DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Thursday, 20th February, 2014

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS ON THE MINING PROJECT IN THE LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, on 13th February, 2014, a point of order was raised by, of course, none other than the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central Constituency on the contradictory statements that had been issued, according to him, by the Ministry of Tourism and Art, on the one hand, and the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, on the other, in relation to the large-scale mining project in the Lower Zambezi National Park. In your ruling, I was requested to clarify this matter. I will now do so.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Tourism and Art, Mrs Sylvia T. Masebo, made her submission on the matter to the relevant Parliamentary Committee in camera. Therefore, the issuance of the statement and its description by Hon. Mwiimbu as a public statement issued by the hon. Minister is incorrect. It is a violation of the confidentiality rules of this House. Therefore, the submission, if we can call it that, by the hon. Minister cannot be taken as a Government position.

Sir, the position of the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has been over-ruled by the Ministry of Lands Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, which is in charge of, among other things, overseeing the functions of ZEMA. That being the case, the decisions made by ZEMA are subject, under the Zambia Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2012, to review referral and supervision by the hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. In view of the above, the Government’s position on the Kangaluwi Copper Project to be implemented in the Lower Zambezi National Park by Mwembeshi Resources, a subsidiary of Zambezi Resources of Australia, is as announced by the hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, who has the mandate to state the Government’s position after wide and extensive consultations.

Sir, Section 24(1) of the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 12 of 1998 states that:

“Any person who holds any mining right in, over, under or in respect of any land comprised in a national park may enter and exercise the same right within the national park, upon his giving prior written notice to the Director-General of his intention to so enter the park and to exercise his right in it, and upon compliance with any conditions which the authority may impose.”

Sir, there is more than one gate that has to be passed through in this process. Therefore, the Kangaluwi Copper Project area will remain a part of the Lower Zambezi National Park. Mwembeshi Resources Limited will only implement the project after full consultations and compliance with the Zambia Wildlife Authority’s (ZAWA) prescribed conditions and specifications.

Sir, as the hon. Member for Monze Central pointed out, this matter is in the courts of law and the Government would like to avoid further elaboration on it until is finally adjudicated upon by the courts of law. We are quite willing to be as open and as detailed as required, but we feel that we cannot do so in the face of the court case.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Ema VP aba.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, as the matter of contradiction between hon. Cabinet Ministers arose from the proceedings of the Committee on Lands, Environment and Tourism, which were in camera, a fact I learnt about much later after my ruling, and the project is the subject of a court case, there will be no questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by His Honour the Vice-President.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, everyone should respect the proceedings of our Committees when they decide to hold their meetings in camera. Otherwise, there will be no confidence in the sanctity of such proceedings.

I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

__________{mospagebreak}

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

MUMBEZHI BRIDGE

313. Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a) when the Mumbezhi Bridge, which connected Senior Chief Mukumbi’s Palace to Kalengelenge Border via Kalengelenge Basic School, would be rehabilitated;

(b) what had caused the delay in rehabilitating the bridge; and

(c) what the estimated cost of rehabilitation was.

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr M. H. Malama): Mr Speaker, the Mumbezhi Bridge is earmarked for rehabilitation under the Acrow Bridge Programme, which is a comprehensive approach to bridge infrastructure repair in Zambia. It targets the installation of bridges on various roads in all provinces except the Western, Southern and Copperbelt provinces, which will use the bridge components initially procured for the Mongu/Kalabo Road. The project is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2014.

Sir, there was delay in finalising the financial agreement between the Ministry of Finance and Exim Bank of America, which will finance the Acrow Bridge Programme.

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of the rehabilitation works is US$180,445.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, is the money from the America bank a loan or a grant?

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, it is a loan.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that we will get the residue of the parts of the bridges that were supposed to be used in the Western Province. When will we get these crumbs to the Southern Province in order to repair the bridges?

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, we are implementing a project. When we commence the Acrow project, we will also work on the bridges in the Southern and Copperbelt provinces. In fact, these parts are not residues, but brand new.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, I hear that the bridges that were meant for Mongu and Kalabo will now be taken to the Southern, North-Western and other provinces as if they are not needed in Kalabo. The Lwanginga River and many others in Kalabo have no bridges. Why was it decided to take away this infrastructure that was meant for the Western Province?

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Mukanga): Mr Speaker, our plan is to take the resources where there is immediate need. We needed to share these resources across the country. The bridges were meant for the Mongu/Kalabo Road Project. We have now looked at other provinces as well because the Mongu/Kalabo Project was redesigned and no longer needs the bridges. In the Acrow Project, we will build or rehabilitate about 144 bridges. When you add the forty bridges initially intended for the Mongu/Kalabo Road, we will cover the entire country. It is not just the Western Province, but the whole country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, is there no need for bridges similar to those that will be constructed in other provinces of the country to be built in Kalabo? I ask this because those bridges were meant for the Kalabo/Mongu Project, but the Government has now decided to shift the bridges to other places.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, firstly, the Mongu/Kalabo Road is one project on which more money has been spent than on any other project in this country. In this case, however, we had to look at the needs in other areas.

Ms Imenda: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, this is the umpteenth time I am hearing the hon. Minister lamenting the high cost of constructing the Mongu/Kalabo Road. Is he in order to continue doing that?

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: I think that he is merely stating what the current situation is.

Hon. Minister, continue.

Mr Muntanga: Useless!

Mr Mukanga: Hon. Muntanga, it is not being useless.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I am trying to ensure that we understand where we are coming from. We have to share the resources that we have. It is for this reason that the Acrow Bridges Project and the bridges from the Mongu/Kalabo Road Project will cover the other places where there is need so that everybody is covered. We cannot attend to only one province and spend all the money on it.

I thank you, Sir.

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, has the hon. Minister conducted a needs assessment …

Rev. Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Rev. Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to tell this House that the Government cannot allow these bridges to remain in the Western Province, specifically in Mongu and in Kalabo, because these resources cannot be given to one province when he has given two universities to one village?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, consider the point of order when answering the hon. Member for Nalikwanda’s question.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, what the hon. Minister is saying is totally unacceptable to the people of the Western Province. Has he conducted a needs assessment to ascertain the bridge requirements of the various crossing points in the Western Province for him to arrive at the far-fetched conclusion that some bridges should be taken from the province to other parts of the country? If he has not done so, then, what he is saying is totally unacceptable.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, what I am saying is totally acceptable because we have already conducted the needs assessments and have the findings, which Hon. Prof. Lungwangwa does not have. It would be naïve for somebody to start thinking that just because universities have been built in a certain area, then, the same will be done everywhere. We could also have made the same comparison concerning the Mongu/Kalabo Road and asked ourselves why we should have a very expensive road in one province when other provinces have no roads. The rationale is that there is a need for that kind of road in that area. People need to be wise when considering these issues.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, I …

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

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

However, let me guide before you go any further. If we are disagreeing with what is being said on the Floor, let us not debate through points of order. In certain situations, we must accept that that is how things are.

The hon. Member may continue.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to state that the road in the Western Province is very expensive as if it was originated by the current Government? The current Government found that programme running. Furthermore, that money was sourced …

Mr Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order?

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to say that the Mongu/Kalabo Road is expensive and that we should, therefore, not have any further projects in other places in the Western Province?

I need your serious ruling.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I am looking at both my right and left. Hon. Members, let us be civil in the way we conduct our debate. This is why I am saying that you should not debate through points of order. On that point of order, I have no ruling to make.

Can the hon. Member for Mapatizya continue.

Mr Miyanda: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has made it clear that the bridges meant for Kalabo and Mongu have been moved elsewhere because the Mongu/Kalabo Road has gobbled too many national resources. How much money …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: You have stopped listening. Do I take it that we should proceed? Otherwise, there is no point …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: The point I am making is that you are talking. When you ask questions, you have to listen to the answers given. Otherwise, there is no point in my sitting here and always saying, “Order!” We have to be orderly.

Continue, hon. Member.

Mr Miyanda repeated his question.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, although that is a new question, I will answer it.

Sir, the construction of the Mongu/Kalabo Road will continue under a new design that does not need bridges. So, we intend to take the bridges where there is a need for them. When it comes to monetary expenses incurred on the road, we have spent more than K1.3 trillion, and the Government is committed to completing the project. People should not worry about the project because the committed and visionary Patriotic Front (PF) Government will ensure …

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Mukanga: … that every plan that is on paper is executed professionally and to the letter.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the bridges are being transferred to other provinces because the design of the Mongu/Kalabo Road has been changed. What prompted the change of design?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, what prompted the change of design is that the initial design did not withstand the flooding in the area. The road was washed away. So, we decided do away with the dam embankment design so as to use one that would give us relief in case of a flood. The new plan is workable and we do not want the money that has been spent on it to go to waste. The Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) Government failed to build that road many times …

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: … but, this time, it will be built and the people of the Western Province will soon be smiling at the results.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, why has the Government failed to fix the Kaunga Lueti Bridge in Nalolo Constituency?

