Wednesday, 26th October, 2016

Wednesday, 26^th October, 2016

The House met at 1430 hours

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MADAM SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that in the absence of Her Honour the Vice-President, who is attending to other Government Business, the Chief Whip, Hon. Richard Musukwa, MP, has been appointed Acting Leader of Government Business in the House from today, Wednesday, 26^th October, 2016, until further notice.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

AMPLIFIED AUDIO SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform you that the audio for the microphones has been amplified. Therefore, hon. Members are encouraged to stand upright when debating. No matter how tall you are, ...

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: ... there is no need to bend as you debate.

I thank you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

_______________

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

NATIONAL ROAD TOLLING PROGRAMME

The Minister of Works and Supply (Mr Chitotela): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me a chance to issue yet another ministerial statement. I beg your indulgence that I begin by clarifying the point of order that was raised yesterday by the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabompo.

Madam, you will recall that during the delivery of the ministerial statement on the progress made on the modernisation of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA), you directed that I provide information on the interest rate and repayment period for the loan facility for the modernisation of the said airport.

Madam Speaker, I wish to report that the loan has a tenure of fifteen years plus a grace period of five years. The commencement date was April, 2015. Therefore, the repayment of the loan will be completed in 2040. The principle amount is US$360 million at the interest rate of 2 per cent per annum.

Madam Speaker, let me now turn to the ministerial statement on the National Road Tolling Programme.

Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you for giving me the opportunity to present a ministerial statement on the progress made by the Government on the National Tolling Programme.

The Patriotic Front (PF) Government has introduced a tolling programme in order to facilitate the mobilisation of local resources, especially for road maintenance. Consequently, Phase I of the National Road Tolling Programme was launched on 1^st November, 2013, with the inland tolling operations targeting heavy goods vehicles with a gross mass of, at least, 6.5 tonnes.

Madam Speaker, during Phase I, the collection of toll fees was restricted to ten ports of entry or the border toll sites and eight weighbridges. The strategy was to introduce the tolling programme in a phased manner and provide an opportunity to the road agencies to sensitise the general public on the National Tolling Programme and its intended purpose. That is, to mobilise the resources for road maintenance. As the Patriotic Front Government, our vision is to ensure that the roads that we construct are well maintained and safe for use by the general public.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform you that the inception of the National Tolling Programme in November, 2013, to August 2016, a total amount of K1.1 billion has been collected in the form of toll fees at all the toll collection points which constitute the ten border ports and two inland toll stations.

Madam Speaker, on average, monthly collections from the National Tolling Programme amount to about K39 million. This is a demonstration that with concerted efforts, the Government can raise enough revenue for road rehabilitation and maintenance without resorting to borrowing. Clearly, this is the direction that the Government should take. I wish to assure you that this is the route that we are going to take.

To this end, Madam Speaker, my ministry plans to roll out forty new toll stations by the end of 2017. The main objective is to exponentially increase non-tax revenue in the form of toll fees which will be channelled towards road maintenance. In this regard, my ministry will, in phase II of the programme, roll out an additional ten sites by the end of 2016. These include the following tolling sites that are currently under construction by AVIC International and the Road Development Agency (RDA):

Chisamba/Katuba between Lusaka and Kabwe;

Shimabala between Lusaka and Kafue;

Chongwe − 20 km after Chongwe; and

20 km before Mumbwa Turn Off.

Madam, the scope of work at these sites includes:

widening of the carriageways;

reinforcing the pavement with concrete;

constructing the control building; and

installing the tolling equipment.

Madam Speaker, the contractor has mobilised and works have progressed on all the four sites. The cost for the four sites is K100 million.

I wish to further inform this august House that field assessments and traffic counts are being carried out in order to determine the condition of the roads and the viability of setting up another six additional tolling sites across the country, namely:

Choma − about 20 km before Choma;

Ganertone − Kitwe/Chingola Road;

Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola;

Serenje/Mpika Road;

Solwezi/Mutanda Road; and

Mbala/Nakonde Road.

The scope of works at the six sites includes widening of the road section, installation of booths and booms, and erection of canopies. The estimated cost of construction for the ten new tolling stations, with the exception of Kafulafuta and Manyumbi, is K100 million.

Madam Speaker, we have taken note of the concerns raised by the population residing in areas where the tolling stations have been erected, as they are made to pay frequently and at the rate as those travelling from other towns. In view of this, my ministry has commenced working on adjusting the current Statutory Instrument (SI) to take care of the concerns of people living in a 10 km-radius of the tolling stations. We are a listening Government.

In conclusion my statement, Madam Speaker, I wish to assure this august House that my ministry has prioritised road maintenance and rehabilitation to ensure that the roads are safe and transportation costs are minimised. I also wish to take this opportunity to inform the House that my ministry has also engaged the private sector in the implementation of the public-private partnerships (PPP) in the construction and maintenance of road infrastructure as an alternative source of financing for road construction. I will soon provide the updates on the implementation of the PPP in the road sector at the right time.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Ema Minister, aya!

___________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER

DELEGATION FROM THE PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRIA

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, before I invite questions on points of clarification, I have a further announcement to make. I wish to acquaint the House with the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery, of three distinguished visitors who are Members of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Development Policy in the Parliament of Austria.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Visitors are:

Ms Petra Bayr, MP, Leader of the Delegation;

Ms Tanja Windbuchler-Souschill, MP, Member; and

Mrs Jutta Kepplinger, Programme Co-ordinator and Secretary to the Delegation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mwanakatwe: E-gender!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: We welcome our distinguished guests and are happy to have them in our midst.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I thank you.

____________

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

Ms Kasune (Keembe): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Works and Supply if the Governemnt has any intention of putting in place measures to ensure that the income generated from the tollgates is used for its intended purpose, which is to rehabilitate and maintain the roads, and is not diverted to other Government projects or expenses?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I wish to assure the hon. Member of Parliament for Keembe that the Ministries of Works and Supply, and Finance have devised a modality to ensure that the money, which is collected at the tollgates, is spent on its intended purpose. To that effect, I may issue a press statement tomorrow to acknowledge the co-operation we have received from the Ministry of Finance that has enabled us to pay the road contractors using the money collected at the tollgates.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Nkhuwa (Chingola): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out how much income is estimated to be collected on completion of the construction of tollgates. Will the Government repair the roads using the revenue that will be generated from toll fees?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I stated that from 2013 when this programme was introduced, up to August, 2016, we have collected K1.1 billion. The revenue collected weekly from the ten tolling sites is K39 million. So, if we multiply K39 million by four, we should be able to collect between K150 million and K170 million per month, with the introduction of forty more tolling facilities and the increase of toll fees by 100 per cent.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: If motorists used to pay K10, they will have to pay K20. So, we expect to raise a substantive amount of money. When I consulted the hon. Minister of Finance, we came to the conclusion that all things being equal, we should be able to raise in excess of US$1.5 billion per annum.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Madam Speaker, according to the hon. Minister’s statement, tollgates are being erected at Shimabala. Why should motorists, who are travelling south from Turnpike to Mazabuka where the road is in a bad state, be made to pay toll fees before the road is worked on?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, that is the more reason we should raise enough money to improve the road network …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: … and the people of Zambia can benefit from their Government and the money they are contributing in the form of toll fees.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the revenue that will be generated from the payment of toll fees will be used to construct feeder roads that would benefit the people of Chama South?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for that question. That is why we want to widen the resource base for the Government. We believe that much as we are investing in economic roads, we still have a responsibility to work on the roads such as those leading to farming areas. We intend to raise money from roads with economic value in order to attend to feeder roads in Chama District and other parts of the country.

I thank you, Madam.

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Madam Speaker, my original question was on the projected revenue from the tolling system. However, could the hon. Minister assure the nation that the tolling system that the Government is putting in place will be the basis for a self-financing road rehabilitation programme and that it is not going to borrow further for road rehabilitation. Could we get the assurance from him, in no uncertain terms.

Laughter

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I wish to state that it is the responsibility of every Government to strive towards becoming self-financing. This is just one of the mechanisms that we are putting in place. However, we cannot say that we shall not borrow because there are circumstances that compel any government to borrow. The intention of this Government is to make sure that it becomes self-financing so that it can make independent decisions.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, ...

Mr Mwiimbu: Come and learn!

Laughter

Mr Ngulube: I am a learned counsel. I will sue you.

Madam Speaker, I would like to find out if any measures have been put in place to ensure that when employing people to work at the toll plazas priority is given to the locals. We would like to see a situation where every time new infrastructure is put up, the locals are employed, as opposed to what is happening at tolling sites like Manyumbi where people are more concerned about collecting revenue when the detour and all the activities taking place there suggest that the toll plaza is not ready for use.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, we shall not discriminate based on geographical position. Employment opportunities will be open to all so that people can compete for jobs based on their qualifications. Those who meet the requirements will be given the opportunity to serve in different positions where the toll plazas are being put up. As stated in my ministerial statement, a concession will be made to people who live in a 10 km-radius of the tollgates. They cannot be made to pay the same amount as motorists who are passing through a particular area.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out if the Government has any intentions of coming up with pre-paid cards, especially for those who live within a10 km-radius of the toll plaza.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the intention of the Government is to commercialise the tolling system. We want to introduce pre-paid cards. Therefore, we want to encourage people to pay in advance for the cards. To this effect, we are running a promotion where those who pay in advance get a discount. Members of the public should, therefore, go to the tolling facilities and buy cards in advance so that they are not inconvenienced as they drive on the roads. The pre-paid card will enable people to pay for the service in advance regardless of the number of vehicles they own. That way, they will not be inconvenienced in case of an emergency and they have to rush somewhere, but they do not have the money to pay at the toll plaza because they would have already paid. So, once we commercialise the service, we shall also introduce the pre-paid cards. As the Government, we believe that is the most effective and efficient way of minimising human contact.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mbangweta (Nkeyema): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that the Government will prioritise road maintenance. When is the Lusaka/Mongu Road going to be attended to, especially the portion of the road that passes through Nkeyema Parliamentary Constituency?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I wish to assure the people of the Western Province that we are trying to ease people’s movements on the roads. We shall assess how much it would cost to maintain that stretch of the road with a view to repairing it.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Chinyama (Kafue): Madam Speaker, could the Government consider increasing the radius of those to be exempted to 30 km. I ask because most of the residents of Kafue commute to Lusaka on a daily basis. So, they are worried that with those charges, more money will ‘leave’ their pockets, which is not what they expected from the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, for now, the policy of the Government is that a concession will be made for those who live in a 10 km-radius of toll plazas. No one will be exempted from paying. However, a special discount will be given to people who live in a10 km-radius of a polling plaza.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kufakwandi (Sesheke): Madam Speaker, I was going to ask a question similar to the one by the hon. Member of Parliament for Nkeyema. The Livingstone/Sesheke Road is of economic importance to Zambia, as most exports and imports pass through that road. However, it is in a bad state. With the coming of the rains, the situation will be worse. I hope that the Government will prioritise that road.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, as the Government, we have taken note of the concerns raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Sesheke Parliamentary Constituency.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Madam Speaker, most third world countries have little money, but many competing needs. So, when the Government says that it will dedicate money to a specific project, this never happens.

