, turn off the microphone, hon. Minister.
Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, I am thankful for the hon. Minister’s short and precise answer. I am aware that Phase II comprises the construction of 469 communication towers countrywide. However, my concern is on Kabompo West Constituency, which has only been allocated one tower out of the 469 towers under Phase II. Kabompo District does not have enough communication towers. What are the reasons for allocating the district only one tower out of the 469 to be constructed countrywide?
Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, once the 469 towers have been commissioned, network coverage will be 92 per cent of the entire country. The remaining 8 per cent will be in those very hard to reach areas that are not habited such as water bodies and some very arid areas.
Sir, at one time, we brought the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) to Parliament and requested all hon. Members of Parliament to go and confer with it concerning network coverage in their areas. The authority came here with maps showing the level of coverage in each constituency, as well as what the new level of coverage once the new towers are installed will be. I believe that Hon. Lufuma went to check on the coverage of his constituency. That being the case, and if what he is saying is correct, it should have been determined that only one tower was necessary to reach the full coverage of that constituency.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, I remember accompanying Hon. Lufuma to confer with the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) officials. I do not know if it is because we went together, but his constituency and mine have not been attended to by ZICTA concerning this matter. What could be the problem?
Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I took a lot of interest concern the network coverage in Dundumwezi because the hon. Member personally approached me. If I remember well, Dundumwezi has been allocated six communication towers under Phase II and I believe that this will completely take care of the entire constituency. So, I really do not understand what the hon. Member is now talking about. If the information I discussed with him is still not enough …
Mr Sing’ombe interjected.
Mr Speaker: Order!
You cannot respond that way.
Mr Simbao: I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Dundumwezi, you know what to do. If you are not satisfied with the response, you have got colleagues there that can make a follow up. You do not ask questions whilst you are seated. It is unprocedural, whether you are right or wrong.
Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, I remember the time when officers from the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) came here. Since that time, however, nothing has happened. Hon. Members of Parliament are being condemned for not doing enough to improve the network coverage in our constituencies. Can the hon. Minister tell us exactly what is going on, hmm.
Mr Speaker: I am lost with the latter part of your question, whatever that is.
Laughter
Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, in my main response, I said that the procurement process is ongoing and is yet to be finalised. According to the new Constitution, the procurement process involves bringing the project for approval here. When the Ministry of Finance is ready, it will bring that project here for approval. So, nothing much can happen until this House approves that project. I hope and pray that at the time that the project will be brought here for approval, the House will unanimously support it.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, the erecting of communication towers used to be undertaken the network service providers, which are MTN Zambia Limited, Airtel Zambia Limited and Zambia Telecommunication Limited (ZAMTEL). In his answer, the hon. Minister has said that Phase II of the construction of communication towers project will be implemented when the Ministry of Finance is ready. Has the responsibility of erecting towers now shifted to the Government? If so, what has happened to the old arrangement?
Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, as far as network service providers are concerned, they have covered their areas of interest where they believe they can make money. What we intend to do is the President’s own initiative because he wants to reach the unserved and underserved areas of this country. These are areas where the mobile network service providers are not willing to invest so much money because they believe that they will not make much profit. However, they can put there their network components to provide the coverage once we erect the towers.
Mr Speaker, knowing that there are so many people residing in rural areas, His Excellency the President has decided to take up this project. He knows that fifty years from now, the future will be different. By then, the areas which look unprofitable will become very profitable and the President wants to take that step now for the future.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, I also remember going to check on the programme that the hon. Minister has referred to. It is a very progressive programme indeed. However, I would like to say that it is not only rural areas that need attention because even my constituency, Nchanga, needs about two towers.
Sir, the hon. Minister said that we have to wait for the hon. Minister of Finance to bring the matter before the House for approval. In light of the fact that our life is coming to an end in, maybe, another two weeks, I would like to find out from him whether there is another alternative that can be used to ensure that this very important and progressive programme is pushed forward.
Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would probably have to ask our Communication Department to see what the problem is in the area that Hon. Simuusa has talked about since it is in an urban part. However, if it is in rural Nchanga, then what I said about other rural areas will apply. If it is urban Nchanga, then there is probably a problem that we can attend to even now.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
_______
MOTIONS
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNANCE, HOUSING AND CHIEF’S AFFAIRS
Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chief’s Affairs for the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on 20th April, 2016.
Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?
Mr Lingweshi (Mangango): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, your Committee, in performing its duties was guided by its terms of reference as set out in the Standing Orders.
Mr Speaker, during the year under review, your Committee undertook a study of the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Further, it considered the Action Taken Report on your Committee’s Report for the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. It also undertook a one day tour of the Fire Training College in Kabwe to carryout an on-the-spot-check of the facilities at the training school.
Sir, the CDF was introduced in 1995 and is disbursed through the local government system to all constituencies in Zambia. It is intended to support the implementation of development programmes at constituency level. It is the only fund that goes directly to the community and, as a result, is an important vehicle for achieving the community’s prioritised needs. Communities are, to a reasonable extent, involved in the utilisation of the fund.
Sir, your Committee observes that the CDF has contributed greatly to the development of constituencies in the country. Unfortunately, the fund has been plagued with a lot of shortcomings. The CDF projects have had to undergo variations in order to meet the limited resources available. Further, due to the late release of funds, most projects fail to be completed in one year. This has resulted in audit queries being raised.
Mr Speaker, your Committee further observes that from the time the fund was established in 1995, the Government has not carried out any study to evaluate the management of the CDF. However, it is notable that some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have carried out a lot of research on the implementation of the CDF. This has made it possible for them to objectively measure the successes and failures of the fund using the results of the studies.
Sir, your Committee, therefore, recommends that a thorough review of the administration of the CDF be undertaken. In this vein, your Committee recommends that the Government should work closely with NGOs in order to carry out a large-scale study to evaluate the CDF. The Government should also work with NGOs in order to continuously monitor and evaluate the management of the CDF.
Mr Speaker, your Committee observed with concern that the 2015 CDF has not been released. This is due to the various financial challenges that the country is currently facing. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government should ensure that efforts are put in place for the immediate release of the 2015 CDF. Your Committee further strongly calls for the timely release of the 2016 CDF.
Mr Speaker, your Committee further recommends that appropriate legislation with effective enforcement mechanism should be enacted to govern the administration and management of the CDF instead of mere guidelines. Provisions should also be made in legislation for the regular auditing of the CDF by the Office of the Auditor-General.
Sir, your Committee observes that community stakeholders feel left out as they are not involved in the management of the CDF. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the management of CDF should be carried out in a consultative, inclusive and participatory manner involving all the key stakeholders. In this vein, the number of community dialogue meetings relating to the CDF projects should be increased in order to allow community members to interface with local officials and project implementers. It would also enhance community participation in determining which projects would best respond to their needs.
Sir, related to the above, your Committee recommends that the Government should take measures to increase awareness among communities on the CDF through, among other things, the translation of CDF information into local languages.
Mr Speaker, your Committee is concerned that the quantity of finances provided under the CDF is the same for all the constituencies in the country, with no distinction between the rural and urban constituencies or population density. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the quantity of finances allocated to each constituency under the CDF should take into account the characteristics and unique circumstances of individual constituencies such as the physical size of the constituency as well as the population density. In other words, the CDF should not be based on a one size fits all approach.
