Tuesday, 11th October, 2016

The House met at 1400 hours

 [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

ZAMBIA’S PERFOMANCE AT THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Mawere): Mr Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to make a statement to this august House and inform the nation on the performance of the Zambian team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Sir, being a member of global, continental and regional sporting groupings, and in regular standing, Zambia has been participating in various competitions organised at different levels. For athletes to participate in various international games such as the Olympic Games, they are required to qualify through preliminary continental and global tournaments. The aim of competing in these games is to reap medals, raise the Zambian flag high and put the country’s name on the world map.

Mr Speaker, I am glad to state that the participation of Team Zambia at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games was sponsored by Kagem Mining Limited. This is the first time that a private company has come on board to sponsor a Zambian team at the Olympic Games. As the Government, we commend Kagem Mining Limited for this noble gesture and urge the company to continue supporting the development of sports in the country. We also call upon other business organisations to emulate Kagem Mining Limited.

Sir, during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the country participated in four sporting disciplines with seven athletes representing the country as follows:

(a) athletics, in which two males and one female qualified in the 100 m, 800 m  races and the marathon;

(b) boxing, in which one male qualified in the 75 kg category;

(c) judo, in which one male qualified in the under 66 kg category; and

(d) swimming in which one male and a female qualified on wild cat basis.

Mr Speaker, in terms of accomplishments, the country did not perform fairly well as the athletes did not reap any medals from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. This is due to the following:

(a) inadequate preparation of the athletes. It has been proven that it takes eight years to groom an athlete to Olympics standard in terms of continuous training, appropriate feeding and sketching. In Zambia, due to resource constraints, any preparations for international competitions normally start a few weeks before the competition. This means that our athletes are generally inadequately prepared for these competitions. This has been compounded by inadequate modern equipment and inadequate appropriate infrastructure; and

(b) while the Government is creating a positive and conducive environment in the development of sports in the country, it has been observed that most of the successful athletes are sponsored by the corporate world. Examples include Usain Bolt of Jamaica, the Williams sisters of the United States of America, to mention, but a few. In Zambia, there are a few corporate entities that normally sponsor athletes to participate in tournaments. Unfortunately, those few corporate entities do not particularly sponsor the preparation of the athletes.

Sir, as a result, our athletes stand very little chance to qualify and later compete favourably against well-prepared athletes.

Mr Speaker, I am, however, glad to state that the Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia, is actively identifying and implementing interventions that are aimed at improving the performance of athletes at local, regional and international competitions. Some of the interventions include the following:

(a) the revival and strengthening of physical education and sport in schools and higher learning institutions in order to instil a culture of sport and physical fitness among our children at an early age. This is also aimed at identifying talent that would be nurtured for competitive sport. An inter-ministerial committee on physical education and sport has been constituted and the curriculum has since been revised to include physical education and sport as examinable subjects;

(b) the Government launched a community sports programme in October, 2015. The programme is aimed at boosting the citizenry’s participation in sports, physical fitness activities, talent identification and development. Among the salient activities being undertaken under this programme are the establishment of community safe spaces, capacity building of community coaches and administrators and the distribution of start-up sports equipment and attire;

(c) the Podium Performance Programme (PPP). This programme is designed to nurture athletes to elite levels and enable them to reap medals at regional, continental and world competitions. The initial sporting disciplines being focused on are athletics, boxing and judo. So far, capacity building programmes have been undertaken for coaches and administrators drawn from various provinces in these districts. In addition, athletes with the potential to win medals have already been identified and are being nurtured under this programme aimed at developing them into elite athletes;

(d) Sports Education and Accreditation Systems (SEAS). This is a platform which has been developed to harmonise coaches’ qualifications, and it is aimed at upgrading them to acceptable world standards. This will lead to the production of quality athletes who will, in turn, reap medals for the country in international competitions. Through this, a Council for Zambia Coaches has since been established.

The Government has commenced the review of the National Sports Council of Zambia Act and National Sports Policy. This is an important undertaking that will help to bring the two documents in tandem with the current world sports development trends such as sport incentives, sports for peace and development and sports for health, thereby reducing on non-communicable diseases which are becoming a serious drain on the National Treasury.

Mr Speaker, infrastructure development is one of the core programmes which the Government, through my ministry, is implementing in order to increase access to modern sports infrastructure and equipment at national, provincial and district levels. This is being done to enhance participation in sports and physical education activities. The programme involves construction and rehabilitation of sports facilities, such as the National Heroes Stadium and upgrading of Nkoloma Stadium, to mention, but a few.

Mr Speaker, the Government has continued to engage stakeholders, including the corporate world, to explore ways of raising resources required for adequate preparation, sponsorship and provision of incentives to athletes. The Government is confident that the successful implementation of these interventions will improve the performance of Zambia’s athletes at regional, continental and world competitions.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kampyongo: Eh quality iyi. Good job, new hon. Minister.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement given by the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development.

Ms Mwashingwele (Katuba): Mr Speaker, exactly how many officials travelled with the seven athletes to the 2016 Rio Olympics in direct proportion to the activities they went to participate in? The hon. Minister spoke about resource constraints, especially regarding preparations for such competitions. Secondly, if I heard the hon. Minister correctly, he seems to be lumping physical education and sport in one basket. The two may require the same raw materials, but I think it is important for the House to understand that they are totally different. Maybe, it could be the reason sporting in the country is not improving because we seem to have this misconception that physical education and sport are one and the same thing.

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, regarding the first question, I would encourage the hon. Member of Parliament to come to the ministry so that we avail him the number of officials who accompanied these athletes.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, just a moment. I am speaking so, please, take your seat. Please, indicate whether you have the information or not and, then, build on from there.

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, I do not have that information as of now.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: What about the latter part of her question?

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the schools are our nurseries for identification of different sport disciplines. As such, we thought that should be our starting point in the promotion of sports at grassroot level.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: I would like to remind hon. Members to, please, keep in mind that you are entitled to only one question at a time.

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, has it not been possible for the Government to unbundle public sports facilities so that they can be commercialised? By so doing, I think, they can be improved upon through value addition by the private sector.

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the ministry is doing exactly what the hon. Member of Parliament is proposing. We are engaging the private the sector and other public institutions on this matter.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, I heard the hon. Minister mention Nkoloma and National Heroes Stadia. When is this Government going to construct the Mongu Stadium which it promised the people of the Western Province?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the programme of constructing a stadium in Mongu is on our cards and we are just soliciting for funding for the construction to commence.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, are there any plans of revamping the sports infrastructure in Kabwe Central, which I believe is very close to Lusaka? We have seen the dismal performance of our athletes in the recent past and, therefore, I think our sports fraternities need to be expanded. I believe the people of Kabwe Central would greatly benefit if sports infrastructure was revamped and if the talent that is available in the constituency could be tapped into.

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the ministry has started revamping a number of stadia in the country. I would like to encourage the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central to engage us so that we see how we can assist his constituency.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has mentioned that the Government has put in place measures for talent identification and development through schools. In this vein, has the Government put in place plans to provide sports equipment, particularly to the people in rural areas such as Chama South? Further, the hon. Minister has also explained that …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, I have just gave guidance not long ago. You are entitled to one question at a time.

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the ministry is already doing that. One of its interventions is the promotion of community sports. Under this programme, we are able to give support by providing the required sports equipment. Further, hon. Members and communities are able to access various sports facilities through the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ).

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Mr Speaker, as we are all aware, the Zambia National Football Team just lost a game this past weekend. If we do not manage our losses, they impact on our future performances. Do we have a model that we follow when managing losses?

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, we have psychologists who are handling the matter relating to the national football team. For the nation in general, I am sure we have neighbours who can help us.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Ms E. Phiri (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that sport is being taken into schools and that trainers are being trained. Is there anything meant to train the trainers for community sports?

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, we have a programme under our community sports programme under which a number of coaches are being trained. We also have a centre of excellence based at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) where a number of coaches for different sport disciplines can be trained from.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr L. Tembo (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister what measures the ministries of Youth, Sport and Child Development, and General Education have put in place as regards sports at primary school? At the moment, the Ministry of General Education has prescribed an age at which a person can participate in sport at national level and the minimum age has been limited to thirteen years. However, the playing grounds are still the standard ones ideal for the use of older people. What is the ministry doing to make the playing grounds suitable for young participants?

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the policy on sports was just revised and it now makes physical education examinable. We believe that, through the implementation of the revised policy, we will take care of the concern raised by the hon. Member.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Jamba (Mwembezhi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when he learnt that the participants that were sent to the Olympic Games were not capable of participating in the games. The hon. Minister just told this august House that it takes eight years for one to train and become an athlete of Olympic standard. Did the hon. Minister learn that these people that were sent to the Olympic Games were not able to bring us medals after they came back or before they left? If they did not qualify to mint medals, why were they sent to the Olympic Games?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, sport is a very important undertaking for a nation like Zambia.

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: We cannot live in isolation, as such we would always want to participate and fly our national flag on the world stage. Of course, we are aware that we could not mint medals, but we are doing everything possible to ensure that we promote and grow sports in Zambia. This is our plan.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister if there are any programmes of swimming as a sport for places like Chienge. In Chienge, we have young men and women who are born natural swimmers. If there is any such programme, I would appreciate that Chienge Constituency be helped.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, as a ministry, we have identified the community sports programme as one of those programmes which can help us to identify these talents and to put up necessary infrastructure which can support these sports disciplines. We are in the process of establishing a number of sports centres in various districts, including Chienge where the hon. Member comes from.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

_________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present my maiden speech for the third time in this Assembly.

I will begin by congratulating you, Sir, and the entire presiding desk on your election. I would also like to congratulate those hon. Members who made it back to the House because I do recall us cautioning one another about this being a transitional point. People come and go, and some do so for good. So, let me take this opportunity to thank the great people of Mazabuka Central Constituency who saw the need for me to continue to represent them, to legislate on their behalf and providing the oversight that they need. Although the people of Mazabuka Central and I also fervently believe that the results of the past election, a very highly contested one, were extremely fraudulent …

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, just take your seat.

Let me provide guidance.

Mr Kampyongo: Retarded.

Mr Speaker: Order!

We had elections. The elections were conducted on 11th August, 2016 …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

The elections were managed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). That is the body that this House had mandated to conduct those elections. Following the polling across the country, the ECZ duly announced the outcome of those results.

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: As we all know, the results were challenged. Those who challenged those results proceeded to the appropriate branch of the Government, specifically the Constitutional Court, …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: … and the nation duly waited for the Constitutional Court to process those grievances.

Mr Ngulube: Within fourteen days.

Mr Sikazwe: Mulefwaya bakamyebe imiku inga?

Mr Speaker: I am speaking.

At the end of the day, that particular chapter was closed.

Hon. PF Members: Yes.

Mr Speaker: At the close of that chapter, the results that were announced by the ECZ remained undisturbed. There is some litigation, I gather from the press, going on, but whatever it is, that declaration by the ECZ remains undisturbed to date.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Speaker: It remains undisturbed and those are the results that my office are aware of. In as far as your debates are concerned, those are the results I will recognise. As you know, one of our basic rules of debate is to substantiate whatever we assert.

You see, there will be a practical problem if we approached it otherwise because on one hand, one side of the House will allege or insinuate, as the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central had already begun, that the elections were fraudulent, while the other side of the House will equally rise and say they were genuine, bonafide, official and conclusive results.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Therefore, to avoid this tension, and since we cannot resolve these issues here, but by the courts, we will go by the decision of the courts. We should also observe the doctrine of separation of powers. Those issues were dully processed there. This body or any hon. Member is not competent to begin adjudicating or contradicting the ruling of the court. If the grievances are still there, and I believe they are because there is some litigation going on, even on the ground of sub judice, we can go to the Members Hand Book on Page 22, Rule 24:

“While on the Floor of the House, Members should not:

(a) refer to any fact on which a judicial decision is pending, that is, a matter which is sub judice.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Therefore, even the litigation that is going on ties you, hon. Members. Until those proceedings are concluded, however they will be concluded, we have to wait. I have addressed this matter at length to put it beyond any doubt that this subject will not be a matter of debate here …

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Speaker: … for the reasons that I have outlined.

May the hon. Member continue.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you once again.

Sir, I was in the middle of applauding the great people of Mazabuka Central when you decided to render guidance on how I must talk and I will oblige knowing very well that this matter of the past election is actively being pursued in the courts of law. Until such a time that it is given its logical conclusion, the people of Mazabuka Central and I believe that something went wrong.

 Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, what the people of Mazabuka Central believe went wrong is that the Government was stolen.

 Interruptions

 Mr Speaker: Order!

 Hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, please, take a seat.

 Interruptions

 Mr Speaker: Order!

Let us have some order. I think I was very gracious and, please, do not push me to the wall.

If you are not able to stay away from that matter as directed, you will not proceed with the debate. It is as simple as that. There is no contest here because this matter is in court. Whoever is in court will have to accept that result. Apart from that, you are a Whip and you have just indicated that this is your third maiden speech. Sub judice is a straightforward rule.

 Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

 Sub judice is a straightforward rule. It means and, maybe, let me repeat this ...

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: It says:

“You shall not refer to any matter of facts on which a judicial decision is pending, that is, a matter which is sub judice.”

So, I can only take it that the hon. Member wants to challenge the Speaker. That is all.

 Hon. Government Members: Shame!

 Mr Speaker: I do not think I will come back to this again.

 You can continue.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I think it is also worth putting on record my sincere gratitude to my party leadership, the entire management of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and its leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema (HH), for according me this opportunity to be here the third time.

 Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

 Mr Nkombo: They understand exactly what I stand for and I thank them for that.

Sir, I also want to thank one former hon. Member of Parliament, Mr Geoffrey Mwamba Bwalya (GBM), …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: … for attempting to narrow the gap that has been caused by the immediate events of the past election.

Mr Speaker, allow me to navigate very carefully around what may irritate the House for I have a maiden speech which is written, but I have the skill to speak without one. I would like to thank Mr GBM for his passion of wanting to bring this country together against the odds of certain people …

 Mrs Mwanakatwe: Sit down!

 Mr Speaker: Order!

Let us listen to the debate in silence.

You may continue, hon. Member.

Mr Nkombo: Sir, there are some drunks who are disturbing me. You need to control them. The hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry …

 Mr Speaker: Order!

 Hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, you do not have that …

 Mr Nkombo: Sir, I need your protection.

Mr Speaker: But, I am just on the issue.

 Mr Nkombo: I need your protection. Some greenhorn is making noise here and I want to debate in peace.

Mr Speaker: Order!

 That is my task and not yours.

Mr Nkombo: You are not performing it, Sir.

 Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, can you leave the House.

Mr Nkombo: Sorry?

 Mr Speaker: Leave the House!

Mr Nkombo: Until when?

Mr Speaker: Go outside.

Mr Nkombo: Until When?

Mr Speaker: Tomorrow.

Mr Nkombo: Gladly so.

 Mr Speaker: Yes!

Mr Nkombo: I wish you luck.

 Mr Speaker: Please, leave! Leave!

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Nkombo: Bye, bye. Have a great day!

 Mr Nkombo left the Assembly Chamber.

Hon. Government Members: Shame!

Ms Mwape (Mkushi North): Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I wish to express my sincere gratitude for giving me this rare opportunity to deliver my maiden speech and to also contribute to the debate on the President’s momentous speech, delivered to this august House on 30th September, 2016.

Mr Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues in congratulating His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who is also the party President of our popular Patriotic Front (PF) Party, …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwape: … Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, for emerging victorious in the just-ended presidential election.

Mr Speaker, allow me also to congratulate you and your two Deputies on your well-deserved victory. I wish you all God’s guidance in your duties. Further, I want to congratulate all hon. Members on their election to this House as well as the hon. Cabinet Ministers on their appointments to the Executive. 

Mr Speaker, I would be failing in my speech if I did not recognise His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Minister!

Ms Mwape: … the PF leadership, the people of Mkushi North Parliamentary Constituency and my family for the confidence and support which culminated into my election as area Member of Parliament for Mkushi North.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwape: In the same breath, I wish to acknowledge the support received from traditional leaders and pastors from churches within Mkushi North Constituency, who journeyed with me in this race.

Mr Speaker, I do not wish to throw anyone under the bus, but I am glad I joined the Edgar Chagwa Lung Team in relentlessly working hard to make sontapo or “show your deeds”…

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwape: …a reality for our people, regardless of their political, religious and other affiliations.

Mr Speaker, this being the case, I would like to state that the campaign is over and it is time for both sides to tone down the ‘chest-out tough talk’, ...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwape: … and concentrate on development issues.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwape: In this regard, let me now highlight the situation prevailing in my constituency, Mkushi District.

Mr Chiteme: Hammer!

