Thursday, 6th October, 2016

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

SESSIONAL COMMITTEES MEMBERSHIP

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, in accordance with the provisions of Article 80 of the Constitution of Zambia and Standing Order No. 131, the Standing Orders Committee has appointed hon. Members to serve on the various Sessional Committees for the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly as follows:

Committee on Agriculture (8)

Mr B. Hamusonde, MP
Mr M. J. B. Ng’onga, MP
Mrs C. M. Mazoka, MP
Mr P. C. Mecha, MP
Mr S. K. Michelo, MP
Mr N. Mwene, MP
Mr E. Mulenga, MP
Dr M. Imakando, MP

Committee on Education, Science and Technology (8)

Prof. G. Lungwangwa, MP
Mr G. K. Mwamba, MP
Mr G. M. Imbuwa, MP
Mr H. K. S. Kamboni, MP
Mr S. Tembo, MP
Ms P. C. Mwashingwele, MP
Mr E. Machila, MP
Mr K. Sampa, MP

Committee on Lands, Environment and Tourism (8)

Mr E. K. Belemu, MP
Mr D. Mung’andu, MP
Mr F. S. Kufakwandi, MP
Mr C. M. Zulu, MP
Mr M. Jamba, MP
Mr S. Mulusa, MP
Mr J. Malanji, MP
Mrs M. C. Chinyama, MP

Committee on Youth and Sport (8)

Mr E. Sing’ombe, MP
Mr P. Kalobo, MP
Mrs O. M. Phiri, MP
Mr R. Bulaya, MP
Mr L. N. Tembo, MP
Mr C. Miyutu, MP
Mr H. S. Chansa, MP
Ms M. Lubezhi, MP

Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services (8)

Mr R. Mwewa, MP
Mr D. M. Kundoti, MP
Mr M. Mukumbuta, MP
Mr C. K. Mwiinga, MP
Mrs P. C. Kucheka, MP
Mr E. I. Chibanda, MP
Mr M. L. Kafwaya, MP
Mr M. K. Tembo, MP

Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs (8)

Mr E. J. Muchima, MP
Dr M. Malama, MP
Brig-Gen. S. M. Sitwala, MP
Mr K. Mbangweta, MP
Mr L. Nyirenda, MP
Ms S. B. Chalikosa, MP
Mr F. Ng’ambi, MP
Mr A. B. Malama, MP

Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services (8)

Dr C. K. Kalila, MP
Mr A. Kasandwe, MP
Mr J. Kabamba, MP
Ms A. M. Chisangano, MP
Dr J. K. Chanda, MP
Mr L. Kintu, MP
Mr F. C. Sikazwe, MP
Mr M. Mutelo, MP

Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs (8)

Mr K. A. Mukata, MP
Mr M. Jere, MP
Mrs G. P. M. Jere, MP
Mr C. L. Bwalya, MP
Ms E. Phiri, MP
Mr C. Nanjuwa, MP
Mr M. Nkhuwa, MP
Mr H. Shabula, MP

After I have announced the composition of all the Committees and the Public Accounts Committee has been approved by this House, any hon. Member who will find that he or she does not belong to any Committee should inform the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly accordingly.

I thank you.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

71ST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Kalaba): Mr Speaker, I am honoured to report to this august House that Zambia was among the 193 United Nations (UN) Member States that participated in the 71st Session of the organisation held in New York from 19th to 26th September, 2016, under the theme: “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Universal Push to Transform Our World.”

Sir, the Zambian delegation was led by His Excellency the Republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and the First Lady, Madam Esther Lungu. It also consisted of Permanent Secretaries (PSs) from the ministries of Foreign Affairs; Health; Commerce, Trade and Industry; and Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

Mr Speaker, this year’s general assembly marked the first anniversary of the adoption of the seventeen SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As you may be aware, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the supportive means of implementation reflected in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda call for, among others actions, the integration of the SDGs into national development planning and fiscal frameworks of individual member States.

Sir, during the general assembly, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to translating the SDGs into actionable national policies, plans and programmes. In his address, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, appreciated the important synergies of the UN Agenda 2030 and African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 on the developmental aspirations for the Africa we want. The President also spoke about the need for meaningful global development, and elimination of poverty, high unemployment, hunger and income inequality among the citizens of the globe. He further stated that the Zambian Government had implemented specific measures aimed at promoting industrialisation in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors in order to transform the country’s economy. In that regard, the President urged the global meeting to increase investment in agro-processing in developing countries, including Zambia, in order to enhance food production and value addition.

Mr Speaker, climate change has gripped all the nations of the planet and its effects on agriculture, energy production and water supply has proved that it is not a hoax. Zambia has not been spared by the phenomenon. It is in this regard that His Excellency the President spoke extensively on the subject and called for concerted efforts towards the full operationalisation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which is needed to mitigate the scourge.

Sir, His Excellency the President also informed the world body of Zambia’s efforts and progress in addressing communicable diseases, such as the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. He further informed the meeting about the positive regional interventions that are contributing to improved regional health systems through the strengthening of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Strategy on Pooled Procurement of Essential Medicines and Health Commodities. The Zambian Government has developed policies to ensure that our people benefit from these interventions.
 
Mr Speaker, in addition to the general debate, His Excellency the President participated in several other important meetings aimed at addressing topical global issues, one of which was the High-Level Summit on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. It must be noted that was the first time in the history of the general assembly that Heads of States and Governments convened to discuss the refugee and migrant crisis, and it was a unique opportunity for creating a more responsible and predictable system for responding to large movements of refugees and migrants. The meeting also adopted an outcome document that centred on five key principles in managing large movements of refugees and migrants, namely:

(a) prevention;

(b) protection;

(c) self-reliance;

(d) partnerships; and

(e) responsibility sharing.

Furthermore, Sir, the outcome document outlined a set of commitments for both refugees and migrants.

Mr Speaker, the summit was particularly important to Zambia because of the important role the country continues to play in hosting refugees from the region and beyond. 

Mr Speaker, on 20th September, 2016, Zambia was privileged to be among the twenty-five countries invited to participate in the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees convened by the United States (US) President, Mr Barack Obama. The participating countries were chosen on the basis of the significant contributions they had made to efforts to solve the refugee crisis in the world. The summit’s other achievements were that it galvanised significant new global commitments that included the call for increased funding to international organisations and humanitarian appeals, admission of more refugees through resettlement or other legal pathways, and increased refugee self-reliance and inclusion, particularly through access to education, legal employment and sustainable livelihoods.

Sir, in his address, President Lungu shared lessons on how Zambia has integrated refugees into the local communities, and successfully facilitated the safe and dignified repatriation of more than 200,000 Angolan and Rwandan refugees to their respective countries.

Sir, His Excellency the President, together with ten other African Heads of States and Governments, and a select group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of American and African companies working together to develop concrete trade and business opportunities, participated in the US-Africa Business Forum hosted by President Barack Obama.

Sir, as I earlier stated, Zambia has been negatively affected by climate change and that has led to poor crop yields and an energy deficit. I am happy to inform this august House that in recognition of the importance of addressing issues related to climate change, on 20th September, 2016, His Excellency the President signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change within the framework of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement deals with greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation, adaptation and finance, and is scheduled to take effect in 2020. By signing the agreement, the Government of the Republic of Zambia renewed its commitment to attaining sustainable prosperity, and safeguarding the health of our people and the planet.

Mr Speaker, as you may be aware, from 2016 to 2019, Zambia will be a member of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), a decision-making body responsible for peace and security in Africa. His Excellency the President was, therefore, among the African leaders who attended the High-Level AU Peace and Security Council Meeting on South Sudan. The meeting stressed the importance of taking advantage of all African capabilities, particularly the capabilities of Member States that would be ready to participate effectively in the proposed Regional Protection Force (RPF), to address the situation in South Sudan. The importance of that meeting cannot be over-emphasised, as Zambia is a leading contributor to peace-keeping forces on the continent. The House might wish to know that the meeting also noted, with concern, that despite its efforts, Africa continued to face serious conflicts and crises with devastating humanitarian and socio-economic consequences. In this regard, the PSC members appealed for urgent, stronger and concerted action in the area of conflict prevention, management and resolution; peace building; and post-conflict reconstruction.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President also held a number of bilateral meetings, prominent among which was with Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US Under-Secretary of State for African Affairs. During the discussions, various bilateral and multilateral issues of common interest were discussed. Additionally, His Excellency the President had fruitful discussions with CEOs of various American companies, which will lead to increased co-operation in additional development programmes and investment.

Mr Speaker, Zambia also participated in the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, whose objective was to increase political awareness, engagement and leadership, and strengthen multi-sectoral action on antimicrobial resistance. In the meeting, Zambia appealed for technical support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in strengthening surveillance systems to enable the country to identify global trends and make informed decisions, especially for developing countries. The country also reaffirmed her commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance, including through the development of a national policy, with support from WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in line with the provisions of the Global Action Plan. In a bilateral meeting on the side lines of this meeting, Zambia secured pledges of support towards the enhancement of its health sector.
 
Mr Speaker, during the UN high-level segment, Zambia, in her capacity as Chair of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC), organised a ministerial meeting for member countries in which the country was commended for her efforts in co-ordinating the activities of the group and steering its agenda. In light of the vulnerability and challenges facing the LLDCs, the meeting stressed the need for the implementation of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development through revitalised global partnerships.

Mr Speaker, it is clear from my statement that Zambia’s participation in the annual sessions of the UN General Assembly is of great benefit to the country, as it accords His Excellency the President an opportunity to confer with other Heads of State and Government, and key players on global issues on bilateral issues as part of the Government’s efforts to advance the country’s national interests. Furthermore, the participation of the Head of State in that forum gives Zambia a platform to influence discussions and decisions at the summit of global diplomacy.

Sir, I wish to emphasise that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, led by our very able President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will ensure that Zambia remains committed to the ideals and agenda of the UN, namely that of maintaining international peace and security; promoting human rights; fostering social and economic development; protecting the environment; and providing humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster and armed conflict. To safeguard and promote our national interest, my ministry will ensure Zambia’s continued high-level participation at that very important multilateral forum.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kalaba laid the paper on the Table.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, as I indicated yesterday, I will continue to relax the rule relating to interventions. Therefore, all hon. Members, regardless of whether they have made their maiden speeches or not, are free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement issued by the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, it was reported that during the President’s attendance at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in the United States of America (USA), he also held a meeting with the Assistant Under-Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. In the aftermath of that meeting, the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Mr Amos Chanda, issued a statement suggesting that Zambia’s recently-held elections was one of the issues discussed in that meeting. However, Mr Chanda’s statement was vague. Is the hon. Minister willing to share with us what exactly was discussed with regard to the elections?

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that brilliant question.

Sir, various issues are discussed in various bilateral meetings. Indeed, as the hon. Member has said, Zambia had just come from an election, one which had been properly conducted and declared credible, free and fair.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kalaba: Obviously, the international community was willing to learn from how Zambia had consistently managed to hold such elections.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President is reported to have said that climate change had continued to exercise our minds. What are we, as a country, doing to safeguard our trees, particularly on the river banks and those that are being used for charcoal, which has now become the mainstay of our people’s economic survival?

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, climate change is real. Therefore, President Lungu and everybody else on this side of the House have taken it very seriously.

Sir, although climate change falls under the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the issue has also cascaded to almost all line ministries. As the hon. Member has rightly pointed out, deforestation in our country is quite high relative to afforestation. That is why the Government is doing everything possible to reverse the trend. No wonder, we encourage all hon. Members to promote tree-planting in their constituencies whenever they go there. They should not leave the problem to the Government alone. This is a shared process and the Government is participating fully in various programmes on climate change. Like all other African countries, we must deal with this issue decisively.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the detailed and refined statement.

Sir, the President pushed for Africa to have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Given China’s support for that agenda, does the hon. Minister think we are almost getting that seat?

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I thank Hon. Mbulakulima for that brilliant question.

Sir, Zambia is a member of the Committee of Ten on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In this regard, the country has played and continues to play a very pivotal role in ensuring that Africa, which constitutes about a third of the membership of the UN, and given the fact that three-quarters of the work of that organ is in Africa, plays a very instrumental role in that body. We are cognisant of the role that China has continued to play in supporting Africa’s push to have a seat on the UNSC. We are making progress in that regard. We are comparing notes with other groupings that want a seat on the council and the negotiations have reached an advanced stage. It is hoped that with concerted efforts, we will get there one day. While the challenges may be many and formidable, they are not insurmountable.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chiteme (Nkana): Mr Speaker, let me start by congratulating the hon. Minister on his appointment.

