DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Friday 27th June, 2014

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER
_______

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House an idea of the business it will be considering next week.

On Tuesday, 1st July, 2014, the Business of the House will commence with questions to hon. Ministers, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will, then, consider a Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs Affairs.

Sir, on Wednesday, 2nd July, 2014, the Business of the House will begin with questions to hon. Ministers, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will deal with the Private Member’s Motion entitled “Save Endangered Tree Species”, to be moved by Hon. K. Chipungu, Member of Parliament for Rufunsa Parliamentary Constituency. Not a moment too late, if I may express a personal opinion.
The House will, then, consider a Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

Mr Speaker, on Thursday, 3rd July, 2014, the Business of the House will commence with questions to hon. Ministers, if there will be any. These will be followed by the presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider Motions to adopt the following Committee Reports:

(i) Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services; and
(ii) Committee on Delegated Legislation.

Sir, on Friday, 4th July, 2014, the Business of the House will begin with His Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. This will be followed by questions to hon. Ministers, if there will be any. After that, the House will deal with the presentation of Government Bills. Thereafter, the House will consider a Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.  Then, the House will deal with any business that may be outstanding.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

____________ 

HIS HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Mr Deputy Speaker: Before His Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time, there are issues of clarification outstanding from last week’s session. His Honour the Vice-President will clarify those issues and, thereafter, questions will be asked during the thirty-minute question time.

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, during the Vice-President’s Question Time of Friday, 20th June, 2014, there was a question, which has now come up as regular question on the non-payment of hired personnel in the newly-created districts in the Western Province. I will answer that during the routine His Honour the Vice-President’s Time. At the moment, I have information in response to the questions on which I said I would research. Unfortunately, I have not yet managed to get a response for the question posed by Hon. G. B. Mwamba on the local expenditure of Kasama Central. The following are the questions to which I managed to get responses:

(i) the Zambian High Commission in Ghana, which is allegedly spending US$24,000 per month, as rentals for two properties, as wasteful expenditure. This was raised by Hon. Simfukwe, Member of Parliament for Mbala Parliamentary Constituency;

(ii) to provide an explanation on the quality and completion date of the road from the Landless Corner to Mumbwa Road. This was raised by Hon. Rev. Lt-Gen. R. Shikapwasha, Member of Parliament for Keembe Parliamentary Constituency and, no doubt, a shadow minister in the Opposition; and

Laughter

Dr Scott: I just wanted to give you all your titles.

(iii) to provide details to the House on the re-awarding of the contract relating to the supply of digital migration equipment to Star Times of China, which was initially cancelled due to irregularities. This was raised by Hon. M. Lubezhi, Member of Parliament for Namwala.

Mr Speaker, research has shown that contrary to assertions that the Zambian Embassy is spending US$24,000 on two properties, I wish to inform the House that the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is, in fact, paying US$33,450 monthly rental fees for six properties for our mission in Accra. Their expenditure could be itemised as follows:

Property Expenditure (US$)

Mission Chancery 9,250
Residence for the High Commissioner 9,200 
Deputy High Commissioner’s residence 4,500
Each Home for three Diplomatic Officers 3,500

Mr Speaker, payment of rentals for our staff in Ghana is not a wasteful expenditure. However, the Government, as a long-term measure, is considering acquiring properties to cutdown on the rental expenses not only in Ghana, but also all the missions where it does not own properties.

Mr Speaker, Ghana is one of the countries, like Zambia, where rental costs have shot up in recent years and alternative solutions are attractive.

Mr Speaker, on the second question concerning the quality and completion date of the road from the Landless Corner to Mumbwa Road, the contract for the upgrading of lot one of Mumbwa to Landless Corner, which is 65km, to bituminous standard is scheduled to be completed on 28th November, 2014. The contractor is on site and is being monitored by both the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the provincial engineers to ensure that the quality of the work done is good.

Mr Speaker, the contract was initially awarded to Wade Adams, but was terminated due to poor workmanship. The contract was hence, awarded to Jizan Construction at a contract sum of slightly over K175 million to ensure good quality. The contractor has, to date, surfaced 13 out of 65km.

Sir, the contract commenced in May, 2013, but the works are behind schedule and the Government, through the RDA, will ensure that the contractor expedites the completion of the works as scheduled. The quality of the work done, so far, is satisfactory.

Mr Speaker, the third question on re-awarding the contract relating to the supply of digital migration equipment to Star Times of China, which was initially cancelled due to irregularities, was rather technical.

Mr Speaker, digital migration arises from the Regional Radio Communications Conference of 2006 and the subsequent Geneva 2006 Agreement. The first tender on the digital migration project was advertised on 7th September, 2012, by the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) on behalf of the ministry and was closed and opened on 18th January, 2013, at the ZPPA offices.

Mr Speaker, the bidding document was prepared by the Task Force on Digital Migration in conjunction with the Procurement Unit and cleared by the ZPPA.

Sir, as per open tender requirements, the intention to award the tender to Star Software Technology Company Limited of China, as the preferred bidder, was advertised in the Zambia Daily Mail and the Times of Zambia newspapers on 25th April, 2013. Out of the five bidders, three appealed to the ministry against the intention to award the tender to the preferred bidder. Two unsuccessful bidders, the ZTE and King Tai, further appealed to the ZPPA.

Mr Speaker, the ZPPA instructed the ministry to halt the process of negotiation with the preferred bidder until a review of the appeals was conducted. The ZPPA reviewed the tender and instructed that it be cancelled due to a number of reasons, as per the letter dated September, 2013, herein attached. The grounds of cancellation were the evaluation report and a long list of technical faults. Consequently, the tender was cancelled.

Sir, following the cancellation of the tender and the decision to unbundle the project, the ministry decided to implement the digital migration project in phases as follows:

(i) Phase I of the project covers the areas from Livingstone to Chililabombwe;

(ii) Phase II covers additional provincial centres; and

(ii)  Phase III covers the rest of the country, including all areas which are not covered by existing analogue television transmission.

Sir, with this structural arrangement, the aim of the project is to cover, at least, 99.99 per cent of the country.

Sir, following the phasing of the project, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting advertised the new tender on 7th January, 2014, and evaluation was conducted for the six bidders who responded to the tender. Measures were taken to ensure transparency and the name of the company that won the tender is Star Software Technology Company Limited, at a cost of K54 million.

Mr Speaker, the explanation given demonstrates that the two processes were conducted independently of each other and, therefore, the fact that the same company won twice does not mean that this Government erred in any way.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: I hope we are listening.

Hon. Members: No, we cannot hear him.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Then, you must say so.

The Vice-President: What is the problem?

Mr Deputy Speaker: I could see the hon. Member for Namwala, who asked the question, struggling to hear partly due to the loud consultations going on.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

The Vice-President: If I am murmuring, just draw my attention to it and I will shout instead.

Mr Mwale: What did you say?

Laughter

The Vice-President: (Shouted) I said, …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: … that should you find me murmuring, at any stage, just say so and I will shout.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Talk to them through the Speaker.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: (Spoke loudly) Basically, Mr Speaker, …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: … I will lay these answers on the Table for anyone’s scrutiny …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. Opposition Member: You are stopping now when you are so clear?

The Vice-President: … and I assure you that this procedure guided by the ZPPA was correctly conducted. I will lay this document on the Table.

The Vice-President passed the document to Hon. Mukanga to lay on the Table.

The Vice-President: It is your ministry.

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: Hear, hear! Laid on the Table.

The Vice-President laid the paper on the Table.

Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock said that the Government had consulted widely on the maize floor price. However, the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) has said that the floor price of K70 per 50kg bag of white maize is too low. What is His Honour the Vice-President’s comment on that?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, first of all, failing to agree does not mean that there has been no consultation. Obviously, the job of the ZNFU is to try to hike the price as much as it can for the benefit of its members and the job of the consumers’ association is to keep it low while the Government gets squeezed in the middle, as is usual in such processes.

Mr Speaker, I can say, without exposing the Government too much, that if the picture changes in terms of quantities and demand from outside the country, we are prepared to discuss possible changes. However, it is better that we are on the low side and can adjust upwards than go too high and then find that we are supposed to be bringing the price down.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, may I know …

Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise a very serious point of order on the Floor of this House and apologise to the hon. Member for Lukulu West, who was on the Floor, for interrupting his thought process.

Sir, two days ago, on Focus on Africa, a Britisth Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Programme, His Honour the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Guy Scott, made what I consider to be very insidious, derogatory, demeaning and highly inflammatory false statements to the world to the effect that the people who are behind the rumours about His Excellency the President, Mr Sata’s illness are a minority tribe …

Mr Kambwili: On a point of procedure, Sir.

Mr Mweetwa: … in the southern part of the country. I find this statement harbouring a colonialist undertone of divide and rule …

Interruptions

Mr Mweetwa: … and it is capable of undermining national unity and, in essence, of promoting tribal hatred, something I find highly unacceptable in a country whose Constitution does not allow such and also very irresponsible of a Vice-President.

Mr Kambwili: On a point of procedure, Sir.

Mr Mweetwa: Sir, is the Vice-President in order …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

A point of procedure is being requested, but I am not sure whether we allow points of procedure …

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Kambwili: Yes!

Mr Deputy Speaker: … when a point of order is in process. I will, therefore, allow the hon. Minister to raise that point of procedure after the hon. Member has finished with his point of order.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Sir, these statements are capable, like I have said, of undermining national unity and promoting tribal hatred unnecessarily and I find them highly irresponsible coming from a person who is a Vice-President of the Republic. As I speak, many people out there are disturbed by these unwarranted statements.

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Interruptions

Mr Mweetwa: Sir, is His Honour the Vice-President in order to come to this House and continue with business as usual without rendering an apology to the people of Zambia for making those irresponsible and insidious statements that have enraged a lot of people in this country, especially that these comments that are aimed at promoting tribal hatred are coming from a white man?

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member raising that point of order has adequately debated it.

The hon. Member for Lukulu West can continue.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, the two District Commissioners for Mitete and Lukulu, the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukulu East, the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, His Honour the Vice-President and His Excellency the President of Zambia and myself are being insulted daily over the Katunda/Lukulu Road.

Hon. Members: Aah!

Mr Mutelo: For how long will these insults continue to be hurled at the group of people I have mentioned over this road?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I believe that the hon. Member who asked the question knows very well that the construction of the said road is scheduled. In the meantime, we are focusing on completing the works on the Mongu/Kalabo Road because we feel its completion is more important than putting up a second road.