Ms Mwape: Mr Speaker, there are seven main challenges that the people of Mkushi North are facing currently. These include, insufficient boreholes for clean drinking water and poor sanitation, non-upgrading of community schools to ordinary schools to meet the increasing demand for formal schools, inadequate bituminous standard roads, poor feeder road network; incomplete district hospital, poor land distribution, a lack of agro-based industries and inadequate police infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, let me address some of the above challenges that are close to my heart. In my constituency, the available schools are too few to cater for the increased number of school-going children. I am, therefore, appealing to the Ministry of General Education and the Ministry of Higher Education on the need to build more schools in the area. We will support any measures aimed at increasing availability of school places such as turning some of the community schools into regular ones or colleges. The challenges in our education sector go beyond limited school places and include a lack of accommodation for teachers, transportation and electricity.

Sir, I must admit that both Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Hon. Ingrid Mphande, the first and immediate past hon. Member of Parliament, respectively, made efforts to ensure the provision of clean drinking water and good sanitation. The facilities hitherto provided are obsolete and require a complete overhaul. The best thing that can be done is to sink more boreholes to ease the suffering of the mothers who walk long distances to fetch water. This exercise is important given the fact that there is a growing demand for water due to increased mining and farming activities. Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company needs to construct other tanks that will store enough water for use by the people of Mkushi Constituency for their various activities.

Mr Chiteme: Hammer!

Ms Mwape: Mr Speaker, I have observed that …

Hon. UPND Members left the Assembly Chamber.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, on the right! Somebody is debating.

Ms Mwape: … the health sector in my constituency requires more infrastructure and adequate staff to run it. It is, thus, important that the contractors engaged to build these facilities meet their obligations on time. This, therefore, calls for deployment of good contractors to complete Mkushi District Hospital on time.

Mr Speaker, my constituency is privileged to be part of my party and Government’s vision of the Link Zambia 8,000 kilometre Road Project. Therefore, I hope that the Masansa and Musofu roads will be upgraded to bituminous standard, as part of this project.

Mr Speaker, Mkushi North has many women and youth small-scale and peasant farmers and they need the support of this working Government, ...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwape: … particularly now with the climate change that we are experiencing.

The President’s Speech gives me some inner peace that Mkushi North is now ready to take off, especially at a time like this when many of our neighbouring countries are badly hit by drought. Consequently, this is piling pressure on Mkushi’s Food Basket. I want to urge all farmers in Mkushi North to not take this current situation as a threat on their food security, but as increased demand on the international market. This is an opportunity to be taken seriously by increasing productivity for such opportunities come once in a lifetime.

Mr Speaker, I am appealing to the Government to ensure that more subsistence farmers benefit from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and that intended beneficiaries are reached in good time. This will increase maize production in order to meet the increasing demand in the region. It is in view of this that even our traditional leaders have appealed for agro-based industrialisation and tarring of the Mkushi/Masansa/Fiwila/Mulungwe Road to help the agricultural-based sector in the area.

Sir, this measure also requires increased irrigation capacity using the Mkushi River, which transverses my constituency, but without irrigation dams on the riversides. Therefore, in order to provide for all-year farming, it is essential that we facilitate the construction of irrigation facilities in the nearby farm enclaves. 

Mr Speaker, it is well to advocate for industrialisation by creating enabling systems and infrastructures to support it. However, without due security, this may turn out to be like a gauntlet fight. As such, there is a need to ensure better police infrastructure. The people in Mkushi North, therefore, eagerly wait for the development of Masansa Police Post to a fully-fledged police station.

Mr Speaker, as I already indicated, I can only highlight some of the pressing challenges we face in the community. There are many such challenges deserving redress. However, this is only the beginning of dialogue with my listening Government.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mwape: I intend to pursue other matters such as electricity supply with respective ministries and Government institutions.

Mr Speaker, let me now briefly speak about His Excellency the President’s Speech, which I referred to in the beginning. For me, the key point in the speech was the move away from thematic lines based on the stand-alone sectoral approach to development to an integrated multi-sectoral approach which builds on synergies across sectors. This approach suits us very well in Mkushi North as we seek not to throw anyone under the bus. Building an integrated multi-sectoral approach to development, as His Excellency the President stated, enhances inclusiveness in development.  For us to have a productive population, we need to ensure that people have access to health facilities, water, good roads, electricity and security. This working Government has shown that it can provide these facilities in all districts. I am glad to report to this august House that Mkushi North is one of the beneficiaries of some of these facilities provided by the Government. For example, out of the 650 health posts this Government has constructed, Mkushi North got five, and three of these are already operational. Construction of these health facilities has slightly reduced the distance covered by residents to the nearest health centre and I hope that more health posts will be built in Mkushi North as it is a vast area.

Sir, with regard to agriculture and industrialisation, His Excellency the President struck a fine tune when he stated that agriculture, fisheries and livestock will be the main focus around which other sectors will be developed in an integrated manner under the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP). As the only female PF hon. Member of Parliament in the Central Province, and given the fact that Mkushi North is the leading food basket for Zambia, I will work very closely with my colleague, the hon. Minister of Agriculture, to make agro-industrialisation a cornerstone of real empowerment, especially for women who are the majority workers in this sector. May I simply state that as Zambian women, we stand as relentless food soldiers of His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and support him in his endeavour to make agriculture the key sector. We will ensure that this undertaking creates more jobs and provides more money for our people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mwape: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President meant serious business in his speech and I wish to urge all my colleagues in this House to take it as such.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, allow me to thank His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for his outright win of the 2016 General Elections ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Mwila: ... beating by far, the 50 per cent plus one constitutional requirement ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: ... for a winning presidential candidate. The people of Chimwemwe are wishing him God’s grace and favour as he directs the affairs of our great nation, Zambia, for the next five years.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, allow me to congratulate Her Honour the Republican Vice-President, Madam Inonge Wina, on her election to the second highest political office in Zambia. Allow me to also congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your re-election as Speaker of this august House. I also congratulate your two Deputies on their election.

Mr Speaker, my full names are Elias Mutale Mwila and I am an Independent Member of Parliament for Chimwemwe Constituency in Kitwe, the Copperbelt Province.

Sir, allow me to extend my special thanks to my umbrella campaign team in Chimwemwe Constituency, headed by one Mr Francis Chileshe, commonly known as Mr Blackman, who, unfortunately, passed on a few weeks after the 11th August, 2016 General Elections. May his soul rest in peace. My special thanks also go to the Christian community of Chimwemwe Constituency which stood by me. It prayed for me and His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s victory. My message to them is that God, indeed, answered their prayers, and He did so in style. My special thanks go to all my family members for being with me and supporting me throughout the campaign period and beyond. My special thanks also go to the Ruling Party, the Patriotic Front (PF), for giving me the necessary political experience which resulted in mY being here today.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Continue, hon. Member.

Mr Mwila: As a graduate from the Copperbelt University (CBU), with eight years of industrial experience, the PF allowed me to be the Branch Chairperson for Chimwemwe in 2010. I rose to the position of Ward Secretary in February, 2011, and contested and won the 2011 General Elections as Lubuto Ward Councillor on the PF ticket in Chimwemwe Constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: The PF allowed me to contest the constituency elections in 2015 where I was overwhelmingly elected as the Constituency Chairperson for Chimwemwe. Unfortunately, the members of the PF in Chimwemwe demanded that I resign from the party so that I could meet the Constitution’s requirement for contesting the 2016 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate. As a way of thanking the PF, I straight away endorsed the candidature of one Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: ... in the just-ended general elections. To the PF structures of Chimwemwe Constituency, you are, indeed, expert implementers of “Don’t kubeba” that literally means, “Do not tell them.”

Sir, allow me to also thank the immediate past lawmaker for Chimwemwe Constituency, Hon. Mwenya Musenge, for putting up a spirited fight in his unsuccessful attempt to retain the Chimwemwe Seat. The victory I had in Chimwemwe was despite the fact that I only had one public rally in Chimwemwe which was held four days before voting day on 11th August, 2016.

Sir, the people of Chimwemwe have the following expectations:

(a) Upgrading of Unplanned Settlement Areas

 Mr Speaker, the areas affected are Zambia Compound in Garneton, which is the home of the late Hon. Willy Nsanda, may his soul rest in peace, Race Course and Twatasha in Twatasha Ward, Kamatipa and KCC 722 in Kawama Ward. The areas highlighted above are densely populated peri-urban areas of Chimwemwe Constituency and a successful implementation of the upgrading programme will result in the people of these areas having access to clean piped water, complete with a sewerage system. They also expect to have the national grid power connectivity by the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Limited, have their access road infrastructure rehabilitated by the Kitwe City Council (KCC) and many other services that go with planned human settlements;

(b) Improved Health delivery

 Sir, the people of Chimwemwe are happy that Chimwemwe Clinic is undergoing a phased upgrading process, courtesy of the PF Government. However, they are asking the Government to allow the four clinics in Chimwemwe’s peri-urban area to operate for twenty-four hours daily. They also want the clinics to have running water, stand by generators in case of ZESCO power outages and ambulance services.

Sir, expectant mothers in Chimwemwe’s peri-urban areas use candles or cellular phone lighting when giving birth at night. My predecessor’s candidature in Chimwemwe Constituency faced stiff resistance on account of this fact.

Mr Speaker, Chimwemwe Constituency is a beneficiary of three out of the 650 health posts that the Government is rolling out across the country. Two of the health posts have been completed and are open to the public whilst the third one is at slab level;
(c) Youth, Women Empowerment and Jobs
 Sir, the people of Chimwemwe expect the Government to remember them when dispersing empowerment funds on the Copperbelt.

 Mr Speaker, the people of Chimwemwe have welcomed the announced employment target of 1 million jobs by 2021. In fact, His Excellency the President should have considered appointing an hon. Minister specifically for industrialisation and job creation who would directly oversee the implementation of the Government’s industrialisation policy.

 Mr Speaker, the youth unemployment levels in Chimwemwe are so alarming that they could only be equated to a time bomb.

 Sir, the marketeers of Chimwemwe Constituency are expecting the Government to assist them with the construction of public toilets in all public markets which should come complete with running water. At the moment, our marketeers are forced to help themselves in the nearest taverns and bars exposing the women to great danger. The issue of public toilets in public markets was a source of major debate in the just-ended general elections in Chimwemwe Constituency, at least, at parliamentary level;

(d) Solar Milling Plant and Mealie Meal Pricing

 Mr Speaker, the people of Chimwemwe are anxiously waiting to benefit from the cheap mealie meal produced from the solar milling plants. To that effect, when I was a councillor at Kitwe City Council, I ensured that 20 ha of land was reserved for this project in Kamfinsa’s Zamtan area. The people of Chimwemwe have asked me to tell His Excellency the President that  the provincial task force on the illegal sale of maize and mealie meal be maintained to avoid a repeat of the chaotic scenes experienced in Chimwemwe at the height of mealie meal smuggling;

(e) Constituency Development Fund
 Mr Speaker, it is the expectation of the people of Chimwemwe that this august House eliminates the bureaucracy surrounding the use of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), especially those guidelines that do not favour local contractors in the awarding of its contracts;

(f) The Plight of Ward Councillors

 Sir, as an immediate past ward councillor, allow me to put it on record that the K700 monthly allowance paid to councillors be revised upwards as soon as possible. At ward level, councillors are the face of both the local and Central Government and these ‘guys’ do a lot of work under difficult circumstances.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, the word ‘guys’ is unparliamentary. Please, edit your speech.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: I withdraw that term and replace it with ‘these people’.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Wherever you have mentioned it.

Mr Mwila: The people of Chimwemwe are happy with the way the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project is being implemented by the Government of His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The constituency is eagerly awaiting its share of the C 400 km Road Project;

(g)  Education

 Sir, Chimwemwe Constituency is home to Mukuba University, Trans Africa Theological College and Kitwe Vocational and Training Centre (KVTC). The main challenge at these institutions is accommodation for students and lecturers alike. However, the people of Chimwemwe are not happy with the pace at which the main contractor, Hua Juan, is carrying out works at Mukuba University. Since 2008, not a single facility has been handed over to the university administration or the Government. The ministry concerned should quickly move in and correct the status quo.

 Mr Speaker, the failure rate of pupils in science related subjects is very high mainly because our schools do not have laboratories from which practical lessons can be conducted. School assembly halls are also non-existent throughout the constituency;

(h)  Security Concerns in Chimwemwe Constituency

 Sir, the people of Chimwemwe are thankful to His Excellency the President for the on-going construction of a police station in Kawama Ward complete with twenty-one staff houses. The people of Chimwemwe are, however, appealing to the Government to improve the mobility of the police by providing vehicles as soon as possible. This is necessary to assure the protection of private and public property as well as the lives of our people. Chimwemwe Constituency is currently grappling with the worst form of vandalism, especially of public property;

(i) Water and Sanitation

 Mr Speaker, the people of Chimwemwe have welcomed the creation of a ministry specifically meant for water and sanitation. After all, we say that water is life. On this score, the people of Chimwemwe are looking to the would-be minister to end the impasse in Chimwemwe between Nkana Water and Sewerage Company and the residents which arises as a result of the Nkana Water and Sewerage Company billing residents of Chimwemwe without supplying them water. Where service was restored, taps would only run for about an hour before the supply of water was discontinued. At the moment, Nkana Water and Sewerage Company has gone on rampage disconnecting all households forgetting that this is October, a month when the country normally witnesses cholera outbreaks because of the weather pattern. In any case, the residents of Chimwemwe are questioning the motive of disconnecting their water supply as they are still celebrating the victory of His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa. His Excellency the President also happens to be a son of Chimwemwe, as he grew up in Chimwemwe up to his secondary education days; and

(j) Constitutional Matters

Sir, the people of Chimwemwe celebrated the decision of the Constitutional Court to uphold the constitutional provision of fourteen days within which to hear ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, let us stay away from these matters, I have said they are sub judice.

Mr Mwila: My promise to the people of Chimwemwe is to not let them down. I will not betray the trust and confidence that they have invested in me.

Sir, the hand of God is on His Excellency the President’s leadership. This is a man who once held five senior portfolios in the Government at the same time. He was elected hon. Member of Parliament for Chawama here in Lusaka, he was the hon. Minister of Justice, hon. Minister of Defence, Secretary-General of the PF and Acting President of the Republic of Zambia at the same time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Fighting such a man is fighting a losing battle.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Sir, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is succeeding because he has put God at the centre of his presidency. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, let me now turn to the President’s Speech. The people of Chimwemwe Constituency are saying that His Excellency the President’s Speech was well-thought-out. It had no ambiguities. It was self-explanatory and was excellently presented to this Parliament. His Excellency the President has done his part and what remains is for the Front Bench to work hand-in-hand with the Back Benchers and all the well-meaning Zambians so that together, we can better the lives of our people. “Sonta apo wa bomba,” which means point at what you have done is awaiting all of us in August, 2021.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms O. M. Phiri (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech and also to debate Motion on the President’s Speech on the Floor of this august House.

Mr Speaker, allow me to join the many who have spoken before me in congratulating you, the First Deputy Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker on a well-deserved election. Further, I congratulate the hon. Members of Parliament on winning the General Elections.

Sir, allow me to thank God the Almighty for touching me with favour to serve the people of Nyimba as their first female hon. Member of Parliament.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms O. M. Phiri: Mr Speaker, I would be failing in my duties if I did not thank the Patriotic Front (PF) party for having confidence in adopting me as their candidate. On behalf of the people of Nyimba and, indeed, on my own behalf, allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on his re-election. I also wish to congratulate the Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms O. M. Phiri: … on her victory.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to thank my husband, children and sisters for their support. I further wish to thank the Central Committee, the Provincial Committee and the District Committee of the PF for the support they gave me. They made my journey to arrive here as a humble servant of the people of Nyimba possible.

Mr Livune: Question!

Ms O. M. Phiri: Sir, in addition, I extend an olive branch to all those who did not vote for me. I would like to tell them that we should hold hands and work together to develop Nyimba as we all love it.

Mr Speaker, Nyimba Constituency is a rural set up which depends largely on farming as the major socio-economic activity. I am glad to note that the newly-appointed hon. Minister of Agriculture is female. Therefore, as a woman, I believe that she has the heart of a mother and will pay particular attention to ensure household food security.

Sir, I, therefore, appeal to her to seriously consider Nyimba as one of the first beneficiaries as her ministry embarks on various programmes aimed at improving agricultural production. The people of Nyimba have clearly shown potential in agriculture. All they need is support and new skills training from this listening Government. They can actually do wonders.

Mr Livune interjected.

Ms O. M. Phiri: Mr Speaker, the people of Nyimba sent me …

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, just a moment.

Hon. Member for Katombola, you are very close to me now.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: You have come closer to me now and you are much more audible than ever.

The hon. Member may continue.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms O. M. Phiri: … to this House with a message. They would like to thank the PF Government for reconstructing the Great East Road, which passes through Nyimba Constituency. This is promoting trade, commerce and stimulating economic development in Nyimba. They want to commend this Government for the building of a new modern hospital and five health posts. This is improving access to health services. The increase in the farmer input packs to twice the previous ones and the increase in the floor price of a 50 kg bag of maize from K75 to K85 is appreciated.

