Debates - Friday, 26th February, 2016

Printer Friendly and PDF

Friday, 26th February, 2016

The House met at 0900 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER
_______

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the business it will consider next week. 

Sir, on Tuesday, 1st March, 2016, the Business of the House will begin with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will deal with the Committee Stage of the following Bills: 

(i)    The Financial Intelligence Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2015; and

(ii)    The Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits Bill, 2016.

Mr Speaker, on Wednesday, 2nd March, 2016, the Business of the House will start with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider a Private Member’s Motion entitled “Disburse the 2015 Constituency Development Fund: That this House urges the Government to disburse the 2015 Constituency Development Fund appropriated in December, 2014,” to be presented by Hon. Dr S. Musokotwane, Member of Parliament for Liuwa Parliamentary Constituency. 

The House will, then, consider the Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to scrutinise the presidential appointment of Hon. Mr Justice Egispo Mwansa, Hon. Mr Justice Mathew Kasonde Chisunka, Hon. Mr Justice Edward Luputa Musona, Hon. Mr Justice Derrick Mulenga and Hon. Mr Justice Martin Musaluke to serve as High Court Judges.

Sir, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2016, the Business of the House will commence with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will, then, consider the Report of the Committee on Estimates on the Supplementary Provision Warrant No. 2 of 2016. 

 On Friday, 4th March, 2016, the Business of the House will begin with Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. This will be followed by Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. The House will, then, deal with presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. After this, the House will deal with any other business that may be outstanding. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

_______  

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT  

SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER SCHEME IMPLEMENTATION 
SCALE-UP 

The Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare (Ms Kabanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for according me this opportunity to give a ministerial statement on the scale-up of implementation of the Social Cash Transfer Scheme. Allow me to first give some general information about the Social Cash Transfer Scheme in Zambia before I give an account of the scale-up. 

Background of the Programme 

Mr Speaker, the Social Cash Transfer Scheme is administered by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, through the Department of Social Welfare. It uses the established community structures. The main objective of the scheme is to reduce extreme poverty and inter-generational transfer of poverty. 

The implementation of the Social Cash Transfer Scheme started in Kalomo District, in 2004. The scheme was progressively implemented in five districts, namely Chipata, Katete, Kazungula, Monze and Kalomo. In 2010, the Government decided to scale-up the scheme from five to fifteen districts. 

Mr Speaker, with the coming in of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, there was renewed commitment to scaling up the scheme. As a result, in 2014, we saw an unprecedented 700 per cent increase in the budgetary allocation to the programme. The PF Government has, once again, demonstrated its pro-poor policies by increasing the budget allocation from K150 million, in 2015, to K250 million in 2016. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kabanshi: This will enable the ministry to scale-up the programme to an additional twenty-eight districts, bringing the total of the implementing districts to seventy-eight, countrywide. 

Beneficiary Case Load 

Mr Speaker, in terms of the case load, the programme reached over 180,000 households by the end of 2015. The case load distribution in the fifty districts across the ten provinces by 31st December, 2015, was as follows:

    PROVINCE    NO. OF SCT    MALE    FEMALE    MALE    FEMALE    TOTAL
    IMPLEMENTING    DISABLED    DISABLED
    DISTRICTS

    WESTERN    8    13,348    20,878    1,435    1,350    37,011

    LUAPULA    9    11,252    17,600    720    898    30,470

    EASTERN    5    9,730    15,219    469    633    26,051

    NORTHERN    6    9,284    14,522    681    989    25,476

    MUCHINGA    4    5,177    8,097    697    1,081    15,052

    SOUTHERN    6    4,586    7,172    999    1,125    13,882

    CENTRAL    3    4,088    6,394    64    72    10,618

    NORTH-    3    3,606    5,640    265    339    9,850
    WESTERN

    COPPERBELT    4    2,040    3,191    1,073    1,068    7,372

    LUSAKA    2    1,072    1,677    746    984    4,479

    TOTAL    50    64,183    100,390    7,149    8,539    180,261

Mr Speaker, the case load is expected to reach over 242,000 households in the next six months.

