Wednesday, 28^th June, 2017

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

 

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF JOINT BOARD OF INQUIRY ON THE DEATH OF FLIGHT SEARGENT MARK NCHIMUNYA CHOONGWA

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me this afternoon to issue a ministerial statement to update the nation, through this House, on the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Joint Board of Inquiry into the death of Flight Sergeant Mark Nchimunya Choongwa of the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), who died in police custody at Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka on 18^th March, 2017.

 

Sir, following the unfortunate death of Flight Sergeant Mark Nchimunya Choongwa, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, directed the ministries of Defence and Home Affairs to undertake a joint inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in the untimely and unfortunate death of a promising flight sergeant trained at a great cost to the nation and, indeed, to the family.

 

Sir, my statement is divided into four parts. In the first part, I shall present the composition of the Joint Board of Inquiry and its terms of reference. The methods or approach to the inquiry will be given in the second part, while the main findings, conclusions and recommendations will be presented in the third part. My Government’s position on the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Joint Board of Inquiry is given in the fourth part of my statement.

 

Composition of the Board of Inquiry and its Terms of Reference

 

The Joint Board of Inquiry was constituted on 24^th March, 2017, and it was made up of fourteen officers drawn from various departments in the ministries of Defence and Home Affairs. The principle terms of reference of the board of inquiry were to:

 

1. investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Flight Sergeant Mark Nchimunya Choongwa whilst in police custody at Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka on 18^th March, 2017;
2. recommend measures to ensure that such an unfortunate incident does not happen again; and

 

1. recommend follow-up action to be taken by the Government.

 

Approach or Method of the Joint Board of Inquiry

 

The Joint Board of Inquiry commenced its work on 28^th March, 2017, and concluded on 14^th April, 2017. To execute its mandate, it received submissions from twenty-four witnesses, reviewed the postmortem report and analysed the findings of the two principle sources.

 

Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Joint Board of Inquiry

 

Mr Speaker, the Joint Board of Inquiry established that the events, which culminated in the death of Flight Sergeant Choongwa, arose from a traffic accident at a carwash near Chukams Bar and Grill in Lusaka. According to the report, it is indisputable that Flight Sergeant Choongwa had refused to give any information to the duty officer at Woodlands Police Station and resisted arrest on the charges that were brought against him. Equally indisputable is the finding that some police officers at Woodlands Police Station used force to get Flight Sergeant Choongwa into the police cells. According to one of the witnesses who was in the same police cell at the time, the force used also appeared to have been excessive,. This finding or observation is, however, in line with the findings of the postmortem report, which attributed the death of Flight Sergeant Choongwa to trauma and stress. According to the report:

 

“The trauma he suffered on his back and the stress of being in police custody triggered the chain of events which led to his sudden death on 18^th March, 2017.”

 

Mr Speaker, the Joint Board of Inquiry concluded that there was no malice or aforethought on the part of the police officers in question or any other person to murder the deceased. There was, however, gross negligence on the part of the police officers in the manner in which they handled the whole matter up to the death of the late Flight Sergeant Choongwa.

 

Sir, the Joint Board of Inquiry recommended that:

 

1. the police officers involved be charged with manslaughter, contrary to Section 199 of Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia;

 

1. the relations between the personnel of the Zambia Police Service and Zambia Defence Forces be harmonised, and a spirit of comradeship among them be cultivated and promoted; and

 

1. the Zambia Police Service and Zambia Defence Forces work together to ensure that an incident of a similar nature does not occur in future.

 

Government Position on the Findings of the Joint Board of Inquiry

 

Mr Speaker, my Government has accepted the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Joint Board of Inquiry into the death of Flight Sergeant Choongwa. To that end, four officers from the Zambia Police Service who were involved in the sad events have since been arrested and charged with manslaughter. They are currently appearing before the courts of law.

 

Sir, I must mention that it is disheartening that our defence and security personnel, who play complementary roles in securing the territorial integrity of our nation and its peace and security, have negative perceptions of one another. The negative perceptions appear to have prevented the officers from according each other mutual respect in this sad and heartbreaking incident. Negative perceptions promote disunity and poor relations amongst our defence and security personnel. This sad state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue and must come to an end forthwith.

 

Mr Speaker, our men and women in uniform, regardless of the units or formations to which they belong, should treat each other as comrades in securing the territorial integrity of our common heritage, Zambia, its peace, security and, indeed, prosperity. I am, therefore, compelled by duty to call upon all our commanders, in particular, the Zambia Army Commander, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander, Zambia National Service (ZNS) Commandant and the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the unity, comradeship and decorum they accord each other, as members of the Central Joint Operations Committee (CJOC), be extended to all the men and women serving under them

 

Sir, at this juncture, allow me to thank the members of the Joint Board of Inquiry for producing the report on time. Similarly, I commend the commanders of our Defence Forces and security institutions for providing leadership during the trying period, the men and women in uniform for their usual discipline, and not forgetting the family of the late Flight Sergeant Mark Choongwa for patiently waiting for the outcome of the joint inquiry.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me, at this juncture, to seize this opportunity to respond to a point of order which was raised yesterday during the sitting of the House. Having dealt with the sad events of March, 2017, allow me to take this opportunity to address the point of order raised by the Member of Parliament for Mwembezhi Constituency, Hon. Machila Jamba, on the persistent occurrence of violence, particularly between the supporters of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF).

 

Sir, it is extremely disappointing that intolerance among some of the supporters of the two political parties has reached shocking levels of fighting each other even during traditionally solemn and dignified occasions such as funerals, and at cemeteries. Traditionally, funerals are sacred and they bring all sections of society together in remembrance of the departed beloved ones. The violence that occurred at the Memorial Park Cemetery and elsewhere demonstrates the breakdown of morals in our society, which His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, recently asked us to uphold and defend. We must arrest the moral decay in our midst. It is for this reason that my Government cannot and shall not tolerate criminality regardless of who the perpetrator might be. I am, however, delighted that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia and the entire top leadership of the PF has condemned political violence and has called on all its people to refuse to engage in any forms of violence. Therefore, I cannot help, but call on all political leaders without any exception, leaders of civil society organisations and leaders of religious organisations to preach and practise peace. Violence only begets violence and has never resolved any problem.

 

Sir, the clash, which took place at Memorial Park Cemetery on 24^th June, 2017, between suspected UPND and PF supporters, was uncalled for. Despite the clash having lasted a short time, it resulted in a number of people being injured and various items being stolen. In addition, an unregistered Toyota mini bus was burnt down. The criminal activities that accompanied the so-called political clash simply suggest that the criminal elements are increasingly taking advantage of public gatherings to commit crimes. The Zambia Police Service has instituted investigations into these criminal activities and shall, in due course, bring the criminal elements operating under the cover of political parties to book.

 

Mr Speaker, God bless Zambia.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

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

 

Mr Malama (Nchelenge): Mr Speaker, I would like to seek clarification from the hon. Minister on the suspects who were in police cells, whom the police alleged to have killed Flight Sergeant Chonya. I have not heard him mention, in his statement, whether or not they have been cleared of the case.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, indeed, the suspects who were picked up earlier have not been cleared until the matter is exhausted in the courts of law.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge): Mr Speaker, my question is on the point of order raised by Hon. Dr Chanda. The issue of interparty clashes started a long time ago. I recall during the Mufumbwe By-election the clashes were so heavy that one Inspector-General of Police took to his heels. This is how serious these matters can be. What would the hon. Minister attribute the clashes to? Is it political intolerance or there is also laxity in the Zambia Police Service that is failing to control hooliganism?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, in the point of order that the hon. Member of Parliament for Mwembezhi made yesterday, he cited one incident that happened in the Southern Province at the burial of a prominent businessman and people were clobbered, and they had to run for their lives. Having been in politics much longer, Hon. Mbulakulima would remember that in the past, heavy clashes were between United National Party for National Development (UPND) and Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) cadres. This is what led to the Inspector-General of Police fleeing for his life. That just goes to show all of us how much we need to do to bring such activities to an end.