Sir, should the political tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) escalate, how prepared is Zambia to receive refugees from there? Further, the hon. Minister has mentioned climate change. However, I did not hear any mention of irrigation in the speech by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Is there any plan to deal with that?

Mr Kalaba remained seated.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, you seem to be puzzled. Do you want him to repeat the question?

Mr Kalaba indicated assent.

Mr Chiteme: Mr Speaker, given the current political tensions in the DRC, how prepared are we, as a country, to receive the refugees who may come from there if the situation worsens? Further, the hon. Minister has touched on climate change in his speech and the President talked about developing the agricultural sector as a means of diversifying our economy. Is this country prepared to do that when irrigation was not even mentioned in the President’s Speech?

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, let me just guide the House at this juncture.

Firstly, your questions should be restricted to points of clarification on the statement issued by the hon. Minister. This is not a carte blanche opportunity for you to ask sundry questions on account of their touching on foreign affairs. Secondly, you are allowed to ask only one question on a statement.

Hon. Minister, please, answer the question.

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I sincerely thank you for the guidance that you have just provided.

Sir, Zambia is a member of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), of which the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR) are part. So, we have been playing host to refugees since time immemorial and are now accustomed to playing this role. His Excellency the President was chosen to be among the Heads of State who participated in the High-Level Summit on Refugees and Migrants in New York because he had experience to take to the table. However, I cannot say on the Floor of this House that we anticipate a bad situation in another country. Our duty is to strengthen bilateral ties with our neighbours and other countries beyond the region so that Zambia can benefit from the co-operation.

Mr Speaker, regarding irrigation in relation to climate change, the Government is implementing several interventions aimed at accelerating afforestation. I know that is one of the issues being dealt with by the ministries of Agriculture, and Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The President’s Speech did address that issue, albeit in a broader context. I know of several irrigation development programmes that the Government is implementing.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister highlight for us how Zambia will benefit from Africa being given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Are there any specific benefits that will accrue to the country when Africa finally gets the seat that everybody has been talking about?

Mr Kabala: Mr Speaker, let me use an analogy.

Sir, suppose you are at a funeral and have contributed mealie-meal like everybody else. Imagine also that after the nshima is cooked and served, you and one or two others are not given any. Surely, you would ask why. As I said earlier, a third of the members of the UN are African States and three-quarters of the work business that the UNSC deals with concerns issues on the African continent. So, the justification for our demand to have a seat on that council is obvious. It is very obvious that African countries understand it African problems better than countries from any other region. Therefore, the continent is best placed to advise the council properly and effectively on its issues.

Sir, I believe that answers the hon. Member’s question.

Mr Ngulube indicated assent.

Mr Kalaba: I am also sure that all hon. Members of Parliament agree that is how it should be. As a member of the AU Committee of Ten on the Reform of the UNSC, Zambia will push that agenda.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kasune (Keembe): Mr Speaker, I think the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs alluded to a discussion on HIV/AIDS at the United Nations (UN) Summit. I would love to know what some of the details of that discussion were because the hon. Minister just made a passing remark on it. My interest in the matter is born out of the fact that the HIV prevalence rate is very high in Zambia, yet almost 90 per cent of funding towards dealing with this issue is from external sources.

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, it is true that Zambia, like many other countries, has been adversely affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and several interventions are being discussed at different fora. The hon. Minister of Health can attest to that. As an affected Member State, Zambia would like to benefit from the global and continental discussions on new HIV/AIDS interventions and preventative methodologies being espoused so that our infection rates can come down.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, the major cause of global warming is depletion of the ozone layer, to which countries like Zambia do not contribute much, yet they are among the most affected. Therefore, were there financial commitments made by the industrialised world to help such countries in implementing climate change resilience and adaption strategies?

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that very detailed question.

Sir, these are some of the issues that we will discuss at the Conference of the Parties 21 (COP 21) and Conference of the Parties 22 (COP 22) to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, next month.

Sir, I agree with the hon. Member that Zambia and most African countries are victims of the distortions in the climate, yet they contribute very little to the phenomenon. Therefore, Zambia, under the umbrella of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and leaders on the continent, has continued to push for adequate funding to the GCF, which was set up not only for environmental adaptation, but also for climate change mitigation. The climate change discussion I said President Lungu was party to in New York touched on that fund. Even in Morocco, we will push for that fund because it will enable us to deal with the effects of climate change of which we are all aware. We know that we now have prolonged rainfall or dry spells, which are weather patterns to which we are not accustomed. Therefore, if finances are provided by countries that contribute a lot to carbon emissions, I am sure that we will be able to not only rise to the challenge of climate change, but still continue being productive.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, my question goes directly to the hon. Minister.

Sir, His Excellency the President, …

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Your question can only go to the hon. Minister.

Laughter

Mr Chibanda: Thank you for that guidance, Sir.

Sir, the President said that Zambia’s wish was to back a woman to take over as Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) at the end of Mr Ban Ki Moon’s tenure of office. Can the hon. Minister shed more light on that comment. Do we have any woman in mind to support?

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, you had guided that the questions put to me be on points of clarification on the statement I issued. So, I am unable to answer the hon. Member’s question because, in my statement, I do not remember referring to the issue he has raised.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Jere (Livingstone Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has referred to issues concerning refugees. Was there any resolution made to give incentives to countries like Zambia that have been hosting refugees from time immemorial?

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question.

Sir, there has always been help rendered to countries that host refugees under the auspices of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which will soon become a fully-fledged agency of the UN.

Sir, yes, the issue of refugees was exhaustively discussed and that was especially important now that refugees have become an issue beyond the African continent. The discussions focused on better ways of dealing with the refugee crisis because we are in a changed environment, which requires new methodologies.

In short, Sir, yes, incentives will be given to countries that host refugees.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

___________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr A. B. Malama (Nchelenge): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to deliver my maiden speech on the Floor of this august House. As I do so, let me join other hon. Members in congratulating you on your re-election to the honourable Office of Speaker. I also congratulate the First Deputy Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker on their deserved election to their positions.

Mr Speaker, I thank the Almighty God, whose great mercies have sustained me from my adoption, through the campaign period to today, when I stand here as a Member of Parliament for Nchelenge Constituency.

Sir, my sincere gratitude goes to my party, the Patriotic Front (PF) and its able leader, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for adopting me to contest the Nchelenge Constituency Seat on the PF ticket. Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, a visionary, brilliant and humble leader, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina, MP, on their sweet victory in the just-ended general elections. I would be failing in my duties if I did not pay glowing tribute to the lovely people of Nchelenge, who have exhibited their trust and confidence in me by entrusting me with the responsibility of representing them in this august House. I assure them that I will not let them down, but will diligently serve them all, including those who did not vote for me, but voted for others. Together, as a united front, we can forge ahead in facilitating the much-needed development in our constituency. Finally, I thank my family and friends for their moral and financial support.

Mr Speaker, allow me to highlight a few issues that are of interest to me, both in my constituency and in the country at large.

Mr Speaker, infrastructure plays a pivotal role in determining the overall productivity and development of a country’s economy, and the quality of life of its citizens. Evidence has shown that investing in infrastructure is one of the main mechanisms for increasing incomes, employment opportunities, productivity and, ultimately, the competitiveness of an economy. This is the reason I will work with the able Government of my party, the PF, in ensuring that the people in my constituency have access to good quality infrastructure. For example, I will ensure that the Nchelenge/Chienge Road, commonly known as Kashikishi/Lunchinda Road, is worked on to link Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Mr Speaker, constructing the Nchelenge/Chienge Road will boost economic activities in my constituency …

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr A. B. Malama: … and district by not only easing the movement of people, and goods and services between the two countries, but also linking rural communities and enabling them to engage in income-generating activities. The construction of this vital road should be done alongside the construction of township roads, which was initiated last year. The opening up of the feeder roads to our farming blocks, such as Kabuta East, Mwatishi East, Munkombwe and Mupopo, will yield multiple socio-economic benefits that will lead to a strong agro-based economy for our people.

Mr Speaker, the construction of the district hospital will immensely benefit the people of Nchelenge. To this effect, land has already been secured and awaits the ground-breaking ceremony to signify the commencement of construction. The people of Nchelenge have benefited from the 650 health posts that this working Government is rolling out countrywide. This will, no doubt, help in taking health services as close to the people as possible.

Mr Speaker, the district has only one boarding secondary school, hence the need to provide boarding facilities at the newly-built Kashita High School. This will go a long way in protecting our girl children, who have become vulnerable to various vices resulting from their having to rent one-roomed self-catering boarding houses in villages near the school. I also appeal to the Government to build houses for our teachers at Kilwa Island, Chisenga Island, Mantapala, Mukumbwa, Katuna and Kalilanshindo schools, which do not have teachers’ houses. Further, I appeal to the Government to urgently renovate Nchelenge Secondary School, the only boarding school in the district.

Mr Speaker, a lack of proper communication infrastructure is another challenge in Nchelenge, especially on Chisenga and Kilwa islands. In this regard, I implore our able Government to ensure that effective mobile communication infrastructure is installed across the country. I will, therefore, engage both the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) and the Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited (ZAMTEL) on how we can effect that process.

Sir, the other challenge in Nchelenge is a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation. I will address these during my tenure in this august House.

Mr Speaker, Nchelenge is endowed with numerous natural attractions ranging from waterfalls to the lake and other sites that can be exploited for tourism. It is in this regard that I will work with the relevant authorities to promote the sector so that both the country and our people in Nchelenge benefit from it.

Sir, with pleasure, I heard His Excellency the President refer to the need for economic diversification during his address to this House on the occasion of the Official Opening of the 12th Session of the National Assembly. It goes without saying that our nation needs to focus on tourism as a source of economic growth and diversification because the sector has the potential to bring about sustainable good economic returns and create linkages with other sectors of the economy. However, in order to reap those benefits, there is a need to improve infrastructure, such as feeder roads leading to tourist attractions and facilities at tourist sites. I have in mind Kundabwika Falls on the Kalungwishi River, which is a marvel to watch.

Mr Hamukale: Hear, hear!

Mr A. B. Malama: Mr Speaker, if harnessed, this tourist attraction and many others in the district can contribute to Government revenue, and create jobs for the people in Nchelenge and beyond. Further, I would like to see major improvements in infrastructure, such as lodges, at tourist attractions on Isokwe Island to support tourism activities in the district.

Sir, our country has enormous agricultural potential to not only feed itself and eliminate food insecurity, but also to be a major player on the regional, continental and global food markets. This potential lies in the country’s land, water, people, knowledge and huge markets. It is gratifying that this fact was acknowledged by His Excellency the President when he said the following on Page 6 of his Speech to this House on Friday, 30th September, 2016:

“The agriculture sector, fisheries and livestock will be the main focus around which other sectors of the economy will be developed in an integrated manner under the 7th National Development Plan. Agriculture will, therefore, be the major priority of our economic diversification agenda.”

Sir, given that policy pronouncement by His Excellency the President, I am hopeful that Nchelenge will benefit from efforts to make agriculture the mainstay of our economy, especially fish and livestock farming, which can be supported very well in my constituency. In this regard, let me take this opportunity to commend the PF Government for setting the base of economic recovery through the many developmental projects that are being implemented at different levels of completion. I pledge to the people of Nchelenge, the President of our party, and the entire leadership and membership of the PF that I will co-operate with them and work hard to facilitate the much-needed development in my constituency.
 
Mr Musukwa: Hear, hear!

Mr A. B. Malama: Sir, let me now turn to the President’s Speech and add my voice to the voices of many of my colleagues who have debated it on the Floor of this House.

Sir, first and foremost, allow me to commend His Excellency the President for delivering an inspiring speech to this House, which has focused on agriculture. Of particular interest to me is the fish restocking exercise.

Mr Speaker, the mainstay of our people in Nchelenge is fishing. Therefore, my desire is to engage the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, to set up camps for the department at Potolo, Kanakashi and Kashilu islands. This measure will improve fish stocks on Lake Mweru Wantipa, which is a fish breeding area, through more effective enforcement of the fishing ban by personnel from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA).

Sir, His Excellency the President stressed the need to expand the fisheries sub-sector through the development of aquaculture. As a constituency, we are delighted to hear this because we are a potential zone for aquaculture expansion.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr A. B. Malama: That will enable our people to breed and keep exotic fish, such as crabs and prawns, which fetch more per kilogramme than the local fish which we are used. In this regard, there is a need for massive investment in our technical staff at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, who will, in turn, educate our local people on how to apply agricultural innovations.

