Wednesday, 14th June, 2017

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Wednesday, 14th June, 2017

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

 

CONSTRUCTION OF TOLL PLAZAS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE TREASURY

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity given to me to issue a statement on the construction of toll plazas and their impact on the National Treasury. I will also apprise the nation, through this august House, on the collection of road toll in Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, in line with the Tolls Act No. 14 of 2011, which was introduced by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, His Excellency the President of the Sovereign Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, commissioned three conventional toll plazas, namely Mumbwa, Shimabala and Katuba, at a ceremony held on 27th April, 2017, at Katuba Toll Plaza. The estimated cost of constructing the three toll stations was K90 million.

 

Sir, the completion of the construction of the three toll plazas brought the total number of operational inland toll stations to five. This is a significant milestone in the implementation of the National Road Tolling Programme (NRTP) and the attainment of financing sustainability in road infrastructure development in our country. Hon. Members may wish to note that this number does not include weighbridges, which are also toll collection points.

 

Mr Speaker, in addition to the five toll plazas, road tolls are also collected from ten entry points and six weighbridges in different parts of the country. As the Minister responsible for housing and infrastructure development, I am pleased to inform this august House that between January and May, 2017, we have collected K236,947,467.90 through these facilities. Further, 141 permanent jobs for our young men and women were created directly under the NRTP.

 

Sir, as a Government that prioritises the expansion and modernisation of the infrastructure base of our country as a precursor to economic transformation and development, the construction of high-quality and safe roads is paramount to us. In this regard, and in light of the limited fiscal space and multiplicity of competing needs in the country, the NRTP will continue to be a beacon of hope and model for sustainable financing of road infrastructure projects.

 

Mr Speaker, the plan of the Government, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is to construct twenty inland toll plazas of various structural designs across the country by the end of 2017. The expected annual revenue from the twenty toll plazas is estimated at K670 million. In 2018, we intend to construct twenty more toll plazas to bring the total to forty toll stations. The selection of the roads on which the toll plazas will be situated will be based on the economic viability of the roads.

 

Sir, as a caring and pro-poor Government, we are fully aware that some road users may be negatively affected by the introduction of road tolls. Therefore, we have come up with measures to cushion such impacts, such as providing a discount for frequent road users and motorists residing within a 10 km radius of the toll facilities. The Government encourages road users who qualify for the discount to visit the respective toll stations to register for it. Frequent users are expected to apply for the discount after passing through a total station ten times in a month.

 

Sir, in concluding my address, allow me to take this opportunity to assure my fellow Zambians, in general, and road users, in particular, that the Government will provide leadership in ensuring that every ngwee collected by road toll stations are used for the intended purpose, and prudently managed and accounted for. This is will enable us to continue building public confidence in the NRTP and other national programmes.

 

Mr Speaker, we firmly believe that moving in the direction we have chosen will make the Government realise the intended benefits, which people will see and appreciate. The benefits include sustainable road maintenance, which will bring down vehicle maintenance costs and reduce travel time. Already, the tolling programme has been rated the highest non-tax contributor to the Treasury.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

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

 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the update on the amount of money collected from the toll gates. I commend the Government for this good initiative.

 

Sir, putting up toll gates and collecting revenue is one thing, but preventing revenue leakage is another. What is being done by the ministries of Housing and Infrastructure Development, and Finance to ensure that all the money collected finds its way into the National Treasury?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I assure the hon. Member that we have enforced stringent measures to ensure that all the money collected from toll gates finds its way into the National Treasury. We have also put in place monitoring programmes to ensure that employees do not misappropriate the money they collect. We have also provided toll gates with physical security. Also, the money collected is deposited in the Treasury Single Account within twenty-four hours.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, many Zambians are happy that the income generated by the toll gates will go towards the construction and maintenance of our road infrastructure. Can the hon. Minister give us any examples of projects to which the money so far collected at toll gates has been channelled.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, Zambians, in general, and hon. Members, in particularly, can attest to the many projects that had stalled in the last two or three years, but have now been resumed using funds collected from the toll gates and others received from the Treasury. I can cite the Chipata/Vubwi, Katete/Chadiza and Great North roads as examples. We are also working on the road that leads to Paramount Chief Gawa Undi’s palace. Further, in Kaputa, some roads that had been washed away have been allocated K900,000 to ensure that the residents have access to other road networks. Additionally, a number of bridges that had collapsed In Kapoche have been allocated K4 million for repairs. We are also working on the Kafue Bridge in the Western Province, which was on the verge of collapsing. Some of the money is paid out through the Zambia National Service (ZNS) while the rest is disbursed through the councils.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge): Mr Speaker, obviously, there is ...

 

Mr Belemu: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Belemu: Mr Speaker, as records will show, this is the first point of order that I am raising in this august House since coming here in 2011.

 

Sir, the point of order I am raising is procedural in nature, and is on a matter that, if not rectified, will lower the standing of this august House. It arises from the rulings you made yesterday, in particular, the one that culminated in the suspension of forty-eight members of the United Party for National Development (UPND).

 

Mr Speaker, the first premise of my point of order is that there is a prescribed procedure to be followed in applying for leave of absence. In the case of the Member of Parliament for Namwala, Hon. Lubezhi, she had sought permission to be absent from the House from the hon. Chief Whip and leave was granted. The reason she gave was that she had to appear in court for a non-civil nature. That is one of the permissible reasons for an hon. Member of Parliament to be absent from the House. I will lay a copy of this document on the Table.

 

Sir, Hon. Lubezhi is one of the forty-eight hon. Members who were suspended for thirty days and made to leave the Chamber through what you referred to as the ‘door of shame’ yesterday.

 

Hon. Government Members: Shame!

 

Mr Belemu: She is now in anguish and at pains to know what else she could have done in applying for her leave apart from the prescribed procedure, which she followed. She filled a form in the hon. Chief Whip’s Office and there is documented proof of that in this House.

 

Sir, the second premise of my point of order is that I was excluded from the thirty-day suspension. As an honest person, I would like to indicate that the reasons given for my absence are not correct because I did not seek leave from the hon. Chief Whip. It is true that I went to a clinic and was treated for an ailment associated with hypertension on the day in question. However, being a sincere person, I do not want to appear to want to benefit from a misrepresentation of facts in the House. Therefore, I offer to pass through the same door of shame through which my colleagues were made to pass.

 

Sir, was this House was in order to pass a resolution that is defective and appears to victimise members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) on account of their party affiliation instead of the facts. Does the resolution passed yesterday stand even if it was based on defective facts and seems to be biased against the expelled hon. Members even if they were present absence on that day, as is the case with Hon. Lubezhi?

 

Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence and ruling.

 

Mr Speaker: I need time to check on the records and confirm some of the assertions that you have made regarding the two specific cases you have mentioned, namely the ones relating to what happened to you and the hon. Member for Namwala. Therefore, I am not able to make a ruling on them immediately. As regards your general comment regarding the perception that United Party for National Development (UPND) members may have been victimised for their political affiliations in this disciplinary measure, I want to place on record the fact that there has not been any victimisation whatsoever. If you care to get a copy of the second ruling, you will see that we issued charge letters and got representations from your counsel in which there was no explanation for the suspended hon. Members’ absence on the material day. To date, no explanation has been given by members of the UPND. Instead, as I pointed out, in the response, your counsel threatened to cite me, the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Chief Parliamentary Legal Counsel for contempt. So, the bottom line is that there was no victimisation. Let me repeat what I belaboured yesterday: the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly is open and any hon. Member who wishes to get a copy of the ruling is free to approach it.

 

For avoidance of doubt and for the sake of emphasis, I repeat: I will look at the two particular cases raised and investigate the assertions you have made. I cannot dispose of them ex tempore.

 

The hon. Member for Milenge may continue.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I believe that the issue of toll gates is not controversial. Probably, what is in contention is the utilisation of the funds. Generally, the fear is that the money, once collected, might be lost if it goes into Control 99, as is the case with the fuel levy. What guarantee can the hon. Minister give that the money will be ring-fenced and put to its intended purpose?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the Government has taken note of the concern the hon. Member of Parliament for Milenge has raised, and I wish to mention that this money goes into Control 99 for auditing purposes only. Once that is done, it is transferred into the Road Toll Account, which is controlled by the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA). We make sure that interim payment certificates are presented to the NRFA and the money is released to pay contractors.

 

Mr Speaker, I have been discussing with my team in the ministry the possibility of engaging contractors who will be responsible for specific roads for five years starting next year. That will help us avoid situations in which we look at a pothole and say, “We will mend it tomorrow”.

 

Sir, we will ensure that we get value for the money we are investing in the construction of roads so that Zambians see the benefits of paying road user fees. So, I assure the hon. Member and the people of Zambia that we have ring-fenced the money in an NRFA account.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Malama (Nchelenge): Mr Speaker, when will the ministry roll out the toll gates on the new roads, such as the Nakonde/Kasama and Mushota/Kawambwa/Luwingu roads?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we have already begun preliminary works on the Mbala/Nakonde Road through an in-house arrangement. Last month, the Road Development Agency (RDA) in the Northern and Muchinga provinces was given K4 million to begin by putting up low-cost toll facilities so that it can benefit from those roads. The same applies to the road that connects Luwingu to Luapula Province. As soon as it is completed, we will put up a toll gate on it too.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, when will the toll plaza for Luanshimba be completed?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we will embark on the construction of the remaining fifteen toll plazas, including at Luanshimba, this month and we hope to complete them by the end of 2017. 

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Musonda (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, the construction of the Chingola/Solwezi Road has presented us with many challenges and it has been an outcry of the people of the North-Western Province to have the road completed quickly. Considering the heavy traffic on that road, has the hon. Minister prioritised the construction of a toll plaza on it so that it can finance itself?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, yes, we are considering the prioritisation of a toll plaza on the Chingola/Solwezi Road. In fact, we will not only put one toll plaza between Chingola and Solwezi, but also another one between Mutanda and Solwezi, as you go to Kalumbila, so that the maintenance of our roads is paid for by the trucks that ‘patronise’ them.

 

Mr Kambwili: ‘Patronise’ the roads?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: The trucks that use our road from Solwezi to Kalumbila Mine.

 

Mr Chitotela turned to Mr Kambwili.

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Minister!

 

You are still addressing the Chair.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, you know the hon. Member of Parliament for Roan.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I confirm that we will put up a toll plaza between Chingola and Solwezi and one between Mutanda and Solwezi to Kalumbila Mine.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Mr Speaker, who is the main custodian of the funds collected at toll plazas and how will the money be used in order for the people of Zambia, those of Luano in particular, can appreciate this programme? Further, when will the Manyumbi Toll Plaza be completed? Its construction has taken long, compared to that of the Katuba Toll Plaza. Additionally, when does he intend to put a toll plaza in Luano District?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

Hon. Members, please, note that you are allowed to ask only one question at a time. Do not ask a barrage of questions.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, regarding the question on who the custodian of the funds is, I would like state that, in Zambia, we only have one Treasury where all the monies are channelled and, then, sent to various ministries for various operations, namely the Ministry of Finance.

 

Mr Speaker, as regards the construction of the toll plaza at Manyumbi, it is public knowledge that the contract on the project expired and we chose to part company with the contractor. We hope that the project will be one of the fifteen that we will commence this monthend. The contract has been given to the contractor to the contractor who built the Katuba and Mumbwa toll gates and, as I speak, it is being cleared by the Office of the Attorney-General.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chali (Nchanga): Mr Speaker, I know that there is a plan to put up a toll plaza at Itimpi, Garnerton, between Kitwe and Chingola. What plan does the Government have for the Sabina/Kalulushi/Kitwe bypasses?

