Debates - Tuesday, 25th October, 2016

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Tuesday, 25th October, 2016

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

                                                                                                                                           PRAYER
                                                                                                                                           _______
 
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY GAMES

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, as earlier announced on 19th October, 2016, as part of the activities to commemorate Zambia’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development organised sporting events. I wish to inform the House that the games took place on 21st October, 2016, at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) and the results were as follows:

Netball Scores

Female Members of Parliament  25

Ministry of Sport and Youth 0

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Football Scores

Male Members of Parliament  1

Former National Team Players 6

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Tug-of-War Scores

Female Members of Parliament 2

Ministry of Sport and Youth 0

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker:

Tug-of-War Scores

Male Members of Parliament 2

Former National Team Players 0

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I would like to urge the hon. Members to work hard next time.

Thank you.

Laughter
________

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

PROGRESS MADE ON CONSTRUCTION WORKS AT KENNETH KAUNDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Chitotela): Madam Speaker, first of all, let me congratulate you and the Second Deputy Speaker, Hon. Malama, on being elected to your positions. I wish to also congratulate the Hon. Mr Speaker, Dr Matibini, in his absence, on being re-elected to his position. 

Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me an opportunity to present to this august House the progress made on the modernisation of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA). The Patriotic Front (PF) Government attaches great importance to infrastructure development as it is the engine of economic growth and sustained development of our great nation. The modernisation of the KKIA is one of the key strategies in developing Zambia as a transport hub in the Southern African Sub-Region. Once operational, the project will contribute to employment creation, increased tourism and improved transportation of people and goods. It will also contribute to revenue generation.

Madam Speaker, allow me to give a brief background of the project so that all the hon. Members of Parliament can appreciate it. I will begin from its conception up to the implementation stage.

Madam Speaker, the modernisation of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport is a design and build project. The tender to construct and modernise the airport was awarded to China/Jiangxi Corporation for International and Economic and Technical Co-operation at a contract sum of US$360 million on 5th September, 2013. The duration of the project was fifty-four months.

Madam Speaker, to allow for financial closure and compliance with our legal and administrative requirements, the project commenced on 21st April, 2015 and the completion date was revised to 20th October, 2019. The scope of work to be done at the airport includes the following:
(a) construction of a 4 million annual passenger capacity international terminal building with six aero bridges;

(b) construction of a thirty-room capacity in-transit passenger hotel and seventy room capacity non-transit passenger hotel;

(c) construction of an office park and a shopping mall;

(d) construction of the apron and taxiways;

(e) construction of a rescue fire service station;

(f) upgrade of water and power reticulation system;

(g) construction of the landside and airside driveways;

(h) construction of an air traffic control tower;

(i) rehabilitation of the Zambia Air Services Training Institute;

(j) construction of the airport cargo terminal;

(k) construction of the aircraft maintenance hangar;

(l) construction of the airport fuel farm; and

(m) construction of a stand-alone Presidential terminal.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to announce that the project has progressed from the first phase, which is the design and approval stage, to physical construction of the airport facilities with the exception of the fuel farm system and maintenance hanger which are still in the design phase. Thus, the design status of the entire project currently stands at 95 per cent complete.

Mr Speaker, in terms of the construction works, I wish to inform this august House that the following progress has been achieved on various structures as follows:

(a) The Terminal Building
Madam Speaker, the construction of the first floor is currently underway and is at 50 per cent complete. In addition, the erection of the steel roof structure is underway and all the materials for the construction of the roof structure are on site. The overall progress on the terminal building is at 34 per cent complete and is slightly above schedule;
(b) The Viaduct
Madam, this is an elevated bridge with a total span of 482 m meant to separate arrivals and departures passenger traffic in order to enhance efficiency. I am pleased to inform the august House that the contractor has completed the foundation works, supporting piers and has completed about 200 m of the suspended bridge deck. The current overall progress for this structure stands at 53 per cent complete.

(c) Presidential Pavilion

The contractor has completed the sub and super structures and works are currently at roof level with an overall progress of 20 per cent;

(d) Rescue and Fire Station

Madam Speaker, considerable progress has been made on these structures. The sub and super structures are complete and the contractor is currently carrying out the final works which include painting, decorating and tiling, giving an overall progress of 90 per cent, far ahead of schedule;

(e) Airfield Works

 Madam Speaker, these include an extension to the existing taxiway with a total length of 1.2 km and the construction of two aprons. Site clearing and levelling have been completed and the contractor is currently constructing the structural layers. The overall works stand at 15 per cent;

(f) The Air Traffic Control Tower

 Madam Speaker, for this component, excavation works and the substructures are complete and the contractor has just started constructing the super structure. The overall physical progress is at 5 per cent;

(g) The Hotel and Warehouse Facility

 Madam Speaker, the site is being cleared by the contractor to prepare for excavation works. The overall progress for the whole project currently stands at 33 per cent.

Madam, I would like to take this opportunity to assure the hon. Members of Parliament and the Zambian people that the project is on schedule and my ministry will closely monitor progress to ensure it is completed within schedule.

Madam Speaker, the implementation of this project has created over 1,000 skilled and unskilled jobs among Zambians. In addition, we have 135 specialised Chinese staff. The number of Zambians employed is expected to rise as the work progresses.

Madam Speaker, bearing in mind the huge investments that the Government has put into this project, the Ministry of Works and Supply and the contractor have established a comprehensive quality control management system in order to ensure that the project outputs are in accordance with the laid-down standards and that they serve the purpose for which the project is intended.

Madam Speaker, let me conclude by assuring the hon. Members of Parliament that my Government will take keen interest in ensuring that the project is completed within the planned period and that we get benefit for the money.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. PF Members: Ema Minister, aya!

Mr Ngulube: Quality!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by the hon. Minister.

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Madam Speaker, the project period has been extended by one and-a-half years and it should have been completed in mid 2018. Can the hon. Minister inform the nation the cost implications of the extension.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, if the hon. Member had followed the answer, he would recall that ...

Hon. Members: Answer?

Laughter

Mr Chitotela: Oh, if he followed my statement, he would recall that I stated clearly that the project was delayed to allow for the financial closures. Therefore, there is no financial implication because the project had a build, design and finance mode. Instead of commencing the project in 2013, it started in 2015. There was a delay because we had to ensure that all administrative and legal requirements were met.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the update on that colossal project. Obviously, it is being done through a loan from China. I am interested to find out the interest rate in comparison with concessionary rates that we should push for more than bilateral loans.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, mine is the construction part of the project. The financial closures are the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. UPND Members: Aah!

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, obviously, our country will receive one of the best airport terminals in the region and I would like to congratulate the Government on this initiative.

Madam Speaker, when one lands at our airport, he/she immediately goes into darkness only to find street lights after the roundabout on the Great East Road. I would like to find out whether the ministry has plans to light up the highway between the airport and the roundabout.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I receive the commendations from the hon. Member of Parliament for the good people of Chama South.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: As a responsible Government, which is ensuring that it gives value for money, we need to uplift the status of Lusaka as a capital city. The proposal is a good one and will be considered by my ministry so that we can light up the road right from the airport to the roundabout.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from this hard working hon. Minister ...

Mr Lufuma: On a point of order, Madam.

Mr Ngulube: ... if at all he has any plans of ...

Madam First Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Hon. Member for Kabwe Central, please, sit down.

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to raise this point of order. When hon. Ministers come to give statements, they should be prepared to anticipate questions that are cardinal and connected to the presentation that they give on the Floor of Parliament.

Madam, the cost of the project that is being discussed and the interest rates are such cardinal elements in this loan that we procured from China. Therefore, I would expect the hon. Minister to give such information readily.

Madam, is he in order to refuse to answer such a question?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Works and Supply is in order to answer in the manner that he did because this session is for points of clarification on the ministerial statement that he has given.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: However, I would like to urge the hon. Minister to ensure that, at a later stage and not today, he comes back to this House with the cost of this project for the benefit of the citizens of Zambia who, ultimately, are going to pay for it.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is my ruling.

Continue, hon. Member for Kabwe Central.

Mr Ngulube: Madam Speaker, I thought that point of order was against me. I was very scared.

Laughter

Mr Ngulube: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hardworking hon. Minister if at all there are any plans of connecting the Great North Road, through Kabwe, to the new airport in Lusaka. If that was done, I know that people travelling from the Copperbelt Province would find it very easy to connect from Kabwe straight to the new facility.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I would like to clarify because, maybe, the Questioner who raised the point of order did not pay attention.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Minister of Works and Supply!

I think it is in your best interest and that of the House to go back to prepare a comprehensive statement on the cost of this project. Please, proceed with the answer to the question raised by the hon. Member for Kabwe Central. 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I take note of your guidance. As a responsible Government, we need to make sure that Zambia is connected although it does not relate to the development and modernisation of the KKIA. Of course, there is Ngwerere Road that leads to Chisamba and we are making sure that all the projects that we started under the Link  Zambia 8,000 km Road Project are completed to ease the movement of people, goods and services.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kufakwandi (Sesheke Central): Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister indicate the volume of traffic that the new airport will handle in relation to the cost of the construction of the airport compared to the current Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA).
 
Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, the question is about volume. 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I can only give the figure of the passengers that we expect to receive per year. With the current airport, we receive about 2 million and are creating capacity for an additional 4 million. So, this means that we will be able to receive 6 million passengers per year. I also stated that the new airport will have six yellow bridges. So, they will be quite substantive in terms of human resource. However, concerning the number of aeroplanes, when I come back to give a statement on the total cost of the project, I can also adequately deal with that question.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kopulande (Chembe): Madam Speaker, a project to connect the Great North Road at Ngwerere to the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) was supposed to be undertaken. The contract of that project was given out over three to four years back, but it appears that the project was actually not undertaken. What is the status of the road that passes from the Great North Road to KKIA?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, my colleagues, the hon. Members of Parliament, have raised a number of concerns over the road projects in Zambia. However, the ministerial statement was on the upgrade and modernisation of KKIA. If I am allowed by the Hon. Speaker, I will soon come back to give the status on the road network so that we can delve into the details of the road projects and update the august House on the status of all the roads in Zambia.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Mwashingwele (Katuba): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister why we have so many Chinese employed on the project? Does it mean that we do not have Zambians specialised to carry out these specific jobs?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I stated that we have over 1,000 Zambians who are employed and 135 specialised Chinese employees who are working on that project. Concerning the probability of comparison, over a 1,000 is higher than 135. So, obviously, one is able to tell that we have more Zambians working on that project than the Chinese. That project is of a security nature and we would want to get value for money, and that is not to say that Zambians may not give us that which we want. Of course, we have a lot of Zambians who are working on that project. I also stated in my statement that as the project progresses, we anticipate that more Zambians will be employed.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Kalima: Hear, hear!

