Debates - Tuesday 24th September, 2013

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DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Tuesday 24th September, 2013

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER
____________

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MR SPEAKER

DEATH OF MR KENNEDY SAKENI, MP, HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

Mr Speaker: I wish to place on record a well-known fact that this House lost one of its Members, namely Hon. Kennedy Sakeni, the erstwhile hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting and also hon. Member of Parliament for Mansa Central Parliamentary Constituency. The late hon. Member passed away on Thursday, 5th September, 2013, at the University Teaching Hospital.
 
The late Hon. Sakeni, MP, was buried at Mushinka Village in Samfya District of Luapula Province on Tuesday, 10th September, 2013. The House was represented at the burial by the following hon. Members of Parliament:

Mr Gary G. Nkombo, MP;

Mrs Mutinta Mazoka, MP;

Ms Victoria Kalima, MP;

Mr Mwansa Mbulakulima, MP;

Mr Mighty Mumba, MP;

Mr Given Lubinda, MP;

Mr Raymond Mpundu, MP;

Mr Boniface Mutale, MP;

Mr Ephraim K. Belemu, MP;

Mr Euginius Mumba, Assistant Principal Clerk (Research), Secretary to the Delegation; and

Mr Robson Chalela, Sergeant.

On your behalf, I conveyed the condolences of the House to the bereaved family.

I now request hon. Members to rise and observe a minute of silence in honour of the memory of the late Hon. Kennedy Sakeni, MP.

Hon. Members of Parliament stood in silence for one minute.

IPU COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Zambia National Group will commemorate the International Day of Democracy on Thursday, 26th September, 2013, under the theme “Strengthening Voices for Democracy”.

In line with the theme, the IPU Zambia National Group has lined up activities which include a three-day sensitisation programme on Parliament Radio and the road and mounted shows at Levy Junction Mall. These activities are meant to take Parliament closer to the people and to educate them on how they can participate in legislative work.

Hon. Members of Parliament who are willing to attend, on a voluntary basis, are free to be part of the flag-off ceremony of the road show by the Hon. Mr Speaker on Thursday, 26th September, 2013, at 0900 hours at the Main Reception Area at Parliament Buildings.

You are, therefore, requested to be seated at the Main Reception area by 0830hours.

I wish to urge hon. Members to lend support to this important event in the IPU calendar.

I thank you.

COMPOSITION OF SESSIONAL COMMITTEE

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 150(1), I have appointed the following Members to constitute the Standing Orders Committee for the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly:

Standing Orders Committee (8)

The Hon. Mr Speaker (Chairperson);

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: His Honour the Vice President, Dr G. L. Scott, MP;

The Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr A. B. Chikwanda, MP;

The Chief Whip and Hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications, Mr Y. D. Mukanga, MP;

Ms C. Namugala, MP;

Mr C. W. Kakoma, MP;

Mr R. L. Mpundu, MP; and

Ms M. G. Imenda, MP.

Thank you.
___________

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House an idea of the business it will consider this week.

Sir, as indicated on the Order Paper for today, 24th September, 2013, the Business of the House will begin with Questions. Thereafter, the House will commence the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address which was delivered on Friday, 20th September, 2013.

Mr Speaker, tomorrow, Wednesday, 25th September, 2013, the Business of the House will start with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will deal with Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. The House will, then, continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

Sir, on Thursday, 26th September, 2013, the Business of the House will commence with Questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will, then, continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

On Friday, 27th September, 2013, the Business of the House will begin with His Honour the Vice President’s Question Time. This will be followed by Questions to hon. Ministers, if there will be any.

Interruptions

 The Vice-President: If there will be any questions left to ask, Hon. Muntanga. Thereafter, the House will debate the Motion on the composition of the Public Accounts Committee. The House will, then, continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

I thank you, Sir.
______________________{mospagebreak}

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

YETA HOSPITAL FUNDING
1. Mr Sianga (Sesheke) asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child
Child Health:
(a) why funding to Yeta Hospital in Sesheke was erratic;

(b) whether the Government was aware that the erratic funding negatively affected the smooth running of the hospital;

(c) what measures had been taken to correct the situation; and

(d) when the hospital would be provided with an ambulance.
The Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (Ms Kapata): Mr Speaker, the Government releases operational grants to all district hospitals, including Yeta Hospital, on a monthly basis. However, experiences of delays may exist due to local accounting arrangements at district level.

Mr Speaker, the operations of the hospital are not affected as most of the supplies used at the hospital are provided for centrally, including paying of health workers.

Sir, the Government is implementing the integrated financial management system that enhances efficiency on account that districts and hospitals will be funded directly from the Treasury without going through the parent ministry.

Mr Speaker, the Government has procured 208 ambulances for all the districts. These ambulances have already started arriving in the country. Sesheke District will be allocated an ambulance from this consignment.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sianga: Sir, with your permission, I would like to congratulate the four giant killers against one woman who have just joined this honourable House. I am sorry for those who were here, but are now in the Diaspora. 
 
Ms Kapata:  Question!

Mr Sianga: Is the Hon. Minister aware that patients at Yeta Hospital miss meals due to lack of funding?

Ms Kapata:  Mr Speaker, the Government releases operational grants to all district hospitals, including Yeta Hospital, on a monthly basis. I want to restate that the monthly grant for Sesheke is K102,934.

Sir, Sesheke received all its monthly grants except for March, this year. It really depends on how the administration uses such colossal amounts of money allocated to them.

Hon. Members of the Opposition: Colossal!

Ms Kapata: Yes, it is colossal.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr L. J. Ngoma (Sinda): Could the hon. Minister indicate whether poor funding is a result of disjointed health functions which have been transferred from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, which lacks capacity.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the shortage of food at Sesheke District Hospital has nothing to do with the movement of some of the clinics from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. It is just mismanagement at local level at that particular hospital that is responsible for that.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Imenda (Luena): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that there are 208 ambulances to be distributed to the districts. Can she confirm that the newly-created districts, including Limulunga, are also catered for.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the number of ambulances is 208 and that is more than the number of districts that we have in Zambia. Therefore, every district will receive an ambulance.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, I heard the Hon. Minister say that, in March, the district hospital did not receive funding and patients starved to death. Why was the hospital not funded in March?

Mr Mwila: Iwe ubufi!

Ms Kapata: I mentioned earlier that patients did not starve because the operations of the hospitals are not affected by the supplies. The supplies used by hospitals are always given. It was only in March when there was a delay, but disbursement of funds and supplies is now up-to-date in all the district hospitals.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, we have been educated by the hon. Deputy Minister that there is misappropriation of funds by the district administration in Sesheke. May I know how many people have been arrested over misappropriation of funds in that district?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, unless I am not following this closely, the hon. Minister did not indicate that there has been misappropriation.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I thank you for answering on my behalf. I said that there is mismanagement. If the hon. Member wants to know how many people have been arrested for misappropriation, he should submit a new question.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr I. Banda (Lumezi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that there is mismanagement at the hospital. Therefore, what is the ministry going to do in order to curb it?

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the policy of the Government is that every institution that is given money must account for it before receiving the next disbursement. Unless an institution accounts for funds, it cannot be given more money.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF SPORTS FACILITIES IN LUAPULA

2. Mr Mumba (Mambilima) asked the Minister of Youth and Sport:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to renovate Kaole Stadium in Mansa and, if so, when; and

(b) whether the Government had any plans to build a modern sports facility in Luapula as the case was for other provinces.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport (Mr Masumba): Mr Speaker, in 2012, the Government undertook some renovation works to rebuild the fallen block wall and ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. The renovation works on the VIP toilets were completed. However, the works on the wall have not yet been completed. Once funds are secured to complete the remaining works, the ministry will continue with the rehabilitation works.

Mr Speaker, sports infrastructure plays an important role in the development of sport and, as such, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, through the Fifth and Sixth National Development Plans, the Sports Policy and the ministry’s strategic plan, has embarked on the construction of sports infrastructure in the country to increase access to sports activities and recreation. Sports infrastructure will also enhance the level and quality of participation in sports amongst our athletes.

Mr Speaker, in this regard, the Government shall facilitate the construction of a modern sports facility in Luapula once funds are secured for the project.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mumba: Mr Speaker, in answering part (a) of the question, the hon. Minister said that some renovations were carried out last year. May I find out how much money was spent and …

Mr Mwila: Which contractor?

Mr Mumba: … which contractor was involved.

Mr Masumba: Mr Speaker, I thought that the hon. Member wanted to know when the renovations at the stadium would be completed. If his question had included how much money was paid and which contractor was engaged, it was going to be very easy for us to come up with that information. However, since that is the direction, I would request the hon. Member to come up with a new question which we will answer exhaustively.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: The information is not at hand.

Laughter

CHISAMBA HIGH SCHOOL ELECTRIFICATION

3. Mr Muteteka (Chisamba) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when the recently opened Chisamba High School would be electrified.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, to start with, Chisamba Secondary School has an intake of grades 8 and 10 and, therefore, it is a secondary and not a high school.

Mr Speaker, as regards the question, the contractor has applied to the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) for connection of power and the ministry has budgeted for the connection of the power supply in the 2014 Budget. Meanwhile, the ministry will continue to provide funds to run the generator which the school is using until it is connected next year.

I thank you, Sir.

INVESTMENT LAND IN KABWE

4. Mr Kapyanga (Kabwe Central) asked the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection what measures the ministry had taken to make land in Kabwe District available for investment.

The Deputy Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Mr Chingimbu): Mr Speaker, the current measures that the ministry has taken to make land for investment available in Kabwe is to advertise land which has remained undeveloped, as it has done recently, for repossession. Some parcels of land have since been identified and will be made available once all the repossession processes have been exhausted.

I thank you, Sir.

HEALTH CENTRE PERSONNEL IN KAPUTA

5. Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa) asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health:

(a) whether the ministry was aware that some health centres in Kaputa Parliamentary Constituency were manned by unqualified personnel and, if so, when the ministry would correct the anomaly; and

(b) whether nurses were qualified to head health centres.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the ministry is aware of the shortage of qualified health personnel at some health centres, including those in Kaputa Constituency. The ministry will employ qualified personnel for the affected health centres in Kaputa during the October, 2013, recruitment of medical and paramedical staff.

Mr Speaker, nurses are qualified to head health centres as part of their training covers management and leadership skills.

I thank you, Sir.

GOVERNMENT’S DEBT TO SEED MARKETING COMPANIES AND AGRO-INPUTS TRANSPORTERS

6. Mr Ng’onga asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock:

 (a) whether the Government owed any money to seed marketing companies and transporters of agro-inputs who were engaged to supply and transport agro-inputs to various parts of the country during the 2012/2013 farming season and, if so, how much the debt was;

(b) when the debt would be paid; and

(c) what the reason for the delay in paying off the debt was.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Mwewa): Mr Speaker, the Government still owes seed suppliers and transporters for the supply of various seed varieties and transportation of agro-inputs for the 2012/2013 Farming Season. As at 17th September, 2013, the Government still owed seed suppliers a value of K39,744,488.94 and transporters, K15,000,000,00.

Mr Speaker, the final settlement of the debt will be made as soon as the funds are released by the Treasury. The delay in paying off the debt has been caused by a number of factors, including the late submission of claims from various districts and the slow budgetary releases by the Treasury.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether anything can quickly be done about this. These seed suppliers may hold our Government to ransom as they are supposed to start supplying seed for this coming season. Is there anything that can be done considering that the planting season is near?

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, the Government understands what is at stake now and, for sure, it is doing everything possible, through the Treasury, to ensure that seed suppliers, including transporters, are paid before the onset of the rainy season.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister how he expects the seed suppliers and transporters to do business during the 2013/2014 Farming Season when the Government is holding on to their money.

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, we aware of that problem. That is why we are doing everything possible to ensure that we pay them before the onset of the rainy season.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kalima (Kasenengwa): Mr Speaker, it is very sad and shameful that this Patriotic Front (PF) Government has not paid the seed companies up to now.

Interruptions

Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, in this House, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock boasted about having the delivery of inputs done before the end of September, 2013. Which inputs was he talking about? I ask this because what we know is that seed is planted before fertiliser can be applied.

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, fertiliser is a farm input. Therefore, when we talk about farm inputs, we do not restrict it to only seed. We said that we will deliver the farm inputs and we are doing that in most of the districts before the end of September, 2013. We are still carrying out that exercise.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, at the opening of Parliament, His Excellency the President …

Ms Kapata: On a point of order, Sir.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

A point of order is raised.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I apologise for interrupting the bald-headed Muntanga.

Laughter

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, is Hon. Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha in order to be dozing in this House when the Business of the House is very serious?

Laughter

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I need your serious ruling.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I was not that observant. However, if he was dozing, he is certainly out of order.

Hon. Muntanga, continue.

Mr Muntanga: ... responded to a comment by the hon. Member for Dundumwezi on this issue. His Excellency the President challenged the hon. Member to bring the list of people who had not been paid so that they could be paid the next day. Now, here is the hon. Minister telling us that he has not found money to pay for seed. Why did this hon. Minister not take this list of suppliers to His Excellency the President …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: … so that these seed companies can be paid immediately?

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, in my response earlier, I made it very clear that some of the factors that have caused this situation include the late submission of claims from various districts. Therefore, what His Excellency the President asked for was the districts to avail that list to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock so that suppliers can be paid. However, the list was submitted late to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

I thank you, Sir.

Dr Kazonga (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister what measures the Government has put in place in order to curb this problem of late submission of claims from the districts.

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, the Government has been seriously looking into that issue and trying to orient and sensitise its officers in different districts. We understand the laissez-faire attitude towards this issue. However, the PF Government is trying to straighten things out so that it can pay its transporters and suppliers in good time.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to indicate to this House why he has failed to pay these transporters when this House approved money for this issue. Is the failure to pay the money which was approved in the Budget an indication that the budget of the PF is in a mess?

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Speaker: Order!

Please, retract the word ‘mess’.

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, is that an indication that the PF Budget is not in order or is in quandary?

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, the PF Budget is very much in order. I think that all of us here understand how the Treasury works here in Zambia. Therefore, we should not politicise this issue. When the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) was in power, it could not even pay suppliers until January, the following year.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, we are doing so fine that we are going to pay them now, in September.

Interruptions

Mr Mwewa: I think you should appreciate the fact that the PF Government is trying to …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Address the Speaker.

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, I think that the hon. Members of Parliament should appreciate that the PF Government is going to pay the transporters and suppliers this September.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

ZESCO’S COMMERCIAL LICENCE IN COMMUNICATION

7. Mr Simbao (Senga Hill) asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development:

(a) why ZESCO Limited, whose core business is power generation, transmission and distribution, owned a commercial licence in communication;

(b) what the purpose of the licence was;

(c) what the capacity of the fibre optic cable owned by ZESCO was; and

(d) whether the optic fibre at (c) could be used by the Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL) Limited whose core business is telecommunication.

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Zulu): Mr Speaker, ZESCO needed to upgrade its telecommunication network to one based on an optic fibre system in order to meet the need of safely, efficiently operating and managing the complex power grid system and to ensure safe and reliable electricity supply. Due to the high cost of implementing an optic fibre network, ZESCO borrowed a huge sum of money in excess of US$70 million, at that time, from international lending institutions. In order to raise revenue to repay the loans and manage the operational expenditure associated with operating such a network, a strategic decision was made to also provide commercial telecommunication services. However, such services cannot be provided without a commercial licence in communication. It was for this reason that ZESCO applied for a commercial telecommunication licence which it was granted in 2005.

Sir, the purpose of the licence is for ZESCO to fulfill a legal obligation. Whether ZESCO provides telecommunication services or not, it is a requirement by law that the company must have a licence from the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to operate such a network.

Therefore, ZESCO uses the commercial licence in communication to operate the telecommunications network that provides services to the company’s primary internal needs and the provision of commercial services to customers.

Mr Speaker, the capacity of an optic fibre network is determined by the optical terminal equipment. Currently, the maximum capacity of our optical system is 400 GB per second. However, the actual installed capacity and utilisation are different on a link-by-link basis. On the capacity of the optic cable itself, there are twenty-four cores of fibre of which twelve are reserved for ZESCO’s internal needs while the remaining twelve are used for connecting the optical terminal equipment that is used for connecting commercial telecoms customs.

Sir, it must be noted that fibre cores are basically strands of glass, hence the need to have sufficient spare capacity due to potential breakages.

