DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 23rd October, 2013

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR DEPUTY SPEAKER

POSTPONEMENT OF RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS ON THE COLLECTION OF MONEY FOR STRATEGIC FUEL RESERVE FUND AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING AUTHORITY BOARD

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, yesterday, Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013, the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development was requested to bring a comprehensive answer to Question for Oral Answer No. 126, which was on the collection of money for the Strategic Fuel Reserve Fund (SFRF), by Friday, 26th October, 2013. Additionally, the hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting was requested to clarify the matter concerning the appointment of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as Chairperson of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Board on the same day. However, I wish to inform the House that the two hon. Ministers have sought the indulgence of the House to make their statements next week and the one after, respectively, as they will not be in the House earlier than those dates due to other prior national commitments.

I thank you.

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QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

PATCHING OF GREAT EAST ROAD

137. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication when the Government would re-surface the uneven stretch on the Great East Road between the Palm Drive/Great East Road Junction in Chelston and the Airport Roundabout.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Col. Kaunda): Mr Speaker, the section of the Great East Road from the Katima Mulilo Roundabout to the Airport Turnoff in Lusaka is included for rehabilitation under the Link Lusaka 400 Project, for which feasibility studies are being undertaken. The works will correct the uneven stretch between the Great East Road/Palm Drive Junction in Chelston and the Airport Roundabout, where the base layer has failed. A consultant has been engaged to carry out site investigations and prepare detailed designs. The works are expected to commence in the Second Quarter of 2014.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, I did not get the hon. Deputy Minister correctly. When is the re-surfacing expected to start?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, the works are expected to commence in the Second Quarter of 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, the Great East Road is very important because it takes the Speaker to Lundazi and the hon. Deputy Minister on the Floor to Zozwe in Vubwi. Does the Government have a deliberate policy of having year-round maintenance works on it? 

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Member is from Muchinga or Kalomo because, if he is from the Eastern Province, he should know that there are sites that are being prepared by the contractors who have been awarded the contract to work on the roads from Luangwa Bridge to Mwami Border Post.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, perhaps, the hon. Minister is not sure of what we are talking about. The stretch in question, which starts from the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) Tank at Chelston to the Airport Roundabout Turnoff, services many visitors who drive from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to town. However, that stretch is so bad that it does not need one to start talking about surveys. Why not repair it? It has become very dangerous because the depressions have become very deep. Why should the Government talk about working on that stretch of the road in the Second Quarter of 2014 when the case is an emergency?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, I have been following the debates in the Committees and I have heard that a lack of planning and corruption make people work in a hurry and, as a result, do shoddy works. However, this Government will do things the right way. We will wait for our time to plan and, when that time comes, we will construct roads that will stand the test of time.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, my question is similar to Hon. Mbewe’s, and that shows the seriousness of this matter. 

Sir, as Hon. Mbewe has said, that road is an international route and its state brings us a lot of shame. Is it not possible for the country to treat it as a priority so that we can avoid the embarrassment that we are being subjected to?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, an emergency is an emergency, and we understand that this road must be worked on. However, we want the works on it to be so good that it lasts fifty years. We do not want to go in a rush and patch it up, then, next year, we do the same thing. We would rather wait for a few more months or weeks for quality works to be undertaken on the road so that it outlives us. Nobody will touch that road before the Second Quarter of 2014.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Muntanga: Oh!

Mr Mooya (Moomba): Mr Speaker, as far as I remember, that road was worked on by a foreign firm less than ten years ago. I wonder how corruption and poor workmanship cropped in. How could something done by a foreign firm fail when we praise foreign firms for not doing shoddy works? How did the base fail?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, it is exactly because of what the hon. Member has talked about that we are trying to avoid working on that road in a hurry. We have not gone to the archives of the Road Development Agency (RDA) to find out how the contract for the road was awarded and who constructed it. When we do that, we may come back with an answer to his question. However, we want to work on our roads properly, and the only way we can do that is by planning well before implementing the project. It is like in war, where you cannot win if you do not plan your logistics. A war is lost at the table, not on the warfront. So, even the shoddy works done on the roads start at the table because of poor planning, not only during their actual construction.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, the Great East Road is very important. However, along the road, there is a fence at the University of Zambia Fly-over Bridge, which is not only dirty, but also mangled. Are there plans to compel those who are responsible for its maintenance to attend to it?

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, we have a supplementary answer to that question. There will be studies on that fence and the footbridge, which is not being used.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga: What kind of studies?

CONSTRUCTION OF CHUNGOLUNGO CLINIC

138. Mr Mbulakulima asked the Minister of Health:

(a)    when the construction of the clinic at Chungolungo in Chembe Parliamentary Constituency would be completed; and

(b)    what had caused the delay in completing the project.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, the construction of the clinic at Chungolungo in Chembe Parliamentary Constituency was part of the programme to construct 125 health posts, which commenced in 2010 through the community participation mode, and is expected to be completed by December, 2013. 

Sir, the completion of the construction of the clinic has delayed due to the failure by the community to contribute materials like sand, blocks and stones to the project. As such, the Government had to source additional funds to procure the materials that could have, otherwise, come from the community. The ministry has since mobilised and disbursed K150,000 for the completion of the project.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. 

Sir, is this Government in order to behave as though it were running a one-party State, “The party and its government,” by using a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane to ferry hon. Deputy Ministers and party cadres to Mansa, where candidates contesting the upcoming by-election for the Mansa Central Constituency Seat were filing-in their nomination papers? That was done at the expense of the taxpayers, who were not informed that ZAF planes were open for use by all political parties during filing-in of nomination papers in by-elections. 

Mr Deputy Speaker: The difficulty I have in ruling on this matter is that the three arms of the Government operate in the best way they know how and, I suppose, that is one area in which the Executive decided to operate the way it did. I think that we can leave it at that.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Chembe, you may continue.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I want to thank Hon. Muntanga for that important point of order. However, before the point of order was raised, I was saying that the staff house at the clinic is at window level and has taken long to be completed. Is the K150,000 that has been disbursed to the project also meant to be used to complete the staff house? Further, what guarantee do we have that the clinic will be opened to the public by December, 2013? I ask this question because promises have been heard before concerning the completion of that project.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I want to make it clear that this Government has never made any promises regarding that clinic. I am answering a question on that clinic for the first time. 

Sir, the K150,000 is meant to procure the materials to supplement those that the community failed to contribute. In 2010, the community was asked to contribute 25 per cent towards the construction of the health centre while 75 per cent was to be provided by the Government. However, as a Government, we have realised that the project cannot stall because of the 25 per cent that has not been contributed by the community. So, we have provided that K150,000 for the completion of the clinic. The house is another issue.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has indicated that one of the reasons for the initial failure of this project is that the community could not contribute its 25 per cent obligation. If I got him correctly, that contribution included the provision of blocks. However, blocks constitute a major part of the project’s overall cost. Can he confirm whether blocks were, indeed, part of the 25 per cent contribution by the community.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, in my earlier response, I stated that the community was supposed to contribute sand, blocks and stones to the project. The Government was supposed to provide the labour, cement and other things. So, yes, blocks were part of the 25 per cent.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Deputy Minister whether …

Ms Imenda: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I have browsed through the Yellow Book, but have not seen any allocation for the purchase of a helicopter for the Legislature, which is another arm of the Government. Is the Government in order not to have included the purchase of a helicopter for the Legislature so that it also can benefit, as the other ones are for the Executive to use?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Senanga, continue.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister has indicated that the project took long because the community could not contribute what it was asked to.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr Mufalali: Does the Government think it prudent to continue with community mode projects that require the community to contribute 25 per cent when it is clear that the communities have failed to contribute their part?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, it is important for the communities to participate in Government programmes. We need many health and education facilities in the communities. However, because our resource envelope is very small, we encourage communities to participate because the facilities that are built are theirs. So, it is just prudent that the community participates in such undertakings.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, will the Government level the playing field between the rural areas and urban areas where the 25 per cent contribution is concerned? Will communities in Lusaka and other towns, and those in Chembe and Chadiza all be subjected to contributing 25 per cent to such projects?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, my counterpart in the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, when responding to one question, clearly stated that it was important to plan. I think that there was not enough planning done when the project was being initiated. This programme started in 2010, when the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) was still in power. However, since the Patriotic Front (PF) assumed office, it has not subjected the communities to the 25 per cent contribution. The Government has taken full charge of the construction of the health post. However, there is nothing wrong with asking a community to contribute towards such projects if it has the capacity.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the construction of the clinic at Chungolungo would be completed by …

Mr Mufalali: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. 

Sir, is the hon. Deputy Minister of Health in order to contradict his Government’s policy by indicating that the Government has never subjected the Zambian people to contributing 25 per cent to projects when the hon. Minister of Finance, in his Budget Speech, said that the Government would construct schools using the community participation mode?

Mr Deputy Speaker: My understanding is that the hon. Minister is saying that the Government is continuing with the programme that started in 2010, in terms of requesting the community to participate. So, really, it is a continuous process and, I think, we can take it that way.

Hon. Member for Kaputa, continue.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, after the clinic at Chungolungo has been completed, by the end of the year, are there plans to send medical personnel there? I ask this question because there have been situations in which medical personnel have not been made available to man facilities, such as clinics, after they have been built using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, when a clinic or any health facility is being constructed, there are always plans to deploy health personnel to those facilities upon completion of the project. The problem is that, when we use the CDF on such projects, we do not get in touch with officials from the Ministry of Health, especially at the district level, for them to include such facilities in human resource planning. There are many clinics that have been constructed using the CDF that are not even known by the district health management teams. So, I can only encourage my colleagues to work with the health management teams at the district level, which are now under the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, when constructing such infrastructure using the CDF.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, …

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I rarely stand on points of order, but this one is serious and compelling. 

Sir, is the hon. Minister of Health, who is holding his mouth, in order to remain quiet and just keep drinking Government water without informing this House how far the Indian Government-supported programme of constructing 650 health centres has gone? This House was informed about that programme as far back as last year, and people are anxiously waiting for its implementation. 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, I am sure that you have an answer for that. As you answer the next follow-up questions, I am sure that you can respond to that point of order.

Can the ‘hon. Minister’ continue.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Oh! Was it an hon. Member asking a question?

Mr Lufuma: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for promoting me to the position of Minister.

Sir, my understanding is that blocks are a major component of any building or structure and, as such, constitute quite a substantial percentage of the overall cost. That being the case, was it prudent to ask the community to provide blocks, which are quite costly, in addition to sand and labour, as part of their 25 per cent contribution? Is this not the reason for their failure to contribute?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, as I indicated earlier, as you answer that question, please, also respond to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Chadiza.

The Minister of Health (Dr Kasonde): Mr Speaker, I am grateful that I am not obliged to hold any other person’s mouth. I was only holding mine.

Laughter

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, the issue of the 25 per cent community contribution to projects, which was negotiated in 2010, is now questioned in regard to whether it was prudent or not. This is in retrospect and, I think, the hon. Member and the current Government are entitled to question the prudence of this and several other decisions of the previous Government. My thinking is that it was not prudent. Therefore, we have undertaken to address its challenges while emphasising the importance of community participation in projects. Community participation is critical, but it has to be reasoned and planned. We cannot be rewarded or punished for the prudence and imprudence of our predecessors.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: You have not addressed the point of order about the 650 health posts.

