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Debates - Friday, 6th May, 2016
Friday, 6th May, 2016
The House met at 0900 hours
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
NATIONAL ANTHEM
PRAYER
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BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the business it will consider next week.
Sir, on Tuesday, 10th May, 2016, the Business of the House will commence with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will debate the Motion to adopt the Report of the Parliamentary Reforms and Modernisation Committee. Afterwards, the House will consider the Second Reading Stage of the following Bills:
(a) the Judiciary Administration Bill, National Assembly Bill, 2016;
(b) the Electoral Commission of Zambia Bill, National Assembly Bill, 2016; and
(c) the Passport Bill, National Assembly Bill, 2016.
Mr Speaker, on Wednesday, 11th May, 2016, the Business of the House will commence with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. After that, the House will debate the Motions to adopt the following reports:
(a) Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to scrutinise the presidential appointment of High Court Judges; and
(b) Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to scrutinise the presidential appointment of Judges of the Court of Appeal.
Sir, afterwards, the House will consider the various stages of Bills which will be before it until they are concluded. Thereafter, the House will adjourn sine die marking the end of the Eleventh Session.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
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HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME
Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, a lot of people left the local government service through the various councils or civic centres. A number of them have not been paid their pension. What is the Government doing to ensure that these people are paid their dues?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, the issue of unpaid dues to public service workers, including the local government workers, has been a problem that has besieged this country for a long time. We inherited it, but this Government is doing something about it. That is why we are hoping to introduce a pension scheme that will take care of the local government workers.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Chilangwa (Kawambwa): Mr Speaker, in the early 1990s, Zambia went through a privatisation phase which left a lot of scars on families, industries and communities. What is Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning’s message to the Zambians about companies and individuals who participated in that process …
Mr Mooya: Question!
Mr Chilangwa: … and ended up enriching themselves much to the detriment of other Zambians? I need her serious answer to that question.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order! Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, during the 1970s and 1980s, the First Republic embarked on an industrialisation programme. During this phase, Zambians saw for the first time the accelerated pace of industrialisation. For the first time, radios were produced and motor vehicles were assembled in Livingstone. During that time, we also had a lot of factories on the Copperbelt, especially in Ndola where the manufacturing of different types of equipment was done. Had we continued on that pace, Zambia would be somewhere by today.
Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, unfortunately, due to some advice received from here and there, and the change of Government in 1991, privatisation was introduced and the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was followed.
Sir, with the introduction of SAP, we saw a lot of companies being privatised. Unfortunately, the privatisation process was not well conducted to the extent that a lot of companies went under. As a result of the privatised companies, a lot of Zambians lost their jobs. For the first time, we started seeing street children. Zambians who could not take care of their families became beggars on the streets. This has continued up until today. The industrialisation that was started was killed by the people who were given the assignments to carry out the privatisation exercise.
Mr Mukanga: Who are those?
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Mention them!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, unfortunately, the country was deprived of huge resources because some of the people carrying out this privatisation exercise enriched themselves.
Hon. Government Members: Iyee! Hear, hear!
Mr Sikazwe: Who is it?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, at that time, if you looked around the country, you could see that when others were suffering in abject poverty, some of the individuals became so rich that they could not even count their riches.
Hon. Government Members: Iyee!
Mr Mukanga: Who are those?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, some of the company directors decided to siphon the money out of the country …
Hon. Government Members: Iyee! Ni ulya wine umwaiche!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: … and invested it in the already developed countries.
Mr Speaker, this is a phase which we should term as an era of shame for our country. I do not think that this country should go back to that phase.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, Kafue Gorge is the largest hydro power station in Zambia with existing power of 900 mega watts. Why is production at Kafue Gorge limited to 540 mega watts, yet it can produce more under normal operations?
Mr Speaker: Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning did not hear the question. Could you repeat it, please.
Mr Hamusonde: My question is: Why is the production of electricity at Kafue Gorge limited to 540 mega watts when it can produce 900 mega watts under normal operations?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the water levels in the Zambezi River and dams has not risen to a level where we can generate electricity at a normal level. The situation is not normal due to the El niño-like situation that prevailed in this country. The rains came very late and not in enough quantities to fill up our water bodies. Thus, it will take us time to actually get to full capacity with regard to the generation of electricity both at Kariba Dam and Kafue Gorge.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning on the status of the economy, especially looking at the failures in many aspects such as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for 2015 and 2016 not being released, most projects still incomplete, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), which is under her office, not performing to expectations and the poverty levels increasing. Can she confirm that this Government is broke and cannot meet the expectations of the people?
Mr Kambwili: Question!
Interruptions
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! They are broke!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, this Government has completed a lot of projects under very difficult circumstances. I have said in this House before that if the Government was broke, we would not be here.
Mr Mwila: Yes! Yes!
Hon. Opposition Member: Aah, you are just broke!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: I am surprised that the hon. Member is saying aah. The fact is that the Government is not broke. The only setback is that the collection of taxes has reduced due to the fact that some factories have been affected by the lack of electricity to power their machines.
Sir, also, hon. Members know very well that the price of copper has drastically gone down on the international market, hence making the Government not to be in a position to collect enough taxes from the mines. As such, that is where the Government gets its revenue. So, if the Government cannot collect enough from various business houses, where is it going to get the money to complete some of the projects that the hon. Member of Parliament for Ikeleng’i is claiming the Government has failed to complete? The Government is still committed to completing all the unfinished projects in the country.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning has described the period of privatisation in this country as an era of shame. I am aware that the Cabinet Ministers in that era included, amongst others, is the former President of the Republic of Zambia, the late President Michael Chilufya Sata, her late husband, Mr Arthur Wina …
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwiimbu: … who was in that Government and some hon. Members of Patriotic Front (PF) who are in this House who were in the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) at that time. Can Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning tell the nation that those I have mentioned played a pivotal role in the era of shame or privatisation process.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order! Can we have order on the right, please.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, it is true that the privatisation exercise was started by the Movement Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government in 1991. However, the exercise was conducted in a way that benefitted those who were given the responsibility of, ...
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... doing the actual work. I can also confirm that my late husband was a member of the Cabinet, ...
Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... up to 1992. He resigned from that position because he saw the damage that was being inflicted on the lives of the Zambians.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mushanga: Ten : zero.
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, although our late President was a member of late President Chiluba’s Cabinet, he had no direct role to play in the privatisation process. However, through collective responsibility, he was part of the decisions which were made by that Cabinet. The issue is that there were beneficiaries. There were individuals who were in charge of the privatisation process who benefitted from it. Anyone is free to go round Zambia and find out whether or not there is any hon. Minister who benefitted from the privatisation exercise. However, the negotiators, accountants, ...
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... and we do not know who, all benefitted from the exercise immensely.
Hon. Government Member: Ninani kanshi?
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Government Member: Let them be named.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, to date, these people are still very rich. We know them.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order! Order!
Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, at the beginning of this Eleventh National Assembly, we saw a number of Commissions of Inquiry which were constituted by the late President. There was a Commission of Inquiry on the operations of the Energy Regulations Board (ERB), whose board was dissolved. We saw Commissions of Inquiry on operations of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), ZESCO, as well as the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) at Nakonde Border Post. Further, we saw a Commission of Inquiry on the Mongu Riots.
Sir, we are coming to the end of the Eleventh National Assembly. Could Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning tell us and the nation at large why we wasted so much money on Commissions of Inquiry whose outcomes the citizens have not been informed about?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the dissolution of Parliament does not necessarily mean the end of Government. The Government still continues to function, and these matters are still relevant. I am sure that at an appropriate time, the Commissions of Inquiry findings will be made known to the public.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning has just indicated that there are people who benefitted from the era of shame. We have heard that the hon. Ministers were very incompetent, including the late President of the Patriotic Front (PF) who was an hon. Minister then.
Ms Kapata: Aah!
Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, how many people were arrested for misappropriating funds realised from the privatisation exercise?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, I believe that as hon. Members of Parliament, sometimes we should try our best to use civil language. I do not think that all the hon. Ministers in the MMD Government could be classified as incompetent. I do not think that is the right way of describing them. Some of the people who did wrong things during the privatisation process were arrested while others fled to other countries because the law was following them. Maybe, the hon. Member was perhaps, ...
Hon. Government Members: He was not born.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... too young during the process for him to know what exactly was happening.
Laughter
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, the misappropriation and mismanagement that occurred at that time was taken care of by the law.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister of Works and Supply had told the people of Mpongwe that the Mpongwe/Machiya Road would, by April, 2016, have a contractor. We are now in May, and no contractor has moved on site. The Government also told us that the seven health posts allocated to Mpongwe would be completed by April, 2016. However, there is just grass at the sites where the health posts are supposed to be constructed.
Mr Kapyanga: Use Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
Mr Namulambe: Iwe, 650 health posts, CDF kwisa?
Laughter
Mr Namulambe: Sir, the Ministry of General Education had promised us a secondary school and the site was identified, but there is just grass there. We were also promised that we would benefit from the C 400 Kilometre Road Project, but nothing is forthcoming. We were also told that the Pave Zambia Road Project would be implemented by 2019. Now that all these promises have not been fulfilled and next Wednesday, Parliament will be dissolved so we can go and start campaigning, how will the people of Mpongwe trust any word that will come from the Ruling Party when what was promised to them in the past has not been done?
Laughter
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Let us have some silence. We cannot transact in this kind of atmosphere.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the people of Mpongwe should be told that their Government cares for them.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, as a matter of fact, there are two secondary schools that were built in Mpongwe as well as a new youth resource centre. So, most of the promises that this Government made to the people of Mpongwe will be fulfilled.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, for five years now, I have been asking this question.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mutelo: I have done so through the Order Paper and during Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. I am talking about the Katunda/Lukulu/Mumbezhi Road. To date, nothing has been done on that road and the people of Lukulu and Mitete are not happy. Can Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning tell the people of Lukulu why the Katunda/Lukulu Mumbezhi Road has not been worked on for the past five years?
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, if I remember correctly, this matter was dealt with in this House not too long ago. It was stated that contractors have been identified to work on that road. I just do not know the date when works will start. This road is very important because it connects two provinces. It is actually one of the economic roads that the Government considers should be worked on as soon as resources are available.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, given the fact that the present Government has inflicted a lot of ills on the Zambian people …
Ms Kapata: Iwe!
Mr Hamudulu: … such as the high prices of mealie meal, electricity load-shedding, the non-release of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and the list goes on, how does Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning want the people of Zambia to remember her Government?