Mr Speaker, the ZESCO optic fibre network can be used by ZAMTEL. Over the last seven years, ZAMTEL has, on several occasions, been offered to use the system with very high discounts and very favourable and flexible payments and other terms.

Sir, the optic fibre network is available for use by ZAMTEL, on commercial terms, just like other telecommunications operators who are using the ZESCO fibre nationally. The current customers on the ZESCO fibre are mainly other telecoms operators some of which are even bigger than ZAMTEL.

Mr Speaker, the list of current customers who use the fibre is as follows:

(a) Airtel;

(b) MTN Zambia;

(c) Africonnect;

(d) CEC Liquid;

(e) Coppernet;

(f) MTN Business Solutions;

(g) Microlink;

(h) Zamnet;

(i) Realtime;

(j) Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA);

(k) Zambia Revenue Authority;

(l) Road Transport and Safety Agency;

(m) Zambia Sugar;

(n) Smartnet;

(o) Quick Edge Limited;

(p) Internet Technologies;

(q) Pacific Century Cyberworks (PCCW) Global;

(r) Telecom Namibia; and

(s) Wananchi Telecom.

I thank you, Sir.

MULUNGUSHI TEXTILES’ OPERATIONS RESUMPTION

8. Mr Simbao asked the Minister of Defence:
 
(a) when Mulungushi Textiles would resume industrial production;

(b) why it had taken long for the company to resume operations; and

(c) what measures had been taken to ensure that the company operated profitably in future.

The Deputy Minister of Defence (Col. Lungu): Mr Speaker, the Government has found investors who are interested in resuming production at Mulungushi Textiles immediately after negotiations have been concluded.

Sir, the delay has been due to the need to resolve administrative and legal issues and carry out consultations with the external majority shareholders.

Mr Speaker, the Government has no intention of participating in running of the business any more. Therefore, the issue of the company operating profitably will be left in the hands of the would-be investors.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, I thank you …

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima: Hear, hear! Ebaume aba!

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Chadiza is somebody who does not like points of order.

Brig-Gen. Dr Chituwo: Hear, hear!  I know!

Mr Mbewe: However, because of the need necessitated by the inefficiency of the PF Government, …

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Mbewe: … the hon. Member of Parliament is forced to stand on points of order.

Sir, in the last Parliament, I remember, very well the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock informing this House that farmers were going to be paid within ten days of delivery of their maize. The hon. Member for Sinda, Mr L. J. Ngoma, asked the Government whether it had money and its response was that it did. However, today, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock is somersaulting on the issue of payment to suppliers and transporters.

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in order to somersault rather than come out in the open and state that the Government is in red and cannot pay the farmers?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

My first observation is that the point of order is not procedural in nature. I think that goes without saying.

Secondly, and more importantly, if this was intended to be a follow-up to the response by the hon. Minister, it has not been done contemporaneously. I have ruled before that in that sense, points of order should be contemporaneous. The risk of raising belated points of order is that we will back-peddle in our business.

 However, the doors are not closed. If you want to get the Executive, the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, to be precise, to account for what you consider to be a contradiction or inconsistency, you are at liberty to file a question. It will be forwarded to the relevant ministry and you will exact them on their promises. So, the doors are not closed.

May the hon. Member for Chembe continue, please.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, before I was distracted by the voice of Chadiza, I was trying to find out from the hon. Minister of Defence, who clearly stated that the Government had found the investors, who these investors are, if he can share with this House.

The Minister of Defence (Mr Mwamba): Mr Speaker, we have actually been approached by two investors. One of them is from India and the other one is from Tanzania.

However, as I said on the Floor of this House early this year, Mulungushi Textiles was not wholly owned by this Government. We only own 34 per cent. 66 per cent is owned by the Chinese investors. So, that means we have little say. I am still repeating exactly what I said months ago on the Floor of this House that there is very little that we can say. Even after negotiations, we have to consult the Chinese investors. If, unfortunately, they say that they are not interested or do not approve of that particular investor, we have to look for other investors.

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, I recall that during the last sitting, the then Deputy Minister of Defence, Hon. D. Mwila, assured this House that the Government of the Republic of Zambia would take over Mulungushi Textiles within one month. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Defence what the status is since I hear him saying that the Chinese still own the majority of the shares in Mulungushi Textiles. There was an undertaking that the Government would take over Mulungushi Textiles to ensure that it becomes operational and that our people continue to derive livelihoods from there.

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, in the first place, let me state that I was not in the House when the then Deputy Minister, Hon. D. Mwila, indicated, on the Floor, that the Government would take over Mulungushi Textiles within a month.
 
Interruptions

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, I will not deny that he said this because I was not there.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Let him complete his response.

Mr Mwamba: Sir, as we have stated, it is not the intention of this Government to go back to Mulungushi Textiles and start running it as a business entity. When the MMD Government was in power, it stated that it would never be involved in running private businesses and our stance, as the PF Government, is equally the same.

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Mbulakulima: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Chembe, I know you are in a hurry, but …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … it is not just possible to transact business in the manner you are attempting to.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I want to find out …

Mr Mbulakulima: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I thank you greatly for giving me an opportunity to raise a point of order. As you know, like Hon. Mbewe, I rarely stand on points of order. However, I have been prompted to do so because I am concerned. Is this Government really in order …

Hon. Opposition Members: Which Government?

Mr Mbulakulima: Is the PF Government …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbulakulima: … in order to contradict itself openly by stating that the then hon. Deputy Minister, who is a Government officer, gave a statement on the Floor of this House in the absence of the hon. Minister and, therefore, it falls off? Is this the new style of operating under this PF Government?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

My ruling is that the most appropriate and ideal manner to proceed, under the circumstances, is for the hon. Ministers, both Cabinet as well as juniors, if I may use that term for purposes of distinction, to be consistent. However, where a quandary, as the one which we have just witnessed arises, …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: … it is open to the Cabinet Minister, in this case, to clarify the position so that it is made clear and put to rest.

The hon. Member for Senga Hill may continue.

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like this Government to help the people of Kabwe, who have been waiting in anticipation for the re-opening of the factory for two years now, and yet the promise was for it to have been re-opened within ninety days of the PF coming into power. When will the Government open this factory?

Mr Speaker: Well, at the risk of repetition, the hon. Minister can answer that question.

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, firstly, let me respond to Hon. Mbulakulima’s point of order.

Mr Speaker: Order!

 I have made a ruling on that and it is a dead issue.

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, I have said, time and again, that, as the PF Government, we are more than ready to ensure that an investor is found in order to resuscitate the operations of Mulungushi Textiles. In fact, during the tenure of the MMD Government, nothing was done.

Interruptions

Mr Mwamba: Why did you not open Mulungushi Textiles when you were in power? Why should you shift the blame on to the PF Government?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Let us have order.

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, nevertheless, we are a committed Government and we will ensure that we find a suitable investor to resuscitate Mulungushi Textiles.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ntundu (Gwembe): Mr Speaker, I am very shocked and contemporaneously disappointed.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Gwembe, please, proceed to ask your question. There is a risk you may cause injury to the Queen’s language.

Laughter

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to shed more light on the issue of Mulungushi Textiles. The hon. Minister has told this House that the Government has very little or completely nothing to say because of its share percentage. Following that response, how is this Government going to find an investor to resuscitate Mulungushi Textiles?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, it is a pity that my dear brother, Hon. Ntundu, does not run a business, but a kantemba.

Interruptions

Mr Mwamba: What I want the hon. Member to understand is that when you are a minority shareholder in a business …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, may you take your seat.

Mrs Sayifwanda: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister of Defence, restrict yourself to the official language and paraphrase where necessary. I say ‘where necessary’ because you should confine your response to the question. The question is, if I may paraphrase, that since the Government is a minority shareholder, how will it make it possible for the company to be resuscitated?

For the sake of order, let us be very specific in our debates, responses and comments because if we are not, there could be ‘mayhem’.

Laughter

Continue, hon. Minister.

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, let me go straight to the point and say that, Hon. Ntundu, we have been mandated by the majority shareholders, those who own 66 per cent of the company shares and call the shots, to find investors and notify them. I rest my case.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: I would like to thank you for that very precise response. It makes the conduct of my business very easy.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, I do not know whether I heard the hon. Minister correctly. In his response, he said that the neither the Chinese Government nor the Government of the Republic of Zambia want to run the business. Given that scenario, is there a possibility that the PF Government could negotiate and buy the facility off the Chinese so that it is immediately offered to the people of Kabompo …

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lufuma: … I am so sorry, I meant Kabwe …

Hon. Opposition Members: You are right, even Kabompo.

Mr Lufuma: … in order for the small-scale enterprises in Kabwe could actually use that facility.

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, again, I will be precise so that I can make your work easy.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the PF Government is not in the business of running businesses. As a result of that, our Government will not negotiate with any company nor will it involve itself in running another business as it was done under the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that China has changed its policy dealing with textile business? It has closed all textile industries in which it had shares in Africa, to be specific, in Namibia, Zambia and Lesotho and, therefore, will be reluctant to help this Government resuscitate that industry. Is the Government aware of this and will it find means of resuscitating that industry for the benefit of Zambians?

Mr Mwamba: Mr Speaker, both the Chinese and Zambian governments are particularly not interested in running business at Mulungushi Textiles. That is why we want private investors to come on board. I rest my case.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ REHABILITATION IN NAKONDE

9. Mr Sichula (Nakonde) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education when the Government would rehabilitate the following primary schools in Nakonde Parliamentary Constituency:

(a) Chitamane;

(b) Itutu:

(d) Ndanji;

(c) Lukumba;

(e) Chawa; and

(f) Zyongo.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr P. Ngoma): Mr Speaker, due to the extreme low progression rate from primary to secondary school, the ministry has planned to increase access to secondary school level using the 2014 Budget. The bulk of the Budget will go towards increasing access to secondary school level.

Mr Speaker, we will also use the 2014 Budget to rehabilitate a number of pole, mud and grass- thatched primary schools in the districts. The decision regarding which schools to rehabilitate will be taken at district level. The rehabilitation of primary schools will be a continuous activity which the ministry will undertake in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sichula: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out when Ndanji School will be rehabilitated because it is grass thatched.

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, like I said earlier, all schools will be rehabilitated during the period mentioned, between 2014 and 2016. You may wish to know that there are quite a number of schools in this country, especially those that I toured in the Western Province, that are made of pole and mud. So, the ministry feels that it is important to uplift the face of such schools by putting up permanent structures.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

PRISON CONSTRUCTION IN NAKONDE

10. Mr Sichula asked the Minister of Home Affairs whether the Government had any plans to construct a prison in Nakonde District.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Chilangwa): Mr Speaker, yes, the Government has plans to construct a prison in Nakonde District.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sichula: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out when this will be done.

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, the PF Government is currently working on a National Infrastructure Development Plan which will include constructing of various prisons in various parts of the country. As soon as we have finished with this, we shall start a roll-out programme and announce at the appropriate time.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the plan that has been talked about by the hon. Deputy Minister is long-term. According to the information and the status quo on the ground, this prison is highly crowded and this poses a health hazard. So, we would like to find out what immediate plans the Government has to decongest this prison.

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, I do not understand which prison the hon. Member is talking about because there is no prison in Nakonde.

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions

KAWAMBWA TEA COMPANY OPERATIONS

11. Mr Mpundu (Nchelenge) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:
(a) whether the Government had any plans to resuscitate the operations of Kawambwa Tea Company; and

(b) if so, when the plans would be implemented.
The Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Sampa): Mr Speaker, arising from the engagement between the Government and the owners of the company, the management of the company has come up with a road map that indicates how the company intends to resume operations. The role the Government is playing is that of facilitating the implementation of the agreed road map by the management of the company.

Sir, according to the road map for resuscitating Kawambwa Tea Company that was submitted by the management to the Government, the firm will be operationalised within eighteen months from the second quarter of 2013.

Mr Speaker, the process, therefore, commenced at the end of June, this year. The eighteen-month period is to enable the management of the company to address outstanding personnel and administrative-related challenges that led to the company being faced with the problems it is in the first place.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask a follow-up question on the operations of the Kawambwa Tea Company. I would like to find out …

Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise a point of order which borders on public security and is, therefore, of national interest. 

Mr Speaker, in the past, the government has not allowed political parties, in particular the United Party for National Development (UPND), to hold public rallies or processions in places which are densely populated, citing degeneration of public safety.

Mr Speaker, only last week, the PF cadres took to the streets of Lusaka en route to State House, demanding the removal of their secretary-general.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, the cadres were, actually, standing on bonnets of Government-owned vehicles such as police motor vehicles. Some of the demonstrators were even nude.

Sir, today, the PF cadres, led by the district chairperson, Mr Robert Chikwelete, took over the central business district of Lusaka.

Hon. Oppositions Members: Aah!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, in Livingstone, the demonstrators led by Mr Brighton Luhila, took to the streets in areas where, previously, other political players have not been allowed processions.

Sir, is the PF Government, in particular the hon. Minister of Home Affairs, in order to allow selective application of the law by allowing the PF cadres to demonstrate in densely populated areas thereby endangering public safety, in what the Secretary-General of the PF described on Radio Phoenix 1300 hours news, as the highest level of indiscipline that has ever been witnessed in any political party in the political history of this country? Are they in order? I need a serious ruling.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

My ruling is that I will give the hon. Minister of Home Affairs an opportunity to respond to the concerns that have been raised by the hon. Member for Choma Central in the course of this week.

The hon. Member for Kaputa may proceed.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government has any shares in Kawambwa Tea Company. 

Mr Sampa: Mr Speaker, just to give a brief history, Kawambwa Tea Company was privatised in 2000 under receivership by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). The Government of the Republic of Zambia, then, sold it to a private company called Gombe Holdings Limited, which is owned by Kumu Holdings of Zimbabwe. Gombe Holdings has ninety-nine shares and Messrs Shiel of Australia has one. Therefore, to answer the question, the Government has zero shares in the company.

I thank you, Sir.

ISANGANO NATIONAL PARK

12. Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi) asked the Minister of Tourism and Art:

(a) when Isangano National Park in Luwingu District would be re-stocked with wild animals;

(b) what animal species would be re-stocked in the park;

(c) whether the re-stocking exercise would be based on the public-private-partnership (PPP) arrangement; and

(d) if so, who the possible partners were.

Mr Mbewe: Where is your brother, David?

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Chadiza, I am afraid, it is not laughable.

Hon. Minister, you may continue.

The Minister of Tourism and Art (Mrs Masebo): Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to re-stocking national parks, in particular the Isangano National Park, as soon as funds are secured. However, before re-stocking, we need to ensure that we conduct an animal survey which will determine the number of animals and species to be re-stocked. 

Mr Speaker, the type of animal species to be re-stocked in the park will be determined by the outcome of the surveys to be undertaken. Priority will, however, be given to animal species that were previously in the national park. Further, the Government intends to enhance security for wild animals through increased patrols and procurement of adequate and appropriate equipment.

Mr Speaker, considering that re-stocking of wild animals is a very expensive venture, the Government will encourage private investors to partner with the Government on a PPP basis which will benefit both parties. Above all, this arrangement will be executed for effective wildlife management and tourism development. The engagement of a partner will be done through a tender process.

Finally, Sir, the Government has not yet identified partners. In this regard, it will advertise the tendering process through the national press. I would like to appeal to hon. Members who come from constituencies that have parks or game management areas (GMAs) to consider getting the community to partner with the Government.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, while the Government is still trying to look for funds to re-stock the national park, what possible interventions will it put in place to ensure that the area in question is protected and there is no encroachment?

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, this issue is a big challenge to us because a number of our national parks and GMAs are being encroached upon. I would like to use this opportunity to speak to leaders in these communities, beginning with their Royal Highnesses, traditional leaders, area hon. Members of Parliament and the community at large to guard against encroachment.

 Sir, admittedly, there are certain areas that relevant departments of the Government such as the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the community decide to de-gazette and give out to people. Unfortunately, what we see now is total disregard of the law and assets which belong to communities.

For places where we have national parks and GMAs, that is a gift God has given to those areas. While those who come from the Copperbelt are blessed with diamonds and emeralds, those in Chongwe are blest with just arable land for agricultural purposes. However, for some of our colleagues in other areas, God has given them extra natural resources. If you deplete them by poaching, eating and doing whatever you want in the name of whatever functions, I wish to say that it is the people in those areas who are going to suffer. This is why this Government is encouraging PPP arrangements.

