DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Thursday 26th September, 2013

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER
_____________

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

COMPOSITION OF SESSIONAL COMMITTEES

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 131, the Standing Orders Committee has appointed the following Members to serve on various Sessional Committees for the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly as follows:

Committee on Agriculture (7)

Mr C. Miyutu, MP
Mr R. Muntanga, MP
Ms S. Sayifwanda, MP
Mr K. Chipungu, MP
Mr M. Mumba, MP
Mr M. J. B. Ng’onga, MP
Dr E. C. Lungu, MP

Committee on Education, Science and Technology (8)

Dr C. K. Kalila, MP
Ms S. Sayifwanda, MP
Mr B. Mutale, MP
Mr K. K. Hamudulu, MP
Mr C. Miyanda, MP
Mr E. Musonda, MP
Mr S. Mushanga, MP
Mr R. P. Mtolo, MP

Committee on Lands, Environment and Tourism (8)

Mr M. Muteteka, MP
Mr G. G. Nkombo, MP
Mr M. Mumba, MP
Professor G. Lungwangwa, MP
Mr J. M. Kapyanga, MP
Mr H. Kunda, MP
Mrs I. Mphande, MP
Mr E. K. Belemu, MP

Committee on Youth and Sport (7)

Mr S. Chisanga, MP
Ms V. Kalima, MP
Mr M. Mutelo, MP
Mr S. Chungu, MP
Mr E. Muchima, MP
Mr D. Mwila, MP
Mr D. Livune, MP

Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services (8)

Mr K. Pande, MP
Mr D. Mwila, MP
Dr C. K. Kalila, MP
Mrs M. C. Mazoka, MP
Dr E. C. Lungu, MP
Mr S. Chungu, MP
Mr M. Z. J. Katambo, MP
Mr B. Chitafu, MP

Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs (7)

Rev. Lt. Gen. R. Shikapwasha, MP
Ms S. Sayifwanda, MP
Mr L. C. Bwalya, MP
Mr H. S. Chansa, MP
Mr E. J. Muchima, MP
Mr S. Katuka, MP
Mr S. Sianga, MP

Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Welfare (8)

Brig. Gen. Dr. B. Chituwo, MP
Mr C. Antonio, MP
Mr E. Musonda, MP
Mr M. Simfukwe, MP
Mr C. Matafwali, MP
Mr M. Habeenzu, MP
Mr L. M. Mufalali, MP
Mrs I. Mphande, MP

Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs (8)

Mr J. J. Mwiimbu, MP
Mrs A. M. Chungu, MP
Mr M. A. Malama, MP
Mr J. M. Kapyanga, MP
Dr L. M. Kaingu, MP
Mr S. Mushanga, MP
Mr M. J. B. Ng’onga, MP
Mr B. M. M. Ntundu, MP

After the Public Accounts Committee has been approved by the House, if any hon. Member finds that he/she does not belong to any Committee, such a Member should inform the Office of the Clerk accordingly.

I thank you.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

FERTILISER DISPATCHES BY NCZ TO DISTRICTS, MAIZE PURCHASES AND FRA, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE E-VOUCHER SYSTEM AND THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT ORGANISATION REGISTER UPDATE

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock ( Mr Sichinga): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for allowing me to present this ministerial statement to this august House on four prominent topics relating to programmes and projects being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. This afternoon, I wish to update the House and the nation at large on the following:

(a)    the production and dispatches of Compound ‘D’ fertiliser by the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) to the districts;

(b)    the 2013 maize grain marketing by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and its financing;

(c)    progress on the implementation of the e-voucher/card system; and

(d)     the co-operative movement’s register update.

Mr Speaker, hon. Members of this Assembly will recall that during the last Session of Parliament, which concluded its business in June, 2013, I presented two ministerial statements on the following:

(a)    Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP); and

(b)    the Crop Forecast Survey for the 2012/ 2013 agricultural season and food balance status for the 2013/2014 marketing season.

Mr Speaker, I am delighted to inform the nation that as of 24th September, 2013, a total cumulative production of 66,085 metric tonnes, representing 93.4 per cent of the FISP order, had been achieved. The balance of 4,652 metric tonnes is now under production and it is expected that, barring any unforeseen disruption, final production will be achieved by Saturday 5th October, 2013. Of the quantity already produced, 45,644 metric tonnes, representing 69.1 per cent, has already been dispatched to all the district centres. Deliveries are on going until all the production has been dispatched.

I further wish to inform all stakeholders that production has been negatively impacted and delayed by two weeks due to the unplanned interruptions which include power failures, delayed supply of raw materials and equipment breakdowns. As a result, production could not be completed by 30th September, 2013, hence the delay in the deliveries to the district centres. We now expect this to be achieved not later than mid-October. However, distribution within the respective districts, that is, to agricultural farming blocks and camps, will only commence after the beneficiary co-operatives and farmer groups have been re-assessed for suitability through the update of the beneficiary organisation’s register which is currently in the process. We expect this procedure to be completed by the second week of October this year.

Preparations for the transportation of maize from the satellite to main depots and the implementation of the “maize for fertiliser barter system” is in progress and the plan is to complete the nationwide distribution of D-Compound fertiliser and seed by 31st October, 2013. 

May I use this opportunity to thank the fertiliser and seed suppliers as well as transporters from last year who have had to endure delayed payments for their goods and services. The Government highly appreciates their co-operation and continued support. We expect to clear their payments not later than the end of October, 2013.

I also wish to put on record the Government’s appreciation of the tremendous performance by the management and staff of the NCZ. We commend them for their patriotism and a job well done. Under the vision, policy and direction of the PF Government, they rehabilitated the plant that the last Government said was obsolete and should be sold as scrap metal.

Hon Sikazwe: Hear, Hear!

Mr Sichinga: The foregoing is a clear testimony of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government’s commitment to delivering on its promises and not even our colleagues on the opposite side can dispute or fail to see this achievement. The PF has delivered and physical evidence is there for all to see in every district. We are not riding on the back of any political party’s programmes. Ours is solid leadership which is quite original.

Mr Speaker, maize marketing commenced in earnest on 10th July, 2013 and as of 18th September, 2013, a total of 407,113 metric tonnes of maize had been purchased by the FRA and farmers had delivered an estimated 1,231 metric tonnes of maize to the satellite depots countrywide.

The FRA is in the process of transporting all the grain from the satellite to holding depots. A total value of purchased grain from small-scale farmers stands at K529.25 million against which K111.0 million, representing 20 per cent, has already been paid to the farmers, while a balance of K418.242 million, representing 80  per cent, awaits funding.

The Government wishes to acknowledge that the self-imposed fourteen-day deadline, within which to pay the farmers after maize delivery, has been exceeded for the latter weeks’ deliveries. The Government is aware that delays are a source of legitimate concern by the farmers, hence my assurance to this House that the Government is working frantically to ensure the flow of funds to clear the farmers’ accounts. No effort is being spared in ensuring that the flow of funds to pay the farmers is expedited. As a result of the current arrangements and efforts, we anticipate to clear all the farmers’ payments not later than the end of October, 2013.

We have placed in hon. Members’ pigeonholes an annexure detailing contributions being made by each province to the FRA purchases. I recommend that hon. Members be diligent in reading the information we have provided. Often, hon. Members raise questions which have already been answered in the documents we have provided in the past. This gives us a clear impression that documents have not been read.

The performance per province is broken down as follows:

Province    Amount Delivered    Percentage    Value (ZMW ‘million)
    (Metric Tonnes)

Northern    78,190        15.6             101.65 
Eastern     73,158        14.6               95.106 
Luapula     56,234    11.2     73.105 
Muchinga     52,062     10.4    67.680 
Southern     51,628     10.3     67.116 
Central     34,744     6.9     –
North-Western     29, 255     5.9     38.03 
Lusaka     16, 130     3.2     21 
Copperbelt     10,710     2.1     13.922 
Western     5, 003         1     5 

Mr Speaker, I provided this detail in order to lay ground for the need for crop and agricultural diversification programmes that my ministry is preparing to embark on. Subject to Mr Speaker granting me permission, I intend to address the House separately on this subject. My ministry’s plans for crop and agricultural product diversification are based on the need to maximise benefits based on the ecological zones of our country. I also want to particularly mention the setting up of provincial and district commercial farming blocks which will enhance food security both at local and national levels.

Sir, regarding the implementation of the e-Voucher/Card System, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is decidedly committed to implementing this. There is no going back on this. To this end, we have been working to develop both the hardware and software components of the e-Voucher/Card System. The ministry advertised for the development of the system and expects contracts to be signed before the end of October, 2013.

Mr Speaker, besides tendering for the development of the e-Voucher software, the ministry has prepared the draft of an e-Voucher User Manual and updated the farmer registers for the ten selected districts which we are trialing and is identifying potential agro-dealers to implement the programme.

Sir, I regret to report that after reviewing the programme, it has become clear to me that the planners had underrated the time for the development and implementation as well as roll-out of the system. I must emphasise the need to do this correctly. Therefore, more time is needed for the preparatory activities to be completed. It is now estimated that the development of the system will only be finalised by December, 2013. At that point, a number of activities that are dependent on this system will be awaiting commencement and the country will be about to enter the 2013/2014 agricultural season.

Mr Speaker, in order to avoid threatening the country’s food security, for the 2013/2014 agricultural season, the ministry will use the current FISP system for distributing inputs to farmers in the ten districts. Therefore, they will not be disadvantaged. This will be a transitional phase when preparations for the implementation of the E-Voucher will be completed.

Sir, activities during this transitional period will include the following:

(a)    finalising and testing of the e-voucher software;

(b)    cleaning of the farmer registers;

(c)    holding awareness meetings for various stakeholders;

(d)    selecting and training agro-dealers;

(e)    selecting beneficiary farmers;

(f)    finalising the e-Voucher User Manual; and

(g)    creating the e-Voucher Fund.

Mr Speaker, a parallel programme will run between October and December, 2013 so as to provide us with lessons as we roll out the entire system in the 2014/15 agricultural season.

Mr Speaker, as regards the register update of the Co-operative Movement, in accordance with Section 5 and 62 of the Co-operatives Society Act No. 20 of 1998, it is a requirement that every co-operative board submits annual returns to the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. However, this was not being done in the past many years. Therefore, the Government is now undertaking an updating exercise which comes to a close on 30th September, 2013.

Sir, the exercise will provide the ministry with a baseline for establishing the current status of co-operatives in the entire country. Co-operatives that will fail to submit annual returns will also have failed to comply with the law and will, therefore, be considered to be non-operational. This will result in their being removed from the register of co-operatives.

Mr Speaker, I seek the assistance of the hon. Members of this House to help co-operatives in their respective constituencies to carry out this important assignment.

Sir, I wish to thank you for allowing me to make this statement.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, …

Prof. Lungwangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

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

Is the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in order to make such a demeaning statement in his ministerial statement about the intelligence of this House as we sit here and exercise our responsibility of overseeing the Executive? Is he in order to state that, as hon. Members of the House, we are not intelligent enough to read Government documents? 

I seek your serious ruling, Sir.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Well, I have been seated here …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order, order!{mospagebreak}

I do not have the verbatim record of what he said. I will, therefore, rely on my senses. He did refer to the need to look at or read the document that will be deposited in the hon. Members’ pigeonholes in connection with the statement he has just made. I am not too sure whether that amounts to saying that hon. Members of this House are not intelligent enough to read that statement or document. That is not my construction. If he had said so, I would not have hesitated to rule him out of order. If it is an implication which is being made, that is something else and that implication may not be a common interpretation or, indeed, his intent in making that communication. 

That is my ruling.

May the hon. Member for Chadiza continue, please.

Hon. Opposition Members walked out of the Assembly Chamber.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Chadiza?

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order!

Has the question lapsed?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Any questions on points of clarification? 

Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, in Lubansenshi Constituency of Luwingu and, perhaps, other constituencies, there are transporters who transported inputs and maize on behalf of the FRA during the 2012/2013 farming season. However, they have not yet been paid. When will the FRA pay the transporters?

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, in my statement, I indicated that there are arrears for transporters, seed suppliers and fertiliser suppliers from the 2012/2013 farming season. I have also stated that we are in the process of paying most of them and intend to complete this exercise by the end of October, 2013. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, is there any change in policy because the allocation of fertiliser to provinces has always been based on the number of bags or the production contribution to the total basket? Now that the Northern and Muchinga provinces are seen to be contributing more to the total basket, would there be any change in input allocation so that the two provinces get a larger percentage than they have been getting?

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, there have always been differences between the provinces and districts due to the number of farmers that are supported in those localities. This number fluctuates from time to time but, generally speaking, the differences are due to the number of beneficiary farmers in each location. 

Sir, the reason I gave the statistics was to show the contribution that is being made by each province and district. Our intention is to use these statistics to guide us in the number of bags we will be subsequently distributing to the districts and provinces. The idea is that we grow crops according to the ecological zones of our country and also ensure that we maximise the benefits we can draw from each one of them. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Konga (Chavuma): Mr Speaker, what is the percentage of the urea fertiliser produced and distributed by the NCZ in relation to the total urea required for the 2013/2014 farming season? Where will the remaining balance of urea come from?

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, the NCZ is not producing any urea at all. However, as a result of the rehabilitation that has taken place, we expect that the NCZ will be in a position to produce some urea next year that will take the form of X-compound. I indicated in a statement last session that we had rehabilitated the Ammonium Nitrate Plant which produces materials that enable us to produce the X-compound. 

Sir, this is actually ongoing and will enable us to start testing the production of X-compound. I hope that we will have produced samples by the end of October, 2013 because we now have the raw materials and can decide how much urea can be produced locally. 

In the meantime, all the urea that we use is being imported. Orders for that have already been placed and we are in the process of procuring it. The information that I have is that a ship already left one of the ports we are dispatching from and it should be arriving in Dar-es-Salaam on 4th October, 2013. 

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, the FRA started buying maize from farmers on 22nd July, 2013 but, to date, only 20 per cent of the maize purchased has been paid for. Can the hon. Minister assure the farmers that come 30th October, 2013, each one of them would have been paid so that they, in turn, can pay for the D-Compound fertiliser.

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, the essence of this ministerial statement was to use this House to communicate this message to the rest of the country. I have indicated that the payments are ongoing, but we are seeking to expedite the process so that farmers are paid on a timely basis. We have not stopped paying, but the process is slower than we had anticipated. That is the reason I indicated that we are using all possible means to expedite the process of paying what is due to the farmers.

Sir, in fact, our target is not necessarily the end of October, 2013. We intend to pay before that day, depending on the availability of funds. The assurance has been given to the extent that funding will be made available, but we are looking at other possibilities of helping to expedite the process beyond the Treasury. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutale (Kwacha): Mr Speaker, is it the Government’s policy for farmers in some constituencies to have bank accounts to be able to access the FISP? I ask this because some farmers in my constituency have come to me and told me that they need to have a bank account for them to access the fertiliser when it is distributed.

