Wednesday, 16^th November, 2016

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_________

 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

 

NATIONAL HEALTH WEEK

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, I thank you for granting me the opportunity to issue a ministerial statement to inform the nation that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with various stakeholders, and the general public, will be commemorating the 2016 National Health week, from Sunday, 27^th November to Saturday, 3^rd December, 2016. The programme will be launched on National Television by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on Sunday, 27^th November 2016.

 

Mr Speaker, the objective of the National Health Week is to draw public attention to areas in need of health action and carry out activities to promote health and prevent disease. It is cardinal that all stakeholders, starting with citizens in the rural and urban areas, ministries, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society, faith-based organisations, the leadership at various levels, including hon. Members of Parliament and the general public, should participate in the National Health Week. Our approach will be family-centred, starting with the First Family. Also, all the Parliamentarians should not only support, but also participate fully at constituency level.

 

 Mr Speaker, the activities to be undertaken during the week will exhibit the importance of individual and group actions that promote good health and actions that prevent disease. In addition, curative and rehabilitation services will be offered. Focus will be on the disease burden, which comprises two-broad categories, that is, communicable and non-communicable diseases. It is important that these services are conducted in our day-to-day lives in our communities, learning institutions, places of worship, markets and other congregate settings.

 

Mr Speaker, the theme for the 2016 National Health Week is “A Healthier Zambia Begins with You, Me and the Family”. Health promotion and disease prevention are key to developing a healthy nation. The theme is challenging all of us to ensure that we support, facilitate and ensure that people take increased control over their health and its determinants.

 

Mr Speaker, according to the 2013/2014 Zambia Demographic Health Survey, Zambia continues to record high morbidity and mortality rates due to preventable communicable disease like malaria,  Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), tuberculosis (TB) and infectious and enteric diseases like cholera, typhoid fever and dysentery. The country has also recorded a high disease burden from non-communicable diseases, which are a major cause of disability and premature deaths, and contribute substantially to the escalating cost of health care. Over 80 per cent of non-communicable diseases in Zambia are cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive lung diseases, cancers and injuries.

 

Mr Speaker, it is evident that both communicable and non-communicable diseases can be prevented and controlled if individuals and communities heed advice, which is routinely provided, on social and behavioural change and the importance of physical activity, healthier eating habits, dangers of substance and alcohol abuse, stress management, routine medical check-ups and hygiene.

 

During the National Health Week, the following activities will be conducted countrywide:

 

1. commemoration of the World AIDS Day, which falls on 1^st December, 2016, under the theme “Hands up for HIV Prevention”.

 

1. promotion of physical activity; walking and running for health in every jurisdiction;

 

1. promotion healthier diets; disseminating key messages on healthier diets;

 

1. provision of health information for action;

 

1. conducting emergency preparedness and response activities;

 

1. conducting public health inspections; and

 

1. screening and treatment of various ailments, including communicable and non-communicable diseases such as malaria, cervical cancer, TB and HIV and screening for high blood pressure and various cardiovascular conditions.

 

Another activity to be conducted is cleaning of residences, workplaces and public places in order to make our environment clean and safe. I, therefore, urge all the Parliamentarians and stakeholders to support and participate fully in the activities before, during and after the National Health Week. Together, we can become a healthier and productive nation.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

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

 

Evangelist Shabula (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, my concern is that of the cholera outbreaks in Lusaka. For some time now, Lusaka has been prone to cholera outbreaks. I wonder what measures are being put in place to ensure that there is no recurrence of cholera each year. I am sure it is not just Lusaka which is affected. What programme has been put in place to avoid a recurrence of the disease?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, cholera is a waterborne disease caused by vibrio cholerae. It is fuelled by inadequate access to clean and safe water. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government, under His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has made a clear statement of intent to address the key determinants of health, which are water and sanitation. By creating another ministry to focus on water and sanitation, we are raising the profile of the key determinants of health. We also wish to focus on increasing access to clean and safe water. We have mapped the whole of Lusaka Province and other areas where there are challenges in accessing clean and safe water. We are also working with other stakeholders like the Ministries of Local Government and Water Development, Sanitation, and Environmental Protection, the Vice-President’s Office and the water utility companies to address issues of access to clean and safe water. This is a countrywide programme. It is important to note that by investing in water and sanitation, we are investing in the health of our people. So, as stakeholders, we are working together to address the issue of access to clean and safe water as the major intervention to prevent cholera countrywide.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, the number of children dying from malnutrition is alarming. Since one of the areas of concern during the National Health Weak will be that of promoting a healthier diet, I wish to find out from the hon. Minister how he wants to achieve this in order to reduce the child mortality rate.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, we have recorded high statistics of children having malnutrition. However, the Government is not sitting idly, as it is looking at the first 1,000 critical days of life as a way of ensuring that children, mothers and everybody else is healthier. In the past, we used to focus on the monitoring of growth in children. Currently, we look comprehensively at the first 1,000 days of life. That way, we shall be able to address issues of nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, malnutrition in children and other issues that have to do with food safety. For those who are already malnourished and diseased, we have interventions at our various health facilities and formulations that we use to get the children out of the critical state and put them back on a healthy-growth curve. We work closely with many stakeholders to address the issue of nutrition.

 

Sir, I agree with the hon. Member that nutrition is yet another key determinant of health. This is the reason President Lungu called for the breakdown of silos amongst various sectors. We shall ensure that food security is enhanced as a way of addressing the key determinant of health and nutrition in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Malama (Nchelenge): Mr Speaker, I wish to seek clarification on the National Health Week that the hon. Minister has mentioned. Are road shows going to be carried out in the districts during this week? In my constituency, we normally see more health experts during that period than on any other day. We also lack medical experts in our hospitals.

 

Dr Chilufya: The hon. Member seeks to find out whether the National Health Week is a one-off event or will be on going. The campaign is merely meant to kick-start a nationwide campaign on a particular action. I emphasise that we shall embark on a robust programme of health promotion and disease prevention to be kick-started by the National Health Week. The activities you shall witness are on-going interventions that are focused on health promotion and disease prevention in the National Health Week. In order for us to be healthy, we need to combat physical inactivity. Walking and running for health during the National Health Week shall make a difference. We are not saying that these activities should only be conducted during the National Health Week. Instead, we are sensitising the public about the importance of walking, running or playing football. Physical activity is important for us to avoid cardiovascular diseases. We are not only going to conduct physical exercises during that week, but will also sensitise the public on the importance of physical activity.

 

There are many people from the hon. Member of Parliament’s constituency who say, “Ukwenda ubwikele” is a sign of prosperity, meaning that you should drive in order to get to a place, even from home to the market. However, by so doing, one does not exercise and there is no improvement in blood circulation. It is important for all the Zambians to know that taking just 12,000 steps a day is good for their health.

 

I emphasise that the activities that will take place in our communities during the National Health Week will be ongoing. We want to sensitise people so that they can participate in the activities even without the health workers’ intervention. People say that they only see many health workers during such events. However, the activities are only meant to kick-start the programme. It is the members of the community who should participate in the activities and inculcate them in their routine so that they can live healthier lives.

 

As we talk about nutrition during that week, we shall also speak to alangizi to ensure that their curriculum changes once and for all. They say that the best route to ...

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Who are they?

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, alangizi are women counsellors who prepare young ladies for marriage. They tell the young ladies that the best route to a man’s heart is through the stomach. After six months, a young man who weighed 60 kg becomes 150 kg. He becomes obese, hypertensive, diabetic and may end up with a stroke. This may result in disability or death. That is what is fuelling poverty because the breadwinners are going. So, alangizi should stop ‘sentencing’ young men to death through their lectures. I wish to call for a revision of their curriculum.

 

With the growth of the middleclass, it is important to emphasise that while we can afford to eat ‘anything’ and drink ‘anything’, it comes with a cost because obesity predisposes us to diabetes and hypertension. We are losing many young men and women of the productive age group. In the National Health Week, we shall emphasise that sedentary lifestyles, bad eating habits and physical inactivity are going to take us backwards because we are going to lose lives through non-communicable diseases. We wish to ask the communities to participate in the activities for the good of their health and by being physically active and eating healthier.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has emphasised the importance of healthy eating. However, one of the problems we are faced with in our country and many other African countries is that we do not know the micronutrient value of what we eat. For example, we eat a lot of mushrooms, traditional or local vegetables and local fruits, but we do not know their nutritional value.

 

Where are we, as a nation, in terms of research in the area of micronutrients of the various foodstuffs that we eat, which are important for healthy diets?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, it is important to note that micronutrients are necessary in order for us to be healthy. It is true that we take most foods without knowing their composition. We shall embark on a robust Health Promotion Programme in order to sensitise the public on the importance of eating certain foods and on their constitution. In future, we shall also look at the fortification of certain foods that we commonly take in order to improve the availability of micronutrients.

 

Sir, in order to improve the knowledge levels and sensitise the public, we shall talk a lot about nutrition, fortification and the content of the food that people take. We could go into the specific details of micronutrient content of specific foods, but I do not think I would have enough time for that here. However, I assure you that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will ensure that the public is made aware of the importance of micronutrients in their diet. We shall go further to come up with a roadmap on how we are going to fortify foods with micronutrients.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Tambatamba (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, “prevention is better than cure” has continued to be a guiding principle in our lives. In recent times, when inspecting trading facilities in Kasempa, particularly the market places, I have observed that there are no toilets there. Are there any collaborative activities that are planned with the Ministry of Local Government?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament is right. The intersectional collaboration is part of our approach in ensuring that Zambia is healthy. We recognise that the determinants of health such as water and sanitation lie outside the health sector. Our job is to co-ordinate coherently with the stakeholders who look at the determinants and ensure that we influence public policy and public conduct so as to ensure that our people are healthier. We hold collaborative meetings with various stakeholders, including the Ministries of Local Government and Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection to look at such determinants.