Mr Speaker, in a nutshell, the message is that the people of Nyimba appreciate the tangible development which is currently taking place in that area.

Mr Speaker, the population in my constituency keeps growing at a fast rate. This is resulting in high demand for agriculture inputs in order to stimulate economic growth of feeder roads, bridges, dams and dip tanks. In this regard, we implore the Ministry of Works and Supply, under our listening PF Government, to rehabilitate the small bridges and feeder roads which are still in a bad state as they facilitate transportation of agricultural products as well as movement of our people.

Sir, the people of Nyimba also demand for a fair share of solar hammer mills. They need to access clean and safe water. This can be provided through having more boreholes drilled. Currently, the distances which people cover in search of clean and safe drinking water are too long. People spend a lot of time fetching water which, in turn, leads to loss of man hours which can be used more productively. Further, school children, especially girls, are also negatively affected as they spend more time assisting their mothers fetching water. As such, many girls perform badly in school as they have little time to concentrate on their studies. This is retrogressive and it means that our efforts and investment aimed at increasing the enrolment and progression rate of girls amounts to nothing.

Sir, I would like to further state that there is a need to institute a sewer system to promote good sanitation in Nyimba. By being a vast constituency, it requires more schools to be built or upgraded, especially in the valley. I, therefore, implore the Government to consider upgrading two primary schools to secondary schools in Luembe and Mwape chiefdoms to reduce the distances covered by learners to get to the existing secondary schools. Due to inadequate schools, there has been a low enrolment rate. In the same vein, the progression of learners beyond basic schools is limited due to a lack of secondary school places.

Sir, owing to the long distances people cover to access health facilities at the general hospital, the people of Nyimba are demanding for clinics. Therefore, I call upon the hon. Minister of Health to pay particular attention to increasing the number of clinics to accommodate people who live in far places. This will also improve maternal and child health.

Mr Speaker, the people of Nyimba are also requesting for the rural electrification programme to be extended to many areas as a way of stimulating value added activities in the community. Nyimba Constituency has various natural resources that can be used to promote socio-economic development. Nyimba has the best grade of semi-precious stones. It also has a vast quantity of limestone that can warrant the opening up of a huge cement factory which can create jobs and compete favourable with other producers of cement, thereby reducing the price of cement and benefit the ordinary people of Nyimba people or Zambians at large. This would also be in line with the Government’s policy on industrialisation and diversification of the economy from copper.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me take this opportunity to briefly say something on the Motion on the Floor.

In his address, His Excellency the President outlined various areas that need urgent attention. He covered issues on agriculture and industrialisation. This shows that he is focused and ready to support our farmers because the agriculture sector can make our economy viable again.

Mr Speaker, it is notable that infrastructure development in rural areas in this country was particularly forgotten until the advent of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, ...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Phiri: ... under our founding father, the late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace. He had a clear vision and plan to develop rural areas through the establishment of districts and infrastructure development. Therefore, His Excellency the President’s proposal to create a Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development is an indication that under him, the PF Government is continuing with the vision and objective of improving lives of the people in rural areas, who are much a part of the Zambian population as the people in the urban areas.

Mr Speaker, we believe that this ministry will serve as a channel through which potential and comparative advantage of the rural areas will be identified as possible solutions are sought with the full participation of rural communities. This way, we, from the rural areas, will feel the presence of our caring PF Government.

Mr Speaker, the people of Nyimba are happy with His Excellency the President’s good initiative to empower the youth through the establishment of schemes under which they will be given land and start-up kits to participate in agriculture.

Mr Speaker, finally, let me thank you and the august House for your attention. May the good Lord bless the people of Nyimba Constituency.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Interruptions

Mr Lihefu (Manyinga): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to deliver my maiden speech in this meeting of the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, firstly, allow me to congratulate you and your two Deputy Speakers on your election victory.

Sir, I believe that each path to victory or success involves different rules, commitment, hardwork and, above all, strategy. These outlooks are interchangeable. I, Lihefu Robert, therefore, wish to thank the great people of Manyinga Parliamentary Constituency for my victory. I wish also to thank my family, my campaign manager and his team, the National Management Committee of the great United Party for National Development (UPND) ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: ... and my beloved president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: ... for the confidence bestowed upon me to represent the people of Manyinga Constituency on the party I love passionately, the UPND.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, the people of Manyinga have elected a Member of Parliament who is all-embracing and will maximise on the full potential and possibilities of this well-endowed district. I have so much hope, as an all-embracing person, that Manyinga will be developed, however, I cannot promise heaven by working alone nor that Manyinga will be “enconomically” ...

Laughter

Mr Lihefu: ... developed in a day. Working with the Government and with your support, we shall work tirelessly to improve the quality of life and the living standards of the people of Manyinga regardless of their political, ethnic or religious affiliation.

If we can do even half of what we have planned to do for Manyinga’s development, then, there shall be cause for hope and transformation. This is our undertaking.

Mr Speaker, next year, 2017, ...

Mr Ng’ambi crossed the Floor.

Hon. Members: Order! Order!

Mr Lihefu: ... Zambia will turn fifty-three years old as a nation. This calls for deeper reflection and consideration of our performance in relation to the promises that we have been making to the people from time to time during the last fifty-two years, especially to those in rural districts like Manyinga in the North-Western Province and the nation as a whole.

Mr Speaker, the state of rural underdevelopment which confronts us today is not only a reflection of our performance, but also policy mindsets on rural economies and policies against previously set goals since Independence. This, therefore, calls for a completely new paradigm shift of development if the rural areas of the 21st Century Zambia are to have any hope of transformative development.

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: Development policies have to change to advantage rural economies and policies against previously set goals since Independence.

Rural transformation is a gateway to prosperity. Mr Speaker, a reward we can give to rural areas is economic prosperity for the transformation of rural communities which are currently characterised by neglect. This can be achieved through agriculture which is driven by the private-public partnership (PPP) built around the following eight pillars namely:

(a) sustainable rural economic and social infrastructure development framework;

(b) sustainable rural agriculture activities anchored on local beneficiation with developed agro processing industry and wealth retention in rural communities;

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I want to follow the debate.

The hon. Member may continue.

Mr Lihefu: I thank you, Sir.

(c) enhance participation in the economic value chain of our base products and human development capabilities to sustain rural economies;

(d) develop a deliberate policy on the development of rural financial services that are underpinned on community participation in the economic activities within our borders and beyond. To this end, we, the people of Manyinga, call upon the Government to open opportunities for banks and other financial related services in our community;

(e) revamp rural youth skills revitalisation strategies, build efficient synergies in our education and health system to produce generations of well-trained, healthy and competitive human capital for the achievement of the above-mentioned development policies;

(f) open the Zambia/Angola Border, through Manyinga, at Ndunga Border Post. This measure will not only facilitate trade between the two countries, but also help boost revenue for the National Treasury and, consequently, increase the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). Accordingly, we call upon the Government to upgrade to bituminous standard the Manyinga/Mwinilunga via Luansonga Road into Angola to enhance movement of goods and services;

(g) declare Manyinga District a zero rated tax zone and Multi-Facility “Enconomic” Zone ...

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Lihefu: ... (MFEZ) for investments above US$100,000 to accelerate investments, implementation of the Decentralisation Policy and execution of our five to fifteen years strategic plan for Manyinga’s development in line with the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP) for 2016/2021;

(h) establish a 132/33/11 KV substation in Manyinga. This measure is aimed at revamping the economic activities of Manyinga with reliable power supply and cannot be over emphasised. Therefore, we call upon the Government to speed up the installation of the said substation. The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) office in Manyinga should also boost the “enconomic”  ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Continue, hon. Member.

Mr Lihefu: ... activities we have envisaged in our five to fifteen-year strategic plan.
Mr Speaker, when converted to deliverables, these measures have the capacity to transform rural communities, increase rural household incomes, create jobs and, subsequently contribute to the growth of our GDP as a country, thereby building a respectable legacy of this generation of leaders.

Mr Speaker, before, during and after my victory, I visited many rural communities. One thing which stands out in the areas I visited is poverty. The failure by previous governments to establish drivers of “enconomic” …

Laughter

Mr Lihefu: … development like reliable power supply by ZESCO, solar power sub-stations …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) satellite harbours in all the 156 constituencies across the country, more especially in Manyinga District, has been a contributor to poverty. Further, this has prevented the opening of such rural communities to private investors and mechanised industrialisation. This must change. It is also fair to ask why we have been doing this wrongly. In commenting on the previous promises contained in the President’s Speech on the Official Opening of Parliament, I have a number of observations in addition to the above.

Mr Speaker, we have 45 per cent of fresh water endowment in the region and Manyinga District has a good share of this. However, our taps in Manyinga run dry and public institutions use pit latrines instead of water borne toilets.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, Manyinga, like most rural Zambian districts, also has abundant arable land for agriculture and rich mineral resource endowment, yet benefits to the district that hosts mining companies remain dismal. We do not even have a sustainable district agriculture policy that guarantees markets for our rural products. This must be addressed as well. We have enjoyed unmatched peace, yet have not achieved unity of purpose that translates in “enconomic” …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … emancipation of our people across the ten provinces of this nation.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I think we need to adjust.

Laughter

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, Zambia has a strong and dedicated domestic consumer base, yet we have not managed to develop our rural agriculture industrial base to feed our domestic consumption, let alone export. We have a highly trained human capital, yet innovation is absent due to failure to create synergies between our education system and the industry to build research and development …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … for a vibrant progressive country which has a promise for the future. We have crafted some of the best policies any developing nation should use to achieve development, yet have allowed education, a universal remedy to development, to become a commodity too high for our people to afford, especially the people in the rural area of Manyinga whom I represent.

Mr Kufakwandi crossed the Floor.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Interruptions

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, some of the retirees of Manyinga have not received their retirement packages five to fifteen years past their retirement after serving years of dedicated service to this country. They now live a miserable life due to delayed payment of their terminal benefits and, in most cases, no payment at all. This leads to their early deaths. Is this the way a just society must be constructed? This has to change. All these negative attributes about our country are deeply rooted in my constituency, Manyinga, where agriculture could have been deliberately developed by declaring it a tax free zone to investment above US$100,000 inclusive of long-term housing leases, agro-processing industries, fish-farming, poultry farms, and many others, thus, creating …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … a modern sustainable district in which poor people are guaranteed of “enconomic”...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … liberation in the long run. However, it still remains poverty stricken.

Mr Speaker, with a visionary Government focused on opening rural enconomies, …

Laughter

Mr Lihefu: … the poverty of people in rural areas can be wiped out. The current unabated poverty is a crime against humanity which must be stopped.

Mr Speaker, Manyinga was established as a district in 2013, with a population of over 69,000, 45 per cent of whom are youths, yet it has no district hospital or a worthwhile youth skills training centre, boarding school and lacks power connection to the national grid necessary to revamp …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … agriculture production and processing. Its roads require to be tarred to bituminous standard to enhance speedy delivery of agriculture products in areas like Litoya, Chifuwe, Lwasongwa and Ndunga of Manyinga. Manyinga is a home to honey production, yet due to a lack of reliable power supply, the processing of this product and its by-products like candles and wax has deprived our people of valuable income, leading to a loss of job opportunities. This sad disposition of our rural “enconomies” needs to be addressed.

Laughter

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, Manyinga’s population is growing. Police face transportation problems, especially when they are required to conduct their duties in far-flung places. This has, in turn, resulted in the crime rate increasing in such areas because police presence is rare. Manyinga District has been neglected since its creation as a district. Police officers use bicycles and ox-carts ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … when transporting criminals from far-flung places.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear! Shame!

Mr Lihefu: Manyinga ought to pride itself in having potential of sharing in the revenues accrued from the wealth generated from the mines in the North-Western Province which are now contributing over K7.5 billion to the National Treasury. Sadly, Manyinga does not benefit from this.

Mr Speaker, the people of Manyinga have been let down for too long and I urge the Government to hasten development, give agriculture investment incentives and declare Manyinga an “economic” …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … tax free zone for the reasons advanced above. My people are anxious to receive benefits of a North-Western Province that is endowed with so much wealth being exploited by the mines in Solwezi. Before our people become discontented in the province, I call upon this Government to change and share the mines wealth on a pro-rata basis with all the districts of this great nation. Therefore, I call upon the Government to frame a deliberate rural indigenous empowerment policy with synergies in the Citizens “Economic” Empowerment Commission (CEEC) …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … as the most important way to achieve “economic” endeavour …

Interruptions

Mr Lihefu: … to bring about social economic growth.

Mr Speaker, it is time to refocus our collective efforts, resources and time for a complete new paradigm change. We call for the implementation of policies that are dispassionately crafted with productive outputs and measurable outcomes that are strategically linked to the aspirations of our communities. There is also a need to ensure that the policies of the next five years and beyond work for the good of our rural communities because the citizens of this country, and in particular the North-Western Province, are growing impatient with the biased way our wealth is being used …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … to develop other localities at their expense. This must change.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President has extensively outlined the national development policies. However, much remains to be seen in terms of development and implementation framework strategies.

Mr Mwale: Question!

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, in order to deal with the challenges of inadequate social and “enconomic”…

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … infrastructure, unemployment and poverty, the Government needs to start by identifying constraints to achieving accelerated shared growth for our country. More importantly, such constraints must be identified in rural communities like Manyinga. This will enable the Government to re-strategise and embark on an ambitious developmental strategy that will involve identification and harnessing of new drivers for economic growth …

Laughter

Mr Lihefu: … with the focus on opening rural “enconomies” in …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … agriculture and value chain businesses anchored on improved competitiveness through higher productivity and a guaranteed market through Zambia’s missions abroad.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the above-mentioned policy positions and those espoused by His Excellency the President must be the foundation upon which the National Budget for 2017 should be framed to cater for the opening of rural “enconomies”.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: In order to ensure that there are no gaps between our annual budget objectives, the goals of our five-year national development plan must be drawn from the Vision 2063 on the assumption that there exists harmony between this and the developmental strategy of the current Government. We have unwavering hope that a robust …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Lihefu: … re-engineering policy aimed at opening rural “enconomies”, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu: … through agriculture and guaranteed markets, can be a magnetic catalyst for economic expansion in which the future of our children is assured.

Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I thank you.

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I would like to remind you, especially those who have just joined the House, that it is prohibited to pass between the chair, where I am seated, and the hon. Member on the Floor. Put simply, you are not allowed to walk in front of a person who is debating. Please, watch your movements. Do not walk in front of the person who is standing and debating. It is not allowed.

Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu): Mr Speaker, I wish to start by thanking you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to present my maiden speech and also contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address to this august House.

Secondly, I would like to thank His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, for the inspiring speech delivered to this august House. I am grateful for this chance to serve the people of Lufubu Parliamentary Constituency as their Member of Parliament. To His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, I say, “Thank you very much,” and I wish him God’s abundant blessings.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chiyalika: Sir, to the people’s party, the Patriotic Front (PF), and the former Secretary-General, Mr Davies Chama, who is now Defence Minister, I say, “Well done for guiding the party through a hotly contested election under a new Constitution with a 50 per cent plus one clause.” Thank you for the financial, moral, material and spiritual support you rendered during the campaign period.

Mr Speaker, I wish to congratulate all PF hon. Members of Parliament who emerged victorious. I also wish to congratulate the hon. Opposition Members who made it. It was not an easy victory. To the losers, I say hard luck as there can only be one winner at a time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chiyalika: Mr Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to all party leaders in the Central Province and, in particular, the mobilisation team led by Hon. Geston Mulando. The district, constituency, ward and branch officials worked so hard to ensure that the PF emerged victorious, and so, I wish to salute them for the hard work exhibited. I would also like to urge them to continue with the same spirit so that our party continues to enjoy the support of the Zambian people.

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Chiyalika: Mr Speaker, allow me to also thank the people of Lufubu Parliamentary Constituency for electing me as their representative. This rare privilege cannot be taken for granted. I, therefore, wish to reiterate my resolve to never let them down as regards development and representation.

Sir, I wish to thank my friends who were there for me during the campaigns. These are Mr Anthony Chishimba, Mr Ignatius Kabwe, Mr Benjamin Kasongo, Mr Chola Mulenga Lewis, Mr Dimus Mufwaya and my campaign manager for their moral, material and financial support. To all you gentlemen, I say, “Thank you very much.”

Mr Speaker, allow me to thank my wife and children who gave me wonderful support from the time I was adopted through to the elections. Thank you for standing by me and encouraging me whenever I faced challanges.

Sir, last, but not the least, allow me to thank Their Royal Highnesses, Chief Mukubwe, Chief Ngabwe and Chief Mbuluma for their wonderful support.

