Tuesday, 21^stMarch, 2017

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

________

 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

 

ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I have an announcement to make. I wish to inform the House that, in the absence of Her Honour the Vice-President, who is attending to other equally important Government Business, the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Richard Musukwa, MP, has been appointed Acting Leader of Government Business in the House from today, Tuesday 21^st March, 2017, until further notice.

 

I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

­­­­­­­­­­­­_________

 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

 

THE CURBING OF MUSHROOMING OF FALSE CHURCHES AND PROPHETS

 

The Minister of Religious Affairs and National Guidance (Rev. Sumaili): Mr Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to make a statement to this august House and, through this House, inform the nation on the steps the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance has taken in curbing the mushrooming of false churches and prophets.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Sir, let me begin by stating that, as a country, we have publicly acknowledged the supremacy of God Almighty over the nation’s affairs. We have further declared Zambia a Christian nation ...

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: ... while upholding a person’s right to freedom of conscience, belief or religion.

 

Mr Speaker, before I proceed, allow me to remind this august House the mandate of my ministry. On 28^th August, 2016, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: ... Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: ... announced the creation of the new Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance. Consequently, it was ratified by Parliament on 27^th October, 2016. The mandate of the ministry is to actualise and translate the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation into practical, workable and realistic interventions. Therefore, my ministry will provide overall policy and legal framework in all matters pertaining to Zambia as a Christian heritage.

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Further, the mandate is to facilitate the mainstreaming of the national, biblical and cultural values and principles in our day to day life and the country’s programmes. The portfolio functions were published in the Government Gazette dated 7^th December, 2016, and are stated as follows:

 

1. Christian affairs;

 

1. interdenominational dialogue;

 

1. national guidance;

 

1. national values, principles and ethics;

 

1. public religious celebrations;

 

1. preservation of Christian and religious sites; and

 

1. religious affairs.

 

Mr Speaker, the address by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: ... Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: ... on the progress made in the application of national values and principles on Friday, 17^th March, 2017, gives a clear direction to my ministry. In line with the mandate, my ministry is working directly with the churches and religious groups.

 

Mr Speaker, it would be an omission on my part if I do not acknowledge the great contribution of the Church in national development. The churches are involved in spiritual transformation through their preaching and outreach activities and have invested in education, health, agriculture, skills training and entrepreneurship development, governance, environmental and climate change programmes, gender and child protection activism, among many things. In health, they are involved in running hospitals and clinics, implementing Tuberculosis (TB) treatment programmes and malaria and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) prevention and care programmes for the chronically ill patients. They care for orphans and vulnerable children and provide support for livelihoods and nutrition. They have invested in schools aimed at promoting holistic development in our country. In addition, they have built colleges and universities, thereby strengthening tertiary education for the growing population. This contributes to poverty eradication, hence uplifting the living standards of our people.

 

Mr Speaker, the Church has been experiencing tremendous growth, both numerically and spiritually. This growth is a positive phenomenon because growth and increase is the will of God. One wise man said:

 

“The Lord is our Judge, he is our law giver. The Lord is our king.”

 

Hon. Government Member: Amen, Pastor.

 

Rev. Sumaili: Sir, He influences all the three arms of the Government.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, however, in spite of the great strides being made by the Church, with many faithful men and women of the collar serving the Lord in our country, there are some challenges that have been experienced. We have seen the proliferation of churches, which are exploiting the favourable environment of religious freedom and instead engaging in strange practices which put some of our people at risk. These strange practices include the use of water, which has become a ritual, obtaining power or strength by sleeping with a virgin, placing too much emphasis on material wealth and acts or miracles rather than the word of God, which is the truth, spreading false and misleading messages, for example, stopping human immuno-deficiency virus/ acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients from taking their medication.

 

Mr Speaker, many of such churches do not even affiliate to a church mother body for accountability or supervision. Some churches have opted to register under the Patents and Companies Registration Authority (PACRA) as a company. In view of this practice, my ministry is working with PACRA and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to make it mandatory, through a legal instrument, for churches to register under the Registrar of Societies. This will make them more accountable unlike when they are running their churches as companies.

 

Sir, in the interim, my ministry has put in place administrative measures whereby PACRA will not register a church or faith-based organisation without clearance from my ministry.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, in addition, I wish to inform the nation, through the august House, that my ministry is also working closely with the Church and religious umbrella bodies that are currently registered with the Registrar of Societies to ensure effective oversight and compliance of their member churches.

 

Mr Speaker, some of the administrative provisions put in place for the registration of churches and faith-based organisations are as follows:

 

1. first and foremost, the registration of churches and faith-based organisations will remain with the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the Department of the Registrar of Societies, as provided for under Cap. 119 of the Laws of Zambia of the Societies Act;

 

1. the new applications will start the process with the Registrar of Societies who will conduct preliminary assessments as follows:

 

1. ascertain the authenticity of the identities of the applicants;

 

1. conduct security clearance; and

 

1. obtain documentation such as the constitution and recommendation letter from a recognised church mother body to which they may be aligned.

 

1. the Registrar of Societies will submit the file to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance who will;

 

1. conduct further scrutiny and screening; and

 

1. give feedback to the Registrar of Societies within a given time frame to register or not to.

 

Sir, my ministry will also extend the scrutiny of churches to foreign missionaries who come to Zambia for short or long-term missionary activities. We have agreed with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the need to collaborate and be extremely thorough in handling applications for permits and visas in order to keep away fake people who may wish to abuse the freedom of religion and the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation for their clandestine activities. Similarly, the Department of Immigration will pass on the file of the applicant obtaining required documents to my ministry who will further screen the applicant and give feedback to the Immigration Department.

 

Mr Speaker, in order to strengthen the operations of the churches and faith-based organisations in Zambia, my ministry is already working with the Ministry of Justice and will bring various instruments before Parliament aimed at enhancing accountability and the integrity of people of the collar and their churches and organisations.

 

Sir, in conclusion, my ministry intends to bring the Church and faith-based organisations to a level of strength, evidencing the traits of maturity, integrity, order and good governance. My ministry, in line with the mandate, will work with the Church to give guidance and promote national unity, good morals, social justice, integrity, patriotism and other values and principles within a Christian framework in the nation. The values and principles, as you are aware, are enshrined under Part II Article 8 and 9 of the Zambian Constitution.

 

Mr Speaker, finally, my ministry wishes to emphasise the need and importance of dialogue and collaboration between the State and the Church in the manner we conduct our business towards actualising Zambia as a Christian nation and promote national values and principles.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

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

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Minister of Religious Affairs and National Guidance for her statement. However, I have a huge concern regarding these already existing ...

 

Dr Malama: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, on 14^th March, 2107, a notice was circulated in this House advising of the Address by His Excellency the President of this Republic. The constitutionality of this Motion was supported by Hon. Prof. Lungwangwa and Hon. Mwashingwele.

 

Sir, were the hon. Members on your left in order to absent themselves from this House on 17^th March, 2017, when Parliament assembled here and His Excellency the President addressed it?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Of course, it is correct that a notification was issued to all hon. Members, advising that on the material date, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear.

 

Mr Speaker: … was scheduled to address the House and the nation at large.

 

As you have correctly stated, a certain segment of the House elected to stay away. Since the incident, my office has received numerous complaints and I am already resolved to refer the matter to the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: That is the position.

 

Hon. Member for Chienge, you may proceed.

 

Ms Katuta: I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for graciously according me this opportunity to raise a very serious point of order hinging on the privileges, immunities, decorum and dignity of this House.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, you may not be aware, but last week, I was mourning my uncle in Monze.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Sir, on the morning of 17^th March, 2017, while still in Monze, I had the misfortune of watching the happenings in this House.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Monze Central, give me a bit of chance.