Nonetheless, I wish to advise my fellow hon. Members of Parliament on the importance of taking keen interest in assisting their communities in identifying possible genuine investors, not the kind that give kickbacks, with whom they will partner to form a company. The investors will provide money while the communities bring the land, forests and animals on board. After the identification of investors has been done, the communities can approach the Government which will assist in the running of these game parks. This is happening in the Western Province, Sesheke in particular. There is a good concept there where the community has come together in finding an investor. Working with their Royal Highnesses, they are able to create employment for their people. I think this is the direction which we should take.

Sir, I want to take this opportunity to caution everyone that we must guard against encroachments. The Government, working with the relevant departments of the Government such as the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs and the local authorities, is doing everything possible to ensure that encroachments are stopped. However, you and I know that these encroachments are surrounded by politics.

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Members: Fyafula!

Mrs Masebo: Unless we, the politicians, are firm, …

Interruptions

Mrs Masebo: … both on the left and the right, …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

You may continue as you conclude, please.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Masebo: Mr Speaker, I was concluding by saying that these issues are not easy to handle, but require political will both from the right and left side of the House. If we do not have that political will, all of us here are going to have problems. We are going to be like other African countries that used to boast of natural resources, but have none to boast about today.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

DISTRICT HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION IN LUWINGU

13. Mr Mucheleka asked the Minister of Health:

(a) whether the Government had any plans to construct a new district hospital in Luwingu to cater for the growing population; and

(b) if so, when the construction of the hospital would commence.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, …

Ms Kapata crossed the Floor.

Hon. Opposition Members: Order! Order!

Mr Mulenga: … the Government has planned for the construction of a second level referral hospital or general hospital in the Bangweulu area. The hospital is earmarked to serve the population surrounding the Bangweulu area, namely Luwingu, Chilubi, Mporokoso, Kawambwa and other surrounding areas, through provision of second level referral services. The Ministry of Health has already undertaken an assessment of the proposed area where the facility is supposed to be constructed.

Sir, advertisements have been placed in the print media calling for proposals of the design of the said hospital. Construction of the hospital is expected to commence in 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

EUROBOND INVESTMENT

14. Mr Simfukwe (Mbala) asked the Minister of Finance:

(a) in which sectors the Eurobond loan had been invested;

(b) how much money from the Eurobond had been spent as of 31st August, 2013;

(c) whether the Government had already started servicing the loan;

(d) if so, how much had been repaid in terms of both the principal and interest.

The Deputy Minister of Finance (Mr Mukata): Mr Speaker, the Eurobond loan was allocated to the following sectors:

Sector Amount (US$’ million)

Energy 255

Road 310

Railways 120

Health 29

Lending to SMEs 20

Sir, in terms of specific projects, under energy, the allocations were as follows:

Project Amount (US$’million)

ZESCO Kafue Gorge Hydro Project 186

ZESCO network distribution rehabilitation  69
for Lusaka and Copperbelt

Sir, under roads, the specific allocation were as follows:

Project Amount (US$’million)

Kitwe/Chingola Dual Carriage Way Road  100
Construction Project

Pave Zambia Road Project  65

Repayment of the Formula One Urban Road 145
Project Loan (procured just before the 2011 
General Elections)

Sir, under the health sector, the US$29 million is for the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone central hospitals.

Mr Speaker, the railway sector is in relation to the rehabilitation of the truck and wagons for the Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL).

Sir, the amount allocated to the SMEs was allocated to the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ), as a credit line to the SMEs.

Mr Speaker, in terms of utilisation of the funds, the status as at 31st August, 2013, is that in the energy sector, the ZESCO Kafue Gorge Hydro Project is under tender stage and no funds have been spent directly towards the project. Tenders for the ZESCO network distribution rehabilitation were running as at 31st August, 2013. No funds had been spent on the project. For both projects in the energy sector, we expect absorption of these funds to significantly pick up from this month onwards.

Sir, in terms of roads, by 31st August, 2013, a total of K84.2 million had been utilised on the Kitwe/Chingola Dual Carriageway Road Project. Works are on-going and the balance is expected to be utilised as the pace of the works picks up.

Sir, under the Pave Zambia Works Project, by 31st August, 2013, K43.9 million had been utilised for the procurement of equipment. The rest of the funds will be utilised now that the project has been commissioned.

Sir, US$145 million was paid to the commercial bank that provided a bridge in financing for the Formula One Road Project.

Sir, in terms of railways, as at 31st August, 2013, no funds had been utilised as the tender process for the procurement of equipment was on-going. The process has since been completed and contracts for works and supply of equipment are currently being signed. It is expected that a substantial amount will be utilised before the end of the year.

Sir, under the health sector, K5.1 million had been utilised for design and preparatory works as at 31st August, 2013, for the UTH, Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone hospitals. The balance of the funds will be utilised once a tender process has been finalised for the rehabilitation and supply of equipment to these hospitals.

Mr Speaker, by 31st August, 2013, under the SME lending, K8,983,386 had been disbursed to the agricultural, education, hospitality and manufacturing sectors.

Sir, on the question of whether the Government has started servicing the loans or not, I wish to inform this House that we have, so far, only been making fixed interest payments on the bond. The principle amount will be paid as a lump sum at maturity in 2022. So far, a total of US$41.4 million has been paid. The first payment was made in February, this year, while the second interest payment was made this month.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simfukwe: Mr Speaker, obviously, less than 50 per cent of the money has been spent. I would like to find out why the Government went ahead to procure this very expensive loan, which has already started costing us a lot of money, when it did not have ready bankable projects on which to spend it? Had it identified projects before hand, it would have had returns which would justify why the Government is paying all this interest.

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, the infrastructure projects that I have referred to are of such a magnitude that requires technical expertise and time in terms of process and procurement, that you cannot compare them to procuring fritters at the market.

Laughter

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Mukata: Sir, since the time span from procurement of these funds has been less than a year, part of the money is being expended on consultancy. So, you cannot say that the monies are not being absorbed. However, prudence, in terms of financial management and spending dictates that we follow the procurement processes. Putting up a hydro-power station is not a mean achievement. It takes time. I have indicated that, as of this month, you will see the increase in the absorption of these funds because we are done with the tender processes.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, my imagination was that caution was going to be put to my younger brother and friend to be kind as he makes responses to his colleagues …

Mr L. J. Ngoma: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, following your guidance that points of order should be raised contemporaneously, ...

Laughter

Mr L. J. Ngoma: ... I rise on this very serious point of order. Not long ago, you guided the hon. Minister of Defence to be serious and civil in his language when responding to questions. The hon. Deputy Minister of Finance is trivialising this issue by indicating that the tender processes cannot be likened to buying fritters at a market. Is he in order to trivialise the Business of this House and disregard your very wise guidance?

Ms Kalima Koma ndiwe wa MMD. Nichani kansi?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I have previously ruled, generally, that the business we transact on the Floor of the House is very earnest. I think it should behoove all of us to promote an atmosphere that is conducive to the seriousness of the business we transact. That should be manifested in the manner we communicate. I am mindful that it is not my function to prescribe a particular diction that you should follow in that regard and I know that there is a figure of speech that has been employed by the hon. Minister. However, I will be reluctant to begin circumscribing what figures of speech are permissible and which ones are not. This is because, not only will that task be onerous, but it will also be impossible to discharge. However, I still underscore the point that, without prescribing a particular formula, let us be earnest in our approach and communication and let us mutually respect each other. Let us avoid condescending attitudes towards each other. That is as far as I can go.

Continue, hon. Member.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, thank you for your wise counsel to the entire House about the need to be kind to one another when we are providing answers. Now, that it is well known that the US$120 million meant for the railways has been placed in a fixed high earning deposit account, I would like to find out how much interest this money has accrued this far.

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, the interest rate is at around 6 per cent. For the exact figure of accruals, I think, we can extrapolate it under a period of six to eight months since it was placed in that fixed account. Perhaps, the mathematicians can crunch the numbers and arrive at the exact figure.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, prudent debt management requires that you match the liability with the asset and hope that the positive cash flows of the asset are the ones that you will use to redeem the loan.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mulusa: Sir, we are already paying interest out of an economy that could not raise that US$750 million, the reason we borrowed. I would like to find out what the Government’s redemption strategy is regarding this particular bond.

Dr Kazonga: Sadziba!

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, let me put this in a context. The decision to approach and tap the market, in terms of the bond, was conceived way before. So, it was a carry-over in terms of process. The reason of harnessing such funds at such a rate was basically to target infrastructure development for reasons that have been advanced on this Floor. We have said that we can only turn this economy around if we deal with issues of energy and roads to tap into our massive natural resources. That is intended to grow the economy.

Dr Kazonga: Answer the question.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mukata: Sir, when you grow the economy, you are going to have enough resources that will assist you, because you amortise, to pay whatever loans you incur. So, yes, I can safely say in the energy sector, for instance, by 2014, we should be optimal and will no longer have a deficit. By 2016, we will have surplus and will be exporting. That is revenue. In terms of where we will find the money, we will be at sea. We will have the comfort and luxury to choose from where to pay.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker gave the Floor to Ms Lubezhi.

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by events.

Ms Imenda: Mr Speaker, I believe the interest paid, so far, is said to be US$41.4 million. How many quarters is this for?

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, this is, in fact, for the whole year. The payments are divided in two parts. They are not done quarterly, but every six months. So, for this year, we will pay US$41 million. For ten years, it will be a figure of about US$410 million, which is much lower than what we have borrowed. For the reasons I advanced, this will be pocket change for us to pay back in 2022.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, why is the money for railway infrastructure in the bank when the Mulobezi Railway Line needs serious repairs?

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, this money is, in fact, not meant for the Mulobezi Railway Line. It will be given to the ZRL which will decide the railway lines to repair and locomotives to procure. I made reference to the tender processes that are going on. Pen has been put to paper and soon, there will be a roll-out of various projects. The wisdom in putting the said money in an interest earning account was to hedge against keeping it dormant. If we had circumvented the procurement processes, some people would have been the first ones to shoot from the hip and accuse us of being thieves or something like that.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, it has been reported that the Government intends to further procure loans through sovereign bonds for ZESCO and the Lusaka City Council (LCC). Given the difficulties which we are facing in disbursing this Eurobond, does the hon. Deputy Minister think that it will be wise for ZESCO and the LCC to follow a similar route?

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, there is no decision, announcement or assurance that has been made by the Government indicating that it will move in that direction. Yes, I can admit that we are a thinking Government and, at times, when exploring avenues of raising funds, we think loudly. However, when a decision to tap into the market, again, to raise money is reached, the usual processes and justifications will be given at that point. Otherwise, it is premature for now.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, what was wrong with starting with the procurement processes before issuing a bond, as we did with the Formula One project? We procured the requirements and the works on the roads began as we awaited funds to be raised.

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, I think hon. Members must realise that getting funds is just like a season. We seek out a window of opportunity and if the time is ripe, we move in. That is why you saw the over subscription and a very good rate for the Eurobond. However, on the flip side of it, and to explain the procurement procedures, I think the model used by the previous Government is like putting the cart before the horse …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1615 hours until 1630 hours.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, as a continuation to the response I was giving, I would like to state that some projects were actually ongoing. So, it is not as if they were dreamt up after the money was raised. For instance, the upgrading of the Kafue Gorge Hydro-Power Station was running way before this Government came into office. There are a lot of issues that come into play in terms of absorption of funds. At times, on one hand, you may need to revisit the designs of a particular project and, on the other hand, tender processes take long.

Mr Speaker, as regards the example given by the hon. Member in his question that the tender process and feasibility study should have been done before going to borrow money for the project, it is important to realise that some of these monies go into the same processes. For instance, if you look at the project relating to the construction of hospitals, US$5.1 million out of the US$29 million has been allocated towards the feasibility studies to incubate the project and get it running. So, at times, if you do not have these monies upfront, you may not even be able to conduct the feasibility studies which require consultancy.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister confirm that the issue of the Eurobond …

Ms Kalima: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, for the sake of the record and listeners out there, the hon. Deputy Minister of Finance, in his response to the question asked by Hon. Mulusa on the strategies that the Government has, in terms of paying back this loan, stated that when it comes to that time, which is in 2014 and 2015, the Government will be at sea. According to the dictionary, ‘to be at sea’ means to be in a state of confusion, perplexed or at a loss.

Laughter

Ms Kalima: Is this Government in order to inform the nation that it will be at a loss when the time comes to pay back the loan? That is alarming and I seek your serious ruling.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister will respond to that issue as he progresses with the various responses.

The hon. Member for Chadiza, continue, please.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to confirm that the issue of the Eurobond was a brainchild of the MMD. In the same line, I also want him to confirm whether the Ruling Party consulted the former hon. Minister of Finance in the MMD Government.

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, the issue of the Eurobond was not a brainchild of the MMD …

MMD Members: Aah!

Mr Mukata: … as a party.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Mr Mukata: Allow me to answer. It was a brain child of the Government then. Under the Constitution, the Government is successive and has perpetual life. There is no break. Therefore, it was a brain child of the Government and not the MMD, as a party. Unless I can be shown a document from some secretariat that it was our brainchild, I will give that context.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mukata: As regards the Government being at sea, it is true that when the time comes, we will not know from which vault to tap in order to pay because there will be so much money.

Laughter

Mr Mukata: Therefore, the confusion will arise from the proceeds. So much money will be on board. That is the context in which I said we will be at sea. We will be so confused because of so much money. We will not even know where to pick from to pay.

I thank you, Sir

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, there is one aspect which you have not addressed  and this on whether you consulted the former hon. Minister of Finance.

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, I am not aware. However, I am sure that current hon. Ministers of Finance consult former hon. Ministers.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, unless I did not get the …

Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I am forced to rise, once again, on a point of order.

Mr Ng’onga: Question! That is what you always do!

Mr Mbewe: The PF Government always raises people’s hopes very high. At the moment, the hon. Minister is saying that there will be a lot of money in 2014. People will mark his words in the same way they did in 2011 when the PF Government said that there would be more money in people’s pockets.

Mr Speaker: What is the point of order?

Mr Mbewe: Is the Government in order to continuously mislead the nation that there will be more money when, in fact, there is no money? 

Mr Speaker: I know that we have just emerged from a recess and I would like to seize this opportunity just to stress what I have repeatedly stated before. The raison d’être for a point of order is procedural. I have noticed, especially this afternoon, a tendency and temptation to use points of order to debate. That is not the function of a point of order. If there are follow-up questions, you are at liberty to ask them. If we continue in this manner, we will not make progress because the points of order now, as I discern them, are being used to debate. That is not the function of a point of order.

Hon. Member for Chembe, you may continue.

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, unless I did not get the hon. Minister right, he mentioned that for the Kitwe/Chingola Dual Carriageway Road Project, a K100 million was earmarked and that, so far, K84 million has been committed. Having come from the Copperbelt,  I can confidently state that the works are not visible. ‘Condescending’ the two figures, …

Laughter

Dr Kalila: Repeat it. Conde … what?

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: ‘Condescending’ the two figures, …

Laughter

Mr Mbulakulima: … do you see it possible that you are going to finish that great work with the remaining K16 million or do you see yourselves committing this Government to borrowing more to complete this job within two years?

Interruptions

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, we are not a procurement ministry. We do not solicit projects. That question should be put to the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication which is supervising the road works.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, is there any prudence in borrowing money only to put it in the bank?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, Hear!

Laughter

Mr Mukata: Mr Speaker, there is no prudence in borrowing money and putting it in the bank just for the purpose of putting it in the bank. I do not think I lent credence to such kind of an impression in either the question or the answer.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mukata: The statement I gave on the Floor of the House was about tender processes going on and the money sitting in the account and the Government seeing it prudent to warm it up as it is getting absorbed. I said that absorption, in terms of financing the projects, began by September, this year.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mwale: Bakawalala!

Mr Livune: Kimasholi!

CLASSROOM BLOCK CONSTRUCTION IN KABOMPO WEST

15. Mr Lufuma asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) why (VIP) Latrines were constructed first, instead of classroom blocks, at the following primary school sites in Kabompo West Parliamentary Constituency:

(i) Chifuwe South;

(ii) Chifuwe Mununga; and

(iii) Kafungo; and

(b) when the classroom blocks at the sites at (a) would be constructed.

