DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, 18th February, 2014

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

______
  
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

SIM CARD REGISTRATION

282. Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a) whether the Government was aware that following the expiration of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration period on 31st January, 2014, many clients have had their lines disconnected despite having applied for the registration;

(b) whether the registration period would be re-opened to enable the mobile phone service providers attend to the above mentioned problem; and

(c) if the registration period would not be re-opened, how the problem which has inconvenienced the public would be resolved.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Col. Kaunda): Mr Speaker, …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I know that we have just come in but, still, there must be order.

You may continue, hon. Deputy Minister.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, the Government is aware that due to some technical challenges, some SIM cards which were registered earlier by members of the public were deactivated on 31st January, 2014. This was as a result of constraints arising from the registration exercise. As of 7th  February, 2014, 7,991,520 representing 80.48 per cent of the total subscriber base of 9,929,605 were registered. The difference of 1,938,085 representing 19.52 per cent of the subscriber base is comprised those who did not register their SIM cards, which were deactivated. In September, 2012, the Government announced that all mobile subscribers in the country were required to register their SIM cards in compliance with the Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 65 of 2011, arising from the enactment of the Information and Communication Technology Act No. 15 of 2009. In this regard, the Government set 31st December, 2013, as the deadline for SIM card registration, but later moved it to 31st January, 2014.

Mr Speaker, the registration period will not be re-opened. This is due to the fact that the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) in-conjunction with the mobile operators has implemented a post-registration exercise aimed at capturing the details of those SIM cards that were wrongly deactivated, and has put in place a fast-track method of registering them. ZICTA and the mobile phone operators have put in place a toll-free voice facility which will enable the members of the public whose lines were wrongly deactivated to call the numbers 7070 and 101 for ZICTA and the mobile phone operators, respectively. Further, hon. Members of Parliament are urged to report such cases from their constituencies to ZICTA and the mobile phone operators. It is worth noting that those whose numbers were wrongly deactivated would have their SIM cards preserved for a period of three months after which they will be repossessed and reallocated.

Mr Speaker, the response to part (c) of the question has been addressed in the above given statement.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, in the rural areas, Lukulu in particular, some people tried to register their lines three times without success. Hon. Deputy Minister, what are you doing to ensure that people are not inconvenienced anymore and deprived of their money because they keep buying new SIM cards and failing to register them?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, the new SIM cards are automatically registered by the operators. However, those people whose SIM cards were wrongly deactivated have three months within which they can call the toll-free numbers and explain their situation to their mobile operators. In fact, the mobile operators will call people in such situations because they have developed a system of monitoring all their numbers from all their towers. They will ask such people to go and register their numbers again so that they can be activated.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, I would like to know what benefits the people of Mitete in Lukulu West have derived from the registration of SIM cards.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, there are no personal benefits. The registration of SIM cards will benefit the security of the nation. We want to know what is happening to our SIM cards. This programme has not only been implemented in Zambia. It is the standard practice all over the world. It is a requirement in the telecommunications industry for SIM cards to be registered even in China and the United States of America.

I thank you, Sir.

KALULUSHI/KALENGWA ROAD

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

(a) when the tarring of the Kalulushi/Kalengwa Road would be completed;

(b) how many kilometres of the road beyond Lufwanyama Boma were tarred as of November, 2013; and

(c) what had caused the delay in completing the project.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, the works on the Kalulushi/Kalengwa/Lufwanyama Road have been substantially completed. The project is now under the Defects Liability Period. The completion date was 22nd September, 2013. The Defects Liability Period will run up to 22nd September, 2014.

Mr Speaker, the upgrading of the Kalulushi/Lufwanyama Road only catered for 60.3 km from the M7/M18 junction of Kalulushi up to Lufwanyama Boma, including 3.45 km of Kalulushi township roads.

Mr Speaker, the project was completed within the seven months extension of the time granted from 22nd February, 2013 to 22nd September, 2013, to cover for additional works.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lombanya: Mr Speaker, it is the view of my constituents that this road project was supposed to continue from Lufwanyama to the Kayimbwe Turn-Off which joins the Mutanda/Zambezi Road, which passes through Kasempa. Why has the project stalled at Lufwanyama?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, just like we do for everything else, we have to plan for road works. It would have been helpful had the hon. Member of Parliament and his constituents asked for a variation for any additional roads that needed to be done when the contractor was still on site. We have considered such requests wherever we have had projects where local officials or residents have asked for extensions to the works.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the hon. Minister is aware that after Lufwanyama, the road has been covered with vegetation. In fact, there is no road to talk about after Lufwanyama up to the Kayimbwe Turn-Off?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, works for the road which Hon. Mwanza is talking about are under the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. We are aware of what he has said.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I am surprised by the answer given by the hon. Deputy Minister that the hon. Member should have gone to see him in connection with the need to continue the works up to  Kayimbwe Turn-Off. The plan, all along, has been for the works to go up to Kayimbwe Turn-Off. What the hon. Deputy Minister has said is a surprise to the people of the North-Western Province as a whole. When is this project going to continue so that the road in question is tarred up to Kasempa?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, as I said, we have to follow a certain process when doing things. Since, the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project is still on, the works being requested for will be carried out in the next phase.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, I would like to know whether it is the policy of this Government to only work on roads upon being requested to do so by the local authorities.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, that is not the policy. Let me give a good example of my own area. There is a design that catered for the Chipata/Vubwi and Vubwi/Chadiza roads, but left out works on the Vubwi/Sindamisale Road. The people in the areas where the road passes requested the ministry to ask the contractor for a variation. If that was not done, the works would have been carried out based on the original plan. It is common sense to ask when something has been missed out so that work progresses well.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister is contradicting himself.

Mr Muntanga: Yes!

Mr Mwiimbu: Sir, on one hand, he is asking the community, through the hon. Member of Parliament to ask for a variation and, on the other, he is saying that works on the road in question are already planned for under the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. What is the actual position?

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Mukanga): Mr Speaker, the stretch from Lufwanyama to the junction at the M8 Road has been captured under Phase II of the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. The feasibility studies for works on that stretch are currently taking place. Thus, there is no need for the hon. Member of Parliament to complain.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, with the clarification by the hon. Minister in mind, I want to find out why the hon. Deputy Minister wanted an hon. Member to go and see him in order to request him to ask the contractor for a variation for the tarring of the road to reach the Kayimbwe Turn-Off. He has given an example of Sinjemusale area where he has a home where the residents requested the ministry to ask for a variation for works which were not included in the designs for a particular project. How does the ministry operate? Is it correct for an hon. Member to ask for a variation for works which the ministry already knows are supposed to be carried out in order for a job to be completed?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, there are times when hon. Members of Parliament take the proactive role of consulting us over certain issues. Sometimes, we agree with their suggestions. We can only consider suggestions for a variation when the contractor is on site. In this case, the contractor has already left the site. So, we are going to follow the plan that we have. Had the hon. Member come to ask for a variation the time the contractor was on site, the problem would have been resolved there and then.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister said that the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project is still on. What works is the project going to continue in the North-Western Province and when is Phase II starting?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, we are talking about the Kalulushi/Kalengwa Road works which, as the hon. Deputy Minister stated, is part of the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project which is still on as it is made up of three phases. We have seen the works which have been taking place in Phase I. Phase II will begin this year. Afterwards, we shall go into Phase III. The Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project is well planned.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

TRAFFIC OFFENCES

285. Mr Mtolo (Chipata Central) asked the hon. Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) how much money was raised from fines for traffic offences from 1st October, 2011 to 1st October, 2013, countrywide;

(b) of the amount at (a), how much was raised by:

(i) the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA); and

(ii) Zambia Police Force; and

(c) whether the money raised at (a) had been handed over to the Ministry of Finance and, if not, why.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, a total of K42,134,281.61 was raised from the fines for traffic-related offences from 1st October, 2011 to 1st October, 2013, countrywide.

Sir, the Ministry of Home Affairs can only account for the amount collected by the Zambia Police Force whose activities the ministry is responsible for. The activities carried out by RTSA fall under the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication.

Mr Speaker, all the money collected during the stated period was deposited in the Government Account, Control 99, which is under the control of the Ministry of Finance.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to comment on the allegation that roadblocks are actually used as fundraising ventures for by-elections by the Patriotic Front (PF).