Amb. Malanji (Kwacha): Madam Speaker, this project we are putting in place will ensure that our airport undergoes major changes. Has the ministry put in place some mechanisms engaging other stakeholders like the ministries of Tourism and Arts, and Communication and Transport to market this project to other beneficiaries such as the aviation charters in other countries?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, when His Excellency the President was opening Parliament, he stated that we are running an integrated Government. Therefore, even when I went on site to inspect the progress of the project, I made sure that I went with the hon. Minister of Communication and Transport because I did not want to give a ministerial statement without physically inspecting the project. So, obviously, we are all involved because we are running one Government. The hon. Ministers of Tourism and Arts, and Communication and Transport are well aware and we went together to inspect the project.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Fundanga (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the ministry has any intention of improving the road that leads to the airport because like they say, human beings are like electrons and they gravitate where there is potential. So, I am very sure that once that airport is worked on, there will be a lot of traffic. So, does the ministry have any plans of making a dual carriageway from the airport to the roundabout? Also, there is a curve on the Great East Road that leads to Chipata. Could there be another one that will lead to the industrial estate?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the beauty about bringing ministerial statements to the House is that different hon. Members of Parliament bring out new ideas. As we are planning to work on our roads, those are some of the ideas we would consider in ensuring that we ease the movements of people in the country.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

THE CURRENT ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LAND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

The Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Ms Kapata): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to issue a ministerial statement to this august House on the current illegal occupation of both private and public land across the country.

Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is concerned with the current rate at which land is being illegally occupied, demarcated and allocated across the country by persons purporting to be cadres. This illegal trend has led to law-abiding citizens being displaced from their lawfully acquired land. In some instances, land owners have been injured by these illegal land occupiers in the process of forcing them to legally vacate their land.

Madam Speaker, the illegal land occupation has been more pronounced in the cities where people masquerading as political cadres have indiscriminately invaded private and public land. In Lusaka, areas such as State Lodge, Silver Rest and Lusaka West have witnessed unprecedented levels of illegal land occupation.

Madam Speaker, the PF Government will not sit idly and watch law-abiding citizens being displaced from their legally owned land. As such, my ministry, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, will swing into action and evict as well as demolish all illegal structures that have been erected on land that belongs to the law abiding citizens of this great country. In addition, anyone who will be found trespassing on land that does not belong to him or her will be arrested regardless of his/her political affiliation.

Madam Speaker, the PF Government will not allow lawlessness. It is the Government’s duty to ensure law and order is maintained. Therefore, the PF Government will sternly deal with any illegal land occupiers.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform members of the public, through this august House that in this country, there is no land that does not belong to anyone. Any land that has not been leased out by the President is held by the Head of State on behalf of the people of Zambia. As hon. Members of this august House may be aware, Subsection 5 of Section 3 of the Lands Act, Cap. 184 of the Laws of Zambia states that:

“All land in Zambia is vested in the President and shall be controlled and administered by the President of Zambia for the common good of all the people of Zambia.”

Madam Speaker, in addition, Section 7 of the Lands Act recognises the existence of the customary tenure, a basis upon which most of the rural communities draw their livelihood. It is the policy of the PF Government to ensure that no Zambian, who has legally acquired land or has land given to them under our customary system, is displaced or unfairly treated. I, therefore, wish to strongly advise members of the public to make enquiries or conduct searches with my ministry before engaging in any land transactions.

Madam Speaker, the Government will not protect anyone who breaks the law of this country. It will also not tolerate any person who illegally settles on any land. I, therefore, wish to urge all Zambians to not illegally invade land which is not theirs. While it is the Government’s desire to ensure that every Zambian is protected, law breakers will face the full strength of the law. I further wish to urge land owners to ensure that they develop the land within the stipulated time so that their pieces of land do not attract squatters.

Madam Speaker, in order to ensure that land is made available to all Zambians, the Government, through the ministry, has been working with local authorities across the country to open up new areas for development under the Land Development Fund Programme. About 50,000 plots have been created in the past two years by my ministry in collaboration with the local authorities. I wish to urge hon. Members of this august House to sensitise people in their constituencies to apply for land in their respective districts. It is the desire of this Government to ensure that Zambians benefit from these parcels of land that have been created.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to reiterate that the PF Government will ensure that all illegal land occupiers are dealt with sternly. I further wish to urge members of the public, through this august House, to report any illegal land activities to the Task Force on Illegal Land Acquisition whose secretariat is located at my ministry. They could also report to the nearest police station. I wish to assure the public that my Government will swiftly deal with any land invader. Further, let me assure Zambians that there is a lot of land in this country, but people should follow the laid-down procedures in acquiring it like what most Zambians do.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Ema Ministers, aya.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement issued by the hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, let me thank the Minister of Lands Natural Resources and Environmental Protection for her statement. I want to preface my statement by saying that she has the full support of the hon. Members on your left.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, the genesis of this uncouth behaviour of illegal land allocation by political party cadres, who are predominately from the Ruling Party, goes back to the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) days and now the Patriotic Front (PF) days. It has caused pain to those who have legally obtained land. These cases can be catalogued endlessly.

Madam Speaker, until not so long ago, we saw your cadres occupying land which belongs to the Zambia State Intelligence Services office, ...

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, please, withdraw that statement. The hon. Minister does not have cadres.

Mr Nkombo: Cadres of the PF. Sorry about that.

Hon. Minister, I would like to debate whilst looking at the hon. Minister.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Address the Chair, hon. Member.

Mr Nkombo: Just a couple of days ago, party cadres of the Patriotic Front (PF) invaded a piece of land in the Zombe Settlement area belonging to the Office of the President (OP). The hon. Minister has come out very strongly against illegal land allocation, although her statement was completely devoid of the OP’s land. Since the PF came into power, the first parcel of land that was taken over by the PF cadres was what is called the Don’t Kubeba Market next to the fly-over bridge at the foot of the Kafue and Independence roads. Can we get assurance from the hon. Minister that with our help, because we have offered her full support, she will begin by removing the PF cadres who have occupied that illegal market called Don’t Kubeba.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, my statement did not cover the illegal market the hon. Member is talking about. However, I will give him a bonus answer. As regards the land belonging to the Office of the President (OP), I am sure those who watch news saw me when I went to the place in question. We have issued an ultimatum of fifteen days in which to have the cadres removed from the said land. We have also given instructions to the police to arrest the ring leaders. For once, we want to bring sanity to the issuance of land in this country. When those who are involved in this scam are arrested, we want to fast-track their case to the courts and if possible, ensure that they are sentenced so that others can also learn from what will happen to them.

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: As for the Don’t Kubeba Market, I know where it is. However, that is an issue that falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, but I will also take keen interest in addressing it.

I thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Madam Speaker, thank you for according me an opportunity to respond to …

Hon. Members: Respond?

Laughter

Mr Kabanda: I am on the Floor, please. Land is our ancestral heritage, but the planning mechanisms have been thrown to the wind. Can the hon. Minister indicate to the nation, through this House, how this vice will be gotten rid of in land management and allocation and how her ministry’s database will be cleaned up.

Ms Kapata remained seated.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, did you get the question? Would you like to have it repeated?

Ms Kapata indicated assent.

Mr Kabanda: Madam Speaker, I was saying that the issue of land management in this country has been thrown to the wind. Land is our ancestral heritage and, therefore, its management ought to be properly handled.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is the question?

Mr Kabanda: Madam Speaker, the question is: How does the hon. Minister intend to cleanup her ministry’s database so that this problem can be sorted out?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, indeed, land in this country has been mismanaged. Funds allowing, in the next National Budget, we will carry out a national land audit so that we know how much land has not yet been developed. That will be the beginning of accounting for the land that we have countrywide.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukata (Chilanga): Madam Speaker, let me join Hon. Nkombo in appreciating the statement by the hon. Minister. I think Chilanga is among the constituencies in Zambia that have received a full dose of land grabbing. I ask my question on a point of authority really because we are right at the epicenter of this problem. One of the major problems we have noticed regarding this issue of land grabbing is the lack of recognition of the local government, the district councils in this case. The District Commissioners (DCs) and provincial administration are in the forefront of identifying their colleagues and dividing land. For instance, in the allocation of the Balmoral land, the council did not play any role whatsoever, yet it was called upon to provide services such as of grading roads and so on and so forth afterwards. Therefore, what is the hon. Minister’s office doing, especially through the Commissioner of Lands, to recognise and strengthen the role of the local government in these constituencies and districts?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, local councils are the recognised agents that administer land on behalf of the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Anybody else dealing with land issues is doing it illegally. This is what I was talking about when I said that we need to bring sanity to the issuance of land in this country. We must follow the right procedures.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, I really support the hon. Minister’s statement. I hope she frankly admits that the people harassing innocent Zambians over land are Patriotic Front (PF) cadres.

Interruptions

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, if the hon. Minister does not agree with me, when will this Government constitute a commission of inquiry to tell us the truth about who is behind the grabbing of landing in this country?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament from my village in Ikeleng’i for that good question. I mentioned that it was cadres who are involved in this scam. When I speak about cadres, they could be from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), the PF or even the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, all I can say is that there will be no sacred cows when it comes to dealing with this matter. Nobody is going to be above the law and the law will visit those found wanting.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Ngulube: Madam Speaker, what measures is this hardworking ministry going to put in place to ensure that a process called legalisation of illegal settlements, which has been the source of all land scams in this country, is done away with? People start by building illegally and then go to the council to get legal land certificates after paying some amount. Will the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection condone the continuation of the so-called legalisation of illegal settlements?