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, I think that the hon. Member raised a very important issue but, when my colleague was answering, he was answering the question that was on the Order Paper, which referred to a specific health centre, not the totality of health posts. However, I do appreciate my responsibility to keep hon. Members informed and I shall do just that as soon as possible.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Okay, can the hon. Minister come up with a ministerial statement in the course of next week.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, the policy of community participation …

Dr Kaingu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I apologise to Hon. Namugala for disturbing her debate. 

Sir, for those who do not know, I am the vice-president of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Hon. PF Member: So what?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Dr Kaingu: The point of order that has been raised by my colleague, Hon. Muntanga, is causing me a heartache. 

Sir, we have met, as political parties, at several fora and agreed that political parties would not use public resources on party activities. We, as the people who appropriate the resources of the nation, have also debated the prudent use of resources in this House. Is the political party in power, the PF, in order to use ZAF planes to go and file-in nominations for a by-election? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

When rulings are made, it is against a particular background. It is not out of nothing. I did not want to go into details because the question was on whether the Ruling Party was in order to use ZAF planes to carry political cadres for nominations. I would not be in a position to make a ruling on a point of order of that nature. If you discussed those matters outside the House, then, settle them out there.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The hon. Member for Mafinga may continue.

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the policy of community participation in the construction of health infrastructure, regardless of which Government started it, is failing because most of our people are unable to access stones and sand since they are in very far-flung or outlying areas. They do not have the means to transport them to the site. Does this Government not believe that it has the duty to provide health infrastructure to the people? Further, does the policy apply in urban areas as well because I do not see people in Kabwata going round looking for sand or stones to build a clinic?

Dr Kasonde: Mr Speaker, the policy of community participation was rightly adopted by the previous Government and is even more rightly appreciated by our Government. What has differed is the interpretation of the concept. Participation includes many other activities besides the collection of sand and the drawing of water. We believe that participation in the discussions leading to decisions on what kind of structures to build and the kind of provisions to be made is all part of the consultative process called community participation. By narrowing its scope, the previous Government put itself in a situation in which it could not achieve what it had intended to achieve. We have learnt a lesson from that experience and are now wiser. The concept is still applicable, but it must be interpreted correctly like this Government has done.

I thank you, Sir.

LUAKELA/KAKOMA ROAD

139. Mr Katuka asked the Vice-President:

(a)    when the construction of the Luakela/Kakoma Road by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in Mwinilunga District would be completed; and

(b)    what the total cost of the project was.

The Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Mr Mwango): Mr Speaker, the Luakela-Kakoma Road was funded in June, 2012, and, out of the total stretch of 105km, 50km has been completed. The scope of the works includes bush clearing, formation, compaction, and culvert installation. The project has stalled because it awaits the release of more funds. If funded, the remaining part of the project is scheduled to take eight weeks, subject to weather conditions.

Mr Speaker, the total cost of the project is K1.4 million.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, when, exactly, are the funds for this project expected to be sourced?

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, we have the slight embarrassment that this question is misdirected. It is not the DMMU that is working on that road. It is the Rural Roads Unit (RRU), which falls under another ministry. However, I can say that the remaining funding must be about K400,000, which I expect to be availed  quite soon.

I thank you, Sir.

REHABILITATION OF D273 ROAD

140. Mr Katuka asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication whether the Government had any plan to rehabilitate the D273 Road leading to the site for the 40mw Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) Hydro Power Station Project in Mwinilunga District in order to ensure timely completion of the project.

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, there are plans to rehabilitate approximately 33km of the D273 Road leading to the site for the mentioned project with funding from the CEC. The contractor for both the power station and the road is Sino Hydro Corporation. Currently, assessments and designs are being made and will be submitted to the RDA for approval. 

Sir, the scope of works, cost estimates and duration will be determined after the feasibility study.

 I thank you, Sir.

Mr Katuka: Mr Speaker, the road will be built by the CEC, which is a private company. Will the company be re-funded by the Government, since the road is gazetted?

Col. Kaunda: Mr Speaker, that will be the subject of discussion between the CEC and the Government when the time comes.

I thank you, Sir.

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MOTIONS

BUDGET 2014

(Debate resumed)

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this opportunity to debate the Budget for 2014, which was presented by the hon. Minister of Finance.

Mr Speaker, before I delve into the Budget, I would like to state that, when Zambia lost the opportunity to reach the final of the Africa …

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!    

Let us have order because, later, the hon. Minister of Finance or some other hon. Members may be required to address some of the issues that are being raised, but the people on my extreme right — 

Hon. Member for Lupososhi, can we have order. 

You may continue, Hon. Mwiimbu.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I was saying that, when Zambia lost the opportunity to reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations and qualify to the World Cup, many Zambians and I were very sad because we thought that we had lost the opportunity to be entertained in the country. Fortunately, we have been entertained, every day, by our colleagues in the Patriotic Front (PF) …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: … with comedy, action, drama and thriller.    

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, as a result, the circulation of many newspapers has now gone up.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I would like to encourage the PF to continue …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! 
  
Mr Mwiimbu: … entertaining us.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, under the Constitution of Zambia, Article 51, the Executive is accountable to this House on whatever it does outside this House.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, we have the right to question all the decisions and actions of the Executive outside this House. It is our responsibility under Article 51.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

I appreciate your debate. However, if you are going to draw me back to a decision that has already been made, then, I will rule you out of order. Therefore, please, debate the Budget. I thought that you stood because you wanted to talk about the Budget. 

Mr Mwiimbu: Yes, Mr Speaker. I have no intentions, whatsoever, of questioning your ruling. I did not even know that there was anything to be debated pertaining to your ruling. I am talking about the actions of the Executive in the execution of the Budget. That is the issue I am raising.

Mr Deputy Speaker: You have now come to it. You were not talking about that earlier.

Laughter 

Mr Mwiimbu: Yes.

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I am saying that we have to question the Executive on whatever it does outside this House, which has a bearing on the Budget.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes.

Mr Mwiimbu: We have to question the Executive on why it is abusing the resources of the Government of the Republic of Zambia by allowing a political party to use them, which is not provided for in the Budget.

Hon. UPND Members: Yes.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the Auditor-General’s Report has, year in and out, highlighted the abuse of resources by those in the Government, and we are saying that those in the Government who have been entrusted with the authority to utilise Government resources must not be seen to be abusing that authority by allowing political parties to use Government resources.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I heard from my colleagues on your right, who have been praising the Government, that there is an outbreak of projects in various constituencies in the Republic of Zambia as a result of the good management of resources by the PF. However, I wish to state, without fear of any contradiction, that, from the time the PF ame into being, there has not been any developmental project that has been implemented in my constituency, Monze Central. Hence, I cannot be a praise singer for the PF.

Mr Speaker, we have heard of roads that are being built in Luapula, the Northern, Muchinga and other provinces. Alas, we are not seeing similar projects in the Southern Province.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I have heard our colleagues on your right talk about the Bottom Road. As far as we know, that road is just being graded.

Mr Kalaba: What about Monze/Niko Road?

Mr Mwiimbu: Sir, somebody is talking about the Monze/Niko Road. If you have not been to Monze, I can take you there tomorrow so that you see whether there is any grader on that road. The truth is that there is nothing taking place there. 

Mr Mukanga: What about the tenders?

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, for other areas, there are even no tenders being considered. Contracts are just being awarded without tenders.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Mwiimbu: That is a fact.

Sir, why is it that, in some areas, …

Mr Kalaba: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kalaba: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to raise this point of order.

Sir, I have been trying to follow Hon. Mwiimbu’s debate from the beginning. However, I feel sad that the hon. Member is debating far and wide, without being specific. Is he in order to keep making blanket statements about the Southern Province when there are several projects being implemented there under his nose? Is he in order to keep on disregarding those facts and to mislead the House and the nation at large just because he does not visit his constituency?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, hon. Members of the Executive will soon start debating this Motion, and I am sure that you will, at that point, address such issues. If you disagree with him, you can say so when your time to debate comes.

Please, continue, Hon. Mwiimbu.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, if there were any developmental projects in my constituency, my nose would have been blocked. 

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: However, because there are none, my nose is not blocked in anyway. 

Mr Speaker, that is a fact. I am not questioning the developmental projects in other areas. All I am saying is that the people of the Southern Province are also entitled to similar projects.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: I was saying that the Bottom Road is not being tarred, and that is a fact. 

Sir, the initial contract that was awarded for the Monze/Niko Road was cancelled. However, I do not want to delve into the issues surrounding that road. Suffice it to say that there are still issues pertaining to that road.

Mr Muntanga: Yes. Make it very clear.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I appeal to the PF Government, if it wants me to lose the election in 2016, to implement projects in Monze Central. 

Mr Muntanga: Yes.

Mr Mwiimbu: If you do not do that, I will come back to this House in 2016. Mark my words.

Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to raise this very important point of order, which is in the national interest. I apologise to the hon. Member on the Floor, who is debating very well, for interrupting his thought process. 

Sir, last Friday, when I was debating the Budget, I quoted the statement by the PF Secretary-General, Mr Wynter Kabimba, SC., who alleged that there was tribalism and corruption in the PF. Arising from that debate, a tabloid newspaper calling itself the New Vision carried a story entitled, “Speaker Warns MPs – Watch Your Language.”

 I would like to quote one or two paragraphs:

“Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini, on Friday warned Members of Parliament against the use of divisive language in their debates while on the Floor of the House.” 

Sir, in relation to my debate on Friday, this newspaper goes ahead to say:

“Kambwili said he was disappointed with Mweetwa for labelling the PF as a tribal party.”

Mr Speaker, the paper goes on to say:

“Mweetwa’s debate was offside. I feel, it is indiscipline for any Member of Parliament to use such acrimonious language in the House.”

Sir, is the New Vision Newspaper in order to mislead itself, its owners and the national at large that, on Friday, when I was debating, Dr Matibini, the Speaker of the National Assembly, presided over the Business of this House when, in fact, it was you who did so? Is it in order, with its ‘vision’, not to see you …

Laughter

Mr Mweetwa: … and, instead, accuse somebody who was not here of having warned hon. Members of Parliament? Further, my perusal of the Hansard has shown that you did not warn us, at any point, about divisive language. Additionally, is Hon. Kambwili in order to label my debate, which you allowed, to the extent that I even used all my twenty minutes, as indiscipline? Are the so-called New Vision and Hon. Kambwili in order to make these allegations and mislead the nation? 

I seek your serious ruling as I lay the newspaper on the Table.

Mr Mweetwa laid the paper on the Table.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

In light of the fact that there are certain issues you have referred to as being not true, the paper is not in order. 

Can we continue. Who was on the Floor?

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, it was me.

Mr Speaker, I have been in this House for thirteen years and I will be here in 2016 …

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Mwiimbu: … as long as the PF does not implement any tangible project in my constituency.