Hon. Opposition Members: Ooh!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, can the hon. Minister, give reasons why offenders are not given receipts. If there are no receipts at the roadblocks, why are the offenders not given a ticket so that they can pay their fines later?

Mr Deputy Speaker: One question, one answer rule.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Dr Simbyakula): Mr Speaker, it is not true that traffic fines are fundraising ventures for the PF.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I am not sure whether we hear what the hon. Minister is saying.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Can we have order at the back, on my left, hon. Member for Lubansenshi.

Hon. Minister, can you repeat the answer.

Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, I was saying that it is not true that the fines collected by the police for traffic offences are a fundraising venture for by-elections. That is absolutely incorrect.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, why are people not given receipts when they pay their traffic fines? That was the other question.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I think …

Mr Hamusonde: It is my question now.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: That is what you needed to say. We are following the one question, one answer rule.

Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, a receipt, known as Account Form Number 72, is issued to anyone who pays a fine for a traffic offence.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, another part of the question that I am now asking …

Ms Imenda: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs in order to be whispering such that we cannot hear his responses?

Mr Deputy Speaker: I take that to mean that you want the hon. Minister to speak a little louder.

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, there was another part to my colleague’s question which I want to repeat because it was not answered.

Sir, why are traffic offences expected to be paid for in cash on site and yet that tends to encourage corruption? When does the Government intend to introduce a civilised ticketing system so that the offenders will have about a month to go and pay their fines failure to which a court process would ensue? 

Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Member for Luena can hear me now. That proposal is under active consideration and should be implemented pretty soon.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, it is common knowledge that …

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, on the Floor of this House, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the hon. Minister of Finance, made a statement assuring us and the general public that it had taken measures to ensure that the free fall of the Zambian Kwacha was brought under control. This was the reasoning at the time behind their introducing a Statutory Instrument (SI) to regulate foreign exchange transactions. Even when we were debating this year’s Budget, we were assured by the hon. Minister of Finance that everything was being done to protect our currency.

Mr Speaker, suddenly, the value of the Zambian Kwacha is falling like the way butter melts in the Kalahari Dessert.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mwiimbu: Sir, last week, a dollar was selling at K5.50 and today it is at K5.80. As a result of this free fall, the cost of doing business will be high. Further, the management of our Budget which we just approved will be difficult. Even the resources which we are trying to put in place to import the required medication for our hospitals will not be enough as a result of this free fall of the kwacha. Is the Government in order to remain mute over what is happening after having assured us that everything was being done to protect the value of the kwacha?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: That is an important question. Could I request the hon. Member for Monze Central to file in a question of an urgent nature.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I am thankful for allowing me to raise a point of order soon after you made a ruling for my colleague to file in a question of an urgent nature.

Sir, on the Floor of this House, the hon. Minister of Agriculture of Livestock, in the last meeting, kept updating this House on the developments surrounding the breakout of the African Swine Fever and moratorium for the sale of pork products. The hon. Minister also gave a grace period for pork products to be on the shelf.

Mr Speaker, agriculture, for those who may not know, is the mainstay of most of our people. At the moment, we have a big crisis among our farmers as they have, in the absence of any ban, offloaded their pork products in order for them to realise profits …

Mr Deputy Speaker: what is the point of order?

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock has said that the ban has since been lifted and that farmers are now free to sell their pork products.

Sir, it has come to light that the ministry has not communicated this information to the pork product processors. Is the hon. Minister, therefore, in order to not to inform the pork product processors that the ban has been lifted so as to circumvent the losses by the farmers who depend on selling pork products? I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Speaker, can you also file in a question of an urgent nature.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, it is common knowledge in the Eastern Province that at one time, an hon. Minister travelled incognito in a taxi to a roadblock where he found that very little money was receipted for traffic fines. 

Sir, what measures are being put in place to ensure that such things do not continue happening?

Dr Simbyakula: Mr Speaker, it takes two to tango when it comes to matters of corruption. There is one who corrupts and the other who receives. Therefore, members of the public should desist from paying bribes. However, let me also add that, we are sealing all the loopholes by sensitising the public not to offer bribes. We are also trying to root out those officers who have sticky fingers.

I thank you, Sir.

CONNECTION OF LUNDAZI TO THE NATIONAL ELECTRICITY GRID

286. Mr I. Banda (Lumezi) asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development when Lundazi District, which currently gets its power supply from Malawi, would be connected to the Zambian national electricity grid.

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Zulu): Mr Speaker, the district is expected to be connected to the National Electricity Grid by August, 2015. The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) is implementing a project whose objective is to connect both Lundazi and Chama to the Zambian grid in order to improve quality and access to electricity services for these two towns which are currently supplied power from Malawi. The frequent and prolonged interruptions are the factors that necessitated ZESCO Limited to implement the project. The overall scope of works shall include the contraction of 200 km of 132 KV line between Chipata West, Lundazi and associated sub-stations.

Mr Speaker, at present, for the stretch between Chipata and Chama, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and a detailed line survey for the 132 KV line have been completed. Furthermore, tender documents have been issued to the pre-qualified bidders as the tender closed on 17th January, 2014. Accordingly, the evaluation of the bids started in the week beginning 3rd February, 2014 and ends Friday, this week. The implementation period for this project is expected to last eighteen months from the date the contract is signed.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, in the meantime, what is the ministry doing to cushion the people of Lundazi from this erratic supply of electricity?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, this project will be completed next year in August. I am, therefore, asking the people of Lundazi to be a bit patient.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, currently, the people of Lundazi get their electricity from Malawi. Can the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development’s officials talk to the Malawian counterparts so that something could be done …

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

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, are the hon. PF Members of Parliament in order to sit there quietly and pretend to be very useful …

Laughter

Mr Lufuma: … when, in the actual fact, the Republican President and President of the PF clearly labelled them completely useless? Are they in order not to resign immediately from their seats on moral grounds so that a useful crop of hon. Members of Parliament that can assist the President to govern this country in the way it should be governed can be brought into this House? I seek your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, Hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I do not want to be drawn into battles that should be fought outside this House. In this House, I think the hon. Members are in order to listen to the debates carefully. Let us not bring battles that are happening outside into the Chamber. The hon. Member may continue.

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, the power which is supplied to Chama and Lundazi from Malawi is erratic. Can the ministry’s officials talk to their counterparts in Malawi so that power can be supplied to Lundazi and Chama constantly?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, I think that is a good idea. We can talk to the Malawian Government over the issue at hand. However, we also have to bear in mind that Malawi also has its own challenges which may be even more serious than ours. I have already said that the evaluation of the bids for the project to connect Chama and Lundazi to the National Electricity Grid will end on Friday. Works are expected to begin soon after the successful bidder is picked. Like I said, the people of Lundazi and Chama should be a bit patient because by next year in August, this project will be completed.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I think the most important aspect of the hon. Minister’s answer is that he will be in touch with his Malawian colleagues.

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, is the cost of the electricity from Malawi on a par with the one in Zambia?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, I would advise the hon. Member for Chadiza to ask a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, why should we allow interruptions on imported electricity?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, I have already said that Malawi has got its own energy challenges.

I thank you, Sir.

LUFWANYAMA BOARDING SCHOOL

287. Mrs Chungu (Lufwanyama) asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development:

(a) when the newly opened Lufwanyama Boarding High School would be electrified; and

(b) why it had taken long to electrify the school.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Please, let us maintain order in the House.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, this is a new school and I do not think it took long for it to be electrified. I wish to inform the hon. Member that this school was actually electrified in December, 2013. I do not know when the hon. Member of Parliament was last at that school. There are schools which have existed for more than fifty years, but have not been electrified.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Chungu: Mr Speaker, may I know whether the hon. Minister knows that the electricity that is there is the one which the contractor was using and it is temporary? As I am speaking, there is no electricity in the dormitories.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, as far as the ministry is concerned, the whole school has been connected to the National Electricity Grid by ZESCO. I can even tell the hon. Member how much was spent on that connection. We spent about K130 million. I can also tell her what was involved when putting up a transformer to connect both the school and teachers’ houses.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, I had an opportunity to visit this school in 2012. Is the hon. Minister liaising with the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to ensure that Lufwanyama Boarding High School is connected to the National Electricity Grid?