With those few remarks, I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chiteme (Nkana): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the Floor.

Sir, I would be failing in my duties if I did not heartily congratulate you and your Deputies on your re-election and election to your positions, respectively. Let me also take this advantage to congratulate the President and his Vice-President on the battle they fought and won. Further, may I also acknowledge the Lenje and the Soli people, who are the custodians of the land on which we meet. My respect goes to their elders, present and past.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Chiteme: Sir, I am sure that my predecessors in this House have found it a difficult task to find the words with which to express what a great honour and privilege it is to be elected to represent fellow Zambians in this House.

Mr Speaker, we had a long campaign period and an equally long wait for the results under the new Constitution. To be honest, it sometimes felt to me, as I imagine it felt to all Zambians, that this day would not come. However, the endless hours on the road, and the knocking on the doors and getting to know the people across Nkana Parliamentary Constituency, in particular, and the Copperbelt, in general, gave me the opportunity to reflect on why I had decided to contest my seat, and the amazing and humbling honour it was for me to have been adopted.

 Mr Speaker, it is my hope that I will never forget that everything debated or done in this Chamber goes out to touch human hearts and influence the lives of fellow human beings in the country. I am also aware that as I acquit myself in the work that I have undertaken to do for the next five years, I will either prejudice or enhance the prospects of the men and women who may wish to follow me in public service.

Mr Speaker, I thank the people of Nkana Constituency for having faith in me and my ability to represent them in this august House. Without their support, I would not be here. Therefore, I will not lose sight of this fact.

Sir, the people of Nkana are able to recover very quickly from setbacks. We genuinely care for one another across our wards, branches and sections in the community. We come together in times of crisis, such as now, when we have just lost one of our councillors. We all know one another and are willing to pitch in when someone is in need. We do whatever we can to help one another. I believe that I live with the best people in Zambia; people who will tell me when I am wrong and when I am right on both local and national issues.

Mr Speaker, Nkana has been marginalised for twenty years, but I would like to pay tribute to my predecessors for their commitment and dedication to serving the people of the constituency. I also thank Mr David Chibungo and Mr Martin Mbaya for their advice and guidance during the campaigns.

Mr Speaker, for us, the politicians, to know what we stand for and articulate that to the people, we must first understand who we are and where we come from. I am the fifth born child of Stephen Mupunda Chiteme and Elida Theresa Hara, who should have been in this House today. My mother spent a lot of her time encouraging me to be like my father and do better than he did. I thank her for instilling in me a strong sense of independence, feistiness and a desire to contribute to my community. I also thank her for being there for me and my family during the campaign period and for the sacrifices she had to make for me and my siblings so that we could have better opportunities. I know that I have made her proud.

Mr Speaker, I am proud to dedicate my election to this august House to my late father, a proud Lenje accountant like me. I am sure that he is looking down on me with a smile and that I have made him proud. May he rest in peace.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Munkonge: Landa boi!

Mr Chiteme: Mr Speaker, the values of equality, fairness, equity and justice that I received from my parents have guided me and will continue to guide me as I make decisions on behalf of the people of Nkana. I believe that most responsible people have these same values. My vision for our country is to champion these values in our interactions with one another and governance of this country. I envision a society that treats all people equally regardless of who they are, where they come from, how we relate with them, their colour, their creed or whom they worship. Our motto is, ‘One Zambia, One Nation,’ and I want my children to live in a tolerant world without artificial barriers.

Sir, I graduated from the Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS) in 2001, when most of my peers were leaving the country. However, I took my first job as a temporary employee at the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). The job was not glamorous and it paid pporly. However, it was still a job. Eventually, I left the country, not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Nevertheless, I have lived and worked in Nkana for over twenty years now. Now, I am here, in Lusaka which, although a fantastic place, is not Kitwe.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chiteme: Mr Speaker, I did not have to leave Nkana or Zambia to have opportunities. I chose to contest in the 11th August, 2016 Elections because I want to be part of those creating a future for Nkana and all the Zambian people. I always want to look ahead, not in the rear-view mirror. My motto is, “where there is a will, there is a way.

Sir, I thank my children for their understanding of what I do. I realise that I may not be around them as much as I would prefer, but I want them to realise that the dream is big and that they, too, can do anything. I appeal to them to do their homework and remember how important education is to their future. I want them to know that I love them all and that together we can.

Mr Speaker, I wholeheartedly thank my party, the mighty Patriotic Front (PF), across the various structures to the supreme body, the Central Committee, under the able leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for believing in my ability to represent the people of Nkana. This is a dream come true for me.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chiteme: I am thankful to the then Provincial Minister, Mr Mwenya Musenge, who gave me the confidence to contest the elections and priceless opportunity to work for the people of Nkana. I hope that I will prove him right.

Mr Speaker, though at a tender age, I have seen the best and worst of politics, but the latter has had the lasting impact. So, I did not offer myself for election easily. However, I had one advantage, that is, in my many years of lending a helping hand to the people of Nkana and campaigning in many elections, I got to know the electorate, albeit not everyone.

Mr Speaker, the comments I heard people make in the recent past election campaigns made me question my decision to run. The people said that we were all the same, that we were only in politics for ourselves and that even when we joined politics with the best of intentions, we ended up as badly and as corrupt as the rest of politicians.

Laughter

Mr Chiteme: I was saddened that the people felt this way about me and that they painted me with the same colour as those who had gone before me even though they did not know me personally.

Mr Ngulube interjected.

Laughter

Mr Chiteme: However, none of the comments came as a surprise to me, as I have been around politics for quite a long time. Nevertheless, I thought I should mention this because I hear stories of communities let down by their representatives on a daily basis.

Sir, we all know that politicians are not considered with trust and respect by the general public, yet it should be. We are human. Therefore, we are fallible and, at times, demonstrate poor judgment. However, over the years, there have been many examples of politicians who, because of being out of touch with the broader public expectations or out of deliberate choice born out of a sense of entitlement, have met or exceeded the cynical public perceptions of politicians conveyed to me by such comments. I know, too, that there are many in this and past Parliaments who have worked tirelessly to improve our country without seeking public recognition or media attention. Those are the ones whose work the media needs to promote, although I realise that would not be as interesting as divisive political commentary fuelled by ignorance and fear.

Mr Speaker, the work we do in this Chamber changes people’s lives. I am very privileged to know many of the hon. Members on this side of the House and I know that I am in the company of passionate, compassionate and talented people who are here for the right reason, that is, to serve the people they represent and make our communities better. They are people guided by good values. In this regard, may we ever remember that our ability to serve and desire to truly listen to the people in our communities is what will enable us to stay grounded, develop good policies and engage in meaningful interactions that will make a positive difference. The moment we forget how we came to this House and whom we serve; the moment our actions or inactions do not allow us to engage meaningfully with the people from all walks of life, not just our core base, we will live up to the perceptions of us echoed during the election period. I want to put it on record, as a reminder to myself and others, especially to the people of Nkana, that I will listen and do my best to understand. I will truly care and respect what they will tell me. We may not always agree on certain matters, but I will respect them. As a wise politician once said, “You can never keep everyone happy all the time. However, to treat people with contempt, to not have our doors open to them and to refuse to engage is a sure way of electoral defeat.” So, I want to continue to listen and learn from the people of Nkana as I have done during the election period. I was and will still continue to be helped by a group of passionate people who want positive and progressive change for the people of Nkana and Zambia in general. Without their help, I would not have been able to communicate and interact as broadly with the community as I am doing right now.

Sir, I am grateful to everyone who was involved in the campaigns, including the many volunteers who took time from their busy schedules to campaign for me. They are the true believers in what we do and who we are. My victory was the result of a team effort and the sum of all parts. I was overwhelmed by the support of the PF leadership in the constituency, wards, branches and sections, and I thank each one of them for having confidence in me. I further wish to tell them that it is not over yet. Our work has just begun and we have much to do together ahead of us.

Mr Speaker, being able to take up the ideas of my community and bring them to this House and the Government is a function of parliamentary democracy. Every day, we should be thankful for being blessed with a stable democratic Government since Independence in 1964. It is easy for those of us who have known no other form of government to take the amazing benefits and freedoms of living in a democracy for granted. Here, we can openly express our disagreement with the Government and form political parties for specific causes or communities without fear of negative repercussions.

Sir, I thank my staff, wonderful friends and my family. To Chipo, I say thank you for your belief in me and all you do to support my family. To Steven, my brother, thank you for telling me that our father would have been proud of my being a chip off the old block. To my partners, Nalumino, Richard, Paul, Curtis, Remy, Bahadu and others too many to mention, I say thank you for coming on this journey with me. It may not always be a straight road, but we will walk it regardless. To my fellow new hon. Members of this House, let us do today what others failed to do yesterday as we strive to achieve tomorrow what others did not do. Remember, we are a new lease of leadership in this august House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chiteme: Mr Speaker, allow me, now, to debate the President’s Speech.

Sir, in paragraphs 43 to 45 of his Speech, the President addressed the mining sector. With correct policies, we can retain and manage the existing mines and develop new ones that can be managed by the Government through partnerships with contractors, both local and foreign. Further, the relationships among the mine owners, the Government and mine suppliers need to be reviewed. There is a fallacy on the ground that mine owners give business to Zambian companies. However, the truth is that the so-called Zambian companies are owned and operated by foreign individuals. Therefore, we need to specify what a Zambian company is. Is it one that is so by virtue of being registered in Zambia or one in which Zambian citizens participate?

Sir, the proliferation of foreign nationals taking up jobs in the mining sector is a cause of concern to my people, as the foreigners are paid hefty expatriate salaries for jobs that can easily be done by our miners. There is also a need to come up with a better way of taxing the mines, other than the corporate tax. In the same vein, we can revisit the mineral royalty tax.

Mr Speaker, in paragraph 93 of the President’s Speech, it is clear that the policies that we took to the electorate articulated their priorities because the Government listened and understood what was important to them. Our people have a high burden of chronic diseases and few opportunities to access education. We have an escalating prevalence of chronic conditions, yet it is clear that better health care has driven down mortality rates. Better and targeted investment in preventive health services will further reduce the prevalence of preventable diseases. My people are very acutely aware of the importance of funding the health sector. So, the question is: Should health be a policy and funding priority? I strongly believe that it should. Similarly, the President says that funding education is important. Not only does one’s education level influence one’s health habit, but also determines one’s socio-economic status. So, if we do not invest in appropriate evidence-based models of education funding, we will tragically let future generations down. I heard our opponents during the campaigns say that they could provide free education. What a fallacy that was. If we cannot afford to invest in a proven model of funding for education that puts the child first and is need-based, then, we should not be in the Government. Need-based funding of education will result in families placing value on education and fewer children will fall through the cracks because they will receive the attention they need in our classrooms. In this vein, I will continue to fight for better investment in education for Nkana, in particular, and Zambia, in general. If we do not do that, we will set our country up for failure, as we will not develop the next generation to the level that will allow it to participate in the global market and have the skills for the jobs of the future.

Mr Speaker, we also have high unemployment and high underemployment rates, and low workforce participation. During my campaign, I gained funding commitments for infrastructure projects that will grow our local economy, create jobs and improve the living standards in our branches and wards. Unfortunately, not all of the projects can receive bipartisan support. So, there are priority projects for the local government, which is the level of governance closest to the people and a sector about which I am passionate. There are also projects in which the community wants to invest through public-private partnerships (PPPs), which will give them immense social and economic returns.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chilumba (Kalulushi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this rare privilege to make my maiden speech to this august House.

Sir, I stand before this honourable House not only as the ninth Member of Parliament for Kalulushi Constituency, but also the second female one since the creation of the constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chilumba: Mr Speaker, let me begin by congratulating His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on his election as Sixth President of this great nation. I further congratulate Her Honour the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, MP, on becoming the first female Vice-President of Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chilumba: Mr Speaker, I extend my gratitude to the many hon. Members on both sides of the House who have preceded me on the Floor of the House and made outstanding speeches. I also congratulate you and your Deputies on your election. I am confident that you will discharge your duties diligently and objectively. To my fellow hon. Members, I congratulate them on their well-deserved election victories. My job and yours begin now, as our constituents expect us to discharge our duties in a thorough and dignified manner.