 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, next year, we will review our Statutory Instrument (SI) so that we can designate more areas as collection points, and Kalulushi/Sabina will be one of those areas. As I stated earlier, from January to December, 2017, we will construct twenty additional toll plazas.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kafwaya (Lunte): Mr Speaker, from the figures, I can see that K90 million was used to construct toll plazas, which have now yielded K236 million. I think that was a very good investment choice from a financial perspective. My question is: What is the percentage of the discount offered to regular users?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the discount for regular users and people who reside within a 10 km radius of the toll plazas is up to 75 per cent.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr A. Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, it is gratifying to note that most projects that had stalled are now resuming and jobs are getting created, as the hon. Minister announced. As you know, we have the target of creating 100,000 jobs this year, as set in our Budget. My question is: Has the hon. Minister taken steps to know the salaries and wages that our people, for whom we are creating these jobs through such progressive initiatives, get for them to contribute to the National Treasury through taxes?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the answer is yes.

 

Sir, an important thing about the people who are getting employed through the NRFA is that their jobs are permanent and pensionable. So, the employees will have something on which to live after their life of service. We take care of the people who are employed and pay them a wage above the minimum wage. I do not know whether I am allowed to disclose individuals’ salaries, but I can state that they are paid a living wage.

 

Mr Speaker: That is sufficient.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, I come from a rural constituency and the people of Chitambo would like to know the difference between a toll and the Road Tax because there appears to be an element of tax duplication.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, a toll is paid upon usage of a particular road portion while the Road Tax is paid by vehicles regardless of which roads they use. So, a motorist is compelled by law to pay the Road Tax while the road use charge (toll) is paid only by those who use specific portions of some roads. For example, a motorist in Lusaka is compelled to pay the Road Tax, but cannot pay the toll charged on a road in Chipata. That is the difference.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, does the hon. Minister have any plan of ensuring that the local authorities in places where the toll plazas are situated equally benefit from the huge revenue generated through the facilities? I have in mind Kabwe Municipal and Kapiri Mposhi District councils. We think that if a toll gate is placed on a local road in that vicinity, a portion of the money collected should be used on renovating some of the township roads instead of only concentrating on the major economic roads. I think it is important that we begin to look in that direction to ensure that even the locals get a portion of the money that is generated.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we have considered the need for all towns in Zambia to benefit from the money collected at toll plazas, as we look at Zambia as one constituency. So, we know that the people of Kabwe need township roads, and that is why, as we are speak, Kabwe District is a beneficiary of the money collected at toll gates, as the township road project by Asphalt Zambia Limited has continued after the contractor was paid. We are also talking about Kapiri Mposhi, Kitwe, Chingola and Lusaka.

 

Sir, in an earlier response, I said that we wanted to identify contractors with whom we would sign five-year maintenance contracts for specific roads. We want a contractor to maintain roads in Lusaka so that they are not damaged because it is very expensive to reconstruct roads damaged due to negligence. We want to have a better road network across Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, when I was in school, one of my lecturers said, “If you want to develop the economy, begin by building roads because commerce is trade and aids to trade”. The ‘T’ in ‘trade’ stands for transport, and we cannot have transport if you do not have a road network. We need to build roads, railway infrastructure, waterways, canals and airports to grow our economy. So, we will look at Zambia as a constituency, develop it and leave it a better place than we found it for the benefit of our grandchildren.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, my question is on frequent toll gate users. You may be aware that house rentals are much lower in Luanshya than in Ndola. So, most civil servants who work in Ndola live in Luanshya. Yes, the hon. Minister said that frequent road users will pay 75 per cent of the toll, meaning that if they use the road for the whole month, they will pay K900. However, an average civil servant gets a salary of about K3,000 per month. Is the hon. Minister sure that the road tolls do not take away the little disposable income from families that are in that situation? If he is not, what is he doing to prevent driving from becoming a preserve of the rich?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, if my mathematics, which I learnt to years ago when I was studying for my masters degree, serves me well, …

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: … the 75 per cent discount on K20 is K15. So, we give a K15 discount to people who use toll gates frequently, meaning that they pay K5. If multiplied by thirty days, the amount comes to K150, not K900. That is what I learnt in quantitative …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: … methods.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Ngulube: “While studying for my masters degree”.

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Minister!

 

We have already taken note of that.

 

Mr Chitotela: I want to …

 

Ms Katuta: Was it honorary?

 

Mr Chitotela: No, it was not. I read for one.

 

Sir, I assure the frequent road users and locals that they are entitled to up to a 75 per cent discount, that is, you pay K5 if you drive a small car and K25 if you are a truck operator and use the same road ten times in a month.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Lumayi (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, I come from a province where roads are as so bad that they resemble those found in a war-torn country. That is despite the resources generated from the North-Western Province through mining. So, we are shocked that the Government wants to put up toll plazas in that province. I wonder if the people in there will not demonstrate against the idea.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Mr Lumayi: My question is: What assurance is the hon. Minister giving the people of the North-Western Province that our roads will be better, especially given the fact that we have been contributing a lot of resources to the National Treasury?

 

Mr Ngulube: Question!

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, let me declare interest, as my wife comes from the North-Western Province.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, to be honest, some of the major road projects that this Government is implementing today are in the North-Western Province.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: For example, we are upgrading the Chingola/Solwezi Road at a cost of K2.4 billion. That road goes to the North-Western Province.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: We are also working on township roads in Mwinilunga District …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: … and upgrading the Mwinilunga/Ikeleng’i/Jimbe Road at a cost of K1.1 billion.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: So, when the hon. Member speaks about the North-Western Province, I do not know to which province he is referring.

 

Sir, as representatives of the people here, we must project the true picture of what is happening in the areas we represent.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: In fact, the people of the North-Western Province have been saying that we are delaying in putting up toll plazas. They are eager to have them. In fact, they are the ones who suggested that we do not only put up a toll plaza on the Chingola/Solwezi Road, but also on the Solwezi/Kalumbila Road because of the heavy vehicle traffic there.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Eba ma masters, aba.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lumayi pressed his microphone.

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Chavuma!

 

I am sure you know the rules.

 

Hon. Member for Kabompo, please, ask your question. Is it Kabompo?

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Yes, Mr Speaker, it is.

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema moustache, aya!

 

Mr Lufuma: Have you forgotten?

 

Mr Speaker: No. There was a change at some point.

 

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the construction of the Kafulafuta Toll Plaza has taken quite long. When should we expect it to be completed?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the construction of the Kafulafuta Toll Plaza has delayed because we terminated the contract due to non-performance by the contractor. We have since awarded it to Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) International Limited. We have submitted the contract to the Office of the Attorney-General and hope that it will be approved before the end of this month so that the contractor can move on site. Our projection is that the toll plaza will be opened to the public by the end of this year.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Zimba (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, I congratulate the hon. Minister on obtaining a masters degree.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

Get to business.

 

Mr Zimba: Mr Speaker, a toll plaza is being erected between Lusaka and Chongwe. How many toll plazas are earmarked for construction on the Great East Road between Lusaka and Chama? Also, what is the status of the Chama/Lundazi Road?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for congratulating me. Mine was not an honorary degree, but an earned one.

 

Sir, the toll plaza between Lusaka and Chongwe will be completed, if all goes according to schedule, in the next two months, and two additional plazas will be constructed on the Great East Road in Phase II of the programme before the end of this month. One will be between Luangwa and Petauke while the other will be between Katete and Chipata.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, does the ministry have any plan to introduce electronic tolls (e-tolls) so that every Zambian can pay tolls?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, yes. In January, 2018, we will pilot a project on e-tolling on some designated lanes.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his comprehensive statement. However, he said that the contract for the plaza in Manyumbi was terminated. What are the costs associated with the termination of the contract, seeing as the contractor had already moved on site and, probably, the Government had already spent a lot of money?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, if he cared to listen, the hon. Member would have heard me say that the contract expired. So, the contractor had no locus standi on which to litigate the case. Therefore, he did not file any claim. Had he wanted to continue, we would have charge him liquidated damages at 4 per cent every month, which would have proved to be very expensive for him. The Government also did not claim anything from him because the money we had paid him was equivalent to the work he had done. So, the Government did not use the money that the people of Chama contribute through taxes to compensate the contractor.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that the ministry is getting good revenue from road tolls. However, is he aware that trucks loaded with copper from Lumwana and Kansanshi mines now use the Kasempa/Kaoma Road? If he is, when will the Government upgrade that road to bituminous standard so that toll plazas can be constructed on it to generate more revenue? Truckers are using the road avoid paying tolls by taking an alternative route to Walvis Bay.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, that information has been brought to the attention of the Government and, in several responses, I have said that we will not only construct a toll plaza between Chingola and Solwezi, but also between Solwezi and Kalunbila as we mobilise enough funds to upgrade the Kasempa/Mumbwa and Kasempa/Kaoma roads to bituminous standard. That way, whichever route the truckers use, they will still pass through toll plazas and have to pay road tolls. I assure the hon. Member and the people of the North-Western, Central and Western provinces that their roads will be included in next year’s Budget.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kakubo (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, the road toll, which was increased at the beginning of the year, is a new phenomenon in this country, and Zambian motorists already pay Road Tax. Further, the hon. Minister says that there is more to come, which worries me. Going by the difficult economic conditions in the country today, Zambian motorists are paying too much already. Would his ministry, in the future, consider charging either road tolls or the Road Tax instead of charging both?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we charge road-user fees, not tollgate fees. The road-user fees are only paid by motorists when they use a particular portion of the road or go beyond a certain point on a given road. If a motorist lives in Lusaka, he or she can drive anywhere within the city without paying the road-user fee. Road tax, on the other hand, is paid even if the motorist has not gone to a point where the road tolls are charged because we need to maintain township roads as well. However, for using the Chingola/ Kabwe/Lusaka Road, a motorist will have to pay road-user fees.  That is the difference between the Road Tax and road-user fees.

 

Sir, I commend Zambians for the co-operation and support that they have given to the PF Government by paying the road-user fees. That is the only way we can maintain our roads and develop the country. Zambia cannot develop its infrastructure by borrowing monies from the international banks. Neither can foreigners develop it. Indeed, they are our co-operating partners and they want to support us. However, we need to be self-sustaining. The Chinese Ambassador who was replaced by the current one told me that he has been in Africa for over twenty years and had heard the phrase ‘sustainable’ over a million times in various African countries, but he had not seen it bear fruit. So, we, Zambians, need to create a sustainable economy by paying taxes. If we lament that it is too expensive and we cannot do it, who do we expect to come and develop the country for us? I appeal to Zambians to continue supporting us so that we leave Zambia better than we found it. Our generation, as His Excellency stated, must be a generation of planners so that at the stroke of midnight in 2064, our children will look back and say, “Yes, we had people who came to serve this nation”. Had we addressed our current challenges twenty years ago, we would be spending money on other things, not on the road network. We do not want, come 2064, our children to start making a road that links the Western Province to the North-Western Province. So, let us do that which we can now so that our children can look back and say, “Yes, we had leaders and people who planned for this country”.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

_________

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

REHABILITATION OF CHALILO/CHIPUNDU ROAD

 

242. Mr Mutale (Chitambo) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

           

  1. whether the Government had any plans to rehabilitate the Chalilo/Chipundu Road, which leads to the David Livingstone Memorial Site in Chitambo District;

 

  1. if so, when the project would commence;

 

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

 

  1. if there were no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plan to rehabilitate the Chalilo/Chipundu Road, which leads to the David Livingstone Memorial Site in Chitambo District, because the project was not included in the 2017 Road Sector Annual Work Plan (RSAWP). However, the Government will carry out an assessment of the cost of intervention measures for possible inclusion of the road in the 2018 RSAWP, funds permitting.