 

Hon. Members, I know where we are coming from. This is a very difficult situation. However, let us transact business in a manner expected of us. There are certain expectations about how we should proceed. All these points of order, if I may point out, will be processed according to the law as well as the rules of the House, which are already laid down.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: All I need is some space. So, let us hear what this point of order is all about.

 

Hon. Member for Monze Central, you may proceed.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker, as I indicated, the proceedings in the House were broadcast live to the nation and the world by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

 

Sir, to my horror and disbelief, …

 

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … I witnessed something unprecedented since the inception of this Parliament. Hon. Members on your right started singing, on the Floor of this House, …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … and chanting political slogans. This was orchestrated. Somebody started singing and everyone on your right and hon. Members of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy and some Independent hon. Members, on your left, responded to the chorus.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: The song that they sung was nga Lungu talipo, bonse aba ni ba ngwele!

 

Interruptions

 

Hon. Government Members: Ngwele, ngwele!

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members, we need to make progress.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: We need to make progress.

 

Hon. Member for Monze Central, continue.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: They further went on to say that twalai zandamuna.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the point I am raising is on the dignity, decorum and etiquette of this House.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, you and your predecessors have directed and ruled …

 

Mr Lubinda: Ngwele!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … on the decorum of this House.

 

Mr Speaker, you heard the “ngwele” from your right?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwiimbu: This is the decorum and etiquette I am complaining about. 

 

Hon. Government Members: Ngwele!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, what transpired …

 

Mr Speaker: Order, on my right!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … will set a very bad precedent for this House, unless anyone can now rise and start signing on the Floor of this House. If this is the position, I have no problem.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, as if this was not enough, …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … the Chief Whip went on national television to issue threats against hon. Members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) stating that if they came to Parliament …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Monze Central, take a seat, again. 

 

Mr Mwiimbu resumed his seat.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, we need to restrain ourselves.

 

Continue, hon. Member for Monze Central.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, before I proceed, I need your guidance. When a point of order was raised on an hon. Member on your right …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, please, take a seat. The difficulty I have is that you are already in the course of raising a point of order. So, it would appear that you are now raising another point of order. How do I step in before you conclude? What I would urge you is to try to summarise so that we make progress.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, as if that was not enough, the Chief Whip, who is supposed to be the guardian and protector of the rights of hon. Members, …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … went on public television to issue threats against hon. Members and insisted that there would be mayhem if we came to this House.

 

Mr Nkombo: We are here how.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, in addition to that, hon. Members of the Patriotic Front (PF), on your right, …

 

Mr Mushanga: The Ruling Party!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … and hon. Members of the MMD, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and Independent Hon. Members of Parliament had a meeting.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, take a seat, again.

 

Hon. PF Members: Ngwele!

 

Mr Speaker: Order, on the right!

 

Let us finish this business.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I was saying that the hon. Members I have cited had a meeting …

 

Hon. PF Members: So what?

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … in which they resolved to constitute a committee to compel you, Mr Speaker, to suspend the hon. Members of the UPND for one year.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the unfortunate part of that meeting is that hon. Members of your Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services participated and advised on how they would deal with these hon. Members (pointing at hon. UPND Members).

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: They agreed to compel you today, Tuesday, 21^st March, 2017, to suspend hon. Members of the UPND for one year.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, will the hon. Members of your Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services, like Hon. Lubinda, who sat, deliberated, advised and conspired on how they will proceed to deal with fellow hon. Members, be allowed to sit as Members of the Committee of Privileges, Absences and Support Services contrary to the regulations and rules that govern disciplinary procedures of this House? We have a recording of what transpired in that meeting and that evidence shall be laid …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Take a seat, hon. Member.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order! Let us have some order in the House!

 

I presume he is about to conclude. Please, conclude, Hon. Member.

 

Mr Ngulube: He should lay the recording on the Table.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the point of order I am raising, first of all, is whether those hon. Members I have cited were in order to misconduct themselves in your presence on the Floor of this House, contrary to the rules of the House. Secondly …

 

Hon. PF Members: Ngwele!

 

Mr Chitotela: You cannot raise two points of order.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, can I respond to the comments because I am now being insulted?

 

Mr Speaker: No, no.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: I need your protection, Mr Speaker. Ba ngwele are insulting me.

 

Mr Speaker: Take a seat, please.

 

Let me give some guidance. I have noted that you have already presented your points of order. What you are doing now is simply summarising. There is already a verbatim record of what you have said and I will go through it. So, as far as I am concerned, you have made your point of order and you are now just summarising the points. I have noted them because I was listening. You have raised a number of issues that, obviously, require careful examination and study and, to that extent, I reserve my ruling.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, …

 

Mr Chilangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, thank you for according me a chance to rise on this very important …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I cannot follow the hon. Member on the Floor because of the noise in the House.

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, I was saying that I thank you for according me an opportunity to rise on this point of order. Where I come from, we say, ubuntu ninsoni.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, this literary means that a person must be self-introspective. Those who seek equity must come with clean hands.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!     

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, when ba ngwele or cantankerous people meet, it is not an issue. When normal thinking …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hold on before you go further. I have lost you. What do you mean by ba ngwele?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Lubinda: It is Jack Mwiimbu.

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, after the wonderful speech delivered by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, …

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chilangwa: … who is the only winner of the General Election held on 20^th August, 2016, …

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chilangwa: … loyal and well-meaning hon. Members of Parliament met to discuss and share ideas as is always done. This has never been an issue before. We have in our possession a record of a group of ba ngwele meeting on the night before His Excellency’s State of the Nation Adress …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, just take a seat.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Let me provide some guidance to you, hon. Member on the Floor. As far as this office is concerned, everybody seated here is honourable. We are all honourable. Please, let us not shoot ourselves in the feet. We are all honourable and let us not start debating that fact or depart from it. So, as you make your point of order, please, disgorge that term. I am not allowing you to use it.

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, most obliged.

 

Sir, as I was saying, all of us have been to funerals. There has never been anybody who watched television at a funeral.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, I am trying to put my case across ...

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, sit down again.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: You see, this is not an occasion to debate. It is also not an occasion to argue a case. The reason I have given you the platform is for you to raise a point of order. Get to the point of order, hon. Member.

 

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, is Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, Member of Parliament for the good people of Monze Central, in order to come here to portray a picture that he was watching television at a funeral, which is un-Zambian? Is he in order to say that he watched the proceedings of the House, which he and his colleagues abstained from?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I am aware that this very unusual day is coming from the events of last Friday. So, as we encounter this flurry of points of order, I will just roll up all of them. I do not know where we will end, but I will roll up everything in a single ruling.

 

The hon. Member for Chienge may take the Floor.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, what is the hon. Minister of Religious Affairs and National Guidance going to do about the already existing bogus or fake prophets? I have one who is bothering ...

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, withdraw the word “bogus.”

 

Ms Katuta: I withdraw it and replace it with ‘untruthful’ pastors or prophets.

 

Sir, I am concerned, especially about those who are coming from Nigeria. They like to come into our country as prophets. What will the hon. Minister do about them? We already know that they are not walking in the truth of the Gospel.

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, the Church is the light and salt of our nation. Therefore, it is important that it truly walks in the light that it preaches. My ministry has taken that issue of fake prophets and pastors very seriously and has been meeting with the umbrella Church bodies because we believe that we have to begin by strengthening the Church mother bodies so that they can have the capacity to supervise their members. What we, as a ministry, will put in place is a self-regulatory framework whereby the Church mother bodies will be able to supervise the other churches. Our Government will provide oversight. We have to ensure that all the churches meet the minimum standards. For instance, every church has to have a code of conduct and a board of governors or a board of directors so that there is order and systems in the Church and ensure that it can be checked.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr C. Zulu (Luangeni): Mr Speaker, this is a new ministry and I know that the hon. Minister has many challenges relating to the establishment of offices all over the country. Does the ministry have plans to open new offices in provincial headquarters and all the districts in the country? I would also like to find out whether there are plans to ban these fake prophets who are busy advertising in newspapers about whatever they do. For example, I have seen advertisements in which prophets claim to be able to enlarge certain parts of male organs and do all sorts of funny things. Are there plans to ban these prophets?