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, the VIPs were constructed before the construction of classrooms at Chifuwe South, Chifuwe Mununga and Kafungo primary school sites because the funding for such community mode projects is normally sourced from both donors and the Government. In this particular case, the Government raised funds for the construction of VIP latrines. However, funds from donors to construct the classrooms were not released. The Government is aware of this challenge and has asked the Kabompo District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) to factor this need into the 2014 Budget.

I thank you, Sir.

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON ADDITIONAL CHIEFS’ RECOGNITION

16. Mr Lufuma asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs whether the Government policy of not recognising additional chiefs since 1964 had since changed.

The Deputy Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mrs Kawandami): Mr Speaker, the Government policy of not recognising additional chiefs has not changed.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, I recall that just before we went on recess, the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs announced that the Government had gazzetted a certain chief in the northern region.

Hon. Opposition Members: A sub chief.

Mr Lufuma: Was it a sub chief?

Interruptions

Mr Lufuma: The Government gazzetted a chief in the northern region. If the policy has not changed, could I know why that chief was gazzetted?

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Prof. Luo): Mr Speaker, as I indicated earlier, there has been no policy change. However, we have an issue which the hon. Members of Parliament may not know and I will take this opportunity to highlight it. Among the people that are called chiefs around the country, especially in the Eastern Province, we have individuals whom we can either call traditional councillors or sub-chiefs. For some reason, when the gazetting of the chiefs happened, these people remained on the same list as chiefs and they are even paid and enjoy the subsidies of other chiefs. What has happened over the years is that the Presidents have upgraded these people. For example, this was the case with Chief Mumbi, in the Eastern Province. In Luapula, this was the case with Chieftainess Lambwe Chomba.

Mr Speaker, we are looking at these chiefs on a case-by-case basis and are analysing the number of villages that they have. To this effect, as a ministry, we have started redefining villages so that we can define the minimum number of families and households that can constitute a village. We are streamlining because not doing so may cause a few problems in the country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, in instances where a senior chief installs a new chief, can the hon. Minister guide on what the position of the Government on such a situation would be.

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I even know which chiefs the hon. Member of Parliament is talking about and I want to inform him that I have spoken to those chiefs. I told them that they have absolutely no right to go in a chiefdom to install a chief. I have also put this in writing. This is because according to the Chiefs Act, which I have here, anybody who has not been gazetted by the President of the Republic of Zambia is going against the law and I will make sure that I uphold the law which I swore to do. I will uphold the Constitution of Zambia and pay allegiance to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia. Therefore, be informed that that is not going to happen.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, the issue that the hon. Minister is referring to is quite important and it hinges on most provinces where there are chiefs who were gazetted by colonial masters. In Mwinilunga and Ikeleng’i, those who fought for Independence were gazetted. I have in mind Chief Mukangala and Ntambu. Since the Government has already started doing this secretly, when will the list of chiefs who have been gazetted be availed to us so that we know our predicament?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, there is no secrecy about this. In fact, let me inform the hon. Members of Parliament, again, through this August House, that one of the things that my ministry has embarked on is the profiling of chiefdoms. At the end of this activity, we are going to produce a bulletin that will not only show the present chief of a chiefdom, but also the history of the chiefdom, including information on whether the chiefs were gazetted or are absent because of death. There is no secrecy. The list of chiefs and indunas in this country and the ones who have been continuously enjoying support from the Government is at the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs.

Mr Speaker, let me also use this opportunity to say that the unfortunate matter about chiefs is that while we all appreciate that they are traditional rulers, we believe that because of their status, they should be handled outside the law. The law applies to everybody and none of us is above it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, in light of what the hon. Minister has just explained, I would like to find out what the controversy surrounding the Mwine Lubemba Chitimukulu Kingdom was.

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, what I want to do this afternoon is lay the Chiefs Act on the Table so that all the hon. Members of Parliament can read it and familiarise themselves with it. Once they read this Act, which they passed, they will get the answer on the Shilubemba controversy.

I thank you, Sir.

Prof. Luo laid the paper on the Table.

Hon. Opposition Members: Answer!

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, since that issue has been politicised, I have laid the Act on the Table so that you can decide whether the Government acted outside or within the law.

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister what will prevail in Zambia when the people identify a chief and, through the Act that has been laid on the Table, the Government rejects the individual.

Laughter

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, in answering that question, let me contrast two countries, which are Ghana and Zambia. In Ghana, the law governing the chiefs says that they should regulate themselves. Therefore, they have put structures in place from village level to national level by forming a house of chiefs which does all the progression, nomination and gazetting of would-be chiefs. In Zambia, the Act says that there will be a nomination by the traditional leadership. Following that, there will be installation that will follow the African tradition and, finally, gazetting will be done by the President of the Republic of Zambia. As hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs or, if you like, hon. Minister of kings and queens, I will not act outside the law.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aleisa, aleisa!

Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, at last, you have noticed me. The question was whether the Government policy of not recognising additional chiefs since 1964 has now changed. In response to this question, the hon. Minister said that there has been no policy change. However, she went on to say that some chiefs, advisors or traditional councillors, I do not know what word she used, had been upgraded.

Mr Speaker, if, for example, the number of chiefs was 268 before the upgrading and it has now increased to 288, is that, in itself, not a policy change in the sense that now you have additional chiefs that did not exist before? Can the hon. Minister be clear and guide us.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I said that the list that is before us, in the ministry, has more names of people that fall under the terminology ‘chiefs,’ except when you interrogate it, while they are not recognised as such, they enjoy all the privileges of chiefs. So, why should you keep maintaining them as traditional councillors? You may as well give them the rightful name under which they appear. That is what I am saying.

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Members: That is a policy change!

Prof. Luo: That is not a policy change because these people have been recognised as chiefs except that they have not been gazzetted.

Interruptions

Prof. Luo: Let me tell you who recognised them. Mr Lambwe Chomba was gazzetted by the late President Chiluba, Mr Mumbi was gazzetted by the late President Patrick Mwanawasa, SC. and Mr Chewe and Chimbuka were recognised by President Sata. So, why did you not raise eyebrows when that was happening during your tenure of office?

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, following the controversy …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Ms Kalima: … over Chitimukulu, who has now been enthroned as a chief, is the PF Government ready to apologise?

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, by definition, an apology happens when you have done something wrong. I would like to invite the hon. Member of Parliament to read the Chiefs Act and come back to this House and point out where the Government has gone wrong.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out …

Mr Mweetwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I wish to apologise for interrupting the hon. Member on the Floor. I was quietly enjoying the debate around the chiefs. However, as a concerned hon. Member of this House, I would like to find out if the hon. Minister is in order to adopt such an intimidatory posture in her responses that hon. Members who have questions for purposes of clarification on behalf of the people who elected them are now scared because of the way she is answering. Is she in order to scare this House? I seek your serious ruling.

Laughter

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

I did not think that the hon. Minister deliberately set out to intimidate anybody. At least, I did not expect anybody to be scared. She may have been very forceful and very emphatic in her response, but you can be assured, hon. Member for Choma Central, that no hon. Member will be intimidated from asking further questions. So, you are at liberty to make follow-up questions.

 May the hon. Member for Solwezi West continue, please.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs whether, of the additional chiefs, Chief Chewe, whom I understand is your relative, has been included and can you declare your interest …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Solwezi West, you have to recast that question …

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Speaker: Just hold on. I have not finished.

... because as we know, we are not permitted to debate ourselves and personalise issues in that manner. The hon. Minister is discharging a public function. Regardless of filial and other relations, facts which I am not privy to, she is performing a public mandate. So, it is totally unnecessary of you to make those aspersions.

Please, withdraw that statement and apologise.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, I want to find out whether …

Hon. Government Members: Withdraw it and apologise!

Mr Speaker: No! No!

You have to withdraw it.

Mr Livune: Find out!

Mr Mwanza: I want to find out, Mr Speaker. Please, do not curtail me.

Interruptions

Mr Mwanza: Okay, I withdraw the statement.

Hon. Government Members: Apologise!

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mwanza: No, I cannot apologise.

Mr Speaker, I just want to find out …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Solwezi West, do two things. I will state them in simple and plain language. Withdraw the statement and tender an apology to the hon. Minister.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, for the sake of progress, …

Mr Mucheleka: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: No! No!

You cannot raise a point of order under these circumstances.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, following your advice, I can apologise and withdraw the statement, but let me move on.

Mr Speaker: Proceed with your question.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, now that it has been cleared that there are additional chiefs, is Chief Chewe included on the list?

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, whatever happens in the Ministry for Chiefs and Traditional Affairs is not a secret. The upgrading of Chief Chewe is one of them. For your information, he was not upgraded during my tenure of office, but during that of Hon. Wina.

Sir, if you want to talk about issues of whether things are being done for relatives …

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Members: Withdraw and apologise!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, I have made a ruling. A ruling is meant to depersonalise these debates, and it should be very clear from the ruling. We will not make progress if we continue in this manner. This is a very innocuous subject. So, hon. Minister, please, withdraw your statement.

Interruptions

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I withdraw.

Hon. Opposition Members: And apologise!

Prof. Luo: That was not the guidance from the Speaker.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to clarify this point. In line with the Act which she laid on the Table of the House, the Bemba Traditional Establishment has followed the Act to the letter by constituting …

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I reluctantly rise on this point of order as a Bemba area hon. Member of Parliament.

Interruptions

Mr Kampyongo: Sir, is the hon. Member in order …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! Let us have order. You know, the word, ‘honourable’ is a term of art. It imports certain behavior. Therefore, give him an ear.

Continue, hon. Member.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member on the Floor in order to ask a question on a matter in which he has got direct personal interest?

Interruptions

Mr Kampyongo: Sir, I think that if it is allowed in that fashion, we are going to degenerate …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, like I said, I am just as concerned as everyone over the matter the hon. Member is trying to ask about. We do not want to tamper with the dignity of the institution. Is he in order to ask a question in a matter he is directly interested in without declaring his interest?

Ms Kalima interjected.

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Kasenengwa!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Let me stress this point. These personal details, personal relationships and peculiar knowledge are not permitted on the Floor of the House. I am not going to make a ruling based on matters which are not public knowledge and are of a purely private character. I would think that if any hon. Member was, in any way, handicapped by personal interest, he/she would be honourable enough to constrain themselves. I am not going to undertake an inquisition into this peculiar knowledge. I presume that everybody is debating from a disinterested point of view. That is a presumption I can make and I cannot make any other.

Continue, hon. Member for Lubansenshi.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, given that the Bemba Royal Establishment …

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I am really sorry to have to intercept business. All honourable colleagues seated on your right hand side are representatives of the Government. Together with us and the Judiciary, that is not present here, we form the three wings of Government. Please, rule me out of order if I am wrong, but I want to find out whether Hon. Kampyongo, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, is in order to refer to himself, in this House, as a Bemba hon. Member of Parliament. If Hon. Kaunda was here, he would have said, “One Zambia” and all of you would have responded, “One Nation.” Is he in order to say that?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Order!

I must say that there is some degree of cacophony …

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … to a point where, coupled with this attire that I am wearing, I am not able to decipher certain words. My honest comprehension was that the hon. Deputy Minister said that he was an hon. Member.

Hon. Opposition Members: Bemba!

Mr Speaker: Let me finish my ruling. If that reference was made, it is certainly out of order.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: It is not customary for hon. Members of this august House to identify themselves on the basis of ethnic affiliation. The identification which is familiar to the Hon. Mr Speaker is very simple and time honoured. It is based on constituencies. This is why, repeatedly and consistently, I address you according to your constituencies. I know the ethnic groupings to which many of you belong, but it would be inappropriate for me to designate you on the basis of that very parochial groupings. The hon. Member was out of order.

Continue, hon. Member for Lubansenshi.

Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, given that the Bemba Royal Establishment, indeed, has conformed to the Act to the extent of writing to the Government to gazette Mr Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Chitimukulu, why is the Government sitting on the recommendation that has been made by the appropriate organ as, indeed, contained in the Chiefs Act?

Prof. Luo indicated.

Hon. Opposition Members: Wait!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, first of all, my office waits for written minutes, the family tree, and other relevant documents, including the people who attended the meeting, to come to my ministry for evaluation. The gazzetting of a chief is not automatic. There are other chiefs who were nominated much earlier than the gentleman in question. I want to give …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order! She is still on the Floor.

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, for example, Chief Ndake’s papers came to our office. When we evaluated and found that there were queries in those documents, we had the right to send them back for questioning. We even go to the archives in order to learn about different chiefdoms and the processes that are supposed to be followed when electing a chief. I would like the hon. Members of Parliament to give me the opportunity to do my work. They are not supposed to behave as if they are hon. Ministers of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs as well.

Interruptions

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I have procedures that I should follow and I will neither dance to the tune of the press nor the public. I will do my functions and when I leave that office, I would like people to come and judge me on the basis of the actions I am making.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.{mospagebreak}

FERTILISER DISTRIBUTION

17. Mr Milambo asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock:
(a) how many 50 kg bags of D-Compound and urea fertiliser were given to small-scale farmers in the following parliamentary constituencies in 2012:

(i) Mumbwa Central;

(ii) Mwembeshi; and

(iii) Nangoma; and

(b) how many bags of D-Compound and urea fertiliser were earmarked for distribution in the 2013/2014 Farming Season in the newly-created Shibuyunji District.
Interruptions

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, there is too much noise.

Mr Speaker: Order!

The hon. Minister is not able to communicate.

Mr Livune: He cannot struggle. He is an hon. Minister, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, during the 2012/2013 Farming Season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), distributed 48,084 by 50 kg bags of both compound D and urea fertilisers in Mumbwa District. The bags were shared among the three constituencies as follows:

 Constituency  Amount of fertiliser

 Mumbwa Central   9,508 by 50 kg bags of D-compound and 9,011 by 50 kg bags of urea

 Nangoma  6,647 by 50 kg bags of D- compound and 6,178 by 50 kg bags of urea

 Mwembeshi  8,589 by 50 kg bags of D-compound and 8,061 by 50 kg bags of urea

Sir, the newly-created Shibuyunji District is earmarked to receive 7,260 by 50 kg bags of D-compound and 7,260 by 50 kg bags of urea fertilisers during the 2013/2014 Farming Season.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the hon. Minister is aware that …

Mr Mulusa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mulusa: Sir, I thank you for this opportunity. On Friday, last week, His Excellency, Mr Micheal Chilufya Sata, gave a State of the Nation Address, which is a very important event. Today, we are supposed to start responding to that address and our hope was that the full Cabinet would be in attendance to listen to us so that they can respond to the issues we will raise.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, are the hon. Ministers in order to be absent and, therefore, trivalise the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President?

Interruptions

I seek your serious ruling, Sir.

Mr Mwale: They are busy fighting.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: I have previously addressed this question regardless of the subject that you have referred to, namely the debate on the Address by His Excellency. I have stated in my previous rulings that, as far as possible, as many of the Cabinet Ministers should be present.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: However, I also note, in fairness, …

Mr Mbulakulima: That they are not in, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Chembe, ...

Laughter

Mr Speaker: … that there is a sizable number of hon. Cabinet Ministers present.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I am making a ruling. You are raising an issue about order so you must also be orderly. So, to that extent, I do not think that our business will be impaired. I am sure that His Honour the Vice-President has taken note of what I am saying.

Hon. Opposition Members: Where is he? He is not here.

Mr Speaker: I know why he is not here. You do not know why he is not here, but I do. He will take note of it through his representative who is here.

Hon. Opposition Members: Masumba.

Mr Speaker: So, I do not think I will carry the point further than this.

Continue, hon. Member for Mwembeshi.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, my follow-up question is in relation to part (b) of my question.

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, I rarely rise on points of order, but this one is very compelling. Is the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs in order to refer to the paramount chief of the Bembaland …

Mr Mpundu: Question!

Mr Livune: … as ‘that gentleman’ in her statement when, traditionally, our chiefs are referred to as their royal highnesses and majesties. However, this one is a paramount chief and we heard the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs referring to him as ‘that gentleman’. Is she in order?

I need your serious ruling, Sir

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The point of order is intended to rewind our business, which we will not do.

Continue, hon. Member for Mwembeshi.

Mr Milambo: Mr Speaker, I wanted to find out whether the hon. Minister is aware that not even a single farmer in Shibuyunji District has received fertiliser so far.

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, we are well aware of that situation.

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions

Mr Habeenzu: Mr Speaker, in light of the hon. Deputy Minister’s response,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        now that he is aware, what does the ministry intend to do about it?