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Member for Chipili got my answer. I said that this school was connected to the National Electricity Grid in December, 2013, and not in 2012.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I am getting two contradictory statements on this issue. The hon. Deputy Minister stated that power has already been connected to the school while the hon. Member is of a contrary view. Can the hon. Minister state the correct position.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Can the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development shed more light on this issue.

Mr Mukanga (on behalf of the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Yaluma)): Mr Speaker, I am the Acting Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development.

Interruptions

Mr Mukanga: The correct situation is that …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Continue, hon. Minister.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, the correct situation is that there is a transformer at Lufwanyama Boarding High School. Power was connected to the school and the teachers’ houses at the cost of K130,700. The construction of this school was actually completed in 2013 and power was connected to it in the same year. The hon. Member of Parliament for Chipili Constituency visited the school in 2012, but the school was electrified in 2013.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, I feel that the hon. Minister should go and confirm whether the complaint by the area hon. Member is genuine because she goes there regularly.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, the question was on whether power has been connected to the school or not. I said that it has been connected. If there are challenges regarding the internal wiring at the school, that is another issue which can be resolved. I have no problem with that.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, according to the information that I have, the contractor was using a transformer which supplied power to most of the areas in the constituency. However, the transformer has been removed and ZESCO has not connected power to the school.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I think we seem to have a misunderstanding on this issue.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Mukanga: Sir, we will send engineers to check whether what the hon. Member is saying is true so that we inform the House on the actual situation on the ground.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FUND

288. Mr Lufuma asked the Minister of Youth and Sport:

(a) how much money was disbursed from the Youth Empowerment Fund in 2012 and 2013, province by province;

(b) how much money from the fund was disbursed to Kabompo District; and

(c) how many youth groups in the district benefitted from the fund.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

When I say ‘Order!’, I mean just that. Some of you have the tendency to regard the instruction to mean that you should continue being disorderly. I think that is unbecoming of hon. Members of Parliament.

Can the hon. Minister Deputy continue.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the total sum of K23,188,869.90 was disbursed to all the provinces as Youth Development Fund in 2012 and, 2013, as follows:

Province 2012 2013
 No. of Total No. of Total
 Beneficiaries Amount Beneficiaries Amount
 in Kwacha in Kwacha

Central 36 1,072,250.00      Nil         Nil
Copperbelt 36 1,141,341.00  47 1,640,896.96
Eastern 23     864,598.11 Nil    Nil
Luapula 19    711,579.00 33 1,111,000.00 
Lusaka 63 2,389,422.00  129 4,340,000.00
Muchinga 25    675,469.00 29  918,705.00
Northern 25 758,500.00 50 1,302,000.00
North/ 19 719,391.83 46 1,613,500.00
Western 
Southern 12 497,895.00 42 1,512,000.00
Western 22    692,322.00 41 1,322,000.00

Total 280 9,522,767.94 417 13,760,101.96

Mr Speaker, the amount of money disbursed to Kabompo District in 2012 and 2013 was K50,000 and K66,000, respectively. In 2012, only one youth group benefited from the fund while in 2013, two groups from Kabompo District benefited. 

I thank you, Sir. {mospagebreak}

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for his elaborate answer.

Sir, on behalf of the youth of Kabompo District, I would like to express my disappointment at the fact that only one group and only two in 2012 and 2013, respectively, were empowered.

Sir, the hon. Minister alluded to the fact that in 2012 and 2013, K50,000 and K66,000, respectively, was disbursed. How come only one youth group in 2012 and two in 2013 were empowered? What happened to the money considering that a lot of youth are waiting for it?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I have given the figures for those who benefited from the fund in Kabompo District in 2012 and 2013.

Sir, I wish to inform the hon. Member of Parliament that these monies are disbursed through the District Commissioner’s (DC) Office.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mulenga: Sir, that is the procedure. In fact, all the forms for the beneficiaries are supposed to be collected from the DC’s Office.

Sir, I am sure that hon. Members have seen the hon. Minister and I going round the country sensitising the youth because most of them do not know where to go to access this money.

Sir, the problem is that procedure is not followed. For instance, even after specifying that the age group of the youths who can access the fund should be between fifteen and thirty-five, when the forms come back to us, we find that, in some groups, there are one or two people that are above thirty-five years. On that score, some groups are disqualified. We are, however, going round the country to sensitise the youths about such issues. Our provincial officers have been instructed to go down to the districts with this message. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Deputy Minister how he rates his performance. In 2012, only one youth group received funds in Kabompo. The following year, 2013, only two groups received these funds. Does he think that we are on the right track?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I think that this question should go to the area hon. Member of Parliament.

Laughter

Mr Mulenga: Sir, when I went out to the rural areas, most of the youths complained that when they go to constituency offices, they do not get adequate information. It appears that …

Hon. Opposition Member: It is the DC!

Mr Mulenga: Sir, it is not the fault of the DCs.

Sir, the offices of the DCs only issue out forms. They do not take part in the selection. They simply collect the forms and send them over to the provincial office. It is at the provincial office where a committee sits to evaluate the applications.

Sir, constituency offices should be giving adequate information to the youths so that they know where to go when they want to get this money.

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 
 
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to commend the hon. Minister for increasing transparency in the disbursement of this money and for his hard work in sensitising the youth about its use.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: Sir, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister …

Mr Mutelo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

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

Sir, is the hon. Minister in order to claim, on one hand, that forms can be accessed from the DC’s offices and on the other that the youths should get information regarding the fund from constituency offices?  Is it in order for information not to be found at the place where the forms are issued?

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: The question is understood. Hon. Minister, as you answer the question by the hon. Member for Kabwata, you may clarify that point of order.

Hon. Member for Kabwata, you may proceed.

Mr Lubinda: I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker, having commended the hon. Minister, I would like to find out if the ministry has considered employing youth development officers to be attached to either the districts or constituencies. These officers will assist him and his Deputy in sensitising the youths because, for sure, they cannot reach all the youths countrywide.

The Minister of Youth and Sport (Mr Kambwili): Mr Speaker, when we took over Government, we found that the ministry was only represented at provincial level. We have since come up with a plan to employ youth co-ordinators in districts so that the presence of the ministry is felt at that level.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: What about the point of order I asked you to clarify?

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, it is the duty of every hon. Member of Parliament to disseminate information on Government projects in his or her constituency. It is, indeed, true that in all the places we have gone to, we found that the ministry is only represented at provincial level. That is what has affected the flow of information to the districts. This is why we require hon. Members of Parliament to assist us to disseminate information regarding the fund while we are waiting for Treasury authority to have our offices in the districts.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mumba (Mambilima): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister pointed out that they are trying to employ district youth co-ordinators. I would like to find from the hon. Minister when that will happen. 

Secondly, I would like to know when the decentralisation of the distribution of the funds will commence because Lusaka has benefited more than the rural areas that are in dire need of these funds.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Let us observe the one question rule.

Hon. Minister, you may respond.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, we have already asked for authority from the Treasury to employ. When new structures have to be created in Government, we have to wait upon the Treasury’s authority. We have already written to the Ministry of Finance and are awaiting a response.

On the issue of Lusaka receiving more funds than rural areas, I wish to state that this money is given based on the population factor. We allocate these funds to provinces according to the population.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned that these funds are disbursed through DCs’  offices. Considering that most DCs were once upon a time party cadres, does the hon. Minister not think that youths from constituencies run by the Opposition do not stand a good chance of benefitting from the fund?

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister stated that the forms are given out by the DCs. From today’s discussion, it is clear that there is a need for the offices of all Members of Parliament to give out the forms so that we can allow more youths to access the money.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambwili: Sir, I have made it very clear that we are not going to give this money based on political patronage. This money is for all the youths aged between eighteen and thirty-six.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, I am glad to hear that the hon. Minister will involve the offices of all hon. Members of Parliament. Is the hon. Minister aware that this money has not been distributed evenly. The youths of Ikeleng’i and Mwinilunga, in particular, just hear about the Youth Empowerment Fund on the radio. They have not been able to access the fund. Is the hon. Minister aware of that?

Mr Kambwili: Sir, it is an excellent lie to state that the youths of Ikeleng’i have not been able to access the Youth Empowerment Fund because we have records of youth groups that have benefited from Mwinilunga.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order! The hon. Minister should take note that the word ‘lie’ is unparliamentary.