 

It must be empathised that to create a healthy Zambia, all the stakeholders should come on board. We need to break the silos and ensure that we address the key determinants of health, one of them being what the hon. Member has mentioned.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, malaria is a problem and is also one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality. Despite putting in place interventions like the distribution of treated mosquito nets, residual spraying and treatment of houses, the incidents of malaria are still high. What new interventions is the Government planning to put in place in order to reduce the incidents of malaria?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, indeed, malaria is a problem disease.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Malaria has continued to be among the top five causes of morbidity and mortality. However, the Government has come up with a robust control programme which has to do with focusing vector control, case management and surveillance. What we have done differently is to ensure that the interventions are made to scale. In the past, we used to have only half the districts sprayed, but now we shall ensure that 100 per cent of the areas get sprayed. So, our interventions will be made to scale.

 

Sir, we shall also provide mass treatment in some areas because of the high prevalence of malaria. Further, we shall also strengthen the Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) of pregnant women against malaria. We have also come up with other interventions such as larviciding. This is where you go to pools of water, target and kill mosquito lava at a certain phase. We are going to work with stakeholders such as the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) to fog certain areas to ensure that we eliminate the vector. Killing the mosquito has got many advantages because it will not only help us control malaria, but also the Zika Virus, Dengue and Yellow Fever.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, have the physically challenged and mentally-retarded been catered for in the National Health Week?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the physically challenged are legitimate citizens of this country and will also participate in the activities for the National Health Week. Those who are able to walk for health will be at liberty to participate in the physical activities that are designed for the physically challenged during the course of the week. Our primary health care programme includes mental health. As we disseminate information on the promotion of health care, we shall include key messages on mental health.

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kundoti (Luena): Mr Speaker, the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) are still a problem in the country, yet quite a number of young people, including adults, are active in the area of ‘nieces’, as it is being put here. There are some stories going round to the effect that the Government has procured expired antiretroviral therapy (ARV) drugs which are being dispensed to patients. If the stories are true, what has the Government done to solve the problem?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I do not know what the hon. Member of Parliament is talking about when he is referring to ‘nieces’.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: He is using some euphemism.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ngulube: Girlfriends!

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, our HIV Control Programme is premised on prevention activities. The prevention of new HIV infections is our prime approach. We prevent new HIV infections by ensuring that would-be parents remain negative. That is done through the promotion of behavioural change and the use of condoms. In short, this is done by practicing safe sex. For parents who are already HIV positive and they desire to have children, we have made a provision for every pregnant woman to be given the opportunity to test for HIV. If she is found positive, regardless of any other variables, she is commenced on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). That has contributed significantly to the elimination of new HIV infections. By putting pregnant women on ART, chances of the child being born with HIV are reduced to less than 1 per cent. That is one key intervention.

 

Furthermore, Sir, Zambia is moving towards adopting a test-and-treat approach where when someone tests HIV positive, he/she is put on treatment immediately. That will reduce the viral load and the possibility of that patient infecting the next person.

 

Mr Speaker, our HIV Control Programme has resulted in us recording a 41 per cent reduction in new infections. We are confidently marching towards the elimination of HIV by the 2030.

 

Mr Speaker, other interventions include voluntary male circumcision which reduces the possibility of contracting HIV by 60 per cent. That is equally significant and I am hopeful that the hon. Member of Parliament has taken advantage of that programme to protect himself from HIV.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Even ‘nieces’!

 

Dr Chilufya: From ‘nieces’, yes.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, coming to the issue that the hon. Member has mentioned relating to the Government having procured expired ARVs, I wish to inform him that the Government did not procure expired ARVs. If there are any issues relating to drugs, they are being addressed. However, it is important to note that the Government did not procure expired ARVs. There are no patients in this country who have been given expired ARVs. The Government will not tolerate the dispensing of expired ARVs to any patient. If there are drugs that have got a short shelf life, we have detected that and are working with the suppliers to ensure that the drugs do not get to the patients. So, no expired drugs were procured. If at all there are any drugs that were already expired at the time of procurement, they have not been exposed to the patients. I must emphasise that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, under His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, …

 

Mr Livune: Question!

 

Dr Chilufya: … always ensures that all citizens access safe and efficacious ARVs. That should not be a worry for the hon. Member of Parliament.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I am somewhat concerned about the issue of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The hon. Minister has just mentioned that on 1^st December, 2016, the country will commemorate the World Aids Day. My little research has shown that countries that we procure the ARVs from have laws like we have under the Public Health Act. For example, if I am HIV positive and I do not inform my partner about my status, it means that I have willfully infected her and am liable to prosecution. This is the case in the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Australia and many other countries. However, in Zambia, it is like we are happy with the HIV/AIDS situation. Some people even celebrate their taking of ARVs.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mung’andu: Sir, my observation is that …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I expect you to pose a question.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, is the Ministry of Health considering introducing a Bill under the Public Health Act so that those who willfully infect others are prosecuted?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, this House has a duty to legislate, and the Ministry of Health will only bring Bills to this House after consensus has been built. Currently, there is no such school of thought of prosecuting people in that line. I think we are focusing on disease prevention and harnessing the energies of all stakeholders, including communities, to ensure that we combat HIV/AIDS. Zambia is a sovereign State. As such, it will use the laws that are in the Public Health Act to combat various diseases.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mrs Phiri (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, exercise is one of the best preventive activities for a number of diseases. I am told that for one to engage in any form of exercise, there is a need to seek the doctor’s advice. In Kanyama, we are ready to be part of the promotion of exercise as a way of preventing diseases. The only problem that we have in Kanyama is that of a lack of adequate health centres and medical staff. When is the ministry going to build health centres in Kanyama?

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament started her question very well, but ...

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Sir, hospital centrism does not improve the health of our people. The health of our people can only be improved by promoting good health through physical activity, good nutrition and no smoking. 

 

Interruptions

 

Dr Chilufya: I know hon. Members of Parliament who smoke.

 

Interruptions

 

Dr Chilufya: Sir, healthier diets result in obesity and I know hon. Members of Parliament are not obese. This is what will promote good health. Health centres will be a springboard for high impact community level interventions and will ensure that we have adequate infrastructure to provide primary health care services. The hospital is a garage where you get to when things have gone wrong. The most important intervention is to promote good health in order to prevent diseases. Physical inactivity, harmful consumption of alcohol, smoking and bad diets must be discouraged.

 

Hon. Members: Nieces!

 

Dr Chilufya: ‘Nieces’ must be stopped.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Alangizi who give poor advice must be stopped. We should engage the community to ensure that they participate in activities aimed at promoting their health. Physical activities such as walking are the best way to ensure that the community is healthy.

 

Sir, health services in Lusaka are treated in a peculiar way because of the population. We know that Kanyama is densely populated. In Kanyama, there is a clinic which is being upgraded to a first level hospital. The operating theatre that is there is now being operationalised. Kanyama Clinic will now have all the four specialists, namely obstetrician, pediatrician, physician and surgeon. So, there will be no need to refer basic medical cases to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). However, there are some places in Kanyama where health centres are required for immunisations and other public health interventions in the community.

 

We shall provide Kanyama with a public health specialist and a team of public health nurses who will engage the community on behaviours that will improve their health instead of ‘fire fighting’ at the local hospital.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, I wish to commend the hon. Minister for proposing this undertaking for the good of the public. On non-communicable diseases, is there any predictable and robust action to be taken during this period to act as a deterrent to the use of caseinogens that are taken orally or topically for hypopigmentation purposes?

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Hon. PF Member: Doctor to doctor!

 

Mr Speaker: I am sure the hon. Minister will ‘unpack’ all that.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya, who is a former Inspector-General of Police, was my classmate.

 

Mr Speaker, a caseinogen is something that causes cancer. It may be a chemical, a by-product or a product that causes cancer. Topical application refers to the application on the skin as opposed ingestion or injection into the system through the blood vessels. I think that these were the major words in his question which seeks to find out if we are going to take deliberate measures to stop young ladies from using certain creams that may be known to contain cancer-causing chemicals or certain drugs that we may know to be caseinogenic or cancer-causing in nature.

 

Mr Speaker, as we implement our health promotion programmes, we shall be ‘loud’ about any dangerous substances. If there are any dangerous substances that have sneaked onto the market and are caseinogenic in nature or dangerous to health, we shall be ‘loud’ about them in order to protect the public.

 

We do not allow caseinogenic chemicals and substances to be consumed by the public. We use the standards institutions such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards and the Food and Drugs Laboratory to screen the substances before they are allowed onto the market through the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and other stakeholders. So, we shall be ‘loud’ about the use of such substances and, thereby, protect the public.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I am aware that the National Health Week will be of great importance to the lives of the people of Zambia. However, I regret to mention that in my constituency, we have a big gap in terms of health facilities. For example, Kafulamase Clinic, which ought to have been opened in 2013, has not started operating to date. I am also aware that the health posts in Kabwe Central that were built under the programme for the construction of 650 health posts have not been operationalised.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to find out from the hon. Minister when these facilities will be ready for use? Kafulamase Clinic, for example, caters for a population that comprises old-aged people, women and children who have to walk a long distance to access health facilities. I know that the National Health Week will not mean much to them for as long as the situation does not improve.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the National Health Week will not just be about walking. The walking will just address one aspect of health, which is physical inactivity and that we must combat. It is important walk.

 

Mr Speaker, during the National Health Week, the hon. Member of Parliament is expected to walk with the citizens and ensure that other interventions that promote good health such as the use of mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying and adopting healthy eating habits better are made in the constituency with his support.

 

Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will issue a ministerial statement on the recruitment of health workers recruitment in due course which will address the issue of operationalising health posts and centres that have been completed, but do not have the manpower to man them. Suffice it to say that the Government is currently recruiting health workers and deploying them in various health posts, including thoose in Kabwe Central.