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, that is true. I can cite some examples if you want.

Hon. UPND Member: Just ask the question. He has mental problems.

Mr Lufuma: Yes.

Laughter

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, although that fact is being denied, I would like to find out if this money is not going into the ‘magical account’ called Control 99. We know that when money goes into Control 99, it disappears. Could you assure us that you have a dedicated account specifically for this project?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, we have an account dedicated to the National Road Tolling Programme. The revenue generated from toll fees does not go into Control 99. I want to assure the House and the Zambian people that we have a special account for toll fees, which is maintained by the Ministry of Finance. For the hon. Member’s benefit, I wish to state that my ministry has a cordial relationship with the Ministry of Finance. Each time we send requests for money to pay contractors or implement a road project, getting money from the Ministry of Finance has not been much of a challenge in the short period that I have been at the ministry.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, …

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Madam.

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

Mr Mwiimbu: Madam Speaker, we were assured on the Floor of this House that the Government had come up with a policy of ensuring that all Government revenue goes into Control 99 and a law was passed to that effect. Is the hon. Minister in order to come and mislead us by saying that money is being kept at the Ministry of Finance and not at the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) under Control 99?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: According to the point of order by the hon. Member for Monze Central, a policy statement was made, followed by a statutory instrument to the effect that all Government revenue would go into one account. The hon. Minister of Works and Supply has informed the House that the revenue generated from all the toll fees will be deposited into a designated account. There is a need to clarify whether or not the statement was made to the effect that all revenue will go into Control 99. Therefore, I wish to direct the hon. Minister of Works and Supply to bring some clarification on this important point of order tomorrow.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr A. C. Mumba: Madam Speaker, firstly, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Works and Supply for the inspirational outlook towards one of the projects that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has carried out with great success. However, given the economic outlook and the fact that the programme has been a success, going by the amounts of revenue collected so far, is the ministry considering having other tolling stations financed through public-private partnerships (PPPs) so that we ease the financial pressure on the Government?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, in my ministerial statement, I indicated that we are looking at the possibility of adopting a PPP approach towards in this programme because we believe that is the best way to go in order to relieve pressure on the National Treasury.

I thank you, Madam.

Mrs Mwansa (Nyimba): Madam Speaker, looking at the traffic on our roads and the number of vehicles coming into the country every day, how many lanes is the ministry intending to construct at each tollgate to reduce traffic jams?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I stated earlier that we are widening the portions of the roads where we are setting up toll facilities so that we do not inconvenience our clients unnecessarily.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Princess Kucheka (Zambezi West): Madam Speaker …

Mr Ngulube interjected.

Laughter

Princess Kucheka: In the first place, I would like to say to the hon. Minister that he has a very nice face.

Laughter

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!

Princess Kucheka: However, his answers are not quite convincing. Why does it take so long for the Ministry of Works and Supply to patch up potholes when there is revenue being generated from through toll fees?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for the compliment.

Laughter

Mr Chitotela: I wish to state that the Government has procedures and processes of conducting business. When we identify potholes, we usually send engineers to assess and come up with a bill of quantities (BoQ). Thereafter, the potholes are mended. However, I would like to request the hon. Member of Parliament for Zambezi West and the public that if they see that a certain portion of the road is deteriorating because of potholes, they should not wait until the situation gets worse. As citizens, we should be patriotic enough to report such situations to the relevant authorities.

Madam Speaker, certain Government institutions have different jurisdictions with regard to road management. We have appointed the local authorities road managers in certain areas, while the provincial administrations are our local managers in certain provinces. Therefore, certain things may be happening without the ministry’s knowledge.

Further, I wish to assure the hon. Member of Parliament for Zambezi West that my responses are given to the best of my ability. So, we shall endeavour to serve the Zambian people without prejudice and discrimination.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Sikazwe (Mpulungu): Madam Speaker, when I was coming from the Copperbelt the other day, the vehicle in front of me was not made to pay at the tollgate. What measures has the Government put in place to ensure that every vehicle pays toll fees?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the fact is that it is quite difficult for me to prove whether or not a motorist paid toll fees at one of the tolling facilities. A motorist from the Copperbelt can pay in advance so that when he/she gets to Manyumbi where there is a tollgate, he/she just shows the receipt and is allowed to pass. The person driving behind may not know that payment was made in advance. However, if some vehicles are driving through tollgates without paying, that is where I am calling for patriotism. If officers at the tolling facilities are allowing people to drive through the tollgates without paying, we should be patriotic enough to report them to their supervisors. This will enable us to ascertain the factuality of the allegation.

I thank you, Madam.

Mrs Fundanga (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, on Chilubi Island where I come from and other rural constituencies, people have never seen anything like a road.

Mr Ngulube: Like Dundumwezi!

Mrs Fundanga: What measures will be put in place to ensure that the good people of Chilubi also benefit from the payment of toll fees, considering that they always vote in the Government of the day, including the Patriotic Front (PF) and the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, as a responsible Government, we take cognisant of the fact that Zambia is made up of different geographical areas. We shall not employ a one-size-fits-all- solution by saying that all roads need tarring or grading regardless of their geographical position. We understand that we have constituencies like Chilubi, Lunga, Liuwa and some parts of the Western Province that may not need tarred roads. If their canals need dredging, we shall make the dredging facilities available so that the people can benefit from their Government. We shall carry out a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis in order to come up with the best solution for all the geographical areas.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sampa (Kasama Central): Madam Speaker, I wish to find out from the hon. Minister when the Kasama Airport Runway is going to be tarred because the airport plays a pivotal role in the Northern Province, as it …

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members on the left!

Mr Sampa: … will open up many economic avenues, including tourism. I also wish to find out what the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) is doing about foreign trucks that only pay toll fees at the port of entry, but refuse to pay thereafter, yet when we, the Zambians, travel to our neighbouring countries such as Botswana and South Africa, we are made to pay at the port of entry and at all the inland tollgates.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, please, answer the part of the question that relates to toll fees.

Mr Ngulube: Toll fees for areoplanes as well.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, we need to appreciate that Zambia is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region that has standard toll fees. I have looked at the statutory instrument relating to toll facilities in Zambia. If a foreign truck that enters the country is made to pay US$100 return which translates to 500 km going and 500 km coming back, as long as it is within the stipulated radius, it will not be required to pay more because it will have paid at the port of entry. If the driver of the truck says that he is going to Kasama and pays a US$50 return when he is going to Mansa, he will be charged for the extra kilometres. That is the instrument that is used to manage toll fees for foreign transporters.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Madam Speaker, I wish to find out from the hon. Minister the number of jobs that are estimated to be created through the National Tolling Programme.

Mr Ngulube: Ema questions, aya!

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, when I looked at the ministerial statement, I concentrated on the financial gains. I did not look at the employment benefits that will accrue to the people of Zambia. If need be, I can provide the answer as I clarify the issue raised through the point of order raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Very well, hon. Minister.

Mr Siwanzi (Nakonde): Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has constructed a one-stop-border post at Nakonde Border. However, there is a need for a dual carriageway in order to improve revenue collection. I wish to inform the House that works for the construction of the dual carriageway on the Tanzanian side have reached an advanced stage. When is the Government going to construct a dual carriageway in order to decongest Nakonde Border?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the tolling facility has now turned into a dual carriageway.

Laughter

Mr Chitotela: I had a chat with the hon. Member of Parliament for Nakonde and I assured him that the Government is taking steps to put up a 10 km dual carriageway from Nakonde Border to Mbala Turn Off, as was discussed with the hon. Minister of Finance, in order to ease the movement of goods and services at the border. There are other issues that I discussed with the hon. Member for Nakonde. So, I did not expect him to ask that question.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: He wants the people of Nakonde to know that he has engaged you.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, …

Mr Ngulube: Stand upright!

Laughter

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I wish to compliment the hon. Minister for the ministerial statement regarding the installation of tollgates. I hope he will elaborate the works that are going on district by district. My question is on the double taxation. Do you not think that you are labouring the Zambians who are suffering so much already with the payment of Road Tax by introducing toll fees? How are you reconciling the two, especially that you want to increase the toll fees by 100 per cent? Do you not know that that is double taxation?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I want to thank ba tata, the hon. Member of Parliament for Ikeleng’i, for that question. He promised that he would not ask me a question but, today, he has asked one.

Madam Speaker, we are cognisant of the fact that the Zambian people are going to pay double in terms of fuel levy and toll fees. It is the duty of every citizen to contribute towards the development of the nation so that we can continue to have the social services that benefit the people. If we, the citizens, do not become responsible enough to pay for the social services that we are benefitting from, we shall not be able to meet the demands that come with the growth in population. So, we, the citizens, have a duty to pay for the services that we get from the Government so that it can continue to provide more services. It is the responsibility of every government to take care of the welfare of its citizens. When the people of Zambia are taxed through the fuel levy and toll fees, we must make sure that the money is used for its intended purpose and that it benefits the common Zambian.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

The final list of hon. Members is from the following constituencies; Mkushi North, Serenje, Mwandi, Manyinga, Chikankata, Chitambo and Nchelenge.