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

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Ndalamei: Instead, you are taking away …

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication in order to tell this House that he has made an assessment of the bridge requirements of the Western Province and, on the basis of the assessment, decided that the bridges can be taken elsewhere when he has not provided the facts to this House so that we are all clear on the matter?

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: The question was on whether the ministry had made an assessment of the needs, not on providing the facts to the House, and the answer that was given was in the affirmative. If you want him to provide more details, you can file a question.

Continue, hon. Member for Sikongo.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hammer, hammer!

Mr Ndalamei repeated his question.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, ...

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Mukanga: … although the principal question was not about the bridge the hon. Member has asked about, my bonus answer to his question is that we will try to fix the bridge this year.

Thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, if I heard the hon. Minister correctly, he said that the Bailey bridges will be used in the Western, Southern and Copperbelt provinces. In the Western Province, we have the Kashizhi, Lungwebungu and Zambezi bridges. Is the hon. Minister not considering leaving some of the bridges to be utilised in the Western Province?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, we will consider the rehabilitation of the bridges the hon. Member has mentioned.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Konga (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that, other than the Western, Southern and Copperbelt provinces, there will be new bridges in the other provinces. Can the hon. Minister bring to this House, hopefully soon, a list of how the bridges will be distributed?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, before I answer that question, I would like to repeat the answer that I gave earlier. I said that the Mumbezhi Bridge is earmarked for rehabilitation under the Acrow Bridge Project, a comprehensive approach to bridge infrastructure repairs in Zambia that targets the installation of bridges on various roads in all the provinces except the Western, Southern and Copperbelt provinces, which will use the bridge components initially procured for the Mongu/Kalabo Road. I wonder why hon. Members are saying that the Western Province has been left out when that is not the case. The bridges that were supposed to be used on the Mongu/Kalabo Road will be redistributed even in the Western Province. So, what is the problem?

Mr Speaker, Hon. Konga’s question is a new one. If he needs that information, we can look for it.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, why were the Bailey bridges procured? Was it for them to be shared? I ask this question because I feel that this was wasteful expenditure.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I have explained that the MMD Government had a different design for the Mongu/Kalabo Road and that the bridges were initially procured for that project. So, I do not even know why hon. Members who were in the MMD Government are quiet on the matter when they are supposed to be offering advice to their friends …

Laughter

Mr Mukanga: … because they are the ones who came up with the initial design. The new design does not need those bridges and that is why we will redistribute them. So, it is not a waste of money.

Thank you, Sir.

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Sir, I am a little concerned about the information being given by the hon. Minister. When his Government took over, it found the construction of the Mongu/Kalabo Road already in progress and the redesigning already done, yet he is claiming to this House that the new design was done by his Government because the previous Government had failed. Can he indicate to this House when the road was redesigned.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, if the hon. Member had taken interest in this project and visited the site, he would have seen that there is a new design that we have been working with in the last two years.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, we have made changes to the design in the last two years and the people are happy with the current works on the road. The PF Government has action-oriented members.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, we implement the issues we talk about and the PF is gaining popularity because people are seeing what we are doing.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: It is important for the PF to come up with designs that the people want.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: That is why we are constructing roads under the Link Zambia 8,000 and the Link Lusaka 400 projects. All the roads to be constructed under these projects will need the bridges that we will roll out for the sake of the people of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: The people who voted for us.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: We have a mandate and we will discharge it.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

LUFWANYAMA DISTRICT HOSPITAL

314. Mrs Chungu (Lufwanyama) asked the Minister of Health:

(a) when the Lufwanyama District Hospital would be opened to the public; and

(b) why it had taken long to open the hospital.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, Lufwanyama District Hospital will be opened to the public in April, 2014.

Sir, the opening of the hospital has delayed because there is a statutory requirement for new health facilities to be certified by the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) before operations commence. The hospital was assessed by the HPCZ in January, 2014, and the Government is addressing the recommendations of the council in terms of equipment and human resource needs and other logistics.

I thank you, Sir.

KASEMPA/MUMBWA ROAD

315. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to tar the Kasempa/Mumbwa Road;

(b) if there were such plans, who the contractor was; and

(c) when bridges would be built across the two rivers on the Kasempa/Mumbwa Road.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Col. Kaunda): Mr Speaker, the PF Government has plans to tar the Kasempa/Mumbwa Road. To that effect, K1,800,000 has been allocated for the techno-economic study, detailed engineering designs and tender document preparation for the upgrading of the road in the 2014 Annual Work Plan. The Road Development Agency (RDA) is currently evaluating proposals received from prospecting consultants for the study. The road is under Phase II of the Link Zambia 8,000 Project and will be upgraded to bituminous standard.

Sir, the contractor who will work on the Mumbwa/Kasempa Road will only be known after the procurement process has been completed following the completion of the techno-economic study, detailed engineering designs and tender document preparation.

Mr Speaker, the bridges will be built during the upgrading of the Mumbwa/Kasempa Road.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Deputy Minister aware that the Lusaka/Mumbwa/Kasempa route is shorter than the Lusaka/Copperbelt/Kasempa route?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, I am aware.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, precisely when will Phase II start? Please, hon. Minister, give a specific month.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, once plans have been made and the consultant has given us the report, we shall give the dates.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. Minister is saying that the Government has not received the results of the techno-economic study and detailed engineering designs when he has also told this House that the designs would be finalised by 31st December, 2013, and that construction would commence in the first quarter of 2014. Which is the correct position? The hon. Minister stated this on the Floor of this House and I can provide the evidence. For how long will the feasibility studies go on when we were clearly told that construction would start in the …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, your question is clear.

Mr Pande: … first quarter of 2014?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, plans are not set in concrete. When we make plans, we make variations, which may enable us to conduct more extensive studies. Those may take longer to complete.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is supposed to know when exactly these techno-economic studies, detailed engineering designs and tender document preparations will start and finish. Can he tell us precisely when the works will start?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, when I am ready, I will tell him. I am currently not ready.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

SOLWEZI/KIPUSHI ROAD

316. Mr Lombanya (Solwezi East) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a) whether the Government was aware that the Solwezi/Kipushi Road in Solwezi East Parliamentary Constituency was in a deplorable state of disrepair;

(b) if so, when the road would be rehabilitated;

(c) whether the road was part of the Link Zambia 8,000 Project; and

(d) if not, why it was left out of the project.

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, the Government is aware of the deplorable condition of the Solwezi/Kipushi Road in Solwezi East Parliamentary Constituency.

Sir, currently, Messrs Rankin Engineering Consultants is undertaking a feasibility study and detailed engineering design on the road for a total sum of K8,499,997.44. Consultancy services commenced on January 6, 2014, and are scheduled to be completed by October 4, 2014. The road is expected to be advertised for upgrading works after the designs and tender documents are completed.

Mr Speaker, yes, the road is part of the Link Zambia 8,000 Project. So, it was not left out.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lombanya: Mr Speaker, why are the feasibility studies taking too long?

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, it is not correct that the feasibility studies are taking too long. We are actually moving according to plan.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, it seems that every road we ask about in the North-Western Province is under techno-economic feasibility study. Could we have a clear schedule of these feasibility studies so that we know when they will be completed and when the works will start?

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, for now, we cannot inform the hon. Member when the implementation of the project will commence because we are at the feasibility studies stage. It is only after the feasibilities that we will be able to do so.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I think that the question was on whether the techno-economic feasibility studies can be made available.

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, we can provide that information to the hon. Member. In fact, we have even stated when the study commenced and when it will end. If hon. Members want more information about the feasibility studies, they can come to our offices or go to the RDA and it will be given to them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, from the way this Government is answering questions, should I get it that it is now the PF’s policy to ignore whatever questions are put to it? I ask this because the feasibility study is ending in October, 2014. Is there not any good plan or is it the new policy to say, “Let them talk, but ignore them”?

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, I think that the answer I have given is clear. Maybe, the hon. Member wants me to read it again.

Sir, currently, the road is under feasibility studies and detailed engineering design. We have even stated the company that is conducting the feasibility studies. Further, the company that will work on the road is well established. If the hon. Member is in doubt, he can go to the company and check it out for himself.

Mr Speaker, today alone, my ministry has about five questions on the Order Paper, but I would like to state that we are ahead of the questioners. Whatever question they will bring before this House, we will already have the answer on paper. That is why we are able to come here and give information, at least, on what we are doing on the ground. Had our predecessors been moving at the pace we are moving, most of the questions we are being asked would have been avoided. Therefore, we are doing the right thing. We know the cry of the people and that is why we are addressing these problems.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, where do these hon. Ministers come from?

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the Link Zambia 8,000 is a good project, but what these hon. Ministers are talking about is not what is obtaining on the ground.

Sir, how many roads in Zambia, including Chadiza, of course, have they started working on under the Link Zambia 8,000 Project? They are good at talking, but they are not on the ground.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: This is why I have said that, sometimes, you put presiding officers in an awkward situation. We want you to ask questions, but you continue expressing your own opinions and, when we keep quiet, the others —

Please, can we learn to ask questions.