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, first and foremost, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance covers the whole country. It has to take services to all the ten provinces of our country. Therefore, we plan to open offices in the provincial headquarters and take two people in each of them so that they can co-ordinate the work of the ministry in the provinces. That will happen soon. Eventually, we expect to go to the districts so that we can conduct our business of working with the churches effectively. So, definitely, we will go to the provinces.

 

Sir, regarding the issue of unethical advertisements in the newspapers, I am sure we heard the message from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, when he talked about our values, principles and ethics. One of the issues he spent time on was morality. A nation that is bankrupt morally is a lost one. We are a Christian nation and that is a blessing.

 

Mr Speaker, our responsibility, as Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance, is to actualise that Christianity. This means that Christian principles becoming part of our way of life, as it is with our rich Zambian culture. To enhance this, our ministry will work with the communities, civic leaders and traditional leaders in ensuring that we begin to practice and teach our people these rich values that we have as Zambians. We will not just take it lying down and tolerate insults and immoral things being flashed in the newspapers. We will work on this matter.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Daka: On a point of order!

 

Hon. Members: On whom?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I am grateful for giving me this opportunity to ask this question and I also thank the hon. Minister for the ministerial statement …

 

Mr Daka: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised now.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema neighbours aya! Ema Daka aya!

 

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, I rarely rise on points of order. However, I would like to find out whether the Member of Parliament for Nalikwanda, Hon. Prof. Lungwangwa, is in order to have seconded the Motion to suspend proceedings on Friday, yet did not come…

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

 

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

 

Mr Daka: … for the President’s State of the Nation Address. He pointed out that, according to the new Constitution, it was a requirement that His Excellency the President addresses Parliament twice in a year and he seconded the Motion to suspend the standing orders …

 

Mr Kalaba: He also quoted Article 86!

 

Mr Daka: … and also quoted Article 86. Is he in order to sit there quietly and not say anything? I need your ruling.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Professor!

 

Mr Speaker: I am at a loss.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: I know you are raising that of order under a lot of pressure. Do you want to explain yourself?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Daka: Yes, Mr Speaker. He seconded the Motion on Thursday that we suspend business the following day, Friday. My point of order is whether he was in order to stay away from the fulfilment of a constitutional duty, which is to attend the address to Parliament by His Excellency the President, which is to be done twice in year, because he quoted the new Constitution?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I have already indicated that I am expecting a flurry of points of order.

 

Ms Lubezhi: Too many points of order!

 

Mr Speaker: That is what I have said, hon. Member of Parliament for Namwala. So, we will address all these issues in a single ruling.

 

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Could the hon. Member of Parliament for Kaputa continue, please.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted by that point of order, I was basically thanking the hon. Minister for delivering a very important statement. If I heard her correctly as she read the statement, she mentioned that one of the main objectives of the ministry is to mainstream …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Please, let us follow this question.

 

Mr Ng’onga: … national values, principles and ethics. I am asking this question on behalf of the people of Kaputa who may not even have television sets or any means of communication. What programmes has the Government put in place to ensure that the values, as espoused by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: … of this country, so that the people of Kaputa can also be able to get this message as solidly and as clearly as His Excellency the President put it last Friday?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, the issue of values, principles and ethics is very critical and it is part of our Constitution. We, the people of Zambia, have given ourselves an identity or personality and these values will help us with national development. Therefore, it is important that every citizen of this nation knows about these values. So, the first thing we are doing is to raise awareness among the people by sensitising them at various levels starting with the children, hence our programmes actually being in schools. My ministry will work with the Ministry of General Education so that we look at the curriculum and see how we can reflect these values and principles in the curriculum for our children. Also, there will be other activities at club level in schools where the children will talk about these values, principles and ethics.

 

Mr Speaker, we will also work with the youth. The youth are not only the leaders of today, but also give us hope for the future. Therefore, if we can raise a youth who is God-fearing and understands patriotism, loving our nation, being honest and work ethics, we can be positive about our nation’s brighter future.

 

Mr Speaker, similarly, these programmes should also be carried out at business places and companies in the private sector. The ministry is planning on having programmes that it will share with the private sector. It will work with various Government ministries and Chiefs at the local level because that is the grass root where the people are. It will be integrative, meaning that every person will participate. We want to do it through drama or sitting down and discussing as a village. We just want everybody to participate.

 

So, the issue of dissemination information is critical. We have to share information on television, community radio stations and various media that can be used. So, there are many interesting programmes that the ministry will come up with and we shall all participate.

 

Sir, we are looking forward to the hon. Members of Parliament championing these values because I can tell you that the issue of values, principles and ethics has been taken very seriously by the people. The feedback that we are getting is that this is the message that they have been waiting for.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, thank you …

 

Mr Mwewa: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mutale: Iwe, Rodgers!

 

Mr Mwewa: Sorry boyi!

 

Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to rise on this point of order.

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema boyi yalya!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwewa: Is Hon. Jack Mwiimbu in order to cowardly distance himself from the shameful act by his colleagues by saying that he was attending a funeral? I have been wondering whether he is trying to run away from the punishment the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services is about to render on his friends. I need your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Ruling reserved.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: May the hon. Member of Parliament for Chitambo continue, please.

 

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for introducing this ministry. I can tell that the ministry is in safe hands from the answers that the hon. Minister is giving.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mutale: Sir, this ministry seems to be responsible for national guidance as well as inculcating good morals in members of this good society of Zambia. We have just come from an election and there are some political leaders ...

 

Mr Ngulube: Like HH!

 

Mr Mutale: ... who have not yet come to terms with the fact that they lost.

 

Mr Mwale: They need counselling!

 

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, what is the ministry doing to guide ...

 

Mr Sikazwe: And consoling!

 

Mr Mutale: ... and console these political parties which have not yet come to terms with their loss, in particular the United Party for National Development (UPND)?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kapata: eh ma question aya!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Chitambo for his concern.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Sir, there was an article in the Zambia Daily Mail news paper stating that losing an election could lead to depression. One of the first things we should do when facing depression is pray and intercede.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Therefore, I encourage those who are affected to embrace the word of God because it can help them.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

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

 

Ms Kapata: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this point of order. My point of order is on Hon. Mwashingwele, Member of Parliament for Katuba.

 

Sir, on Thursday, Hon. Mwashingwele debated so well on behalf of the women of Zambia. She urged the Government, through His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to address the issues faced by women. Was she in order to stay away from the President’s Address ...

 

Mr Kampyongo: And betray!

 

Ms Kapata: ... and, thereby betray the women in her constituency and me? Was she in order to stay away on Friday when she needed to listen to what His Excellency the President had to say in relation to women? I need your serious ruling.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

All these matters will be addressed in one ruling.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to ask the hon. Minister of ...

 

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, thank you for permitting to raise a point of order. I sincerely apologise to the hon. Member for Kabwe Central for disturbing his flow of thought.

 

Sir, every hon. Member in this august House has rights and privileges. We are all free to do as we wish for as long as it is in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders and the Constitution.

 

Mr Speaker, one gallant hon. Member, the representative of the people of Chilanga, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: ... who is a renowned lawyer, decided to respect the supreme document of the land, the Constitution, and the oath he took before you in this House of paying allegiance to the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, by being present on Friday.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Sir, this hon. Member has suffered abuse ...

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Question!

 

Mr Kampyongo: ... by lawless citizens who do not understand the Constitution.

 

Mr Mushanga: Twalabekata.

 

Mr Kampyongo: The hon. Member deserves to be protected. I want to place it on record that the Ministry of Home Affairs will ensure that the hon. Member’s life and the lives of his family members are not tempered with by any criminal.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lubinda: Criminals!