Princess Mwape (Mkushi North): Madam Speaker, most of the tollgates are located in the middle of nowhere. What security measures have been put in place to safeguard the money and the people working at night?

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: This is a warning against the people of Chama South and Lundazi, Madam Speaker.

Madam, we have made sure that security is provided at every tolling plaza to ensure the security of the money collected and the lives of the Zambian people who are managing the facilities.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, can you, please, clarify the point on Lundazi and Chama South that you quoted in your response. How do those two constituencies come into the answer?

Mr Chitotela: Madam, I was saying that the people of Chama South and Lundazi want to get rich fast. Therefore, they would want to go and get the money that is being collected from the tollgates without permission. So, I was just warning them that there are officers from the Zambia Police Force stationed at every tolling facility. Therefore, they risk being arrested if they try to enrich themselves by getting the money collected through toll fees.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

For the record, that was said in the context of the hon. Minister being a traditional cousin of the people of Chama South and Lundazi.

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Madam Speaker, my question is on the transportation of copper by road.

Madam, it is common knowledge that the transportation of copper by road has exerted a lot of pressure on our roads. As the hon. Minister has rightly observed, the maintenance of roads costs the Government a lot of money. What measures is the Government putting in place to ensure that the copper is transported by railway?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, we have introduced high toll fees of about K500 for vehicles carrying abnormal loads as a deterrent. For example, if it is copper being transported from Chingola, K500 will be paid at each tollgate, namely Ganertone, Kafulafuta, Manyumbi, Katuba and Shimabala. We, therefore, believe that this will be a deterrent to the transporters who may opt to use the railway line as a way of maintaining our roads.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker referred to the hon. Member for Senanga Central as the Hon. Member for Mwandi.

Laughter

Mr Mukumbuta (Senanga Central): Madam Speaker, with the introduction of the tolling system, is this pro-poor Government considering reducing other road taxes. I ask because owning a car in this country is like committing an offence.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Before the hon. Minister can respond, I wish to confirm that that was the hon. Member for Senanga Central.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, it is not a punishment to own a car in Zambia. Hon. Members who have been to countries like Japan know what it means to own a car. I am not trying to embarrass the hon. Member for Senanga Central. When I travelled to Canada on Parliamentary Business, I learnt that it is very difficult for a Canadian to own more than two vehicles because of the cost implications. The same applies to Japan. So, those who have been to the two countries will agree with me that the Government is not trying to punish the Zambians, but only trying to inculcate a sense of responsibility in the Zambian people by making them pay for social services such as education, health and roads. Therefore, it is not a punishment, but a service that we must benefit from.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lihefu (Manyinga): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the ministry has any plans to introduce the use of electronic cards like VISA Cards for motorists to pay toll fees.

Hon. Government Members: Good question!

Hon. Government Members applauded.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Ministers, there is no clapping in the Chamber.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, that question was asked by another Member and my response was that we intend to make a provision for people to buy toll cards in advance.

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, I wish to find out from the hon. Minister of Works and Supply what security measures the Government has put in place to ensure that the fees collected at the toll plazas are put in the right account and not in their pockets as the saying goes, “more money in your pockets”.

Mr Lubinda: Avutika mulamu, lelo!

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, that is a generic question because the money collected does not go into the pockets of individuals. Whose pocket is the hon. Member referring to? Is it for the collector or the motorists driving through the tollgates? Those who have used this facility know that after making a payment, they are issued with a computerised receipt. In addition, the system is designed in such a way that when a receipt is issued, a duplicate is kept for accountability purposes to show how much money is collected on a particular day. So, the definition of the pocket to receive the money in order to facilitate people having more money in their pockets would be quite a relative term.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Minister for the statement on the road tollgates.

Madam, I followed the hon. Minister’s statement attentively. I heard that huge sums of money amounting to about K100 million have to be spent on the installation of four tollgates. May I find out who the consulting engineers for this project are, especially the tolling plaza that is managed by AVIC International Corporation?

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the consulting engineers are from the Road Development Agency (RDA).

I thank you, Madam.

Mr Malama (Nchelenge): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Minister for the elaborate statement.

Hon. Minister, the figure of K1.1 billion is impressive. However, I would like to find out when this money will be ploughed back into the rehabilitation of roads. I have in mind the stretch from Mansa to Nchelenge.

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I said earlier that my ministry had a cordial relationship with the Ministry of Finance. It is only yesterday that my ministry received K190 million to pay the contractors who are rehabilitating and constructing roads. I have been assured by the hon. Minister of Finance that more money will be released in the first week of November this year. This is because we want to ensure that all the road projects that had stalled are completed.

Madam Speaker, in my statement, I affirmed that we intend to increase tolling facilities to forty. We shall, therefore, ensure that there are tollgates on all the roads that we are investing in, including Mansa/Kashikishi. Very soon, we shall send the regional engineer to assess the road so that rehabilitation works can begin and we construct the Kashikishi/Chienge/Kaputa Road.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

__________

BILLS

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

[THE SECOND CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

THE EXCESS EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATION (2013) BILL, 2016

Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (2014) BILL, 2016

Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Title agreed to.

________

HOUSE RESUMED

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

The following Bills were reported to the House as having passed through Committee without amendments:

The Excess Expenditure Appropriation (2013) Bill, 2016

The Supplementary Appropriation (2014) Bill, 2016

Third Readings on Wednesday, 27^th October, 2013.

_________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Dr Imakando (Mongu Central): Madam Speaker, please, allow me to express my deepest gratitude to you and all the hon. Members here today for the opportunity and privilege to make my first ever maiden speech in this honourable House. I thank God for the honour and privilege of being in this House, where I have remained silent for the most part, wanting to learn from those who have been here much longer.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, in breaking my silence, congratulations are in order to you, your Deputy and The Hon. Mr Speaker, on your election as Presiding Officers of this Parliament. I must congratulate all hon. Members on both sides of the Floor who won their seats, including all the nominated hon. Members of Parliament.

Many thanks go to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her dedicated staff for orienting us well in the procedures and processes of Parliament. However, I must say that in my case the wonderful orientation programme was interrupted by an election petition. So, if you see any lapses on my part, please, attribute them to the election petition.

Madam Speaker, I must return Her Honour the Vice-President’s congratulations and compliments in her congratulatory letter to me. Please, pass my congratulations to Her Honour the Vice-President.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful to President Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice-President, Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: ... and all the senior members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) ...

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Dr Imakando: ... for not only adopting me to run for the Mongu Central Constituency Seat, but also supporting me in varied ways all the way to victory.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: I must acknowledge the invaluable support of my wife, Dr Moosho Imakando, and my lovely daughters, Sepo and Musa. They not only cheered me on, but also provided logistical support and advice. Thanks also go to my three sons, Mwiya, Mutumba and Imak, for their moral support. Strong families are a blessing, indeed. What could I do without these loved ones?

Madam Speaker, my campaign manager, Mr Charles Akende, the Provincial Chairman, Njamba Musangu, the Provincial Chairlady, Josephine Mukampaila, the Constituency Chairman, Kinda Samba, the Constituency Chairlady, Ms Kayombo, and their teams were simply awesome. They deserve to be acknowledged and thanked. We worked seamlessly together and, as one team, we were insurmountable.

Madam Speaker, I am indebted to my nephew, Simataa Simunji, my niece, Sinangana Simunji, Ms Clementina Chipeta, Bernard Mpundu, Kenneth Namutolo, Prof. Atanga, Evans Chipman, Mrs Namatama Mupo and Ms Bernadette Mubukwanu for supporting me throughout the campaign period. The Mayor of Mongu and all the UPND councillors formed such a formidable campaign team. Never in the history of Mongu has a president, an hon. Member of Parliament, mayor and councillors received that many votes. Indeed, team work pays.

Hon. Government Members: Rigging.

Dr Imakando: The people of Mongu voted for the UPND. I will forever be grateful to them for bestowing upon me the honour of serving them as their representative in this honourable House. Ni itumezi, bana ba hesu.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: I pledge to serve the people of Mongu diligently.

Hon. Government Members: Meaning?

Dr Imakando: Indeed, I will do their bidding.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, Hon. Dr Imakando!

You have to translate or explain what you just said for those who do not understand the language you have used.

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, I thought that this was, “One Zambia, One Nation”.

Interruptions

Dr Imakando: That simply means, “our people”.

Hon. Government Members: No!

Dr Imakando: I pledge to serve the people of Mongu diligently. I will do their bidding to the best of my abilities.

Madam Speaker, the people of Mongu voted in large numbers for change because the Patriotic Front (PF) policies have not benefitted them.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, I will return to this topic later. For now, let me say that, as there is a side to the right and a side to the left of this House, so is the country divided. The division mirrors the voting pattern. We must all admit that we need to work hard to unite the country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Overcoming the challenges of regionalism must essentially be the responsibility of our time. We must all be truthful, open and accountable to the people we serve.

Madam Speaker, at the start of every sitting, you offer a solemn prayer, which reads:

“Almighty God, who in thy infinite wisdom and providential goodness, has appointed the offices of rulers and parliaments for the welfare of society and the just government of people ...”

Madam Speaker, governance and good service provision for the welfare of society entails that all Zambian citizens have rights, which enable them to live and move freely. They have a right to associate freely and participate in all the processes of democracy.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: For this to work, there has to be a fair system of justice that both promotes and protects rights. In this regard, Zambia must make right the many wrongs that have been committed. Firstly, good governance is founded on a good constitution that is written in simple language, can be understood easily by all and is not dependent on the courts of law for interpretation. A constitution must remain the bedrock and fountain of good governance when impartially followed to the letter.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: I have doubts as to whether our current Constitution meets without exception these standards. Secondly, good governance is founded on the rule of law where all citizens are equal before the law.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Good governance benefits from free and fair elections where those who emerge winners reflect the will of the people in totality and not just a small section of society.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) ...

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Order, on the right!

Dr Imakando: ... needs to be transformed and truly made independent. It should be transformed into an independent electoral commission which encourages only eligible voters to be registered, ensures that the electoral register is complete and accurate; election campaigns are conducted properly; and that voting is easy and without manipulation. Elections must be free from error or corruption. Accurate results must be announced without delay.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: This is what Zambia desperately needs.