Interruptions

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I am sorry I was disrupted, but I think I understood the gist of the question that was asked. 

Sir, the issue of bank accounts was indicated last year. The reason was to enable the payments for the maize to be effected to the suppliers’ accounts. Secondly, when we distribute fertiliser, it is not necessary that the beneficiaries have bank accounts. However, when they have delivered the maize to the FRA, it is necessary that the FRA pays them. So, we are paying through the banks and those that have bank accounts will obviously receive their money through their accounts. Those that do not have bank accounts will receive their cash over the counter in the respective banks. We are not distributing cash like some of the buyers from the private sector are doing. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to clarify that we are not demanding bank accounts for the sake of distributing fertilisers, but for those that are seeking to access the input pack, it is necessary that they make payments. They will obviously have to go to a bank to make the payments.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, maize is purchased by the FRA, but there are some areas that have become impassable while others have bridges which have broken down. Is there any synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and other ministries to ensure that the roads are in good shape so that we avoid wastage of this grain?

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, this is an important issue in that we have gone to areas like Nkandanzovu to purchase grain and it is difficult to access those areas without roads. We have identified those areas and indicated them to our colleagues at the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication. To that extent, we are synergising, but I am aware that the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications and the Ministry of Local Government and Housing have already identified programmes for road construction. 

Indeed, this is a necessary requirement. We cannot access those areas because only small-size vehicles are able to pass on those difficult roads. So, yes, it is an area of concern to us and we are working with our colleagues at the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications and other ministries to ensure that the roads are made passable, but that cannot be done all at once. I am sure that it will be done in due course. 

I thank you, Sir.

___________

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

NEW GOVERNMENT COMPLEX

37. Mr Sichula (Nakonde) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications:

(a)    how much money was spent on the construction of the new Government Complex in Lusaka; and

(b)    whether the complex was insured and, if so, at how much.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications (Mr M. H. Malama): Mr Speaker, the Government Complex building project was planned by the Zambian Government in the mid 1970s. An agreement was signed between the Zambian and Chinese governments. The Chinese Government was entrusted with designing, constructing and providing the construction experts while the Zambian Government was responsible for funding the project. The construction of the building was partially completed by 1992. The actual cost, as at now, is difficult to determine from the records at the ministry. The cost of the external and internal decoration of the main building (tower blocks), in a contract signed in 1999 between the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications and Shanghai Construction Groups, was US$8.357 million and was completed in 2004. 

Sir, the cost of constructing the conference facility, Banquet Hall, and its external works was US$25.6 million and this was completed in 2011. 

Mr Speaker, the new Government Complex is not insured. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications is in the process of valuing all strategic buildings, including the new Government Complex through the Government Valuation Department. This exercise will be completed by 30th October, 2013. Once this is done, the process of providing an insurance policy, indemnifying against loss or damage to the property will commence. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

FISH RE-STOCKING EXERCISE IN BANGWEULU

38. Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock:

(a)    when the Government would carry out the fish re-stocking exercise in Lake Bangweulu; and

(b)    what fish species would be re-stocked in the lake.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Kazabu): Mr Speaker, the Government will carry out the fish re-stocking exercise in Lake Bangweulu in 2014. Three sites where the restocking will take place have already been identified through a survey and these are:

(a)    Kampolombo;

(b)    the area between Mbabala and Chishi Island; and

(c)    Lake Kamponda.

Mr Speaker, the breeding process at Fiyongoli is starting now due to the warm weather. The lake will be stocked with two indigenous fish species, namely oreochrominsmachrochir, locally known as pale; and tilapia rendalli, locally known as mpende.

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

ULTRA-MODERN SPORTS COMPLEX IN NORTHERN PROVINCE

39. Mr Mucheleka asked the Minister of Youth and Sport when the Government would construct an ultra-modern sports stadium in the Northern Province.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport (Mr Masumba): Mr Speaker, this august House may wish to know that the Government has plans to construct an ultra-modern sports stadium in the Northern Province.

However, the Government’s desire is to construct as many stadia as possible for sports development in the country. Further, it should be noted that the construction of stadia across the country will be done gradually, taking into consideration other pressing national issues and cost implications.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, we have heard that some provinces have been given stadia and universities. Why are you leaving out the Northern Province? Can you indicate specifically the year when you intend to construct a stadium in the Northern Province.

The Minister of Youth and Sport (Mr Kambwili): Mr Speaker, we shall roll out stadia to all the provinces when there are funds for this. Let me state that since there is a habit of saying that there is tribalism in this country, the Northern Province will be the last one to benefit from this programme because that is where I come from. 

I thank you, Sir.

FOOD RESERVE AGENCY BANK LOANS

40. Mr Simfukwe (Mbala) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock:

(a)    how much money, in the form of principal and interest, the FRA owed commercial banks for loans obtained to purchase maize from farmers as of July, 2013;

(b)    whether the proceeds from the sale of maize from January, 2010 to August, 2013 were used to service outstanding loans to the commercial banks; and

(c)    if so, how much money had been repaid to the banks as of 31st August, 2013.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Mwewa): Mr Speaker, as of July, 2013, the FRA owed commercial banks a cumulative total of K2.096 billion which included the principal and interest.

Mr Speaker, much of the proceeds from the sale of the maize from January, 2010 to August, 2013, were used to service the outstanding loans. All the commercial banks owed by the agency had engaged the services of collateral managers who supervised the selling of the FRA maize at all the main storage depots throughout the country. 

Mr Speaker, the FRA did not directly receive any cash from the maize sales in that the lending banks were receiving the payments and automatically discounted the FRA debt.

Sir, as at 31st August, 2013, a total of K591.8 million had been repaid, leaving a balance of K1.5042 billion.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, …

Dr Kaingu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Is the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport in order to victimise the people of the Northern Province by openly showing tribalism when he comes from there? Is he in order to do so?

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Speaker: The problem we have is that this point of order has come belatedly. It was more or less after a series of other interventions. I have provided the standard before. Please, rise quickly. We need to think on our feet.

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock said that only about a quarter of the money that was borrowed …

Mr Mufalali: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, today’s headline in the Daily Nation newspaper says that the PF is dead.

Mr Mpundu: Question!

Mr Speaker: Order, order!

Mr Mufalali: One of the hon. Ministers confirmed that the PF is dead. Is the PF, dead as it is, in order to come to this House … 

Laughter 

Mr Mufalali: … and sit before you, Sir? Is it really in order, as a dead party, to come here?

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: My ruling is simple. I am sure you are trying to lighten the moment. That is my ruling. These are figures of speech and we need that light moment.

The hon. Member for Mbala can continue.

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, I thank you once again.{mospagebreak}

Sir, only one quarter of the money that was borrowed to buy maize has been repaid. One of the main reasons that was given by the hon. Minister for withdrawing subsidies on fuel and increasing the price of fertiliser was that the Government needed to raise money to repay the loans to the commercial banks.

Mr Speaker, why has the Government decided to shift the burden of repaying the commercial bank loans obtained by the FRA, and yet the FRA is selling maize which many countries would like to buy and is raising money from this which it can use to pay back to the commercial banks? The Government has passed on the repaying of the loans onto the poor Zambian farmers. 

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Sichinga): Mr Speaker, firstly, let me correct the impression that has been given that the responsibility has been shifted. There has not been any shifting of responsibility. A subsidy, as the hon. Member for Mbala knows, is a supplement, over and above whatever other resources individuals have. So, let us just make sure that it is understood that there has been no shifting of responsibility.

With regard to the first question that has been raised, the following were the amounts that were contracted to purchase the maize from the farmers and were borrowed from the commercial banks:

    Commercial Bank            Amount Lent to FRA (ZMW ‘m)

No. 1    105 
    No. 2      400 
No. 3    615 
No. 4     778 
Total    1,898
 
Sir, this money was used to purchase the maize grain. Out of that maize grain, the exports were as follows: 

Country    Quantity Exported (Metric Tonnes)        Value of Exports (US$) 

Zimbabwe            12,141                 4,310,000 
Tanzania    15,000    5,250,000 
Malawi     5,000    1,750,000 
Total         11,310,000

Sir, local sales were 542,911 metric tonnes worth K651,493,000. 

These monies have all been put into a specific bank account at the Bank of Zambia to liquidate this indebtedness. Therefore, the hon. Member has no reason to be worried that this money is not being used for that purpose. We have just given you the figures and where they stand. I hope that clarifies the situation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Sir, I am worried that the FRA has to be subjected to borrowing money year in and year out. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what percentage was borrowed out of the total requirement for the FRA to purchase maize.

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, this House approves budgets for the FRA. The total amount that was provided this year and last year for the purchase of maize was US$300 million. Therefore, that is the proportion that was met by the Government.

Mr Kabimba entered the Assembly Chamber.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aleisa, aleisa!

Mr Sichinga: On the issue of what has been borrowed, we have just provided the amounts, including the interest that has accrued.

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Sir, from the figures that have been outlined by the hon. Minister, I would like to find out if, this time around, the FRA will operate at a profit or loss as has been the case.

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, firstly, in order to understand where we are and how the FRA operates, one has to look at the FRA Act. The FRA Act does not expect the FRA to make a profit as such, but our intention, as a ministry, is to ensure that the FRA does not make a loss, but breaks even because it plays a role of being the buyer of last resort. Secondly, it is to provide for a repository for the national food security and that is the mandate this House has given to the FRA. Therefore, the FRA follows the instructions of this House and the Government.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, my concern is that the FRA has become a bottomless pit. As Zambians, we need to know whether it is cost effective to continue operating the FRA. The hon. Minister said that it is the duty of the Government to ensure that the FRA breaks even. The question is, is the FRA breaking even as of now, hon. Minister?

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, at the moment, the FRA operates with the subsidies that are provided by this House. However, the subsidies are not sufficient to meet the demands that this House makes on the FRA. 

Sir, I want to correct the impression given that the FRA is a bottomless pit. If we want it not to exist, it is up to this House to say so and come up with alternative ways of buying maize from the small-scale farmers from areas that do not have roads. These are the areas that hon. Members refer to as vulnerable. So, I am afraid the FRA is simply carrying out the mandate that the Government and this House have given it. It is not a bottomless pit. It simply complies with our requirements and when we do not provide sufficient resources, it will run into a deficit and we will have to find alternative ways of financing it.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, I feel that the hon. Minister has not quite answered the question by Hon. Hamudulu. We would like to know what proportion of the total outlay given to purchase maize the FRA borrows. 

Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, in terms of the mathematical calculation I have just given, the total amount that this House approved for FISP was K500 million. The amount that was approved for the FRA to purchase maize is K300 million. The amount borrowed was K1.85 trillion. 

Sir, I also indicated that the sum of the two figures is K2.1 trillion in the old currency. 
+
Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

NDUNGO RURAL HEALTH CENTRE

41. Mr Lufuma asked the Minister of Health when funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of Ndungo Rural Health Centre would be disbursed. 

The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Chikusu): Mr Speaker, rehabilitation of Ndungo Rural Health Centre is planned for in the 2013 Infrastructure Operational Plan. The ministry has not yet received funding from the Treasury for this project. Funds will be released as soon as the Ministry of Health is funded by the Treasury. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, in a few weeks’ time, the House will be debating the Budget. In the meantime, the funds allocated for this rural health centre, which is very critical to this area, have not been released. Could this be as a result of a budget overrun?

Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, the concerned project is contained in the 2013 Infrastructure Operational Plan. The Treasury will release funds for this project in 2013. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to clarify his response when he talks of 2013. Is he talking about the fiscal year 2013, considering that this is September, or is there another schedule for 2013 that does not correspond with the fiscal year?

Laughter 

Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, this is a rehabilitation programme and not construction of a new health facility. Rehabilitation will be done expeditiously immediately funds are made available.       

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has just been reminded that the fiscal year is coming to an end and the Budget is almost exhausted. When, exactly, is the money for this health centre going to be released? 

Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, I mentioned that the Treasury will be releasing funds for this project. Once the funds have been released, we shall disburse them immediately. 

I thank you, Sir.
 
Mr Kakoma (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister inform us why the release of the funds has delayed given that, according to the Infrastructure Operational Plan for 2013, rehabilitation should have started in April and completed by December this year?

Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, I do not know the reason for the delay. However, just to emphasise the point, once funds have been released, we shall complete the project expeditiously. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Mwila (Chipili): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to clarify whether this has affected the whole country because Chipili has not received the funds as well.  

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Now you are working.

The Minister of Health (Dr Kasonde): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to …

Mr Mwamba entered the Assembly Chamber.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aisa!

Mr Mwamba: You people want to get me fired. 

Laughter 

Dr Kasonde: … clarify a point that hon. Members are fully …

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 Dr Kasonde: … aware of, but want the hon. Minister of Health to confirm. 

Mr Speaker, it is a reality that income is available as it comes in the course of the year. We cannot, at this stage or any stage whatsoever, as a Government, put a date on the beginning of expenditure on a particular project. This is why we have produced an infrastructure operational plan which shows which activities will be conducted and determines the duration of the period as January to December. Indicating what happens from day to day is really an unrealistic request for any hon. Minister to undertake. 

I thank you, Sir.

KABOMPO WEST SCHOOL STAFF SHORTAGES

42. Mr Lufuma asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when the Government would resolve the problem of shortage of staff at the following schools in Kabompo West Parliamentary Constituency:

(a)    Kabulamema Primary;

(b)    Katuva Primary;

(c)    Mulundu Primary;

(d)    Mbulundu Primary;

(e)    Kayombo Primary;

(f)    Kayombo Secondary; and 

(g)    Kabulamema Secondary.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr P. Ngoma): Mr Speaker, the Government intends to resolve the shortage of staff in Kabompo West Parliamentary Constituency by recruiting and deploying teachers on an annual basis. The process of recruiting teachers starts from the province. The province has to indicate to the ministry the total number of schools that have a teacher deficit.

The ministry has just completed the teacher recruitment exercise. A total of 5,000 teachers were targeted for 2013, but only 4,339 have been recruited so far. Out of this number, 394 will be deployed to the North-Western Province in various primary and secondary schools.

Sir, the Provincial Administration in the North-Western Province has already identified schools where the teachers will be deployed and those in Kabompo West Parliamentary Constituency are no exception.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the planned recruitment was 5,000 and the actual was 4,339. Could I know what necessitated the …

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I am compelled to rise on a point of order, but allow me to apologise to Hon. Lufuma for the interruption.

Sir, just a few days ago, the hon. Minister responsible for Justice indicated, through the public media, that the level of indiscipline in the PF had escalated. Last month, at a meeting that was convened by PF Members at Northmead Secondary School, we saw, through the public media, violence, damage to public property and assault that led to bloodshed. My point of order is on the hon. Minister of Home Affairs.