 

Hon. Government Members: Ba ngwele!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, is this House in order to not protect its own law abiding hon. Members? Further, are these lawless people in order to continue threatening and disturbing the life of this law abiding hon. Member? I seek you ruling.

 

Hon. Government Members: Ba ngwele!

 

Mr Speaker: My ruling, again, is reserved.

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, this country is governed not only by the Republican Constitution, but also the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation. I am aware that there are certain individuals who are self-confessed Satanists, free masons and evil.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kapata: They are here!

 

Mr Ngulube: They have vowed that they will never recognise Zambia as a Christian nation and will never recognise His Excellency the President’s declaration of the National Day of Prayer.

 

Ms Kapata interjected.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ngulube: They continue to shed tears and spread hate speech everywhere they go by telling people that Zambia is not a safe place.

 

Hon. Government Member: Armageddon!

 

Mr Ngulube: They have also declared Armageddon and say that they will create a Sodom and Gomorra in Lusaka.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Aah!

 

Mr Lubinda: Ba ngwele!

 

Mr Kalaba: Are they here?

 

Mr Ngulube: In addition to that, the way in which they speak has caused many members of society to feel threatened.

 

Mr Speaker, will the ministry sit idly?

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, God is God. He cannot be mocked.

 

Mr Mwale: Those free masons have no power.

 

Interruptions

Rev. Sumaili: So, when one starts a fight against God, …

 

Ms Kalima: Mwebeniko Hakainde!

 

Rev. Sumaili: … he/she fights with a rock. 

 

Hon. Government Members: No matter how rich they are!

 

Rev. Sumaili: You actually attract curses on yourself.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity …

 

Mr M. Zulu: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr M. Zulu: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Over the weekend, I was agonising over the provisions of Cap. 12 of the Laws of Zambia, which prohibits any person from stopping any Member of Parliament from attending Parliament. Arising from that, I seek guidance on whether the United Party for National Development (UPND) party was in order to prevent its members from attending their constitutional duty of attending Parliament on Friday? If they were not in order, should the criminal proceedings, then, not be taken against whoever prevented the hon. UPND Members from attending Parliament? I seek your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema Lawyers aya!

 

Mr Speaker: The ruling is reserved.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity …

 

Mr Musonda: On a point of order.

 

Mr Speaker: I am sure I should close points of order now. This is the last one I am allowing today.

 

Mr Musonda: Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for according me this opportunity to raise my very first point order in the House. Was the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, in order to raise a point of order in this House based on speculations to the extent of citing resolutions of a meeting he was not a part of?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: As I have pointed out, that is the last point of order I am allowing.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, this country has been declared …

 

Prof. Luo: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, I have already made a ruling. We have had a flurry of points of order and this is very unusual, probably, unprecedented.

 

Mr Mung’andu: … a Christian nation and this is embedded in the Constitution. We all know that cults can also exist in form of political parties and indoctrinate the minds of their followers. For example, if a leader decides that something be done a certain way, the blind followers will oblige without questioning him.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mung’andu: Sir, does the ministry have any plans to stop cultism from being practiced in this country?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Rev. Sumaili: Mr Speaker, indeed, we are a Christian nation and our Lord Jesus Christ reigns over Zambia.

 

Mr Samakayi: Question!

 

Interruptions

 

Rev. Sumaili: Sir, one of the issues I have been sharing with the churches is that we have to do more in preaching the gospel so that those who are in darkness can hear the word of God and turn to Jesus Christ.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

NATIONAL STATUS AND RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS IN ZAMBIA

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, I thank you for granting me this opportunity to deliver a ministerial statement on the state of the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic and our national response.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to preface my statement by thanking His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for providing adequate guidelines to this nation in his Address on 17^th March, 2017.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, HIV/AIDS remains a matter of public health. From the time it broke out in this country, it has placed a heavy burden on the country’s national resources.

 

Mr Speaker, while tremendous progress has been scored in the fight against HIV/AIDS, a lot remains to be done. According to the Zambia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) HIV/AIDS prevalence survey done in 2016, HIV/AIDS has reduced from 13.3 per cent in adults urged between fifteen and forty-nine years to 11.6 per cent. By the end of 2016, there were 1.2 million Zambians living with HIV/AIDS.

 

Mr Speaker, the incidence has declined. In 2005, we recorded 77,500 new cases and in 2016, we only recorded 46,000 new cases. This reduction is significant, but a lot more needs to be done.

 

Mr Speaker, HIV/AIDS is preventable and it is possible to eliminate it. This is a summon to all of us to commit to a set of actions that can move us towards control and elimination of HIV/AIDS. We need to harness our national potential through forging strong partnerships with the communities, churches, civil societies, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Higher Education and, indeed, all stakeholders.

 

Mr Speaker, I reiterate the need to commit to a set of collective actions in order to attain epidemic control and eventual elimination of HIV/AIDS. Over our watch, it is possible to eliminate HIV/AIDS. If Zambia is committed to this set of interventions, it can attain epidemic control within three years and by 2030, HIV/AIDS can be eliminated. Therefore, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, under His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has come up with policies that will drive this agenda.

 

Mr Speaker, HIV/AIDS can be prevented and I will highlight a number of interventions that we need to commit to and have been passed as a policy in order to move towards epidemic control.

 

HIV Counselling and Testing

 

The first step in the prevention, treatment, care and support of HIV infections is to ensure that we all know our status. It is important that counselling and testing of individuals for the HIV virus is escalated. While we acknowledge an increase in the numbers of people that have tested for HIV from 2007, where we only had 19 per cent of women and 12 per cent of men tested, to 2016 where more than 60 per cent did, there is a need to do a lot more.

 

Mr Speaker, HIV counselling and testing is the first step. The Government has now made a policy change in the way it manages HIV/AIDS from this angle. All who are tested positive are now eligible for anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regardless of the CD4 count or, indeed, any other parameters. So, test and treat is now the new policy in the management of HIV/AIDS.

 

Mr Speaker, if you look at the statistics, you will recognise that children aged between fourteen and eighteen are vulnerable to HIV. The face of HIV today is the youth, the adolescent and the young adult between fifteen and twenty-five years. There is a need for us to improve adolescent and reproductive health services. We will, then, strengthen our school health programmes, forge partnerships with the Church and start work-place policy programmes under which we will carryout self-testing. We have extended ART treatment clinics in all our facilities to work even over weekends just to ensure that all those who test and are found positive are started on ART immediately.

 

Mr Speaker, while I focused a lot on treatment as part of prevention, I want to emphasise that behavioural change remains the mainstay. Comprehensive condom programming is important and the ministry is working with stakeholders to encourage condom use to prevent transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases from one partner to another. Comprehensive condom programming is one of the high impact interventions that we have put in place.

 

Mr Speaker, voluntary medical male circumcision is yet another intervention that we have put in place. We have seen numbers increase, but we need to sensitise the public that male circumcision reduces the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS by 60 per cent. We are escalating the male circumcision programme.

 

Mr Speaker, in 2016, 200,000 males were circumcised and this is based on the Target of 72,000. We need to see more in this year.

 

Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART)

 

Mr Speaker, in response to the Universal Health Coverage Declaration on the Provision of Equity and Access to Health Services to All Zambians, the Government has made a bold and courageous decision to provide free anti-retrovirals (ARVs) for all eligible patients.

 

Mr Speaker, ARV therapy is the most efficacious dual method for treating patients living with HIV and further preventing new infections. When we put patients on ART, we reduce the viral load and when this is done, chances of transmission to the next patient are reduced.

 

Mr Speaker, I want to reiterate that with 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS, one of the most efficacious interventions that has been put in place is to treat everybody. 850,000 people today are on ART and the Government targets to put the remaining 350,000 on treatment this year.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government has made adequate provisions for ARVs and, with support from the Global Fund and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), we have adequate ARVs in the country and our projections show that we will be able to treat the remaining 350,000 out of the 1.2 million living with HIV/AIDS.