Madam Speaker, we do not want a situation where election results are announced and winners are declared and, then, without warning and apology, adjustments are made to the vote count. We do not want a situation where strangers are caught entering or meddling with the ECZ election computer room in this day and age.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, free and fair elections are a prerequisite to good governance. The performance of the ECZ in some areas leaves much to be desired. Reforms must come, and they must come quickly. It is folly to think that now that the elections are over, we must just bury our differences and forge ahead. We cannot forge ahead without building trust. The courts of law can help us build trust by adjudicating on all outstanding election cases and petitions in an impartial manner.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, another development that worries me today in Zambia is the emerging new relationship between the Church and the State.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: The two ought to remain separate because the Head of the Church is Christ who must reign supreme over all. We must allow God’s servants to hear from Him and to do His bidding without interference.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, verse 13 says:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.”

Madam Speaker, let us fear God and not meddle in the rule of His Kingdom. After all, it is the Patriotic Front Government that said:

“We shall rule by the ten commandments.”

After all, it is the PF Government that said they would rule by the Ten Commandments.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: We must quickly strive for greater consensus on this matter before we are overtaken by events

Madam Speaker, my role as an hon. Member of Parliament from the Opposition, is to question the Government of the day and hold it accountable to the general public.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: The Opposition represents an alternative Government and must, therefore, be responsible for challenging the policies of the Government and suggesting better policies where appropriate. Our friends on the right must not deliberately mistake positive and constructive criticism for hatred. We mean well for this country. Please, see us in that light.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Then, do not walk out!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, as an hon. Member of Parliament from the Opposition, I will constantly question the Government and make it remain answerable to the public at all times. I will endeavour to put the spotlight on all the important issues affecting our people without compromise. This is what the people of Mongu Central expect of me.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, as soon as I am conversant with Parliamentary procedure, I will vigorously debate legislation, be it in this House or in Select Committees, to ensure that it receives careful consideration. This is the promise I made to the people of Mongu Central on the campaign trail.

Madam Speaker, the Government is the key actor in the Zambian economy. Its involvement is in four different ways, that is, as regulators, tax collectors, owners of State-owned enterprises on behalf of the Zambian people and providers of social services. The Republican President and the hon. Minister Finance are on record as having agreed that the Zambian economy is faced with challenges and that tough times lie ahead. They both blame this on external and domestic factors and not on their policy choices made over the last five years.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kopulande: Question!

Dr Imakando: On the other hand, they admit that their uncontrolled expenditure and inconsistent policies have brought us to where we are today, that is, high cost of living, high unemployment rate, low economic growth, an energy deficit, costly fuel, a weakened Kwacha and increased political violence.

Madam Speaker, the politics of ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ of the ‘PS’ will not take us anywhere.

Hon. Government Members: The ‘PS’?

Laughter

Dr Imakando: The PF must listen to stakeholder advice and not force matters through simple majority votes. The majority is not always right.

Hon. Opposition Members: Ah!

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Please, allow the hon. Member to debate.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hammer!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, as regulator, the Government controls economic activity and the business climate. As the Opposition, we will ensure that regulation only serves to improve operations of the markets in Zambia and make doing business in the country easier and fairer across the board. Zambian companies must be facilitated to remain competitive in the region and beyond. This is what will give them long-term viability and maintain jobs for our people. As a tax collector, the Government must ensure that taxes are just and fair, and that they neither chop business operations nor reduce investor confidence.

Madam Speaker, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) must not be an instrument of silencing dissenting voices. The Post Newspaper seems to be a victim of this malpractice in the midst of many State-owned institutions that also have not met all their tax obligations.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, as presiding officers, we have said that we are not allowed to delve into issues that are before the courts of law. We are all aware that the newspaper you have referred to has been in court for some time now. So, you may not deal with that matter now.

Let me also take this opportunity also to guide. Hon. Members, we have in the past guided that it is not allowed to quote the Bible in this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I order that that be expurgated from the record.

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, as the owner of enterprises, the Government manages physical assets and other State-owned enterprises like Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) and Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL). As the Opposition, we expect the State-owned enterprises to be well run. It should not even be rumoured that State-owned enterprises are a source of funds for political campaigns or that they have become employment centres for political cadres.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: As the Opposition, we expect the institutions to be run professionally and profitably as private firms operating only in the interest of the public.

Madam Speaker, to assess the Government’s performance as the provider of goods and services to the public, we can only look at the Auditor-General’s Reports. A glance at these reports says it all. The Government has had challenges. It seems to suffer from a disease called misapplication of funds.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: This disease must be cured immediately.

Madam Speaker, the Government must strive to allocate more resources to public institutions and support greater access to social services and income-generating opportunities to all, especially the poor and marginalised.

Madam Speaker, I said I would return to my discussion regarding Mongu Central Constituency, the seat of the provincial administration for the Western Province. In my earlier remarks, I said that the people of Mongu Central Constituency voted for change and they did so in large numbers. This is because the PF policies failed to reduce the cost of living and to create jobs. The Patriotic Front Government has failed to address the energy crisis, ...

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Dr Imakando: ... upgrade feeder roads, to revamp the cashew nut industry and to build the much-talked about stadium.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: The Government has also failed to build King Lewanika University and to complete Constituency Development Fund (CDF)-initiated projects.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, here is how the Government can improve its image ...

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

You are allowed to say, “Question!” but not to start disturbing the person on the Floor. Please, allow him to continue.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, the Government can improve its image by increasing domestic water, ...

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Dr Imakando: ... maintaining the Sefula/Musindi Road, constructing the Tapo/Lulambo feeder road, ...

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Dr Imakando: ... maintaining fisheries in Musiyama Canals, building universities instead of just naming them and bringing back the funds they mopped up from the CDF.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, these are the projects the people of Mongu are ‘crying’ for and I will not stop reminding this august House to support the projects from time to time.

Madam Speaker, we commend the Government for completing the Mongu/Kalabo Road. However, ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: ... please, acknowledge that it was a project that was started by the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, let me end my maiden speech by quoting a paragraph from the immediate past Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, who said:

“In the Ukraine, violence had caused internal upheaval. While in South Sudan, leaders had betrayed their people. In too many places, leaders were re-writing constitutions, manipulating elections, taking desperate steps to cling to power. My message to all is clear. Serve your people.”

Madam Speaker, let us serve our people and we will do well if we do so.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, I would like to remind you that it was agreed that you would combine the maiden speeches and the contribution on the President’s Address. I note that there are still a number of hon. Members who have not rendered their maiden speeches. I encourage you to do so in the next few days before I can allow the hon. Ministers to debate and react to issues you may wish to raise.

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Madam Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to deliver my maiden speech in the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

Madam Speaker, let me start by thanking the Almighty God for His undertaking from the time I conceived the idea of participating in the leadership and governance of our great nation to now when that idea has crystalised into an opportunity to work in my new portfolio as Member of Parliament representing the people of Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency. Allow me to also use this occasion to sincerely thank my president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his vice-president, Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, for demonstrating splendid leadership, especially during the just-ended Elections, even after working under extreme provocation and acts of intimidation orchestrated by our principal opponents, the Patriotic Front (PF).

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, before I exhaust the limited time that has been accorded to me to speak in this august House, let me join other hon. Members who have spoken before me, in congratulating the Hon. Mr Speaker on his nomination to the Office of Speaker of the National Assembly. In the same vein, allow me to congratulate you, Madam Deputy Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker on your election to those important positions in our land.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to echo my applause to other hon. Members of Parliament who were duly elected to their honourable positions by the will of the people of Zambia without forgetting those who, by either incidence of fortune or the making of man, are now part of us today in this august House, that is, through nominations.

Laughter

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, I wish to applaud the dedicated National Assembly staff, through the Clerk of the National Assembly, for the diligent manner in which they execute their functions at this important institution.

Madam Speaker, allow me to take this privilege to honour the people of Zambezi East, including the traditional leadership in the area, for placing confidence in me to represent them in Parliament for the next five years. I sincerely thank Their Royal Highnesses Senior Chief Ishindi of the Lunda People, Chief Mpidi, Chief Ishima and Chieftainess Nyakung’a, their sub-chiefs, village headmen and women for allowing democracy to prevail during the campaigns. There were no noticeable acts of biasness towards the competing candidates and undue influence on the people.

Madam Speaker, my debate would be incomplete if I did not thank the United Party for National Development (UPND) committee which was involved in nominating suitable candidates to be adopted on the party ticket. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to President Hakainde Hichilema and senior members of the National Management Committee (NMC) for coming up with a final decision of adopting me as a candidate in Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency.

Madam Speaker, my speech would be incomplete if I did not thank the individuals who supported me during my journey to this august House. On that note, I wish to convey my gratitude to the ward, constituency, district and provincial leadership of my party, my campaign manager and the entire campaign team …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1607 hours until 1615 hours.

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Electronic Voting Rehearsal

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I apologise to the hon. Member for Zambezi East for disrupting his debate.

May he continue with his debate.

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, when business was suspended, I was saying that talking about my passage to this august House would be incomplete if I failed to catalogue a few more individuals among the many people who supported the cause. On that note, I wish to convey my gratitude to the ward, constituency, district and provincial leadership of my party, my campaign manager and the entire campaign team for their spirited commitment to the campaigns that culminated in that election victory. To my family members and the many friends who contributed personal resources, I thank them for their valuable financial and moral support which was an empowering ingredient to the contest.

Madam Speaker, the UPND won all the seats in the twelve constituencies in the North-Western Province, …

Hon. Government Members: So what!

Mr Kambita: … including the top position …

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kambita: … of Mayor of Solwezi …

Hon. Government Members: So what?

Mr Kambita: … and Council Chairperson in the rest of the district councils in the province.

Interruptions

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, the voting pattern should serve as a clear message and timely feedback to the PF and its leadership that our people do not take lightly and kindly the tendencies of poor governance, acts of hate speech mainly driven by tribalism and …

Interruptions

Mr Kambita: … biased selection and distribution of capital projects in favour of other regions, …

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kambita: … including a myriad of noticeable leadership failures associated with the PF’s rule in the last five years.

Interruptions

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, the people of the North-Western Province will accept nothing less than tangible development commensurate with, and befitting the status of a region that contributes a great deal to the national economy in the form of mineral resources.

