Friday, 16^th June, 2017

 

The House met at 0900 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

 

The Acting Leader of Government Business and Chief Whip (Mr Musukwa): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the Business it will consider next week.

 

Sir, on Tuesday, 20^th June, 2017, the Business of the House will begin with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then debate the Motion to Adopt the Report of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Energy and Labour.

 

Mr Speaker, on Wednesday, 21^st June, 2017, the Business of the House will start with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider a Private Member’s Motion, entitled “Contribute Money to the United Nations” to be moved by the hon. Member of Parliament for Chienge, Ms G. Katuta. This is intended to help famine-stricken parts of Africa and Yemen. After that, the House will debate the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Estimates.

 

Sir, on Thursday, 22^nd June, 2017, the Business of the House will begin with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will debate the Motion to Adopt the Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.

 

Mr Speaker, on Friday, 23^rd June, 2017, the Business of the House will commence with the Vice-President’s Question Time. Thereafter, the House will consider Questions to hon. Ministers, if there will be any. This will be followed by Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will then debate the Motion to Adopt the Report on Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

_________

 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

 

INDISCRIMINATE CUTTING OF INDIGENOUS TREES

 

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (Ms Kapata): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to render a ministerial statement on timber trade in Zambia.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the ministerial statement focuses on the progress made in curbing the indiscriminate cutting of indigenous trees such as Mukula.

 

Sir, as the House may be aware, on 31^st January, 2017, my ministry informed the nation about the measures it took in addressing the illegal harvesting and trading of indigenous trees, particularly Mukula, in accordance with Forest Act No. 4 of 2015. The measures included:

 

1. suspension of export of round wood or logs of any timber tree species, including Mukula;

 

1. banning of the transiting of trucks carrying round wood or logs of various indigenous tree species from other countries through Zambia as contained in Statutory Instrument No. 31 of 2017. This measure is aimed at curbing the illegal harvesting of trees in Zambia which are being purported to have been harvested in the neighbouring countries and transited through Zambia;

 

1. prohibition of the movement of round wood or logs for over 100 km from concession licence areas in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 50 of 2016. This measure is aimed at promoting value addition in forest concession areas and surrounding areas, thereby creating jobs;

 

1. engagement of the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to impound any trucks found transporting round wood or logs beyond a100 km radius of the forest concession area;

 

1. engagement of defence and security wings to help curb the illegal movement and trading of our natural resources; and

 

1. delegation of some functions of controlling the harvesting and trading of round wood or logs to the Provincial Ministers to work in conjunction with the Provincial Joint Operation Committees (PJOCs) in order to curb illegal timber activities.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the measures outlined above have yielded positive results. Between February and May, 2017, a total of 466 trucks carrying Mukula logs suspected to have been illegally harvested were intercepted and detained in various parts of the country.   

 

Sir, further, between 24^th April, 2017 and 23^rd May, 2017, the Central Joint Operation Committee (CJOC), together with officers from my ministry, ZRA and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) conducted a verification exercise aimed at ascertaining whether the impounded trucks had legal documentation to transit through Zambia. The exercise revealed that 272 trucks had the necessary documentation, while 194 did not have any.

 

Mr Speaker, in order to build on the earlier efforts to curb illegal timber activities, my ministry has now put in place the following measures:

 

(a)        all the 272 trucks carrying logs that have legal documentation to transit through Zambia are being                       released and allowed to proceed to their respective destinations;

 

(b)        the 194 trucks carrying logs that do not have supporting documentation will be dealt with on a case by               case basis in accordance with the laws of Zambia;

 

(c)        banned the export of all types of timber species until further notice. This measure is aimed at promoting             value addition and attracting investment in the timber industry;

 

(d)        allowed concession licences to continue operating and supplying timber to the local industry in order to               empower local people and ensure sustainable operations of the timber industry;

 

(e)        continued to issue production and conveyance permits in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 50               of 2016, namely the Forest Concession Licence Regulations;

 

(f)         put in place appropriate policy and legal framework to facilitate the establishment of the value addition               enterprises in the country in the shortest possible time;

 

(g)        continued to engage stakeholders in the timber industry to ensure sustainable management of forest                   resources; and

 

(h)        developed Draft Community Forest Management Regulations that will ensure participation of local                       communities in sustainable forest management.

 

 In addition to the above-stated measures, my ministry has commenced the process of revising Act No. 24 of 2015 of the Laws of Zambia in order to stiffen the penalties relating to the illegal harvest and trade in forestry products. The amendment Bill will soon be presented on the Floor of this House.

 

Sir, as I conclude, I wish to inform the House that the extra measures that have been put in place by my ministry are aimed at ensuring that our forest resources are preserved for the present and future generations without threatening the sustainable social economic development of this country.

 

My ministry has resolved to put in place measures in order to improve the conservation and management of forest resources. Furthermore, my ministry shall ensure and facilitate the effective participation of local communities in the development of relevant policies, plans and programmes in line with the Patriotic Front’s (PF) Manifesto and the Constitution of Zambia.

 

I wish to appeal to the Zambians to be patriotic in the management of forests.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

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

 

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, I am happy with the stringent measures that the Government has put in place to control the extraction of natural resources, particularly the Mukula tree.

 

Sir, since the Government’s core business is to provide policy guidelines, can we not seek the services of companies like the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) to help sell the Mukula and other products on the open market?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, we have involved ZAFFICO. The Mukula logs that have been confiscated will be surrendered to ZAFFICO so that they can be ‘exposed’ on behalf of the Government.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, allow me to commend the hon. Minister and the Government for taking action to save our timber and woodlands in this country. However, this has resulted in dire consequences. For instance, most people in Kaputa get their timber from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where there are more trees than there are on our side. The ban has affected them to an extent where those who are building are unable to roof their houses. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what plans have been put in place to look at this issue case by case in areas like Kaputa that have suffered negative consequences arising from a good measure that has been put in place.

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, before I respond to Hon. Ng’onga’s question, I wish to make a correction on the answer I gave to the earlier question. I used the word “expose” but meant to say dispose off.

 

Mr Musukwa: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kapata: Sir, we have come up with Statutory Instrument No. 31 which prohibits the transit of Mukula tree into Zambia. We cannot change the law to accommodate a particular community. We have enough timber for construction in this country.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Zimba (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, the ban on the export of Mukula tree is very good. However, I would like to find out what we, in collaboration with our co-operating partners and line ministries, are doing in regard to the addition of value to the Mukula tree in order to harness the benefits locally.

 

Sir, secondly, ...

 

Mr Mukosa: Iwe, sit down! It is one question at a time.

 

Mr Zimba: What are we going to do about the trucks that are laden with Mukula logs that have been seized and are found wanting?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, currently, there are about eighteen valid export permits. Most people export timber which is value added. This is what we, as the Government, are encouraging. We would like the people in the Far East or other places who are importing timber to come and invest in Zambia and add value to our timber. The same trees that come from Zambia are used to make furniture. Even the furniture we sit on here in Parliament comes from China. Why can we not have this furniture made in Zambia? The Government wants value to be added to the Mukula logs within Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, as regards the trucks that have been impounded, I mentioned that we would scrutinise the transporters case by case. Those that will be found wanting will forfeit the logs to the Government. Further, the transporters also risk having the trucks forfeited to the State if it is proved that they belong to the owners of the Mukula logs that they are carrying. However, trucks that were merely hired to transport the logs will be released to the owners. 

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: Just a reminder hon. Members. Only one question is allowed per Member.

 

Mr C. Zulu (Luangeni): Mr Speaker, in the recent past, we have heard hon. Ministers making pronouncements on the ban of various items but, a couple of months later, the same stuff is back on the market. I have in mind the ban on the sale of tujilijili an alcoholic drink. We banned the drink and put in place measures to sustain the ban but, lately, we have seen the drink back on the market. What measures is the hon. Minister going to put in place to sustain the ban?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member for that question. Yes, I mentioned that we are going to stiffen the penalties that are in Forest Act No. 4 of 2015 by adding a custodial sentence to it. Once some people are arrested and sentenced to prison, that will deter many people from harvesting timber illegally. We are going to come up with stiffer penalties. That way, we will be able to control the vice.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I would like to commend the hon. Minister for the steps the ministry is taking to safeguard our resources. I am reliably informed that once the Mukula logs are forfeited to the State, they are auctioned. In some instances, the logs are sold depending on where the forfeiture took place. As the ban is being effected, has the ministry put in place measures to ensure that those who bought the Mukula logs through the Office of the Sheriff of Zambia are able to transport them to their preferred destination?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, we have had a meeting with the Chief Justice and we advised that the Office of the Sheriff of Zambia stops auctioning the Mukula logs on behalf of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Letters have since been written to all the Sheriffs across the country, asking them to stop auctioning the logs. What was happening was that the people who bought the logs from the auction would go into the forest and harvest more trees and then transport the new logs together with the auctioned ones. We have cut that line and have since engaged the Zambia Forestation Forestry Industrial Corporation (ZAFFICO) to sell the logs on our behalf and the proceeds go into Control 99 which is under the Ministry of Finance. ZAFFICO has sold timber before on behalf of the Government.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Mr Speaker, I wish to find out from the hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources the estimated value of the timber on the 194 trucks which do not have valid documents for the timber?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I might not have the figures at my finger tips, but it is believed that a container of timber in the Far East fetches as much as US$80,000.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: I take it that the hon. Member for Kanyama has withdrawn the request to ask a question.

 

Ms E. Phiri indicated assent.

 

Dr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, when we were young, we used to play in the bush not with computers. We used to meet men called kapendamabulas dressed in green overalls on bicycles. Due to the forest rangers, this issue …

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, could you translate that word.

 

Dr Kambwili: It means forest rangers, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Please, continue.

 

Dr Kambwili: There was no illegal harvesting of trees then. What has happened to the kapendamabulas? How staffed is the ministry in terms of forest rangers so that we can fight this scourge once and for all?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member for Roan for that question. Yes, the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is understaffed. We have since requested for authority from the Treasury to see employ more forest rangers.

 

Mr Speaker, we also want to work in collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism and Arts, and Fisheries and Livestock that have people on the ground so that if we have one person in a certain area, he/she can look after trees, animals and fish so that we do not have two people in one area, but each one looking after their own department.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what the time frame is for collecting all the Mukula logs wherever they are for disposal. I ask because some of the Mukula logs that were confiscated are going to waste at police stations like Chisamba. When you drive past Chisamba Police Station, you will see some Mukula logs that are going to waste because of being soaked in the rain while others have been attacked by termites. What time frame have you set to ensure that the Mukula logs are collected and sold before they lose value?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Member for that question. At the moment, the armed forces are on the ground collecting the Mukula logs that is in different parts of the country. We want all the logs that are being collected to be transported at the same time to avoid people transporting illegally acquired logs in between times. We are very careful this time around and we mean business.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the statement and …

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lufuma: … the action that has been taken. The hon. Minister rightly talked about sustainable management of forest resources. Banning exports of timber is a step towards sustainability. However, the cutting of timber and other timber species will continue locally. What steps or measures has the ministry put in place to ensure that there is afforestation of the specific timber species, that is, Mukula, rose wood, etcetera, etcetera.