Madam Speaker, I want to give an example of what has happened in my constituency. Former councillors and councillors in my constituency are believed to be the custodians of the land because at the end of the day, they are the ones who will legalise land allocations. The Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection does not seem to have a hand in how land in my constituency is being distributed. Those who are doing this can even pounce on any private piece of land, knowing that at the end of the day, all they have to do is pay scrutiny and legalisation fees and get a receipt from the council. Thereafter, the council will even issue title deeds to such people despite the fact that the rightful owner of the same land has title deeds from the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, just like I said, watch my space.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: I am going to make sure that all illegal constructions are demolished in the next fifteen days. The exercise will be replicated in all the provinces.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: We have a task force whose chairperson is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs. Like I mentioned in the statement, we are the secretariat. The hon. Provincial Minister, depending on which province they are, will be, what do you call it, …

Mr Ngulube: Ex officious.

Ms Kapata: ... Ex Officios.

We will make sure that we swing into action because we will not allow illegality.

I thank you, Madam.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Well, hon. Members, watch the space.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, I believe that before any land is alienated to would-be developers, there must be an access road, power lines and water. The hon. Minister talked about the Land Development Fund, is this fund available in the ministry?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, yes, the fund is available in the ministry. We get about K28 million in a year and this is disbursed through local authorities to carry out surveys, supply electricity, open up roads and set up water reticulation. All the bulk services that are needed in a new area are catered for under this fund.

I thank you, Madam.

Dr Chanda (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, I just want to thank the hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection for a brilliant and excellent presentation. I think land is a national issue which should attract by-partisan support. Last year, the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing, then, Hon. Kampyongo issued a ban on the allocation of plots in un-serviced areas, which was covered by the media. Since then, that order has been ignored with impunity. In my constituency, in Bwana Mkubwa, people are allocating land illegally every day. Since we are in a crisis and the hon. Minister told us to watch the space, is the ministry considering issuing a ban on the sale of land to all councils by telling them that there is a freeze in the allocation of land until the mess is sorted out? When you have a flood in the house and you …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The word “mess,” is unparliamentary. Can you withdraw it.

Dr Chanda: I withdraw that word, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: You are replacing it with which word?

Dr Chanda: Okay, we have a crisis, an emergency …

Mr Mung’andu: Land crisis.

Dr Chanda: A land crisis which is an emergency. Is the ministry considering putting in place a freeze, a ban on land allocation until this crisis is sorted out?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, I do not intend to impose a ban on land allocation because we need people to develop through land and build their own houses. However, I want to say that we have created more than 50,000 plots countrywide in different areas and local authorities are the ones that have been tasked to give out this land. So, there is no intention of banning the allocation of land as long as people follow the right channels of acquisition.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, it is clear that land, being one of the important factors of production, ought to be owned by citizens. However, if you look at our historical background, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, in his watershed speech, removed value on land. After 1991, when we went into multi-partyism, value on land was restored, hence my question. Hon. Minister, with multi-partyism came these land problems that we are now going through. You mentioned that, in Zambia, we have a dual land tenure system, that is, statutory land and traditional land. My concern and question is: How protected are the people of Chama South, considering that foreigners go to our traditional leaders to get land? All they need is just a letter. To own land in this country as a foreigner, you have to register a company, then, it will be given to you. What security measures have we put in place since almost everything comes from land? Talk of a plane and ourselves, we are all products of land, we eat food that comes from land …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, …

Mr Mung’andu: … and to land we return.

Laughter

Mr Mung’andu: Therefore, my question, Madam Speaker, to the hon. Minister is: How protected are the vulnerable people in the distribution of this land, considering that the State can anytime convert traditional land into statutory land?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, indeed, land in some parts of the country belongs to traditional leaders. We have about 90 per cent of land belonging to traditional leaders and 10 per cent of it belonging to the State. We are looking at bringing a new Land Policy to this House. There are some areas contained in the Land Policy which traditional leaders are not comfortable with. The new policy will come to Parliament during this meeting.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukumbuta (Senanga): Madam Speaker, indeed, we shall watch this space. I like that.

Laughter

Mr Mbangweta: Not her face.

Mr Mukumbuta: Hon. Minister, in recent years, we have seen a lot of invasion of private land. Sometimes, I seem to wonder whether there is a hidden hand or a force behind such intolerable behaviour from the so-called Patriotic Front (PF) cadres. As the hon. Minister comments on that one, I also want her to comment…

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, ask one question only.

Mr Ngulube: And stand properly!

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Ask your question, hon. Member.

Interruptions

Mr Mukumbuta: I just wanted to also ask for a comment on what is happening to Humphrey Mulemba Park. Innocent Zambians bought plots from there, but they have not been shown their plots to date.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is a specific question about Humphrey Mulemba Park.

Hon. Minister, would you have an answer to that?

Ms Kapata indicated dissent.

Mr Sikazwe (Mpulungu): Madam Speaker, the history of this country is that some people got land, especially in cities like Lusaka surrounding the so-called Boma then. What we have seen is that because of population growth, we need a lot of land to resettle people. We are seeing compounds springing up on the outskirts of the city, leaving some pieces of land in the midst of the town being called farms. Is the Government engaging owners of these farms to ensure that these pieces of land are either divided or given back to State because we cannot have farms in the midst of towns? Is the Government doing anything to ensure that this land is given back to the Government to distribute it to the people?

Mr Mutale: Subdivide it.

Mr Sikazwe: Subdivide it, that is the right term, so that people can build houses.

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection has no intention of repossessing land that belongs to someone because it is illegal to do that. My ministry can only repossess land which somebody has not developed, but not where there are some developments. Therefore, people should just stop squatting on people’s land.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Amb. Malanji: Madam Speaker, I know that the hon. Minister is an action-oriented person.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Amb. Malanji: Madam, this is not a mere pronouncement because she walks the talk.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Amb. Malanji: Madam Speaker, is there any mechanism which the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, is putting in place to avoid land invasion? I ask because my constituency is a victim of land encroachment. An area which was reserved for the construction of a stadium and other recreational facilities has been encroached upon and in defense, the council has no municipality Act to show that this area was meant for such facilities. I think the council is supposed to have a title deed to show that the area was earmarked for the construction of a stadium or a market. I need to be guided on whether there is any likelihood of a municipality to have an Act to make sure that all the councils possess title deeds for such areas.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, the issue at hand is of title deeds and that all councils must ensure that public property or public land is on title.

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, my comment on that issue is that once land is given out, the developer is given eighteen months in which to develop it failure to which it will be repossessed. Therefore, when councils have pieces of land earmarked for development, the onus is on them to see to it that the land in question is protected by putting up the infrastructure that they need to develop. The hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection does not need to fly all over to control land development. It would not work like that. People should safeguard the land that they are given.

Madam Speaker, on the issuance of title deeds, I will come to this House to issue another ministerial statement on the National Titling Programme under which I will talk about title deeds and many other things.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge): Madam Speaker, my question is based on the task force. Ordinarily, that should be the hope for the people.

Madam, I would like to know what kind of successes the task force has scored during this trying moment. Related to that, would it not be prudent to have the headquarters at the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environment Protection instead of the Ministry of Home Affairs so that it is decentralised? It is difficult for an ordinary person to reach the ministry. So, when it is decentralised, it will reach out to communities, such as Chelstone, Chilanga and Chunga within Lusaka, where these atrocities are committed instead of them coming to their headquarters because they face difficulties in reporting these cases.

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, first of all, I mentioned that we have a task force. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the Chairperson, the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection is the secretariat and the Office of the Vice-President and the Ministry of Local Government and Housing are members. I mentioned that all hon. Provincial Ministers, depending on where the cases occur, are ex officios on this committee.

Madam, yes, we would like to decentralise but, at the moment, we do not have enough manpower.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Musonda (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, since I sit next to the hon. Member for Nakonde, and I am the one who indicated, I thought that you probably just made a mistake because he is not in the House.

Laugher

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the information that she has given us.

Madam, the Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto spells out the land policy. When is the Government going to implement the Land Policy on the security of tenure for the land under customary law? Further, do we have any limitation in terms of hectrage that the traditional leaders can give to a particular individual?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, I mentioned that I will come back to the House with a new Land Policy. I went further to mention that the document is almost ready although there are some parts still being negotiated with traditional leaders. The maximum specific hectrage which traditional leaders are supposed to give to individuals is not more than 1,000 ha. Therefore, if anyone is applying for more than 1,000 ha, they have to apply through the President’s Office.

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): It is 250 ha of land.

Ms Kapata: I have been corrected by Her Honour  the Vice-President that the maximum land which traditional leaders are supposed to give is 250 ha.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

On a point of correction. It is 250 ha of land and not 1,000 ha.

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Madam Speaker, it is my humble opinion that the problem of land encroachment is not only politically motivated, but also a result of high levels of poverty amongst our citizens. Thus, even the 50,000 parcels of land that the hon. Minister talked about will only be available for acquisition to the rich who have money.

Madam Speaker, with the influx of the Lebanese and Chinese nationals, private land owners are selling land at astronomical and apocalyptic prices.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what measures have been put in place to ensure that the ordinary citizens in Kanyama, Mtendere and Zambia Compound, in Choma, and other places access land without the threat of use of power by the police?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, yes, we have about 50,000 plots to be sold to Zambians countrywide. If those who are willing to buy the plots go through the local authorities, who are the agents for the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, they will pay very minimal fees. It will not be as expensive as buying from a private land owner.

Madam Speaker, as a ministry, we have no control over an individual’s asking price for his or her land. We cannot determine how much he or she should ask for the land. However, 50,000 plots are available, at a minimal price, to Zambians who can afford.

I thank you, Madam.

Mrs Chinyama (Kafue): Madam Speaker, maybe, …
 
Mr Chisopa: On a point of order, Madam.

Mrs Chinyama: … my question …

Hon. PF Members: On a point of order!

Mrs Chinyama: Okay.

Mrs Chinyama resumed her seat.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mkushi South, please, sit down. I just indicated that we need to make progress.

Hon. Member for Kafue, you may continue.

Mrs Chinyama: I thank you, Madam Speaker. 

I wish to thank the hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection for her statement. As my colleague from Choma Central mentioned, the issue that the hon. Minister presented simply shows the pressure that is in land acquisition.