 

Mr Speaker, as mentioned earlier on in my statement, the Zambia Police Service will not take into account which political grouping an individual belongs to. It appears there are some people who are in the habit of moving from one political party to another and are known to be violent characters. They move from one political party to another. However, it is important that we do not encourage this to continue. The Zambia Police Service will not tolerate this. Like I have said, we will not spare anyone. There will be no sacred cows in dealing with violent characters. It is incumbent upon all party leaders, ourselves included, to ensure that we preach peace to our people.

 

Normally, those who incite violence remain in the safe zone. They are rarely caught up in the actual activities. So, we should all act responsibly and make our supporters understand that it is not the violent acts against others that intensify their membership to the parties they belong to, but the understanding of what each political party stands for in terms of serving the nation. We should compete on how we should serve the Zambian people better, not on who is stronger than the other.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Nyirenda (Lundazi): Mr Speaker, my question is on the murder Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officer. In his statement, the hon. Minister mentioned that there was negligence on the part of the police officers who were on duty at the time. What measures has he put in place to deal with officers who were on duty and committed the offence of negligence?

 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister has stated that there was a Board of Inquiry and recommendations were made which the Government has accepted. One of the recommendations was the prosecution of the offence of manslaughter. Is there anything else the hon. Member wanted to know beyond that?

 

Mr Nyirenda: Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me another opportunity to clarify my question. My question relates to officers who were on duty, not the sergeant who was in police cells. If there was no negligence on the part of police officers who were on duty, the death would not have occurred.

 

Mr Speaker: Well, maybe, the hon. Minister has followed that.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I think you have adequately responded on my behalf …

 

Hon. Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: … and I do not know how much more I can say. In my statement, I said that the late sergeant was in the custody of police officers who were on duty, not those outside. I think the Hon. Mr Speaker has made this clear in his guidance.

 

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu): Mr Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister indicated that the Board of Inquiry recommended that the officers who were involved in the murder be charged for manslaughter. However, the officers are actually appearing before the courts of law. How does he reconcile the two? Is it just an academic exercise for them to appear before the courts of law?

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, let us follow the issue closely. I know it is of a technical nature.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: It is of a technical nature.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, your agony is as good as mine. I think I have been clear in my statement. Recommendations were made by the Board of Inquiry and action has been taken on those recommendations to effect an arrest and charge the officers. As hon. Members may know, that is the only action that can be taken from the law enforcement perspective. However, the Zambia Police Service does not sentence people. That matter is now before the courts of law. It is not academic. This is how it is. There is separation of powers. We make laws here, and the laws that we make are interpreted when meting out punishment against such matters before the courts of law.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, one of the tabloid papers yesterday carried a story alleging that the hon. Minister was mocking certain people who are incarcerated. Would he elaborate on that?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: I want to follow that question.

 

Mr Kabanda’s Microphone went off.

 

Mr Kabanda pointed at the microphone.

 

Mr Speaker: You have to be patient. It is working.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kabanda: Mr Speaker, thank you for restoring the system.

 

Sir, certain tabloids carried a story yesterday alleging that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs had mocked certain people who are currently incarcerated. Could the hon. Minister elaborate on that.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: This is certainly not arising from the statement. Therefore, I will not request the hon. Minister to respond to the question.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mukumbuta (Senanga Central): Mr Speaker, I received the news of the death of the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Sergeant with deep sorrow, pain and humiliation. The Zambian people often complain about the barbaric behaviour of some men and women in uniform, but the hon. Minister defends them with his big voice, ...

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mukumbuta: ... insisting that they are professionals and that they use minimum force. Does the death of the sergeant make the hon. Minister realise that he, as a leader, should call a spade a spade and not a big spoon?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I thank my colleague who has a small voice, but a big body.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: I do not think that what I have been doing this afternoon can be described as calling a spade a big spoon. I have never come to this House to defend any wrong doing by any police officer. One incident cannot result in labelling every action taken by the Zambia Police Service barbaric.

 

Sir, if the Zambia Police Service was not doing its work, the hon. Member of Parliament would not safely sit here today. What would this country be if the Zambia Police Service was not functioning? There will always be complaints anywhere you go in the world. That is why there are institutions put in place to address some of the challenges.

 

Mr Speaker, if the hon. Member was incarcerated for acting in an unprofessional manner, police officers will guard him whilst he is in custody. We are determined to ensure that we have a well-equipped police service to protect the lives and property of citizens. We will ensure that police officers who veer off their professional line of duty are dealt with the same way this matter is being dealt with.

 

Sir, the death of the sergeant has been stressful for all of us. He was trained at a great cost to the nation and his family. No one wants to see lives lost in such a manner. That is why I am emphasising that we should have men and women in the security forces who will complement each other. We have a national choir of men and women from different security units who are a symbol of unity. That is what we want to see because their paramount duty is to preserve the peace of this nation.

 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Jamba (Mwembezhi): Mr Speaker, it is said that the law is only as strong as those who enforce it.

 

Sir, my question is centred on cadres who are a source of disunity in this country. I met a group of cadres on a bus, as I was coming to Parliament. Some of them had their legs hanging out of bus windows, and this made me wonder where the Zambia Police Service was. Are we letting these people go on rampage because they cannot be tamed?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, we can tame the cadres. We will not tolerate lawlessness of any form. I would have been happy if the hon. Member had jotted down the registration number of the bus and given it to me so that I can take the necessary action.

 

Mr Speaker, anyone who is caught doing wrong things will certainly face the wrath of the law. Some youths have been committing wrong doings under the cover of the Patriotic Front (PF). Some of them are in incarceration at the moment. We do not say one thing and do the opposite. Regardless of our status in society, we subscribe to the same law. We must all abide by the law.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Mr Speaker, the clashes among party cadres are increasing and this is quite a saddening situation in this country. However, during the burial of one United Party for National Development (UPND) cadre, I heard the Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Front (PF) warn the PF cadres to not attend that burial because the members of the other political party had planned to attack them. I did not hear anyone from the top leadership of the UPND urging their cadres to not participate in the clash. What makes the hon. Minister believe that the clash was between UPND and PF cadres?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, let me correct the record. I used the term, “suspected” because of what we have in the reports. What we know about this matter is that the Deputy Secretary-General of the PF had issued a statement, telling our members not to go near the burial site of the UPND cadre. Coincidentally, on the material day, a PF member was also being put to rest on the other side of the burial site. At some point, the cadres came into contact and violence erupted. I have been trying to avoid finger pointing. That is why I am emphasising that every leader worth their salt should condemn the acts of violence. When violence gets out of hand, no one is spared. Cadres take advantage of such disturbances to steal innocent people’s belongings. Hearing about people’s belonging being taken in such a manner is a confirmation of the presence of criminal elements. On that day, people lost their phones and money. It was an unfortunate situation. Like I said, these were “suspected” UPND and PF supporters.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kalobo (Wusakile): Mr Speaker, in the statement, the hon. Minister indicated that the Zambia Police Service used excessive force. He also called on the men and women in uniform to exercise comradeship. However, I did not hear him mention any measures that have been put in place to inhibit a recurrence of such incidents in this country.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, our men and women in uniform have coexisted over the years. As you know, we have the most disciplined defence forces in the region. This has been proven at international level where they go for assignments. I just gave a classic example of the defence choir that comprises all the defence forces and the Zambia Correctional Services. That just shows how they have coexisted over the years. They play games together. They go to the same social clubs and share social facilities. We are encouraging the coexistence so that they can also complement each other during operations. At the moment, they are engaged in many joint operations. We would not want an incident of this nature to bring about disunity in this country. We encourage them to coexist and share information in order to avoid such situations. We do not want to see them compete for supremacy because they all have roles to play in preserving the sovereignty of this country.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Daka (Msanzala): Mr Speaker, what is the hon. Minister doing to stop the indiscipline like the one witnessed at the Memorial Park whereby traffic rules are broken as a result of drinking?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, when we were commemorating the International World Anti-Drug Day on Monday, 26^th June, 2017, we noticed that alcohol, drug and substance abuse have reached alarming levels in this country. This has contributed to the violence that we are witnessing today. The hon. Member has referred to people becoming cantankerous at funerals under the influence of some substances. This lowers the decorum of funerals to the level of a circus. Instilling morals in youths is a collective responsibility. As a law enforcement agency, we will do everything possible to put the situation under control. At the moment, we are trying to put up a facility for the rehabilitation of youths who have fallen victim to substances abuse. In as much as we are trying to put the situation under control, this has to start from homes. Children grow up in homes before they are exposed to communities. So, what are we, the parents, doing to teach good morals to our children?