Targeting Criteria in the Scale-up Districts 

Sir, in order to ensure that the Government targets the most vulnerable and extremely poor households, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare will prioritise two main categories of the population in the new implementing districts which are:
(i)    households with older persons aged sixty-five years and above; and 

(ii)    households with persons with severe disabilities. 

It is worth noting that these groups should be extremely poor for them to qualify to be on the programme. 

Progress on the Scale-up Activities

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare has undertaken the reactivation and training of community welfare assistance committee members whose main role is to sensitise and mobilise the communities through the sharing of information ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Ms Kabanshi: ... on the operations of the scheme. 

In order to increase the uptake of persons with disabilities on the scheme, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare has undertaken the Disability Certification Campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities. In the coming weeks, districts will start the enumeration of potential beneficiaries. Upon completion, beneficiaries’ data will be entered into the management information system to enable poverty assessments to be made. It is expected that these key activities will be completed by June, 2016, in time for the payment of the beneficiaries in the new districts. 

Sir, this programme requires robust and efficient systems in order for it to operate efficiently. To this effect, my ministry has been making efforts to put in place the following:
(i)    Management Information System 

The Ministry has decentralised the management information systems to all fifty districts, including the enhancement of internet connectivity at district level to the centre sever at the head quarters. This is meant to support the identification of households, enumeration and registration of potential beneficiaries and generation of statistical data at the district, constituency, ward and community level structures. This will ultimately improve data management and timely provision of information to all stakeholders;

(ii)    Complaints Management

Sir, in an effort to enhance accountability to the beneficiaries and other stakeholders, my ministry is also designing a complaints mechanism that will allow beneficiaries to complain or provide feedback to the implementers. Once implemented, the complaints mechanism will improve accountability and feed into the design implementation and evaluation of the scheme; 

(iii)    Electronic Payment System

Mr Speaker, the current payment mechanism is manual and uses teachers and health personnel to make payments to the beneficiaries. In order to enhance safety, reliability, reduce fiduciary risk and improve accessibility to beneficiaries, the ministry is now at a point of contracting a payment service provider. A financial institution has been identified and what remains is the signing of the contract. The new payment system will be initially piloted in the Eastern, Lusaka and Central provinces. The system will involve the use of VISA cards as beneficiaries will be accessing their funds at automated teller machines and designated agents. The manual system will continue in areas where the new system may not be feasible to implement. Additionally, the ministry is considering an option of a Mobile Cash Transit Payment System (MCTPS) for the programme in the provinces not covered by the new payment system; 

(iv)    Mobile Technology (Electronic Enumeration)

Mr Speaker, in an effort to improve data quality and reducing cost and time in data collection of household information to determine eligibility, the ministry is in the process of piloting the use of mobile technology in the enumeration of potential beneficiaries; and

(v)    Capital Equipments

Mr Speaker, as part of the co-operating partners’ support to the scale-up programme, procurement of twenty-eight vehicles has reached evaluation stage. The total procurement package includes computers, motorbikes and office furniture. Some of the items, such as computers, have already been delivered to the ministry awaiting distribution to the implementing districts.

Mr Speaker, allow me to note that as the programme scales-up to the remaining districts, additional officers such as drivers and assistant programme officers are recruited on contract basis. So far, on this scale-up programme, over eighty-five officers have been recruited. This is in line with our programme of creating job opportunities for our people.

Sir, in conclusion, the Government remains committed to scaling-up the programme to the rest of the nation, as it has proved an effective tool for reducing extreme poverty among the vulnerable population by accelerating social development and transforming their lives in the communities. My appeal to the hon. Members of this House is that we all support the Government in this noble effort of alleviating the suffering and poverty among our people.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement given by the hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) started this programme on behalf of the people and it never meant to politicise it. I hope the Patriotic Front (PF) is not politicising this programme which is meant to benefit our people in the entire country.