I thank you, Sir

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Mr Speaker, Zambia will be celebrating her Golden Jubilee in October, this year. What preparations has the Government put in place for this important and historic event for Zambia?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, there is a very high-powered team in Cabinet Office and the Office of the Vice-President which is dealing with this. I intend to give a ministerial statement next week on this subject so that people are assured that everything is on hand.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Ngoma (Sinda): Mr Speaker, for over a year now, over six constituencies in Zambia have had no representation in Parliament owing to the fact that the courts are dilly-dallying or just overlooking their responsibility to expeditiously issue judgments. I want to find out from His Honour the Vice-President, who is part of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, how he feels about this scenario and what his advice to the Judiciary is.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, there is a review of jurisprudence being undertaken, at the moment, under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice. Administration of law reform is needed, but the questioner should bear in mind that we observe separation of powers in this country and it is not really appropriate for the Executive to jump in with both feet and start giving orders left, right and centre. Therefore, it is a fairly delicate process that requires that we keep an eye on the constitutionality of what we are doing, but the process is on-going.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, the PF Government introduced a wage and employment freeze for two years, and this is because of its bankruptcy.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, may I know whether the Government has also stopped the construction of the retirement house for the Head of State?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the use of the word ‘bankruptcy’ almost seems to be on the verge of being unparliamentary …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

The Vice-President: … and it is a technical term. It has very specific meanings which I do not think are met in the present situation. I am reliably informed that there has been no stoppage in the construction of anybody’s house.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutale (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, the floor price of maize has been …

Mr Mutelo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Before I give the hon. Member permission to raise it, let me say that we are making it a common practice to use points of order to debate. Having been in the House for some time now, I can tell you that we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing. As presiding officers, it is our responsibility to ensure that we proceed according to the rules we have set. When you continue to use points of order to debate, it prompts us to disallow the raising of points of order, a decision which is considered a bit harsh, considering the grumbling that follows it. Therefore, if you want us to work together, do not use points of order to debate. I seized this opportunity of that point of order to explain.

You have your point of order, Hon. Mutelo.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker, His Honour the Vice-President has told us that the Katunda/Lukulu Road is under the Link Zambia 8,000km Road Project on one hand,  and on the other hand,  he has said that this road will only be attended to when the works on the Mongu/Kalabo Road are completed. Is he in order to contradict himself like that?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

This is really one of those examples were you have used a point of order to debate,  to agree or disagree with a statement, when our rules on points of order are very clear. Points of order can only be raised on procedure, relevance and decorum. However, we have gone outside these rules. In light of that, I have no ruling to make on that point of order.

The hon. Member for Kwacha may continue.

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted, I was saying that the floor price of maize has been increased. Therefore, I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President whether there are any interventions to stop the increase of mealie-meal prices by the retailers as a result of the increased maize floor price.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I do not think that we require a special intervention at this stage. The increase in the floor price is minimal, and it is so in order to prevent pressure mounting on the retail price. The quantities of maize are ample and many people are delivering it directly to the millers at the floor price rather than involving the millers in the cost of transportation. I am actually conducting price monitoring through my office and the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) on this subject. Therefore, I will be able to talk about it before this session ends.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, when His Honour the Vice-President was undertaking his campaigns, he promised the people of Chadiza …

Mr Mwaliteta: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

A point of order is raised.

In a space of a few minutes, we have had several points of order. That is the last point of order I am allowing …

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

That is the last point of order I am allowing during these thirty minutes of His Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time.

You have your point of order.

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Dundumwezi alleged that the PF Government was bankrupt. This is a very serious word. Is he in order to insinuate that the PF is bankrupt when he is seated there waiting for his allowance today? I seek your serious ruling.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

These are the exact types of points of order that I have advised against. I will not allow that point of order.

The hon. Member for Chadiza may continue, please.

Interruptions

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, during the campaigns in 2011, the PF Government promised the people of Chadiza, in particular, and Zambia as whole, free education from Grade 1 to university level.

Mr Mwale: Yenze boza!

Mr Mbewe: Sir, when will this programme commence because people are waiting?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I will have to look that one up and advise the House next week because I do not want to mislead it. I do not wish to misinform anybody because this is a very important question.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, two to three weeks ago, during an interview on the BBC, His Honour the Vice-President disparaged and referred to the people of the Southern Province as a minority clique. Does he think that this was a correct way to answer a national question? If not, does he consider apologising for such disparagement?

Hon. Government Members: No!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

That point of order had been raised earlier by …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Was that a question or a point of order?

Hon. Members: It was a question.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Does His Honour the Vice-President have something to say?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would happily be part of a comprehensive process whereby we stopped this political campaigning where we have imagined, and some people have got it into their heads, that there was going to be a presidential by-election. For some, it is already there and, so, can start the offensive kind of stuff that comes in some of these newspapers.

Since we are on this subject, and it is time we dealt with it, perhaps, let me quote what Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, Member of Parliament for Monze Central, said on 11th March:

“Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to pay glowing tribute to the Zambian Watchdog … ”

Mr Speaker, there are almost no parliamentary words to describe the Zambian Watchdog. It is perverted, malicious, bloodthirsty and fanatical. According to it, I have died this week or on the verge of dying. My stress and age have met in the eyes of the medical specialists on the Zambian Watchdog that I cannot even travel to Guinea. That is what you read. We get stories about His Excellency the President, whom we know is in Israel, allegedly having fainted on the plane as he took off from Lusaka and he ended up in Johannesburg. 

Sir, if you are going to support that type of journalism, it shows that we are in campaign mode and I will give it as good as I get.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Hammer!

The Vice-President: Having said that, I …

Hon. Government Members: Hammer!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

There is no hammering.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: A question has been asked and His Honour the Vice-President is answering it. Let him answer because there was an insistence on this question. So, give him a chance to answer.

Continue, His Honour the Vice-President.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would happily participate, as I said at the start of this, in a comprehensive solution to this swopping of libels and insults. We should be mature, respectful and compassionate.

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

The Vice-President: That is my feeling and I am prepared to give as long as it is also given. Next week, we do not want to read that this time I have actually died.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, when we were in the Opposition, we complained about the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) not being independent. Of course, even the people of Chipili complained about that. A board has, now, been put in place. Therefore, can His Honour the Vice-President state where we are in terms of coverage. Is there any improvement at the ZNBC?

Mr Mucheleka: No!

Mr Mwila: You are not His Honour the Vice-President!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not sure that I heard the question right, but if the hon. Member is asking whether the ZNBC is more independent than it was, the answer is yes.

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Is it perfect? The answer is no. Therefore, I would say that there has been considerable improvement and we should ensure that it continues.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, earlier in the week, after His Honour the Vice-President gave his ministerial statement, he failed to tell this House and the nation at large when His Excellency the President would return to the country. I want to believe that after that embarrassment, he went back and phoned him to inquire on his return. Is His Honour the Vice-President in a position to tell us, today, when His Excellency the President is coming back?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, for example, if I was to undergo quite a major medical treatment and was advised by the local medical personnel to have it in Johannesburg instead because the confidentiality in Zambia is so poor that my photographs would appear on the internet and I heeded that advice, that would be an open-ended process. Further, if, for example, you have your heart checked − and I am not giving you any information now, I am just citing an example − and you needed an angiogram where they put a pipe with a camera up into your heart and check that it is open and working properly and they found that you needed just a stent to hold some of the arteries open, they would feed those down. However, if they decided to conduct a major operation, they would open up your chest and that entire process of having your chest opened and your heart and other arteries by-passed could take two to three weeks. So, it is an open-ended process.

Sir, you should not be surprised if somebody starts medical investigations and he cannot tell you when he will be finished. I am not confirming anything. I am merely telling you that I do not have the information you are seeking and there is a perfectly good reason I should not have the information.

Hon. UPND Members: What information?

The Vice-President: About what you want to know. It is a holiday with some medical tourism put in.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: What are you complaining about because I do not understand? Do you want us to have a fixed date on which His Excellency the President must come back?

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Perhaps, it is not feasible for various reasons.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, the Northern Province has had difficulties in attracting highly mechanised industries due to the low voltage of power in the Northern Circuit of this country. As a result, the motors at the Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company have blown up and, therefore, cannot pump water to the satisfaction of the people of Luwingu District. May His Honour the Vice-President indicate what the Government is doing to address the low voltage of power in the Northern Province.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, supply of electric power is an on-going process and sometimes we run ahead of it and sometimes behind it.

There are two specific projects currently being undertaken in the Northern Province. One is the Pensulo/Kasama 330kW mainline, which will strengthen the northern grid by allowing more energy to flow down the wires without resistance stopping it, and the other one is the Lunzuwa Hydro-Power Station that is in Mpulungu. It is less than 1 MW being updated to 50 MW. Those are just examples of what is on-going and next year, if I am still here and asked what is happening, I will be able to give you more projects that will be undertaken.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutati (Lunte): Mr Speaker, …

Mr Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Kasempa.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: I thought he was not here, I am sorry. I think our friends, the camera people, were obstructing my view.

Mr Mutati: … First Quantum Minerals (FQM) is one of the biggest investors in the mining sector, post 2008, and it is also one of the biggest taxpayers in Zambia and possesses a reasonable safety record. Yesterday, the Zambia Daily Mail Newspaper quoted the Director of Operations indicating that the FQM was contemplating withdrawing US$1 billion of investment from Zambia because of the fiscal regime and bureaucracy. Can His Honour the Vice-President indicate what steps are being taken in order to forestall this withdrawal.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, we are meeting with them next week. However, to go back to the actual statement which was ill-judged by, I think it was Matthew Pascal, the local director whose brother is the senior director in Australia, he was attempting to put pressure on us at a conference or I think he saw an opportunity to try and put pressure on us, …

Mr Yaluma: Yes.

The Vice-President: … but we do not have pressure put on us like that. As the hon. Member knows, you cannot tell a Government that you are withdrawing investments because your taxes are too high when you are actually continuing with the investment. I am sure the whole thing will be amicably and constructively sorted out.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, following the answer that His Honour the Vice-President has given to the question by the hon. Member for Siavonga, is he now confirming that His Excellency the President is receiving treatment in Israel and that he is not on holiday as earlier stated?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Member: That is not a question!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, let me give an actual example. Suppose I went to London to visit my family, many of whose members are there, and …

Lights in the Assembly Chamber went out.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

The Vice-President: … I took the opportunity to see one of the top heart experts in the world, who happens to be the authority on heart surgery and recovery from heart surgery, and spend the morning having computerised tomography(CT) scans and investigations carried out, am I on holiday or not?

Hon. Government Members: You are on holiday.

The Vice-President: I am travelling for various reasons and I am taking opportunities as they occur, but if you do not want to be reasonable and start campaigning and speculating, then, this is where order in this House will ultimately break down. I do not know what investigations His Excellency the President is having …

Ms Kapata interjected.

The Vice-President: … nor do I know how long they will take. It is a confidential matter for him and his family. If he wants to tell me he will tell me, but if he does not want to tell me, then, I cannot give you the information because I do not know it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwewa (Mwansabombwe): Mr Speaker, what measures has the Government taken to ensure that the innocent lives of Zambians that go to Levy Mwanawasa Hospital are protected from those that are masquerading as doctors because we may lose lives as a result of this? What are we, as a Government, doing …

Mr Kambwili: They have been arrested.

Mr Mwewa: ... to ensure that we have security?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would have to take that up with the hon. Minister of Health. I know the case you are referring to, but they occur across the world. There are lots of people who, having had sometime working with or for doctors, manage to masquerade as doctors. We had a famous case here where a South African white man came up here …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

The Vice-President: … purporting to specialise as a women’s doctor and he had to runaway when he over charged the wife of the head of the Anti-Corruption Commission who got extremely annoyed and found out from Interpol that he was wanted in many countries for impersonating a doctor. This is a routine matter to be looked into and I will ask the hon. Minister of Health whether we have sufficient safeguards.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, Zambia has been enjoying a peaceful atmosphere, but we have seen an upsurge of violence by the PF carders wielding pangas against opposition parties and this has now moved …

Ms Kapata rose on a point of order.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: I made a ruling. There will be no more points of order.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: … to the PF Party. Recently, in Chipata, at a meeting that the Secretary-General of the PF attended, there was violence which has been extended to journalists. Why is it that the Government is not arresting this situation where people who are welding pangas cannot be arrested? Why is it that not one has ever been arrested?