 

Mr Speaker, focus on the pregnant mother will continue. Zambia introduced option B Plus whereby mothers who were tested HIV/AIDS positive were started on ART. This has dramatically reduced the number of children who are born with HIV. We have moved from prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and are now calling it elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT). The change in the name of the programme states the Government’s intention to totally eliminate new HIV infections.

 

Mr Speaker, the coverage of EMTCT varies from province to province. The highest coverage has been in Central Province, which has recorded 100 per cent, while the Northern Province has recorded 60 per cent. The Eastern, Southern, Muchinga and Western provinces have recorded lowest at 60 per cent.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, allow me to emphasise that HIV is preventable and it can be eliminated on our watch if we all commit to certain actions such as testing and treating. We all need to ensure we prevent the transmission of HIV to the next person through behavioural change, condom programming and committing to all interventions that the Ministry of Health has put in place to reduce or minimise the chances of transmission, including male circumcision. Test and treat will only work if the Church, various work places and ministries all commit to this set of actions.

 

Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is committed to the elimination of HIV/AIDS and working with all stakeholders to ensure that by 2020, we attain epidemic control and ensure that HIV is eliminated from Zambia by 2030.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema plan aya!

 

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

 

Dr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, my question is with regard to treatment that has now been made compulsory for very person who tests positive. What are the financial implications on the ministry considering that it has to import treatment and, where is it in establishing a factory within the country that will produce drugs locally?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, currently, we have 850,000 people on ART out of 1.2 million people living with HIV. The gap is 350,000. With support from the Global Fund, PEPFAR and budgetary provision, we have adequate ARVs as well as provision for procurement of the ARVs to cover the gap. We have projected that we will be able to treat all people who will test positive for HIV/AIDs.

 

Sir, Zambia, in embracing private sector participation, has attracted investors who have set up a manufacturing plant in the Multi-facility Economic Zone (MFEZ). We expect that a company called NRB Farmer and another one called Milan will commence production of essential drugs and ARVs within the course of the year.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, …

 

Amb. Malanji: Neighbour!

 

Mr Ngulube: … I am aware that in my constituency, Kabwe Central, some clinics do not have anti-retroviral treatment (ART) clinics, yet they have patients who are supposed to access it. I am also aware that Poleni Clinic, despite being a small clinic, is actually administering ART from a very small room. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if at all there are plans of improving infrastructure in which ART can be administered so that the people accessing it do not mix with those who are not accessing it because of stigma issues. We are also aware that because of stigma, ART patients either abscond or actually come at a time when they are not seen. So, there is an issue of privacy.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the Government in, its robust infrastructure expansion programme for health is moving towards universal health coverage. With the construction of 275 rural health posts that are now operational, forty-six new hospitals and rehabilitation of existing facilities, we have trebled the number of ART sites in the last three years. There is no rocket science about ART. Every clinic that has qualified human resource is able to provide ART. Even where we do not have adequate laboratories, we now have simple test kits. One can now conduct a test within the consultation room.

 

Mr Speaker, one is able to carry out a test even without the laboratory. The rapid tests are available. Once somebody is found positive, we have adequate ARVs to commence treatment. My assurance to the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central is that all provincial health directors have been directed to ensure that all health facilities have ART clinics. We are integrating ART provision or services into the mainstream health services that we are providing in our clinics. This is one way of combating stigma. We are not promoting separate ART infrastructure. We must accept that HIV is our problem and we must encourage our communities to fully participate. Our communities should ensure that stigma is not part of the challenge in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

 

Mr Speaker, I submit.

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, in his address to the nation last Friday, His Excellency the President talked about promoting local products. I would like to find out how far the Government has gone with clinical tests which were to be conducted on the Sondashi Formula, which was announced in 2015. I think it will be a good idea to have a local remedy.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I will hasten to say that there is no known cure for HIV today. No herbal product has been proven as a cure for HIV and there is no local product, today, that has earned the reputation as an efficacious drug against HIV/AIDS in terms of absolute cure. All herbal or conventional products are subjected to the same routine when it comes to approval for use by patients. So, while we are testing or doing that due diligence, no drug is actually supposed to be announced as an efficacious drug. Let me reiterate that there is no herb or concoction in this country that has been proven as a cure for HIV/AIDS.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to use this platform to state that one of the major challenges we are facing in the combat against HIV/AIDS is the stoppage of taking ARVs by people who are supposed to take them in preference for herbal products. This practice must stop. We have seen a lot of people’s health deteriorate. These people might be doing well on ART, but their health deteriorates when they begin to take herbal products and they eventually die.

 

Mr Speaker: Order, on the left and right!

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the use of herbs for treatment of HIV/AIDS must be fought. Similarly, there are some people who claim that they are healed after being prayed for and they stop taking ARVs. A few years later, they succumb to opportunistic infections and die. The Church must be a partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS and must ensure that we use that platform to deliver appropriate messages to the people. So, no herbal or other processes are a substitute for the measures that we have put in place in the treatment against HIV/AIDS. I would like to urge traditional leaders, the Church and all community leaders and members to ensure that we adhere to the set of actions that will help us eliminate HIV/AIDS.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for that elaborate statement. I think it is clear that we are on course with the Vision 2030. Looking at the Sustainable Development Goals and Vision 2030, whose emphasis is actually on health, are there measures being put in place to mainstream the activities of the ministry vis-à-vis reflection in the budgeting process? Is the hon. Minister putting those activities in place to mainstream the Budget making process so that the Vision 2030 is easily attainable?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President has been consistent on the need for a multi-sectoral approach to health by focusing on social determinants of health.

 

Mr Speaker, in talking about health, His Excellency the President has referred to water and sanitation. If you have access to clean water and good sanitation, there will be fewer incidents of diarrhoeal diseases. If you have good nutrition, there will be less malnutrition and there will be less diseases that are associated with less or bad nutrition.

 

Mr Speaker, we are taking a multi-sectoral approach to health and this has been stated in the various statements that His Excellency the President has given and in the Budget Speech. As a sector, we have also emphasised that we have also created a directorate in our reorganisation that is a platform for meeting with other stakeholders who manage other social determinants of health. So, mainstreaming of health in other ministries is actually evident in the way we are doing business.

 

Mr Speaker, wellness centres in various workplaces are being established as a way of mainstreaming health in various parts of our ministries. I want to emphasise that health remains central to sustainable development and our statement of intent is very clear by emphasising a multi-sectoral approach to health. We are seeing health in all the policies in our various ministries. We have people who are making policies in various councils, ministries and workplaces who have made health a central component of their policy decisions. We are moving towards health in all policies. I would like to assure the hon. Member that it is a decision of this Government to adopt health in all policies.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, allow me to not only thank the hon. Minister of Health for the statement on the status of the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) in the country, but also the men and women who have done so much to bring the country’s standing as regard HIV/acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) to what it is. The ministry has an ambitious programme of eliminating HIV/AIDS by 2030 and the hon. Minister indicated that one of the interventions will be through counselling and test and treat services. Why does the Government not make counselling and testing compulsory, as is the case for pregnant women pregnant, so that those found positive, especially in rural areas, can be treated?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, every citizen must be offered the opportunity to test and if found positive, must start treatment early before the immune system gets damaged and the viral load is reduced in order to protect the next person. This is the only way to go. However, we will be consistent with the other norms and will try to make certain services compulsory and if need arises, we will engage various stakeholders to move into that direction. At the moment, our strong counsel is that everyone be tested and treated.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mwewa (Mwansabombwe): Mr Speaker, I understand that memory loss is one of the symptoms of the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and I am happy that the hon. Minister is a medial practitioner. If two people fight and one is beaten up, but when he regains consciousness insists that he did not lose the fight and even when the referee calls for a rematch at which he, again, loses still claims to have won, could you say his behaviour could be one of the symptoms of HIV or that it could of a psychiatric nature?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear! Ema Question aya!