Sir, the hon. Minister has talked about complaint management centres. How will they operate? Will this be at district or provincial levels or it will only be in Lusaka? On the issue of transport, how will the ministry distribute the vehicles? I have seen that they have arrived in Ikeleng’i, but only certain areas have been picked. Why is this Government not involving hon. Members of Parliament who know their areas very well to help in this programme? Certain areas are completely not covered because the people meant to identify the beneficiaries have never touched those places. How does the ministry intend to cover every person who qualifies as a beneficiary? This programme is very good and we would like it to be extended to capture every Zambian who qualifies for it.

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, let me start by saying that when the PF Government came into power in 2011, it promised to put more money into the pockets of the people of Zambia. That is what this programme is doing. When the PF came into power, the programme had a budgetary allocation of only K17 million. As I am speaking today, the amount of money that we have budgeted for this programme in the 2016 Budget is K250 million. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, when we consider the support that we are getting from our co-operating partners, it will reach K300 million. This is meant for the vulnerable people. I want to assure the hon. Member that the call centres that will be created will be located at the headquarters and in all the ten provinces, at least, one person will be put in charge. At district levels, we will only place suggestion boxes. People will need to take their complaints to the district offices. That is the system that we are going to use. 

With regard to transport, Mr Speaker, we will give each district one vehicle because we want every area to be reached. We will also give out motorbikes to be used in areas that cannot be accessed by vehicles. We do not want to leave anybody behind.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, last week, the hon. Minister told the House that the poverty levels in Chadiza are very high and that there is no Social Cash Transfer Scheme. What minimum requirement does a district such as Chadiza need to meet to qualify for this scheme? 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member that there is no Social Cash Transfer Scheme in Chadiza. The reason this is so is that there is a Food Security Pack Programme which covers about 3,000 families in Chadiza. That is the same as 3,000 households being covered by the Social Cash Transfer Scheme. We concentrated on Vubwi, which was part of Chadiza at the time, because it did not have any poverty alleviation programme in place at that time. As a Government, we are committed to ensuring that we reach out to all the districts and, I think, by 2017 or 2018, the Social Cash Transfer Scheme will reach Chadiza.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that the beneficiaries have to use automated teller machines in order to have access to the new payment system. How will this work, considering that some districts are very rural and have no banks?

 Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, we are engaging a financial institution, which is a bank. This bank will have local agents in a particular area. This agent could be a shop or anything and will be given a machine which could use VISA cards. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, more than 90 per cent of the people in Liuwa are poor. When will the ministry make each one of them a beneficiary of the Social Cash Transfer Scheme so that we can alleviate the poverty levels?

Laughter

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the Social Cash Transfer Scheme has already reached Liuwa, but the number of beneficiaries is still being increased. As a Government, we have already reached the 10 per cent of the households of the people that are supposed to benefit from this fund and we will keep on targeting potential beneficiaries until we reach the targeted number of 500,000.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, indeed, the Social Cash Transfer Scheme, started with one district in Kalomo, in 2004. 

Sir, I want to find out whether there has been an increment from K30, which we started with. How far has the ministry gone in this regard?

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, it is true that we started with K30, but we are now at K70. When we just started this scheme, it was our co-operating partners who were funding, but the committed Government of the PF, under the able leadership of His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is now paying this amount.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, since the hon. Minister claims that the Patriotic Front (PF) is a committed Government, what is the ratio between the Government’s contribution towards the scheme vis- à-vis the donor contribution.

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the Government is putting in K250 million while our co-operating partners are putting in K50 million, which is going towards technical assistance. Since they have seen the political will by the Government, we are negotiating on how they can help to scale-up the programme by giving us money to give to the beneficiaries.

 I thank you, Sir.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister what safety measures will be put in place to prevent anyone from manipulating the automated teller cards. In the case of old women, anyone can go with the card and withdraw the money.

 Ms Kabanshi: Sir, the safety measure that has been put in place is to not only identify the beneficiaries, but also an assistant or relative who can assist that person. The people that we are dealing with are vulnerable. Sometimes, they are not able to move from one point to another. Therefore, we identify the two so that they can interchangeably have access to the money.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I am happy that the Social Cash Transfer Scheme is at assessment stage. The only complaint we have is like that of Hon. Muchima’s, the Member of Parliament for, Ikeleng’i, which is that the scheme has only concentrated in one area. I hope the ministry will overcome that challenge. Can we get an assurance that the scheme will continue after the general elections.