 

So, the hon. Member for Kabwe Central should go back to the community and help the constituency make sense of the National Health Week. It is an important campaign that will change the mindset of our people so that they know that being healthy is not all about having clinics and hospitals, but about individual and group actions that protect us from various diseases. It is also about collective action on the key determinants of health. This is the message that I would be happy to see us take to the citizens.

 

The issue of human resource for health posts shall be addressed probably even before the end of the week.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr L. N. Tembo (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister clearly stated that various activities will be conducted throughout the country to sensitise the public. What measures have been put in place in constituencies like mine that are along the border areas? For instance, my constituency borders Mozambique and most of the people from across the border access health facilities from Zambia?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, health services along borders are provided regardless of nationality. The mosquito knows no boundary. It will bit you regardless of whether you are on the Mozambican side or Zambian side. So, we need to control the vector in the borders areas. If we only vaccinate children on the Zambian side, they will still get the infections the other children across the border. So, interventions across the border lines target the population in the border areas. Therefore, we are going to conduct the activities in Kaumbwe without any discrimination.

 

Mr Speaker, we shall distribute mosquito nets, carry out indoor residual spraying, vaccinate children and conduct blood pressure checks in various points. That is not to say that that is the only time people should have their blood pressure checked. We should establish wellness sites in our workplaces so that we can have our blood pressures and weights checked routinely. That way, we can get the necessary help to avoid getting a stroke if we know that we are hypertensive. We shall also screen for cervical cancer so as to pick out the early changes and do cryotherapy in order to prevent the women from getting clinical cervical cancer. So, it is important for us to participate in the various screening programmes that will target cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, sugar diseases and infectious diseases.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ng’ambi (Chifubu): Mr Speaker, firstly, I wish to commend the hon. Minister for his passion in wanting to see Zambia become a healthy nation. A campaign of that magnitude where all the leaders across sections of society are involved is normally expensive. The hon. Minister also asked us, hon. Members of Parliament, to participate in the activities. Has the ministry come up with a budget to enable us sensitise our people in the constituencies?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: My other question to the hon. Minister …

 

Hon. Government Members: Just one!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: … is on the chemicals that are contained in the lotions that people apply on their skins. I come from Chifubu where there are a number of shanty compounds and where traditional beer such as kachasu is brewed. Usually, when a healthy young man continuously consumes that substance, his lips turn red. Are there chemicals in those substances that turn lips red, and how can we sensitise our people against consuming such substances?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I wish to make it clear that the Ministry of Health has no budget line for hon. Members of Parliaments. They need to sacrifice for their constituencies.

 

Sir, we want to make the activities as routine as possible. People also need to know that they should eat healthy food. So, all this is aimed at changing the mindset of people. It is important for all of us to do something in our communities in order to influence behavioural change and for us to be healthier as a country by reducing the disease burden.

 

Mr Speaker, the consumption of any substance that results in colour changes of the skin must be investigated. If you report the existence of such substances to the public health authorities, we shall certainly analyse them and ensure that we come up with policies that will protect the public from their consumption.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chali (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, during the Post-Election Seminar, which was conducted at the weekend, we heard alarming figures of diseases that need to be eradicated. We were told that the underground water that people consume in Lusaka is contaminated with faecal matter. This is because of poor planning because some boreholes are drilled near soakaways. The hon. Minister talked about a reduction of 41 per cent in cases of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). However, we were told during the seminar that one Zambian is infected every three hours.

 

Hon. Members: One hour!

 

Mr Chali: Could the hon. Minister shed some light on that.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the incident rate for HIV/AIDS in the country has reduced from 14 per cent to 13.1 per cent over the last few years. We have evidence that the number of new HIV infections has reduced and has continued to reduce. To counter this, we have also continued to escalate the interventions to ensure that new HIV infections are reduced.

 

Sir, I will not ratify the statistics that are being quoted, but will come with a ministerial statement on the statistics on HIV in Zambia. I would like to categorically state that Zambia is making progress in the combat against HIV and it is one of the countries that will eliminate HIV successfully. We have a good programme called Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme that is working towards having an HIV-free generation. There is also another programme that is aimed at preventing new infections at all ages. In our relentless pursuit of sustainable development goal (SDG) Number 3, we shall promote health and wellness. One of the measures taken is to target diseases like HIV/AIDS and build on the gains that we have achieved so far. So, Hon. Member of Parliament for Nchanga, it is not true that the prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS is worsening in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, on the issue of contamination of water, again, we have statistics on water samples and these are in public domain. We conduct water sampling in various places and there are places where we have found contaminated water. However, I wish to state that we must not dramatise health statistics and alarm the nation unnecessarily. We must be factual and ensure that we co-ordinate coherently in addressing the determinants of health such as water and sanitation. For now, Zambia is posting steady progress in the control of HIV/AIDS and we are working closely with the Ministries of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection and Local Government, and the Office of the Vice-President to ensure that issues of water are addressed.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, my question is in relation to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). From the best of my knowledge, I am aware that the testing centres for HIV are limited in the country. Are there immediate plans or measures to increase the number of testing centres in order to reduce the walking distance for the clients?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, rapid diagnostic tests for HIV are now available in all our health centres. We have trained the health facility staff in conducting the rapid testing. We are working hard to go beyond just testing by ensuring that the health centres have the capacity to enhance or initiate therapy. So, we have rolled out the testing. We are also working hard to increase the number of sites that are providing antiretroviral drugs (ARV). This is being done in collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure that we increase the number of antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites. This is programme is ongoing. So, as we talk about HIV/AIDS in the country, we shall also talk about the number of ART sites and plan how we are going to establish new ones.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Daka (Msanzala): Mr Speaker, when is the Ministry of Health going to introduce a National Health Insurance Policy in conjunction with other ministries such as the Ministries of Labour and Social Security and Finance? Further, we always talk about breast and cervical cancers, but we have not conscientised people on the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer. Why is that so?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the Budget Speech that was eloquently read by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Mutati, resonated well with the speech by His Excellency the President on the Floor of the House on health. The speech clearly stated that the Government would introduce a Bill to introduce the Social Health Insurance which is meant to cover all citizens. Social Health Insurance is important for us to eliminate out-of-pocket payments, financial catastrophes at the time of need of health services and to put us on the march to universal health coverage. Therefore, Social Health Insurance is a matter that has been addressed and is still being addressed. The Bill shall be presented to this House in due course.

 

Mr Speaker, we know that 30 per cent of the cancer cases that we see at the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) are cervical related. We also know that 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the cases relate to breast cancer. Protest cancer is prevalent amongst males too. Our screening programmes are now not only targeting cervical and breast cancers, but also looking at the PSA, which is a test that looks for the antigen that will give evidence of protest cancer.

 

Sir, we want to encourage all males to test for early signs of protest cancer. PSA can be done at various health facilities. We are rolling out to the various provinces, gadgets that will be used to conduct the PSA. Protest cancer has, indeed, claimed a number of lives among men. Screening remains the bedrock of control for protest cancer. If it is detected early enough when it has not metastasized, we are able to intervene surgically. However, I would like to agree with the hon. Member of Parliament that it is important for men to test for protest cancer.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, as the hon. Minister comes back to the House to issue a statement on the prevalence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), could he come with detailed information on that. I say so because over the weekend, Prof. Saasa made some alarming statements on the HIV/AIDS prevalence rates.

 

Does the Government intend to legalise the sale of HIV test kits in pharmacies and chemists in so that people can test themselves at home as is the case with malaria?

 

Mr Ngulube: Or in bars!

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I do not want to comment on the names of any presenter at the recently-held seminar for Members of Parliament. However, I will bring factual information to the House on the state of the nation in terms of HIV/AIDS and the Government’s position.

 

Sir, the issue of self testing is on the board. We are moving towards self testing. What is important is to have the quality of the testing kits approved by our regulators. Thereafter, we shall encourage people to self test and go and seek help on the next steps. We shall encourage self testing because it is an important beat in our control programme.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Sampa (Kasama Central): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to ask a point of clarification. Hon. Minister, I am glad that you have taken a leading role in ensuring that there is sensitisation on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic in Zambia. I know that all of us hon. Members of Parliament are affected or infected by this pandemic one way or the other. My question is on people who contribute to the spread of the disease. I have in mind witchdoctors who prescribe unorthodox cures to ignorant people. What is the ministry doing to mitigate and arrest the situation?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, it is important to note that there is no proven cure for HIV. There is currently no herbal remedy that is a proven cure for HIV. There is no conventional drug that has proved efficacious against HIV. What we do in treating our patients is mitigation, which is reducing or interrupting the replication cycle of the virus and ensuring that the viral load does not increase. We also give drugs that enable the CD4 cells, which are defence cells, to multiply. So, to date, there is no cure, either herbal or conventional, for HIV. Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and other support medicines merely mitigate. We are seeing a lot of progress and improvement in the quality of life of people who are on ARVs. ARVs help us in our quest to rid the country of new infections of HIV.

 

Mr Speaker, as regards our work with that of other doctors, it is important to note that we are not discouraging or saying that herbal medicines have no role in health. Herbal products that are safe and are proven could be consumed. We shall engage the various stakeholders to ensure that herbal products that are safe and have been proven to help promote health can be consumed by people. So, we are not blacklisting herbal medicines, but merely disassociating ourselves from any notion that there are herbal products that can cure HIV/AIDS.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mrs Chinyama (Kafue): Mr Speaker, is it a deliberate policy for some rural health posts to operate only during the day from 0800 hours to 1700 hours or this is actually due to the problem of shortage of manpower? If the later is the case, when does the Government project to deal with this challenge because, as the hon. Minister will agree with me, some health situations need a facility that is open twenty-four hours a day?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I wish to remind the hon. Member of Parliament that on Monday, 28^th November, 2016, I will be happy to see her crossing Kafue Road, walking for health with the citizens. We shall address the issue of human resource for health centres. Ideally, a health facility should operate for twenty-four hours. However, it is because of certain structural and administrative challenges that certain facilities do not operate for twenty-four hours.