Mr Speaker, the developmental plan for Lufubu Parliamentary Constituency is in line with the President’s Speech whose theme was “Building an Integrated Multi-Sectoral Approach to Development that Enhances Inclusiveness in Development without Leaving Anyone Behind.” It is against this background that the constituency will be developed and agriculture will be prioritised as the main economic activity.

Mr Speaker, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in his speech on the occasion of the Official Opening of the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly emphasised that the agriculture sector, fisheries and livestock, ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Chiyalika: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in his Official Opening Speech of the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, emphasised that fisheries and livestock would be the main focus in the agriculture sector, around which other sectors would be developed under the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP). In this regard, agriculture shall remain one of the main economic activities in Lufubu Parliamentary Constituency.

 However, Sir, people have faced some challenges such as the limited number of bags of fertiliser given to each farmer, which limits the level of production. I am, therefore, appealing to the Ministry of Agriculture to consider increasing the number of bags of fertiliser and seed given to farmers to boost production levels. I also wish to appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture to educate farmers on the need to avoid using traditional farming methods and tools which are detrimental to the development of farming.

Mr Speaker, the other challenge that the farmers in Lufubu Parliamentary Constituency are facing is the distance to the only Food Reserve Agency (FRA) satellite depot. I wish to appeal to the FRA to open another satellite depot in Chief Ngabwe’s area as this will reduce the distance covered and transportation costs on the part of farmers.

Mr Speaker, the people of Lufubu Parliamentary Constituency are also able to produce other crops such as tobacco, soya beans, groundnuts, cotton and others, if supported with credit facilities and the provision of market for their farm produce.

Sir, my other appeal is to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to consider constructing dip tanks for cattle to avoid diseases. The people of Lufubu Parliamentary Constituency also want to participate in the livestock breeding programme, which other colleagues in other parts of the country are benefitting from. One such example is the breeding of goats as we heard from the previous speakers.

Mr Speaker, the other challenge is a health issue. Ngabwe District has no district hospital. I am aware that there are plans by the Ministry of Health to build a district hospital. I, therefore, wish to appeal to the ministry to expedite the process because patients are made to travel long distances to access first referral services. Areas where they seek these services are Kabwe, Mpongwe and Luanshya.

Sir, the Government has a programme of constructing 650 health posts across the country. Ngabwe District only received two of the 650 health posts and, so far, only one has been completed while the other one is at slab level. I am, once again, appealing to the Ministry of Health to consider allocating more health posts to the people of Ngabwe District because existing health centres are far apart and people travel long distances to access medical health. The Ministry of Health should also consider establishing a permanent anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre and not a mobile one that the people of Ngabwe District have been subjected to.

Mr Speaker, the other challenge in my constituency is with regard to education. It is, indeed, very sad to see children walking long distances to school after fifty-two years of this country’s independence. This has forced some pupils, especially girls, to stop school. As a result, the girls end up getting married at an early age while boys resort to drinking alcohol and engaging in other vices. I am, therefore, appealing to the Ministry of General Education to build a boarding school in Ngabwe, as existing schools have no boarding facilities. Pupils are forced to spend nights in classrooms because they cannot manage to walk long distances to school every morning.

Mr Speaker, in an effort to address the situation, parents came up with an idea of building community schools. The state of these community schools leaves so much to be desired. In most cases, these schools are manned by unqualified teachers who are poorly paid by parents and have no proper water and sanitation. I am, therefore, appealing to the Ministry of General Education to, once again, consider upgrading community schools in Ngabwe in line with the PF Party Manifesto.

Mr Speaker, the other challenge is on the road network. Ngabwe is a new district and the road network is very bad. I am aware that the road from Mukobeko in Kabwe to Chief Mukubwe’s area up to the pontoon on the Lufubu River will be graded under the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project.

Sir, I wish to appeal to the hon. Minister of Works and Supply to upgrade this road to bituminous standard and extend its construction to Kasempa so that Ngabwe can open up to the rest of the country. When this road is worked on, it will actually offer a shortcut between Lusaka and the North-Western provinces. I am reliably informed by experts that there are various minerals in Chief Ngabwe’s area. If these minerals were to be exploited, they would add value to the economic activities of the local people as well as to the national revenue.

Mr Speaker, the late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in eternal peace, when declaring Ngabwe a district, promised its people a bridge to be constructed on the Lufubu River. In the same vein, when His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, visited the area during the last election campaigns, he repeated the same promise. I wish, therefore, to appeal to the hon. Minister of Works and Supply to consider putting up the bridge at Lufubu River to ease the movement of farm produce and other goods and services. This will also reduce the deaths of local people who cross the river during the night when the pontoon staff have knocked-off. Just this year, we recorded over eleven deaths.

Mr Speaker, Ngabwe District has no proper communication after many years of Zambia’s Independence. The only communication network available is that of the Zambia Telecommunications Limited (ZAMTEL), but even then, it is in selected areas where the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has put up short towers. These are not serving any purpose. The MTN Zambia and Airtel Zambia networks are currently unavailable in the area. Therefore, I wish to appeal to the Ministry of Communication and Transport to urgently consider this issue so that effective communication is available to the people of Ngabwe.

Mr Speaker, my office will endeavour to promote gender and child development in Ngabwe District. Gender-based violence, child abuse and early marriages will not be condoned. Together with the support of their Royal Highness Chief Mukubwe, Chief Ngabwe, Chief Mwimuna and other partners, we will ensure that women and children are protected from all forms of abuse. I am also appealing to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that deal with women and children’s rights to come on board and fight the scourge of abuse. They should not only concentrate in urban areas, but spread to rural areas as well.

Mr Speaker, these challenges shall be overcome and when attended to, this will create jobs and industrialisation. When we reach 2021, we shall just be pointing to the works of the PF Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chiyalika: I wish, therefore, to commend His Excellency the President for setting the tone of development for the next five years, whose focus will be to achieve a resilient and diversified economy. As a representative of Lufubu Constituency in Ngabwe District, I will endeavour to provide guidance and work to encourage the people to contribute to the diversification of the economy from its heavy dependence on copper to one based on agriculture, livestock and fisheries. With the availability of land, rivers and swamps, Ngabwe District has the potential to develop its agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors and contribute to the economy of this nation.

Mr Speaker, on a lighter note, allow me to remind Hon. Lucky Mulusa, the Minister of National Development and Planning, of the incident when he cried when he visited Ngabwe District after seeing the level of underdevelopment.

Laughter

Mr Chiyalika: With the determination that the PF Government, led by His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has, I know that it will deliver the much-desired development in Ngabwe District. There are so many areas that require urgent attention, but I thought that I should bring these few to the House.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, I thank the Almighty God for gathering us this beautiful Tuesday afternoon in our nation’s capital on this famous hill. We gather from all parts of our great country as per the will of our people. Without doubt, this is a defining moment for our Republic. Our country has met a moment when we gather to set right priorities for our generation and generations to come.

Sir, the right path is that of unity, peace and economic development. This is what our freedom fighters fought for, giving up their youth to fight for our Independence. Today, Zambia stands tall in the Commonwealth of Nations because of the service of our forefathers. Through the years, our countrymen and women have worked hard to build on that service. True to the “One Zambia, One Nation” Motto, we, as a people, have fought division, violence, tribalism and hate. By fighting these vices, Zambia has become a beacon of peace in the region, continent and world at large.

Mr Speaker, we should guard jealously the gains we have made and at no time allow this country to degenerate, not even a bit, into anarchy for the lessons from the region and the world are numerous. I, therefore, urge hon. Members to get to work and ensure that our generation and those to come get the simple truth that we, in Zambia, are united. We are ‘One Zambia One Nation’.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Malama: Without doubt, Zambia has no option, but to pursue the path of peace. If this generation is to remember one thing of our founding fathers, it is the “One Zambia, One Nation” Motto. The simple truth is that there should be no excuse. Uncompromised integrity will better our nation. Uncompromised integrity in the Public Service and political world will foster economic development and unify our country.

Mr Speaker, this being my maiden speech, allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on his re-election as our sixth Republican President.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Malama: Elections are now over. Let us now focus on what is important for our people − economic development. Focusing on settling scores is detrimental and not a priority for our people.

Mr Speaker, I stood on the Floor of this House and swore to protect and defend the Constitution and pay allegiance to our President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and so did all of us in here. It is time to move on. Let us reflect on the significance of the oath which is sacred before God and men. No one should take it lightly. Standing on the legendary Floor of this august House whose foundation was constructed with stones and sand from each part of our great nation makes it solemn. This is the part of the collective wisdom of all our people who made this august House in a solemn manner and introduced decorum for this House in an effort to ensure that we prioritise nationhood beyond partisan issues.

Mr Speaker, allow me to congratulate Her Honour, Mama Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on her election as Vice-President of this Republic of Zambia.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Malama: Her victory gives confidence to my two daughters, Yande and Meebelo. Our Zambian girls can grow up knowing that in Zambia, one can be whatever they aspire to be based on their character and hard work irrespective of where they come from.

Mr Mwale: Zoona.

Dr Malama: They also learn that caring for widows and orphans and those less privileged is as the Scriptures teach, lending to God who repays in His time.

Mr Ngulube: Amen.

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, may I congratulate you and your two hon. Deputy Speakers. Allow me to congratulate the Minister of Defence who, not long ago, was our party’s Secretary-General, Hon. Davies Chama, on his nomination to this House.

Mr Speaker, may I congratulate the hon. Members, especially the women and the youth.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Malama: The majority of Zambians are female and youth, hence we look forward to a greater representation of women and youth in public life and also in this House. The number of females in public office in comparison with the population ratios is of concern. Therefore, we should encourage more deserving women and youths to participate and occupy elective office positions.

Mr Speaker, let me thank my family, my mother, Mrs Margret Malama, and my father, Mr Fwampson Malama, for the unwavering support.

Sir, speaking of “One Zambia, One Nation,” let me thank the one licolocolo mboni ya siloko,

Interruptions

Dr Malama: … my beautiful wife, Mrs Njekwa Malama, for being the spice of my life and in every way possible making me a better citizen.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, special thanks go to my three children Bupe, Yande and Meebelo. Thanks go to my brother, Mr Amos Malama, and all my brothers and sisters and all friends and supporters, my church leadership and members, Bishop and Mrs Banda and my brother, Bishop David and Joyce Nama. Special thanks to Their Royal Highness of Kanchibiya Constituency. His Royal Highness Senior Chief Kopa, Chief Kabinga, Chief Mpepo, Chief Luchembe and Chief Chiundaponde, their sub chiefs and all the headmen.

Mr Speaker, allow me to thank my campaign manager and agent, Mr Stanslaus Yombwe, and election agent, Mr Clifford Kombo. My gratitude goes to my campaign team. Special thanks go to all members of the Central Committee of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF). The Muchinga Provincial Committee, Mpika District Committee, Kanchibiya Constituency Committee, all the ten wards and branch officials of Kanchibiya.

Sir, Kanchibiya is a land of limitless opportunities inhabited by phenomenally peace-loving people. I thank them for having voted for all the candidates who stood on the PF Party ticket. Kanchibiya is endowed with a land of great biodiversity. A land of the Miombo and on the Western side, the Bangweulu Swamps. The Bangweulu Wetlands are known for the endemic black lechwe, the tsessebe, reedbuck, sitatunga, elephant, buffalo and hippos. It is also a breeding ground for shoebill.

Mr Speaker, Kanchibiya is in Mpika District. Mpika District is the largest district in the Republic of Zambia. Let us bear in mind that Mpika has lagged behind in development generally due to its size, at 40,935 km2. It is larger than the entire Copperbelt Province at 31,323 km2; and it is double the size of Lusaka Province at that is 21,896 km2. I also note that Kanchibiya Constituency itself is larger in size than a third of all the 195 countries of the world. Contrast that with the fact that such a large constituency in Zambia has no hospital, post office, bank, police station and no university. Up until the PF Government came into power, there was no secondary school.

Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the Government for allocating Kanchibiya three of the 650 health posts, namely Mwelushi in Chiundaponde Chiefdom; Mulonga in Luchembe Chiefdom; and Munkunta in Kabinga Chiefdom. Nothing was allocated to Senior Chief Kopa’s Chiefdom and Chief Mpepo’s Chiefdom. None of these health posts have been built. Therefore, may I urge the Government to prioritise matters of health with the people in Kanchibiya and build and operationalise these health centres.

Mr Speaker, allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on appointing the hon. Members of Parliament into his Cabinet, and since I am talking about matters of Health, also for appointing Hon. Dr Chitalu Chilufya as Minister of Health. We urge the Government, especially the hon. Minister mentioned, to make serious considerations on issues such as distances covered to procure health services. They are long and more often than not, there are untrained staff, that is, classified daily employees (CDEs) are found attending to patients; a thing that ought not to happen. I urge supervisors on the ground to interpret the good intention of the Government and avoid such occurrences, especially in rural areas. When a retired miner, who was exposed to fine silica or asbestos at work, seeks medical attention from a CDE, how is he/she supposed to diagnose pneumoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis ...

Laughter

Mr Ngulube: Basopo!

Dr Malama: … or from mesiothelioma?

Mr Daka: Dr Malama.

Dr Malama: They will just say it is witchcraft.

Interruptions

Mr Ngulube: Ema doctors.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, the people of Kanchibiya have challenges. They would like their Government to attend to them in good time, possibly without delay. Construction of bridges at crossing points has made villages across the river inaccessible by road. During the rainy season, like now, the crossing points become death traps, especially for school going children.

Sir, on the Kanchibiya River at the Kaonda Crossing Point, the following big villages are inaccessible by road:

(a) Mwansabamba;

(b) Chitambala;

(c) Mwabakunda;

(d) Chopanama;
 
(e) Twanki;

(f) Tuku;

(g) Mumbi Mukulu;

(h) Santimu;

(i) Miseselo;

(j) Malama Mwila;

(k) Fitalilo;

(l) Kuchunga;

(m) Kapombo;

(n) Chilando; and

(o) Lumbatwa.

Sir, like I mentioned, Kanchibiya is a vast constituency, which is as big as three constituencies in one. Therefore, we are talking about an area this vast being cut off from the rest of the country as it is not accessible by road. 

Mr Speaker, in Chief Luchembe’s Chiefdom, there are two wards, that is, Chibwa and Lubaleshi wards. The two wards are delinked because there is no bridge at the crossing point of Chiboo and Aluni. The absence of a bridge has made the transportation of goods and services by our people difficult. Our people would like to request our listening Government to construct bridges at the mentioned points. Other crossing points which require bridges include Kapilya in Chief Chiundaponde, Mukunta in Chief Kabinga, Chibwa Village in Chief Luchembe, Macheleta Village in Chief Kopa/Kabinga’s area and on Lubaleshi River for  Chikakala Village in Chief Luchembe Chiefdom.

Mr Speaker, other challenges include poor or no coverage of mobile phone network and poor or no television and radio signal, particularly for our national broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

Sir, the elderly people miss out, especially on the Social Cash Transfer Programme because it has not yet been extended to the constituency, which is a source of concern.

Mr Speaker, other challenges include:

(a) a lack of sponsorship for women clubs;

(b) a lack of support for youth sporting clubs particularly, football for both men and women teams; and

(c)  a lack of skills development centres for youths at chiefdom level.

Mr Speaker, our people are predominantly peasant farmers. The presence of agriculture extension officers in the areas proximal to their villages would improve the yield of their produce as they would have access to better farming methods and implements. The challenge amongst farmers today is non-payment for the produce they sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the last farming season. Further, transporters in the area are yet to be paid for the transportation services they rendered to the FRA.

Sir, in conclusion, may I thank God for the peace our country is enjoying. My appeal is that we should not take peace for granted. Always be constantly reminded that ours is a Christian nation and, therefore, the fear of God is a source of wisdom and should be with us.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

May God grant our people at home and abroad favour, prosperity, unity and peace.

God bless the Republic of Zambia.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Quality!

Mr Speaker: Order!

 We will proceed as …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: I am sorry. I thought he had concluded, but you can continue.

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, let me now turn to the His Excellency the President’s Speech.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President mentioned democracy, good governance and the fight against corruption.

 Sir, may I urge His Excellency the President to seriously take the fight against corruption to the next level because corruption is like cancer that holds back the development of our country.

Mr Speaker, when we talk about good governance and democracy, it is not just the responsibility of the Ruling Party, but also for the Opposition, Independents, the press and, indeed, the general citizenry. Unfortunately, I note that corruption is rampant in our country.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 Dr Malama: Sir, it is, therefore, important that we seriously do something about it, otherwise, we may be passing a cancer onto future generations. This is a bipartisan issue and it calls for collective action.

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere (Lumezi): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for according me this opportunity to debate. I will start by presenting my maiden speech.

Sir, I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to you for giving me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech in this august House.

Mr Speaker, at this moment, I feel it is important for me to thank God for his mercies, which enabled me to be voted in as a Member of Parliament for Lumezi Constituency.