Mr Speaker, today, in Kanyama along Mumbwa Road, leading to the Western Province, there were running battles between Zambia Police officers and PF cadres at a farm belonging to Trishul, …

Mr Ng’onga: When?

Mr Nkombo: Just today, less than two hours ago, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame, shame!

Mr Nkombo: … on account …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Member is still raising the point of order.

Mr Nkombo: … of illegal demarcation, allocation and selling of privately-owned land. This resulted in private property being damaged, in this case, Investrust Bank, which is a privately-owned enterprise. I am informed that a few arrests have been made.

Sir, going by this escalating indiscipline by people affiliated to the Ruling Party, is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs perfectly in order to sit quietly, jotting down notes, without informing this House what the Government intends to do in order to restore sanity in our country?

Mr Speaker: My ruling is that earlier on, I think it was yesterday or the day before, I directed the hon. Minister of Home Affairs to issue a ministerial statement in connection with what are perceived to be unauthorised assemblies and processions. In light of the point of order raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central, I further direct that as the hon. Minister of Home Affairs issues that earlier statement that I directed, he should address, simultaneously, the question that the hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central has raised in his point of order.

That is my ruling.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, before the point of order was raised, I was saying that according to the hon. Minister, the target for recruitment was 5,000, but the actual was about 4,000 though I could not get the exact figure. Nevertheless, my question is, what necessitated this gap between the planned and the actual figures? Is it the lack of teachers on the market or the lack of funds to pay teachers’ salaries?

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, one of the reasons is the lack of teachers on the market. The number of teachers graduating from colleges is not enough to reach our target of 5,000. Reasons are that in the past, teachers were posted to public schools only but, lately, the mines and banks are also employing teachers. To make matters worse, the number of schools in the private sector has grown. This is one of the reasons we were unable to get the targeted figure of 5,000.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu rose with his arm in a sling. 

Mr Ng’onga: Condolences!

Mr Mwiimbu: … the response from the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education is astonishing. The Government is aware that in our constituencies, there are many graduates from colleges who are unemployed and have been clamouring to be employed by the ministry. The reason they have been giving us is that they do not have the budgetary allocation to ensure that they recruit the graduates from colleges. Is he telling us that they cannot recruit teachers because there is a serious shortage of graduates in the country at the moment or is it that they do not have the resources to recruit the graduates who are roaming the streets?

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, I can only sympathise with the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central. I have not learnt what happened to you, but whatever it is, it has not impaired your judgement at all. Thank you for that question.

Sir, let me assure this House that when we give you the budget estimates of 5,000 teachers to be recruited, we mean just that. Our recruitment in all the provinces is quite laborious and, at the end of the day, we do not meet the targeted number. If you have graduate teachers in your constituency or elsewhere who are looking for employment, let us know where they are because we are in the process of finishing this year’s recruitment exercise. Otherwise, we have reached 4,339 and we are clamouring for some more because of the need out there. However, the applicants are not forthcoming. 

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education aware that colleges like Mongu Teachers’ Training College are refusing to admit students who are over a certain age of, say, thirty-eight years, and yet the University of Zambia (UNZA) and other institutions of higher learning allow mature age entry? I would like to find out if that is the Government’s policy.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, if that question was alongside the question being asked, I would have confidently given the hon. Member the policy statement. However, I think it is outside the ambit of teacher recruitment. If that leads to the few number of graduating teachers, then it is something to explore. However, I cannot confidently compare what Mongu Teachers’ Training College is doing with what UNZA is doing. I am not very competent at this stage. Therefore, I may want to be given some time to look at this issue further.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I know that there are some teachers who have retired, but are not yet tired. I would like to know if there is a possibility of engaging some of these teachers so that they can beef up the numbers that we dearly require in these institutions.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the contracting of retired teachers as well as the recruitment of the so-called pupil-teachers is on our cards. However, we are still studying the two to see whether they can complement our resolve to meet the teacher needs of the country.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, earlier, we heard that we have so many graduate teachers that some of them are being employed by the banks. On the other hand, we are told that there is a shortage of teachers, resulting in the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education employing whoever applies for a teaching job. Are there so many teachers that you are now allowing them to be employed in other sectors? Your policy says that those who are trained at Government colleges have to work for the Government for two years before they can get jobs elsewhere. I seek clarification on this.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister was referring to graduates from colleges of education or universities not being obliged to work for the Government. They are at liberty to go elsewhere, particularly those from colleges of education because they are not Government-sponsored. So, when we advertise teaching jobs, there are some who will opt to join the public sector while others may opt to go elsewhere. They are not obliged to join the public sector. However, once we take them on, we bond them for a period of two years before they can move out of the public sector. That is the position.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, I come from a very rural constituency where the importance of having teachers cannot be over emphasised. When the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education advertises teacher recruitment, a lot of teachers are recruited and posted to Chadiza. However, just after working in Chadiza for about a month, the teachers are transferred back to Lusaka. It seems there is a syndicate in the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education of transferring teachers from rural areas back to Lusaka. What are you doing to break this syndicate which is disadvantaging the rural areas?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the syndicate is almost broken now. The figures indicate that we have fewer transfers from the rural to urban areas, and we are tightening the noose.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has told this House that on many occasions, the Government has not been able to meet the targeted number of teachers in the provinces. From what the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central and others have said, we know that there are trained teachers who are still unemployed. Is this not an opportunity for the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to review the recruitment process so that we can employ as many of these graduates as possible, after which we can talk of providing quality education in the rural areas?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo is right. In fact, as a ministry, we are reviewing the whole recruitment exercise so that we target teachers at college level and monitor their movements as they come out of the colleges. At the moment, we seem to be losing a lot of them when they graduate. I am grateful to the hon. Member for that insight.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, may the hon. Minister tell this House what his Government’s policy is on the recruitment of teachers from private colleges.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, as at now, the procedure is the same regardless of whether a teacher is from a private or public institution. We have amassed the 4,339 both from the private and public colleges. For your own information, most private colleges are affiliated to our public universities. So, they are monitored by the public universities, that is UNZA and the Copperbelt University (CBU) and, to a large extent, Zambia Open University which is private, but under our supervision.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that most of the schools in rural areas can have teachers, but there is no accommodation for them?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I would not be aware of such a large predicament on a national level. This is not only in your constituency but, as you said, in rural areas also. Over the years, we have not invested in the accommodation of teachers. This is why, from time to time, we applaud them for their perseverance. However, we cannot rely on their goodwill for much longer. Through the budget allocations, we are attempting to help the teachers, particularly in rural areas. I was on record as having said that no new school will be allowed to be established without teachers’ accommodation. This is very important as it also affects our recruitment drive. Who would want to go to a rural area where they have to rent a hut from the nearest village? So, probably, that is one reason we cannot meet the targets that we set for ourselves. However, I will also need help from hon. Members of Parliament through the little money in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Dr Phiri: Sir, I am only begging and not saying they should do that for us because the ministry has an obligation to do that. We will see how we can help our teachers in this area.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, the hon. Minister is …

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Sir, the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, Dr John Phiri, in his statement just a few minutes ago, lobbied hon. Members of Parliament to consider using money from the CDF to assist in improving his sector. My assumption is that he the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing as well as the hon. Minister of Finance who know collectively that they have not disbursed the CDF sit in the same Cabinet. Is he in order to gloss over serious matters such as the question that is on the Floor by speaking about things that do not exist? 

I need your ruling, Sir.

Mr Speaker: As the hon. Minister continues to respond to questions, please, take that observation into account and respond accordingly.

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, now that it has been made clear that there are graduate prospective teachers on the market and that the problem is actually with the Government’s recruitment procedures, would the hon. Minister not want to withdraw his statement that there is a shortage of teachers and put his house in order so that we can capture all the teachers that are roaming the streets? In addition to the request that the hon. Minister made to the hon. Members of Parliament, can I suggest that we bring lists of prospective teachers from our constituencies so that the ministry can employ them.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! 

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, the recruitment exercise is very widely advertised. When we do not meet the figure, there is clear evidence that we have combed the whole country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Dr Phiri: However, if the hon. Member’s research reveals that we have not handled the exercise efficiently, our doors are open for him to come and tell us what needs to be done. Nobody would like to trivialise the problem we have in terms of the human resource such as teachers. Due to the significance of the role that teachers play and our need for teachers, this is why I was saying where hon. Members of Parliament can help, that will be very welcome. 

Mr Speaker, I am not saying that in the Cabinet, we decided that the CDF should not be disbursed. If there are disbursement challenges, it does not diminish the fact that under the care of hon. Members, there is a little money that could be used to assist in this matter. However, I was quick to say that if hon. Members are preoccupied with other projects, this ministry has an obligation to look at the teachers’ plight in terms of accommodation.

Thank you, Sir.

SENIOR CHIEFTAINESS NKOMESHYA AND SENIOR CHIEF SHAKUMBILA’S CHIEFDOMS

43. Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi) asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs:

(a)    whether Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya’s chiefdom of Chongwe District shared boundaries with Senior Chief Shakumbila’s chiefdom of Shibuyunji District;

(b)    if so, where the boundary between the two chiefdoms began and ended; and

(c)    whether the 1958 chiefdom map could be used to resolve the boundary disputes between the two chiefdoms.

The Deputy Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mrs Kawandami): Mr Speaker, Her Royal Highness Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya’s chiefdom does not share boundaries with Senior Chief Shakumbila’s chiefdom. The two chiefdoms are separated by a piece of State land that lies in-between. Therefore, the two chiefdoms share boundaries with State land. The ministry is using the 1958 chiefdom boundary maps to try to establish boundaries in relation to boundary disputes, as it is currently the only legal Government document which shows chiefdom boundaries although there are no narrative descriptions.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, the dispute between these two chiefs has been outstanding, but without any intervention from the Government. Is this confirmation that the Government is not being proactive in attending to this matter?

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Professor Luo): Mr Speaker, It is not true that the Government has not made any intervention regarding the dispute that is there. In fact, we have had several meetings even in my office to try to resolve this problem. We have even showed the two chiefs the map which shows that in-between the two chiefdoms is State land. So, I do not know where this information that we have not managed to resolve the matter is coming from. 

I think what is important is the fact that historically, when Lusaka was being developed, their royal highnesses gave pieces of land to the State to establish what now is Lusaka. Since Lusaka is now on State land, we have this problem of explaining who owned the land and gave it to the State. In fact, this problem is deeper than you may think. It is not as simple as just looking at the boundaries. It is much deeper than that and I would not like to delve into it.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, who owns the land where Sable Transport is making sugar near Nampundwe? Is it in Chieftainess Nkomeshya or Chief Shakumbila’s area?

Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, that question should have been directed at the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. However, from the knowledge that I have, Sable Transport applied for this land through the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. That confirms that it is State land.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I just want the hon. Minister to be very categorical …

Professor Lungwangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs in order to misinform this House and the nation at large that during the colonial period, land was given graciously to the State to construct what is today Lusaka when, in actual fact, historical records on land tenure indicate that from Livingstone to Chililabombwe, land was forcefully acquired by the colonial masters 25 miles on either side of the railway line. So, all those who were settled within that radius were forcefully removed from their land and placed in overcrowded reserves? Is she in order to misinform this House and the nation on this very clear historical record? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: My ruling is that as the hon. Minister continues responding to questions on this subject, she should address the point raised by Hon. Professor Lungwangwa.

The hon. Member for Monze Central may continue.

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the answer that has been given by the hon. Minister has raised concern. Is the hon. Minister telling the nation that there is no State land within chiefdoms and that if there is State land within a particular chiefdom, the chiefs in those areas have no jurisdiction? Is that what the hon. Minister is telling the nation to be the position now?

Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, what I know, from the time I have been in the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, is that when land is given up to the State, the administration of that land falls in the hands of the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and, through delegated function, it is administered by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing unless there are other facts that I do not know. That is the way things are run and that is the position. That, however, does not mean that the chief cannot be part of that land except its administration. That is what we are talking about. As regards the land in question, its administration will be done by the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and, through delegated function, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: You have not addressed the concern by the hon. Member for Nalikwanda. 

Professor Luo: Mr Speaker, I am sorry that I forgot to address that aspect. Whether land was forcefully acquired or was given graciously, the point is that it is still State land.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has enlightened some of us who did not know that Chief Shakumbila and Chieftainess Nkomeshya actually do not share a common boundary and that the chiefdoms are divided by State land. In her submission, she also confirmed that she has intervened between these two royal highnesses in her office. 

May I find out from the hon. Minister what the actual bone of contention may be between these two royal highnesses in the absence of …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours. {mospagebreak}

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

SECONDARY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN SOLWEZI WEST

44. Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when the construction of secondary schools in the following areas of Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency would commence:

(a)    Mumena;

(b)    Mayama;

(c)    Lumwana;

(d)    Chief Mukumbi’s capital;

(e)    Matebo area at Mayashi; and 

(f)    Senior Chief Musele’s capital

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, before I answer Hon. Mwanza’s question, I would like to provide the context because his question is relevant and applicable to all hon. Members of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, the focus of the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, in terms of the infrastructure budget for 2014, is to complete eighty-three carry-over secondary school projects which have been running since 2008 and thirty-five new school projects. 

Mr Speaker, further, the infrastructure budget for 2014 is also earmarked for the upgrading of selected 220 strategically-located basic schools in all provinces into day secondary schools to increase enrollment at secondary school level. 

Sir, the details will be given in the hon. Minister’s policy statement to this august House before the presentation of the ministry’s budget.

Mr Speaker, furthermore, the ministry will start constructing boarding secondary schools in 2015 because of what I have stated as our commitment for 2014. Towards the end of 2014, the ministry will request all provinces to identify areas where new secondary schools should be constructed. Together with respective hon. Members of Members, the provinces will identify the areas of need such as the ones in Solwezi West that Hon. Mwanza has highlighted.

Finally, as the ministry starts constructing boarding secondary schools in 2015, it will include the twenty schools whose awarding of contracts was under investigation by the investigative wings of the Government. The good news is that the investigations have been concluded and the ministry will re-advertise the projects and begin work in 2015. Out of the secondary schools in the question, Mumena Secondary School was also under investigation. 

I thank you, Sir.

AMBULANCE SERVICES IN SOLWEZI WEST

45. Mr Mwanza asked the Minister of Health why the ambulance that serviced Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency was not stationed in the constituency.

Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, at the moment, the policy of the Government regarding ambulances is that they are stationed and co-ordinated at a central place from which the catchment area is serviced. This central place could be the district health office, district hospital or general hospital. Since Solwezi does not have a district hospital, the ambulance services are superintended by the district health office. We do not allocate ambulances by constituency.

I thank you, Sir.

__________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity …

Mr Mutelo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, I am sorry for disturbing the hon. Member who was about to debate the President’s Address. Yesterday, nurses countrywide said that they were going to go on strike because of the salary increment. Is the hon. Minister responsible for these unionised nurses in order to keep quiet when the services of the nurses are so dear to the lives of everyone? 

I seek your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Order!