 

This brings teachers, with whom our children spend so much time, on board. What should they do apart from imparting academic knowledge to our children? Teachers are very important stakeholders in shaping the future of children.

 

What is the Church doing? We see people going to church everyday. However, are they being converted or it is mere appearance in church and, then, out they go?

 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President addressed the nation, through this House, and called for the restoration of moral in our children. We are all aware that the level of moral degradation amongst our children is alarming and everybody should be worried about it.

 

Mr Speaker, as the ministry responsible for law enforcement, we will do everything possible within our powers to arrest the situation. We can fill our correctional services with youths, but is that good enough? The answer is no. We all have the responsibility to ensure that we raise the youth to become productive citizens and leaders of today and tomorrow.

 

Mr Speaker, I share the concerns of the hon. Member. However, we will continue to do what we can in terms of law enforcement and ensure that we do not create monsters which can overrun the country. When a situation goes unchecked, we all know what happens. Some countries are still at war because when young children’s minds are disturbed as a result of abuse of narcotic substances, they become hardcore criminals and kill without remorse.

 

Mr Speaker, I will end by calling on all of us, the leaders of various institutions, including churches, schools and people’s representatives, to play a role in ensuring that we shape the future of our children in a more positive way.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, my question is technical. The hon. Minister stated that stress was part of the cause of death of the flight sergeant. With your permission, I would like him, at a later stage, to consult the Board of Inquiry and the physicians who conducted the post mortem on how stress could cause death because it has never been known to be the mode, manner or cause of death.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I will refer to the part of the report which talks about the findings and observations that pointed to the cause of death of the flight sergeant. I also indicated that the post-mortem report was analysed by the Joint Board of Inquiry. The post-mortem report attributes the death to stress and trauma. The trauma he suffered on his back and the stress of being in police custody triggered the chain of events that led to his sudden death on 18^th March, 2017. These are matters that are before the courts of law, and I cannot go beyond this.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, having received and accepted the findings of the Board of Inquiry, has the Government decided on whether to compensate the family of the late sergeant and, if so, when will it do so?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, our late brother was in full service and the conditions of service are prescribed. These are matters that will be dealt with by the Government according to the conditions of service under which the sergeant worked.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Sampa (Kasama Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister raised a concern with regard to the violence that is occurring in our country. I am worried, especially that in the past two months, we have enjoyed peace without any incidents of violence in our country until one person retuned into the country. I will not mention the name of that person.

 

Prof. Luo: We know who it is.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Sampa: All of a sudden, we have started witnessing funny incidents in the country. What is the ministry doing about this?

 

Mr Chabi: About this person who has come back?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: I do not think I will allow the hon. Minister to respond.

 

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, I followed the hon. Minister’s explanation of the sequence of events leading to the unfortunate death of Flight Sergeant Choongwe. At no point did he mention the involvement of the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA). I would like to find out from him whether he is in agreement with the majority of the Zambians who are actually calling for the disbandment of the Department of Traffic in the Zambia Police Service so that all traffic-related matters are handled by RTSA with assistance from local authorities?

 

Mr Speaker: I know that that is a topical issue and there was a proposal to that effect. However, it has nothing to do with the hon. Minister’s statement. Therefore, we should proceed.

 

PROGRESS MADE ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF FEEDER ROADS BY THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL SERVICE

 

The Minister of Defence (Mr Chama): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to present a ministerial statement on the progress made on the construction of feeder roads by the Zambia National Service (ZNS).

 

Mr Speaker, as hon. Members may be aware, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is serious about diversifying the economy from overdependence on copper mining to agriculture, aquaculture and tourism. This policy shift is largely due to the potential that exists in rural areas which the Government wants to take advantage of. To actualise this potential, rural areas should be made accessible using the ZNS Rural Roads Projects.

 

Sir, in this regard, efforts to make diversification a reality were started in 2013 when the Government signed a contract with a Chinese company, AVIC International, to supply new assorted earthmoving equipment valued at US$62,371,914 to the ZNS. The equipment was delivered to the ZNS in 2015 and commissioned by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on 8^th September, 2015.

 

Mr Speaker, in line with the Presidential directive given by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia during the Official Opening of Parliament on 18^th September, 2015, the ZNS is expected to rehabilitate approximately 10,000 km of primary feeder roads over a period of four years, from 2016 to 2019. This target is to be achieved as follows:

 

Year                                               Kilometres (km)

 

2016                                              3,200

 

2017                                              2,800

 

2018                                              2,800

 

2019                                              1,300

 

Total                                            10,100

 

Mr Speaker, the House may wish to know that the Treasury had released supplementary funding amounting to K63,591,865.00 to facilitate the implementation of feeder road projects in October, 2015. The following is a summary of feeder roadworks that have been done countrywide so far.

 

Works Done                               Amount of Roadworks (km)

 

Road opening                                        1,501.2

 

Road formation                                     1,691.5

 

Road gravelling                                     1,429.8

 

The countrywide distribution of roadworks by province in kilometres is as follows:

 

Province                     Road Opening         Road Formation       Road Gravelling

                                             (km)                    (km)                             (km)

 

Luapula                             186.4                 214.0                               214.0

 

Copperbelt                        138.0                 138.0                        138.0

 

Central                              138.1                 172.6                        101.6

 

Eastern                              163.2                 177.6                        133.1

 

Southern                            159.2                 156.4                        147.2

 

North-Western                  104.4                    98.4                          88.4

 

Muchinga                          244.5                 209.5                        127.0

 

Lusaka                                54.4                    75.4                          75.4

 

Northern                            256.9                 358.7                        314.2

 

Western                              56.1                    90.9                          90.9

 

Total                               1,501.2               1,691.5                     1,429.8

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to inform this august House that the above works could not progress further because of the following challenges:

 

1. the commencement of works delayed due to the non availability of the lists of priority roads in most provinces;

 

1. the condition of sites or terrain in some areas, for instance, the Western and North-Western provinces, proved difficult to manage;

 

1. heavy rains in some of the districts towards the end of December, 2015 to March, 2016; and

 

1. a lack of adequate equipment and skilled manpower to cover all the districts at the same time.

 

The earlier projection of 10,000 km in four years was not practical, as the ideal maximum distance, which could be worked on, is 250 km per province per year and a maximum of 2,300 km in a year for the whole country as tabulated below:

 

Province                                 Projected Distance

                                                               (km)

 

North-Western                                      150

 

Western                                                 150

 

Northern                                                250

 

Eastern                                                  250

 

Southern                                                250

 

Central                                                   250

 

Muchinga                                              250

 

Luapula                                                 250

 

Lusaka                                                   250

 

Copperbelt                                             250

 

Total                                                   2,300

 

The targets for the North-Western and Western provinces are lower than those other provinces because of the sandy terrain.

 

Mr Speaker, hon. Members may wish to know that the total number of earth moving equipment is 476. With the available equipment and skilled manpower, the ZNS can only carry out three projects per province at a given time. It is, therefore, my humble appeal to all the stakeholders involved in the selection of rural roads to be worked on to ensure that priority is given to roads that require urgent attention and which have immediate impact on the lives of our people.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to emphasise that the selection of rural roads that require urgent attention is not done by the ZNS. It is a process that involves stakeholders at district level, who include hon. Members of Parliament, civic leaders and traditional leaders. The prioritised lists from districts are further discussed at provincial level. The provincial leadership, then, generates a consolidated list of the projects which is submitted to the ZNS. Further, the House may wish to know that emergency works will be attended to in liaison with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) as and when need arises.