 

We shall work towards extending the hours of operation for health facilities by improving on the human resource compliment and infrastructure. Where there is adequate human resource and infrastructure, like in some urban clinics in Lusaka and some rural areas, we have clinics that operate for twenty-four hours.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Siwanzi (Nakonde): Mr Speaker, there is a strong stigma attached to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). I have noticed that in almost all the hospitals I have been to, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinics are isolated. There are dispensaries specifically for antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). HIV patients go to the hospital on specific days.

 

I have had situations where relatives shun going to the hospital to receive ART because they feel that when they head in a certain direction of the hospital, people will know that they are HIV positive. If they go to the ART clinic that is located in their locality, people will know that they are HIV positive. As a result, you will find someone who is HIV positive who lives in Chelstone opting to go and collect ARVs from Kanyama.

 

Mr Kambwili: Landafye ati niwebo.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Siwanzi: In view of this, can the ministry find a better way of distributing ARVs and probably attending to HIV patients?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, stigma against HIV positive people must be confronted. We must all frown at stigma towards HIV. We have made progress in that area, as stigma has reduced significantly. It is important for hon. Members of Parliament, religious leaders and other opinion formers to combat stigma against HIV by stating simply that HIV is a chronic condition just like hypertension and diabetes mellitus and can also be managed. What is important is to know one’s status early and commence therapy before the immune system is compromised. We should be bearers of that message and inform people that it is in their own interest to know their health status. So, I wish to urge hon. Members of Parliament and other opinion formers to join hands in combating stigma. We can only combat stigma by speaking loudly against it.

 

Speaker, the provision of ART services vary according to hospitals. However, we are encouraging integration. We are not encouraging separate pharmacies for ART or separate ‘small corners’ that are referred to as HIV clinics. We are encouraging integration which is also important in the combating of stigma.

 

So, citizens must be encouraged that it is alright to know one’s HIV status and start ART, as it is life saving. It saves your life and that of the next person, and enhances productivity. There are many people who live normal lives because of ART and no one should discourage the use of ARVs. I wish to state that our policy is that of integration of health services, including the dispensing of drugs. We do not want to promote stigma by providing ART services in ‘small corners’. I emphasise that we are encouraging integration and that is one way we can fight stigma. As I mentioned earlier, we shall be ‘loud’ about this in our health promotion programmes. Health promotion has remained the bedrock in our quest to ensure that people remain healthy. We shall up-scale the health promotion programmes on HIV in community radio stations, churches, schools and various congregate settings, and one of the items to be handled aggressively is stigma.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, currently, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is faced with many challenges, ranging from shortage of water to negligence by staff. A few days ago, we heard about a woman who delivered on the floor at the hospital reception in full view of the nurses. Currently, the machine at the Cancer Diseases Hospital is not functioning. The hospital is besieged with many problems. Would the hon. Minister comfort us by telling us what is being done to solve most of the problems at UTH.

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Livune …

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: No, he is the hon. Member for Katombola.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola needs to reduce weight.

 

However, some of the things that cause congestion at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) are the high disease burden and poor referral system. The Government is ensuring that the hospitals around Lusaka are capacitated. We have posted doctors and nurses to the following peripheral hospitals:

 

1. Matero;
2. Levi Mwanawasa;
3. Chawama, Chipata;
4. Kanyama; and Chilenje.

 

Sir, we have also upgraded the infrastructure in some of the facilities and will continue to upgrade the facilities so that patients are not referred to the UTH where there is congestion.

 

Sir, we must look at the UTH as part of Lusaka District. So, the problems at the UTH go beyond health institution. The Government has designed a peculiar health service delivery model for Lusaka to ensure that all first level hospitals have a different compliment of staff so as to enable people to attend health institutions that are in their locality. Most importantly, public health interventions that should promote good health and prevent disease are being up-scaled to ensure that people are less ill.

 

At the moment, the UTH is being modernised by expanding the infrastructure. We are building a new adult emergency unit at a cost of K30 million. Since the old filter clinic has been rased down, the small space in the casualty ward is being used to provide services that were offered at the old filter clinic in the interim. The congestion will reduce when the new structure has been completed.

 

In addition, with the interventions that we are making in conjunction with other stakeholders in the health sector in Lusaka, we expect the UTH to continue getting better. On staff attitude, our position is that the modernisation programme will be matched with improvements in the attitude of staff. Our staff work hard to provide services to the people. Sometimes, there is staff burnout because of the low staffing levels. There have also been some unfortunate events due staff burnout. We are engaging our staff to ensure in order to improve attitude. We are also improving the numbers of staff to combat burnout. We stand for courteous patient care. In addition, any unfortunate event at the health institution should not be politicised. Instead, we should work together to improve our health institutions.

Mr Speaker, we have a programme for maintaining and servicing equipment, including imaging equipment. For any equipment that breaks down, there are engineers on site to fix it. Currently, we are not only looking at servicing the equipment, but also replacing that which is obsolete equipment so that we can efficiently provide services to the public.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mrs Mazoka (Pemba): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister talked about good diet as part of the preventive measures for non-communicable diseases. Does the hon. Minister know that the cost of living in Zambia have sky rocketed? An average Zambian cannot afford one scanty meal per  day. What measures has the Government put in place to help the vulnerable people who are the majority in our country?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, bad diet has nothing to do with the number of meals one eats per day. Eating ten times per day is also a bad diet.

 

Mr Mwamba: Yes!

 

Dr Chilufya: Bad diet includes eating uzani which my mulamu’s believe is a sign of prosperity.

 

Mr Speaker: What do you mean by uzani?

 

Interruptions

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, uzani is meat.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, my mulamu from Dundumwezi believes that eating vegetables is a sign of poverty …

 

Mr Livune: Yes!

 

Dr Chilufya: … and this is a common belief in certain parts of the country.

 

Mr Speaker, eating meat everyday is a bad diet.

 

Mr Ngulube: Yes!

 

Dr Chilufya: We are referring to diets that promote obesity. There are two extreme ends to diets. For instance, there many people who live in the village who eat traditional foods like ifisashi, that is vegetables or foods cooked in groundnut source. They eat traditional food, are healthy and live long. While in urban areas many people meat people consume mostly meat and do not have a balanced diet.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to emphasise that non-communicable diseases are now being ‘manufactured’ in the kitchens because of the bad foods that we eat. So, we must not trivialise the issue of bad diets. It is important to note that when we talk about bad diets, we are referring to eating junk foods and meats all the time and becoming obese. We are also referring to diabetes and hypertension that is associated to obesity and micronutrient deficiency.

 

Mr Speaker, poverty eradication is a sustainable development goal. I wish to emphasise that health is central to any sustainable development. By addressing determinants of health such as nutrition, we are contributing towards having a healthy nation and poverty eradication. The Zambian Government has spelt out a clear programme of economic recovery. With the participation of all stakeholders in breaking of all the silos, we are certainly on a firm path to having sustainable development.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to urge all the hon. Members of Parliament to participate in the activities of the National Health Week before and beyond that week by ensuring that they check their weight and blood pressure, are screened for prostate and cervical cancers and advocate for higher impact community level interventions that will keep our constituents healthy.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

____________

 

BILL

 

THIRD READING

 

The following Bill was read a third time and passed:

 

The Zambia Institute and Hospitality Studies Bill, 2016

 

______

 

MOTIONS

 

BUDGET 2016

 

(Debate resumed)

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to make my observations and comment on the Budget Speech that was presented by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Felix Mutati.

 

Mr Speaker, as the United Party for National Development (UPND), we recognise the importance of the Budget because it is a policy tool that assists the Government to mobilise funds, generate resources and revenues, and redirect or direct them to various expenditure categories in order to assist or attack the various problems that beseech the citizenry of Zambia. These are poverty, chronic hunger and so on and so forth. So, it is in this regard that the citizens of Zambia are naturally expectant whenever this ceremony of presenting the National Budget comes to be. Therefore, they were expecting good things to arise from the speech.

 

Mr Speaker, we are all aware that over the years, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has made a many promises. Therefore, the only way to fulfill the promises is through the Budget and the allocations therein. So, the people expected that the Budget would address the concerns of chronic hunger, poverty reduction, unemployment and the associated objectives of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) that we, the people of Zambia, have ascribed to.

 

Sir, I am going to base my contribution on the micro-economic objectives that form the basis of the Budget Speech. These are just offhand, as the main one is obviously the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, which was capped at 3.4 per cent. The inflation rate was capped at 9 per cent while the fiscal deficit was capped at 7 per cent. We were supposed to maintain the borrowing below 2 per cent of the gross national product (GNP) and build foreign reserves of not less than three months of import cover. The other one was the creation of 100,000 jobs which, if my memory serves me right, are supposed to culminate into a total of 1 million by the end of thei PF’s mandate.

 

Sir, allow me to start with the Budget figures.

 

Unless I am wrong, the total Budget figure for 2016 was K53.136 billion. This year, nominally, it has gone up to K64.5 billion. I say nominal because, in real terms and if I can use the United States Dollar,  the 2016 Budget was about US$7.5 billion and the 2017 Budget is approximately US$6.5 billion. So, it has remained constant, if it has not actually gone down.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, going by the trend that has been set, which we have also seen in the performance of the PF Government and the categories of expenditure, not much will be done. It also means that the extent of the services that are going to be provided by the Government will be limited. If you assess the 2016 Budget, probably only 20 to 25 per cent of what was planned was implemented and achieved.