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Mrs Chinyama: Madam Speaker, I think that people who trade in land contribute to this pressure that we are talking about. It is so easy for them to acquire land, yet so difficult for the ordinary Zambians. What regulatory mechanism is in place for the people who merchandise land?

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, I mentioned earlier that we, as a ministry, do not have power over privately-owned land. As long as a person has title, he or she has the right to sell the land at any price he or she feels it is worth.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: We cannot regulate the price of private land.
 
I thank you, Madam.

Mr Ngulube: Ndiye ma Minister, aya!

Ms Phiri (Kanyama): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister told us the duration in which someone has to develop land after acquisition. The question is: Is it in order for someone to acquire land, then, sell it to another person when they fail to develop it?

You may wish to know that even the Government institutions in Kanyama Constituency have no title to the land they are sitting on. What will happen to police stations in my constituency when the fifteen days elapses because they are sitting on land whose owners we do not know? Are Government institutions that do not have title deeds going to be spared? I was speaking with the honourable …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Kanyama, can you, please, be clear. What is the question?

Ms Phiri: The question is: People are …

Interruptions

Ms Phiri: Okay, hon. Member, …

Laughter

Ms Phiri: Madam, people acquire land, get title for it, but fail to develop it for a long time and, then, choose to sell it. This is happening countrywide and people have taken advantage and continued to sell undeveloped land. While we appreciate that cadres are selling these pieces of undeveloped land to innocent citizens, it is not the cadres who end up suffering, but the people to whom they sale the land.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Kanyama, I think that you have asked your question.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Phiri: Yes.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You want the hon. Minister to respond to the issue of people selling undeveloped land. Hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, you may respond.

Ms Kapata: I thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanyama …

Interruptions

 Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Ms Kapata: … for the question.

Madam Speaker, when land is given, we give an ultimatum of eighteen months in which a person should develop it. If titled land is not developed in eighteen months, repossession takes place. If, however, the land is just at offer stage, it is repossessed in thirty days.

Madam Speaker, with regard to issuing title deeds to Government institutions that are sitting on untitled land, the Government has applied and is working with departments to see to it that title deeds are given. We are aware that title deeds take years to come out and that there are middlemen who bribe Government workers to accelerate this process so that they come within weeks. As I said before, watch my space.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: We will make sure that this comes to an end. If necessary, we will shake up the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. We need to remove some of the corrupt elements from the ministry …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: … so that we can serve the people of Zambia in the right manner.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

____

BILLS

SECOND READING

THE EXCESS EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATION (2013) BILL, 2016

The Minister of Finance (Mr Mutati): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Madam Speaker, the Excess Expenditure Appropriation (2013) Bill, being tabled to this House is in line with Article 117(4b) and Article 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia, prior to 5th January, 2016. Hon. Members of Parliament may wish to note that the provisions of the amended Constitution, regarding the treatment of Excess Expenditure Appropriation will only apply for the 2016 Financial Year, going forward.

Madam Speaker, hon. Members will recall that when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was constituted on 26th September, 2014, it was mandated to review and make recommendations on all public financial matters relating to the 2013 Financial Year.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the excess expenditure of K537,635 that was incurred in 2013, an amount of K536,112 was incurred under the Ministry of Finance and this was attributed to the increase in personal emoluments budget for the ministries, provinces and other spending agencies.

This amount relates to human resource administration activities that were incurred in various ministries, provinces and other spending agencies (MPSAs) in the year. These activities such as staff promotions were not part of the original approved estimates. Since the Government wage bill is centrally managed, I have taken the liberty to place this extra cost under the Ministry of Finance.

Madam Speaker, you may recall that on 30th July, 2015, the House adopted the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee to authorise the excess expenditure in the sum of K573,635. The object of this Bill, therefore, is to regularise this excess expenditure incurred during that period.

Madam Speaker, the subject was extensively debated when the House considered the 2013 Financial Report, the Auditor-General’s Report and the 2013 Report of the Public Accounts Committee.

I thank you, Madam.

Question put and agreed to and the Bill read a second time.

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016.

THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (2014) BILL, 2016

The Minister of Finance: (Mr Mutati): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Madam Speaker, the Supplementary Appropriation (2014) Bill, 2016 being tabled in this House is in line with Article 117(4)(b) and Article 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia prior to 5th January, 2016. Hon. Members of Parliament may also wish to note that the provisions in the amended Constitution regarding the treatment of supplementary appropriation will only apply for the 2016 Financial Year going forward.

Madam Speaker, following the approval of the Supplementary Estimate No.1 of 2014, which enabled the Government to carry out some of the essential operations that were not initially appropriated in the Financial Year 2014, the hon. Minister of Finance was directed to return to this House with the necessary legislation to give effect to the resolution of the House. The principle of the Bill before this House, therefore, is to legitimise the Supplementary Estimates of monies aggregating to K3,538,867,024 for the Financial Year Ended 31st December, 2014.

Madam Speaker, as hon. Members are aware, the Supplementary Estimate No.1 of 2014 was thoroughly debated in this House at the material time. This Bill is straightforward and I recommend it to the House accordingly for approval.

I thank you, Madam.

Question put and agreed to and the Bill read a second time.

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

Committee on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016.

_________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Madam Speaker, I thank you for according me an opportunity to address this country, from the Floor of this House, through my maiden speech.

Madam Speaker, the people of Dundumwezi send their greetings and love, I hope you accept them. From the outset, let me thank the Lord for allowing me to serve the people of Dundumwezi for the third term. To God be the glory. Let me also take this opportunity to thank my party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), through the able leadership of the inspirational Mr Hakainde Hichilema ...

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Sing’ombe: ... and Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, for supporting my candidature.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: I am here because of their support. Also, I am here because of the hard work of the UPND structures in Dundumwezi Constituency, led by Mr Clefo Zemba, Mrs Rosemary Chunya and Mr Gilbert Ng’andu. Kalomo District party structures led by, Hon. Harry Kamboni, Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central Constituency, who coincidentally was my class teacher twenty-seven years ago, also deserve a note of thanks.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: The provincial party structures, led by Mr Makwembo, also deserve a note of thanks. My campaign team, led by Mr Jericho Hang’andu, Mr Sanford Makondo, Ms Rosemary Hatembo and Ms Assely Moonga worked hard to enable the Dundumwezi story to be told. Thank you very much, my friends.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
 
Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, my own running mate, my wife Esther, ...

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Sing’ombe: ... deserves special mention for the all-round support she gave me. She is the prayer warrior who holds us together. I also thank my brothers Billy, Nchimunya and Oscar for standing by me in the heat of politics. 

Madam Speaker, recently, Dundumwezi has become a trending name in the country or in political circles. I have read that songs, slogans and jokes have been made after this name.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: The trending of this name goes beyond the 30,810 votes Mr Hakainde Hichilema got against the 252 votes by his closest contender.

Laughter

Mr Nkombo: Who was he?

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Mr Sing’ombe: Let me hasten to add that the trending of the name ‘Dundumwezi’ on the political scene makes a lot of social and economic sense. I will elaborate in a short while what I mean by that.

Madam Speaker, I am here to talk about the Dundumwezi story. It is a story which is representative of the happenings across the progressive rural communities of this country. It is a story of resilience against the misery orchestrated by the Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: It is a story of communities which are being strangled by the people who are supposed to nurture them. The Dundumwezi story is the Zambian story.

Madam Speaker, it is vital for me to inform the nation what Dundumwezi means. It means a male mountain.

Mr Ngulube: A what?

Mr Sing’ombe: A male mountain.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: This constituency is home to 80,000 bonafide Zambians. Comparatively speaking, there is no constituency in the country that produces more maize by small-holder farmers than Dundumwezi.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: This is a fact that the people of Dundumwezi are proud of. There is a 60 per cent likelihood that your next plate of nshima is coming from Dundumwezi.

Madam Speaker, as positive as the story sounds, this constituency has been completely neglected by the current and previous governments. That is why I am glad that the people of Dundumwezi made a statement loudly and boldly in the last elections that they are tired of leadership disengaged from the challenges they are facing. The vote we saw in Dundumwezi was against the 2011 deceptions of the Patriotic Front (PF) that it would reduce fertiliser prices, put more money in the pockets of our farmers and that the feeder roads in our farming areas would be improved upon. 

Madam Speaker, Dundumwezi Constituency is the only constituency in the Southern Province that is not serviced by hydroelectric power at any level. It is the only constituency in the Southern Province that is not connected to power. Let me hasten to add, for the benefit of those who are not aware, that when the Kariba Dam was being constructed, many of the displaced people were taken to Nkandanzovu in Dundumwezi. One of the promises made to them was that they would be provided with hydropower to cushion their suffering, but to date, not even a wire has been connected.

Madam Speaker, Dundumwezi has no Government-owned high schools. Seeing this gap, the resilient people of Dundumwezi, with the support of World Vision Zambia, constructed Mubanga and John Sim-Chikanta High schools, both of which are still ill equipped. Despite the community efforts, the Government has failed to match our efforts through the provision of teachers and connecting the schools to the national grid. The fifty schools we have in the constituency are dilapidated. It is shocking that fifty years after Independence some of our schools are still grass thatched.

Madam Speaker, I have elaborated why the trending of Dundumwezi makes economic sense. There is no place in this country that has borne the brunt of the Government’s anti-agricultural policies than Dundumwezi. If it were not for World Vision, which has constructed some dip tanks in the area, all our wealth would have been wiped out. The PF Government assured our farmers to rehabilitate dip tanks in the constituency. For instance, the PF Government asked the people around Munyeka Dip Tank to stop using it as it was undergoing rehabilitation, but to date, the dip tank is incomplete and we have lost a number of animals because of the failure by the PF to mobilise funds to pay the contractor. In short, the PF has shown the people of Dundumwezi its impotence in constructing dip tanks in Dundumwezi.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Ngulube: On a point of order!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, this Government has sentenced the people of Dundumwezi to death through its non-provision of health facilities in the constituency. Fifty-two years after Independence, our people still walk more than 20 km to access pain killers. Suffice to say that, one would be lucky to find even the most basic drugs on our shelves at the clinics in Dundumwezi. We have a population of 80,000 people who are served by only thirteen health posts. Some of these health posts like Munyeke and Kasukwe do not even have water on their premises. The entire constituency does not even have an ambulance to ferry the sick to health centres. This is a constituency that was allocated four health posts out of the 650, but not a single block has been laid. I encourage the hon. Minister of Health, whose spouse comes from Dundumwezi, to take keen interest in this matter before we recall our sister back home.