 

Mr Speaker, it is my humble request to this august House that we allow the ZNS to carry out this task without interference at any level. In this regard, I request hon. Members to avoid writing directly to my ministry or the ZNS, indicating roads of their preferences. I request them to liaise with stakeholders in their respective provinces and districts. In particular, we must remain confident that our gallant men and women in uniform are professionals in their field, which they have demonstrated through road and bridge construction countrywide.

 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, it is my sincere hope that we will work together so that the equipment is effectively utilised in order to develop the rural infrastructure which will contribute to the socio-economic development of our country.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

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

 

Mr Kopulande (Chembe): Mr Speaker, this probably justifies my earlier request. Several times before, I have requested that ministerial statements be circulated to hon. Members of Parliament upon issue. Did the hon. Minister, at the conclusion of his statement, urge the hon. Members of Parliament not to write directly to his ministry or, indeed, the Zambia National Service (ZNS) but, instead, liaise with the stakeholders? What will come out of that liaison with the stakeholders and how, then, will the ministry or the ZNS know that such a road requires its attention?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, actually, I indicated that the hon. Members of Parliament, together with the civic and traditional leaders in the rural areas, are supposed to be participants in the selection of the roads. So, they are part and parcel of the selection of the roads to be worked on because the ZNS is not represented in each and every district. So, we rely upon them to select the roads. The roads that are selected are discussed by all the stakeholders and submitted to the ZNS to be worked on.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mwamba (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, I commend the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the ambitious plans that it is putting in place to ensure that the rural areas of this country are opened up and for sending the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to work on the rural roads. Although the ZNS started the works very late last year, money was bursed. However, this time, it has delayed because money has not been given. Is it true that the Government has failed to fund the ZNS adequately so that it can carry out some work in the poor rural communities where we come from?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, yes, I can confirm that the ZNS was last financed in 2015, and the money was exhausted by 2016. To date, it has not been funded for it to execute some of the scheduled works. As hon. Members may be aware, when we were preparing the budget, we could not include the works that are supposed to be carried out by the ZNS in the allocation for 2017.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, that update is well-appreciated. It was very expensive for the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) to work on the feeder roads and the task was thus given to the Zambia National Service (ZNS). It has since turned out that the objective has not been implemented because we thought we would reduce the cost. However, it has become expensive to engage the ZNS. What is being incorporated in the costing for the ZNS to become this expensive?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, I wish to dispute the assertion that the ZNS charges for roadworks are very high. Actually, it is the cheapest contractor. For instance, if you engage any private contractor to work on a gravel road, it will charge you about K600 to K1.3 million. However, if you engage the ZNS, it will only charge you K68,000 to K130,000 per kilometre. So, that is how cheap it is. The assertion that the ZNS’ are higher than those for the RRU is not true. The problem was that the RRU was, at the time, not funded. Therefore, most of the roads countrywide were dilapidated and impassable. So, it was not a matter of cost.

 

Sir, the charges for the ZNS are cheaper and its services are cost-effective because the cost component comprises allowances and maintenance of equipment. It needs spares and lubricants to operate the equipment. So, the ZNS can be engaged at a minimal cost. According to the figures that we have worked out, there are no extra or over head costs. Under the RRU, some workers who sleep in the bush for thirty days are paid allowances. However, officers from the ZNS are committed men and women in uniforms who only get a token of appreciation, that is, project allowance of K150. So, the assertion that the ZNS is costly is not correct.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, ...

 

Mr C. Zulu: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Defence in order to come to the House dressed like this is Iceland, yet Zambia is a very warm country?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Interview him.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: I will give you the permission.

 

Hon. Member for Kaputa, you may continue.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for the update he has given to the House and the nation. I know that there is a very ambitious programme by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to open up rural roads. 

 

Sir, the month of June is almost over and, in a couple of days, we will be in the month of July. The hon. Minister talked about intermittent release of finances to deal with rural roads. What assurance do we have that we will work on some of the roads before the end of the year because rains in areas like Kaputa and Luwingu start by October?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, I want to confirm that the ZNS is working on rural roads in all the ten provinces. The Road Development Agency (RDA) and the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA), as partners, have been funding some of the projects that the ZNS has undertaken. We know that the Treasury is constrained. However, we have engaged the Ministry of Finance to release substantial amounts of money to the ZNS so that it can work on some of the roads before the onset of the rains.

 

Mr Speaker, I concur with the hon. Member for Kaputa that we do not have a lot of time. Although the equipment is available, we have to wait for the allocation of funds because we cannot work in the absence of funds. We appeal to the hon. Minister of Finance to release some funds so that works on some roads in both rural and urban areas can be undertaken.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr W. Banda (Milanzi): Mr Speaker, since its inception, Katete has not benefited from this programme. I would like to find from the hon. Minister when Katete will benefit.

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, according to the list I have, which I can distribute to hon. Members later, Katete is missing.

 

Like I said in my statement, there are only three sets of equipment that can be assigned per province. So, if the equipment is in Vubwi, Kasenengwa or Chipata, the provincial administration or local leadership must allocate it to another constituency. We do not have sufficient equipment. As indicated, we only have a limited number of pieces of equipment and personnel. So, we cannot cover the entire country at the same time.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, just yesterday, we received a comprehensive list or proposed schedule of works to be carried out by the Ministry of Local Government, constituency by constituency.

 

I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Defence whether his ministry is working with the Ministry of Local Government to ensure that the construction of roads is decentralised. It looks like the Ministry of Local Government and the Zambia National Service (ZNS) each have their own plans. Are the two institutions in touch?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, we are in touch with the Ministry of Local Government. If anything, we carry out supplementary works.

 

In the jurisdiction of districts, local authorities are responsible for the roads. The ZNS, on the other hand, is responsible for primary feeder roads. However, the Ministry of Local Government supplements some of the works being undertaken by the ZNS in respective districts. So, even though the list from the Ministry of Local Government consists of roads within the jurisdiction of the district, the ZNS collaborates with the ministry from time to time. The two complement each other in the execution of works.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Malanji (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, China, South Korea and Vietnam have benefited from a road network done by the reserve army. Zambia has now joined the global phenomenon of tolling the road network. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether his ministry has put in place any programme to engage and train qualified personnel so that the upgrade of the our road network to bituminous standard can be done by officers in order for us to retain the monies we pay out to foreign contractors in the economy?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, indeed, we are undertaking training programmes to beef up personnel in order for the ZNS to undertake more professional works as it constructs the roads. However, I would like to put it on record that the construction of certain roads is too technical. We need well trained engineers to work on roads that will last.

 

Sir, as much as we would want to engage the Zambia Defence forces to upgrade of some of the roads to bituminous standard, it is too technical, and we do not have the necessary expertise at the moment. It would need a lot of training programmes and a paradigm shift to ensure that they do professional work to the satisfaction of the Zambian people. Constructing roads that will last requires a lot of money. We do not want to construct roads that will be damaged in two years. Therefore, engaging the Zambia Defence forces to work on selected roads may be cost-effective, but we have to train our personnel.

 

The Government was very strategic. As you are aware, working on gravel roads is not very technical. All you need is a water bowser, grader and compactor. So, with the engineers that we ‘inherited’ from the Ministry of Works and Supply and the disciplined officers, the works are being undertaken professionally as far as we are concerned.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for signing the contract for the Kashikishi/Chienge Road. We have not had a road since 1964, and I am grateful for this. Thank you very much. 

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Katuta: The people are already beating drums and dancing before construction even begins. I am so grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Katuta: I would also like to thank the hon. Minister …

 

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

 

Ms Katuta: Yes, Sir, I do.

 

The hon. Minister spoke about rural areas benefitting from the works of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) on feeder roads. I would like to bring it to his attention that the people of Chienge have not benefited from this project. I would like to find out when Chienge will be included on the list of feeder roads to be worked on, which mostly lead to farming areas.

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, I thought I had addressed that question.

 

Sir, I said that I am aware that Chienge has not benefited from this project. However, on the list that I have, a few roads in Mansa, Milenge, Kashikishi, Mwense and Kawambwa have been worked on. Therefore, it is a matter of giving us a list of the roads that the hon. Members desire to be worked on in the constituency, in consultation with the provincial administration, which will come up with a list of roads for the ZNS to commence the works.