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, as a committed Government, we want to reach out to all the districts in the country. Therefore, we have an action plan which we are following to enable us to achieve this. It is for this reason that we are giving the beneficiaries the motor bikes and vehicles so that they can reach out to other beneficiaries who are in all the corners of the districts.

 Sir, I thank you.

Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that each district will be given a vehicle and a motorbike. I want to know when these vehicles will be delivered to Shibuyunji District in particular.

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, we are only giving the vehicles to the implementing districts. If Shibuyunji is one of those districts, it will get a vehicle.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Order!

When will that be, hon. Minister?

 Ms Kabanshi: Sir, the procurement is already in process. While the other fifty were already distributed, the remaining twenty-eight districts in which the scheme is being scaled up will get them by the end of the year.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, since the hon. Minister seems to have the whole programme at ‘his’ fingertips, I want to find out from her …

Hon. Members: Her fingertips.

Mr Speaker: She.

Mr Mufalali: Sir, I am sorry. It was a slip of the tongue. It happens and it is normal.

Sir, since the hon. Minister seems to have the programme at her fingertips, I want to know the administrative costs of managing the K250 million the ministry is distributing.

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the management cost of implementing the K250 million will be K42 million in five years.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, K70 in today’s economy is nothing.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Antonio: Mr Speaker, when does the Government intend to increase this amount given to the beneficiaries?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, K70 may be nothing to the hon. Member, …

Hon. Government Members: Tell him!

Ms Kabanshi: … but to the poor who have no access to any money, that amount means a lot.

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, it is changing their lives and they are able to go about their daily lives with dignity.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

__________

CLARIFICATION BY HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT ON THE CONSTITUTION ASSENTING CEREMONY

Mr Speaker: It is now time for Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning …

Hon. Members rose.

Mr Speaker: … to clarify …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … an issue from the last Friday’s Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to enlighten the House and the nation at large on the costs involved during the assenting to the Republican Constitution Ceremony.

Sir, the historical event of assenting to the long awaited people-driven Constitution by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, took place at Heroes Stadium on 22nd January, 2016.

Mr Speaker, the total amount spent on the Constitution Assenting Ceremony was K4,809,217.33. The major activities on which this amount was spent included the following:
    
(i)    security;

(ii)    performance by the Zambia Army;

(iii)    fly past by the Zambia Air Force (ZAF);

(iv)    entertainment;

(v)    protocol;

(vi)    tentage, chairs, stage and decor;

(vii)    printing of programmes and invitation cards; and

(viii)    facilitation of accommodation, transport and meals for delegates from the provinces.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: As is the practice or convention, any follow-up questions on the statement …

Hon. Members rose.

Mr Speaker: I have not finished.

Hon. Members resumed their seats.

Mr Speaker: … can be asked during Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: That is the practice.

___________

HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Sir, from time immemorial, the Government would pay a long service bonus to classified daily employees (CDEs). In April, 2012, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government scraped off this long service bonus. What is the Government’s position on this matter? Are CDEs now pensionable or not?

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, when the Patriotic Front (PF) Government came into office in 2011, it looked at the plight of the most vulnerable and poorest workers in the Public Service and immediately increased their threshold and tax exemptions. In that vein, it also considered the plight of the daily classified employees and they were elevated to pensionable conditions. That is why that bonus was scraped off.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Musonda (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning the Government’s position regarding the statement by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) concerning politically-motivated violence in the country.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), like any other leadership grouping in the country, condemns politically-motivated violence in the country. I commend LAZ for taking that stance because, time and again, we have emphasised the need to stop politically-motivated violence by political cadres. I think this is a reminder to all political players that the time has come for all of us, especially hon. Members of Parliament on both sides of the House, to ensure that young people, especially the youths, in our political parties do not engage in actions that will jeopardise the peace and unity of this country.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, Article 70 of the amended Constitution states that a Member of Parliament must obtain, as a minimum qualification, a Grade 12 certificate. The requirement of six passes and two credits for councillors is quite high. In the Constitution, it merely says a certificate and not a full certificate. I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning which institution will interpret the minimum qualification because all hon. Members of Parliament are affected.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) is a Government institution that looks at the passing rates and qualifications of candidates. I have been informed that the ECZ, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and Judiciary are interrogating the interpretation of the Grade 12 Certificate. So, perhaps, that grouping will come up with a suitable answer so that our people are not disadvantaged.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, two weeks ago when I asked a question concerning the country’s two institutions of higher learning, Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning mentioned that she was aware of some political leaders who were inciting students to behave in the manner they were.