Mr Speaker, I remember a number of Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Colleagues who were in the Government and used to shout in a similar manner as the PF Members are now doing but, today, they are not in this House. I can see that some of those who are shouting now will not come back in 2016, especially those from Kafue.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Laughter

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, this House has always been generous in passing the Budget. The figures are always appealing. However, when it comes to the execution of the Budget, the hon. Minister of Finance and his officials are always found wanting. I am aware that, in 2012, the hon. Minister of Finance presented a budget for the construction of classroom blocks and teachers’ houses in our various constituencies, which we all supported. However, no teachers’ house or classroom block has been built in my constituency despite the budget being passed. This year, the greenhorn, Hon. Kalaba, who has been appointed hon. Minister, should realise …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Monze Central, I do not think that we should describe ourselves in the manner you are doing. Let us extend courtesies to each other and debate in a civil manner.

Continue.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, thank you for your guidance. I am always civil.

Sir, the hon. Minister of Finance has failed to disburse the allocations in the Yellow Book. It might not be his fault. However, if he has a problem disbursing the allocations, he must indicate that in his Budget Speech so that we all appreciate the problems he is facing.

Mr Speaker, in 2013, similar allocations have been made. We are remaining with only two months before the end of the year, yet no allocations have been made for the completion of the various projects pending from 2012. I have no doubt that the scenario obtaining in Monze Central Constituency is also obtaining in other constituencies.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Dundumwezi.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I would like to urge the hon. Minister of Finance to come back to the House and inform us about any problem he might encounter before the end of the year. Once informed, we will be able to appreciate the problems and agree with him on what to do about them. However, we only come to discuss these issues at the end of the year in the Budget debate.

Sir, I will always talk about issues affecting the Southern Province. For the last twelve years, we have been assured by the various Governments of the Republic of Zambia that they would discriminate positively in the construction of dams, sinking of boreholes and irrigation in favour of our people in the Southern Province. The Government is aware that the province is predominantly arid. In most areas, it has been encroached upon by the Kalahari Desert. Unfortunately, nothing tangible is being done to assist our people in the province. Once, there was a vote worth about US$20 million that was supposed to go towards irrigation.

Mr Muntanga: US$40 million.

Mr Mwiimbu: Yes, US$40 million, for irrigation and dam construction. However, to date, nothing has happened. The people of the Southern Province have looked forward to those projects. We were also being assured by various hon. Ministers of Agriculture and Livestock on the eradication of animal diseases in the province. However, to date, our cattle are still being afflicted by animal diseases and not much is being done about it. Farming is our livelihood. Therefore, the only way we can be assisted in the province is by being provided with the requisite inputs to enhance agriculture. Unfortunately, that is not being done, and I know that this scenario is similar to what is obtaining in the Western Province.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the cattle population in the Western Province has been decimated. We hope that, through the allocation of resources to disease eradication, something will be done for the people of the Western, Southern and Central provinces, and other cattle-rearing areas. 

Mr Speaker, in the last six years, we have been assured by the hon. Ministers of Agriculture that the silos in this country would be rehabilitated. Unfortunately, nothing much has been done, although we are now being told that contracts are being signed. We hope that there will be progress in that area. We have been crying about the wastage of crops as a result of a lack of storage facilities because most of our storage facilities are dilapidated. We hope that something will be done about that.

Mr Speaker, we were, and are still being, assured that the Constitution would be people-driven. Unfortunately, no measures have been put in place by the Government to protect the process and content of Constitution-making. Even in this Budget Speech, we have not been assured that the Constitution will be adopted next year, in 2015 or in 2050. Instead, we have heard very contradictory statements from our colleagues on the right, who have disputed issues on which we had agreed with them. These are issues that the people of Zambia really want to be in the Constitution, which indicates that our colleagues do not support the Constitution-making process. 

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, it would be sad if, even this time around, we failed to have a Constitution that will stand the test of time. Together with our colleagues on your right, the PF, the United Party for National Development (UPND) defeated the Constitution-making process in 2011. I hope that His Honour the Vice-President, as he leaves office before 2016, …

Laughter 

Mr Mwiimbu: ... will leave behind the good legacy of having spearheaded the making of a good Constitution, for which members of the public will consider him as having been a very good Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia.

Mr Speaker, we have all been told that Zambia is a peaceful country in which all the tribes have been living in harmony. However, it is very unfortunate to hear some of the comments that were made yesterday in Mansa by one hon. Minister, who is in this House, to the effect that those who will be voting for the UPND will be voting for a dog because they cannot vote for a Tonga. 

Mr Sing’ombe: Masholi!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, we know that propagating tribalism is, actually, a criminal offence in this country. 

Interruptions

Mr Mwiimbu: If you want me to mention his name, I can do so.

Mr Mukanga: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to raise this point of order. 

Is the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central in order to continue with the way he is debating without being specific about what he is talking about? I think that we should call a spade a spade rather than beat about the bush.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I thank you, …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order! 

I have not made a ruling.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, my fear is that, for Hon. Mwiimbu to be specific, he might have to be asked to name the individual he is referring to, who is an hon. Member of this House. However, that might result in our debating ourselves, which, I think, will not be in order. In light of that, and having seen how Hon. Mwiimbu wanted to react before I ruled, I think that we should stay away from that issue. 

The hon. Member for Monze Central can continue.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I will not mention his name, ... 

Mr Ntundu: Just describe him.

Mr Mwiimbu: … but he is bald-headed, light in complexion, big-bellied and walks with a swagger. 

Laughter

Mr Muntanga: All those who fit in that category are included.

Laughter

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Kalomo Central!

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, in this country, we have always lived in harmony, as brothers and sisters. Therefore, I would like to appeal to all of us, leaders, to promote the motto of, “One Zambia, One Nation,” instead of being divisive. That is what made us a nation. I hope that our colleagues on the right, when they come to respond, will assure the nation that they will not allow those among them to promote tribalism.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor on behalf of the people of Lupososhi.

Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Hon. Member: Aah!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to raise this very important point of order. I apologise to the hon. Member on the Floor for disturbing his debate. 

Dr Scott entered the Assembly Chamber.

Mr Muntanga: His Honour the Vice-President has come back.

Laughter

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I decided to raise this point of order before he went deeper into his debate so that I do not disrupt him at that stage. 

Sir, a few days ago, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) announced that motorists found driving while drunk would be subjected to a fast-track court process and, if found guilty, sentenced to a thirty-weeks weekend imprisonment. This has raised a lot of anxiety amongst motorists, including hon. Members of Parliament. I am also aware that the RTSA derives its powers from Sections 156, 157 and 158 of the Road Traffic Act passed by this House in 2002. 

Mr Speaker, there is a national outcry. Every day you listen to a discussion on any radio programme, including the news, everyone is talking about this issue, which means that it is an issue of national interest. Is the Government in order not to come and address this House and, through it, the nation on what it intends to do in view of the rejection of the application of that very grave and draconian piece of legislation, which borders on the infringement and violation of human rights, by the people? Is it in order to remain quiet, without even indicating that it intends to bring an amendment to this House which, I believe, will be wholly supported, so that, in the words of Mr Solomon Jere, since the Government is already unpopular, it does not become even more so? 

I need your serious ruling.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: To do justice to that point of order, and for the ministry responsible to come up with a detailed answer, it would be fair for the hon. Member to file in a question of an urgent nature. 

Can you continue, Hon. Bwalya.

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to debate this important Motion for, and on behalf of, the people of Lupososhi Constituency. 

Mr Speaker, from the outset, it is important that, as Zambians, we accept that the economy of this country is small and, therefore, the Budget is equally small. Forty-two billion seven hundred million, equivalent to US$7.78 billion constrains us in the number of projects we can finance. That is the clear challenge that every Zambian must be aware of. We need much more than that. 

Mr Speaker, the Global Competitive Index Report, 2013-2014, provides a very useful context within which to analyse the Zambian economy and the development efforts of the Zambian Government. I will use Singapore to compare with Zambia for the simple reason that there are quite some similarities between the two countries, including that of getting political independence at almost the same time. 

Mr Speaker, the report ranked Zambia’s economy ninety-third out of 148 countries. That is, in various pillars of the economy, such as infrastructure, market efficiency, financial performance and institutional frameworks, while Singapore is ranked second. 

Mr Speaker, the other useful statistic is the population. This country has about 13.5 million people while Singapore has 5.2 million people. Further, Zambia has more natural resources than Singapore, but the latter’s economic performance is much higher. What that shows is that we have much more work to do in developing this country and reducing poverty. 

Sir, on page 1 of his Budget Speech, the hon. Minister of Finance brought out this theme: “Moving Forward to Consolidate Growth and Social Justice in Peace and Unity.”

Sir, there can never be development where there is no peace. Neither can there be peace where there is no development. Therefore, the two cannot be separated. Those two are supposed to be supplemented by accountability. When growing the economy, we must remain as accountable as possible, especially those of us who are charged with the responsibility of administering the affairs of this country and allocating resources.

Sir, on page 3 of the speech, there are issues to do with Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 55. This SI was introduced at the right time because, as a country, we need to know the amounts of money being transferred from this country. We also need to understand how much is coming in, for whom and for what. However, we also need to look at the impact of that policy and whether it is being adhered to by all the stakeholders.

Mr Speaker, on the same page, …

Mr Ng’onga: On a point of Order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise this point of order. 

Sir, is Hon. Mbulakulima in order to sleep in this House while we are listening to the debate? He might be tired from his trip, but is he in order to sleep in the House?

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: It is very difficult, from where I am positioned, to tell whether he is sleeping or not. So, it is equally very difficult for me to make a ruling on that point of order. However, from the way he is looking at me, it seems that he is not asleep.

Continue, Hon. Bwalya.

Laughter

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, on page 3, paragraph 22, of the speech, the hon. Minister said this about productivity:

“This was done to reinforce fiscal prudence as well as enhance productivity for better public service delivery.”

Mr Speaker, that is exactly what a responsible Government is supposed to do. The maize subsidies were removed, there are improvements in salaries for civil servants, the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) exemption threshold was raised and, now, we expect the enhancement of productivity in service delivery. However, we need to put a mechanism to monitor levels of productivity in place. Do we have the mechanism to carry out a performance appraisal so that we can tell whether productivity and service delivery have been enhanced?

Mr Speaker, on page 4, paragraph 28, of the speech, the hon. Minister raises quite a number of very commendable issues. However, I want to talk about point (f), which states that there is a need to increase domestic revenue collection to over 21 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). That is what we need to do if we are to make our own decisions. We must raise enough funds locally so that we can use them in the manner we want. We know that every loan comes with certain conditions and rules. So, 21 per cent is very reasonable. In fact, regionally, most of the countries are at 25 per cent. So, we should work towards increasing it so that we can raise as much income as possible within our own means.

Sir, allow me to turn to page 9, paragraph 64, where there are issues to do with the differently-abled persons. Concerning this issue, what we need to do is come up with a very clear policy guideline on how best to look after our colleagues who are differently-abled. I expect those in the line ministries to see whether we have a policy in place and, if we do, what it contains, whether it needs to be revised and, if it does, when that can be done.

Mr Miyutu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this chance to raise a point of order. 

Sir, where I come from, we are not a heavy agricultural region, but we do practise peasant farming. Today is 23rd October, which means that we are remaining with …

Dr Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order?