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, Dundumwezi is the southern gateway to the Kafue National Park. It only makes sense that when our tourists are done visiting the nearby Victoria Falls, they take a short ride into Dundumwezi to appreciate the flora and fauna of the Kafue National Park. However, that is not the case as there are no roads to talk about in Dundumwezi. The lack of roads has negatively impacted on local, commercial and agriculture production.

Mr Ngulube: Kavotedwe!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, you may wish to know that because of high productivity in Dundumwezi, everyone there has a vehicle. This is the reason the former hon. Provincial Minister said that Dundumwezi is a land of fusomania and cantermania. The story has changed because of the bad policies of the PF. The Nakatala/Nkandanzovu Road is in a deplorable state. This road goes up to Chikanta Resettlement Scheme. We also have the Bbilili/Katanda, Kasuke/Chilala/Siantete and the Kasuke/Bilili/Mubanga Secondary School roads which are in a state of shocking disrepair.

Madam Speaker, Dundumwezi has further been isolated by the non-provision of communication facilities. There is a possibility that the PF miserably lost because it failed to understand the communication system that is used in Dundumwezi. People still use letters to communicate because there is no mobile phone infrastructure. Dundumwezi is an above-average community and I am shocked that mobile phone companies have failed to take a communication system there. This Government gazetted seven towers three years ago, but nothing has been done in Dundumwezi to date.

Madam Speaker, the people of Dundumwezi are revolutionaries. They speak their mind out in the noblest ways. Way before the election of Independent Members was politically acceptable, the people of Dundumwezi chose me as their Independent Member of Parliament. I can speak prophetically that the protest vote this country experienced in Dundumwezi, sooner than later, will become the norm across this country.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, the Dundumwezi revolution is here to stay.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, let me focus my thoughts and reflection on the current happenings in our beloved country. I will start by anchoring my thoughts on the “52” Independence Anniversary that took place yesterday.

Hon. UPND Members: 52nd.

Mr Sing’ombe: 52nd.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, as I was entering Lusaka from my constituency this morning, I saw a sad site of two young girls aged nine to ten carrying huge buckets of water in the Chawama area. These two girls were clad in the PF chitenge material.

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, it is clear that those girls were actually supposed to be in class at the time I saw them but sadly, they were not.

Interruptions

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam, that site raised a lot of questions about the morality of our politics in this country. Where does our pride and work lie? Does it lie in dressing an entire country in chitenge materials and T-shirts or in delivering socio-economic transformation that would allow the people to spend money on the clothing of their choice? Why should we have an electorate that is deprived of services and knowledge five decades after Independence? It is unfortunate to note that it is not even in the interest of the ruling elite that people have remained poor and primitive.

Madam Speaker, the events before, during and after the last elections brought out the worst in the people and leaders of this country. It shamefully exposed the selfish drive behind some people among ourselves who sought power at all costs, even if it meant blood having to be spilt.

Interruptions

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, our memories of people who martyred for their democratic rights such as Mapenzi Chibulo and Grayzer Matapa are still fresh. I pray that the Lord in heaven in his wrath will harshly judge those on whose hands their blood lies.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, let me mention that our country is living in pretence. It is pretending to have a national court which is actually a mere hoax. In our minds, we are as bad as …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was almost concluding my debate. Actually, I still have fourteen pages.

Interruptions

Mr Sing’ombe: Sir, allow me to conclude by saying that the election time should be for national building and civic engagement. Elections provide an opportunity for us to visit and know each other better as citizens. In Zambia, however, we have seen a situation where elections are a platform for tribal animosity, especially by our colleagues on your right. These merchants of hate come from underneath the stones where these people hide and pretend to be humble, when, in fact, they are not.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to make my maiden speech during the Twelfth Session of the National Assembly. Let me, from the outset, thank the president of my party, the mighty United Party for National Development (UPND),

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … Mr Hakainde Hichilema, and the entire National Management Committee for the rare opportunity and privilege to be selected the party’s candidate for Nalikwanda Constituency in the last General Elections. I wish my president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, the vice-president, Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, and all the leadership of the UPND continued good health, heavenly wisdom …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … and protection during this extremely difficult time in the political history of our country. With humility, I thank the good people of Nalikwanda Constituency for the opportunity accorded to me to represent them in this august House for the third time, consecutively.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I am the ninth Member of Parliament to represent Nalikwanda Constituency. Since Independence, none of my predecessors had a second chance of coming back to this House. To make it to the House for the third time is, therefore, a great honour which I accept with humility and pledge to represent the people of Nalikwanda with the highest degree of diligence and tenacity.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, being one of the senior Members of this august House, allow me to extend my special welcome to all the new hon. Members of Parliament. Having been in the House for a few weeks now, I am sure that the new hon. Members of Parliament have come to learn that this, indeed, is the special hall of the people in which what matters is genuine and fearless representation of the people who sent us here. This Chamber is where the voices for a better of all our people Zambia and from all parts of our country must be heard loud and clear.

Let me also congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on taking up your seat as our Speaker for the second time. As you emphatically stated during our orientation, you stand by the noble principle of being the impartial guardian of the House. We all look forward to your strict adherence to this parliamentary virtue which is in accord with a properly functioning parliament in a multi-party democracy. Equally, accept it in your heart as perfectly normal when we, on your left, strongly resent what we may perceive as a violation of that basic principle of parliamentary democracy.

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: I wish, at this point, to congratulate the two Deputy Speakers, Hon. Catherine Namugala and Hon. Mwiimba Malama, on their ascendance to those positions. Our expectation of the Office of Speaker equally applies to them.

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, as you are aware, I shared the Bench on your left side with the First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Catherine Namugala and Hon. Felix Mutati, the current Minister of Finance, and I congratulate him on the appointment.

In our informal discussions, we shared one fundamental principle that our role as the Opposition is to protect our country from the trappings of a failed State.

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: I will stand by this principle and it is the theme of my maiden speech in this Twelfth Session of the National Assembly.

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: “Protecting Zambia from falling into a failed State”

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, what is evident across the whole of Africa are the trappings of failed States. This is the dilemma and challenge of most African countries throughout the continent. What are the evident characteristics of the failure which define most African countries as failed States?

(a) after more than half a century of political independence, there has not been any inkling evidence of the rise of the African Lions in a manner that the Asian Tigers arose in the Far East. Most African countries are still trapped in the conditions they found themselves in from the sixties, namely abject poverty for the greater majority of the people, high levels of unemployment, low life expectancy, prevalence of preventable diseases, mono economies, low service delivery to the people, low productivity, very little indigenously propelled entrepreneurship. 

Added to these are vices of the post Independence era, namely rampant corruption, nepotism and tribalism, widening gap between the rich and the poor majority and widening gap between the rural and the urban areas. These are the manifestations of underdevelopment in which many African countries are still trapped with no immediate hope of getting out;

(b) deepening dependency syndrome, which is reflected in extreme reliance on foreign capital for investment in such basic services as roads, health, schools and heavy capital outlays like irrigation and power generation projects. Most African countries are trapped in external debt making economic development and the improvement of the quality of life of the greater majority of our people a pipe dream.

There is no better indicator of a failing State than that of accumulation of external debt beyond the country’s means to pay back. Ironically, leaders of the failing African States take pride in external borrowing. Expensive trips to Europe and the United States of America (USA) for this purpose are usually looked up to with great expectation as if it is the noble thing to do;

(c) there is deteriorating functional objectivity of State institutions. State apparatus like the police, the legal system and the Civil Service to a large extent become instruments of repression and oppression of dissenting views, especially those of the leadership of the Opposition. When State institutions fail to serve citizens fairly and equitably and only succumb to the dictates of the ruling leadership, this is a testimony of a failed State;

(d) leaders of failed African States exhibit wanton disregard and total disrespect of the fundamental principles of democracy, as outlined in their constitutions. Freedoms of expression and movement, which are essential in a democracy, are increasingly curtailed in most African countries. Every effort is made to cage Opposition leaders so that they have no access to their supporters;

(e) there is a deliberate obliteration of the Fourth Estate, the media, especially private media. Those in charge of failing States do not want to hear critical voices of the citizens.

What they want to hear is the glorification of who they are and what they are doing, wrong or right, from their propaganda mouthpieces, the public media and the private media that worship them;

(f) the rule of law and order in failing States count for dust. Rising lawlessness and violence is the order of life. The poor, youth, children or the rich are generally not safe and secure. In some cases, individuals in communities resort to personal militias to provide security. Those who are close to the ruling elites yield more power than even the law enforcing agents. This is a sign of a failing African State;

(g) there is a propensity to attribute the failure of management of State affairs to external forces. Instead of seeing failure to manage their own countries as a product of their own inadequacy, leaders of failing African States make frantic efforts, and wrongly so, to convince their people that the problems they are experiencing such as unemployment, high inflation rates and poor service delivery are global.

This arises out of the failure, on the part of the failed African States, to engage in critical self-introspection and identify leadership weaknesses that lead to incapacity to manage State affairs;

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, the challenge of African countries that fit the description of failed States is poor leadership.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa:  Zambia is not far from the description of a failed State.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Our role, as the UPND Members on your left, is to ensure that we save our country from completely turning into a failed State.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: We are equal to the task. We, as the UPND, have all it takes to save Zambia from running into a failed State. Our role in this regard is a common good for all of us in the House and the citizens at large. We, the UPND Members of Parliament, pledge to exercise this responsibility judiciously and with the necessary expeditiousness and alertness. Our pledge is to put our colleagues on your right on their toes and awaken them to the realisation that we shall not accept their massaging of our nation into a condition of a failed State.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Let me reassure the people of Nalikwanda and the Western Province in general that you sent us to the National Assembly to represent your interests in their totality and we shall do so.