My ruling is that the hon. Member for Lukulu West should immediately file in an urgent question so that we can pass it to the relevant ministry. That is my ruling. 

The hon. Member for Kabompo West may continue.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to contribute to debate on the President’s Speech. May I start by joining the President in conveying condolences from Kabompo to the family of Hon. Sakeni, the constituency he represented, the party he represented and Zambia at large. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome all the five hon. Members of Parliament who have just joined this House, with the exception of Hon. Mtolo who has come in for the second time. I would like to congratulate him on a hard-fought battle. 

Hon. Mtolo, you do not know how much we missed you. Welcome back to this House.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to congratulate someone who called himself a young man yesterday on being the first one to start a volley of defeat against the PF and this is none other than Hon. Mutelo from Lukulu West. We thank you very much for opening the door.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank the Vice-President of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) …

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: … for what he did last year.

Hon. MMD Members: Yes!

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, he actually forced the President to stick to his Speech this time.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: I thank you very much for that. At the same time, let me congratulate the President on sticking to the Speech. It made life much easier.

Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to delve into the President’s Speech. We all know that the State of the Nation Address is very important. It sets the tone and the policy direction for the coming year. It is so important because it looks at the state of the nation. It also addresses questions such as; what are the prevailing conditions in the country? What are the pertinent issues which must be addressed in order to give comfort to the Zambian people, and what direction will be given on what will happen in the next year?

Mr Speaker, having said that, I would like to move on to what constitutes these pertinent issues. There are many issues on the economic, social and political front. These are important issues that needed to be addressed by our President. In this regard, I would like to look at the following issues:

(a)    the macro-economic fundamentals vis-à-vis the real situation that exists today;
 
(b)    the Constitution-making process, which is another pertinent issue;
 
(c)    the Barotseland Agreement and the current state of affairs in Barotseland;

(d)    democracy and good governance;

(e)    decentralisation, mining and inequitable distribution of resources to various regions to enhance development; 

(f)    the Public Order Act (POA), police and cadre hegemony; and

(g)     the Budget deficit and road infrastructure. 

Finally, I would like to deliver a message from the North-Western Province where I hail from. I have been instructed by the citizens of the North-Western Province to deliver this message to His Excellency the President.

Mr Speaker, allow me to start from the economic front by looking at the macro-economic fundamentals. I noted from the President’s Speech that the necessary macro-economic performance indicators seem to be okay as they seem to hold. The gross domestic product (GDP) was at 6.8 and 7.3 per cent for 2011 and 2012 respectively, the inflation rate is still at one digit and the lending rate has reduced from 20 to about 16.3 per cent. However, the World Bank has revised the GDP projections from 7.6 per cent, which was envisaged for 2013, to about 6 per cent.

Basically, the reason for this is the Budget overrun which is going to affect the stability of the micro-economic fundamentals. According to the World Bank, the Budget overrun is about 8.5 per cent. 

Sir, nonetheless, despite the stable framework in the micro-economic fundamentals, we see an economy that has high unemployment levels. So, there is growth with high unemployment and poverty levels. There is growth without any meaningful social infrastructure development in various places, especially rural areas and the North-Western Province in particular.

Mr Speaker, the President talked about benefits in his Speech, on page 2, paragraph 2, which says:

“The citizens of this land not only deserve better lives, but are entitled to better lives.” 

Sir, this becomes nothing, but a desire because nothing has happened to make us think otherwise.

Mr Speaker, may I move on to the Constitution-making process. This was an opportunity by the President to enlighten everybody and give comfort on the process which must be undertaken until the delivery of this Constitution to the Zambian people. Unfortunately, nothing of significance was said by the President to allay fears that the PF Government wants to doctor the Constitution because it is going to be directly given to the President without copies going directly to hon. Members of Parliament and the general citizenry. 

It is important, therefore, that this Government puts up a roadmap that will include the necessity of holding a referendum because it is only through this that the Constitution will be people-driven. We do not want failures like what happened last time. The Constitution came to Parliament and was thrown out. If it is brought to the House again, I am sure the hon. Members of Parliament will throw it out since the PF has no two-thirds majority, unless and until it contains what the people of Zambia would like to see in the Constitution which are the issues of the fifty-plus-one per cent votes in order for a person to win the Presidential elections, a running mate and so on and so forth.

Mr Speaker, allow me to come to the third issue which is the Barotseland Agreement. Currently, there is chaos in the Western Province partly due to the promises that were made by the PF itself. They excited the people of the Western Province and lifted their expectations. The people of the Western Province are expecting this Government to have delivered on those promises. Unfortunately, the PF Government has somersaulted, given certain realities on the ground. There is no need of not mentioning this item. Let us not hide our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich. This is the time to face up to our responsibilities and challenges, and be able to call the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) and the people of Barotseland to table …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, it was only yesterday when you guided hon. Members in this House to stick to the Speech as it was delivered because we all have copies of it. Is the hon. Member, therefore, in order to continue digressing from the Speech by concocting his own speech and talking about issues which are not reflected in the Speech? 

I seek your serious ruling, Sir.

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order!

My ruling yesterday was that we have a Motion before us to debate the President’s Speech. I also indicated that it is highly advisable, nay imperative, that all hon. Members read that Speech. The Speech has several themes, and I used the term ‘theme’ repeatedly. Therefore, every hon. Member is expected and is at liberty, as it were, to debate around those themes. I mentioned further that we cannot take a literal approach to mean that we should confine ourselves to the letter of the Speech. What I mean is that it is simply not practicable. People might want to give examples and so on and so forth but, please, let them confine themselves to the broad themes which the President espoused. 

That was my ruling, and I do not think that I should now begin making specific rulings on the evidence relating to those themes. As long as you keep within those broad themes, it is permissible.

Please, proceed.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, I thank you for that wise counsel. I would like to continue and I am on the fifth item which is democracy. Our democracy is under threat.

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: Our democracy is under threat, and we should do something about it. Democracy thrives on the majority rule. However, what is happening at the moment is based on minority rule. A minority of people are jeorpadising the democracy that we have enjoyed since Independence.

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I rarely stand on points of order but, because things are very serious, I am compelled to raise a point of order.

Is the hon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Kampyongo, in order to come to this House improperly dressed in a safari suit without a scarf?

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Chadiza, I appreciate that you are located quite at a distance and if you took time to get closer to the hon. Deputy Minister, I am sure you would have realised that your point of order is not well-founded.

Please, continue.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, democracy is founded on tolerance of each other’s views. You have to tolerate the views that you do not like from a person that you do not like. If you do not dialogue, do not cause violence. That is democracy, but is that the situation today? The answer is, no. So, what are we going to do about it?

Sir, all of us have the responsibility to ensure that democracy thrives in this country. This is important. If I may quote one of the greatest philosophers that ever graced the surface of this earth who said:

“What would it benefit a man if he wins the whole world, but loses his soul?” 

If we lose democracy, then we lose the soul of the country. Let us come together in unity to ensure that this bickering stops and we forge ahead in terms of development.

Mr Speaker, I recall that at the beginning of this Parliament in 2011 there was a hung Parliament and a hung Parliament is best for democracy. However, because of hunger for power, there were about fifty petitions from the Ruling Party so that they get absolute power in order to pass laws as they wished. This has brought a lot of conflict, violence, turmoil and death to this country. We have to put an end to this. These are the pertinent issues which the President should have talked about.

Sir, further, the police have taken a cue and have sufficient enough power to subjugate the Opposition. As a result, the Public Order Act is being flouted. I remember talking about the State police and that this country might go in that direction. 

Mr Speaker, apart from police hegemony, there is also cadre hegemony in the PF. Yesterday, one hon. Member was thrown to the Backbench. Today, there was another and tomorrow there might be another. We have to put a stop to this. I believe it was within the realm of the President to put a stop to this malady or madness …

Hon. Government Member: Madness?

Mr Lufuma: Yes, it is madness.

Laughter

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, decentralisation is a good old song which has been there since the reign of Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and the PF. We are hoping that this decentralisation, which was flagged off by the President in June or July this year, will hold this time. We think decentralisation is the way forward. We should give the councils the necessary financial resources, manpower and competences to ensure that they are able to implement the projects that they set out to implement. 

Mr Speaker, the thirty newly-created districts are a good way to decentralise although they come with their own problems. Suffice it to say that not even a single district has been created in the North-Western Province except for Manyinga which was an afterthought from giving nine districts to the Western Province. It is important that the North-Western Province is considered in this regard.

Sir, we would also like to urge the President to consider shifting the provincial headquarters for the North-Western Province like it was done for the Southern Province. We want the headquarters to be shifted from Solwezi to Kabompo due to the congestion in Solwezi. Further, Kabompo is more central, has plenty of water and land and has the legacy of Dr Kenneth Kaunda being incarcerated there.

Mr Speaker, since I am running out of time, I would like to move to the most important item which is a message from the people of the North-Western Province. 

Sir, the North-Western Province has got the short end of the stick. It is known that the mines give revenue to the Central Government, but it is also known that there are fewer developmental activities taking place in that area compared to others. All we have is environmental degradation. 

Mr Speaker, the people of the North-Western Province want the Government to start giving it its deserved position in this country. We want to get an equal share of the national cake. Universities and roads such as the Solwezi/Chingola Road should be worked on as a matter of priority because it is the life line of the extraction of minerals in the North-Western Province. However, it is not even in the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. It is important that we make it a priority.

Mr Speaker, we also want a railway line to be constructed because it will relieve the Chingola/Solwezi Road. It is important that the people of the North-Western Province, who are major contributors towards the National Treasury through massive mining activities, have schools, feeder roads and bridges worked on. We want justice in the dispensation of developmental funds and are asking this august House and the President to duly consider the plight of the people of the North-Western Province.

I thank you, Sir.

Mrs Mphande (Mkushi North): Mr Speaker, allow me to introduce myself. My names are Ingrid Mulonda Mphande, Member of Parliament for Mkushi North. In the same breath, I would like to thank you for according me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech. 

Sir, further, allow me to express my gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata and the PF leadership for adopting and supporting me during the by-election. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mphande: Mr Speaker, I would be failing in my life as a Christian if I did not recognise the Almighty God who has given me life, strength and wisdom and has accorded me the responsibility to look after his people in my constituency. May praises be unto Him.

Hon. Members: Amen.

Mrs Mphande: Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my husband, Mr Silota Mphande, who allowed me to join politics, my children and brothers and sisters who motivated me when I felt like giving up the battle, more especially during my first loss due to electoral malpractices and the subsequent petition in the courts of law.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mphande: Mr Speaker, last but not the least, I would like to thank the people of Mkushi North for electing me as their representative to this House. I promise to work for them to the best of my ability by fulfilling my campaign promises in accordance with my party manifesto.

Mr Speaker, I feel greatly indebted to them until I deliver the promise I made in my campaign messages of providing quality services, especially with regard to clean drinking water by sinking more boreholes to eliminate a situation where people and animals share the same source of water.

It is in view of this that I will not miss any effort in joining others in aggressively eradicating poverty amongst our people, regardless of political affiliation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mphande: Mr Speaker, the election I won showed that our people are keen to exercise their rights freely. As such, they sent a message and warning to future candidates for Parliamentary elections that corruption, manipulation and shortcuts pertaining to elections will not be entertained. Those who will be found wanting will face the rule of law. The perpetrators of electoral malpractices will be brought to justice. It is for this reason that the rule of law must be observed at all times.

Mr Speaker, let me now highlight the situation in my constituency. There are seven main challenges that the people of Mkushi North currently face and these are:

(a)    A lack of clean drinking water and poor sanitation;

(b)    inadequate school places;

(c)    inadequate infrastructure development;

(d)    limited health services;

(e)    poor road network;

(f)    a lack of skills development for the youth; and

(g)    non-compliance to the Government’s policies.

Mr Speaker, let me address some of the said challenges that are close to my heart that the people of Mkushi North are facing. In my constituency, the available schools are too few to cater for the increased number of school-going children. I would, therefore, like to make an appeal, through the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, on the need for more schools in the area. We will support any measures by the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to increase school places even by using part of the CDF. This will include refurbishing the vandalised school desks. 

The challenges in our education sector go beyond the issue of limited school places, and these include:

(a)    a lack of accommodation for teachers;

(b)    transport; and

(c)    electricity.

Mr Speaker, I must admit that my predecessors, including the first hon. Member of Parliament, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, made efforts to ensure the provision of clean drinking water and good sanitation, but the facilities hitherto provided are obsolete and require complete overhauling. The best thing that can be done is to sink new boreholes through the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development to ease the suffering mothers who walk long distances to fetch water. This exercise is important given the fact that there is a growing demand for water due to increased mining and farming activities. Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company needs to construct other tanks that will store enough water for use by the people for various activities. 

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, in his Speech during the Official Opening of the Eleventh National Assembly, said that he was committed to improving the livelihood of the citizens. To this effect, I would like to thank him because my constituency has been allocated six clinics. However, I have observed that the health sector in my constituency requires more infrastructure and adequate staff to run it. It is, therefore, important that the contractors engaged to build these facilities meet their obligations in a timely manner.

Sir, as is the case with schools, the health facilities in my constituencies face other challenges such as a lack of accommodation for staff, insufficient transport and electricity necessary for the refrigeration of vital drugs and vaccines.

Mr Speaker, I would like to say that my constituency is privileged in the sense that it will benefit from His Excellency the President’s announced road development programme, the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. It is in this vein that I would like to confirm that the Munda Wanga/Musofu Road which stretches from Mkushi to Munda Wanga in Ndola Rural lies in my constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Mphande: Sir, I would further confirm that the Masansa Road will soon be constructed. This notwithstanding, there is a need to upgrade more feeder roads which lead to and from the main villages and small-scale farmers’ areas.

Mr Speaker, since Independence, my constituency has never had a skills development centre for the young people to learn various skills for self employment or employment in industry. As a result, the youth rely on the Government to provide employment. In order to reduce the high levels of unemployment among the youths, there is a need for a skills development centre to help the youths of Mkushi North to become self-reliant.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mphande: Mr Speaker, on my part, I, as area Member of Parliament, will take time to encourage and educate the youths in my constituency to come up with viable projects that can be funded by both the Government and donors so as to create self employment opportunities. 

Mr Speaker, similarly, the women require empowerment so that they can come up with projects in groups to be able to sustain and supplement their livelihood. 

Mr Speaker, as I stated earlier, Mkushi is a farming block, meaning that many people work on farms. However, farm owners employ the local people and exploit them to the extent that they do not adhere to the Government labour policies and regulations such as the minimum wage.

Hon. Government Members: You see!