 

Mr Speaker, the most important budget item is the GDP because it is what the economy is anchored on. According to the speech, the GDP has been downgraded to about 3.4 per cent. In the 2016 Budget, the GDP was at 7 per cent, but was downgraded to 5 per cent because of the global trends, domestic constraints and challenges. Then, the actual outturn will only be 3.1 per cent. As a result of that, the hon. Minister of Finance said that it can grow to 3.4 per cent consecutive projection.

 

However, we in the UPND think that even the 3.4 per cent GDP growth will not be possible to achieve given the global and domestic economic trends. The very fact that we have downgraded our expectations to 3.4 GDP growth in the 2017 Budget points to the fact that our economy is under stress. As the UPND, we believe that the 3.4 growth rate is not meaningful at all because it will not tackle the challenges of poverty, hunger, unemployment and others. The UPND believes that the 10 per cent minimal GDP growth would be the very minimum required for any advancement in the economic endevours of the country.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lufuma: Sir, I also wish to talk about the debt stocks because these have implications in terms of growth. The debt stock in 2016 was at US$6.7 billion, which is about 35 per cent of the GDP while the domestic debt stock stood at K26 billion. When I converted it into the US Dollar, it is about US$2.6 billion. When you add up the two, they come to about US$9.3 billion. That is the extent to which we are indebted domestically and internationally.

 

Let me now talk about the World Bank because that is where I also want to talk about the debt sustainability ratio. Given our status as a middle-income country, if we add the figures that I have talked about, our sustainability threshed is at 40 per cent. If you add the figures that I have talked about, the debt ratio and threshold come to 47 per cent. This is dangerous because it actually means that we will not be productive enough to generate enough resources to pay our debts, especially international debts. This is why the International Monitory Fund (IMF) has come in because they are particular about payments of debt, especially foreign debt. When you borrow, you must pay back as quickly as possible.

      

In the UPND, we think that it is not necessary to conjure up figures of up to US$9.3 billion. This money could have easily been sourced from within. If at all we had to borrow, the money should have been used and directed towards productive ventures.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lufuma: Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the PF Government. Productive investment – and I am not talking about the long-term where you push in money and wait for twenty years to realise the benefit – should be in areas like livestock, agriculture and fisheries. If you put money in these areas, you will have returns within a year. These returns can be used to repay the loans.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lufuma: Currently, however, we are so much in debt that we pay almost US$1.6 million interest every month because we require US$19 billion interest every year on the debts that we have incurred. The hon. Minister can attest to this. 

 

Mr Speaker, Pay-as-You-Earn (PAYE) is one area where the citizens were expecting to get relief. In the 2017 Budget, PAYE has been increased by K300, giving a non-taxable threshold of K3,300. This is mockery. What can K300 do, given the inflationary pressures that we have?

 

Mr Syakalima interjected.

 

Mr Lufuma: It cannot do much.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Lufuma: We expected the Government to give a bit more relief in this area. The CJTR, a theological organisation, …

 

Mr Speaker: JCTR.

 

Mr Lufuma: Come again?

 

Mr Speaker: JCTR.

 

Mr Lufuma: Ah yes, JCT) or the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR) constantly carries out surveys on the Food Basket. Currently, the Food Basket is standing at K4,600. Now, K4,600, vis-à-vis K300 literally means that we are condemning the majority of households to perpetual poverty, hunger and unemployment. Basically, many of the micro-economic indicators are so negative that we can hardly, with the remedies that were proposed, move from where we are to a better life. So, because of this, the citizens think that this Budget has fallen short of their expectations.

 

Mr Speaker, I now wish to talk about agriculture. I will use this to illustrate the inconsistencies in the pronouncements in the Budget. You pronounce one thing and do another, meaning that you are not putting your money where your mouth is. There is quite a bit of money that was allocated to agriculture but, when you analyse the structure of the allocation, most of the money …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was about to show the inconsistencies between the pronouncements and the budgetary figures. Page 2 of the President’s Speech says:

 

“Our efforts to move the economy from its current heavy dependence on copper to one based on agriculture, livestock, fisheries and their entire value chain will continue in a more robust manner.”

 

Essentially, we are talking about diversification. I want to pick a sector on which I shall demonstrate that the pronouncement and figures do not match. With regard to the structure of allocation of money in agriculture, where is the money going?  Is it going to diversification or it is going to maize only?

 

Mr Speaker, because of time, I will not be able to go over the figures. However, my figures show that in 2016, the agriculture sector in livestock and fisheries was allocated K700 million while the crop sector was allocated about K2.3 billion, representing 11 per cent for livestock and fisheries and 89 per cent for crop. In 2017, the livestock and fisheries sector has been allocated K642,686 while the crop sector has been allocated K5.4 billion. This represents 11 per cent for livestock and fisheries and 89 per cent for crop.

 

Within this 89 per cent, 54.4 per cent will go to the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) while 17.3 per cent will go to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). When you add up these percentages, the total comes to 70.7 per cent of the total budget for agriculture.

 

Now, where is the diversification because only about 30 per cent or 29.3 per cent is left for fisheries, livestock, research and development, and all other requirements in the agriculture sector? This is the type of inconsistency I am talking about. We are saying one thing and doing  the other. If we say we want to diversify, let us diversify and put the money there and not otherwise.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Malanji (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to support the Motion on the speech delivered by the ever eloquent hon. Minister of Finance.

 

Mr Livune: Question!

 

Mr Malanji: I will take the angle of industrialisation in the Budget Speech. Countries like Germany went that route and have never regretted. The philosopher, Che Guevara, with his zeal for industrialisation, said, “Habra trabajo para todos.”

 

Hon. Members: Meaning?

 

Mr Malanji: There will be jobs for everyone.

 

Mr Speaker, the indication in the Budget to recapitalise some parastatal organisations needs to be supported by the Government and other stakeholders. I will single out Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company. Our colleagues in Tanzania closed their refinery and cannibalised. Now they are regretting. They have said to Zambia, “You did well not to close your refinery.” So, the indication by the Government to recapitalise some parastatal companies should not be without support.

 

I know that many people have not got a clear picture of what activities take place at Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company. We think that it is there to refine petrol and diesel only. Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company produces nine products from the comingled crude oil that we get. At the moment, there are more than 400 direct employees and 300 indirect employees. Going by the Zambian culture, most Tonga families have, at least, ten members. So, if you multiply 700 employees by ten, that gives you the number of beneficiaries of this company.

 

Because of the slump in the price of oil on the world market, our neighbouring country, Angola, imports 70 per cent of its fuel from Saudi Arabia. If we were to go that route of importing finished products, we can probably afford two lines of petrol and diesel. Even in developed countries like Mexico, there are problems of oil supply. They have aerial surveillance of the pipes pushing finished products because people used to dig trenches 30 m or 40 m away from the pipeline, drill into the pipe and fit a drain plug. That used to be the order of the day.

 

At the moment, Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company produces liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), when we are talking of a power deficit. This is gas that we can use for both commercial and domestic purposes. We can use it in gas stoves. Our colleagues in Italy, Spain and even Egypt use gas. Taxis use gas. One cylinder is enough to last a week for a taxi, when here it would require three or four tanks of petrol per week. Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company produces butane, 90 per cent ofwhich is exported to Kenya. It also produces light gasoline, which is used to make paints, kerosene for domestic use, Jet A-1, which is used by planes, including Boeing planes, diesel, petrol and heavy fuel oil (HFO). If the company, which is producing more than 100 MW power on the Copperbelt was to import the HFO, the tariff of this product would be different.

 

Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company can also produce bitumen. When this happens, it will be very easy for us to dangle the carrot to the suppliers of bitumen from outside. Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company can produce all the nine products that I have mentioned. That is why I support its recapitalisation.

 

The cost of transporting fuel to Zambia is twice the production cost by both Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company and Tanzania Zambia Mafuta Pipeline (TAZAMA). It costs US$280 per metric tonne. It costs US$54 to transport one metric tonne by TAZAMA whereas it costs Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company US$61 to produce one metric tonne of fuel. If we can be focused, we can ride on the slogan of Hugo Chavez who said, “Habra victoria de siempre.”

 

Laughter

 

Mr Malanji: It will be victory forever for the Patriotic Front (PF).

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Malanji: Mr Speaker,

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Malanji: .. we should not wait for an outsider ...

 

Mr Mutale: Eh ma backbenchers, aya!

 

Mr Malanji: ... to prompt us to go the route of industrialisation for the simple reason that the stamina of any sitting Government is to provide social security for its citizens.

 

Mr Speaker, recapitalising Indeni will increase butane exports. We should not sit and be ‘crying babies’. This inferiority complex will kill us. It is time we stood up and worked out how best we can industrialise this country.

 

Sir, with these few words, I support the Motion 101 per cent.

 

I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me the chance to render my maiden speech after my victory in the 11^th August, 2016, Elections.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: This is the second maiden speech I am rendering. This victory did not come on a silver plate, but came as a result of the confidence that the electorate has in me and the good works that I did during my first term as Member of Parliament for Kalabo Central.

 

Mr Mutale: Question!

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: Let me start by thanking the mighty people of Kalabo Central Constituency who supported my adoption and assured the mighty party, ...

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Which party?

 

Mr Miyutu: ... the United Party for National Development (UPND), ...

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: ... of victory in that constituency. I also wish thank the people of Kalabo.

 

Sir, I would like to thank the party on which I contested, the UPND, headed by president Hakainde Hichilema, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Livune: The winner of the elections!

 

Mr Miyutu: ... from the national management, to the national executive committee, the provincial committee in the Western Province, the district committee in Kalabo District, the constituency committee, the wards and the section committees. I thank them all for giving me support from my adoption to the campaigns and, finally, my victory.