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, we intend to ‘haul’ fertiliser from the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) to Shibuyunji starting next week.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: It is a slip of the tongue.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for his intention to haul fertiliser to Shibuyunji next week. Earlier in the day, he informed us that there is a backlog in terms of payments to the transporters who moved cargo in the past marketing season. Therefore, I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government will contract new transporters or it will negotiate with the same transporters it has failed to pay money to haul fertiliser to Shibuyunji District.

Mr Mwewa: Mr Speaker, we are doing both. We are requesting other transporters to come on board and we are also negotiating with those that we owe money to continue doing business.

I thank you, Sir.

CHIEFDOM BOUNDARIES IN SOLWEZI WEST

18. Mr Mwanza asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs:
(a) where the official boundaries of Chief Matebo, Senior Chief Mukumbi and Senior Chief Musele of Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency lay; and
(b) when the Government would start sensitising the people of Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency on the chiefdom boundaries based on the 1958 map which designates official chiefdom boundaries.

Mrs Kawandami: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs is currently using the 1958 maps in an attempt to identify chiefdom boundaries. However, we are unable to point out exactly where the boundaries lie because the maps do not have narrative descriptions.

Sir, as soon as the narrative descriptions are made available by the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, efforts will be made to sensitise the stakeholders on the chiefdom boundaries.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I recall that the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs promised this House that her ministry would be given maps to indicate boundaries for the chiefdoms. Hon. Minister, where are the maps?

Laughter

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, the maps are there.

Hon. Opposition Members: Where?

Prof. Luo: In fact, we have started distributing some of them.

Hon. Opposition Members: To whom?

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, the challenge with the maps is that they have no narrative descriptions. For instance, last week, on Wednesday, we were trying to resolve a wrangle between chiefs Nyampande and Mwape. We called the surveyors and took these maps along. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to read them without narrative descriptions. We, therefore, have to go back with maps that have narrations. This is what will help us.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, I would like to draw the hon. Minister’s attention to Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency.

Sir, from an early age, we were told that the chiefdom boundary is the old colonial road. Has this boundary been shifted?

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I went on the ground and what the hon. Member was told when he was young is not something that can be used to mark a boundary. For instance, there was an old man who told me “ba professor tiyende tifike pamusinje”. The musinje he was talking about is not there anymore because it had dried up.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Minister, what does that mean? Please, translate. You were operating in another language.

Laughter

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I just wanted to give an example of these stories people have been told from the time they were young. I experienced this first-hand. I was told that a boundary was a river which, unfortunately, has dried up.

Sir, allow us, therefore, to work professionally. We are saying that these maps require some narration and our professionals will sit down and put narrations to the maps so that we can move forward.

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister the period required to come up with these narrations.

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, when it comes to work, one may give an approximation of two months. However, there are factors that govern these things.  Therefore, I will not give any timeframe in this House because when, due to unforeseen circumstances, this does not happen within that time, it will be held against me. Usually, it is a good idea to attach timeframes, but I have found out that, in this House, it is not because it tends to haunt you.

I thank you, Sir.

Laughter {mospagebreak}

HEALTH CENTRE PERSONNEL IN SOLWEZI WEST

19. Mr Mwanza asked the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health when the following health centres in Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency would be provided with medical personnel:

(a) Kisasa;

(b) Maheba; and

(c) Mutanda.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the three centres in Solwezi West Constituency will be provided with medical personnel through the net-recruitment exercise which will take place in October, 2013.

I thank you, Sir.

ADDITIONAL GRAIN STORAGE FACILITIES IN KAOMA

20. Mr Antonio asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock when the Government would build more grain storage facilities in Kaoma District considering that a lot of maize goes to waste due to inadequate storage facilities.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Kazabu): Mr Speaker, Kaoma District is expected to benefit from the countrywide construction of ninety-eight storage sheds by Advanced African Solutions, an international firm that has since signed a contract with the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Furthermore, Sir, the FRA, in partnership with two Chinese firms, will construct seven new grain silos in selected high production districts. Kaoma District will have one grain silo constructed. Construction of the grain silos is expected to commence in 2014, with a completion period of two years.

I thank you, Sir.

HONEY AND WAX PRODUCTION IN KAOMA

21. Mr Antonio asked the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection:

(a) how much honey and wax was produced in Kaoma District from January, 2011, to July, 2013; and

(b) whether the Government had any plans to re-open the honey factory in the district.

The Deputy Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Dr Mwali): Mr Speaker, a total of 126.3 tonnes of honey comb was produced in Kaoma District from January, 2011, to July, 2013.

Sir, Kaoma District currently does not process honey and hence the honey is sold unprocessed or as honeycomb.

Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to re-open the honey factory in Kaoma District in 2014.

I thank you, Sir.

NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ STAFF HOUSES

22. Mr M. Malama (Chitambo) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a) whether the ministry was aware that no Government staff houses had been constructed at the following primary schools in Chitambo Parliamentary Constituency since the schools were opened:

(i) Lubembe and Kabola in Muchinka Ward; and

(ii) Chipundu in Chipundu Ward; and

(b) if so, when construction of the houses for the schools would commence.

Mr P. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, the ministry wishes to record its appreciation to the community for the commendable job it has done by constructing teachers’ houses at Lubembe, Kabola and Chipundu primary schools. Let me emphasise here that the Government greatly values its partnership with the community or private sector.

Sir, having seen that the community had begun this good work, we came in, as a ministry, to construct portal framed classroom blocks at Lubembe, Chipundu and Kabola. The ministry will continue working with the community on these projects. The District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Office has been told to work closely with the community to complete the outstanding works.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

DAVID LIVINGSTONE MEMORIAL SITE INFRASTRUCTURE

23. Mr M. Malama asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs whether the Government had any plans to build infrastructure at the David Livingstone Memorial Site in Chipundu Ward in Chitambo Parliamentary Constituency.

Mrs Kawandami: Mr Speaker, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the National Heritage Conservation Commission, has already initiated infrastructure development at David Livingstone Memorial Site. The activities involve rehabilitation of the pillar, construction of the perimeter block wall to include a gate, ticket office, toilets, benches, information panels and the access pathway within the site.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr M. Malama: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister attach a timeframe within which these works will commence.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Kawandami: Mr Speaker, these works have already started and most of them are complete.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mrs Kawandami: Yes, the perimeter block wall has been worked on.

I thank you, Sir.

MWINILUNGA’S CONNECTION TO THE NATIONAL ELECTRICITY GRID

24. Mr Katuka (Mwinilunga) asked the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development when the project to connect Mwinilunga District to the national electricity grid would be completed.

Mr Zulu: Mr Speaker, the project to connect all the districts in the North-Western Province and Lukulu in the Western Province is expected to be completed by 2015. Mwinilunga District, in the North-Western Province, will also be connected through this project.

Sir, allow me to give an overview of how we are going to go about this project.

First of all, ZESCO has already signed an Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) with Eltel Networks of Sweden to execute the project for connection of the North-Western Province to the national grid. The project scope involves construction of an extensive 132kV sub-transmission system of overhead lines linking all the districts in the North-Western Province and Lukulu District in the Western Province. Additionally, ZESCO will construct a new 132/33kV bulk supply sub-stations in Mwinilunga, Mufumbwe, Kabompo, Mumbeji, Zambezi, Chavuma and Lukulu districts. Currently, all these districts are supplied from stand-alone diesel generators and, as a Government, we realised that it is not only expensive to run and maintain, but also unreliable.

Sir, the project is estimated to cost about US$150 million for electrification of the North-Western Province. Financing is being provided by Nordea Bank of Sweden and Standard Bank of South Africa through a credit financing loan facility. Discussions between ZESCO and the banks to finalise the financing are currently in process.

Mr Speaker, in terms of the delivery period of the project, it is expected that the contractor will mobilise to commence construction works before the end of 2013. This project has a delivery period of twenty-four months, which is two years. Some districts will be connected to the grid much earlier, as commissioning will be done in stages with the last one coming towards the end of 2015.

Mr Speaker, the scope of the project is that the connection point for the new overhead transmission lines will be from the existing Lumwana 330/132/33kV Sub-Station. The transmission lines to be constructed are as follows:

(a) 132kV line from Lumwana Mine Sub-station to Mwinilunga totalling 190 km;

(b) 132kV line from Lumwana Mine to Mufumbwe, Kabompo, Mumbeji and Zambezi totalling 518 km;

(c) 132kV line from Mumbeji to Lukulu totalling 93 km; and

(d) 132kV line from Zambezi to Chavuma totalling 80 km.

As mentioned earlier, Mr Speaker, a new 132/33kV bulk supply sub-station will be constructed in each of the above districts. An extensive distribution network shall, then, be constructed to electrify public facilities like schools, rural health centres, the Government and other institutional facilities and chiefs’ palaces, among others. In summary, the project will improve availability because of adequate power from the grid to the province.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

NEW MWINILUNGA CIVIC CENTRE

25. Mr Katuka asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the construction of the new civic centre for Mwinilunga District Council, where works had stalled, would be completed.

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tembo): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the construction of the new civic centre for Mwinilunga District Council will be completed once the funds are released by the Treasury. It must also be noted that the implementation of the project is being done in phases.

I thank you, Sir.

____________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the thanks of this Assembly be recorded for the exposition of public policy contained in the President’s Address.

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Mushanga: Sir, allow me to begin by thanking you for according me this opportunity and privilege to move the Motion of Thanks on the Speech by His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, on the occasion of the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly last week, on Friday, 20th September, 2013.

Sir, allow me, from the outset, to indicate that the President’s Address to this House, last week, was excellent and well-articulated.

Hon. Opposition Members: No! It was hollow.

Mr Mwewa: Finshi mulekana naimwe? Mulesuminafye.

Mr Mushanga: Sir, I am aware that some hon. Members on your left, as they have already started, will criticise it in their debate. This is a normal practice in a democracy …

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: … because their role, as the Opposition, is to provide checks and balances on the Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, this notwithstanding, I would like to urge the hon. Members on your left to debate and provide constructive criticism. Further, I would like to inform them that those of us on your right, especially those in the Executive, are ready to provide answers to any question they may wish to raise. This is because, as a party in Government, we are ready and in a hurry to develop this country, as evidenced by the development that this country has witnessed in the past two years that the PF has been in office.

Hon. Back Benchers: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwila: Bwekeshapo!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, this urgency to develop the country is elaborated in the President’s Speech. Quoting from the PF Manifesto, His Excellency the President stated that the citizens of this land not only deserve, but are also entitled to better lives.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, the people of this great nation have already started experiencing better lives.

Hon. MMD Members: Aah!

Mr Mushanga: Sir, for those who do not know which people are now living better lives, the improvement of salaries for all civil servants is one such example.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, for the first time in the history of Zambia, the lowest paid civil servant will now be getting K3,000. Is this not making people’s lives better?

Sir, before I go any further, let me state that His Excellency the President expressed sadness at the death of the hon. Member of Parliament for Mansa Central Constituency and former hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting, the late Mr Kennedy Sakeni, who passed away on 5th September, 2013. Allow me to join His Excellency the President, you and the rest of the country in expressing my sincere condolences to his family and to this nation. May his soul rest in peace.

Mr Speaker, in his speech to this august House, His Excellency the President raised a number of important issues. I will not follow the sub headings which are outlined in the President’s Speech. However, I will highlight a few issues on which I feel the PF Government deserves commendation.

Sir, allow me to also join His Excellency the President in congratulating the newly-elected hon. Members of Parliament. They worked very hard during the by-elections and, therefore, deserve the victory to take their seats as hon. Members of this House.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kalima: 4-1!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of the Republic of Zambia for successfully co-hosting, with Zimbabwe, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Conference (UNWTO) in Livingstone and Victoria Falls towns respectively. I would like to urge the people of Livingstone to guard the renovated and constructed infrastructure jealously.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Tourism and Art, together with her Zimbabwean counterpart, have even won an award because of the successful co-hosting of the UNWTO. For those who may not know, this award will be presented to the two in Nigeria during the course of this year.

Sir, as His Excellency the President noted during his Address to this House, the conference enhanced Zambia’s profile and image as a tourist destination. The results are there for everyone to see, including those who were criticising, especially at the point of preparation. There were talks that Zimbabwe was more advanced than Zambia in terms of preparations. If you go to Livingstone, right now, you will see a beautiful and clean city. Well done, hon. Minister of Tourism and Art.

Ms Masebo indicated assent.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kalima: Ulwisha chani?

Mr Mwila: Bwekeshapo!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, besides the successful co-hosting of the UNWTO, the commitment by the Government to develop this country is evidenced by the economic growth rate. Apart from the country’s gross domestic product’s (GDP) continued positive growth rate, inflation has also remained low. It now stands at single digit level.

Sir, with regard to developmental projects, I am very delighted that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia outlined some of the achievements the PF Government has recorded and scored in its two years of being in office. These include the construction of thirty-two new secondary schools out of the planned eight-four countrywide. This is accompanied by the construction of staff housing units, unlike the previous Government that did not care to provide a conducive teaching and learning environment for the learners.

Mr Speaker, the construction of new universities, namely Chalimbana, Palabana in Lusaka Province, Paul Mushindo in Lubwa Mission in Muchinga Province, …

Mr Mulusa: Utukwana, iwe!

Mr Mushanga: … Dr Livingstone in the Southern Province, King Lewanika in the Western Province, has commenced while infrastructure at Kwame Nkhruma, in Kabwe, and Mukuba university colleges is being upgraded.

Mr Mwale: Uleumfwako insoni.

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, once operational, the new universities will provide more opportunities to school leavers to access university education and reduce the burden of the three public universities of school leavers …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order on the left!

Mr Mushanga: … fighting for a few and limited places. Other successes scored by the PF Government include the construction of trades training institutions which include Kalabo and Isoka, which are nearing completion. The construction works for Mwense and Mporokoso will commence very soon. The Northern Technical College, Choma and Chipata Trades Training Institutes and Kabwe Institute of Technology are being expanded. Luanshya Trades has since received new and modern equipment. In view of these positive developments, allow me to demand that the PF Government deserves to be given credit because it has been duly earned.

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, on upgrading of health infrastructure throughout the country, so far, 137 health facilities have been renovated. Rehabilitation works have also commenced in 110 health facilities. In addition, Shang’ombo and Chadiza districts each have a new fully-operational district hospital. By the end of this year, four new district hospitals are expected to be completed in Lumwana, Lufwanyama, Chienge and Samfya. Apart from the four district hospitals, twenty-one new district hospitals and 114 housing units are under construction countrywide.

Mr Speaker, this is a pro-poor Government and true to his words, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, has fulfilled some of the promises he made last year during his address to this House.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, I recall that, last year, while addressing this august House, His Excellency the President informed us that 650 health posts would be constructed by the Government throughout the country. In the President’s Address to this House last Friday, he stated that contracts for the construction of the said health posts had been signed. Once operational, the health posts will bring healthcare as close to the family as possible. That is in line with the PF Manifesto and Government policy.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, besides taking healthcare closer to families, the Government is upgrading the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) − which has not been upgraded in so many years − Ndola and Kitwe central hospitals and Livingstone General Hospital into first level hospitals. In addition, 220 bed facilities are being constructed at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka. Further, there is the construction of roads, dams, mini-hydro power stations, expansion of existing hydro power stations and connection of rural households to the national grid line under the Rural Electrification Programme.

Mr Speaker, some of the projects outlined above have been financed by the Government through the Eurobond. This has given the Treasury the much-needed financial resources to implement developmental projects. I wish, therefore, to appeal to all hon. Members in this House to support the Government’s initiatives to mobilise financial resources for development to be taken to all parts of this country. Further, I urge small and medium enterprises to take advantage of this windfall by developing bankable projects which the Government can support.

Mr Speaker, since Independence, Zambia has had three governments. The first one was in office for twenty-seven years. Due to its long period in power, we are able to see what it did. The second Government was in office for twenty years and if you look back, you are able to see what it was able and not able to do. The PF has been in office for only two years. The two years of the PF Government has seen serious development which, I am afraid, some sections of society are not able to see.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, it is not fair to compare a Government that has been in office for two years to those that were in power for twenty and twenty-seven years. That is illogical.