 

Sir, the time frame for the project can only be determined once the full scope of woks has been determined.

 

Finally, Sir, the rehabilitation of the road was not included in the 2017 RSAWP due to budgetary limitations.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, the Chalilo/Chipundu Road is very important, as it can bring a lot of revenue to this country. However, the hon. Minister did not indicate when the assessments on the road will be done.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I said that the Government will carry out an assessment to determine the cost of intervention measures for possible inclusion of the road in the 2018 RSAWP. It, therefore, goes without saying that the assessment will be done this year.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN LUKASHYA CONSTITUENCY

 

243. Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi) (on behalf of Mr Munkonge) (Lukashya) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

  1. how many community schools were in Lukashya Parliamentary Constituency, as of February, 2017;

 

  1. whether there were any plans to convert some of the schools to Government schools;

 

  1. if so, what the number of schools earmarked for the exercise was;

 

  1. when the exercise would commence; and

 

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

 

The Minister of General Education (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, there were seven registered community schools in Lukashya Parliamentary Constituency, as of February, 2017, namely Chimalilo, Mobosha, Mukumbe, Sande Mashiko, Mulumika, Nyimba and Mapambe, all of which are in Musowa Ward.

 

Sir, the Government has plans to convert some of the community schools in Lukashya Parliamentary Constituency to Government schools in accordance with the laid-out guidelines.

 

Sir, the number of community schools earmarked for conversion into Government schools is two, namely Chimalilo and Mukumbe.

 

Mr Speaker, the exercise will commence as soon as appropriate infrastructure is put in place to enable the schools operate as Government schools. Currently, the Government is upgrading 220 basic schools to secondary schools and building 115 senior secondary schools. In this regard, let me remind the House that we plan to complete all the on-going infrastructure projects before embarking on new ones. Therefore, the construction of the necessary infrastructure at Chimalilo and Mukumbe Community schools will await the completion of current projects.

 

Sir, the conversion of community schools into Government schools is an on-going exercise and the House will be updated once the schools have been upgraded.

 

Mr Speaker, let me add that the Government has recognised community schools as an integral part of our educational system. Therefore, it attaches a lot of importance to the provision of appropriate infrastructure for them to work with.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker. 

 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the answer, and for the importance that the Government attaches to community schools. However, another problem that community schools have is that they do not benefit from the deployment of teaching staff by the Government. What is Government’s position on this matter?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, like I said in my first response, the Government attaches a lot of importance to community schools. So, it has started deploying teachers to them. We are aware that quite a good number of the schools are staffed by untrained teachers, but a visit to some of them will reveal that the process of providing them with trained teachers has commenced. Therefore, eventually, community schools will be staffed by trained teachers just like Government-run schools.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the information he has given to the House.

 

Sir, at the expense of sounding repetitive in light of the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Lupososhi, my question is: We know that community schools are very important in most of our communities, although we also understand that the quality of education they provide is definitely low because they are supported by communities. Does the hon. Minister foresee a future in which the Government will completely do away with communities so that all the children in every corner of the country can have access to the same quality of education that we so much cherish for the development of our nation?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has provided a very good answer to his question. Indeed, what he says is what we foresee happening in the near future. At some point, we would like to do away with community schools so that we can have one system.

 

Sir, I must hasten to say that this problem is historical. Those of us who went to school a long time ago went through Sub-A and B before starting Standard 1. That was the equivalent of what is currently referred to as pre-school or early childhood education. At some point, the Government had handed over the provision of level of education to local authorities. We have reverted to that system and we have seen early childhood education become an integral part of the educational system. In the same token, in the past, community schools were seen as schools for the poor and were generally predominant in very poor communities of both urban and rural areas. Now, the Government has recognised that the schools provide a very important service to our communities and it is working on integrating them into the education system so that every corner of Zambia will only have an early childhood education centre, a primary school and a secondary school.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mwamba (Lubansheshi): Mr Speaker, normally, community schools are okay in towns because the parents who send their children to there are able to pay and support the teachers adequately. Rural communities, on the other hand, have difficulties in running their schools and paying teachers. Does the Government have a plan to financially support rural community schools just like Government schools are supported?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the ministry provides some grants to community schools annually. However, the support is usually not enough to meet the needs of every community school. Therefore, we appreciate the role the local communities play by providing the schools with teachers. Like I said, eventually, the schools will become the responsibility of the Ministry of General Education.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

ELECTRIFICATION OF ZEMBA TABACCO SCHEME

 

244. Mr S. Tembo (Chadiza) asked the Minister of Energy:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plans to resume the electrification of the Zemba Tobacco Scheme in Chadiza District, which stalled in 2011;

 

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

 

  1. what the cost of the project was ; and

 

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

 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO), has been committed to completing the electrification of the Zemba Tabacco Scheme in Chadiza District.

 

Sir, I am happy to report the project has since been completed by the contractor and was commissioned on 22nd May, 2017.

 

Sir, the cost for the project was K1.8 million.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN KATETE

 

245. Mr Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Health:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to construct a district hospital in Katete;

 

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

 

  1. what the estimated cost of the project was;

 

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

 

  1. if there was no such plan, why.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, the Government does not have immediate plans to construct a district hospital in Katete.

 

Sir, the people of Katete District are served by Saint Francis Mission Hospital for first and second-level services. In addition, the Government has embarked on the construction of eleven health posts to increase access to health services. Further, there are two zonal facilities earmarked for construction at places that are being discussed with stakeholders in the district.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the population of Katete has grown so much that even the Saint Francis Mission Hospital that he has mentioned is inadequate to cater for it? That is why we are asking for a district hospital. We have heard of district hospitals that have been constructed in other areas. So, when will the Government construct one in Katete?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament is right to say that the population of Katete has boomed, resulting in an increased demand for health services. That is the reason we have given the district eleven health posts. Additionally, for the densely populated areas, we are engaging the stakeholders to determine what should be done, like I said. In the meantime, we are putting up zonal facilities, which are, in essence, small hospitals because they have admission facilities, operating theatres and maternity annexes, although they are not so-called. Suffice it for me to say that they will significantly decongest Saint Francis Mission Hospital because they will have a full complement of medical staff, including doctors who can operate.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF ZRA OFFICES IN KAPUTA, NSAMA AND CHIENGI

 

246. Mr Ng’onga asked the Minister of Finance:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to construct offices for the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in the following districts:

 

  1. Kaputa;

 

  1. Nsama; and

 

  1. Chiengi;

 

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

 

  1. if there were no such plan, why; and

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to delegate some of the ZRA functions, in the interim, to the district councils in the mentioned districts.

 

The Minister of Finance (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to build Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) offices in Kaputa, Nsama and Chiengi districts. The House may wish to note that the ZRA currently has offices in Mansa, the Provincial Capital, and other border areas like Chembe, Kashiba and Nchelenge. The presence of the agency in these areas enables it to enforce tax compliance and collect revenue from domestic taxpayers, importers and exporters in Luapula Province.

 

Sir, to lessen the cost of compliance for taxpayers, the ZRA offices in Mansa regularly conducts mobile operations in outlying areas. Further, it is working on assigning officers to Chipungu Border Post, which adjoins Kaputa, Nsama and Chiengi districts, to administer the collection of both domestic and trade taxes.

 

Mr Speaker, in view of the revenue collection operational assignment I have mentioned, there currently is no plan, in the interim, to delegate ZRA functions to the councils in Kaputa, Nsama and Chiengi districts. However, the ZRA will continue to work with the district councils and other Government agencies to co-ordinate and share information, among other matters, in order to ensure that all potential taxpayers are brought into the tax net.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the hon. Minister of Finance for answering the question very well. However, does he know that there is quite a lot of trading going on between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tanzania through Nsumbu Bay, and between Kaputa and our colleagues in the DRC? More revenue could be collected for our national coffers if the ZRA had offices in the mentioned districts. Is there any other way the country can use to collect revenues around those border areas for the benefit of both the districts I have mentioned and nation at large?

 

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the ZRA is actually undertaking an assessment on the matter raised by the hon. Member. Once that assessment has been completed, a decision will be made.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Katuta (Chiengi): Mr Speaker, I just want to let the hon. Minister of Finance know that there has been a lot of trading going on and a lot of traffic carrying many goods in the areas in question. I was just sharing that information with the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development to encourage him to build a road with tollgates in the area. How long will we wait for the assessment by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to be completed while the nation loses revenue at those borders?

 

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the ZRA has indicated that it will complete the assessment in two months.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF CHASEFU BOARDING SECONDARY SCHOOL

 

247. Mr Zimba (Chasefu) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. why construction the works at the Chasefu Boarding Secondary School in Chasefu Parliamentary Constituency had stalled;

 

  1. when the works would resume;

 

  1. who the contractor for the project was; and

 

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

 

Sir, the number of community schools earmarked for conversion into Government schools is two, namely Chimalilo and Mukumbe.

 

Mr Speaker, the exercise will commence as soon as appropriate infrastructure is put in place to enable the schools operate as Government schools. Currently, the Government is upgrading 220 basic schools to secondary schools and building 115 senior secondary schools. In this regard, let me remind the House that we plan to complete all the on-going infrastructure projects before embarking on new ones. Therefore, the construction of the necessary infrastructure at Chimalilo and Mukumbe Community schools will await the completion of current projects.

 

Sir, the conversion of community schools into Government schools is an on-going exercise and the House will be updated once the schools have been upgraded.

 

Mr Speaker, let me add that the Government has recognised community schools as an integral part of our educational system. Therefore, it attaches a lot of importance to the provision of appropriate infrastructure for them to work with.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker. 

 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the answer, and for the importance that the Government attaches to community schools. However, another problem that community schools have is that they do not benefit from the deployment of teaching staff by the Government. What is Government’s position on this matter?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, like I said in my first response, the Government attaches a lot of importance to community schools. So, it has started deploying teachers to them. We are aware that quite a good number of the schools are staffed by untrained teachers, but a visit to some of them will reveal that the process of providing them with trained teachers has commenced. Therefore, eventually, community schools will be staffed by trained teachers just like Government-run schools.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the information he has given to the House.

 

Sir, at the expense of sounding repetitive in light of the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Lupososhi, my question is: We know that community schools are very important in most of our communities, although we also understand that the quality of education they provide is definitely low because they are supported by communities. Does the hon. Minister foresee a future in which the Government will completely do away with communities so that all the children in every corner of the country can have access to the same quality of education that we so much cherish for the development of our nation?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member has provided a very good answer to his question. Indeed, what he says is what we foresee happening in the near future. At some point, we would like to do away with community schools so that we can have one system.