Mrs Mphande: Sir, if I have not been passionate on the other challenges facing the farming block in my constituency, I would like the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to see to it that my constituency is visited by the labour officers to ensure that farm owners comply with the labour laws and regulations.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you, once again, for allowing me to deliver my maiden speech. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo (Chipata Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to present my second maiden speech to this House. Firstly, I would like to convey condolences from Chipata on the loss of Hon. Sakeni, may his soul rest in peace. At the same time, I would like to congratulate my colleagues whom I was favoured to come to Parliament with. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate my colleagues who came on the consignment of Hon. Mutelo. The constituents are expecting a lot from us. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, let me salute my family, friends and well-wishers who gave me invaluable support during the very unfortunate petition that I went through. This was during the very rough and violent campaign that I went through. I also wish to thank them for being with me even during this time when I am actually facing another petition in court that is in progress. 

Mr Mbewe: Ba malukula!

Mr Mtolo: Sir, I wish to thank my party, the MMD, for allowing me to re-contest the Chipata Central Parliamentary Seat. A very big thank you goes to the MMD President, Dr Nevers Mumba, MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) members, hon. MMD Members of Parliament, Hon. Alexander Miti, who was my campaign manager …

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: … and all party officials at provincial, district, constituency, ward and branch levels for their hard work and commitment during the campaign.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to thank the United Party for National Development (UPND) …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: … for supporting my candidature in Chipata and for the display of unity of purpose by openly helping me to campaign.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: I salute the leadership of the UPND for not splitting the Opposition vote.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: I thank you.

Sir, I also wish to convey a very loud thank you to the people of Chipata Central for the big show of confidence by bringing me back to this august House. I thank you, Chipata, for your clean vote. I will not let you down.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Yes, our opponents were mighty, fierce and had all sorts of resources, but our camp had a bigger arsenal which is the people’s will which was powered by the good hand of our Almighty God.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: I thank all the churches in Chipata for their prayers and support without which I would not be here.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to thank the Independent hon. Members of Parliament …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: … who supported me. Thank you to you all.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: Lastly, and this is very important, I wish to thank my colleagues in the PF, …

Mr Mwale: Aah!

Mr Mtolo: … including the hon. Members of Parliament from the PF who refused to come to Chipata to follow a wrong directive to come and campaign against me.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: You did the right thing …

Hon. Opposition Members: Say it again.

Interruptions

Mr Mtolo: … and you surely avoided an obvious embarrassment.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Thank you for standing your ground and for being genuine.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, in 2011, I gave the following as the needs of Chipata and I will quickly repeat them:
 
(a)    safe and clean drinking water;

(b)    good and adequate agro-storage facilities;

(c)    good schools and hospitals;

(d)    small and large-scale agro processing facilities;

(e)    better and new roads;

(f)     good electricity supply; and

(g)    empowerment of youths through low-interest borrowing.

Sir, however, the people of Chipata have a lot of questions.

Mr Mwale: Yes.

Mr Mtolo: The first one is on violence. During the last by-election in Chipata, we experienced violence that we have never experienced before. This was ‘imported’ violence.

Mr Mwale interjected.

Mr Mtolo: Young men wearing black combat attire with berets just like the army came from Lusaka in black Nissan Navaras.

Mr Mucheleka interjected.

Mr Mtolo: Those young men were extremely violent and they went on rampage, beating anyone they suspected to be a powerful campaigner.

Mr Speaker, the worst thing was that once beaten, the victim would be taken to the police and the police would be ordered to lock him/her up.

Mr Muntanga: Aah!

Mr Mtolo: So, the questions which the people of Chipata are asking are as follows:

Sir, if one cannot get protection from the Zambia Police Force, where can one ever find protection in Zambia? If the PF political cadres can beat Zambia Police officers and order them to lock up political opponents, then who will enforce the law and keep peace in this country? If hon. Members of Parliament can be slapped, pushed and beaten right at a police station, like Hon. Vincent Mwale was, …

Mr Mucheleka: Aah, sorry.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Mtolo: … assaulted in full view of police officers, then what is the fate of the ordinary citizens of our country?

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, if hon. Members of Parliament can be abducted, whipped with brake wires and chains like …

Mr Mbewe: Like myself.

Mr Mtolo: … Hon. Allan Mbewe, then who will be respected in this country?

Mr Mucheleka: Sorry, maningi.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, if hon. Members of Parliament can have guns pointed at their heads like Hon. L. J. Ngoma, then what is the fate of ordinary citizens?

Mr Mbewe: Aah!

Mr Mtolo: If unarmed old women on a peaceful door to door campaign can be badly beaten and undressed in public, then where is the respect for the elderly and vulnerable?

Mr Mbewe: Aah!

Mr Mtolo: Who will protect our mothers?

Mr Speaker, if known criminals perpetuating violence are let free to continue with this conduct with impunity, then where is our country heading?
 
Mr Livune: Disaster.

Mr Mtolo: Do we still have a police service in Zambia?

Hon. Opposition Members: No.

Mr Mtolo: What has happened to our once respected Zambia Police Force? Why has the Zambia Police Force been subjugated and subordinated to the level of PF cadres? Why is this lawlessness being allowed by the Zambia Police Force?

Sir, unfortunately, all this was happening when the hon. Minister of Home Affairs was in Chipata. I wish he was in the House at the moment. What type of governance is this?

Mr Muntanga: I hope he is listening.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, all of us in this august House should be weary of this sad development and ask ourselves what type of a country the PF is turning Zambia into. I have this very big question. What do people resort to when the State stops protecting them from a known group of violent persons? Let me repeat, what do people resort to when the State is not protecting them from a known group of violent cadres? What do you want us to do?

Mr Speaker, is this not terrorism?

Mr Livune: It is.

Mr Mtolo: The 1978 edition of the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines terrorism as, “ the practice of using threats of violence to obtain political demands”.

Sir, in Chipata, we suffered acts of terrorism at the hands of the PF-lead Government. Violence was used in order to persuade us to vote for a PF candidate. This is not right. One who deploys terrorism and engages in acts of terrorism is called a terrorist. So, who, therefore, is a terrorist in this country?

Hon. Opposition Members: PF.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the people of Chipata are saying that if this lawlessness is unchecked, it will visit every part of Zambia and institution. The Church and Opposition parties have already fallen victim, and it is easy to project that sooner than later, Parliament will also fall victim thereto.

Hon. Opposition Members: They were here.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, after that, it will be State House and it will crumble at the hands of the PF cadres …

Hon. Opposition Members: Kabimba.

Mr Mtolo: … whose faces we all know very well. The PF will be consumed by its own creation.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, let me move on to the issue of equitable development which I should like to see based on the motto of One Zambia, One Nation. Zambia needs to develop as a unitary State. In Chipata, we believe in the motto, One Zambia, One Nation. For this to be achieved, however, actions should match words and words should translate into deeds.

Sir, the people of Chipata were threatened with no or less development if they did not vote for a PF candidate. It was said that the issue of Chipata being awarded city status would be linked to how the vote would go. Is this fair coming from the very people who are supposed to give us comfort? What type of governance is this? Is it in order that the people of Chipata should be full of anxiety as to whether there will be given the expected development in the provision of basic needs? 

Mr Speaker, in Chipata, we need adequate and good water. In urban Chipata, all the underground water has been declared unfit for direct human consumption. Meanwhile, billions of kwacha are being wasted on costly and unnecessary by-elections. These funds could definitely solve our water problems in Chipata and likewise in other areas of our country.

Sir, if the threat of not taking development to Chipata is carried out, will the people of Chipata feel truly part of Zambia?

Mr Mbewe: No.

Mr Mtolo: The answer is no. Is this One Zambia, One Nation?

Should the people of Chipata be isolated and relegated to half-citizenship for having a Member of Parliament from the Opposition? Is this democracy, Sir?

Hon. MMD Members: No!

Mr Mtolo: Is this not pushing us towards a one-party State?

Hon. MMD Members: Yes.

Mr Mbewe: It is dictatorship. 

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, is this why there is no university in Chipata? Is it why the Chipata/Mchinji Railway Line has remained a white elephant? 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Only one positive thing came out of the by-election in Chipata. For the first time, the people of Chipata had an opportunity to see the President of the Republic of Zambia because that was the only time he visited Chipata. 

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Without the by-election, he would not have gone there. 

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the people of Chipata are traumatised by the shredding of political peace that the PF-led Government has subjected them to. The many outrageous by-elections that the province has been exposed to have not allowed the wounds and pain of the electoral defeat to heal. There is obvious anger and hatred. This is not right, and it should be stopped. 

The PF is not urging its members to accept defeat. The people of Chipata are very shocked that a candidate who lost an election somewhere is now asking the courts to have the hon. Member of Parliament removed from office so that he who came second in the election can become Member of Parliament. 

Laughter 

Mr Mtolo: Which law is that? 

Hon. MMD Members: Shame!

Mr Mbewe: Kafwafwa!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the PF should hire a psychosocial counsellor to counsel them so that they can accept defeat. 

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: This is wrong thinking.

Hon. MMD Members: Tamvela nsoni.

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, we must govern through innovation and not litigation. 

It has now become clear to the people of Chipata that the PF only wants …

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mailoni!

Mr Mtolo: … people from one party in Parliament, the Judiciary and Executive, including its bodies. In Parliament, there is an assault on the hon. Opposition Members of Parliament. They are told, “Join us or face a petition.” I do not think that this is right or innovative.  

The Judiciary is experiencing the most embarrassing episodes ever seen in this country. There is a clear show of who has power over whom on the matter of the Chief Justice, an activity that is soon going to end, again, in litigation and not innovation. 

Mr Mbewe: Chizungu, icho! 

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the Executive has witnessed the purging of professionals like never before. If a person is not PF, then he/she is definitely out of the Civil Service. We have witnessed this with diplomats and in parastatal institutions. In the Civil Service, one’s career is under threat. You either have to belong to the PF or belong to a certain dialect which is a very shameful thing and not innovative at all. We need to be innovative. 

Mr Speaker, the people of Chipata have counted the number of parastatal companies and they know who heads them. This is not right. Zambia belongs to all of us. This Parliament represents Zambia in its totality and people should be picked to fill positions from the regions represented in this Parliament. 

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, I will quickly move on to agriculture. 

Mr Speaker, in the Eastern Province, we do not have mines. We are an agricultural area. If anyone tampers with agriculture, then they are harming the people of the Eastern Province. The mines are receiving subsidies and tax relief in one way or another. The roads to the mines are well done. Electricity tariffs to the mines are low. What are you doing about the farmers who are producing food for this country? 

Mr Speaker, 25 per cent of the maize that we receive in this country is from the Eastern Province. Therefore, if you tamper with agriculture in the Eastern Province, you are tampering with this 25 per cent. In other words, out of every four bags of maize you see, be it in Isoka, Mwembeshi or Petauke, one bag is from the Eastern Province. We, therefore, need agriculture to be harnessed properly. 

Mr Speaker, you definitely know that maize has a weighted average of almost 50 per cent on inflation. Let us handle the issue of maize properly and the inflation rate will go down. This is important for the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock to take into account as he removes the subsidies and harms us in the Eastern Province. It is definitely going to be harmful. 

Mr Speaker, on education, we need a university. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mtolo: Hon. Dr John Phiri, we need a university in the Eastern Province. We need a university which is agriculture-oriented. Let us not have a lot of universities in Lusaka alone because, already, there are too many private universities. Let us take universities to rural areas like Chipata. 

Mr Mwale: Robert Mushindo. 

Mr Mtolo: We should also look at taking trades training institutions to districts.  

Mr Speaker, I will quickly move onto the issue of roads. 

Mr Mwale: Mwansa Kapeya University.

Laughter 

Mr Mtolo: We would like the Great East Road to be worked on very quickly. We would also like to have a dual carriageway in Chipata because it is very difficult to drive, cycle or walk in that town. I hope that the hon. Minister for Eastern Province is listening. 

Mr Mbewe: Aah! Agona, uja!

Mr V. Mwale: Maloza, ayo!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, the road between Lundazi and Chama needs to be worked on. I think that this is the right time for this message. 

Mr Mbewe: We want Chama back!

Mr Mtolo: Mr Speaker, for lack of time, I would like to end by saying that I am happy to be back. I have come back fresh and rejuvenated in order to provide checks and balances to the PF Government and guide them when they are lost. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me this opportunity to debate the Motion on the Floor on behalf of the people of Siavonga and Chirundu. 

Sir, I would like to start by joining others who came before me in offering my condolences to the family of the late Member of Parliament for Mansa Central, Hon. Sakeni, may his soul rest in peace. The people of Mansa Central Parliamentary Constituency, the PF and Zambia at large will surely miss him. 

Sir, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the hon. Members who have just joined the House. Four to one, as the saying goes, is a very good score. 

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

Mr Hamudulu: For Hon. Mtolo Phiri, I have a different message. I say, well done, son of the soil. There is an MMD jingle which goes “nafuti, nafuti”, meaning again and again, as long as it pleases the people of Chipata Central. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: I thank you, Hon. Mtolo Phiri. 

Mr Speaker, I would like to turn to the President’s Speech. As I sat here on that Friday morning, I had some expectations. Unfortunately, none of my expectations were met. Colleagues who spoke earlier debated on the expectations of the country. Allow me to zero in on the expectations of the people of Siavonga Constituency.  

Mr Speaker, page 33 of the President’s Speech talks about infrastructure development. 

Allow me to quote just one sentence that looks good on the surface to most of the people of Zambia but, unfortunately, to us in Siavonga, strange as it may be, it was not inspiring.

Sir, the last paragraph on page 33 says:

“The Government will continue implementing projects aimed at increasing electricity generation capacity through construction, refurbishment and upgrading of hydropower stations across the country. To this effect, the Government is extending the Kariba North Bank Power Station.”

Sir, to somebody who does not know the background of the Kariba North Bank Power Station, the last statement might sound inspiring, but to us in Siavonga, it is not for a number of reasons.

Mr Speaker, allow me to enlighten the nation on the background of the construction of Kariba Dam which later led to the construction of the Kariba North Bank Power Station.

Sir, in 1958, the Colonial Government then saw it fit to build this dam which is beneficial to the country today. However, in doing so, there were some disturbances that took place to the people I belong to.

Let me explain what I mean by this. Before I do that, let me say that we are not being malicious, but appreciate that the expansion of this particular power station has excited a lot of Zambians. Time and again, I have heard that many parts of this country are asking to be connected to the national grid, which is good. It is good that people as far away as, maybe, 1,000 km from Siavonga, recognise the importance of power and want to be connected thereto. That is good because we are all Zambians.

I know that this will also ease the problem of load shedding. Of course, it will give us income through power export and there will be industrial enhancement. However, why are we, the people of Siavonga, sad when we have all these prospects coming our way?

Sir, before the construction of the dam, that place where the dam sits now was a dwelling place for the people who are now scattered across the country. A number of them still remain in Siavonga, but others are all over this country. 

What happened? That place was inhabited by people who had an agricultural system which is no longer obtaining because of the disturbances that happened. We were patriotic enough to agree with the then Government. Though there was some resistance, later our traditional leaders were made to understand based on the promises that they were given that whatever they were going to lose would be restored in the areas where they would later settle.