Hon. Minister, please, answer the question.

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, it is surprising to hear that statement from the hon. Member for Chadiza when we are currently working on the Chadiza Road in his area. If he does not know where the Link Zambia 8,000 projects are, we have explained clearly in this House that this project is in phases. Apart from that, we have also provided some information to hon. Members.

Sir, I also wonder where hon. Opposition Members are coming from. Otherwise, …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

This is what I talked about. Once, you start doing a wrong thing, then, the other person wants to continue doing the same. This is the reason we appeal to you to be civil in your debates. Otherwise, we will get out of control.

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that the Government listens to the cries of the people, but the question was about what was happening in the North-Western Province.

Sir, the people of the North-Western Province have been crying for quite some time, yet the Government has not started working on the roads. When will the Government provide an infrastructure development roadmap for them? This is the third year of the PF Government.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Member’s concern and would like to declare interest in the affairs of the North-Western Province because my wife comes from there.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: Sir, I know and understand the interest they are talking about better. So, we have a plan for the province. If hon. Members want written plans, we will provide them. We are committed to infrastructure development because we are interested in that area.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, really, the right answer is not that your wife comes from the area.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: You should answer as hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, …

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious procedural point of order, which touches on the integrity of this House.

Sir, we have noted of late the propensity by hon. Cabinet Ministers to make statements that are not backed by facts.

Sir, yesterday, on the Floor of this House, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock made a statement that is not factual, which was that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) did not borrow any money to purchase farm produce from farmers when, in fact, he and the hon. Minister of Finance are on record castigating the previous Government and lamenting the failure of this House to provide enough budgetary allocations to enable the FRA to buy maize. We were also informed that the FRA got a loan from Finance Bank to finance maize purchases in this country.

Sir, is the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in order to deliberately and continuously mislead this House and the nation?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Could the hon. Member for Monze Central file in a question.

Mr Antonio: Mr Speaker, how long is the road in question for the feasibility study to take almost one year?

Mr Mukanga: Sir, determining the length of the stretch to be worked on is one of the objectives of the feasibility study.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kunda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister should clearly state to this august House and the nation whether this Government is bankrupt because we hear of feasibility studies on all the projects that it has been talking about.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I do not understand the question because, if you give a contract to a consultant, you have to pay the contractor money. This Government has been awarding contracts for feasibility studies on projects to contractors and consultants. We are rolling out projects everywhere and that simply shows that there is money.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Deputy Speaker: Before, I give the Floor to the next debater, let me guide the House.

Hon. Members, when we make rulings, they may not be according to your taste. Some of the points of order you raise, which you claim to be on procedure, are not procedural. You may argue that what you have asked is procedural because somebody said something that is not true, but the other person might come back and say that what he/she said was true. What is procedural about that? So, when a ruling is made, you better abide by it.

Hon. Member for Solwezi East, continue.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: I beg your pardon. Who was on the Floor? Was it the hon. Member for Kaoma Central? That is why I had said, “Next question.”

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: We were considering Question 316, which I thought we had finished debating.

UPGRADING OF BASIC SCHOOLS

317. Mr Miyutu asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) how long the process of upgrading the 220 basic schools to secondary schools countrywide would take;

(b) whether the process of upgrading the schools would result in interruption of service delivery;

(c) what would happen to the pupils in Grades 1 to 7 at basic schools earmarked for upgrading;

(d) what the benefits of upgrading the schools were, as opposed to constructing new ones; and

(e) how many secondary and primary schools countrywide were required to ensure that all eligible learners were in school.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, upgrading of the basic schools will be done in phases using the community mode. The scope of the first phase is six classrooms and three teachers’ houses. The school will enrol after the first phase has been completed.

Sir, the second phase will involve the construction of an administration block, three teachers’ houses and a laboratory block. After the second phase, the school is expected to operate fully as a secondary school. Additional buildings will still be constructed in the third and final phase of the upgrading process.

Sir, each phase is expected to take one year in line with the budgetary allocation, but will also depend on the co-operation and participation of the communities.

Mr Speaker, there will be no interruption of teaching and learning at the schools during the construction period.

Mr Speaker, it is envisaged that the upgraded schools will run from Grades 1 to 12. The primary and secondary sections will be under separate administrations.

Sir, some of the benefits of upgrading the basic schools are that:

(a) it will be cheaper because there are existing buildings at the schools and only additional buildings will need to be built;

(b) the community mode of construction is twice cheaper than the contract mode and; and

(c) the schools will serve established communities, which will make it easier for pupils to progress to higher grades without covering long distances to schools that could have been constructed elsewhere.

Mr Speaker, the ministry needs to construct about 310 secondary schools and 570 primary schools in order to accommodate all the girls and boys who are currently not in school.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the schools …

Dr Kaingu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise this point of order.

Sir, my point of order follows yesterday’s question by the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwata to the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs on whether Zambia still had a position on the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of the Great Lakes Region. The hon. Minister told this House that the position was still available. However, empirical evidence shows that the Zambian nominee, who was supposed to go for elections, was unceremoniously removed from the airport and Zambia decided to support a Kenyan. Therefore, …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, what is your point of order?

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs in order to continue to have the propensity to mislead this House and the country at large?

Sir, I need your serious ruling.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I want to seize the opportunity provided by this point of order to state that we have made our own rules on procedure, one of which is that a point of order has to be relevant and made contemporaneously. You are raising a point of order on something that was said yesterday. So, really, your point of order cannot be sustained.

Could the hon. Member who was on the Floor continue.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, before the point of order was raised, I was asking whether the Government had not realised that community-mode projects have not proved successful. That being the case, how, then, will the community-mode succeed this time around?

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the evidence available to the ministry is to the effect that community-mode projects have, in fact, contributed greatly to the increase in the level of access, both at primary and secondary sub-sector. This is why, last week, the hon. Minister, Dr John Phiri, took a bit of time to explain the community-mode projects. However, we also recognise that there are some communities that are not willing to participate in providing the 25 per cent contribution. Generally, I assure my colleague that the community-mode projects have been successful. Just today, one of the chiefs came to see the hon. Minister and told him that people in his area had already prepared 56,000 bricks. That just goes to demonstrate the success I am talking about. I want to repeat what the hon. Minister said. We, as hon. Members of Parliament, need to go back to our constituencies and encourage people to participate in the community-mode projects because they are cheaper and promote a sense of ownership among the members of the community.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister clarify whether the secondary schools will be built under the community mode project or the full contract mode? I ask this because the hon. Minister said that the primary and secondary schools would be under separate administrations and we have also been told that secondary schools would be built under the full contract mode?

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, let me just clarify what the hon. Minister had stated. In the upgrading process of the 220 basic schools, we are not building fully-fledged secondary schools. There is a difference between a fully-fledged secondary school, for example, one built at K50 million. That cannot be done using the community mode. However, like I said in my earlier answer, we expect some of the schools to run from Grades 1 to 12. What we are trying to do, as a ministry, is upgrade the schools by building additional structures like classrooms, teachers’ houses, ablution blocks and administration blocks. So, the 220 basic schools will be upgraded with the help of the community. I encourage my hon. Colleagues to go back to their constituencies and encourage the communities to support the ministry in these projects.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the 220 basic schools that will be upgraded to secondary schools is a drop in the ocean. How many of them will be converted into secondary school? If none, why?

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, as Hon. Mbewe is aware, the 220 are day secondary schools and the idea is to encourage day-schooling because of the short distances to the schools. So, there is no current plan for any of the 220 schools to be upgraded into a boarding school.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, why does the Government hate the people in rural areas? In towns, it gives these projects to contractors and fully pays for them but, in rural areas, it wants the community to participate. Why is this so?

Mr Deputy Speaker: You know, it is such kind of questions that make things difficult for presiding officers. However, I am not supposed to be talking. I suppose the hon. Minister can tell us why the Government hates the people in rural areas.

Laughter

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, in fact, we do not hate the people in rural areas. The hon. Member should actually thank the ministry for introducing this option because, had it not done so, it would have been difficult to increase access to education in rural areas. I am sure that he will have a day secondary school in his constituency to which children will be able to just walk from home.