Mr Kambwili: Sir, I wish to withdraw the word ‘lie’ and replace it with the words ‘an excellent misconception’.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, although the hon. Minister has already stated that the ministry will consider involving hon. Members of Parliament, may I find out from him whether it is not possible for him to package …

Mr Muchima: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to mention that youths from Ikeleng’i have benefited from the Youth Empowerment Fund without providing the details? Is he in order to state that when I, the Member of Parliament for the area, is not aware of any youths who have accessed the fund?

Mr Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Ikeleng’i seems not to be satisfied with the hon. Minister’s answer. I would like to advise the hon. Member to touch base with him at an appropriate time.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, before, the point of order was raised, I was asking the hon. Minister whether he does not find it suitable to put the required information and form in one package so that the applicants do not have to get the form and seek for information from elsewhere.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, I have already stated that we will consider distributing the forms to the offices of all the hon. Members of Parliament. Of course, we will provide the package as required.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Konga (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that he has written to the hon. Minister of Finance to get Treasury authority to employ district youth co-ordinators. Is he aware that the hon. Minister of Finance informed this House that there is an employment freeze in place for the Civil Service? How is the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport going to employ when the employment freeze is still in place?

Mr Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Youth and Sport is still waiting for a response from the hon. Minister of Finance. That being the case, it would be prudent for us to leave that issue as it is.

Mrs Mazoka (Pemba): Mr Speaker, in a situation where an application has included people older than thirty-five-years-old, would it not be prudent to just delete those names from the form and continue to process it?

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, rules should be followed. When you abrogate the rules, you are disqualified from the process.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Phiri (Mkaika): Mr Speaker, why was the Eastern Province not given the Youth Empowerment Fund for 2013.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, we had a challenge regarding the releasing of the money from the Ministry of Finance. So, we are giving the province double this year.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister mentioned that K50,000 was sent to Kabompo District in 2012. Another K66,000 was sent to the same district in 2013. Surprisingly, out of that money, only three youth groups benefited. Where is the balance? Did the three groups get all the money?

Mr Kambwili: Sir, an allocation is not given to a district. It is given to a province. The technical committee at provincial level meets to approve the projects to be funded. Therefore, it is not that there was money sent to Kabompo which was not utilised. I can only assume that maybe, there were only three applicants from Kabompo and those were the only ones which were funded.

 I thank you. Mr Speaker.

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has made it clear that DCs are not part of the team that approves these application forms. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister who is involved in the approval of these application forms at district level?

Mr Kambwili: Sir, there is nobody who is involved at district level. The technical committee is at provincial level. There is representation from the Anti-Corruption Commission, private sector, banking community, Ministry of Youth and Sport, provincial administration and youths. So, when the forms are filled in at the district, the DCs only act as a conduit to transport them to the provincial centres where the appraisals are made.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is my friend …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

 There is no friendship in here. Just ask your question.

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, of late, the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport has been working very hard. He was in Vubwi, Kasenengwa and also in Petauke. I watched him on television.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

That is not the issue. What is your question?

Laughter

Mr Mbewe: Sir, have the youths from Vubwi, Kasenengwa, Malambo and Petauke benefited from the Youth Empowerment Fund?

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, there were youth groups that have benefited from the Youth Empowerment Fund from the areas which the hon. Member has mentioned. 

 I thank you, Sir.

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister enlighten the House and the nation at large the policy initiatives he has taken to ensure that this programme is an effective instrument for poverty reduction which takes into account urban and rural disparities as well as gender equity issues.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, in fact, we have, actually, added one more criterion to the evaluation process. I have observed with concern that in the past, you would find that most of the youth groups that were benefiting from the fund were from the provincial centres. For instance, in the Eastern Province, you would find that most of the youths that benefited from the fund were from Chipata and on the Copperbelt, from Ndola. What we want to do is ensure that all the districts in all the provinces have equal access to the funds. I have also made it very clear to the technical committees that if this is not going to be done this year, we are not going to disburse the funds.

Sir, in 2009 and 2010, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government only gave out a total of K4 billion. In the last two years that the PF has been in power, it has given out a total of K23 billion. This year, alone, we are giving out K20 billion. The money allocated to the fund has kept on increasing. Through the disbursement of this fund, we have been able to facilitate the creation of 1,000 jobs.

I thank you, Sir.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr L. J. Ngoma (Sinda): Mr Speaker, earlier on, the hon. Minister indicated that the Eastern Province did not access its allocation for 2013 and that, as a result of that, the province would receive double this year. However, in responding to the follow-up question from the hon. Member for Chadiza, he has indicated that these funds were given out to Vubwi, Petauke, Malambo and Kasenengwa. Could the hon. Minister reconcile those two statements. Were these funds disbursed because of the pending by-elections in these areas?

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, if we continue looking at programmes based on political patronage, this country will not develop. The question is very clear, and the questioner wanted to know how much money was disbursed to these youth groups in the last two years. The money that I referred to, as having been given to Vubwi, was in the 2012 allocation. We have kept the documents of the successful applicants for 2013 and will disburse funds to them once the money has been released from the Ministry of Finance.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, in Chipata, I am under a lot of pressure over this money, and the hon. Minister is aware of this fact. Could he give us some comfort by indicating when the Eastern Province will receive this money?

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, I totally agree with the hon. Member. There is no by-election in Chipata, and when I was there, the youths really complained that they were not given these funds last year. We told all the provinces that we had a challenge administering the fund last year because of Zambia’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which was not budgeted for. We had to find money to use for the AFCON. So, part of the money from the Youth Empowerment Fund was channelled to expenditure for Zambia’s participation in the AFCON, with a view that the Ministry of Finance would give us more money. Unfortunately, that did not happen. So, we are going to give the Eastern Province its allocation for last year, which has been added to the allocation for this year. We are going to launch the disbursement of this fund at the end of February, this year and I think the provinces should have the money by March, this year. When disbursing the funds, we will start with the Eastern and Central provinces, which were not funded last year.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, taking into account the propensity of the PF cadres to close the DCs and Members of Parliaments’ offices, like they did in Chinsali, where they closed the office for the hon. Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport as well as that of the DC, I would like to urge the hon. Minister to consider giving some of these forms to district councils because they are neutral. Other than that, the Government could utilise the services of the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health for it also undertakes similar projects in the districts.

Mr Deputy Speaker: That was not a question. The hon. Member was simply urging the hon. Minister to consider a particular suggestion.

CONSTRUCTION OF DRAINAGE SYSTEM FROM WOODLANDS STADIUM TO CHALALA

289. Mr Ntundu (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a) which company was contracted to construct the drainage from Woodlands Stadium to Chalala residential area in Lusaka;

(b) how much work, in percentage terms, was completed as of December, 2013;

(c) what caused the delay in completing the works;

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

(e) when the works would be completed.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, the company contracted to construct the drainage from Woodlands Stadium to Chalala residential area in Lusaka, including the designing and construction of the roads in the same area was Brian Colquhoun, Hugh O’ Donnell and Partners (BCHOD) Works Construction Limited. The same company was also supposed to supervise the works.

Sir, as of December, 2013, works, as provided for in the contract, were 90 per cent completed. The delay in completing all the works was caused by the following:

(a) there was too much rock outcrop which required blasting before the earth works on most of the roads could be done;

(b) delays in the payment for completed works negatively affected the contractor’s cash flow;

(c) a sum of K2,189,000 was paid to the project team out of the total sum of K49,545,956.78; and

(d) there were inadequate resources to complete the drainage works in the contract.

Mr Speaker, the outstanding works on the drainage will be completed by local contractors that will be engaged after the on-going tender process has been completed. Works are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, if I heard the hon. Deputy Minister correctly, he is admitting that this contractor will not do the works. A few days ago, it was raining heavily and I almost drowned on this road while driving a small car. I would like to find out when the Government, if it is serious, will engage a new contractor to finish the works that have been abandoned by a  contractor?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, the answer was that works are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, this contractor is a consultancy firm. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister why the Government is now giving contracts to consultancy firms to carry out the works instead of such firms supervising the works of the contractors.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, the contractor is, indeed, a consulting firm. The job was part of the Formula One Projects that were initiated by the MMD Government. We did not cancel the contract when we came into power. We decided to carry on with the works. Later, we decided to make certain corrections. That is why the project was stopped. We are now trying to issue the contract to a contractor because we do not need to give it to a consultant.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, I am a bit lost because I did not get the hon. Minister clearly. May he confirm whether the contract will be given to a new contractor or the same consultant, who actually abandoned the work.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, a consultant is different from a contractor. We are going to give this contract to a contractor so that the job is carried out in accordance with the standard practice.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, the road in question is the Mosi-O-Tunya Extension, a brainchild of the Member of Parliament for Kabwata. I would like to find out whether, indeed, the drainage work alone is what cost K49 million, and whether the amount is in the rebased currency.

    Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I am wondering where the hon. Member for Kabwata is getting the K49 million. The answer we gave was that out of the K49 million, only K2,189,000 was paid to the project team.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

NATIONAL SPORTS COUCIL OF ZAMBIA

290. Mr Ntundu asked the Minister of Youth and Sport:

(a) how much money the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) owed the suppliers of goods and services as of December, 2013;

(b) how much money the Government disbursed to the council in 2011;

(c) how the money at (b) was spent; and

(d)  how much money the council raised from its own sources in 2011.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the NSCZ owed a total sum of K218,568.78 to suppliers of goods and services as of December, 2013. The breakdown is as follows:

Supplier Amount 
                                                                                               (Kwacha)

National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) arrears 170,190.00

ZESCO     3,503.99

Zambia Telecommunication Limited (ZAMTEL)     2,700.00

December salaries and statutory contributions   38,436.59

Zamnet Communication Systems Limited (internet service)     2,000.00

Lusaka Water and Sewerage Limited (LWSC)     1,738.00

The Government disbursed a total sum of K1,050,000 to NSCZ in 2011. Of the above, K648,000 was a grant for operations while K402,000 was a grant for sports associations. The grant for operations was used for the administrative and operation costs of the council such as salaries, fuel, electricity, telephone, water and repairs to motor vehicles, while the grant for sports associations was used to facilitate the sports associations’ engagement in regional and international competitions. The council raised a total sum of K411,651 from its own sources as follows:

Source                                                                                      Amount 
                                                                                               (Kwacha)

Annual affiliation fees from sports associations   76,900

Clearance of teams/athletes coming/going out of Zambia   44,700

Bar sales 125,121

Renting out of office space and kitchen facility   10,150

Hiring out of facility 154,750

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ntundu: Sir, I served on your Committee on Youth and Sport with the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport, Hon. Kambwili. He is aware that the Government’s funding to the NSCZ is so erratic that the council is unable to meet its obligations. So, I would like to hear from Hon. Kambwili, now that he is the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport, whether funding to the NSCZ is not erratic anymore.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, we have made some changes and there is a very big improvement. Previously, the money used to be sent to the Ministry of Youth and Sport, where it was cleared, and, then, it would be sent to the NSCZ. That process used to take a bit of time. What we have now done is to ensure that the money goes directly to the NCSZ and we have increased the budgetary allocation for the institution. Presently, there has not been any problem in giving funds to the NCSZ. The hon. Member will agree with me that from the time the PF took over the Government, a number of sports associations started being funded through the NCSZ to engage in international competitions.

I thank you, Sir.

TRANSFERING OF TEACHERS FROM LUBANSENSHI

291. Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) how many teachers were transferred from Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency in 2013; and

(b) what the reasons for the transfers were.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr P. Ngoma): Mr Speaker, the numbers of teachers who were transferred from Lubansenshi Parliamentary Constituency were as follows:

Type of transfer                           Number of teachers

Within the district 06

District to district 14

Province to province 11

Total 31

Mr Speaker, the reasons for their transfers were as follows:

Reason                                      Number of Teachers

Administrative 01

Promotion 03

Own request 25

Regrading 01

Medical 01

Total 31

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, in Luwingu District, particularly in Lubansenshi Constituency, there is the victimisation of teachers, to the extent where some of them have been transferred out of the constituency. This victimisation is perpetrated by the DC and the PF district party cadres. What steps is the hon. Minister taking to protect the operations of the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) in the area? I even have evidence regarding instances whereby the DEBS has complained of interference by the DC and PF cadres.

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, if the hon. Member of Parliament has evidence suggesting what he has said, we are ready to receive it and act upon it because our responsibility is to protect the integrity of the ministry, its officials and teachers themselves.

I thank you, Sir.

EQUIPMENT USED BY ZAMBIA POLICE TO DISPERSE CROWDS

292. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) what non-lethal equipment the Zambia Police Force had to disperse crowds during riots and demonstrations; and

(b) when the Government would stop the use of live ammunition by the police  during crowd control.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mrs Mwamba): Mr Speaker, the Zambia Police Force has tear smoke canisters, long and short batons, water cannons and horses as non-lethal weapons to disperse crowds during riots and demonstrations. There has never been any Government policy allowing the police to use live ammunition against citizens during crowd control. The Laws of Zambia provide for the use of minimum force only in circumstances where human life or property is extremely under peril.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, the use of short batons and tear-gases is a colonial way of dispersing crowds. When will modern methods like rubber bullets and water canisters be used by the Zambia Police Force to disperse crowds?

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, I think at some point in the recent past, we have informed the House that, we are in the process of procuring modern equipment for the police.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, when do the police intend to stop using long or short batons to control crowds?

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, as soon as we procure modern equipment to replace those long and short batons.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, the question is very specific and the concerns are very clear. When will the Government buy modern equipment?

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, I think I have been clear enough for the hon. Members of Parliament to understand what I am saying. I have said that the ministry is in the process of procuring modern equipment. This means that we have already started the process of procuring modern equipment.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, at what stage is procurement process?

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, the procurement process started as far back as last year. We are almost there.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Antonio: Mr Speaker, where is the Government procuring the modern equipment?

Mrs Mwamba: Mr Speaker, that is classified information.

I thank you, Sir.

NITROGEN CHEMICALS ZAMBIA

293. Mr Katuka asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock:

(a) by how much money the Government had recapitalised the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ); and
 
(b)  what the benefit of producing fertiliser locally was, compared to importing.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Monde): Mr Speaker, in …

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

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Rev. Lt. Gen. Shakapwasha: Mr Speaker, as a matter of procedure in the House, is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs in order to reply that she cannot give classified information in this House?

I need you ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Speaking from experience, I do know that certain information cannot be divulged because it is not only the hon. Members who are listening to the debate, but also many other people out there. Since the hon. Member who has raised the point of order was in-charge of the ministry where Hon. Mwamba is, I am sure he knows that we should accept that certain information cannot be divulged anyhow.

Mr Kampyongo: Long live, Chair!

Mr Monde:  Mr Speaker, in …

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

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Deputy Minister in order …

Hon. Government Members: Which one?

Mr Lufuma: … I mean the one in-charge of Home Affairs. Is the hon. Deputy Minister in order to claim that the source of rubber bullets and water cannons is classified information?

Mr Deputy Speaker: I thought that I had addressed that issue adequately.

I think the answer has been given. Can the hon. Deputy Minister continue.

Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, in 2011, 2013 and 2014, no funds were released for the recapitalisation of the NCZ. However, in September, 2012, the Government released a sum of K25 million in order to rehabilitate the Ammonium Nitrate plant. The rehabilitation works have since been completed and production is in progress.

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

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr L. J. Ngoma:  Mr Speaker, Hon. Kambwili has moved to where Hon. G. B. Mwamba is. I am wondering whether Hon. Kambwili is in order to sit next to Hon. G. B. Mwamba and plead with him to hand over the presidency to him.

Laughter

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Is he in order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Well, consultations in the House are allowed. I do not know whether they are consulting on the issue which the hon. Member has talked about. All I can say is that, hon. Members are free to consult in this House.

Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, the NCZ is a fully Government-owned institution established in the early 1970s to produce and supply fertilisers and industrial chemicals. The advantages of owning and running our own fertiliser processing company include the following:

(a) creating jobs. With the running of the NCZ, in the years 2011 to date, over 2,000 jobs have been created;

(b) strengthening of the national industrial base through forward and backward business linkages with domestic business firms such as ZESCO, ZAMTEL, Zambia Railways and other local suppliers. This can, in turn, create additional jobs.