Mr Speaker, there is an agricultural system in that part of the area which was called mulide …

Mr Mulomba: It is sikalide.

Mr Hamudulu: … sikalide, meaning irrigation by using buckets or those gourds which are moulded out of clay.

Mr Mulomba: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: That system of agriculture was lost on the day the then Government decided to build the dam. However, the people were promised that it would be restored wherever they were going to settle.

Those of you who have not been to Siavonga or the Zambezi River in general, should find time to drink the water that comes from that river. It is not as ordinary as the water that we drink elsewhere. It has a natural taste and it is very good water. I think it was God’s grace that we found ourselves there. We were told that wherever we were going to settle, we would still have access to the water. 

Our ancestors lost farm land when the dam was constructed and families were scattered. Again, there was a promise from the then Government that the farm land was going to be restored in one way or the other. We expected this to be fulfilled by successful governments. 

This war I am talking about was a fierce one. We, in that area, wished that one day, we would have a government that would make a documentary of the events so that people can understand why we cry. It was a fierce fight. We fought with spears and knobkerries against muzzleloaders. If I was not a strong man, I was going to breakdown, but I thank God for my strength that I can still stand without breaking down.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, we lost graves …

Hon. Member: We will cry on your behalf!

Mr Hamudulu: … of our ancestors who were buried in that dam. We can no longer take flowers there. I do not know my great grandfather’s grave because it was submerged.
 
Sir, the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs will bear witness with me. We lost shrines in that dam. Our sense of identity was lost and families were scattered. During the fight, wives scampered in all directions and were loaded in lorries and ended up in other parts of the country. Nephews, brothers and sisters were all separated during that war. It was a very fierce war.

Mr Speaker, why should we not now rejoice that we gave rise to the generation of the power that we rejoice in today? It is because we gave the land, though unwillingly, and promises were made …

Mr Mulomba: Iwe!

Mr Chilangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to raise this point of order. Is the hon. Member of Parliament in order to lament in this House what happened before 1964? Did the President’s Speech refer to any historical issues about the Kariba Dam? Maybe, my learned colleague there has lost track. 

I need your serious ruling, Sir. 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member began by identifying a portion of the Speech where he has derived his debate from. Of course, he has gone to great lengths to provide a historical background and the events surrounding it, but he has not deviated, as it were, from the theme and that is, the Kariba Dam. As for what his conclusion will be, it is for us to wait and see.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The only guidance there to give is the observance of time. I am sure he is seeing the Clerk-at-the-Table there managing his time as he provides his very detailed historical account.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: I think it is within his purview …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: … to give as much historical material as possible as he debates this project which is of national importance now. I mean, it is an essential nerve in our economic life, but let him say what he has to say. I am sure it will lead to some conclusion, hopefully.

You may continue, hon. Member.

Mr Hamudulu: I thank you, Mr Speaker. I know that it is very easy to trivialise this issue. That is why I said earlier that I wished we could actually make a documentary. I am going to such lengths in order to make sure that when I finally conclude, people can understand.

Mr Speaker, before the point of order was raised, I was talking about how much we suffered for this project and why it does not inspire us despite its importance. 

Coming to our expectations, we anticipate that the promises that we were given will be fulfilled. Governments take over whatever responsibilities were initiated by another government. We expected that this Government will realise that we lost our sikalide, like I said earlier, and we need irrigation for us to appreciate the displacement that we suffered. We need piped water that comes from the Zambezi River because that is what we were promised. We need it like yesterday if that project is going to be appreciated by us that side.

Sir, in addition, we need dams because we have no access to the lake, as it were. For us, electricity is lwija lwa mubwa, which means it is as impossible as it is for a dog to have a horn. We do not have electricity there, and yet we see high tension power lines passing over our heads. We hear colleagues from different parts of the country crying to be connected to the national electricity grid. Just before the end of the last session of Parliament, the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) came here and gave us a schedule of its programmes. Siavonga is nowhere in the picture. The people who sacrificed to give rise to this power are not getting anything.

Mr Speaker, if I am going to spend all my time talking about this issue, so be it because other people have already spoken about other issues. So, for us in Siavonga, we need to benefit from this power because we gave rise to it.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, as if that were not enough, Chirundu was declared a district, and that was good. However, it has now been realigned to Lusaka. Whether we are in Lusaka or wherever you take us, we still want access to that dam. We want water from the Zambezi River.

Mr Speaker, I expected that the President would follow up his earlier promise in his other Speech where he said local people would be given a portion of whatever resources were tapped from their area. That is contained in the Speech he delivered in the last session of Parliament. However, now we have been told that this power station will be expanded. What are we, as the people who sacrificed to pave way for its construction?

Sir, the people of Sitinkwi, Simaundu, Matewinga, Pambazana, Chisamu and many other areas are saying we have given you this land, but fulfil your promise. We want to be given what we were promised before we were displaced.

Mr Speaker, let me use the remaining time to give an analogy. When I was in Grade 7, I read a book titled Nania the Nuisance. I am sure some people will remember that book. I will give a quick recap of the story whose final details I cannot remember fully, but the principle is that Nania was at a girls’ school and she ran around doing things she thought were pleasing to her colleagues when she was actually making mistakes. She did not live to the expectations of her friends.

Sir, not long ago, one of my expectations in the President’s Speech was that he would dwell much on the removal of subsidies. This is because not too long ago, subsidies brought mayhem in this country. Every Jim and Jack who belongs to the PF paraded themselves as experts in subsidies. As far as they were concerned, they were pleasing the people of Zambia, like Nania thought she was doing at her school.

Laughter

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, unfortunately, Nania has descendants today who thought they were doing the right thing. Now the people of Zambia are saying no to subsidies. So, Nania the nuisance was trying to please when actually she was displeasing. So, today, we are saying that the removal of subsidies is displeasing to us. Unfortunately, by the time Nania was informed of what she was doing, it was too late. However, it is not too late for our colleagues in the PF. I am telling you now that the people of Zambia are saying no to the removal of subsidies.

Mr Speaker, the next thing I would like to talk about relates to the saying which goes, “You always reap what you so.” If I find a drunkard somewhere on the way, I will mind my business. However, if that drunkard is going to pilot or fly the plane that I am going to get on, then I will get concerned.

Sir, we are getting concerned with the anarchy that is perpetrated by the PF because they are our pilots. We know that even a doctor who has been quarrelling with his wife at home may not prescribe the right medicines when he goes for work. So, we are saying, you reap what you sow. It is a trend that has been set as can be seen from what is happening. It is not too long ago when the mayhem was centred somewhere in a constituency within Lusaka, and somebody might have been perpetrating it. Now it has changed and we know where the heat is concentrated, because the one who walikusosela, meaning igniting the fire, is now feeling the heat.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, it will not be long before this heat shifts. I do not know whether it will go to the Northern Province or to one of the ministries. It could be the Ministry of Defence, …

Laughter

Mr Hamudulu: … but the heat will surely shift.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, the worry is that when they are done with all these people, then they will come to us. However, because we are clever, we are saying no before it is too late. So, the President should have addressed the anarchy which is obtaining in his party. We are only interested in that party because it is the Ruling Party. If the PF was in the Opposition, we would not worry, but we are worried because these are the people who are leading the way. If you are being led by a blind person, do you hope to get where you are going?

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, the President missed an opportunity. He could have actually told his Ministers to stop fighting because this cancer is eating up the country and that is not good. There are a number of good Ministers in the Government. However, some of them do not hold positions of influence and all they can do is remain spectators. So, colleagues, we are talking on your behalf.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: Sir, we know that it could be a clique of two or three, but we shall not shy away from telling them to stop this confusion because it is engulfing the country. Just like somebody prayed that the sun could stop moving, our prayer is for time to fly so that we get to 2016 and restore dignity to this country. That way, we can have a Government that people are waiting for and move forward.

Hon. opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, a mistake has been made. We say kuti menda atika atya ni? What I mean is that when water has spilled, you cannot scoop it. That is what has happened in Zambia. However, 2016 may not be too far. So, colleagues, for the sake of this country, let us be sober enough. Some of us are educated and others claim to be Christians. So, let us sit down …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Hamudulu: … and talk about these issues. We all have issues here, but you do not see us fighting because we resolve them amicably. That is what we are asking you to do.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe); Mr Speaker, my first point of call is to thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this debate. Secondly, I would like to offer my condolences on the death of Hon. Kennedy Sakeni who was not only a Member of Parliament, but also shared a constituency with me. While the rest of the hon. Members of Parliament are my nephews, I called him uncle. Thirdly, I would like to congratulate all the new hon. Members of Parliament who have joined us on their great achievement. I recognise Hon. Mphande and Hon. Phiri, Member of Parliament for Mkaika, the giant killer. I want to thank him for the great job he has done and he must know that he has actually terminated someone’s political career.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: His achievement is also ours and we are proud of it. His 9,000 votes against 1,000 for Mr D. Phiri were incredible. 

I also recognise Hon. Mtolo Phiri. He is a special man. Somebody mentioned the MMD’s slogan of ‘nafuti nafuti’, which means again and again. Having participated in the campaign in Chipata, I am very confident that given a third chance, this young man can win the election again.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: However, we do not want to go to that extent because Chipata has bled enough. It is my sincere hope that the Government will see sense and stop the nonsense of by-elections. I thank Hon. Mtolo Phiri for coming back to this House.

Interruptions

Mr Mbulakulima: I also recognise the Kafulafuta man. I have interacted with the young man and we share the same culture. His district and mine are close to each other, apart from the artificial boundary.

Mr Speaker, I also recognise the presence of the hon. Member for Solwezi East, Hon. Lombanya. This is a great man who has served this country in various portfolios.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: You will recall that I was the hon. Minister responsible for the Copperbelt for five years, unlike our colleagues who have had five hon. Ministers for the province within two years. Hon. Lombanya was a pillar of my administration. He is mature and magnanimous. He is a great man. I welcome you to the House, Hon. Lombanya.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: As a senior member of the MMD, let me appeal to my colleagues from the Opposition who are serving in this Government that the achievements that we have recorded in the by-elections should serve as a lesson. They have to look at their parties and come back to where they belong. We do not want them to resign because if they do so today, they know that they will be taught a lesson like the others. Our party has gone through difficulties, but we have remained resolute. We have been bombarded by the PF, but we have come out very strong. With what is happening in the PF at the moment where there is confusion everyday, is there any need for some members of our party to remain in Government? We are nearing the time for the general elections. On which party will they stand? I appeal to their conscience because they need to come back home.

Interruptions

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I now turn to the President’s Speech. I want to believe that a Speech by the President is a very serious matter, as it condenses all national issues in one booklet. The 2008 Speech by the late President Mwanawasa had eighty-four pages. This shows how serious the man was about national issues. This one (holding up the President’s Speech) has thirty-five pages.

Laughter 

Mr Mbulakulima: This is not meant to be a summary. There are many issues that have been left out. Security and defence, gender and land matters are all not there. I think this is not how the President’s Speech should be.

Mr Speaker, on the issues of governance and the rule of law, which are on page 4 and 35 respectively, I notice that the information on these matters is very scanty. Although the President is appealing for tolerance, I think he must walk the talk. The President must stop sugarcoating issues. We all know the source of conflict in this country. This country has had no party which is as violent as the PF. The President says that there is no opposition in this country when our political party leaders are detained whenever they talk. 

There is no opposition party president who has not been detained. Mr Nevers Sekwila Mumba has been detained several times. Even visiting a chief or uttering any word is an offence. How many times has Mr Hakainde Hichilema been summoned by the police and apprehended? Even the young Elias Chipimo has been detained. Our leaders are in court everyday. You will recall that when the current President lost elections some time back, he did not get police permits for him to campaign. Hardly two days after losing the elections, he was on the road to campaign. We never stopped him. The ladies and gentlemen on your right have taken this country twenty years backwards. Today, they can accuse us …

Mr Kambwili: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, I think, by and large, we are expected to be factual when we debate issues in this House. Is the hon. Member of Parliament who is debating in order to say that the MMD used to give the PF police permits when the court had to interpret the Public Order Act for them to start giving us permits to have political gatherings? Has he forgotten that the MMD used to deny us permission to hold rallies? Is he in order to mislead the nation that the MMD never used to refuse to give us permits? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Interruptions 

Mr Speaker: Order, order!

I have ruled before that hon. Members need to be factual in their debate. I think that goes without saying. So, as far as this particular point of order is concerned, I will simply urge the hon. Member for Chembe to take into account the position taken by the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, it is in the public domain that despite the MMD and UPND having gone to court and the court ruling in our favour, we cannot get a police permit up to today. This is a known fact.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Mbulakulima: When the PF went to court and the court said it should be given permits to hold public rallies, at least, we abided by that ruling, unlike the situation is today with our colleagues. This must change. Nonetheless, I will move on to another issue.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, this is the issue of the Constitution-making process which is on page 35 of the President’s Speech. We say that we must have a people-driven Constitution. I see that the President missed an opportunity to give the country a clear roadmap. There are a lot of issues that have surrounded the Constitution-making process which I thought the President should have clarified. I can take you down memory lane, starting with the ninety day-promise. The President set up a Technical Committee to review the Constitution. The terms of reference were drawn by the President and he knew what kind of people he was putting in the committee. 

However, what we have seen is that there is no political will because when that committee was constituted, the 2013 Budget should have actually provided for some money to continue with that process. The report of the Technical Committee was supposed to be handed over to the President in June or July, 2013. That provision was not made. So, nothing was expected to happen after the report was handed over to the President because there was no budget provision for that. The Technical Committee did a good job, but when it asked for an extension, it was denied. To us, that is frustrating because the PF does not believe in this process. 

We also know that when this report is ready, it is supposed to be given simultaneously to the President and the general public. However, there is still another missing link. Where is the referendum commission? The question is that when you give this report to the President, what should follow? The President is likely to sit on it. That is why we have been saying that there should have been a legal framework, but our colleagues have said no to that. 

Mr Speaker, what has happened to the Freedom of Information Bill, for example? After having waited for so long, we are being told that there is a lacuna and that it cannot be presented in its current form.  That is another delaying tactic. We see a situation where when we reach a critical stage, the PF Government will, again, backtrack and say that there was no legal framework and, therefore, they should be given more time. Where shall these excuses end?

Mr Speaker, we want to believe that this Government has no political will. It is not a question of mistrust, but we are certain that they do not want to pass the Constitution. We have interacted with our colleagues, the Parliamentarians, hon. Deputy Ministers and Cabinet Ministers. You recall that there were some provincial consultative meetings. We know their positions. There was no hon. Member of Parliament or hon. Minister who agreed with the issues of the fifty-plus-one per cent majority vote, running mate, choosing Cabinet outside Parliament and several other issues. Most of them are on record as having made statements, probably in their personal capacity and as hon. Ministers.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! 