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the people of Zambia will remember the Patriotic Front (PF) Government as one which cared for them.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Kambwili: For unprecedented infrastructure development.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: The PF Government has addressed some of the ills that were actually part of life for the rural people in Zambia. Currently, you can go to any part of Zambia and be driving on very good roads.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, that is something that has never happened before. Even in the North-Western Province, works have started on the Chingola/Solwezi Road. Further, in Mwinilunga and Ikeleng’i, road works have also started. Today you can drive on the Monze/Niko Road, which is in a good state.
Ms Lubezhi: Question!
Mr Mwila: Iwe!
Interruptions
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, today, you can drive from Mongu to Kalabo or Chama to Matumbo and Lundazi on a good road. Today, you can drive on the Bottom Road, a situation which has never happened before.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mwila: Mansa/Luwingu Road.
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, the journey from Mansa to Luwingu took many days, but now you can easily drive to such places.
Interruptions
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, secondary schools are everywhere and almost every rural health centre or district has an ambulance. What else can people ask for? This Government has done so much in this country. If it were not for the policies that we took in the last one year, this country would have economically collapsed because of the many challenges, some of which were not of our own making, but of an external nature. So, this Government has done fantastically well. That is why the people of Zambia are determined to vote for the PF in the next general election.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Chishimba (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, I think this will be the last question under Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time during this session because we are going to be adjourning next week. Therefore, I want Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning to be very categorical when answering my question. She must take her time to answer my question.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, some few months ago, we heard a lot of people politicking with regard to the job losses on the Copperbelt. Yesterday, His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was in Kitwe commissioning one of the major projects that Mopani Copper Mine Plc has embarked on. That is the Synclinorium Shaft. As an hon. Member of Parliament from the Copperbelt Province, I am pretty sure that Mopani is working on three shafts. The shafts I am talking about are new mines, for the information of those who have never worked in the mines.
Interruptions
Mr Chishimba: Sir, I want Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning to tell the nation, through this House, what has necessitated Mopani to invest such huge sums of money in its mining activities.
Mr Mpundu: US$1.1 billion.
Mr Chishimba: It is actually US$1.2 billion. Therefore, why should the people on the Copperbelt Province trust the Patriotic Front (PF) again and vote for it in August, 2016?
Mr N. Banda: Ema question aya.
Hon. PF Member: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, investor confidence is shown by the way investors bring their money into a country. Zambia is one country in this part of the world which is enjoying the confidence of investors. It is not only Mopani Copper Mine Plc, but a lot of other companies which are coming to set up businesses in Zambia and invest in the various sectors of the country’s economy.
Mr Speaker, job losses are not only being experienced in Zambia, but the whole Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region. Even countries like South Africa, Nigeria and beyond are experiencing such a situation. So, the issue of job losses is real and Zambia has taken strides to address the plight of our people who have lost jobs in the mining sector. I can assure the House that Zambia’s prosperity is on the horizon because many investors want to come and invest in the country.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
RECONSTRUCTION OF KAKOLO BRIDGE
427. Mr Chishimba (Kamfinsa) asked the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning:
(a) whether the Government was aware that the Kakolo Bridge in Kamfinsa Parliamentary Constituency was washed away by heavy rains in February, 2016; and
(b) if so, when the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) will reconstruct the Bridge.
The Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Mr Sichalwe): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that my office is aware of the damage which has been caused to the Kakolo Bridge in Kamfinsa Parliamentary Constituency by heavy rains experienced in the area in February, 2016.
Mr Speaker, after a careful assessment of the damage which has been caused to the bridge, the matter was referred to the Road Development Agency (RDA) for it to consider including its repair in its 2017 Annual Work Plan. However, the latest position is that the efforts of the able hon. Member of Parliament have come to fruition in that he has lobbied corporate bodies in the area through corporate social responsibility to work on the bridge. The Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), Copperbelt Energy Company (CEC) and Copperbelt Development Foundation (CDF) Limited have responded by working on the foot bridge. Currently, they are fabricating the larger portion of the bridge to cater for motor vehicles.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to commend the MCM. It has always meant well for the people of Kamfinsa Constituency.
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Chishimba: Sir, the other firms are the Copperbelt Energy Company (CEC) and CDF Limited. I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning what message she has for other corporate bodies operating within the Copperbelt on the need for them to come on board to help the Government through social corporate responsibility like MCM has done in Kitwe and in Kamfinsa Constituency, in particular.
Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, what the MCM and CEC are doing is as a result of the investor confidence which they have. I wish to urge all the other corporate bodies to emulate the efforts of the MCM and CEC in responding to the needs of their communities.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
STATUS OF THE INCOMPLETE BUILDING OPPOSITE NRDC
428. Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:
(a) who the owner of the incomplete building on Great East Road, opposite the entrance to the Natural Resources Development College in Lusaka, was,;
(b) why the building had remained incomplete for many years; and
(c) what the way forward on the structure was.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr N. Banda): Mr Speaker, the owner of the incomplete building on Stand No. LUS/9016 with title issued on 17th January, 2008, on the Great East Road, opposite the entrance to the National Resources Development College (NRDC), is Messrs Safieddin Hussein. The building has remained incomplete for many years because it has been under litigation.
Mr Speaker, the ministry has directed the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to establish whether the litigation process concerning the property has been disposed of. As soon as the position is established, the LCC will engage the stakeholders and, the Road Development Agency in particular, to discuss the position of this building that has been constructed very close to the Great East Road which may need expansion later.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, since the building under discussion was constructed, like the hon. Deputy Minister has stated, too close to the Great East Road, is the Government considering compensating the owner with land elsewhere so that this structure could be demolished?
Mr N. Banda: Mr Speaker, the Government is aware that the building was positioned too close to the Great East Road. However, I am constrained at the moment to give details to the House on how we will proceed after the conclusion of the litigation position. The council has been directed to establish the status of the litigation. The Government will not allow the building to sit in a wrong place.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
INSPECTION OF CULVERTS ON THE GREAT EAST ROAD
429. Mr Chipungu asked the Minister of Works and Supply:
(a) how often culverts on the Great East Road, especially on the stretch from Chongwe District Headquarters to the Luangwa Bridge, were inspected;
(b) when the culverts were last inspected; and
(c) what the findings were.
The Deputy Minister of Works and Supply (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, the culverts are inspected every month, especially that the Great East Road section is under routine maintenance. The culverts were last inspected in April, 2016. The results revealed that the culverts installed on the road are Armco pipes made of steel sheet metal. Some of the culverts on this stretch have been vandalised.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Chipungu: Mr Speaker, the issue of vandalism is really a problem not only in Rufunsa, but also countrywide. What is the Government doing to prevent or arrest this problem?
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, we wish to agree with the hon. Member of Parliament. The old culverts were made of Armco pipes, but now we are using concrete pipes and portal frames on most of the culverts.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, it is very strange that there is an inspection carried out every month. I expected that to be done once in a year. Why should there be an inspection every month and not once in a year? There must be something wrong with the system.
Dr Mwali: Mr Speaker, there is nothing wrong with the system. It is very efficient. What we are saying is that we have routine maintenance contractors permanently working on this stretch. They are based on it. They work and look at these aspects on a daily basis.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
__________
BILLS
FIRST READING
THE ELECTORAL PROCESS BILL, 2016
The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Mwila) (on behalf of the Minister of Justice (Dr Simbyakula)): Mr Speaker, I beg to present the Electoral Process, National Assembly Bill, 2016. The object of the Bill is to:
(a) provide for a comprehensive process for a general election;
(b) provide for the conduct of elections by the Electoral Commission of Zambia and empower the commission to make regulations in matters relating to elections;
(c) provide for the registration of voters and the keeping of voters registers;
(d) prescribe the procedures for nominations for elections;
(e) provide for the role of presiding officers, election officers and conflict management officers;
(f) prescribe the procedure for voting during an election;
(g) provide for the accreditation and roles of observers and monitors;
(h) criminalise corrupt practices and other illegal practices related to elections and provide for penalties in connection with an election;
(i) provide for election petitions and the hearing and determination of applications relating to a general election;
(j) provide for voter education;
(k) prescribe the electoral code of conduct;
(l) repeal and replace the Electoral Act, 2006; and
(m) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 11th May, 2016.
Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.
Thank you.
THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD AND INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BILL, 2016
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I beg to present the Transitional Period and Inauguration of President National Assembly Bill, 2016. The object of the Bill is to provide for:
(a) the administration and security procedures during the transitional period;
(b) the procedure for safeguarding public documents and information during the transitional period;
(c) the procedures and formalities for the inauguration and assumption of Office of the President by the President-elect;
(d) the venue and place for the inauguration ceremony;
(e) the process for the handover of the symbols and instruments of office and the presidency by the former President to the President;
(f) the procedures relating to the transitional period when a President dies in office;
(g) the funding of the inauguration ceremony; and
(h) matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 11th May, 2016.
Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.
Thank You.
THE RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS BILL, 2016
Mr Mwila (on behalf of (Dr Simbyakula)): Mr Speaker, I beg to present the Ratification of International Agreements Bill, 2016. The object of the Bill is to:
(a) provide for the ratification of international agreements and the domestication process; and
(b) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 11th May, 2016.
Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.
Thank you.
THE HIGHER EDUCATION LOANS AND SCHOLARSHIPS BILL, 2016
The Minister of Higher Education (Dr Kaingu): Mr Speaker, I beg to present the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Bill, 2016. The object of the Bill is to:
(a) establish the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board;
(b) establish the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Fund;
(c) provide for the granting, administration, investment, payment and recovery of loans;
(d) provide for the administration and granting of scholarships;
(e) facilitate the mobilisation of financial resources for loans and scholarships; and
(f) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The Bill stands refereed to the Committee on Education, Science and Technology. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 10th May, 2016.
Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.
Thank you.
THE PUBLIC AUDIT BILL, 2016
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled, the Public Audit National Assembly Bill, 2016. The object of the Bill is to:
(a) enhance the independence and autonomy of the National Audit Office and strengthen its functions;
(b) provide a framework for promoting efficiency, accountability, effectiveness and transparency of public administration through effective oversight and audit of public funds and performance;
(c) domesticate the principles of the United Nations Resolution A/66/209 on promoting efficiency, accountability and effectiveness and transparency of supreme audit institutions;
(d) provide for the guiding principles of public finance and performance audit; and
(e) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Estimates. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 10th May, 2016.
Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.
Thank you.