Sir, before I venture into my speech, I wish to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on his re-election as Republican President together with Her Honour the Republican Vice-President, Hon. Inonge Mutukwa Wina, whom I campaigned for vigorously.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere: Mr Speaker, it is with a deep sense of humility and gratitude that I would like to thank the wonderful people of Lumezi Constituency for not only giving me the vote, but also entrusting me with this grand responsibility of being their representative so that as a people, they can also get a fair share of the national cake.

Sir, let me also take this opportunity to thank all the chiefs in my constituency, my campaign team, my family, friends, all churches and all well-wishers for their invaluable, unwavering and unrelenting moral, spiritual and material support rendered to me during the campaign period.

Mr Speaker, I would be failing in my duties if I did not extend my special thanks to my predecessor, Hon. Isaac Kafulamuchenga Banda, for his contribution to the constituency during his tenure of office.

Hon Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere: In the same vein, I wish to advise my predecessor and other candidates that I contested with that time for politics is over. All we need to do is to move on in the best interest of the people of Lumezi Constituency.

Sir, in thanking the people of Lumezi Constituency on the mandate given to me, I am hereby pledging and assuring them that I shall effectively, courageously and fearlessly execute my duties with due diligence and integrity.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere: Mr Speaker, the House is aware that it is often not easy for a woman to win an election on an independent ticket.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere: It is, therefore, from this great achievement that I derive my profound joy and pride that I emerged victorious in such a competitive election.

Sir, I would like to put it on record that as one of the individuals that campaigned for His Excellency the Republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, I pledge to support him and his Government …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere: … so that this country can move to greater heights and prosper.

Mr Speaker, I wish to pledge to closely work with the people of Lumezi Constituency in implementing their decisions and ensuring that all the developmental programmes that had been started by the Government are completed and that they also benefit from them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere: Sir, the people of Lumezi Constituency are fully aware that his Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is focused on ensuring that development is taken closer to the people with a view to alleviate poverty. This is evidenced by a number of developmental projects that his Government is and has been undertaking in the constituency and these are as follows:

(a) Education

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank His Excellency the President and his Government for upgrading four basic schools into day secondary schools and these are Mwanya, Kazembe Mwasemphangwe and Chikomeni. The constituency will, however, need more day secondary and primary schools to enable more learners to access secondary and primary education in the constituency.

Sir, I would like to implore this listening Government and the able hon. Minister of General Education …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mrs P. G. M. Jere: … to construct more teachers’ houses to ease accommodation challenges that our teachers are facing in the constituency.

(b) Health

Mr Speaker, a total of six health posts have been constructed in my constituency. We shall, however, need more to be constructed in various areas so as to reduce the distance that people have to cover to access health services.

Sir, I would like to implore the able hon. Minister of Health to quickly consider upgrading some rural health centres, more so, those that are in the valley in order to meet the growing demand for health services for the people in the said areas.

Mr Speaker, Mwanya, Chitungulu and Kazembe Rural Health centres, which are in the valley, are located in three distinct areas. These centres each need an ambulance as opposed to the current arrangment where only one ambulance is servicing all the three. I am sad to inform the House that people lose lives …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Just a moment, hon. Member. There is too much conversing. 

Mrs Jere: Okay.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Just hold on.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Those of you who want to converse, please, the doors are open. I would like to follow the debate. So, if you feel pressed to converse with your colleagues, the doors are open.

You may continue, hon. Member for Lumezi.

Mrs Jere: … in the process of being transported from the said rural centres to Lundazi District Hospital, which is very far.

Mr Speaker, the people of Lumezi highly depend on agricultural activities for their livelihood. In this vein, I want to thank the Government for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), especially on the plateau, even though the situation in the valley where people mainly grow rice and cotton is different. I implore the able hon. Minister of Agriculture to ensure that farmers get a fair share of inputs …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mrs Jere: …and seed if production is to improve. More often than not, farmers have cried foul. Instead of receiving a full pack of inputs, they sometimes receive half the quantity.

Mr Speaker, farmers in the valley need to be treated differently. Since the only crops grown in the area are cotton and rice, they need special education and support in order for them to increase production. This would boost their income and, thereby reduce the poverty levels in the area.

Mr Speaker, while some roads have been worked on, a lot more needs attention. In the valley, the constituency has four major roads that need serious attention. These roads include Lundazi/Mwanya, Lundazi/Chitungulu, Lundazi/Kazembe and Chipata/Nabwalya via Chisengu in Mambwe District and Mwanya.

Sir, the valley part of Lumezi Constituency harbours two popular national parks, namely Luambe and South Luangwa. The national parks are constantly visited by tourists from different parts of the world, hence opening up a good road network would go a long way in boosting tourism activities and trade in rice and mangoes.

Mr Speaker, this does not mean that there are no poor roads on the plateau part of my constituency. In general, the plateau has not less than eight feeder roads that seriously need attention in the next five years. Some of the roads I am referring to are Katube, Chamkoma, Sixteen-Sixteen, Kasinde, Kabelu and Ng’mbungambu. I wish to implore our listening President and his able hon. Minister of Works and Supply …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mrs Jere: … to quickly consider the plight of the people of Lumezi. The improvement of these roads will definitely reduce the number of accidents that occur when people travel to and from homes.

Mr Speaker, a number of boreholes in the constituency have been drilled mostly by co-operating partners. I am grateful to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding the Schools Promoting Learning Achievement through Sanitation and Hygiene (SPLASH) Project, which has done a good job in schools, especially in my constituency. However, we need more boreholes to be sunk. Despite these efforts, the constituency still faces a critical shortage of water points and reservoirs in the form of dams. As the situation stands, Lumezi Constituency only has one small dam, which is located in Chief Chikomeni’s area. The construction of more dams will definitely go a long way in alleviating water shortages for the people in the constituency. Further, domestic animals such as cattle also stand to benefit. Weir dams can also improve irrigation activities in the constituency.

Mr Speaker, it is gratifying to note that telecommunication masts have been mounted and are functioning in almost all the chiefdoms, including the three in the valley. The only challenge is that they can only communicate between 2000 hours and 0600 hours. Therefore, there is a need for the Government to upgrade the existing telecommunication infrastructure to enable the people to communicate effectively.

Mr Speaker, women and youth empowerment is one critical area that I would like to focus on. I am aware that the Government has developed and is implementing various women and youth empowerment programmes in a quest to reduce poverty levels in the nation. I am, therefore, looking forward to working closely with hon. Ministers responsible for women and youth affairs.

Mr Speaker, while a number of women and youth in my constituency have access to facilities such as FISP, it is my hope and prayer that, this year, more women and youth will participate in FISP and other economic empowerment programmes, especially when funds are released by the Government. The only hindrance I foresee to this gesture is the bureaucracy associated with this process. My appeal to the Government is that it helps more women and youth to access empowerment funds by ensuring that the process is free from red tape.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, for the planned connection of power from Chipata to Lumezi which will, in turn, connect all the three chiefs’ palaces to the national grid. The three chiefs include Chieftainess Mwasemphangwe, Chief Chikomeni and Chief Zumwanda. I implore this Government to extend this courtesy to Chiefs Mwanya, Chitungulu and Kazembe in the valley.

In conclusion, I would like to thank all hon. Members for the attention. I have no doubt that His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who is sometimes referred to as ‘Mr Walk the Talk’,  …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mrs Jere: … and his able hon. Ministers will do their best and act on the plight of the people of Lumezi.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Jere: Mr Speaker, I now want to turn to the President’s Speech, which was presented on 30th September, 2016. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your Deputies on being elected to oversee the deliberations of this august House for the next five years.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Jere: Mr Speaker, I equally take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President for a well-thought out and brilliant speech to this wonderful nation. I must confess that the message contained in the speech does not only give hope to the Zambian people, but also gives direction to what Zambia will be in five and many more years to come. It should, however, be noted that we cannot achieve the pronouncements made in His Excellency’s Speech if there is no unity and dedication to this noble cause by all of us.

Mr Speaker, the theme of the President’s Speech is compelling to any well-meaning Zambian.

Mr Livune: Question!

Mrs Jere: This means that all of us working together is better than each of us working individually. In his speech, His Excellency referred to different, but very critical sectors of the economy. All that is needed is for us to work together and for the concerned ministries to devise strategies that will eliminate duplication of activities at implementation level.

Mr Speaker, in his magnanimous speech, His Excellency the President puts a lot of emphasis on agriculture and industrialisation. It is true that there are more farmers on FISP now than ever before, yet production levels still remain low. I implore the able hon. Minister of Agriculture and her technocrats to devise viable strategies that will ensure that farmers produce more and get the most out of their hard work. The hon. Minister of Agriculture and her technocrats can put in place mechanisms that should compel small-scale farmers to form co-operatives. In the meantime, the ministry should begin to empower and strengthen the already existing co-operatives so that others can emulate.

Mr Speaker, in the past, and possibly now, some committees responsible for co-operatives have been found wanting.  In such cases, I advise that punitive action be meted out on culprits. This will inculcate a sense of responsibility on the part of the committees and in the long-term more small- scale farmers will form co-operatives.

Mr Speaker, as leaders sharing on issues that have emerged from His Excellency’s Speech, we need to consider and take into account the other segment of the population that lives in areas where agricultural activities may not be aggressively undertaken due to certain factors such as human-animal conflict and floods. To ensure inclusiveness, we need to critically look at these things and help them to grow, to develop and to flourish within what is manageable to them. For example, people in the valley may find it difficult to grow maize, but are able to grow rice and cotton. It is in such situations under which the hon. Minister of Agriculture, working together with the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, the Ministry of Works and Supply, the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Communication and Transport and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry can devise achievable strategies that will promote the growing of cotton and rice to benefit farmers in the area.

Mr Chiteme: Quality!

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Jere: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank His Excellency for empathising with hundreds if not millions of youths who have not been able to secure employment in our country. If we are to overcome this vice, there is a need to create jobs through diversification and industrialisation. Using the multi-sectoral approach to development, Zambia should devise a clear, robust and pragmatic policy which can bring about achievable outcomes. For example, in agriculture, industries can be developed through investors, both local and international, to process different types of crops into finished products. Such types of ventures can absorb a good proportion of the youth population in our communities. With the new minimum wage policy that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has introduced, more youths stand to benefit and earn a little money for their livelihood.

Sir, last, but not the least, I would like to once again, thank His Excellency for coming out strongly against corruption in his quest to fight it in the nation. As a country, we should not allow corruption and other related vices to hinder development. We need to combat corruption in both the Public Service and private sector before dealing with the general public. As patriotic nationals, it is our duty to ensure that corruption cases are reported where they manifest. Corruption and other related vices cannot be tackled if the law enforcement agencies themselves are found wanting. In instances where corruption cases have been reported through the departments concerned, no results have been yielded. More often than not, such cases die a natural death. It is in this regard that I would like to implore the able hon. Minister of Home Affairs, all ministries and all of us to take keen interest in this and ensure that this scourge is reduced. There is also a great need for the concerned ministries to devise programmes that will continually help to educate and sensitise officers responsible for dealing with corruption.

Mr Speaker, I would love to say much more, but let me, once again, just thank you and all the hon. Members of the House for the attention given to me. Thank you and God bless us all.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mecha (Chifunabuli): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech.

Sir, firstly, allow me to add my voice to the many hon. Members who have spoken before me and congratulated you and your two Deputy Speakers on your election to guide the affairs of this House. Allow me also, to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, his Vice, Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina, and the hon. Members of this House on their victory during the just-ended elections.

Mr Speaker, today, I rise in this Chamber, for the first time, as a representative of the people of Chifunabuli. I wish to place on record, from the outset, my gratitude to the Patriotic Front (PF) party for adopting me as their parliamentary candidate and supporting me to win the seat. I also thank the people of Chifunabuli for their trust and for choosing me to be their representative. My promise to them is to always live to honour their trust and work hard to address their many needs. I will also work on uniting the people of Chifunabuli irrespective of their political affiliation.

Sir, during my campaigns in Chifunabuli, I promised the people that my focus for accelerated economic development as drivers for sustainable wealth creation shall be on agriculture, fisheries and livestock as drivers. During the same period, I also promised the people that my focus for accelerated social development would be on health, education, women and youth groups. The message that came to me from the people of Chifunabuli even before the elections was very clear. They said, “Ponde, we are going to give you our votes, but please, ensure that the Government considers our plight in terms of road infrastructure development, which is the anchor for socio-economic development in our area.” They continued, “Please, never be complacent about this issue as this is the only reason no single hon. Member of Parliament in the area has ever succeeded in being re-elected consecutively since the introduction of multi-partism in 1991.”

Mr Speaker, thanks to the working Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Chagwa Lungu, the works on the main road, which is from Musaila to Kasaba have resumed this month. My election to the office of Member of Parliament was punctuated by a calamity that befell Lubwe Secondary School when fire ran through their main store room and gutted all the mattresses, including pupils’ belongings. This happened just when schools opened. Again, I would like to thank the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for speedily coming in to resolve this issue. I have been in talks with the Ministry of General Education and the procurement process for mattresses will be concluded before the close of this week.

Sir, for the sake of those who do not know Chifunabuli Constituency, it is a rural constituency located in Samfya District of Luapula Province. It has five chiefdoms, including Senior Chief Mwewa, Chief Mwansa Kombe, Chief Chitembo and the two chiefs on the islands of Chishi and Mbabala. The constituency has eleven wards.

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this House that on 29th October, 2016, the constituency will have an annual traditional event, the Kwanga Ceremony, and I would like everyone here to attend and contribute handsomely towards it.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mecha: Sir, talking about the socio-economic situation in my constituency, I would like this House to learn that my constituency has more than 80,000 people, the majority of whom are female farmers and fishermen. The constituency has enormous arable land and water bodies. However, currently, most of these water bodies are barren, there is no fish in them due to illegal or bad good fishing methods.

Mr Speaker, Chifunabuli Constituency is characterised by various challenges. These challenges include poor road infrastructure, deforestation, depleted fish stocks, poor access to agricultural inputs, poor access to credit facilities, poor access to health facilities, poor school infrastructure, coupled with inadequate staffing, high youth unemployment, poor access to food processing facilities, poor storage facilities and poor agriculture, fisheries and forestry extension services. We also have a problem of poor cellular phone network coverage.

Mr Speaker, allow me to pay tribute to my parents in the form of a short story.

Mr Ngulube: Story time!

Mr Mecha: People need to understand my background in order to appreciate the vision of success which His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia has.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mecha: Sir, I was born forty-eight years ago. My father was a teacher and my mother an entrepreneur. I had the opportunity to do my primary education under my father who was a head teacher at the time. One inspiring thing about my father was that he was consistent in pushing to diversify income sources for the school he was heading. He used methods such as user fees and Government grants to agriculture production under the school production unit initiative in order to raise income.

Mr Speaker, during that period, as there were no issues of child labour in the country, my father used primary school pupils from grade one to grade four, including me, in order to produce various crops for the school. Some of the crops included an orchard for guavas, sunflower and rice. However, because of the maize-centric policies of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government, my father had difficulties selling rice. The UNIP Government focused more on buying maize and I could understand my father’s frustration at the then Government’s failure to promote any other value chains.

Sir, my father involved me heavily in the enterprises that he introduced and this is what motivated my interest in agriculture. A critical moment in my career came when I had to make a choice in 1987 between pursuing a career in agriculture or education. My father and I had a huge debate because he was frustrated with the poor marketing arrangements for crops other than maize. He was of the opinion that there was no job security in the agriculture sector so his inclination was towards education. However, with the support of my mother, we convinced him and he gave in. This is how I am here today as an accomplished agriculturalist.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mecha: Mr Speaker, I have worked in the Government for many years. In fact, I was the first and youngest District Agricultural Co-ordinator when the position was just introduced. I have worked for the biggest international non-governmental organisations (NGO)s ...

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, ...

Laughter

Mr Speaker: ... one of the rules of debate is to not debate oneself. I thought you would quickly shift away, but now you have made yourself the subject of debate. The rules of debate do not permit that.

Mr Mecha: Much obliged, Mr Speaker.

Sir, you may be wondering what the moral of this short story about my parents is. The lesson is that the best path to prosperity involves giving one another enough latitude, opportunity and guidance to achieve personal goals or visions, which my father gave me. If my father had failed to do this for me, I would not stand in this Chamber today. I thank both my father and mother for this.

Mr Ngulube: Eh ma MP aya.

Mr Mecha: Such is an opportunity that His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, deserves if he is to successfully achieve his vision during his tenure of office, 2016 to 2021.

Mr Speaker, I now wish to add my comments on the President’s Address to the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly delivered on 30th September, 2016, which was not only progressive, but also mind stimulating.