Mr Speaker, there are other examples of how we do not hate rural communities. Like the hon. Minister said, the parents or communities in towns, sometimes, opt to contribute cash instead of building materials like bricks and sand. So, even with the 220 basic schools, all the communities, including those in urban areas, will be required to contribute in one form or another.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that we should go and support this programme in our respective areas. However, I have just come from my constituency, but I do not know which schools or how many of the 220 will be upgraded there. Could the hon. Minister tell me so that I can go there and support the programme.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, in fact, this is the second time that Hon. Muchima is asking me this question because he asked it in the last session of Parliament, too. So, let me emphasise what I said the last time he asked the question. All hon. Members of Parliament are encouraged to go back to their respective provinces and consult the Provincial Education Officers (PEOs) as well as District Education Board Secretaries (DEBSs) over this programme. When we had meetings with the provincial leaderships, the hon. Minister told them that the lists of schools that they wanted to be upgraded should be submitted by the end of March, 2014. So, there is still an opportunity for hon. Members of Parliament to engage their provincial education leadership. Otherwise, we do not want them to start coming to the ministry after the final list has been drawn. So, I urge Hon. Muchima to engage his provincial leadership in Solwezi and the district leadership in Ikeleng’i.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, the people of Kazungula wonder when the Government will consider building science laboratories, which are a serious component of education, since schools are being transformed.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, as a short-term measure, and I said this in the last session of Parliament, the hon. Minister launched the distribution of mobile laboratories last year. If you look at our budget for 2014, you will see that there is a substantial amount of money that has been provided for that purpose because we recognise that constructing physical laboratory structures might take a bit of time. So, we expect all the schools that will be upgraded to receive mobile laboratories. Of course, the long-term measure would be to build permanent laboratories.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has mentioned …

Ms Kapata: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member of Parliament for Keembe in order to turn this Chamber into a bedroom?

I need your serious ruling.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: He was in deep thought.

Laughter

Continue, Hon. Lufuma.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the mobile laboratories that were distributed recently are supposed to assist …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Lufuma: … the secondary schools to qualify to become examination centres. However, I am informed that, actually, the laboratories have no equipment and, therefore, are not accepted by the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) to be used for examinations in schools. Could the hon. Minister clarify that.

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, it is incorrect to state that a mobile laboratory, and we, in fact, provide four per school, is not equivalent to the usual fixed laboratory that we know of. The ECZ has been directed to treat the mobile laboratories the same way they treat fixed ones, which will be built in the near future.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa): Mr Speaker, I am now more worried because the construction of these schools …

Mr Mutelo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, yesterday, the Under 17 Women’s Football National Team lamented to Mrs Charlotte Scott, the wife of His Honour the Vice-President, that its players were promised K10,000 each as motivation to win the games they recently played and that the team had won those games and qualified to the Under 17 World Tournament, but had not been given the money they were promised. Is the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport, who made the promise to the young ladies, in order to comfortably sit there instead of going to motivate young footballers on their way to the world tournament?

I seek your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Am I expected to make a serious ruling on a point of order like this one?

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: You know that it has no relevance to what we are discussing here. It was said somewhere yesterday. I do not even know where it was. Really, make our work simpler by not raising such irrelevant points of order.

You may continue, Hon. Chipungu.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I was saying that I am very worried about the upgrading of the schools using the community mode. Why can the Government not consider doing away with this mode of upgrading schools at which most community members are very disappointed? In the 2011 Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP), it was indicated that some schools would be constructed and the communities provided the blocks. To their disappointment, however, nothing was done by the Government. Those people will certainly not agree to do the same thing.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of hon. Members of Parliament. We are not dealing with an ordinary situation, but a crisis. When I presented to this august House the Grade 7, 9 and 12 examination results, it was very clear that, for children who had made it, there was no space in secondary schools at the Grade 8 and 10 levels. Therefore, I said that we needed to think outside the box and take interventions because the ministry is suffocated with eighty inherited secondary school projects, each costing not less than K35 million. We cannot continue on that path. So, we want to complete the projects but, at the same time, as a temporary measure, find ways of increasing space at those two crucial levels of secondary education.

Sir, we want hon. Members to support us in the upgrading of basic schools so that we create more space in strategically-located basic schools, which can operate as day schools because boarding facilities are very expensive, especially in rural constituencies like Rufunsa. This is why I want the hon. Member to go back to Rufunsa and beseech the community to support the Government in this project. Yes, the Government has a responsibility to provide education facilities, but more children than ever before are out of school. So, help this Government. Show your constituents the money and ask them to use the contract mode if they think that the money is adequate for that mode or, if they think the money could be best applied through the community mode, they should support the Government in employing it.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his answer, which I believe to be candid. However, the crisis that the hon. Minister referred to, which is that of the demand for school places outstripping the available space, has been there for a long time in this country and the MMD Government had identified the Academic Production Unit (APU) as a solution to the problem because it allowed children to proceed to the next level. What real problems does the Government have in recognising the APU in the midst of this crisis of lack of spaces, which prevents some children from proceeding to higher grades even if they have passed?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, that recognition has always been there. The afternoon classes are still there. Thanks to the afternoon classes that the number of children who cannot access higher levels of secondary education is minimised in many schools. I will be the first to say that 73,000 children who could not proceed to Grade 8 and the 174,000 who could not progress to Grade 10 failed to do so during the selection time. After the selection is done, on the basis of forty pupils per class, most schools enrol more than that number because of the huge demand. We think that the upgrading of basic schools can minimise the shortfall. Depending on how early the Ministry of Finance releases the money, which will go straight into the provinces and the districts, we could create a lot of space at the secondary school level.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to be very categorical. The Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education banned the APUs in various schools via a statement made to the nation. As a result, schools abandoned the APUs. Has that ban been lifted? I want to know whether schools can re-open the APU classes.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the ban is still effective. What we encourage is that each school allows as many pupils as possible to attend afternoon streams of regular, not APU, classes.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

MANGO PROCESSING

318. Mr Miyutu asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

(a) when the Government would facilitate the construction of mango processing plants in the Western Province and other parts of the country where the mango fruit was in abundance; and

(b) whether there were other benefits of the mango fruit besides eating it and, if so, what the benefits were.

The Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Sampa): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Citizens Empowerment Fund (CEEF) is implementing the Value Chain Cluster Programme, whose objective is to add value to the abundant raw materials in Zambia. The establishment of mango-processing plants in the Western Province has been identified as one of the projects to be implemented under the Cluster Programme. The Government has plans to facilitate the establishment of, at least, twenty-eight mango value-chain cluster projects in the Western Province in 2014. The amount approved for this project is K3.9 million. The money will enable the selected beneficiaries to acquire the necessary machinery equipment for processing mango products.

Mr Speaker, the mango fruit has other benefits apart from eating it. It can be packaged as dried fruits and processed into concentrate for juice and jam production, all of which can be exported to earn Zambia the much-needed foreign exchange. Further, mango by-products like seeds and discarded pulps can be processed into dry-milled animal feed.

In Zambia, the mango fruit has also benefited the people through internal trade. When in season, the fruit is a means of livelihood for many rural traders who take it to urban areas for sale.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, we will welcome the project upon its implementation. Is there any plan to improve the quality of the local mango varieties?

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, before we even address the issue of varieties, we need to make sure that the mangoes produced in Kalabo and elsewhere are processed and traded. The first thing we need to do in Kalabo is complete the new bridge under construction so that we can get the mango out of the district to Lusaka and other towns where it can be sold. The ministry will release money to the Western Province through this year’s Budget so that the machinery needed to process the mango that goes to waste in the province is bought.

Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, I am quite sure that the hon. Minister has studied the whole market chain for the mangoes that will be processed in the Western Province. What has the Government done in the last two years to protect locally-processed products like the ones that will be processed in the province from imported products? I ask this because the production of juices in the Western Province will not be viable if it will not be protected from having to compete with cheap products from South Africa and the Middle East.

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, first of all, we need to implement the ‘Buy Zambia Campaign,” which will help to create a market for local products. However, we are not an island because we subscribe to many regional and international organisations that regulate trade relations. Therefore, we cannot be seen to be putting barriers for other players who want to come into our market. What we need to do is help the local producers be competitive.

Mr Speaker, when we were young, we ate mangoes as a snack and it pains me to see us drink imported mango juice. It does not profit us to drink mango juice from abroad. So, we need to give the local producers the machinery that can help them package the juice properly and make it competitive. The best way to defend our territory is to attack and get into the export market. Therefore, we need to properly package the mango juice from the Western Province and export it to South Africa. If we do that, people will automatically stop bringing mangoes from South Africa into Zambia because no one will be buying it. These are the measures that we are trying to put in place. We will financially empower the local producers. The imported mango tastes the same as the one we have.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, how can the potential beneficiaries of this project access it? I heard the hon. Minister talk about the CEEF. Are there special conditions attached to this project or is it just the standard Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) procedures?

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, we are talking about the Mango Value Chain Cluster Project. We already have officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry visiting the various provinces, including the Western Province, to assess the producers of mangoes and the available varieties of the fruit. It is not about those who hear that we have K3.9 million in the Budget for a mango project and start planting now or buying mango farms just to access the fund. We already have our staff in the rural areas, which is identifying the people who need this money. Therefore, there will be no need to apply as the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry will identify the people that need to be funded.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, the cost of doing business in Zambia is very high. If we want to encourage our people to produce juice and other products from mangoes, their products will, obviously, not be as competitive as the cheap juices that come from South Africa and the Middle East. What is the Government doing to reduce the cost of doing business and promote competitiveness?