THE CITIZENSHIP OF ZAMBIA BILL, 2016
Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, I beg to present the Citizenship of Zambia National Assembly Bill, 2016. The object of the Bill is to:
(a) provide for the composition, functions, tenure and procedures of the Citizenship Board of Zambia;
(b) make procedural provisions for the acquisition, deprivation and renunciation of citizenship of Zambia;
(c) repeal and replace the Citizenship of Zambia Act, 1975; and
(d) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 11th May, 2016.
Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.
Thank you.
THE COMPENSATION FUND BILL, 2016
Mr Mwila (on behalf of (Dr Simbyakula)): Mr Speaker, I beg to present the Compensation Fund National Assembly Bill No. 29 of 2016. The object of the Bill is to:
(a) provide for the administration and management of the Compensation Fund established under the Constitution;
(b) establish the Compensation Fund Committee and provide for its composition and functions;
(c) provide for the accounting and auditing of the Fund; and
(d) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Economic Affairs, Energy and Labour. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Tuesday, 10th May, 2016.
Hon. Members who wish to make submissions to the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.
The Committees considering these Bills referred to above are expected to sit throughout this weekend. I wish to request them to bear with my office due to the exigency of the moment. I also with to thank them in advance for their commitment to duty in order to have these priority pieces of legislation passed by the House before the House adjourns next week on Wednesday, 11th May, 2016.
I thank you.
_________
MOTION
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 19, 20, 21(1) AND 101
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 19, 20, 21(1) and 101 be suspended to enable the House to sit from 0900 hours to 2000 hours on Tuesday, 10th May and from 0900 hours on Wednesday, 11th May, 2016, until business on the Order Paper has been concluded and all matters arising therefrom, and that on such completion, the House do adjourn sine die.
Sir, Standing Order 19 provides that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the House meets at 1430 hours, while Standing Orders 20 and 21(1) provide for the automatic times of adjournment. Standing Order 101 restricts the consideration of more than one stage of a Bill to be taken during the same sitting.
Sir, hon. Members may wish to know that the House has a lot of business still outstanding, which cannot be completed within the normal sitting time by Wednesday, 11th May, 2016, which is the last day for the Session before dissolution. There is, therefore, a need to extend the sitting time on Tuesday and Wednesday next week with normal lunch breaks. The suspension of the said Standing Orders will provide the House sufficient time to consider all the outstanding business before it adjourns and eventually is dissolved. This is a straightforward, non-controversial and non-partisan Motion.
Mr Speaker, the current meeting of the House, which commenced on Tuesday 12th April, 2016, will come to an end on Wednesday 11th May, 2016. It also marks the last meeting of the Eleventh National Assembly. Although this meeting has not been particularly long, the House will agree with me that it has been an extremely busy one during which a number of cardinal issues have been deliberated upon and decisions made by the House.
Sir, on Wednesday 11th May, 2016, the House would have sat for a total of eighteen days. During this period, a total of eighty-seven Questions for Oral and Written Answer would have been considered by the House. The House will also have dealt with twenty-six Motions to adopt Sessional and Select Committee Reports.
Sir, in addition, thirteen ministerial statements explaining the Government position on issues of national importance have been made. Furthermore, four annual reports from the Government ministries and quasi-Government institutions have been laid on the Table of the House. The House will also have considered twenty-one Bills that seek to enhance good governance and economic development of our country. The House will also have ratified important Presidential appointments such as the Judges of the Constitutional Court and Court of Appeal. These are historical milestones for this country.
Mr Speaker, the House will further agree with me that the accomplishment of the amount of business I have outlined above, in a relatively short period, is no mean achievement. It is yet again a demonstration of the seriousness with which the Business of the House is always handled by all hon. Members. I can confidently declare that the Third Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly has, indeed, been another resounding success, in every respect. Let me, therefore, take this opportunity to profusely thank all hon. Members, individually and collectively, for a job well done.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, I urge all hon. Members to keep up this spirit of teamwork and commitment in all their endeavours, whether in or outside this august House. In the same vein, allow me to congratulate all hon. Members for the hard work and dedication to duty exhibited during the five years we have been in this Assembly.
Sir, the Eleventh National Assembly will go down in the annals of history for the significant achievements made. You will recall that the country had been struggling to enact the Republican Constitution. I am happy to state that the House finally passed the substantive part of the Constitution, save for the Bill of Rights, in December, 2015.
Mr Speaker, you will further agree with me that the address to this House by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, on 24th February, 2012 and the hosting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in March, 2016, were some of the highlights of the Eleventh National Assembly.
Sir, on a sad note, however, the House, during this Parliament, lost through death, the fifth President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace, and a number of hon. Members of Parliament. May the souls of our departed dear colleagues rest in eternal peace.
Mr Speaker, as we are all aware that this is election year, may I appeal to all hon. Members and, indeed, to all political players to be peaceful in their campaigns as we head towards the 11th August, 2016, General Elections. Violence by various political players should not form part of our political activities. The Zambian people do not want to see campaigns that are marred with violence. This is our only country. Thus, we do not want any form of violence before, during or after the elections.
Mr Mwale: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, I wish to urge all political players to desist from issuing alarming statements that may engulf the country in chaos.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, I urge all the political players to preach peace, despite the differences in political opinions, as we are all children of this great Republic under our motto which is: “One Zambia, One Nation.” We should always remember that Zambia is greater than each one of us. We have always held our elections peacefully and we will do it again and again.
Mr Speaker, I would like to wish all hon. Members who are re-contesting elections the very best.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, equally, I wish those who intend to take a rest God’s blessings in their future endeavours and appeal to them to always avail themselves for consultations by upcoming politicians.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, allow me now to pay glowing tribute to you for the effective and efficient manner in which you, the hon. Mr Deputy Speaker and the hon. Deputy Chairperson of the Committees of the Whole House, have handled the proceedings of the House throughout the Eleventh National Assembly.
Sir, we are all aware that the task of presiding over Business of the House is not an easy one. The House owes what it has achieved to your outstanding guidance, impeccable rulings and above all, effective leadership. I wish you well as you continue to play leading roles in the affairs of our great nation, Zambia.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the efficient services rendered to the House.
Hon. Government: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwila: Eh ma Clerk aya.
Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, I wish to encourage them to continue working hard for their country.
Sir, in conclusion, I wish to commend the officers in the Parliamentary Business Division in the Office of the Vice-President as well as all officers from Government ministries and departments who have played a part in making the work of Parliament a resounding success throughout the Eleventh National Assembly.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, this is essentially a procedural Motion. As you can note from the order of proceedings, our business is very compressed. Since we have very limited time, this Motion will be seconded first by the Whip for the United Party for National Development (UPND), hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, and in the absence of the Whip for the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), I have invited the hon. Member for Kasempa to second it on behalf of the MMD.
Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for this opportunity and also the opportunity to thank Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning for ably moving a Motion, that we could not avoid, to suspend the Standing Orders in order for us to see ourselves to the very end of this Parliament’s life.
Sir, I second the Motion and also agree with Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning that the time has come for us to say goodbye to one another, maybe, permanently or, maybe, only for a while because some people will definitely come back to this House.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Sir, I would like to also take this opportunity to address the hon. Members of Parliament who were serving in Parliament as nominated hon. Members and have not sought any seats in order to come back. I say job well-done to them. I think they tried to serve their country to the best of their abilities though there may have been flaws along the way due to their human nature. For those who have decided that they are going to contest, welcome to the game of lobbying people, making yourself look valuable and getting a vote.
Mr Speaker, as we are going into this season, I want to share my thoughts and feelings with Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning. This is, indeed, a period that, if not handled well, can plunge our country into a lot of difficulties. The country is at a crossroads as we are heading to elections.
Sir, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning talked about restraining ourselves from violence. It is only in order that all of us speak about this. Without belabouring the point, as a man lives, so shall he die. If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword. We should always remember that this is a contest of ideas rather than a contest of physique. I wish to remind Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning that it would be nice of her, serving as the Leader of Government Business in the House up to the time we adjourn, to be emphatic on this matter.
Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) has been leading this country this far. We do not want to see scenes as ugly as the ones we witnessed during the Youth Day Celebration when a young lady was stripped naked and assaulted by the PF cadres in full view of Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning. I am calling upon hon. Members ...
Mr Mwale: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: No!
Mr Nkombo: ... to walk their talk. They should act on what they say. This applies to all of us because this is a very delicate season we are going into. We are ideally going to compete for votes from the Zambian people. We, from the end of the divide, are going to form Government while those on that end of the divide are going to be defending their position in Government. It is not an easy matter.
Sir, it is good that Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning, in moving her Motion, made mention of the fact that we must, at all times, make sure that we utilise the conflict and resolution management body of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) so that confrontation is avoided. We still have a life after these elections and families beyond politics. Even if today, we felt that we are likely to lose, violence should be the last resolution. We must accept whatever the judgement of the Zambian people will be because we will reap what we have sown. If you sow maize, you will definitely reap maize and if you sow chilli, you will definitely reap chilli.
Mr Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning made mention of the few successes of this Parliament’s life. I share her views, but before I sit down, I also want to remind the mover of this Motion that there were also a few failures that those who may be fortunate to come back to represent the interests and aspirations of the people need to correct. There are a few things that I have outlined that did not go right and require to be put right by whoever is going to be favoured by the Zambian people to take the realms of power.
Sir, as we seek re-election we will remind the Zambians that it is in this Parliament meeting that the external debt ceiling moved by 800 per cent from 2011 to date. It is in this Parliament meeting that domestic debt went up by 131 per cent. We will remind the Zambians that it is in this meeting that the external debt shifted from US$1.2 billion to US$6.4, which is almost at 433 per cent of the pre-Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative levels. We will remind the Zambians that it is during this meeting that the depreciation of the currency moved from 4.8 per cent in 2011 to 11.4 per cent now, translating to a 134 per cent depreciation rate. We shall also remind the Zambian people that the inflation increased by 247 per cent, from 6.6 per cent in 2012 to 22.9 per cent.
Sir, we shall remind the Zambians that it is in this Parliament that the the price of maize, which is a crisis today, moved by 157 per cent, from K37 per 50 kg bag in 2011 to K95, currently. Further, we shall remind the Zambian people that it was during this meeting that we fell into a calamity of natural disasters such as the lack of water and rainfall. We will tell the Zambians what we would have done with the crisis that has befallen the electricity sector if we were in power.