 

Sir, I must hasten to say that this problem is historical. Those of us who went to school a long time ago went through Sub-A and B before starting Standard 1. That was the equivalent of what is currently referred to as pre-school or early childhood education. At some point, the Government had handed over the provision of level of education to local authorities. We have reverted to that system and we have seen early childhood education become an integral part of the educational system. In the same token, in the past, community schools were seen as schools for the poor and were generally predominant in very poor communities of both urban and rural areas. Now, the Government has recognised that the schools provide a very important service to our communities and it is working on integrating them into the education system so that every corner of Zambia will only have an early childhood education centre, a primary school and a secondary school.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mwamba (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, normally, community schools are okay in towns because the parents who send their children to there are able to pay and support the teachers adequately. Rural communities, on the other hand, have difficulties in running their schools and paying teachers. Does the Government have a plan to financially support rural community schools just like Government schools are supported?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the ministry provides some grants to community schools annually. However, the support is usually not enough to meet the needs of every community school. Therefore, we appreciate the role the local communities play by providing the schools with teachers. Like I said, eventually, the schools will become the responsibility of the Ministry of General Education.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

ELECTRIFICATION OF ZEMBA TABACCO SCHEME

 

244. Mr S. Tembo (Chadiza) asked the Minister of Energy:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plans to resume the electrification of the Zemba Tobacco Scheme in Chadiza District, which stalled in 2011;

 

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

 

  1. what the cost of the project was ; and

 

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

 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO), has been committed to completing the electrification of the Zemba Tobacco Scheme in Chadiza District.

 

Sir, I am happy to report the project has since been completed by the contractor and was commissioned on 22nd May, 2017.

 

Sir, the cost for the project was K1.8 million.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN KATETE

 

245. Mr Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Health:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to construct a district hospital in Katete;

 

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

 

  1. what the estimated cost of the project was;

 

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

 

  1. if there was no such plan, why.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, the Government does not have immediate plans to construct a district hospital in Katete.

 

Sir, the people of Katete District are served by Saint Francis Mission Hospital for first and second-level services. In addition, the Government has embarked on the construction of eleven health posts to increase access to health services. Further, there are two zonal facilities earmarked for construction at places that are being discussed with stakeholders in the district.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the population of Katete has grown so much that even the Saint Francis Mission Hospital that he has mentioned is inadequate to cater for it? That is why we are asking for a district hospital. We have heard of district hospitals that have been constructed in other areas. So, when will the Government construct one in Katete?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament is right to say that the population of Katete has boomed, resulting in an increased demand for health services. That is the reason we have given the district eleven health posts. Additionally, for the densely populated areas, we are engaging the stakeholders to determine what should be done, like I said. In the meantime, we are putting up zonal facilities, which are, in essence, small hospitals because they have admission facilities, operating theatres and maternity annexes, although they are not so-called. Suffice it for me to say that they will significantly decongest Saint Francis Mission Hospital because they will have a full complement of medical staff, including doctors who can operate.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF ZRA OFFICES IN KAPUTA, NSAMA AND CHIENGI

 

246. Mr Ng’onga asked the Minister of Finance:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to construct offices for the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in the following districts:

 

  1. Kaputa;

 

  1. Nsama; and

 

  1. Chiengi;

 

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

 

  1. if there were no such plan, why; and

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to delegate some of the ZRA functions, in the interim, to the district councils in the mentioned districts.

 

The Minister of Finance (Mr Mutati): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to build Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) offices in Kaputa, Nsama and Chiengi districts. The House may wish to note that the ZRA currently has offices in Mansa, the Provincial Capital, and other border areas like Chembe, Kashiba and Nchelenge. The presence of the agency in these areas enables it to enforce tax compliance and collect revenue from domestic taxpayers, importers and exporters in Luapula Province.

 

Sir, to lessen the cost of compliance for taxpayers, the ZRA offices in Mansa regularly conducts mobile operations in outlying areas. Further, it is working on assigning officers to Chipungu Border Post, which adjoins Kaputa, Nsama and Chiengi districts, to administer the collection of both domestic and trade taxes.

 

Mr Speaker, in view of the revenue collection operational assignment I have mentioned, there currently is no plan, in the interim, to delegate ZRA functions to the councils in Kaputa, Nsama and Chiengi districts. However, the ZRA will continue to work with the district councils and other Government agencies to co-ordinate and share information, among other matters, in order to ensure that all potential taxpayers are brought into the tax net.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the hon. Minister of Finance for answering the question very well. However, does he know that there is quite a lot of trading going on between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tanzania through Nsumbu Bay, and between Kaputa and our colleagues in the DRC? More revenue could be collected for our national coffers if the ZRA had offices in the mentioned districts. Is there any other way the country can use to collect revenues around those border areas for the benefit of both the districts I have mentioned and nation at large?

 

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the ZRA is actually undertaking an assessment on the matter raised by the hon. Member. Once that assessment has been completed, a decision will be made.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Katuta (Chiengi): Mr Speaker, I just want to let the hon. Minister of Finance know that there has been a lot of trading going on and a lot of traffic carrying many goods in the areas in question. I was just sharing that information with the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development to encourage him to build a road with tollgates in the area. How long will we wait for the assessment by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to be completed while the nation loses revenue at those borders?

 

Mr Mutati: Mr Speaker, the ZRA has indicated that it will complete the assessment in two months.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF CHASEFU BOARDING SECONDARY SCHOOL

 

247. Mr Zimba (Chasefu) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. why construction the works at the Chasefu Boarding Secondary School in Chasefu Parliamentary Constituency had stalled;

 

  1. when the works would resume;

 

  1. who the contractor for the project was; and

 

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

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the construction of Chasefu Boarding Secondary School in Chasefu Constituency stalled due to financial constraints.

 

Sir, the works will resume when funds become available. I assure you that I have engaged the hon. Ministers of Finance and General Education to release the money for education infrastructure.

 

Mr Speaker, the contractor is China Jiangxi International Limited.

 

Sir, the estimated time frame for the completion of the project is nine months after the resumption of the works.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR MASQUERADING AS RELIGIOUS LEADERS

 

248. Mrs Jere (Lumezi) (on behalf of Mr C. M. Zulu) (Luangeni) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

 

  1. whether there had been any people arrested for masquerading as religious leaders from 2011;

 

  1. if so, how many had been prosecuted and convicted; and

 

  1. what measures had been taken to reduce the number of people masquerading as pastors. 

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina) (on behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs) (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, from 2011 to date, no people have been arrested for masquerading as religious leaders.

 

Sir, there have been no prosecutions or convictions as there have been no arrests made.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government has put the following measures to curb the number of people masquerading as pastors:

 

  1. enhanced verification process when registering churches;

 

  1. stringent requirements have been put in place for pre-assessment of the eligibility of pastors by the church mother-bodies before they recommend them to the Government for registration; and

 

  1. random inspection of various registered societies across the country to monitor their with the provisions of the Societies Act, Chapter 119 of the Laws of Zambia.

 

Sir, in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance, some of the administrative provisions put in place for the registration of churches and faith-based organisations (FBOs) are as follows:

 

  1. the registration of churches and FBOs will remain with the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Department of the Registrar of Societies, as provided for under Chapter 119 of the Laws of Zambia of the Societies Act;

 

  1. new applications will start the registration process with the Registrar of Societies, who will:

 

  1. conduct preliminary assessments on the authenticity of the identities of the applicants;

 

  1. conduct security clearance; and

 

  1. ensure that they obtain documentation like the Constitution and recommendation letter from a recognised church mother body to which they may be aligned.

 

  1.             the Registrar of Societies will submit the file to the Ministry of Religious Affairs

and National Guidance, which will conduct further scrutiny and screening, and give feedback to the Registrar of Societies within a given time frame for the latter to register applicants or not.

 

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Home Affairs will be very thorough in handling applications for permits and visas in order to keep away people who may wish to abuse the freedom of religion and declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation for their clandestine activities.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, what is the Ministry of Home Affairs doing about the businesses so-called churches, which have continued to operate after their leaders were deported? Will they continue to operate? I have seen, in the recent past, how we, Zambians, have been mocked about being poor by the same so-called prophets who have come to take our monies from this country.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, as far as I know, the local churches are run by Zambian pastors, and I think that our laws allow them to continue their operations under the auspices of the pastors responsible.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

UPGRADING OF SCHOOLS IN CHIMWEMWE CONSTITUENCY

 

249.  Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to upgrade the following schools in Chimwemwe Parliamentary Constituency to secondary schools:

 

  1. Twatasha;

 

  1. Ishuko;

 

  1. Mama Monty; and

 

  1. Garnerton;

 

  1. if so, when the schools would be upgraded;

 

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

 

  1. if there was no such plan, why?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, let me preface my response by saying that it is Government policy to ensure that no child walks more than 5 km from home to the point of learning. Therefore, the Government is committed to upgrading some primary schools into secondary schools countrywide in order to increase access to secondary education for all our people, particularly in rural areas. However, the upgrading is being done in a phased approach. That said, the ministry has no immediate plans to upgrade the mentioned schools into secondary schools due to budgetary constraints.

 

Sir, the schools will only be considered for upgrading once the twenty-two schools already being upgraded are completed. Therefore, there cannot be a time frame attached to their upgrading, as it will not take place until resources have been made available.

 

Lastly, there are no immediate plans to upgrade the schools because of financial constraints.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, when the District Educational Board Secretary (DEBS) was approached over this same matter, he advised that if parents could put up the infrastructure, the upgrading could be done. Consequently, we have received goodwill from the business communities in Kitwe, including from Power Tools and the owner of Copper Fields Mining Services, who have pledged to support the upgrading of, at least, two of the community schools. Now, what advice will the hon. Minister give the parents? Is he saying that they can go ahead and mobilise the resources or that they should hold on until the Government secures funding?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I think that the hon. Member’s question is a positive one. I believe that many of us in this House are aware that the Government has had many partners in the educational sector. For instance, there are many schools run by faith-based organisations (FBOs). Further, as I speak, there are a number of business houses that have proposed to partner the Government in building secondary schools, and the Government always welcomes efforts made by communities to partner it in providing secondary education to our people. For instance, today, I received an invitation to go and open a school built by an organisation operating in Chieftainess ‘Mukambo’ of the Soli …

 

Mr Mwale: Mukamambo II.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: … Mukamambo II.

 

Sir, I went to open a school built by well-wishers in conjunction with the local community. Certainly, such efforts are welcome. So, I encourage the hon. Member of Parliament to engage the business houses and mobilise the communities in his constituency to help in the provision of these services to their communities.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Lumayi (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, most schools in Chavuma has been hit by a shortage of teachers. Recently, over twenty teachers were deployed there by the ministry and some worked for six months while others worked longer, but all were withdrawn from teaching because they did not appear on the payroll. When I visited the District Education Board Secretary’s Office, I discovered that over thirty-four teachers were appearing on the Chavuma payroll, but not deployed in the district. That was the reason the twenty teachers were withdrawn. What is the ministry doing to normalise the situation so that those teachers who are not on the payroll can be put on it?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, that is, indeed, a big problem, and it has been discussed before on the Floor of this House. Teachers who are posted to rural areas give various reasons to get transfers. There are also situations in which a number of teachers at ungazetted schools are put on the payroll of another school. When I was appointed Minister of General Education, I found 2,700 ungazetted schools. That number still stands at just over 1,700 schools. The problem the hon. Member is referring to could be a result of that situation. Fortunately, we have managed to get permission from the Ministry of Finance for the creation of a salary scale under which various teachers will be employed. The ministry responsible for gazetting schools is also ensuring that once we devolve the system, it will be very difficult for teachers to transfer from the schools where they are first posted. Otherwise, they will continue to create a situation in which schools cannot have new teachers because the Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) numbers have been taken away by teachers who have moved to other schools.