 Hon. Members, let us listen to what the hon. Member has to say.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, this is an Executive which does not believe in the fifty-plus-one per cent majority vote, running mate and other issues. When the Technical Committee reviewing the Constitution submits its report to the President, what guarantee is there that there will be political will from our colleagues? There is none. We believe that the President should have clarified this matter.

Mr Speaker, we know that Kenya, which was in a similar situation like us, managed to sort out this issue and so did our neighbour, Zimbabwe. What is wrong with us? My appeal to the Government, in the form of a warning, is that, this time around, the people of Zambia will not allow them to kill this Constitution the natural way. It is my sincere hope that when the hon. Minister of Finance presents the Budget for 2014, there will be a provision for a referendum commission.

Mr Speaker, the third item is on land. Page 38 of President Mwanawasa’s Speech to Parliament in 2008 was very elaborate. However, this time around, I was very disappointed that the President could not address issues concerning land. One of the hottest issues that we have in our country is that of land. How many lives have we lost in Kantapa, Lusaka West and other parts of the country since this Government came into office? However, the President comes here and does not refer to that important matter. I believe that …

Ms Lubezhi: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, I would like to apologise for disturbing my colleague who was debating so well. I rise on a very serious point of order. The hon. Minister of Youth and Sport has just made a revelation and admission that when the PF was in the Opposition, the Public Order Act was interpreted by the courts and that they were allowed to campaign and hold public meetings freely. Are they in order to have gone against the court ruling, which allowed them to campaign freely, by denying the Opposition the opportunity to campaign freely? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Yes, I will assure you of a serious ruling. You have run into a technical problem. The hon. Minister of Youth and Sport had risen on a point of order and now you are raising a point of order on a point of order, which is not permitted, not to mention the fact that the point of order is belated, anyway.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I mean the train is gone.

Laughter

The hon. Member for Chembe may continue.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, before I was disrupted by my sister, I was saying that the issue of land is a very serious one. We have lost lives in this country, including that of the former hon. Member of Parliament for Wusakile. The point of order raised by Hon. Nkombo, Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central, is a very serious one because, currently, there is chaos in this city. I believe that the President should have addressed this matter. He must have the political will to address such matters. 

Mr Speaker, on agriculture, which is on page 13, the President said that maize production fluctuated regionally because of the unfavorable rain patterns. I believe that the Government or the President is trying to shy away from the truth. Why did he not mention that actually it was because of the poor input distribution or the poor agriculture policy? The inputs where distributed in February and March.

Mr Mwale: Yes!

Mr Mbulakulima: How do you attribute the poor harvest to the weather? I do not agree that, that is the situation. The President was short of the truth. 

Mr Speaker, further, the President also talked about local government and the decentralisation of functions. When the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing takes the Floor, I want her to clarify how you expect to decentralise or how the local government will operate when there is no funding? Councils have not been funded since January. No capital grants have been given to the councils. Why? The President should have also clarified the issue of street vendors. This issue is beyond the hon. Minister. Today, Lusaka and Zambia in general is very dirty. I thought that the President should have given direction in this area.

Mr Speaker, the completion of projects in Zambia by this Government is a welcome move. However, as Hon. Kambwili always says, when you marry a woman, you must have a child with her. Ngawaupa umwanakashi, ufwile wafyalamo.

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: We expect this Government not to ride on the achievements of the MMD, but …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

I know that you are relying on what the hon. Member said, but there is no need to refer to him specifically. You can refer to a saying.

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, …

Dr Kaingu: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise this point of order. I would like to apologise to Hon. Mbulakulima, who is our party treasurer, for disturbing his flow of thought.

Mr Speaker, this is a very long point of order and I would like my colleagues to listen. It involves our people living along the borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Namibia. 

Sir, everybody is aware of that … 

Hon. Government Member: I am not aware.

Dr Kaingu: My condolences if you are not. Everybody is aware that the people of the DRC, especially those in Katanga have relatives in Zambia. Equally, we have people in Zambia who have relatives in Katanga Province. In fact, there is a man who belongs to both Zambia and the DRC. In the DRC, they call him Moïse Katumbi and we call him Moses Katumbi.

Sir, when you look at the border from Musonda Falls all the way to Mwata Kazembe’s Palace, what divides our people …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was about to apologise on behalf of the tired Government because the Business of the House had to be delayed by about two minutes.

Mr Speaker, we have a history with the DRC. The Lenshina people fled to Katanga …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mwandi …

Dr Kaingu: Yes, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

I will not give you the liberty to make an address. You raised a point of order, and a point of order is just that. You do not have the liberty to give a long account. I am afraid you just have to get to the point. There must be a point, anyway.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I will move on. Our people are being killed at Kasumba Lesa Border and inside the DRC. Last year, we lost about thirteen lives on Lake Mweru. Some of our people have been maimed and their equipment grabbed. When the Congolese come to Zambia, even if they are prohibited immigrants, we arrest them and hand them over to the DRC Government. I am afraid that this scenario is also taking place in Sesheke on the Namibian and Zambian Border. How come we are gentle to our neighbours, the citizens of these two republics? However, they deal with our citizens ruthlessly.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mwandi, you may take your seat.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, I am coming to the point of order.

Mr Speaker: Order!

I do not have the slightest doubt that you are very capable of being specific. I know that it is within your competence. There is no doubt about it. I just want you to be specific.

Dr Kaingu: Mr Speaker, is the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs in order – in fact before I come to that, I want to mention that we lost a Zambian driver. He was killed on 20th September, 2013 and his body is still in the DRC up to now. Is this Government in order to keep quiet while our people are being murdered, maimed and losing property? Is it in order to sit there quietly in its tired and fatigued state without informing the country why it is doing that? Is it in order? 

I need your serious ruling, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

My ruling is simply this. You should file in an urgent question and we will refer it to the appropriate wing of the Government. 

The hon. Member for Chembe may continue.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, as I was winding up, I said that as far as the people of Milenge are concerned, that Speech was not inspiring because agriculture in Milenge has been ‘killed’. The high school that the MMD left has not been opened fully, the hospital that we left is still not being worked on, the colleges that we started have been abandoned, and we have been told that we have to tap electricity from Samfya which is 150 km away from Milenge instead of Mombotuta. We are told that this will only cover 25 km. When will electricity reach Milenge? The people of Milenge and I feel betrayed. Let me also buttress the point by Hon. Professor Lungwangwa and Hon. Dr Kaingu on commissioning of projects. Most of the projects and events such as the Katima Mulilo Border Post, the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, the Levy Junction, the Nyimba Housing Project, the Kalulushi Housing Project, the multi-facility economic zones, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the Lusaka Stadium, the Nakonde Border Post were initiated by the MMD. However, when they are being commissioned, there is no mention of the MMD, why? Today, the Government is talking about the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. Link Zambia to what because all the districts are linked …

Hon. Government Members: Aah!

Mr Mbulakulima: … and we are linked to all the neighbouring countries? You go and put up a road in Feira and you say you are linking Zambia. Linking Zambia to what?

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I think that the Government must find a new theme because this one does not make any sense. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, I think that time has come for you to give credit where it is due. You have now seen how difficult governance is with the difficulties your party is experiencing. 

Mr Speaker, I know that in terms of solar solutions in this country, there is a company that provides solutions to the solar problems and I think that you know it. With your problems in the PF, I suggest that you approach this company, which is called Muwanya Solar Solutions …

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: … it is not Mwanya, but Muwanya. It might just be able to provide the answer to the problems that you have. Muwanya.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to critic the President’s Speech. May I also join my colleagues in congratulating the hon. Members that have managed to make it to this House and these are; Hon. Lombanya, Hon. Chitafu, Hon. Mphande and the hon. Members for Chipata and Mkaika constituencies.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Senanga, may I also send my condolences to the people of Mansa on the demise of their Member of Parliament, Hon. Kennedy Sakeni, may his soul rest in peace.

Sir, I was present when the President delivered his Speech to this House and I will debate pages 2, 29, 32, 35 and 36. 

Mr Speaker, the President called this session a special one. He indicated that the PF had two years of hard work. The second thing that he said made the session very special was the fact that the country had hosted the UNWTO Conference. The third issue was that Zambia will be having its Fiftieth Independence Anniversary next year.

Sir, I do not believe that the PF is a hardworking party because what we are seeing is contrary to what the President read out in his Speech. Why am I saying so?

Mr Speaker, since the PF came into power, prices of mealie-meal have increased from K38.00 to K70.00. I do not think that is hard work. We have seen the price of fuel go up. I do not think that is hard work. We have seen prices of commodities go up. I do not think that is hard work either. I do not believe that the PF should be excited, seeing the situation that is obtaining in our country at the moment where prices of commodities are very high, and yet it says that it is hard working.

Sir, Zambia has the highest cost of fuel in the Southern Region. According to the assessment that was made recently by the World Bank, Lusaka has the highest prices. If you check the August, 2013 Issue No.7 of The Bulletin that was put in our pigeonholes, Lusaka is 19 per cent higher than Harare which is actually going through difficulties. It is 33 per cent higher than Dar-es-salaam, 32 per cent more expensive than Gaborone, 51 per cent more expensive than Johannesburg, and 53 per cent more expensive than Nairobi. So, how can you come to this House and tell us that you are working hard when things are this bad? I do not believe that you are a hardworking Government.

Mr Speaker, how can the PF say they are working hard when they are fighting amongst themselves? How do they tell us that they are working hard in a situation where everything seems to be volatile? As people walk around town, they are anxious about someone attacking them.  

Interruptions

Mr Mufalali: The cadres are on rampage and you do not know about it.

Ms Imenda: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, I do not believe that the PF is working hard. This is because there is an increased number of street vendors occupying every corner of the town centre and there is dirt surrounding this city called Lusaka. In addition, there are politics of appeasement and people are failing to ensure that the Local Government Act that restricts people from trading in streets is adhered to. They are failing to do that, and yet, they want to call themselves hardworking

Mr Speaker, I went through the Speech by the President and looked at what is obtaining in the PF. I came to realise that yes, the people of Zambia voted the PF into power, but this was an anomaly and a rare occurrence. If you were to make a random selection, you cannot find the valuables that are in the PF and put them together to get a replica of what we have as a party, never.

Laughter

Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, it is a rare occurrence. It cannot happen, but it has happened anyway. This is an opportunity for the scholars to understand this kind of a visual aid which is the Government today. It is actually a visual aid which you can use to study and understand what happens when you put a Government like this one in power? The result is what is happening in the country today. So, I think the scholars will have time to go through the history of politics to understand that when you put these characters together, this is what you get. This was an anomaly, it was not supposed to happen and it is a rare occurrence.

Laughter 

Mr Mufalali: Sir, one of the things that the President talked about …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, I know you are making a theory and I hope that when you refer to characters, you are not referring to hon. Members. 

Mr Mufalali: No, Sir. I am referring to the party.

… on Page 2 of the Speech was the issue of the Fiftieth Independence Anniversary. Actually, the second one was the UNWTO, which was an event. This event cannot translate into an economic activity that people should sing about. I do not think we achieved anything much on this.

Sir, the third issue, …

Interruptions 

Mr Mufalali: We have not achieved much on the UNWTO looking at what is obtaining. If the comments from the World Bank are anything to go by, we cannot achieve anything in tourism, looking at the high prices of fuel and so on and so forth, when all the cities around us are better off than Lusaka. I do not think we can get anywhere.

Mr Speaker, the President said that Zambia’s fiftieth anniversary themed “God’s Favour of Zambia’s Fifty Years of Independence …” was important and special, but where I come from, in the Western Province, we have never seen the Independence. The Western Province is rated as one of the poorest in the country. The President looking forward to cerebrating fifty years of Independence does not excite me since I come from the Western Province

Mr Speaker, the people of Senanga are not excited about Zambia’s fifty years of Independence because up to now, they do not have roads. The only road we know is the Mongu/Lusaka Road which passes through Senanga to Sesheke. We thank the late President Patrick Levy Mwanawasa, SC., may his soul rest in peace, who came up with the road that is connecting Senanga to Sesheke. Otherwise, the fifty years and celebrations that will take place will have no bearing whatsoever on Senanga. We are still as poor as we were before. If anything, we are poorer than we were before this so-called Independence. This is because we have been neglected. 

Sir, the PF has also neglected us. They have walked the same path as the previous governments because they have nothing to do with the Western Province.

Interruptions 

Mr Mufalali: That is a fact.

Mr Speaker, fifty years of Independence to us means nothing. It is completely nothing because you cannot make it a priority when people are still carrying their baggage on shoulders and walking long distances for seven days. Bearings on ox-carts break because of crossing rivers since there are no bridges. I have presented this issue of bridges before this House. We need bridges in some areas where we cross the rivers from. We do not have transport, but if we can have bridges for the ox-carts to cross the streams, the better. This is real in Zambia, and I do not have to hide when things are wrong. If something is wrong, it is wrong.

Mr Speaker, on page 35, the President talked about the governance and administration of the State.

Sir, I do not believe that this country is being governed fairly because the administration of the State has not been up to the standard that we, the people of the Western Province, expected. In the previous Government, people rose for the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 to be adhered to but, unfortunately, they were shot at and we lost fourteen lives. 

However, the PF promised that they would be observation of the rule of law and so on and so forth, but they have failed and are walking the same path that the previous governments walked. As a result of intimidation by the PF Government, villagers in the Western Province start scampering when a land cruiser stops outside a house because they think they will be arrested.

Hon. Government Member: Question!

Mr Mufalali: It is not right for someone who is wearing a red siziba, which is a cultural dress out there …

Ms Lubezhi: Misisi.

Mr Mufalali: One of my Indunas was arrested yesterday for wearing a red beret. This is not right. If the President is serious about his statement on governance and administration of the State, then he must ensure that he adheres to the rule of law. It is not right for the police to force people to be submissive. 

Mr Speaker, the President also talked about the Constitution. The issues affecting the Western Province are well known. The PF should have sat down to see how they can amicably resolve issues such as the poverty that is obtaining there because the people have not seen any development. 

Sir, the National Constitutional Commission (NCC) agreed that the issue of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 was going to be tabled before the PF Administration. The Cabinet should have sat down to ensure that they iron out this issue but, unfortunately, the President never referred to this issue in his Speech. Why do we want to wait until situations go out of hand before we can decide to resolve them? That is not how we should behave as a nation. 

Mr Speaker, the issue of the Barotseland Agreement is real and everyone knows about it. It is important to understand origins of nations. The three chiefs who formed Botswana went to England and negotiated with the king to be protected. King Lewanika, here in Zambia, also travelled all the way to England to negotiate his protection and he managed to achieve it. If this is an issue that you can put aside, then I do not know where we are going as a country. Do not blame anyone if it backfires because you have failed to protect the people of this country.

Mr Speaker, on page 27, the President talked about the Youth Development Fund or enterprise development. We have not received much of this. The President should be aware that everyone needs to participate for us to create jobs. Most of these funds are going through District Commissioners’ Offices which makes the process political. 