Mr Speaker, as I finish, I would like to share with Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning my sadness with regard to what she alluded to in her Motion about the country having lost a leader in the name of Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, who left us on the 28th of October, 2014. I am sure we all do appreciate the pain and anguish that the whole country suffered as a result of the loss of the Head of State.
Sir, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning also talked about the Constitution-making process. Depending on where you are standing, you might describe the process as having been successful. To some of us, we think that it was a trap that we set up for ourselves. At this particular time, the Bench for the Opposition is half empty. This is because this is the season when some people are seeking adoption for them to come back to this House. This creates a bit of a problem regarding the discourse that this Government is taking us through which will require us to discuss the contents some of the Government Bills this weekend. We expect that this job must be done for there is no other way. I think that the hon. Members are going to compare the competing needs, whether they must sit and execute this noble job of processing the Bills or go back to seek their re-election. I think the latter may be more attractive to the Hon. Members. What this essentially means is that the Committee system will suffer some dislocation as some hon. Members will not be present during the meetings as they have gone to seek their adoption. Going into the future, we must try our best not to find ourselves at pressure points which will require us to rush through the approval of certain laws because these laws are not ours only. The laws must stand the test of time and serve generations after us. I hope that the hon. Members who are going to be involved in this Committee system are going to do sufficient justice to the Bills.
Mr Speaker, let me conclude by thanking you for giving me an opportunity to be the one representing my colleagues. I also thank you for having guided me as Chief Whip for the United Party for National Development (UPND). We have had some difficult times here. That is part of life. Finally, I want to urge Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning to kindly walk us through the upcoming election in the fairest manner possible, for that will be her legacy. Should there be any reason, whatsoever, that blood is spilt as a result of violence, I think it will be a major indictment on all of us, but more so, on her as the Leader of Government Business in the House, as well as her boss, the President.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, in seconding this Motion, I would like to first of all, thank all the hon. Members of Parliament who were part of this Eleventh Assembly for doing their best for the nation. I would also like to thank the Leader of Government Business in the House, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning, for doing her best in leading this House despite the circumstances that it passed through.
Mr Speaker, at some point, this session became acrimonious. That is something which has never happened during the time that I have been in this House. I believe that this should be a learning curve for hon. Members of Parliament as well as other politicians in this country.
Mr Speaker, indeed, some will go for good while others will definitely come back. I, therefore, wish those who are coming back and those who are not the best in their future endeavours.
Mr Speaker, in this House, we have seen hon. Members taking up certain positions on the basis of the guidance from their political parties. It is my view that this trend should change for the future Parliaments. This will enable hon. Members to start following what the electorates want them to say in the House regardless of the view of their political parties.
Mr Speaker, if the hon. Members of Parliament followed the thinking of their constituents and not their political parties, we would not have had the debate we are currently having on the Grade 12 certificate requirement for those aspiring for public office.
Mr Speaker, currently, life in Zambia has become very difficult. We have seen the trend of increased prices of mealie meal, which is a staple food of this country. I know the Government in power has been trying as much as possible to reduce the price of mealie meal, but to no avail. Not too long agao, we were told that there is a lot of maize in this country. Simple economics indicate that the power of supply and demand is not being seen in as far as the price of mealie meal is concerned. I urge the Government to handle this matter in the best way possible. This is a non-political issue because it is dear to all Zambians. We have seen load-shedding affecting everybody in this country. Recently, I was in my constituency where I found out that the people there are also experiencing the same load-shedding which we experience in Lusaka. It seems that it is affecting many other parts of the country. The high cost of mealie meal is a source of concern to many people apart from those who have maize for grinding. In fact, there is simply no mealie meal in the shops.
Sir, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning referred to the issue of violence. Aggression is not Zambian. When you see people resorting to violence, it means that they have reached the dead end of their reasoning. When people reason properly, they do not resort to violence. Anybody who resorts to violence will be unpopular to the people of Zambia because generally, Zambians are peaceful.
Mr Speaker, the other day, I was explaining to somebody why Zambians are peaceful people. When you analyse the tribes in Zambia, you would find out that most of them ran away from war. There are some people who ran away from war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The tribes which settled in the Eastern Province ran away from the fighting of Shaka Zulu. Therefore, the people who came to Zambia followed tranquility because we are generally a peaceful people. That is the historical part of the peace of this country. Therefore, if violence comes to Zambia, its people will run away because they do not like it.
Laughter
Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, the responsibility of stopping violence lies in the hands of the Government of the day. The people who are in power have the mandate to stop violence. Those in Government should not abuse their power to get at their opponents.
Sir, we have seen the floodgates of these Bills that are coming. This is the first time that we have to pass Bills in the shortest possible time. Ordinarily, we are supposed to give sufficient audience to the stakeholders to participate so that we can get their proper input. As my colleague, Hon. Nkombo, had indicated, we have no option, but to fulfil the obligation which is before us. I hope that we shall all take what is happening as a learning curve.
Mr Speaker, I know the reason we have many Bills to approve within two days is the amended Constitution, which is in place. Had we brought the amendments here in good time, we would not have ended up in this situation. Therefore, this is a learning curve. In future, let us do what has to be done in good time. Even if we are not happy with the way things are being done, we have no option, but to participate in the process as per our mandate.
Sir, lastly, I would like to commend you for the work which you have done during this session. I know that it has not been easy for you to oversee the operations of the House. Fortunately, you have managed the operations well. You deserve to walk with your head high. Your supporting staff, the Clerk and her officers also did their best. I would, therefore, like to urge the House to support this Motion.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
The Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, again, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to support the Motion to suspend Standing Orders 19, 20, 21 (1) and 101.
Sir, I would also like to commend you for the manner you presided over the Business of the House. I would also like to commend Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning for the way she managed to handle Government Business in this House
Mr Speaker, let me also acknowledge the work of the hon. Members of Parliament, both on the right and left. I wish to state that it is God’s will that we met in this manner. Once you meet people through God’s will, you should try to create long-lasting relationships.
Mr Mwila: Amen!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, when we go out there as the Patriotic Front (PF) Party to state why we must continue in Government, we will be giving the people some statistics. For the past four years that the Patriotic Front (PF) has been in Government, the number of civil servants has increased from 120,000 to 260,000. That is not a joke. All this has happened because the PF Government values the welfare of its people. We want everyone to enjoy the benefits of our being in power.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, we will tell all Zambians that when we formed Government, we managed to increase the number of districts to 104 in 4 years. We have devolved power in the sense that people who were walking long distances have now access to Government services in almost all areas where they live. We shall go out there and will tell the people of Zambia why they must trust us.
Mr Speaker, when we took over Government, Zambia was like a country that had been to war. The majority of the roads in Zambia had ‘bath holes’ and not potholes.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwila: Open pit!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, today, we can drive around with pride and say yes, we are Zambians. Today, it is evident that three quarters of the roads in Zambia are in a good state.
Mr Speaker, I have just returned from the United States of America (USA), where I was assigned to attend a meeting where other African countries were represented. Many Southern African countries are looking to Zambia as a model in terms of development. All this has happened in the four years that the PF has been in Government.
Hon. Government: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, we will tell the people of Zambia that there is no need for them to change Government because the PF is committed to delivering services as close to the majority of Zambians as possible.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Ngoma: Question!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we have a heard a lot of economists say that they want to come into power. We shall remind the people of Zambians that the law of accumulation in economics states that: “The more you have, the more you would want to have.”
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we will remind the people to be wary of that law. We want to make sure that the PF Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Lungu, is given another mandate. If we are given another five years to govern this country, I have no doubt that Zambia shall be a paradise.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, even our children will one day stand up and say yes, we had leaders who served Zambia to the best of their abilities.
Mr Speaker, I was moved when I saw the President sitting in his Chair during the Official Opening of this Parliament. He said that:
“At the stroke of midnight on 24th October, 2064, Zambia should awaken to one undeniable truth and reality that: Ours was a generation of achievers, a generation of men and women who, propelled by the energy of patriotism changed this country forever.”
Mr Speaker, after the President said that, I heard many hon. Members murmuring and asking that: “Are you going to be there in 2064?” I reminded them that we are here today because we elected people who did not have a plan for the future.
Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, if the Government then had planned for the 10 million Zambians ten years ago when the Central Statistical Office (CSO) warned that the population of Zambia would triple by 2015, I do not think the country would be facing the crisis that it is facing today.
Mr Speaker, when I look at what this Government is doing, I am confident that our children will one day commend us for having planned well for the future.
Sir, many people are questioning whether they are going to eat the infrastructure development that is taking place in the country. If you went to the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa (SA) or the Untied Stated of America (USA), are the people there going to take you to the bush in order to show you how well developed their countries are? You cannot say that you leave in a developed country just because you have a lot of money in your pocket. My commerce teacher at secondary school taught me that commerce is dependent on the aids to trade. I have not forgotten that the aids to trade include transport, warehousing, insurance, banking, communication and advertising.
Hon. Government Members: Tell them!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we have four modes of transport which include road, water, air and rail transport …
Hon. Government Members: Hammer!
Mr Chitotela: … that make doing business cheaper so that people can have more disposable income in their pockets.
Mr Mwila: Na Constitution, ulandepo.
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, if people have access to a better road network and other facilities, the cost of doing business will reduce. Those are the basics of economics that we should be able to remind ourselves about as we prepare for the prosperity of Zambia. The PF always puts the interest of the country first. That is the more reason Zambians should not even entertain the thought of changing Government because we are doing that which is right.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwila: Bwekeshapo.
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, most people have talked about the amended Constitution. I have been following the Constitution making process. At district and provincial levels, people made submissions at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC). I was privileged to attend the deliberations. I told the Zambian people to reconsider some of the clauses that they were submitting. They refused and insisted that what the country required was a people-driven Constitution. They told us that since we were part of the Government, we did not need to drive the process. It baffles me on how the people have changed positions. Some of my colleagues stood up right here in this Chamber demanding for the Constitution and said that the Patriotic Front (PF) had mutilated it. We need to have, at least, a certain fibre of morality.
Hon. Government Members: Yes!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, consistency must be a virtue. Some of our people demanded that certain portions needed to be subjected to the referendum. We all read about the clause which requires those aspiring for public office to have a Grade 12 certificate. We all talked about that clause. Even those of us who believe that education does not make one to be a good leader had to still make sure that people were given what they wanted. All of us in here insisted that the clause would not work, but the Zambian people insisted that they wanted a people driven-Constitution. The late President, Mr Micheal Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace, at one point even challenged those advocating for a people driven Constitution to state whether they had ever seen an animal-driven Constitution. People changed and later said that President Sata was talking about an animal-driven Constitution. Zambians must have a bit of morality.