Sir, with respect to local government, His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, informed the House that the Government approved the revised National Decentralisation Policy, which he launched on 16th July, 2013. In line with this policy aimed at enhancing service delivery, the Government, with a hardworking President at the helm, has created thirty new districts out of which eighteen are already operational. To enhance revenue collection, His Excellency the President directed that the hon. Ministers of Local Government and Housing and Finance to ensure that the Local Government and Finance Acts are harmonised, taking into account the revised National Decentralisation Policy.

Sir, His Excellency the President also talked about the key role the agricultural sector plays in ensuring national food and nutritional security, mitigating high poverty levels and job creation, especially for young people. Therefore, in order to sustain the positive growth of the sector, His Excellency the President informed the House that his Government will continue investing in crop diversification and recapitalising the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ), which was defunct for the past twenty years.

Mr Speaker, since there have been calls to better target the vulnerable, but viable small-scale farmers, I am proud that the PF Government has listened to this genuine concern by continuing the restructuring of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), through the introduction of the electronic voucher system. All hon. Members of Parliament should, therefore, support this progressive initiative. Instead of politicking, we should sensitise our people about the benefits of this new system.

Mr Speaker, I am aware that farmers, especially the small-scale ones, are vulnerable to drought because they depend on rain-fed agriculture. In this regard, I wish to commend the Government for setting aside 4,500 hectares of land out of the 17,000 hectares earmarked for the irrigation programme. Other measures aimed at improving productivity in the agricultural sector include promotion of aquaculture and restocking of livestock.

Sir, I must hasten to state that all the above measures will be meaningless if farmers cannot get the right price for their products. In this vein, it is gratifying to note that His Excellency the President, on Friday, last week, directed the hon. Minister responsible to expeditiously table before this House the revised Agricultural Marketing Act intended to address the challenges farmers face in marketing their agricultural products. Similarly, it is imperative that farmers receive extension services in order for them to engage in sustainable agriculture.

Sir, the President’s Speech highlighted the importance of creating employment and decent work for all, social protection and youth enterprise development. His Excellency the President stressed that his Government attaches great importance to employment creation as the top most strategy for ensuring stability of the economy in all sectors. In this regard, a development agenda, which gives priority to productive employment creation, especially for young people, is of utmost importance for the citizens of this country, including those in Kasenengwa.

Laughter

Mr Mushanga: This is why this Government is implementing the National Industrialisation and Job Creation Strategy which is interlinked to reviving and enhancing productivity in primary, secondary and tertiary industries. Industrialisation will not only help Zambia address issues of unemployment, but also enhance, through wealth creation and taxation, the mobilisation of domestic resources which, in turn, can help to attain other development goals, including education, health, social protection and roads.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

On the left, there are a lot of conversations running.

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, an example is the development of the Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZs) and technology and industrial parks which are expected to create over 110 thousand jobs once fully operational.

Mr Speaker, the implementation of the Pave Zambia 2,000, which was launched last week in Chawama Constituency by His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, is expected to create over 20,000 jobs in all the constituencies of this country, including the constituency where Hon. Muntanga comes from.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: Question!

Mr Mushanga: Sir, apart from the launch of the Pave Zambia 2,000, the PF Government has also launched the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project which has already started producing positive results of having better roads in the country. I am, therefore, very proud that the PF Government fulfilled its promise of creating more jobs …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Mushanga: … and putting more money in people’s pockets, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: … as evidenced by the recent salary increment for civil servants …

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: … and for those others that I cannot mention. For the first time in the history of this country, there was an auctioning of gemstones to enable small-scale miners to generate sufficient revenue.

Interruptions

Mr Mushanga: Hon. Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa, as I conclude, I call upon hon. Members of Parliament to support the policy pronouncements …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Mushanga: … that His Excellency the President made before this august House …

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Mushanga: … in order for our country to move forward.

Hon. Opposition Members: Where?

Mr Mushanga: As His Excellency the President said, if you have questions, bring them and we are going to answer them.

We should work as a team as we have done before in finding solutions to so many problems affecting our people, especially for hon. Members with rural constituencies. Sir, it is only through working together that we will see a changed and transformed Zambia in which citizens will not only deserve better lives, but also start living better lives.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

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

Mr Sing’ombe: I wish to speak now, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, it is a great privilege to be asked to second the Motion of Thanks to the Speech by His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, on the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly on Friday, 20th September, 2013.

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Sir, in opening my debate to second the Motion, I wish to join His Excellency the President in congratulating the Opposition on winning four out of five parliamentary by-elections.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: 4-1!

Mr Sing’ombe: Sir, may I also take this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Chipungu for winning his petition in the Supreme Court this afternoon. I also want to welcome my brother, Hon. Miyutu, back home.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Nkombo: Welcome home!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, in his address to this august House, His Excellency the President covered a number of thematic areas that hinge on our country’s development. However, my task ,this afternoon, is that of analysing salient issues covered during the President’s Address to this House. This, notwithstanding, I wish to state that the President’s Speech was not inspiring to most Zambians.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, under governance and administration of the State, it is sad to note that ever since the PF Government came into power, there has been no observance of law and order mostly by the PF cardres.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: The PF Government, through the police, has, in most cases, denied the Opposition police protection and permits to hold public rallies, meetings or peaceful demonstrations.

Mr Mwale: Muyenda ku Hague!

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe:  Sir, on many occasions, the United Party for National Development (UPND) cardres have been brutally assaulted by the police during peaceful demonstrations.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Sing’ombe: Just recently, my president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, was attacked by organised PF officials in Kasama.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah! Sure?

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, it is disheartening to observe that ever since the PF came into power, it has, most of the time, been victimising the Opposition.

Mr Mwale: Even themselves!

Mr Sing’ombe: Even themselves.

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe: This is not progressive, especially in a democratic country like ours where it is expected of the Opposition to freely provide checks and balances ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: … on the Government to ensure that a conducive, accountable and transparent atmosphere exists for democracy, good governance and development to flourish.

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: The PF is likened to an insect called ichihunya.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: What is the translation?

Mr Sing’ombe: Ichihunya is an insect which starts eating its back after it finishes all the food around …

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe: … and later dies.

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Sing’ombe: Further, the electoral violence and hooliganism that has characterised the recently held by-elections is not only a great danger to our thriving democracy, but has also led to loss of life and property.

Sir, I am of the view that His Excellency the President should have taken the opportunity to also openly condemn the indiscriminate grabbing of land from innocent Zambians and other illegal activities by the PF cardres, ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Sing’ombe: … a situation which is not only robbing innocent citizens of their hard-earned and valuable property, but also leading to loss of life as was the case in the Kampasa area, in Chongwe, and that of the late hon. Member of Parliament for Wusakile, Mr Chella, may his soul rest in peace.

 Sir, His Excellency the President was mute, and yet these are serious issues requiring level headedness and the strict administration of justice from those charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order.

Mr Speaker, on agriculture, the President’s Speech was equally uninspiring, especially to small-scale farmers of this country.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: I say so because the PF Government, through the hon. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), promised to pay farmers their dues after ten days of delivering their maize, ...

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Member: Bufi!

Mr Sing’ombe: … Mr Speaker, the PF has not honoured …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1815 hours until 1830 hours.{mospagebreak}

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was just about to state that His Excellency the President ordered me to collect the names of all the farmers who have not been paid in my constituency for possible payment and I am doing that.

Mr Speaker, most of the farmers around the country have not been paid and they are asking where their money is. The failure of the FISP compounded with the partial removal of subsidies on agriculture inputs will negatively affect both national and domestic food and nutrition security. It is on record that most hon. Members of this august House debated against the removal of subsidies on agriculture since they considered them to be crucial not only for poverty reduction, but also the food security of our rural areas as well. This was because subsidies tackled the major factor, which is the lack of access to agriculture inputs by small-scale farmers which hinders rural households from improving their economic well-being.

Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to join the many hon. Members of this House in opposing the removal of subsidies on agriculture. Just as the others who have spoken on this issue, I am of the view that the Government should have sold subsidised agriculture inputs to small-scale farmers to help them develop higher levels of agriculture production. My suggestion is that a timeframe within which small-scale farmers would have been expected to graduate to commercial farming and be self-reliant should have been attached. This way, the programme would have had a revolving effect enabling new entrants to the programme.

Mr Speaker, I note, with concern, that the President’s Speech did not say much regarding the road map on the current constitution-making process.

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, it is my sincere hope that a clear policy direction will soon be provided to the nation on this very important national undertaking. I appreciate the statement by His Excellency the President that the draft Constitution will be ready by the end of the year. However, we are concerned about the road map after the Committee submits the draft document to His Excellency the President.

Mr Speaker, it is worth noting that in the social economic sector, His Excellency the President acknowledged the need to tackle poverty and high unemployment levels in the country. He stated that the economy has continued to be positive, recording growth with a GDP of 6.8 per cent and 7.3 per cent in 2011 and 2012, respectively. This was driven by the transport, communication, construction, agricultural, trade and manufacturing sectors. This is, indeed, good for the macro-economic outlook of the country and ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). However, the benefits of this positive economic growth are not trickling down to the poor masses …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: … in terms of reduced cost of food and other essential commodities.

Mr Speaker, on job creation, let me take this opportunity to say that employment creation should not only be looked at from the road sector point of view such as the job opportunities being created by the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project and the pave Zambia 2,000. Instead, there should be a robust plan to create employment across all sectors of our economy. The Government should realise that although the employment opportunities created in the road sector are many, they are only temporary as the people involved in the road construction work and related works will soon lose their jobs upon completion of the road construction.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, in other words, the recent jobs created in the road sector can be classified more or less as casual jobs …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: … as they are not permanent and pensionable and it is also difficult to collect taxes from workers in such type of employment.

Mr Speaker, while the Government recognises that education is critical to the social and economic transformation of our country, little is being done to achieve this. The House will recall that, last year, the PF Government gave itself a target to construct eighty-four secondary schools. However, out of that number, only thirty-two have been constructed and I do not know where they have been constructed.

Hon. Opposition Members: In Muchinga!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, this is less than 40 per cent of what the Government targeted. If I am to grade the Government, it has failed.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, it is less than 40 per cent. Further, it is sad to note that the distribution in the construction of universities is not being done evenly.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, I am of the view that such infrastructure should be distributed evenly across the country, taking into consideration areas that have none, especially rural ones. The target should be to have, at least, one university in each provincial centre. This way, the Government will go a long way in providing equal access to tertiary education to all Zambians.

Mr Speaker, I note, with sadness, that one year after His Excellency the President announced the construction of over 650 health posts across the country, this is when contracts are being signed and the construction is expected to take two years. This delay will further contribute to the high child and maternal mortality rate, especially in rural areas where most of these health posts are to be constructed. The Government should seriously address the shortage of essential drugs such as Anti-Retroviral drugs (ARVs), especially in rural areas where people, mostly farmers, badly need them.

Mr Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of the PF Government that the building of hospitals in Chadiza and Shang’ombo districts were started by the MMD Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, however, we want to see what the PF has done in building district hospitals.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, if you cannot bear children, the logical thing to do is to adopt them.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the PF for adopting these two hospitals because they have failed to build their own hospitals.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, on local government and housing, I agree with His Excellency the President on the need to decentralise the functions of the local government system to encourage citizens’ participation and effective service delivery through the creation of new districts. However, the growth of infrastructure in the country should be accompanied by proper city and district planning and disaster risk reduction measures such as the establishment and rehabilitation of firefighting equipment across the country. A lot of money is spent on putting up infrastructure such as schools, shopping malls, hospitals and Government offices. Therefore, modern fire-fighting equipment should be installed in all such infrastructure.

Further, Sir, the way the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is being administered is not progressive. I note, with sadness, that to-date, some of the constituencies like Dundumwezi, Kabompo, Mazabuka Central, Kalabo Central and Mbabala have not yet received their CDF, and yet in the few weeks to come, the hon. Minister will be here presenting another Budget.

Mr Livune: Hanjika!

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, similarly, the need to address the increasing problem of the failure by local councils to utilise the CDF cannot be over emphasised. This is depriving the many citizens from the needed development in terms of supply of clean water and sanitation and provision of waste management services, among others.

In conclusion, Sir, allow me to, once again, remind each one of us that Zambia belongs to all Zambians …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sing’ombe: … and it is in that spirit that I call upon all my fellow hon. Members of Parliament, regardless of political affiliation, to diligently serve the people who put us in these positions.

Mr Speaker, I beg to second.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Muntanga: Ulimuchende!

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts with my colleagues on the President’s Speech.

Sir, what is a President’s Speech? A President’s Speech reflects the mind, the heart and the soul of the president with regard to the state of the nation and where he wants to take it. That is one aspect.

Mr Speaker, the second aspect is that a President’s Speech to the House strives to achieve three ‘Is.’ The first ‘I’ is information on the Government’s accomplishments or development efforts. The second ‘I’ is interaction with hon. Members of Parliament and the third ‘I’ is influencing the minds of hon. Members of Parliament to believe in what the President and his Government are doing.

Sir, our role, as hon. Members of Parliament, in line with the hexagon of our responsibilities is to interrogate the President’s Speech and see whether it is influential enough to make us believe in the President in line with the view of the state of the nation. The question is: Has His Excellency the President achieved to influence through his Speech? The answer is, no.

Mr Speaker, you can look at a president in one very important way, namely that presidents are riders. I will elaborate what I mean.

Sir, in the first place, the speech here clearly indicates that His Excellency the President of our Republic is truly a rider. He is a rider on the efforts that he has inherited from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, in this speech, His Excellency the President makes reference to the principle of continuing and, thus, he mentions that concept almost twenty times. For example, on page 5, paragraph 1 of his speech, he said:

“… the performance of the economy has continued to be positive ...”

Sir, it has continued because he has inherited an economy that was growing positively. This economy was created by the MMD Government.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Secondly, on page 6, paragraph 1, His Excellency the President in his Speech said:

“Efforts to diversify the economy will be guided by the National Vision 2030, the revised Sixth National Development Plan …”

Sir that is an indication of riding on what he has inherited.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, on page 7, paragraph 1, His Excellency the President went on to say:

“In our effort to address this challenge, I wish to inform the House that our Government is reviewing the Education Policy …”

Sir, this is an indication that he found an education policy in place. That is an example of a president who is a rider.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, on page 10, paragraph 4, His Excellency the President went on to say:

 “… Government approved the National Health Policy in 2012.”

Sir, this indicates that when he came into office, he found a National Health Policy which he has made an effort to revise with his Cabinet. This is an example of a president who is a rider.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, on page 11, paragraph 2, His Excellency the President in his Speech said:

“Construction of two district hospitals has been completed in Shang’ombo and Chadiza districts.”

Sir, these were hospitals put in place by the previous Government, the MMD. This is an example of a president who is a rider.

Sir, on page 14, paragraph 1 of the Speech, the President said:

“Our focus for 2014 is to continue investing in the Crop Diversification Programme ...”

Mr Speaker, to continue means Crop Diversification Programme as a policy which was in place. That is another example of His Excellency the President being a rider.

Laughter

Interruptions

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, on the same Page, Paragraph 2, His Excellency the President went on to say:

“… Government will continue restructuring the Farmer Input Support Programme …”

Sir, this means that he found a Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in place as a policy which is going to be continued, This, again, is another example of His Excellency the President being a rider.

Sir, on page 15, paragraph 1, the Presidents said, and I quote:

“… Government would continue to make land available for agricultural development under the Farm Block Programme.” 
 
 To continue means, there was a policy in place which he inherited. This is an example of His Excellency the President being a rider.

Mr Speaker, another example of His Excellency the President being a rider is on page 21, paragraph 2, where he said:

“The Government will continue to implement the National Policy on Disability to guide programmes for persons with disabilities.”

Sir, there was national policy for the disabled which His Excellency the President inherited. This is another example of His Excellency the President being a rider.

Mr Speaker, on page 22 of the President’s Speech, His Excellency the President goes on to say:

“Our Government will continue supporting the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) which is aimed at connecting rural communities such as chiefs’ palaces, schools and health centres to the power grid.”

Sir, there was a Rural Electrification Programme which was put in place by the MMD Government. This is another example of His Excellency the President being a rider.

Mr Speaker, this is a speech which clearly indicates to us, as hon. Members of Parliament, that His Excellency the President has been a rider on the successes of the previous Government, the MMD Government. Clearly, when we rise to the positions of leadership, it is only honourable that we acknowledge the efforts and successes of our colleagues because those who were in office were not there to play, but they worked very hard in the interest of national development. Many policy frameworks were put in place and when you take over Government, it is only right and proper to have the humility to accept what your colleagues have done.