Mr Speaker, it came to light, during your Committee’s study, that there is a lot of controversy regarding the role of the hon. Members of Parliament and councillors in the management of the CDF. Your Committee further noted that the role of the hon. Member of Parliament has been greatly misunderstood and abused in some cases due to a lack of information among most community members. Your Committee notes that the CDF is meant for the development of a constituency and is of the view that since an hon. Member of Parliament is a very important stakeholder in the constituency, he or she cannot be left out in the administration of the CDF. In this vein, your Committee recommends that the role of an hon. Member of Parliament be clearly spelt out and explained to both community members and employees of the councils.
Mr Speaker, your Committee observed that in some cases, expenditure and procurement rules have been ignored by those charged with implementation of the CDF projects. The CDF has been abused and in some cases, the funds have been misappropriated. Therefore, your Committee recommends that the Government expenditure and procurement rules and regulations be strictly adhered to and any person who violates these regulations be dealt with in accordance with the applicable laws. Your Committee further recommends that all the stakeholders in the management of the CDF should be actively involved in the procurement process. This will enhance transparency and accountability in both expenditure and procurement processes under the CDF.
Mr Speaker, your Committee also noted, with great concern, that most councils do not have title deeds to their properties. This is despite the councils presenting all the required documents to the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Some of the cases have been appearing in the hon. Minister’s report on the audited accounts of councils for the last seven years. This is unacceptable. Your Committee implores the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection to take a keen interest in these cases and expedite the issuance of the title deeds.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me take this opportunity to thank all the stakeholders for their co-operation during your Committee’s deliberations. Your Committee would also like to thank the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the advice rendered during its work. Finally, your Committee wishes to express its gratitude to you, Mr Speaker, for the guidance given to it during the session.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?
Mr Lingweshi: Now, Sir.
Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion on the Floor of this House, let me begin by congratulating the mover for the able manner in which he has presented the Motion. I wish to supplement his speech by highlighting one salient issue as contained in your Committee’s report.
Mr Speaker, in following up on the issue of the firefighting services in Zambia, your Committee was informed in that the Action-Taken Report that the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) has approved the Level VI Curriculum Chart for Diploma in Fire Safety Operations and Administration. Upon receiving this information, your Committee decided to undertake a one day tour of the National Fire Training College in Kabwe in order to carry out an on-the-spot check on the training facilities at the college.
Mr Speaker, your Committee’s tour revealed that the infrastructure at the college is old and inadequate. The classroom is very small and three students have to share one desk. The students’ sleeping quarters are dilapidated and inadequate. The land that has been allocated for the building of an ultra-modern fire training college is still bare and is being encroached upon by private individuals.
Mr Speaker, well-trained and equipped firemen and women are of great value to our nation. They are able to save lives and prevent the destruction of properties. Investment in their training should, therefore, not be underrated.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me thank you for the guidance rendered to the Committee during its programme of work. I also thank the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for providing secretarial services. Special thanks go to the Chairperson and his team for a job well done.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I beg to second the Motion.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs Masebo (Chongwe): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to debate. First of all, I just want to commend the Committee for this important and timely report, considering that we are coming to the end of our term.
Mr Speaker, I want to add my voice on the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I will be making references to what has happened in the last decade in terms of how CDF monies have been utilised, generally.
Mr Speaker, in supporting this Vote on the CDF and its management, let me say that I recall that the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing came to this House to talk about the new rules which his ministry would like to use to manage the CDF.
Mr Speaker, we need to refocus on the concept of the CDF in terms of its management, especially with the new Decentralisation Policy that is being implemented by the Government that is proposing the District Development Fund (DDF). I am hoping that whichever Government will come after August 11, 2016 will look at changing the CDF to DDF.
Sir, some years ago when Mr Ng’andu Magande was Minister of Finance, there was a proposal on the Floor of this House to change the CDF to DDF. Unfortunately, it is did not pass. The House rejected it mainly because many hon. Members of Parliament, at the time, felt that the CDF was the only form of resource which could be effectively utilised. Also, it was felt that because of the fund, the public gave some element of appreciation of what the Government was doing.
Mr Speaker, I want to believe that over the years, this view has changed because a number of developments, which are being implemented by the various levels of Governments, are being seen in almost all the districts. These levels of Government include the Central, provincial and local structures. I, therefore, want to suggest to the Government and the people that we need to upgrade the CDF to the DDF so that we reduce on the duplication of projects and monitoring in order for the little resources that go to the districts to be effectively utilised. Although there has been some good output in the way the CDF has been managed or utilised, I believe that we can actually do better if this fund was converted into a DDF.
Mr Speaker, if each district got a lump sum and all the projects in a particular constituency were ably articulated in the plan and budget of the district, we would see less wastage of development funds in the districts. Taking into account the fact that we have in place a policy which is well-articulated, and that there is work to be done in order to implement it, we should start moving away from the business of littering around resources under different processes, which take so long. As a result, we find ourselves quarreling over small issues and creating problems for ourselves as leaders.
Mr Speaker, you will recall that the last time I talked about my constituency I said that in the last three years of this administration, I have had a lot of problems with regards to the disbursement of the CDF. In one year, no money was sent. In November last year, money was sent but, as I speak, this money is just sitting in the account. Five months ago, we were told to create a new committee and send an application to the ministry. To date there is no response and there is no committee in place. A decision was made that 80 per cent of that money should go towards drilling boreholes, but nothing is moving.
Mr Speaker, clearly, you can see that sometimes the CDF is just simply politicised …
Mr Muchima: Hear, hear!
Mrs Masebo: …or used for political reasons. This does not help the country because at the end of the day, in trying to ‘fix’ a particular Member of Parliament, the community is the one that suffers.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I had started by saying that the Government should in future consider managing the CDF in the context of the Decentralisation Policy which is being implemented so that the resources can be effectively utilised. This will help us to avoid the duplication of projects and mismanagement.
Mr Speaker, over the years, and especially in the last three or four years, we have seen that the disbursement of the CDF has been very poor, to say the least. I was giving an example of what has transpired in Chongwe District. I was making the point that in the case of Chongwe, the allocations for some specific years have not been released. This happened in 2014 when the CDF for the year was not released. The resources were only released in April, 2015. For 2016, nothing has come and now we are about to close. You can see that there seems to be a problem for the first time.
Sir, if you recall, since the inception of the CDF, this is one fund which successive governments ensured were released in full. Even during difficult economic times, the CDF amounts were always released in full for all the 150 constituencies. Unfortunately, the CDF is now being heavily politicised. It seems that only some constituencies receive the CDF whilst others do not.
Mr Speaker, the second challenge that we have witnessed over the years are the late releases. Previous governments used to ensure that the CDF money was released during a quarter when you had enough time to implement projects in an effective manner. However, of late, we have seen very late releases, sometimes as late as November and December. That has, in itself, created problems with regard the implementation of the programmes.