Sir, to be elected to this House as a patriotic representative is such a great honour, but to be the only female elected hon. Member of Parliament on the Copperbelt in the last election is a historic feat and a personal honour.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chilumba: However, to be among the many women, past and present, who have shaped policies and contributed to the development of our beloved country through this House is simply breath-taking. It is a cause for celebration and an achievement that will inspire not only me, but also many other women countrywide, especially the girl children who will follow our footsteps  in this type of service.

Mr Speaker, as the new Member of Parliament for Kalulushi, I must pay tribute to the outgoing hon. Member of Parliament, Mr Rayford Mbulu, whose achievements in the Public Service were peerless. I am particularly grateful for his efforts, which took a number of development projects to Kalulushi during his tenure. He and I worked closely when I was District Commissioner (DC), and he was a wonderful man. On behalf of the people of Kalulushi, I thank him for the support, encouragement and all he did for the constituency. I intend to maintain the tradition of hard work and diligence he established in my unique style.

Sir, I pay tribute to the people of Kalulushi, especially to the most committed of them all. I would not have reached this place without their support. I am also grateful to my friends and family members who have seen me at both my lows and highs, but turned up for me and formed this remarkable bond.  My sincere gratitude also goes to my father, who I wish was here, but I know is watching from above. He would have been very proud of me.

Sir, I thank my mother for believing in me and making me the woman I have turned out to be. I also thank my siblings and children for standing with me without wavering. This is their victory. To the Christian community who prayed for me tirelessly, I say ebenezer.

Mr Speaker, I thank His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa, his invaluable running mate, Mrs Inonge Wina, and the entire Patriotic Front (PF) leadership for giving me the opportunity to work with, and learn from, them.

Sir, the people of our country have, once again, entrusted the PF with the mandate to...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, on the right!

Ms Chilumba: ... preside over the affairs of our country.

Sir, once again, I thank the people of Kalulushi for placing on me the responsibility of ensuring that this mandate for a transformational development agenda is taken home. I will take the message from this House to my people and ensure that the people of Kalulushi have a seat at the national development table. At a time when people’s trust in public offices seems to be eroding, I assure the people of Kalulushi that I will repay their trust by serving them both diligently and honourably.

Mr Speaker, do not think of me as being over-elaborate when I describe Kalulushi as an industrial district located on the outskirts of the vibrant economic landscape of the Copperbelt. The great constituency is home to many people employed in both the formal and informal sectors of our economy, that is, the businesses that have been the backbone of our economy. As I speak today, the majority of our industries countrywide are thriving and those in Kalulushi are no exception.

Sir, unknown to most people and, perhaps, surprising to them given the standard imagery of most Copperbelt towns, Kalulushi encompasses a significant agricultural precinct. As you drive past most of the farming blocks, you would be awe-struck at how much land there is in the constituency. You will also realise how much potential there is for Zambian farmers to spearhead the development of our beloved country.

Sir, Kalulushi Constituency has seen transformation in terms of development in the last five years owing to the good policies of the PF Government.

Mr Speaker, my constituency is fairing very well in terms of health services delivery, as evidenced by the completion of six health posts out of nine that were allocated to it from the 650 to be built countrywide. However, there is still a need to do more in that regard. Firstly, the Chambishi Government Clinic needs to be upgraded to a first-level hospital. That has been a major cry of the people of Chambishi in Kalulushi Constituency since time immemorial because serious cases have had to be referred to Kalulushi Central or Kitwe Central hospitals, facilities that are between 30 and 40 km away. This worrisome situation deserves urgent attention and I, therefore, appeal to the hon. Minister of Health to consider the plea of the people of Chambishi.

Sir, the second challenge is the topical Chambishi Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ). Despite the many pronouncements that have been made on it, not much has been done to match the expectations of the people in the area. I, therefore, appeal to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), to expedite the process of inviting businesses to invest in the facility. When fully exploited, the MFEZ will create the much-needed employment, especially for the youths, and, thereby, improve the living standards of the people of my constituency and the country at large. I am glad to note that one of the initiators of the facility, Hon. Felix Mutati, is the current Minister of Finance and I congratulate him on his nomination as Member of Parliament and subsequent appointment as Minister of Finance. My message to him is that the people of Kalulushi Constituency are still eager to see the maximum utilisation of the MFEZ. It is their hope that their aspirations will finally be realised.

Sir, the third challenge to Kalulushi is that, like any other constituency in Zambia, it still faces serious challenges in accessing youth and women’s empowerment funds. This has resulted in the majority of them wallowing in abject poverty. In this regard, I appeal to the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to reach out to my constituency so that the youth and women can accesses empowerment funds to invest in businesses.

Mr Speaker, despite the equitable opportunities created for more children to enter primary schools, there is a need for more secondary schools in my constituency owing to the growing population. Therefore, I appeal to the Ministry of General Education to upgrade some primary schools, such as Twiteka Primary, to secondary schools in order to enhance the absorption of children into secondary school. The upgrading of primary schools will further reduce the long distances covered by our children to the nearest secondary schools, thereby enabling them to complete secondary education.

Sir, water and sanitation are critical aspects of sustainable development. As you may be aware, a large part of my constituency is peri-urban, meaning that water supply and sanitation services are provided by established commercial utilities. However, the utility companies have serious challenges in meeting the current high demand. So, I appeal to the hon. Minister responsible for water and sanitation to urgently assist in improving the water reticulation system in my constituency to avert possible outbreaks of water-borne diseases. I further request the ministry to consider sinking more boreholes in the peri-urban areas of my constituency.

Mr Speaker, allow me, now, to make my remarks on the President’s Speech, particularly on pages 6 and 7.

Sir, Kalulushi Constituency is predominantly a mining area. However, owing to the low copper prices on the international market, some mining houses have closed their operations. Therefore, the call by the President for the country to diversify from mining to agriculture is timely and appropriate and the people of Kalulushi have embraced agriculture as an alternative source of livelihood. Therefore, I appeal to the hon. Minister of Agriculture, who is a female Parliamentarian like me, to increase the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) allocation to my constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chilumba: Mr Speaker, I reiterate the President’s sentiments on the need for us to make the agricultural sector the focus of our economic diversification agenda. Agro-processing offers many opportunities for triggering industrial development and the associated trickle-down effects on employment creation, economic growth and, ultimately, poverty alleviation.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Ms Chilumba: Further, Sir, despite the high demand for forestry products and the enormous potential for the sector in my constituency, it is far from being developed. I, therefore, appeal to the hon. Minister responsible for forestry to explore more investment opportunities in the areas of saw mills, carpentry shops, timber by-products, timber value addition, and timber transportation and marketing.

Sir, let me also comment on pages 17 and 18, paragraphs 23 to 75.

Mr Speaker, Kalulushi Constituency has a wide variety of attractions that can be used to promote tourism. Places like the Chembe Bird Sanctuary are marvels that need to be explored. So, I appeal to the hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts to provide the necessary facilities in such places so that tourists can be attracted, thereby contributing to the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Sir, yes, our nation has been ravaged by the negative forces of globalisation, falling commodity prices and power shortages, which have contributed to the economic slowdown. Despite these challenges, however, the people of Kalulushi remain steadfast in their confidence that this House and the PF Government will turn the situation around. I also remain confident that we will overcome these challenges through the economic transformation agenda that the PF Government is championing. The people of Kalulushi should be hopeful that the development of our town will be my primary focus.

Mr Speaker, the PF Government represents the ordinary Zambians, who have neither wealth nor power; the people who voted us into power, so that they, too, could gain recognition as valued citizens and have a say in their country’s future. The men and women who sang and danced, day and night, to Dununa Reverse …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Chilumba: … expect us to deliver and Kalulushi Constituency equally expects me to deliver results. So, we need to work and deliver for the ordinary Zambian. The PF Government has taken power to the people like never before and the next five years will be for consolidating those gains, as the President put it. The foundation has been laid. Now, it is time to start the consolidation process.

Mr Speaker, allow me to address the culture of asking, “What is in it for me?” We need to get rid of this cancer of only performing for selfish gain because it continues to cripple our society. Instead, we need to start embracing the spirit of togetherness through which our young democracy was founded upon. We can achieve more when we work together than in isolation. At this point, I am inclined to quote the Late American President, Mr J. F. Kennedy, who said,

“Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

Sir, we seriously need to change how we do things. For my constituency, I intend to lead from the front in this transformational dispensation.

Mr Speaker, our Government will not only provide opportunities for all to excel, but also ensure that every Zambian citizen embraces the transformational culture for a smart Zambia to which the President referred in his Speech. The next five years will not be a time for politicking, but for hard work. We want to create opportunities that will attract investment and jobs. To the people of Kalulushi, I intend to work for everyone, but more especially those below the poverty line.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I thank the President of the Republic of Zambia, who is also the President of the Mighty PF, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for according me the opportunity to serve the people of Kalulushi Constituency as Member of Parliament. I reaffirm my pledge to serve and represent the people of that beautiful constituency in an efficient, pragmatic and effective manner.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, I esteem it a great privilege and honour to address this House today.

Firstly, …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, on the right!

Dr Chanda: … Sir, I will deliver my maiden speech, then, contribute to the debate on His Excellency the President of Zambia’s Speech during the Official Opening of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, my full names are Dr Jonas Kamima Chanda. I am the Member of Parliament for Bwana Mkubwa Constituency and a medical doctor by profession.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, let me congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, a man of high intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional quotient (EQ), …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: … on his election as President of Zambia in the just-ended elections. He is a humble leader and has the best temperament to govern this country at this critical juncture. In the future, historians will write about how he managed to win two elections in eighteen months, an unparalleled feat in Zambia’s political history. I also congratulate Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Wina, a woman of substance and great humility, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: … on her becoming Republican Vice-President. Allow me to also congratulate you on your well-deserved re-election. My congratulations also go to the First and Second Deputy Speakers on their election to their positions. Finally, I congratulate my fellow hon. Members of Parliament in this august House on their election and nomination as the people’s representatives. It is obvious that the composition of this House has greatly changed, both demographically and substantially. I, therefore, look forward to very progressive and meaningful debates as we aim to serve the great people of Zambia.

Sir, I thank the Almighty God by whose mercies I stand here as the servant and messenger of the people of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency. I also thank my late father, hero and mentor, Mr Pascal Chanda, may his soul rest in peace. He is the one who raised me and any good that might be evident in me, I owe to him. I believe that he is looking down on me with pride this afternoon. I equally thank my mother, who cares and prays for me daily.

Mr Speaker, I am thankful to my wife, Sophie, who has walked the journey of life with me for many years, both in Zambia and abroad.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Sir, my gratitude also goes to my daughter, Tasha, for understanding me even when I danced to Dununa Reverse.

Laughter

Dr Chanda: Sir, I thank my brothers and sisters, who are my pillars of strength and support.

Mr Speaker, let me also thank the leadership of the Patriotic Front (PF), President Lungu and the Central Committee for adopting me as a Parliamentary candidate when there were so many other applicants who were available for the job. In the same vein, I thank the PF provincial, district, constituency, ward and branch leaderships for their tireless efforts in ensuring that we deliver a mandate for the PF Government. I further commend my campaign manager, Mr Fabian Selembe, and the whole campaign team for tirelessly working to support me. My gratitude also goes to our late President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace, the great man who introduced me to party politics while I was based in Botswana. He eventually appointed me Fundraising Chairperson and General Liaison for the Party Abroad when we were still in the Opposition.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, let me also thank my predecessor, Mr Emmanuel Chenda. He did his part and I am picking up from where he left off.

Sir, lastly, but not the least, let me thank the great people of all the seven wards of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency for the overwhelming support they gave me. As you know, Bwana Mkubwa is Swahili for ‘big boss.’ In my case, the big bosses are the people of Bwana Mkubwa and I will serve them to the best of my ability.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Sir, Bwana Mkubwa Constituency is home to almost the entire industrial area of Ndola and hosts such key companies as Indeni Petroleum Refinery Limited, Tanzania Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipeline, Chilanga Cement Plc, Ndola Lime Company Limited, the recently-closed Bwana Mkubwa Copper Mine and, partially, Dangote Cement Zambia Limited. Further, whenever you alight at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, you should know that you are in my constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, Bwana Mkubwa Constituency also hosts the Zambia Army’s Tug-Argan Barrack and the famous Mushili Commando Unit.

Mr Speaker, we have challenges in the constituency that will need to be addressed and will be my focus during the time I will be allowed to serve in this House.