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, to increase afforestation, there is an annual National Tree Planting Day. Each year, we task every district to plant, at least, twenty hectares of trees at the launch of the National Tree Planting Day. The good news is that we have a trial field for Mukula somewhere on the Copperbelt, notwithstanding that it takes a hundred years for the tree to mature. We hope that the trees can grow so that we replicate the project in every province or district. We are not growing the tree for ourselves, but for future generations.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Siwale (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, the presence of security personnel in Mafinga has sent the local people running for their lives because they think that there is war in Zambia. Could the hon. Minister confirm that security personnel are only there to keep away people who cut the Mukula tree? Also, people who were logging the Mukula in the district have abandoned thousands of logs for fear of being apprehended. What measures has the ministry put in place to utilise the logs because some people are burning them in fear of the law?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, those who are scared are the culprits because our armed forces are peaceful and are in that part of the country to lookout for people who engage in illegal timber transactions. I have toured the Central and Northern provinces and have seen the many logs that have been abandoned in the bush. The Central Joint Operation Committee (CJOC) is aware about this and will collect the timber logs that are lying around in the countryside, including those that are on trucks.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Jamba (Mwembezhi): Mr Speaker, at what stage does the Mukula tree have value for it to be exported because I have noticed that some people just remove the bark?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, there are companies in Zambia which are run by foreigners that use the timber to make parkay tiles. Others make different pieces of furniture for export. This brings revenue into the country and creates the much-needed jobs. Initially, as a ministry, we allowed timber traders to use the timber to make square boxes. To our surprise, they would only use the first 30 m of the log and leave the rest in containers. The first compartment of the container would have timber while the second and third would have round logs. So, they only have themselves to blame for the measures we have taken. As the Government, we will not allow the illegality to continue. For now, we want to ensure that there is complete value addition to the wood before it is exported.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Mr Speaker, firstly, I wish to start by commending you and your staff for uplifting the outlook of the Assembly Chamber by installing new microphones.

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear! Ema compliments, aya!

 

Mr Simbao: Secondly, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the ministry has conducted research to establish the size of the market for Mukula timber in China and in Zambia? Also, has a survey been carried out to establish how many cubic metres of Mukula there are in Zambia?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, allow me to read part of the report that I presented to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia. There are 220 tree species in Zambia, out of which twenty-eight are commercially viable. So, there are about 3,178,000 cu m of grown stock at the moment and 2.74 billion tonnes of biomass. Commercial timber accounts for 404 million cu m and only about 128.4 cu m is cultivated per hectare. I hope I have answered the hon. Member of Parliament’s question although I did not anticipate it.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: If he has any further queries, I am sure he will ask over a cup of tea.

 

Mr Mecha (Chifunabuli): Mr Speaker, allow me to commend the hon. Minister for promoting value addition. However, what incentive mechanism has her ministry put in place to motivate genuine investment in order for this nation to maximise benefits?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, we have not stopped local timber trading. If the trading is done in the confines of the law as stipulated in Forest Act No.4 of 2015, traders will have no problems. Problems will only arise if traders disregard the regulations in the statute.

 

 The regulation that most traders complain about disallows the movement of timber beyond 100 km of the concession area. If the traders want to move the timber beyond 100 km, they have to add a bit of value to it. By adding value to the timber, the owner of the concession creates employment the local area.

 

Further, if the traders add value to the timber, they will be allowed to export it. I hope, I have answered your question, hon. Member.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

 

Mrs Jere (Lumezi): Mr Speaker, I appreciate the disposal of the confiscated Mukula logs by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

 

I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether any plans have been put in place to inform the nation quarterly or bi-annually about how much is realised from the sale of the confiscated Mukula logs?

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, when the confiscated Mukula logs are sold, we will come back to the House and give a ministerial statement on how much will be realised from the sale. Further, when the export of Mukula logs is Government-driven, we shall give timely reports on the logs exported.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chiteme (Nkana): Mr Speaker, before the ban on the export of Mukula logs, the Government allowed the Office of the Sheriff of Zambia to auction the logs. At that time, some people paid for the logs. Now that the Mukula logs have been impounded, when will the people be reimbursed? 

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, not much was realised from the sale of Mukula logs by the Office of the Sheriff of Zambia. I do not know if the hon. Member of Parliament for Nkana was here when I said that we have since stopped the sheriff’s office from auctioning the logs on behalf of the Government. This is because not much has being realised from the sale.

 

The Government will reimburse thosewho paid for the Mukula logs through the sheriff’s office, as they will not be allowed to export the commodity anymore.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

PERFORMANCE OF THE UNDER-20 ZAMBIA NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM AT 2017 FIFA UNDER-20 WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT

 

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Mawere): Mr Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to make a statement to this august House on the performance of the Under-20 Zambia National Football Team at the just ended 2017 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Under-20 World Cup Tournament held in Korea, from 20^th May to 11^th June, 2017.

 

Mr Speaker, the Under-20 World Cup is the second largest global football tournament organised by FIFA. It is held every four years, preceding the Senior World Cup tournament. Twenty-four countries, including the host country, the Republic of Korea, qualified and competed in the tournament.

 

Mr Speaker, it is worth noting that in 2016, the Under-20 Zambia National Football Team participated in the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Men’s Cup which was held in South Africa where the team was crowned champions after beating South Africa.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mawere: Further, the Under-20 National Football Team participated in the 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Zambia from 26^th February to 12^th March, 2017, at which they were crowned African champions.

 

Sir, the four teams, namely Guinea, South Africa, Senegal and Zambia that reached the semi-finals at the AFCON Tournament in Zambia automatically qualified to the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup held in Korea.

 

Mr Speaker, our gallant Under-20 National Football Team put up a spirited fight in Korea and were among the top eight in the world.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mawere: The team participated in five matches, that is, from group stage to the quarter finals. At group stage, Zambia was and Portugal, the former defending champions, Costa Rica and Iran were in Group C. On 21^st May, 2017, Zambia beat Portugal 2-1. On 24^th May, 2017, Zambia beat Iran 4-2.

 

In the final game against Costa Rica, which was a mere formality, Zambia lost 1-0. With this performance, Zambia was leading the group with six points, followed by Portugal with four. Zambia, therefore, qualified to the Round of 16. During the Round of 16, Zambia was pegged with Germany. The match took place in Jeju on 31^st May, 2017. Zambia beat Germany 4-3 after extra time, thereby qualifying to the Quarter Finals.

 

After the Quarter Finals, Zambia was pegged with Italy and the match took place on 5^th June, 2017. Zambia lost 4-3. This was after a gallant performance by our young men in extra time.

 

Mr Speaker, this was the first time that the Zambia Under-20 National Football Team had reached the quarter finals in the Under-20 FIFA World Cup Tournament. The outstanding performance by the Under-20 National Football Team is attributable to a well co-ordinated and harnessed Talent Identification Programme during community sports activities and other school sports events which gave youths the right exposure. The team was exposed to regional, continental and international competitions before playing in the Under-20 World Cup Football Tournament.

 

The team received financial and material support from both the Government and private sector. The Government facilitated the team travel to the training camp in Spain before competing in both the Under-20 AFCON and Under-20 World Cup tournaments.

 

Mr Speaker, the development and facilitation of the Under-20 Team to compete favourably in the just-ended Under-20 FIFA World Cup was not without challenges. You may wish to note that it takes eight years to develop an athlete to elite level, which our Under-20 Zambia National Football Team has attained.

 

Mr Speaker, assembling and maintaining the Under-20 National Football Team for about four years has not been easy. The challenges faced include, among others:

 

1. inadequate finances to procure sports equipment and continuously undertaking talent identification and developmental activities across the nation;

 

1. inadequate investment by the private sector in sports development. However, allow me to put it on record that we appreciate the contribution by Airtel Zambia through the Airtel Rising Stars National Talent Identification Programme, which has equally contributed to the better performance of the team during all the tournaments;

 

1. inadequate football academies which offer professional football training sessions and develop technical abilities to young players through specialised football development so that talent can be properly harnessed; and

 

1. inadequate qualified high performance football coaches who can offer professional football training sessions.

 

Mr Speaker, in view of the identified challenges, there is a need for concerted effort from all the stakeholders, as most of the funds come from the Government so far.

 

Mr Speaker, my ministry, under the hardworking leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will continue to come up with policies on sport, especially for majority of youths, that are aimed at contributing to the development of the country. The Government will also continue working with the private sector to enhance increased investment in sport. Further, investment in infrastructure such as ultra modern stadia like Levy Mwanawasa and National Heroes will be encouraged so as to attract more young people to play football and other sports at professional level.

 

Mr Speaker, to expand the pool of talented youth to represent the country at different international sports competitions, my ministry and other partners have come up with other interventions such as:

 

Designing the Podium Performance Programme (PPP)

 

The programme is designed to nurture highly talented athletes to reap medals at regional, continental and world competitions. In this regard, there is a need for adequate funding to this programme in order to develop football teams.

 

Establishment of the Centre of Excellence

 

The Centre of Excellence has been established at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC), aimed at having a specialised football academy and other sports. This should be fully equipped in order to develop athletes in a holistic manner. That is, making them appreciate the science of sport and the importance of strength and conditioning, and nutrition.

 

Development of the Sport Education and Accreditation System (SEAS)

 

This is a platform which has been developed to harmonise coaches’ qualifications, including those for football, in order to upgrade them from the minimum Confederation of African Football  (CAF) Licence C to the highest CAF Pro-licence approved by world sports federations such as FIFA and International Amateur Athletes Federation (IAAF). This will enable coaches to train young players to reach professional level.

 

Review of the National Sports Act and National Sports Policy

 

This is an important undertaking that will help to bring the two documents in tandem with trends in world sports development. The review would also take into consideration emerging issues such as sport incentives.

 

Development of Infrastructure

 

This is one of the core programmes which my ministry is implementing to enhance mass participation in sports and talent identification. The programme includes the construction and rehabilitation of stadia and sports complexes at national, provincial and district levels. Adequate facilities will increase the number of football teams in all the age categories from which talent can be tapped for all national teams.