Mr Speaker, let me conclude my maiden speech by restating the law of dialectics, ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: ... which state that what is common in nature in all aspects of life is the universality of the unity and the struggle of the opposites. The law applies to political life as well. The unity and the struggle of the Ruling Party and the Opposition parties is the nature of political life in a multi-party democracy. For as long as Zambia remains a multi-party democracy, as stated in our Constitution, the Ruling Party and Opposition parties are two sides of the same coin of a multi-party democratic system which we have chosen for ourselves as the ideal and most acceptable system of governance.

Ms Lubezhi: Quality!

Prof. Lungwangwa: What the law of dialectics teaches us is the principle that in a multi-party system, there can never be good governance if there are no effective, efficient and committed opposition political parties.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Civilised leaders in multi-party systems create conditions for effective functioning of opposition political parties.

These conditions include guaranteeing the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution to all citizens, a free and fair Judiciary system, protection and fair treatment of all citizens by the law enforcement agencies …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … such as the police, an impartial professional Civil Service, a free and liberally accessible press. Our role as Members of the Opposition, and the UPND in particular, is to instil in the minds of those who think otherwise that the existence of opposition political parties is a necessary condition of the governance system which we have legally established. Those who might be entertaining thoughts of a return to a one party rule …

Ms Lubezhi: Those!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … must understand and accept that the UPND, which is the largest opposition political party, is a sine qua non of multi-party democracy.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: The voices of the UPND in this House will be heard very loudly both within and outside.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, as the UPND Members of the House on your left, we shall strive to do what it takes to ensure that the ground for the growth of our multi-party democracy in general is both fertile and conducive at all times. If it means a continuous critique of practices which we consider anathema to democracy such as the case of the injustices evident from the just-ended general elections and the continuous victimisation of leaders of our party and the private media, so be it.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: We shall not sit and watch our country being turned into a distasteful dictatorship.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Equally, posterity will not judge us fairly if we do not instantly …

Hon. UPND Members: Quality!

Prof. Lungwangwa: … correct the actions of those …

Interruptions

Prof. Lungwangwa: … who are blind to the fact that their activities are leading our country into the condition of a failed State.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear! Tell them!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), to which we are a part, shall remain a pipe dream if, we, as today’s leaders, do not address the challenge of a failed African State.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: If we do not address that challenge, my grandson, who in 2063 will be thirty-seven years old and would have read my speech of today, will say that my grandfather was right.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech for the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly of Zambia. Such an occasion is a rarity. I am, therefore, most grateful for this honour and privilege bestowed upon me for the next five years by the people of Kabompo.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Let me commence by congratulating the Hon. Mr Speaker on his re-election as Speaker of the Twelfth National Assembly and also congratulate the First and Second Deputy Speakers on their election. I host no doubt in my mind whatsoever that they will execute functions of their office with diligence and efficiency. In addition, however, and perhaps more importantly, they will do so with the impartiality and independence …

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear! 

Mr Lufuma: … that is not only imperative, but also safeguards and guarantees democracy and good governance, as enshrined in the Constitution and as expected of the head of the legislative arm of the Government.

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, special gratitude goes to my party president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: … and his running mate, Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: … for not only adopting me, but also for their unfailing commitment, courage and resilience. Their vigil kept alive the spirit of democracy in the face of colossal and unprecedented adversity and animosity.

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the United Party for National Development (UPND) is the biggest opposition party. It boasts of this because of their vigil. My appreciation also goes to the party secretary-general and all the party structures …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: … starting from the branch, ward, constituency, district, provincial and national levels for the roles that they played in adopting me and for having put in their all to ensure victory. My campaign manager and the rest of the team are also thanked herein. The mother of all thanks goes to the people of Kabompo, who turned out in large numbers to cast their vote. Their overwhelming support will, in equal measure, receive overwhelming dedication and commitment on my part. I will work with them as their humble and faithful servant to improve our welfare and livelihood as a people of Kabompo. Finally, the support of my family, friends and relatives within and in the Diaspora and, especially that of my friend, partner and wife, Princess Sombo Ndungu, is heartily appreciated. At times, I wonder what I would do without this kind, humble, noble and inspirational lady.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, on the social and economic front of Kabompo and the North-Western Province, allow me to mention a few pertinent challenges that Kabompo District has and continues to face. In development, as in most other endeavours, it is not enough to have good intentions. It is said that faith without good works is doomed and …

Mr Mwiimbu: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: … so are the good intentions or pronouncements without actual deeds. I am referring to the present Government which is in the habit of making pronouncements, but without any follow-up action meant to fulfil the promises it makes.

Mr Lubinda interjected.

Mr Mwiimbu: Especially Lubinda.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the hon. Members on your right have continually stood up to claim that His Excellency President Lungu and his Patriotic Front (PF) are walking the talk. The question for us in the North-Western Province …

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Mr Lufuma: … is: Where do they walk the talk? Quite to the contrary, we have heard the loudest talk, but have quite honestly not seen the walk yet.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: What the people of Kabompo and the North-Western Province have seen and experienced is the blatant and undisguised inequitable distribution of resources …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: … and thereof, development. Suffice to say that what we have seen are huge craters in the ground, environmental degradation and an increase in malaria incidences without corresponding development in the North-Western Province. What we have seen are truckloads of copper and other minerals moving out of the province and pounding the Chingola/Solwezi Road to pup without corresponding development. What we have seen is continued joblessness, poverty and hunger in the midst of plenty. Indeed, “in the midst of plenty, the poor are hungry,” so the saying goes and so does it apply to the North-Western Province.
 
Mr Speaker, this state of affairs is unacceptable and must change immediately.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: Dununa regret!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, let me now talk about agriculture. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of Kabompo with literally 95 per cent of every household involved in this sector. Any poverty alleviation and employment creation strategy must, by necessity, begin with this sector. The Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in its present form, however, is neither comprehensive in scope nor sustainable. Only a few farmers are beneficiaries.

Mr Speaker, input supply is not only limited to the mono cropping regime, that is, maize, but also supply made inadequate while marketing without adequate feeder roads and satellite depots at sites such as Mbulundu, Maveve, Chikokwelo, Dikolonga and Chifuwe South to mention, but a few. A complete revision of FISP and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and an emphasis on research and extension is imperative if agriculture is to be the cornerstone of rural development and elimination of chronic hunger, poverty alleviation and employment creation in rural areas such as Kabompo. Agriculture should increasingly be a business with a strong private sector involvement as opposed to a political tool for mass mobilisation of votes by the Ruling Party.

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, agriculture by its nature must be supported by adequate feeder roads and bridges. The PF has failed miserably in this sector because it has not invested in feeder roads. As a result of this lack of investment, agriculture has not advanced in Kabompo or anywhere else in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the upgrading of township roads to bituminous standard, despite the numerous assurances by the hon. Minister responsible and the Vice-President at the time, no move has been made to try to improve the township roads in Kabompo District. We demand that this PF Government works on the township roads as quickly as possible.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about the college of mathematics and science. Kabompo is one of three sites earmarked for the construction of the first three of such colleges in the country. Although we are comforted by the assurance by Her Honour the Vice-President that Kabompo is one of such sites, referenced 14th October, 2016 during Her Honour The Vice-President’s Question Time, we await commencement of the project.

Sir, about the relocation of the provincial headquarters from Solwezi to Kabompo, Solwezi, like Livingstone, is at the far end of the province. It is highly congested with little room for expansion. Whereas it will continue being the mining and commercial centre of the North-Western Province, for a long time now, it has been requested that Kabompo be crowned the headquarters on account of the following:

(a) its central location in the North-Western Province;

(b) its abundant land area for proper planning and expansion;

(c) its abundant fresh water, as provided by Kabompo River; and

(d) the historical significance as a district vis-à-vis the incarceration of the first Republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, during the struggle for Independence.

Sir, hon. Members of Parliament for the North-Western Province, as elected representatives, authored a document to that effect during the Eleventh National Assembly of Zambia. The document is under active consideration by His Excellency the Republican President.

Mr Speaker, about the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project, perhaps the most acute of injustices to the North-Western Province is the inability by the PF Government to complete a single planned road. Of the six roads earmarked for construction in the North-Western Province, not a single one has been worked on.

Hon UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, currently a 176-km stretch of the Solwezi/Chingola Road takes six hours with a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle and more hours by truck. We, the North-Westerners, ask ourselves what is really in it for us if an economically viable road such as this, which is the lifeline of the Zambian economy, is in such a dilapidated state. We have seen less economic growth and even less important roads tarred. In 2013, Kansanshi Mine alone contributed 37.09 per cent of the total copper production, Lumwana Copper Mines contributed 13.7 per cent while Kalumbila Mine contributed slightly less. The total contributions were above half. In 2014, revenue to the Government by Kansanshi Mine was 32.9 per cent while Mopani Copper Mine, the second biggest producer, only contributed 11 per cent. This, by its own merit, should warrant the tarring of this road as a priority.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the road will be completely impassable during the coming rainy season. The contractors are owed lots of money, which has not been paid to date. We, in the North-Western Province, demand that this road be worked on as a matter of urgency.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, considering the time, let me now go to more substantive issues, and that is democracy and good governance. For fifty years, we have been seeking a good Constitution, one that will stand the test of time. To this effect, we have had one commission after another and what do we have to show for it? A flawed Constitution, ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: ... that is now the joke of the century. Zambia is a laughing stock in the region and the globe. Our Constitution has so many inconsistencies, lacunas, ambiguities and grey areas. One day, you craft a Constitution and two days later, you want to revise it. This speaks volumes about the country’s political system.

Hon. Government Member: That is not a factor.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Lufuma: Sir, the inability by the Government to listen to others, especially those seen as hon. Opposition Members and critics resulted into a poorly constructed Constitution with rushed-through amendments that are now wrecking havoc on the governance of this country.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the rule of law thrives when institutions of good governance are functional and effective. A collapse in these institutions necessarily leads to a collapse of the rule of law and an abrogation of human rights and social justice.

Sir, even after assenting to the Constitution in January, 2016, the PF Government still lives in denial and ignores it with impunity. The Constitution clearly stipulates that there shall be no ministers occupying office after the dissolution of Parliament. What do we get? The PF ignores that and leaves Ministers in place.