Sir, sadly, most of the manufacturing industries in Ndola collapsed in the 1990s, the era of the economic shock therapy of wholesale privatisation programmes by previous Governments that led to mass unemployment and suffering among the residents, who had mostly worked in those companies. The economy of Ndola, the entire Copperbelt Province and the country at large was adversely affected as such household manufacturing companies as Colgate Palmolive (Zambia), where I worked in the tube line section as a school leaver, Dunlop Zambia Limited, which manufactures tyres, Ndola Copper Refinery, Vitafoam Zambia Limited, Furncoz, Roap, Lever Brothers and Swap Spinning Mills collapsed almost overnight, leaving the constituency and Ndola town almost a ghost town.

Sir, the people of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency are hopeful that the PF Government’s industrialisation policy will revive the manufacturing sector. We aim to see the goods manufactured in Zambia with the label ‘Proudly Made in Zambia’ dominate our retail shops. We can also export some of those products. Hopefully, some of them will be labelled “Made in Bwana Mkubwa’.

Mr Speaker, we have other developmental challenges in my constituency. Topping the list are poor road infrastructure and drainage. In fact, Bwana Mkubwa is the least developed of the four constituencies of Ndola District. Until recently, Itawa Ward was the only one out of seven that had tarmac roads. I thank God that the PF Government became the first since Independence to construct three tarmac roads in Mushili. However, more needs to be done, and the expectations of the people are very high. Even such economically important roads, such as the Chiwala Road, which goes to Dangote Cement Zambia Limited, Chilanga Cement Plc, Zambezi Portland Cement and Ndola Lime Company Limited, are in a terrible and hazardous state. Further, the road to Kantolomba Cemetery has remained untarred since the cemetery was opened in the 1970s, and the mourners’ shelters are continually being vandalised.

Sir, poor drainage leads to recurrent flooding of houses in my constituency during the rainy season. So, I will fervently lobby the Ministry of Transport and Communication to increase the allocation of roads to Bwana Mkubwa Constituency under the Link Zambia 8,000 Kilometre Road Project and the Copperbelt 400 Kilometre Road Project (C 400) to modernise that very important industrial hub in Ndola.

Mr Speaker, we also have challenges in the health sector in Bwana Mkubwa. With a population estimated at over 100,000, the constituency lacks even a basic public health centre with maternity services. In the two biggest wards, Mushili and Itawa, with huge population densities, the only clinics there do not have maternity services. That hurts me, as a medical doctor, and I am sure it also hurts the hon. Minister of Health, who is a medical doctor too, as pregnant women have to travel long distances even at night to give birth at Masala and Lubuto clinics in Kabushi Constituency. That has, in turn, resulted in high maternal and infant mortality rates, which are avoidable. Therefore, this is a very critical issue for the residents of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency, who expect the PF Government to provide critical health services. Luckily, the Government has just started the construction of a health centre in Mushili Township, where I grew up. However, it is too small relative to the massive health needs of that densely populated constituency. So, I will engage the Ministry of Health on the need to expand the health centre to the minimum of a mini hospital, as has happened in Lusaka or, preferably, a district hospital to serve the entire southern region of Ndola so as to relieve the pressure from the overwhelmed Ndola Central Hospital. Ndola Lime and Chilanga Cement, which are private companies, are also helping with the construction of a new clinic in Ndeke Township, which will also need further upgrading, while a community clinic in Munkulungwe and two rural health posts are awaiting equipment and staff from the ministry.

Mr Speaker, when I started secondary school, thirty years ago, there was no secondary school in Mushili Township. So, I had to trek long distances daily for twelve years to access primary and secondary school education. Many of my friends quit school along the way. Sadly, the situation is still the same today. The only Government secondary school in the entire constituency is an upgraded basic school in Ndeke, yet, as we all know, education is the great equaliser in life. If young people do not have access to primary and secondary school education, then, they are condemned to a life of poverty and menial jobs. So, I hope to work closely with the Ministry of General Education on this challenge, which is the sole determinant of upward social mobility for poor children. I also call upon private companies in the constituency to supplement Government efforts by emulating such former great businessmen of Ndola as the late Mr Abraham Mokola of Furncoz and Vita Foam and the late Mr Pat Puta of Copper Harvest, may their souls rest in peace, who supported my former school, Masala Secondary, and others by sponsoring awards for the best performing students during prize-giving day ceremonies, school educational tours for students and rewards for teachers with the highest pupil pass rates. That was an incentive for them to perform even better.

Mr Speaker, water and sanitation is a huge challenge in my constituency. We have leaky pipes and frequent water shortages. So, I hope to engage Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company and the newly created Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Environmental Protection to address this critical challenge.

Mr Speaker, one of the biggest challenges in Bwana Mkubwa Constituency is land allocation, which is riddled with corruption. The first determinant of how far any country can go is discipline. Unfortunately, there has been so much indiscipline in the land sector that despite the former hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing, Mr Steven Kampyongo, issuing a statement banning the allocation of plots in unserviced areas, the ban has been ignored with impunity. I, therefore, appeal to the ministries of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, and Local Government and Housing to put their foot down and order the councils to bring sanity in that area.

Mr Speaker, some of my wards are rural-based and we are very grateful to the President for the ministries of Fisheries and Livestock, and Agriculture, which are at the core of the diversification effort. Our people look forward to benefiting from services offered by those ministries.

Sir, two other challenges I will talk about are the legalisation of illegal settlements and provision of title deeds for former company houses. My constituency has illegal settlements, some of which have existed since or before Independence, and I think that it is time the Government looked at the plight of the people and legalised and redesigned some of the settlements.

Mr Speaker, let me, now, contribute to the debate on the Speech made by the President of Zambia during the Official Opening of Parliament on 30th September, 2016, the theme of which was “Building an Integrated Multi-Sectoral Approach to Development ―”

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was contributing to the debate on the President’s Speech, whose theme is, “Building an Integrated Multi-Sectoral Approach to Development that Enhances Inclusiveness without Leaving Anyone Behind.” This is the perfect continuation to the President’s 2015 Address to Parliament, in which he called on the country to embrace a transformational culture for a smart Zambia.

Sir, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Lungu, said:

“At the stroke of midnight on 24th October, 2064, Zambia should awaken to one undeniable truth and reality that ours was a generation of achievers, a generation of men and women who, propelled by the energy of patriotism, changed this country forever.”
 
Mr Speaker, it is important to understand the background to Zambia’s economic challenges, most of which are historical, as they have been with us since Independence.

Sir, Zambia has always been a single commodity-driven economy, with copper mining accounting for over 80 per cent of foreign exchange earnings and the largest contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) because previous governments have not done much to diversify the economy. Therefore, our economic booms and bursts have always been determined by the price of copper, which is determined by external factors at the London Metal Exchange (LME) even though London does not produce any copper. So, Zambia’s economy has lacked the resilience to withstand the external shocks that negatively affect prices of commodities like our minerals. Similarly, despite a growing demand for energy due to a growing population and industry activity, the Governments that preceded the PF did not make efforts to diversify the energy sector from a purely hydro electricity grid system to clean renewable energy sources. In this regard, I refer my fellow hon. Members of this House to the 2015 Annual Economic Report released by the Ministry of Finance in March, 2016, which explains the economic headwinds Zambia faced in 2015 due to both internal and external factors.

Mr Speaker, in response to all the challenges that Zambia faces, His Excellency President, Mr Edgar Lungu, announced some key policy measures that included stabilising the macro-economic situation by implementing austerity measures, with the objectives being the achievement of double-digit GDP growth, a single-digit inflation rate, and increasing and broadening domestic revenue collection, including through the collection of taxes from the Post Newspapers on Bwinjimfumu Road.

Laughter

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, the President clearly stated that agriculture and industrialisation are at the core of the diversification of the economy by the PF Government. That is married to job creation. I hope that my industrial area in Bwana Mkubwa Constituency will greatly benefit from the industrialisation effort because as we industrialise, we create more jobs, and reduce unemployment and poverty.

Mr Speaker, let me talk about a very important issue that the President raised; democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

Mr Speaker, the President has continued to emphasise the all-important motto of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ that our founding fathers and mothers adopted at the founding of this great nation fifty-two years ago this month. That motto has made Zambia an oasis of peace and stability in the midst of a volatile and turbulent region. No wonder, the country hosted liberation movements and refugees from war-torn neighbouring and distant countries, which was the reason the President was invited by President Barack Obama to attend the international conference on refugees. However, lessons from history show that we should never take our peace and unity for granted. Instead, we should guard them jealously. I have had the privilege of living and working in two previously civil war-torn countries, namely Nigeria, where there was the Biafra War, and Rwanda, where there was genocide in 1994. The consequences of civil strife in those two countries have been too ghastly to contemplate even for the extremist media houses and their political allies who propagate hate speech as a political tool and break the law with impunity.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, I urge Zambians to reject those who wish to divide us on the basis of tribe or region.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: There is no Bemba Zambia, Tonga Zambia, Nyanja Zambia or Lozi Zambia.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: There is only one Zambia and one nation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, there is no North-eastern Rhodesia and North-western Rhodesia anymore.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, let me conclude by quoting the great Nelson Mandela:

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.’

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chanda: Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate. I will start by delivering my maiden speech and, then, comment on the President’s Speech.

Sir, it is with great pride that I stand before all of you to deliver my maiden speech and express my appreciation of the speech delivered to this august House by His Excellency the Sixth President of Zambia, Mr Chagwa Lungu.

Mr Speaker, firstly, I congratulate you and your hon. Deputies on your election. I also congratulate all my fellow elected and nominated hon. Members of Parliament on making it to this noble House. I am privileged to be a member of this august House, whose affairs you will guide with your usual wisdom and alacrity, the two virtues that earned you a second term of office. The race to this point was not easy for us and, having won it, I urge everyone of us to always remember that the electorates are our employers and that we must strive to fulfil the promises we made to them. We shall endeavour, at all times, to emulate His Excellency our beloved President, Mr Chagwa Lungu, by walking the talk and delivering on those promises.

Sir, I am humbled and highly favoured to be one of the 156 people privileged to be hon. Members of Parliament of the Republic of Zambia, out of a population of over 13 million. I will, therefore, accord this privilege the respect, honour, integrity and loyalty it demands during my five-year tenure as Member of Parliament for Mufulira.

Mr Speaker, the interests of the people of Mufulira rest squarely on my shoulders. However, I am confident that I will be equal to the task and serve them humbly and diligently.

Sir, I thank the President of our great party, the Patriotic Front (PF), and all the party structures for adopting me to contest the Mufulira Parliamentary Seat on the PF ticket in the just-ended general elections.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Chibanda: Mr Speaker, my special thanks also go to my family for standing tall with me to this great moment. I also thank the church in Mufulira for praying for me as we headed for the elections. I would be failing in my duties if I did not equally pay special tribute to the party cadres who delivered a sweet victory to the party.

Sir, the people of Mufulira have full hope and confidence in me as their Member of Parliament and I will work with the Government to transform their living standards. Mufulira has been the bedrock of the PF since 2006, and has had a fair share of infrastructure development from the time our great party formed Government. However, much more needs to be done in terms of human empowerment.

Mr Speaker, Mufulira is a partially rural constituency that has not benefitted from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and I witnessed a lot of ignorance about that programme during the campaigns. Therefore, there is a need for me to escalate its implementation in my area with a view to encouraging my people to venture into agriculture.

Sir, the economic mainstay of Mufulira Town is copper mining. Unfortunately, its people have not benefitted much from the natural wealth that God gave them, especially since the privatisation of Mopani Copper Mines Plc. The mine has not done much in terms of its corporate social responsibility. I am thankful for what it has done, so far, but much more needs to be done by the mine in empowering the community to the same extent that the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) did. I just concluded my Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research on the impact of corporate social responsibility of the Zambian copper mines on the community and how it has benefitted them and the community at large. The research was done at Mopani Copper Mines Plc and reviewed what the mines had done for the community in education, health and the social aspect. The results, like I have already said, showed that more needs to be done. I thank Mopani Copper Mines Plc for the information given to me during my research.

Sir, the Government must persuade the mines to do more for the community. As the people of Mufulira, we have not benefitted from doing business with the mines, as 90 per cent of the supply and contractual jobs have continued to be externalised to foreign organisations. So, we request the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to consider passing laws that will compel the mining houses to ask all the foreign companies they do business with to be domiciled in the mining towns because we feel that will create employment for the locals and, generally, take infrastructure and the social development to our towns. That, in the long run, will compel the mining houses to pay the companies with which they do business through our local banks, whether in foreign currency or Zambian Kwacha. That will relieve the pressure on our beloved local currency.