 

Introduction of Grassroots Sports

 

This is aimed at boosting mass participation in sports, including football in communities in order to encourage healthy lifestyles and identify talent at an early stage. The talent can be nurtured from specialised football academies in communities.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to say that with increased financial investments in the interventions, my ministry will continue improving the performance of players at regional, continental and world competitions so as to bring glory to Mother Zambia and, subsequently, qualify to the World Cup.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement given by the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development.

 

Mr Malama (Nchelenge): Mr Speaker, what incentives has the Government given to the Under-20 National Football Team for its performance at the World Cup? I recall that there were challenges during the last Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In view of this, what have the youths been given?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, we have given our young men who have brought glory to this country numerous incentives. Firstly, we have given them a platform through which they have excelled in their careers. We kept them together for almost six months before we took them to the last Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Tournament. We, then, took them to Spain for more training before they could participate in the 2017 Under-20 AFCON Tournament. Later on, we took them back to Spain to prepare for the Under-20 World Cup Tournament.

 

From there, most of the players have been taken up by serious clubs where the boys are being rewarded handsomely. As a country, we are still considering how else we can empower or support them. However, I think the bigger picture is that they are now able to excel in their careers. The sky is not the limit.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for that elaborate statement. What are the ministry and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) doing about replacing those tired legs in the Senior National Football Team, considering the commendable performance of the Under-20 National Football Team?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the ministry is equally concerned about the performance of the Senior National Football Team, especially after the last game it played against Mozambique. For now, the Government has left it to the technical team to realign itself. So, that is the stage at which we are.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, football, and sport in general have become scientific. Almost all countries now have stand-alone universities for sport. When I was at the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development, we had started negotiations with Luanshya Copper Mines Plc to release the Roan Antelope sports facility to the Government so that it can be turned into a university. May I know how far that programme has gone and whether you are aware of such plans.

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, that issue is being followed up. We discovered that the facility belongs to a private institution. We are trying to negotiate with the instituion so that we can partner with it to turn the facility into an academy for sport.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mwamba (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, I am happy that the hon. Minister is doing fine in that ministry, especially that the Under-20 National Football Team has brought glory to Zambia.

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwamba: There are forty sports teams in my constituency. Ten are netball teams for girls and thirty are football teams. I am sure there are such teams everywhere in rural constituencies.

 

Hon. Government Members:  Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwamba: What is the ministry doing to ensure that rural areas benefit from its allocation in  the National Budget?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the ministry has come up with a programme called Community Sports, which encourages the development of sports in both rural and urban communities. The ministry is also in the process of procuring equipment and materials which will enable us to put up community sports facilities. Football is one of the sports that will be taken care of under this programme.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, the Under-20 National Football Team reached the quarter finals in South Korea and I am sure many Zambians watched that game. The Italian team had ten men against our team of eleven. The information I have is that Italy gave its boys some incentives to make them win that match. May I learn from the hon. Minister whether we also gave our lads some form of incentive so that they could win the quarter final.

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has always had incentives for players. There is always a bonus when they win a game or draw. The players were fully aware of what was at stake. They were also aware that there was an incentive for them if they won that game.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Phiri (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, the Senior National Football Team has disappointed us. The Under-20 National Football Team will no longer compete in the Under-20 games in future because the players will be over-age then. Does the ministry have any plan to constitute a team now that will take over from the current Under-20 National Soccer Team?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, I am happy to learn that even our mothers watch football.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mawere: The Government and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have put a plan in place to prepare the Under-15, Under-17, Under-20, Under-23 and Senior national soccer teams for their next stages because we are cognisant of the fact that the Under-17 Team will become the Under-20 Team and so on and so forth.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, as I understood the question, granted the preface, I think that it was in relation to the reconstitution of the Senior National Football Team.

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, with regard to the reconstitution of the Senior National Football Team, I will leave that to the Technical Bench of the team.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I am sure the hon. Minister has heard about people who have distanced themselves from the dismal performance of the ‘Northern Rhodesia Football Team’. What programme is the ministry putting in place at provincial level to ensure that we begin to tap talent across the country? The Under-20 National Football Team performed very well. What plans does the ministry have for Central Province, for instance, where almost all sports teams lack infrastructure and, therefore, cannot advance to play in the league games or national teams?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, all the sports disciplines have associations, and it is through the associations that they are promoted. The Government only provides guidance and policy direction. We have advised the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to reach all parts of the country and I am happy to report that FAZ has heeded our advice, as I have seen it go to all the provinces to support Divisions II and III football teams to promote soccer. Definitely, Kabwe is not an exception, as FAZ will go there.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Zimba: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister outlined various programmes for players in different sports disciplines, especially football. However, I have not heard him mention any plan for coaches that are aimed at improving the standard of coaching in the country. Looking at the dismal performance of the Senior National Football Team, are we now considering engaging an expatriate coach?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, in my ministerial statement, I have indicated that the ministry has developed programmes which will enhance coaching performance or create a pool of coaches from which we can draw coaches and use them to enhance the various sports disciplines in Zambia.

 

Mr Chali: They are there!

 

Mr Mawere: We call this a performance programme. We have the Centre of Excellence, the Olympic Youth Development (OYDC), which can provide these facilities. It is the desire of this Government that it does not use foreign human resource. We should have our own human resource to develop sports.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr M. K. Tembo (Sinda): Mr Speaker, what incentives are there for the gallant boys after reaching the quarter final stage of the tournament? I wish to find out how much the bonus that will be given to them is. The nation wants to know how much he has prepared for the gallant boys.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister has already responded to that question. Please, follow the responses.

 

Amb. Malanji (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, if I heard the hon. Minister right, he said that the Government has left the Talent Identification Programmes to the various organisations of sports disciplines. However, back in the olden days, when one stood by an outlet for the Zambia Consumer Buying Corporation (ZCBC) on a Saturday, he/she would see, at least, two or three vehicles drive past loaded with either tennis or squash rackets or parents taking their children for football. There were inter-schools football tournaments then. However, at the moment, we have a bigger portion of sports hardware than software. We spend more on hardware than software. The two stadia that we have in Ndola and Lusaka, …

 

Mr Chalwe: Ni ministerial statement nangu ni question?

 

Laughter

 

Amb. Malanji: … are worth millions of dollars but, when you look at the software that we have, that is, human resource, …

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Amb. Malanji: … it is incomparable to the hardware.

 

Mr Chalwe: Ema ministerial statement na ma potential Ministers, aya!

 

Laughter

 

Amb. Malanji: What is the Government doing to ensure that there is co-ordination between the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development and Ministry of General Education in  order harness the teaching of Physical Education (PE) in schools.

 

Mr Chalwe: Hear, hear! Ema ministerial statements, aya!

 

Mr Mawere: Thank you, hon. Member for Kwacha for that important question.

 

Sir, lately, sports activities in learning institutions have reduced. The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development and other line ministries like General and Higher Education have revised the curriculum so as to make Physical Education (PE) an examinable subject. So, all the schools should engage in competitive sports so that we make it easy for sports associations to identify and tap talent from schools.

 

As I have indicated in my statement, the members of the Under-20 National Football Team were picked from schools and other soccer academies. So, the Government has appreciated the need to create a platform or environment where sports associations can identify talent.

 

So, I can definitely assure the hon. Member of Parliament that we are doing what he has proposed. As the Government, we will not just end with the schools, but will also go to the community sports facilities.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kabanda: Mr Speaker, now that Zambia is on the World Map in terms of football development, what bankable business proposals have we developed to attract investment in this field?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, firstly, the Government wants to create an environment that will enable the private sector to invest in sports. Above all, we have developed sports men and women of international standard. Through that, we believe the private sector will have confidence in investing in various sports disciplines. The world over, sports have become a big business and you cannot go into it if you have sports men and women who cannot compete in international tournaments. So, as the Government, we are laying the ground for athletes who can compete at international level before the private sector can come in.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr W. Banda (Milanzi): Mr Speaker, I am aware that there is a programme that was initiated by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) in which football equipment was distributed in Chipata. May I find out when this programme will be extended to Katete.

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, that programme was meant to assist or support teams which are in Division II or III. I believe there are teams in Katete that are in these categories and they should be one of those who have benefited from the sports kits.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr L. Tembo (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, we all appreciate that the hon. Minister is in charge of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Child Development. However, he tends to talk more about football than he does other sports disciplines. Does he consider that they are other sports disciplines like netball? Every time he comes to this House, he talks about football.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr L. Tembo: Why is the hon. Minister failing to strike a balance between sports activities?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, ...

 

Ms Kalima: Osakalipa pokonsha, wewo!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mawere: ... firstly, we need to appreciate that football is a popular sport in Zambia. However, that does not take my attention away from the other sports disciplines.

 

For instance, Sir, the First Lady and I attended a prize giving ceremony for golfers at Taj Pamodzi Hotel the day before yesterday. I am involved in all sports disciplines, including netball and basketball. Many hon. Members in this House support various sports disciplines and I have interacted with them there.

 

Mr Speaker, football just happens to be a popular sport which attracts almost every Zambian. That is why it seems like I am more concerned about football than I am with other sports disciplines. Most people do not pay attention to the times when I am at events for other sports disciplines.

 

Sir, the media should also shift their focus in terms of reporting and embrace other sports disciplines. The media seems to report more on football than other sports disciplines.

 

Mr Speaker, the Zambians also need to embrace all sports disciplines. We hosted a basketball event at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) this year, but very few Zambians came to support the Zambian team. However, when there is a football tournament, everyone goes to support the team.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Jamba: Mr Speaker, those who have played football know that the peak age for every player is around twenty-five or twenty-six. What happens in football is that players lose steam as they grow older. I have noticed that when players graduate from the Under-20 Team to the senior team, they seem to finish. Have you ...

 

Mr Speaker: What do you mean by “they become finished”?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Jamba: That is a football term that means that the performance of the players goes down.

Sir, is there any mechanism that can be used to ascertain the age of players in different age groups other than birth certificates that can be manipulated? Some players who are known to be under twenty look older than my child who completed school last year. This is costing the national team.

 

Hon. Government Members: Ah!

 

Mr Jamba: How else can the ages of players be ascertained?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, there are categories of tournaments. There is the development phase which has different age groups. For instance, there are Under-15, Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 teams, but there is no age limit for the senior team. Even those who are being called ‘Northern Rhodesians’ are allowed to play for as long as they are able to play and the technical team is convinced that they can play. It would be difficult for me to explain the exact measures we can put in place to determine one’s age. The measure that we have at the moment is the performance of the athlete.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mrs Jere: Mr Speaker, a lot has already been said relating to focus being placed on football as opposed to other sports disciplines. So, I will not speak on that.

 

Sir, is there a concrete plan to empower the millions of youths who have nothing to do other than to participate in sports activities? In a country like ours, not everybody can be an athlete.