Hon. UPND Members: Shame! Look at them.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the Constitution clearly stipulates, under Article 104(3) that:

“Where an election petition is filed against the incumbent, under Article 103(1) or an election is nullified under Article 103(1), or an election is nullified, under Article 103(3) (b), the Speaker shall perform the Executive functions, except the power to:

(a) make an appointment; or

(b) dissolve the National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the spirit of these Articles is for fairness to prevail and avoid undue influence on the judicial system. This was ignored with impunity.

Hon. UPND Member: Shame!

Mr Lufuma: Sir, if this is not an abrogation of the rule of law, then what is? I should further state that failure to uphold and protect the Constitution by those sworn to do so, in this case, His Excellency the President, is an impeachable offence.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, furthermore, it now looks like there are two sets of laws, one for the PF and its sympathisers and the other for hon. Opposition Members and the non-aligned. Known PF cadres and criminals are let loose on the street without consequences. Secondly, markets and bus stations are under siege by known PF cadres at the exclusion of the legitimate owners, the councils, without any consequences. Thirdly, land is illegally alienated and grabbed without following laid-down procedures and this is without any consequences.

Mr Speaker, this situation is what we call chawahilaa kwa kusuma pembe kechi pembe kusuma kuwako, ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Lufuma: ... or in Nyanja chiwamila galu kuluma mbuzi not mbuzi kuluma galu, meaning it is justifiable when a dog bites a goat and not vice-versa. This means that the rule of law must be applied with the full force of law when it concerns the Opposition parties and sympathisers and never or, at best, selectively when the Ruling Party and its sympathisers are involved. The PF can do whatever it wishes to do without hindrance of the law. However, when the goat, which is the Opposition, defends its rights, it becomes unlawful, non-bailable and prosecutable.

Ms Lubezhi: Neighbour.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, whether we like it or not, Zambia is currently experiencing this state of affairs, a situation that must quickly be nipped in the bud before it spreads like cancer and engulfs the nation. Blatant disregard of the rule of law, especially by the PF officials and cadres alike, will jeopardise the apparent peace and unity we have enjoyed hitherto in Zambia.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, and the PF, as the Ruling Party, must take full responsibility to ensure peace and unity prevails in this land by immediately ending these double standards.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, under the PF Government, the schedule of our human rights, as provided for under the Constitution, is under siege. The freedoms of association, speech, information, press, assembly, movement and even dissent are all being trampled upon with impunity by the police and other institutions of governance. The president of the UPND, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, and his vice are prisoners in their own country.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: They are denied the freedom to associate and of movement. To visit relatives and friends in prisons, hospitals, markets and even burying loved ones is considered as breaking the law. Police brutality is something that we have discussed and an issue I would not like to repeat, but it goes without saying that it is rife and must be brought to an abrupt end.

Mr Speaker, media freedom is sacrosanct to democracy. The PF must stop muzzling and intimidating media houses into toeing its agenda. Instead, we demand that the access to information law be enacted and that the Government immediately works out a schedule of payments of the said outstanding taxes by The Post and immediately reinstate the newspaper to operate. Who does not have tax liabilities? The Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) all owe the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) taxes.

Ms Phiri interjected.

Mr Lufuma: Even the Government itself owes the mining companies colossal sums in Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

Mr Lufuma: In short, this should not be used as an excuse to curtail and muzzle media freedom.

Mr Sing’ombe: Hanjika, Mwata.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, I would like to say something on the referendum as regards the Bill of Rights, which was disastrous. Against all reason and advice, the PF Government went ahead to hold a referendum alongside the general election. This Government has this uncanny disposition and ability to look, but not see, listen, but not understand and talk, but not walk the talk. Needless to say, the referendum failed to obtain the necessary percentage to pass. Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), commonly known as Brexit, has set a precedence. If a government fails to pass a referendum, the Head of State must resign out of principle, as Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, did.

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, similarly, would you not agree with me that His Excellency the President and the PF Government ought, then, to resign on principle.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Lufuma: If you ask me, I think, they must resign.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Ms Lubezhi: Resign!

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: Go with your referendum. Resign!

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Before we proceed, I would like to guide the House, especially the hon. Members who would want to bring up the issue of the Constitution. The hon. Member who was just on the Floor was in this House when the new Constitution was tabled. He saw what used to happen and I want to believe that the Constitution, which this House passed, was heavily supported by both sides of the House.

Interruptions

Mr Second Deputy Speaker: Order!

When the House was tabling the process of enacting the Constitution we are talking about, we saw what used to happen in front of the Speaker. Those who were on the left side of the Speaker really wanted to see the new Constitution passed as soon as possible. Going forward, I think it is important that those who have been in this House longer than others remember where we are coming from.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Ema Speaker, aya.

The Minister for North-Western Province (Mr Kapita): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this rare opportunity to present my second maiden speech to this august House, the first one having been in 2001. It would be amiss for me not to congratulate, the Hon. Mr Speaker, on his well deserved re-election to that high office. I also wish to congratulate the two Deputy Speakers on having won their respective elections unopposed. May I, at this juncture, congratulate all elected hon. Members of this august House and, of course, like me, those hon. Members nominated by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Mr Speaker, I now wish to take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on their resounding victory in the just-ended 11th August, 2016, General Elections. I thank the Almighty God for anointing His Excellency the President and Her Honour the Vice-President to steer this country to prosperity for the next five years.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, may I now take this occasion to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for according me the rare privilege to serve in his Cabinet as Minister for the North-Western Province. It is a rare privilege, indeed, because while there are so many capable Zambians who could have easily fit into this position, His Excellency was convinced that I could add value to his desire to uplift the lives of the Zambian people, and in particular, the people of the North-Western Province, even though most of them did not vote for him and the Patriotic Front (PF).

Sir, I shall forever remain indebted to His Excellency the President and the PF Government for my nomination to this august House and the subsequent appointment as the Minister for the North-Western Province. To His Excellency the President, I say, “I do not take this appointment lightly and I know that I shall not disappoint him, but pledge to be equal to the task.”

Mr Speaker, since my constituency is now the entire North-Western Province, I wish to call upon my colleagues, the hon. Members of Parliament, who have been elected to represent our people in all their respective constituencies in the province, to hold hands with His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and I so that together, we can uplift the living standards of our people as we bring the much-needed development to our province. The elections are over and our people want to see development and improvement in their standard of living now, and not in 2021.

Sir, this is the reason I am inviting all hon. Members of Parliament from the North-Western Province to my office as soon as it is practical so that we can put our heads together and foster development in the province. We have a mammoth task before us and, therefore, we should not waste time politicking. If we continue along this antagonistic path, posterity will judge all of us very harshly.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, I know for a fact that the North-Western Province is endowed with numerous natural resources such as minerals, precious stones, oil and natural gas deposits. The province has arable land suitable for agriculture. It also boasts of exotic timber, organic honey and sufficient rains, to mention just a few. In terms of tourism, the famous Zambezi River, on which you find the seventh wonder of the world, originates from Mwinilunga in the North-Western Province, yet Zambia and the province itself have not exploited this asset to the fullest. I am sure tourists from the world over would like to visit and see the source of the Zambezi River, if we, as a country, seriously marketed it worldwide.
Mr Speaker, our biggest challenge is to prioritise what can bring immediate value in order to empower our people economically and consequently, reduce poverty in the province. It is for this reason that I applaud His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for his well-thought out speech to this House. The many issues he highlighted in his speech resonate with the needs the people of the North-Western Province have been demanding for a long time. Due to time constraints, I wish to comment on just a few issues which are agriculture, fisheries and livestock.

Mr Speaker, in his speech, His Excellency the President stressed the need for our country to diversify into agriculture and move away from dependency on copper.

Mr Speaker, the North-Western Province has the best climatic conditions, fertile soils and several perennial rivers. Apart from making agriculture a real business venture by the various interventions that have been planned for in order to uplift the living standards of our people, I am delighted to note that His Excellency the President is committed to the aspect of value-addition in all sectors, including agriculture. In this regard, under the able leadership of our President, Zambia will very easily create more than 1 million jobs. Undoubtedly, the North-Western Province will be the main beneficiary given the array of crops that can be grown in the various districts.

Mr Speaker, all efforts to diversify and grow the economy will come to nothing if serious interventions are not put in place to build infrastructure and improve the existing one. Therefore, I am delighted to note, for example, that His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has directed that resources be found to complete economically viable roads such as the Chingola/Solwezi Road, which has been a source of concern to all those that use it, including mining companies in the North-Western Province.

Mr Sichone: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: The hon. Member for Kabompo just talked about the state of this road, but I want to assure him that, in fact, money has been released to continue with the works on the road.

Mr Lufuma: How much was released?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Kapita: Sir, completion of this road will inevitably attract a lot of investment to the North-Western Province which will, ultimately, create jobs for our people.

Mr Speaker, it is also gratifying to note that the Zambia National Service (ZNS) has been tasked to construct and repair 10,000 km of feeder roads across the country. This answers exactly what my hon. Colleague spoke about. This will improve the agriculture sector, which is the main stay of our rural population.

As such, Mr Speaker, I want to appreciate His Excellency the President’s resolve to prioritise the diversification into the agriculture sector. In his speech, His Excellency the President highlighted measures to be put in place in order to encourage small-scale farmers and these include the following:

(a) discouraging the use of rudimentary implements such as hand-held hoes;

(b) acceralating mechanisation and making cheaper loans accessible to small-scale farmers; and

(c) introducing science and technology and investment in value-addition industries.

Mr Speaker, in order to achieve successful industrialisation and diversification of our economy from copper to agriculture, the Government is promoting the use of alternative sources of energy. This is also meant to ameliorate the power deficit due to poor rainfall patterns that have occurred in Zambia in the last few years. Some of these sources include solar energy, electricity from coal in Maamba and nuclear energy.

Mr Speaker, …

Ms Lubezhi: Boring!

Laughter

Mr Ngulube: Ema speeches, aya.

Mr Kapita: ... in this regard, the people of the North-Western Province are very thankful …

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: … for the PF Government’s resolve to connect the North-Western Province to the national electricity grid …

Interruptions

Mr Kapita: … at a cost of US$165 million.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: So far, Mwinilunga and Mufumbwe have since been connected to the national electricity grid.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: It is anticipated that all the districts in the province will be connected by early next year.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: With these developments, I am optimistic, Mr Speaker, that massive investment will be attracted to the province and consequently, many jobs will be created for our people, thereby improving their living standards.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, it is such deliberate economic interventions, as espoused by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, …

Ms Kapata: Aha!