 

In short, Mr Speaker, we are aware of the problem and the ministry is addressing it.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister clarify the issues of teachers. Particularly, I refer to Chama South Boarding School, where teachers who have been sent there do not get the rural hardship allowance while some teachers who were initially posted there, but have moved to schools in towns still get the allowance. Is the ministry in the process of normalising such anomalies?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the information the hon. Member has given me. I will follow it up with my colleagues in the ministry to see how the matter is being addressed.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker what steps is the hon. Minister taking to curb the situation in which teachers go to rural areas to get recruited and, later, come back to towns, thereby creating gaps in the rural area? They only go to the rural areas because they know that there are vacancies there and the policy of the ministry is to recruit against vacancies. However, when it recruits people from towns and sends them to rural schools, they quickly come back. Does the hon. Minister have ways of preventing that from happening?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member’s question is also a suggestion because he referred to the fact that we should come up with mechanisms to keep teachers in the rural areas.

 

Sir, the ministry has certainly been thinking about the problem. The first step we have is to ensure that teachers posted to rural areas stay there for four years before they can ask for a transfer. This is a change from the previous tenure of two years. Further, when we devolve the management of primary schools to the local authorities, for instance, the latter will be in charge of controlling the PEMC numbers. It will, therefore, be very difficult for a teacher to transfer from the initial point of service, as they would risk excluding themselves from service if they did.

 

Sir, the hon. Member also suggested that we practise positive discrimination in the way we recruit our teachers. This is an idea the ministry has been working on because teachers posted to areas they come from are more likely to stay there as opposed to other areas. This is an idea we have been discussing to enhance stability of staffing in our rural areas. It is not tribalism. We just want to enhance stability in rural schools by posting teachers to areas that will be as close as possible to the areas from which they come.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Musonda (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, the hon. Member indicated that some businesses in Chimwemwe have offered to assist in upgrading some schools. However, it seems to be a policy of the ministry that no works can take place at a school without the permission of the Provincial Education Officer (PEO), and that is now proving to be a bottleneck. As I speak, there is money that was raised by the Kamfinsa Parent Teachers Association (PTA) for the construction of a 1x3 classroom block. The PTA has written to the Copperbelt PEO, but the response has taken long and the money is still in the PTA account. What is being done to ease some of these bottlenecks, especially when the community, through PTAs and business houses, comes forward to improve a school’s infrastructure?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, perhaps, the hon. Member of Parliament is referring to a unique case because I have not experienced such a problem in my time at the ministry. There are hon. Members in here who have written to the ministry seeking permission to work with the local community to build a school and permission has been given within a matter of days. So, this might be one case I need to take up. It might just be an administrative problem peculiar to a particular school. Members of the community can come together with their partners and ask for permission from the ministry, which will be granted hastily.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chansa (Chimbamilonga): Mr Speaker, some teachers posted to Nsama District are merely using the district as an entry point. What is causing this confusion in the ministry? The hon. Minister said some teachers are just finding ways of getting transferred. However, in Nsama, the teachers get normal transfer letters from the ministry immediately after they are recruited. The district had more than forty-six teachers, but now has only nine. Who is causing confusion in the ministry? In terms of ...

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

I think you have asked your question.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I got the question, but I will not engage in a witch hunt to find who is causing the confusion. However, I will engage the ministry to find out whether the transfers that have been effected are causing concern. Later, I will give feedback to the hon. Member.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kasandwe (Bangweulu): Mr Speaker, rural schools will continue to be disadvantaged in the distribution of teachers. Are there plans to attach Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) Numbers to schools so that when a teacher is transferred, the PMEC number remains at the school?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, that is one of the solutions I cited earlier for halting this drift of teachers from rural areas to urban areas. We shall implement that measure to dissuade teachers from moving away from schools without normal transfers.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, I heard the hon. Minister say that there will be a time when schools will be handed over to councils. How does he have confidence in the local authorities when they have even failed to run even bus stations?

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, as you answer the question, ignore the reference to bus stations.

 

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I have the advantage of having lived in the pre-Independence days when ...

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: … the lower levels of the education system were in the hands of the local authorities. There was what we called the Local Education Authority (LEA) and many of us were educated under that system. There were also mission schools. It was only after Independence that the system was changed.

 

Mr Speaker, early childhood education, under the local authorities had become a preserve of the rich. So, the system was changed and we now have early childhood education centres that are an integral part of the mainstream education system. However, we have realised that the experiences we had when we the LEAs controlled that level of educational were positive. That is why we have decided to hand it back to them. We are very confident that this system will work because it has worked before. There are many people in this House who were educated under this system and it is still working in other countries.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

CONSTRUCTION OF LOCAL COURT BUILDINGS IN MULOBEZI DISTRICT

 

250. Mr Mandumbwa (Mulobezi) asked the Minister of Justice:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plan to construct local court buildings at the following places in Mulobezi District:

 

  1. Bwina; and

 

  1. Sichili;

 

  1. if so, when the works would commence; and

 

  1. if there was no such plan, why.

 

 The Minister of Defence (Mr Chama) (on behalf of The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda)): Mr Speaker, Bwina is currently being serviced by Mabenga Local Court in Mulobezi District.

 

Sir, the Government has plans to construct a new court building in Sichili and at Mabenga Local Court, since the court is currently operating in a temporary pole-and-mud structure.

 

Mr Speaker, the commencement of the projects is subject to the availability of funds. So, the courts will be constructed when funds are made available.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF A SKILLS TRAINING CENTRE IN LUANGWA DISTRICT

 

251. Mr S. Miti (Feira) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plan to construct a skills training centre in Luangwa District;

 

  1. if so, when the plan would be implemented; and

 

  1. if there were no such plan, why.

 

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Mawere): Mr Speaker, it is this Government’s policy to construct, at least, one youth skills training centre in each district, including Luangwa.

 

Sir, the youth skills centre in Luangwa District will be constructed once funds are available.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

_______
 

MOTION

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE, HUMAN RIGHTS, GENDER MATTERS AND CHILD AFFAIRS ON THE ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, MR EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, ON THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE APPLICATION OF NATIONAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs on the Address by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, on the Progress Made in the Application of National Values and Principles for the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on 12th June, 2017.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mrs Jere (Lumezi): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, in line with its terms of reference, as set out in the Standing Orders, your Committee was tasked to consider the address to the House by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on the progress made in the application of national values and principles on 17th March, 2017. Your Committee’s findings are highlighted in its report and it is my sincere hope that hon. Members of Parliament have taken time to read the report. I will, therefore, only highlight some of the salient issues arising from your Committee’s consideration of the speech.

 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President’s Address was delivered pursuant to Articles 8, 9 and 86 of the Republican Constitution and touched on issues of morality and ethics, patriotism, national unity, democracy and constitutionalism, good governance and integrity, human dignity, equality, social justice and non-discrimination. It went further to touch on sustainable development, the Bill of Rights, consideration or co-ordination mechanisms and the transformation agenda.

 

Sir, the stakeholders who appeared before your Committee welcomed the address by His Excellency, as they acknowledged the importance of national values and principles in the development process. Allow me to state that your Committee shares this understanding of the importance of the need to apply national values and principles, and that is reflected in your Committee’s observations and recommendations, some of which, I will highlight.

 

Mr Speaker, ethics and morals play a very important role in society because they are about the integrity of human beings, which hinges on the sense to differentiate right from wrong and enables society to function normally. The stakeholders submitted that moral and ethical decay generally stemmed from a lack of enforcement of rules and regulations that guide the conduct of people in society. In this regard, your Committee takes note of the efforts of various Government ministries and departments, which have programmes aimed at instilling good morals and ethical values among employees in their various work environments. Your Committee also acknowledges the various policy and legislative instruments that address the issue of ethics and morality, an example of which is the National Integrity Programme, which was devised by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that one of the policy and legislative instruments that address ethics and morality is the National Integrity Programme, which was devised by the ACC. Your Committee is in agreement with the President’s recognition of moral decay in Zambia and is hopeful that the President’s Address provided an opportunity to bring about nationwide change in that regard.

 

Mr Speaker, patriotism is love for one’s country and one’s countrymen and women. We may not always have to agree, but we must always empower one another, find common ground and build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President urged all of us to endeavour to show our patriotism to Zambia by taking deliberate action to understand and interpret the emblems of our country’s national sovereignty and identity. In that regard, a number of stakeholders submitted that a lack of patriotism has, over the years, crept into the country because of high levels of poverty, corruption and non-adherence to the rule of law. Your Committee is also concerned with the lack of regard for national symbols and emblems, which has become a common practice, and agrees with the President that action must be taken urgently to restore a sense of pride and patriotism to our country and in its national symbols. It is important that this is left not only to the public sector, but also to all the citizens, who should take pride in things like singing the National Anthem. At this point, I take note of the innovations that this House has adopted in the singing of the National Anthem.

 

Mr Speaker, it is important, at this juncture, for me to commend the Under 20 National Football Team for enabling the National Anthem to be sung in South Korea. It is of utmost importance that, as a country, we begin to inculcate a sense of being Zambian, especially in children.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Bwalya: Your Committee recommends that early childhood education be designed to include the teaching of national values and principles.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, with regard to national unity, allow me to quote the words of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu:

 

“Despite out divergent ethnic, social, religious and political backgrounds, we have a shared heritage and destiny, as a country, which obliges us to co-exist in unity, as Zambians. We must, therefore, take deliberate steps to work together to amicably solve pressing issues for the sake of national unity, stability and prosperity.”

 

Sir, there is no other way of stressing what we need to do in order to achieve national unity. Your Committee welcomes the President’s call for national unity and agrees with the stakeholders who submitted to it that the Government should take concrete steps to promote national unity.

 

Sir, the Head of State acknowledged that while the country has made strides in constitutionalism and upholding of democratic principles, there is room for improvement. He also acknowledged the need to address the lacunas that have been identified in Zambia’s Constitution. Your Committee welcomes the acknowledgement by the President that more can be done to improve democracy in the country and, especially, to address lacunas in the Constitution. In this regard, your Committee urges the hon. Minister of Justice to expedite the process of attending to the shortcomings in the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

 

Sir, as regards the Bill of Rights, your Committee agrees with the stakeholders that it should be enhanced without further delay. Your Committee also notes the statement by the Head of State that the country might not yet be in a position to hold a referendum due to the cost implications. So, in order to ensure that stakeholders are kept abreast with the Government’s position, your Committee urges the Government to facilitate dialogue with stakeholders and come up with a roadmap on the way forward.

 

Mr Speaker, national values and principles should be the foundation of the country and dominate the behaviour of individuals and institutions. They should be at the centre of all goals set for the development of our country. I, therefore, challenge all Zambians to apply national values so that the country can achieve integrity, accountability, transparency, rule of law, democratic governance and respect for human rights, among other positive attributes.

 

In conclusion, Sir, your Committee expresses its gratitude to you for the guidance rendered to it during its deliberations. Your Committee is further indebted to the stakeholders who appeared before it for their co-operation and input into the deliberations. Lastly, I extend the Committee’s appreciation to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the services rendered to your Committee.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

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

 

Mrs Jere: Now, Sir.

 

Sir, in seconding the Motion, allow me to start by thanking the hon. Chairperson of your Committee for ably moving the Motion and for the leadership and guidance he provided to your Committee throughout its deliberations.

 

Mr Speaker, in His Speech, His Excellency the President highlighted the importance of good governance and how it includes respect for human rights, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and effective participation of citizens in national affairs.