 

Mr Speaker: My sense of the question is that you have moved away from the ministerial statement and are talking about youth in general and other activities other than football. Am I correct in understanding you so?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: I know it is difficult to respond using this technology.

 

Laughter

 

Mrs Jere: Well, I assumed your microphone was connected but, if you think it is not, then, that is okay. I believe the message has been driven home.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Very well.

 

Mr Mwewa (Mwansabombwe): Mr Speaker, let me congratulate the gallant Zambia Under-20 National Football Team on its spectacular performance. However, I am saddened by the hon. Minister’s response when he said that we need to rely on the Zambia Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) to train the coaching staff in Zambia. That is an insult to us football lovers in Zambia.

 

Sir, I will take you back to Zambia versus ...

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, you need to withdraw the word “insult”. I think it is inappropriate in the circumstances. If you have a different perspective, then, just put across your perspective. If you say it is an insult, the hon. Minister may also want to defend his position that it is not an insult. Thus, we may construct a dialogue against that subject. If you have a perspective which you would want to advance, please, do so. I would like to believe that he never intended to insult anybody by whatever he said. That is my supposition.

 

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance. I have been looking for a better term to use, but cannot find one.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Try!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, I think the performance of our football teams is demeaning. I love soccer and I run a football organisation which is in Division II. The game between Zambia and Germany was a wakeup call for us. Zambia was ahead of Germany by two goals but, within two to three minutes, Germany equalised. The same thing happened during the game between Zambia and Italy. Italy was down by a goal but Germany scored five minutes before the end of the game. This was a manifestation of the infidelity of the technical bench. I was wondering why the players could not defend that goal.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: It is like you want to reverse history.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Continue.

 

Mr Mwewa: Sir, I could tell that the technical bench was not doing its job. I, therefore, expect the hon. Minister to tell us what should be done next. If we rely on the OYDC where there are no proper facilities to train coaches, where are we heading to as a country? If countries such as England with all its facilities can hire expatriate coaches from Spain and other countries, what about Zambia? We know that we do not have proper infrastructure to train coaches in Zambia. It is better to call a spade a spade.

 

Mr Speaker, what is the ministry doing about the training of coaches in order to improve football in Zambia? The boys are skilled, but the problem is that we lack a technical team to give them professional guidance.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, it is my duty to create opportunities for Zambians, especially youths. Coaches will be given the same opportunities for training as those given to footballers.

 

Mr Speaker, our position is to utilise the available resources in Zambia. We can only acquire resources from outside Zambia if we feel we do not have enough resources locally. Following the performance of the Under-20 National Football Team in the recent tournament, people have been criticising the technical team which enabled us to win the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments. This is the same technical team that was on the bench when Zambia beat Portugal and Germany. I, therefore, appreciate people’s concerns. I know that the players could have defended the goals. I do not wish to go into those details. All that I can say is that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development are working together. In future, all these mistakes will be lessened. If it means sending the coach for further training, we shall do so. For now, bringing in an expatriate coach is food for thought.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, the people of Chimwemwe were not happy with the video technology that was used at the just-ended tournament in South Korea. The second equalising goal by Italy in the quarter finals was from a free-kick which could have been avoided in the first place. The hon. Minister travelled to South Korea to represent the country. So, we would like to know why the technical bench failed to petition the goal which saw Italy equalise and, ultimately, win the game?

 

Mr Speaker: I appreciate the passion for this game.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, I have the same passion that my colleague has expressed. The hon. Member thinks we were unfairly treated, as such situations were easily reversed in other games. We should not be ‘cry babies’ because the tournament is over. We cannot pursue a dead horse. As a country, we should just look forward to performance better in tournaments to come.

 

Mr Speaker, we must appreciate that the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was experimenting with that technology because it wants to use it in next year’s World Cup Tournament. It is not yet perfected. It is unfortunate that it disadvantaged us. Otherwise, we should thank God that we competed favourably in the tournament. Out of all the countries in the world, Zambia is one of the eight countries that reached the quarter finals of the tournament. That should make us proud.

I thank you, Sir.

 

__________

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL NO. 5

 

257. Mr Chaatila (Moomba) (on behalf of Mr Lufuma (Kabompo)) asked the Minister of Gender:

 

1. what measures the Government had taken to meet sustainable development goal (SDG) No. 5 on gender equality and women empowerment; and

 

1. what measures had been planned for in 2017 so as to increase female gender representation to 50 per cent in key decision-making positions.

 

The Minister of Gender (Ms Kalima): Mr Speaker, the Government facilitated the enactment of Gender Equity and Equality Act of 2015 which domesticated the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development.

 

Mr Speaker, the Gender Equity and Equality Act seeks to promote women’s economic empowerment by providing an enabling legal framework for improving women’s access to land, finance and market information to increase productivity and thus reduce poverty.

 

Further, Sir, the Government is implementing the Agriculture Development through Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) Project which is empowering women in the agriculture sector through mechanisation and promotion of gender-responsive planning and budgeting in all sectors of the economy to ensure equity between men and women, and boys and girls in development.

 

Mr Speaker, in 2017, the Ministry of Gender will facilitate and promote entrepreneurship and skills training, and expose, at least, 4,000 women to enabling technology in order to support their …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1040 hours until 1100 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that in 2017, the Ministry of Gender will facilitate and promote entrepreneurship and skills training, and exposure, at least, 4,000 women to enabling technology to support their pursuit of decision-making positions, especially in the agriculture sector. In addition, 14,000 girls will be put in school through the Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihood (JEWEL) Project. So far, 6,524 girls have been put in school and it is anticipated that they will complete secondary school education and proceed to tertiary education. This will increase the number of females qualified to take up decision-making positions.

 

Further, the Government will continue to partner and engage various stakeholders to implement projects such as the He for She, Boys to Men and the Women at Work, which seeks to mentor young women for leadership positions, among others.

 

 In addition, the Ministry of Gender will hold awareness meetings with political parties on the need to promote gender equity and equality at all levels of political party structures and produce periodic reports on the state of gender equity and equality implementation in the country.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

STAFF HOUSES FOR AGRICULTURAL CAMPS IN CHITAMBO

 

258. Mr Mutale (Chitambo) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development when the construction of staff houses for Agricultural Camp Officers at the following camps in Chitambo District would commence:

 

(a)        Kasuko; and

 

(b)        Chipundu.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, the Government is aware of the lack of accommodation for camp extension officers in Kasuko and Chipundu agricultural camps in Chitambo District. The construction of agricultural camp houses in various parts of the country will be considered for inclusion in the 2018 Budget. Priority will be given to newly-created districts such as Chitambo.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

CHIPATA/CHADIZA/CHANIDA AND CHADIZA/KATETE ROADS

 

259. Mr S. Tembo (Chadiza) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

(a)        when the tarring of the following roads in Eastern Province would resume:

 

            (i)         Chipata/Chadiza/Chanida; and

            (ii)        Chadiza/Katete

 

(b)        what the cost of each project was;

 

(c)        whether Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) had been submitted by the contractor for each project and, if so, how many had been submitted as of 31^st January, 2017;

 

(d)        what the total amount of the IPCs for each project was; and

 

(e)        how much money had been paid against the IPCs for each project.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, Chipata/Chadiza/Chanida and Chadiza/Katete is one road project being implemented by China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The tarring of the road has resumed and the contractor is on site. The total contract sum is K856,110,428.14, Value Added Tax (VAT) inclusive.

 

Mr Speaker, fifteen IPCs were submitted by the contractor as of 31^st January, 2017, and the total amount is K327,661,933.66. The total amount paid is K181, 231,559.69.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr S. Tembo: Mr Speaker, as the hon. Minister stated, the contractor is on site but doing literally nothing because no payment has been made.

 

Sir, Chadiza is one of the oldest districts in the province. It is situated 72 km from Chipata and 25 km from the Great East Road. However, the road connecting it to Chipata has not been tarred since Independence. Gravel has been piled up on the old road which is supposed to be worked and has not been levelled for the past three years. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when the contractor is going to spread out the gravel in order to enable us to use the road since there is no sign of it being tarred soon.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I will give a catalogue of events that have taken place on the Chipata/Chadiza/Chanida and Chipata/Katete Road Project. The contractor resumed work in March this year. However, there have been different demands from various stakeholders. For instance, the District Commissioner (DC) requested that the contractor should go through Katete as he worked on the road to Chipata. So, when the contractor resumed work, he was given instructions by the district administration to open up a portion of the road from Chadiza to Chipata. This far, the contractor has done about 66 km of the earth works.

 

While the contractor was working on this portion of the road, he received a request from the provincial administration to tar the4 km stretch that links Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s palace to the main road in view of the upcoming Kulamba Kubwalo Traditional Ceremony. So, we requested the contractor to pay particular attention to the tarring of that portion of the road. Works on the road that leads to Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s palace are in progress.

 

The contractor has assured us that the works will be complimented by the end of August, 2017 before the ceremony takes place, after which works on the other parts of the road will resume.

 

 

Mr Speaker, we have engaged various stakeholders, including the area hon. Member of Parliament who has queried why the contractor has not created many camps so that he can work on the various portions of the road. However, we have explained to the hon. Member of Parliament that we will pay special attention to the portion of the road that leads to Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s palace because of its importance. We shall release the contractor to start working on the other parts of the road as soon as the portion leading to the palace has been worked on.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr W. Banda (Milanzi): Mr Speaker, we have been told that the contractor was paid, but the money is not enough for him to start doing serious works on the Katete/Chadiza Road. Can the hon. Minister comment on this?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I indicated that the total amount owed to the contractor is K327 million and we have paid K181 million so far. We have made a commitment to pay towards the project by monthly installments. It is out of this commitment that the contractor agreed to move on site and begin to work on the road. So, as the Government, we are committed to the implantation of the project. I wish to assure all the contractors in Zambia, including China State Construction Engineering Corporation that has been co-operative so far, that we will not back track on our commitment of ensuring that we pay contractors every month. From the time we started paying in November to date, I think all the contractors have been receiving their money.

 

Mr Speaker, the majority of the local contractors have been paid. We are now trying to pay foreign contractors whom we owed huge amounts. I know that the construction industry has a lot of confidence in the Patriotic Front (PF) Government because we keep our word. So, we shall ensure that we liquidate the debt. We endeavour to liquid 75 or 80 per cent of the debt owed to contractors this year. That is the assurance I can give.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr C. Zulu (Luangeni): Mr Speaker, the Chadiza/Chipata Road passes through Luangeni Constituency. Hon. Tembo was talking about the gravel that was heaped on the road two years ago. The road is in a real mess – sorry if …

 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member will withdraw the word “mess”.

 

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the word “mess” and replace it with “bad shape”.