Sir, I have been an architect of the Decentralisation Policy and the CDF regulations. Thus, I understand them very well. The implementation of the new regulations for the CDF has not taken place on time. For example, the CDF committee in my area was dissolved last year in June. Tomorrow will be the beginning of May which means it has taken almost a year just to approve a committee. It has been deliberately done this way so that even the decisions we make on the usage of the CDF are not implemented. The excuse that we get from our officers is that the committee has not been adopted, but you can tell that it is all deliberate. It is a political gimmick meant to make me to look unpopular to the people.
Mr Speaker, however, at the end of the day the people who suffer are on the ground and not the hon. Member. When we explain the actual situation to the people, they appreciate that it is not the fault of the hon. Members, but of those whose mandate it is to manage the CDF.
Mr Speaker, with my experience in community work and also in Government, I think that the CDF remains an important source for development. The Government that will come into power will do itself a favour if this component is depoliticised. We can gain a lot from the CDF, especially after the Decentralisation Policy is fully implemented.
Sir, I am happy that Chongwe is one of the pilot districts which is implementing the Decentralisation Policy, although at a very slow pace. There are, however, already positive signs in as far as capacity building of human resource is concerned. Further, the district councils are now able to rely on the capacity of other sector ministries to implement certain projects. Further, there will even be a reduction in the duplication of the implementation of projects because all the major players who are a part of the implementation can sit together, including councillors, elected Members of Parliament and all the directors of various sector departments.
Mr Speaker, some of us, who have been a part of this process, can see that there are some positive gains from the implementation of the Decentralisation Policy. I urge the Government to roll out this programme to more districts because the benefits of giving more power, resources and skills to the local level can already been seen by some of us. With utilisation and management of the CDF, in time, you will be able to see a reduction in problems because the Government is opening itself up at the lowest level. The issue of decentralisation will no longer just be a talking point. We have talked about it in the past, but had difficulties when it cames to implementation as people wanted to keep money and power at the centre. However, this issue is now in the Constitution. It is no longer some regulatory booklet which has been signed by an hon. Minister and can change depending on which side the hon. Minister is.
Sir, I think the Government should roll out the programme of decentralisation. It must also look at the issue of budgeting as it relates to the CDF itself so that it is streamlined. The CDF will not be effective if it is governed by different regulations.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: I am mindful that this is a subject that is very close to the hearts of the people’s representatives, but we must have a way of winding it down, anyway. I will have the hon. Member for Luena and then I will have one representative from the United Party for National Development (UPND), if any, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and at that juncture I will close.
Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, like you have stated, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is an issue that is close to the hearts of hon. Members of Parliament. The way it has been managed in certain cases leaves much to be desired. I would like, at the outset, to rebut the suggestion that the CDF should be given as a District Development Fund.
Sir, at the outset, I want to go through the reasons I am saying so. If you allocate this money to the districts, it means that the civil servants in the districts will be the ones in control of this fund. This will prevent the Members of Parliament from deciding which developmental projects in the constituency must be prioritised. The hon. Members of Parliament must be in charge of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) because they are the ones who know what the constituents need. Nothing much will be done if we leave this fund at district level. The head of a district is the District Commissioner (DC). If we convert this money to a district development fund, the political scenario will come to play whereby the Members of Parliament will have nothing to say on how the fund will be utilised. They will be at the mercy of the DC who is a political appointee and may want to appease the Ruling Party. There should be no politics in as far as the administration of the CDF is concerned. It should only focus on the development of the constituencies.
Mr Speaker, let us go back and find out why this fund was established. Let us not try to somersault because I would really not want this fund to be directed to the districts. The use of the fund must not be divorced from what the constituents want through their hon. Members of Parliament. The hon. Members of Parliament go round the communities to find out what the people want. The Members of Parliament must have control over this fund in order to direct development to areas that the communities really feel are a priority. If this fund will be turned into a district development fund, it will be difficult for our places to be developed. Today, when responding to one of the questions, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning said, “It means you did not visit your Provincial Administration and that is why certain activities have not been done.”
Mr Speaker, we have been visiting the Provincial Administration, but still nothing is done. For me to develop my constituency from the provincial fund, it will be through the discretion of Permanent Secretary (PS). I have been visiting this office over the issue of roads in Luena. Five years down the line, nothing has happened. I was assured that there was money to construct roads in Limulunga since it is a new district but, to date, nothing has happened. The end of a five-year-term is coming to an end, but no road has been constructed. In Limulunga Royal Village, even township roads are not there. Even where the council offices are, there are no roads. You cannot even use a taxi to go to the nearest health centre because there are no roads. The place is just full of sand. Therefore, I would really not want to go that route.
Mr Speaker, I would like to propose that there should be a paradigm shift with regard to the CDF. Let it be the centre for development. There should be a new concept for developing our constituencies. Instead of the Central Government deciding where it will construct a school, be it in Mpika or elsewhere, it would be better for us to allocate this fund to constituencies. In fact, I suggest that the CDF should be the centre for development. If K6 million was given to every constituency, in a year, for example, Luena Constituency would buy a grader. That way, the roads in Luena would be constructed. We would even buy the water drilling rigs and the issue of water blues in Luena would be sorted out. After the four years, we would have really made significant progress in that area.
Mr Speaker, we would even buy canal clearing equipment. Thus, a lot of canals would be cleared. Currently, even if you go to the Provincial Administration, they will not even look at you. They will even go and give the Her Honour Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning wrong information that some hon. Members do not visit their offices, yet we do. I have been visiting the Zambia National Service (ZNS) officers who have been giving me excuses over just a small road. They say they will have to get a letter from the PS before they can work on the road. The Provincial Deputy Minister will even say, “You always attack Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning in the House through your questions.” Who said when I ask questions, I am attacking Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning? This is the only way we communicate with our Government on the Floor of the House. So, when I ask a question, I should not be viewed as an attacker of the Government. I am just a representative of the people.
Mr Speaker, what happens is that at the Provincial Office, the money that is not utilised at the end of the year is sent back to the Central Government. If the Central Government feels that it needs the money for something else, it can recall it. With those very few words, I believe that we need a paradigm shift or a development concept that will increase the CDF.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to say a few words on the report that has been presented. To start with, I want to congratulate the Committee on a very well done report. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is very important in the development process of Zambia. This is the only fund that goes down to the grassroots. This is the only fund through which we are assured year after year that each and every constituency of the country is going to get something. It is a very important fund because it deals with minute issues, which at provincial and national levels may be considered to be mundane or not important. For me, I feel that the CDF is very important. I also want to echo the sentiments expressed in the Committee’s report regretting the fact that for 2015, the CDF has not been released to all the constituencies in the country including Liuwa. The Government has always been saying that the CDF for 2015 has not been released because of financial pressures. I doubt that. In fact, I want to counter that and say that the most important reason is the lack of political commitment, which is the genuine reason the CDF has not been released. Why do I say this?
Sir, let me just give an example. In the last five years, this country has had external debt of about US$6 billion. Roughly, that is what we have borrowed. If we were to save and direct this money down to the grassroots or, maybe, divide it among all constituencies, it would have meant that Liuwa would have received US$40 million, Mazabuka Central, US$40 million …
Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!
Dr Musokotwane: …Chipangali would have received UD$40 million. In short, each constituency would have received US$40 million. Can you imagine the amount of work that we would have done to address the needs of our people such as building primary schools, teachers’ houses, clinics and mending the feeder roads. I am sure …
Mr Monde interjected.