 

Sir, like I said, the equipment is limited. Therefore, once tour officers complete working on the selected roads in a particular area, then, the equipment is shifted to another constituency. This will depend on how grave the situation is in that constituency. So, we rely on the provincial administration, the area hon. Member of Parliament and the district administration to direct us on where to go.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mukumbuta: Mr Speaker, in his statement, I heard the hon. Minister say that priority roads must be identified. Does he not think that all the rural roads in the Western Province, especially in the eight districts where the donor funded cashew nuts are grown, must be given priority?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, I would like to agree with the hon. Member for Senanga Central because every road is a priority. Actually, the total length of roads to be worked on is about 120,000 km.

 

Sir, in my statement, I indicated that my ministry is supposed to cover 10,000 km of roads over a period of about four years. So, the magnitude of the works is quite huge. Therefore, all the rural roads are a priority. However, it depends on the availability of equipment and resources, as these are the two limiting factors. We wish we could work on all the roads at the same time. Even today, we would love to have the equipment everywhere in the country so that all the roads can be worked. However, we have a limited number of pieces of equipment, and inadequate personnel and funds.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister when his ministry will harmonise the conditions of service for officers from the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) who were incorporated into the Zambia Nation Service (ZNS) and those from the ZNS. I have raised this question because there is a complaint that the conditions of service for former RRU workers are not the same as those for their counterparts in the ZNS. May I also find out when the ministry will work on the roads in Kabwe Central Constituency?

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members are only restricted to one question.

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, about 409 workers were taken over from the RRU by my ministry. So far, 373 workers have received their letters of appointment. I want to confirm that their conditions of service have not been harmonised because their payroll is still being managed by the Ministry of Finance because they were employed as Government workers or civil servants. As soon as the harmonisation is completed, they will be taken on board and will be offered the same conditions of service as their counterparts.

 

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Kabwe Central may be aware that these are civilians who have not undergone any military training. Therefore, this is an on-going process of integrating them into the service of the ZNS.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, I did not hear the hon. Minister correctly on whether we should not write to the Zambia National Service (ZNS) or his ministry. In his statement, he has used the word “stakeholders”. I would like to find out who the stakeholders are.

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, the stakeholders whom I talked about in my statement are area hon. Members of Parliament, civic leaders, traditional leaders and any other interested parties who know certain roads within their locality. They can come on board and give us lists of road to be worked on. There are many requests for roads to be worked which can be overwhelming sometimes. However, there is a system in place which the ZNS uses to work on roads.

 

I also wish to state that there is a list of roads from the provincial administration, and hon. Members of Parliament are supposed to participate in the selection of roads on this list that need to be worked on. Once the hon. Members are involved in the selection of roads to worked on, there will be no need for them to request the ministry to work on particular roads.

 

Sir, from time to time, hon. Members can request the hon. Minister to work on certain roads. Maybe, it could be that the hon. Member has sourced some funds, but would just like to use our equipment. If that is the case, then, we can discuss so that the road in question can be worked on. Also, hon. Members can use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to work on certain roads. The ZNS can be engaged to work on selected roads.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mrs Fundanga rose.

 

Mrs Ngulube: Hear, hear! Ebamayo aba!

 

Mrs Fundanga (Chilubi): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what measures he has put in place vis-à-vis the monitoring of the construction of roads because we have had situations whereby equipment from the Zambia National Service (ZNS) is marooned in one district for, maybe, three to four years, leaving other districts waiting.

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, sometimes equipment may seem to be lying idly in a district because the roadworks have stalled due to inadequate resources. If we decide to withdraw the equipment from that area, the hon. Member will complain about the unfinished works. Therefore, the equipment will remain in that area until the project is completed and, then, it is moved to another area. If the hon. Member is insinuating that the equipment is marooned in a particular area even after the works have been completed, I wish to assure her that the men and women in uniform are responsible enough not to allow that to happen.

 

Mr Speaker, immediately the works are completed, the equipment will be moved to another area because it is on demand. In any case, some local authorities request to use the equipment when they have sourced some funds. Therefore, we cannot let the equipment lie idly in a particular area for no apparent reason.

 

Sir, the equipment has been acquired at a great cost, and we would like to maximise its utilisation. I wish to assure the hon. Member that sometimes the delay is as a result of the delay in the release of funds. Thus, the equipment is marooned in a particular as we await the release of funds to enable us to complete the project.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!      

 

SCALE-UP OF THE SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER SCHEME

 

The Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare (Ms Kabanshi): Mr Speaker, let me start by thanking you most sincerely for according me this opportunity to deliver a ministerial statement on the scaling up of the Social Cash Transfer Scheme in Zambia. This ministerial statement has also been necessitated by the need for the Government to provide direction to the citizens not only on the continued implementation of the programme, but also on how the Government has planned to reach out to the most vulnerable in society in order to alleviate poverty and reduce inequalities.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to provide a background to the programme before highlighting its scale-up and future plans. The programme includes bi-monthly cash transfers to sections of the population who, for some reasons beyond their control, are not able to provide for themselves. Beneficiaries of the programme usually live in labour-constrained households, with no adult member fit for productive work. Due to their limited self-help capacity, these households cannot access any of the labour-based poverty reduction programmes offered by the Government and other co-operating agencies.

 

The Zambian Government has been implementing the scheme since 2003. In 2003, a total of 11,000 households were reached with a budgetary allocation of K7.5 million. About 88.7 per cent of this accounted for donor contributions whilst that of the Government was 11.3 per cent. By 2010, the caseload increased to 25,000 households, and the Government funding increased to K4.8 million. When the Patriotic Front (PF) Government came into power in 2011, the budgetary allocation increased from K4.8 million to K11.5 million in 2012. The caseload equally increased from 32,000 households in 2011 to 51,000 households in 2012. In 2014, the budgetary allocation was remarkably increased by the PF Government to K150 million and correspondingly, the caseload increased to 145,698 households, whilst in 2016, funding was increased to K302 million.

 

Mr Speaker, to further demonstrate the PF Government’s commitment and fulfil the promise to transform people’s as per its 2016-2021 Manifesto aimed at reducing poverty amongst the most vulnerable households, the budgetary allocation to the scheme was increased from K302 million in 2016 to K737 million in 2017. This amount is divided into two parts. The Government has allocated K500 million, while our co-operating partners have committed K237 million to the programme. The 2017 budgetary allocation for the Social Cash Transfer Scheme is 1.11 per cent of the 2017 National Budget. The caseload for 2017 is projected to increase from 242,000 to 590,000 households. This will cover 25 per cent of the most vulnerable and extremely poor households in the country. The Government, therefore, takes this opportunity to inform the country about the national scale-up of the Social Cash Transfer Scheme so that citizens are well-informed about it.

 

Sir, the scheme is largely aimed at reducing extreme poverty among vulnerable groups. Arising from the budgetary increase to the programme, the number of beneficiary households, as earlier mentioned, will increase from 242,000 households in seventy-eight districts in 2016 to 590,000 households in 2017 to all the districts. The 590,000 households translate into a population of approximately 3,540,000 individuals, making up 25 per cent of the total national population.

 

Furthermore, the ministry will also scale-up to some areas in the implementing districts that were not at full scale. This means that all the constituencies or wards within the implementing districts will essentially be covered. The implication of this national scale up is that we will be able to assist more households living in extreme poverty in all the districts of our beloved nation as we include the remaining twenty-eight districts on the programme.

 

Sir, in 2017, the selection criteria are as follows:

 

1. residency – a household should have lived in the community for not less than six months;

 

1. incapacitation – the household should have the following categories of people:

 

1. people with severe or profound disability certified by a medical practitioner and issued with certification slips;

 

1. elderly persons who are sixty-five years old and above;

 

1. child-headed households with persons aged zero and eighteen;

 

1. terminally ill persons certified by a medical practitioner and issued with certification slips; and

 

1. female-headed households with heads aged between nineteen and sixty-four, and with three and more children as dependants. This category will be assessed after three years with a possibility of graduating and being linked to other empowerment programmes; and

 

1. affluence tests will also be conducted to determine poverty levels among households.