Sir, I had a situation in Senanga where people came from the ministry to appraise projects. Before the meeting, some people were asked to leave the room and private talks were held with the officials. That is not the way to manage a country. It is wrong and must be condemned.

Sir, finally, if we have to achieve peace as a nation, there is a need for dialogue. The situation prevailing in the PF Government and party is something that should be condemned. We cannot have a situation where cadres take over the police. How can you have a cadre undressing on top of a police vehicle? That is not admissible. We cannot have a situation where the leader of my party, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, is hounded by PF cadres when he travels to Kasama and the police are standing by helplessly. 

Sir, the leadership of the Zambia Police Force will one day be held accountable for failure to uphold the law. There is no one who is above the law. Today, you can be a Minister, but a time will come when we will hold you accountable for failing to uphold the Constitution of this country. This must be clear to those who have been given the responsibility to manage the country.

Mr Speaker, we cannot have a situation where cadres come to you when you are sleeping to ask you where the beacons for your farm are so that they can know where to start demarcating from. That is not what we are looking for as a country. 

Mr Speaker, we cannot pretend to be happy when our people are being arrested on trumped up charges and charged with treason. How can the President walk into a palace and say that all he has to do is sign a paper for someone to be arrested? 

Sir, the former Ngambela of the Western Province, Mr Sinyinda, is under arrest. Does this not show the intervention of the State? Where is the separation of powers that the President referred to when he said the three arms of the Government will operate independently? What kind of a President will say that development will only be taken to your area if you voted for him? Democracy and multipartism came because we wanted the people to choose their representatives. It is an anomaly for the President to go to Shang’ombo to open a hospital and tell the people that they will not see any development because he only has two hon. Members of Parliament from there.

Sir, it is the duty of the President to bring harmony and preach about issues that he believes in when he comes to this House as opposed to giving us a speech that is empty.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to add the voice of the people of Magoye and the people of Zambia to the debate on this important Motion on the Floor of this House which is the Speech for the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Sata.

Where I come from, there is a saying that goes, “hidilwe tabundi”. This means that a funeral does not end. I, therefore, take this opportunity on behalf of the people of Magoye Constituency, to express my deep and heartfelt condolences to the Sakeni family, the PF and the country at large over the loss of our late brother, Hon. Kennedy Sakeni, may his soul rest in peace. 

Mr Speaker, you have been guiding us as, hon. Members of Parliament, that as we debate, we should concentrate on the President’s Speech which was delivered during the Official Opening of Parliament. As Member of Parliament in my first term of office, I was too expectant when I listened to the President’s Speech. Starting from last year, I have been listening to the President’s Speeches, but I am disappointed at how the Official Opening of Parliament is being conducted. It is upon each and everyone of us, as Members of Parliament and Zambians at large, to put our heads together and raise the standard of the Official Opening of Parliament.

Sir, when the Head of State is addressing Parliament, we all expect him to set a clear road map as to which direction the country is going in terms of development. I would propose that His Honour the Vice-President or Parliament allocates more time to the President’s Speech next time so that the President can touch all areas of interest in terms of the development of the country. The President should not spend 30 minutes only in this House. This means that he just glosses over important issues. I should encourage His Honour the Vice-President to move a Motion or liaise with the Parliament officials to give the President more time.

Mr Speaker, on page 2 of the Speech, His Excellency the President said:

“This session is special in many respects. Firstly, it marks almost two years of hard work by the PF in Government.”

Mr Speaker, the PF campaign slogan was, “donchi kubeba”, but I do not think we should continue with this slogan even after the PF is in Government. When the President says that it is almost two years of hard work, I wonder what he means because I cannot see what we have achieved. Some hon. Government Member even stood on the Floor of this House and said that if one has got eyes to see, they should see the development. Where is the development they are talking about? 

Sir, when I delivered my maiden speech, I talked about a number of issues pertaining to development in Magoye which cannot be seen to date. Why should the President come to this House and say that this marks two years of his Government’s hard work? Where is that work taking place? Are we not all in Zambia? If we are in Zambia, we should all benefit from this hard work that the PF Government is talking about. 

Sir, I want to dwell on the President’s Speech and I will go page by page. On page 4, the President congratulated all new hon. Members of Parliament who came in through the famous four by-elections.

Interruptions

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, I also take keen interest in welcoming hon. Members of Parliament who come to this House through by-elections for one reason. I consider myself to be the first Opposition Member of Parliament who came to this House before the ninety-day promise by the PF had elapsed. Therefore, when I see hon. Members of Parliament coming to this House, especially those who are sponsored by the Opposition political parties, I take keen interest in welcoming them and I really thank the constituents because they are focused. I support the President for mentioning that.

Mr Speaker, I represent Magoye Constituency which is a rural constituency which stretches up to Namaila, Chijanwa and Kasako Islands. I have been sent by the people of Magoye to come and tell the President and the nation at large that the current Government should stop encouraging by-elections. They should concentrate on infrastructure development.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, the other message to the President is that the PF Government should stop fighting and concentrate on infrastructure development. 

Mr Speaker, on page 9, the President said:

“The Government is aware that the infrastructure at the three public universities requires urgent attention. I, therefore, direct the Minister responsible for education to address infrastructure rehabilitation at these universities so as to improve the academic environment.”

Mr Speaker, people think that Lusaka is Zambia. Lusaka is just a part of Zambia. Why is it that whatever plans are being made by the Government relate to urban areas? What is it that the rural areas are benefiting? There is no way you can teach your child to start running before he/she can crawl. 

Interruptions

Mr Mulomba: Hon. Ministers, listen to what I am saying. There is no way the President can come to this House and direct hon. Ministers to rehabilitate infrastructure in universities without starting from the primary schools. 

What feeds into universities are primary schools. If you go to Namayela, you will find that there is no infrastructure. 

Mr Muntanga: There is nothing.

Mr Mulomba: This area is in the Southern Province of Zambia, but the President is directing the hon. Minister to rehabilitate universities. We would like to see a situation where the President directs his hon. Ministers to improve infrastructure at the primary school level so that we can all benefit because we do not have universities.

Mr Speaker, in my constituency, there is Mukuyu Basic School, and just 500 m or so away from that school, we have Makoye High School which is being constructed and was started by the MMD. I salute the MMD.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulomba: This year, Mukuyu Basic School could not start the Grade 1 classes and the reason is that there is no infrastructure. These are the realities and we are not just talking from without. Tomorrow, I am going back to the village and nothing has changed.

Mr Mabumba: Resign.

Mr Mulomba: Why should I resign?

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, let us give him an opportunity to debate.

Mr Mwale: They are indisciplined, Sir.

Mr Mulomba: I thank you for the protection, Sir.

Mr Nkombo: And that is an hon. Minister.

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, let me just assure you that regardless of the amount of protection you give me, I have enough courage to protect myself from whatever utterances they are making.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Anyway, I do not want to begin speculating what kind of protection …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … you can offer yourself, but I am the one who is in charge here.

Hon. Opposition Members: Even physical.

Mr Mulomba: I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Sir, what I meant was that I have the courage and I cannot be intimidated by anyone, especially that you are in that seat.

Mr Speaker, on page 11, the President talked about the famous 650 health posts to be constructed countrywide. This is a repetition. Last year, he talked about it and this year he has talked about it again. What are we seeing in our rural constituencies?

Hon. UPND Members: Nothing.

Mr Mulomba: There are no health posts being constructed.

Mr Livune: Bufi.

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, I am urging the Government to quickly implement this programme because, in our rural constituencies, we have problems in terms of health provision. People are still made to walk about 10-20 km from one village to the nearest clinic, and yet the Government is talking of two years of hard work. Where is that hard work?
 
Mr Mpundu: Sit down!

Mr Mulomba: No one has the right to make me sit down apart from the Hon. Mr Speaker himself. Therefore, I will continue debating since the Hon. Mr Speaker is protecting me.

Mr Nkombo: Hammer.

Interruptions

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, on page 15, the President talked about the road network and the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. Link Zambia to what?

Mr Nkombo: Hammer, hammer.

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, I remember in the early 1970’s, there was a national programme during the UNIP days which was called in our area mwelanyika.

Prof. Lungwangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mweetwa: Rest a bit, young man.

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you very much and I apologise very sincerely for interrupting the debate.

Sir, the position of Cabinet Minister is that of honour, integrity …

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Prof. Lungwangwa: … respect and is internationally recognised.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes.

Prof. Lungwangwa: When Cabinet Ministers go to other countries, they carry the honour of the country …

Hon. Opposition Members: Correct.

Prof. Lungwangwa: … and they are given the highest level of respect.

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting, who happens to be the Government’s Chief Spokesperson, in order to sit there when one of the hon. Minister’s integrity and office is being trampled upon in a way ridiculing the nation? Is he in order to sit there and not take a strong Government position …

Interruptions

Prof. Lungwangwa: … on this level of disrespect and trampling of the dignity and honour of such a very high position of hon. Minister of Justice?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I need your serious ruling on this very important point of order of national interest.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: The events that you are referring to are, of course, in the public domain and they emanate from one of our groupings here in Parliament. However, as you know, the settled practice is not to bring issues of that sort and subject them to direction by the Hon. Mr Speaker. They are outside the mandate. I am sure you know the distinction that is being drawn here between the association you are referring to and the function for which this office is concerned with. So, to the extent that it is of a private character outside our business here, I will not issue any direction. I will leave it to that association to deal with those issues.

The hon. Member for Magoye can continue.

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted by Hon. Professor Lungwangwa, I was reminding the House that in the early 1970’s under the UNIP Government, there was a programme called mwelanyika, …

Mr Nkombo: Meaning.

Mr Mulomba: … meaning regional planning, cutting across the entire country and opening up roads.

Ms Lubezhi interjected.

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if the current Government has run away from that concept. When they say connect or link Zambia, I thought that is what the UNIP Government meant. The country was opened up and leading to each Government institution such as a clinic, school and agriculture centre was an all-weather road. However, what has gone wrong with this Government? Please, we need these roads back. If you do not know where they used to pass, we can still show you because some of us were there.

Sir, I had a discussion with the hon. Member of Parliament for Vubwi who equally lamented the bad roads in his constituency, especially the road from Chikonka to Zozwe which is in a deplorable condition …

Laughter

Mr Mulomba: … and also the road from Chadiza to Manganze.

Even the roads in Kaputa are bad, except that some hon. Members cannot come out in the open and say it because they think that if they did so, they would be considered anti-PF. That is not the case.  

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, I did not know that you are now representing Vubwi in addition to Magoye Constituency.  

You may proceed.

Laughter 

Mr Mulomba: Mr Speaker, at this level, I consider myself to be a national leader. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune: Across regions. 

Mr Mulomba: Sir, the President also talked about food reserves. I am appealing to the Government to consider this very seriously. We can produce rice, maize or cassava but, without storage facilities, it will all go to waste. If the PF cannot work on this, it will be difficult and expensive in future to get food from other areas when calamities strike.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to emphasise the point I made earlier that the Government should stop thinking that Lusaka is Zambia. Zambia comprises many districts and provinces. When we share the national cake, the Government should ensure that each area receives what it deserves.

With these few words, I rest my case. 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

ADJOURMENT

The Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn. 

Question put and agreed to. 

 ________

The House adjourned at 1922 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 27th September, 2013.
WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTION

DEPRECIATION OF ZAMBIAN KWACHA

36. Mr Simbao (Senga Hill) asked the Minister of Finance:

(a)    why the Zambian Kwacha had been depreciating in relation to the US Dollar;

(b)    what the projected exchange rate of the kwacha to the US Dollar for December, 2013 was; and

(c)    what the expected effect of Statutory Instrument No. 55 of 2013 in terms of strengthening the kwacha are.

The Minister of Finance (Mr Chikwanda): Mr Speaker,  in the past, I addressed this question, the last of which was during a ministerial statement that I made to this House on 26th February, 2013.

Mr Speaker, in that statement, I indicated that exchange rates are prices of currencies in terms of other currencies. I indicated that they are a function of many composite factors, including the state of the economy, and that only to some extent are they determined by supply and demand conditions. They are also a function of unquantifiable factors such as market sentiments and perceptions. I wish to indicate, again, that the continued depreciation of the kwacha is reflective of these factors.

Mr Speaker, the fundamental spell besetting our economy is that we still remain heavily reliant on importation of both capital and consumer goods at the expense of domestic production of exportables. Although important strides have been made in diversifying the economy through promotion of non-traditional export industries, it is still important to note that it takes some considerable time and effort to achieve this on a large scale. This adverse imbalance between what we import and what we export will continue to dictate the long-term strength of our kwacha. 

Mr Speaker, another aspect that explains the exchange rate movement in recent times is related to international financial and economic events. At first glance, these events may appear innocuously remote to our economy. However, one needs to realise that since Zambia is an open economy, it is certainly not an island, but part of the global economy. Recent global financial and economic developments, including the European debt crises, China’s growth prospects, Syrian crisis among others and the USA’s intention to put brakes on its monetary easing policies have affected the quantities of portfolio flows to countries such as ours.

Mr Speaker, I wish to point out that looking at the behavior of the kwacha/dollar exchange rate in isolation can be misleading. The global economic developments have affected not only the kwacha, but also other currencies. For instance, the rand has depreciated quite significantly in 2013 against the United States dollar. In fact, the kwacha appreciated against the rand, contributing to the appreciation of the kwacha’s real effective exchange rate during the year.

Mr Speaker, Zambia pursues a free floating exchange rate policy which implies that authorities do not fix the exchange rate at any particular level. A further implication of this policy is that the exchange rate at any point in time is determined by the aggregate interaction of buyers and sellers of foreign currencies in our market. Although the Government is one such participant in this market, it does not in any way dictate the level of the exchange rate. It is, therefore, not possible to state what the exchange rate will be in December, 2013. However, for fiscal budgetary purposes, an educated attempt is made to estimate an exchange rate level, although, of course, the actual outcome may be different from the estimate. 

Mr Speaker, the primary objective of Statutory Instrument (SI) 55 is to enhance the monitoring of the flow of funds as well as goods and services between Zambian residents and non-residents in order to have more accurate and reliable Balance of Payments (BOP) information. SI 55 accomplishes this objective by requiring that financial resources remitted for importation of goods and services are fully disclosed and that the said goods and services are actually imported into the country. Similarly, for any goods and services exported, the quantities and value for the same are disclosed and foreign exchange earned in the process is actually received in the country.

Sir, let me note that if the exchange rate moves in one direction or another as a result of this monitoring mechanism, such movements will essentially be a consequence rather than an objective of the SI. The foreign exchange market will continue to operate with participants determining their exchange rates without any administrative interference from the Government. The only intervention, if at all, is the regular Bank of Zambia activities in the market whose intention is to offset disorderly volatility that inevitably accompanies large foreign exchange flows.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.