 

Hon. Minister, the contractor is on site, but when is he going to complete the road works? Is there a timeframe for the project?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I stated that the contractor has moved on site and has started work. It was out of the request by the provincial administration and other ‘children’ of the Eastern Province that we are paying particular attention to the portion of the road that goes to Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s Palace. The contractor is committed to working on the 4 km-stretch leading to the chief’s palace by August, 2017. Then, he will move back to the other portion of the road. The contract period is three years. All things being equal, we hope that with the commitment shown by the Government towards liquidating outstanding debt to contractors, work will go well. As the Government, our projection is that the projects should be completed by 2019 so that by 2020, we can begin new ones.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr S. Tembo: Mr Speaker, the road being worked on by China State Construction Engineering Corporation leads to Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s Palace. Since the contractor has a lot of machinery which is lying idle while the Government is paying heavily for it, why does the Government not advise China State to start working on the road that can connect Chadiza to Chipata via T4 or through Luangeni. We are also aware that the consultant has not yet been paid that is why he is not ready to do the works. Can the hon. Minister confirm this assertion?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I had a chat on this road with the area hon. Member of Parliament yesterday. The consulting engineers, Ng’andu Consulting Engineering Company, have been paid. We know that there have been some outstanding Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) to the consultants. However, we have been paying both contractors and consultants every month. According to my records, both contractors and consultants have been receiving substantive amounts of money from November last year. Like I said earlier on, we owed the contractor K327 million and have paid K181 million so far. This shows serious commitment on the part of the Government. Yesterday, the hon. Member and I discussed the challenge of having to split the road works because of the traditional ceremony that will be taking place in the next sixty days. If the road works are not split, we risk having a situation where the road leading to the chief’s palace is not ready before the traditional ceremony.

 

Mr Speaker, the Eastern Province is quite political because there are two paramount chiefs in the province, namely Paramount Chiefs Mpezeni and Gawa Undi. The road to Chief Mpezeni’s palace has been tarred. So, we think that the road to Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s Palace should also be tarred before the traditional ceremony this year. I hope the subjects of Chief Gawa Undi in Chadiza will bear with the Government for inconvenience caused by the heaps of gravel on the road. However, this will only be up to the end of August. Then, the contractor will get back to the main road to make it passable. The people of Chadiza and Katete should appreciate that priority has to be given to the road to the chief’s palace. Thereafter, the main road will be worked on.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mrs Miti (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, I would like to correct the hon. Minister by saying that the Chewa traditional ceremony is called Kulamba and not Kulamba ku Bwalo.

 

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Government for the commitment it has shown towards the implementation of the Chipata/Chadiza Road Project, especially that the contractor is on site. However, there have been serious concerns raised in relation to the amount of time the contractor is spending on the side roads. The contractor has been working on the side roads since last year. The concern is that all the money for the projects will be spent on the side roads. What measures is the hon. Minister putting in place to ensure that the contractor does not use up all the money on the side roads?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the commendation. I can confirm that the contractor on the Chipata/Vubwi Road, China Jiangse, is also back on site. We shall engage the contractor so that the detours, which the hon. Member has referred to as side roads, do not go beyond the 5 km stipulated in the contract and he can begin to work on the main road.

 

As the Government, we shall continuously pay the contractor so that he has no excuse of failing to work on the main road. Like I said earlier, the Government will engage the contractor to ensure that detours are not longer than the 5 km requirement in the contract obligation.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr P. Phiri (Mkaika): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister because the contractor is now working on the 4-km road to Kalonga Gawa Undi. However, I would like to find out the type of work that is expected to be done on the road because we had requested for double lanes in order to broaden the road.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Member means a dual carriageway or double lane. However, we are making a 6 m wide road. If that is what he is referring it to as double lane, then, yes, it will have a double lane.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned that the contractors had been paid K181 million. Infrastructure contracts have two components. One component is the interest on unpaid Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) and the other is the stand-alone type which has actually choked the ministry. Has the ministry taken interest to specifically focus on liquidating the interest on the actual IPCs because this has made it difficult for the Government to dismantle the debt that is owed to the construction sector?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we invited our colleagues from the Ministry of Finance and all the contractors to negotiate the nonpayment of interest, as the Government is committed to liquidating the debt. We directed the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) and Road Development Agency (RDA) to concentrate on the liquidation of the debt on the actual IPCs that are related to the works done by the contractors. Most of the contractors have obligations with banks. Some of them want to have their invoices discounted while others have various commitments. Therefore, we negotiated for the waiving of interest, as the Government is committed to liquidating the principle amount owed to the contractors. We have paid them from November to May, 20117. So, they have waived the interest and will revert to work because they know that the Government will liquidate the debt owed to them.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

FEEDER ROADS IN FEIRA

 

260. Mr Miti (Feira) asked the Minister of Local Government:

 

1. when the rehabilitation of the following feeder roads in Feira Parliamentary Constituency would commence:

 

1. Kavalamanja;
2. Luangwa Town-Amolo Village-Kavalamanja;
3. Mphuka Turn Off-Janeiro Village;
4. Mwavi Village-Mundela Village-Nyakachimba;
5. Mpona Turn Off-Sipopa Village; and
6. Kaunga School Turn Off-Mukando-Chikokola Village;

 

1. what the cause of the delay in commencing the rehabilitation works was; and

 

1. what the estimated cost of the exercise was.

 

The Minister of Local Government (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the ministry has plans to rehabilitate all the feeder roads that need to be worked on in a phased approach, including the six in Feira Parliamentary Constituency, with the first phase of the works starting in 2019. There have not been any new works in Feira this year due to non-availability of funds, as the on-going works need to be completed before new ones can be embarked on.

 

Sir, as indicated earlier on, the cause of the delay is non-availability of funds.

 

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of the exercise can only be known when a survey has been conducted to ascertain the cost.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

ADVERTISEMENTS OF HERBAL REMEDIES IN THE MEDIA

 

261. Mr C. Zulu asked the Minister of Health:

 

1. whether the Government approved advertising of the following in the media:

 

1. claims to cure HIV/AIDS;
2. claims to enlarge male sexual organs; and
3. claims to enlarge hips for females;

 

1. whether the claims had been verified;

 

1. if not, why the trend of disseminating misleading information had been allowed unabated; and

 

1. what measures were being taken to ensure that the public was not subjected to misleading information, thereby endangering their lives.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, the Government does not approve advertisements of medicines for cure of the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). To date, no advertisement has been approved by the Government on the enlargement of male sexual organs and hips for females.

 

Sir, the Government has not verified any of the stated claims. However, the Ministry of Health has made it clear to stakeholders, through the various policy guidelines of the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) to ensure that such practices are discouraged amongst the members of the Traditional Health Practitioners’ Association (THPA). Furthermore, the ministry has facilitated interaction with stakeholders at various fora to ensure that commodities or products that are being advertised illegally are not exposed to the members of the public. We have also encouraged various traditional health practitioners to ensure that they expose whatever products they claim to have any form of efficacy to research and due diligence as outlined in our research ethics. However, it has been observed that most of them do not contact the Ministry of Health for policy guidance.

 

Mr Speaker, ZAMRA has been undertaking a number of activities to cartel the practice in order to protect members of the public. Although the practice is still ongoing, there has been a major reduction and, in some instances, stoppage in advertisements in the print and electronic media as may have been noted in the Times of Zambia, Daily Mail and some radio stations in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. This was as a result of the guidelines that were issued to the media houses by ZAMRA. However, there are some smaller media houses that are yet to comply.

 

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to further note that the Ministry of Health has continued to strengthen health promotion and educating the members of the public on the dangers of using such products, as some of them may be life threatening. I would like to use this platform to encourage members of the public not to listen to such claims.

 

The Ministry of Health recognises that the health and wellbeing of people is central to the socio-economic development of our country. Therefore, we have embarked on a transformative agenda where we have shifted the entry point into the health systems from the curative-biased hospital to the household and community, where we deliver high impact promotive and preventive interventions.

 

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has engaged the THPA and other stakeholders, through the new Directorate of Health Promotion and Social Determinants, to ensure that we develop a common understanding on the dangers of such practices so that collectively, we protect the members of the public.

 

Lastly, we shall soon present to Parliament the Traditional Medicine Bill which will harmonise the traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practice and behaviours which will provide a legal framework to regulate the practice, including the advertisement of such claims.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how far trials for the much-talked about Sondashi Formula have gone? What has your ministry done to help Dr Sondashi put his drug on the market?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, there have been statements on the Floor of this House on this subject. The Ministry of Higher Education has issued statements in relation to the due diligence associated with substances or products that claim to have efficacy against any condition. There are processes taking place at relevant levels. For instance, the Ministry of Higher Education is providing oversight in research and due diligence. The Ministry of Health is providing support through the Tropical Diseases Research Programme on the Copperbelt.

 

When there is any relevant information, we shall communicate accordingly. We have heard that there has been a statement from the promoter of the formula on how safe the product is. As the Ministries of Health and Higher Education, we do not have that report. Therefore, we still insist that the Sondashi Formula or, indeed, any other herbal product has not been efficacious in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and is still subject to research or the due processes that will lead to the final conclusion.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

LIVESTOCK RESTOCKING PROGRAMMES IN BWANA MKUBWA

 

262. Dr Chanda (Bwana Mkubwa) asked the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to undertake livestock restocking programmes in Bwana Mkubwa Parliamentary Constituency;

 

1. if so, what the plans were; and

 

1. when the plans would be implemented.

 

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Mr Katambo): Mr Speaker, the Government has embarked on programmes to stock and restock livestock in various parts of Zambia, including the Copperbelt Province.

 

Hon. Members may wish to note that the two terminologies, stocking and restocking, are used interchangeably yet, from the point of view of livestock experts, they mean different interventions.

 

To avoid misapplying the two terms, let me take this opportunity to clarify the difference between them. Restocking is primarily intended to enhance access to breeding stock for smallholder farmers who lost their livestock through an epidemic so that they can restart livestock production. On the other hand, stocking is primarily intended to give or introduce livestock to farmers to start rearing livestock as a means of earning a livelihood so as to encourage them to treat livestock production as a business. Stocking can be done with or without a livestock epidemic. 

 

Having clarified the two terminologies, I wish to inform this august House that my ministry has embarked on a livestock stocking and restocking programme through the Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Programme (E-SLIP). The programme will be implemented in Eastern, Southern, Central, Lusaka, Copperbelt, Northern and Muchinga provinces. My ministry will consider stocking the districts that are in Bwana Mkubwa Parliamentary Constituency in Phase II of the E-SLIP.

 

To prepare for the second phase of the programme, my ministry is organising trainings for would-be beneficiaries of the programme. My ministry will also implement the Livestock Improvement Support Programme (LISP) that is aimed at promoting stocking and restocking programmes.