Rev. Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Sir, that is why I am saying that the successes reflected in the speech have a history which is, of course, deeply rooted in the policy framework, plans and programmes left by the MMD Government.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, another aspect that we should look at in the speech is the question of what Zambia should be. What do we want as a nation? What is our future as a country? We made a decision, as a nation, in 1991, that Zambia would follow a democratic path, which we shall never, as a nation, depart from. Those who were old enough in 1991 will remember that we did agree, as a nation, that our country would be deeply rooted in democratic values guided by the following principles:

(a) the Rule of Law;

(b) individual liberty;

(c) human rights;

(d) multi-partism;

(e) a liberalised economy;

(f) freedom of speech;

(g) freedom of movement and association;
(h) freedom of peaceful demonstration;

(i) equality and equity for all;

(j) separation of powers;

(k) free press; and

(l) accountability, honour and dignity in all responsibilities as we execute public mandates. 
Sir, these are values that we have agreed upon as a nation.

Sir, in this speech, His Excellency the President has not made any reference to democracy. There is nothing at all.

Interruptions

Prof. Lungwangwa: Sir, you can read this speech line by line. There is no mention of democracy.

Interruptions

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, very clearly, it goes without saying that the heart of His Excellency the President may not lie in the reform of our nation. There are examples to show this. First of all, unleashing violent and merciless party cardres against innocent citizens, especially political party leaders, is not in line with what we consider to be the Zambia we want.

Mr Speaker, destruction of the will of the people in a hung Parliament, which is vital for accountability, is not in line with the will of the people. Threats to institutions of transparency and accountability such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which has been directed to get express authority from His Excellency the President if it has to investigate the hon. Ministers are not in line with what we want for Zambia as a democratic nation.

Mr Speaker, restraint on the movement of Opposition political leaders through arrests and detentions by the police is not what we want. It is not in line with what Zambia should be. It is not in line with the Zambia we want. Harassment of innocent citizens who express critical opinions on the state of governance in their own country, as we have seen in the last two years, is not in line with the Zambia we want. Harassment and detention of journalists who want to freely express their constitutional right of freedom of expression is not in line with the Zambia we want. Total disregard and disrespect of constitutional provisions for the strengthening of the democratic ethos of the separation of powers across the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, as has been done in the last two years, is not in line with the Zambia we want.

Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, forceful banning of independent media that offer positive alternative opinion to that of the establishment is not in line with the Zambia we want. Disregard for the integrity of other national leaders, especially those in the Opposition through public ridicule, is not in line with the Zambia we want. Deliberate violation of the Rule of Law by parading chiefs and civil servants to openly campaign on political platforms is not in line with the Zambia we want. These are clear indications of what has been happening over the last two years. Therefore, it is not in line with the democratic values that we have set ourselves to achieve. If we do not, as it has been reflected in the last two years, pay serious attention to democracy, whatever we may be doing will be in vain.

Mr Speaker, there are good examples of countries where, on the surface, you see beauty in terms of infrastructure, schools and hospitals, but because there is no attention paid to democracy and democratic values, those achievements in some countries have been set ablaze. Therefore, His Excellency the President should have paid serious attention to indicating from his heart, soul and mind that he is seriously committed to the democratic reforms of our nation and that he is in that office to strengthen democracy and not to ride on democracy to destroy it. We do not want a situation where our President will ride on democracy to destroy democracy. He must build democracy. That is why this speech, must be seriously interrogated by us because there is a Zambia we want.

Mr Speaker, legacy in leadership entails making things better than you found them. That is what Martin Luther King said. Therefore, as leaders, whether President, hon. Minister or hon. Member of Parliament, legacy entails that we do things to make the situation better than we found it.

Mr Speaker, I will end my presentation, speech or comments with an example. Way back, in the 1990’s, when things were being questioned in terms of democratic development, there was a young academic who worked very hard with a prominent State Council. He worked very hard, brought people together and had a very important forum known as the Oasis Forum. That young academic worked very hard to guard against the destruction of democracy. He was the Secretary of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and, today, he is the Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate the Motion on the Floor of the House. From the outset, allow me to use this opportunity to also join the hon. Member of Parliament for Dundumwezi in welcoming Hon. Miyutu back where he rightly belongs representing the people of Kalabo.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I also want to take this opportunity to thank the electorate in the five constituencies that recently witnessed by-elections. In that vein, allow me to congratulate Hon. Mtolo on his well-deserved victory and return to this House.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: That victory has signaled that the finest superior judges and superior court in this country are the electorate. You can nullify seats, but the people will still preserve their will and their will shall prevail.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, allow me to also take this opportunity to congratulate the Member of Parliament for Solwezi East, Hon. Lombanya, the Member of Parliament for Kafulafuta, Hon. Chitafu, and the Member of Parliament for Mkaika, Hon. Phiri. Their victories have sent a very loud message that the political madness of taking people, the electorate, for granted must come to an end.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: When you have been voted to come to this House, you should know that you are just riding on the tide of the privilege that the people have given you and not on your wishes that you can take them whichever direction that you want. The people of this country, in 1991, reintroduced multi-party democracy and those who seek the path to undermine the virtues of democracy shall be punished the way those who lost the by-elections were. I wish to thank the voters.

Mr Speaker, I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank the president of the UPND, Mr Hakainde Hichilema …

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: … and the president of the MMD, Dr Nevers Mumba, for working so hard to win these by-elections comfortably and with landslide margins even under very difficult circumstances where, sometimes, they had to leave their campaigns to attend to court sessions on flimsy, trumped up and bogus charges which they are facing.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, having said that …

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Choma Central, if you may just find a substitute for ‘bogus’.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘bogus’ and maintain the word flimsy. I thank you for your guidance.

Mr Speaker, I now want to talk about the President’s Speech. From the outset, I must state that I consider a President’s Speech at the opening of Parliament as a very solemn and serious opportunity at which the tempo of the Government can be measured by the citizens. From the speech, citizens can tell which direction the Ruling Party is taking the nation.

Sir, I must state that after President Sata delivered his speech, I considered that opportunity as a lost one. It was a lost opportunity to provide focused direction in terms of where the PF wants to take this country economically and also in terms of democratic development. That did not come through. We expected President Sata, through his address to this House, to count the developmental achievements of the PF in the last two years or, at least, in the last one year and to bring us in line to where we are today. We also expected him to give a projection of what we expect next year. This was a hanging speech and it was as if he was addressing the House for the first time.

Mr Nkombo: Imagine.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, I have done a bit of research and I have discovered that this speech, in terms of detail, has been the worst ever presented before this House.

Mr Mushanga: Question!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, on that day, the nation was highly expectant of His Excellency the President dealing with pertinent issues affecting the nation. This speech does not present any serious attention to any greater detail of any serious matter that the people of this country were expecting from His Excellency the President. I will soon go into detail to explain this.

Sir, I would like to, therefore, classify this speech more as a hypocritical tale than a President’s Address to the House.

Mr Nkombo: That is right.

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, allow me to zero in on this speech by just tackling three issues, namely governance and administration of the State, the fight against corruption and media reforms.

Sir, on Page 35 of the speech, His Excellency the President stated that the Government is fully committed to upholding the Rule of Law, including separation of powers, among the three arms of Government. This is why I said this is more like a hypocritical tale than a President’s Speech. This is because when you look at what constitutes the Rule of Law, it is shocking to have a President who says this PF Government is serious about upholding the Rule of Law.
 
Mr Speaker, this is because the Rule of Law is based on four main pillars. The first one is the supremacy of the law. What have we seen under this PF Administration? We have seen some of the most abhorrent violations of the Constitution of the Republic. For the first time, we have a President coming out in the public to castigate a statutory body with prescribed powers by this House that it needs to seek permission from him before it can investigate his hon. Ministers for corruption.

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Livune interjected.

Mr Mweetwa: Sir, a statement which has gone down to undermine the integrity of the ACC to a level where even if they institute investigations and later on say they have cleared someone, arising from the President’s pronouncements, the public will think it is political.

Hon. UPND Members: That is right.

Mr Mweetwa: Where are we heading as a nation?

Mr Speaker, the second one is the Rule of Law and it entails …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Those of you who cannot restrain yourselves from making running comments, I will sooner than later request you to leave the Chamber.

Continue, hon. Member.

Mr Mweetwa: I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Sir, the Rule of Law entails equality before the law. What we have seen in this country is a situation where when Opposition political parties want to hold political rallies in order to interact and share views with the citizens, they are not allowed to do so, and yet PF thugs and hooligans are at liberty, at any time, to take to the streets and demonstrate.

The same police officers who say that they do not have sufficient manpower to police events or rallies of the Opposition will be there urging the cadres in their demonstrations and escorting them for protection. 

Mr Speaker, we have situations where cadres take over the central business district of Lusaka, like they did today, to cause political mayhem to a level where businesses close, prompting the Secretary-General of the PF to describe the situation as the worst political indiscipline in any party in the history of politics in this country. Is this what President Sata meant by the Rule of Law?

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Mweetwa: Where are we heading?

Sir, the PF hooligans and thugs are above the law. Is this the Rule of Law that President Sata is talking about?

Mr Speaker, some Opposition Members facing corruption charges defect to the Ruling Party and quickly become darlings, some of whom are acquitted under circumstances that are not satisfactory to some of us. Is this equal dispensation of the law?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, the third tenet of the Rule of Law, which His Excellency the President purports to be committed to upholding is the lack of arbitrary action in exercising public authority.

Mr Mweetwa: Sir, what have we seen when it comes to the application of the Public Order Act? The Act which is used to disallow the Opposition from holding rallies is the same one that allows the Ruling Party cadres to enjoy their freedoms.

Just today, Sir, I was on Radio Phoenix with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, who told this nation that a Mr Chipampe from one of Zambia’s leading newspapers, the Zambia Daily Mail, had been promoted to a directorate which they will open at the ministry and said that the board will appoint Mr Anthony Mukwita to take over from where Mr Chipampe had left. This means that this board will sit and do nothing because a decision has already been made outside the precincts of the law.

Is this the Rule of Law that your President was talking about?

Laughter

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, the fourth tenet of the Rule of Law entails a recognition and respect for human rights. Are we seeing respect and recognition of human rights in this country? Opposition leaders, like Dr Nevers Mumba, now can hardly speak. Whenever they speak, they are taken to into police custody on trumped up charges.

Only recently, Mr Speaker, Mr Hakainde Hichilema was blocked from enjoying his right of association by visiting a traditional leader in Kasama. Is it not embarrassing that an hon. Deputy Minister representing the Government can parade herself on national television saying “We, the Bembas, will not allow somebody to go and destabilise our tradition.”

Is this the Rule of Law that President Sata was talking about?

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, the doctrine of separation of powers that President Sata alluded to is clear. It entails the independent operations of the three arms of the Government with limited and permissible overlap or interference which can be seen when we ratify judges, for instance.  However, now we are seeing a tribunal wasting taxpayers’ money continuing to probe a judge who has already resigned, and yet the basis of a tribunal is to find out whether a particular Judge should continue to stay in office or not.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: Is this the separation of powers and Rule of Law that President Sata was talking about? Is it not a wonder that some people are herorising such a speech in this era and age of democratic dispensation?

Mr Muntanga: Do not tear it, please.

Laughter

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, on the constitution-making process, many Zambians expected President Sata to use that opportunity to hammer out a clear road map with bench marks that are realisable and foreseeable.

However, all we heard was a mere statement of speculation. Where are we going? We know that the Constitution issue has been thorny in the governance system of our country for a very long time. The PF had promised that, within ninety days in office, it would deliver a Constitution. When prompted by hon. Members, His Excellency the President quickly receded in his true spirit and asked what Constitution we were talking about because there already was a Constitution in operation. Just yesterday, we received disturbing reports that the draft report, contrary to President Sata’s statement, is going straight to him, and yet we were told that the Government remains committed to delivering a people-driven Constitution, which we were initially told would go to the people for input.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Mweetwa: History has consistently shown that when a process such as this is short circuited to the president, the document is bound to be doctored. Are we really going to have a people-driven Constitution with such maneouvers?

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, on the fight against corruption, I expected President Sata to have used that opportunity to clarify and clear people’s fears on the statement he uttered sometime at the end of last year. People perceive the ACC simply as a tool to do the will of the President. This opportunity was lost.

When we went on recess, as African Parliamentarians’ Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Chairperson, I intimated to the media that I commended President Sata for his statements to decentralise the operations of the ACC. On reflection, Mr Speaker, I have withdrawn those commendations ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mweetwa: … because this is not a Government that can be trusted.

In his inaugural speech, His Excellency the President talked about being allergic to corruption. A few days later, he was asking hon. Members from the Opposition, some of whom were facing corruption charges, to cross over for appointments as Deputy Ministers.

So, when he talks about decentralisation now, how can I trust him? In his inaugural speech, he declared Choma a provincial capital and to date, there is no evidence that Choma is a provincial capital.

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

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, there is no evidence that Choma is a provincial capital in terms of activity and construction. There is nothing, and yet you have some people waking up and saying a lot of development is being taken to Choma. Which Choma are they talking about?

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I want to state that when it comes to media reforms, we expected a lot. We expected His Excellency the President to say something about the Access to Information Bill. He was conspicuously mute and now arguments of legal vagaries are being used for the failure to proceed in bringing the Bill to the House when, in fact, the hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting has consistently told this House that the Government would bring this Bill. Last time, the Government said that it would bring it within the session. At the end of the session, however, we were told it would come in the next session, which is this one. This time, legal arguments were advanced that if this Bill is enacted, it will infringe on other Acts. Did the Government not know that those other Acts existed and, therefore, needed prior attendance? 

Mr Speaker, we have also seen, under this PF Administration, a situation where media houses that had started to espouse professionalism such as the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), the Zambia Daily Mail and the Times of Zambia being reduced to outlets for the Ruling Party’s use. However, I must clarify that when I describe these public institutions now as vuvuzelas of the PF, I am not saying that those journalists lack professionalism, but it is the level of political interference being exerted by these PF people that earns them this description.

Sir, on several times that I have gone to these media houses for interviews, they have called me later to say that the statement I had given was too hard and, therefore, would not be aired. Yet, time and again, we see the bureaucracy of the Government and party cadres dominating the media and His Excellency the President comes here to assure the nation that two years have been full of hard work. It has been full of failure. There is nothing inspiring about this speech. If it were not for the precedence set, I would have torn it.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Kaputa, to add a word to the important Motion that is on the Floor, following the President of the Republic of Zambia’s Opening of the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Sir, as I start my debate, I would like to limit myself to looking at the developments that have been achieved by this Government in infrastructure. Then, I will briefly look at corruption and the promotion of our agriculture development. Hopefully, time allowing, I will also briefly discuss violence in our nation.

Mr Speaker, unless somebody has no eyes to see what this Government has done in the last two years, …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Ng’onga: Sir, I strongly believe that there has been infrastructure development. Therefore, I am also going to point out some of this infrastructure that my colleagues have not been able to see.

A lot of Zambians, including those that are in the rural areas, were extremely excited when His Excellency the President indicated that the economy has been growing because they can see it. These are things that we never saw. What is disheartening is to see the levels at which people forget.

Sir, three years ago, when the PF Government was in the Opposition, we saw the reasons people wanted to change the Government then. They saw dilapidated infrastructure, such as roads.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I have examples to point at when I say that there is infrastructure development that is taking place in this country. Just in Lusaka itself, when you go in almost all the compounds, you will find that roads are being worked on. On Kafue Road, if you are driving down to Livingstone, you will see major works being done which was not the case before.

Sir, during the time we were on recess, I was in Luapula Province and I drove from Mununga to Nchelenge, probably, in two and half hours on a road that I previously spent five to six hours. These things are happening. Please, open your eyes and see that there are major works that are being done.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, allow me to also look at other areas of infrastructure development that His Excellency the President talked about such as the Link Zambia 8,000  Road Project. This is a real project. If you have not seen it, please, go to Chongwe and see the development that has taken place in that particular area. That will tell you exactly what is happening.

Interruptions

Mr Ng’onga: If you go to Feira, you will see these works coming up. These were not there before. These are real works that His Excellency the President and his Government are doing. This will bring this country to levels where it was not. If you talk to people who came to Zambia three or four years ago, they will tell you that Zambia is no longer what it was before because they are able to see. These are things that are happening.