Mr Miyutu: … eight days —

Mr Deputy Speaker: What is your point of order? You seem to be debating.

Mr Miyutu: My point of order is: Is the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in order not to avail farmers with the most basic input, seed, in good time so that they are ready to plant? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I take that point of order to be a request to the Government to provide seed in good time, if it has not been provided already.

Continue, hon. Member for Lupososhi.

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, on page 13, paragraph 95, of the speech, the hon. Minister highlighted issues to do with the Decentralisation Policy. Of interest to me is where it states that fiscal decentralisation must be implemented to ensure that devolved functions are adequately financed. Again, this is very commendable because it is where the issue of the failure to spend emanates from. The people must be trained to handle finances as we decentralise so that we can use our allocations within the stipulated period. So, in fact, the ideal situation would have been for training to be done before we even decentralise. 

Mr Speaker, on page 18, paragraph 125, of the speech, the hon. Minister of Finance did well to bring back the 60 per cent duty on clear beer. That is very good because we were in a situation in which, to a large extent, beer was even cheaper than water. So, that move will help to bring revenue in the Treasury of this Government.

Mr Speaker, there are many good and commendable ideas that have been brought out in this Budget. The onus is on us, Zambians, to support it in order for this Government to deliver what it promised for the betterment of the lives of the people, so that they can …

Mr Mbulakulima: On a point of order, Sir. 

Mr Sikazwe: Aah, bashibuka!

Laughter 

Mr Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised. However, may I just add that this is the last one I will allow before the tea break. 

You may raise your point of order. 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I thank you for this rare opportunity you have given me to raise a point of order. 

Sir, it is a known fact that only one constituency in Luapula Province, out of fourteen, has not been given the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Yesterday, I was in Mansa. 

Interruptions

Mr Mbulakulima: I am very active, indeed, and I have always been. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: While in Mansa, I came across one more act of discrimination. As you know, Milenge, which is my district, is divided into East and West. My constituency is in Milenge East and I have found out that fertiliser is not being distributed in that part of the district, although it is being distributed in Mansa and Chembe. For those who do not understand, Chembe is not part of Milenge, but part of Mansa Central, where a parliamentary by-election will soon take place. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Oh, oh!

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, this Government has a propensity to discriminate against some people.  However, is it in order to continue discriminating and marginalising the people of Milenge in this manner? What wrong have they done? 

I need your very sympathetic ruling, Sir. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Deputy Speaker: My sympathetic ruling is that the hon. Member for Chembe has adequately debated his point of order and I am sure that those concerned have heard.

The hon. Member for Lupososhi may continue.

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, I was saying that there are many commendable things in the 2014 Budget. 

In conclusion, I would like to briefly talk about the allocation to the education sector. I encourage the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to encourage the University of Zambia Council to review the unsustainable and duplicated retirement packages that are currently haunting the university. I know that this issue was debated on the Floor of this House when a question on the indebtedness of universities came up. This is one area that, perhaps, requires quite a lot of attention, especially the terms and conditions of service of university lecturers and other staff. We need to know whether they are sustainable. 

Mr Speaker, with those few words, I thank you. 

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to convey my condolences to the family of the late Hon. Sakeni. He was a close colleague and, once, he was MMD Luapula Province Chairperson. Before his demise, he had been inquiring into the possibility of going to Kasempa with me to look at the possibility of going into mining operations in the area. May his soul rest in peace. May I also welcome the five hon. Members of Parliament who came into the House through by-elections. I welcome Hon. Mphande, PF, and Hon. Mtolo Phiri, MMD. On Hon. Mtolo Phiri, I wish to state that, whatever happens in Chipata Central, the people know who they want, and that is Hon. Mtolo Phiri. 

Mr Mtolo Phiri: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, of importance is the decision of the people, no matter what happens. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: That is why we should respect the will and wishes of the people. 

Mr Speaker, I also want to welcome Hon. Lombanya, the Member for Solwezi East. He is a great son of Zambia who has done quite a lot for this country as a civil servant. I know that he brings a lot of value not only to the UPND, but also to the House and country at large. I would also like to welcome young Chitafu, the hon. Member for Kafulafuta. I think that the by-election in Kafulafuta sent a message to some of us who want to take the people who elected us for granted. 

Mr Speaker, I further wish to welcome Hon. Peter Phiri, the famous ‘9-1’, the Member for Mkaika. Many people are referring to these by-elections as the 4-1 bashing of the PF. 

Hon. Opposition: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: That is because, out of the five by-elections, the Opposition emerged victorious in four.  

Mr Speaker, I believe that this trend is now unstoppable. It is one that could be referred to, in the railways language, as a run-away train. If you do not understand, a run-away train is one that cannot be stopped. The reason is simple: Zambians are now comparing the manner in which the MMD ran the affairs of this country to how PF is now running them.  

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Dr Kaingu: Mwayenda, imwe.

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, a fortnight ago, we heard about the nullification of the Vubwi and Zambezi West seats. The sad thing is that our colleagues in the PF are pushing further by saying that people like the harmless Hon. Dr Kazonga should not be allowed to re-contest the seat. What kind of people would you have come to this House? I am sure that, if there is anything to be learnt by Hon. Dr Kazonga and Hon. Kakoma, they learnt it at the nullification of their seats. These by-elections are not doing any good to this country and, particularly, the PF Government because a lot of resources are being wasted.  

Mr Speaker, coming to the 2014 Budget, I sympathise with my elder brother, the hon. Minister of Finance, for whom I have a lot of respect and regard. I usually refer to him as ABC, like many others. I know that he had difficulties. If he had a way, he would have deferred this Budget. 

Dr Kaingu: Or run away. 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Pande: Unfortunately, there was no way. 

Mr Speaker, those who are saying, “Question!” are the people who are not helping President Michael Chilufya Sata because they are not paying attention. All they know is to question things. I am saying that the hon. Minister of Finance should have deferred the Budget because it will be a miracle for it to achieve what it intends to achieve. Hon Minister, this is a Budget with a big mouth, no teeth to bite and very narrow throat to swallow what has been put into it. We need to cut our suit according to the size of our cloth. We have so many outstanding projects, many of them left by the MMD, and a few that you have started. There are also projects that are outstanding since 2012 and others that should have been executed this year, 2013. Again, in 2014, the hon. Minister is coming up with new projects. That is why I am saying that it will be almost impossible to achieve what you intend to achieve using this Budget.

Mr Speaker, it is a very ambitious Budget, but the hon. Minister should have first completed all the 2012 and 2013 projects before embarking on those for 2014.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has miscalculated on the pay-back strategy in that he has effected a wage freeze and job freeze. These, in theory, will help to reduce the debt gap. The danger is that, since the consumer index or inflation have not been frozen, technically, the PF Government is, over this period, reducing the purchasing power of the civil servants, the people whose salaries have been frozen.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, what happens is that the morale will go down and the next thing will be that there will be no production. What we should realise is that, during the period when the salaries will be frozen, there will be no freeze on the cost of nshima, fuel and electricity tariffs. So, you will be sitting on a time bomb. By the time the salaries are unfrozen, in 2015, the demand by the people will be much higher than what you will be able to contain. We know that, by public demand, the MMD will be back in power in 2016, and we do not want to be the ones to face that time bomb.

Dr Kaingu: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, the Government has said that it is currently building fifty-three schools and many other institutions. However, there is a recruitment freeze, which means that there will be no teachers employed in those schools. Therefore, the Government is not only freezing recruitment, but also the enrolment of school children in the schools that will be built. It is also freezing public safety and security in the areas where it is supposed to build police posts. Further, it is freezing health care in the areas where it is building health institutions.

Dr Kaingu: Oh, oh!

Mr Pande: Mr Speaker, the Government says that it will create 200,000 jobs, on one hand, yet it is freezing recruitment, on the other. We do not need to have a wage or recruitment freeze. We have to be serious. What we need is to put more resources in the productive sectors so that we uplift the lives of our people by putting them in employment and boosting their morale. People need sustainable jobs, not what we call piece-work on road contracts. 

Mr Speaker, youths were promised jobs. I see that this PF Government has no will to honour that promise. Apart from freezing recruitment, it has raised the retirement age to sixty-five so that youths compete for jobs with nkhalambas or old people. Having been in the Government, I can see numerous mistakes being made by the current Government. You need not freeze the jobs as well as the salaries. What you need to do is implement projects and be transparent in the way you do things.

Mr Speaker, when you look at the demographics in this country, people between fifty-five and sixty-five are only about 3 per cent. The bulk of the people are the youths, whose demand for jobs is high. 

Mr Speaker, let me also touch on tourism. The hon. Minister is proposing a 16 per cent surcharge on all tourism services while, at the same time, we are saying that we want to promote tourism and generate jobs. This matter of surcharging will make Zambia an uncompetitive tourist destination. Currently, Zambia is already regarded as a high-cost destination. What will happen is that we will not have investment in tourism.

Mr Speaker, when you go to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport, 90 per cent of the arrivals go into Zimbabwe, which has no Value-Added Tax (VAT) on both domestic and foreign tourists and no duty on tourism-related imports. In Zambia, there are no incentives given to the tourism industry. The Government must review that. Otherwise, there will be a reduction in tourists visiting Zambia. Bookings for 2014 have already been made, but we will see some of the tourists changing their minds.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to look at the Withholding Tax. On paper, we have reduced it from 15 per cent to 10 per cent. However, hon. Minister, when you seriously scrutinise things, under the K800,000 threshold, people were being taxed on a yearly basis at 35 per cent. You have now removed the Presumptive Tax, which means that people were paying 3 per cent then. So, you have increased the tax for people with houses in Chilenje, Kabushi and other areas who have put them on rent because the 10 per cent is final. Previously, they would have been paying 3 per cent but, now, the only ones benefitting from this measure are the rich people with mansions.

Mr Speaker, finally, I would like to talk about the equitable distribution of the wealth of this country. Many people have talked about this issue. Take it seriously, as a Government. Do not think it is just politics. There is also this issue of the Executive saying, “You were there” when you advise it. When you ask anybody who is an hon. Minister to deliver on something and they say, “You were there,” it is a sign of irresponsibility because, even you, as an hon. Minister, if you were reshuffled from your ministry, your colleague who takes over must not say, “No, I cannot do this because the other hon. Minister is the one who left it.” You have to take responsibility immediately you assume office. There is a saying in Bemba that, “Upyanengo, apyanenshi? Namabala,” meaning that, when you assume responsibility, you take over everything.

Mr Speaker, there are many complaints in the North-Western Province. We know that, on paper, there are many projects that have been listed, but what the people would want to see is the actual implementation of those projects, particularly the Chingola/Solwezi Road. That road would not be in the state it is in now if this Government cared for the people of the North-Western Province. We have observed that there are a number of roads that have been listed in the Link Zambia 8,000 Project, but we want to see you implement them. Otherwise, PF Colleagues, you are distancing yourselves from the North-Western Province. I can assure you that the people of Luapula, the Western, Central and Copperbelt provinces are now sympathising with their brothers and sisters in the North-Western Province.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: That is the current situation.

Mr Speaker, it is clear that the PF has no intention of implementing the developmental projects in the North-Western Province. However, we would like to see all of them implemented.