 

Mr Speaker, in the first phase, the programme will focus on stocking and restocking to the LISP-supported programmes in Muchinga and Northern provinces. The Livestock Development and Animal Health programme (LDAHP) supported the Eastern, Southern and Western provinces in districts where effective animal disease control programmes have been established. In the second phase, the programme will extend to the rest of the country, including the Copperbelt Province.

 

Sir, beneficiaries will be identified through a community-led selection process. They will be assisted to form groups that will receive livestock that will include small ruminants, pigs and poultry of their choice. The beneficiaries will pay for the livestock through a “pass on” mechanism to fellow poor households. They will also be required to undergo training in farm and livestock management, construction of animal housing, establishment of fodder fields and contribution to an animal health fund.

 

Finally, the programme is ongoing and the second phase will commence in mid-2018.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMME IN KASAMA

 

263. Mr Sampa (Kasama Central) asked the Minister of Energy:

 

1. when Phase II of the Rural Electrification Programme in Kasama Central Parliamentary Constituency would commence;

 

1. whether all the schools in the constituency would be electrified in order to enhance the learning of Information Communication Technology subjects, among others; and

 

1. if not, why.

 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, based on the Rural Electrification Master Plan, the following areas that fall under Kasama Parliamentary Constituency were identified for electrification:

 

(ii)        Chisanga;

1. Kachuma;
2. Chilubula;
3. Chishimba;
4. Munkonge; and
5. Lukulu North.

 

Based on the priority list of the Rural Electrification Master Plan, Chisanga, Lwabwe and Musa were scheduled to be electrified in 2009. However, Musa and Lwabwe were electrified in 2013, while Chisanga will be electrified when funds are made available. Further, the remaining areas are scheduled to be electrified in 2018. However, this is dependent on the availability of funds.

 

Mr Speaker, the schools will be electrified when funds are made available.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, firstly, I wish to thank the hon. Minister for the electrification of the area around Kalambo Falls. The people of Mbala are most grateful for that. I am sure it will benefit the country in terms of tourist arrivals. Is the unavailability of funds the reason some contractors who are carrying out rural electrification assignments tend to discontinue the works and start again like is the case in Mbala?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, there are many contributing factors, but funding is largely one of them. I have said repeatedly on the Floor of this House that we allocate about US$10 million to the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). For instance, in this year’s Budget the allocation is about K118 million. This is not sufficient to cover the whole country. Like I said in my response to a question yesterday, we need US$50 million to implement twenty-five projects annually. However, we do not have this kind of money.

 

Mr Speaker, at time, the contributing factor is the poor performance of the contractors. There are a number of projects that have stalled. For instance, the construction of a substation in Luampa stalled because of the poor performance of the contractor. So, some projects have delayed despite the availability of funds.

 

Sir, to answer Hon. Simfukwe’s question, yes, it could be that some projects have stalled due to lack of funds. I have been to Mbala recently and I know that some of the projects we were implementing in his constituency have stalled due to a lack of funds. However, as discussed with our colleagues at the Ministry of Finance, we need to review our rural electrification strategy as we go into 2018. I will be coming to Parliament before the presentation of the2018 Budget to share with hon. Members of Parliament how we can make progress in electrifying the rural areas.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, does the hon. Minister not think that the lack of electricity in rural areas is pausing a challenge to pupils, particularly that we have introduced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) learning in most schools? Pupils are unable to use the computers because of a lack of power? So, what measures is the ministry putting in place in order for pupils to have equal access to education?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, in recognition of that, REA recently distributed solar home systems to some constituencies to try and support the learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools. We shall continue supporting hon. Members of Parliament whose constituencies are still faced with a few challenges. However, we cannot go to all the constituencies in the country due to budgetary limitations.

 

Nonetheless, Sir, schools in the hon. Member’s constituency are earmarked for electrification in 2018. In fact, I was in Kasama recently to check on electrification projects in the Northern Province. From what I saw, we have a long way to go but, considering what I said about reviewing our strategy, we are going to resolve some of the outstanding issues at Government institutions like schools and clinics. Hon. Members should hear from me in the next few weeks and months in regard to how we intend to accelerate the electrification of schools, clinics and other public institutions in their constituencies.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

TEACHER TRANSFERS IN KAPUTA

 

264. Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

(a)how many teachers were transferred from Kaputa District from January, 2015 to February, 2017;

 

(b)what the main reasons for the transfers were;

 

(c)whether the transferred teachers had been replaced; and

 

(d)if not, when they would be replaced.

 

The Minister of General Education (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, let me start by giving a bigger picture of the constitution of teachers in Kaputa. The total establishment for teachers in the country is 103,000. The establishment for teachers in Kaputa is 503 but, currently, there are about 397 teachers serving in the district. The reason for the difference is what I shall endeavour to explain in my response.

 

Mr Speaker, from January, 2015 to February, 2017, sixty-two teachers were transferred from Kaputa District for marital and health reasons. No replacements have been made yet and the sixty-two teachers, who were transferred between January, 2015 and February, 2017, are still on the payroll for Kaputa. They will be replaced as soon as their current work stations place them on their payrolls. However, the ministry has continued to recruit teachers. For instance, in 2016 alone, a total of fifty-three teachers, that is, thirty-two males and twenty-one females were posted to Kaputa District.

 

Mr Speaker, let me also hasten to say that the ministry has noted, with concern, that several teachers who are being posted to rural areas other than Kaputa are requesting for transfers. The ministry has since put in place a policy that allows teachers to serve a minimum of four years before they can request for a transfer. I should also mention that the ministry pays the teachers rural or remote hardship allowance of 20 per cent of the basic salary.

 

Since the teachers who have been transferred have not been removed from the payroll for Kaputa, they have continued to draw salaries from the district’s pay point. This underscores the importance of decentralisation. The devolution of the payroll system to local education authorities will lessen the number of transfer requests. For instance, if a teacher requests for a transfer on medical or marital grounds, the local education authorities will undertake a thorough investigation to ascertain the authenticity of the request. So, the measures to be undertaken and policy changes will keep the issue of transfer requests under control.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the elaborate response which underscores the fact that the rampant transfer of teachers, especially from the remotest parts of the country, is of grave concern. The full establishment for Kaputa is 503. However, from the figures that the hon. Minister has given, I can tell that there is a shortfall of about 106 teachers. Further, the transfer of sixty-three teachers from Kaputa places a huge burden on the remaining teachers.

 

Nonetheless, many people have obtained certificates teaching. So, they will be able to teach in the rural areas where they live. In view of this, can the ministry consider giving preference to local people when recruiting teachers for Kaputa? This will reduce on the number of transfer requests to urban centres.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, once again, like I said a while ago, this accentuates the need for decentralisation in the education system because, when the local authorities take charge, they will ensure that they employ locals who will not ask for transfers to other places. I gave those figures in order for the hon. Member for Kaputa to appreciate that the ministry is aware of the shortfall and will send teachers to Kaputa in the Teacher Recruitment Exercise scheduled for August or September in order to meet the shortfall.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

 

MATEYO KAKUMBI PRIMARY SCHOOL IN CHITAMBO

 

265. Mr Mutale asked the Minister of General Education:

 

1. when the roof of a 1x 2 classroom block at Mateyo Kakumbi Primary School in Chitambo Parliamentary Constituency, which was blown off  in 2011, would be repaired;

 

1. what had caused the delay in repairing the roof; and

 

1. what the total cost of the repair was.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the repair of the blown-off roof at Mateyo Kakumbi Primary School is expected to commence in the third quarter of this year.

 

Sir, the delay in repairing the roof was basically due to a lack of funds.

 

Mr Speaker, the estimated cost of repairing the roof is K72,717.

 

I thank you, Sir. 

 

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, when exactly is the repair of the roof going to start?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I cannot give an outright answer because the ministry depends on funding from the Ministry of Finance. However, we shall ensure that the roof is attended to before the next rainy season.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF A MARKET IN LUNGA DISTRICT

 

266. Mr Chabi (Chipili) asked the Minister of Local Government:

 

1. when the construction of a market in Lunga District would commence;
2. what the cost of the project was; and

 

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

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the ministry has plans to construct a modern market in Lunga District under the 2019/20 Annual Work Plan, subject to the availability of funds.

 

Sir, the initial cost of the project will be known when the design and bill of quantities has been drawn up.

 

Mr Speaker, the duration of the project will be determined when the design and bill of quantities have been drawn up.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

_________

 

MOTION

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH AND SPORT

 

Mr Kalobo (Wusakile): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report on the Committee on Youth and Sport for the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 15^th June, 2017.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr L. N. Tembo (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Kalobo: Mr Speaker, based on its terms of reference as set out in the National Assembly Standing Orders, your Committee undertook a study on youth participation in the decision-making process in Zambia during the period under review. In order to provide an opportunity to the youth and other stakeholders outside Lusaka to present their views on the topic under consideration, your Committee conducted public hearings in Kabwe, Ndola and Solwezi. Your Committee further undertook a bench-marking tour to Kenya. It also reviewed two action-taken reports on your previous Committee’s Report for the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

 

Sir, I am certain that hon. Members have taken time to read your Committee’s report. I will, therefore, only highlight the salient issues contained therein.

 

Mr Speaker, following revelations that the youth in Zambia have had difficulty participating in decision-making processes on issues that directly or indirectly affect their welfare vis-à-vis development activities in their communities, your Committee was motivated to undertake a study on youth participation in the decision-making process in Zambia. As this House may be aware, it is documented that youth participation in public decision-making has benefits such as promoting the exercise of active citizenship and providing a user’s perspective on policy issues under consideration. It is further stated that youth participation leads to increased confidence and self belief among the youth and prepares them for greater involvement and responsibility in the future. Your Committee is, however, concerned that there are inadequate formalised structures that promote youth participation in decision-making processes in Zambia. This has negatively affected the promotion of youth participation in decision-making processes. Your Committee is further concerned that youth participation has been left to chance, with little action taken to ensure that youths are effectively and meaningfully engaged to participate in decision-making processes. In this regard, your Committee recommends that the Government creates formalised structures that promote youth participation such as the establishment of a youth parliament. The Government should then sensitise the youth and other stakeholders on the existence of such structures and encourage them to participate in decision-making processes through those structures.

 

Mr Speaker, another matter of concern to your Committee is the low participation of youths in political processes that ultimately open up opportunities for participation in decision-making processes at local and national levels. This is evidenced by the few young parliamentarians below the age of thirty-five in this House. Currently, there are about five Members in this House who are below the age of thirty-five. This further supports the assertion that there are inadequate formalised structures that support youth participation in decision-making processes.

 

There is a perception among the youth that the older politicians have failed to provide genuine space for them to participate in political processes. They have argued that they have instead been used by some politicians as tools for political violence during elections.