Sir, people that are anti-Government think that His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is the only one charged with the responsibility of solving Zambia’s economic problems. I do not agree with this because he cannot know what is best for Chifunabuli Constituency or any other constituency. The combined efforts of the 164 hon. Members of Parliament in this House in resolving Zambia’s economic issues will always yield better results than those of a single individual. I will personally undertake to walk alongside His Excellency the President as he endeavours to deliver the PF 2016 campaign promises to the people of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, allow me to specifically acknowledge His Excellency the President’s personal interest in developing agriculture as the anchor for wealth and job creation as well as economic development through the value chain approach. As a Member of this House, I wish to do what I can to help His Excellency the President achieve these objectives. In this regard, the theme of my presentation is “Walking along the President of the Republic of Zambia as He Walks the Talk.”

Sir, our President would like to see us move the economy from its current heavy dependence on copper to one based on agriculture, livestock and fisheries and their entire value chain. He has placed high priority on industrialising the economy to create more jobs and wealth for our people. In this regard, he is urging all of us to rise to the challenge to create enough wealth for the Zambians to share. Essentially, His Excellency the President is telling us that the onus is on us, as hon. Members of Parliament, to localise wealth and job creation in our respective constituencies.

Mr Speaker, I will not be one of the people who will ask His Excellency the President to demonstrate or explain the feasibility of achieving his targeted 1 million jobs. I see myself as part of the group of patriotic hon. Members of Parliament committed to engaging in facilitating a transformative culture for the purpose of enhancing local economies.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Eh ma MP.

Mr Mecha: Mr Speaker, I now wish to demonstrate to this House how my constituency and I will contribute to the achievement of the broad macro-economic objectives which His Excelency the President of the Republic of Zambia and this administration will endeavour to achieve in the next five years, including achieving a double digit gross domestic product (GDP), single digit inflation rate and increasing and broadening domestic revenue collection.

Sir, my contribution towards wealth and job creation will leverage the Government’s resolve to localise resources, access inputs and credit as well as processing markets and storage facilities.

Sir, basically, His Excellency the President is talking about the value chain approach, which he is going to employ in order to realise his vision of success. My contribution as a Member of Parliament is to ignite a process where we can create wealth and jobs in our constituencies. We need to begin from the input supply point of view. If you look at Chifunabuli, you will find that there are no agro-dealers there. If they are selling inputs to agricultural community, they are doing it illegally because agro-dealership is supposed to be registered or licensed. At the moment, there is no single agro-dealer and this is going to be my focus. If I am going to excite timely access to inputs and at an affordable price by small holder farmers, I need to have entrepreneurs within the constituency. It is actually my mandate to ensure that I work closely with the private sector. I should bring it on board so that it works with entrepreneurs that we are going to identify, probably on the basis of supply contracts.

Mr Speaker, I am targeting one entrepreneur to deal in input supply per ward. This translates into eleven created jobs, probably, in the first year. If you multiply that by five years, it may go up to fifty created jobs, basically on agro-input supply. This will also help us increase productivity because inputs will be available. Immediately we improve productivity, we are going to improve the overall production in the area. When we begin increasing productivity and production in the area, we know what it means. That output will require that we have a structured marketing system, a system that will serve a win-win situation for the people who are producing and also the people who are buying the produce. In this regard, I wish to develop jobs for aggregators. These are community members who will be willing to aggregate the increased production.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Mecha: Mr Speaker, there are so many things that I am going to do along the value chain and wealth and job creation is my trademark.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Ema speech aya!

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Mr Speaker, I wish to sincerely congratulate His Excellency, the legitimately elected President of the Republic of Zambia, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukosa: … Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, ON their well-deserved victory in the 11th August, 2016 Elections.

Mr Speaker, allow me to congratulate you on your re-election as Speaker of the National Assembly. I also wish to congratulate the First and Second Deputy Speakers. I further wish to congratulate all the nominated and elected hon. Members of Parliament of this House. Allow me to express my profound gratitude to His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and the entire leadership of the Patriotic Front (PF) Party for my adoption and the support that it gave me during the campaign. In a democratic country, there is no greater honour for a person than to be elected as a representative of a constituency in Parliament. I, therefore, wish to thank God the Almighty for blessing me with this leadership role.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to thank the people of Chinsali Central for giving me the honour of representing them in Parliament. For those who voted for me, I know my efforts over the next five years will reward their faith. For those who chose otherwise, I will work to earn their support. Overall, I am here to serve all the residents of Chinsali.

Sir, I would also like to thank my family, business partner and all my friends for their support in the lead up to and during the campaign. They endured without complaints the long absences and dramatic emotions that a campaign inevitably brings about. My campaign would not have been successful without the support of the Chinsali Development Foundation (CDF) and my campaign team that put their hearts and souls in it. They worked day and night to ensure and secure the victory of my campaign. To all my foot soldiers and residents of Chinsali that helped me, I say, “Thank you. I would never have done this without you.”

Mr Speaker, before I go further, I wish to acknowledge the enormous contribution that my predecessor, Hon. Christopher Mulenga, and the previous hon. Members made towards the development of Chinsali to bring it to the position where it currently is. Entering this Chamber as a Member of Parliament for the first time, I am humbled to have been entrusted with the responsibility of developing Chinsali. I am quite aware that holistic development is required in my constituency. My mandate is to deliver practical services to the people to meet their developmental aspirations. I want to prove to my fellow youths that, we, the young people, are also capable of taking up leadership roles. Of course, it is a huge responsibility to accomplish. However, this huge task cannot be done by me alone, but by utilising the policy of unity and inclusiveness at all levels of the developmental chain.

Sir, during my campaign, I was able to take stock of what people wanted done for them to satisfy their developmental needs. As for my developmental priorities which are in line with the wishes of the people, I shall embark on the following:
(a) Declaration of the Mulilansola/Chilinda Area as a District
Mr Speaker, during the campaign, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu hinted that he would consider declaring the Mulilansolo/Chilinda area as a district. I commit myself to be reminding our able President, Mr Walk the Talk so that this promise to the great people of Chinsali can be fulfilled;
(b) Create Employment through Agriculture
Mr Speaker, I believe the people of Chinsali want a leader who respects and protects human rights. They expect their leader to promote an economically progressive agenda. They also demand an efficient leader that effectively plans and manages a constituency. In me, they have that leader, a leader who will take Chinsali to greater economic heights. One of the biggest challenges Chinsali is currently facing is high demand for employment amongst the youths. The solution to this crisis does not lie outside Chinsali. It can be found within the constituency itself. I will create meaningful opportunities and employment by way of introducing and implementing agri-business. With my business skills in areas such as marketing and finance, I am confident that I will turn my constituency into one of the biggest agri-business centres in this country. A lot of people in Chinsali depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Unfortunately, agriculture is not done on a commercial scale and crop farming is a leading system of farming in Chinsali. Henceforth, I will develop the agri-business by:

(i)     exploring the possibilities of year round crop farming as opposed to the custom of seasonal crop farming;

(ii)     promoting acquaculture farming and growing of timber;

(iii) promoting rice growing and improve factory farming; and

(iv) promoting the growing of other crops such as cassava, soya beans and groundnuts, among others, that require minimal or no farming inputs.

Sir, this sector will be open to all residents of Chinsali, especially women and youths, whom I will ensure are involved in the process, starting from production up to the end, as opposed to them only being involved in the selling;  
(c) Women Empowerment
Mr Speaker, according to the 2015 Baseline Survey on women’s Access to Agriculture Land in Zambia, it was found that women constitute the majority of people living in rural areas. They provide approximately over 70 per cent of all agricultural labour required, especially in food production. Thus, the majority of agricultural households based in rural areas, including women, depend on land for their livelihoods. The most important resource for rural women is land. Women play a critical role in contributing to agriculture in this country;

(d) Rural Development and Food Security
Sir, in order to truly empower women, I will ensure that they are given priority in accessing ownership and control over land. I will also protect their rights to land and other natural resources. Under my leadership, there will be zero-gender inequality in accessing land;
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukosa:

(e) Water and Sanitation

Mr Speaker, after the declaration of Chinsali as a provincial headquarter of Muchinga Province, we have witnessed an increase in population. This has, in turn, worsened the water supply in that area. Currently, there is high consumption of water in the township. I would, therefore, like to assure the people of Chinsali to remain calm as this will soon be a thing of the past because the PF Government is currently undertaking a water reticulation project, which has, so far, made tremendous progress.
I shall continuously follow up on this project to ensure that it is completed within the shortest period of time. For areas that are far from the Boma, we shall consider sinking boreholes so that our people can, at least, drink clean water.

Mr Speaker, I shall monitor the construction of township roads and the Chinsali/Mulilansolo Road to ensure that the contractors who have been given this project perform.

Sir, I will lobby for help from the Government so that we can work on the Mbesuma Pontoon to Kafwimbi in Isoka Road, Lubwa to Nashinga Road, Mwalule Road, Chambeshi Road and Kalela/Chunga Road. If these roads are worked on, it will be easier to transport farm produce to markets.

Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has given Chansali two universities, namely Robert Kapasa Makasa and Paul Mushindo. However, only the Robert Kapasa Makasa University has been completed. The construction of the Paul Mushindo University is still in an infant stage. I will, therefore, continuously monitor the construction of the aforesaid project.

Sir, I shall also ensure that we work towards rehabilitating dilapidated schools and building new classroom blocks where necessary so that when the children of the people of Chinsali grow up, they should represent us well even in Parliament and not fail to pronounce simple words like “economic” and pronounce them as “enconomic”.

Laughter

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, from the 650 health centres, Chinsali was given six. Out of these, only Nkweto and Musanya are operational. In Shimwalule, it is at slab level. No work has been done, so far, at the other ones at Kalisha, Cheswa and Shilunda. My role will be to follow up on these remaining health centres so that they can be completed as well.

The other areas I want to ensure get clinics during my term of office are Kamanachili in Chambeshi Ward and Chandamali in Ichinga Ward. I also intend to add a maternity ward to the clinic that has been built in Kalela Village.

Mr Speaker, in order to develop my constituency, unity must be paramount. In this vein, I will ensure that the people of Chinsali, regardless of their political, religious or tribal affiliation, unite and work together for the common good of developing the constituency because it is only when we work together that we can achieve all the plans that have been laid out.

Sir, in conclusion, I will remain grateful to the electorate of Chinsali for trusting and believing in me.

I, hereby, stand as Member of Parliament for Chinsali pledging my full support and effort in ensuring that our Government leaves unprecedented development in Chinsali. My prayer is that my efforts here will develop the constituency and ensure that I better the lives of the people of Chinsali, especially the women and youth.

Mr Speaker, I now wish to add my voice to the debate on the President’s Speech.

Sir, the people of Chinsali and I are happy with the speech that His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, gave because it tackled a lot of important areas that affect every citizen of Zambia, especially the poor.

Mr Speaker, in his speech, His Excellency the President highlighted agriculture to be the major priority of our economic diversification agenda. For us in Chinsali with vast land that can be used for agriculture, we will stand to benefit.

Mr Speaker, in paragraph 28 of his speech, His Excellency the President talked about attracting investment in farm mechanisation and introducing science and technology to stimulate production. This will definitely help farmers increase production volumes.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President’s initiative of his Administration encouraging the development of fisheries value chain should be supported by all well-meaning citizens. For us in Chinsali, fish has been depleted in the Chambeshi, Nashinga and Lubu rivers. Therefore, if fish farming was implemented in Chinsali, it would not just provide income for the locals, but also contribute to national food security.

Mr Speaker, in paragraph 40 of his speech, His Excellency the President indicated that, in the next five years, State-owned enterprises will be listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LUSE) so as to ensure broader economic empowerment. This is commendable because it is an opportunity for the youth, the people of Chinsali inclusive, to buy shares in reputable companies.

Mr Speaker, I also support the target of creating one million jobs. Allow me to share a quote by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf:

 “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukosa: For those who doubt, the creation of one million jobs is possible and achievable. In paragraph 71, His Excellency the President stated that the Government has developed a Film Policy and his administration will promote the production and use of local content in the film industry. This will create employment for many citizens in the private sector, especially the youth.

Sir, His Excellency the President announced that the Government has made good progress with nuclear energy partners. This has given us hope that the unavoidable, but disruptive load shedding that we have been experiencing will come to an end.

Mr Speaker, being a businessperson, I have observed that some of the problems that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face include challenges in obtaining licences and limited access to finance. Our able President has provided solutions to these challenges because he said that the Government will promote the use of efficient systems of licensing and regulation. He further said that the Government will expedite the implementation of the Movable Property (Security Interest) Act No. 13 of 2016 and the Agriculture Credit Act No. 35 of 2010 which will allow SMEs to use equipment, inventory, agriculture produce and other personal property as collateral for accessing finance. What a wonderful thing.

Hon. PF Members: Quality!

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, I wish to commend His Excellency the President for the 2,500 youth street vendors that have been empowered with short-term loans without collateral and for the empowerment given to the youth to own buses.

Mr Speaker, we shall support His Excellency the President on his call to fight corruption, money laundering and drug trafficking.

Sir, finally, I wish to commend His Excellency the President for his commitment towards youth and women empowerment and for having always preached peace and unity. All these were exhibited in his speech to this august House. As I stand here, I am also an example of youth empowerment because had His Excellency the President not been committed towards youth empowerment, some of us could not have been adopted and given the opportunity to represent our good people in our respective constituencies.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear! Quality!

Mr Kabamba (Kafulafuta): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me an opportunity to deliver my maiden speech to this august House. It will be followed by my comments on the President’s Speech.

Mr Speaker, let me start by registering my heartfelt appreciation to the Almighty God for his favour, which I do not deserve, without which I would not have been able to win the election. There were a lot of challenges, but the Almighty God remained my main source of inspiration.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: One of the challenges I faced was that my loving mother, aged eighty-six, was hypertensive and suffered a stroke and became paraplegic or paralysed on one side. This occurred at the peak of the campaigns. I was actually at a campaign meeting when I received a call from my twin brother informing me about the incident. By the way, Mr Speaker, I am a twin. If you met my twin, you would think you were looking at me.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: Mr Speaker, she was admitted to Kavu Mission Hospital and stayed there precisely for one month. On the morning of 20th June, 2016, she passed on, leaving me engulfed in between two major tasks of coping with her loss and also the campaigns. I had to take two weeks away from my campaigns. I have always asked myself why she had to depart at a time like this and the answer to that question has never come forth. I wish she was still alive today to witness her son become a Member of Parliament.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: My earnest prayer is may her soul rest in peace.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear! 

Mr Kabamba: Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to congratulate our Republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on their re-election. Every Zambian should know that His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is our God-given President.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: Just as it is written in Romans Chapter 12 Verse 1 to 2 …

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, the strict practice or convention of the House is that we do not quote from scripture.

Mr Kabamba: Thank you for the guidance, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Kabamba: It is written in the Bible that every soul must be subjected to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: … and the authorities …

Mr Speaker: You are just doing what I proscribed.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Please, learn to adjust when you are guided.

Mr Kabamba: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Kabamba: Mr Speaker, allow me now to join many hon. Members of Parliament who spoke before me in congratulating you, the First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker on your well-deserved election. These positions are among the highest in our land and the fact that all of you went unopposed is a confirmation of the great confidence that this august House has in you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: Mr Speaker, allow me to also express my million thanks to the entire Patriotic Front (PF) Party for adopting me as its candidate.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: I really appreciate all the moral and material support that the party rendered to me. Let me extend my thanks to my wife, children, brothers, cousins, friends and church members for their unwavering support. Let me also register my profound gratitude to my campaign manager, Ms Lotiya Rupiah, who sacrificed herself far beyond my expectation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
 
Mr Kabamba: Mr Speaker, in addition, I would like to also pay a special tribute to the Vice-Chairperson, Mr Kapotwe, Mrs Kataye, the sister to my campaign manager, Mr Chilungu, Mr Kati, Mr Muteminwa, Mr Kutala, Mr Kapawa, the councillors and Mr Able and his team for their support.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: Mr Speaker, let me now dwell a bit on the development agenda for Kafulafuta. Kafulafuta is a rural constituency within Masaiti District and is shared by two chiefdoms, namely Senior Chief Chiwala, and Chief Nkambo. The constituency lags behind in as far as development is concerned. Among the notable concerns requiring urgent intervention by the Government and private sector include the following:

(a) Road Infrastructure

Mr Speaker, the constituency would like to have the Democratic Republic Congo Border Road tarred from the Tug argan Junction to Old Mkushi. Also, the Chiwala/Chilengwa Road needs tarring. The economic benefits that come with improved road infrastructure cannot be overemphasised. For example, the people of Kafulafuta will be able to trade and transport their agricultural produce, which happens to be the mainstay of their livelihoods. The cost of moving people, goods and services will be reduced unlike the current situation where they are charged exorbitantly by transporters. These roads become impassable during the rainy season, resulting in limited movement of goods, people and services. I appeal to our able hon. Minister of Works and Supply to consider tarring the roads in Kafulafuta. Feeder roads also need upgrading for easy movement of agriculture produce;

(b) Water and Sanitation

Mr Speaker, most areas in Kafulafuta Constituency are faced with the shortage of clean drinking water and a lack of sanitation services. The source of water has been shallow wells and streams and these dry up, especially around this time or the hot season. Therefore, sinking boreholes would greatly benefit the people in my constituency. I am, therefore, compelled to ask both the Government and private sector to consider sinking boreholes as an urgent matter. As we all know, water is life;

(c) Education

Mr Speaker, there is a need to upgrade various basic schools to fully-fledged secondary schools. This will enable children to access education within their communities unlike now where they have to compete for few places at distant boarding schools. A lot of parents fail to sponsor their children due to limited resources. I would like to appeal to the hon. Minister of General Education to facilitate the completion of Masangano Secondary School, which has stalled for many years. This would enable many school-going children to access secondary school education. Currently, there is only one boarding school in Chief Chiwala’s area, which is Chiwala Boys Secondary School.