(c) saving the country from spending large sums of money in foreign currency through imports;

(d) running the NCZ has contributed to the revenue base of the Government in the form of domestic taxes such as Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Value-Added-Tax (VAT) as well as contributions to statutory bodies such as the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA); and
 
(e) contributing to the retention of technological know-how through the NCZ’s owned fertiliser manufacturing.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, I thank the young man for that answer.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: Can you withdraw that expression, ‘Young man’. He is not a young man. I understand he has children.

Laughter

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, what long-term measures have been put in place by the Government to sustain the plant so that we do not fall back into the trap we fell into last time?

Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, I thank my father for that question. I think he must learn to understand that I am a Deputy Minister.

Laughter

Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, we as a Government are ensuring that we support this plant by engaging it to supply fertiliser to our farmers. We want to minimise the importation of fertiliser. We have also confirmed the management of this plant so that it can concentrate on production.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.{mospagebreak}

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, now that the rehabilitation of the Ammonium Nitrate Plant has been completed, will it be able to produce top dressing fertiliser for the 2014/2015 farming season and help minimise the distribution delays that arise from our importing this fertiliser?

Mr Monde: I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I have not given you the Floor. You are too fast for me.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: You may now answer, hon. Deputy Minister.

Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, currently, this plant is producing Ammonium Nitrate for our famers. However, the rate at which it is producing it may not meet the huge demand. This is because some of the Ammonium Nitrate produced also has to meet the demand from the mines.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, I want assurance from the hon. Deputy Minister that the fertiliser that is being produced locally is going to be cheaper than the imported one. The reason for this expectation is obvious. If the locally made fertiliser is more expensive, the Zambian farmers will be disadvantaged and, therefore, not be competitive. So, can we be assured that the locally produced fertiliser will be cheaper than the imported one?

Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, I wish to assure the hon. Member that the locally produced fertiliser will obviously be cheaper than the imported one.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, massive capital injection has gone into this plant. Now, for this plant to survive, it has to be able to make profit. According to the ministry’s cost/benefit analysis, when is the firm going to break-even and start to make profit?

Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, the plant is already making profit since most of the Ammonium Nitrate produced is based on orders and contracts. You are also aware that, as a ministry, we have removed certain subsidies and, therefore, the plant is running purely as a business concern.

I thank you, Sir.

ELECTRIFICATION OF SCHOOLS IN MAPATIZYA

294. Mr Miyanda asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development whether the Government had any plans to electrify the following schools in Mapatizya Parliamentary Constituency through the Kala Ranch Sub-Station:

(a) Kanyanga Primary;

(b) Njabalombe Primary;

(c) Simalundu Primary; and

(d) Kabanga Secondary.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, I have just received new information on the Lufwanyama project from ZESCO to the effect that electricity supply at the Lufwanyama Boarding High School was connected on 24th December, 2013. We have also spoken to the head teacher at the school who has confirmed this.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), plans to carry out feasibility studies at the schools which are referred to in the question which are in Mapatizya Parliamentary Constituency this year. The studies will help the Government to establish the scope and cost of electrifying the schools. Once the studies have been completed, the subsequent electrification of the schools will depend on the availability of funds.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON in the Chair]

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, I am aware that ZESCO has already carried out the feasibility studies. I am surprised that, today, the hon. Deputy Minister is telling us that they need to carry out other feasibility studies. Why is that the case?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, this project is supposed to be implemented by REA and not ZESCO. So, REA has to carry out its own updated feasibility studies.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, I put it to you that the three primary schools in question actually cater for the people that were displaced during the construction of the Kariba Dam. Now that the hon. Minister has the privilege of having this information, would he not consider the plight of these people as an urgent case, considering the sacrifice they made for the building of the dam which provides electricity?

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, everything has already been taken into consideration. We stated in our answer that we are carrying out feasibility studies this year and that by the second quarter of the year, we will start rolling out the project. Therefore, the matter has already been considered as suggested.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

CONSTRUCTION OF A HEALTH CENTRE AT KANSONDE

295. Mr Mwanza asked the Minister of Health:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to construct a modern health centre at Kansonde in Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency;

(b) if so, what the estimated cost of the project was; and

(c) if there were no such plans, what measures the Government would take to ensure improved health services in the area.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to construct a health post at Kansonde in Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency in 2015. This year, my ministry’s focus is on the completion of the existing contracts as well as the implementation of the construction of the 650 health posts.

Sir, as there is no contract and budget provision for the project, it is not possible to determine the cost. However, from experience, we would project it in the range of K250,000.

Sir, currently, the community in Kansonde accesses health services from Kyanika and Kalengele rural health centres.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, Kansonde is near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is about 50 km away from the nearest health facilities. I like what the hon. Deputy Minister has said, but I am worried about the delay. They are referring everything to the Budget. So, I look forward to seeing if what the hon. Deputy Minister has said will be realised in the 2015 Budget.

The Deputy Chairperson: Since there is no question, next question.

LUFWANYAMA POLICE POST

296. Mrs Chungu asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) when the newly constructed Lufwanyama Police Post would be opened; and

(b) when construction of staff houses  at the police post would commence.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Chilangwa): Mr Speaker, the newly constructed Lufwanyama Police Post will be opened this year, 2014.

Mr Speaker, the construction of staff houses has been planned to commence next year, 2015. However, preparatory works for the construction of these houses will start this year, 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Chungu: Mr Speaker, the construction of this police post finished in 2011 and this is now 2014. When exactly are they going to open this police post?

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, yes, the construction might have finished in 2011. There are certain things which must be done before we can open the police post. After the erection of the building, there are certain procedures that must be followed before a police station or police post can become operational. All the steps must be followed. I am sure that by mid 2014, this police post will be operational.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, there are many police posts in the country which do not have houses for staff. I have an example of such a police post. Musa Police Post in Chasefu does not have houses for staff. Is the ministry considering the building of staff houses for this police post just like they are going to do for Lufwanyama Police Post?

The Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Deputy Minister, do you have a bonus answer?

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the hon. Member will not get a bonus answer because that is a new question. He should file in a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, how many houses are going to be built for the Lufwanyama Police Post?

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, the standard requirement for a police post is two houses. Thus, we are going to give two houses to Lufwanyama Police Post.

I thank you, Sir.

MINING OF LATERITE

297. Mr Hamusonde asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication why road contractors who mine laterite for road construction failed to level the sites where the laterite was mined upon completion of road works.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, it is standard procedure that borrow pits, quarries and any other areas that are disturbed during the road construction process are rehabilitated for the safety of human beings and animals. The Road Development Agency (RDA) has provisions in all road work contracts which address the issues regarding the rehabilitation of borrow pits and other areas after use.

Mr Speaker, the Government, however, notes that in certain circumstances, contractors have not fully fulfilled their obligations in rehabilitating the mined or disturbed areas. The Government will endeavour to ensure that this is not repeated through the strict enforcement of the regulations through the Environment and Social Mitigation Unit (ESMU).

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minster aware that many people have drowned in these borrow pits, especially in the Blue Water Borrow Pit in Chawama?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, we are aware of that. In certain cases, we have taken measures to ensure that such areas are protected by fencing or a drainage.

I thank you, Sir.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN LUSAKA

298. Mr Hamusonde asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the drainage system in the Lusaka City would be worked on.

The Deputy Minister of Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Kufuna): Mr Speaker, I would like to inform this August House that the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, has made funds available under the Millennium Challenge Account, and has signed an agreement to rehabilitate and reconstruct the main outfall drains in the City of Lusaka.

Mr Speaker, the main objective of this project is to improve the drainage system by constructing new primary outfall drains and upgrading existing drains as well as constructing culverts and foot bridges, which will improve water flow and help pedestrians traverse big drains and streams. The designs have now been completed and physical works on the ground are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2014, upon completion of the tender process for civil works.

Mr Speaker, the procurement of the consultant who will supervise the civil works has begun and bids are currently under evaluation by the Millennium Challenge Zambia. In addition, the Government is putting in place drainage works through major road projects such as L400 and Pave Zambia, which include roadside drains. Under the performance contracts, the Government is maintaining approximately 400 km of the drainage system. Once completed, this will give a total length of approximately 1,000 km of drainage coverage in Lusaka.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that the works will be carried out under the Millennium Challenge Account. I happen to know that this project does not cover Kanyama, for example, which is a problematic area in terms of drains. Apart from the drainage system that will be constructed under the Millennium Challenge Account, and the roads that he mentioned, what plans does he have for areas such as Kanyama, which are not covered in this project?

Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, Lusaka has been divided into ten zones. We have appointed performance contractors that are working in all the zones. Therefore, Chawama …

Hon. Members: Kanyama.

Mr Kufuna: … and Kanyama also have performance contractors who are working in those areas.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, a lot of the water that is collected through the drainage system in Lusaka goes to waste. Is the Government thinking about harvesting that water after they have put up the drainage system, so that it will become cheaper for LWSC to pump water from a reservoir near Lusaka rather than depending on the pumps that are located some 60 km away from the city?

Mr Kufuna: Mr Speaker, I think that we may consider that but, as at now, we are most concerned with ensuring that the drainage system in the city starts working well.

I thank you, Sir.

DEGAZETTING FOREST RESERVES IN MASAITI

299. Mr Chitafu (Kafulafuta) asked the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to degazette the following forest reserves  
             in Masaiti District:

(i) Chiwala/Chondwe; and

(ii) Katanino; and

(b) whether the Government had any plans to lease out Miengwe Forest Reserve to investors for development of eco-tourism such as game ranching.

The Deputy Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, the House may remember that this question came up in 2012. Thus, we wish to repeat the answer that we gave in 2012. The Government has no plans of degazzeting Chondwe Forest Reserve. We also have no intentions of doing the same for Katanino Forest Reserve in Masaiti District.

Mr Speaker, the reason for declaring Chondwe a protected forest was intended for the protection of the water catchment system of several streams which feed into the Kafulafuta River. This purpose has not changed despite severe encroachment that is prevalent in the reserve. Further, Chondwe National Forest is one of the identified degraded areas which is earmarked for reforestation and protection from further encroachment.

Mr Speaker, the Katanino Forest Reserve is one of the declared joint forest management areas between the Government, through the Forestry Department, and the local community.

Sir, the Government has no immediate plans to lease out Miengwe Forest Reserve to investors for the development of eco-tourism such as game ranching.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chitafu: Mr Speaker, can the Government reconsider its position considering that this place, Kafulafuta, especially in view of the mining activities that have been taking place, has seen people displaced. The people will continue to be displaced because there are more companies coming. Dangote Zambia Industries is there, Nelcant and many others which will be coming. Can the Government show a gesture of goodwill to the people who have been displaced.

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, the answer to that supplementary question is contained in my earlier response which is simply that the purpose for which this reserve was established has not changed. It has a function to perform in the ecosystem of the area and for the country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has indicated that there is some encroachment going on. I am sure it will grow because these people continue to grow in number. What is the Government doing, for now, about that encroachment? This might be the reason it is being asked to degazzate the reserve.

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, this encroachment is a wake-up call for the Government to act sooner than later. It is our intention, as a Government, to save the forest and we will do just that.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that Chondwe/Chiwala Reserve Forest has been earmarked for reforestation. When is that programme begining?

Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, this House is aware that reforestation is an ongoing activity which has been embarked upon by this Government. I wish to refer the hon. Member of Parliament to the Budget which we passed in December last year. This programme is there in that Budget and we will ensure that this forest is brought back to normality.

I thank you, Sir.

TRADE IMBALANCE BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

300. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

(a) what the level of trade imbalance between Zambia and South Africa was;

(b) whether the Government was satisfied with the trade imbalance;

(c) what measures the Government was taking to reverse the trade imbalance between the two countries;

(d) why grapes from Zambia were not allowed to be exported to South Africa; and

(e) what measures the Government had taken to assist Zambian grape farmers export their produce to South Africa.

The Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Siamunene): Mr Speaker, the trade imbalance between Zambia and South Africa between 2010 and 2013 averaged K5.65 billion per annum in favour of South Africa.

Sir, the Government is not satisfied with the trade imbalance between Zambia and South Africa which is one of its major export markets in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The trade imbalance is attributed to the comparatively high level of industrialisation in South Africa. A large proportion of imports from South Africa comprise capital goods, machinery and raw material which are essentials to Zambia’s industries.

Mr Speaker, another factor affecting trade is the restrictive trade practices that South Africa imposes on Zambian products and services. Most of the restrictive trade practices imposed by South Africa are sanitary and phytosanitary measures imposed on suspicion of the existence of pests or diseases from the countries where the goods are manufactured. The stringent rules do not favour less industrialised economies like Zambia which do not have the technology and industrial practices to meet the demands of the South African market.

Sir, the Government is working on strategies meant to improve Zambia’s trade performance, not only with South Africa, but also with other countries within and outside the region. Zambia has the aim of increasing the values and volumes of goods exported. Emphasis has been placed on value addition to primary products as well as diversification which will increase the range of exports.

Mr Speaker, the programmes in place include the promotion of value chain clusters to improve value addition and the development of multi-facility economic zones (MFEZs) with the intention of increasing production and productivity. Further, the Government approved the Industrialisation and Job Creation Strategy that will guide the implementation of programmes to enhance Zambia’s competitiveness in the regional and global markets. Zambia is also promoting both domestic and foreign direct investment into certain sectors for purposes of not only domestic consumption, but also for export markets including South Africa.

Mr Speaker, the South African authority has not granted the entry of grapes into their market on suspicion of the existence of a pest known as Maconellicoccus Hirsustus. However, the pest risk assessment was conducted and submitted, through the Zambia Agriculture Research Institution (ZARI), to the National Plant Protection Organisation of South Africa (NPPOZA). The analysis proved that the pests do not exist in Zambia and this has been communicated to the South African Government.

Sir, Zambia is using bilateral, multilateral and dispute settlement mechanisms provided under the SADC Framework on Trade to resolve the issue of regarding the grapes. It should be noted that South Africa is a very important trading partner for Zambia and thus, the resolution of any trade barriers that our exporters face is given the due priority.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, is it not a sign of negligence that the Government has not helped the farmers to improve the quality of the grapes they grow so that they are able to export this fruit?

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Chenda): Mr Speaker, the Government has not been sitting idly. It has had meetings with grape growers. We have engaged the South African Embassy on this issue. We also hope to send two negotiators to go and discuss this issue with their counterparts in South Africa. Something is being done to try to work with our grape growers in the country.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, has the Government tried to assist the farmers in making the Zambian grapes marketable so that they would only export what Zambians are not able to consume?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, the foreign markets are more lucrative. The hon. Member of Parliament may wish to know that, in fact, a Zambian farmer exports grapes to the United Kingdom (UK) where they are being sold in supermarkets. Farmers want to export their grapes because, that way, they are able to get higher returns.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, in answering the question, the hon. Minister referred to the SADC Framework on Trade. How much bearing does Zambia’s dual membership to SADC and the Common Market for Eastern and Sothern Africa (COMESA) have on the trade imbalance between Zambia and South Africa?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, obviously, we wish we were in the same position as South Africa. It has a strong industrial base and because of that, is obviously, in a better position than us when engaging in trade. However, we will continue to negotiate for better trade terms as equal members in SADC and COMESA.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, one of the factors that can lead to the deterioration of the trade balance against other countries is when your country exports raw goods and imports finished products. The raw goods are normally cheaper than the finished products. A few years ago, this Government said that it would discourage the exportation of raw materials so that whatever leaves the country is processed. What tangible steps has the Government put in place to discourage the exportation of raw products such as timber which are cheap and importation of finished ones such as furniture which is expensive?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, the Government has not changed its position. We will continue to persuade all the industries to add value to the raw materials before they export them. We believe that that is the only way that we are going to create wealth in our country and also create opportunities for employment for our people. The main issue is that we have continued to encourage our industries to engage in value addition activities. When we export materials in their raw form, we are actually exporting jobs to those countries where these materials are going to be processed. We need to enhance the industrialisation of our companies so that we create opportunities for value addition and employment creation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, which province or district grows these grapes?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, when I was Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, I had the privilege of touring a farm that grows grapes. I did bring the samples of these grapes to Parliament and they were served in the restaurant during tea break. These grapes are actually grown in Chongwe which is a few kilometers from Lusaka. They are grown by a farm called Khal Amazi. Like I said, these grapes are of a very high quality. They are actually being exported to the European market. You will find these grapes in the supermarkets in the United Kingdom (UK). That is something that we would like to encourage. We need more people to invest in this particular sector so that we can create job opportunities in our country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, in response to the question posed by an hon. Member, the hon. Minister said that the Government is engaging the South Africans so that they can allow the export of Zambian grapes to South Africa. We have also been told that the export markets have more lucrative prices than the local market. My follow-up question is: Will the South African market which has already flooded the Zambian market with its cheaper grapes be willing to import Zambian grapes at a price higher than the price at which it is selling its grapes on the Zambian market? Is it worth the investment or should we just concentrate on expanding the Zambian market and also looking towards the European market?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, it so happens that when the grapes are in season here in Zambia, they are off season in South Africa. The South Africans actually import grapes from Spain, Portugal and Brazil. Therefore, there are no complications regarding this issue. In fact, it would be cheaper for South Africans to get grapes from Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister in his answer mentioned the fact that the South African authority has not granted the entry of grapes into their market on the suspicion of the existence of a certain pest which I cannot attempt to pronounce. For avoidance of doubt, may the hon. Minister confirm whether that particular pest exists in Zambia and, if it does, what will be done to handle it?