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I trained as a medical doctor, …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Dr Chilufya: … but I did not obtain the competence to answer that question.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Sampa (Kasama Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister categorically stated that the human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) statistics in certain provinces have improved. Has behavioural change contributed to the reduction in the prevalence rate and if so, how can it be replicated in other provinces whose HIV/AIDS statistics have remained stagnant?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, there are various factors that have contributed to the upswing in HIV in various provinces. Lusaka and Western provinces are the highest in HIV prevalence at 16.1 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively. For the hon. Member’s benefit, we have come up with a set of interventions which I outlined in the statement that shall be applied countrywide to ensure that we reduce the prevalence of HIV countrywide. The high risk groups are the sex workers and adolescents between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five years who are very vulnerable. The focus is only on prevention of mother to child transmission, yet those between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five years mostly transmit the HIV. So, various interventions are being put in place to ensure that we address the epidemic in various provinces. However, there are specific factors that have contributed to the rise in HIV prevalence in certain provinces and our teams are on the ground addressing these factors.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, I am a rider to Hon. Ngulube’s question. Stigma is very real in the rural setup. What is the ministry doing to sensitise the rural population against stigmatising those who are human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) positive?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, like I said earlier on, we are strengthening partnerships with the communities through our health promotion programme and traditional, church leaders and teachers are all on board. We need to demystify HIV/AIDS and to consider it as an infectious disease that can befall anybody and it is manageable. There are mitigating interventions that can actually improve the livelihood of HIV patients. So, stigma must be stopped. It is being addressed it and we have brought on board opinion formers in various communities.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that those tested positive are eligible for anti-retroviral treatment (ART). What is the ministry doing to ease access to treatment centres, particularly in Ngabwe where there is only one mobile ART centre? People move long distances to access it and since we are in the rainy season, the road is impassable.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, access to health services for the people in Ngabwe is a big challenge. This year, the Government will build ten health centres …

.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Chilufya: … and a hospital there.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema Government aya!

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, in the interim, our mobile health facilities will be used to ensure that the Government delivers the critical ART services to the people of Ngabwe.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mrs Mwansa (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, we are aware that the most vulnerable are those between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. Is it possible for the ministry to provide treat and test services at secondary school level?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member of Parliament that the most vulnerable are the children below fifteen years old. As a matter of fact, the Government will launch the “Know Your Child’s Status Campaign” so that parents can be encouraged to know the status of their children because many of them are born with the virus and are succumbing to opportunistic infections.

 

Sir, some children are coming down with meningitis, tuberculosis meningitis and cryptococcal meningitis at the ages of eleven and twelve even when they could have been protected from these opportunistic infections by early initiation on ART. They could have lived normal lives even beyond the age of thirty. Therefore, it is important that we protect these children.

 

Sir, it is for this reason that our school health programmes are now being strengthened to include education on sexuality and HIV/AIDS. We are now working closely with the Ministry of General Education to ensure that we strengthen our school health programmes. Therefore, the “Know Your Child’s Status Campaign” will actually be active in schools once we tease out the administrative aspects. Further, our school health programmes will be strengthened because we really need to target the youth and children below the age of fifteen. For those who are not in schools, we will follow them in the communities, churches and work places.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Siwanzi (Nakonde): Mr Speaker, there is a perception that when one is circumcised, he cannot contract the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and because of that, people are really misbehaving and engaging in illicit sexual activities. Is it true that when one is circumcised, then, he cannot contract HIV/AIDS? If not, what is your ministry doing to sensitise members of communities so that HIV is not spread through this perception?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I would like to emphasise that for us to combat HIV/AIDS, behavioural change, adherence to our values, staying faithful to one negative partner and abstinence must come first. Those who cannot abstain must use condoms every time they have sex. For those who are mitigating the possibility of getting HIV/AIDS, indeed, there must be more circumcision. However, that only reduces one’s chances of getting infected with HIV by 60 per cent. A circumcised person can still contract HIV/AIDS if he is careless. So, the reduction does not mean elimination.

 

As we encourage male circumcision as a way of reducing the possibility of contracting HIV/AIDS, I must emphasise that Hon. Mwale, you must not take advantage of the fact that you got circumcised.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: You must make sure that you follow the other rules.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

_______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

COMPLETION OF PAUL MUSHINDO UNIVERSITY

 

194. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

1. when the construction of Paul Mushindo University would be completed;

 

1. what measures the Government had taken to expedite the completion of the project;

 

1. what the total cost of constructing the university was; and

 

1. how much money had been spent on the project as of 30^th December, 2016.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, the date for completion of the construction of Phase I of Paul Mushindo University is 30^th November, 2018. The Government has provided funds in the 2017 Budget for the construction of Paul Mushindo University and it is expected that the release of these funds from the Ministry of Finance will be made timely.

 

Sir, the cost of the infrastructure under Phase I is K93.6 million. However, the total cost for the entire project is K900 million. The total certified amount as at 30^th December, 2016, is K32.9 million.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, in how many phases will the university be constructed?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the construction of this project is in three phases. To start with, the name of the contractor is COVEC Construction Company and the scope of works under Phase I includes the construction of ten staff houses, two blocks of double storey lecture theatres and two-blocks of four storey hostels. In the next phase, we will have more laboratories and external works done.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

TARRING OF THE MUNGULE/KEEMBE ROAD

 

195. Ms Mwashingwele (Katuba) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

1. when the tarring of the Mungule/Keembe Road from 10 miles to Keembe Agriculture Institute would commence;

 

1. who the contractor of the project was;

 

1. what the time frame for the completion of the project was; and

 

1. what the total cost of the project was.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, as a Minister, I represent His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, who appointed me as an extension of the Executive. Except I do not want to disobey you, but I find it very difficult to answer questions from a person who does not recognise my appointing authority.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kalima: There is no consistency.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, for the hon. Member for Katuba to ask me a question, it means she has recognised that His Excellency President Lungu is the one who appointed me as Minister.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, as the Government of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, our response is that the upgrade to bituminous standard of the Mungule/Keembe Road was not included in the 2017 Road Sector Annual Work Plan owing to the Budget ceiling.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, no contractor has been engaged to upgrade the Mungule/Keembe Road. Therefore, there is no existing project on the upgrading of the said road, hence no time frame.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the cost can only be estimated upon the completion of the designs.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Mwashingwele: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for those answers. I recognise him as an hon. Minister, but I think that I also have a constitutional right to ask questions.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, is that a question?

 

Hon. Opposition Member interjected.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I am asking because I want to be clear. Hon. Member for Katuba, what was your question?

 

Ms Mwashingwele: Mr Speaker, I was just thanking the hon. Minister for the answers.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, since the hon. Minister has heard that the people of Katuba need that road to be constructed, is he considering giving Katuba Parliamentary Constituency that road?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, because the people of Katuba are Zambian, the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, last year, engaged a contractor called Ruvias to grade this road to an all-weather gravel road at a cost of K26 million. The contract was signed on 19^th January, 2016 and the works were to be completed on 17^th January, 2017. 

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

TOWNSHIP ROADS REHABILITATION IN SIAVONGA DISTRICT

 

196.  Mr Mulunda (Siavonga) asked the Minister of Local Government:

 

1. when the rehabilitation of township roads in Siavonga District would commence; and

 

1. what the cause of the delay in rehabilitating the road was.

 

The Minister of Government (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, I am very reluctant to respond to this question owing to the fact that I was appointed by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and I am serving here at his behest. I am an elected Member of Parliament, yes, but I was appointed Minister by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Lungu, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwale: … a man who the questioner does not recognise. However, …

 

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

 

Mr Mwale: I have a very good answer.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mwale: I will answer only because of the authority of The Hon. Speaker who has allowed this Question to be on the Order Paper.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, there is no money to carry out rehabilitation works on township roads. Therefore, the other question falls off. 