Sir, I would like to know what the Government is doing about those political leaders who are inciting students in these institutions of higher learning. If Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning continues to be quiet over the matter, she too may be cited as an accomplice.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, what I said last Friday was that there were some politicians who were interfering in our institutions of higher learning by inciting the young people to cause trouble so that the country would be termed ungovernable. This is a sustained programme and we know some of the people who are perpetrating this vice. I hope it will not be too long before the law enforcement agencies pounce on them.

Sir, we want our students to learn in a conducive atmosphere. I also believe that political leaders have taken a hint on what has happened in our institutions of higher learning. I hope it ends with the students and is not extended to other groupings. Of late, we have heard of flyers in some parts of the country where young people are being incited to engage in protests so that the country becomes ungovernable. That will not be taken lightly by this Government. We want to ensure that there is law and order in the country. We also want to ensure that there is peace in the country before, during and after the general elections.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichula (Nakonde): Mr Speaker, has the visit to an opposition political party president’s house by some diplomats accredited to Zambia had any effect on the Patriotic Front (PF) Government?

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the diplomats accredited to Zambia are free to associate with any leader of any political party. However, it is expected that for the sake of courtesy, diplomats should channel their requests through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is only prudent for visitors to any country to go through normal channels.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, had this been observed, there would have been any problem. There is no reason diplomats should not interact with the Opposition political leaders. 

Mr Speaker, there are other considerations that should be taken on board, including the fact that diplomats are in their countries of accreditation and should observe the laws of that particular country. If a diplomat goes overboard, there are channels through which sanctions can be made.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, in the recent past, there have been alarming and disturbing reports on social media stating that His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, is not prepared to hand over power easily should the Patriotic Front (PF) lose elections this year.

Sir, considering that the PF’s loss is imminent and the writing is on the wall ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: ... and that when the PF won elections, the President of Zambia then, Mr Rupiah Banda, handed over power peacefully, though in tears, what can Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning tell us to allay these fears that should the PF lose elections this year, ...

Mr Mwamba: Question!

Mr Hamudulu: ... it will hand over power peacefully? It has been the norm in Zambia to hand over power peacefully.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Let us have some order.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament posing the question seems to be a disciple of social media ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... and also some sections of the print media. He takes everything that he sees and reads on social media, ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... as gospel truth. I can assure the hon. Member that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr N. Banda: Is winning.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... is one of the most democratic leaders that we have on the African Continent.

Hon. Government Members: Exactly.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Sir, insinuation that he will not hand over power if he loses the election is a most unlikely scenario because as far as we, in the Patriotic Front (PF), are concerned, His Excellency, Mr Lungu, is going to win the 11th August, ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ..., 2016 General Elections. That is a well-known fact. So, the hon. Member, ...

Mr Kambwili: Is hallucinating.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: ... should be aware that he should not believe what he reads on social media all the time because some of these statements can be very misleading. 

Mr Speaker, I think that we know who sponsors some of those social media institutions and some sections of the print media. All this is done in the name of destabilising the country so that people vote against the PF. However, the Zambian people are very intelligent. Some of them cannot read and write, but they know right from wrong. So, we expect a 50 per cent plus 1 mandate and win in August, this year.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, when the Patriotic Front (PF) Government came into office in 2011, the construction of Libonda High School was nearing completion. Since then, I have been complaining, in this House, about the delays in completing the construction of the school. Both the hon. Minister and his Deputy as well as the First Lady have visited the place. So, since 2011, there has been knowledge that this school has been abandoned. I would like to find out when the construction of this high school will be completed.