Mr Mbewe: I saw them.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I do not think it is true that none has ever been arrested. The police are under very straight forward instructions to keep vigil …

Mr Kamwbili: Lusaka Province.

The Vice-President: … and I do not think there has been a lot of scrapping. There are PF members in court, at the moment, in Lusaka Province and there are issues to do with land grabbing that go back before the 2011 elections where people have simply changed their t-shirts and become PF. We do not tolerate violence and my view is that the level of violence is actually dropping, and I am getting confirmation from the hon. Ministers responsible for that.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, between the ‘minority’ people of the Southern Province and yourself, who is actually the minority?

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would advise the questioner to find a proper verbatim transcript of what I said. I was not insulting anyone by referring to them as the minority. My reference to ‘minority’ was that they did not win the election and …

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

The Vice-President: … I am very much in the minority, but it is not an insult to say that someone is in the minority.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: In this Chamber, I am in a minority of one and a half.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr I. Banda (Lumezi): Mr Speaker, when will the Lundazi/Chama Road be tarred because it has become a death trap to the travelling public?

Hon. Government Members: Takuli!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, works are expected to start next year.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, previously, the economic prophets of doom were saying that the kwacha was dead. Now that the exchange rate has stabilised, what is your comment, His Honour the Vice-President?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the correct word, “stabilise” was used by the questioner. Stabilise does not mean to return to historical values. If you want to go back to just after the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), the kwacha strengthened to K3,000 to the dollar and went back to K4,700 in a matter of weeks. Nobody was screaming. Everybody said, “That is fine. That is how it is adjusting itself.” I have a very pro-export and agricultural view that it helps exports to have a stabilisation between K6 and K6.50. I am not discontented with it. If it were to go to K5, it would be because of artificial measures such as the excessive increase in the interest rates and selling more bonds than we need to do. I think it is a perfectly comfortable situation to be in. Therefore, people should not campaign irresponsibly on the basis of having a free currency. This is the only free currency in Africa apart from Mauritius.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, under the Laws of Zambia, Article 23, it is actually an offence to issue discriminatory remarks. Going by how His Honour the Vice-President answered the hon. Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central, is he then telling us that when you are provoked by online media, you can actually break the Laws of Zambia with impunity?

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, of course, that is not what I am saying and the hon. Lady knows it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Musonda (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, when are the construction works for the Lusaka/Kapiri Mposhi Dual Carriageway starting?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, next year.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, may His Honour the Vice-President confirm that the duration of the working holiday for His Excellency the President is beyond the planning of the Government.

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I think we should stop this line of questioning and have a civil discourse in this House.

I thank you, Sir.

__________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

DRIVERS AND CLASSIFED DAILY EMPLOYEES IN NEWLY-CREATED DISTRICTS

513. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Vice-President:

(a) how the drivers and classified daily employees in the newly-created districts in the Western Province were recruited;

(b) whether the Government was aware that these employees had not yet been put on the payroll from November, 2013 when they reported for work;

(c) when the affected employees would be put on the payroll and paid their salaries from the time they commenced work; and

(d) what measures had been taken, in the interim, to alleviate the suffering of the said employees.

The Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Mr Mwango): Mr Speaker, following His Excellency the President’s creation of districts across the country, the Government approved a structure of 202 positions per district and, so far, twenty-nine districts have been created. This includes nine districts in the Western Province namely, Mulobezi, Nalolo, Nkeyema, Mwandi, Sioma, Sikongo, Mitete, Luampa and Limulunga.

Mr Speaker, in an effort to operationalise the structures, the Government adopted a phased approach where each district had seventy-eight positions with Treasury authority, broken down as follows:

No. of positions Categories 

73  Civil Servants
 (Technical staff)

5 Non-Civil Servants
 (Drivers, office orderlies and a cleaner (CDEs))

Mr Speaker, in this regard, seventy-eight employees were recruited per district out of which seventy-three positions were for civil servants and five for non-civil servants, that is, CDEs such as drivers, office orderlies and a cleaner.

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that there was an over employment of non-civil servants to a tune of 210 instead of forty-five who had Treasury authority.

Sir, the Government is aware that all those that have reported for work following their engagement that is backed by Treasury authority have been placed on the payroll and are receiving their salaries. As earlier stated, some non-civil servants in the newly-created districts were recruited without following laid-down procedures. This implies that the recruitment was not backed by Treasury authority and, therefore, irregular.

Mr Speaker, the individuals recruited without Treasury authority will be re-assessed for suitability to fill funded vacant positions that are in various departments in the districts.

Sir, the Government will re-assess the affected individuals and try to integrate those that are deemed to be qualified into the funded positions in the Government structures in the districts.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, what action will the Government take since there was no authority to recruit?

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, there will be disciplinary action taken. In fact, it is on-going, at the moment, against all the officers involved in this misunderstanding regarding the Treasury authority to employ extra people or people at such a level. These are not the regular civil servants we are talking about. We are talking about the CDEs and the extra employees who were appointed in large numbers and have not been paid as a consequence.

Sir, the other question relates to retrospective Treasury authority. I am a strong supporter of the fact that the people who were cheated in this way, I know that the word, “cheated” is not parliamentary, but the people who suffered from turning up for work and not being compensated for that should be compensated. That is my view and I will do everything I can to make sure it is carried out.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa): Mr Speaker, were these positions advertised in the public media?

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order! Can I have order on my right.

The hon. Member may continue, please.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I was saying that I want to find out if at all these positions were advertised publicly or were the said employees recruited just amongst the relations?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I do not have the information that the hon. Member seeks. Maybe, if he puts in a question, I can inquire.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order! Let me guide again. Those who ask principal questions are given the priority to make follow-up questions. However, if you do not indicate on time, we go to those who want to assist you. I can see that the hon. Member for Kalabo Central has a follow-up question. May he go ahead and ask it, please.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, His Honour the Vice-President’s view on those who were recruited, but not put on the payroll being compensated is a progressive suggestion. I would like to find out whether this is the stand of the Government and whether the affected people should count on it.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, they should, by all means, get on with their lives because I cannot guarantee when the process is going to bear fruit. We will give priority to those people when new jobs come up.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

MWINILUNGA POLICE STATION MOTOR VEHICLE FOR BORDER OPERATIONS

514. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga) asked the Minister of Home Affairs when Mwinilunga Police Station would be provided with a vehicle for operations particularly in the border areas of the district.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Chilangwa): Mr Speaker, in answering Hon. Katuka, I would like to inform him that a vehicle has been sourced for Mwinilunga Police Station and will be delivered to the District Command within the coming weeks.

I thank you, Sir.

SCHOOLS IN CHATENTE WARD

515. Mr Mutale (Kwacha) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) when the Government would construct schools in Chatente Ward in Kwacha Parliamentary Constituency;

(b) whether the Government had any plans to post teachers to the community schools in Chatente Ward; and

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

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, we had discussions with the Provincial Educational Officer (PEO) for the Copperbelt Province to request the District Educational Board Secretary (DEBS) for Kitwe to make an assessment on the requirements for schools in Chatente Ward. So, we are going to use this part of the year to make that assessment and we plan to make a budget provision to construct a school in Chatente in 2015.

Sir, just like the hon. Deputy Minister stated on Tuesday, on the Floor of this House, the Government has been supporting community schools through the deployment of teachers. However, it is also important that the community schools register with the office of the DEBS in their respective locations so that they could be considered for the deployment of the teachers.

Mr Speaker, even against this question, we had also requested the DEBS in Kitwe to make that assessment and see if he had any teachers that he could send to some of the community schools in Chatente.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I did not hear the answer to part (c) of the question.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I stated that we are making the assessments, both in terms of parts (a) and (b) of the question, this year and we intend to address these issues in 2015.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education for promising to construct schools in Chatente area, which is as good as Shang’ombo area. However, once the plans are in place, we need to be given a timeframe within which this will be done. I would like to find out when this information will be communicated to us.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I stated that we have discussed this issue with the PEO and he will send the DEBS to make an assessment so that as we start preparing the budget for 2015, we should be able to provide funds for the construction of a school in that ward. This might commence in 2015.  As we may be aware, the Budget presentation will be done towards the end of this year. Therefore, the earliest we can start the construction, once the provision has been made, will be next year, 2015.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, early this year, the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education boasted about having enough money to complete all the projects. I would like to know whether that money has been depleted before talking of the next estimates for 2015.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I do not think there is any budgetary allocation that would be deemed as more than enough. Hon. Mbewe raised a point of order through which he asked the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when he would bring the 2014 Infrastructure Development Plan. The projects that we intend to embark on have been provided in the infrastructure development plan that will, in turn, be later provided to the hon. Members of this House. So, the money that was allocated to the ministry has already been directed to projects that we intend to undertake in the course of this year. For those projects that are not in the plan, for example, the construction of schools in Chatente Ward, they will be undertaken in 2015.

I thank you, Sir.

HEALTH CENTRES IN LUKULU WEST CONSTITUENCY

516. Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West) asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health:

(a) how many qualified medical personnel were stationed at the following health centres in Lukulu West Parliamentary Constituency as of January, 2014:

(i) Kakulunda;
(ii) Mitete; 
(iii) Sikunduko;
(iv) Nyala in Munyondoti Ward; and 
(v) Mataba;

(b) whether the Government had any plans to upgrade Mitete Clinic to a district hospital and, if so, when the plans would be implemented; and

(c) if there were no such plans, why.

The Minister of Gender and Child Development (Mrs Wina) (on behalf of the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Mrs Kabanshi): Mr Speaker, the following is a tabulation of how many qualified medical personnel were stationed at the health centres in Lukulu West Parliamentary Constituency as of January, 2014:

Name of  No. of  Titles of
Health Centre Medical Personnel Medical Personnel

Kakulanda 1 Environmental Health Technologist
Mitete 1 Clinical Officer
Sikunduko 0
Nyala in Munyondoti Ward 2 Community Health Assistants
Mataba 2 Community Health Assistants
 
Sir, the upgrading of Mitete Clinic to a district hospital is not in the 2014 Infrastructure Development Plan. Priority has been given to the construction of Lukulu District Hospital. That is the current medical personnel status at these clinics.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, for …

Mr Sing’ombe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise this point of order.

Mr Speaker, are we in order to continue business in this House when more than seventy hon. Members of the Executive have resigned and only about twenty remain in the House?

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Let me seize this opportunity to state that we should really be in the House to transact business. I make reference to the minute issued by the Chief Whip that we are supposed …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I am making a ruling and you are talking. That is misbehaving. Let us be here to transact business. This is the only way we can show seriousness. The quorum is, however, formed and we have to continue with business.

Hon. Member for Lukulu West, you may proceed.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, indeed, the answer by the hon. Minister is right. 

Hon. Minister, Mitete District has only two trained personnel, an environmental technologist and a clinical officer. Are there any immediate plans by the ministry to arrest this situation for the people of Mitete, Sikunduko, Mataba and Nyala? 

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the Government is aware of the shortage of trained staff in all clinics, particularly rural ones nationwide and Mitete is no exception. As a result of this, the ministry received Treasury authority to recruit 952 health workers in 2013. This recruitment is still on-going as the Treasury authority was extended to June, 2014. The authorised positions include Registered Nurses, Zambia Enrolled Nurses (ZEN), mid-wives, environmental technologists and laboratory technicians.