 

Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government enacts a law to guarantee a minimum level of youth representation in the House by the parties represented. In so doing, the Government should work with the National Assembly and explore the various ways of increasing youth representation such as youth quotas.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee is elated that the issue of youth participation in political processes is receiving attention by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The 134^th IPU Assembly recognised that Members of Parliament have a duty to create an enabling environment that guarantees young people’s participation and galvanises their leadership, and that no decision about youths should be taken without their representation.

 

Sir, your Committee is dismayed by the operational challenges being experienced at the National Youth Development Council (NYDC). The council currently has no board, as the board was dissolved in 2015. Therefore, the council cannot perform its functions effectively. Further, the council does not employ adequate numbers of youths who should work with the older generation of professionals to champion issues that affect them.

 

Your Committee is concerned that the absence of the board is a recipe for ineffectiveness in the performance of the council. It is appreciated that the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development has been performing the functions of the board. However, there is no guarantee that the voice of the youth is being heard and their concerns taken into consideration in the absence of the board where they are well represented. This is a departure from the principles of empowerment and purposeful engagement that underpin youth participation in decision-making processes, as decisions will be made about the youth without their participation.

 

In light of the foregoing, your Committee recommends that the Government gives this matter the urgency it deserves by appointing a board to ensure the smooth operation of the NYDC and promotion of youth participation in decision-making processes. The NYDC should further employ capable qualified youths to effectively champion these issues as they work side by side with the older professionals.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee bemoans the high unemployment rate among the youth in Zambia. The Zambia Labour Force Survey Report of 2014 revealed that the youth unemployment rate is at 10.5 per cent. It is, therefore, disheartening to note that the labour market further worsens the situation of the youth by requiring them to possess work experience of a specified number of years. This has worsened their plight and impeded their participation in decision-making processes both in the private and public sectors, as employment is among other avenues for youth participation in national development.

 

In view of the foregoing, your Committee recommends that the Government prioritises employment creation in both the formal and informal sectors. With regard to the requirement for youth employment seekers to have a number of years’ work experience, your Committee urges the Government to abolish and legislate against the requirement except in exceptional circumstances. The Government should, instead, develop a policy that enhances internship opportunities and encourages training on the job.

 

Sir, the absence of structures for the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development in the districts is unacceptable. Your Committee is cognisant of the fact that certain districts have recently been created. However, it is disappointing that even districts that have been in existence for a long time have no structures. This has resulted in the lack of services to the youth and ultimately the marginalisation of those who fail to seize the few opportunities available for their participation due to a lack of information.

 

Your Committee urges the Government to establish structures and employ the relevant staff in all the districts. This will enable the ministry provide services as close to the youth as possible and provide them with information on a variety of issues, including their participation in decision-making processes.

 

Mr Speaker, youths with disabilities are affected by more challenges such as discrimination in employment opportunities than their able-bodied colleagues. Your Committee shares the widely accepted view among persons with disabilities that there is adequate policy and legal framework in place to address issues related with disability, but there is a lack of effective implementation. Ultimately, issues to do with inadequate education and training, unemployment and access to the built environment for persons with disabilities will remain challenges and affect their participation in decision-making and national development.

 

Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government takes a keen interest in the plight of youths with disabilities and ensure that they have equal access to quality and affordable education and employment opportunities. This should be done through the provision of affordable education and affirmative action on employment of persons with disabilities.

 

Sir, let me now discuss your Committee’s findings from its benchmarking tour to Kenya, starting with the management of Kenya’s Youth Enterprise Development Fund.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kalobo: Kenya created the Youth Enterprise Development Fund in 2006 to empower youths to run enterprises and create employment. This fund is similar to Youth Development Fund (YDF) in Zambia.

 

Your Committee notes that the Youth Enterprises Development Fund has been delinked from the supervising ministry and operates as a State corporation with its own board of directors. Your committee agrees with the observation of the Kenyan stakeholders that the semi-autonomous status of the fund contributes to ensuring that it is free from political interference.

 

In Zambia, however, concern has been raised about the accessibility of the YDF which is deemed be influenced by political party affiliation. This has created an impression that the fund has been marred by politics. In light of this, your Committee recommends that the Government of Zambia delinks the YDF from the Ministry of youth, Sport and Child Development so that it is managed professionally. The ministry should remain in charge of policy direction only in order to clear the impression that the fund is mainly accessed by youth groups with political connections.

 

Mr Speaker, Kenya has legislation on ensuring that youths and other groups are represented in Parliament. The Constitution of Kenya explicitly provides for the State to take measures to ensure that youths and other groups are represented in Parliament and participate in activities relating to all spheres of life. For instance, Article 55 of the Constitution of Kenya places an obligation on the State to take measures, including affirmative action programmes, to ensure that youths have opportunities to associate, be represented and participate activities relating to political, social, economic and other spheres of life, among other things.

 

Mr Speaker, Article 98(1) of the Constitution of Kenya provides for the membership of the Senate, two of whom should represent the youth. Similarly, Article 100 of the Constitution provides that:

 

“Parliament shall enact legislation to promote representation in Parliament of (a) women; (b) persons with disabilities; (c) youth; (d) ethnic and other minorities; (e) marginalised communities.”

 

Sir, this is commendable and progressive. It is your Committee’s strong conviction that a nation like Zambia, with a large youth population, should also create strategies to ensure the presence of youths in Parliament in order to give a voice to the youth. However, your Committee notes that the Constitution of Zambia may not have provisions specifically targeting the participation of youths in political processes.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee further notes that Article 69 of the Constitution of Zambia provides for the President to nominate Members of Parliament for purposes of enhancing representation of special interests, skills or gender in Parliament. In this regard, your Committee urges the Office of the President to include youths among the eight nominees to Parliament in accordance with Article 69 of the Constitution of Zambia.

 

Sir, the Government of Kenya has implemented a policy called the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities. This is affirmative action to empower youth-owned enterprises by giving them more business opportunities. The Government sets aside 30 per cent of all the procurement contracts for youths, women and persons with disabilities.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee is aware that at the launch of the 2015 National Youth Policy and the Action Plan for Youth Empowerment and Employment in 2016, the Republican President directed all the nine ministries and sectors to give preferential treatment to qualified youth-led enterprises in the award of contracts and public procurement processes. While this is a commendable and welcome directive, it risks being abused, as it is left to the discretion of individual line ministries.

 

Sir, in light of the above, your Committee calls on the Government to consider piloting an Access to Government Procurement Opportunities Policy with selected services. The pilot will then inform the decision on whether or not to adopt, implement and adapt the policy to the Zambian situation in line with the directive of the Republican President.

 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to thank your office on behalf of your Committee for the guidance it provided during the year. Allow me to also thank the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the advice and services rendered to your Committee during the year.

 

Sir, your Committee is also indebted to all the stakeholders who appeared before it for their co-operation and for providing the necessary memoranda and oral briefs. My appreciation further goes to all the members of your Committee for their co-operation and dedication to the work of your Committee which made my role as chairperson easy.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 

Mr Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?

 

Mr L. Tembo: Now, Mr Speaker.

 

Sir, I thank you for allowing me to second the Motion on the Floor of the House to adopt the Report of your Committee on Youth and Sport. This is an important Motion and I thank the mover for ably highlighting the pertinent issues contained therein. As I second the Motion, I wish to comment on a few other issues relating to the subject under consideration.

 

Mr Speaker, before I discuss this topical issue, allow me, on behalf of your Committee, to congratulate the Zambia Under-20 National Football Team on their impressive performance at the just-ended 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup Tournament which was held in the Republic of South Korea. As your Committee on Youth and Sport, we thank the young men for exhibiting a fighting spirit which made them reach the quarter finals of the tournament.

 

Sir, it is said that young people are future leaders, but I believe that young people are leaders of both today and tomorrow. It is, therefore, important that they participate meaningfully and purposefully in all decision-making processes and engage in national development. To participate effectively, the youth should be equipped with proper tools such as information, appropriate education and skills.

 

However, Mr Speaker, your Committee observes that the youth have inadequate information on the opportunities available for youth participation. Where opportunities are identified, the youth have challenges with the procedures and processes of accessing and utilising the opportunities.

 

Sir, in this regard, your Committee recommends that the Government partners with all the relevant stakeholders. It also recommends that the Government conducts massive sensitisation and education on available opportunities and, whenever such opportunities occur through Government programmes, it should ensure youth participation and have their input considered. For instance, the youth should be informed whenever there are developments or reviews of policies and legislation that directly or indirectly affects them such as the re-entry policy for girls who fall pregnant and the review of the school curriculum.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee further urges the Government to ensure that Government departments that provide services to the youth maintain an open-door policy to accommodate the youth.

 

Mr Speaker, apart from health benefits, recreation has many other benefits to communities. Recreation keeps youths away from anti-social behaviour such as crime. It is, therefore, disappointing to note that there are inadequate recreational facilities in many communities. During the public hearing, your Committee heard some sad stories about some recreational parks which are being sold as residential plots. This leaves the youths with nothing to keep them away from vices such as alcohol abuse and prostitution.

 

Sir, the absence of sports facilities makes it difficult to effectively identify and tap talent. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government, through the local authorities, ensures that it provides recreational facilities in communities.

 

Mr Speaker, the other sad situation is that the youths are not empowered with land for them to contribute to the development of the nation through agriculture. According to the Zambia Labour Force Survey Report of 2014, 48.9 per cent of people in employment are in the agriculture sector. This confirms that the agriculture sector has potential to be a major contributor to employment which can lead to economic growth. For this reason, your Committee urges the Government to secure land in each district to empower youths who are willing to engage in agriculture. Measures should be put in place to protect the land from being. I it is not developed within a specified period, it should be repossessed and redistributed. 

 

Sir, may I now discuss your Committee’s findings from its tour to Kenya. Your Committee notes the effort of the Government of Kenya to empower youths through the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. It further notes the impressive culture of loan repayments by the beneficiaries whose rate of loan repayment is 85 per cent. This has been attributed to a number of factors. The loans are contracted mainly by youths who are co-guaranteed by the group.

 

Mr Speaker, there is also the issue of clearance from the Credit Reference Bureau CRB). This fund undertakes disbursement training to the beneficiaries in order to build capacity in entrepreneurial skills.

 

You may recall, Sir, that your previous Committee had considered the Report of the Auditor-General on the Youth Empowerment Programme under the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development in the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. The findings of the Auditor-General’s Report were that there were loans which were deferred by the beneficiaries, among others, and this was a major challenge. This led to the failure of the fund to revolve. The report also revealed that some beneficiaries could not be traced. This means that the beneficiaries disappeared with taxpayers’ money.