Sir, when most pupils qualify to Grade 10, they usually move to nearby villages close to Tug argan Secondary School, which is a day school. Since the school is within the Tug argan Barracks and the children cannot be accommodated within the barracks, most of them resort to renting houses in some villages around the barracks. This situation has exposed a lot of pupils, especially the girl children, to unplanned teenage pregnancies and, ultimately, dropping out of school.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabamba: Mr Speaker, some areas need community schools to reduce the long distances the children are subjected to. The existing community schools should be upgraded to primary schools. Chiwala Main Campus has been earmarked and the site has been secured. I am, therefore, appealing to the hon. Minister of Higher Education to ensure that the works commence as soon as possible;

(d) Health

Mr Speaker, accessing quality health services still remains a big challenge for the people of Kafulafuta and this is largely due to long distances to the health facilities. The constituency was considered for six health posts, but all of them are still at slab level. If these were completed, they would reduce distances resulting in increased access to health services among community members. I am confident that our able hon. Minister of Health will come to the aid of the people of Kafulafuta. Shortage of houses to accommodate health providers is another challenge.

Mr Speaker, in the health sector, I would like to recognise my former employers, the Japanese Organisation for International Co-operation and Family Planning (JOICFP), for supporting maternal new born and child health services in Masaiti District of which my constituency has been a great beneficiary. In its effort to contribute to accessing quality and affordable maternal and child health services, JOICFP constructed a maternity waiting house, labour ward, two semi-detached houses for health providers, especially midwives, and a youth centre. The aforementioned infrastructure was constructed at Katuba Rural Health Centre in Kafulafuta. In addition to this, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) trained community members as Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs) and youth peer educators. The NGO has, through its one-stop service concept, impacted positively on contributing to accessing quality maternal and child health services. Therefore, the one-stop service concept is worth replicating.

Sir, let me now add my voice to the speech by His Excellency the President. I would like to thank His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the detailed speech presented during the Official Opening of the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly whose theme was “Building an Integrated Multi-Sectoral Approach to Development that Enhances Inclusiveness in Development without Leaving Anyone Behind.” The approach will facilitate synergies among various sectors and this will promote cost-effectiveness in service delivery and, ultimately, the provision of the much-needed services shall be sustained. It is also worth mentioning that His Excellency the President emphasised that the agriculture sector, fisheries and livestock will be the main engine around which other sectors will be developed in an integrated manner. This is in line with the Government’s efforts to diversify the Zambian economy from its heavy dependence on copper to agriculture, livestock and fisheries and their entire value chain in the manufacturing industry.

Mr Speaker, my constituency, which heavily depends on agriculture for its livelihood, will greatly benefit from this visionary approach by the PF Government. I also want to commend His Excellency the President of Zambia for highlighting the diversification of the energy sector from the heavy dependence on hydro electricity to other renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, nuclear and thermal. This will greatly boost economic activities both in Kafulafuta and the nation at large.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miti (Feira): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to present my maiden speech to this First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly for the first time. My names are Stephen Miti, Member of Parliament for Feira Parliamentary Constituency in Luangwa District, Lusaka Province.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Miti: Sir, I am the first Independent Member of Parliament for Feira Parliamentary Constituency. Nevertheless, I pledge total support to the Government’s progressive policies.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miti: Mr Speaker, allow me to start by congratulating our Republican President, His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on their well-deserved victory in the 11th  of August, 2016 General Elections. Congratulations to you, Mr Speaker, the First and Second Deputy Speakers on your election to preside over the affairs of this House. To my fellow hon. Members of Parliament, I say “Congratulations for emerging victors in the 11th August, 2016 General Elections. I know that it was not easy, especially for Independent Members of Parliament.”

Mr Speaker, I feel greatly honoured to be here to represent the humble and hard-working people of Feira Parliamentary Constituency. To them, I tender many thanks and assure them to endeavour to live up to their trust, which they have bestowed on me, and surpass the standards set by my predecessors. I am confident that with this opportunity, I shall also be able to influence, through my vote, the legislation which will positively add value to the governance of our country. I will draw my successes from my profession, skills and beliefs. My electorate and I have unanimously resolved to work very closely with the PF Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, whose social and economic policies, as articulated in his speech on 30th September, 2016, are meant to permanently improve our lives.

Hon. Back benchers: Hear, hear!

Mr Miti: Mr Speaker, let me recognise the efforts that my campaign team put up and ensured I emerged victorious. The team worked with me despite having very little campaign resources. They did not mind moving in my only small car, which my opponents ironically nicknamed tortoise or Kamba in our local language.

Laughter

Mr Miti: Sir, I, most sincerely thank all my foot soldiers in all the fifteen wards. If not for their tactical approach to the campaign, I would not be here today. My family endured ridicule and many lonely days. My relatives were equally supportive. Therefore, to all my gallant campaigners, I ask God Almighty to continue giving them strength and wisdom.

Mr Speaker, I pay particular tribute to my immediate predecessor, Hon. Patrick Ngoma, for his contribution to developing Feira. He served to the best of his abilities and I have no doubt that with his vast experience and knowledge, he will warmly be supportive to me.

Sir, my people are elated by the developmental projects that the PF Government has brought to Feira Parliamentary Constituency. For the first time since Independence, the main Luangwa Road, the D145 was upgraded to bituminous standard. Kapoche and Kaunga Primary schools have been upgraded to secondary schools. The district hospital and five health posts are now operational. The Government also embarked on a project to connect Feira to the National Electricity Grid albeit this is working progress.

Mr Speaker, the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) is proving helpful. Furthermore, people in Feira expect to start enjoying cheaper mealie meal once the solar hammer mill is commissioned. Feira Parliamentary Constituency boasts of its peaceful and friendly environment, natural beauty and economic potential. If one wants to enjoy Zambia under the sun and to enjoy tasty fish, Feira is the place to be. We are proud to share borders with two great nations. These are Mozambique to the east of Luangwa Town across the Luangwa River and Zimbabwe to the south across the Zambezi River, making Luangwa Town an exceptionally unique tri-nation border post with a huge potential for accelerated trade. The friendly environment obtaining in Feira offers a great platform for investment. The weather condition is extremely fantastic for solar power energy. The constituency has mineral deposits, especially in Chakwenga Area. Investments in fish farming, fuel service stations, bee keeping, food processing, tourism, banking, education and many more can successfully be undertaken. I can only assure potential investors of enjoying their returns on investments peacefully.

Mr Speaker, Feira Parliamentary Constituency is not short of tourist attractions. To the west of Luangwa Town is the famous Lower Zambezi National Park known for its species of wild animals and also provides for recreational angling on the Zambezi River. The confluence of Luangwa and Zambezi rivers is a marvellous point to watch. Historically, the border towns of Luangwa, then Feira in Zambia, and Zumbo in Mozambique were used as transit towns ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Miti: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended I was saying that historically, the border towns of Luangwa, the then Feira in Zambia, and Zumbo in Mozambique were used as transit towns by slave traders to the shores of the Indian Ocean. It is also at this confluence at which the Ngoni speaking people, under the leadership of Zwangendaba, crossed the Zambezi River, in 1835, in their quest to seek refuge, following the ever fierce Mfecane wars in South Africa.

Mr Speaker, Feira Constituency hosts two traditional ceremonies annually, that is, Dantho Traditional Ceremony of the Chikunda speaking people in Mphuka Chiefdom and Mbambala Traditional Ceremony of the Senga Luzi in Mburuma Chiefdom. There is much to learn about these traditional ceremonies and, therefore, worth participating in. This year’s Mbambala Traditional Ceremony will take place this Saturday, 15th October, 2016. Hon. Members of Parliament are welcome. The Abdon Yezi Annual Commemoration of Kavalamanja’s 1978 bombings in Kavalamanja Village is held annually as well. The event is a true reflection of difficult moments suffered during the Zimbabwe Liberation War.

Sir, among the many beautiful baobab trees in Feira, there is one popularly known as Chamfwiti at Chitope sub-centre that stands out the most. The mystery surrounding this particular baobab tree is worth learning about. The hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts should take keen interest in this baobab tree. Overall, a visit to Feira Constituency is always a worthy adventure.

Mr Speaker, Feira Constituency, like other constituencies, faces many challenges. I was voted the area Member of Parliament because the electorate believed in my capability to work with them to minimise these challenges. In this regard, I aim to be a strong advocate and top salesperson to ensure solutions are implemented and that Feira is made a better place to live in.

Mr Speaker, at the moment, my people are starving. Hunger has arisen as a result of the erratic rainfall experienced in the past 2015/2016 Farming Season. The hunger situation in Feira needs to be declared a disaster. My people are anxiously waiting for food relief from the Office of the Vice-President, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). I hope the Government will be proactive to this distress call.

Mr Speaker, the long-term sustainable solution to food security in Feira is irrigation farming. The Government should urgently consider introducing irrigation farming in Feira. We have abundant water in the Luangwa and Zambezi rivers which could be pumped inland into dams for irrigation and also for livestock which, many a time, fall prey to crocodiles. Two dams at Chitope Sub-centre were recently rehabilitated with assistance from the Child Fund. They can be used for irrigation purposes if water pumps and pipes are provided. Water can also be tapped from underground for irrigation purposes. His Excellency the President’s policy on agriculture mechanisation has given the people of Feira some hope and we expect to be considered for an integrated farming scheme that consists of mechanised, energy and water management. The eventual results would be improved food security at household and national levels.

Mr Speaker, communication plays a pivotal role in our lives, yet almost fifty-two years after this country’s Independence, Feira lacks basic information and communication facilities. The telephone network and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television and radio signals remain a mystery to date. These facilities are just in Luangwa Town, leaving the vast population without modern communication facilities. I ask the Government to ensure that the whole constituency is serviced by putting up media and telecommunication towers which would boost the ZNBC television and radio and telephone signals. Our commitment to establish the first ever community radio station in Feira is still alive and we need help from the Government and other stakeholders for successful implementation.

Mr Speaker, human-animal conflict is another serious problem in Feira, especially in Mphuka Chiefdom. We lose human lives every year as a result of elephant and crocodile attacks. Therefore, we need urgent control measures from the Government to ensure people’s safety and protection of croplands. We need implementation of elephant deterrent measures like electric fencing of villages and croplands prone to elephant raids. Beehive fencing is just as effective and cannot only save as an elephant deterrent, but also at the same time add economic value in honey production and processing. Constructing dams in the game management area (GMA) would lessen chances of animals coming into contact with human beings.

Mr Speaker, Feira Constituency is big and the population is growing such that access to clean water is becoming a nightmare. The Government should sink more boreholes. This can also minimise crocodile attacks. Additionally, the Government should install piped water systems across Feira in order for my electorate to access clean water and improved sanitation.

Mr Speaker, works by the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to connect Feira Constituency to the national electricity grid have stalled. The Government, through ZESCO, should quickly resume these works and ensure that the project is completed. Electricity will motivate potential investors into the constituency. The only fuel service station in Luangwa Town is not enough as it also services customers from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) should allow investors in this business in Feira.

Mr Speaker, works on the Mulambwa and Kaunga Bridges on the D145 route have also stalled. Kaunga Bridge has even become a death trap to motorists. Five accidents have been recorded so far. The Government should ensure that these bridges are worked on as soon as possible. Feeder roads to Kavalamanja Village are in a deplorable state and so are other feeder roads which require urgent repair and gravelling. Township roads in Luangwa Town need to be tarred. Additionally, I request the Ministry of Transport and Communication to return the pontoon to Feira. We need it now as we await the construction of an ultra-modern bridge which will link the three countries for accelerated cross-border trade.

Mr Speaker, the construction of modern houses at Manuel Village, which started in 2013 by the late President, Mr Michael Sata, may his soul rest in peace, has stalled. I ask the Government to ensure that these houses are completed as soon as possible.

Mr Speaker, as regards education, Feira needs colleges. Many scholars find difficulties in accessing higher education partly because we have no colleges in the constituency. Some already existing infrastructure can be upgraded to college status, if not for the construction of new ones. We also need an improved teacher-pupil ratio, besides teacher motivation through construction of teachers’ houses across the constituency.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development should know that Feira has sports-loving people, but the area lacks appropriate infrastructure. Resources for sports development should not be the preserve of those living along the line of rail. Feira needs modern sports grounds befitting the area.

Sir, many youths in my constituency are jobless because of the lack of investment, yet we can empower them to start businesses. I hope the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) can waive stringent requirements for accessing loans. Currently, the empowerment funds are deemed to be for the elite who already have assets which they can use as collateral. Easy access to start-up funds would encourage entrepreneurial activities in the constituency which can help people to generate income as opposed to beer drinking and, embarrassingly, engaging in prostitution. Traders and marketeers in Feira are looking forward to also benefitting from the Presidential Marketers Empowerment Fund. The chairperson of this initiative should know that the people of Feira want interest free loans to boost their businesses.

Mr Speaker, I am appealing to the Government to increase the Social Cash Transfer Scheme allocation to Feira in order to cater for many others who, at the moment, do not benefit, yet are vulnerable enough to qualify to access this facility. The President’s Speech has given them hope in this regard.

Mr Speaker, health issues are none negotiable. We live once. As mentioned earlier, the population in Feira is growing. The clinics that we have are proving to be inadequate. We need more clinics, clinic staff and clinic staff houses. Besides that, the Ministry of Health should assist with the establishment of maternity wings at various clinics like Sinyawagora, Kavalamanja and Kaunga to mention but a few.

Sir, His Excellency the President delivered a very inspiring speech that touched on all aspects of national socio-economic interest. My people in Feira are happy and expect to have access to clean water, improved health service delivery, skills training facilities, accelerated investment to create job opportunities and access to information and business loans. Above all, my people look forward to irrigation farming, as I have already mentioned, in order to beat the drought weather pattern.

Mr Speaker, paragraphs 12 and 14 of the President’s Speech clearly set the tone. His Excellency the President stressed the need to embrace the philosophy of “economies of the means” where we should endeavour to achieve greater output with minimum resources. Indeed, this calls for the Government to be cost-effective whilst putting safety net measures to ensure that ordinary Zambians are not disadvantaged.

Sir, His Excellency the President emphasised on entrepreneurship and capacity building. Indeed, entrepreneurship is key to national development. Creation of a million jobs projected by His Excellency the President is possible if entrepreneurs are empowered. Empower students of entrepreneurship at Mulungushi University so that they can start to employee, as opposed to seeking employment when they graduate.

Mr Speaker, for Zambia to achieve double digit gross domestic product (GDP) and single digit inflation rate, we need to accelerate value addition of our raw materials, especially agro produce, so that we maximise the export of finished products.

Mr Speaker, marketing Zambia to the outside world requires deployment of qualified human resource into Foreign Service. This will improve bilateral and multilateral relations with foreign nations, resulting into increased foreign direct investments (FDI). Therefore, I welcome the Foreign Service Bill.

Sir, our country’s signature of “One Zambia, One Nation,” should be taken seriously if we are to have a practically integrated Zambia that can yield positive social and economic gains. I encourage all the hon. Members of Parliament to go out to our various constituencies to preach the “One Zambia, One Nation” Motto. Unity is vital for us to truly live and work together as one. Together we can make Zambia a prosperous nation.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi (Chifubu): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech. First and foremost, I would like to thank the Almighty God for the strength, guidance and wisdom granted to me before, during and after elections. I join hon. Members of Parliament in thanking His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for his most gracious speech delivered on 30th September, 2016. I also want to thank him for setting the tone of Parliament by reminding us of the responsibility that the Government and the Opposition share in charting the next phase of our history.

Sir, I would like to now take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on their victory in the ended elections.

Mr Speaker, I join the whole country in congratulating you and your Deputies on your election as Speaker and First and Second Deputy Speakers. I also extend my congratulations to all the elected and nominated hon. Members of Parliament. I further want to pay my gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to our Secretary-General then, now, Minister of Defence, Hon. Davies Chama, for his able leadership which propelled us to achieving another victory. Hon. Minister, you are, indeed, a strategist.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: Mr Speaker, it is worth mentioning that despite the strong support, we did not take the general election for granted. We ran a vigorous campaign. Many people came to help. Gratitude goes to my entire campaign team, cutting across the many structures of the Patriotic Front (PF), the electorate, friends and men and women of God who stood with me during this campaign. You do not get to this place without the steward support from many quarters.