Upon the expiry of the Treasury authority, the ministry will prepare a report to ascertain staff gaps in health centres. I believe that from this consignment of 952 health workers, Sikunduko will benefit as will all parts of the country.

Mr Speaker, upgrading Mitete Clinic to a district hospital will depend on the size of the population of Mitete. However, I know that the Government is committed to constructing district hospitals even in the new districts. So, Mitete will, in future, benefit from this provision.

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, the situation of staff gaps in Mitete is similar to many other districts in the country.

Sir, the hon. Minister said that they received Treasury authority to recruit professionally trained personnel. Therefore, I would like to find out from her whether, at this stage, there is an indication of the gap between the establishment and what the number of professionally qualified existing staff is. Upon recruitment of the 952 professionals, will they be able to indicate, especially to this House, what the shortage will be?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the recruitment process is still on-going. It comes to an end at the end of this month, June, 2014. I suppose that at the end of this process, the ministry will be in a position to know which gaps exist and which areas are more in need of addressing the shortage of trained staff in our health institutions. I believe that the ministry will come to this House to inform the nation on the state of affairs regarding trained staff in health centres.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the people of Mitete deserve a hospital. The area is now a district and I know that there were a lot of factors taken into account before declaring it as such. Can the hon. Minister indicate when the Government intends to construct a new district hospital for the people of Mitete.

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, most of these districts were created after the 2014 Budget had been passed. I emphasised the fact that the Government is committed to the provision of district hospitals in every district but that, for now, I cannot attach a time-frame within which this will be done, particularly for Mitete. The ministry has to ascertain the size of the population and whether, for the time being, Mitete residents can access medical care at Lukulu District Hospital. I do know though that in the long run, Mitete will get a district hospital.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa): Mr Speaker, there is a problem at Sikunduko. The hon. Minister says that there are no qualified personnel. So, I would like to know who has been dispensing medicines at the health centre or has it been closed temporarily?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the ministry has realised this shortfall at Sikunduko and there is an interim measure being put in place to place community health trained personnel at the health centre as quickly as possible.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that there is a shortage of qualified staff. Is she able to tell us what the exact gaps that need to be filled are?

Mr Deputy Speaker: I thought that the hon. Minister said that the ministry would carry out an assessment to ascertain the gaps.

Hon. Minister, you may respond.

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the answer is exactly as you have put it.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr I. Banda (Lumezi): Mr Speaker, the situation at Sikunduko, Nyala in Munyondoti Ward and Mataba health centres is quite serious because there is no trained health staff. The situation at Sikunduko is worse off because Nyala and Mataba do, at least, have community health assistants. How are maternity cases being handled at the three health centres?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, in my reply to part (a) of the question, I indicated that, at the moment, there are some trained staff at the health centres that the hon. Member for Lumezi is referring to except at Sikunduko Health Centre. Currently, the ministry is considering sending a community health worker to the centre.

I thank you, Sir.

DAM CONSTRUCTION IN KAFULAFUTA CONSTITUENCY

517. Mr Chitafu (Kafulafuta) asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development when the Government would construct dams in Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency.

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Zulu): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government, through the Department of Water Affairs, has no plans to construct dams in Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency because the dam construction programme is demand-driven. The community in the constituency has not made any request to the provincial water office. Due to budgetary limitations, funds are allocated only to projects that were submitted to the ministry through either the district or provincial water offices.

Sir, the process of dam construction demands is such that, firstly, there should be a request made by the community and, secondly, engineers are supposed to screen the areas to ascertain suitability, viability of site, cost and benefit implications. Then, a survey is done and engineers design and look at the cost estimates of the proposed dam. Thereafter, the project is included in the budget. If approved, then, the dam site is eligible for construction. Like I said earlier, these projects are demand-driven. Therefore, as hon. Members of Parliament, we have to sit down with our communities and demand for these projects to be undertaken.

For example, Sir, two days ago, I responded to a similar question by Hon. Mazoka who wanted to know when a dam would be repaired in her constituency. We followed it up because she asked for it. I would, therefore, like to advise Hon. Chitafu to ask and demand for these projects. We will, then, follow them up and construct the dams in your constituency.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Livune(Katombola): Mr Speaker, …

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I would like to apologise for interrupting my brother’s debate.

Mr Speaker, my point of order is on something concerning the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development. I am happy that the hon. Minister responsible for this ministry is in the House.

Sir, I am in receipt of a letter with instructions that when we want to drill boreholes, we are supposed to go to the ministry and ask for some rigs, but we should use the Constituency Development Fund (CFD). In that case, it will be on first come, first served basis.

Mr Speaker, it is in this House where budgets are approved. The boreholes which are supposed to be drilled in our various constituencies are also catered for within the same budgets. Therefore, I am not very clear whether the hon. Minister is telling us that the ministry’s budget will not cater for the drilling of these boreholes, but instead we will start paying for their construction through the CDF. Is the hon. Minister in order to target the CDF, which is meant for other things, and yet the budget for the boreholes in our various constituencies are supposed to be taken care of by the ministry? I need your serious ruling.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member for Chadiza should file a question in that regard.

May the hon. Member for Katombola continue.

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, the Government has procured rigs and distributed them to some provinces. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the ministry will procure damming equipment and distribute it to the needy provinces like the Southern Province and the Copperbelt rural so that we can reduce on the issue of dams silting in our areas.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development, has plans to develop a dam construction and rehabilitation plan for the entire country. This plan has been included in the Draft Strategic Plan for the ministry. Through the process of formulating the dam construction and rehabilitation plan, suitable dam sites will be identified based on some engineering consideration. Therefore, we are looking at the entire country. The House may wish to know that for us to construct dams, we will need equipment. It is for this reason that we have to budget for that.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that dam construction is demand-driven and that had the hon. Member of Parliament for Kafulafuta requested for a dam, the Government would have constructed one. I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether all the requests forwarded to the ministry have been honoured because, for a fact, I know that we have had been making demands for dam construction in Kalomo which have never been honoured. Is he now telling us that he can only act upon receipt of a letter written by individual hon. Members of Parliament?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, it could be that Kalomo had requested for the construction of a dam and it has not yet been constructed while a dam may have been constructed in another constituency which may have asked for it. It is, therefore, not possible for the ministry to construct dams in all the constituencies at the same time. Therefore, at an appropriate time, a dam will be constructed in Kalomo.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, is it true that for a dam to be constructed the procedure indicated by the hon. Minister has to be followed? If that is the case, Nkanda Nzovu had requested for a dam and the hon. Minister said that there was a dam in that area, but he later apologised. We followed the procedure he advised us to follow last year but, to date, the dam has not been constructed in that area. Is it true that what the hon. Minister has indicated is the correct procedure?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, that is a procedure as far as we are concerned as a ministry.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Kaingu (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, I had engaged the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development and brought to his attention the problem of the water table being salty in Mwandi Parliamentary Constituency. He promised that dams would be constructed in Mwandi. I would want to know how far the ministry has gone in that regard.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, that is a new question. However, we will make a follow up and give the hon. Member feedback.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I can see that the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development is indicating.

The Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, I would like to confirm that Hon. Dr Kaingu raised that concern and I wish to report that we are working on it. We have not forgotten about it. It is very much on track.

Sir, all cases presented by all hon. Members in this House are a priority, but we try to apportion the available resources to meet those that are very critical. We do not erase requests, but rank them. Please, bear with us and be assured that we will attend to each and every issue.

 I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

KABWE DISTRICT ROAD WORKS KILOMETRE VARIATION

518. Mr Mushanga (Bwacha) asked the Minister of Transport, Works Supply and Communication:

(a) when the Government would vary the approved kilometres of road works, currently under construction in Kabwe District, so that some selected roads in Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency could be included;

(b) what the estimated number of kilometres to be added was;

(c) what the estimated cost of the work was; and

(d) what the expected date of completion of the road works already underway, was.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Mwimba. H. Malama): Mr Speaker, the approval of the variation for additional roads is awaiting detailed designs currently being undertaken by the supervising consultant and are to be completed at the end of August, 2014. The variation will be approved thereafter.

Sir, the estimated number of kilometres to be added is 25km. The estimated costs of the added works will be determined following the detailed design currently being undertaken by the consultant for the added works. The expected date of completion of the road works already underway is 16th October, 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

SANITARY LANDFILLS IN ZAMBIA

519. Mr Mucheleka asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) how many sanitary landfills were currently in use in Zambia;

(b) what the approximate cost of constructing one sanitary landfill was;

(c) how many local authorities had developed waste management strategic plans; and

(d) whether the Government had any plans to assist councils to clear the uncollected garbage.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Kufuna): Mr Speaker, currently, there is only one sanitary landfill in use in Zambia, and this is located in Lusaka’s Chunga area. I wish to inform the House that the Government intends to construct sanitary landfills in Kitwe, Solwezi and Chipata.

Sir, the cost of constructing a landfill is not standardised. It is dependent on the topography of the site designs and the expected life span. As of now, there are seven local authorities which have developed waste management strategic plans and these are Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Livingstone, Kabwe, Solwezi and Chingola. My ministry has also established a unit at national level to address issues of solid waste.

Mr Speaker, in its oversight role, my ministry is in constant touch with local authorities on issues relating to solid waste management. In this respect, my ministry has procured ten refuse trucks and 100 skip bin containers for Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Livingstone, Solwezi, Chililabombwe, Kasama and Chinsali.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, the issue of garbage is of great concern to the Zambian people. At almost every local authority, there is a huge challenge of waste management. Therefore, I would like to find out what the ministry is doing about ensuring that the serious concern of garbage, especially in Lusaka where it is a serious problem, is mitigated.

Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, my ministry is coming up with a strategic plan, a policy, which will guide the management of solid waste in the country.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mumba (Mambilima): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that the Government is working on a strategic plan for solid waste management. I would like to find out if the Government is considering including the segregation of waste in that strategic plan.

Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, that component will be included in the strategic plan.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, may I find out whether the ministry has plans of recycling some of this waste.

Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, the ministry has no plans to recycle waste, but will be inviting the private sector to carry out this job.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, I know that most of our local authorities are developing their integrated development plans (IDPs). Is the ministry encouraging these local authorities to consider factoring in solid waste management in local council IDPs?

The Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Chenda): Mr Speaker, solid waste management is part of the whole city planning process and, obviously, you cannot go into IDPs without bringing this component into the plans. I must emphasise here that we are all aware that we cannot have a healthy and hygienic environment without dealing with issues of solid waste management. The ministry, working in conjunction with members of the community, co-operating partners and local authorities, is doing everything possible to come up with a national policy on waste management. Let me also state here that the procurement process for a consultant to help us prepare this plan is in the process and it is our sincere hope that this plan will come to fruition very soon so that we can be on top of things.

Sir, let me also state that for Lusaka, additional equipment is being purchased to help the solid waste management at the Chunga Sanitary Landfill. It is also our sincere hope that with additional funding coming, we should able to construct landfills in other parts of the country.

Mr Speaker, we are concerned about the issue and we are doing everything possible to ensure that this matter is under control. Let me also emphasise the fact that in addition to using landfills, the concept of material recovery, which is the recycling of solid waste, is also an issue that we are working on in collaboration with the private sector. It is comforting that there is a lot of interest that has been shown by the private sector to set up recycling plants so that they can handle this situation.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

CARE FOR MENTALLY CHALLENGED AND AGED PERSONS

520. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to start taking care of the mentally challenged people and the aged who roamed the streets; and

(b) if so, when the exercise would commence.