 

Sir, good governance is important for several reasons, one of which is that it not only gives citizens confidence in the Government, but also gives them faith in their leaders and makes them feel part of the country’s decision-making processes. This is because it provides an ethical basis for governing, as decisions are made in a transparent and accountable manner. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to go a step a further and sensitise all State institutions on respecting human rights and upholding the rule of law in the execution of their mandate.

 

Mr Speaker, with regard to human dignity, equality, equity, social justice and non-discrimination, a concern was raised by His Excellency the President and by the stakeholders who appeared before your Committee that the country needs to improve its approach in these areas. Your Committee observes that human dignity is an essential part of every human being and that every society must strive to preserve it. In this regard, it concurs with the President that people in Zambia have continued to suffer humiliation through acts that diminish their self-worth, such as rape and defilement and, therefore, urges the Government to take the lead in observing and respecting the human rights of citizens. The Government should give adequate support to State institutions mandated to promote and protect human rights so that they effectively discharge their mandates.

 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President’s Speech touched on sustainable development, which is identified as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. As we embark on developing our nation, we should be aware that we only have one earth on which both we and our children will have to depend. This, therefore, means that the onus is on each one of us to ensure that our footprint leaves a positive mark on this earth. One of the issues that the Head of State highlighted is climate change. Your Committee is pleased to note that the Government has embarked on the dissemination of the National Policy on Climate Change to various stakeholders across the country to facilitate its implementation and ensure sustainable development.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee has no doubt that the Government is committed to upholding Zambia’s national values and principles, as espoused by His Excellency the President. It is, therefore, confident that the Government will address the concerns that have been highlighted in your Committee’s report.

 

Sir, allow me on, behalf of your Committee, to end by expressing my gratitude to you for the guidance you rendered to your Committee during its deliberations. Your Committee is also grateful to the witnesses who appeared before it for their co-operation and input into the deliberations. I also extend your Committee’s appreciation to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the services rendered to the Committee during the session.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Kaputa, to add my voice to the debate on the Report of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs on the Address by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on the Progress Made in the Application of National Values and Principles for the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly. In my debate, I will refer to the President’s Speech and the report of your Committee, as I will limit my debate to the issue of morality, integrity and, time permitting, national unity and one or two other issues.

 

Sir, to start with, allow me to quote the President’s Speech on the progress made in the application of national values and principles on page 2:

 

“Our national values and principles are a set of beliefs and guidelines meant to provide us, as a nation, with the foundation upon which our identity and practices are anchored”.

 

Mr Speaker, the President raised very pertinent issues on the values and principles that we have agreed to uphold as a nation. In fact, ‘morality’ is basically defined as the quality of being in accord with the standard of right or wrong and good or bad conduct that we prescribe in order to live in harmony and do acceptable things. One might define ethics as the discipline of dealing with what is good or bad, but with a moral duty and obligation. As I give examples on the issue of morality and ethics, the first thing that comes into my mind is that of religious groupings. Our religious leaders have a moral duty to enhance our moral standing and ethics in our society. When morality is breaks down in churches, the result is a lot of negativity. That is why, as a Christian nation, we should uphold high moral and ethical standards.

 

Sir, the family is a very important unit and it is critical in upholding moral values, ethics and integrity. When family units break down, again, we see untold misery and a nation fails to stand firm. In institutions of learning, as society prescribes, the educators are duty-bound to ensure that high ethical standards and moral values are imparted in our children so that they live up to the expectations of society. At national level, the public officers have an obligation to ensure that we all uphold these values. Otherwise, we see a degradation of the cultural values and our moral standing. Thus, society gets divided, and the youths tend to abuse alcohol and drugs. Further, corruption, nepotism and tribalism thrive in such a society, and we all know the negative consequences of these vices. When they become embedded in a society, the society becomes divided. Therefore, it was imperative that the President came to the House at such an important time to remind Zambians of the moral and ethical standards and values that have been enshrined in the Constitution so that all of us, leaders, can work together to ensure that they are upheld.

 

Mr Speaker, I concur with a number of issues that have been highlighted in the report of your Committee, which was ably presented by the Chairperson and seconded by the hon. Member for Lumezi. As I continue talking about the issue of morality and ethics, allow me to quote from the report:

 

“We see symptoms of moral decay in the ever-increasing cases of examination malpractices, absenteeism at places of work, child defilement and gender-based violence, to mention, but a few”.

 

Sir, I have referred to some consequences of moral decay. Reporting late at places of work and not following the laid-down rules and laws definitely has negative consequences. Therefore, it is reassuring the Committee indicates that the Government has come up with some measures to address some of the issues. On page 4, your Committee states that:

 

“The stakeholders submitted that moral and ethical decay generally stemmed from a lack of enforcement of rules and regulations that guide the conduct of people in society. While welcoming the statement that the Government would strengthen the framework guiding the scope, implementation and enforcement of morals and ethics among Government officers, the stakeholders were concerned that misconduct, unless met with serious consequences, would render current efforts futile. They added that this went hand in hand with the necessity of ensuring that the rule of law was observed consistently, as that was the most visible way that citizens could be required to act prudently and ethically”.

 

Sir, I could not agree more with your Committee on this issue. As a nation, we need to go further and identify the root cause of this degradation that we are seeing in our society because it leaves much to be desired. There are a number of happenings in the community that a society like ours, which is built on Christian and moral principles, should not tolerate. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all of us leaders to work together and ensure that high moral standards are upheld.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to briefly touch on patriotism and national unity. As defined, patriotism is one’s love for his or her country. Again, it is very important that all Zambians show patriotism. Those who do not love their countries are not fit to live in those countries. We are Zambians because we belong to a country called Zambia. So, we must love our country with all our hearts.  Wherever we are, what we do and say should depict our patriotism and defence of our country no matter the situation.

 

Mr Speaker, there is something in your Committee’s report about how some of our brothers and sisters, whether for monetary gain or simply a lack of moral values, are aiding foreigners, including those with little money, to wantonly cut down the much cherished mukula tree species, which has been preserved for many years by our forefathers. Were our forefathers greedy, they would have cut down the trees and put them to whatever use they wished. However, they preserved them because they did not have the right to deplete it. They owed it to the next generation, and here we are. Now, our generation has wantonly depleted the trees. Even far flung areas like Kaputa have not been spared. You would imagine that Kaputa is too far from business centres and that its forests are safe as a result, yet the truth is that not a single area in this country has been spared.  People have gone out of their way, whether for the money or whatever gain, which only benefits a few individuals or communities, to destroy the trees. That goes to show how unpatriotic we are.

 

Sir, another issue that comes to mind as I talk about the indiscriminate cutting down of trees is that of how we have gone about burning charcoal in Zambia. This issue must be burning in all our hearts because our forests are being destroyed left, right and centre. We used to have huge forests between Kapiri Mposhi and Ndola. Now, they are all gone. So, unless something is done or alternatives to charcoal burning found, I see future generations living in a desert-like land, as is the case with many African countries. I know that forest protection hinges on manpower because we have to employ and train more people. Nonetheless, these are issues on which the Government must focus. We need to find the resources to safeguard our natural resources so that even the generations to come can enjoy their benefits.

 

Sir, coming to the President’s sentiments on national unity, Zambia is an indivisible nation with seventy-three ethnic groupings that co-exist. Whether we like it or not, every Zambian is a full beneficiary of this State.

 

Mr Speaker, differences and violence we see during elections have been highlighted in your Committee’s report. That is something that every patriotic Zambia who has integrity and high moral standing should endeavour to arrest. It does not augur well for some people to lose their lives and shed blood simply because some other people want to be in leadership. Every leader and every Zambian should know that there is no winner in violence. Everybody in the country loses. I, therefore, agree with the President when he highlighted these important national issues that we should discuss.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me answer the question posed by your Committee on what we should we do, as a nation? Firstly, we need to improve access to economic opportunities and benefits for all, not just for the educated few in urban areas. The benefits and opportunities should permeate the country and reach very poor areas, such as Kaputa. Secondly, we must promote and defend the rule of law, especially by public officers who are entrusted with this responsibility. They need to do whatever it takes to protect and defend the rule of law is protected so that all of us can continue to enjoy the peace that we enjoy. Thirdly, the stakeholders that we embark on a nationwide civic education programme on national values and the importance of ethical conduct. It is very important for everybody, including those in far-flung areas like Kaputa, to be sensitised to the national values and ethical standards so that, as the people live and grow, they uphold the standards.

 

Mr Speaker, with those very few words, I support the Motion.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lumayi (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing the people of Chavuma, through the hon. Member standing before you, …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Lumayi: … to add their voice to the debate on the Motion on the Floor of the House.

 

Mr Speaker, I stand to oppose the Motion because what is being said is different from what is being done.

 

Sir, I stand here as a thirty-nine-year-old young man who believes that the leadership of this country belongs to young people, and this Motion should have encouraged many young people in the Republic to spearhead peace and unity efforts in the future. However, its wording does not reflect the happenings in the country.

 

Sir, Zambia, Africa and the whole world are crying for good governance because where there is good governance, there is also peace, unity and joy for all citizens. However, the citizens of this country, including those of Chavuma District, feel that there is no good governance in this country.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, leaders have come and gone and it would be very sad for me to believe that I would be Member of Parliament or leader for life. Some hon. Members of Parliament, hon. Ministers, Presidents and other leaders in the country are not here because of the passage of time.

 

Mr Speaker, currently, the governance system in our country has broken down. What is happening to the rule of law in this country today is unbelievable. We have a situation in which the institutions that are supposed to be in charge of the affairs of our nation are not independent and the police is used as a political tool.

 

Sir, we have seen the application of the law become selective in that people who belong to the opposition political parties are treated differently from those who belong to the Ruling Party and that has touched the hearts of many Zambians. Many people in this Republic no longer feel that this is the country for whose independence their forefathers fought. Governance has broken down, and the people of Chavuma and I, their Member of Parliament, do not know how we will restore good governance in this country.

 

Mr Speaker, morals and ethics are important tools in every nation. Whether those who are fifty years or older like or not, the younger generation will be in charge of this country in the near future. So, we want to be taught, see and enjoy good morals in this country because this is what will guide us, as future leaders.

 

Sir, I am scared by the current situation in our country. The tempers and hatred levels of citizens in this country are high. We may witness bad things very soon because I feel that currently, the hatred in our country is more than that which sparked genocide in Rwanda.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, I am saying this because half of the population of young people in this country is complaining over the incarceration and torture of the opposition political leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

 

Hon. Member: On a point of Order.

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

I hope you know that the tradition of the House does not allow us to debate individuals and matters that are before the courts of law. Further, this is a classical example of a Motion in which we should confine ourselves to principles because it is about principles and values. So, do not bring in individuals from outside.

 

Mr Lumayi rose.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Just wait. I am not yet done.

 

You should focus on the principles and issues. That is the sense of this Motion.

 

You may continue.

 

Mr   Lumayi: Mr Speaker, the treatment of citizens in this country, especially those who are slapped with fake charges, appears to raise the tempers of young people in the nation. If we, the young generation, do not learn good morals and values now, I am scared of what the future of this country will be. Only when I, the Member of Parliament for Chavuma Constituency, which is surrounded by the good people of the North-Western Province, felt that I will die while serving can I misconduct myself. However, for as long as we, politicians have a specified tenure; a season in office, as per our Constitution, it is very important for our leaders to follow the footsteps of the forefathers of his country so that we, the young generation, can take this country to higher levels.

 

Sir, I respect Hon. Ng’onga’s statement about a good generation following good values. As a youth, I am scared because I am very convinced that I am a future leader of this country.