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, this Government is committed to completing all unfinished projects that are scattered all over the country. I recall that, yesterday, the hon. Minister of Finance came to this House to request hon. Members to increase the national debt threshold and a war almost broke out in convincing others that this is necessary because we have to carry out some unfinished business. This Government is definitely committed to ensuring that the construction of Libonda Secondary School and other schools in the country are completed.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has given us a list of leaders who have visited this school. However, he has not bothered to visit the Ministry of General Education to get the details to ascertain the amount of works that are still remaining to complete that structure. The fact that leaders from this side, the Ministry of General Education and others, are visiting that school is for one simple reason, that they care for the people of Libonda. We will definitely ensure that the school is completed.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, democracy thrives in an environment where there is respect for the law and where that law is applied equitably, that is, not unfairly. However, there is a rather strange and worrying phenomenon which is sweeping across this country. When the Patriotic Front (PF) wants to hold rallies, hakuna matata, which means there is no problem at all. However, when the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Mr Hakainde Hichilema want to hold rallies, there is always a problem.

Mr Speaker: To be consistent, let us not mention names.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, when the president of the UNPD wants to hold rallies, especially on the Copperbelt, the police say he cannot hold them due to security reasons. Therefore, why is this Government applying the law unfairly? Secondly, why is this Government using the Zambia Police Force to fight its party’s political battles? Can this be owed to the fact that the UPND is now becoming very popular and that come 11th August, 2016, it will win the general elections?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear! 

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, I hope we will not turn this Chamber into a campaign platform. However, we should make a distinction between party leaders addressing people who merely want to meet the President, for example, and those holding a rally for campaign purposes. If a leader is opening a Government institution, certainly, there are people who attend to listen to that leader or to the President, but it looks like it is a rally that has been arranged by the police or provincial administration.

Mr Speaker, the time for political rallies is coming and all of us are anxious to be given the leeway to go out to campaign. The rallies that the hon. Member has seen are mainly to do with the opening or launching of many Government projects. When people assemble there, definitely, they have to be addressed by His Excellency the President, the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning. You cannot let the people go without talking to them simply because another leader is not addressing a rally somewhere else. This is happening, but when the time is right for campaigns to start, we will be told by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and all of us will definitely be in the field.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: What about the aspect of the police fighting your party battles, as alleged?

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, we have explained before that the police make their own decisions on why a meeting in a certain place cannot take place for security reasons. This is not meant not to stop anyone from holding a meeting because every political party and leader has the freedom to hold a meeting anywhere. The police usually look at ways of protecting that leader or group of leaders. Sometimes when there is a shortage of human resource, the police will say that they are unable to cover a particular function. This is not to stop people from having meetings, but it is usually because they feel that there may not be adequate security for people’s protection in that area.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, Zambia is a country that is known to be a land of abundance. This is a country where there are mountains of maize, but our people are starving. On the Floor of this House, we were told that all the valley districts in the Southern Province would be given relief food. To date, this relief food has not arrived. When is the Patriotic Front (PF) Government going to send relief maize to Mapatizya, Kalomo, Kazungula and Gwembe, where the hon. Minister of Defence comes from?

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, all the districts that were identified as maize deficit areas were allocated relief food. However, if there has been a lapse in the distribution of relief food, my office, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), will look into this matter so that the people in those areas are given the adequate relief maize that they require.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mutale (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, of late, Zambia has seen an influx of Masai hair dressers. What is their legal status?

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, some of the Masai visitors to Zambia are mainly from Tanzania. Some of them have entered the country illegally while others enter the country with requisite papers, but opt to stay longer and provide services such as hair plaiting. On several occasions, the Immigration Department has rounded up these individuals and deported them back to their country of origin. The Government has discovered that these people are earning money which they remit to their countries without paying any tax to our country. As a result, Zambia is losing revenue through the failure of the Masai to pay the necessary taxes from the services they offer. Unfortunately, some Zambian shopkeepers have employed the Masai to plait hair in front of their premises. This is illegal. Whenever the Masai illegal immigrants have been discovered, they have been deported back to their country of origin. 