Finally, Sir, I would like to specifically address His Honour the Vice-President. Unfortunately, he is not here.

Dr Kaingu: I am here.

Mr Pande: No, I meant the PF and Republican Vice-President ...

Laughter

Mr Pande: … and my elder brother Bashi Chilufya, the President of the Republic of Zambia. Please, desist from saying that you will not take development to an area unless its people vote for you. You are distancing yourself from the people and disrobing yourself of your statesmanship by saying that.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: There is no statesman who would say such words.

Mr Kosamu: Question!

Mr Pande: Those who are saying, “Question!” are the ones who are not helping the President to deliver.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: He is listening and he knows who is saying, “Question!” to my good advice.

Sir, when the President leaves office, it must be as a statesman, and no statesman segregates when distributing wealth to the people of the country.

Dr Kaingu: Hear, hear!

Mr Pande: So, Ba President, stop it. I hope that I will not hear that again when you go for any campaign, particularly the forthcoming one in Mansa.

Mr Speaker, His Honour the Vice-President for the country is not here, but he is one of those who usually use the statement, “If you do not vote for the PF, there will be no development in your area.” Fine. Continue saying so and you will see that you have been distancing yourselves from the people, come 2016. If you want to come back in 2016, then, spread development to the whole country. If not, continue with this attitude so that you do not come back. You might be a one-term Government.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on Budget Address by the hon. Minister of Finance.

First of all, I would like to apologise because I have a severe cough.

Interruptions

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order, on my left!

Mr Ntundu: I have a severe cough and sore throat, Sir. I was trying to get medicine from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), but I could not find any (coughing).

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: So, I will be struggling to speak.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Sir, I wish to join other hon. Members of Parliament who have already debated this Motion.

Sir, today, I would like to talk about the Thirteenth Budget Address since I came to the Zambian Parliament. I have all the thirteen Budget speeches here and can lay them on the Table of the House.

Mr Speaker, from the thirteen budget speeches that I have listened to in this House, not a single one has been criticised by any hon. Member of a Ruling Party. That is, from the MMD and, now, the PF. I have never heard …

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the Chair]

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was saying that, from the time I came to this House, this is the thirteenth Budget Address I will debate on, but I have never heard any hon. Member from the Ruling Party criticise a Budget presented by the hon. Minister of Finance from his or her party. This surprises me.

Sir, when a party prepares to form a Government, it is like preparing to get married. To support my point, I would like to tell you about Bemba women.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Listen, I am serious.

Hon. Member: Tell us.

Mr Ntundu: I want to tell you why a Bemba woman makes a good wife in the home.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: It is because she is adequately prepared for marriage. There are people called bana chimbusa.

Hon. Member: Yes.

Mr Ntundu: I do not know what they call them in English but, …

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: … in the Eastern Province, they are called alangizi. They prepare women for marriage, teaching them the dos and don'ts, and how to look after a husband.

Hon. Members: How?

Laughter{mospagebreak}

Mr Ntundu: The women are taught a lot so that they are prepared. By the time they get into a home, they will be ready for marriage. The same applies when preparing to form a Government. People must be prepared. 

Mr Kosamu: Question!

Mr Ntundu: They must know what they are supposed to do. Surprisingly, my colleagues on your right, when they were on the left — 

Sorry, I do not want to talk about my colleagues in the MMD because, to me, that would be like crying over spilt milk. They are not a factor now.

Laughter

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Hammer, my brother, hammer!

Mr Ntundu: When our colleagues in the PF were on this side of the House, we could look at the Budget, analyse it, see its shortcomings and, then, advise our colleagues in the MMD. This is not what I expected from the hon. Minister of Finance. When the PF took over the Government, I expected it to make the best Government ever because it was aware of the shortcomings of the former Ruling Party, the MMD. It is saddening to hear all hon. Members on your right who stand to debate on the Floor of this House say that this is a good Budget. Why can these hon. Members not analyse the Budget Address objectively. For instance, on the proposed introduction of toll gates, the Government should be aware that it is already subjecting motorists to paying two kinds of taxes, the road tax and fuel tax. The introduction of toll gates will mean motorists paying three taxes.

Sir, I have driven to Durban, South Africa, where there are toll gates. When I tell my friends that I am a financial consultant, they think that it is a joke. I want to tell the Executive what the South African Government did before it introduced toll gates. The hon. Members on your right should listen because, if they do not and behave the way the MMD used to behave when it was in power, …

Mr L. J. Ngoma: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, I rise on a serious point of order. 

Listening to the hon. Member of Parliament for Gwembe, it appears that he was not prepared for this important debate. It is common knowledge that we are not allowed to tell stories in this House. Is he in order to refer to the MMD as spilt milk when, in fact, the creme de la creme is here?

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is that the hon. Member debating was merely making a light moment. He knows, as much as the Chair does, that fortunes change in politics. You may be lucky today, but unlucky tomorrow. Equally, you never know who will die tomorrow.

Hon. Ntundu, continue.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, thank you for your guidance. Before the point of order was raised, I was saying that, if the PF behaves like the former Ruling Party, whose hon. Members are here with us, then, it will leave the Government faster than it went in.

Sir, I was talking about what South Africa did before it introduced toll gates. There are many things that the Government has to do before it introduces toll gates. For instance, currently, motorists pay the fuel levy and road tax. Where does that money go? I know that it does not go towards the maintenance or improvement of roads. So, it is either that money is channelled towards financing by-elections or something else. What the South African Government did — 

Hon. Minister of Finance, you listen (pointing at Hon. Chikwanda). 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Just continue with your debate without dragging the hon. Minister of Finance into it.

Mr Ntundu: Sir, I wanted to talk about the hon. Minister of Finance because he is interjecting my debate when he is supposed to be listening attentively. 

Sir, before the South African Government introduced toll gates, it looked at what taxes were already in place and who it could partner with to manage the toll gates properly. So, it partnered with a private agency, which collects the money on its behalf. The money collected is not diverted anywhere, but goes to maintaining roads. That is why motorists drive on good roads in South Africa.

Sir, the problem we have here is that our hon. Ministers of Finance are not sincere in their Budget Addresses.

Mr Mwaliteta: What do you mean?

Mr Ntundu: I mean what I am saying.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Member for Kafue, your voice is always heard loud and clear. Please, moderate it.

Mr Ntundu: Sir, what I mean is that, before the Budget was presented to this House, His Excellency the President came here to deliver his Speech. However, when you compare that Speech with the Budget Address, do they agree? No, they do not. That is why we are saying what we are saying to help you. If you do not want to be helped, you will pack your bags.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Sir, the hon. Members on your right are lucky to be getting free advice from us. So, what is their problem? If they listen to us, we shall have difficulties replacing them because we are telling them the truth. In South Africa, the road tax paid by motorists is very minimal and goes to the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA), not anywhere else. The South African Government dropped the tax on fuel because of charging the road toll. When you pay the toll, the money goes to the NRFA, which ploughs it back into maintaining the roads. The PF promised people more money in their pockets, but motorists will not be happy and will not vote for this Government because they will now be subjected to paying three taxes by a Government that has many other ways of raising money.

Mr Speaker, the mines are freelancing, making money above your heads, yet you are saying that this is a good Budget. Why can you not wake up and see what is going on? What is your problem?

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, it will be unfortunate if our colleagues do not listen. I want to tell you why my president is saying that he is ready to take over the Government. If you ask Mr Hakainde Hichilema what he will do when he takes over the Government, he will tell you that he will not be jumping from one pot to another. The UPND is the only party that will put more money in people’s pockets when it comes into power ...

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: ... because its members know what they are supposed to do. We promise people more money in their pockets because our Government will tax the mines and lower the PAYE. Zambians will get more money because, currently, there are some companies and mines that are not contributing anything to the state coffers.

Mr Speaker, in Chile —

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Go to the library and read. The problem is that you people do not even use the library. You do not read. In Chile, copper mines pay 55 per cent in taxes to the Government. If you did not know that, go to the library and research. How much money do the mines pay here? I do not want you to negotiate a side deal like your predecessors did. Let the mines pay. If they do not want to pay, let them pack and go. Other people will come and run those mines.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu: Sir, let me now talk about agriculture. How can some people say that the 2014 Budget is good when the Government is not supporting anyone in agriculture, apart from those who only want to grow maize? Who told our colleagues on your right that agriculture is only about maize? If they go around Lusaka, for example, in police camps, they will see the chicken runs that people have. Zambia is capable of exporting chickens. The problem is that we only support maize production. We need to diversify.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: We should bring on board all those who want to grow maize, keep chickens, goats and cattle, and those who want to grow vegetables. I want to give the example of Botswana. I am an agriculturalist. Do you know that Botswana, which is in a desert, sometimes, grows more maize than Zambia? I do not think our colleagues across knew that.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Sir, when we talk of supporting agriculture, the first thing we should do is find land for that purpose. Fortunately, we have a lot of idle land in Zambia. After finding the land, we should develop it and, then, train those to whom it would be allocated in different fields of agriculture, and the training should be continuous. After training them, we should give them loans, supervise their different farming activities and ensure that they engage in the fields in which they were trained. 

Sir, Zambia is able to produce and export vegetables. In fact, I invite you to my house in Gwembe to see what I am doing.

Laughter 

Mr Ntundu: I grow more vegetables than any farmer you can name in the Southern Province. Hon. Members can come and see for themselves if they like. Hon. Hamududu has been there.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: If any hon. Member disagrees, I will prove my point to him by bringing each hon. Member two heads of cabbage next weekend.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: All the 158 hon. Members will get two heads of cabbage so that they believe what I am telling the House.

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, there are other people who want to go into vegetable farming, but are not empowered like me. They need to be supported by the Government. Due to the Government’s closure of the window of opportunity, they are not able to grow vegetables. I have just given the House an example of cabbage growing, but there are many other agricultural ventures that the Government should support in order to expand the sector in this country. 

Sir, this is not a good Budget (holding a copy of the Budget Speech up). If our colleagues on your right do not know, it is the worst Budget ever presented in this House, and that is the truth. If there are those who disagree with me, they should mention the activities that the Government plans to use in supporting agriculture, especially the hon. Ministers, when they come to respond to my statement. They should challenge me. 

Sir, which money is going into production, such as the allocation under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP)? I have a copy of the Budget Speech with me, and hon. Government Members can challenge me if they want. These are real issues that we are telling our colleagues. They are actually lucky to have this free advice.

Sir, lastly, I want to talk about the Bottom Road and just give you a brief history of what happened during the construction of Lake Kariba, which makes me want to shed tears. My mother was born in a village called Bweme, which is now at the bottom of Lake Kariba. My mother’s sister was shot dead during the displacement of my people and was not even buried. So, this is not a joke. The people of Gwembe have been suffering to this day because of that displacement. I found myself in Gwembe because my mother ran away from Bweme without anything. She left her goats, blankets, clothes and everything else. They had nothing when they arrived in Gwembe. I am telling you the truth.

Mr Mukanga interjected.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

You will have time to respond.

Mr Ntundu: Sir, I remember the promise that was made by His Excellency the President. Actually, sometimes, Mr Sata can speak very well. The problem is with his hon. Ministers. I have said to Mr Sata ... 