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, it is the role of the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health to take care of the vulnerable people in our society, including the mentally challenged and older persons who roam the streets. The ministry has developed a national policy on disability and the Persons with Disabilities Act No. 6 of 2012 under which the mentally challenged are considered as a category of persons living with disabilities who need care and support. An implementation plan has been developed and will be operationalised this year.

Similarly, a national policy on ageing was recently developed in order to uplift the standard of living of our people, especially the ageing population in general. The ministry also has a deliberate programme specifically targeting destitute older persons by providing them with institutional care through placing them in institutional homes for the aged. Currently, there are ten institutional homes for the aged in the country. Some of the assistance is already being provided to the elderly and mentally challenged and this is done through the on-going programmes by the Government.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is saying that the Government has already started taking care of the mentally challenged and aged persons, but why is the number of those roaming the streets increasing? Further, some of these people roaming the streets are sick. Why can the Government not take them to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) or Chainama Mental Hospital?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, we need a programme to be put in place to ensure that the mopping up of all people who roam the streets, including the mentally challenged, is done correctly and an orderly manner. I have pointed out that the ministry has just approved …

Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.

_____________

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the Chair]

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE WHOLE HOUSE

COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION SEMINAR

The Deputy Chairperson: I wish to remind hon. Members that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Zambia Branch will be holding a seminar for all hon. Members of Parliament on Monday, 30th June, 2014, in the main auditorium from 0900 hours to 1600 hours. The seminar is a very important event in the CPA Zambia calendar and I, therefore, urge all hon. Members to attend it.

I thank you.

________________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was responding to the hon. Member for Nangoma who wanted to find out what the ministry was doing about the increased number of mentally challenged people roaming the streets. As a matter of fact, the ministry works in close collaboration with the security wings such as the Zambia Police Force where we …

Mr Katuka: You arrest.

Mrs Wina: We do not arrest.

Laughter

Mrs Wina: We approach and take the mentally challenged, particularly those that are violent, to psychiatric centres such as Chainama Mental Hospital. The mentally challenged who are not violent and aged people are placed in institutional homes to be taken care of.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker is the hon. Minister aware that, soon, there will be a preponderance of disabled persons after the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) retrenched disabled persons from the farm blocks.

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the issue of ZAPD was discussed in this House yesterday and it was covered adequately. I do not think we need to repeat the process.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, I know that there other institutions that have also embarked on this noble cause of looking after the aged in Zambia. For example, the Salvation Army Church manages the Mitanda Home of the Aged in Ndola. May I know from the hon. Minister, how well the Government collaborates with such institutions. Does it complement their efforts?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, for the information of the hon. Members of this House, there are ten institutions for the aged in the country and these include:

Institution  Location

Mitanda Ndola
Divine Providence Home Lusaka
Maramba Home for the aged  Livingstone
Chibote Luanshya
Mwandi Sesheke
Chibolya Mufulira
William Residential Care Home Lusaka
Nkulamaziba Solwezi
St Theresa  Ndola

Sir, under these institutions, 200 hundred vulnerable older persons are taken care of. Yes, the Government provides grants to support these institutions. The ministry is working very closely with institutions such as the Salvation Army, other faith-based institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are taking care of the aged in these institutions.

I thank you, Sir.

ZAWA AND CRB RELATIONSHIP IN KAPUTA

521. Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa) asked the Minister of Tourism and Art:

(a) what the relationship between the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and community resource boards (CRB) in Kaputa was;

(b) who supervised the CRBs;

(c) whether members of the CRBs could be used as ZAWA police officers; and

(d) how many members of the CRBs are remunerated.

The Minister of Tourism and Art (Ms Kapata): Mr Speaker, according to the Zambia Wildlife Authority Act No. 12 of 1998,  ZAWA is responsible for the management of all national parks and game management areas (GMAs) in the country while the CRBs are responsible for the conservation of natural resources in identified areas. Therefore, the relationship between ZAWA and Kaputa CRBs is based on a legal partnership contained in Part III of the Zambia Wildlife Authority Act No. 12 of 1998.

Mr Speaker, the CRBs are supervised by ZAWA. In this particular case, Kaputa CRB is supervised by ZAWA through the area warden based in Kaputa.

Mr Speaker, members of the CRBs cannot be used as wildlife police officers. However, they are allowed to employ village scouts to conduct law enforcement activities. Principally, they work in GMAs, but from time to time, as the situation may determine, they can work in a national park with supervision from the wildlife police officers.

Mr Speaker, I wish to bring it to the attention of this august House that the CRB members serve on a voluntary basis to support the wildlife conservation and community development in their respective chiefdoms. However, in a quest to ensure that they conduct their duties effectively, members of the CRBs may get allowances from the CRBs, especially agreed upon by the board, to support them during the course of undertaking assignments that may require money to be undertaken such as when they are attending meetings.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, in cases where we have these volunteer CRB scouts who have been working for many years, some of them for ten years, on a voluntary basis, is there any way that this institution could consider placing them on the Government pay roll so that we do not let them wander as potential people who may destroy the things that they have been conserving for years.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, like I have said in my answer, these work on a voluntary basis and an allowance is given to them. The Government cannot afford to absorb them into the Civil Service because that would mean having a bloated labour force. For now, they work on a voluntary basis and are given an allowance due to them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chansa (Chimbamilonga): Mr Speaker, in the case of the Kaputa CRBs, they do not get any allowances. These people have been in the system for more than twelve years dealing with AK 47 rifles and are very conversant with national parks. At the moment, we do not have enough wildlife police officers. May I find out from the hon. Minister if there is any chance of employing these village scouts because if they are neglected, they might become rebels and sweep away the population in the area.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. The CRBs get their money through hunting concessions. Once the people that are coming to hunt in that particular area pay, 10 per cent of the proceeds goes to the CRBs. I am shocked that the CRBs in Kaputa do not get any money. They are supposed to get money when people hunt in the area.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Minister for the last answer about the sharing of resources from concessioning with the CRBs. I would like to make a follow up on the question by my colleague, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kaputa. In instances where the Government decides to cancel concessions, thereby, denying resources to the CRBs, what intervention does it put in place to ensure that those volunteers get something as compensation for what is lost as a result of the cancellation of concessions?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I am sure that we are all aware that we have about twenty national parks where hunting was suspended at some point. If there are active CRBs in those areas, ZAWA is supposed to pay them some money to ensure that their work continues.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, hunting concessions are very important to us, the people who live in these areas, as the CRBs get funding through such organised kind of management. When will the Government effect the hunting concessions?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, we just ratified the appointment of the Attorney-General yesterday. The ministry needs to consult the Office of the Attorney-General for a legal position on the implications of whatever decision on this matter because there were people who had applied for concessions when they were suspended. So, we need legal advice before we can come to the House to announce the lifting of the suspension on hunting concessions.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Very good answer, hon. Minister.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

BOREHOLES IN KAZUNGULA DISTRICT

522. Mr Livune asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) how many boreholes were sunk by the Government in Kazungula District in 2013; and

(b) how many boreholes were earmarked for sinking in 2014.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr N. Banda): Mr Speaker, the Government, with support from the Danish Government, sank and equipped with hand pumps a total of thirteen boreholes in Kazungula District at the cost of K488,450.

Mr Speaker, the Government, with support from the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), plans to sink and equip with hand pumps a total of forty boreholes in 2014 at a cost of K1,200,000.00.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, the cost of drilling boreholes is huge. Would the hon. Minister comfort me by indicating how soon we may also have a rig like other provinces so that we can reduce on the cost of sinking boreholes in Kazungula District.

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, it is important for me to remind the hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola that the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development has just issued a circular to all hon. Members of Parliament advising that it has bought drilling machines for boreholes and that, if we can, we must support the project by allocating some money from our Constituency Development Fund (CDF). For example, if the hon. Member did that, the process in his constituency would be expedited.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: … I am told that this is a Government which is pro-poor.

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Since this Government is …

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, it seems that the hon. Minister is not aware that the six rigs have been distributed to six provinces and that the Southern Province is not one of them. Is he, therefore, in order to state that we have been written to when, in fact, only hon. Members from other provinces have been written to? No hon. Member in the Southern Province has been written to and, on that account, my question still begs an answer. When will the Southern Province be given a rig by his ministry, in conjunction with the ministry responsible for buying the rigs, for onward distribution?

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is that the distribution of those rigs is done by a different ministry from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. Therefore, if you are anxious to have an appropriate answer, put in a written question.

The hon. Member for Chadiza may continue.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government claims to be pro-poor but I, in the Opposition, do not think so.

Mr Mwila: Who are you, iwe wine?

Mr Mbewe: During the reign of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), the boreholes were drilled free of charge. However, with the coming into power of the PF, a levy of K1,500 per borehole has been introduced. Has the hon. Minister any plans to withdraw this amount which poor people are failing to pay?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, it is important for me to correct what has been submitted by the hon. Member of Parliament. I still recall that the commitment fee of K1,500 was introduced before the coming into power of this Government. It was introduced to ensure that there is community ownership of the facility provided. This was a policy of the former Government and we still uphold it. I also confirm that this is a pro-poor Government and will continue to drill boreholes in the rural areas.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister made reference to the rigs that have been procured by the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development, and that there are letters that have been written to hon. Members of Parliament to this effect. Would the Ministry of Local Government and Housing consider partnering with the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development to utilise funds that are budgeted for the drilling of boreholes under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing? 

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the provision of water and boreholes, in particular, is very important to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. We are doing everything possible to ensure that we partner with those working in the area of water provision. It is possible that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing can work with the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development to ensure that this process is enhanced.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, I would like to take advantage of the question on the Floor of the House to ask the hon. Minister what his ministry is doing in areas such as the valley where boreholes are unreliable as they work only up to about July or August and then dry up. Does the ministry have an alternative to help people in such areas access water?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, indeed, we have difficulties in getting water in some areas. However, there are so many programmes that are going on in the Government. It is important that people in such areas request for dams to be created, as the hon. Member of Parliament for the area submitted. These requests are demand-driven. When we have such demands, they are directed to the ministry which is able to provide water to the people in a given area.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, the Kalahari Salt Pan extends into Kazungula District and, as a result of that, many boreholes in Kazungula produce salty water, which is not fit for human consumption. If the Government has the intention of drilling boreholes in such an area, does it also have a plan in place to desalinate that water before it is made available to the consumers?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, indeed, we have that problem in that area. However, a study to ascertain the levels of salt in this water and to probably provide a solution to the current situation is currently on-going.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, the University of Zambia (UNZA) Geological Survey Department carried out a survey on the water table in Mwandi and it found that the water was salty and not fit for human and animal consumption. Hon. Minister, what is your immediate plan to alleviate this water problem in Mwandi?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the ministry has engaged the UNZA Department responsible for water exploration to try and resolve the issues pertaining to that area in Mwandi.

I thank you, Sir.

__________

MOTION

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Government Assurances for the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly laid on the Table of this House on 19th June, 2014.

The Deputy Chairperson: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Sichula (Nakonde): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, in accordance with its mandate, your Committee considered both new and outstanding assurances.

Mr Speaker, from the outset, let me express your Committee’s displeasure regarding assurances that have been pending implementation for a very long time. Some assurances were made as far back as 1997. This is a sign of a lack of political will in the implementation of many assurances that the Government makes on the Floor of the House. Your Committee feels that the Government does not give due consideration to the assurances that it makes as well as matching them with the available resources. In this regard, your Committee strongly urges the Government to take the assurances seriously and to ensure that it matches the available resources with the pronouncements it makes.