 

Sir, your Committee further notes that the Youth Development Fund (YDF) has continued to be a source of concern, following the revelations in the Auditor-General’s Report. Therefore, this calls on the Government to consider adopting some of the measures contributing to the success of the YEDF in Kenya. The measures could help save the YDP in Zambia from collapse due to non-repayment of loans and ensure its sustainability.

 

Mr Speaker, the Kenya National Youth Service Programme is able to keep youths away from the street, provide technical and vocational training and engage them in productive activities. One would also argue that the programme has been accepted by the youth, considering that 30,000 of them are voluntarily recruited annually.

 

Sir, your Committee is cognisant of the fact that a compulsory National Service Programme existed in Zambia. It is also aware that there has been debate on the re-introduction of compulsory National Youth Service Skills Training. It is on record that in 2012, the then hon. Minister of Youth and Sport informed this House that the Government would re-introduce compulsory National Youth Service Skills Training for school leavers.

 

Your Committee is of the view that instead of the compulsory programme, perhaps, a non-compulsory programme with similar objectives to the Kenyan one be considered but adapted to the Zambian situation. This will provide an opportunity for youths to acquire education and training in vocational skills and improve the employability of those looking for jobs. In considering this option, the Government should ensure comprehensive stakeholder consultation in order to come up with an informed position that is widely accepted.

 

In conclusion, I wish to thank you, Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Members of your Committee, for allowing us to serve on your Committee. I further wish to thank the Members of your Committee for giving me an opportunity to second this important Motion.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to debate on the Report of your Committee on Youth and Sport.

 

Mr Speaker, about 82 per cent of Zambia’s population consists of youth. However, if you look at our national policies on health, education, agriculture and many others, do they reflect this demographic fact? I think that we can get answers from there.

 

Mr Speaker, in my debate, I will first look at the youth in relation to entrepreneurship. Previous speakers have highlighted what is obtaining in other countries, one of them being Kenya.  There are many youths in our country. For instance, Kalingalinga, Lusaka, a number of youths are engaged in productive ventures such as welding. In Garden Compound, there are nice door frames, window frames and furniture produced by youths. Conversely, a number of youths are drunk by 0700 hours. If we, the leaders, do not take action, we will be building a country that has no future.

 

Mr Speaker, I believe that the ministries of Commerce, Trade and Industry and Youth, Sport and Child Development can harness the skills that youths in various sectors of the economy possess in order to contribute to national development. For instance, the Government can use the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) through multi-facility economic zones (MFEZs) to put up manufacturing factories for enterprising youths in Kalingalinga, Garden Compound and other places and provide them with necessary equipment. The youths can produce quality door and window frames for export. One would argue that the idea will be costly, but the fees that youths will pay for the use of the factories and machinery will make empowerment meaningful.

 

Sir, your Committee’s report has mentioned that the youth development centres and many other programmes that the Government has implemented they have not produced the desired results and that why we are seeing so many youths on the streets.

 

Mr Speaker, I would term education an equaliser in life. If you look at the enrolment statistics, we have almost 94 per cent enrolment in Grade 1. However, the percentage decreases to 28 per cent as we go up the grades. The tertiary education level is only at 5 per cent. Eighty-two per cent of Zambia’s population comprises youths. In view of this, there is a need to review not only our youth policies, but also the budgeting processes that should be skewed towards youth empowerment.

 

Sir, another important aspect is health. Since Zambia is a youthful nation, it is likely to be faced with health challenges related to demographics. For instance, how easy is it for a girl child to access reproductive health services? With a population comprising 82 per cent youths, the girl child is faced with many challenges. It is against this background that I would like to commend the Government for its plans to introduce health facilities that are dedicated not only to the girl child, but also women in general, considering that some of them carry out unsafe abortions.

 

Mr Speaker, the report has also highlighted the issue of unemployment. Most youths who get drunk as early as 0700 hours say that they have nothing to do. As the Government, …

 

Mr Mung’ andu’s DCN-Multimedia Unit went off and on again.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Thank you, Mr Speaker, technology seems to have failed us there.

 

Sir, before DCN-Multimedia Unit went off, I was talking about health. In the budget for the health sector, a small percentage is allocated towards reproductive health education, particularly on the protection of the girl child. These are challenges that we, as policy makers and legislators, should seriously look into.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me talk about youth access to land. Land is a factor of production. It is important for the youth of this country to access land, as it can also be a means for them to access finance. A youth can have a bankable project, but all the financial institutions demand for collateral which comes in the form of land. However, it is difficult for youths to access land. For instance, in Kafue and Lusaka, a piece of land costs not less than K35,000, including service fees. How many youths can raise such an amount of money to access land? It is against this background that we should come up with policy reforms that will encourage youths to access land.

 

With these few remarks, Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate. I also wish to thank your Committee for the report. I must say that the issues raised therein are valid and should be looked at critically.

 

Mr Speaker, the participation of the youth in the decision-making process in Zambia is important. I wish to look at this issue from a cultural and economic point of view. The future of a nation that has youths whose upbringing is not so good is at the crossroads. I wish to concur with the hon. Member of Parliament who talked about beer drinking. It is true that everywhere you go, you find youths drinking as early as 0700 hours. This is due to a lack of opportunities.  From an economic point of view, it is true that Zambia has no capacity to employ most of the young people.

 

In addition to this, the current political environment in the country makes it difficult for youths to freely participate in decision-making processed because of the fear that has been instilled in them. Political interference has made it difficult for youths to express their views.

 

Access to education is a key ingredient in the betterment of any nation. In Zambia, we have introduced a bursary system in the education sector in an effort to solve the problem of lack of access to education, especially for those from poor backgrounds. The fact that political interference is a serious concern cannot be argued. It is there on record because we have spoken about it many times in this House. For instance, the selection criterion for bursary has become an issue. If you go to the University of Zambia (UNZA) today, you will find most students who are on the bursary scheme are from well to do families at the expense of those who are from poor families. This is all because of political linkages. This is sad for our country because we, the leaders, participate in these issues.

 

The Department of Social Welfare, which makes recommendations after receiving applications, scrutinises the applications. Sadly, to a large extent, the department is equally compromised. What are we, the leaders of this nation, doing about this?

 

The other issue I would like to talk about is in regard to discrimination when it comes to who should benefit from certain opportunities. This also happens in the job market. Two weeks ago, I went to my constituency, Moomba, which is purely rural. I found people clearing grass along the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) power lines, coming up north. I got interested in knowing who was participating in that project. After asking, I was informed that the contractor was from Lusaka. This contractor had actually taken youths from Lusaka to go and slash grass and cut shrubs in Moomba. When I asked why that was so, I was told that someone had earlier gone round asking whether there were any Patriotic Front (PF) members in the area who could be employed to slash grass. Is that not discrimination?

 

There are youths in our constituencies who want to benefit from such activities. Public projects should not just be for the Ruling Party, in this case, the PF. What are we, the leaders from different political parties, doing to ensure that everyone benefits from such projects? Should participation in such projects as slashing grass be based on political party affiliation? Surely, that is not ideal for this country.

 

Sir, late last year, I went somewhere near the headquarters for the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) where youths apply for bus loans. I was just trying to find out how youths access the loan facility for buses administered by the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). It was disheartening to find the people who work there saying that they are given lists of beneficiaries by some ‘powerful’ people. When I asked exactly what they meant, I was told that hon. Ministers tell them who should be on that programme. It should be noted that applicants are required to be in groups of seven drivers for them to qualify for the loan. What is happening there is totally unacceptable. I can also give an example of what is happening at the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) where qualification for is based on political party inclination.

 

Mr Speaker, lastly, I would like to state that the resources allocated to the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development are inadequate. This is one of the reasons these challenges are coming up. There is one issue I wish to put on record. I am happy the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Kampyongo, is here today. Sorry, to mention his name. However, we have seen a lot of resources not being allocated to areas where people who live there are perceived to have views contrary to those of the PF. We are told that we are in a democratic dispensation, but some people are being intimidated. So, let resources be directed towards …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, I am trying to follow your debate. Please, avoid dragging your colleagues into your debate because, when you do that, as you can see already, they will want to respond to your debate and so on and so forth. Let us deal with the policy issues contained in the report. In fact, to a large extent, you should focus and respond to the report. You have now veered-off to discuss other issues. You are now supplying evidence on all manner of issues. Of course, sometimes, it is necessary to provide anecdotes to our debates, but try to focus on the policy issues. There are a lot of interesting policy propositions advanced in the report which I thought you would engage. More importantly, however, please, let us avoid reference to colleagues. You know the practice. I could not see the connection between the hon. Minister and what you are debating.

 

Mr Chaatila: Mr Speaker, thank you for your guidance. In fact, I was almost concluding. I was just trying to bring out the fact that we have denied our youths a lot of opportunities. Maybe, this is due to a lack of proper allocation of resources. As I said earlier on, we know that the youths are the future of this country and we need to harness their potential. So, we need to allocate adequate resources to activities relating to youths so that when we grow old, they will be able to run this country properly.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to say state that I totally support your Committee’s report. However, I doubt whether the PF Government is willing to act on the recommendations therein because of what I highlighted earlier on. 

 

I thank you, Sir.                

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, thank you so much for affording me this opportunity to make a few comments before my colleague from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development winds up debate on your Committee’s report.

 

Sir, let me start by thanking the Chairperson of your Committee and mover of the Motion. I also wish to thank the seconder.

 

Mr Speaker, my comments will be very brief. I will start by commenting on the contents of page 9 of your Committee’s report under the heading, “Challenges that Affect Meaningful Youth Participation”. One of the issues highlighted therein is a lack of political will. As a youth and National Youth Chairperson for the Ruling Party, the Patriotic Front (PF), I would like to place it on record that the PF recognises the youth as important stakeholders in the running of the affairs of the State. His Excellency the President has demonstrated this by appointing youths to positions in various institutions, including his Cabinet.

 

Sir, I also wish to thank the PF Central Committee and the former Secretary-General of the PF, who gave me the opportunity to represent my fellow youths during the adoption process of candidates to contest parliamentary seats in the last election. As a result, the seconder of the Motion is one of the youngest hon. Members of Parliament. The number of youthful hon. Members of Parliament in this House is a manifestation of how my party appreciates the role of the youth. I am grateful and indebted to the Central Committee for affording me the opportunity to serve as National Youth Chairperson for the PF. Across the country and in big cities, some mayors are youths and have shown that they are equal to the task of delivering services to the citizens. What I have to say to the youth is that instead of sitting back and expecting manna to drop from heaven, they should step out in order in order to be recognised. I did the same. My success did not come that easy. I stand here as hon. Minister of Home Affairs …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

 

(Debate adjourned)

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The House adjourned at 1256 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 20^th June, 2017.