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, it should start with making the process of establishing a company easy. The paperwork involved is expensive. So, we have cut out some of the licence requirements. For instance, previously, to set up a company, one needed to have ten to twenty licences. Currently, the ministry is working on simplifying the process by issuing one licence, instead of many, because that is a cost in itself. We want to streamline the process because most of the cost is due to the bureaucracy. This will make doing business in Zambia much cheaper.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, I have heard the hon. Minister indicate that, in promoting the local mango and mango products, the Government will ensure that the local products effectively compete with those coming from the Middle East and South Africa. However, mangoes will not be the first product that the Zambian business community will be attempting to add value to in order to create wealth for themselves. So, what are some of the measures that the Government intends to put in place to ensure that the mango juice produced in the Western Province competes well with that produced and dumped on the Zambian market from South Africa and the Middle East?

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, the approach must be that of changing our mindset. We need to educate ourselves that the Zambian mango is as good as that from Brazil and South Africa before we even think of fancy packaging. The mango is just better packaged outside than it is locally. Therefore, once it is well-packaged locally, we will need to teach ourselves that our juice is even better than the imported ones. We will need to reverse the notion that all imported products are better than local ones.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, this is, indeed, a good idea. I hope that it will not just end up at the planning stage. However, it is not easy to obtain a title deed in the Western Province, but one of the conditions for accessing funding from the CEEC is that one must produce a title deed. This has been the case in my constituency. Clearly, that requirement is not easy to meet. Will the Government waive it.

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, for as long as I am in this ministry, I will make sure that this project is well implemented and the money spent. That said, when money is lent out, it has to be paid back. In this case, the CEEC lends taxpayers’ money and the onus is on the Government to ensure that whoever receives it pays it back. To lend money, you need collateral. We may want to be benevolent but, ultimately, the books need to show some form of collateral. So, where one has no title deed, which I hope they can get because it is easier to get, they can bring some other form of collateral so that, in case the borrowers do not pay back, the CEEC can fall back on something to take back to the taxpayers’ vault.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister about the spies …

Mr Simfukwe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, I thank you for the rare opportunity to raise this point of order.

Sir, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry is very important and has experts and various instruments, including policies and strategies for managing our commerce and trade. When we ask questions, …

Mr Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order?

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, what my hon. Colleagues who asked questions and I expected …

Mr Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order?

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry in order to give very casual, simplistic, personal and fireplace chit-chat kind of answers …

Laughter

Mr Simfukwe: … when we expect answers based on Government policies?

I need a serious ruling because the answers are not satisfactory.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: That is the kind of point of order I referred to earlier in which one gives an answer that another is not satisfied with and the Chair is expected to make a ruling on two opinions. We find it very difficult to make rulings on such points of order. If you are not satisfied, you are supposed to file in a question so that the hon. Minister can provide a more detailed response in agreement with you or sticking to his earlier statement. So, can you file a question.

The hon. Member for Rufunsa may continue.

Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, in Rufunsa District, we also produce quite a lot of mangoes, and in most cases, they go to waste. Have any of the ministry’s ‘spies’ been assigned to Rufunsa?

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, yes, they have. I am well informed that the ministry’s officials have gone to all the districts. Therefore, they will touch Rufunsa as well.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Konga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the ministry has sent spies to all the districts. I am also aware that the ministry has placed an advertisement in the public media requesting farmers and others to submit their business proposals about such ventures to the ministry. Will such ventures be approved by the ministry even if the spies have not visited such people?

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, it is a combination of both. Yes, they need to apply, but the ministry will not give a response based on the paperwork. It is very important that the officials from the ministry go to find out what is on the ground. Therefore, while the applications are coming in, we also have internal reports on what is on the ground, and we will compare the two. Applications are required but, beyond that, the ministry is working on knowing the position of each province and district in terms of knowing which crop is best for a particular district. We know that mangoes are good for the Western Province, but they might not be good for the Eastern Province. Therefore, if an applicant from the Eastern Province comes up with a business proposal on mangoes, we have got experts who can advise us.

I thank you, Sir.

ASSISTANT LABOUR COMMISSIONER FOR THE NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCE

319. Mr Mwanza asked the Minister of Labour and Social Security:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to create the position of Assistant Labour Commissioner in the North-Western Province;

(b) if so, when; and

(c) if there were no plans, why.

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security (Mr Mbulu): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to create the position of Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) in the North-Western Province.

Mr Speaker, the position of ALC, which is the second highest in the current structure of our Labour Department, is being introduced in the Copperbelt, Lusaka and Southern provinces, while the rest of the provinces will be headed by Principal Labour Officers.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Mwanza must note that the Government monitors and assesses developments in economic activities in the North-Western Province. So, when it is justified to assign an ALC to the province, the Government will do so. However, now is not the appropriate time to do it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the North-Western Province currently contributes in excess of 20 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which is more than any other province does, and it is Kansanshi, Lumwana and Kalumbila towns that are responsible for that? If he is aware, does he not think it is necessary for his ministry to reconsider its position on this matter so that the head of the ministry in the province is at the ALC level?

Mr Mbulu: Mr Speaker, I will start with a point of correction to Hon. Mwanza. He must note that the head of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in the North-Western Province currently is the Principal Labour Officer (PLO). He must equally appreciate it that the office was headed by a Senior Labour Officer (SLO) until the PF Government decided to elevate the office. The Copperbelt, Lusaka and Southern provinces were headed by PLOs. Therefore, the decision we have made will take several steps. For now, we have introduced three positions of ALC. The North-Western Province will be considered in the future.

I thank you, Sir.

NURSES’ HOUSES FOR GWEMBE DISTRICT HOSPITAL

320. Mr Ntundu (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Health:

(a) how many houses would be constructed for nurses at the Gwembe District Hospital in 2014;

(b) what the estimated cost of constructing the houses would be; and

(c) whether a contractor had already been identified and, if so, what the name of the contractor was.

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, four staff houses are expected to be constructed in 2014 as part of the Phase II of the construction works at the new district hospital in Gwembe.

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of constructing the four staff houses is K1 million.

Mr Speaker, the contractor is not yet known as the procurement of Phase II works has not yet been done.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, currently, there is a district hospital being constructed in Gwembe. The project was started by the MMD Government and I am so surprised that there will only be four houses to be constructed at a district hospital that I do not even know what to ask.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: What is your question, hon. Member?

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, a district hospital is being constructed and will be finished soon, but only four houses will be constructed.

Mr Deputy Speaker: What is your question?

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, the district hospital is being constructed in Munyumbwe, which is a village …

Mr Deputy Speaker: That is not a question, Hon. Ntundu. What is your question?

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, upon the completion of the construction of this district hospital, will there be any staff, that is, nurses and doctors, or not? How will the hospital be run by only four staff, who will be accommodated in the four houses?

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, Sir, I said that the construction is in phases. In Phase II, which is in 2014, four houses will be built. More houses will be built in the third phase.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: You are excused because you are a new person in the House. However, you are supposed to address me as “Mr Speaker” like your colleague did earlier, not “Mr Speaker, Sir.”

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, given that the ministry is using a phased approach, when will the second phase commence since the hospital is nearing completion?

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the second phase began in 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

ZNBC TELEVISION LEVY

321. Mr Ntundu asked the Minister of Information and Broadcasting:

(a) how much money the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) had raised through the television licence levy from 2011 to 2013, year by year; and

(b) how much money at (a) above was collected through:

(i) the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Limited metering system; and

(ii) direct debit from salaries or allowances of Government employees.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting (Mr Njeulu): Mr Speaker, the ZNBC managed to raise K41,785,986.30 between 2011 and …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order, on my right!

Mr Njeulu: … 2013, broken down as follows:

Year Kwacha Amount Raised

2011 9,454,074.67

2012 13,434,155.90

2013 18,897,755.56

Sir, the ZESCO Limited metering system contributed K33,776,264.75 to the total collection between 2011 and 2013 while K376,365.57 was collected through payroll deductions from Government employees. The balance was collected through dealerships and door to door by ZNBC inspectors.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, what is the Government policy on ZESCO collecting money through the metering system in areas like Gwembe where we do not watch the ZNBC? What policy has the Government put in place to compel ZESCO not to collect levies in such areas?

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting (Mr Kapeya): Mr Speaker, that is a good question. This issue is straightforward. People who do not own television sets, but have electricity and are levied for television licence through their electricity bills should report to the ZNBC. Upon confirmation that they do not own television sets, they will be refunded.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, with the transition of the ZESCO billing system from fixed to pre-paid metres, how has the ZNBC continued to draw the K3 from those who have television sets? How is the corporation able to decipher those who have television sets and those who do not?

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, indeed, Hon. Garry Nkombo is very right. In cases where ZESCO customers pay for power, for example, fortnightly, the receipts are provided upon making such payments …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the Chair]

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was explaining to Hon. Nkombo that, if a ZESCO customer paid for the services fortnightly, for example, in the first week of the month, K3 is deducted. If the same customer paid for electricity again in two weeks, the system does not deduct the K3. It would only do so the following month. That is how the system works.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, I get the impression that the emphasis is on one owning a television set. On behalf of those who may not receive the signal and have not been enjoying the services of the ZNBC for the past six months, how will they retrieve their money being deducted through the ZESCO Bills?