 

Sir, only if the values that are being talked about were being obeyed in this country would I not stand to oppose this Motion. Now, I fear for human rights in this country because citizens are no longer treated like human rights, sorry, human beings.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Government Members: Iwe!

 

Mr Lumayi: Our citizens, especially the poor and those who cannot defend themselves in the courts of law, have been slapped with charges and subject to inhuman treatment.

 

Mr Speaker, the people of this country have complained on many occasions. Our Constitution states that a person can only be mistreated if found guilty. Today, however, even those who have not been found guilty are treated like murderers. Therefore, ...

 

Mr Musukwa: Iwe, nabakutuma? Uletekanya.

 

Mr Lumayi: … I wonder why we should even talk about human rights in our country. Our systems have broken done. Therefore, we, the young people, who are the future of this country, have a duty to …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

Resume your seat for a moment.

 

Hon. Members on my right, let us have some order. There is no need for the running commentaries. If you do not agree with what the hon. Member is submitting, you will have an opportunity to rebut it. For your information, the House Business Committee has dedicated this whole week to debating this Motion and if I find it necessary, I will extend the period. So, do not debate whilst seated.

 

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Ema Speaker, aba!

 

Mr Speaker: You may continue, Hon. Lumayi.

 

Mr Lumayi: Mr Speaker, I thank you for the protection.

 

Sir, there is a belief that leaders should treat one another equally. Therefore, it is good when a leader respects the will of God and prolongs his or her plans. We seen former Members of Parliament who represented the people of Zambia with dignity in this country face charges of corruption and abuse of authority. It is important for leaders, including me, to know that we will not be in these positions of leadership for life. There have been leaders in the past who are not here today.

 

Mr Speaker, this Motion would have been very helpful to the people of Zambia had every word of the President’s Address been put into practice. Unfortunately, there is a lot of contradiction between what was spoken and what is being done. 

 

Mr Speaker, I am proud to be a Member of Parliament at my young age, and I would stand a better chance of becoming a good leader if I learnt good morals and values whilst serving as a Member of Parliament. Instead, I am scared of what we are learning today. This country might become worse in the future than it is today. So, I think our parents who are over fifty years old should rise to the occasion and guide the current leadership in a good way.

 

Mr Speaker, the people of Chavuma are crying everyday over the destruction of the rule of law in our country. So, it will only be prudent for me, on their behalf, to support this Motion if the rule of law is restored in this country. Given the destruction of all the good ideals mentioned in the Committee’s report, it would not be in the human interest for me to support this Motion.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to support this very important Motion on the Address to this House by His Excellency the President of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on 17th March, 2017.

 

Sir, the President came to address hon. Members of Parliament and, indeed, the whole nation as obliged by Articles 86(1) and 89(2) of the Constitution of Zambia. So, he was performing his Constitutional duty as President of this nation.

 

Mr Speaker, the President stressed the importance of national values and principles as an anchor to social and economic development. He referred to national values and principles as a compass. The previous speaker sounded lost and other  people may be, too, but this compass provides the way forward for this nation. In their wisdom, Zambians put a provision in the Constitution that allowed the President to address the nation on our values, which are really not a partisan issue.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, in his address, the President started by talking about morality and ethics. With regard to morality, there are some words that stick out that we learned right from childhood. For example, morality is about being honest and even at nursery level, a child is taught to be honest and tell the truth. These are important values that will salvage us from the fears of those that may be lost at this time. Further, the President talked about objectivity, the importance of loyalty to one’s nation and impartiality.  Therefore, what we are discussing today are national values, which are important concepts that are taught in any sound home. Any nation needs to have values.

 

Mr Speaker, when we talk about national values, we also talk about respect. When we respect one another, we will be able to predict one another’s behaviour. When there is no respect, on the other hand, the result is confusion and anarchy, which we cannot allow. Not on our watch!

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, there is also the issue of excellence in ethics. All of us, as citizens of this country, should aspire to be excellent in all we do so that we can build a great country in which we will be proud to live and which we will be proud to hand over to our children and grandchildren.

 

Mr Speaker, there is also the issue of selflessness. I remember the late Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace. When he lost elections and many people offered to go on the streets to demonstrate, he stopped them. I think that was an example of the kind of selflessness that that we urge each one of us to demonstrate whenever we are tempted to do something wrong.  I think that national duty and love for our country should stand taller than selfishness.

 

Mr Speaker, I am very concerned that, today, many people have lost respect for the privacy of others and, more importantly, of Government or official documentation. For instance, people now record others people’s conversations without permission and that is wrong and unethical.

 

Mr Speaker, I also want to comment on accountability. On Saturday, 10th June, 2017, I was addressing a meeting at Chafwe Primary School when a young man called Simon stood asked why some school teachers absented themselves from a school that had only three teachers against seven classes. Those teachers were not being accountable, and such are the ethical matters about which we are talking.

 

Mr Speaker, we are taught ethical issues right from childhood. For example, we are taught to obey traffic regulations, which may seem simple, but they are ethical issues. Even looking left and right before you cross the road is an important issue. When such things are disregarded with impunity, it is anarchy that follows.

 

Mr Mwale: Mwaona manje.

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, the President further talked about patriotism and national unity. On patriotism, he talked about the symbols of national unity, such as the national anthem, which is a prayer to the Almighty God whenever we sing it. He also talked about the Coat of Arms, which has a man and woman to symbolise equality and hard work. That is how elaborate the President was.

 

Sir, the President went on to talk about our national monuments, such as the Freedom Statue, which talks to us about our national heritage reminds us that our fathers and forefathers shed their blood for us to be free. They left the comfort of their families and beds to fight for this country and demonstrated the importance of national unity. We cannot slight that. The President also referred to the Victoria Falls, another respected national symbol that many people come to see. The President of the United States of America (USA), Mr Theodore Roosevelt Jr, visited it in 1905. Many other important people have visited it too.

 

Mr Speaker, the President also talked about our fallen heroes, the footballers who died in the Gabon Air Disaster and the Presidential Burial Site. He also mentioned Ing’ombe Ilede and House No. 394, Chilenje, where President Kaunda lived, which is a symbol of self-sacrifice and patriotism. We can learn something from it.

 

Sir, President Lungu further talked about democracy and constitutionalism. On democracy, he described the importance that this generation has attached to it, pointing to the Constitutional Court, the Court of Appeal, special courts and the High Court, which exist to meet the needs of the Republic. He further spoke about human dignity, equity, equality, social justice and non-discrimination. In this regard, he lamented the plight of our children on the streets. I believe that there is no need, today, for any child to live on the streets without adult supervision.  When we become ethical, as a nation, we will not allow that to happen.

 

Sir, the President came here not to say that everything was okay, but to provide direction and inform us that we have a foundation, which is our national values. These are a pillar on which we can anchor ourselves. Our values are important because they can infuse hope in the homes of many of our people.

 

Mr Speaker, I do not want to take much of the time, but allow me to further talk about sustainable development. Previous speakers alluded to the importance of socio-economic development and protection of the environment. In that regard, we, in Zambia, today, need to echo the President’s call made in this House on 17th March, 2017, for us to protect the mukula tree, which is a valuable asset to this country for this generation and posterity. He asked where our patriotism was when people could connive with foreigners to sell for a song such valuable trees and sell land indiscriminately. I am glad that the hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has acted on illegal land allocations on the Copperbelt. I call on her and the ministry to protect this resource.

 

Mr Speaker, this country has minerals. For example, in Chief Chiundaponde’s area of Kanchibiya, there is manganese and some people have moved in to steal that mineral. The local people want to stop the theft, but they do not want to take the law into their hands. So, I have written to the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development about the problem so that the culprits can be brought to book.

 

Sir, I support the Motion.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Amb. Malanji (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to debate this important Motion.

 

Sir, the guidance provided by the President on national values and principles cannot go without the further support of this House. Zambians, instinctively and historically, are very good people and the three wings of Government have stood the test of time in this country. The main wing, which is the Executive, has not interfered in the other two wings. So, this country has had an independent Judiciary of which any country can be proud. No wonder, in our last meeting, we heard from the hon. Minister of Justice that no case can go to an outside body without observance of proprio motu. One thing we all know is that Zambia is a constitutional democracy. In his speech, the President said:

 

“The Constitution further demands that these values and principles be applied in the interpretation of the Republican Constitution, enactment and interpretation of the laws, and development and implementation of State polices. We must be committed, as a nation, to abide by these provisions.” 

 

Mr Speaker, the Civil Service is one sector should absorb this guidance with the importance it deserves. Our civil servants must create equilibrium between their personal interests and the vision of development, which is a dream for each and every citizen regardless of their status.

 

Sir, the previous speaker …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1810 until 1830 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Amb. Malanji: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was saying that the guidance by His Excellency the President on national values and principles must be taken with the seriousness it deserves by our colleagues in the Civil Service.

 

Sir, the previous speaker said that secrecy is cardinal in most offices. We are all aware that even though a good number of civil servants are under oath, they get classified information from their offices and spice it before sharing it. When such information is shared on social and traditional media, one would think that Zambia is on fire. The reason behind this is that some civil servants think that they are indispensible.

 

Mr Mwale: Hear, hear!

 

Amb. Malanji: Mr Speaker, a French Philosopher Jean Pierre once said, “Si les oiseaux restent perchér longtemps sur un arbre ils risqueront de ça faire descendre”.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mutale: Meaning?

 

Amb. Malanji: Madam, that means when a bird stays on one branch for a long time, it attracts a stone.

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Amb. Malanji: Mr Speaker, we are all here, as Legislators, despite coming from different political parties. So, one cardinal thing we must realise is that we are here to work for a common goal despite our different party affiliations or family backgrounds.

 

Sir, His Excellency the President has, at times, put partisan affiliations aside for the sake of development. It is on that premise that even we, as Legislators in this House, must create a self-motivated modus Vivendi because our work in this House will not benefit our constituencies alone. Further, the members of the Ruling Party will not claim the credit for the fruits of the input of those in the Opposition because we are serving in the same House.

 

Mr Speaker, there are projects in our various constituencies funded by our personal resources. Whether one is from the Opposition or the Ruling Party, our contributions are an integral part of development because they come from people who have been given a mandate to serve by the people. The Government sees such efforts as contributions to the development of the nation during its tenure.

 

Sir, I am privileged to be a member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) and know that some reports were submitted by this country during our meeting in Egypt. Unfortunately, it is evident that they were submitted by people whose agenda was to tarnish our image. Life is what you make it, not what someone makes it for you.

 

Mr Speaker, the whole world went to South Africa to bury the late Nelson Mandela because of the respect and honour bestowed on him by his fellow countrymen and women. However, if one comes to Zambia and hears songs like “Zambia is on fire”, will they bring the foreign investment that this country needs?

 

Sir, it is good to be exposed.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Amb. Malanji: Sir, it is important to have adequate exposure beyond one’s boundaries and I am privileged to have travelled to quite a number of countries, both within and outside this continent. So, I know that our democracy fairs very favourably in comparison with those of other countries.

 

Hon. Government Members: Lumayi!

 

Amb. Malanji: If we will sing songs to please our masters, then, we will be on the wrong trajectory. Development cannot be brought to the country without our consent and blocking it will only make those who do it happy for a brief moment.

 

Sir, this afternoon, the hon. Member for Kamfinsa raised the issue of the bottlenecks that people face in the implementation of development projects, especially in the building of schools. I am glad that the hon. Minister clarified the issue because I have been in similar circumstances in my constituency.