Interruptions

Mr Ntundu: ... that, “Sir, take development to Gwembe as per your promise.” He has mentioned my name whenever he has sat there (pointing at the Speaker’s Chair).

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: We need that development. Hon. Ministers, do not let Mr Sata down. I wish I had more time to talk about the Bottom Road. Suffice it to say that, if there were videos to show what happened during the construction of Lake Kariba, the hon. Members here would shed tears. Nonetheless, the Bottom Road should be worked on. After the Bottom Road, the Government must go and conduct a study on what the people in Gwembe should be given. Do not talk about what the former Government did not do.

Mr Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Ntundu’s time expired.

Mr Mtolo (Chipata Central): Mr Speaker, I will concentrate on the theme of the 2014 Budget, which is, “Moving Forward to Consolidate Growth and Social Justice in Peace and Unity”. 

Sir, the key phrases are ‘consolidate’ and ‘social justice’, which are enveloped in ‘peace and unity’. When we talk of consolidation, one thinks about a process. Therefore, this means that the PF Government is moving forward, and is at a level where it feels it should now consolidate its activities. One wonders which process it has started that can now be consolidated. The question is: Is Zambia moving forward as has been proclaimed?

Hon. Opposition Members: No.

Mr Mtolo: As you can hear, the answer is ‘no.’ Further, we should ask ourselves why this is the case. That is what I would like to concentrate on. 

Sir, in my view, there is no ownership of the Budget. There is no patriotism towards our National Budgets. We have had one Budget after another, very good Budgets, but are they implemented? Do we have people who take them as their own and are willing to sacrifice for these Budgets? Is there responsibility on the part of those who have been tasked to implement the Budget? Is there an obligation on the part of those who are supposed to implement it? Do they have a contractual obligation to see it work?

Mr Speaker, at the end of it all, you should ask yourself the question: Is there performance appraisal on this Budget, or is it just another academic exercise? 

Mr Speaker, I will tell you a story of what happened to some Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from Zimbabwe. A few years ago, when Zimbabwe was still selling maize, it supplied maize to Zambia, but Zambia delayed in paying. Two people, the CEO of the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) of Zimbabwe and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture were held responsible for not receiving the money on time and they were not only dismissed from their positions, but also imprisoned.

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I will give you another example. Uganda once sold maize to Zambia. As you are aware, Uganda has two rainfall cycles. It sold maize to Zambia, but we delayed in paying. The people who supplied the maize refused to go back because they told us that they would be arrested on arrival at the airport back home for not taking the money where it was supposed to be taken.  There was also the story of some wagons that got burnt in this country. If this country were Japan, the hon. Member who told us the story about railway coaches that caught fire some days ago would have resigned.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Mtolo: However, do we take responsibility to that level here? Are there repercussions for failure to effectively implement the wonderful Budgets that are produced every year? Are the implementers afraid of the repercussions of failing in their duties? The answer is a definite ‘no’. We have no social obligation to our responsibilities. 

Mr Speaker, I do not want to risk debating ourselves, but look at your Chamber right now. Where are your hon. Members? What responsibility do they have to be in this House? We ask ourselves why we are not developing, yet your Chamber is half-empty. I am essentially talking to myself.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Mtolo: There are some hon. Ministers to whom I would have loved to address the problems I am identifying. It is because of this attitude that Zambia is not developing.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, is it in order for us to be embarrassing very noble men like the hon. Minister of Finance and His Excellency the President by not performing on their Budget? That is what we are doing. What social contract do we have with these Budgets? None, yet we ask ourselves why Zambia is not developing. We are the cause of the lack of development.

Hon. Opposition Members: No. They are.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I have been corrected. They are the cause because they are running the Budget.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, we have come here and are looking at this thick Yellow Book. What are we looking at? How did we perform last year? What did we do? We should start from there. How can we come here and approve what is said to be a very good or very bad Budget when we have no idea, whatsoever, of what happened last year?

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, therein lies our weakness. It is the same politically. Let me just list a couple of issues that should have been looked at, but were not. During the elections, it was said that the Cabinet would be reduced. What is the position now? It is the complete opposite. It was also said that there had been too many commissions of inquiry. Upon taking over power, what did the current Government do? So many commissions of inquiry were appointed whose results amount to nothing. They wasted money for nothing.

Mr Mwanza: Zero.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, someone should take responsibility for saying that he would honour the Barotseland Agreement. What is the position now?

Hon. Opposition Members: Nothing!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, someone should take responsibility for telling the people of Zambia that the windfall tax would be effected. Where are we now? Nowhere. What about the Constitution? We were initially told that it would be completed in ninety days, but we are now being told that this is not practicable. However, people were told these things, and that is what Zambia is all about. We promise people things that we do not honour. This is, exactly, what will happen to this Budget, and I will come back to that. We were told that fuel prices would be reduced. What is the position now? The complete opposite.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hmmm!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, what is wrong with us?

Hon. Opposition Members: With them.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I will leave it to the hon. Members to say ‘them’. I will continue saying ‘us’.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the President came here and said that he was allergic to corruption. I remember saying that I hoped that his allergy was contagious so that it could also be contracted by the hon. Ministers. Now, hon. Ministers are blaming each other for being corrupt, but the President, who is allergic to corruption, is quiet.

Ms Lubezhi: He is eating.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: He is enjoying it.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, how can we develop like that?

Mr Speaker, fuel prices have gone up. I have a list of about twenty-two things that were promised to people, but have not been delivered.

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Name them.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I would exhaust my time.

Hon. Government Member: Name them.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, let him come to my office and I will give them to him.

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, they include things to do with fuel, arresting of political leaders, tribalism, nepotism, mealie-meal prices, fertiliser prices, fertiliser quantities, corruption and the promise of more jobs.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, on page 11, item 86, of the Budget Speech, the hon. Minister ably laments about idle funds. We appropriate funds to the ministries, but the money is not used and nothing happens in that ministry. How can our country develop? It is not me saying this, for it is written in the Budget Speech. 

Sir, on page 82, the speech refers to quasi-Government institutions. I will link this to what happened to the Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) Executive. Who was arrested from here? What would have happened? Quasi-Government institutions are contracting loans that they are failing to repay. Today, we are hearing that the Government has taken over the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) debt. Why should it be like that? 

Mr Speaker, let me give another example which is very practical. We have an hon. Minister who decided to disburse the CDF in a very unacceptable manner.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, actually, it is shameful.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I am failing to look in the eyes of the hon. Minister of Finance because I wonder how he can allow such a thing. In that kind of situation, we should fire such hon. Ministers for Zambia to move forward …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: … because they are embarrassing the Government.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, at the UTH, the basic necessities are not there. This is the second time I am saying it. Methylated Spirit, gloves, syringes and those things doctors use on the operating table are all either not there or dysfunctional. Doctors cannot pick the cotton to sew patients, yet we come here and appropriate funds. Funds in the Ministry of Health are being kept idle. They are not being used, yet we sit here smiling and looking at the respectable hon. Minister of Health. I have nothing against the person of the big man, but that is not right. To me, that is complete failure. Those are the things that we should be addressing. We should not come here and waste time discussing one Budget after another. Without implementation, we will not develop.

Mr Speaker, in Rwanda, each hon. Minister has a social contract with the President other than the normal legal contract. At a certain time, the President calls his hon. Ministers and takes questions live from the public. In that way, he ensures that his Government is retained in power. Why can we not borrow some of those good ways of doing things? 

Interruptions 

Mr Mtolo: Sir, let us look at the performance of the Ministry of Finance in what it promises to do. Last year, the GDP growth target was 7 per cent. However, what was achieved was less than that 7 per cent while the target for year-end inflation was 6 per cent, but we still ended the year on higher than 7 per cent. The targeted domestic revenue, as a percentage of GDP, was 20 per cent, but we had less than that. As a consequence, we started borrowing. The target for international reserves was about four months’ cover, but we had about three months’ cover. The target for creating decent jobs was 200,000, and many people have tried to come up with the number of decent jobs. It is between 50,000 and 58,000. Again, we were off the mark. What are we saying to the hon. Minister of Finance if these are our performance indicators?

Mr Speaker, the reason I am bringing this up is that, for this year, the targets are very close to what we have. Are we going to achieve the 7 per cent GDP growth? Definitely not. Are we going to achieve the target of 6.5 per cent year-end inflation? Again, a definite no.

Sir, we have been saying, here, that, as long as the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock does not sort out the maize costings, we will have huge …

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: Sir, I apologise for disturbing the hon. Member of Parliament’s thought pattern. However, is he in order not to tell the nation and this House that the Rwandan example he is giving about the Government and hon. Ministers speaking to the public on radio and television was also run by the MMD Government, whereby people were able to speak to us? Every hon. Minister went on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC). I, as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting ran that programme for two-and-half years. Is he in order not to mention that? 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

The serious ruling is that he is definitely in order because he has the right to choose what to bring out in his debate. It is in his discretion but, since he still has some minutes, maybe, he will come to that at a later stage.

Please, continue, Hon. Mtolo.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I can only say, ‘Well done’ to the MMD for doing that. May the PF take a leaf from that and implement it.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Sir, another structural deformity that I identified in the Budget is that the 50 per cent that is going to emoluments …

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, is the Government in order to keep quiet and not clarify the decree by the President that today is a half working day? Its hon. Members needed to clarify the matter to Parliament because many hon. Members are running away, thinking the half-day applies to Parliament, too. Is the Executive in order not to clarify the position before this Chamber remains without people?

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is simple and straightforward. Hon. Members of Parliament are essential workers. So, that declaration does not apply to them.

Please, continue, Hon. Mtolo.

Laughter{mospagebreak}

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I was saying that more than 50 per cent of our Budget goes to emoluments. When you add other recurrent expenditures, it actually goes to more than 70 per cent. Immediately you look at a Budget like that, you know that there is a problem.

Sir, our problem in Zambia is rural development. We need money in the rural areas. We do not want to continue paying huge salaries to a few people who get 70 per cent of the Budget. Why do we have a situation like this? Instead of creating the right ministries, this Government creates the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs. Why not create a Ministry of Rural Development, which would lobby for more money to go into rural areas? We are wasting a very useful resource in the form of the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs.

Interruptions 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, let those funds go into rural development.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, since that ministry was created, we have had four Paramount Chiefs in this country. One is asking for secession, another is busy fighting for recognition while yet another is taken to be not politically-conscious. There is only one who is, probably, friendly to the Government. What is the Ministry of Chiefs’ and Traditional Affairs doing? Let us put money into rural development. 

Mr Ng’onga: Question!

Interruptions 

Mr Mtolo: So, it is one out of four. What is this ministry doing? What is it there for? Why have you given it money? I urge you to abolish it and take money to rural development.

Mrs Kawandami: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mrs Kawandami: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member on the Floor, who is debating very erratically, in order to talk about the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, which was brought for approval to this House, and he voted for it, in that manner?

I seek your serious ruling.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is that it is the Head of State who has the prerogative to constitute ministries, subject to Parliament’s approval. The particular ministry being debated was duly approved by this House. Having said that, the hon. Member is within his powers to debate whether the ministry is performing to his satisfaction or not.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: Further, the hon. Minister will have an opportunity to rebut that part of his submission. So, in summary, the ruling is that the constitution of ministries is the prerogative of the President, subject to approval, which was given. So, that settles that aspect. With regard to the submission by the hon. Member that the ministry is not performing, it remains for you to come and rebut that when you have the opportunity.