Hon. UPND Members: Hammer, hammer!

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, Zambezi East is a classic example of a constituency where all the positions in the wards were won by the UPND in the recent General Elections, including the position of Council Chairperson.

Hon. Government Members: So what?

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, I wish to remind our colleagues on your right that the expression of democratic choices of the people of Zambezi East and the entire North-Western Province must not be a recipe for mockery, slander and hate speech against our people …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kambita: … like we have increasingly observed from some notable PF leaders and their acquaintances.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, due to the foregoing and, speaking in my capacity as a representative of the people, allow me to convey well-spelt out messages from the people of Zambezi East. I will endeavour to catalogue our opportunities and challenges mainly emanating from the governance style of the PF Government.

Hon. PF Backbenchers: Question!

Mr Kambita: The people of Zambezi East have tasked me to convey their problems that I intend to discuss in detail shortly with those who will finally make it to the Cabinet of our country after all has been done and settled.

Interruptions

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, before I give a summary of the challenges that the people of Zambezi East are faced with, I wish to profile the opportunities that currently exist in the area.

Madam Speaker, for a few years now, the Anglo-American Corporation has been carrying out some exploration activities in Zambezi East. Through our traditional royal establishments, we have advocated that it employs the locals at this stage of its business in the area.

Interruptions

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, I am glad to mention that this far, the Anglo-American Corporation has been compliant in engaging the locals. All things being equal and, on the assumption that it will scale up its operations with time, we expect it to do better in that aspect of employment creation for the locals.

Madam Speaker, going by the recent discussions held with potential investors in the area, their focus on corporate social investment seems to be primarily around education and health facilities. However, we are yet to rationally embark on the documentation of our constituency development targets through an elaborate logical framework in a strategic plan that we intend to use as a management tool to lobby the relevant development stakeholders, including the Central Government, for support.

Madam Speaker, there are tourism prospects that exist in Zambezi East.

Mr Ngulube: Manje kavotedwe!

Mr Kambita: Recently, some prospective investors of Hungarian origin have shown interest in investing in the game ranching business and related businesses. Timber processing around Mukenge and its surrounding areas is another industry that has gained recognition and interest from prospective investors. Despite offering employment opportunities and cash in hand, this business has to be closely monitored with caution, measured against the parameters of the relevant laws governing environmental protection.

Madam Speaker, agriculture has indisputably remained the mainstay of Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency. We have the opportunity of turning the fertile land into farming blocks.

Madam Speaker, I believe that Mpidi area along the banks of Kabompo and Zambezi rivers has one of the best soils in our country. The nitrogen-fixing acacia trees have engulfed this long stretch of land, presenting a perfect opportunity to scale-up agricultural activities from the current subsistence farming for family consumption to commercial farming that would enhance wealth creation and reduce poverty among the people.

Madam Speaker, the confluence of Kabompo and Zambezi rivers in Mpidi area offers a beautiful site and opportunity for tourism activities. On average, Zambezi East has been known to receive normal levels of rainfall. This is an assurance that our efforts to move agricultural activities in the constituency to a higher scale are realistic.

Madam Speaker, the people of Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency, like most people in other parts of rural Zambia, are faced with a myriad of challenges, with the first and most cardinal of all being poverty. It is unbecoming that the majority of our people still live under conditions that extensively limit their access to the basic needs of life like food and shelter in this day and age. To a larger extent, this is due to the fact that successive governments have inadequately executed their duties as regards coming up with wealth distribution measures that take cognisance of the wellbeing of the under privileged people living in areas such as Zambezi East.

Madam Speaker, much as I am willing to itemise all the challenges that the people of Zambezi East are faced with, I am restrained by the limited time within which I should make my maiden speech. However, I am optimistic that I will seize another opportunity to debate more of what I am harbouring in my chest, ...

Laughter

Mr Kambita: ... and that which is in the minds of the people of Zambezi East.

Hon. UPND Members: Tell them!

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, on that understanding, I wish to proceed by cataloguing the challenges that should attract the attention of all the development stakeholders, of whom the Central Government is chief. I would like us to recast our thoughts to a few years before the Patriotic Front (PF) took over the reins of power.

Madam Speaker, in the past, peasant farmers got four bags of fertiliser and two bags of seed each through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). At the time, our economy was ready to sustain such subsidies. On that score, we can now identify the bad performance on the part of our hon. Colleagues on your right in the last five years of their charge.

Madam Speaker, I am worried about how the people of Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency will survive this farming season and beyond. In light of the prevailing harsh economic conditions that the country is going through, the future is bleak for the farmers now than ever before.

Madam Speaker, I believe that reality has finally dawned on the part of our hon. Colleagues on your right hand side as to what extent they could possibly push their luck against the inherent economic permutations and fiscal discipline demanded thereof. Even after considering the scope of that ministerial statement on the state of the economy, which was delivered by the recently appointed Minister of Finance, Hon. Felix Mutati, we, the people of Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency still demand that the already approved capital projects involving township roads be included on the priority list for funding.

Madam Speaker, similarly, the two major feeder roads, Zambezi/Mpidi and Zambezi/Nyakuleng’a, which I will talk about in a moment, are critical capital projects worth their salt. The people of Zambezi East Parliamentary Constituency would like to see Zambezi/Mpidi Road all the way to Nyilamba and possibly back to the M8 Road Junction at Chizozu upgraded to bituminous standards. The same applies to the potentially economic road that stretches from Zambezi to Nyakuleng’a via Dipalata, all the way to Katontu.

Madam Speaker, with the on-going mineral exploration and farming activities in Nyakuleng’a area, I believe that the upgrading of such an important road of less than 100 km to bituminous standard to enhance developmental activities in the area is feasible. Currently, the Zambia National Service (ZNS) is rehabilitating Zambezi/Chitokoloki Road to gravel standard.

Madam Speaker, I am aware of the power project which will eventually be commissioned in my constituency.

Hon. Government Member: Be thankful!

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, connecting the district to electricity should not end at Zambezi Boma, but be extended to the rural areas through the Rural Electrification Programme (REP).

Madam Speaker, the other challenge that the people are faced with is that of a lack of access to tapped water. In Chitokoloki area, people are caught by crocodiles as they attempt to draw water from the Zambezi River. Intensifying the programme of electrifying such places would quicken the supply of tapped water.

I shall closely monitor the capital projects in the health and education sectors as announced by the hon. Minister of Finance. I have in mind the already approved health posts which are yet to be built in the constituency. The people would also like to benefit from the construction of 650 health posts.

Madam Speaker, I only have two comments to make on the President’s Speech.

Interruptions

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, on the macro-economic situation, ...

Interruptions

Hon. Government Members: You were not here when the President presented his speech.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Members, he still has six seconds to debate. You may continue, hon. Member.

Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, I do not believe that giving the PF another mandate would actually enable them to come up with austerity measures to stabilise the macro-economic situation.

Interruptions

Hon. Government Members: Sit down!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, your time is up.

Mr Machila (Magoye): Madam Speaker, I wish to express my sincere thanks to you for according me the opportunity to deliver my maiden speech in this House. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank God for seeing me through from the time I was adopted by my party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: ... up to the time of my victory on 11^th August, 2016, which was inspired by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, of course, I was supported by his team. Special tribute goes to the Magoye Constituency campaign team led by the youthful Mr Mwiimba Malambo. I wish to thank the members of my family for their invaluable support. To all of you, I say thank you very much.

I also wish to join other hon. Members of Parliament in congratulating you, Madam Speaker, and your colleagues on your election as Presiding Officers. We trust that you are going to adjudicate over the matters of this House in an impartial manner. I further wish to convey my sincere gratitude to the people of Magoye Constituency for electing me Member of Parliament. I feel honoured and humbled for the opportunity to serve them for the next five years. I will return the trust and confidence they have bestowed on me by dedicating all my energies towards serving the people of Magoye and the rest of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, the historical turnout by the Zambian people who voted for the United Party for National Development (UPND) is indicative of the fact that people aspire for a changed and improved society, premised on well-defined ideals for a better Zambia that the UPND holds.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, allow me to highlight the situation in Magoye Constituency. From the outset, let me put it on record that Magoye Constituency is an agricultural area that produces a variety of crops and livestock. The rainfall pattern of Magoye is not any different from that of the rest of Zambia. The rainy season extends from mid-November to the end of March. The peak of the rainy season is from December up to around January. While the mean rainfall is not limiting, variations in the amount of rain between seasons and the pattern of rainfall within a season can be critical to farming in certain years and crop failure is not uncommon.

Madam Speaker, in the 2015/2016 farming season, Magoye was characterised with widespread rainfall deficit, resulting in a food deficit. Access to water for livestock and people is a big challenge. The situation was worsened by the neglect by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.

Madam Speaker, despite farmers having made their annual contributions to the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), inputs were received late and, in some cases, were not received at all. The delayed and unco-ordinated release of funds to the e-Voucher System coupled with erratic rainfall contributed to the poor crop yields. This, therefore, resulted in increased poverty and misery for the people of Magoye.

Madam Speaker, the situation I have presented calls for an urgent need by the Government to:

build dams and weirs to enable harvesting of water for agricultural purposes;

sink more boreholes and repair the already existing ones that have broken down so that people can have access to clean safe water. About 150 new boreholes should be sunk and the more than fifty boreholes that have dried up because of the dry spell should be rehabilitated;

release early the fund for the e-Voucher System for farmers to procure inputs in time for the 2016/2017 planting season; and

ensure the hon. Minister in charge of the Southern Province, in liaison with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the Office of the Vice-President, urgently look into the food crisis being experienced in Magoye Constituency and provide the necessary and timely food relief to the constituency.

Madam Speaker, Magoye is also faced with challenges of land security and tenure, especially in the Ngweze Resettlement Scheme which was established in the 1960s with the aim of enhancing agricultural productivity, providing jobs and, more importantly, bringing development to the area. It is sad to note that to date, the settlers in the Ngweze Resettlement Scheme have not been given title deeds for their plots. This poses a serious challenge in terms of security of their land and also hinders economic development in the area. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the hon. Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection to attend to this issue.