Mr Chitotela drank some water.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, in this Chamber, some people spoke ill of President Sata, whom we in the PF still respect and cherish, and is our hero even in death. When he died, some people said that “chabwino ayende.” That is a very painful statement for some of us who believed in him.
Hon. Government Members: Yes!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, it is such a shame that some people who celebrated the death of President Sata now want to idolise him.
Interruptions
Hon. UPND Members: Question!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, the Zambians have not forgotten. We shall remind them that some people in Parliament had said that “chabwino ayende.”
Hon. Government Members: Yes!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we shall tell the Zambians that when the PF Government came into power, it found 150 constituencies, but has now increased them to 156. They are still not enough, but it is better than nothing. When the people renew our mandate, which I have no doubt they will do, …
Hon. UPND Members: Question!
Mr Chitotela: … we shall increase the number of constituencies so that the service delivery and the representation of the people …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Mr Speaker: Order!
Business was suspended from 1100 hours until 1105 hours.
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that we shall tell the Zambian people why they must renew the mandate for the Patriotic Front Party (PF). When we took over the Government four years ago, the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) beneficiaries were about 500,000, but now, they have increased to over 1 million.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, as regards the Social Cash Transfer Programme, when we came into power, there were about 35,000 beneficiaries. In the past four years, we have increased the number to over 250,000 beneficiaries.
Hon. Opposition Members: No!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, we shall tell the Zambian people that we mean business and want to share the national cake equally. Therefore, the Zambian people should not even entertain the thought of not renewing the mandate for the PF.
Sir, in terms of infrastructure development, I would like to inform hon. Members that we have done extremely well, especially with regard to the construction of schools. There is no province in Zambia where the PF Government has never built a school. These are the good things which we shall tell the people of Zambia.
Sir, we have worked on most roads. We shall tell the people of the North-Western Province that they must renew the PF mandate because the Mwinilunga/Jimbe Road has been worked on. Further, we shall also tell them that we have worked on the Chingola/Solwezi Road.
Sir, with regard to the people in the Southern Province, we shall tell the people that we have worked on the Niko/Monze Road which was used for political debates by all the successive governments of the past. The same applies to the famous Bottom Road which has also been worked on.
Mr Speaker, on the issue of moving the provincial capital from Livingstone to Choma, I would like to state that the people of the Southern Province will note that, today, they have the best provincial administration offices in the whole of Zambia sitting in the Southern Province.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, for the first time in the Western Province, the people of this province have a new shopping mall in Mongu.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, the people there know that we have delivered. The Mongu/Kalabo Road was used by successive governments for politicking. This serious Government which means business has delivered. Therefore, we shall tell the people of the Western Province to renew the PF mandate.
Mr Speaker, Lusaka City is being turned into a green city. This is as we promised. When flying above Lusaka, you will see the road network, the infrastructure development and the housing units which are coming up in Lusaka. What more would the Zambian people ask for?
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, the Zambians changed governments to bring the PF into power because they wanted development. This Government, under the PF, has delivered. This is because we initially started on a good note with the late President who has been replaced by an able successor. As it is said in Bemba, “Mpyanangu apyana nabamala.” This means that when one succeeds the reigns of control, he or she succeeds everything. President Edgar Lungu has risen to the challenge of his predecessor, the late President Michael Chilufya Sata, …
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: … and worked had to ensure that his plans are implemented.
Sir, the recently created Muchinga Province has been allocated Chinsali District as the provincial capital. Therefore, the Zambian people must be able to vote for President Lungu because we have developed Muchinga Province. The Chama/Matumbo Road has also been worked on, including the township roads in Mpika. There are so many projects that we shall be able to point at. So, there is no need for the PF Government to resort to violence because it has delivered.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: We have a lot of projects to point at.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, previously, teachers who had acquired certificates, diploma or degrees had problems upgrading their qualifications. The PF Government has made it easy for teachers to upgrade their qualifications. I am aware of this fact because I am married to a teacher.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Therefore, there is no need for Zambians to entertain the thought of changing the Government. It is impossible and wishful thinking.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: We will ensure that we show them what we have delivered. We have delivered tangible development.
Hon. Opposition Members interjected.
Mr Chitotela: Sir, in Luapula Province, we will show them the roads that we have worked on such as the Mansa/Luwingu Road and Kawambwa/Mushota/Luwingu Road. We shall also inform the people that we are building Luapula University in Luapula Province. We are also building a university in the Western Province as well.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, some people celebrated the loss of employment by some miners on the Copperbelt. Fortunately, yesterday, His Excellency President Lungu launched a mining project at Mopani which is going to create 3,000 jobs. In addition to that, new shopping malls are being constructed on the Copperbelt Province. Being a resident of Kitwe, I have observed that the place is changing slowly. The face of Kitwe has completely changed, especially if you compare it to the time before the PF Government came into power. Many Zambians are able to stand and give testimonies. They will testify that they elected a Government of responsible leaders who have developed the country. So, there is no need for the PF to involve itself in unnecessary politicking. It is unfortunate that we lost our leader, the late President Michael Chilufya Sata, whom we cherished and loved so dearly. Even today, in his absence, those of us who believed in him still believe in him. For this reason, I would like to ask my hon. Colleagues from the PF, especially those who may want to betray Michael Chilufya Sata, this question: If President Sata came back to life today, which party would he join? It is the PF.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, if you believed in the dreams and aspirations of President Michael Chilufya Sata, there is no way you can entertain the thought of leaving the PF. That is betrayal of the worst kind.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, in other words, it is like betraying your own father. I come from Chitotela Village. Even if many people come to stay in this village, no one can drive me out of Chitotela Village. If anything, I can make their stay very uncomfortable so that they would even run away. I cannot abandon my father’s village. It is impossible. In my culture, Bemba or maybe, the Chishinga, it is a taboo for a child to run away from the father’s village.
Laughter
Hon. Member: Mwaona manje!
Mr Chitotela: Sir, it is a taboo. That cannot happen. You can have bad lack. My father told me that if I did not honour him, my children would do the same to me.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: So, there are certain things that culture cannot allow us to do.
Hon. Government Members: Hammer!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, when Parliament concludes its business on Wednesday, the Zambians should look at the projects that we have implemented. Some people are telling Zambians that they will not be drawing a salary once they get into power. The laws of economics do not allow for such things to happen. The law of accumulation states very clearly that the more you have, the more you want to have.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, with these few words, I want to support the Motion that we suspend the Standing Orders as stated by the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kambwili: Nga wa lyenda bakukushisha imbwa bakonka iwe?
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, this was, indeed, an non-controversial and non-partisan Motion.
Mr Mwale: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, I would like to thank all the hon. Members who have contributed to the debate on the Motion. A number of issues were raised by some debaters. Of particular importance, is the number of Bills which have been brought to the House in quick succession. The enactment of the new Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2016, has given rise to the need for us to pass several Bills in order to give effect to several provisions in the Constitution.
Sir, the Constitution has created several new institutions such as the Constitutional Court, the Court of Appeal and the Public Protector. All these require new legislation in order to operationalise them hence, the several Bills that have been brought to the House during this meeting.
Mr Speaker, as we disperse to our constituencies or our farms, I want to wish all the hon. Members of Parliament success in whatever undertakings they engage in. I also wish them luck in every aspect of life.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr N. Banda: Ema V. Ps aya.
Question put and agreed to.
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES, 2016
The Minister of Finance (Mr Chikwanda): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now resolve into Committee of Supply to consider Supplementary Estimates, 2016. I am a bearer of a message from His Excellency the President recommending favourable consideration of the Motion, which I now lay on the Table.
Mr Chikwanda laid the paper on the Table.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, the Supplementary Estimates I am presenting have been prepared in accordance with Article 203 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2016, which reads:
“The Minister responsible for finance shall, where the amount appropriated in an Appropriation Act is insufficient to meet expenditure in that financial year, lay before the National Assembly for approval, a supplementary estimate of expenditure.”
Sir, by virtue of the authority conveyed in the Article of the Constitution quoted above, I present the Supplementary Estimates covering the financial year 2016. The total supplementary request stands at K1.85 billion. Of this amount, a sum of K5.52 million represents savings declared within the approved Budget and K4.5 million is in respect of funds released to institutions towards the end of the financial year 2015 and spent in 2016. A further amount of K324.09 million represents funds that were released to various Government institutions during the year by co-operating partners, but were not budgeted for in the current fiscal year.
Sir, the Government is expected to finance the balance of K1.51 billion through general revenues by implementing expenditure realignments, especially on slow moving items in the 2016 approved Budget.
Mr Speaker, the proposed Supplementary Estimates for 2016 are necessary in order to allow the Government to spend funds on the following items:
(a) expenditure related to the 2016 General Elections;
(b) expenditure with identified sources of funding, that is donor funded activities, variations of funds and carry-over funds from 2015; and
(c) other unavoidable expenditures that could not be foreseen at the time of budgeting, such as disaster-related activities and the establishment and operations of the Constitutional Court.
Mr Speaker, allow me to now highlight areas with substantial amounts. Under the Constitutional and Statutory Expenditure, a total sum of K409.2 million has been proposed to cover amortisation of debt.
Sir, under the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), the Zambia Police Service and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, a total of K312.4 million has been allowed to cover expenditures related to a possible Presidential Election Re-run this year. This is in accordance with Article 101(3) of the Zambian Constitution.
Mr Speaker, a further K225.5 million has been allowed under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Loans and Investments to cover payments for the National Water Supply and Sanitation Programme. These funds were released by our co-operating partners in the first quarter of 2016, but are not part of the 2016 Budget estimates appropriated by this House.
Sir, a total of K127.8 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Defence to meet unavoidable obligations.
Mr Speaker, the Judiciary has been allocated a total sum of K96.7 million to establish and operationalise the Constitutional Court and the Court of Appeal in line with the requirements under the newly enacted Constitution. A further K30.5 million has been allocated under my ministry to cater for emoluments and other conditions of service for Judges expected to serve under these two courts.
Sir, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has been allocated a total sum of K50 million. The amount will be applied on disaster-related activities that could not be foreseen at the time of budgeting such as the negative effects of the unfavourable weather pattern in some parts of the country and the resettlement of some foreign nationals who were displaced by riots related to the recent ritual murders.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Mr Nkombo: Sir, I will be very brief. We have to …
Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Let me just take this opportunity to give some guidance. I think I mentioned and in case I did not, I am not allowing points of order because I am not very sure whether we will even finish our business this morning. I am trying as hard as possible to ensure that we do so. Furthermore, those with pressing questions, please, quickly go and write questions so that in the next few days we can process them as urgently as possible.