 

Mr Speaker, with effect from January, 2017, the transfer amount has been increased from K140 to K180 for households without persons with disabilities, while households with persons with disabilities will receive K360 twice a month instead of K240. The increase in prices of goods and services necessitated this increase.

 

Mr Speaker, research has shown that the Social Cash Transfer Scheme leads to positive outcomes among beneficiaries in terms of improved nutrition, reduced incidences of illness, accumulation of small assets and improved primary school attendance by the pupils from the beneficiary households.

 

In addition, there is evidence that the programme has had a positive effect on the local economy arising from the additional purchasing power that comes with the provision of cash to households to procure commodities, unlike in-kind assistance which is mostly procured centrally. In this regard, for every K1 the Government sends to districts and communities, there is an additional K0.79 generated. Therefore, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is walking its talk of implementing the National Social Protection Policy developed in 2014 and contributing to the wellbeing of all the Zambians by ensuring that vulnerable people have sufficient income security to meet their basic needs and to protect them from the worst impact of risks and shocks.

 

Mr Speaker, the ministry has engaged the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) to start paying beneficiaries using electronic payment systems in Lusaka, Central and Eastern provinces. This programme commenced this year, 2017, and was launched in Lusaka. Beneficiaries from Lusaka District have started getting their cash through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or through points of sale and can withdraw the money any time. This also allows them to save some of the money. The new payment system will reduce risks associated with the manual payment system. In addition, the ministry, with support from its co-operating partners, is using mobile technology solutions for listing and enumerating beneficiaries in the 106 districts of this country. This means that instead of using paper forms to collect information on households, enumerators are using portable devices, namely tablets. This will reduce the time taken to enumerate households as well as minimise human error in data collection.

 

Conclusion

 

Mr Speaker, as the Government, we are appreciative of the support rendered to us by our co-operating partners and are hopeful that with such concerted efforts, we will be able to uplift the living standards of vulnerable people. It is, therefore, important that every citizen and parliamentarian supports well-meaning initiatives such as the Social Cash Transfer Scheme as we endeavour to uplift the lives of our under privileged brothers and sisters in our communities.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

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

 

Mr Daka: Mr Speaker, in Msanzala, the Social Cash Transfer Scheme has never been heard of. What is the hon. Minister doing to ensure that the elderly and other vulnerable people in Msanzala and Petauke also benefit from the scheme?

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the people of Msanzala and Petauke districts are on the Social Cash Transfer Scheme and we will ensure that we scale-up the number of beneficiaries. We will not only put the elderly and the disabled on this programme, but also the vulnerable youths from child-headed households and widows. We do not want to leave anybody behind. We want to bring everybody on board so that we reduce inequality.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, the policy of leaving no one behind is a good one. In Kanchibiya, we have impassable roads and no bridges. What initiatives or strategies is the ministry employing so that the people of Kanchibiya, particularly Chinkobo, Mulonga, Kaonda and Lumbatwa, are not left out of this good initiative?

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, in my statement, I indicated that we will implement the programme in all the wards. We will cover the whole district of Kanchibiya. We do not care whether there are no bridges or that the roads are impassable. We want to ensure that all the sub-centres in the district are manned. We will empower the district not only with a vehicle, but also a motor cycle.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, does the ministry have any plans to teach life skills to beneficiaries other than giving them cash under the Social Cash Transfer Scheme? In my constituency, I know that there are many elderly and disabled persons who are willing to work. They say that although they have not been included on the Social Cash Transfer Scheme’s list of beneficiaries, they would like to be empowered with skills so that they can make money on their own and not be on the receiving end. They want to work so that they can earn a livelihood.

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare has many social protection programmes. We, as a ministry, dot not just disburse cash. Before we disburse the cash, we train the beneficiaries in different skills. We train them in financial literacy. We also train them on how to keep their environment clean and provide adult literacy classes. We do not only give them cash, but also teach skills so that they are able to invest the money in different businesses to improve their lives.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Phiri (Kanyama): Mr Speaker, the Social Cash Transfer Scheme is good and we appreciate the hard work she is putting in the programme. However, does she not think that it is important to involve the area hon. Member of Parliament and his/her office whenever she visits a particular constituency so that they appreciate the good job she is doing? However, people do not appreciate her efforts because there is no publicity. We, the hon. Members of Parliament also do not see what she is doing, and we receive complaints from the people regarding her work.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Phiri: However, I would like to congratulate the hon. Minister of Gender on her effort. When she wanted to give a donation to the women in my constituency, she involved me and I witnessed the whole programme. So, if people say that the hon. Minister of Gender is not working, I always disagree and refer them to the programme the event that I witnessed where women got some cheques. Most of the hon. Ministers have a tendency of going into our constituencies without our knowledge …

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, …

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: … you are not addressing …

 

Laughter

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the Social Cash Transfer Scheme is not a one-off programme. We implement the programme in constituencies over a long period. For instance, when I go to my constituency, I always engage my officers to work with the hon. Members of Parliament because they are the ones who respond to queries from the members of the public.

 

So, I wish to disagree with the hon. Member when she says that I do not involve the area hon. Members of Parliament. When I go into their communities, I engage the councillors and they are the ones who give me feedback on the programme. Even when I go to areas that are not strongholds for the Patriotic Front (PF), councillors are the ones who inform us about the problems being faced in those areas. So, we are not working in isolation per se because we have brought everybody on board. We do not identify the beneficiaries. Like I said earlier on, the communities are the ones that identify the beneficiaries under the supervision of officers from my ministry.

 

Mr Speaker, I understand why the hon. Member is saying such things. It is because last year, we were only targeting disabled people in Lusaka. As a result, many aged people and child-headed households were left out of the programme. The poverty levels in Lusaka Province are low. Therefore, we will use the inclusive system of selection this year.

 

Hon. Member: Ehe!

 

Ms Kabanshi: Therefore, we are targeting all the categories of people in the rural areas where the poverty levels are between 70 per cent and 92 per cent.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, as I understood it, the question was raising concern about the inability of the ministry liaising with the hon. Members of Parliament.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Please, respond to that.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, I always liaise with them but, sometimes, it has been difficult to reach some of them. Sometimes, when I am visiting their constituencies, the hon. Members of Parliament are busy or have travelled outside the country. When I went to Kanchibiya, the hon. Member of Parliament was out of the country, but the councillors and the people were there, and everything went well. Nonetheless, I would like to assure the hon. Members that I will improve on that.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Mwape (Mkushi North): Mr Speaker, there are people in Mkushi North who are above sixty-five years of age, but have no national registration cards (NRCs) as proof of citizenship. What is the ministry doing about such cases?

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, these are some of the problems that we always face when implementing the programme. We experienced a similar problem during the registration for voters’ cards. However, I would like to assure the House that I will engage the hon. Minister of Home Affairs further, so that we can see how we can help those that do not have NRCs.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, the people of Kaputa are happy that they have benefitted from the Social Cash Transfer Programme for many years. However, every time I visit the people in my constituency, their major complaint is about the consistency in the disbursement of funds. Like the hon. Minister has said, small amounts should be disbursed monthly. How up to date is the hon. Minister with the cash transfers?

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, I would like to state that 2015 and 2016 were very difficult years for us. So, it was very difficult for us to pay beneficiaries as planned. However, I would like to assure the hon. Member that this Government is very committed to ensuring that we disburse the funds timely. So, I would like to assure him that very soon, we will be up to date.

 

The last disbursement was in January or February. However, we have finalised everything and will start disbursing the funds for March and April this year. That is not very bad, and the people are appreciating it. Sometimes, the Government also runs short of some cash like what happens in our homes.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Musonda (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for her statement and wish to place on record that her programme is being appreciated by many people in the constituencies. However, my question is: Would the hon. Minister consider sharing with  hon. Members of Parliament the procedures to follow for to be a beneficiary of this programme. I ask because many a time, people come to our offices to enquire about this.