Mr Kapita: … in his speech that should very easily create over a million jobs in the next few months.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: These jobs, Mr Speaker, will be in the following sectors:

(a) manufacturing;

(b) agriculture;

Mr Syakalima: One million jobs?

Mr Kapita: Yes, one million, Hon. Syakalima.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita:

(c) tourism;

(d) infrastructure development; and

(e) information and communication technology (ICT).

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, the Civil Service is the engine that is charged with the responsibility of implementing Government policies and programmes. In this regard, I am pleased to note that in order to enhance efficiency and professionalism in the Civil Service, the Government will introduce performance-based contracts.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Sir, as stated by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in his speech, this will go a long way in improving service delivery to our people. In my view, let every civil servant genuinely earn his/her salary by putting in maximum effort in whatever they are engaged in. Those who feel they cannot cope in this new dispensation should not frustrate Government policies and programmes, but instead tender their resignation to the Government.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, on the need to uphold peace, we need healing and a peaceful environment in order for us to develop our country.

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: To this end, I wish to, once again, appeal to all my colleagues representing all the constituencies in the North-Western Province …

Ms Kapata: Hmmm!

Mr Kapita: … to not shun my office of Provincial Minister.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: They will be fired.

Mr Kapita: The people who elected them expect them to deliver development to their constituencies.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: We have just heard from the hon. Member for Kabompo that our people need more schools, including a university, cheap agricultural loans, inputs and markets to sell their produce. They need hospitals, clinics and drugs. They need clean drinking water and most importantly, jobs and a good road network, including the completion of the Chingola/Solwezi Road, which is an economically viable road. These are the issues that will bring a smile on the people’s faces as they put food on their tables.

However, in order to achieve the above, Mr Speaker, the hon. Members of Parliament from the North-Western Province need to partner with the Government, through me …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: … and other Government ministries, in order to uplift the standard of living of our people.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Kapita: Sir, my colleagues must remember that elections are now over and the next election is in five years time.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, this is a long time and our people cannot afford to wait until 2021 for development.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: In any case, Mr Speaker, there is a famous and relevant Lunda adage which says, “zhakuwina hiya zhikuwelelang’aku.”

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Kapita: With these few words, Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Lubinda: What does it mean?

Mr  Second Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, you may explain what that expression means in English.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, I am very happy to explain what it means. It simply means that the number of mice that will come out of a hole, as a hunter sets out to dig with a hoe, is unknown. The number is only known when the mice come out. As it is, we can see what the PF Government has produced. So, we cannot wait for 2021 hoping that there are about eight mice in the hole …

Laughter

Mr Kapita: Mr Speaker, that is what it simply means.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Mr Speaker, may I congratulate you, Sir, and the First Deputy Speaker on your election to your positions.

Sir, I wish to thank you so much for according me this opportunity to address this august House on my election as area hon. Member of Parliament for Mkushi South Constituency.

Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank the President of our great party, the Patriotic Front (PF), who is also our Republican President …

 Hon Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa: … together with the members of the Central Committee for adopting me to stand for the position of Member of Parliament for Mkushi South Constituency ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa: … where I eventually emerged a winner.

Mr Chisopa: Sir, in the same vein, I wish to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and his running mate, Her, Honour the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on the outright win in the last general elections.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa: This, indeed, shows that the Zambian people have confidence in the PF Government and His Excellency the President.

Sir, may I take this opportunity to thank my wife and all my children for their support and the encouragement, which I received from them during the campaigns. I say, ‘Thank you so much.”

Hon. Government Members: What is her name?

Laughter

Mr Chisopa: Sir, I would like to thank the provincial, district, constituency, ward and branch officials and not forgetting the general membership of the people of Mkushi South Constituency, commonly known as Luano District, for their spirited and well-co-ordinated campaigns, which resulted in winning the seat under the PF Party.

Mr Speaker, may I also thank the local people for the confidence they have shown and bestowed on me. I want to promise that I will endeavour to work for them as their servant in order to achieve the targeted goals that are of great importance to everyone in the constituency, regardless of their political affiliation. I would like to thank my competitors for having taken part in the competition and advise that there can only be one winner at a time. It is now time to work for our people. I also want to assure them that their advice will be accepted, provided it is for the benefit of the people of Luano.

Sir, Luano District and Mkushi South Constituency, in particular, is one of the new districts which was established by the PF Government in order to bring services closer to the people under the Decentralisation Programme.

Mr Speaker, let me now focus on the many issues affecting the people of Luano. This district is slowly developing under the PF Government unlike what it was under the previous Governments. However, I must hasten to say that there are challenges such roads, agriculture, health, education, information and technology, social welfare, energy and youth empowerment programmes.

Sir, I will begin with the roads. First and foremost, I wish to thank the PF Government for sending the Zambia National Service (ZNS), under the Ministry of Defence, to work on the Mboroma/Mboshya Road which will connect Rufunsa to Luano District once the bridge at Chipaba and Lunsemfwa is worked on.

Mr Speaker, I must put it on record that this road did not exist. I, therefore, want to express my gratitude to the PF Government, under the able leadership of our Republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu for its construction.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Chisopa: Mr Speaker, once completed, the road in question will be a short-cut for the people travelling to and from the eastern direction of the country by either connecting to the Copperbelt or the northern directions. However, Luano District equally, requires a tarred road under the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. I am also aware that plans are under way for the construction of a road from Mpula to Masasa up to Old Mkushi and all the way up to Kabwe. This is in accordance with His Excellency the President’s vision to consider good road infrastructure as an economic and important component of economic development. Therefore, this is a very important road as it encompasses five constituencies, namely Mkushi South, Bwacha, Kabwe Central, Kapiri Mposhi and Mkushi North. So, I will visit the Ministry of Works and Supply soon so that we can see to it that this road is tarred.

Mr Speaker, we also need to work on the Old Mkushi/Chembe Road using the ZNS. I want to thank the Ministry of Defence because soon, the ZNS will move on site to start working on the road. This simply shows how the PF Government is committed to improving the road network system in the rural areas.

 Mrs Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa: Mr Speaker, Luano District is endowed with good land for agriculture in maize and other crops. It is in this vein that the people of Luano wish to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia for putting much emphasis on agriculture as an alternative to mining in order to ensure that Zambia becomes self-sustaining in terms of economic development and to improve the poverty levels of our people in the rural parts of this country.

In this case, I want to appeal to the hon. Minister of Agriculture to include Luano District in the e-Voucher Programme in the next farming season to ensure that the intended beneficiaries under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) are captured as opposed to the conventional way under which there are too many loopholes which allow pilferage.

Sir, when this is done, it will help to improve the livelihoods of our mothers and fathers, who are living in farming areas. They will be able to put food on the table, send their children to school and thereby, reduce poverty levels, hence improve the target of meeting the millennium challenge goals, as this has been the emphasis of His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa: Mr Speaker, Luano District is one of the beneficiaries of the 650 health posts that the PF Government introduced immediately after assuming power in 2011. The health posts have assisted in reducing the long distances the people of Luano initially had to cover to access medical facilities. Luano District received three health posts out of which one has been completed and is operational. The construction of the other two has not yet commenced, but I am happy to note that the hon. Minister of Health made an announcement that the remaining health posts will soon be worked on.

Mr Speaker, I am happy that His Excellency, in his speech, emphasised the need to ensure that health takes centre stage. I can assure the people of Mulembo and Liteta that the two health posts, which have not yet been constructed, will be constructed. The Government is committed to prioritising health services to Zambians and, we, the people of Luano, will lobby for a district hospital. It goes without saying that where there is a district, there must be a district hospital. As area Member of Parliament, I will soon engage the hon. Minister of Health to see to it that we have a district health hospital.

Mr Speaker, Luano District benefited when some schools were upgraded from primary to secondary schools. Those upgraded included Chikupili, Ching’ombe and Old Mkushi Secondary schools, which have since been completed and are functional. Apart from the above mentioned, we also have Luano Boarding Secondary School, whose construction is at an advanced stage.

In his speech, Sir, His Excellency the President reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to achieving universal access to education, particularly at early childhood and primary levels. His Excellency emphasised that education is fundamental in promoting skills development for economic growth and development. I would like to assure the people of Luano that they will not be left out in acquiring the much-needed education through the improvement and upgrading of more community schools into Government schools so as to improve the standard of learning because trained manpower will be required once this is done.

I want to take this opportunity to promise the people of Luano that on this score, I will not let them down as it is one of the reasons they sent me to this august House as their representative.

Ms Kampamba: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa: Mr Speaker, I am happy to mention that the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has carried out a feasibility study from Mkushi Copper Mine up to Chikupili/Old Mkushi/Lunsemfwa/Kabololwe/Nsokolo/Kanyesha to ensure that Luano District is electrified under the Rural Electricity Authority (REA). All we are waiting for is funding. As area Member of Parliament and representative, I will ensure that Luano benefits from the US$50 million sourced for power generation.

Sir, this shows that the Government of His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is ready to walk the talk unlike other political parties that were preaching Armageddon during the campaign period.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chisopa: Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for introducing the Social Cash Transfer Programme which is benefiting the vulnerable. This is the right way to go because this will have an impact on poverty alleviation and in the process, meet one of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr Speaker, a number of women’s clubs have benefited from women empowerment programmes. However, our target is to ensure that the number of beneficiaries under the Social Cash Transfer Programme is scaled up to improve the catchment. Luano is one of the poorest districts with the highest poverty levels.

My preoccupation, Sir, is to ensure that the women empowerment programmes are equally scaled up to increase the number of beneficiaries and to ensure that, at least, two or three youth co-operatives benefit from the empowerment programmes that the PF Government is undertaking in a quest to ensure that the plight of the youth is lessened through involving them in survival skills. This will help them venture into programmes offered by the Government, especially information communication technology (ICT).

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, all hon. Members of Parliament in this august House are part of the legislature, which is another arm of the Government. Therefore, I implore each one of us to preach unity, peace and love, which His Excellency the President has been preaching under the Motto “One Zambia, One Nation.” 

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

Hon. PF 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 1741 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 26th October, 2016.