Mr Nkombo: Sir, it makes sense to make provisions for a supplementary budget, especially for what the hon. Minister termed as disaster-related activities. In this country, we have had perennial disasters, year in, year out. Some of them are as a result of excessive rainfall and droughts. Disasters such as cholera, the recent ritual murders and operations that the Government embarked on in order to …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, on the right!
Mr Nkombo: … to arrest the situation could be granted as genuine reasons for a supplementary budget. The hon. Minister in his statement has indicated that part of this money has been allocated to the police. In fact, if I am not mistaken, he mentioned that K409 million is for additional costs of constitutional ramifications and he included the expenditure for the police. He did not state why the police needed supplementation of their budget. I do agree that the possibility of a presidential re-run calls for supplementing the budget. I think the hon. Minister is aware that annual budgets normally feed from the medium term expenditure frameworks, which also feed into, maybe, a five-year national plan.
Sir, I would like, maybe, as the hon. Minister comes back to wind up debate, to say why the issue of a presidential running mate is a subject of this supplementary budget because we all knew that the next general election we are going to go through this year was going to be conducted under the new Constitution, which provides for a rerun, in the case or event that no one pulls it off in the first round. It is true that in 2011, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government constituted an eighteen man committee to basically drive the process of Constitution-making. So, for five years, it knew that this year, we were going to have elections under the new Constitution. So, I would like to find out why the Government did not find it prudent to put this particular budgetary provision in the 2016 National Budget.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Bishop Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, I stand to support this Motion. I do so because it is going to deal with a number of issues that relate to constitutional processes, such as voting in the referendum. It is necessary, therefore, for us to understand that money must be spent in order to advance the country’s vision and increase our ability to move forward.
Sir, a country cannot move forward, unless a constitution is in place like the one which we have put in place. However, many people are asking whether it is true that hon. Members of Parliament, whilst they declared that Zambia is a Christian nation, have gone ahead and provided for homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality and other such acts in our Constitution. Therefore, the Zambian people are going to be forced to …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Member for Keembe …
Bishop Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: Yes, Sir, I am debating the money.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: I know you will probably make the connection, but from the outset, I am having a great deal of difficulty in drawing a connection between what the hon. Minister of Finance is trying to do and what you are trying to address. Even assuming, for argument’s sake, that we need to address the referendum at some point, which has cost implications, I would urge that the debate be confined within the financial implications of the referendum, as opposed to dwelling into the content of the Bill of Rights which is not the issue before us. We do not need to veer off from the issue.
You may continue, please.
Bishop Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, I agree with your ruling and, therefore, if no money is going to be allocated to the operationalisation of the Bill of Rights, then I will not debate now, but at another time.
I thank you, Sir
Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, I would also like to be brief. I support the Motion for Supplementary Estimates despite having a few observations to make. Some of the observations have already been mentioned by the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central.
Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: Sir, we should have really foreseen the unforeseen circumstances that the hon. Minister of Finance has mentioned. We knew that we were going to enact a new Constitution and, therefore, as we made the 2016 Budget, we should have taken care of the financial implications. Some of the implications like the possibility of a presidential run-off should have been foreseen and catered for in the main Budget.
Mr Speaker, this business of overlooking certain activities in the main Budget in the hope that we are going to bring Supplementary Estimates to this House is not healthy. It is like one of the situations I talked about yesterday when we were debating the Public Accounts Committee’s report whereby somebody deliberately bids low so that they can be picked and then make some variations on the bid later. This is what is happening here. We made a moderate Budget, which we perhaps felt was going to be acceptable to the House, when at the back of our minds we knew very well that we would bring Supplementary Estimates later.
Mr Speaker, some of the abuses that we experience arise from knowing that we can, after all, ask for a supplementary budget when we overspend in certain areas.
Mr Speaker, I am concerned with the allocation to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. If I heard the hon. Minister of Finance correctly, he said that it is for water and sanitation. Since water and sanitation is one of the items in the main Budget, why was it not catered for adequately? Why is it becoming a supplementary estimate? Why do we suddenly need some expenditure for water and sanitation which we could not cater for at the time that we made the Budget?
Sir, I am equally concerned with the supplementary allocation for elections and disasters. My worry is that since the Executive has seen that this election will be tough, ...
Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: ... it wants to put aside money which will be abused.
Hon. Government Member: Question!
Ms Imenda: Sir, my other concern is that for the first time, hon. Ministers will remain in their positions after the dissolution of Parliament. Under the old Constitution, the hon. Ministers should have also vacated their offices and Permanent Secretaries (PSs) would have run the ministries. However, now, they will remain in their positions. Therefore, this money will be subjected to abuse. We shall see this money being used for campaigning for the Patriotic Front (PF).
Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: They will steal it.
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I have already seen this happening. I do not know about other constituencies, but in mine, in Limulunga, which is part of Luena, money has already been taken there to give to marketeers under the pretext that it is for them to form little groups. This money is being dished out. Marketeers are getting a K2,000 each.
Interruptions
Ms Imenda: Why should that money be given at this time when it is just a few days ...
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Nkombo: Ba mudala, you cannot disturb a person like that.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Let us have order. You cannot intervene while seated. The rules do not permit it. There is no need for that. The hon. Minister of Finance will respond. That is his constitutional mandate. If you have something to contribute, send a note to Hon. Imenda and she will speak on your behalf.
Continue, hon. Member for Luena.
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, the truth hurts.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: Sir, this is a fact. It is true that they are right now dishing out money in the markets. I am talking about the market in Limulunga. Money is being dished out under some pretext, but we know that it is for campaign purposes. Some people in Luena are listening. In Limulunga, the people are being made to give up their national registration cards (NRCs) and voters cards, by the PF candidate and his cohorts in order for them to get some money. If the money is for the development of Luena, why is the hon. Member of Parliament being left out of the proceedings?
Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: Sir, who is representing the people of Luena here as far as development is concerned? Is it the PF candidate? There are many people who want to contest the election. So, why should it just be the PF candidate at the forefront of taking down people’s names and promising to give them money? It is because this money is being used for campaigning. I think that it is illegal. It is vote buying. The vote buying has already started. So, even this supplementary estimate for elections and disasters is going towards that cause.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I can assure you on that one.
Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance has mentioned that K225 million is going to the Ministry of Local Government for water and sanitation. For the first time since the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was launched, we have experienced it not being released. They have not disbursed the CDF for 2015 and 2016. This is unprecedented. Where has the money gone?
Mr Speaker, there are all these things in the Supplementary Budget, including an allocation to the Ministry of Defence. What are they defending now that has not been defended before?
Ms Lubezhi: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, if there is a place where there is so much abuse of public resources, it is in the Ministry of Defence. Now, it is a bottomless pit. Already, we know that it has appeared on the Public Accounts Committee for financial irregularities and we are now giving it even more so that it adds to what it has taken. What are they going to defend? Is it going to terrorise and intimidate the electorate? I am very suspicious. This is why I would like to mention to the Executive that it should be careful with how it is going to abuse resources for the sake of coming back to power.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: The people of Zambia are watching.
Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, with those very few words, ...
Mr Mwamba: Bye bye polio.
Laughter
Ms Imenda: ... I will support the Supplementary Estimates with reservations.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Ms Lubezhi: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, I will try to clarify issues. It is the duty of hon. Members of Parliament to ensure that public resources are spent legitimately. So, when they have concerns and raise them on the Floor of the House, they cannot be faulted. They are doing their duty. However, facts must always be taken into account.
Mr Speaker, I do not think that Hon. Nkombo had clearly understood and followed the allocation of the K312.4 million. This is a lump sum of what will be spent by the ECZ, Zambia Police Force, on account of election-related activities, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and also for a possible rerun. This arises from the Constitutional provision under Article 101.
Mr Speaker, when we formulated the Budget, the new Constitution had not come into force and, therefore, these expenditures could not have been foreseen. Since the Constitution provides for a possible rerun, we have to have an allocation. I hope that Hon. Nkombo is satisfied with my explanation. I thought I should explain that although I know that he meant well.
Mr Speaker, as regard the K225.5 million allocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, I explained that these funds were released by our co-operating partners in the first quarter of this year. The Budget was presented in October last year and, therefore, this is a regularisation of issues.
Mr Speaker, with regards to the total needs of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) just in respect of this year, the requirements to deal with climate change induced difficulties in parts of the country require far in excess of K600 million. So, the K50 million allocated to the DMMU is just a little drop in the ocean.
Sir, let me come to the issue of defence. I think that the hon. Member for Luena should be a bit more responsible when handling matters like that. The country needs security. The fact that we are not fighting wars does not mean that we have obliterated the need for having Defence Forces. In any case, specifically, this allocation is very small in relation to the needs of the army. This allocation is specifically to meet commitments related to our obligations for peace-keeping missions outside our country. So, it is a very legitimate expenditure. Please, let us not pour scorn on our defence and security forces. We have a patriotic duty to ensure that we give our people in uniform all the necessary support. I think that it is totally unjustified and not very ethical to use our positions in this House to pour scorn on people who serve this country very diligently and patriotically.
Mr Speaker, I think I have explained the areas which I needed to explain and have deliberately avoided delving into politics like the hon. Member for Luena.
I thank you, Sir.
Question put and agreed to.
_________
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the
Chair]
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES NO.1 OF 2016
Vote 02/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 04/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 04/05 ordered to stand part to the Estimates.
Vote 05/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 08/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
VOTE 11/01 – (Zambia Police - Ministry of Home Affairs - Headquarters – K61,010,260).
Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Chairperson, I seek clarification on Programme 4031, Activity 043 – Public Order Maintenance – K61,010,260. The Budget’s allocation was K1 million and now we are adding another K61,010,260. What is the reason for this? What extra operations are there to necessitate this increase?
The Deputy Minister of Finance (Mr Mvunga): Mr Chairperson, the supplementary provision is required to cover the shortfall for the cost of maintaining law and order before, during and after the 2016 General Elections. What has caused this increase to the allocation is the heightened political activities in the country that have now been recognised.
I thank you, Sir.
Vote 11//01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 13/05 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 15/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 15/48 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 18/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 18/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 18/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 19/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 20/06 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
VOTE 21/01 – (Loans and Investments – Ministry of Finance – K169,197,202).