Dr Musokotwane: Sir, this hon. Minister is disturbing me.
Hon. UPND Member: Hon. Shamenda!
Dr Musokotwane: No, it is not Hon. Shamenda, but his neighbour.
Mr Speaker, I am sure if there had been the commitment with regard to taking money to the grassroots, this country would have been changed in a very profound way. In fact, if we add up all the CDFs that have been disbursed from 2012, 2013 and 2014 and convert them into United States of America Dollar (US$), we would see that each constituency has only received US$360,000. The question is: When the country is getting indebted in very big ways, what are we delivering to the people of Zambia in every remote corner? It is evident that we are putting debt on their shoulders, yet in terms of the benefits, the people are getting very little.
Sir, in supporting your Committee’s report, I suggest that perhaps, the next administration should make a commitment that no matter what happens, the CDF must always be disbursed.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, even though we are saying that there is no money to allocate as the CDF, we know that the Government has borrowed US$500 million to construct a new airport in Ndola while the existing airport is still there.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Dr Musokotwane: Sir, that shows a serious lack of commitment to the plight of the people at the grassroots. For the good of our people, I feel that the next administration should ensure that the CDF is disbursed at all times. I know that all of us here, including our colleagues who are hon. Ministers, have issues in our constituencies because there are schools which are made out of pole and mud. There are some constituencies where clinics are needed. People sent us here so that we can find ways of addressing their challenges. Therefore, if we really mean well to the people who sent us to this House, it is important to ensure that no matter what happens, the little amount of money that is supposed to go to the constituency is disbursed without fail. Anything else can wait.
Mr Speaker, as I am about to finish, let me move on to the next point, which is wastage. Yes, I agree that wastage is there in the administration of the CDF. Sometimes, the reports blame the politicians for the wastage. Indeed, in certain cases, I am sure some hon. Members have been at the centre of wasting the CDF resources.
Sir, we should, at least, clearly state that civil servants or council officers, who are in charge of administering this fund, abuse it, especially in Liuwa, because hon. Members as councilors, do not administer this money. It is the council staff who administer the CDF. In fact, in my view, based on experience, the council officials have been the culprits in terms of wasting the CDF.
Mr Speaker, I have stood on the Floor of the House before and talked about a school called Mulinga, where we disbursed the CDF twice. The first installment was released in 2012 and the second one in 2014. On both occasions, it is our council officers who recommended the contractor known to be the Patriotic Front (PF) cadre to carry out the works, but we told them that the particular person has never constructed not even a toilet in his life.
Hon. UPND Members: Where!
Dr Musokotwane: I can reveal the name of the contractor …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Continue addressing me.
Dr Musokotwane: Sir, this was done in spite of being warned that the particular person they were awarding a contract had no capacity as he had never even constructed a toilet in his life. Unfortunately, the council officials went ahead and gave the money to that contractor. Of course, the result was obvious.
Mr Speaker, by the way, we have been pressuring the council staff to have the contractor who I am talking about arrested. We even went to see the District Commissioner (DC), who is also another PF party cadre.
Laughter
Dr Musokotwane: Sir, we are always saying that we should not waste the Government’s resources. Nothing has happened about the example which I have given. Two years down the line, the contractors are still walking freely, I presume with the support of the Government. It is true that there is wastage of the CDF and that there could be some politicians who are involved the wrongdoing. What is more important is to make sure that the systems that are being administered by our civil servants are watertight. Let us not hesitate where there is wrongdoing to take action. We should not just take action because the person involved is a former Member of Parliament who belonged to the Opposition.
Sir, we must focus on all the misdeeds. If we do not do that, we shall be saying that the CDF does not work, yet in reality and from the experience that I have seen as Back-bencher, the fund usually addresses needs of the people.
Sir, now let me give my final point which is advice to whichever administration is going to come into power. Please, do not behave the way your colleagues in the PF have behaved.
Mr Musukwa: They are the ones who are going to come back.
Dr Musokotwane: Yes, even if you will come back, all I am saying is that …
Mr Speaker: Order!
You were debating so well, but you now want to begin debating your colleagues. Wind up your debate.
Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, with regard to either the 2013 or 2014 CDF, we heard rumours in this House that our colleagues on your right had been given while we, on the other side, did not receive anything. One hon. Opposition Member stood on a point of order and you rightly ordered that data be produced in this House to show which constituencies had been funded. When the data came, it confirmed the rumour that was circulating that all the hon. PF Members had received their CDF.
Mr Ng’onga: Question!
Dr Musokotwane: Sir, on the Opposition side, only about one or two constituencies had received the CDF. This is something that we heard on the Floor of this House. Honestly, it is not right to behave like this as a country when it comes to public resources. We all pay taxes, but when it comes to giving that same money for development, it is only given to those who belong to the PF and not to those in the Opposition. What kind of governance is this?
Mr Mweetwa: Very bad.
Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, this is very bad governance. In the unlikely event that our colleagues come back, I hope they will walk away from those bad manners …
Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!
Dr Musokotwane: … so that money for development becomes available to all the citizens of the country.
Mr Speaker, with those few words, I thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the debate.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mweetwa indicated.
Mr Speaker: Hon. Nkombo, I can see the hon. Member behind you has risen.
Mr Nkombo: Sir, let us proceed.
Mr Speaker: With your hon. Member.
Mr Nkombo: No, our hon. Member’s debate has been overtaken.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Choma Central to avoid confusion, liaise with your Party Whip because he is liaising with my office. I do not want to be seen to be stifling debate.
The Minister of General Education (Dr Phiri) (on behalf of the Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Kampyongo)): Mr Speaker, let me register my appreciation for the well-balanced Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs which has ably been moved by its Chairperson, Hon. Mbewe, and seconded by Hon. Lingweshi. This report is on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the state of the fire and rescue services industry in the country. Let me also thank Hon. Masebo, …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Dr Phiri:… Hon. Imenda and Hon. Dr Musokotwane for their contributions.
Mr Speaker, on the CDF, the Government wants to register its stance on this issue with a more comprehensive statement. The report by your Committee has been keenly studied and, as I said, merits a more detailed response because this is a very important issue for both the hon. Members of Parliament and the Government. So, let me say that the report will be fully responded to in a ministerial statement. I think next week will be appropriate for the response. The ministerial statement will be delivered on the Floor of the House because of the pivotal role that the CDF plays in the lives of our people and also in light of the unfolding circumstances in the governance of our people.
Sir, on the status of the fire and rescue services industry, let me state that the Government is working on a National Fire Policy. Before the end of the year, this policy should see the light of day. We are also working on the acquisition of forty-two fire engines which will be distributed countrywide. Furthermore, the construction of the National Fire Training School is on the cards as land has already been allocated as indicated in the report. We have asked the municipality of Kabwe to ensure that this land that has been allocated is not encroached upon.