Mr Speaker, for instance, the assurance on the Luampa/Machile Road dates back to 1st October, 1997. Despite successive governments making pronouncements every year that they were committed to implementing the assurance, this has not been done.

Mr Speaker, another assurance that has been outstanding for the last seventeen years is the undertaking to construct the Chama/Matumbo Bridge. The bridge has not been constructed despite the assurance made by the then hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication that the construction of the bridge would be included in the Road Sector Investment Programme (ROADSIP) Programme for 1998.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Let us consult less loudly.

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, there are many such examples where assurances have remained unattended to for unreasonably long periods and the usual answer that your  Committee gets from the Government year in and year out is that it does not have adequate funds to implement the assurances. Your Committee wonders whether the Government policy on these projects, which have been outstanding for a very long time, has changed. Your Committee is of the view that the delay in implementing assurances can be attributed to a lack of a time-frame within which assurances are to be implemented. This is as a result of a lack of due consideration of the availability of funds to fulfill assurances, compounded with a lack of a proper implementation plan.

Mr Speaker, in view of the foregoing, your Committee strongly recommends that the Government attaches a timeframe during which assurances should be implemented. In an event that the time attached to an assurance elapses, the Government should inform the House, through the Leader of Government Business in the House, on the change of policy or give reasons the project has not commenced or been completed.

Mr Speaker, your Committee further urges the Executive to desist from making assurances on the Floor of this House before undertaking consultations with the experts in the various ministries regarding availability of funds and attainability of such projects.

Mr Speaker, let me also comment on the slow pace at which the Government is implementing the assurance on the construction of the Kalengelenge, Jimbe, Kambimba and Kamapanda border posts in the North-Western Province. Your Committee appreciates the progress that has been made on the works on Kambimba and Kamapanda border posts so far. However, it is disheartening to note that while the works on the two border posts are almost complete, a lot still needs to be done. Regrettably, Kambimba Border Post is fairly complete, although the workmanship, especially on the houses, is poor as your Committee noted cracks in the floors of the houses even before the houses are occupied. The border post has not been connected to water, solar power and communication facilities. You may wish to note that the works on the border posts have not been completed according to schedule because the contractor suspended works on the project. The main reason for the suspension of the works on the project was that the road leading to the border post becomes impassable during the rainy season.

Mr Speaker, you may further wish to note that although Kamapanda Border Post was commissioned in 2013, it is not yet operational because the infrastructure has no office furniture, water, and electricity. The border post and the three houses for immigration officers are substantially completed. However, the officers have not yet moved to the border post because the facility does not have water and electricity. As a result, the border post becomes porous during the night, putting the lives of the people in border areas at stake.

Sir, your Committee is saddened that the Government has not commenced works on the Jimbe and Kalengelenge border posts, especially that it is aware of the security challenges that people in boarder areas face. Therefore, in order to protect the lives of the people in border areas as well as monitor the people that enter the country through these borders, your Committee strongly urges the Government to speed up the works on the border posts. Considering that the Government is in the process of procuring for the works on the border posts, your Committee further urges it to urgently work on the roads leading to project sites so that works can be completed within the agreed timeframe.

Mr Speaker, your Committee observes that the long procurement procedures have partly contributed to the slow pace at which the Government is implementing assurances. Currently, the procurement procedures take so long that by the time the process is completed input costs in the construction would have increased. Sometimes, the process ends at procurement because funds allocated to the project are taken back to the Treasury at the end of the financial year in line with the financial regulations. In addition, your Committee is of the view that inadequate capacity in provincial centres has resulted in most of the projects being procured at headquarters.

Sir, your Committee strongly urges the Government to review the procurement process as well as build capacity in provincial centers. This will enable provincial centres to procure for major projects that are being implemented in the provinces unlike what is obtaining today where all projects are being procured from the headquarters.

Mr Speaker, your Committee is saddened to note that the Budget and Planning Bill, which is expected to improve Parliament’s participation in the Budget Process and also enhance transparency and accountability, has not been presented to the House. Your Committee believes that the Bill will partly help address the challenges that the Government faces in implementing projects. In this vein, your Committee strongly urges the Government to urgently present, before Parliament, the Planning and Budgeting Bill during this session.

Sir, in conclusion, let me state that your Committee is deeply indebted to you for affording it an opportunity to scrutinise the assurances. It is further indebted to the stakeholders who appeared before it and tendered both oral and written submissions. 

Mr Speaker, last but not the least, my gratitude also goes to the Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia and her staff for the support they rendered to your Committee during its deliberations.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

The Deputy Chairperson: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

Mr Sichula: Now, Sir.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for affording me the opportunity to second this important Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Government Assurances for the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, allow me to also thank the mover of the Motion and the Chairperson of your Committee, Mr Munji Habeenzu, MP, for the able manner in which he presided over your Committee’s deliberations and also the way he has highlighted the pertinent issues raised in your report.

Sir, considering that hon. Members have already read the report, I will only comment on two issues which relate to the value addition on locally-produced products and the opening of newly-created universities.

Mr Speaker, in order to appreciate the efforts which the Government was making towards value-addition for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), your Committee toured the Chambishi and Lumwana Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZs). In this regard, your Committee wishes to report that the Chambishi MFEZ has made steady progress.

Sir, this august House may wish to note that the Chambishi MFEZ has infrastructure where investors, both local and foreign, could relocate to access services necessary to produce goods and services at affordable costs. However, the US$500,000 threshold was too high for local SMEs. As a result, only foreign investors are able to set up companies at the MFEZ, denying the local investors an opportunity to benefit from the incentives that go with investing there.

Mr Speaker, your Committee, therefore, strongly urges the Government to intensify the sensitisation programmes to encourage the local investors to form consortiums in order to benefit from the incentives that go with investing in the MFEZ. The Government should, further seriously consider reviewing the US$500,000 for local SMEs in order to attract local investments.

Sir, regrettably, nothing much has been done on the Lumwana MFEZ because it is located within the Lumwana surface rights area which is currently owned by Barrick Gold Corporation. As a result, potential investors have been skeptical about setting up businesses in the zone because they prefer to own land which they could subsequently use as collateral. This is because the location of Lumwana MFEZ is not compatible with the mining rights, hence the suggestion by the new owners to relocate the Lumwana MFEZ outside the Lumwana Mine area.

Mr Speaker, considering that discussions among the Lumwana MFEZ, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, and Solwezi District Council were on-going, your Committee recommends that the Government should quickly draw a conclusion on where the project could be located so that works on the Lumwana MFEZ can commence as soon as possible.

Sir, your Committee is further taken aback by the slow pace at which the Government is implementing the Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) because this will speed up the opening of Paul Mushindo, Chalimbana, Kwame Nkrumah, Robert Kapasa Makasa, Palabana and Mukuba universities.

Mr Speaker, your Committee believes that the current infrastructure challenges at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) are as a result of a large number of students that are enrolled. This is because successive governments have not invested in the construction of public universities since Independence despite the growth in population, but rather enroll more students than the institution can accommodate.

Sir, in this vein, your Committee urges the Government to quickly ensure that the newly-created institutions namely, Paul Mushindo, Chalimbana, Kwame Nkrumah, Robert Kapasa Makasa, Palabana and Mukuba universities are opened in order to lighten the burden of over enrolment, reduce accommodation problems and water challenges being faced at the few existing public universities.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me state that your Committee is deeply indebted to you for affording it an opportunity to scrutinise the Government assurances. It is further indebted to the stakeholders who appeared before it and tendered both oral and written submissions.

Sir, last but not the least, my gratitude also goes to the Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia and her staff for the invaluable support that they rendered to your Committee during its deliberations.

Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, in supporting your report, I want to thank the Chairperson and the seconder for highlighting the problems that are faced as far as Government assurances are concerned. They have raised one important point in connection with an assurance which was made in 1997 when the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) was in the Government under the leadership of Dr Chiluba. This assurance was never honoured even under the MMD leadership of Dr Mwanawasa, SC. Further, this assurance has not been reviewed by the current Ruling Party, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. These hon. Ministers and hon.Deputy Ministers should be warned not to open their mouths on this Floor …

Dr Kaingu: Anyhow!

Mr Muntanga: … anyhow. They should know that whatever they say on the Floor of this House is considered as a Government assurance and it is recorded. These assurances are made without due regard to the Budget. Some of these hon. Ministers make assurances even when they know that they are not friends with the hon. Minister of Finance who, if they were friends would, perhaps, do them a favour by offering some funds.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Muntanga: How do you do that when you are not very close to His Excellency the President that he can waive certain things? These people must understand these things.

Mrs Kawandami: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mrs Kawandami: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to intimate that we have to make friends with the hon. Minister of Finance in order for us to develop this country? Is he in order to make such assumptions, and yet he knows how the process works in the Government?

 I need your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: He does not know!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! To the extent that he gave the impression that in order to access funding from the hon. Minister of Finance, you have to be closer to him in terms of friendship, he was out of order.

The hon. Member may continue, please.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, Zambia is a presidential democratic Republic and all the power is vested in His Excellency the President. Certain projects are done outside the Budget. Therefore, what I am saying is that the assurances that are given on the Floor of this House should be honoured. You know that you assure the people through the Floor of this House. If you promise to do something on the Floor of the House, we expect you to honour it. You will find that certain people talk carelessly on the Floor of this House without taking into consideration the fact that certain projects cannot be undertaken. We have noticed the tendency of assurances being made by hon. Ministers who know that even as they make them, they will not be backed up.

Mr Speaker, we also know that there are projects that have been done outside the Budget. This means that someone must have got information that money was available to implement a project that was outside the Budget. That is what I am talking about. You can only assure the people of Zambia on the Floor of this House if you are able to implement a project outside the Budget. If they are unable to do that, then, they must not make any assurances. I am referring to the ones that like talking, and yet they have green horns and do not even understand what they are talking about. I am advising them not to make unnecessary assurances. We need proper assurances that can be honoured.

Sir, how do you account for an assurance which was placed on record in 1997, but has not been done? In any case, I think your Committee should, sometimes, ignore such assurances so that they come as a new project at the headquarters. Who will remember that, in 1997, some hon. Minister made such an assurance in this House? In order to have proper and effective assurances, we should understand what we are promising the Zambian people.

Mr Speaker, I also want to talk about the procurement process which is becoming a serious problem in this country. Everyone believes that in procurement, you must first do this and that. It has become a bottleneck in as far as implementation of projects is concerned. Sometimes, you can make a genuine assurance and money is made available, but only to be told that you have to go through the procurement process.

Sir, for example, two years ago, there was a promise to build a civic centre in Kalomo and money was made available. We were later told that the papers had gone to procurement at the headquarters. It took them two years to decide on who was going to build that civic centre. Why should we operate like that? It is becoming a bottleneck now. If you want something done, it will not be done. The danger is that by the time they are coming to the procurement process, those that are in these positions would have told their friends to bid. Often, you will find that someone who stays on the Copperbelt opens up a small office in Kalomo and bids in Lusaka so that he is awarded a contract. This usually happens because he is a friend to someone in the Government. The aspect of friendship is there, whether you like it or not. It happens and you should accept that.

Mr Mwimba. H. Malama: Oho!

Mr Muntanga: Do not just say, “Oho”!