 

Mr Speaker, I should not forget that the head of this party won in my constituency by a landslide and the people hoped that he would rule this country. Their wishes and hopes have been blockaded in the process.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Miyutu: However, this is not the end of the world. There is a reason and purpose for everything that happens.

 

Sir, allow me to join other hon. Members who have congratulated you, the Second and Third Deputy Speakers on your victory ...

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Just to conform to the Constitution, we have the Speaker, First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker.

 

Laughter 

 

Mr Miyutu: Thank you for your guidance.

 

Sir, you are serving your second term and that reflects the confidence that the people who were here in the last sitting have in you.

 

Mr Speaker, from experiences, when power is given to a group of people, it does not seem to benefit the whole country. We are supposed to use power to continue the good things we found, but we seem to be using it to discontinue the good things and promote wrong and divisive activities.

 

Sir, Zambia chose multiparty politics, which implies that whoever gets into power has to respect the existence of multipartism. When one party gets into power, the other parties should be brought on board, and not be treated as enemies, as the Opposition is portrayed in Zambia. The Opposition has been turned into enemies. Many people are afraid to join opposition political parties for fear of victimisation.

 

Mr Speaker, where I live, if you are not a member of the Patriotic Front (PF), you feel very insecure.

 

Hon. Government Members: Where?

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: This insecurity comes in many forms.

 

Mr Ndalamei: Tell them!

 

Mr Miyutu: Sir, people desire to join the Opposition but, sometimes, they do not know whether they are doing the right or wrong thing. They are always uncertain because the treatment they get from the Government is not favourable. There is no tolerance of any kind by the Government.

 

Sir, can you imagine that a situation where the relief food which is supposed to be given to everyone regardless of race or political affiliation …

 

Mr Ndalamei: That is why they lost.

 

Mr Miyutu: … is only given to those who belong to the PF.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Miyutu: That report is there at the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Headquarters.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order, on the right!

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the people in power should bear in mind that they co-exist with everyone. 

 

Mr Chisopa: On a point of order!

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Just take a seat, hon. Member. There are no points of order when people are debating. If you have a pad and pen, take down some notes and then you can indicate to the Clerk.

 

Mr Ndalamei: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Continue!

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Mr Speaker, that maize was supposed to be given to people who have no food, like those in Ng’uma Ward who were feeding on wild fruits.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Take a seat again, hon. Member. I am getting impatient with the right. I have sight obstruction currently because people are also working between you and me. I hope the Clerks-at-the-Table can assist me to identify them clearly.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Continue!

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the people of Ng’uma Ward were feeding on wild fruits and grass whilst there was maize in the shed. That maize was not given to the people because they did not support the PF. That is a shameful thing to do by a party in power. This party is supposed to serve its citizens regardless of party inclination.

 

Mr Speaker, in Kalabo, here are many unfinished projects. The Kalabo Trades Training School project has been pending since 2010. The Kalabo Youth Resource Centre project has also been pending since 2012. The only classroom blocks that are there were built using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The people of Kalabo are eagerly waiting for the construction of classroom blocks so that pupils can use them.

 

Sir, the people of Kalabo are also waiting for the completion of the health posts under the 650 Health Posts Project. The project in Mitu Ward is not complete. The one in Yeta is complete, but is not yet operational.

 

Mr Speaker, we need feeder roads in Kalabo. No feeder road has been constructed in Kalabo since 1964. All the vehicles that are used in Kalabo are 4 x 4. Sometimes, we use oxcarts to transport our agricultural produce to the market. This is a difficult mode of transport for both buyers and sellers. We would want the Government to put more effort in the construction of feeder roads in Kalabo. We have a road which was worked on under the Rural Road Unit (RRU), but it was not completed. I hear that project has been awarded to the Zambia National Service (ZNS). However, we do not know when it will be worked on.

 

Mr Speaker, if you entered Kalabo District Hospital today, you would not realise that you are in a hospital …  

 

Laughter

 

Mr Miyutu: … until you see the patients lying on the beds. The beds that the patients sleep on were bought by the Kaunda Government in 1972. How do you call that a district hospital? It is, therefore, impossible for me to say good things about the Government due to these factors. The Government should do something about that hospital. In addition the location of the hospital is bad. I say so because it gets flooded during the rainy season. It is for this reason that the structures at the Boma have not lasted long. Therefore, the Government should ensure that the buildings are renovated.

 

Sir, the hospital compound for the paramedical satff is in a bad state. Instead of using waterborne toilets, the residents use pit latrines. I do not think this can motivate any civil servant to go and work there. Those who work there do so on humanitarian grounds. So, paramedical staff need to be motivated by renovating their houses. In fact, the compound needs to be overhauled. During the rainy season, people even reach an extent of shifting their goods from their houses due to leaking roofs.

 

Mr Speaker, we need more teachers in our schools. Last year, pupils had to walk for about 45 km from Liapepa to go and write the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) examinations at Lukona. I, therefore, request the Government to provide more computers to schools in Kalabo.

 

Mr Speaker, I will not forget to talk about the good services that we get from the Mongu/Kalabo Road, but that is not enough. 

 

Mr Ndalamei: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, for us to do any business with Angola, the Kalabo/ Sikongo/Angola Road Project should be completed. We could do good business with Angola if there was a proper road. Currently, it is difficult because there is no proper road to Angola. The road I am talking about should have been constructed some time back before the PF came into power. When the PF came into power, it found the programme of that road on the table and money was sourced for the road. The problem is that the PF Government thinks that the only development they can take to that area is the construction of the Mongu/Kalabo Road. This is not fair.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Miyutu: So, the road connecting Zambia to Angola should continue because it is vital for trade with Zambia. The people of Angola come into Zambia to buy agricultural produce like tomatoes and onions, despite the bad state of the road. Therefore, we wish to request the Government to do something about it.

 

Mr Speaker, the former Minister of Local Government, Hon. Dr John Phiri, launched a programme to enhance water supply in Mongu, but it has not been implemented to date.  People are still finding it difficult to access water because there are inadequate water points. So, this is a challenge to the Government to provide safe drinking water for the people of Kalabo.

 

Mr Speaker, let me thank you for giving me the chance to render my maiden speech so that we remove the ‘barrier’ of silence in the House.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. PF Member: Barrier of silence!

 

Mr Belemu (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to debate the Motion that was moved by the hon. Minister of Finance.

 

Mr Speaker, to start with, I note that the hon. Minister of Finance has regularly used certain terms and phrases like ‘restoring’, ‘recovery’ ‘restoring the credibility of the Budget’ and the theme of the Budget. The use of these terms and phrases means that something went wrong. From my church background, you only restore an elder who had erred or sinned.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: When you have worked around with them and realised that they have fully repented, you can then talk about restoring them.

 

Mr Speaker, there are some things that went wrong which, unfortunately, the hon. Minister shied away from mentioning in the Budget Speech and which he wants to convince us that will not go wrong again.

 

Mr Speaker, since 2011, we have been speaking about things that are deemed ‘dangerous’. Among them are the unplanned programmes and projects that just come up from nowhere. The Government would create district at random. From nowhere, it would be a matter of let there be a university here and, the next moment, the same university would change names three or four times. We said that this way of doing things was going to land the country into trouble.

 

Mr Speaker, the second dangerous thing we saw was the appetite to borrow money without planning for it. The Eurobond is a case in point. The money that was borrowed was kept in the bank and ‘eaten off’ by the interest. Worse still, the money from the Eurobond went to areas that were not envisaged. I can cite the case of earth dams for cattle. At some point, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Alexander Chikwanda, told us that there was money from the World Bank for the construction of earth dams that was lying around, but no dams were constructed across the country.

 

Mr Speaker, we spoke about the apparent appetite to create structures in the Central Government. Ministries and districts were created at will. Irrelevant structures were carried over just as is the case is at the moment. For example, there have been recurring questions about the role of District Commissioners (DCs) in the current dispensation when mayors are being elected into office. We are told that DCs are the eyes of the President. Those structures are ‘eating away’ at public resources.

 

Mr Speaker, we talked about the ‘leakages’ of monies. The Auditor-General’s Reports from 2011 to date are clear about this, but we are not sure whether or not the ‘leakages’ have been sealed.

 

Mr Speaker, we talked about issues that would scare away potential investors. We also talked about threats to investment and the economic development of this country. We spoke about the behaviour of the people who were in the party then, the violence therein and their questionable governance record when it came to accepting the current dispensation of multipartism.

 

Mr Speaker, unless some of those issues that we raised have changed or there is an assurance from the hon. Minister that they will change, we are sorry to say that whatever led us into the current problems will continue and that this Budget is not going to take us anywhere.

 

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that there has not been any negotiation or discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, when you look at the recovery programmes in his speech, you will find the restoration of credibility and the language of privatising, selling or hiving off of certain assets, regardless of the language, are neoliberal policies that were once the flagship policies of the IMF.

 

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: He may not have agreed with them, but we can tell that he has been dining with them.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: The language is that of neoliberal policies and it remind us of the early 90s when we were told to tighten our belts. People came in nice designer suits and told us to tighten our belts because hard times were coming, but for heaven to come on earth, we had to sell this and that. Once we had done all the things we were told to do, we would start seeing manna falling from above.

 

Mr Speaker, my worry is not even about the policies that the hon. Minister is talking about such as the recovery or the hiving off of parastatal companies. It is the inconsistency that is in the Budget Speech. When you look at the policies of the Patriotic Front (PF) and the people who are going to implement the Budget, the question that arises is: Where is the structure or architecture in the PF-led Government that is going to deliver his policies?

 

Sir, even when the PF chooses friends, it chooses socialists such as Sudan and other neighbouring countries. The PF is a professed socialist party, but is talking about neoliberal policies. So, who is going to implement this Budget? Who is going to support it when it comes to implementation?