 

Mr Speaker, in good faith, I offered to build a school in my constituency and the papers were sent to the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS). To my surprise, the response was negative. I, thereafter, wrote to the hon. Minister and copied the letter to the Permanent Secretary (PS) and, within two days, I was authorised to build the school. That was just one case. So, imagine what happens in areas where an hon. Member of Parliament or any other well-meaning person wishes to implement some project, but has no access to the hon. Minister.

 

Sir, the President means well and is there solely to co-ordinate our efforts. If we do not apply the principles that go with our offices, even this House will lose the respect that it commands. We are leaders, and the people must see us behave and operate in accordance with the decorum of this House. Our etiquette should befit a person who earned the title of ‘Legislator’ through the ballot box. In this vein, I want to emphasise that the President’s Speech must be received by everybody.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate this report on the Address by the Commander of the Armed Forces, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on the Progress Made in the Application of National Values and Principles, which has been presented to this House by the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs.

 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency’s Address to this House was not only timely, but also practical. On morality and ethics, he stressed that a country that is not morally upright and does not follow ethics is doomed. I can describe Zambia as a country that is not yet in good stand morally and ethically, and this point was also made in His Excellency’s Speech to this august House. 

 

Mr Speaker, for any country in this world to develop, its citizens ought to be morally upright in everything that they do in their lives, as that is the only way we will safeguard the resources of this country. Let me give the example of our Civil Service. This House is presented with the Auditor-General’s Report annually, which always shows glaring irregularities that point to a lack of ethics in some institutions. It is against this background that I am in total agreement with His Excellency’s observation that, as a country, we need to embrace our ethics which, I believe, we inherited from our forefathers.

 

Sir, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the founding father of this nation, built the foundation of our country with not-so-educated pioneers. You will agree with me that our first Cabinet cannot be compared to our current one in terms of the levels of education of its members. However, when you look at what the first Cabinet achieved, you will agree that moral and ethical standards played a big role. Those are the values that we still need to uphold, going forward.

 

Mr Speaker, patriotism and national unity are two important facets of the President’s Speech that all Zambians should embrace. In a country where citizens are not patriotic, the result is what His Excellency mentioned, that is, a few Zambians conniving with foreigners to exploit the nation’s natural resources. The countries that have developed all over the world did so because they looked after their resources very well. His Excellency gave the exploitation of the mukula tree as an example of a lack of patriotism. The beneficiaries of that activity are mostly foreigners, yet the many negative consequences, such as deforestation, are left for the people in the areas where the trees are cut to deal with. In the case of the people of Chama South, who are so used to living with wild animals, the wildlife habitat is being depleted. More importantly, our country is losing millions of dollars due to the unpatriotic tendencies of Zambians. It is in this regard that I commend the hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources for taking control of the situation. I know that there are timber dealers in the country and I heard on the news at 1300 hours that they were complaining about the ban on the exportation of timber. Why should we export timber when we can add value to it locally? Can we not manufacture chairs? It is only by value addition that will be able to create employment for our people.

 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency mentioned that our democracy is in its infancy. Let the people out there know that our democracy is, indeed, in its infancy, but we are leading the African continent in terms of democratic tendencies. It is only in Zambia that so many Presidents have assumed office without a single gunshot fired. We know what goes on in many other African countries. However, let us remember that absolute democracy does not exist anywhere in the world. I will give an example of what is happening in what we perceive to be the mother of all democracies, the United States of America (USA). You have heard people there complain that Russia interfered in their elections. Equally, in our former colonial master, the United Kingdom (UK), Jeremy Corbyn feels that he can present an alternative Queen’s Speech. So, while democracy is about freedom, we must remember that there is no absolute freedom, as freedom comes with responsibility.

 

Sir, it is unpatriotic for anyone to go outside Zambia and lobby the international community to place sanctions on our country. Who will suffer if that happened? Is it the people who have divergent views from those of the lobbyists? The answer is no. Rather, it is the ordinary citizens who will suffer. So, if Zambians hear anyone advocating for our beautiful country to be under sanctions, I urge them to look at such a person as unpatriotic.

 

Mr Speaker, on the issue of national unity, our forefathers left us with a great challenge, namely that of maintaining Zambia as a united country. If there other political parties that want to thrive on the creation of ethnic disunity in the country, the people of Chama South wish that such parties cease to exist ...

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mung’andu: … because they are a danger not only to the prosperity, but also to the very foundation of the values and ethics that our forefathers passed on to this generation. If we were to ask everyone in this House who they are you married to or who their grandchildren are, you will find the motto of “One Zambia, One Nation” will be at play. We are one Zambia and should encourage this unity.

 

Mr Speaker, let me talk about the sustainable development that His Excellency mentioned in his address to this august House. As Zambians, we should treat whatever resource that God has given us as one that is borrowed from posterity. So, as we exploit them, we ought not to do it at the expense of the future generations. In other words, any development that is attained in what economists call diminishing returns or output that increases at a diminishing rate, such as that achieved through the exploitation of renewable resources like wildlife and forests, is not sustainable. Let me give the example of fish, which can be categorised among the renewable resources. His Excellency the President encouraged Zambians to engage in fish farming, which is sustainable. In my constituency, there is a problem of people using wrong methods of fishing. For example, they put poison in rivers in order to catch fish, which is an unsustainable way of using our resources.

 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President also talked about the enhancement of the Bill of Rights. Unfortunately, in the referendum, some unpatriotic Zambians campaigned against it. Zambians should realise that the enhancement of the Bill of Rights would have ensured that my grandmother in Chama South has access to clean drinking water, health care and education, assuming the Government did not already provide these services. Additionally, citizens would have had the mechanism for holding the Government to account, like it is the case with our friends in South Africa. However, a certain political party told the people not to support the exercise without telling them that opposing the referendum was tantamount to opposing their own access to quality health care, clean drinking water and education. So, I urge all media houses to inform all Zambians that those who opposed the enhancement of the Bill of Rights were the enemies of the people they sought to lead, and that His Excellency the President should be appreciated for proposing the enhancement of the Bill of Rights.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to also talk about the issue of land. His Excellency the President mentioned to this august House that there is indiscriminate selling of land to foreigners. Land is our inheritance. We cannot talk of Zambia without talking about land. If we sell our land to foreigners, we are simply selling our inheritance. In my previous debate, I challenged the hon. Members of this august House to point at anything that does not come from the land and bet the Chama South Seat on it. Even we come from the land because God created us from the soil. We all know that because we are a Christian nation. Further, the food that we eat, which makes us who we are, grows on the land, and we return to the soil when we die. So, he who owns land is rich.

 

Sir, in this region, Zambia’s land acquisition laws are comparatively weaker. The hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry can agree with me that, in this country, all a person needs to do to start buying land is to register a company. Most of our chiefs have been giving out huge tracts of land to foreigners, which is extremely dangerous. If we are not careful, there will be no land left in the next twenty years. In short, there will be no Zambia. So, I suggest that we review our land tenure system. The Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, as it looks at its new land policy, should consider introducing sub-leases. Further, the Land Act should be reviewed quickly so that only Zambians and Zambian-owned companies can own land. I am sure that will not disturb investment. If I own 200 or 500 ha of land in Chama South Constituency, I should be able to sub-lease it to a foreign company for a determined period only so that non-Zambians can only lease land.

 

Mr Speaker, all the land within the boundaries of Zambia is ours. I, therefore, support this Motion, especially His Excellency’s sentiments on the need for us to protect this country by safeguarding our land and, thereby, safeguarding our Zambia.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kabanda (Serenje Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving an the opportunity to support the Report of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs on the Address by His Excellency the President of this great country, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who on very pertinent national issues.

 

Mr Speaker, the President stated that this nation needs to embrace morality and ethics. Our ethical and moral values have degenerated to very low levels, partly because of technological advancement. Today, parents are divorced from their children because of technological advancement.

 

Sir, technology has its advantages and disadvantages in contemporary Zambia. For example, whereas as our parents used to have time to inculcate moral values in their children, today’s parents do not have that time because both the parent and the child are glued to either a tablet or a mobile phone, or chatting on WhatsApp and other applications. That has contributed to deterioration in our moral and ethical values.

 

 Mr Speaker, as a people, we need to be patriotic. Due to a lack of patriotism, we have seen some of our people aid foreigners to amass our wealth for themselves. For example, 2,000 ha of land are given to a foreigner for a paltry K10,000 and the foreigner starts sub-dividing it into 1 x 2 meters for sell as graveyards at K10,000. Surely, if the local authorities or the Government were innovative enough, that money would have been going into the National Coffers instead of an individual’s pocket. Clearly, our patriotism is questionable.

 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President also touched on the need for us to embrace democracy and Constitutionalism. Yes, indeed, democracy is good for any country. However, we have also seen it abused. Some countries have developed because they discarded this animal called democracy, as it cannot bring any meaningful development at all. Instead, we will continue going forward and backwards in the name of democracy. So, democracy is expensive and retrogressive.

 

Sir, the enactment of the Service Commission Act No. 10 of 2016 is another issue on which I wish to touch because our Civil Service, which used to attract men and women who were very respectable and professional, now leaves much to be desired. Today, our men and women in the Civil Service are not adequately qualified. If you look at the performance of Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree holders in the Civil Service, it raises many questions. Even reports prepared Master of Arts (MA) degree holders today cry aloud for further explanations.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kabanda: I think our standards of education have equally degenerated to very low levels. The Grade 12 of today that of yesteryears are two different people. Similarly, teachers’ ethics have been eroded. Consequently, the teacher of today and the teacher of yesteryear are equally not the same. I think a lot needs to be done to ensure that our Teaching Service answers to the calls of the common Zambian.

 

Sir, I think we need to double our efforts and strengthen the Civil Service. Just like His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, stated, we need a Civil Service that is efficient and able to perform to the expectations of the people of Zambia. The current one is questionable. So, I think the President’s call for performance appraisal systems in the Civil Service is very timely. We need people to rise to their positions on the basis of their performance.

 

Mr Speaker, the President stressed the importance of national unity. Indeed, despite our divergent ethnic affiliations, we need to be One Zambia, One Nation. This country is bigger than any of us seated here. So, we need to embrace the spirit of One Zambia One Nation. I think our forefathers were not wrong to have adopted this motto because it brings us together, as a people.

 

Mr Speaker, the Head of State also talked about human dignity, equality, equity, social justice and non-discrimination. Yes, we need not discriminate against one another. During the time I was growing up, anyone of our fathers’ age was regarded as our father. Equally, anyone of our mothers’ age was regarded as our mother. So, when a child we went wrong, a neighbour could discipline him or her. Today, that is not heard of. You cannot talk to or discipline your neighbour’s child. You would be out of bounds, yet we are a family and need to come together and ensure that the values we inculcate in our children are also inculcated in our neighbours’ children. That is how we should live as Zambians.

 

Mr Speaker, during my childhood, there used to be an institute called the President’s Citizenship College in Kabwe, which had programmes tailor-made for leaders at various levels. There was also Outward Bound in Mbala, which taught leadership skills. I think we need to introduce leadership skills at all levels so that our people can learn how to manage the various institutions that they are privileged to head. So, I think we need to revive those institutions for the good of this country.

 

Mr Speaker, I do not want to belabour many points in support of this Motion. Therefore, allow me to just say I support it in its totality.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Sir, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_____________

 

The House adjourned at 1915 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 15th June, 2017.