Mr Speaker, the Government attaches great importance to the issues which have been raised in the report. There is sufficient political will from this Government with regard to addressing the issues which have been raised in the report. With this assurance, hon. Members should give the Government an opportunity to fulfil its mandate. Our mandate has been made very clear over the past four years. Thus, we will endeavour to meet the aspirations of our people in these two key areas of their lives.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I want to thank all those who have debated our report. I also want to thank the hon. Minister for assuring the Committee that the Government will work on what it has highlighted in the report. At the same time, I want to thank him for stating that he will bring a ministerial statement to this House in order to clear the air on the CDF.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Question put and agreed to.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, ENERGY AND LABOUR
Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Energy and Labour for the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 21st April, 2016.
Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?
Mr Simuusa (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Nkombo: Sir, in keeping with its terms of reference as set out in the Standing Orders, your Committee undertook a study of the high poverty levels in Zambia in the face of what is deemed as sustainable growth.
Sir, since I assume that the hon. Members have had an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the contents of the Committee’s report, I will, therefore, only highlight a few salient issues therefrom.
Mr Speaker, as you are aware, despite Zambia’s economy growing at an average of 6 per cent in the last decade, poverty levels have remained very high with most current official results pegging it at over 60 per cent of the population. This is what prompted your Committee to undertake this study. Specifically, your Committee wished to know why poverty levels have remained high in the country in the face of impressive economic growth.
Sir, your Committee learnt during the study that some of the factors behind the growth of the Zambian economy included the economic reforms of the 1990s, favourable commodity prices, the creation of a conducive business environment and last, but not the least, the increase in the foreign direct investment.
Mr Speaker, various stakeholders also gave your Committee their views on why poverty has persisted in our country. Four main reasons were advanced. These are, among others, the failure to maximise benefits from the mining sector; low productivity of agriculture sector; high and persistent inequalities; and failure to create decent jobs. The views of the stakeholders in this regard are contained in your report.
Sir, your Committee considered the contribution of the mining sector to poverty reduction. Your Committee, while appreciating the fact that mining is a wasting asset, is of the view that compared to other sectors, mining still holds the highest potential to make a significant dent on high poverty levels in Zambia. Zambia has the largest known reserve of copper on the African Continent. Thus, copper mining has continued to dominate the Zambian economy accounting for more than 70 per cent of the export earnings. Your Committee also observes that despite the shocks associated with the mining sector, Zambia has remained amongst the world’s top producers of copper.
Sir, one of the questions that your Committee vigorously interrogated with the stakeholders was the question of why Zambia has not taken full advantage of this sector to reduce poverty amongst its citizens. Your Committee found out that one of the key factors has been the failure of successive governments to come up with a robust tax regime to enable the collection of sufficient resources from the sector which can be utilised to make a meaningful contribution to poverty reduction. For instance, your Committee learnt that until 2004, mine workers’ income tax in the form of Pay As You Earn (PAYE), was the only significant contribution to the National Treasury received from the mining sector. It was only from 2005 onwards that Corporate Tax in the mining sector had a reasonable contribution to the Treasury, currently standing at over 25 per cent of total earnings by the Treasury. On account of this state of affairs, the contribution of the sector to poverty reduction still remains negligible.
Sir, your Committee also found some specific factors undermining the contribution of the mining sector to poverty reduction in our country. Firstly, the country lacks the capacity and skills to effectively negotiate mining agreements with mining companies. Your Committee agrees with the stakeholders that the Government has serious capacity challenges in respect of effectively negotiating with international mining companies. This could partly be attributed to a lack of specialised skills, particularly in the area of fiscal modelling. The country also lacks the capacity to effectively administer the taxes in the mining sector, which has resulted in serious challenges in effectively administering the complex tax regimes that are associated with the sector.
Mr Speaker, given that Zambia has been a mining country for a long time and is likely to remain so in the years to come, this state of affairs is highly unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue. In this regard, your Committee strongly urges the Government to take deliberate measures to steadily build the country’s capacity and skills to negotiate effectively with international mining companies and administer tax in order for the mining sector to contribute to poverty reduction in a manner proportionate to its significant position in the economy.
Sir, your Committee is concerned that the mining sector regulations and tax in this country have been characterised by continuous policy reforms and reversals back and forth. The Committee is in full agreement with the stakeholders that this has been counterproductive as mining being a long-term investment requires a stable environment, predictable on consistent policies and tax regimes for it to prosper. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to take a leaf from countries such as Chile which has maintained consistency in its regulatory taxation resumes in order to ensure stability in the mining sector.
Thirdly, Mr Speaker, Zambia has, over the years, concentrated on the exportation of raw copper instead of embarking on value addition which leads to the emergence of various processing industries thereby creating jobs for local beneficiation. As a result, the country has missed a great opportunity not only to reduce poverty through job creation, but also to realise additional revenue through increased corporate and individual income taxes. This state of affairs has been allowed to continue for far too long. It is high time it was addressed so that we start value adding to our natural endowments and create jobs for our people. The Government should, therefore, take practical steps to consequently encourage value addition in the sector in order to promote the emergence of copper processing industries and creation of sustainable quality jobs in the sector, and enhance Government revenues.
Mr Speaker, let me now turn to the role of the agriculture sector in poverty reduction. It is a well-known fact that agriculture holds great potential to contribution to the reduction of poverty in our country because 70 per cent of our population is engaged in this sector for its livelihood. Your Committee expresses deep concern that despite this, the contribution of agriculture to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has remained small. For example, in 2014, agriculture, forestry and fisheries only accounted for 11 per cent of the GDP.
Sir, your Committee made various observations and recommendations, but I will only touch on two of them. Sir, firstly, your Committee observes a very large proportion of the budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector goes to subsidies in the form of the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) and grants to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). Your Committee is concerned that this has resulted in other important functions of the sector being neglected to the detriment of overall performance of the entire sector. These include extension services, research, irrigation, livestock production and disease control. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to urgently review its budget priorities in the agro-sector with a view to reducing the focus on the two programmes and give due attention to other equally important programmes. Your Committee observes that though the livestock sector holds significant potential to poverty reduction, the gains from this sector have continued to be eroded due to the devastating impact of livestock diseases in some parts of our country.
Mr Speaker, your Committee is concerned that animal diseases have continued to jeopardise the livestock asset of farmers thereby limiting their market access opportunities and constraining opportunities for income generation. This situation should not be allowed to persist. Therefore, your Committee strongly urges the Government to invest in building the technical, scientific and operational capacities of the national disease control systems in order to contain diseases in our country.
Sir, as you are aware, successive governments have implemented various programmes aimed at reducing poverty in our country. Your Committee considered the performance of selected poverty reduction programmes, including the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Youth Development Fund (YDF) and the Citizenship Economic Empowerment Fund (CEEF). Your Committee’s observations and recommendations on the performance of these programmes are in the report. However, let me just touch on two of those.
Mr Speaker, aside from FISP, the CDF can be said to be the most popular poverty reduction programme in our country. As hon. Members are aware, the ultimate goal is to speed up development in our communities by financing the much-needed infrastructure such as roads, markets, schools and clinics.
Sir, your Committee notes that this is a noble objective, but is concerned that the criteria for the allocation of the funds is uniform and does not take into account the uniqueness and circumstances of each constituency such as different levels of poverty. Your Committee is further concerned that the release of the funds continues to be irregular, and in most cases late. In this particular case, the funds are not received at all. Your Committee is of the view that this has undermined the potential impact of the fund in more needy areas. It is also of the view that time has come for the Government to come up with an allocation formula that will be reflective of the poverty levels in each given constituency. Your Committee also recommends that the disbursement of the funds be made in a predictable manner in order for the communities to draw maximum benefits from the said fund.