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the current law says that, as long as you own a television set, you are bound to pay that levy.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister …

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I apologise to my colleague and friend for interrupting his debate.

Sir, I am dissatisfied with the answer given by the hon. Minister. Is he in order not to tell me what I needed to know regarding people who do not have television sets at all, but buy electricity from ZESCO outlets? The question was on how the ZNBC determines the people who have one, two, three, four or no television set and his answer was that the corporation draws the K3 monthly whether one owns a television set or not.

Is he in order, Sir?

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting will address that as he answers the question from the hon. Member for Lubansenshi.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, given that the hon. Minister confirmed yesterday that the people of Lubansenshi Constituency in Luwingu District have not been able to access the ZNBC signal from July, last year, will the ZNBC consider refunding them the money they have been paying?

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, that will not be done.

Sir, coming to Hon. Nkombo, I explained in my response to Hon. Ntundu’s question that, if you do not have a television set, but you are levied through the ZESCO services, you can claim a refund from the ZNBC. However, let us look at the whole scenario. Honestly, people having power in their homes …

Interruptions

Mr Kapeya: Yes, they are there, but it could be one out of a thousand. Many Zambians, be they peasant farmers or house servants, once provided with power, buy television sets.

Mr Nkombo indicated dissent.

Mr Kapeya: This is the truth.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is being presumptuous. Is he not aware that, in the modern era, you may opt not to have a television set and, instead, have a laptop and access the signal without …

Mr Mucheleka: On point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, thank you for according me the opportunity to rise on a serious point of order.

Sir, my understanding is that if you are providing the service for which people pay, it makes sense. However, in this case, money is collected for a service that is not provided. Is the hon. Minister, therefore, in order to respond in the manner which he did?

I need your serious ruling.

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Minister will elaborate his answer as he responds to the question asked by the hon. Member for Monze Central.

Mr Kapeya: Could the hon. Member for Monze Central repeat his question, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that, in this era, people may opt not to have television sets and use iPads, desktop computers and laptops to access television signals? He cannot say that, just because people have electricity in their home, then, automatically, they have television sets.

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, I totally agree with Hon. Mwiimbu and that is why I said that, if that happens to be the case, the affected party should present their complaints to the ZNBC for a refund.

Sir, coming to the hon. Member for Lubansenshi’s point of order, my response is that the law is the law. Apparently, he has even run away from the Chamber.

Mr Mucheleka rose.

Mr Kapeya: He is in the wrong place.

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: Give him the answer.

Mr Kapeya: Sir, the law is the law. So, there is nothing that the ZNBC or the ministry can do unless this House amends that particular law.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Information …

Mr Mbulakulima: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I thank you for the rare opportunity to raise a point of order. It is not my intention to disturb my Vice-President in the MMD. However, I rise on a very serious point of order.

Sir, you will agree with me that sport is a very important aspect of our lives in this country. It is one activity that unites Zambians, especially football, and it is the desire of every country to qualify for the football World Cup. We have won the Africa Cup of Nations and look forward to winning the World Cup. Therefore, the Zambia Women’s Under 17 Football Team has done us proud by qualifying to the World Cup. However, the whole country is worried because according, to the Thursday, February 20, 2014, edition of the Times of Zambia, the team is lamenting the non-payment of players’ winning bonuses.

Mr Speaker, allow me to quote from the newspaper: ...

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Members: Go ahead.

The Deputy Chairperson: May you make your point of order because that matter was raised earlier. You may not have been here, but go straight to your point of order.

Mr Mbulakulima: …

“The Zambia Under 17 Women’s Soccer Team players have complained over the delay by the Government to pay them each the K10,000 winning bonus for securing qualification for the Costa Rica 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals. ‘We are wondering as to when we shall receive the money promised to us by the Government and we even remember what the Minister of Sport said.’”

Sir, my point of order is: When will the Government come to this House and inform the nation to when the bonus will be paid to our Under 17 Team players?

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is that the Chair has already made a ruling on that particular subject earlier. So, there is no need to repeat that ruling.

Brig-Gen Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, ZESCO is denying the majority of Mumbwa residents access to television services because it takes two to three years to connect houses to power supply. What is he, as the hon. Minister of Information Broadcasting, doing to improve revenue collection by the ZNBC by asking ZESCO to be more efficient so that they can own televisions?

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, we appreciate people who sympathise with the ZNBC’s need to collect more funds. We shall buy into Hon. Brig-Gen Dr Chituwo’s idea and ensure that most houses in Mumbwa are connected to power.

I thank you, Sir. {mospagebreak}

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, the ZNBC is not providing the service, but it is levying the public. So, is this a bad law or a good one?

The Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Minister, is it a good law or a bad one?

Laughter

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, it is a good law.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Antonio: Mr Speaker, now that the ZNBC has gone digital, when will it introduce a system that will enable it to only collect money from people who are interested in watching its boring content rather than collecting from everybody because that is tantamount to stealing?

The Deputy Chairperson: ‘Stealing’ is unparliamentary. May you substitute it with an appropriate word.

Mr Antonio: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the word, ‘stealing’ and replace it with …

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Do not listen to lecturers who have not been given the Floor.

Laughter

Mr Antonio: … “dishonest collection of money.”

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, indeed, that is another very good observation. We are already working on modalities for doing that. Once the digital migration has been implemented, we will introduce that system.

I thank you, Sir.

BENEFITS OF AGOA AND EPAS

322. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry what benefits Zambia had derived from the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Economic Partnership Agreements.

The Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Siamunene): Mr Speaker, Zambia’s trade with the United States of America (USA) has grown since the commencement of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2000. Zambia’s exports to the USA have increased steadily, dominated mostly by products from the extractive sector. At the commencement of the AGOA initiative, exports to the USA were worth US$5.9 million, but increased steadily to US$7.3 million by 2010.

Mr Speaker, in 2012 and 2013, the exports increased to US$8 million and US$12.9 million, respectively. The main products exported mainly include horticultural and floricultural products, precious stones, minerals and metals. I should, however, point out that Zambia has made only limited use of the AGOA provisions due to the stringent market access requirements imposed by the American Government in terms of standards, pest risk assessment, rule of origin and transportation costs, making it difficult for some products to penetrate the USA market.

Sir, to expand the trade with the USA under AGOA, the Government is revising its strategy so as to focus on specific products rather than the current generalised approach. To develop this strategy and determine the products with the greatest market opportunity in the USA, my ministry is working with co-operating partners, who are giving us technical assistance and capacity building on how Zambian companies can take advantage of the AGOA initiative.

Sir, as regards the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), it is important to note that Zambia has not yet signed any of them due to some contentious issues, such as those relating to export taxes, opening up of the local market to European Union (EU) exports and matters of preferential treatment for EU member States. However, the country is currently participating in the on-going EPA negotiations.

Mr Speaker, Zambia, as a lower-middle income country is currently trading with the EU under the Everything but Arms (EBA) initiative. The issue of EPAs will become critical as Zambia graduates to higher-middle income status, at which point it will not be able to trade with the EU under the EBA initiative.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the inhibiting factors regarding trade in horticultural products are in the high standards of, among others, phytosanitary conditions that the USA has set for itself and Zambia has suffered a great deal of trade loss in even other countries, including in trade in commodities like beef, because of phytosanitary requirements. What is the ministry doing to improve the national phytosanitary standards? If he is kind enough, he could also tell us how Zambia compares with other countries that subscribed to the AGOA initiative.

Mr Siamunene: Mr Speaker, as a Government, we are doing everything to make Zambian products competitive. We are also strengthening organisations like the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) and the Zambia Weights and Measures Agency (ZWMA) to make their operations meet international standards so that whatever is coming from Zambia meets international standards. There are other initiatives, of course, in the ministry. We are also encouraging companies to meet international standards in whatever goods they produce. As a country, we need to be competitive.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, …

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

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, my question was specific to phytosanitary requirements, not about competitiveness in its broad sense, which might include even pricing. Is the hon. Minister in order not to furnish me with the answer that I need, which is on the issues of phytosanitary standards, especially in horticultural products?

The Deputy Chairperson: To the extent that that particular aspect was not addressed, he was out of order. So, he should address that issue when he answers the question from the hon. Member for Senanga.

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted, I was about to say that the country benefited more from AGOA when Hon. Felix Mutati was the hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry. I do not think that the initiative still exists in practice. Has the hon. Minister read the 2013 Doing Business Report for Zambia? If he has, could he indicate to us what he means by saying that, in 2012 and 2013, the exports increased to US$8 million and US$12.9 million, respectively? What were the initial figures on which there was the stated increase?

Mr Siamunene: Mr Speaker, the figures I gave were with regard to Zambian products.