Mr Speaker, the people of Mufulira want the Government to consider upgrading the Mokambo Border Post into a modern one-stop border post in order to enhance revenue collection. Export goods meant for other countries have started using the border post en route to Tanzania through the Pedicle Road, which is a shorter route to the Northern Circuit. Even our colleagues from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have high volumes of traffic entering into their country through that border post.

Mr Speaker, I would be failing in my duty if I did not remind my able hon. Minister of Works and Supply to expedite the commencement of works on the Ndola/Mufulira Road, which is in a bad state despite being of great economic value to the country, as it is used by many of the trucks that transport copper to export markets and is also the shortest route to the Northern Circuit.

Sir, I pray to God Almighty that the Twelfth National Assembly will greatly enhance the wellbeing of mother Zambia. Allow me, now, to quickly turn to the speech delivered by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia on 30th September, 2016.

Sir, in his speech, the President said that the Government’s focus for the next five years would be to achieve a resilient and diversified economy. It is my hope that this will not only be for mother Zambia, in general, but also for the people of Mufulira Constituency, in particular. The President has encouraged us to direct our efforts to diversifying the economy from its over-dependence on copper mining to one that is based on agriculture, and livestock and fisheries. Priority will be placed on industrialising the economy in a bid to create more jobs and alleviating poverty through wealth creation. That will give all the people of Zambia an opportunity to have their fair share of the national cake.

Mr Speaker, the President has stressed the importance of adding value to the raw materials in order to increase exports and reduce imports. Zambia is seen by some as a landlocked country. As an optimist, I choose to see the country as a regional gateway to the north, south, east and west. Our strategic place makes us the potential hub of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sir, I concur with the theme of the President’s Speech, which is: “Building an Integrated Multi-Sectoral Approach to Development that Enhances Inclusiveness in Development without Leaving Anyone Behind.”

Mr Speaker, I commend His Excellency, for the establishment of the Ministry of Development Planning, which is designed to complement the different ministries and discourage isolated project implementation.

Mr Speaker, as regards the macro-economic situation, the President’s undertaking to build greater investor confidence by ensuring that macro-economic policies remain consistent and predictable will definitely have a positive impact on the mining sector, an industry from which the majority of my people in Mufulira Constituency earn their livelihood.

Sir, agriculture and industrialisation are very close to my heart because a large area of my constituency is peri-urban. I will, therefore, focus on encouraging my people to venture into agriculture and lessen their dependency on mining. The President has stated that agriculture will be a major priority for economic diversification in order to make it a real venture for small-scale farmers. In this regard, I urge the line ministries to ensure that all Zambians benefit from FISP. It is also imperative that small-scale farmers are trained in value addition, such as processing of groundnuts into peanut butter and sunflower seeds into cooking oil, as stated by the President.

Mr Speaker, the President’s resolve to attract investment in farm mechanisation, and promote science and technology to stimulate production is a welcome measure, as it will lead to higher volumes of production. That will, in turn, lead to increased earnings for small-scale farmers. Recently, the Town Clerk of Mufulira Municipal Council announced that a huge area of virgin land had been earmarked for demarcation into smallholdings. I am, therefore, confident that the President’s directive will guide the Ministry of Development Planning in ensuring that the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP) is premised on the multi-sectoral approach so that the diversification programme can be achieved. I also encourage the Government to consider, as a tool for development, the promotion of the formation of co-operatives by making the benefits attractive to their members.

Mr Speaker, the pronouncement by the President to develop an industrialisation policy is highly appreciated. The target of creating 1 million jobs through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in growth areas like manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, and information and communication technology (ICT) should be extended to cover the people of Mufulira Constituency. The promotion of an environment conducive for the creation of a productive relationship between the mines and mine suppliers, I must agree, will greatly contribute to the growth of medium and small-scale entrepreneurs.

Sir, on energy, it is, indeed, no secret that the current grid-based electricity supply system in Zambia is under great stress, as outlined by the President in his Speech. Coming from a constituency that is located in a mining town, it is my plea that the Government urges the mining sector to urgently invest in the development of alternative sources of energy. By developing their own sources of energy, the mining sector, which consumes a huge percentage of power in the production and refining of copper ore, will depend less on the national grid and that will, in turn, relieve the stress on the grid and leave more power available to the domestic, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), such as barbershops and welding workshops. Therefore, the launch of the Scaling Solar Project by the Government is welcome, as it will be greatly beneficial to the Zambian business sector.

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about the creative and recreation industry. Following the President’s directive, the Tourism Development and Investment Corporation (TDIC) was established as a subsidiary of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The corporation is a special purpose vehicle for public investment in the tourism sector. In light of that, Mufulira can become a gateway to the Northern Tourism Circuit. Luapula and the Northern provinces are endowed with over nineteen waterfalls, the Mwelwa Rocks, the world’s largest bat migration and the beautiful Samfya beaches, to name, but a few tourist attractions. We have relied too much on the mighty Victoria Falls in Livingstone, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, for tourism promotion. So, it is high time we refocused our tourism promotion on selling Luapula and the Northern provinces to Zambians in other regions.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chibanda:  Mr Speaker, I now turn to infrastructure development.

Sir, the announcement by the President that his Government would ensure that Zambia had adequate modern and well-functioning social and economic infrastructure, including housing, roads and airports, is music to my ears because, for a long time, the Ndola/Mufulira Road has remained in a dilapidated state. The amount of time and resources that will be saved by rehabilitating that road is enormous because it cannot only be used to boost the domestic tourism to the Northern Circuit, but also to easily and cheaply transport agricultural products and goods to the DRC and the Northern Circuit. I, therefore, urge the Government to explore the potential for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in fostering development in Mufulira.

Mr Speaker, on human development, I commend the Government for pledging to continue investing in technical and vocational skills training, which will promote self-employment, especially among the youth. The plan to have, at least, one skills training centre in each district should definitely include Mufulira. I, therefore, urge the line ministries to deliver on that commitment. It should not end as mere rhetoric. So, what the President said on that score must be taken seriously.

Mr Speaker, I commend His Excellency the President for increasing the percentage of our population with access to both safe and clean drinking water, and sanitation. In this regard, I will engage Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company Limited to ensure that piped water is provided to households in my community to reduce on the provision of water through kiosks.

Mr Speaker, let me conclude my debate by paying tribute to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for making a watershed Speech to us which, if implemented, will go down on the right side of history. I also encourage him to keep looking to God for guidance in his leadership.

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyirenda (Lundazi): Mr Speaker, first and foremost, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to you for giving me this rare opportunity to deliver my maiden speech in this august House. Let me also thank the Almighty God, Jehovah, for giving me good health, enough resources, strength and wisdom to conduct a peaceful, but fruitful campaign from which I emerged victorious as an Independent Member of Parliament.

Sir, I congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Wina, on winning the elections. I also congratulate you, your two Deputy Speakers and all my fellow hon. Members of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, I would be failing in my duties if I did not acknowledge my debt to my family; my campaign managers, Mr Miko Mhango and Banest Banda; and the entire campaign team for working tirelessly to grade and tar my road to Parliament. My special gratitude also goes to everyone who helped me in any way. May God richly bless them.

Mr Speaker, I pay tribute to the electors of Lundazi for electing me their Member of Parliament. I also assure them that their confidence and trust in me will not be in vein, as I will diligently serve them all, regardless of their political affiliation. I will take everybody on board in order to overcome critical challenges to their wellbeing in their areas of residence and forge ahead with facilitating the much-needed development.

Sir, I remind the people of Lundazi that the period for fault-finding and electioneering is over. It is now time to hold hands and match together towards our developmental goals under the good leadership of His Excellency the President of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyirenda: Already, the people of Lundazi are witnessing unprecedented development projects, including building of the new Lundazi District Hospital, reconstruction and maintenance of Mwase Dam, construction of dip tanks, construction of Lundazi Trades Institute and the tarring of township roads, although some have been abandoned by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), which was contracted to work on them. Nevertheless, I will follow the matter up.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyirenda: Mr Speaker, the measures that the Government has effected to transform Lundazi are a clear indication of the love that His Excellency the President has for the people of my constituency. However, I wish to highlight the need for the following:

(a) completion of the township roads, which have been abandoned by AVIC, and tar the Lundazi/Mwase via Kapichila Road;

(b) sinking of about 100 boreholes, with preference to rural areas;

(c)  renovation of Lundazi Dam in order for it to be able to supply enough clean and safe water to the town and its fast-growing compounds;

(d) construction of, at least, one dam in each of the nine wards for the benefit of domestic animals;

(e) construction of permanent bridges at Kanele, Chimthyulu and Kaluba to connect the compounds to the township;

(f) construction of a secondary school in Chief Kapichila’s area, which currently has none; and

(g) continuation of the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) from Lundazi District headquarters to Vuu Primary School.

Mr Speaker, the people in my constituency are mostly farmers and Lundazi is one of the major producers of maize, groundnuts, tobacco, cotton, sunflower and beans, nchunga za musuzi uswesi, which are tasty.

Hon. Members: Meaning?

Mr Nyirenda: Sir, I ask the Government …

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

You have lost me by using a vernacular expression.  You need to translate it.

Mr Nyirenda:  Yes, Mr Speaker.

Sir, in Lundazi, we grow red beans, but in our language we say nchunga ziswesi.

Laughter

Mrs Mwanakatwe interjected.

Mr Nyirenda:  Soup iswesi. I am have just been assisted by my sister there (pointed at Mrs Mwanakatwe).

Mr Speaker, I ask the Government to take advantage of this industry by formulating agricultural policies that will enhance increased production, which will not only contribute to the country’s food basket, but also be a source of employment for the people. For example, the purchase of some crops, especially maize, by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) should always be done in time to avoid exploitation of farmers by briefcase buyers.

Mr Speaker, allow me to commend the people of my constituency for the peaceful campaigns and violence-free elections. There were no reports of violence anywhere in the constituency. so, I encourage the people there to continue with the same spirit in the many other elections to come and realise the ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ slogan, and maintain Zambia as a true Christian nation. They should always remember to always stay away from engaging in any form of violence, be it abusive language or physical violence or destruction of property, as a means of intimidating voters or opponents. We must always allow divergent opinions in order to preserve and continue to enjoy the peace about which Zambia has lived to boast.

Mr Speaker, I, Lawrence Nyirenda, popularly known as Mwana wakwithu, being an Independent Member of Parliament, have endorsed ―

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Sorry, but you have to translate all the vernacular expressions you use.

Mr Nyirenda: Mr Speaker, mwana wakwithu means ‘our son’.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Oh, I see.

Mr Ngulube: Son of the soil.

Mr Nyirenda: Mr Speaker, as an Independent Member of Parliament, I have chosen to work with the Patriotic Front (PF) Government and …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Interruption

Mr Nyirenda: … continue to give my allegiance to the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear! Repeat that.

Mr Mecha: Bwekeshapo.

Mr Nyirenda: I am confident that the PF Government means well for the people of my constituency ...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyirenda: … and will take development to my constituency.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyirenda: Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the President for his Speech during the Official Opening of Parliament, in which he brought out many important issues, one of which was climate change. I will work hard to spearhead the implementation of the measures that will be instituted to make the Zambian economy resilient to climate change.

Sir, the President also talked about his desire to create a Ministry of Water and Sanitation, and Environmental Protection. I salute him because that can help in coming up with lasting solutions to the challenges being experienced in many parts of our country, but especially in my constituency. As a man of action, I will be the Minister of the new ministry so that I can ensure that its objectives are met.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Nyirenda: Mr Speaker, I pledge to the President of the Republic of Zambia and the people of Lundazi Constituency that I will live to co-operate and work hard with, and consult the people of my constituency to foster development and fulfil the promises I made to them during my campaigns.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nyirenda: May God bless all of us.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Musonda (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, hon. Members of the House, distinguished guests and colleagues here present, it is …

Mr Ngulube: Ah.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Please, resume your seat.

Your address is limited to the august House. If there are any people in the galleries or we have guests, you do not refer to them in your debate. In any case, I have not invited anybody to this House.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: You may continue.

Mr Musonda: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your counsel.

Sir, it is a great honour for me to make my maiden speech as Member of Parliament for Kamfisa Constituency, which is in Kitwe District of the Copperbelt Province, before this gathering.

Sir, in the first place, I thank the people of Kamfisa Constituency for choosing me to be their representative in Parliament during the 11th August, 2016, General Elections. I, therefore, commit myself to leading and representing all the residents of my constituency adequately, reasonably and satisfactorily, irrespective of their political affiliations.