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, in fact, it may be you …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! May you, please, debate or address them through the Chair.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, through you, it is not right for them to say, “Oho” when they are guilty of such activities. We can give you examples of where such things have happened. There have been assurances made in this House that a hospital in Kalomo would be completed at a given date. The hon. Minister even visits that site while the contractor is somewhere in Lusaka enjoying the money he was paid. As a result, the construction of the hospital has not been completed to date.

Sir, I also want to talk about the behaviour of the people who work under the Procurement Department. The Government should ensure that it places capable people under this department. I, sometimes, wonder why the contract for the construction of the hospital in Kalomo was not given to the Chinese contractor who constructed hospitals in other parts of the country. The construction of hospitals that were contracted to the Chinese has been completed, and yet two years after construction of the hospital in Kalomo commenced, is still at window level.

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: Sir, recently, the hon. Deputy Minister of Health went to the site and told the contractor that the contract would be cancelled if there was no progress with the works. At least, he was courageous enough to threaten the contractor. Before, others were not able to say anything no matter how much I complained. The Government should know that this procurement process which it uses to send useless people to the areas it considers to be out of touch with will only reflect on its output.

Sir, in certain areas, the Government ensures that contractors with proper equipment are sent for road rehabilitation works while in other areas it sends people with wheelbarrows and they have to hire a grader to work on the roads. This happened when a road between Kalomo and a place known as Bell was supposed to be rehabilitated. A contractor from Lusaka was awarded the contract, but he had no proper equipment.

Mr Miyanda interjected.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, another contractor was tasked to work on a road between Kalomo and Mubanga in Dundumwezi area and he had one old grader to use. So, he did not know what to do.

Mr Miyanda: He is in Lusaka.

Mr Muntanga: That person has since come back to Lusaka.

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, we were assured that the road between Kalomo and Chikanta would be worked on, but there is a grader that is stuck at Nakabanga. It has been packed there since December, but we were assured that that road would be worked on. By the time the contractors finish working on these roads, the other areas of the road, which have been worked on, will have had ditches. These types of performances and assurances by the Government should not be so. The Government should try to match the assurances which it gives to this House and the people of Zambia with the performance. We have heard assurances being made by Government. When it does that, it assures the whole country and, therefore, should show us the capabilities to undertake those projects. An hon. Minister told me that the Government was going to make a bridge in my township and that I should not worry about it. Later, two or three hon. Ministers went to see how bad that bridge was and made an assurance that it would be worked on. When I raised a question on this issue again, the answer that was given was that they had taken note and they would repair the bridge. To date, they hope to do it. It will not be done.

Mr Mukanga: We will work on it.

Mr Miyanda: Works and supply.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication is answering in the background. However, the Government will not work on it. So, why is it assuring us? You should resign if you are incapable of working because that Government position entitles you to perform.

Mr Speaker, we want to ensure that all the people that have been given contracts, including the Zambia National Service (ZNS), do their jobs properly. The ZNS sometimes will start a project, but take long to complete it. Please, assist it with equipment because its equipment usually breaks down half way through some projects.

Sir, we want to have dams made, but the ZNS fails to complete even a small dam. We were assured that twenty dams would be constructed in Kalomo, but none has been made. Everyone knows that the Southern Province is a drought-prone area because it receives less rainfall and most of the people depend on water from the boreholes. However, even when the drilling rigs were bought, none of them were sent to the Southern Province because it is not a priority.

Mr Speaker, let me urge the Government to buy water treatment equipment so that it can treat the water from lakes and water logged areas. However, it is taking drilling rigs to places where if you drilled, you would easily find water at 3m and in other areas at 6m into the ground, and yet these rigs should be taken to areas where water can only be found at 60m to 120m.

Sir, the Government assured the Zambian people that it would provide water everywhere. Therefore, please, it must make proper plans. Where it cannot drill boreholes, it must construct dams. This morning, we were told that the construction of dams is demand-driven. What is the reason of deceiving people and telling them that they will only be given boreholes when they demand for them? We have been demanding for these boreholes, but nothing has been done.  You have misplaced the drilling rigs that you have sent in areas where there is heavy rainfall.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: Yes. You do not put an drilling rig where there is water everywhere. You are supposed to just take water treatment equipment to such areas.

Mr Muntanga pointed at hon. Government Members.

Hon. Government Members: Do not point at us.

Mr Muntanga: Whether you do not want to be pointed at, we will point at you.

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, perhaps, that is the only way they can understand. Surely, how can one person in an office decide to send a drilling rig to a place like Solwezi, where there is a lot of water, and if one dug a well, they would easily find it? However, where there is no water like in Dundumwezi, there is no drilling rig that has been sent.

Mr Sing’ombe: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: There is no water in Dundumwezi and in Mapatizya. You need dams in those areas, but you have not planned for them.

Mr Sampa: Kabanga.

Mr Muntanga: Thank you very much, hon. Minister. You are aware of the place. You are seated next to the hon. Minister of Finance. Remind him that we need a caterpillar in Kalomo to make dams. We do not want promises. At one time, I was asked how many dams I wanted in my constituency and I said twenty dams. I was told not to worry because there was money to construct those dams.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, just remember that there is money, and I am waiting for that money. The Government assurances go beyond what these people read. The people want you to deliver, implement and give them services. The assurances that you have given to the people outside remain for you to account for. Do not be economical with the truth. When you went out to campaign, you promised the people heaven on earth, but you have not delivered that to them. Have you given it to them? However, for the things that you promise us in here you must, at least, save face and try to implement them. It is as simple as that.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, I rise to support your report on Government Assurances, and in doing so, I have some comments to make in line with the whole principal of Government assurances.

Sir, to be an hon. Minister or hon. Deputy Minister dictates that there are certain virtues that you have to abide by. These virtues include credibility, integrity and honesty which are critical to good governance and to the integrity of the Government. It is because of these virtues that we have the ministerial code of conduct which, of course, hon. Ministers, when they take office, are inducted in so that they know the virtues of collective responsibility and that in as much as they may wish to do certain things, there are procedures to be followed. There may be certain important national development programmes or projects which you would like done as an hon. Minister in your sector, but there are procedures that need to be followed. For example, certain things have to be approved by Cabinet. 

For example, certain things have to be approved by Cabinet. If, as an hon. Minister, one is serious about a particular project, he or she must initiate a Cabinet Memorandum and his or her colleagues have to comment on it. Some of the colleagues may reject the proposal so that it is debated in the Cabinet. If a consensus is reached, it becomes binding on all Cabinet Ministers.

Dr Kaingu: Not just some!

Prof. Lungwangwa: This is the procedure.

Mr Speaker, we have, however, heard certain pronouncements in this House which, to a large extent, we conclude, have not passed through the procedures of Cabinet. For example, last year, we had a very strong statement from the Front Bench that beginning January, 2014, all school leavers in Zambia would undergo national service training.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: This strong statement was presented on the Floor of this House. However, we are half-way through 2014 and our children are not in the service. This was a statement which was made on the spur of the moment ...

Mr Muntanga: Donchi kubeba!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … without any critical reflection and I am sure that it did not pass through Cabinet.  You do not do things like that, especially with assurances given on the Floor of this House.

Mr Muntanga: Chief Whip!

Prof. Lungwangwa: This is a very important national programme to which there was no Cabinet approval. This is extremely unethical. As an hon. Minister, you do not do such things. Some of us have been hon. Ministers before and we know what is involved.

Mr Speaker, we have heard other pronouncements in this House. For example, just last week, it was stated on the Floor of this House that a memorandum had already been signed for the establishment of a university to focus on tourism. Establishing a university requires Cabinet approval. Colleagues have to comment through the memorandum which is, then, circulated.

Mr Speaker, we have heard statements like the Freedom of Information Bill will come on mentioned dates. To date, the Bill has not come to this House. You do not do things like that. That is not good governance. It is extremely unethical.

Sir, the acting hon. Minister of Finance, in 2013, stood on the Floor of this House, just next to where I sit here, and told the House that K1 billion was already in Mongu for the rehabilitation of the Nalikwanda Road. To date, that road has not been worked on.

Mr Muntanga: Where is the money?

Prof. Lungwangwa: To make matters worse, even the hon. Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication stood on the Floor of this House and said that the rehabilitation of Nalikwanda Road had been completed, and yet the road has not been worked on. When I raised a question about the road not being worked on and about the hon. Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication being dishonest on the Floor of this House, he said he would go to Nalikwanda to check how far the works had gone. To date, he has not been there. He does not even know what the state of the road we are talking about is.

Mr Muntanga: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Question!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Sir, the people of Nalikwanda walk 55 km to get to Mongu because the road is in a poor state. Promises which have not been followed through have been made on the Floor of this House. Those who are able to get on vehicles have to pay K120.

Ms Kapata: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this point of order.

Is the hon. Member for Nalikwanda in order to talk about Nalikwanda Road not being worked on when he was at some point an hon. Minister for a long time in the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and he did not do anything about it? He is an hon. Member of Parliament for that area. So, he should have done something about it at that particular time. Is he in order to continue talking about it when he could have done something about it at the time he was in a position do so?

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Member debating may continue because he is definitely in order to debate the way he is debating.

Laughter

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, as far as roads in the Western Province are concerned, the rehabilitation should be an annual programme because we are dealing with a sandy environment. When the Executive is being told about roads deteriorating, due attention must be given. Let the Government not make assurances which it cannot fulfill because it is unethical. You do not do such things, as a Government, hon. Ministers.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: You should learn from your fellow ministers from other countries as you interact with them informally over a cup of tea in conferences, seminars or workshops on how ministers should behave, what they can and cannot say and what they can and cannot do in public. These are the ethics of governance.

Prof Luo: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Muntanga: They never learn!

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I rarely stand on points of order. However, with a lot of pain, I have to raise this point of order.

Mr Speaker is the hon. Member of Parliament, who carries a dignified title of professor, in order to speak the way he is when the mover of this particular Motion mentioned that some of these assurances were made in 1997, a period when he belonged to a party which was in the Government and under which he served as hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, a ministry, according to that structure, responsible for roads? Is he in order to come to this honourable House and continue lamenting about Nalikwanda Road?

 I need your serious ruling, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: Any hon. Member of Parliament is at liberty to lament about development in his or her constituency irrespective of whether he or she was an hon. Minister at one time or another.

Hon. Member for Nalikwanda, you may continue.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, indeed, I was an hon. Minister of Communications and Transport. However, this was not the ministry that dealt with the rehabilitation and construction of roads. The ministry responsible for that was the Ministry of Works and Supply. It is important for us to correct certain impressions.

Mr Speaker, in 1997, I was at the University of Zambia (UNZA),  …

 Laughter

Mr Muntanga: She has forgotten!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … together with my colleague, Hon. Prof. Luo.

Sir, it is very important that when our colleagues make certain assurances, they follow them through. They must make sure that those assurances are followed through and implemented expeditiously because people out there are waiting for these assurances to be implemented.

Sir, last year, the hon. Minister of Home Affairs promised Nalikwanda Police Post a vehicle in the first quarter of this year. Where is the vehicle? Again, during the same year, the hon. Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development assured the people of Nalikwanda that power would be extended to the area when the Luampa Substation was commissioned and become functional. Where is it? Even His Honour the Vice-President made an assurance on the Floor of this House that the culvert at Nakanya would be rehabilitated. There has been no rehabilitation to date, nothing.

Hon. Government Members: Where?