Sir, we do realise that Tanzania, where most Masais come from, is a neighbouring country and part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, but there is no agreement between Tanzania and Zambia that allows the Masai to settle in Zambia and do business without following the laws of the country.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwamba (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the Government has been rolling out programmes for the poor such as the Social Cash Transfer Scheme, as outlined to the House by the hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare earlier. There have been complaints coming from gallant women and men who fought for our country’s Independence, the freedom fighters. When will a similar programme be extended to them?

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, I consider myself as one of the freedom fighters.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning: Mr Speaker, this Government considers Freedom Fighters as the anchor of the Independence of this country and we hold such people in high esteem. Currently, my office, together with the Cabinet Office, is revisiting the status of Freedom Fighters to see how they can be assisted by the Government because these are very important individuals. In some countries, they are honoured and given benefits, but in Zambia, I think with successive Governments, we forgot about our Freedom Fighters. There are times when we have recognised some, but there are others out there who are still languishing in poverty because we did not pay much attention to their well-being.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President and Minister of Development Planning what her position is on the matter concerning the Patriotic Front (PF) Youth Chairperson for Lusaka who bashed diplomats who went to visit Mr Hakainde Hichilema (HH).

Mr Speaker: We have come to the end of this session.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: That is why I was dragging my feet.

Laughter

_____________ 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

ZAMBIAN CURRENCY PRINTING COST

332. Mr Mbewe (Chadiza) asked the Minister of Finance how much money was spent on printing the Zambian currency from January, 2012 to October, 2015.

The Minister of Finance (Mr Chikwanda): Mr Speaker, the Bank of Zambia spent a total of K186.9 million on printing and minting a total of 439 million pieces of bank notes and 317.5 million pieces of coins during the period January, 2012 to October, 2015.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I would like to find what the hon. Minister is doing about replacing the K2 and K5 notes which fade quickly.

Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, that is a function of the Bank of Zambia. The bank replenishes stocks of notes which are sent out to the public and when the notes fade beyond use, they are withdrawn by the Bank of Zambia, through commercial banks, and consigned to the rightful destination.

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out who the current printers of our bank notes are and whether there was any change from the previous printers.

Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, the current printers are a Germany company called Giesecke and Devrient.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: Could you answer the latter part of the question, please.

Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, printing of currencies is subject to tender processes. The Bank of Zambia issues tenders and it would appear that this company has won the tenders in succession. This is why it is still printing the notes.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I think this question regarding soiled notes, as they are commonly referred to, must have come to the House before in the current session and I asked why we do not go for polymer notes for the K2 and K5. Is it too late to go that route?

Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, I will convey that sentiment to the Bank of Zambia.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

PROTECTED FOREST IN CHADIZA DISTRICT

333. Mr Mbewe asked the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection:

(a)    what the total number of protected forests in Chadiza District was;

(b)    whether the Government had any plans to degazette any of the protected forests and open up the land for farming activities; and

(c)    if so, when the plans would be implemented.

The Deputy Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Mr Mwango): Mr Speaker, Chadiza District has four protected forests, namely Chakanga, Chamuchenga, Kazimulu and Kadamuluzu.

Sir, the Government has no plans of degazetting any part of the protected forests in Chadiza District in order to open up land for farming activities. Therefore, there is no time frame for the implementation of the same.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the population of Chadiza has grown and resulted into pressure for land. Does the Government have programmes that it can initiate whereby trees can be grown in old farms so that some of the forests can be degazetted for people to find farm land?

Mr Mwango: Mr Speaker, the ministry has embarked on the afforestation of pieces of land that have been deforested. Apart from afforestation, the ministry has also engaged councils to engage traditional leadership to get more land to extend district boundaries.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

ICT TEACHING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

334. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of General Education:

(a)    what measures the Government had taken to improve the teaching of information and communication technology (ICT) in public schools;

(b)     whether the Government had any plans to procure computers and electrify schools in rural areas to enhance the teaching of the ICT; and

(d)    if so, when the plans would be implemented.