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the programme is in all the districts. In fact, it has reached sub-district level. Therefore, I would like to urge hon. Members of Parliament to engage my officers on the problems that they face as they go round. I think that is the only way that we will work together. They can also give guidance to people on how to become part of the programme.

 

As the hon. Members may recall, the members of the Community Welfare Assistance Committee (CWAC) are identified by the community. The hon. Members are free to see the District Social Welfare Officers and their assistants for any problems that they have.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, I commend the hon. Minister for increasing the categories of beneficiaries of the programme. In Lubansenshi, I have observed that …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1630 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was commending the hon. Minister for the work she is doing.

 

Sir, the selection of beneficiaries has been very good so far. The programme has grown and has become inclusive. Is the hon. Minister considering including women who sell at markets in this scheme? Some of them are very poor while others are doing fine. Are women who are very poor being considered for this scheme?

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the ministry is implementing many programmes in line with poverty and vulnerability. In relation to women in the markets, we will assess them and some will be enumerated on the Social Cash Transfer Scheme if they are eligible. If they do not qualify, they will be put on other programmes like Supporting Women Livelihood and the Women Empowerment Programme where we give women small grants.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kabamba (Kafulafuta): Mr Speaker, when talking about the categorisation of would-be beneficiaries, the hon. Minister mentioned some social physical aspects in reference to the physically handicapped and the terminally ill. The hon. Minister said that the terminally ill and those who are physically handicapped should be certified by a medical practitioner. Coming from a rural constituency, I wanted to find out whether this would not negatively affect those who may not have doctors near their communities?

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health has done its job by sending qualified staff to all rural health centres. I visited Muchinga, Northern, and North-Western provinces and I did not find any problems faced by health practitioners in certifying the terminally ill and those who have disabilities. I assure the House that the programme is going very well and, if the hon. Members find any problems or if they are aware of people who are eligible to benefit, but have been left out, they should share this information with us so that we do something about it.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Miti (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, I commend the hon. Minister for the good work she is doing, which is touching the lives of many people.

 

Sir, Vubwi, being a rural area, has programmes like the Village Banking, which is only targeted at people who can borrow money and pay back. We also have the Social Welfare Programme, but it is erratically funded. Are there any plans to implement a programme for the vulnerable people of Vubwi who cannot access social services like the Social Cash Transfer Scheme?

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, in my statement, I mentioned the fact that we extend the Social Cash Transfer Scheme to all the districts this year. I would like to assure all the hon. Members that the programme will cover all the districts, constituencies and wards. Tomorrow, we will display the annex where the distribution of beneficiaries in each district is displayed and you will be able to see for yourself how many beneficiaries you will have by the end of the year.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

_______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

DECENTRALISATION OF BIOMETRIC DATA

 

277.  Mr Chabi (Chipili): asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

 

1. whether there were any plans to decentralise to provincial centres the uptake of biometric data such as finger prints;

 

1. if so, when the decentralisation process would commence;

 

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

 

1. if there were no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, currently, fingerprints are taken at all provincial centres, but are processed at the Zambia Police Service Headquarters. The Government has plans to decentralise the processing of biometric data to all the provincial centres.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to confirm that the Government has plans to decentralise the collection of biometric data to provincial centres. The time frame for the completion of the decentralisation process will depend on the availability of funds.  

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

LUNDAZI/CHAMA ROAD

 

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

 

1. why the tarring of Lundazi/Chama Road had stalled;

                      

1. whether the initial contract had been terminated;

 

1. if so, who the new contractor was;

 

1. when the works would resume; and

 

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

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development ((Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, the tarring of Lundazi/Chama Road was divided into five lots for ease of implementation as follows:

 

  Lot No.               Status

 

1                      Surfacing of a 65 km stretch of the road was substantially completed.

 

2                      The progress is at 10 per cent and the contractor is on site awaiting to continue works when funds are made available.

 

3                      The works are ongoing and the progress is currently at 8 per cent. It is anticipated that the contractor will complete a 10km stretch of the road by the end of the fourth quarter of 2017.

 

4                      Works have stalled, as the project has not been included in the 2017 Road Sector Work Plan due to budget ceilings. As the other contractors will be working on other lots next year, we intend to resume works on Lot 4.

 

5                      The works have stalled, as the project has not been included in the 2017 Road Sector Work Plan due to budget ceilings.

 

Mr Speaker, the initial contracts have not been terminated. There are no new contractors, as the initial contracts are still valid. Works on Lots 2, 4 and 5 are progressing slowly and will fully resume once funds are made available. The other three contractors have received their two payments and are mobilising so that they can accelerate the works.

 

Mr Speaker, the timeframe for the completion of the project is twenty-four months and this will depend on the availability of funds.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

_______

 

MOTIONS

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Agriculture for the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 26^th June, 2017.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, I second the Motion.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, in keeping with its terms of reference, as outlined in Standing Order No. 157(2), your Committee considered the topical issue of the status of the irrigation programme in Zambia.

 

Sir, your Committee also considered outstanding issues from the Action-Taken Report on your previous Committee’s report. In addition to that, your Committee considered the challenges that beset the implementation of the Electronic (e) Voucher System in the 2015/2016 Agriculture Season. Hon. Members may note that the e-Voucher System has been a burning issue in the agriculture sector and the country at large.

 

Sir, I presume that the hon. Members have had an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the contents of your Committee’s report. I will, therefore, only highlight a few issues contained therein.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee resolved to carry out a study on the status of the Irrigation Programme in Zambia with a view to understanding the legal and policy framework within which it is implemented and how this is impacting on the growth of the agriculture sector in the country.

 

Sir, in order to fully appreciate the subject under consideration, your Committee invited various stakeholders to provide both oral and written submissions, whose findings are outlined in your Committee’s report.

 

Mr Speaker, during its interaction with the stakeholders, your Committee was informed that the implementation of the Irrigation Programme was governed by the Second National Agricultural Policy of 2016, the National Agricultural Investment Plan of 2014/2018 and the Irrigation Policy and Strategy of 2004. Other policies which impact the implementation of the Irrigation Programme include the Water Policy of 2010, the Water Resource Management Act of 2011, the Environment Management Act of 2011 and the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act of 1999 and the Public Private Partnership Act of 2009.

 

Mr Speaker, arising from the deliberations and consultations with the various stakeholders, your Committee observed that despite the good intentions of the programme, a number of challenges have beset its implementation.

 

Sir, first and foremost, the Irrigation Policy and Strategy of 2004 that is currently being used to implement the Irrigation Programme is outdated and had impeded the smooth implementation of the programme. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to ensure that it expedites the revision of the Irrigation Policy and Strategy Framework, as this is the framework which provides guidelines for investment in the irrigation subsector. It further requests that the Water Policy of 2010 be reviewed to align it with the current Irrigation Policy and Strategy.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee sadly notes that the Ministry of Agriculture, which is supposed to be the core ministry in the implementation of the Irrigation Programme, has a very weak institutional structure to carry out the effective implementation and co-ordination of programmes across the country. It further observes that the ministry does not have adequate skilled human resource in the area of irrigation. This is so because almost all the trained irrigation engineers have left it and joined other ministries which have better positions for their qualifications.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee was also informed that a Department of Irrigation was now being considered for establishment under the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection and not in the Ministry of Agriculture that should be responsible for irrigation and irrigated agriculture. This is a very worrying situation which should be expeditiously looked into. If, indeed, this happens, then, there should be a strong collaboration between the two ministries so that there are no impediments to the smooth implementation of the Irrigation Programme in the agriculture sector.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee, however, strongly recommends that the Government upgrades the Irrigation Section in the Ministry of Agriculture into a department and ensure that Treasury authority is granted to recruit appropriate and sufficient numbers of staff at all levels in order to strengthen the institution’s capacity to implement irrigation programmes and not move the Department to the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environment Protection as envisaged.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee further notes that irrigation is a very expensive venture which should not be engaged in without expecting decent returns on investment. Your Committee further observes that proximity to market off-takers or core ventures guarantees success of the irrigation schemes.