Madam Speaker, the PF Government is on record of having made pronouncements on massive infrastructure development, especially in the road sector.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: However, I am saddened to note that Magoye has not benefited from the construction and repair of roads in the country.

Interruptions

Mr Machila: Roads leading to areas of productivity in the constituency such as the one from the Great North Road joining Mabanga area, Munenga, Itebe and Chief Mwanachingwala’s Palace to the west and, on the east, to Namaila, Meezi, Chibuyu and Hanjalika School through the Ngwezi Settlement need a facelift as they have become impassable, making it difficult to transport produce to the market. Chivuna and Itebe roads should be upgraded to bituminous standard. Bridges on Ngwezi, Kamvule and Magoye rivers need urgent attention. Children are usually cut off from school during the rainy season when the rivers flood.

Madam, there is also a need to construct clinics in many parts of the constituency because patients still walk more than 5 km to the few available health centres which, unfortunately, are usually poorly stocked with medicines. The portion of the Great North Road from Kafue at Turnpike to Monze through Magoye is in a bad state. This has led to a loss of many lives and damage to property.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame, shame!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, many schools in Magoye Constituency are in a state of disrepair and need urgent attention. These are, among others, Hanzala, Nkonkola Lower and community schools like Mayuwa, Mabanga and Meezi. The schools are not only in a deplorable state, but most of them are also manned by unqualified teachers who are paid by the parents. Most schools have no desks, electricity and computers. It is, therefore, important that the Government considers allocating money for the upgrading of the three community schools in the constituency whose structures are still thatched and are pole and mud. Magoye Constituency also needs to benefit from the Rural Electrification Programme (REA), as most parts of the constituency have no access to electricity.

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Mr Machila: There are several empowerment schemes, targeted at the most vulnerable in society such as women and children that have been established in Zambia. The schemes include, among others:

the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Fund;

the Youth Empowerment Fund; and

the Women Empowerment Fund;

It is, however, sad to note that they have not, in many cases, benefitted the target groups, but the affluent in society.

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Mr Machila: This is largely due to the corruption and bureaucratic procedures involved in accessing the funds. This has led to many youths and women being unemployed and wallowing in poverty.

Mr Ngulube: Question!

Mr Machila: Magoye Constituency has not been spared from this, as most of the youths and women are faced with many economic hardships.

Madam Speaker, if such well-intended schemes were extended to Magoye, many women and youths would have created the much-desired wealth and employment in the constituency. This would reduce poverty and ensure development generally.

Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front Government has failed the people of Magoye in the last five years.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sikazwe: Question!

Mr Machila: Under the Patriotic Front Government, the much sung, “One Zambia, One Nation” should be a justification for the people of Magoye Constituency to have a share of the national cake in the development agenda of the nation.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the President’s Speech, the Government has promised to create over 1 million jobs.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, after listening to many speeches and promises, it is apparent that unemployment is endemic in the country. It is so because despite the promises and assurances, we still had ministries that were poorly staffed such as Health and General Education, yet thousands of trained teachers and health personnel were roaming the streets without jobs. This, therefore, justifies the assertion that the Patriotic Front Government has no political will to serve the people of Zambia.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, the creation of four new ministries will be another ploy by the Government to siphon millions of kwacha from the National Treasury.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Machila: Madam Speaker, this argument could be vindicated by the recent Auditor-General’s Report that has revealed that millions of kwacha are being lost through financial indiscipline by Government ministries and departments. The economy is in limbo as stated by the hon. Minister of Finance who appropriately promised to cut down on public expenditure. The desire to set up four new ministries will be an unnecessary burden on the already weak and sick economy because of the Patriotic Front’s fluctuating policies.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: End of quote!

The Minister for Eastern Province (Mr M. Zulu): Madam Speaker, I rise to present my maiden speech fully acknowledging that this is a momentous and solemn, yet auspicious occasion.

Madam Speaker, we have just returned from commemorating the Independence of this great nation. Symbolic of the event was the hoisting of the National Flag and singing of the National Anthem that was also sung at the Official Opening of the Twelfth Assembly and which we sing everyday. The first stanza of the National Anthem is directive. It says, “Stand and sing of Zambia, proud and free, …

Mr Sikazwe: Ulebwekeshapo!

Mr M. Zulu: … land of work and joy in unity.”

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, this embodies the aspirations of this great country and the vision that the founders of this nation espoused before, during and after the fight for Independence; that every Zambian has the right to be proud and free; that this great country called Zambia must be a land of work and, further, that we should be jealously united with dignity and peace as our hallmark.

However, Madam Speaker, the niggling question is: How can we be free or achieve this great vision that we inherited from our founding fathers?

Madam Speaker, I found the answer to this troubled question in the prayer that you offered at the beginning of this Meeting, particularly, in the second part of the prayer …

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order, on the left!

Mr M. Zulu: … that reads:

“let Thy blessing descend upon us here in Parliament assembled and grant that we may, as in Thy presence, treat and consider all matters that shall come under our deliberations, in so just and faithful a manner as to promote Thy honour and glory and advance the good of those whose interests Thou has committed to our charge.”

Mr Nkombo: Amen!

Mr M. Zulu: From the above recital, it appears to me that we are here assembled to achieve but two purposes.

Hon.PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: Thanks for ending the quote for me, Hon. Nkombo.

Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: The two purposes that we are to achieve in this House are, firstly, to promote the honour and glory of God and, secondly, to advance the good of those whose interests God has committed to our charge, and these are our constituents.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: Thus, in our deliberations, we must ask these two important questions: Are we promoting the honour and glory of God ...

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: ... or are we advancing the good of those whose interests Gods has committed to our charge?

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: I will try by all means to restrict my speech to fulfil the two aspirations that are in your prayer, Madam Speaker.

With that said, I would not be here speaking in this manner had it not been for the good people of Malambo Constituency who en mass cast their vote believing that the Patriotic Front (PF) is the right party to follow and advance their aspirations towards meeting the aspirations that our founding fathers envisioned for this great country. It is hope that woke them up in the wee hours of the morning to actualise the slogan, “Mphamvu ku bantu,” meaning power to the people.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, we woke up that morning and, with a clenched fist raised in the air (raising a clenched fist) …

Mr Nkombo: Ah!

Mr M. Zulu: … to symbolise the unity that we have, …

Interruptions

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: … and said, “Mphamvu ku bantu!”

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: Mphamvu ku bantu!

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: Mphamvu ku bantu!

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: Meaning, power to the people!

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: Power to the people!

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: Power to the people!

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order! Order!

Hon. Minister for Eastern Province, I allowed you to show that clenched fist once or twice because I truly believed it related to what the people said, “Power to the people!” and not as a political slogan, but you are repeating it so much that I am getting worried.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Can you avoid raising that clenched fist.

You may continue.

Mr M. Zulu: Much obliged.

I was using it as a symbol of unity and togetherness.

Interruptions

Laughter

Mr M. Zulu: Madam, Speaker, I used the clenched fist to show that we were united as a people and not necessarily as a symbol for the party because the symbol that we use is the boat.

Madam Speaker, today, this slogan stands fulfilled in that the will of the people has prevailed in that the leader of their choice; the humble leader, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, against all odds, holds the instruments of power of this great nation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: I, thus wish to convey my profound gratitude to the Republican President, His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the trust he reposed in me when he counted me worthy of being of service to the great people of the Eastern Province by appointing me Provincial Minister.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, also worthy of my accolades are the following, among others; Hon. Maxwell Mwale, Mr Chrispin Kamuna, Hon. Muzidya Imange Phiri, His Worship, the Council Chairperson, Maison Phiri, the provincial executive committee, district executive, constituency executive and many others.

Madam Speaker, the mission statement for the Eastern Province is to:

“Promote equitable and sustainable development in order to ensure improved standard of living of the people of the Eastern Province through the provision of quality goods and services.”

Madam Speaker, as head of the Government in the province and in full compliance with Article 117(3) and Article 150 of the Constitution, we will continue to aspire and pursue the following provision of health services as close to the families as possible so as to have a healthy and productive people. Our staffing levels have greatly improved to 78 per cent after the recruitment of 151 health workers for the province.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: Madam, four district hospitals are being constructed in Chipata, Nyimba, Lundazi and Vubwi districts. Plans are underway for the construction of a district hospital in Mambwe District.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: The construction of fifty-seven pre-fabricated health posts has continued, with thirty-two health posts having been completed.

Madam, the Government has since upgraded Chipata General Hospital to central hospital status, thus equipping it with a Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner, Mammography Unit and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory. We have since embarked on a project to construct a new general hospital in Petauke.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: Further, a total of 109 solar vaccine refrigerators have been distributed and installed in all the nine districts of the Eastern Province.

Mr M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, for the province to develop a skilled and motivated workforce necessary for socio-economic development, we have continued to invest in universal and quality education. Holding steadfastly the value of education, we are expanding the secondary school sub-sector by constructing eight boarding secondary schools and six day secondary schools in the province. The Government is also upgrading twenty-two basic schools into secondary schools for purposes of creating more space for learners. In this year’s Teacher Recruitment Exercise, 600 teachers have been employed and, accordingly, deployed in all the nine districts.

Madam Speaker, under the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, a total of 440 boreholes are scheduled to be drilled and equipped in the province this year. The project is meant to provide sustainable and equitable access to safe water to the rural population. We have since upgraded three township water treatment plants in Nyimba, Chadiza and Katete. A completely new treatment plant, dam and distribution network has been constructed in Katete District.

Madam, the Government has accelerated the rehabilitation of the Great East Road, from the Luangwa Bridge to Mwami Border, under the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project, with only a stretch of 15 km in Sinda remaining. This will be completed in no time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr M. Zulu: Further, the Chipata/Chadiza and Chipata/Vubwi roads are being upgraded to bituminous standard. Plans are underway for the upgrading of Katete/Msoro Road and works will commence when the procurement procedures have been completed.

Madam Speaker, the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) has so far rehabilitated 138 km out of 352 km of the rural feeder roads and continues to make steady progress.

Social Protection

Madam, in our commitment to protect the marginalised in society, especially women, children and the aged, the Government is currently successfully implementing three programmes, namely the Social Cash Transfer (SCT), Food Security Pack (FSP) and Village Banking Programme.