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

DAMS CONSTRUCTION IN LUMEZI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

 

197. Mrs Jere (Lumezi) asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

(a)     whether the Government had any plans to construct dams in the following chiefdoms in Lumezi Parliamentary Constituency:

 

1. Chief Mwase Mphangwe; and

 

1. Chief Zumwanda;

 

1. if so, when the plans would be implemented;

 

1. how many dams were earmarked for construction in each chiefdom; and

 

1. what the cost of constructing one dam was.

 

(Mr Mwale) (on behalf of the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Mr Kaziya): Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the hon. Member of Parliament for Lumezi, who is a law abiding citizen, …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwale: … that the Government, through the Department of Water Resources Development, has an on-going programme for the construction of small dams to provide water resources to communities. Twelve sites were identified and assessed in Lumezi Constituency and only one site in Chief Zumwanda (Lusangazi) has been found suitable for possible construction. This dam will be constructed at Lusangazi at a minimum cost of K6 million. However, we are waiting for a feasibility study to be done before we can construct the dam. 

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

1,000 CRITICAL DAYS OF NUTRITION

 

198. (Mr Ng’onga) asked the Minister of Health:

 

1. why the first 1,000 days after a child is born were considered critical days of nutrition; and

 

1. what programmes the Government had put in place to educate the public on the importance of the first 1,000 critical days of nutrition.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, the period from conception to when the child is two years of age add up to 1,000 days. This is the period that is considered as a “window of opportunity” or most critical days in life to reduce childhood under-nutrition that would normally result in death or harmful nutrition conditions, stretching from the time the child is born way through to later life. It is during this period that if high impact interventions in nutrition are employed effectively, most damage could be averted. Under-nutrition can start in-utero, depending on the mother’s nutrition status, hence the 1,000 most critical days start with the mothers’ nutrition before and during pregnancy.

 

Mr Speaker, implications for under-nutrition in children under five years can be grave: The human and economic costs are enormous due to impaired physical and mental development, poor cognitive development, late school enrolment, low comprehension, poor performance, and eventually low productivity for the nation. This compromised intellectual ability leads to failure to reach potential academic and professional development. Further, under-nourished children are much more likely to suffer from infection …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order, on the left and right!

 

Dr Chilufya: … and to die from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea, measles, pneumonia, malaria and the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV/AIDS). Stunting is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases in adult age.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government has taken up a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach to educate the public on the importance of the 1,000 Most Critical Days Programme. This programme tackles both direct and indirect causes of malnutrition, through direct and nutrition sensitive interventions, taking advantage of stakeholder comparative advantages.

 

The Ministry of Health is currently collaborating with the ministries of General Education and Higher Education, Agriculture, Community Development and Social Welfare and Local Government and other stakeholders in the community to ensure that the 1,000 Most Critical Days Programme is made known to the public.

 

Through the National Food and Nutrition Commission, the following is also being done:

 

1.  a strategic plan is being worked on with a very strong monitoring and evaluation component. The purpose for this strategic document is to ensure that there is effective implementation of interventions to reduce malnutrition;

 

1. a communication strategy covering all stakeholders has also been developed. Television and radio programmes have started airing, co-ordinated by the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) and also by our Directorate on Health Promotion and Social Determinants. The programme also has community sharing groups in some districts. There are plans to scale-up this method to every district in the country;

 

1. permanent secretaries from relevant ministries meet in a committee that was set up by the Secretary to Cabinet with the focus on nutrition; and

 

1. a multi-stakeholder platform has been put in place. The whole essence is to share experiences and priority actions.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, when I was growing up, I could see our mothers coming from hospitals carrying powered milk, biscuits and other nutritional foods that they would be given to give to children under five years. I would like to find out whether these programmes have continued, and if so, are they being implemented in all rural areas across the country?

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended at 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, in our re-organised approach to service delivery, we are really focusing on the community. This is not only in terms of nutrition, but also other high impact interventions. I would like to assure the hon. Member that our public health teams that are working in various communities are also weighing and measuring the children and picking out stunting and other signs of under-nutrition before the children become clinically ill. Thereafter, the children are signed onto programmes that support households in terms of nutrition and other health related interventions. In this way, we are reducing the numbers of children who are coming into hospitals with malnutrition and improving the general nutritional status in households.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

SECONDARY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN KAUMBWE

 

199. Mr L. N. Tembo (Kaumbwe) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

(a)whether the Government had any plans to construct secondary schools in Kaumbwe Parliamentary Constituency;

 

(b)if so, when the plans would be implemented;

 

(c)how many schools were earmarked for construction; and

 

(d)if there were no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Mabumba) (on behalf of the Minister of General Education) (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to providing education to the people of Zambia closer to their homes, thereby, reducing the walking distances for school children and generally the cost of education. To this effect, the Government has started, like I said when I answered his earlier question some time back, upgrading Zumaire Primary School in Mwanjawanthu Ward of Kaumbwe Parliamentary Constituency into a day secondary school. The Government has also earmarked Matonje Primary School in Manjazi Ward of Kaumbwe Parliamentary Constituency for upgrading into a secondary school.

 

The construction of Mwanjawanthu Boarding Secondary School will be considered when the current running projects are completed. Therefore, two schools are being upgraded while a new secondary school will be constricted in future. As stated above, the Government has plans to construct a boarding secondary school in Kaumbwe Parliamentary Constituency. However, this will only be undertaken once the current running projects are completed.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr L. N. Tembo: Mr Speaker, let me express my disappointment at the answers that the hon. Minister gives concerning schools in Kaumbwe Constituency.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr L. N. Tembo: The hon. Minister talked about Matonje Primary School in Manjazi Ward. This school is not in Manjazi Ward and nothing is actually happening there. The hon. Minister also talked about upgrading Zumaire Primary School. I have previously mentioned that there is nothing that is happening and no one goes to school there.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr L. N. Tembo: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that his ministry’s actions have contributed so much to early marriages and teenage pregnancies in my constituency?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr L. N. Tembo: My constituency in Petauke District is the only one that does not have a high school, not even a day one. The hon. Minister should visit Kaumbwe instead of giving wrong answers in this House.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, your task is simply to ask a question and no more. Control your temperament.

 

Mr L. N. Tembo: Mr Speaker, when is the hon. Minister visiting Kaumbwe Constituency so that he can have the facts about the projects under his ministry?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for guiding our honourable colleague to control his temperament. As you aware, I served in the Ministry of General Education for five years and I know Petauke District very well. In this district, where the hon. Member comes from, the Government has built three secondary schools. This is more than any other district in the Republic of Zambia. He should know this, unless he does not come from Petauke District. There is also Mumbi Secondary School being constructed in Petauke. This school will not be far from where the hon. Member’s village is. The purpose of constructing this school was to allow the girls he is referring to becoming pregnant to have an opportunity to go into a boarding secondary school.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mabumba: So, I am very disappointed with my honourable colleague. However, since he is friendly force, …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mabumba: … the only thing I can tell …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mabumba: … him, like I said earlier on, is that we understand the fact that Kaumbwe has been created as a new constituency and he is the representative of the people of Kaumbwe. Therefore, the Government will do its level best to ensure that there is equity. That notwithstanding, like I have said, there is a boarding secondary school that is being constructed there.

 

Sir, I think my colleague should appreciate the Government’s effort in terms of providing access to education for the people of Petauke District in general as well as Kaumbwe Constituency in particular. In this regard, we are upgrading schools such as Zumaire Primary School, although the hon. Member has disputed this fact. It is good that my counterpart in the Ministry of General Education is now here. I am sure he will look into the issues of Zumaire and Matonje Primary schools as part of our upgrading process and providing access to education for the people of Kaumbwe Constituency.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr L. N. Tembo: Mr Speaker, according to the Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto, each chiefdom is supposed to have a secondary school. Why is the hon. Minister referring to secondary schools that are in other constituencies and not in Kaumbwe, which is a separate constituency and chiefdom?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Let us have some order!