Please, proceed, Hon. Mtolo.

Interruptions 

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance.

Sir, the money going to that ministry would be better used on feeder roads, dams, dip tanks and other more useful necessities for Zambia other than on picking quarrels with chiefs. I have no regrets for saying that. That is one ministry that should be re-visited.

Interruptions 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Let us, please, consult less loudly. I am interested in following every word that is coming out of the mouth of the hon. Member debating. So, allow me the opportunity to follow the debate. Those who are not interested in following it have the liberty to continue consulting loudly in the foyer.

Please, continue, Hon. Mtolo.

Laughter 

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, looking at the time I am remaining with, I will talk a little about the other theme, that of unity and peace. 

Mr Speaker, unity is being eroded in this country. Almost all MMD hon. Members of Parliament and a few colleagues from the UPND are in court. What unity and peace can we talk about when you have angry hon. Members of Parliament on this side of the House, such as me? I am very angry because of what is happening.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr Mtolo: What unity do you expect us to have? The election fever should have been over by now so that we could enjoy living in our country. Unfortunately, that is not being allowed to happen. We are in Mansa, now, next, we will be in Petauke, then, Malambo, Sesheke, Vubwi and more others coming up. What type of legacy is this? Money is being wasted. We should be cautious about the way we use money. That is not right.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: I defeated him twice.

Laughter 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, this kind of politicking is eroding our economic achievements. Some of the colleagues who are being mentioned here, for example, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, were busy telling everyone in Chipata that they would not receive fertiliser if they did not belong to the PF. That is what your cadres are doing, but you should not be proud of it because they are distancing you from reality.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, that is what is happening currently. What type of political unity would you expect?

Sir, I am almost a second termer. So, I should not allow time to run out on me.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate the Budget Speech, which was presented by the hon. Minister of Finance, Mr Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda, on 11th October, 2013. 

Mr Speaker, the Budget presented to this House did not adequately address the concerns of many Zambians. It lacked both stature and wisdom to eradicate the sufferings of many people, especially the youth and women, in this country.

Sir, allow me to look at specific issues, the first of which is the PAYE. 

Mr Speaker, the PAYE-exempted income has been increased by 6.4 per cent, from K2,300 to K3,000. This move has increased the disposable income for Zambians in formal employment. However, the question that begs an answer is: How many Zambians are in formal employment? As I speak, they are less than 1 million. To be specific, they are less than 600,000. What is happening to the other 12 million? This Budget has left them unattended to. Therefore, this Budget cannot qualify to be called pro-poor. 

Mr Speaker, this Budget has continued to widen the gap between the rich and the poor. For it to be pro-poor, the PF Government should have considered reducing the Value-Added Tax (VAT) by 2 per cent, from 16 to 14 per cent.

Mr Mufalali: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: If that were done, the Budget would take care of even the poor because the payment of VAT is applicable to everyone while the PAYE is only applicable to people in formal employment. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, having made that point, let me now move to the Link Zambia 8,000 Project.

Sir, at face value, the Link Zambia 8,000 Project is good. However, it requires a national character. Currently, it is skewed towards one region, the northern part of this country. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: It is the same with the CDF.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, I request the PF Government to give this project a national character. How many roads are being worked on in Shibuyunji, Nangoma, Mumbwa, Chisamba or Chibombo districts under this project? The answer is ‘none’.

Sir, the people of Mwembeshi Constituency and Shibuyunji District are asking why Nampundwe, Shibuyunji …

Mr Chisala: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me the opportunity to raise this point of order.

Sir, is the hon. Member of Parliament on the Floor in order to mislead the nation by saying that there are no projects being implemented under the Link Zambia 8,000 Project in Mumbwa when there is a road that leads into Mumbwa from Landless Corner under construction? 

I need your very serious ruling, Sir. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

The Deputy Chairperson: The hon. Minister of Transport Works, Supply and Communication will respond at an appropriate time. I noticed him taking note of what the hon. Member has just said.

The hon. Member who was on the Floor may continue.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, I was saying that the people of Shibuyunji District and Mwembeshi Constituency are asking why the Nampundwe/Shibuyunji/Shikatende Road cannot be part of this project. That is a humble and honest question. The people of Mwembeshi are asking what wrong they have done because we have heard of many roads being worked on elsewhere.

Mr Speaker, how does the PF Government want to link Zambia? Does it only want to link one side of the country? The Government is slowly dividing this country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, I want to be sober and clear. I also do not want to mince my words. The PF Government is slowly dividing this country, and that can be demonstrated by a number of ways. The first is the composition of the Cabinet.

Hon. Government Members interjected.

Mr Milambo: I am on the Floor, and I want to talk without mincing my words. 

Mr Speaker, the facts are on the table for everyone to see. There are twenty ministries, but look at the ineffectiveness of the Cabinet. If you look at the distribution of the CDF, you will see that the country is slowly being divided.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mukanga: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: You are a beneficiary.

Mr Mukanga: Forget.

Sir, I rise on a very serious point of order. 

Is the hon. Member who is debating in order to mislead the nation that our Cabinet is skewed towards a particular ethnic group without even informing us how the UPND Shadow Cabinet is and whether it is inclusive? 

I need your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! 

You have debated your point of order. 

May the hon. Member for Mwembeshi continue.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, I do not want to name them, but just to give timely advice. We want to remain united, and I do not want to go further than that. Let me come to the issue of the CDF. If you look at the distribution of the CDF, you will see the glaring facts. Every hon. Member of Parliament was given a list showing how the CDF has been distributed. That list shows that Luapula has been given 99 per cent of its allocation ... 

Interruptions

Mr Milambo: ... while Muchinga Province …

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Just hold on, Hon. Milambo.

There is only one person who has been accorded the right to debate. Therefore, my advice to those who have taken to the habit of debating while seated is that they, please, for a change, desist from that habit. Some are very old hon. Members and have been here for decades.

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: May you, please, take heed of the advice. 

You may continue, Hon. Milambo.

Laughter

Mr Milambo: Sir, I was saying that 99 per cent of the CDF allocation to Luapula Province has been disbursed while, for Muchinga Province, 90 per cent has been disbursed. For the Northern Province, it is 80 per cent. What about the other provinces? I want them to do their own calculations because I know that all of us here have gone to school. The Central Province has fourteen constituencies, but only two have been funded. For the Southern Province, only two out of nineteen constituencies have been funded; for the Western Province, only three out of seventeen constituencies have been funded while, for the North-Western Province, only three out of twelve constituencies have been funded. 

Ms Lubezhi: What are the percentages?

Mr Milambo: The Government hon. Members will calculate the percentages.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order! 

Allow the hon. Member to debate freely.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, the point I want to drive home is that there is bias in the distribution of the CDF. I want the hon. Members in the Executive to answer me. Zambia is slowly being divided, yet we are all seated here watching these things happen. I do not know where we are heading.

Mr Speaker, the other point I want to bring out is on the infrastructure development under the Link Zambia 8,000 Project. The project is equally skewed towards one region, and that is unacceptable. As people’s representatives, we should not fold our hands and allow this divisive trend to continue. In the UPND, we will stand up and fight against this vice with both hands.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, this country was founded on the very solid foundation of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’. Therefore, let us not destroy that foundation. This country is for all of us and, as such, it is important to share the national cake equitably. I request the PF Government to give the Link Zambia 8,000 Project a national character by including roads like the Nampundwe/Shibuyunji/Sikatende. 

Mr Speaker, let me quickly talk about agriculture. 

Sir, the PF’s agricultural policies are upside down. 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, the PF’s agricultural policies are just like a person ujika nshima mu mupika utulukile. That means that the agricultural policies of the PF are just like a person who is cooking nshima in a pot that has holes, but sits idly, thinking that the nshima will be cooked.

Laughter

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, as I speak to you, there are only two farmers who have been paid by the FRA in Shibuyunji District after selling their maize to the agency in July, 2013. Furthermore, not even a single bag of fertiliser has been taken to the district. 

Hon. Member: It has all gone to Luapula.

Mr Milambo: That, already, is an indication of failure. The trend of paying farmers and delivering fertiliser to them has been disastrous in the two years of the PF Government. 

Sir, the PF Government should forget about having any bumper harvest during its tenure of office. Bumper harvests do not come by hon. Ministers trotting from one district to another, … 

Laughter

Mr Milambo: … from one province to another or from one country to another, but through co-ordinated planning. Unfortunately, that is totally lacking in PF Government, which has totally failed in this sector and the only honourable thing it can do is relinquish power to people who are properly schooled in these areas. For some of us, farming skills are in-borne. We do not need to go into a lecture room for us to learn what it is all about. 

Mr Speaker, my message to the PF Government is that it should pay the farmers immediately so that they can buy their own inputs, since it is not giving them any.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, that is the simple message. If farmers cannot be given free fertiliser, they should be given their money so that they can buy it.

Ms Lubezhi: As simple as that.

Mr Muntanga interjected.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, since my time is running out, let me talk about external and internal borrowing. 

Sir, the PF Government should have a plan of how it will spend the money it borrows before it acquires any loan.

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to raise this point of order. 

Sir, His Excellency the President assured this House that all farmers who had not been paid their money after supplying maize to the FRA would be paid the following day. Is this Government in order to remain silent and not inform us why it has not yet paid the farmers? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: The serious ruling is that you should file in a question of an urgent nature and, I hope, an appropriate answer will be given thereafter.

Continue, Hon. Milambo.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, the example that I have in mind concerning external borrowing is the Eurobond, which was acquired at a very high cost. However, as I speak, its proceeds are lying in the bank. I cannot understand the logic behind this. 

Mr Sianga: No, you cannot.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, let me describe this as the worst financial scandal.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Opposition Members: Financial scandal.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, the PF Government should not use the borrowed money for consumption, like on the induced by-elections. The problem that the PF Government has is that it does not have the ability to plan.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, this Government suffers from the self-inflicted syndrome of believing in fika isolva kuntashi. 

Laughter

The Deputy Chairperson: Meaning?

Hon. Members: Meaning?

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, it means that they believe that things will fall in place as we move along.

Laughter

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, this is self-deception on the Government’s part and, because of it, the PF has gone into a self-destruction mode and gone beyond redemption.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Milambo: Therefore, 2016 is the longest they can go.

Laughter

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, we live in a scientific management era, in which planning is a very important tool. The PF cannot afford to do things without planning.

Ms Kalima: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, I thank you for granting me this point of order. At least, you have today. 

Sir, we have always said that the internal fights in the PF will spill over and affect the general public. In Nyanja, we say, ‘kutilana matika,’ which means, ‘throwing mud at each other,’ including at people who are not involved.

Mr Speaker, in yesterday’s The Post Newspaper, on page 4, under the headline, “We Are Here to Work, Not to Argue – Scott,” His Honour the Vice-President, in response to the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Edgar Lungu, stated the following:

“We are on the job. We are developing the country. We are not going to run this country as if we are a women’s co-operative, where people are jealous because another was with somebody’s husband.”