Ms Imenda: Mr Chairperson, I note that there was no budget allocation for this programme and now we have put K169,197,202, as a supplementary amount. May I have clarification on this allocation. Can the hon. Minister of Finance explain what this unforeseen circumstance is?
The Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Minister of Finance, clarify this unforeseen circumstance.
Mr Mvunga: Mr Chairperson, the supplementary provision is required to facilitate advance payment on various projects. These projects include the Copperbelt roads, Nkana Water and Sanitation Project, construction of Chinsali General Hospital, Kafulafuta Water Project and Mansa/Luwingu Road Project.
I thank you, Sir.
Vote 21/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 26/04 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 37/06 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 37/07 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 37/11 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 38/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 44/05 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 45/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
VOTE 46/02 – (Ministry of Health – Policy and Planning – K44,989,342).
Ms Imenda: Mr Chairperson, I can see a ‘jump’ in the policy and planning programme under the Ministry of Health. The budget allocation which was K1,263,000 has jumped to K44,989,342. I believe that this programme was there initially. What is the jump about? What are they planning now that they did not foresee?
Mr Mvunga: Mr Chairperson, for questions that will ensue, we will have the same explanation so allow me to explain this now. Regarding anything that is related to co-operating partners, what we have is a scenario whereby they pledge funds without commitment. We cannot, however, bring them into the budget line until there is a full commitment from the donors that they will give us the money.
Sir, the allocation we are considering is required to accommodate donor funds from the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA) which initially was not in the approved budget. The funds are meant for health system management and the updating of the national health accounts under the Ministry of Health. So, you will see a lot of these huge jumps in areas where the donors have pledged, but there was no commitment at budgeting time.
I thank you, Sir.
Vote 46/02 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 46/05 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 46/07 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 62/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 62/04 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 76/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 77/03 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 77/09 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 78/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 86/06 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 86/08 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
Vote 99/01 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.
_________
HOUSE RESUMED
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Supplementary Estimates No.1 of 2016 reported and approved.
Report adopted.
Question put and agreed to and Mr Speaker appointed the Minister of Finance to be a committee of one to bring in the necessary Bill to give effect hereto at a later date.
__________
MOTION
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Accounts of Parastatal Bodies and Other Statutory Institutions for the Eleventh National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on 5th May, 2016.
Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?
Mr Lombanya (Solwezi East): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, your Committee, in line with its terms of reference as specified in the Standing Orders, considered the Report of the Auditor-General on the accounts of Parastatal Bodies and other Statutory Institutions for the financial year ended 31st December, 2014.
Sir, allow me to thank members of your Committee for their commitment, co-operation and input into the deliberations of your Committee’s work. It is my hope that our successors will exhibit the same commitment of ensuring that there is accountability in the utilisation of public funds.
Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that eighteen parastatal bodies and statutory institutions were captured in the audit report which was considered by your Committee. Since your Committee’s report has been circulated to hon. Members, I will go straight into highlighting the key issues that your Committee dealt with.
Sir, the first matter that caught the attention of your Committee is the failure by parastatal bodies to produce audited financial statements. The Government has an obligation to ensure that all parastatal bodies in this country operate efficiently and effectively in the execution of their mandate. One way the Government can ensure that this is done is through the analysis of annual reports and financial statements. However, your Committee is concerned with the trend currently exhibited by some parastatal bodies of failing to produce audited financial statements. Your Committee is saddened to learn that the number of parastatal bodies that failed to produce audited financial statements has increased from twenty in 2013, to twenty-five in 2014. Prominent among these are the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI) and the Luapula Water and Sewerage Company that have not produced audited financial statements since their inception in 2001 and 2008, respectively.
Mr Speaker, the failure to have financial statements in place results in the Auditor-General failing to ascertain the financial position and performance of these institutions. In the same vein, it was difficult on our part, as legislators, to assess the performance of the management teams in these institutions in the absence of audited financial statements and annual reports. Your Committee is of the view that this matter should be addressed without further delay and, therefore, urges the Government to urgently come up with measures to ensure that these entities meet their reporting obligations.
Sir, another issue that caught the attention of your Committee is the wasteful expenditure that the Government incurred during the period under review. Your Committee is saddened that the figure for wasteful expenditure has continued to grow. For instance, it has risen from K26 million in 2013 to an alarming K396 million in 2014, which is unacceptable. One example was seen under the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). It is reported that in 2012, Amiran Limited was engaged for the supply and delivery of four cacoons at a contract price of K449 million with a delivery period of four to five months and a warranty of five years. Further, the supplier was paid K392 million. However, during a physical inspection carried out on the project site where these cacoons were installed, it was discovered that they were dismantled as they were allowing water to seep through. To date, the management of the agency has not taken action against the supplier. Your Committee finds it as total negligence of duty on the part of the management. Issues related to corruption and connivance cannot be ruled out.
Sir, your Committee, therefore, urges the controlling officer at the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that the matter is firmly addressed in accordance with the provisions of the contract. He is further urged to ensure that the cacoons are operationalised so that the benefit intended is enjoyed by the communities.
Mr Speaker, one major reason for wasteful expenditure is the failure by those charged with the responsibility of overseeing these parastatal bodies to ensure that procurement guidelines and financial regulations are followed. This raises questions on the quality of leadership in some of these entities. It also raises questions on the commitment or a lack thereof leadership safeguarding public resources. Your Committee is, therefore, worried that this unfortunate situation will continue as long as appointments of the management and boards of these entities continue to be based on factors other than on merit. Your Committee, therefore, strongly urges the appointing authorities to ensure that qualified and experienced persons are appointed as chief executive officers and that the selection of board members is done with this in mind and any other requirements as prescribed by the relevant Acts governing these organisations.
Sir, another issue that your Committee dealt with is the growing trend of inadequately supported payments. Your Committee has learnt with shock that the value of unsupported payments has increased from K6 million in 2013 to an alarming K15.5 million in 2014. Let me reiterate your Committee’s view that there is an urgent need to review the Public Finance Act, financial regulations and other relevant regulations in order to include as deterrents penalties against the erring officers. It is saddening that your Committee continues to bemoan the weaknesses that are inherent in the financial regulations and to consistently call for them to be amended. Your Committee wishes to express its disappointment that despite numerous assurances by the Secretary to the Treasury that changes would be made to the financial regulations, nothing, to date, has been done. Your Committee, therefore, calls upon the Secretary to the Treasury to take concrete steps to address the weaknesses in the financial regulations.
Sir, your Committee also dealt with the perennial problem of public entities failing to meet their statutory obligations. Your Committee considers this to be a very serious problem as it impact negatively on the operations of the institutions responsible for collecting the statutory obligations and denies the Treasury the match-needed resources. Your Committee, therefore, strongly urges the Ministry of Finance to take this matter seriously and assist the entities to find a lasting solution.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order on the right!
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I will now comment on issues specific to some institutions that caught the attention of your Committee. The poor financial performance in some institutions, for example, the North-Western Water and Sewerage Company Limited caught the eye of your Committee. An analysis of a statement of the comprehensive income for this water utility company revealed that the company did not generate net profit in excess of 1 per cent throughout the period under review. Despite having gross profit margins that exceeded 70 per cent for the same period, in 2014, this company incurred a loss of K234,000, resulting in a negative margin of 1.1 per cent. It is also evident that the major cause was that the company failed to keep its operating expenses below the amounts of gross profit. This is unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue.
Sir, in addition, it also observed that the major component of the operating expenses were staff related and these are salaries, wages and allowances with its percentage to revenue increasing from 43 per cent in 2012 to 50 per cent in 2014. What is more worrying is that this increase on staff costs in relation to revenue reduced staff efficiency as it did not improve the revenue generated. Your Committee urges the controlling officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to seriously look into the affairs of this poorly performing water utility company by considering its recapitalisation and also explore other options to source more funds to improve the financial status of the water utility company. Further, the controlling officer is directed to ensure that staff costs are reduced to acceptable levels, considering the poor financial performance at the water utility company.
Mr Speaker, another issue that came to the attention of your Committee is the debt owed by the Government to parastatal bodies and other statutory institutions. During the submission by the controlling officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, your Committee was shocked to learn that the Government owed over K13 million to the North-Western Water and Sewerage Company Limited and that, to date, this amount has not been settled. Further, despite attempts made to submit a schedule to the Ministry of Finance, nothing has been forthcoming. Still on this matter, the House may wish to note that the Government owes the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) an amount of over K1.2 billion kwacha rebased. This has greatly affected the profitability of this company, yet we blame the lack of sufficient water for load-shedding.
Sir, your Committee strongly urges the Secretary to the Treasury to provide funds to dismantle the debts owed to parastatal bodies in order to improve their financial stability. It is worrying that the Government, which is expected to encourage parastatal bodies to perform well financially, is responsible for discouraging the institutions. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to ensure that the matter is looked into with the seriousness it deserves in order to serve the institutions from total collapse.
Mr Speaker, I wish to conclude by thanking you, the Office of the Clerk for the guidance and support rendered to your Committee during its deliberations. I further wish to thank all the controlling officers and chief executive officers who appeared before your Committee to make submissions on various issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report for their co-operation.
Mr Speaker, finally, I wish to acknowledge and show appreciation for the advice that was rendered to your Committee by the officers from the offices of Auditor-General, Accountant- General and the Controller of Internal Audit. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the hon. Members of Parliament who have become colleagues for showing confidence in me as the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. Let me now say adieu to you all.
Sir, I beg to move.
Mr Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?
Mr Lombanya: Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Lombanya: Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion to adopt the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Accounts of Parastatal Bodies and other Statutory Institutions for the Financial Year ended 31st December, 2014.
Sir, allow me to comment only on a few items since the mover has already presented many views representing your Committee’s position on the matters we deliberated upon.
Mr Speaker, let me begin with two recurring problems. Over the years, the issues of inadequately supported payments and missing documents have continued to be an issue of concern to your Committee.
Sir, let me state that the failure to provide the required supporting documents during audits is a clear indication of failure by officers in some of these institutions to prepare adequately for external audits, which may result in serious consequences with significant costs, both in terms of disruptions to an organisation’s daily operations and the penalties associated with any compliance failures.
Sir, your Committee learnt from the controlling officers during its sittings that supporting documents are available for verification by auditors after the audit. Your Committee finds this unacceptable. In this regard, your Committee warns that it will no longer condone a situation where vital documents go missing during the time of audit and only to resurface after the auditors have left.