Mr Chenda: Mr Speaker, when we got the complaint, we referred this matter to ZARI. According to ZARI, that pest does not actually exist in Zambia. So, these are just trade gymnastics which the South Africans are playing with us. As I earlier said, we have engaged the South African Government so that we can deal with these non-tariff barriers and open the South African market to our grape farmers.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FUND

301. Mr Lufuma asked the Minister of Gender and Child Development:

(a) how much money was disbursed from the Women Empowerment Fund in 2012 and 2013, province by province;

(b) how much money from the fund was disbursed to Kabompo West Parliamentary Constituency; and

(c) how many women groups in the constituency benefitted from the fund.

The Deputy Minister of Gender and Child Development (Mrs Banda): Mr Speaker, in 2012, the Ministry of Gender and Child Development procured poultry equipment, sewing machines, peanut butter-making machines, hammer mills, ox-drawn ploughs, gardening tools, block-making machines, sausage-making machines, banana boats, beehives and day old chicks.

Further, funds were disbursed to the women groups who were given equipment in order to assist them operationlise the projects. The disbursement of equipment and operational funds, province by province, was as follows:

Province        Value of Value disbursed Total
       Equipment  for start-up value 
      Disbursed                      Capital
                                   (K)      (K)                                 (K)

Muchinga 108,080,320 15,150,000 123,230,320 
Northern 385,300,000 96,000,000 481,300,000
Luapula 454,762,000                  0 454,762,000
North   12,481,150                  0   12,481,150
Western
Western 193,050,000  82,000,000  275,050,000
Southern   45,105,000  85,700,000 130,805,000
Lusaka 145,200,000  24,000,000 169,200,000
Central 317,180,320                  0 317,180,320
Eastern   18,010,000    2,000,000   20,010,000
Copperbelt 323,000,000   1,000 323,001,000

Total 2,307,019,790

In, 2013, equipment and start-up capital was distributed/disbursed as follows;

Province Value of  Value disbursed Total
 Equipment for start-up Value 
 Disbursed                     Capital
                              (K)    (K)                                   (K)
         
Muchinga 60,174 20,000 80,174
Northern 50,746 25,000 75,746
Luapula 76,464 29,000  105,464
North             86,962 41,000  127,962
Western
Western 16,290 61,000 77,290
Southern 56,952          0 56,952
Lusaka         106,419 66,000  172,419
Central        56,232 33,000 89,232
Eastern 20,778        0 20,778
Copperbelt 33,498                       1,000                     34,498

Total  840,515

Mr Speaker, equipment valued at K107,272 was given to Kabompo District. However, from the applications, we are not able to identify which constituency the recipients where from. The ministry is currently reviewing the allocation system.

Mr Speaker, eight women clubs from Kabompo District benefitted from the funds.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, in 2013, fifty-four women clubs applied and were given approval forms. These forms were handed over to her ministry, but women were not given funds or equipment. I would like to find out when the ministry is going to disburse money or equipment to these women clubs which spent money to complete the application process.

Mrs Banda: Mr Speaker, actually, the Ministry of Gender and Child Development has received a lot of applications. This is an on-going process. It does not mean that those clubs which were not given anything last year will not receive any money or equipment. They will receive their allocation when funds are available.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the hon. Minister that the MMD Government used to allocate each constituency some funding from the Women Empowerment Fund. As a result of that, there was no discrimination that occurred. I feel that the Ministry of Gender and Child Development should follow the good example of the MMD Government in the disbursement of the Women Empowerment Fund.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Gender and Child Development (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister of Gender and Child Development has indicated that because of the discrepancies that we have seen in the disbursement of the Women Empowerment Fund, we have decided to revise the allocation system. We will consider allocating funds per constituency …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Wina: … so that there is an equitable distribution of resources.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr I. Banda: Mr Speaker, in 2012 and 2013, the Eastern Province got the least funds. I would like to find out the criterion that was used to disburse these funds to the provinces.

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the application forms are scrutinised by the provincial and district gender sub-committees, then forwarded to the DC who sends them over to our offices. We distribute the items according to the successful application forms.

Sometimes, some hon. Members of Parliament have taken the initiative to come to our offices to bring the forms and we have attended to them. In the 2014 allocation, therefore, we are looking at all the constituencies, especially those that have not received any equipment in the last two years.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, will the hon. Minister consider, in the new approach, taking these forms down to constituency offices?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the hon. Members of Parliament need to be proactive. They can collect these forms and if they are not adequate, they can make copies of them and distribute them in the wards so that women can access them.

Sir, on the Floor of this House, each hon. Minister gives details of programmes and projects that are being undertaken in his or her ministry. It is up to the hon. Members of Parliament to take this information to their constituencies and inform their electorate so that our people can benefit from these Government projects.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that in 2012 and 2013, things were given. I did not see anything.

Laughter

Mr Hamusonde: Sir, I would like to know whether they used the back door because we used to get these things ourselves and deliver them to the people. What happened?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, I can assure the hon. Member that this year, he will see something.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, Sikoma Club in Kalabo has not received any funds and yet in 2013, the Western Province got K77,490. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what frantic measures the ministry is taking to make sure that this K77,490 reaches the clubs?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, I have already explained that we are revising the format used to disburse the funds. Definitely, Kalabo and the other constituencies will benefit this year.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, in this House, we, as Members of Parliament, represent the people of Zambia. Thus, it is very important that ministries running this country involve us in their activities.

Sir, officials from the Ministry of Gender and Child Development have been coming to Chipata, but have never informed the Member of Parliament that they are visiting.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Mtolo: Do not say “Question!”

Mr Speaker, I need protection. We, the hon. Members of Parliament, are the representatives of the people. The money being distributed is from the tax payers.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, it is important that the ministry …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

You have debated sufficiently. What is your question?

Mr Mtolo: Sir, why is this ministry not engaging us, as Members of Parliament, when they visit our constituencies?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the money that is disbursed to the clubs and the equipment which goes out to constituencies, wards and women’s clubs originates from Lusaka. It is the responsibility of the hon. Member of Parliament to come to our offices and find out what is available. Others have done it and I do not think that they have been disappointed. We will be waiting for the hon. Member who posed the question to come to our office so that we go forward together.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, would it not be wise and fair for the ministry to distribute the forms via Members’ pigeonholes?

The Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Minister, would it not be fair for your ministry to distribute the forms via Members’ pigeon holes?

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament have the capacity to photocopy the forms. It is a costly exercise for the ministry to keep doing that. We can bring some forms for the Members to photocopy …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Wina: … so that our women in the constituencies can have access to these funds.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, when answering part (b) of the question, the hon. Minister responded that some equipment was taken to Kabompo West Constituency. Equipment is not the same as money. Therefore, part (b) of the question has not been answered. How much money was disbursed to Kabompo Constituency? If no money was given to the constituency, the hon. Minster should tell us exactly that.

Laughter

Mrs Wina: Mr Speaker, the response was that K107,000 was given to Kabompo District. The hon. Minister explained that the application forms did not indicate whether they were from Kabompo East or West.

Further, if the hon. Member is interested, he can come to our offices to check the forms for more information.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

_____

BILLS

THIRD READING
The following Bill was read the third time and passed:

The Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2013

_____

MOTION

ADJOURMENT

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.

_____

The House adjourned at 1724 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 19th February, 2014.