Madam Speaker, in seven out of the nine districts, with a total number of 29,500 beneficiaries of K11,413,727, has been transferred to beneficiaries under the SCT Programme. It is envisaged that this initiative will spread to the other districts to enhance social security.

Madam, under the FSP, it is envisaged that vulnerable, but viable communities will be empowered. This is being implemented in six districts with a total of 2,000 beneficiaries. Having received farming inputs, the Government is also implementing the expanded FSP Programme in the three districts, with a total of 6,287 beneficiaries.

Madam Speaker, in relation to the VB, the Government provides loans to undertake income-generating activities. The programme is being implemented in five districts in the province. The loan amounts range from K500 to K2,000. So far, a total of K196,060 has been disbursed to 455 beneficiaries. It is envisaged that this programme will be expanded to reach more beneficiaries in all the nine districts.

Madam, the Eastern Province has vast arable land, making it capable of being the food basket of our beloved country. However, in the 2015/16 farming season, there was a decrease in maize production of about 9.2 per cent, from 551,799 metric tonnes in the 2014/15 to 500,920 metric tonnes in the 2015/16 farming season due to low rainfall.

Madam Speaker, to promote crop diversification and in resonance with His Excellency the President’s Speech, the Government has expanded the range of crops in the Farmer Input Support Programme to include rice, sorghum, cotton and groundnuts. Further, the FISP beneficiaries have increased from 182,496 from the 2015/16 farming season to 192,053 beneficiaries. Of the stated beneficiaries, 103,288 are targeted to benefit under the electronic voucher (e-Voucher) System of the FISP and 88,765 farmers are targeted to benefit through the conventional system of the FISP.

Madam, in order to improve access to electricity for the rural population, the Government, through the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO), has successfully completed the connection of Vubwi District to the National Supply Grid. The upgrading of the power line from a 66 kV to 330 kV system in 2015 has solved the problem of low voltage in the province. The hours of load shedding in the province have also significantly reduced.

Madam Speaker, the Government is committed to the provision of quality housing for the public servants by facilitating the construction of housing units, especially in the newly-created districts where quality accommodation is inadequate. In line with this, the Government, through the Public Infrastructure Department and the Department of Housing and Infrastructure Development (DHID), is constructing a total of 120 housing units in Vubwi, Sinda, Chadiza and Nyimba districts.

Madam Speaker, allow me to speak briefly in relation to the President’s Speech. I will refer to paragraph 7 of the speech that reads:

“Our efforts are to move the economy from its current heavy dependency on copper to one based on agriculture, livestock and fisheries and their entire value chain will continue in a more robust manner. We have five years, not a lot of time, but enough time to do some decent work upon which the PF shall seek a fresh mandate in 2021.”

Interruptions

Mr M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, with this quote in mind, I am certain that the Eastern Province is capable of being the bread basket of this country. With the support that we are receiving from the Government, we know that it will be a hub for cotton, maize, tobacco production and many other crops such as groundnuts, which Hon. Freedom Sikazwe so much needs.

Laughter

Mr M. Zulu: In so saying, we agree that with the support of the current Government and what the next National Budget has in store, moving towards the industrialisation and mechanisation of the agriculture sector will have a larger output than before.

With that said, we believe that if we hold fast the vision and aspirations of our founding fathers that Zambia be a land of people who are all one, strong and free; a land of the proud and free; and a land of work and joy in unity; we, the Parliamentarians, will deliberate in so just and fair a manner as to promote the honour and glory of God and advance the good of those whose interest God has committed to our charge.

Hon. PF Members: Amen!

Mr M. Zulu: Only then will we see progress in our good country.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Any further debate?

Mr Nkombo indicated.

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Nkombo, you have already debated.

Laughter

The Minister of Tourism and Arts (Mr C. Banda): Madam Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity …

Mr Ngulube: Boma ilankhula manje!

Mr C. Banda: … to deliver my maiden speech in this Twelfth National Assembly. This is my third time performing this function in this august House.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, allow me to start by congratulating you, the Presiding Officers, on the well-deserved election to take charge of the affairs of this honourable House.

I wish to take this opportunity to heartily congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who is also President of the mighty Patriotic Front (PF), …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: … on the resounding victory in the August 11, 2016, Presidential Election.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: In the same vein, I also wish to congratulate Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, on a well-deserved victory. My other hearty congratulations go to all the Members of Parliament representing the PF in this House on their successful sojourn to here. Let me also congratulate the Members, …

Mr Ngulube: Ah, iyayi!

Mr C. Banda: … representing other political parties, on making it to this honourable House.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the PF for adopting me on the party’s ticket to contest the Kapoche Parliamentary Seat, which I won resoundingly.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Ema candidate, aya!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, the people of Kapoche deserve my sincere gratitude for giving me a massive vote. My election was petitioned but, because I had won resoundingly, the petition was withdrawn.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Anayopa!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, on 28^th September, 2016, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, appointed me to his Cabinet as Minister of Tourism and Arts.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: The people of Kapoche have received this appointment with a lot of appreciation and pride. On behalf of my constituency and family, I would like to pay glowing tribute to President Lungu for the rare honour bestowed upon me.

Madam Speaker, Kapoche Constituency is in Sinda District. The constituency has three chiefdoms, namely Nyanje, Kathumba and Kawaza. There are nine wards, namely Nchingilizya, Kamwaza, Lundazi, Chamakubi, Chin’ombe, Kapoche, Mwangaila, Matambazi and Kapungwe.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Ndiye ma zina, ayo!

Mr C. Banda: I wish to thank the leadership of the party in the constituency for its support during the campaign. The campaign team included Mr Best Mwanza, as campaign manager, Mr Reuben Zulu, Mrs Zelesi Tembo, Mrs Mary Phiri Chimphangu and Mr Pingilani Banda.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: They worked tirelessly.

Madam Speaker, the advisory team comprised Headmen M’tema, Nyamamina, …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: … Mpeni, Juma, Msengula, Khaila, Daliyo and Sewa Kezala.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Headman Gary!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, those were my advisors during the campaign.

Madam, I would be failing in my duties if I did not thank, most sincerely, Chief Kathumba, all his indunas and the headmen, Chieftainess Kawaza and all her indunas and most of the headmen and the 353 headmen out of the 400 in Chieftainess Nyanje’s Chiefdom …

Mr Ngulube: Nangu ni petition!

Mr C. Banda: … for warmly welcoming the PF and me in their territories.

Madam Speaker, it was at their instigation that I went back to contest the Kapoche Seat. The 353 headmen in Chieftainess Nyanje’s area are the ones who requested me to contest in this election. They walked their talk and I am here again.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ngulube: Wabwelanso!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, Kapoche Constituency is faced with numerous chellenges. The constituency lacks boreholes, dams, communication towers, schools and clinics and has poor roads.

Hon. UPND Members: Hammer!

Laughter

Mr C. Banda: It is important that the works on the Sinda/Nyanje Road are completed. We further need to upgrade the Chataika and Chikalawa roads, to bituminous standard in order to connect to the border road.

Madam Speaker, the people of Kapoche would appreciate it if the clinics under construction at Mtandaza, Milera and Champhala could be completed. In the same vein, they expect the Matambazi and Kapungwe clinics to be upgraded to health centres with maternity facilities.

The most parts of the constituency are not connected to electricity in all the chiefdoms, especially Chief Kathumba’s area.

Hon. UPND Members: Hammer!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, these are the major areas that we need to pay attention to. As a working Government, we will ensure that we attend to them in the next five years.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, allow me to comment on the pronouncements made by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in this august House during the Address at the Official Opening of the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly on 30^th September, 2016. The President made special reference to tourism and arts under the heading, “Creative and Recreation Industry.” The President said that the focus for Zambia in the next five years will be premised on the development milestones that the Government shall endeavour to achieve in line with the Seventh National Development Plan whose emphasis will be to achieve a resilient and diversified economy.

Madam Speaker, the President told this august House that tourism is one of the sectors that the Government has identified to be among the key economic activities to be enhanced in Zambia in order to successfully drive the diversification agenda. The President said that tourism has great potential to contribute to rapid industrialisation and job creation as well as to bring the much-needed foreign exchange into the country’s economy.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, I recognise the fact that in order to contribute to the job creation and economic diversification agenda, my ministry will have to collaborate closely with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) through the Tourism Development and Investment Corporation (TDIC), which is a special purpose vehicle for tourism development. The TDIC was incorporated in 2015 and, as a ministry, we are in the process of transferring some public tourism assets such as the Kasaba Bay Lodge to the corporation.

Madam, allow me to inform the House that my ministry is in the process of developing a national tourism master plan which will act as an export strategy and whose objective will be to increase the number of tourists visiting Zambia from abroad. We are also finalising the Domestic Tourism Strategy in order to grow local tourism in Zambia.

Madam Speaker, in order to actualise the good pronouncements made by His Excellency the President to this House, my ministry will continue to spearhead the development of tourism circuits in the country, especially the Northern and Southern circuits.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: The circuits have a high potential to increase tourist arrivals and enhance our earnings. In order to achieve this development, my ministry will closely collaborate with other ministries such as the ministries responsible for infrastructure development, communication and transport to ensure that access to tourism sites, attractions and destinations is improved. This activity will, in turn, improve the tourism products to a level that will make Zambia a tourist destination of choice and be competitive enough on the international tourism market. Furthermore, in line with the President’s vision, my ministry will work closely with the local authorities to put in place measures that will promote local tourism at district level. This will be through the development of local tourism products and competitiveness in all our towns to expand foreign and domestic tourism. We shall develop specific incentives to encourage local participation in the tourism sector. I am sure this should make my colleague from Ikeleng’i very happy. He wanted me to listen attentively to his debate. Hon. Member, we are coming to the North-Western Province. So, let us work together.

Madam Speaker, in order to diversify Zambia’s tourism products, the Government will work in conjunction with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) to attract anchor hotel investments in major tourism areas with a view to developing the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sub-sector. This will, in turn, enable Zambia to host mega events and conferences.