Prof. Lungwangwa: In Nalikwanda.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! Let us observe the rules of debate. You are not supposed to indulge yourselves in the exercise of dishing out, generously for that matter, running commentaries. If you want to speak, just indicate and you will be given the opportunity to do so.

May the hon. Member for Nalikwanda continue.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the people of Nalikwanda are extremely frustrated with the assurances being made by the hon. Ministers. They are wondering what type of governance they are under that sees an hon. Minister making an assurance on the Floor of the House without any shame at all. When the representative of the people follows up on how far they have gone, he is told that it will be done. When is the Nalikwanda Road going to be worked on? How many times have you assured us? That is unacceptable. Even the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock has made assurances that the veterinary officers will be sent to Nalikwanda.  To date, we have not seen them. This is unacceptable.

Mr Chilangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member of Parliament whose electorate are so frustrated with him for the lack of delivery in order to continue running around in circles instead of winding up his debate?

The Deputy Chairperson: May the hon. Member for Nalikwanda continue with his debate.

Laughter

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the challenge of being in the Executive is that you have to deliver the services to the people.

Mr Shakafuswa: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Shakafuswa: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Some hon. Members in this House want to give the impression that hon. Members of Parliament are the people who deliver at constituency level. As far as I know, hon. Members of Parliament come to this House to legislate. The function of delivering lies with the Government of the day. Is the hon. Minister who stood up  on a point of order in order to stand and give the impression that the Government is running away from its responsibility to deliver to the people of Zambia? Is he in order to stand on unnecessary points of order? I need your serious ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

The fact that I did not make a ruling on that point of order speaks volumes.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: May the hon. Member for Nalikwanda continue, please.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, we expect our colleagues on your right, who are in the Executive and are governing this country, to be very serious when they come on the Floor of this House. They should seriously consult with their staff to ensure that nothing, but the truth, which people can respect, comes out of their mouths on the Floor of this House. Also, they should ensure that what they say is doable. This is what is expected of an hon. Minister. Anything short of that reflects poor governance. The people of Zambia do not expect poor governance from our colleagues, but good governance. Governance, therefore, means strict adherence to what is said and followed through to ensure that what is said is implemented. That is what those in the Executive are expected to do. It is not the duty of hon. Members to deliver the services, but the Executive.

 Mr Kambwili: Question!

Prof. Lungwangwa: When some of us were in the Executive, we made sure that delivery was taken to secondary schools in Mpulungu, …

 Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … which the hon. Member who is laughing so loudly is proud of. Those were some of the services that we took to the people of Mpulungu.

 Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Sir, those who were in the House when we were on your right can rise and challenge that we never delivered. Even Hon. Mwimba H. Malama, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications is very happy. Even Hon. Mulenga, who is standing on the Floor of his House to raise a point of order, was very happy.

 Mr Speaker, I thank you.{mospagebreak}

Laughter

Dr Kaingu (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, I do not know what has gone wrong with these hon. Ministers.

 Laughter

 Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I would like to dovetail on what Prof. Lungwangwa has just said.

Interruptions

Dr Kaingu:  If you do not know the meaning, just keep quiet, hon. Minister.

 M Speaker,  I would like to make a plea, through you, so that, maybe, you could give teeth to your Committee because assurances have been made in this House, but as you have heard from my colleagues, hon. Ministers  do not seem to care about what they say on the Floor of this House. Maybe, your Committee must start punishing hon. Ministers. If you give your Committee the teeth to punish hon. Ministers, maybe, they will stop making unnecessary assurances.

For Example, we were promised that a Boma would be put up in Mwandi, but, to date, not even one tree has been uprooted where it was supposed be put up. The people of Mwandi have been promised communication towers on the Floor of this House, but not even one has been erected since the assurance was made.

Interruptions

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I will not be wrong, especially if I will not be interrupted by the hecklers.

The people of Mwandi have been promised dams because the place is arid. I have told the hon. Minister that the Geological Survey …

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

We take cognisance of mother tongue interference. Allow the hon. Member to continue.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, the interference is actually from these men. The Geological Department of the University of Zambia (UNZA) carried out an empirical survey on the water table of Mwandi and I brought that to the attention of the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development and an assurance was made on the Floor of this House that dams would be constructed. To date, we are still waiting.

Mr Kapeya: On a point of order, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Kabusha!

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwandi in order to claim that there has been no single tree uprooted in the area where  infrastructure befitting a district should have been put up when in January, this year, a new police station was commissioned in Mwandi? Is he in order to claim that nothing has happened in Mwandi?

Sir, I need your serious ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is that, that is a contestation of fact and, therefore, the Hon. Mr Speaker, cannot make a ruling on that.

Hon. Member, you may continue.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, in Mwandi, we were promised that dams would be constructed, but, to date, we are still waiting. The police station that the hon. Minister is referring to is actually in Mwandi Village and not at the Boma site. There is nothing happening at the Boma and we only get assurances. We were assured of a trades school and after making that assurance, the hon. Minister is just holding himself.

Sir, several times we were assured that the Wampa/Sesheke Road, commonly known as the Mulobezi Road, would be resurfaced, but that has not happened and we are still waiting. Hon. Prof. Nkandu Luo, bapongoshi, …

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

We have no bapongoshis in here.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, it is difficult to withdraw because she is.

The Deputy Chairperson: You have to withdraw.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: If you want to continue debating, then, you must withdraw that word.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘bapongoshi’.

Laughter

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I want to ride on what my colleagues, Hon. Muntanga and Hon. Prof. Lungwangwa, have said. Please, hon. Ministers, do not open your mouths unnecessarily like you have diarrhoea of the mouth.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Dr Kaingu: For us who come from, …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

I think the rules of debate provide that we use sober language and be civil to each other. I hope you take that into account as you continue debating.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for your guidance. It is unacceptable, particularly, to us who come from rural constituencies that there is almost no development other than the police station that the hon. Minister is talking about.

Sir, since the Patriotic Front (PF) Government came into power, there has been nothing happening in Mwandi. The only development that is worth mentioning is that Mwandi was turned into a district although that is just on paper.

Mr Speaker, I want to emphasise that the people of Mwandi and their animals are in dire need of water. This need was brought to the hon. Minister’s attention and he, as late as this morning, assured the people of Mwandi that dams would be constructed. Now, it is unethical for me to ask what we should do with the Committee on Government Assurances to ensure that what is contained in its report is taken seriously by the Executive. It has simply become a tradition of producing pamphlets. What a nice report that the Committee has produced. However, you can see that instead of taking the report seriously, the hon. Ministers are laughing. They are laughing at your report. Can you imagine that? They are not laughing at me, but your report.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: I guess if the report is amusing, then, people have the right to laugh.

Laughter

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I want to say that most of those people are my friends. For instance, I enjoy Irish Coffee with Hon. Edgar Lungu. They are my colleagues and I want them to come back in 2016. However, I want to warn them that the attrition level on that side is usually very high, especially if they are not going to take what we are saying seriously. The people of Mwandi do not want to hear about the PF.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: May you continue debating the report, please.

Dr Kaingu: Seriously.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to contradict this report. I want to thank the Chairperson for such a nice report although the Executive has not taken it seriously.

Sir, I thank you.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications (Mr Mwimba H. Malama): Mr Speaker, I am compelled to stand and add my voice to what has been said. However, I will be very brief.

Sir, to start with, I want to say that when we stand to debate, it is important that we also look at the history. I would understand Hon. Prof. Lungwangwa’s debate if he belonged to the United for National Development (UPND) because that party has never been in power. So, it is shameful for him to debate in that manner without considering the period that we have been in power and the period that the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) was in power. It is a shame even to the people outside this House who are following this debate.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwimba. H Malama: Sir, we appreciate the fact that we are in the Government. However, we need to look at the number of years the MMD was in power. When we look at this report, we should also look at the number of assurances that have been made before the House. Some of them are from as far back as 1997. The Patriotic Front (PF) has only been in the Government for two years and some months. When you look at the number of projects which it has embarked on, we do not even need to stand here and start defending some of these things because what we are doing is actually visible. Our colleagues failed terribly and that is why the Zambian people said that they could not continue with the MMD and voted for the PF.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwimba. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, what the PF is doing is something that we do not even need to start explaining.

Prof. Lungwangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for according me this point of order. As you are aware, I rarely rise on points of order. I do so when it is very compelling. Is the hon. Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication in order to bring me in his debate when, in fact, he is the one who stood on the Floor of this House and dishonestly told the people of Nalikwanda that the rehabilitation of their road had been completed? He was challenged that what he was telling the people of Nalikwanda on the Floor of this House was incorrect and not true. He has admitted by saying that he was misinformed by his staff and that he would personally go to Nalikwanda to inspect the road. Is he in order to bring me in his debate when I was referring to a statement of fact arising from the dishonest answer he gave on the Floor of this House?

I need your serious ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: There is no serious ruling since you have exhaustively debated your point of order.

Continue, hon. Deputy Minister.

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, this is why I was saying that if that kind of talk was coming from our colleagues on your immediate left, I can accept it. I want the hon. Member to first look at the period that we have been in office and the projects which we have embarked on. The MMD was in the Government for twenty years, but never even looked at how to change the life of people in Lusaka in terms of the road network. The PF Government is, however, doing it. Some of the projects that were implemented under former hon. Ministers are not something that the people of Zambia can look at and say they were better leaders. No wonder some of these leaders are not responsible enough. If they were responsible enough, they would not have been denying their failures at the time they were thier responsibilities. It is important for leaders to accept certain responsibilities because, as a leader, you are responsible for carrying out certain duties when you are in power. This is what we are doing. As the PF Government, …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Let us guide each other. We have a report here which has got Government assurances, some dating as far back as 1997. Some were made in 2013, 2011, 2010 and so on and so forth. So, as you debate, address your attention to the report which I think you have had ample time to read.

Mr Mwimba. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, Hon. Prof. Lungwangwa had stated that I never visited Nalikwanda. There is a touring programme under my office and I have actually continued touring the country. A few weeks ago, I was in the North-Western Province and we will still go to Nalikwanda to see what is happening. We are touring all the parts of the country because we are responsible leaders. I thought I needed to correct that. Hon. Members must know that we are looking at Government assurances from as far back as 1997. We have been in power for only two years. So, when we stand to debate, we must also take into consideration certain things without actually embarrassing ourselves. If our colleagues delivered by fulfilling the assurances dated as far back as 1997, they would have still been in power. It is because they failed to deliver and fulfill what they had promised the Zambian people that they ganged up to chase them from power.

Laughter

Mr Mwimba. H. Malama: They should actually give us space because we cannot compare the two reigns. One reign started in 1991 to 2011. We want to compare twenty years of the MMD rule to a party which has only been in the Government for two years. Even if we were magicians in the Government, we cannot do wonders in this period.

Mr Speaker, I thought it is important for me to clarify this to those who might not understand that projects require long periods of time to be implemented. We have not been in the Government for long. The projects we have embarked on are big and cannot be done in a year. For example, the creation of districts is a big project. You cannot plan and finish everything in one day. It is practically impossible. It is only God who can say, “Let there be light” and light appears. For us, you have to get an axe and cut a tree. So, in two years, it is not possible for us to be all over and do everything. I thought I should actually put this on record so that those with difficulties in understanding some of these things can get it clearly.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, in winding up debate, I would like to thank the hon. Members that have debated the Motion and those that remained silent.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Question put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

________________

The House adjourned at 1244 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 1st July, 2014.