Sir, let me also address the issue of the Economic Empowerment Programmes under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. Your Committee observes that the Government through the CEEF and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has put in place important programmes and interventions such as the Value Chain Development Programme, rural industrialisation and the construction of industrial infrastructure in the form of the multi-facility economic zones (MFEC).
Sir, your Committee is of the view that these interventions, if well implemented, could go a long way in creating employment and help reduce poverty levels in our country. Your Committee is, however, concerned that the goals of these programmes may not be attained due to inadequate funding allocated to them. This is an issue that addresses the Budget performance, which has been below par in the last four years. For example, the funds that have been allocated from the Budget and to the CEEC have rarely been released in full. A case in point was in 2014 when an amount of K57 million was approved in the Budget and only K5 million was released. Similarly, in 2015, K82 million was approved, but only K10 million was released. This is extremely poor in terms of Budget performance.
Sir, your Committee, therefore, strongly recommends and urges the Government to ensure that poverty reduction programmes under the CEEC are adequately funded in order to enable the commission to fully implement its programmes.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I want to thank the Office of the Clerk for the guidance that it rendered to the Committee during the session. Let me also thank the stakeholders who came to make submissions to your Committee. Their interventions were very well received and educative. Lastly, but not the least, let me also show gratitude to the members of the Committee for their professionalism and dedication to work. I also want to thank you for permitting the Committee to interrogate this subject.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Mr Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?
Mr Simuusa: Now, Sir.
Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion, let me thank the mover, Hon. Nkombo, for the able manner in which he has highlighted the issues that were deliberated upon by your Committee.
Sir, let me start by stating that poverty is a multi-dimensional issue and that it is, therefore, not possible to cover all issues in one report. Your Committee’s intention was, therefore, to stimulate debate on issues of poverty reduction in order for the country to continue refining its strategies for addressing high poverty.
Mr Speaker, the mover of the Motion has reminded the House about what we need to do in order for the mining sector to contribute meaningfully to poverty reduction in this country. Let me just comment on the role of small scale mining in poverty reduction.
Sir, the sub-sector, if managed effectively, has the potential to provide livelihood opportunities to a large number of people and help reduce poverty. Unfortunately, small-scale mining in Zambia has largely been neglected by the Government resulting in its low contribution to poverty reduction. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to implement measures to support small-scale mining in Zambia and enhance its contribution to poverty reduction.
Mr Speaker, another issue is the failure by the mining sector to create decent jobs. This has been largely because after the privatisation of the mining sector in the early 2000, Zambia has seen a rise in the phenomenon of contract workers in the mine. This has eroded the quality of the jobs available to workers. Further, as the conditions of service are generally poor or poorer in sub-contracted mining firms than those of the main mining company, the use of contractors in the sector has become a conduit for the exploitation of workers which should not be allowed to continue.
Sir, your Committee, therefore, strongly urges the Government to take urgent measures to ensure that the sub-contracting of works in the mining sector is not used as a conduit for the exploitation of workers.
Mr Speaker, on the agriculture sector, I will touch on two issues that caught the attention of your Committee. The first one is the poor state of the extension services in Zambia and its effect on productivity. Your Committee expresses concern that extension services, despite being one of the key factors in enhancing productivity in the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors has performed poorly. Your Committee notes that due to poor funding, most extension officers are not adequately capacitated to perform their duties. As a result, new technologies, knowledge and good practices have not been availed to the farmers for them to improve their productivity. Your Committee, therefore, strongly urges the Government to urgently revamp and promote extension and research services in the country by increasing funding to these functions.
Mr Speaker, lastly, let me talk about the limited access to land by most small-scale farmers. Your Committee observes that although land is a key factor of production in the agriculture sector, the majority of small-scale farmers, especially women, still lack access to land which impacts negatively on their productive capacity. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to put in place policy measures aimed at helping small-scale farmers, especially women, to access land for their farming activities.
Mr Speaker, in concluding, I urge the House to support your Committee’s report.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, from the outset, I want to show my appreciation to your Committee for such a thorough report on a very important topic. I, therefore, thank the mover, seconder and hon. Members of the Committee for bringing to us something that we should discuss because it is very fundamental to our wellbeing.
Mr Speaker, the main topic of your Committee’s report has been inclusive economic growth. I will discuss this issue before I go into other details of the report. One of the key revelations of your Committee’s report has been the growing inequalities among Zambians. I think most literature now, such as the recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), indicates that one of the main dangers arising in our country are the growing inequalities, especially after 1991. This country has swung from one extreme to another.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order on the right!
Mr Hamududu: Sir, what we have lacked as a country is the right balance. To demonstrate that, let me go back a little bit. Before 1991, the focus was more on human development which focused on lifting the people out of poverty. However, this was done through sacrificing economic growth. Now, economic growth and human development are two different things. Economic growth is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end. Economic growth must eventually translate into an improvement in the wellbeing of citizens. Before 1991, the growth of the economy was sacrificed in order to improve the welfare of people. Now, a healthy society needs both economic growth and human development. By 1991, the Zambian economy was actually collapsing and was unable to improve the wellbeing of the people.
Sir, post 1991, the emphasis swung to economic growth and we left out human development. The economy began to grow, but the people became poorer. Economic growth must be linked to the active participation of the people. What your Committee is saying is that inclusiveness means that our economy must be people-centred. Post 1991, our economic model was basically to grow the economy and we ended up with very nice figures. I think by 2011, we saw a very healthy economy on paper. We had a very enviable economic growth rate of above 5 per cent, which was above the regional average. A lot of microeconomic fundamentals were actually right. If you read from a book about the country’s economic status, you would think Zambia was really a better country to live in. If you visited the communities, however, you would see very poor people, in contrast to the micro economic indicators. This was because the post 1991 policies were pursuing growth at the expense of human development. How does economic growth really improve the welfare of the people? The people of that particular country, such as ours, must be the drivers of that growth. If the growth is driven by the people, then it translates into an improvement in the welfare of those people. That is the missing link in our economy. The other issues discussed in the report, such as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and so on and so forth, are peripheral.
Sir, the real issue is our economic model. I can give an example of Botswana, which has got the right model. Botswana has never swung to political or economic extremes, such as a one party state. The Government of Botswana has run parastatals right from its Independence to-date. The diamond industry, for example, is State controlled. The Government runs the industry together with the De Beers Group. Therefore, the people, through their Government, have been involved from inception to date. I think we can all see how diamonds have transformed Botswana from being the poorest country in the region.
Mr Speaker, the State must play a particular role in order to balance things in the economy. In 1991, the Government left all business activities to the private sector and completely left the market. A market also has its own failures. One of the failures of the market is that it does not uplift the living standards of the poor. The Gross domestic product (GDP) may be increased, inflation reduced and currency strengthened, but the people will remain poor.