On Hon. Nkombo’s point of order, which was on cleanliness, let me mention that we are working together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to make sure that the standard of goods is improved. His concern is being addressed. That is why I mentioned earlier that the companies that are involved in the export of goods are being properly trained, including by our co-operating partners.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

DEVELOPMENT OF LAND OPPOSITE PARLIAMENT MOTEL

323. Mr Katuka asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health:

(a) what plans the Government had for the piece of land on the Thabo Mbeki Road and opposite the National Assembly Members’ Motel in Lusaka;

(b) how much money would be spent on developing the piece of land mentioned above;

(c) whether the contractor for the project had already been identified and, if so, what the name of the contractor was;

(d) what the estimated cost of the project was; and

(e) what the timeframe for the undertaking of the project was.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Ms Kazunga): Mr Speaker, on 13th December, 2012, the Government officially handed over the title to the mentioned piece of land to the African Development Bank (ADB) for the construction of the bank’s country office.

Mr Speaker, the rest of the questions fall away.

Thank you, Sir.

TEACHERS’ HOUSES AND CLASSROOMS FOR LUBANSENSHI AND LUPOSOSHI CONSTITUENCIES

324. Mr Mucheleka asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) how many teachers’ houses and 1 x 3 classroom blocks were earmarked for construction in 2014 in the following parliamentary constituencies:

(i) Lubansenshi; and

(ii) Lupososhi; and

(b) what the names of the schools that would benefit from the construction of new classroom blocks were.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr P. Ngoma): Mr Speaker, the teachers’ houses and classroom blocks earmarked for construction in Lubansenshi Constituency are twelve and six, respectively, while, for Lupososhi Constituency, there are six teachers’ houses and two classroom block, respectively.

Mr Speaker, the schools that will benefit from the construction of classrooms and teachers’ houses are as listed below:

Constituency School Classroom Blocks Staff Houses

Lubansenshi Luwingu Primary 1 x 3 x 4 06

Shimumbi Primary 1 x 3 x 2 06

Lupososhi Mapulanga Primary 1 x 3 x 2 06

Total 1 x 3 x 8 18

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, when does the ministry intend to make the funds available for the construction of those structures the hon. Minister has mentioned given that, previously, there has been late release of funds?

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, the disbursement will begin this year as soon as money is made available by the Ministry of Finance.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

COMPELLING BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP AREAS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE

325. Mr Mucheleka asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to compel business houses in the extractive industry to help develop areas where they extract natural resources and contribute a percentage of their profit to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) as part of their corporate social responsibility; and

(b) if there are no such plans, why?

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Zulu): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to compel business houses in the extractive industry to help develop areas where they extract natural resources by strengthening enforcement of provisions that require mining rights holders to promote local business development.

Mr Speaker, the EPF was established to provide an assurance to the Government against possible future failure by a mining company to mitigate environmental damages arising from mining operations, as outlined in the environmental impact study. Mining companies are required by law, the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2008, to contribute to this fund. The assessment of the contribution by each mining company is based on the estimated cost of closing the mine. Therefore, contribution to the EPF by mining companies should not be mistaken for corporate social responsibility because the EPF is provided for by Section 122 of the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2008.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, our people in the areas where these companies extract the natural resources have really suffered from high levels of poverty and poor service delivery. Why has the Government not been able to operationalise the 2008 Mining and Mineral Resources Act by making available the resources that could be used through the sharing mechanism to help develop these areas?

Mr Mukanga (on behalf of the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Yaluma)): Mr Speaker, the Government is doing everything possible to operationalise that clause. However, with the Act as it is currently, there are many challenges that it has faced in trying to do so. So, we intend to review it so that it will be easy to implement it properly.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister shed some light on the uranium deposits in the new mines in the North-Western Province whose licences have not been issued and what his Government is doing to circumvent the possibility of people getting affected by radioactivity from those deposits.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, while I appreciate the question, it is new. The hon. Member for Mazabuka can file it so that we provide a researched answer.

I thank you, Sir.

UPGRADING OF BASIC SCHOOLS AND CONSTRUCTION OF SPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN LUMEZI

326. Mr I. Banda (Lumezi) asked the Minister Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) how many basic schools in Lundazi District would be upgraded to secondary schools as a result of the newly-introduced education policy; and

(b) when construction of infrastructure to support the new education policy would commence in the district, constituency by constituency.

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, in the 2014 Budget, the ministry plans to upgrade twenty-two basic schools into secondary schools in the province. Of this total, three are in Lundazi District, namely, Chisela, Kazembe and Chikomeni, all of which are in Lumezi Constituency.

Mr Speaker, the ministry has allocated K32 million in the 2014 Budget for the infrastructure development at the twenty-two basic schools earmarked for upgrading into secondary schools. Each school has been allocated K1.3 million for construction of classrooms, an ablution block and five staff houses.

Sir, construction of this infrastructure is scheduled to commence in 2014, as soon as funds have been disbursed to the province.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, will all the schools with a shortage of infrastructure, such as staff houses and classrooms, benefit from the allocated funds?

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, I do not know what the hon. Member means by “all schools”. However, if he is talking about those I referred to earlier, then, yes, they will benefit.

I thank you, Sir.

REHABILITATION OF MYOOYE AND NACHIBILA BRIDGES

327. Mr Hamusonde asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication when the Government would rehabilitate the Myooye and Nachibila bridges in Nangoma Parliamentary Constituency.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, the Myooye and Nachibila Bridges are on the Kasalu/Keezwa (RD 490) Road in Nangoma Parliamentary Constituency. Currently, there are no immediate plans by the Government to rehabilitate the two bridges.

Sir, the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) just recently finished spot improvement works on a 45km portion of the road, but the structures were not attached. The Government will consider working on the two bridges in 2015, subject to availability of resources and prioritisation by the local road authorities.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the two bridges have been in that state for some time now?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, we are aware. We have sent engineers from the RRU to see what they can do for the roads to be passable in the interim.

I thank you, Sir.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, is it not a waste of money to have worked on patches of the road when there are impassable areas along the same road?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, it was not a waste of money. We patched the road in the dry season. Unfortunately, the road has now been flooded, resulting in the problem the hon. Member has referred to.

I thank you, Sir.

FUNDING FOR KABANGA HEALTH CENTRE

328. Mr Miyanda asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health:

(a) why the Government had not disbursed the funds for the completion of the construction of the Kabanga Health Centre in Mapatizya Parliamentary Constituency;

(b) when the funds would be disbursed; and

(c) who the contractor for the project was.

The Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Ms Kapata): Mr Speaker, Kabanga Health Post was built by the community, but the infrastructure has not been approved by the ministry. We will have to assess the facility to determine the way forward.

Sir, out of the 650 health posts that will be constructed by the Government throughout the country, two sites have been identified in Mapatizya District for the construction of Chidi and Kabanga Rural Health centres. The launch of the construction of all the health posts will be done this month, February, and will take twenty-four months to complete. The project will be financed by the Indian Government and the facilities will be constructed by three Indian contractors. In the Southern Province, the contractor is Megha Engineering Company.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyanda: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that Kabanga Health Centre is a referral centre built by Namwiyanga Missionaries, not the community, as she put it, and that the infrastructure is not sub-standard?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the information we have is that the building is sub-standard and the Government has already designated sites for the construction of two different clinics.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, the question is: Why has the Government not disbursed the funds for the completion of the construction of Kabanga Health Centre? The hon. Minister talked about 650 health posts, but the question was specific to Kabanga Health Centre. Was the money disbursed and is the project being implemented? Was the same project not allocated K300,000 in the 2013 Budget?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the rural health post in question was not budgeted for in 2013. We are just in the process of assessing it. If it was constructed by a church, it is a community project because the Church is part of the community and, as far as our ministry is concerned, its infrastructure is sub-standard.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

MUNYUMBWE HIGH SCHOOL

329. Mr Ntundu asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) when the construction of Munyumbwe High School in Gwembe District would be completed and opened to the public;

(b) what the cost of the project was;

(c) what the staff establishment for the school was; and

(d) how many pupils would be enrolled at the school.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, Munyumbwe Secondary School will be completed and opened in April, 2014.

Sir, the cost of the project is K35,027,442.

Mr Speaker, the staff establishment at the school will be forty-seven.

Finally, Sir, the number of pupils that will be enrolled at the school is approximately 720.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I am aware that, when the project was initiated by the MMD Government, it was projected that the school would be opened by this time. What has made that position to change? The hon. Minister says that the school will be opened this year, but does not give us the specific date.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, as the hon. Deputy Minister rightly said, Munyumbwe Secondary School is among the many secondary schools that we inherited from the former Government. It was to be constructed in two phases, with Phase I to gobble K24.2 million while Phase II gobbled around K7 million. Suffice it to say that Phase I has been completed. So, what remains is Phase II, comprising external works, such as, water and sewerage and electricity.

Sir, ordinarily, a school is supposed to take not more than two-and-half years to construct if funding is adequate. However, in this case, the project was a victim of inadequate funding. We had too many projects chasing very little money allocated in the budget. So, instead of giving the contractor K12 million to complete a project in two-and-half years, we were giving them K2 million per year, which delayed the construction. However, we managed to complete seventeen projects last year. With the additional level of funding, which is at K500 million, we are targeting the completion of more schools, including Munyumbwe Secondary.