 

Mr Speaker, in light of the above, your Committee strongly recommends that the Government ensures that irrigation projects do not stand alone, but be integrated into clearly identified and profitable commodity value chains.

 

Your Committee further recommends that the Government, as a matter of urgency, sets up the core ventures in identified farming blocks such as Nansenga Farm Block if the farming blocks are to be successful.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee notes that the success of some of the irrigation schemes it visited can be attributed to the availability of core business ventures and market off-takers and these schemes should serve as a model for the implementation of future irrigation schemes.

 

Mr Speaker, finally, your Committee sadly notes that the only National Irrigation Research station in the country at Nanga, which is meant to feed into research in the irrigation sector in the whole country, is in a dilapidated state. It is also understaffed and virtually non-operational.

 

Your Committee also sadly notes that the ministry has not attached irrigation specialists to the station for a long time and the only staff sent there have been crop specialists, thus defeating the purpose of its national irrigation research station.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also notes that there is limited or no funding to the irrigation research station. The state of the National Irrigation Research Station is so deplorable that no meaningful research can be conducted there. In this regard, your Committee strongly urges the Government to prioritise research in the irrigation sector and show political will to invest in the rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure at the National Irrigation Research Station, and prioritise investment in the new irrigation research infrastructure countrywide.

 

Sir, in conclusion, allow me to thank the various stakeholders who made submissions before your Committee. Further, I also wish to thank Members of your Committee for their co-operation and dedication to duty during the deliberations. Lastly, but not the least, your Committee wishes to record its indebtedness to you, Sir, and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the support and guidance given to it during the session.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

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

 

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Now, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion that the House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Agriculture for the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 26^th June, 2017.

 

Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion, allow me to firstly thank the Chairperson of your Committee for ably moving the Motion and raising important issues that caught the attention of your Committee during its deliberations. Therefore, I will not spend much time on those issues.

 

Mr Speaker, as part of its programme of work, your Committee considered issues relating to the implementation of the Electronic (e)-Voucher System. Although your Committee appreciates the fact that the Government intends to roll out the e-Voucher System to all districts countrywide, a number of challenges were noted in the new districts where it was rolled out. It is, therefore, imperative that those issues are sorted out before it is rolled out countrywide.

 

Mr Speaker, one of the issues to note is the non-availability of reliable banks in various districts. It has been observed that some of the banks contracted to handle the e-Voucher card distribution have no physical presence in some districts. This has posed a challenge to farmers, especially in rural districts. Your Committee recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture allocats cards to banks that have a physical presence in districts. Another solution would be to allow farmers to use any bank in their locality to access the e-Voucher funds.

 

Mr Speaker, another challenge noted is the issue of late printing and activation of e-cards. This issue can be sorted out if card printing and other modalities related to the implementation of the e-Voucher System begin early to allow farmers to access inputs in good time.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also learnt that some cards were not loaded on time due to the delay in receiving funding from the Government which greatly inconvenienced farmers who were made to travel to and from the banks to check whether the cards had been activated. Your Committee strongly recommends that there be timely release of funds for the e-Voucher System and operational funds at district level by the Ministry of Finance.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee further noted that some agro-dealers lacked capacity to supply the required quantities of inputs to districts where the e-Voucher System has recently been introduced. It was also observed that some agro-dealers were swiping farmer’s cards despite not having inputs, forcing farmers to wait for inputs when they could have accessed inputs from other agro-dealers.

 

Sir, your Committee urges the Government to closely monitor and evaluate agro-dealers to stop them from exploiting farmers. There is a need for awareness and sensitisation of agro-dealers to stock a wide range of products to promote agriculture diversification.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let me emphasise the need for the Government to clearly define the system of weaning farmers off the programme and provide sustainable products that they can adopt instead of them constantly relying on Government subsidies.

 

Finally, Sir, I wish to pay tribute to the Members of your Committee for the manner in which they conducted themselves during the deliberations. The spirit and manner in which your Committee worked helped it come up with recommendations which are in the best interest of the people of Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

 

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for according me the opportunity to debate on this pertinent issue presented by your Committee on Agriculture. I am particularly interested in the Nansanga Farming Block which has suffered many major setbacks. As you have heard, the setbacks include the failure to actualise the Zambia Correctional Services Farm, which the Committee has acknowledged that therein is a disconnect between the dreamers of the project and the implementers. The officers who are on site to manage the farm came from Kabwe, whilst the officers who had started the farm are stuck in Serenje and are unable to communicate with their colleagues in order to give them technical advice as envisaged in the first place. This has culminated into the project not being implemented as expected.

 

Mr Speaker, as you have heard, irrigation is a very expensive venture which requires a lot of expertise to run. What is obtaining on the ground is that the people who are there lack knowledge in irrigation. That is the reason the contractor who won the tender to stump the land subcontracted the project. This made the project fail. We now understand that the Ministry of Agriculture wants to re-tender the same project. This is wasteful expenditure on the part of the Government. Further, the core ventures that were expected to be in the Nansanga Farming Block Project have not taken off, save for a few commercial farmers who are on site. Though these commercial farmers are doing a good job, they have also faced challenges in damming the water because the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has not approved the project of damming the water. Apart rain-fed agriculture, these farmers also need dammed water to run their farms.

 

Mr Speaker, we appeal to the Government to look into these issues because Nansanga Farming Block is a pride of the people of Serenje. We feel that this project must take off as quickly as possible for it to contribute to the food basket of this country.

 

Mr Speaker, I support this Motion and I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, 20 per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to come from agriculture. From 2004, this country has emphasised the need for irrigation in order to extend the contribution from agriculture, including the increase in employment levels. The levels of unemployment are quite high albeit seasonal. When over 60 per cent of our young men and women are employed in the agriculture sector, it is essential that we look at the sector with the seriousness that it deserves. Unemployment and poverty are the two evils that our country is faced with.

 

Sir, in Kanchibiya, almost all the young people, if not all, are involved in some agriculture activities and are literally unemployed. They look forward, like others in the country, to the initiatives that this Government is putting in place to unlock the full potential of our country. Each hon. Member of Parliament seated here is grappling with issues of unemployment. God has blessed this country with a few months of rainfall. When we attend to issues relating to irrigation, we will be assured of people being employed throughout the year, not just in the rainy season. Countries like Israel and Egypt, which are literally desert, are doing very well as a result of irrigation, including drip irrigation which has many advantages as highlighted in your Committee’s report.

 

Mr Speaker, on page 15 of its report, your Committee has highlighted the advantages of irrigation. The Committee said, “Some of the major advantages of drip irrigation include:

 

1. keeping  the soil aerated;

 

1. reducing weed growth;

 

1. cutting down on diseases and fungi;

 

1. minimising evaporation and water run-off;

 

1. having uniform and efficient application of water;

 

1. enabling easy control of water consumption; and

 

1. having accurate use of water and nutrients distribution.”

 

Mr Speaker, agriculture provides an opportunity to change the lives of people on the streets of Kitwe, Ndola, Kanchibiya, Mpika, Mfuwe, Lavushi Manda and other places. Therefore, I would like to urge the Government to look at how best we can increase the hectarage of irrigated land in Zambia and harvest the waters of the country. Our water bodies accounts for 40 per cent of the water in the sub-region. Rain water, water in our rivers and underground water flows away from the country without it being utilised.

 

Australia is the driest continent on earth, not Africa. However, one wonders why Africa is hard hit with poverty and unemployment. I dare say, Mr Speaker, that time has come for us to utilise the resources that God has blessed us with instead of leaving them to foreign investors.

 

Mrs Simukoko: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Malama: We should utilise our own people. In certain countries in the Middle East, indigenous people do not do jobs that are lowly rated because. Why is it that in Zambia our people can only be labourers? That should not be the case. The resources that our country has been endowed with should fully benefit our people.

 

Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda): Mr Speaker, in responding to my colleagues who have debated on this Motion, let me start by commending the mover and the seconder for presenting this report which was also very well-written. I have to commend your Committee for delving into a lot of issues to do with the agriculture sector in such an eloquent manner.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1847 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday 29^th June, 2017.

 

____________