The Deputy Minister of General Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, the Government has been putting in place measures to improve the teaching of the ICT. This has been done through the provision of teaching and learning materials and building capacity in teachers, as follows: 
(i)    750 computers were donated from the People’s Republic of China as at April, 2015, and each province was given seventy-five computers. This has supported the teaching of the ICT in our schools;

(ii)    there have been workshops that have been conducted by the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) and the British Council with the Ministry of General Education as part of the capacity building of our teachers. Each province had two days training of the capacity building programme;

(iii)    the Government, through ZICTA, has constructed 115 school computer laboratories and connected them to the internet. Seventy-five primary schools and secondary schools were involved in that programme, as part of our measure to improve the teaching of the ICT;

(iv)    colleges of education and selected universities have developed diploma and degree teaching programmes in the ICT as part of our agenda to improve the supply of teachers in the ICT;

(v)    there are plans to recruit 205 ICT teachers as part of the 2015 recruitment programme and the process is being finalised.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of General Education, ZICTA and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) are collaborating to procure computers for all rural and public schools in the country in a phased approach. Further, the electrification of rural schools is also an ongoing collaborative process with the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) and, so far, 216 schools in rural Zambia have been electrified.

Sir, the implementation of the ICT in public schools started in January, 2014, as part of the Education Reforms in Curriculum Framework Development, which is an ongoing process.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, despite donor aid and contributions from well-wishers that we have heard about, we still have many schools, particularly in Kalabo, that do not have computers. During the ICT examinations last year, for example, pupils from Lyapepa had to walk a distance of about 40 km to Lukona Basic School for them to write their examinations. Considering that we are already nearing the end of February, I would like to find out whether this phased approach is prioritising remote rural areas in according computers to avoid a repeat of pupils walking long distances during examinations.

Mr Mwango: Mr Speaker, let me anchor my answer on the ministerial statement which Hon. Dr John Phiri gave in the last quarter of last year. In that statement, we apologised to the Zambian people, our school system and pupils in recognition of the ICT examination fiasco that we had. 

Sir, the ministerial statement indicated that, in future, the examination in the ICT will not be compulsory except for schools that are ready to have them. Readiness entails the availability of computers and teachers. Only schools that are ready will submit their children for examination in the ICT.

Therefore, on assumption that some of the schools do not have computers in Kalabo, they can still teach theory, but not subject pupils to examinations.

Sir, as regards plans, I said that we are collaborating and consulting ZICTA and the IDC on how we can procure computers in a phased approach to equip the schools. At that stage, we will indicate which schools will receive the computers. We will obviously look at rural schools, especially those that have electricity or solar power.

Mr Speaker, I thank you

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the current status of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy in the Ministry of General Education, if at all it exists.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, we have an ICT Policy which is, of course, anchored on the National ICT Policy. It is in its draft form and we are trying to fine-tune it. When it is ready, it will be made public. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy has been in draft form for over three years now. When I served in your Committee on Education, Science and Technology, the ministry appeared before your Committee and the policy was still in draft form. Three years later, the policy is still in draft form. When will it be operationalised?

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I indicated that we need to fine-tune the document. We will be able to inform this august House as soon as we are ready. I do not want to state a particular time frame and mislead your august House. 

I thank you, sir.

Bishop Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, in view of the fact that the Government is fine-tuning the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy, could the hon. Minister tell me which school in Keembe has been provided with this facility?

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I do not have a school that has the facility in Keembe off-the-cuff. However, I stated that we received 750 computers from the Chinese Embassy and others that were acquired by ZICTA. However, these have not been enough. We are consulting ZICTA because it is the regulator and has funds which can be used to procure computers. When the computers are bought in good numbers, I assure Hon. Bishop Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha that schools in Keembe, particularly the new one, will benefit from this. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, ordinarily, we should have proceeded to read the next order of the day that involves the hon. Minister of Transport and Communication. Unfortunately, it has been brought to my notice that the hon. Minister is not present. So, this item will be deferred to next week, unfortunately so. 

_________

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

________

The House adjourned at 1030 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 1st March, 2016.