Mr Speaker, there is another important source of support that I would like to recognise, my family. Campaigning is a family business. My dear wife and my children spent the entire campaign periods with me. Indeed, we danced to the Dununa Reverse rhythm together. To all of you I say, “Thank you.”

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: Mr Speaker, today, I rise in this Chamber for the first time as a very humble, yet proud representative of Chifubu Constituency. It is a great privilege to be able to do so and I owe it to the people of Chifubu. Allow me to place on record my sincere thanks to the electorate of Chifubu for its trust in me to represent them. I will always honour that trust in me just as was the case with the previous Parliamentarian for Chifubu Constituency. I will be someone who will work hard for the people of Chifubu. I will listen to the people of Chifubu and fight for them. They have in me someone who will respect and defend their values and traditions that have made this country a great country. Allow me to honour, in particular, the contribution of my immediate predecessor, Mrs Susan Kawandami. Her legacy which we have all understood today will be properly measured and appreciated in the years to come.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: Mr Speaker may I place on record that I was once an area councillor for Chifubu Ward in the United Nation Independence Party (UNIP) days in 1988.

Hon. Members: Whao!

Mr Ng’ambi: I, therefore, understand and relate to the challenges and exciting moments of Chifubu Constituency. Chifubu Constituency has an estimated population of about 150,000 people. Most of our people in Chifubu are unemployed and consequently, share the challenges of unemployment. My motivation of entering public life is clear. I want to help make Zambia a fairer, stronger and more prosperous, more secure and more inclusive nation. I want to be a voice for the national policy making which recognises the basic realities. The reality is that we are a developing country which is part of the global village which does not owe us a living. A reality that challenges we are faced with today are not insurmountable, but require a change in mindset and continuous hard work.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: The reality that we prosper depends on our entrepreneurship skills more than anything else.

Mr Speaker, I spent my entire working career in the private sector and I have appreciated the abundant opportunities that we have as a country. I have also witnessed many foreigners coming to Zambia with a novel and going back to their countries with millions of dollars.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker, we need to change the mindset of our people, particularly the youths, to develop entrepreneurship skills that will enable them to see the sweet spot in public policy. The pronouncements made by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will not crystalise if our people do not move to grab these opportunities as they arise.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: It is against this background that I would like to implore the hon. Ministers of General and Higher Education to interrogate our current curriculum.

Sir, I told the people of my constituency that I am not coming here to make money, but to share a thought that can change not only the life of millions of our young people, but also create and retain wealth in the country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: This retained wealth can significantly contribute to national development, accelerate the growth rate of the gross domestic product (GDP) and make the country much more attractive to foreign direct investment (FDI). In my view, the best path to our collective prosperity involves giving individuals, families and businesses the freedom, opportunity and encouragement to build and secure their futures. That is why I am here. I want to contribute to the creation of the best possible environment that allows people to pursue their aspirations and one that values family as the bedrock of our society.

Mr Speaker, I speak with authority on this matter because of my background. We must all take a step back and understand why many foreigners see and exploit opportunities in our country, yet the majority of our people do not see these opportunities. I have found it fit to belabour this matter because I firmly believe that this is the only solution to the current high levels of unemployment in our country.

Sir, during my campaign period, I highlighted various issues that affect the people in my constituency and obviously, the country at large. Let me mention some specific priority areas in which my people in the constituency hope to change.

(a) Education

Mr Speaker, Zambia’s prosperous country has been built on both our people and our abundant natural resources. However, our mineral resources are finite and changes to our climate and water scarcity pose ongoing challenges for our country. We cannot assume that our natural wealth will underpin our long-term economic prosperity. Our mining and farming sectors will remain critical for some time to come. Now is the time for our country to invest significantly in education, which drives productivity and innovation. My constituency is in need of new secondary schools, particularly in Kawama and Kaniki areas. Kaniki is about 25 km from the constituency office and has no secondary school. Most children in Kaniki are forced to travel long distances to access secondary education;

(b) Energy

Sir, innovation should be the core of our strategy to address the challenges of energy and climate change. Both are very serious concerns that not only this country is faced with, but also countries around the region. There is no reason we cannot lead the way in energy research. We are uniquely placed to develop energy driven by solar, wind, coal and innovative water solutions to maximise our energy availability and reduce our impact on the environment.

Mr Speaker, energy has an impact on the development of our business environment, hence the need to quickly address this challenge.

Sir, Chifubu Constituency does not have industries within it to employ the locals, particularly the youths who are the future of Zambia. The people have to travel long distances to seek formal employment. To mitigate this challenge, we are proposing that the relevant ministries establish an economic zone in my constituency.

Mr Speaker, with the establishment the zone coupled with the Government’s commitment to a more efficient licensing and regulatory framework, it would create a robust business environment that will change the fortunes of the people of Chifubu and the surrounding constituencies. The economic zone will not only support our people, but also strengthen trade relationships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To realise this, we need a steady supply of power;

(c) Water and Sanitation

Sir, Chifubu Constituency has benefited from a multi-million dollar Danida Project, which saw the laying of new main water pipes from Minsundu stage two into Kawama to Chifubu townships. The project was aimed at improving water supply in the constituency and many others. This project has, indeed, improved water reticulation in the area. However, after installation of the new main pipes, various challenges of old pipes bursting have surfaced leading to serious leakages. We desire to see these leaks fixed so that residents of Chifubu Constituency can derive full benefits of the project;

(d) Infrastructure Development 

Mr Speaker, the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, approved the C400 km Road Project to improve the road network on the Copperbelt towns and townships. Despite the approval, these roads are not equitably distributed in Ndola District. I, therefore, appeal to the necessary authorities to ensure that Chifubu gets a share of the road network in the constituency; and

(e) Health Sector

 Sir, with the growing population, health care access is critical. I fully recognise and commend the Government for its tireless efforts to improve the health sector. I, however, would like to appeal to it to consider upgrading Chipokota Mayamba Clinic into a fully-fledged hospital with wards and a mortuary. Zambia is not only in urban areas. The other day, on television, the hon. Minister boasted of having more than three hospitals supporting the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). We feel that this should be equitably distributed in other big cities such as Ndola and Kitwe.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to emphasise that politics are about people and that people can make a difference. That is why I am here. I look forward to playing my part in building an even better Zambia and thank the House for its indulgence.

Sir, I feel very privileged to be in this Chamber and to have the opportunity to influence, through my vote, the course of legislation, which will impact our nation.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: Like all who come here, I will relay on my skill, experience and beliefs. I want to be an effective advocate for the people of Chifubu and a thoughtful champion of long-term reforms, which improves the lives and the wellbeing of our people.
 
Mr Speaker, I now wish to react to the His Excellency the President’s Speech.

Sir, I would like to start with His Excellency the President’s concluding remarks. He was and has been very categorical in denouncing violence before, during and after elections. His Excellency the President’s call for unity is sincere. He acknowledges that leading Zambia cannot only be done by himself alone, but also with the help of every Zambian.

Mr Speaker, I would, therefore, like to appeal to all well-meaning Zambians to rally behind His Excellency the President. No leader, however strong can succeed at anything of national significance unless he has the support and co-operation of the people he is tasked to lead and has sworn to serve.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: Sir, I have chosen to start with the issue of violence because unless we create a peaceful environment, our efforts in actualising the intended pronouncements made by His Excellency the President would be derailed.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President has been magnanimous to lay bare the macro-economic situation of the country and the measures the Government is taking to stabilise the economy. This is as it should be as it provides every Zambian a sense of what is expected in his administration. Transparency is key to economic development and His Excellency the President needs to be commended for this.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, is committed to diversifying Zambia’s economy, which is extremely dependent on the mining sector. His Excellency the President has laid the roadmap for the next five years, highlighting the key focus areas. Critical among them is the attainment of the double digit GDP and a single digit inflation rate, while enhancing revenue collection. In order to achieve this, there is a need for an integrated approach to development. This will also ride on the industrialisation and job creation agenda, as depicted in the PF Manifesto.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’ambi: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President said the following:

“Our priority is to boost agricultural production.”

Sir, this will certainly shift our overdependence on copper and, therefore, make Zambia less vulnerable to market shocks on copper. This will further improve food security in the country.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President is certainly in a hurry to make agriculture the key economic driver of this country. This can be seen in the many questions he posed in his speech on how we can turn around our economy using agriculture as a key driver. There are certainly many opportunities in this sector that, for a long time now, have not been harnessed. Now, it is clear that time to take tangible steps to awaken this sleeping giant has come.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to place on record that this administration is well-placed to deliver on its promises, as has been the case in the past. Our President needs our wholehearted support and we should give it to him. Hon. Members of Parliament should always remember that politics is about people and that the people can make a difference.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chiteme: Quality!

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister for Central Province (Mr Mushanga): Mr Speaker, many thanks for the opportunity to deliver my maiden speech to this august House.

Mr Speaker, allow me to begin by congratulating you on your timely re-election. I wish to stress how proud I am to associate myself with your well-deserved victory. Allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on his well-deserved victory. Allow me also to congratulate Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on her election as Vice-President of this great nation.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to congratulate the First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker on their well-deserved election. I have no doubt that together, you will execute your duties with profound diligence and maximum impartiality. Congratulations to you all. I wish to thank the Almighty God who, through infinite wisdom, granted me the grace to fulfil the dream I have had all my life of contributing to the development of Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency and to our beloved Zambia.

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for appointing me to the position of Minister for Central Province. I will not fail him in serving the people of Central Province and this great nation.

Allow me, Sir, to extend an invitation to all those who have been elected hon. Members of Parliament in Central Province, especially my colleagues in the Opposition. The time for campaigns is over and the people in various constituencies have elected you to office to serve them and to assist in changing their lives. As Minister for the province, I am ready to provide a unique leadership to hon. Opposition Members of Parliament that are willing to work with the Patriotic Front (PF), under the able-leadership of our President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, I further appreciate, with humility and courtesy, the great honour that the people of Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency have shown by re-electing me their representative for the period 2016 to 2021. I am greatly indebted to them. As I did in 2011, I still promise them peak performance and visionary leadership. 

Mr Speaker, at this point, I wish to thank the leadership of the party, starting from the wards, constituency, the district and the province as well as the PF Central Committee for re-adopting me to stand on the PF Ticket. Gratitude also goes to the youth in my constituency and the Church leadership from the various churches for their support before and after the adoptions and during the campaigns. I look forward to working with all the interest groups in my constituency and look forward to their support and prayers. 

Mr Speaker, I have come back to this august House as a humble servant of God and the people of Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency. I speak with intense satisfaction when I say that I am the right representative for the people of Bwacha Constituency because I was born and raised there.

Sir, I won the Bwacha Parliamentary Seat for the second time because of my passion for the down-trodden and my hunger for a holistic transformation. I am very happy to note that, under my leadership, a lot of developmental projects have been implemented in the fifteen wards in Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency. It is because of this wonderful performance that I have gained the trust and confidence of the people of Bwacha Constituency. They have entrusted me with another mandate for the period 2016 to 2021. I will use this mandate to help bring about the much-needed development in Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency.

Mr Speaker, in my first maiden speech to Parliament in 2011, five years ago, I talked about the main challenges that the people of Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency were facing, such as a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation. I am very happy to report that the problem of water and sanitation in Bwacha, Chimanimani and Ngungu is a thing of the past.  The houses in these areas now have running tap water and good sewerage services. This has helped in the reduction of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, which were previously endemic in Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency.

Sir, boreholes have been sunk in selected areas of the constituency. However, I am fully aware that we still have a very huge challenge of access to water in Makululu, Mukobeko, Kawama, and other peri-urban wards. I will take it as a priority to ensure that more water points are provided in these areas by engaging the Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company, which is the water utility company in Central Province. I will also lobby for the sinking of more boreholes to ensure that we have adequate water supply in the constituency and in the province.

Mr Speaker, allow me to mention just a few projects out of the many that I have implemented in Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency, under the proactive and practical leadership of our President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The construction of the first ever road across Makulu and other areas and of the constituency, a modern secondary school in Makululu, a local court, police posts, maternity wards in some clinics in Mukobeko, Kalwelwe and Munyama has been undertaken.

Sir, road works have continued and more roads are still being worked on. In the five years that I was in office, street lights from Bwacha Township to Ngungu were installed. A clinic was constructed in Mukobeko Township using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), but unfortunately, it was burnt in the early hours of last week on Sunday, 9th October, 2016. Eight health posts have been constructed and are operational. This has helped to bring medical services closer to the people in the areas where these clinics have been constructed. Further, Ngungu Mini Hospital was renovated through the Zambia Prevention Care and Treatment Project (ZPCT), our co-operating partner.

Sir, the opening of Mulungushi Textiles has given hope to many people in my constituency, Kabwe and Central Province for various job opportunities. I wish to thank the Government, under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for ensuring that Mulungushi Textiles is reopened. Like others have said, His Excellency the President is “Mr Walk the Talk.” He promised to deliver the Constitution before the 2016 General Elections and he did. He promised the people of Zambia to have a female running mate and that came to pass.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: His Excellency the President also promised to win the elections on 11th August, 2016, and he won.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, for the period 2016 to 2021, I want to assure the people of Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency and the people of the province that with the help of other stakeholders, I will ensure that I deliver the campaign promises in order to reduce and, where possible, eliminate the challenges that people are facing in Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency and the Central Province. It is my desire to see development in the following areas:

(a) Infrastructure Development

Mr Speaker, I will ensure that the PF Government continues with development projects in the constituency in order to have better roads ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, just a moment. I am concerned that you are running out of time and are not addressing matters that relate to the province as a whole. You are debating as hon. provincial Minister.

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the remainder.

Sir, as Provincial Minister, I will ensure that the PF Government continues with development projects in the province in order to have better roads, better health facilities, improved education facilities and access to clean water and good sanitation;

(b) Women Empowerment

 Mr Speaker, the need to empower women cannot be overemphasised. I will make sure that a number of women’s clubs are empowered. As provincial hon. Minister, I will ensure that more resources are mobilised to empower more women in the province and see to it that those projects bring transformation to the lives of the women. I encourage women in the province to join or form women’s clubs in order to benefit from the women empowerment funds. I have no doubt that once women are economically empowered, poverty levels in families will greatly reduce. Empowering a woman is empowering families, communities, the province and the country at large and empowering a man is empowering an individual; and

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga:

(c) Youth Empowerment

 Sir, as Provincial Minister, it hurts me to see young people indulging in immoral activities due to a lack of employment and social and recreational activities. As provincial Minister, working together with Government departments, I will help to create opportunities for young people to engage in meaningful activities.

 Mr Speaker, allow me to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia for making a commitment, on behalf of the Government, to build a modern stadium in Central Province. This will help our community have access to modern sport infrastructure that will help develop different talents in young people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: I also wish to encourage the young people in the province to form youth clubs and co-operatives and come up with different activities in order to access youth empowerment funds. As a Government, we shall try to create more employment opportunities for the youths in the province and the country as a whole. His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia mentioned that 1 million jobs will be created.

Mr Speaker, regarding His Excellency the President’s Address to Parliament on 30th September, 2016, allow me, as Provincial Minister for the Central Province, to thank His Excellency the President for giving direction to all of us on how he wants to see Zambia transform as we move on. This is a President who has done so well, so far, in areas of education, health, agriculture and infrastructure development in our province. Allow me to mention that in the one year, six months that he was in office, Central Province received sixty health posts from the 650 health posts that are being constructed countrywide through the Indian grant. Out of these sixty health posts, thirty-seven have been handed over to the province and thirty-one are operational. We are constructing hospitals in Mkushi and Serenje and more hospitals will be constructed in the newly-created districts, that is, Chitambo, Luano, Ngabwe and Chisamba.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Sir, we will continue with the construction of Mumbwa Trades Training Institute in Mumbwa and the construction of secondary schools in Mumbwa, Chitambo, Serenje, and Kabwe. As a province, we have ten primary schools which have been turned into secondary schools and we will continue on that path.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, allow me to emphasise that as Provincial Minister, I am indebted to the people of the province for allowing me to be their Provincial Minister. This is the beginning of yet another life for the people of Central Province. My leadership is one they can believe in and trust. I will not discriminate when it comes to taking development to all the corners of Central Province. I pledge to fulfil the aspirations of the people in Central Province.

Mr Speaker, I will not sit down without thanking you and the hon. Members of this august House for your patience as you listened to me. May God bless each and every one of us in here.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: May God bless the people of Central Province, the people of Zambia and His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia as he moves this nation forward.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

ADJOURNMENT

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

__________

The House adjourned at 1921 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 12th October, 2016.

_______