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I do not know which Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto the hon. Member is referring to. I do not want to be antagonistic. At the time when we were building secondary schools, Mwanjawanthu was supposed to be built as a secondary school, but for the reasons that I have explained, including legal issues, the Government could not construct Mwanjawanthu Secondary School. In Mumbi, which is not very far away from the hon. Member’s village, there is Mumbi Secondary School, which is a boarding school, being built so that communities which are far away can have an opportunity to send their children to this boarding secondary school. I recognise that the Ministry of General Education can go back to make further assessments in that area. We have Zumaile Basic School, which we plan on upgrading. Once it is upgraded to a day secondary school, I am sure some of the challenges the people the hon. Member represents are facing will be managed.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

MWANJAWANTHU/CHIKALAWA BORDER ROAD

 

200. Mr L. Tembo asked the Minister of Defence:

 

1. why the rehabilitation works on the Mwanjawanthu/Chikalawa Border Road were abandoned by the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) in 2015;

 

1. when the works would resume;

 

1. what the time frame for the completion of the remaining works was; and

 

1. what the total cost of the remaining works was.

 

The Minister of Defence (Mr Chama): Mr Speaker, when the Ministry of Defence took over the maintenance and construction of primary feeder roads, the former Rural Roads Unit (RRU) did not hand over the works in question neither did it indicate the reason for the abandonment of the works.

 

Sir, when the Ministry of Defence took over the responsibility of working on the primary feeder roads, through the Zambia National Service (ZNS), all provincial administrations were requested to generate primary lists of roads which needed to be worked on. To the best of my knowledge, the Mwanjawanthu/Chikalawa Border Road did not appear on the priority list for the Eastern Province.

 

Mr Speaker, the time frame and the cost of remaining works on the said road can only be determined when the provincial administration in the Eastern Province puts this road on its priority list and invites the ZNS to make assessments. In the meantime, I would like to advise the hon. Member of Parliament for Kaumbwe to present the Mwanjawanthu/Chikalawa Border Road to the provincial administration for possible inclusion on the priority list.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

 

Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata) on behalf of Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, I am a bit reluctant to ask the question because of the likely answers, but I will go ahead and ask Question 201.

 

Mr Speaker: You said you have abandoned the question.

 

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

 

Mr Mwiinga: I said Question 201.

 

Mr Speaker: Oh, I see.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF DIP TANKS IN KALOMO

 

201. Mr Mwiinga on behalf of Mr Kamboni asked the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock:

 

1. why the construction of dip tanks in Kalomo Central Parliamentary Constituency had stalled;

 

1. when the works on the project would resume; and

 

1. what the time frame for the completion of the project was.

 

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Katambo): Mr Speaker, the hon. Member was reluctant to ask his question because I am the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, who is a presidential appointee of His Excellency, the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! 

 

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, anyway, people should realise that there is a Head of State and that he is His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Lungu, and I am standing here because of him.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Katambo: He appointed me to be the hon. Minister of Fisheries and Livestock. These people need development through this Government of Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, the construction of the dip tanks in Kalamo Central Parliamentary Constituency will resume until further notice, when funds will be available.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, the time frame within which the project is to be completed is six weeks. It would have been hastened had funds been available.

 

I thank you, Sir

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

CONSTRUCTION OF KALUNGWISHI BOARDING SCHOOL

 

202. Ms Katuta (Chienge) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

1. what the way forward on the construction of Kalungwishi Boarding Secondary School in Chief Mununga’s area in Chienge District, which stalled after the death of the contractor, was;

 

1. whether a new contractor for the project had been engaged; and

 

1. if so, what the name of the contractor was.

 

The Minister of General Education (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, the contract for the construction of Kalungwishi Boarding Secondary School was awarded to Flourishing Construction Company at a total cost of K43,561,413. The project has stalled because of financial challenges after the demise of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company in January, 2016. The construction of Kalungwishi Boarding Secondary School will continue with the same contractor, who is currently in discussion with some equity partners to help finance the remaining works. It is hoped that the issue will be resolved soon so that the contractor can move back to the site and resume works.

 

Sir, the same contractor will proceed with the works once the formalities are concluded. So, there is no new contractor who has been engaged.

 

Sir, let me add that I have been informed by my colleagues that as early as tomorrow, there may be a meeting between some ministry officials and the contractor concerning this issue to map a way forward on the matter.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of the hon. Minister of General Education that the workers who were contracted by this company have not been paid for the past almost twenty months and this has caused a lot of problems for them. The cry of the people of Chienge is that is there any way the Government can intervene for them to get a little of what is owed to them by this contractor?

 

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I really feel sorry for the workers of Flourishing Company. I know that when their chief executive officer passed on, it must have created a lot of problems. However, it is not a direct responsibility of the Government to intervene in that manner. The procedure is that when a contractor has worked on a project, he is given some money on completion of certain phases. That is why I said earlier on that he is looking for an equity partner to be able to mobilise some resources that he can use upfront and recoup from the Government once certain stages have been reached, as agreed upon in the contracts. Unfortunately, that issue is not something that Government can intervene in directly.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Next question!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ng’onga rose.

 

Mr Wanchinga: I thought it was over!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Kaputa, do you have a question?

 

Mr Ng’onga: Yes, Mr Speaker. Kalungwishi Boarding School is a very important school in Chief Mununga’s area. As hon. Members may know that Kaputa and Mununga are almost one and the same except for artificial lines that have been drawn as borders. I did not get the hon. Minister clearly and I just want him to clarify when he indicated that the contractor has to reach a certain stage before he is paid some money by looking for an equity partner. Could the hon. Minister clarify whether this is a privately-financed secondary school or is it a wholly-Government financed school.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, this is a wholly government financed project.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

 

UPGRADING OF MUSONDA FALLS POWER GENERATION PLANT

 

203. Mr Ng’onga asked the Minister of Energy:

 

1. when the upgrading of the Musonda Falls Power Generation Plant would be completed;

 

1. what the current power generation capacity of the plant was;

 

1. what the capacity would be upon completion of the project.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the upgrade works at the Musonda Falls Power Generation are scheduled to be completed by November, 2017.

 

The current installed capacity of the existing Musonda Falls Power Generation Plant is 5MW. The total installed capacity at Musonda Falls Power Generation Plant will be 10MW upon completion of the project.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

_________

 

BILLS

 

REPORT STAGE

 

THE REFUGEES BILL, 2017

 

CLAUSE 8 – (Authorised Officers)

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be further amended in Clause 8, on page 16, in lines 1 to 12 by the deletion of paragraphs (3) and (4) and the substitution therefor of the following:

 

“(3)      An authorised officer or refugee officer may search a person or property with or without a warrant under subsection (2) (a) where the authorised officer or refugee officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the search is necessary for the prevention, investigation or detection of –

 

1. a contravention of the provisions of this Act; or
2. a fraudulent misstatement or concealment, by a recognised refugee or dependant of that recognised refugee, of any fact relevant to that recognised refugee’s or dependant’s identity or status for the purposes of this Act.

 

(4)        A person shall only be searched by an authorised officer or refugee officer of the same sex.”

 

Amendment agreed to. Clause further amended accordingly.

 

Clause 8, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

 

Report adopted.

 

Third Reading on Wednesday, 22^nd March, 2017.

 

THE AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OF ZAMBIA BILL, 2017

 

Report adopted.

 

Third Reading on Wednesday, 22^nd March, 2017.

 

________

 

MOTION

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

________

 

The House adjourned at 1727 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 22^nd March, 2017.