Mr Speaker, above all, my sincere gratitude goes to my family and the leadership at all the structural levels of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) for having accorded me the opportunity to contest the election on the ticket of this most popular party. The support I received from the party leadership and the general membership during the campaigns was overwhelming and tangible. So, I will forever be indebted to them.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musonda: Mr Speaker, I congratulate my party, the PF, on managing to secure the majority of seats in this august House.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musonda: This signifies the massive popularity of the party on the Zambian political scene.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musonda: In the same vein, Mr Speaker, I congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and his former running mate, Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on their deserved victory.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musonda: Sir, I believe that the confidence that the Zambian people have renewed in him is attributable to the visionary and development-oriented leadership that he exhibited during his first term.

Sir, I also congratulate you on retaining your dignified position as Head of the National Assembly of Zambia after working very hard and successfully during the immediate past National Assembly. I equally congratulate the First and Second Deputy Speakers. Your election is a manifestation of the confidence that the leadership of this country and Zambians at large have in your good self and your support staff. I am, therefore, confident that you will continue to provide the good leadership desired in this august House on the fundamentals of professionalism, fairness and focus for the benefit of the people we represent.

Mr Speaker, I am equally obliged to convey my congratulations to my fellow hon. Members of Parliament from all parts of our great country on their election during the just-ended general elections. To those who have retained their seats, I to pay my special tributes because we, the newcomers, have a lot to learn from the wealth of experience that they have brought back to the House. My good will extends to hon. Members of both the Ruling Party and the Opposition, and the Independents because we all belong to one consolidated family called Zambia. That is why this gathering is called a National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the stiff competition seen during the just-ended general elections is an addition of great value to the much-cherished democracy that our country has had over the years.

Sir, let me confidently articulate my mission in this House, which will be to serve my constituents reasonably and to the best of my ability, and express their views on all important matters of national governance and socio-economic justice. I will endeavour to provide appropriate leadership in matters concerning the improvement of access to social amenities through infrastructure development and identification of means of providing economic empowerment to my constituents using resources that will be made available by the Government, co-operating partners and other social investment organisations. I will further encourage my constituents to embark on various development initiatives, such as community-based projects, through the existing structures, such as the wards, the Constituency Development Committees (CDC) and the District Development Co-ordinating Committee (DDCC) using resources that may also be generated within the constituency.

Sir, to fight poverty, I intend to encourage my constituents to establish multi-purpose co-operative societies through which people with various enterprises will easily access capital via institutions like the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), and that will have a positive impact on poverty reduction at the household and community levels.

Mr Speaker, I know that as a legislator, I have an obligation to provide the relevant leadership in the law-making process, which I believe could be the core business of this House. In this regard, I assure you that my participation in the debates of this House will be issue-based, logical and greatly relevant. It will further be generated from a sober and civil mind, and conform to the rules and regulations of the House. Above all, it will befit this dignified House, as I will ensure a fair and clear balance between my rights and my obligations. Further, as a Member of Parliament, my conduct will uphold the honour and dignity of this House, with the ultimate purpose of creating a model of inspiration to our young generation by demonstrating to them that we are masters of our own destinies.

Sir, I am mindful that the aftermath of an election has obvious consequences on the atmosphere in a country. However, as I said earlier, we should consider ourselves members of one great family inspired by a unity of purpose. I am, therefore, confident that our debates in this House will reflect the national character and put the interest of our country first.

 Mr Speaker, I take much pride from being a Member of this Assembly because the Zambian Parliament has, over the years, been successful in formulating legislation that has fully embraced the tenets and dynamics of democracy, and facilitating prudent political governance in the country. The House will agree with me that this has, ultimately, translated into a model of successful democracy in the sub-region and beyond.

Sir, as I close my debate, let me encourage all of us to be realistic and rise above partisan lines in the manner we perform our duty of representing our esteemed citizenry so that their purpose for electing us can be manifested. I acknowledge that, somewhere along the way, challenges of various forms will arise, but it is also important for us to realise that challenges can sometimes be converted into opportunities and that when the obvious solutions are unavailable, alternatives can always be found or created.

Sir, I thank you most sincerely for giving me your audience and wish you God’s blessings during your tenure.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musonda: Mr Speaker, let me, now, add a few remarks to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Speech delivered during the Official Opening of Parliament on 30th September, 2016.

Sir, I do not need to belabour the point of how the Speech was not only inspirational, but also broad-based and intended to inject a new lease of life in the work of resolving the socio-economic challenges by which our country is currently besieged.

Mr Speaker, my hon. Colleagues who spoke earlier have ably expounded the salient features of the speech, but allow me to add my voice on a few issues that are especially relevant to the good people of Kamfinsa Parliamentary Constituency.

Diversification of the Economy from Over-Dependence on Copper Mining to Agriculture

Mr Speaker, Kamfinsa Constituency is made up of both peri-urban and urban settlements. The urban part is further divided into planned and unplanned settlements, but a good number of my constituents live in the peri-urban areas, where farming is the economic mainstay. We are, therefore, highly motivated by the President’s pronouncements on economic diversification and are desirous of being beneficiaries of the new economic policy. To that end, I will dedicate most of my time in Parliament to lobbying the line ministries to give the people of Kamfinsa a fair share of the benefits of this policy.

Sir, the people in the peri-urban areas of Kamfinsa are mostly retired miners who are now peasant farmers. Despite being dedicated to their new call of duty, however, they face many challenges, such as the perennial washing-away of bridges during the rainy season. At this juncture, I would be failing in my duties if I did not thank the five companies in Kitwe District that reconstructed a 30-tonne bridge that had been washed away during the 2015/16 Rainy Season. The people of Kakolo Farming Block will ever be indebted to Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), the Copperbelt Development Foundation (CDF), Mama Africa and Truck Link.

Sir, the people in peri-urban Kamfinsa also face poorly maintained feeder roads, and a lack of mechanised and modern farming equipment. However, it is envisaged that when this policy is fully implemented by the Government, such challenges will be a thing of the past. In that regard, I recommend that as we implement this policy at national level, we need to move in tandem with the relevant learning institutions, such as the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC), the University of Zambia (UNZA) School of Agriculture, Chapula Farm College and other agricultural colleges that have, over the years, deteriorated in terms of the quality and number of graduates they produce due to dilapidated learning infrastructure. Suffice it for me to mention that the successful implementation of this policy will depend a lot on the availability of a well-trained human resource.

Health

Sir, the population of Kamfinsa has increased massively over the years, yet the health infrastructure and personnel has stagnated. In this regard, I propose that Zamtan Clinic be upgraded to a first-level hospital and that Ndeke Village Clinic, which is under construction, be completed soon. I intend to seriously lobby for the actualisation of these proposals.

Water and Sanitation

Mr Speaker, improvements in health delivery to our people will amount to nothing if challenges in the delivery of primary health care are not addressed. In this regard, the availability of abundant clean water and good sanitation is key to human health. Unfortunately, my constituency has had water supply problems in Bupe and Ndeke wards for many years. I am aware that Nkana Water and Sewerage Company received donor funding in January, 2016, to commence Phase II of a project to improve water and sanitation in Kitwe, including Kamfinsa Constituency. It is sad, however, to note that the project has been suspended due to a lack of counterpart funding, and non-payment of commitment and insurance fees by the Government. The contractor has since demobilised. That matter needs to be addressed urgently, as it is of grave concern to my constituents.

Socio-economic Infrastructure and Amenities

Mr Speaker, there has been an unplanned township called Mulenga in my constituency that mushroomed before Independence. Looking at the theme of the President’s Speech, I am very confident that the time has finally come for our people in that township to be accorded a dignified living environment by the pro-poor Government of His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, also known as ‘Mr Walk the Talk’.

Mr Speaker, the President has given us his vision. I, therefore, appeal to all my fellow hon. Members in this House to devote their collective and individual energies to realising the policies in the President’s Speech for the good of the citizenry of this country, Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to deliver my maiden speech.

Sir, before I go into the details, allow me to thank the people of the North-Western Province, particularly those of Ikeleng’i Constituency, for entrusting me with the privilege of representing them for a third time in Parliament.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, the people of Ikeleng’i congratulate you on your re-election. They equally congratulate the First and Second Deputy Speakers. They also congratulate my sister there, who is an hon. Minister, and my colleagues in the Patriotic Front (PF) and in the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Mr Malanji: Where are they?

Mr Muchima: They are here.

Laughter

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, it is sad that the politics of today has degenerated into hatred, which is a source of shame for us in the eyes of those who watch what is happening from other countries.

Sir, I congratulate the UPND, a party that had twenty-two Members of Parliament, but now has fifty-eight.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: It has made significant strides in the right direction. Sadly, today, the party’s great leader and his former running mate, who gave me the opportunity to serve the people of Ikeleng’i on their party’s ticket, are languishing in jail, ...

Interruptions

Mr Muchima: ... yet Zambia is expected to be civil in the way the affairs of the people are administered. I wish them well, although it is sad that during his incarceration, he was not allowed to even have water or a blanket.

Hon. PF Members: Question!

Mr Muchima: That is sad, indeed.

Mr Musukwa: Boma ni Boma!

Mr Muchima: Fifty-two years after Independence, this country needs to exhibit the rule of law and good governance, which were seen during the reign of the late President, Dr Mwanawasa, SC., may his soul rest in peace. It was because of that good governance that we registered economic growth.

Mr Speaker, preservation of the Constitution is a must. Those in Government must take up the responsibility to care for everyone, including those who hate or did not vote for them. The Public Service is not a place from which to exact revenge, but one in which to accommodate one another.

Mr Speaker, the people of Ikeleng’i have expectations. For example, their area was gazetted a district in 2010 but, to date, it has not had any corresponding development. There is no television and radio signal and the much-talked-about 650 health posts the Government is building are only a dream in my constituency.

Sir, in Ikeleng’i, we have not seen the development being talked about in other places. We do not even catch the signal for Parliament Radio, which we desire to have so much because we know that Parliament does not discriminate.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: It was for that reason that the people of Ikeleng’i opted to retain me. They want me to continue fighting for them and take the district to the desired level of development.

Mr Speaker, we have noted that as we get closer to elections, there is often speedy approval of projects. One project that was handled that way was the T-5/Jimbe Road Project, about which I have talked so much. After the elections, however, unfortunately, we have noted that the speeches and enthusiasm has evaporated.

Sir, I have seen the hon. Minister of Works and Supply, who is my son-in-law, looking at me.

Laughter

Mr Muchima: So, I invite him to engage the gears so that the road is worked on at the same speed with which it was approved.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, we were also disadvantaged by the non-disbursement of our Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from 2014 to 2016.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: That money can do a lot for the poor people of Ikeleng’i, where poverty levels are quite high. Unfortunately, the Government did not apply itself responsibly in that regard. We do not know how the money will be reclaimed, as we will not tolerate the excuse that the Budget has lapsed. Otherwise, it would be better not to approve the Budget than take people for granted.

Sir, the new Constitution has delinked us from the councils. I do not know how effectively your hon. Members will work with the councils, which are at the grassroots point of service delivery while the hon. Member of Parliament is the conduit. How will we co-ordinate with the councils when we have been completely cut off? So, I appeal to my fellow hon. Members to review that provision. The hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing …

Mr Tembo: aMwale.

Mr Muchima: … should also revisit this issue.

Mr Speaker, Zambia, particularly in the North-Western Province, has abundant resources, yet my province has one of the worst poverty levels in the country. The province that gives us copper, gold, uranium and water has very poor road infrastructure. It is my prayer that the Chingola/Solwezi Road, on which people take between six and seven hours to travel between the two places, will be worked on during the tenure of this Assembly. I have listened to very encouraging speeches, but the speeches are not matched by any measurable achievements. We pass Budgets here, but very little is achieved in the country, especially in the North-Western Province and Ikeleng’i, in particular. 

Mr Speaker, Ikeleng’i is in the North-Western Province on the way to Angola. On the western side is Angola while on the eastern side is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The district also receives good amounts of rainfall. Already, it is raining there. Further, the source of the Zambezi River is there.

Sir, the hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts should take interest in what I am saying.