Sir, modern literature and experience show that the state must play a strategic and developmental role. We must have what is called a developmental state. A government cannot remain silent when there is market failure. So, the state must be strategic, as the example of the Asian Tigers has shown. In the 1960s, we were on par with the Asian Tigers in terms of economic development. However, their governments played a strategic and developmental role to improve the economies of these countries. Botswana also did the same. How can a country that is so dry and with bad weather be more developed than us? We have better mineral resources in terms of gemstones and copper than Botswana. We also have better livestock potential. However, the Government of Botswana has played a better strategic role than ours.
Sir, the agriculture sector was also talked about by the Chairperson of your Committee, who is also my cousin.
Laughter
Mr Hamududu: Mr Speaker, with regard to the beef industry, I think we all remember the Lomé Convention, which led to the Cotonou Agreement. Our former colonisers opened up their countries in terms of preferential market access. Botswana, because of the Government playing a strategic role, benefited more in terms of beef exports. Our country never really exported any beef into that preferential quota access market in the European Union (EU). We only exported sugar. So, we never linked our economy to that advantage because the State was not seriously involved to enable its citizens to access those markets. A country cannot grow without accessing good foreign markets.
Sir, what has happened post 1991 is the growth of the informal sector. The informal sector today accounts for the biggest chunk of our economy. That is backwardness because the informal sector is not linked to the global economy. It is not linked to global financing and technology. As a result, our people are becoming poorer because they are in the black market. We actually need to graduate and not formalise the informal sector.
Mr Speaker, I was invited to attend a workshop on how to tax the informal sector. I told the organisers that they had called me for a wrong workshop because what I wanted to know was how to graduate the informal sector. By and large, our economy is not linked to the global market, except for the neighbouring markets in the region. Even so, we are now hearing of smuggling and disorderly trade between our neighbours and ourselves. The Government, therefore, has a responsibility, through various ministries, to modernise the economy.
Mr Speaker, I met one hon. Member of Parliament from Botswana at a meeting you sent me to and he said something very profound. He said that today, we need leaders that are democratic and technical. Leaders must be democratic because they must tap into the wisdom of the majority. This is because no one knows it all. They need to be technical because they must focus on what works. This has been the biggest problem in driving the inclusive economic growth which your Committee discussed. Inclusive economic growth must be pro-poor people and based on harnessing natural resources. There is a lack of technical input in most of our activities. In the Southern Province, where I come from, for example, we are complaining of low agricultural productivity. Our maize is generally expensive, save for now due to the weakness of the kwacha. This is why we must let the kwacha rest where it is supposed to. Look at how the current rate of the kwacha made our maize so attractive to buy. If, for example, the rate of kwacha today came down to K5 to a dollar, our maize would become expensive and no one would want it unless we are the only producer around. It means that the exchange rate answers a lot of issues.
Mr Speaker, the countries that are export oriented, like South Korea and Japan have some of the weakest currencies. In our country, we believe that a strong currency is good for imports which at the end of the day never even grows an economy. Therefore, going into the future, post 11th August, 2016, let the currency rest where it must. It has corrective mechanisms. If, for example, the kwacha remains at K11 to a dollar, your crops, maize and beef become so attractive because they are cheaper. The Congolese are still buying our maize at the same dollar rate because our currency has weakened a bit. However, in terms of the kwacha terms, the seller would still be a big guy.
Sir, a weak currency promotes production. Once there is more production, you oversupply and the currency also begins to come down. These are self-correcting mechanisms. Unfortunately, Africa has a problem of thinking that stronger currencies transform economies. Read on the economies of South Korea and Japan. They are export-oriented. So, our economy needs to go through a surgery. To do that, we need to modernise our sectors.
Mr Speaker, the biggest problem that we have in our democracy is that there is no tolerance or absorption of varying ideas. Fifty years after Independence, we have become popular for throwing stones. When you become nationalistic, like me, you become unpopular. So, fifty years after Independence, people just want to be throwing stones. Let the competition be about ideas. This is what is lacking.
Mr Speaker, to date, we are unclear as a country on what we want to be. The Mwanawasa regime tried to craft the Vision 2030. A country cannot develop without an agreed national vision. What we must compete about is how we can best enhance that vision. A vision is collective. No one is looking for an individual vision. My vision is limited because I am not a doctor or an engineer. Therefore, a country must craft a national vision. Our competition must be about the enhancement methods of the vision. The one who has the best method to enhance that agreed vision is the one who must lead and listen to others. Technical leadership means that we apply methods that are proven.
Mr Speaker, this country was industrialised pre 1991. I do not know who advised that everything be privatised and sold. People came here, bought a company and took its machinery to South Africa, literally stripping our industrial capacity and we lost our jobs.
Sir, to reduce poverty, we need to create jobs. Poor people also have something to offer. They have resources such as land and labour. If we want to lift people out of poverty, let us allow them to access the economy through what they can offer. So, job creation should be at the centre of our economic policy. It will then deal with other issues of education, health and so on and so forth. Employment creation is a nexus or a connection between growth and sustainable human development. You cannot say that we must donate to the poor people. No one can be donated out of poverty. It is not possible. The poor people have their labour. So, create employment opportunities for them. Do not only create paid employment, but businesses. When you modernise your economy to the global market standard, then jobs are created.
Mr Speaker, when you drive on Katima Mulilo Road, you will notice that our people can do anything a producer in South Africa can do. You can buy all your window frames and door frames from them. The same applies to those in Kalingalinga and on Panganani Street. When the dollar had lost value, the young people on Panganani Street were making brake shoes stronger than those from Japan. When there is local demand, people became innovative. However, if it becomes cheaper to buy your dresses from China, then that becomes a problem. Today, our rooms and auditoriums are full of imported weak materials and furniture.
Mr Hamududu hit on the table in front of him.
Mr Hamududu: Sir, this is proper furniture. I think this is Zambian. Yes. Congratulations to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
Mr Speaker, let us invest in our people. Your Committee was very clear on preferential procurement. There is something wrong with our procurement systems. Our procurement is not patriotic. When a person gets a tender, he jumps on a plane to Dubai or China to go and bring weak furniture which only lasts six months when we are blessed, comparatively, with good wood. This furniture which is built from our wood is for a lifetime. The chair on which Mr Speaker is seated has been there from Independence because it was made from local wood.
Mr Speaker, let us be patriotic. This is what we asked the Secretaries to the Cabinet and Treasury: “Why are you allowing people to buy things from outside? You are killing jobs here.” We have no problem with shopping malls here, but we want local content in there.
Mr Speaker, I have been a proponent of moving the co-operative component from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. It was a correct move to take the co-operative component to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry because, if, for example, it becomes difficult to buy from an individual entrepreneur, they can be grouped together.
Mr Speaker, we must encourage, for example, the formation of a co-operative amongst those entrepreneurs on Katima Mulilo Road, Panganani and in Kalingalinga. If you bought all the material for infrastructure projects such as schools from them, those young people’s lives would improve. You will have injected money into the lives of the poor. So, link the people to this money. What is happening here is that we are empowering other countries.
Mr Speaker, these malls that are coming up all over must be platforms for local producers. We want to see local farmers in Lusaka West, for example, coming together and making a co-operative for tomatoes, and those in Katuba for potatoes to meet the quantities and the quality. You offer them extension services and they can flood these shops. Shops like Shoprite, Spar and Pick ‘n’ Pay will use Zambian production to export into Congo. This way, you will join the global value chain.