Sir, we have learnt a lesson from our experience with current projects and we will not start projects when we do not have adequate money in the budget.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that Munyumbwe Secondary School was among many other schools that suffered because there were too many projects chasing little money. However, from a long time ago, the Zambian Government, from the MMD Government to the PF Government has operated on an activity-based Budget. Last year, the PF Government, the one that I am addressing today, had a budget overrun. Could the hon. Minister shed some light on when his Government will start adhering to activity-based budgeting so that his lamentation of too many projects chasing little money can become a thing of the past?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I indicated that there is some light at the end of the tunnel and that, with the increased funding this year, this chapter will close. We will, then, begin to seriously adjust our activities according to the budget. That is the only assurance I can give the hon. Member. That is why I said that we have learnt quite a lot from the situation we inherited.

I thank you, Sir.

WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES IN LUWINGU DISTRICT

330. Mr Mucheleka asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the Luwingu District Council would be provided with funds to improve water and sanitation services in the district.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tembo): Mr Speaker, in 2013, with the support of the ADB, through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, the Luwingu District Council planned to construct thirty ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines in public institutions, such as schools and rural health centres, at a cost of K314,536.86 and seventy-six hand-dug wells will be constructed at a total cost of K1,049,635.6. The above-mentioned works will be implemented this year through the local authority. The procurement of the works is in progress.

Sir, as regards urban water supply and sanitation, Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company (CWSC) has finalised a proposal to implement the Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which only awaits the availability of funds. However, due to limited funds, this project will not be funded under the 2014 Budget.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the answer given by the hon. Minister. However, what steps has the Ministry taken to capacitate the CWSC because, in my view, this company seems not to have the capacity to provide water to the central business district of Luwingu?

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, we are not aware that the CWSC has no capacity to provide a satisfactory service. What we know is that it has the capacity. That is why it has come up with a project proposal to overhaul the entire water reticulation system in the district.

I thank you, Sir.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, what plans does the CWSC have in the provision of water and sewerage services in Luwingu District? People cannot continue to rely on pit latrines and soak-aways because the districts are expanding. Could we be privy to the ministry’s plans.

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, the pit latrines and wells I talked about are meant to be constructed outside the townships. However, we have engaged a company that has already come up with a project proposal for the urban areas. That proposal has the kind of details that the hon. Member for Mumbwa is asking for.

The Deputy Chairperson: The question was that: Could the hon. Members of Parliament be privy to those programmes?

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, we have taken note of that and we will provide the information.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, it is refreshing to learn from the hon. Minister that water utility companies now have the capacity to render a satisfactory service. Generally, it is believed that the water reticulation systems that the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) inherited from the district councils require capacitation. If that be the case, is the hon. Minister able to categorically say that the CWSC does not require capacitation? We know that even the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC), the biggest water utility company in the country, requires capacitation, as we have seen from the Millennium Challenge Account Report.

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, let me just repeat what I said. The water utility companies in Zambia have the capacity to provide the necessary services, but they lack funding. We do not have adequate funds to finance most of the water utility companies and other projects at the same time since we depend on funding from the Treasury. Once we get enough money, then, we will fund the companies, some of which have done very well in rehabilitating the networks and plants after receiving the funds.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, the CWSC infrastructure that has been referred to by the hon. Deputy Minister is dilapidated, thereby making it incapable of supplying water to Luwingu District. Does the ministry have plans to engage the private sector to help the company to improve its provision of water in Luwingu District?

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, as I have already indicated in an earlier answer, a project proposal has been submitted. We will overhaul the entire network Luwingu District which, I admit, is bad. However, in terms of public-private partnerships, we have not received any proposal from any company that wants to come on board and partner with us. However, the private companies are most welcome to partner with us. We will support them.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Minister is aware that research has shown that most of the water utility companies are actually doing very badly and need to be capacitated. So, hon. Minister, what do you mean when you say the companies have capacity even though they have no money? What is capacity in your ministry?

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, one of the hon. Members answered on my behalf. If you do not have an adequate human resource, you have no capacity to run the institution. So, human resource is part of institutional capacity. However, like I indicated, it is true that most of the companies took over operations from the local authorities when the infrastructure was in a bad condition. When we came into power, we had to look at the whole setup and try to source some money for projects …

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson of Committees: A point of order is raised.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I rarely stand on points of order. However, I am compelled to do so now.

Sir, is the hon. Deputy Minister in order to mislead this House by saying that his Government found the utility companies incapacitated when they had obtained loans from the ADB and other financial institutions for the rehabilitation of water plants? When the PF Government came into power, it found the companies in the process of acquiring the loans. Is he in order to mislead the House when we are still alive?

The Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Deputy Minister, may you take that point into account as you continue answering the earlier question.

Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, the point is that the infrastructure was completely dilapidated. That is the reason we are sourcing some funds to rehabilitate it.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Kaingu (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has agreed that the PF has no human resource.

Mr M. H. Malama interjected.

Dr Kaingu: Does that confirm what the President said, that most of …

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Allow him to ask his question.

Dr Kaingu: … the people’s representatives on the other side are not useful, and that that is why he is there?

Is that a confirmation?

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Next question.

REHABILITATION OF THE HYBRID POULTRY FARM-LASF HOUSING COMPLEX DRAINAGE SYSTEM

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

(a) which company was contracted to rehabilitate the drainage along the road from Hybrid Poultry Farm to Local Authorities Superannuation Fund (LASF) Housing Complex in Chamba Valley in Lusaka;

(b) what the contract sum of the project was;

(c) how much money had since been paid to the contractor;

(d) why the works had been abandoned with heaps of gravel on the road; and

(e) when the rehabilitation works would be resumed and completed.

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, the name of the contractor engaged to carry out rehabilitation works on the Hybrid Poultry Farm to LASF Housing Complex road in Chamba Valley in Lusaka is Roads and Paving Zambia Limited.

Sir, the contract sum was K4,255,777.74 of which K4,150,262.64 has been paid to the contractor.

Sir, the works were not abandoned, but substantially completed in 2009. The heaps on the road are material which was removed from the drainage systems in the cleaning or de-silting them and should have been disposed of. This material will be removed.

Sir, the rehabilitation works will not resume as they have been substantially completed.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for that answer.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to raise another point of order.

Sir, is the hon. Minister of Labour and Social Security in order to confirm what Dr Kaingu tried to indicate to this House by relegating his position in the Front Bench in preference of hon. Deputy Ministers’ bench? Is it too hot in front for him to do that?

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: He is in order because he is consulting his hon. Deputy Minister.

Continue, Hon. Katuka.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, when will those gravel heaps be removed? I ask this because they have become a serious security concern in the area. The entire road has been reduced to a foot path.

Mr M. H. Malama: Mr Speaker, very soon this year, we will ask the council to remove the heaps.

I thank you, Sir.

ZIMBA DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRES

332. Mr Miyanda asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:

(a) when infrastructure development at Zimba District Centre and Kabanga Sub-Administrative Centre would commence;

(b) why Zimba District had two administrative centres;

(c) who determined the geographical positioning of an administrative centre;

(d) what the population of the newly-created Zimba District, ward by ward was;

(e) what the distance between Kamukeza, near the Zambia/Zimbabwe Border, and the Zimba Administrative Centre was; and

(f) what the distance between Kamukeza and Kabanga Sub-Administrative Centre was.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr N. Banda): Mr Speaker, the Government is preparing detailed design and layout plans of key infrastructure development for Zimba District. Once the process has been completed, construction will commence on the basis of the work plans and actual budget.

Sir, Zimba District has only one administrative centre, which is Zimba District Centre.

Mr Speaker, the geographical positioning of an administrative centre is decided through a consultative process involving various stakeholders, including traditional leaders. In this case, stakeholders, including the chiefs, in Zimba District and the Southern Province Administration determined the administrative centre for the district.

Sir, the population of the newly-created Zimba District, ward by ward, is as follows:

Ward Population

Chidi 9,635

Mulamfu 6,403

Simwatachela 5,300

Luyaba 14,712

Zimba 12,669

Siamatumba 9,504

Mbwiko 6,402

Mr Speaker, the distance between Kamukeza, near the Zambia/Zimbabwe Border, and Zimba Administrative Centre is 173km while that between Kamukeza and Kabanga Sub-Administrative Centre is 98km.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyanda: Mr Speaker, when you compare the distances between Kamukeza and Kabanga and Kamukeza and Zimba, one is 173km while the other is 98km. Does the hon. Minister not think that making Zimba the administrative centre leads to additional travelling costs for the people who are 173km away?

Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member’s point of view is definitely appreciated. However, the responsibility to select the position of the administrative centre is vested in the stakeholders in a particular area, including the residents. The Government participates in the process through the local authority and the provincial administration. As a ministry, we take act on what they recommend to us.

I thank you, Sir.

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MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

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The House adjourned at 1744 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 21st February, 2014.

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