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to suggest to the hon. Minister that if he is premising the Budget on the current structure of the Government, it will not take us anywhere. We shall go backwards, if not become worse off than we are today.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: Unfortunately, the route that brought us to where we are is still open. We have not been assured of repentance or change.

 

Mr Speaker, let me address the agriculture sector in particular. The hon. Minister’s flagship programme under livestock appears to be the cordon line, which he called by a different name. 

 

Mr Chibanda: Condom line!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: His assumption is that a cordon line from Shang’ombo to Jimbe will result into livestock in the Barotse Plains. A cordon line is only a barrier. Even the current protocols on the management of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and foot and Mouth Disease are questioning the use of cordon lines because there are just barriers. Problems will continue in the Barotse Plains. There should have been a total package to revamp the livestock subsector in the Barotse Plains.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: This should have included the improvement of the stock and the quality of breeds and correct veterinary interventions. It should have also included how to access markets and develop zones in areas that are free of disease and their meat produce and animals could be sold in any part of the country and beyond. A barrier is simply what it is.

 

Mr Speaker, in Namibia, the barrier, which is the red line or cordon fence, was created to separate the commercial farms, which are on the southern side. from the small-holder farms in the north. However, what is critical is that the southern part is able to export beef to the European Union (EU) markets because it has been declared disease free. Even if we construct a cordon line from Shang’ombo to Jimbe, there is no area we can declare a disease-free zone in the Western Province that will enable us sell our meat and animals anywhere in the world.

 

Sir, let me now talk about the artificial insemination centres. When we put them in the context of our agriculture system and target small-scale farmers in Kwamashiland in Shang’ombo fo insatnce, at what stage will they access the insemination centres? Even among human beings, artificial insemination is the last resort when everything else has failed.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: What could have assisted our colleagues in the Barotse Plains and the Southern, and Central provinces, is the provision of breeding bulls which Hon. Mutelo can be proud of because he could see them everyday.

 

Mr Mutelo: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: Artificial insemination is technical and it fails in certain instances. So, the Government should not be proud of constructing artificial insemination centres to target the small-holder farms. Where is the total package that could have increased livestock in the country? Where is the package that could enable our beef to be saleable in better markets? Our colleagues in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana go to Europe to argue about the provision of markets there for their beef, beef products, livestock and livestock products. However, in our case, we do not do that. The leather industry in Ethiopia is developed. Here we have goats, sheep and cattle, but where is the leather industry that is absorbing the leather products? That is the direction we should have been taking. 

 

Mr Speaker, with regard to the Cashew Nut Project, the hon. Minister of Finance will recall that the country has been launching cashew nut projects for a long time. When he was Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, he launched a similar project. Why do we launch the same project over and over again?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: The Government talked about importing seedlings from Mozambique, yet they always launch similar projects. Let us come up with realistic solutions.

 

Sir, the hon. Minister may be aware that the Electronic-Voucher (e-Voucher) System was never designed to help the small-scale farmers. It was designed to help the agro dealers so that they sell their agro inputs and mostly it was intended for products that we do not even produce in this country. The hon. Minister proposed that a farmer can pick an implement of his/her choice, yet the hoe or plough that can be picked would not have been manufactured in Zambia. The seed variety that the farmers get through the e-Voucher System, which is cheaper, comes from Malawi or Zimbabwe. Our local varieties are not being used, yet we want to believe that we are helping the farmers. The medicines or drugs that the farmers will use will not have come from Balmoral, but will be imported. Farmers in Zambia need a full recovery package. That is why we said that the farmers who were affected by the policies of the early 1990s should be given a resuscitation package of free inputs for three years.

 

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

                                                     

Mr Belemu: That way, they will rise to a certain level. The trouble is that programmes that are designed for those who were affected by drought benefit even those who were not affected by drought like is the case with the distribution of relief food. When there are poor maize yields, people who grow cassava are also given maize when they want to grow cassava.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: Mr Speaker, we needed packages that address agriculture. We should also spell out what we want to achieve in agriculture, that is, the livestock and crop/maize sub-sectors. It is not enough to open borders and say we shall export maize and put a tax on it. For example, at the moment, there is a shortfall of choice beef. Among the ingredients that are needed to produce choice beef is maize. However, do we have sufficient maize stocks to produce the feed?

 

Mr Speaker, the tourism sector has suffered misfortune for a very long time under the PF Government. In 2007, 2009 and 2010, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) emphasised the development of the Northern Circuit, Kasaba Bay and outlying areas. A lot of much public resources went towards that project. However, before we were told why that project failed, the PF started developing Livingstone. What happened to the infrastructure, airport and road projects and packages that were created for people to build hotels around the Kasaba Bay area?

 

Mr Livune: They chewed the money!

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Katombola.       

 

Mr Belemu: If that question is not answered, I am afraid the same thing will happen in Livingstone. Resources will be used to develop Livingstone and, next year, when we have another Minister of Tourism and Arts, things will change. Unfortunately, every time the Minister of Tourism and Arts is changed, the policies of the ministry also change. That does not inspire confidence in someone who wants to invest his/her money in tourism because policies are not consistent. After one builds a hotel in Kasaba Bay, the Government moves on to develop Livingstone and abandon the incomplete projects in Kasaba Bay. Again, after he/she invests in a project in Livingstone, after two years, the Government moves on to develop Mwinilunga.

                                                                                                                                 

Laughter                                               

 

Mr Belemu: So, how can an investor keep chasing after the Government? Let us be consistent. Some sectors require consistency in policy. I adopt Hon. Mwiimbu‘s when he said that the current political scenario in this country does not favour tourism. No one can invest in a project in a destination which is not safe. A commission of inquiry on the voting patterns and electoral violence has been instituted. How do we expect tourists enjoy their stay here?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ng’onga: Question!

 

Mr Belemu: These are things that depopularise Zambia as a tourist destination. At times, when I travel abroad, I take interest in knowing the tourism attachés in our embassies. Some of them have never seen the Victoria Falls, yet they are expected to market Zambia. How can they market Zambia as a tourist destination? We are doing a disservice to this country. There are too many policy changes. One moment the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) is called by a different name. One moment, the concessions are cancelled, the next moment, they are restored; one moment, the hunting of lions is banned, the next moment it is restored and we are told that the lions have increased in number. Do the numbers of lions increase overnight?

 

Laughter                                                           

 

Mr Belemu: I am aware that human beings take, at least, nine months to mature in the womb. So, let us not do things that we know will disadvantage us.

Mr Speaker, let me now move to the much-talked about industrialisation. Unfortunately, the hon. Minister of Finance is bringing policies that do not conform to what is obtaining in the Government. Which route is the Government taking in industrialisation? Is the Government going to take a lead? On one hand it is saying that there is no money for it to do business and, on the other hand, it is glorifying the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and want to put up tourism infrastructure. Will this be public-sector led or private-sector led? That is important because if one wants to invest, he/she will have to think about the stage at which to invest. If the Government is going to build tourism infrastructure, why would I invest in a hotel and compete with the Government? Let us be consistent …

 

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: … and know the route to take as regards industrialisation. We always refer to countries like Singapore, but they did things correctly and their policies have been consistent for a long time. Let us encourage our technocrats to give us correct information. When people attend workshops where industrialisation is talked about, they want to come up with an industrialisation strategy upon return. It does not work that way. I have said before that industrialisation has to do with the political economy of the country. Are we ready for this industrialisation we are talking about? If so, at what stage are we going to do it? If, today we are to award a road contract, it will still be given to a Chinese firm, yet you are talking about industrialising Zambia. The money will be externalised. We are doing ourselves a disservice by coming up with well-written documents that we know will never work in this country. We are misleading ourselves.

 

Mr Speaker, as an ardent supporter of tourism, I wish to urge the hon. Minister to think about the money that went into the development of the Northern Circuit. So, let us take the people involved to court for abusing public resources. What happened is as good as throwing money into Lake Tanganyika and coming back to ask for some more to throw into the Victoria Falls. It is only us, the Zambians, who can develop this country. Doing so starts with us having a correct mindset.

 

In conclusion, anyone who follows the events of this country is wondering what the PF stands for. Is it a socialist party or a party of dictators? This is because it is statements are contradictory.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: Mr Speaker, the people are wondering what this party stands for. One minute, it will say that it wants to attract investment but, in the next minute, it will be dining with people who are suppressing industries, enterprises and people’s rights.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Tell them!

 

Mr Belemu: Mr Speaker, this Budget makes sad reading because some areas have no allocations, yet the Government is using flowery language and saying that this and that will be done. It is now talking about economic recovery and repentance when there is still some inequity that needs to be done away with in the distribution of public funds.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to present my first maiden speech as Member of Parliament for Kaoma Central Constituency.

 

Sir, allow me to begin by thanking the people of Kaoma for the trust and confidence they have bestowed in me by electing me as their representative in this august House. Let me take this opportunity to assure the people of Kaoma that I will serve them in totality. I will not follow party or tribal lines. Instead, I will serve the constituency as one unit.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala: Mr Speaker, my sincere gratitude also goes to my party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) under the able leadership of ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Gen. Sitwala: ... president Hakainde Hichilema, ...

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala: ... and his running mate, Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba for adopting me to stand for the Kaoma Central seat. Without their support, I would not be standing here this afternoon. So, to them, I say thank you very much.