Mr Speaker, at the moment, we are simple consumers. We are not creating jobs. The problem in our country is the economic model. We must put an economic model that works for us and then, we can lift our people out of poverty. Let us link our development in the people. Otherwise, we will have all these flamboyant macroeconomic statistics like strong currency and high gross domestic product (GDP), but the people will be poor? It does not make any sense. Let us link these two. This is the fundamental issue.
Sir, this debate must go beyond the Floor of this House. I hope that as we go to 11th August, 2016, it will be the debate. It should not be about whether you like how I look or how I talk. This must be the debate. This is why some people actually do not know where to put their vote because we are not coming out clearly on the economic model that really works and can also sustain us. As you know, success without a successor is failure. Once a model is created, it should not matter who is there or not. People must run with it. It must be entrenched in the people. It must be an agreed national agenda. Only then can this country move forward.
Sir, when I came to Parliament, I had one grey hair. Look here. I am way below fifty, but I have been stressing. I am telling you that it is hard to be a Member of Parliament for ten years and see nothing improving amongst the people that you represent. This mean you are literally consenting to the mis-governance. I am part of the problem. I drive around and I see people becoming poorer and dying from preventable diseases. It stresses me and I am a very unhappy politician.
Sir, for those who will be privileged to come back to this House, coming here does not matter. It is the country that matters. Let us be patriots. Let us do what is right for our country. Let us play our part with morality and integrity and leave a lasting legacy for our people. This is what matters for me.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
We will not go beyond this debate. I must thank the hon. Member for Senanga Central for paving the way because I am running under pressure as well. So, I will ask the hon. Minister of Finance to take the Floor.
The Minister of Finance (Mr Chikwanda): Mr Speaker, I render my thanks to you for the opportunity to make a very brief comment in the interest of time.
Mr Speaker, the Government has noted the very profound ideas and thoughts contained in the report we are discussing. I also want to commend those who have contributed to the debate. As for the last speaker, I think that my colleagues on this side of the House will join me in commending him for not only very profound, but exceedingly structured thinking. I think his ideas will form part of the nation’s development agenda, whether he will be here or not.
Mr Speaker, I want to say that the issue of poverty has been highlighted in the report. The Government is committed to not only poverty reduction, but also poverty eradication. The Government will have no moral plausibility if it cannot address itself vigorously to the issue of reducing or banishing poverty from our midst because as I have often said, poverty existing alongside affluence is a scandal. It is a slur on our collective consciences. The abolition of poverty will be done not merely by pious hopes, but also by enhancing the levels of production through enhanced and sustainable production. That is the only way we can meaningfully attack poverty.
Mr Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues who have debated the Committee’s report. I urge the House to unanimously, without reservation, adopt the report of this Committee.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, it remains for me to thank the hon. Minister for magnanimously accepting the recommendations of the report. I also thank the one and only debater, the hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa, who emphasised on economic modelling in order to address the issue at hand, namely poverty. He said that the modelling should be more people-centred and not the way it has been implemented in the past few years.
I thank you, Sir.
Question put and agreed to.
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BILLS
SECOND READING
THE HIGH COURT (Amendment) BILL, 2016
The Minister of Justice (Dr Simbyakula): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
Mr Speaker, as the House is aware, the High Court Act Chapter 27 of the Laws of Zambia provides for the powers and jurisdictions of the High Court and with respect to such issues as the officers and offices of the High Court, as well as the general administration of justice in the court.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, I just wish to acquaint the House with the genesis of divisional courts in Zambia. The first of such a divisional court was the Industrial Relations Court, which was established in 1971 as a specialised court with original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any industrial relations matter. Twenty-seven years later, in 1998, the Commercial List was established with a separate registry and Judges, as a specialised court to hear and determine commercial matters.
Mr Speaker, with the enactment of the Constitution of Zambia Act No. 2 of 2016, Article 133 has established four divisions of the High Court, namely the Industrial Relations Court, the Commercial Court, the Family Court and the Children’s Court. These will be specialised courts that will deal with specific areas of law. Needless to say, the advantage of specialised courts is that they enable Judges to specialise in specific areas of law thereby enhancing the quality of our justice delivery system.
Mr Speaker, this is a straightforward Bill and I urge the House to support it.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference as provided in the Standing Orders, your Committee was tasked to scrutinise the High Court (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 15 of 2016.
Mr Speaker, in order to acquaint itself with the ramifications of the Bill, your Committee sought both written and oral submissions from stakeholders with whom your Committee had very informative interactions.
Mr Speaker, the High Court Act Chapter 27 of the Laws of Zambia provides for the jurisdiction and business of the High Court, its officers and offices as well as the administration of justice in the court. Following the enactment of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, Article 133(2) established the Industrial Relations Court, Commercial Court and Children’s Court as divisions of the High Court.
Mr Speaker, the High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016, brings into operation the divisions of the High Court as prescribed under the Constitution. The introduction of the specialised courts of the High Court will improve the quality of judgments because Judges will specialise in specific areas of the law. This is a progressive development and it is, therefore, your Committee’s expectation that this Bill will be supported by the House as it is non-contentious.
Mr Speaker, as I end, on behalf of your Committee members, I wish to express our gratitude to you for granting us the opportunity to scrutinise the High Court (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 15 of 2016. Your Committee also wishes to thank the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the support rendered to it throughout its deliberations. It is indebted to all the witnesses who appeared before it for their co-operation in providing the necessary briefs.
I thank you, Sir.
Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank, most profusely, the House, for its unanimous support.
I thank you, Sir.
Question put and agreed to and the Bill read a second time.
Committed to a committee of the Whole House.
Committee on Tuesday, 3rd May, 2016.
_____
HOUSE IN COMMITTEE
[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the
Chair]
THE INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2016
CLAUSE 1 – (Short title and commencement Cap 323)
The Minister of Finance (Mr Chikwanda): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 1, on page 3, in line 5 by the deletion of the word “April” and the substitution therefor of the word “June”.
I thank you, Sir.
Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.
Clause 1, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 2 and 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Title agreed to.
THE MINES AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2016
CLAUSE 1 – (Short title and commencement)
Mr Chikwanda: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 1, on page 3, in line 6 by the deletion of the word “April” and substitution therefor of the word “June”.
I thank you, Sir.
Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.
Clause 1, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
CLAUSE 2 – (Amendment of Section 89)
Mr Chikwanda: Mr Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in Clause 2, on page 4, in line 6 by the insertion, immediately after the word “than”, of the words “six thousand United States Dollars.”
I thank you, Sir.
Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.
Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Title agreed to.
_____
HOUSE RESUMED
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
The following Bills were reported as having passed through Committee with amendments:
The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2016
The Mines and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Report Stages on Tuesday 3rd May, 2016.
THIRD READING
The following Bills were read the third time and passed:
The Court of Appeal Bill, 2016
The Constitutional Court Bill, 2016
The Superior Courts (Number Judges) Bill, 2016
__________
MOTION
ADJOURNMENT
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.
Question put and agreed to.
__________
The House adjourned at 1243 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 3rd May, 2016.