Madam Speaker, my ministry fully supports the President’s observation that the creative industry has not been fully exploited, particularly by the private sector which, I believe, should take advantage of the conducive environment to invest in this untapped area which has vast potential for wealth and employment creation. Here, we are basically referring to talent. How can we develop people’s talents in order to create employment? That is where we have lagged behind. We started very well. Those of us who were active in theatre as youths in the 1970s will remember very well that the development of the creative industry began at the same time as our friends in Nigeria. However, today, Nigeria is hundred steps ahead of us. What has gone wrong? Where did we lose it? We need to get back to the drawing board, pick up the pieces, move forward and develop talent in order to create the much-needed jobs. Those who are talented can use their talents to create employment for themselves and for others.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, I have a passion for performing art, apart from visual and other arts. Allow me to urge the Zambian business community to consider partnering with the Government in the development of the creative industry through the promotion of film and music production. I can assure the nation that investment in such areas will go a long way in developing and promoting the local creative industries. The Government, through my ministry, will continue with the on-going programme of providing cultural spaces for the production and marketing of art and cultural products, coupled with diversification of tourism products by creating new cultural products such as the Pamodzi Carnival in order to create a worthwhile cultural experience and encourage prolonged visits of tourists to the country.

Madam Speaker, may I conclude my contribution by calling upon my fellow hon. Members of this august House and the Zambian people to fully embrace the President’s vision to drive this country into prosperity as was spelt out in his address to the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Mawere): Madam Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to deliver my maiden speech to this august House and to contribute to the debate on the Speech by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, at the Official Opening of the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly on Friday, 30^th September, 2016.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency the President, Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam Inonge Mutukwa Wina, and the Patriotic Front (PF) on the 50 per cent plus 1 victory in the 2016 General Elections.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: Madam Speaker, permit me to congratulate you, Mr Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker on your election to your respective positions.

This is a reflection of the confidence that hon. Members of Parliament have in you to guide the Business of this august House.

Mr Nkombo: Question!

Laughter

Mr Mawere: Madam Speaker, before delivering my maiden speech, allow me to express my profound gratitude to his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for according me this rare opportunity to serve the people of Zambia as Minster of Youth, Sport and Child Development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: I also wish to thank the Republican President, who is also the President for the PF, and all the organs of the PF for according me the chance to stand on the PF ticket in the 2016 General Elections, which I indisputably won.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Opposition Member: Mtolo Phiri!

Mr Mawere: My sincere gratitude also goes to my wife, Prekeria Mbewe Mawere, my children, the members of my family, my campaign manager, Mr Menyani Sakala, ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Menyani?

Laughter

Mr Mawere: ... my powerful campaign team and friends for their unwavering support during the campaigns.

Madam Speaker, I also wish to sincerely thank the good and progressive people of Chipata Central Constituency for giving me the mandate to represent them here. I pledge that as their representative, who is also a young man, I will expend all my energy on attending to their needs and ensure that we work together towards the development of our constituency.

Madam Speaker, Chipata Central Constituency consists of both rural and urban populations, totalling about 150,000 people most of who are in informal employment, that is, farming and running business enterprises.

Madam, Chipata Central Constituency has received a fair share of development from the visionary and inclusive leadership of the PF, ranging from the construction of economic infrastructure such as roads and bridges to social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: However, more developmental projects and programmes are still needed in the following areas:

agriculture;

livestock and fisheries;

vocational and skills training;

general and tertiary education;

housing and roads;

rural electrification;

communication infrastructure in chiefdoms by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA);

health facilities;

water and sanitation infrastructure; and

sports and recreation infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, I will not spend much time elaborating the developmental requirements for my constituency, as they were well articulated by His Excellency the President in his address to the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly on Friday 30^th September, 2016. Allow me to join the hon. Members who have debated the speech by the President.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President delivered a progressive and inspiring speech to this august House which articulated the country’s developmental agenda for the next five years and beyond. He took time to highlight the socio-economic challenges the country is faced with and gave policy guidance on how to address the challenges. Therefore, I take this opportunity to commend the President for an excellent speech. I found the speech to be well balanced and visionary because it offers sound policy guidance in addressing Zambia’s socio-economic challenges on the developmental process of this country.

Madam Speaker, I note, with gratitude, that in his address to this august House, the President emphasised the importance of an integrated and multi-sectoral approach to national development that promotes inclusiveness. This approach is particularly relevant to my ministry in view of the fact that a successful execution of its mandate requires strong collaboration and active participation of various stakeholders, including Government ministries, civil society, the private sector, faith-based organisations, our co-operating partners and individuals.

Madam Speaker, my ministry is responsible for co-ordinating the development of children, youth and sports. Children and youths constitute 82 per cent of the country’s population. They are a major component of the population in the country and a vital resource for national development. Therefore, children and youths are the present and future of our country.

Madam Speaker, in his speech, the President underscored the importance of industrialising the economy to create more jobs and wealth for our people. One of the policy objectives of my ministry is to expand and mainstream youth empowerment and employment in priority sectors. In this regard, my ministry will encourage the youth to actively participate in the industrialisation process through entrepreneurship development and provision of finance through the Youth Development Fund and Youth Street Vendor Empowerment Scheme. We shall also continue to work closely with other ministries and stakeholders to ensure that young people benefit from the various empowerment and employment opportunities in the growing sectors.

Madam Speaker, in his speech, the President also emphasised the importance of a vibrant agriculture sector in employment creation and socio-economic development. I commend the President for emphasising the need for more investment in agriculture and maintaining the Farmer Input Support Programme (FSIP). In line with this pronouncement, my ministry will scale up the implementation of youth resettlement schemes where we are collaborating with stakeholders to improve productivity for the centres through the provision of appropriate technologies, capacity building and enhanced access to finance and markets. We are empowering the youth with land, at no cost, and start-up capital to enable them to engage in agriculture and agro-related activities for their livelihood.

Madam Speaker, the youth resettlement schemes will call for more concerted effort from all stakeholders, as the centres require an integrated development approach. As there will be a huge number of youths in one place, there will be a need for health, education, recreation and sports facilities, clean and safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, amongst others. These will be provided by various ministries and sector players.

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that currently, the ministry is resettling the youths at Mwange Youth Resettlement Centre in Mporokoso District where 231 youths from all parts of the country have so far been resettled. Each youth settler is entitled to 3 ha of land and a start-up kit. There is still room at Mwange to resettle an additional 260 youths.

Madam Speaker, the plan of the ministry is to establish one youth resettlement scheme in each province. Further, I am happy to report to this august House that we have acquired 26,000 ha of land in Mufumbwe for this purpose. In this regard, the ministry will work closely with other stakeholders with a view to expediting the establishment of youth resettlement schemes in other provinces. I urge hon. Members to actively participate in the development process of the centres and the identification of youths for resettlement. I also urge them to help us engage Their Royal Highnesses, the chiefs, so as to acquire land for the establishment of the resettlement schemes.

Madam Speaker, the President also emphasised the importance of human capital development as a catalyst to national development. This resonates well with the mandate of my ministry, as it is responsible for the provision of life and vocational skills to “the out-of-school” and “never- been-to-school youths.” With appropriate skills and a right frame of mind, the youth will be in a position to contribute positively to national development. Currently, my ministry is running nineteen youth resource centres. The Government is constructing modern youth resources centres and upgrading old ones to modern standards to include boarding and sports facilities in order to increase access to skills training that is responsive to the need of the youth and the labour market. We will continue with these efforts until we progressively meet our target of establishing, at least, one skills training centre in each district.

Madam Speaker, in his speech, the President highlighted the need to harmonise all legislation relating to children, including the domestication of international instruments on the rights of children. The policy directive is timely, as it will enable my ministry to effectively co-ordinate the efforts of all stakeholders dealing with matters affecting children. We shall, therefore, expedite the process of enacting the Children’s Code Bill into law. Further, my ministry, in consultation with stakeholders has developed a framework to address the challenges of children on the streets. This framework has embraced a two-broad approach, involving the rehabilitation and re-integration of children aged zero to fourteen years back into the communities and also, rehabilitation and provision of skills training to children aged fifteen and eighteen. The success of this programme will require concerted efforts from all stakeholders. I, therefore, look forward to the active participation by all hon. Members of Parliament in this important national programme.

Madam Speaker, in order to contribute towards economic diversification and the creation of decent jobs, my ministry will focus on the co-ordination of the implementation of the 2015 National Youth Policy and the Action Plan for Youth Empowerment and Employment.

Madam, in paragraph 79 of the President’s Speech, the President called for the development of a policy to revive apprenticeship training and strengthen internship. Once developed and strengthened, the policy will provide an opportunity for the youth to acquire the right skills, work attitudes and appropriate work exposure, thereby improving their employability. My ministry is ready to participate in the development of this policy and to accelerate the implementation of the Apprenticeship and Internship Programme.

Madam Speaker, sport has the potential to create decent employment opportunities for young people and contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of the country. In order to realise this, my ministry will endeavour to increase and widen the pool of highly-talented athletes through talent identification and development under the Community Sport Programme. This will entail building talent pathways to support young people to achieve their full potential and sustain higher performance and excellence at local, regional and international levels. Further, keeping the youth actively engaged in sport and recreation reduces idle time among them and prevents them from engaging in vices such as alcohol and substance abuse and political violence. Therefore, sport contributes to the reduction in crime in the communities.

Furthermore, Madam Speaker, engaging the youth and the wider community in sport contributes to unity and peace building in the nation. Sport is a unifying factor. In this regard, participation of citizenry in sport will be key in cementing the, “One Zambia, One Nation” motto. This is the value we want our children and youths to embrace. In addition, my ministry will promote the participation of citizenry in sport and physical fitness activities in order to curb the increase in incidents of non-communicable diseases whose cost of treatment is putting a strain on the National Treasury. Indeed, a healthy nation is a productive and wealthy nation. I, therefore, appeal for support from all stakeholders, including hon. Members of Parliament who are key in the implementation of programmes for my ministry.

Madam Speaker, may I end my debate …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mawere: … by appealing to all Parliamentarians in this august House to work closely with the Government whose vision is to ensure that children, youths and citizens of Zambia live a healthy and prosperous life which they rightfully deserve and are entitled to.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

ADJOURNMENT

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

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1804 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 27^th October, 2016.

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