Interruptions

Mr Ng’onga: The successful infrastructure I can proudly talk about is the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport which Hon. Masebo and others worked tirelessly to build. Again, it is something that was not there.

Mr Livune: But they were planned!

Mr Ng’onga: Yes, they were planned for, but these are things that are tangible and are there on the ground.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Sir, in the education sector, secondary schools have been constructed. Their construction may have been started by the previous governments, but the process is being completed by the PF Government.

Sir, when you come to Kaputa where I come from, I am very excited because, come January, we are opening the new Kaputa Secondary School in January, 2014.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Therefore, this is some of the infrastructure which the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata, is actually putting up.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Suppose …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Ng’onga: When I look at the provincial infrastructure development, His Excellency the President indicated that there will also be improvement in the provincial aerodromes or airports. This is a very critical key sector. I know most people, including hon. Members of Parliament, have the capacity to visit these areas, but they are inaccessible. Inaccessibility is what inhibits most businessmen and women from investing in rural areas. They would want to get investments into these rural places, but how to get there poses a challenge. So, once these aerodromes are upgraded and improved, we will see much development going to these areas.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, allow me to briefly comment on the issue of corruption which His Excellency the President, again, mentioned. The commitment to fight corruption in this country is there.

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: We know for sure that corruption was there even in the previous governments, but it is a condition which all of us, as leaders, must rise and work together to fight. Corruption will not be fought just by an hon. Minister standing and saying stop corruption. It requires a complete change of mindset.

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: What do we think? What can we do? Corruption is not only at the ministerial or deputy ministerial levels, but it is also at every level even where we are as hon. Members of Parliament. So, we need to marshal the required leadership out of all of us and rise with one voice so that we can change this particular social requirement. That way, we can all work as one. Therefore, with His Excellency the President leading and with the commitment that he has given, he now challenges all of us, as leaders, to rise. What can we do? How much can we contribute in order to eradicate corruption? It is a not a problem that can be solved by one person. His Excellency the President can make pronouncements about corruption, but all us are different people. We actually have our followers who are not even listening because they are benefiting from that. It requires leadership. All of us, as leaders, are empowered to say something and also ensure that we come up with programmes to reduce and eradicate corruption.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Own up!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, allow me, also, to briefly comment on the issues of agricultural production and the promotion that this Government has put in place.

Before the PF came into power, the NCZ was a very sorry sight.

Mr Mwila: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: It was written off and the employees there were sent to bury themselves. However, if you go into Kafue now, there are smiles on people’s faces because that plant is now operational, thanks to His Excellency the President and the hon. Ministers who have resuscitated this company.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: For the first time, Mr Speaker, we can see that D-Compound fertiliser has been distributed in many districts, including Kaputa, even before the onset of the rains.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: For the first time, people are assured of planting their crops without waiting for fertiliser to be delivered in December and January, provided they are registered under FISP.

We must thank those who are putting in their best in order to make sure that these things are done properly.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Even as I speak, His Excellency the President has indicated that every effort will made because we all know that agriculture is the mainstay of this economy. Yes, we have resources coming from the copper mining industry, but we know that the copper mining industry, the next important programmes are those to do with agriculture. Almost everybody, including the rural dwellers, is all getting his/her benefits out of the agricultural sector. Therefore, this Government will focus on ensuring that the agricultural sector is improved by giving to the people exactly what is required of it.

Sir, when we talk about livestock production and diversification, again, we see a deliberate policy by the Government to take this programme to the northern part of the country. That is because the northern part of Zambia has large tracts of land which are good for pastoral farming. However, these are places where livestock farming was not practised on a large scale. We are thankful to the PF Government for deliberately pursuing those programmes so that livestock is introduced in these areas. Luapula Province also has massive tracts of land. You do not need to plant pastures there. In Muchinga, Mbala, Mporokoso and Kaputa, you will rear livestock without necessarily spending more money on the venture, as is the case in the southern part of our country.

Hon. UPND Member: Question!

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I would like to rebut the statement by one hon. Member who said that the President’s Speech did not touch on democracy. I find that statement by the hon. Member to be a fallacy. When you go to page 35 of the President’s Speech, on “Governance and the Administration of the State”, the President said:

“The Government is fully committed to upholding the Rule of Law, including separation of powers among the three arms of Government. In this regard, I want to assure the Zambian people that our Government has no intention, whatsoever, to turn this country into a One-Party State.”

Sir, this is a pronouncement by the Head of State, and yet somebody can say …

Interruptions

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I would like to know what democracy is. If these words are not enough, then, I urge you, Prof. Lungwangwa, to read the President’s Speech from the beginning to the end.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Kaputa, just address the Speaker. That is all. There is no need to drag in any other hon. Member.

You may continue.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I retract my statement and apologise for that. Allow me to just wind up. If I do not say anything on violence, the people of Kaputa Constituency may wonder why.

Mr Speaker, I would like to indicate that His Excellency the President categorically indicated that he was saddened by the violence that characterised some by-elections in the country. This is where I call for leadership not only from those in the Ruling Party, but also from all of us in whom power is vested to lead our people. It does not matter whether the violence is interparty or intraparty. Violence is violence and it has the tendency to rob all of us. It will rob us of the capacity to deliberate and tell the people what we want to tell them. It will also scare away people who might be interested in investing in our country. So, it does not matter which party you belong to, violence must be condemned at whatever level. Just as His Excellency the President indicated, I would like to urge everyone to show leadership as opposed to pointing fingers at each other. We should all work together and ensure we eradicate violence from our political parties.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Ngo’onga: Mr Speaker, I was privileged to see how one of our neighbouring countries managed violence. It was because all the leaders were united and spoke with one voice about the importance of peaceful elections that were violence free. At the end of the day, peace prevailed. So, let us all unite and provide leadership to our people. Pointing fingers will not help. We all need a peaceful Zambia.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for affording me this opportunity to add my voice, on behalf of the people of Namwala, on the issues raised in the President’s Speech.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, I am also among those who are saying that the President’s Speech to this House was not inspiring. His Excellency the President, once again, missed an opportunity to roll out the PF national agenda. The occasion of the Opening Session of the National Assembly is very important because it is only at that occasion where all the three arms of Government are found under one roof.

Sir, the fact that this is the only time that the President addresses the nation, other than when he is swearing in the likes of Hon. Monde and Hon. Keith Mukata, he should have taken this stage seriously.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, just make your point without dragging in other personalities. I have already ruled on that. You can make your point without dragging in your colleagues.

Continue, hon. Member.

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, thank you for your counsel. As I said, the President’s Speech is supposed to set a tone for the Budget. However, this particular one, once again, failed to do that. No wonder we have Budget overruns in this country. It starts from the President’s Speech.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, the President’s Speech did not meet the expectations of the people of Namwala because it lacked the economic vision and roadmap for this country. The President’s Speech is supposed to be a continuation from 2011 to 2013. However, you find that there is no connectivity among the three speeches. I say so because the national developmental agenda is a continued process. For instance, last year, the President said the Monze/Nicko Road, which was part of the PF’s campaign manifesto, was going to be tarred. To date, nothing has been done on that road. This year, he did not even make reference to it. That is why I am saying there was no connectivity in the President’s Speech.

Mr Speaker, in 2012, His Excellency the President talked about socio-economic affairs such as developmental challenges, high youth unemployment, high poverty levels, stable exchange rates, which are still high with the US dollar trading at 540 against the Kwacha. He also talked about single digit inflation, which does not translate to anything at all. However, this year, when he talked about the socio-economic affairs, His Excellency the President dwelt much on the Eurobond and recapitalisation. The previous speaker, the hon. Member for Kaputa, congratulated his Government on the recapitalisation of the NCZ. One hand, this is the NCZ which is supposed to produce fertiliser in this country. On the other hand, the PF Government is increasing the beneficiaries of the FISP, which the MMD Government left behind, to K100. So, why invest into a venture like the NCZ which is not going to benefit any farmer in the country? Instead of reducing fertiliser prices, those prices are going up.

Mr Speaker, ZESCO is one of the parastatals that has benefited from the Eurobond. However, what we see is more load shedding. So, can we say that the Eurobond has been put to good use? The answer is no. The only positive thing I have noticed at ZESCO is the company fighting for huge contracts to enjoy this Eurobond.

Sir, the hon. Deputy Minister of Finance has just told us that the money which was given to the Zambia Railways Limited is still sitting in a bank account. Is that what they got the Eurobond for? No.

Mr Speaker, it is common knowledge that any interest rate on a loan is higher than what one can make in Treasury bills. However, we saw in-fighting between the board of directors and the management of the Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) on which bank the company would yield higher interest rates from its share of the Eurobond. This is despite the fact that any interest rate earned from a bank cannot be compared to the interest rate the Government will pay on the loan. Further, we are being told that the ZRL is going to implement projects without feasibility studies.

Mr Speaker, Zambia has now reached the highest debt rate at 6 per cent and we all know that it is very difficult to run a country when you have such a high debt rate. I wonder what Zambia the PF will leave behind for us, in the UPND, when we take over power.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, one even tends to wonder why our colleagues in the Government borrow money because they do not seem to know why they do it.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Tell them!

Ms Lubezhi: They are borrowing to spend on by-elections and pay salaries. They have done another ‘don’t kubeba’ on civil servants. This means do not tell them. We all know that the civil servants who have benefited from the recent salary increment are the casual daily employees (CDEs) such as office orderlies. I want the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to challenge me if I am misleading the nation. Right now, if you were to go to the University Teaching Hospital, you would find that the difference in pay between the so-called CDEs and the lowest paid nurse is only K500. Anyway, this is a Government which is on record having said that education is not key to development. Probably, that is why it is putting those who did not go to school and those who did in the same category, with a difference in salaries of only K500 or K200.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, the MMD left Zambia as a middle-income earning country. However, today, if we are to get the statistics, I think, we have gone a thousand steps backward because of the PF Government.

Mr M. H. Malama: Question!

Ms Lubezhi: Do not question me. The best you can do …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, just confine yourself to the President’s Address. It is as simple as that.

You may continue.

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, I would prefer that those who are saying “question”, queried those who tell them to go to the press and counter-react to my party president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s remarks when, in the same breath, they are being told that there is no Opposition. At the same time, they are being told to go and tell the nation the Government’s successes. I think let me commend the hon. Cabinet Ministers for remaining mute on that issue because there is nothing to report about.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, I am wondering what has happened to the PF campaign manifesto. The Ruling party had an ambitious timeframe of ninety days in which to achieve everything. However, our colleagues have overshadowed themselves with side shows and have forgotten their agenda.

Mr Muntanga: Side shows?

Ms Lubezhi: They are preoccupied with by-elections and the outbreak of creation of districts and we are being told, in this House, that the districts are functional. Oh yes, the districts are functional as long as you take a District Commissioner (DC) and a white station wagon there. Why do they not start with putting up the infrastructure before declaring new districts?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: Feasibility studies have to be done first before implementing new projects. It is as simple as that.

Mr Speaker, I am also very disappointed with the level at which the PF Government is trivialising the issue of the constitution-making process. It is on the Floor of this House where we had a Motion moved by the hon. Minister of Justice who equally trivialised the matter by playing with the words ‘within reasonable time’. We pleaded with him and told him that, on the calendar, from January to December, there is no such a date as ‘within reasonable time’. As if that is not enough, the Head of State also came in here and trivialised the matter.

Mr Speaker, allow me to quote the President’s Inauguration Speech on the constitution-making process where the President said:

“With all the work done by the numerous constitution review commissions, we will have a new constitution that will address what Zambia has been asking for over the years in ninety days.”

We do not know what has happened to this ambitious timeframe. Even when His Excellency the President told us that the draft Constitution was going to be handed to him by the end of October, he did not go further to tell us what would happen next. Anyway, I did not expect much from this Government on the constitution-making process because the whole exercise has no legal backing.

When it was in the Opposition, the PF had the relationship between its leader and some hon. Members of Parliament, whom they called rebels, bruised. This was because it was felt that the hon. Members should not go to the – kwakalikunzi kuya ku Mulungushi?

Laughter

Hon. UPND Members: NCC.

Ms Lubezhi: Yes, it was the National Constitution Conference (NCC). The PF leadership felt the NCC was a waste of money. However, how much has the Constitution Technical Committee, so far, gobbled?

Mr Livune: Ma sholi.

Ms Lubezhi: We all know what we want in a new Constitution.

Mr Speaker, I will not dwell much on the Rule of Law because everything has been said by other colleagues. However, I want to state that I am one of those people who were picked up by the police because I did not go through them to address the people who voted for me. I am one of the people who were …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, refrain from debating yourself.

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, on the Rule of Law, His Excellency the President talked about violence. If I recall properly, when he was talking about education, he tasked the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to do something in his ministry. However, when he talked about violence, I do not remember hearing him tasking the hon. Minister of Home Affairs to stop violence, and yet it is within his powers, as the Head of State, to stop violence. The PF party cadres have gone on rampage and even damaged government property at Northmead Secondary School, but nothing has been done. The Bembas have a saying that ‘umucila wa nsoka, ukonka umutwe’. This means that the tail of the snake follows the head.

Hon. PF Members: Awe, takwaba.

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Lubezhi:  Mr Speaker, for me, agriculture is an all-round sector. This is a sector which can …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Lubezhi: … put food on the table, alleviate poverty and create jobs. However, this is a sector for which the PF Government, up to now, has no defined policies. If I may quote the President’s Speech on page 14, he said:

“To increase productivity among small-scale farmers, the Government will focus its efforts on modernising agriculture products through science and technology.”

Which science and technology was he talking about? How could you be the end-users of technology without promoting your own skilled research? What has the Government been doing to the National Institute for Science and Industrial Research (NISIR) along the Airport Road? How much has been pumped into that institution in our Budget per year? How can you talk about science and technology when you have no idea of what a bunsen burner is all about?

Laughter

Mr Mufalali: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, these are the things that concern us when we say the President’s Address is not an academic exercise. The President’s Speech is supposed to direct the nation.

Mr Speaker, the removal of fuel subsidies has affected farmers in the agricultural sector, and yet these hon. Ministers were told by their President to scamper in all directions of the nation to justify the removal of subsidies. However, when he came here, he could not even mention the effects of the removal of subsidies.

Hon. UPND Member: That is right!

Ms Lubezhi: The hon. Ministers were told to tell the people that as long as you do not drive, you do not benefit anything from the subsidies. Says who? You wake up in the morning around 0500 hours and see people walking because they cannot afford bus fares any more.

Hon. UPND Member: That is right.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: At least, I am able to afford low-sulphur diesel in my vehicles. However, what about the vulnerable people whom you thought you were helping?

Mr Livune: Hanjika!

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, I do not think that this PF Government really has the people of Zambia at heart.

Mr Livune: They should resign!

Ms Lubezhi: We really do not know what we did as Zambians. The lack of political vision and commitment is not taking us anywhere at all.

Sir, how can we talk about labour reforms when we still have investors selling broiler chickens at Soweto and Kamwala? Are those the labour reforms we are talking about? No! We are talking about labour reforms when we still have expatriates coming in as welders and electricians. Are those the labour reforms we are talking about? No!

Mr Livune: In restaurants.

Laughter

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, the PF does not know what to do in terms of the draft Constitution. Street vendors, we are told, are now called street traders. Just last week, it was reported, in a news bulletin that a council worker in Livingstone had threatened vendors who wanted to take to the streets that it was illegal and that the law would visit them. Is street vending only illegal in Livingstone under the PF Government? No! The whole town is littered due to street vending. His Excellency the President could not even mention anything concerning street vending.

Mr Livune: Mulande naba Kabanshi.

Interruptions

Ms Lubezhi: As long as there are human beings, sanitation is important.

Hon. UPND Member: Hear, hear!

Ms Lubezhi: Where do those people who sell on the street go to answer the call of nature?

Hon. Opposition Member: In trees!

Ms Lubezhi: The town is in a pathetic state. Try to move in the service lanes and you will be shocked what you will find in there, hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing.

Laughter

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, I can say that the whole speech was just full of political rhetoric, as usual. The PF is known for that. No inspiration at all.

Hon. UPND Member: Apart from January Zimba.

Interruptions

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, may I end by reminding my colleagues on your right that democracy is a commitment to a system of values and not a personal agenda of who to fix.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

ADJOURNMENT

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr E. C. Lungu): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

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The House adjourned at 1954 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 25th September, 2013.

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