Mr Speaker, it is of great concern where these documents come from as they are not made available during the time of the audit. In view of the foregoing, your Committee sternly cautions the controlling officers supervising the various parastatal bodies to ensure that documents are properly kept in time for the audit process.
Sir, your Committee also reiterates its position that stern disciplinary action must be instituted to deal with culprits involved in causing such serious omissions. Further, your Committee is of the view that the punishment for such irregularities must be stiffened to deter officers from perpetuating the vice. This calls for the revision of financial regulations, a matter we have been stressing time and time again.
Mr Speaker, the other problem your Committee dealt with was the high turnover of chief executive officers in the parastatal bodies. One of the cases observed by the Auditor-General was that of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
Sir, it is worrying to note that the Office of the Director-General of the corporation had changed four persons in a space of four years. Further, amounts totaling K2 million were paid to the officers as terminal benefits when only K1 million would have been paid had the Director-General appointed in 2010 been allowed to complete his tenure. This is a wasteful way of using taxpayers’ money. Your Committee finds this unacceptable. Someone should be made to pay for making the Government lose so much money.
Mr Speaker, it is a known fact that employee turnover in companies has always been a problem. Too often revolving workforces leads to increased training costs, inconsistent production, poor morale and consequently reduces or limits profits.
Sir, the Government is, therefore, strongly urged to put more effort into appointing quality and stable employees in order to reduce on employee turnover, increase their productivity and limit their liability. As you may be aware, the Government may expose itself to additional legal liability when hiring new officers. This is because there are a number of laws and procedures that it can run afoul of during the hiring process which matter must be avoided at all cost.
Mr Speaker, allow me to agree with the mover of the Motion that there is a growing need to strengthen financial controls over the use of public funds. Your Committee is also concerned that the controlling officers do not have sufficient control over the usage of funds by some parastatal bodies who claim to be autonomous in their spending.
Sir, your Committee is further concerned that chief executive officers in the parastatal institutions do not discipline erring officers, including those cited in the Auditor-General’s report. As a result of this weakness, there are widespread financial malpractices in these organisations. In this regard, your Committee is appealing to the Government to urgently look into this matter to ensure that parastatal bodies operate as full business entities, autonomously and that chief executive officers are answerable directly unlike the status quo where they hide behind their controlling officers in the ministries. This also calls for the Government to consider revising the appropriation system where funds meant for parastatal bodies and statutory institutions are appropriated directly and not through the ministries. Your Committee is of the view that this will make them more accountable and profitable unlike the prevailing situation.
Sir, lastly, allow me to now talk about the irregular recruitment of staff which was observed with regard to the National Youth Development Council (NYDC).
Mr Speaker, according to the 2014 Budget Address of 11th October, 2013, by the hon. Minister of Finance, paragraph 89, all the Government institutions were to observe a two-year public sector salary or wage moratorium and defer new recruitments to 2015. Contrary to this directive, the council recruited forty-one officers in August, 2014, without authority. Consequently, the council paid salaries in amounts totalling K570,000 to the forty-one officers during the period under review. In addition, it also paid rentals for the officers in amounts totalling K250,000 during the same period. Your Committee stresses that such blatant disregard of Government directives meant to safeguard public resources is unacceptable and urges the controlling officer responsible to take stern disciplinary action against the officers who caused the loss of colossal public funds.
In conclusion, allow me to join the mover of the Motion in thanking you, Mr Speaker, for according us the opportunity to serve on this important Committee. I also wish to thank members of your Committee for according me this opportunity to second this Motion.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second.
Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Sir, thank you very much for the opportunity. This report, to me, seems like music coming from a broken record because we thought that when the Patriotic Front (PF) Government came into power, most of these concerns registered by the Committee would have been addressed. For the length of my period here in Parliament, there is nothing strange for it all begins with lamentations.
Mr Speaker, the Chairperson of this Committee indicated that the core of the problem were the general findings on page 12. The report shows that there are weaknesses in corporate governance in most institutions. The same report also tells us that part of the problem that the Committee faced was the Government’s failure to appoint board members for them to arrive at good corporate governance. In cases where they appointed board members, the report tells us that the board members in the case of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA),for instance, failed to sign the financial statements. So, it brings us back to the same point that whether there are board members or not, we still have a simple problem of probably choosing board members with less competencies, who are political cadres, who have no understanding whatsoever of how to prepare a profit and loss account, financial statement, and an income and expenditure statement. If someone does not have a small enterprise, what they normally call a kantemba, there is simply no way he or she can be appointed to a board where he or she is supposed to preside over colossal sums of money as indicated in the report.
Sir, we have heard some issues about the North-Western Water and Sewerage Company Limited. We have also been told that the Government owes Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) colossal sums of money. This has led to the State enterprises failing to meet their statutory obligations to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and Workman’s Compensation Control Board Fund (WCCBF). The Government should work out a plan on how to liquidate the debt it owes ZESCO so that the corporation can improve its efficiency. Institutions such as ZESCO and the ZNBC are regularly abused by the Government.
Mr Speaker, as the seconder mentioned, the report also talked about ZNBC. Being a person who subscribes K3.00 to the ZNBC for every television set that I own in the house, is this the report I can get from the ZNBC? The seconder talked about the preponderance of the termination of employment of chief executives by the powers that be, which has seen us lose a lot of money at the ZNBC. In his submission, the seconder gave a clear example of the four chief executives of the public broadcaster that had changed hands over a short period of time such that K4 million was paid out instead of K1 million, if I got him correctly. In my opinion, that amounts to wasteful expenditure. So, one is bound to ask this question: What is the reason for this high turnover of the ZNBC chief executives? I think one can only speculate. Probably the speculation would be that they want to allow good practices and the correct code of conduct and ethics as opposed to the way the ZNBC is abused.
Sir, in one particular meeting, we heard how two Government Ministers went to the ZNBC and harassed the editorial staff for airing a certain programme, yet we all pay television levies. Posterity will judge those who think they are in control of the ZNBC.
Mr Speaker, I wish to commend you for allowing the modernisation of this National Assembly. Now people in this country are able to see through their television sets what their hon. Members do.
Sir, democracy and development go side by side. In a functional democratic system, everyone is supposed to be covered adequately by the national broadcaster. Unfortunately, all we see on the news bulletins of our national broadcaster are issues to do with President Lungu. Once there is a break, when they come back, it will be about the First Lady this and that.
Laughter
Ms Imenda: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Sir, we watch her dishing out money to people.
Sir, I want to thank you because about three months ago, your office sent some of your members of staff to go and film the developmental projects under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in my constituency. I was one of the six Members who were selected, and I was fortunate to have my face on the ZNBC television. That was because the programme was sponsored by the legislative wing of the Government. If today, I decide to show the nation the developmental projects that we are undertaking in Mazabuka Central Parliamentary Constituency, as part of the development agenda, and I ask the ZNBC for coverage, the institution will tell me that that can only be done if I get permission from the powers that be.
Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Sir, what I am saying is the truth. Show me one hon. Member of Parliament from this end (pointing at hon. Opposition Members), who has managed to get a ZNBC crew, even at their own cost, to go and show what they are doing for the country in their constituency. There is no one who will tell you that they did that, and that is the truth. So, the ZNBC continues to be abused. I am sure that those who are running the show at the ZNBC will learn that human beings come and go, but institutions remain. We have cases of people who have been dismissed from the ZBNC on account of upholding their professional ethics and reporting in a balanced manner. These people have not lasted. Instead, they have, in certain cases, been replaced with incompetent people who will agree to everything that the Government of the day drives them to do.
Mr Speaker, this is why we have difficulties improving people and so, they get wasted. Before a person even settles in a job, they are fired for airing a small clip of a person in the Opposition. The day of reckoning is coming soon for those who have kept on firing people from the ZNBC. It has actually arrived. The people will remember all these things that have been happening in the life of this Parliament.
Sir, as I conclude, I want to say that it is disheartening to see that there is an absence of corporate governance in most institutions. On page 24 of your Committee’s report, under the heading “Unsupported Board Allowances”, it states that:
“The Controlling Officer submitted that the payments were made to the board members for official engagements that they had performed on behalf of the Commission and not for the board meetings. He explained that the board members were paid 50 per cent of the approved sitting allowance when undertaking approved assignments on behalf of the Commission.”
Sir, we need to develop entrepreneurship minds in our country. You cannot give someone a task to run an enterprise if the person does not have any experience of even selling vitumbuwa. If a person understands the cost of doing business, it is easy for him/her to understand a profit and loss account. It is also easy for the person to understand an income and expenditure statement. In the absence of that basic understanding and the goodwill of the appointing authorities, we will never get it right. The report keeps getting bigger every year. However, the consolation is that this Parliament is coming to an end. The Zambians have the choice of either continuing with this bulky audit report or redeeming themselves by looking to an alternative Government.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, the Government has noted with considerable interest the report of the pertinent Committee. We want to assure the House that all the views expressed on the Floor of the House will be taken on board. When we talk about public enterprise institutions, we need to categorise them into two. There are those which are set up by statutes of Parliament and State-owned companies which are incorporated either under the Companies Act or the Banking and Financial Services Act. We have now rearranged the shareholding in the latter institutions. We have transferred the shareholding from the Ministry of Finance to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), for better superintendence and supervision.
Sir, we are aware that there have been serious lapses in the running of State-owned enterprises. The Government ministries do not really have all the pertinent skills and capacity to supervise enterprises. So, we hope that with this new arrangement whereby these institutions report to the IDC, which is the holding company, there will be better supervision and that irregularities will be brought to a halt or, at least, minimised. Those that are set up under the various statutes of the Government will of course report to the line ministries, but even in their case, there is a need for these organisations to be run in the most efficient and professional manner.
Mr Speaker, the Government has taken note of the observations of the Committee. We thank the Committee for its diligence and commitment to better governance of enterprises or companies in which the State, on behalf of the Zambian people, has an interest.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you, first of all. I would like to also thank the seconder of the Motion and hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central who debated and all those who supported the Motion silently. I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Finance for assuring us that with the advent or coming on board of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the financial irregularities we have witnessed in our Public Accounts Committee sittings will be a thing of past. I would like to also thank him for endorsing and appreciating us as a Committee.
Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to also thank …
Hon. Members: Time!
Ms Imenda: I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Question put and agreed to.
(Debate adjourned)
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The House adjourned at 1256 hours until 0900 hours on Tuesday, 10th May, 2016.