Laughter

Mr Muchima: That is the area he should apply himself to. When you go to Uganda, they will take you to the site of the source of the Nile River, although you will not see the actual point at which the river starts. However, in Zambia, the actual source of the Zambezi River is visible, yet we have not adequately promoted it as a tourism spot. The road to the site is in a horrible condition and there is no airstrip in the area. How can we attract tourists there? Tourism could have been a source of revenue for the district. I welcome the appointment of Hon. C. Banda as Minister of Tourism and Arts because he is a seasoned politician and I believe that he will help the country in its effort to diversify from its dependence on copper to tourism, which is one of the economic sectors we should promote.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: He should not look at the voting patterns.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, the voting pattern in Zambia has a secret, which I want to share with the House. The secret is that people vote in protest or appreciation.

Hon. Government Members: How?

Mr Muchima: The people of the North-Western Province have been protesting against the lack of development in their area.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Muchima: They see that some areas have two universities, yet there is no single university in their province.

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

Address the Chair.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, let me face your direction.

Sir, I also invite you to tour the North-Western Province and see where we, the Lunda people, come from. It is a very lovely place and it has beautiful women with very long hair.

Sir, the voting pattern in the North-Western Province is a protest against the lack of development. The province has all the resources and contributes greatly to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Zambia, yet when you go on the ground, there is nothing to talk about. That is what is hurting the people of the province and that is what sent Mushala into the bush.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: That is what ...

Mr Speaker: Order!

Continue addressing the Chair.

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, the people of the North-Western Province want a fair share of the wealth of the country, especially since the wealth largely comes from there. So, they deserve a bigger share. They expect their roads, schools and clinics to be worked on.

Ms Kapata rose on point of order.

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

 May both of you resume your seats so that I can guide the House.

During this segment, I will not allow points of order. If there are issues you wish to raise, note them somewhere so that you can do so when you are given the Floor. I have also mentioned that there are set channels of communication in this House. You can communicate through the Chief Whip and his team of Whips. However, in order for us to transact our business smoothly, I would rather enforce discipline.

Hon. Member for Ikeleng’i, you are still presenting your maiden speech. So, please, as it is tradition, focus on your constituency. Further, one of our rules of debate is relevance and avoidance of repetitious discourse. In any case, you have mentioned that you are in your third term as an hon. Member. So, you should know these things.

You may continue.

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, thank you for your guidance.

Sir, let me talk about job creation. The people of Ikeleng’i have not seen the so-called jobs being created in Zambia, as there are many young men and women who have not had an opportunity to be employed. The Government should look very seriously at how it can address unemployment in the rural parts of the country, especially in places like Ikeleng’i. One of the causes of unemployment is that public resources are used mainly in Lusaka and the provincial headquarters. Further, the distribution of resources is also politicised. If the resources were distributed equitably, our youths in Ikeleng’i would be employed today. My area produces pineapples, yet there is no factory to process them. Were the situation different, pineapple plantations would have been expanded and employment would have been created.

Mr Speaker, some schools in Ikeleng’i have only one teacher teaching from Grade 1 to 9.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Muchima: Further, a high school being built there has been at the foundation level for the past six years. It is only now that a Chinese company has gone on site and made some progress.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima: That is why the people of Ikeleng’i want a Government that will look at them with favour. They need infrastructure to be developed in their area like it is done elsewhere.

Sir, Zambia is a good country, but the interest rates are harming everyone, especially people in the rural parts of the country, as they cannot access money from the banks. Many areas do not even have banks, not even post offices or the National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE). The workers in Ikeleng’i have to travel to another district to access their salaries. These are the issues that make us urge the Government to move closer to the people instead of focusing only on Lusaka, where we pay particular attention to Kanyama and other compounds that I will not mention for fear of a point of order being raised.

Laughter

Mr Muchima: We need to move to Ikeleng’i, Chama and other places, too, ...

Ms Kapata: Question!

Mr Muchima: ... so that the people of Zambia can be saved from poverty.

Sir, had we applied ourselves correctly, this country would have developed by now. Look at Botswana, which is a desert, and compare how it controls animal diseases to the way we do it in Zambia. With the vegetation we have in Ikeleng’i, we could have had a massive cattle-rearing industry there. However, because of politics, we segregate ourselves even to the disadvantage of the national economy.

Mr Speaker, the road that leads from Ikeleng’i to Angola is a commercial one that can bring income and contribute to the GDP, but we have completely ignored it. That is what is causing the people in that area to hate the Government and vote the way they do. They want salvation from those who promise free education, free health care, good roads, schools and other infrastructure.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mutelo: Quality!

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to address the House on a day I have been mandated to present a speech on behalf of the people of Serenje Constituency. This day is special because it marks the beginning of my five-year mandate in this august House, which I was given not because I possess a monopoly of wisdom over the people who elected me, but because of the confidence they reposed in me. I feel greatly honoured to represent them in this House.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabanda: Sir, allow me to start by congratulating His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Wina, on emerging victorious in the just-ended elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabanda: Further, allow me to take the liberty to congratulate you and your two Deputies on your well-deserved election to superintend over the affairs of this House. The responsibility placed on you by your election is enormous, but I am quite confident that you are all equal to the task and will discharge your duties in a diligent, objective and impartial manner.

Mr Speaker, without sounding patronising, I congratulate my party President, Hon. Felix Mutati, on being appointed Minister of Finance.

Interruptions

Mr Kabanda: That shows the high level of confidence that His Excellency the President has reposed in him. That gesture of good will ties in with the President’s words during His Official Opening of Parliament on 30th September 2016, under the theme, “Building an Integrated Multi-Sectoral Approach to Development that Enhances Inclusiveness in Development without Leaving Anyone Behind.” In my understanding, the theme indicates the President’s desire to take everybody, including the chiefs, civil society and other stakeholders, on board regardless of their political affiliations in the development of this country. However, those who will continually disregard that gesture of good will should not cry foul when left behind because we have little time to turn the economy of the country around. We want to leave Zambia a better place than we found it, lest the future generations come and question our mental faculties.

Sir, I also congratulate my fellow hon. Members of Parliament on their well-deserved election or nomination to this House. Indeed, there can only be one winner at a time and God’s time is always the best because good things come to those who wait. All of us have, at one time or another, lost an election, but we did not use shortcuts to ascend to power. We have to wait for God’s appointed time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kabanda: I, therefore, counsel aspiring leaders at various levels to wait for God’s time. The people of Zambia expect us to discharge our duties with humility, dignity and distinction. It is, therefore, our responsibility, as hon. Members of Parliament, to live up to the expectations of the people who voted us into these offices. Our debates on the Floor must resonate with their desires. We should not engage in political protests on the Floor of the House.

Mr Speaker, over the next five, my focus, as a Member of Parliament from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), which is in an alliance with the Ruling Patriotic Front (PF), will be on the developmental milestones that the PF Administration will endeavour to reach in line with the Seventh National Development Plan, whose focus is to achieve a resilient and diversified economy. At all times, I will endeavour to support the policies of the PF Administration in its quest to move the economy from its current heavy dependence on copper to agriculture, livestock and fisheries, and their attendant value chains. This is expected to continue in a more robust manner. In that regard, we will also engage the people of Serenje Constituency to grow more cassava, which has become a major ingredient in the production of clear beer by Zambian breweries. The crop can also earn this country foreign exchange if exported to neighbouring Angola, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Further, it is very easy to cultivate because it does not require fertiliser and other inputs. In fact, it can be a substitute for maize, which has cost this country a lot of money in farmer support programmes to which our farmers have not been able to pay back huge sums of money that could have been re-channelled to other sectors. So, cassava growing can reduce the country’s subsidies on consumption.

Sir, the MMD will bring some value to the table because it was in the Government for over twenty years pursuing economic policies similar to the ones the PF Government has adopted through a robust pro-poor approach that cascades down to our people through decentralisation.

Mr Speaker, Serenje District is a sleeping giant with potential to become a bread basket for this country. To that effect, we appeal to the Government to expedite the development of the Nansanga Farming Block, which has not been implemented in the past. That action will support the Government’s policy on agriculture, livestock and fisheries, and their related value chains. This approach will obviously cultivate a culture of looking at agriculture as a real business venture even for small-scale and peasant farmers in the constituency. Therefore, we should work, as the President directed, towards getting our peasant farmers out of incubation to a more modernised way of farming.

Mr Speaker, we shall fully support the developmental efforts the PF Administration is making and the high premium it has placed on industrialising the economy through job and wealth creation for our people. We shall also focus on lobbying the PF Administration to open the hinterland of Serenje Constituency by attracting local and foreign investors to participate in the mining of precious minerals like manganese and gold, which are found around the district, in order to create wealth for this country. May I hasten, however, to mention that manganese production might impact negatively on climate change because of the huge volumes of charcoal that are consumed in its production chain. We, therefore, appeal to the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection to control the cutting of trees for charcoal production in the surrounding areas of Kanona. Further, all the mukula trees in Serenje District are in danger of being cut down because most of the people involved in its trade are unlicensed. So, not only are they unsupervised, but they also do not pay taxes, thereby depriving this country of the foreign exchange it needs very much.

Sir, Serenje District has a comparative advantage in mining, which has to be diversified from copper to include oil and gas exploration so that we can shield ourselves from the effects of fluctuating copper prices. The district equally has huge potential in the tourism sector, with such important tourist resorts as the Kundalila Falls, the David Livingstone Memorial Site at Chitambo, the Nsalu Caves, where there are ancient Egyptian writings, and the Kasaka National Park. So, we will lobby for the development of tourism at both the local and national levels so as to create employment and generate wealth for our people. We shall also lobby the Ministry of Tourism and Arts to take tourism closer to our local people in the tourist sites. 

Mr Speaker, we shall partner with our colleagues in the Government to provide for the people of Serenje Constituency a platform on which they can process crops like groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower into peanut butter, cooking oil and stock feed. These products can either be sold on our local markets or exported. We are surrounded by eight countries, which are viable markets for our agricultural products.

Mr Speaker, in supporting the transformational culture for a smart Zambia, we shall join His Excellency the President in calling upon all the people in my constituency to change the way we do things; to be innovative and embrace technology in order to quicken the provision of services. To this end, we shall lobby the Ministry of Higher Education to ensure that information and communication technology (ICT) is taught in all the schools in my constituency. This should be enhanced by urgently providing ICT equipment to pre- and primary schools. We also appeal to the Ministry of Energy to assist in the electrification of the schools near the power line so as to enable the girl child who dropped out of school to attend evening classes and improve their levels of education. We are also working with relevant stakeholders to transform the Malcolm Moffat College of Education (MMCE) into a university that could engage in research and development (R&D) on the local and national industries.

Mr Speaker, youth unemployment requires our immediate attention. Further, recreation facilities are lacking in Serenje Constituency. We are sitting on a time bomb that will soon explode if we do not make this category of our citizens occupied with some form of recreation.

Sir, my party will work with the PF Administration to strengthen synergies and ensure that all Government ministries build on one another’s comparative advantage. This can be done through a multi-sectoral approach, such as with the Ministry of Health, in reducing waterborne diseases. In this regard, we appeal to the ministry to consider providing a cadaver unit for the mortuary at the newly-built Serenje District Hospital. Further, due to the high incidence of fatal accidents experienced in the district, we need a big fire tender and a Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) office. Recently, twenty-five lives were lost on the Great North Road. Probably, it would also be prudent for the Ministry of Works and Supply to issue a statutory instrument (SI) that will regulate the tonnage carried by trucks so as to prolong the life span of the Great North Road and reduce the incidence of accidents.

Mr Speaker, my party will support the Government’s position on austerity measures aimed at stabilising the macro-economic situation and building greater investor confidence. We shall do this by engaging all sectors of the economy in the constituency, such as the public and private institutions, to explain the importance of those measures to the growth of the micro economies at all levels.

Sir, Serenje Constituency has abundant ground and surface water, which can be piped to provide clean drinking water to the residents. Currently, the district is struggling to provide piped water to its residents. To this end, my party will engage the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, and the Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company on how water reticulation can be improved in the townships.

Mr Speaker, at this juncture, allow me to thank my Almighty God for giving me the strength to persevere with the campaigns and win the elections. I am also thankful to my wife, Lucy, my children, my friends, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) party, members of the campaign team and all who supported me morally and financially. To the people of Serenje, I promise that I will never disappoint them.

Mr Speaker, let me just say a few words on the President’s Speech.

Sir, the President’s Speech can be described using two words: ‘inspiring’ and ‘progressive’. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to realise its vision in our constituencies. For example, community banks can work very well with our clubs, co-operatives and markets. Hence, the President’s undertaking to donate 10 per cent of his salary for supporting marketeers is appreciated. I am a proponent of community banking in my area and I will implement the concept in my constituency.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. 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 1804 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 7th October, 2016.