 

Sir, I also wish to thank the campaign team, particularly Mr Kakungo Mukenge, who was the chief campaign manager, Mr Edgar Manjolo, Mr Kenny Ndumba, Mrs Liwakala and Mrs Ndala for ensuring that I win the Kaoma seat. Let me also thank the provincial team, the district, the constituency and ward party officials for their support during the campaign period.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to congratulate you on your re-election as Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia. This is a sign of the good work that you did during the 11^th National Assembly before some of us came here. Please, accept my sincere congratulations. Let me also extend my congratulations to Hon. Namugala, the First Deputy Speaker, and Hon. Malama, the Second Deputy Speaker, on their election. My sincere congratulations also go to all the hon. Members of this House, both elected and nominated.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to highlight some of the challenges that my constituency is faced with. I will start with water and sanitation. My constituency is faced with a serious water and sanitation problem. I wish to implore the Government to help us sink many boreholes across the district that will help solve the problem of a lack of clean water. Suffice it to mention that communities such as Mwimba, Kandilindili, Kashambana, Shingungungu, Makuyu, Lipaku and Kayula still have to travel distances averaging 30 km in search of clean water.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala: Sir, the Kalumwange Farming Block and Kaoma Township have not been spared from this problem. For those who may not be aware, Kalumwange is a farming block which was established in during the reign of President Kaunda. Unfortunately, we have seen very little development there. The farming block has good soils and good climatic conditions suitable for producing enough food not only for the people of Kaoma, but also the rest of the province. The amount of maize produced in this farming block has led to Kaoma being referred to as the food basket of the Western Province. If boreholes were sunk in the farming block, I am sure that the people would be inspired to grow food using the irrigation system.

 

Sir, the lack of communication towers is another challenge in Kaoma. I wish to implore the Government to ensure that there is sufficient mobile communication in the district so that all the people of Kaoma can have access to mobile network facilities. The most affected areas are the three wards in the northern part of the constituency. These are Chitwa, Kalumwange and Lunyati. People still have to travel an average of 120 km Kaoma just to make a phone call. That costs about K200. With the increase in the price of fuel, I am sure the cost has increased. Therefore, I wish to appeal to the Government to help us in this area.

 

Mr Speaker, I talked about the potential that is in the farming block. I know that the Western Province has a lot of potential in agriculture, and Kaoma is no exception. You cannot talk about agriculture in the Western Province without mentioning Kaoma. I am happy that the hon. Minister of Agriculture is here. I, therefore, wish to appeal to the ministry to boost agriculture in the district.

 

Sir, the hon. Members from the Western Province were delighted to see the allocation in the Budget to the Cashew Nut Infrastructure Support Programme in the province. The figures are impressive. The allocation of US$55.4 million, targeting 600,000 beneficiaries in the Western Province is impressive. This looks good on paper because 600,000 people is more than three quarters of the population of the Western Province. However, I wish to ask the hon. Minister of Finance to review the Cashew Nut Infrastructure Support Programme in the Western Province.

 

Mr Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues this side, I wish to say that it is not the first time we are hearing about investment in the cashew nut sector in the Western Province. When I was a young boy, this project was started in the Western Province, mainly in Mongu District. It covered Mabumbu, Sefula, Namushakenge and a few other areas. Huge sums of money were invested into the establishment of the cashew nut plantation. However, nothing has come out of it and that is money down the drain.

 

Therefore, my colleagues and I are interested in hearing from the hon. Minister and his counterpart in the agriculture portfolio what new measures are being put in place to ensure that this sector is something worth talking about and to be proud of. However, I think the hon. Minister needs to conduct a little more research in this area. What we have seen in the past is that from the time of President Kaunda’s reign, successive governments have come in to try to impress us in the area of cashew nuts, but nothing has happened.

 

Sir, when I look at 600,000 people being targeted under this project, I begin to wonder how this is going to be achieved. Is there going to be door-to-door recruitment? We still have cashew nut trees in the Western Province from the old project. They are popular for the good shed they provide in the villages of the Western Province.

 

Laughter

 

Gen. Sitwala: I repeat that nothing has come out of the previous cashew nut project. Therefore, I hope that the US$50 million will not just go down the drain.

 

Mr Speaker, in the same vein, I wish to comment on the popular ‘condom’ line as mentioned by the hon. Minister of Finance.

 

Laughter

 

Gen. Sitwala: I know my colleague talked about it before I took the Floor, but …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

For the sake of the verbatim record, let us refer to it appropriately. I hope that is just a slip of the tongue.

 

Gen. Sitwala: It is the ‘condom’– sorry – the cordon line, Mr Speaker.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: You need to be careful because the Hansard is actually produced here.

 

Gen. Sitwala: Sorry, Mr Speaker. Maybe, it is because this word has been used for some time. However, the cordon …

 

Mr Speaker: No, I am guiding you.

 

Gen. Sitwala: I wish to talk about the cordon line.

 

Mr Speaker: Talk about it, period.

 

Laughter

 

Gen. Sitwala: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker, again, this is one area which I would like the Government to revisit. To those of us who grew up in the Western Province, this is not a new feature. It is something that has been done before. Therefore, I wish to advise that we have to be cautious about how we implement it. The idea of just spreading a wire from Shang’ombo all the way to Kalabo has proved ineffective in the past. We are talking about a line that covers two game parks here. The other day we are hearing about the wildebeest in Liuwa. There is also a game park in Ngweze and most of the game there are elephants. So, stretching a wire in the hope that it is going to control animal diseases in the Western Province is cheating ourselves. I have operated …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

The word ‘cheating’ is unparliamentary.

 

Gen. Sitwala: I retract and say that we are deceiving ourselves, if I am allowed to use that term. When a herd of elephants in the Ngweze National Park is heading for water, either on the Zambezi side or the other side of the river in Angola, nothing will stop them from bring down the whole wire. Even the human beings who live in that area are also a problem. We have seen that when the wire is being erected from Shang’ombo, before it reaches halfway to Kalabo, the villagers start pulling it done. So, by putting up the cordon line, we are not solving any problem at all.

 

Mr Speaker, there are other animal diseases in the Western Province apart from those that affect cattle. The diseases are spread by wild animals. When the buffaloes and wildebeest are emigrating from Angola, they bring the diseases into Zambia. So, this wire is going to last for only a year or two. At the end of the day, we are not solving any problem. Therefore, I wish to agree with the last speaker that more needs to be done in the area of livestock in the Western Province.

 

Sir, we have heard about restocking of animals in other provinces. We have not benefitted from that. I think that is where we need to direct our efforts. Disease control was difficult in the area that we are talking about those days when Angola was still at war – sorry to refer to that – but now that there is peace in that country, I think it is something that we need to fight together with our colleagues across. Therefore, I think this wire will not serve any purpose. The young people in the Western Province can be excited about the cordon wire and cashew nut projects, but I do not think we are going to achieve anything from them. These are important issues that I am raising.

 

Mr Speaker, the other area I wish to talk about is that of roads. Once again, I wish to appeal to the Government to assist my constituency in this area. Top on the agenda is the road from Kasempa, passing through Kaoma, Luampa, into Sesheke. If my serves me right, this road was actually in the Yellow Book for 2013. If this road was worked on, it would not only help the people of Kaoma, Luampa and the areas that I have mentioned, including Kasempa, but also rest of the nation because it will divert traffic from the ever busy Great North Road. The copper from the North-Western Province would be transported on this road.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala: Sir, those who have travelled to Mongu know that the Nkeyema/Kaoma Road is in bad shape. During the last elections, Her Honour the Vice-President travelled to Nkeyema to launch some road projects, including township roads. However, the works have not begun. The roads need attention.

Mr Speaker, as regards health facilities, we do not seem to have a share of the so-called 650 health posts that are being put up countrywide. I am happy that the hon. Minister of Health is listening. We hope that Kaoma will also benefit from this project. At the moment, the most affected health facility is Kashamu. I think the only that went wrong with this clinic was the donation of some pockets of cement towards its construction by Mr Hakainde Hichilema (HH).

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala: However, the District Commissioner (DC) has said that no medicines will be delivered to this structure, despite the fact that it is complete. Therefore, I wish to plead with the hon. Minister to look into the plight of the people in this area who have to walk 40 km to seek medical attention.

 

Mr Speaker, education is also another area where we have not benefitted from the Government. I hope we shall benefit something in the next Budget. In some schools, pupils still learn under trees and, in others, in mud and pole classrooms. At the few schools where there are structures, teachers live in classrooms. As a result, pupils learn under the trees. This is not a healthy situation.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to appeal to the Government to construct a police post in the northern part of the constituency. We also need a modern police station in Kaoma. Currently, police officers in Kaoma share office accommodation with other Government departments.

 

Sir, I also wish to talk about electrification in the constituency. The Government should extend the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) to Kalumwange Farming Block which I mentioned earlier on.

 

Lastly, Mr Speaker, I wish to talk about the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I wish to adopt the words of my elder brother, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane. We learnt a lot in regard to the fund from the Post-Election Seminar that was conducted at the weekend. I seek the support of my hon. Colleagues in the House to find ways of increasing the fund in the near future ...

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala: ... so that as Members of Parliament, we can be seen to be effective in delivering development in our constituencies.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Hear, hear!

 

Gen. Sitwala: Currently, it is proving to be difficult to deliver development. When some hon. Members stand up to debate, we hear  about three or four hospitals having been finished while others are at window level but, on our side (pointing at the Opposition Bench), there have been no such developments in our constituencies.

 

Mr Mwamba: Question!

 

Gen. Sitwala: In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I wish to submit that Kaoma is richly endowed with natural resources which, if well managed, can create employment opportunities for the youth and bring about sustainable development in the constituency and the country as a whole. I wish to pledge my co-operation with the people of Kaoma and to work hard to bring the much-needed development to the constituency.

 

May the Almighty God bless our people.

 

I thank you Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: I would like to urge all the Whips to, please, ‘whip’ the hon. Members.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: We need to make progress. We only have up to 30^th November, 2016, to debate this Motion. So, let us take optimum advantage of this time. We have not even taken our second break yet.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Chief Whip and Acting Leader of Government Business (Mr Musukwa): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_____________

 

The House adjourned at 1749 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday 17^th November, 2016.