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, His Honour the Vice-President is a leader. Therefore, is he in order to demean women and reduce them to people who merely fight for husbands in a co-operative when he is supposed to promote women’s co-operatives for development? 

Mr Speaker, I seek your serious ruling as I lay the paper on the Table.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kalima laid the paper on the Table.

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: The simple ruling is that the Chairperson will not be dragged into matters that occur outside this House.

May you continue, hon. Member for Mwembeshi.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, I was saying that we live in a scientific management era, …

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Milambo: … in which planning is a very important management tool, and the PF cannot afford to do things without planning.

Sir, when all is said and done, and those on your right have repented, may all of us be saved in God’s Kingdom.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, before I start my debate, allow me to pass my heart-felt condolences to the Sakeni family on the untimely death of a true son of this soil. Allow me to also pass my condolences to the Benjamin Yoram Mwila family. Mr Mwila was the longest-serving hon. Minister of Defence in this country, and I regarded him as my elder brother because he never practised nepotism.

Interruptions 

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, let me start by …

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Ndalamei: … looking at the theme of the Budget for this year, which is, “Moving Forward to Consolidate Growth and Social Justice in Peace and Unity.” 

Sir, since the PF Government came into power, there has not been unity in Zambia.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, during his tenure of office, President Kenneth Kaunda, the great leader of this nation, balanced all the seventy-three tribes of Zambia. The post of Prime Minister was reserved for the Southern and Western provinces, that of Secretary-General was reserved for the North-Western and Eastern provinces while hon. Cabinet Ministers were appointed from all the then nine provinces. However, when we look at the appointments in the PF Government, …

Interruptions

Mr Ndalamei: … there are twenty hon. Ministers, of whom fifteen are from one region and …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Shame!

Mr Ndalamei: … with only five from the other parts of the country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the North-Western and Copperbelt provinces are not represented in the Cabinet while Lusaka is represented by one.

Ms Kalima: Muleumfwako insoni. 

Mr Muntanga: And in the Southern Province?

Mr Ndalamei: The Southern Province is also not represented, except for Hon. Simuusa, who has no village there.

Laughter

Mr Mwaliteta: On a point of order, Sir.

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mwaliteta: Mr Speaker, we are here to debate very important issues that are in the Budget. Is the hon. Member for Sikongo in order to debate the composition of the Cabinet and other issues when he is supposed to debate the Budget, … 

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Mwaliteta: …which we are debating now? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: He is in order. 

You may continue, Hon. Ndalamei. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your protection. 

Sir, in order to balance things, the President has appointed too many hon. Deputy Ministers, which has bloated the Government. I know that he wants his Government to defend this, but it has failed. 

Laughter 

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, on page 7, paragraph 53, of the Budget Speech, the hon. Minister of Finance says the following: 

“Mr Speaker, in 2014, the Government will continue to implement the Link Zambia 8,000 Programme. I am happy to report that, under this programme, which commenced last year, work is progressing well on over 1,500 kilometres of roads. These include the Pedicle, Mongu/Kalabo and Kalabo/Sikongo/Angola Border.”

Mr Speaker, why is the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication embarrassing the hardworking hon. Minister of Finance? Which Kalabo/Sikongo Road is the Government working on? There is not even a contractor on site. Are you working on it in space or on earth?

Laughter 

Mr Ndalamei: You are embarrassed because all the roads in the programme are in one part of the country. That is why, for other parts of the country, you are mentioning roads that are not even being worked on.

Mr Simfukwe: Tell them.

Mr Ndalamei: The President has put you, as his family, to support him, but you are failing to do so. 

Laughter 

Mr Mukanga: On a point of order, Sir. 

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Mukanga: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. 

Is the hon. Member who is debating in order to insinuate that we have been appointed hon. Ministers simply because we are related to the President when some of us are more qualified than he is? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

The Deputy Chairperson: To the extent that you are bringing in a debate that touches on us, as Members of Parliament, I will not sustain your point of order. 

The hon. Member for Sikongo may continue. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, he may be qualified, but he is misleading the hon. Minister of Finance by claiming to be working on a road he is not working on.

Laughter 

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, I now want to talk about the Mongu/Kalabo Road. When the MMD Government negotiated for the project loan from China and awarded the contract for the Mongu/Kalabo Road, the current Government was not there. However, this Government now claims that the road is being worked on under the Link Zambia 8,000 Programme. Are you ashamed that you are not doing anything in the Western Province, apart from arresting people? 

Laughter 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Mr Ndalamei: You are putting roads that you are not working on in the Budget to show the country that you are working in the Western Province. 

Interruptions

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

I cannot follow the debate. Please, consult less loudly. 

The hon. Member on the Floor may continue. 

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, there is nothing for the people of the Western Province in this Budget. 

Mr Sampa: Tear it.

Mr Ndalamei: No wonder some people want to separate from these people. 

Laughter 

Mr Ndalamei: They are not benefiting anything from the development of this country. 

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Sikazwe: That is treason.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

Hon. Member, take your seat. I just want to give guidance. 

This is the National Assembly of Zambia, and we are expected to lead by example. Therefore, debates that border on secession are not welcome. I think that you should leave that line of argument and move to the next point. I know that you have many points. 

You may continue. 

Mr Ndalamei: I thank you for your guidance, Sir. 

Mr Speaker, developed countries do not arrest people. They just give them a referendum and the case is rested for …

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir. 

The Deputy Chairperson: A point of order is raised. 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to rise on a point of order. 

Sir, you have just guided the House. Therefore, is the hon. Member, who is waffling, rather than debating, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Kampyongo: … in order to continue debating in the alarming manner that he is? 

I seek your serious ruling, Sir. 

Ms Kalima: You are the one who is waffling.

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

The serious ruling is that the hon. Member is debating very well. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: However, he has been adequately guided by the House to abandon the subject of secession and concentrate on other matters. From the document he has in his hand, it appears that he has many more points to make. 

You may continue, hon. Member. 

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, is a good man. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: When he assumed power, …

Mr Kufuna: On a point of order, Sir. 

The Deputy Chairperson: I am not allowing anymore points of order. 

Continue, Hon. Ndalamei.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kalima: Sit down.

Mr Ndalamei: … he released all the people he found in prison. He even called them to State House for a discussion. These hon. Ministers are the ones who are misleading him by giving him wrong advice. 

Mr Speaker, let me now talk about the CDF. 

Sir, it is very disappointing that, after forty-nine years of Independence, a Government can share the CDF in a manner that disburses 100 per cent to some provinces while others get nothing. Only three constituencies in the Western Province were given their CDF, two of which have PF representation in this House. The other is Luena, which is represented by the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD). How can the resources of a country be shared in that manner?  

Mr Speaker, according to the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR), the three poorest constituencies are found in Luapula, the Western, Northern and Muchinga provinces. These constituencies need to be upgraded so that they can be developed. The PF Government has done well to create new districts. However, there are still more constituencies that need to be declared districts so that development can take place there. These are: Mfuwe, Kanchibiya, Lupososhi, Mangango, Liuwa, Nalikwanda and Pambashe. All these constituencies need to be given a fair share of the national cake because development needs to be equitably distributed so that there will not be people who will complain. 

Mr Speaker, people complain because the national cake is not shared equally. The thirty richest constituencies are found along the line of rail, the first being Kabwata and the last Kafue. In the Southern Province, there are only two, Livingstone and Mazabuka Central. This means that the people in rural areas will remain poor and those in urban areas will remain rich. That is why we are advocating for a ministry dedicated to rural development, so that rural areas are upgraded and given a bigger share of the national cake.  

Mr Speaker, in this Budget, the poor rural constituencies like Luapula and Kaputa will not get anything because money is wasted at the national and provincial levels, and on unnecessary by-elections. These constituencies will remain poor. So, we ask the hon. Minister of Finance to change the funding pattern . He should fund the districts directly. Let the districts plan the priority areas. Some hon. Ministers are hardworking, but are being let down by the Civil Service, which is failing to implement programmes that are funded in the Budget. So, direct funding to the districts will help this Government. Maybe, it will leave office with dignity in 2016.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, the peace referred to in the Budget theme does not exist on the ground. There is no peace when hon. Members of Parliament are beaten at police stations while police officers watch powerlessly. The hands of an hon. Member of Parliament were broken at a police station while a police officer watched, yet someone says that there should be peace.

Mr Speaker, during by-elections, people are beaten and abducted, but those committing these crimes are not arrested. So, we need to work together if we want Zambia to be united. We also have to share the resources of this country fairly and allow districts to plan and, then, fund them directly.

Mr Speaker, the PF came in power on the promise of more money in people’s pockets, but this Budget indicates that there will be no recruitment of employees in the next two years. Where are the more jobs that were promised to the youth of Zambia? It was said that there would be more money in civil servants’ pockets, but it will now be two years before their salaries are increased. Where is the more money you promised the civil servants?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: When you were in the Opposition, you thought that running a government was simple, …

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: … but you are now facing reality.

Mr Pande: Hammer! Bulela.

Mr Ndalamei: I want to thank you for that because we want the country to move forward. It is good that you are now facing reality, … 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: … as can be seen from your switching from ‘more money’ to ‘no money’ so that the country can move forward.

Interruptions

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, when it was campaigning, I remember that the PF said that it was part of the Linyungandambo.

Hon. Opposition Members: Oh, oh!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, it told the Linyungandambo that the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 would be restored, …

Mr Mufalali: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: … and the President started very well by instituting a commission of inquiry to look into the matter.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: That was very good. 

Sir, the Chongwe Commission of Inquiry came up with a very a good report, ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr Ndalamei: … which it presented to the Government but, to date, even its contents are not known by the members of the public. I have been asking His Honour the Vice-President questions on the matter. The first time I asked, he dodged the question by saying that the commission had not concluded its work. The next time, the excuse was that the Cabinet had not yet discussed the matter.

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: It is now three years, but nothing has been done.

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: Three years, yet the report’s content is not known. Mr Speaker, that is wastage of taxpayers’ money. We could have used the money to build schools and buy drugs for hospitals. There was a shortage of Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) in the hospitals, which that money could have been used to buy.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Mr L .J. Ngoma: Bulela.

Mr Muntanga: Bautwa

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, my appeal to this Government is that the Barotseland Agreement issue can be resolved peacefully by allowing a referendum on it. The issue will be solved once and for all. Let the people vote. If you do not have the money, have a referendum box alongside the ballot boxes during a general election so that the people can also vote on the Barotseland Agreement issue after voting for their Member of Parliament and President. As simple as that.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, this is simple and straightforward advice that I am giving to the Executive. Arresting people is not the solution. If the PF continues on its current path, I see it sinking like the Titanic in 2016, ...

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: … with the words, ‘mene mene, tekkel’ written on it.

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: Mr Speaker, ‘mene’ means, the leadership is ‘numbered and finished’ ...

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: ... while ‘tekkel’ means that the leadership has been ‘weighed and found wanting’.

Laughter

Mr Ndalamei: I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

(Debate adjourned)

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, Chief Whip and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Mukanga): Mr Speaker. I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

___________

The House adjourned at 1803 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 25th October, 2013.

___________